US 11,390,150 B2Granted

Support mechanism for an open-roof assembly in a vehicle roof

AssigneeInalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.

InventorsRainer Gerhard Jüngling, Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen

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Abstract

A support mechanism for an open-roof assembly, comprising a moveable panel, comprises at least one of a front flexible portion and a rear flexible portion. A guide assembly of the open-roof assembly comprises an elongated guide rail extending in a longitudinal direction, a front mechanism slideably arranged in the guide rail and a rear mechanism arranged in the guide rail. The front mechanism and the rear mechanism are provided with means for providing a relatively high mechanism stiffness, while the at least one of the front and rear flexible portions is provided with a relatively low bending stiffness in the width direction and with a relatively low rotational stiffness in respective main directions such that orientation deviations between the panel support assembly and the guide assembly result in larger rotational deformation in the at least one of the respective flexible portions than in the respective mechanisms.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A support mechanism for an open-roof assembly for use in a vehicle roof, the vehicle roof extending in a roof plane, the roof plane extending in a longitudinal direction and a width direction, the width direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the open-roof assembly comprises a moveable panel for closing an opening in the vehicle roof, the support mechanism comprising:

a panel support assembly, comprising:
a panel mounting portion;
a front support portion fixedly coupled to the panel mounting portion, comprising a front coupling portion;
and
a rear support portion slideably coupled to the panel mounting portion, comprising a rear coupling portion;
a guide assembly, comprising:
an elongated guide rail extending in the longitudinal direction;
a front mechanism slideably arranged in the guide rail and comprising a front hinge, the front coupling portion being coupled to the front hinge;
and
a rear mechanism arranged in the guide rail and comprising a rear hinge, the rear coupling portion being coupled to the rear hinge;
wherein the panel support assembly comprises at least one flexible portion selected from a front flexible portion and a rear flexible portion,
wherein the front flexible portion is comprised in the front support portion and extends in a front main direction, the front main direction extending from the front coupling portion to the panel mounting portion;
wherein the rear flexible portion is comprised in the rear support portion and extends in a rear main direction, the rear main direction extending from the rear coupling portion to the panel mounting portion;
and
wherein the flexible portion is provided with a low bending stiffness in the width direction and with a low rotational stiffness in the respective main directions such that orientation deviations between the panel support assembly and the guide assembly result in larger rotational deformation in at least one of the respective flexible portions than in the respective mechanisms.

12 more elements

a panel support assembly, comprising:
a panel mounting portion;
a front support portion fixedly coupled to the panel mounting portion, comprising a front coupling portion;
and
a rear support portion slideably coupled to the panel mounting portion, comprising a rear coupling portion;
a guide assembly, comprising:
an elongated guide rail extending in the longitudinal direction;
a front mechanism slideably arranged in the guide rail and comprising a front hinge, the front coupling portion being coupled to the front hinge;
and
a rear mechanism arranged in the guide rail and comprising a rear hinge, the rear coupling portion being coupled to the rear hinge;
wherein the panel support assembly comprises at least one flexible portion selected from a front flexible portion and a rear flexible portion,
wherein the front flexible portion is comprised in the front support portion and extends in a front main direction, the front main direction extending from the front coupling portion to the panel mounting portion;
wherein the rear flexible portion is comprised in the rear support portion and extends in a rear main direction, the rear main direction extending from the rear coupling portion to the panel mounting portion;
and
wherein the flexible portion is provided with a bending stiffness in the width direction and with a rotational stiffness in the respective main directions such that orientation deviations between the panel support assembly and the guide assembly result in larger rotational deformation in at least one of the respective flexible portions than the same rotational deformation in the respective mechanisms.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/024,355Filed 17 Sep 2020
Priority: EP 1919840419 Sep 2019
Published: US 2021/0086596 A125 Mar 2021
Granted: 19 Jul 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B60J 7/024
Of sliding type , e.g. comprising guide shoes: characterised by the height regulating mechanism of the sliding panel
B60J 7/043
With rigid plate-like element or elements , e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels: sunroofs e.g. sliding above the roof
B60J 7/057
With rigid plate-like element or elements , e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels: driving or actuating arrangements e.g.…
B60J 7/0435
Sunroofs e.g. sliding above the roof: pivoting upwardly to vent mode and moving at the outside of the roof to fully open mode