GB2033850A

GB2033850A - Vehicle sliding roofs

Info

Publication number: GB2033850A
Application number: GB7935220A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-12
Filing date: 1979-10-10
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: DE2941516A1; JPS5555412U; FR2438559A1

Abstract

A vehicle sliding roof is disclosed in which the periphery of an opening (13) in a roof part (12) carries a preformed strip member (17) that is of corrosion resistant material such as stainless steel, aluminium or hard synthetic plastics. The slidable member (21) of the roof carries a sealing member (22) that seals on the pre-formed strip member (17) in the closed position of the slidable member. As an alternative, the pre-formed strip member is carried by the slidable member and the sealing member is carried by the roof part. In each case either the pre-formed member or the sealing member acts as a trim for the periphery of the roof opening so that a wear resistant surface is presented to the slidable member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle sliding roofs This invention relates to vehicle sliding roofs.

Vehicle sliding roofs having a sliding panel whereby an opening in the roof can be opened or closed are well known. One known form is shown in sectional part-view in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. In this form an opening 2 provided at a desired place in a roof 1 has a depending rim 3 bent down from the remainder of the roof 1. The rim has attached to it a frame 4. When the opening 2 is closed (as illustrated) by a slidable panel 5 a sealing member 6 of rubber or similar material provided on the outer periphery of the panel 5 comes into contact with the rim 3 of the opening 2 to seal the opening. In this known form, therefore, the sealing member 6 seals on the surface of the roof 1.This leads to the problem that as a result of repeated sealing and unsealing action of the sealing member 6, accompanying repeated closing and opening movement of the slidable panel 5, the surface coating of the roof 1 tends to become worn away so that rust tends to develop, and the sealing member also can become damaged either by this formation of rust or because the wear to the roof 1 produces rough edges.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle sliding roof comprising an opening in the roof of the vehicle, a member slidably supported for movement to open and close the opening, and between the periphery of the opening and the opposing periphery of the slidable member, a preformed member having a corrosion resistant surface and a sealing member; one of these two members being mounted on the periphery of the opening and the other being mounted on the periphery of the slidable member so that the slidable member seals on said corrosion resistant surface in the closed position of the slidable member. Thus the sealing member seals on a corrosion resistant surface that is not the surface of the vehicle roof and the problems associated with wear of the vehicle roof, discussed above, are avoided.In addition formation of the opening is simplified as its periphery is trimmed by the member it carries.

Four a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 2 is a plan view of a vehicle fitted with a sliding roof, Figure 3 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2, and Figure 4,5 and 6are sectional views similar to Figure 3 but showing alternative forms.

Referring first to Figure 2, the vehicle 10 has in the front part 12 of its roof 11 an opening 13 of substantially rectangular form with a greater dimension running across the vehicle.

Turning to Figure 3 the front roof part 12 at the opening 13 is stepped down to provide a flat mounting 14, whilst an internal roof part 15 is stepped up to provide a flat backing 16 for the mounting 14, the mounting 14 and its backing 16 abutting one another so as to form a single flange directed inwardly all around the opening 13. A pre-formed strip member 17 is supported on the mounting 14, this member 17 extending around the entire periphery of the opening. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the pre-formed member is a substantially closed construction of box-like form with a surface 18 on the inner peripheral edge (as fitted in the opening 13) that is inclined into the opening 13 in the direction from the bottom of the member 17 to the top.The member 17 is held in place by screws 19 passed through the backing 16 and the mounting 14 and entered in captive screwthreaded blocks within the member 17, these screws holding the member 17 clamped on a sealing member 20 provided between the member 17 and the stepped portion of the roof part 12. The preformed member 17 is of metal having good corrosion resistance and fine appearance such as stainless steel or aluminium alloy, or it can be of hard synthetic resin. The surface 18 is flat and smooth.

On the outer periphery of a sliding roof member 21 that moves for opening and closing the opening 13 a sealing member 22 is provided so as to surround the periphery of the member 21. The outside surface of the sealing member 22 has on its upper part a lip 23 and on its lower part a bulge 24. The sealing member 22 is supported from the roof member 21 by a holder 25.

