# US 12,005,767 B2 · Cover for a vehicle roof, and method for producing a cover

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- Number: US 12,005,767 B2
- Document ID: US12005767B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/439,637
- Filed: 2020-04-06
- Published: 2022-05-19
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-10
- Assignees: Webasto SE
- Applicants: Webasto SE
- Inventors: Kevin Schluse
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005767B2

## CPC

- B60J 7/04: with rigid plate-like element or elements {, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels (B60J7/061 takes precedence)}
- B60J 7/1628: {for covering the passenger compartment}
- B29C 44/1228: {Joining preformed parts by the expanding material}
- B29K 2705/00: Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
- B29L 2031/30: Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof {(vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027)}
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A cover for a vehicle roof may have a panel with a surface, a functional insert which is of flexible design, and a foamed-on plastics structure. The functional insert may have two contact regions, which are spaced apart from one another and which are each in direct contact with the surface. The foamed-on plastics structure fixes the functional insert to the panel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cover for a vehicle roof, comprising:
a panel with a surface,
a functional insert which is of flexible design,
a foamed-on plastics structure,
wherein the functional insert comprises two contact regions which are spaced apart from one another and which are each in direct contact with the surface,
the foamed-on plastics structure fixes the functional insert to the panel,
wherein the functional insert comprises a middle region between the two contact regions, the middle region being spaced apart from the surface, and
wherein the foamed-on plastics structure comprises two spaced-apart separate regions, each spaced-apart separate region assigned to one of the contact regions and each spaced-apart separate region arranged on the sides of the contact regions which face away from the middle region.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cover according to claim 1, wherein an assembly interface is arranged on the middle region.

### Claim 3

The cover according to 1, wherein the functional insert comprises two side regions, each of which is arranged between the middle region and one of the contact regions, wherein the side regions are each configured such that the contact regions are movable in each case relative to the middle region.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The cover according to claim 1, wherein the functional insert comprises a coupling region which adjoins one of the contact regions, wherein the coupling region is spaced apart from the surface and the foamed-on plastics structure is arranged partially between the surface and the coupling region.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The cover according to claim 1, wherein the contact regions each comprise a cutout.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The cover according to claim 1, wherein the functional insert is formed from a metal sheet.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The cover according to claim 1, wherein the panel and the functional insert, in cross section, completely surround an interior space.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The cover according to claim 1, wherein the functional insert is free of stiffening portions.

### Claim 9

A method for producing a cover for a vehicle roof 1, comprising: providing a panel with a surface, providing a functional insert which is of flexible design and which comprises two contact regions which are spaced apart from one another, placing the contact regions directly onto the surface, and forming a foamed-on plastics structure for fixing the functional insert to the panel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The cover according to claim 1, wherein the foamed on plastics structure is configured such that an underside of the middle region is accessible and graspable from above.