Panel assembly for an open roof construction for a vehicle
AssigneeInalfa Industries B.V.
InventorsEgbert Boersma, Wilhelm Maria Theresia Hendricus Schrans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A panel assembly for an open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof comprises a panel of plastic material, a stiffening frame extending along the circumference of the panel assembly and connecting means for connecting said panel and said stiffening frame to each other. The stiffening frame is positioned substantially externally of the plastic panel. The connecting means consist of an encapsulation formed at least externally around said panel, which consists of a non-transparent material which is softer than the panel material and whose upper side is substantially flush with the upper side of the panel.
Claims11
A panel assembly for an open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof, said panel assembly comprising:
- a panel of plastic material;
- a stiffening frame extending externally along the circumference of the panel assembly;
- connecting means for connecting said panel and said stiffening frame to each other, said connecting means including an encapsulation formed at least externally around said panel, said encapsulation being formed of a non-transparent material which is softer than the panel material;
- and
- wherein said stiffening frame is positioned entirely externally of the circumference of said plastic panel, and wherein an upper side of the encapsulation is substantially flush with an upper side of said panel.
A panel assembly for an open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof, said panel assembly comprising:
- a panel of plastic material;
- a stiffening frame extending externally along the circumference of the panel assembly;
- connecting means for connecting said panel and said stiffening frame to each other, said connecting means including an encapsulation formed at least externally around said panel;
- said stiffening frame being positioned entirely externally of the circumference of the plastic panel;
- and
- wherein the encapsulation disposed between the inner side of the frame and the outer side of the panel is adapted to absorb deformations of the panel.
An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof, which open roof construction comprises:
- a panel assembly for selectively closing or at least partially opening said roof opening, said panel assembly comprising:
- a panel of plastic material;
- a stiffening frame extending externally along the circumference of said panel assembly;
- connecting means for connecting said panel and said stiffening frame to each other, said connecting means including an encapsulation formed at least externally around said panel;
- wherein said stiffening frame is positioned entirely externally of the circumference of the plastic panel;
- and
- wherein the encapsulation disposed between the inner side of the frame and the outer side of the panel is adapted to absorb deformations of the panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.