Open roof construction for a vehicle, and panel for use therein
AssigneeInalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
InventorsMartinus Wilhelmus Maria Nabuurs, Robert Rikkert, Sander De Bie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof comprises a stationary part and at least a panel supported by the stationary part and configured to close the opening in the fixed roof. The panel include two substantially parallel sheets connected and sealed to each other at least along their circumference in order to create a space there between containing gas. The space communicates with a pressure equalizing device equalizing the pressure in the space with the ambient pressure. The pressure equalizing device can be an open or closed system.
Claims26
An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof, comprising
- a stationary part;
- at least a panel supported by the stationary part and configured to close the opening in the fixed roof, said panel including two substantially parallel sheets connected and sealed to each other at least along their circumference in order to create a space there between containing gas;
- and
- a pressure equalizing device connected to fluidly communicate with the space to equalize the pressure in the space with the ambient pressure, wherein the pressure equalizing device comprises a controlling vessel configured to regulate the pressure in the space and closing off said space from the environment;
- wherein the panel is a movable panel configured to move between a closed position closing the roof opening and an open position releasing the roof opening at least partly, and wherein the controlling vessel includes a coupling to communicate with the space between the sheets of the panel, the coupling having a valve configured to open and close respectively when the panel is closed and coupled to or open and uncoupled from the controlling vessel.
An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof, comprising
- a stationary part;
- at least a panel supported by the stationary part and configured to close the opening in the fixed roof, said panel comprising:
- substantially parallel upper and lower sheets, the upper sheet having a portion extending beyond a segment of a circumference of the lower sheet such that the upper sheet is larger than the lower sheet;
- a spacer joined to an under side of the upper sheet and an upper side of the lower sheet along the circumference of the lower sheet in order to create a space there between containing gas;
- and
- an elongated reinforcement directly joined to an under side of the portion of the upper sheet apart from the spacer and extending only downwardly from the underside of the upper sheet, the reinforcement comprising a pressure equalizing device in fluid communication with the space and configured to equalize pressure in the space with ambient air, said pressure equalizing device including at least a controlling vessel communicating with the space through one or more conduits, said controlling vessel of said pressure equalizing device being integrated in said reinforcement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.