Vehicle roof and roof opening mechanism

• US 9,346,342 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Webasto-Edscha Cabrio USA, Inc (Webasto Beteiligungs Verwaltung Gbr), Webasto Thermo & Comfort North America, Inc. (Webasto Beteiligungs Verwaltung Gbr)
• Original Assignee: Webasto-Edscha Cabrio GmbH (Webasto Beteiligungs Verwaltung Gbr)
• Inventors: Bowles, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US14/642,976
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 296/218, 296/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/06 with non-rigid element or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/11 Removable panels, e.g. sunroofs
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/12 foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts B60J7/10, B60J7/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1291 Soft tops for closed vehicle bodies

Abstract

A vehicle roof having a roof structure with a roof opening, which, by a roof opening mechanism, can be closed or at least partially uncovered as desired, said roof opening mechanism being designed as an interchangeable insert. Additionally, a roof opening mechanism is proposed, being designed as an interchangeable insert, for unlockable fixation at a roof structure of a vehicle roof, and comprising a frame, which can be placed upon an edge region of the roof structure, said edge region limiting a roof opening.

Claims

1. A vehicle roof having a roof structure with a roof opening, which, by a roof opening mechanism, can be closed or at least partially uncovered as desired, said roof opening mechanism being designed as an interchangeable insert,

wherein the interchangeable insert comprises a base frame, which follows an edge of the roof opening, wherein the roof opening mechanism further comprises a fabric covering element, which, by at least one tensioning bow fixedly pivotable with respect to the base frame, is displaceable between a closed position for covering the roof opening and an uncovering position for uncovering the roof opening,

wherein the tensioning bow is coupled to an auxiliary tensioning bow fixedly pivotal to the base frame, and

wherein the tensioning bow, in relation to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, is on each of its two sides connected to the auxiliary tensioning bow via a coupling rod,

the coupling rod being articulated to the auxiliary tensioning bow and to the main tensioning bow via intermediately positioned hinge points.

2. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the base frame is an open frame having the shape of an U and comprising a transversal rear leg and two longitudinal side legs.

3. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the base frame is attached to the roof structure via fixation elements being manually unlockable.

4. The vehicle roof according to claim 3, wherein the manually unlockable fixation elements are in each instance formed from a handle screw, which reaches through the roof structure from below.

5. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning bow, in the closed position, is adjacent to a front edge of the roof opening and is secured at the roof structure by a fastening mechanism.

6. A roof opening mechanism, being designed as an interchangeable insert, for unlockable fixation at a roof structure of a vehicle roof, and comprising:

a base frame, which can be placed upon an edge region of the roof structure, said edge region for limiting a roof opening, further comprising a fabric covering element, which, by at least one tensioning bow fixedly pivotable with respect to the base frame, is displaceable between a closed position for covering the roof opening and an uncovering position for uncovering the roof opening,

wherein the tensioning bow is coupled to an auxiliary tensioning bow fixedly pivotal to the base frame, and

wherein the tensioning bow, in relation to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, is on each of its two sides connected to the auxiliary tensioning bow via a coupling rod,

the coupling rod being articulated to the auxiliary tensioning bow and to the main tensioning bow via intermediately positioned hinge points.