Roof unit for installation in a motor vehicle roof

• US 6,789,843 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
• Original Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
• Inventors: De Gaillard, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US10/316,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20030111871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.7, 296/216-7-2, 348/837, 312/7.2, 353/13
• US Class Current: 296/216.07
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1642 Roof panels, e.g. sunroofs or hatches, movable relative to the main roof structure, e.g. by lifting or pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use

Abstract

A roof unit (3) for installation in an opening formed in a motor vehicle roof (3) and which has a transparent area and/or a roof opening which can be closed with an openable cover. At least one screen (11) is integrated into the bottom part (7) of the roof unit (3) facing the motor vehicle interior, in the installed state, and the at least one screen can be moved, especially swung down, into a position of use out of a rest position in which the screen lies flat in the bottom part (7).

Claims

1. Roof unit for installation in an opening formed in a motor vehicle roof, comprising a roof unit which has a frame assembly for mounting to the vehicle roof, a transparent panel area within said frame assembly, a bottom part which is adapted to face into a motor vehicle interior in an installed state, and at least one screen which is integrated into the bottom part and is movable into a position of use from a rest position in which the at least one screen lies flat in the bottom part;

wherein the bottom part of the roof unit is selectively formed by one of several bottom parts of different configurations that are interchangeably usable with the frame assembly.

2. Roof unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transparent panel area comprises a roof opening in which an openable cover is movably disposed.

3. Roof unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein an information processing device for providing information to be displayed by the at least one screen is integrated into the roof unit.

4. Roof unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein a control unit for the screen and for the information processing device is provided on the roof unit.

5. Roof unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control unit is countersunk in the roof unit and is user removable therefrom.

6. Roof unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control unit is connected by one of a signal cable and a remote control to one of the information processing means and the screen.

7. A Roof unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the screen is a flat panel screen.

8. Roof unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein an information processing device for providing information to be displayed by the at least one screen is integrated into the roof unit.

9. Roof unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein a control unit for the screen and for the information processing device is provided on the roof unit.

10. Roof unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control unit is countersunk in the roof unit and is user removable therefrom.

11. Roof unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control unit is connected by one of a signal cable and a remote control to one of the information processing means and the screen.

12. Roof unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen is a flat panel screen.

13. Motor vehicle with a roof unit in an opening formed in a roof of the motor vehicle, the roof unit having a frame assembly, a transparent panel area within sad frame assembly, a bottom part which faces into a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, and at least one screen which is integrated into the bottom part and is movable into a position of use from a rest position in which the at least one screen lies flat in the bottom part,

wherein the bottom part of the roof unit is selectively formed by one of several bottom parts of different configurations that are interchangeably mountable to the frame assembly while the roof unit is mounted on the motor vehicle roof.

14. Motor vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the transparent panel area comprises a roof opening in which an openable cover is movably disposed.

15. Motor vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein an information processing device for providing information to be displayed by the at least one screen is integrated into the roof unit.

16. Motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein a control unit for the screen and for the information processing device is provided on the roof unit.

17. Motor vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the control unit is countersunk in the roof unit and is user removable therefrom.