The roof member 21 is guided by a guide rail, not shown, for rearward and forward movement for opening and closing the opening 13 and, in addition, at the time of just opening or closing the opening 13 the member 21 moves downward or upward so that, upon closing, the lip 23 and the bulge 24 of the sealing member 22 come into contact with the surface 18 of the member 17 to mate therewith to provide a seal. This is the condition shown in Figure 3. This mating co-operation is repeated each time the opening is closed but as the member 17 is manufactured of stainless steel, aluminium alloy or synthetic resin having good corrosion resistance without the application of any coating, there is no risk that wear will cause paint to peel, or that rusting will occur, and the mating surface 18 therefore will remain smooth over a long period of time.Thus the corresponding mating edge of the sealing member 22 is guarded against damage as effectively as possible. It is also to be noted that as the member is mounted around the inner periphery of the opening it forms a trim for this inner periphery which can therefore simply be made flat, without eftecting deburring and with no need to hold close tolerances on the formed panel since errors can be absorbed when the member 17 is fitted in position. Thus forming of the opening is simplified.

Figure 4 illustrates a variation of the embodiment shown in Figure 3, in which the opening 13 in the roof part 12 is bent through a step 11 2b to terminate in a depending portion 112a; and in which a folded lip at the lower edge 11 7a of a pre-formed strip member 117, having in section substantially the shape of an inverted Las fitted in position, is engaged over the lower edge of the depending portion 1 12a and the upper part of 1 17b of this member is fitted onto the step 112b. In this way the member 117 is held by its own resilience on the roof part 12.A sealing member 112 mounted around the periphery of the sliding roof member 21 is installed by engaging a depending edge 121a of the roof member 21 in a channel-sectioned holder portion 122b from which a bulge 122a protrudes for sealing co-operation with the member 117.

in the embodiment of Figure 5, a sliding roof member 221 of transparent material has a preformed strip member 217 surrounding its outer periphery. This member 217 is of channel section so as to embrace the outer periphery of the roof member 221, and to present an upright flat surface 218 for mating with a corresponding peripheral surface of a sealing member 222. An opening 213 in a roof part 212 has a bent down depending portion 213a on which the sealing member 222 is mounted, the portion 213a being engaged in a channelsectioned holder portion of the member 222 so that the member 222 is supported on the inner periphery of the opening 213.The mating surface 218 is on a bulge protruding from the channel-sectioned holder portion whereby a seal is provided between the periphery of the opening 213 and the roof member 221 by the pre-formed strip member 217 and the sealing member 222, the relative positions of these member being reversed as compared with the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4.

This reversed relationship is also the case in the embodiment of Figure 6, in which a sliding roof member 321 is made of steel. The outer periphery of this roof member 321 is bent over to terminate in a depending portion 321a on which is mounted a pre-formed strip member 317 similar to the member 117 of Figure 4 and therefore having, inter alia, a folded lip at its lower edge 317a and an upper part 317b. The lip engaged over the lower edge of the depending portion 321 a and the upper part 317b is fitted onto a step 321 b.

The member 317 co-operates with a sealing member 322 like the sealing member 222 of Figure 5 mounted on a depending portion 313a around an opening 313 in a roof part 312.

In all cases the sealing member 17 or 117 or 217 or 317 is of stainless steel, aluminium alloy or hard synthetic resin having good corrosion resistance, so that, unlike painted surfaces, no peeling of paint and rusting can take place, and the sealing member is therefore not exposed to damage caused from such sources whereby effective sealing over a long period of time is ensured. Furthermore, and as has already been stated, by providing a pre-formed member that serves as a trimming, formation of the opening is simplified, particularly the finishing treatment thereof, dimensional errors being absorbed by the preformed member. Where the relative positions of the pre-formed member and the sealing member are reversed it is the sealing member that serves to trim the periphery ofthe opening.

Claims

1. Avehiclesliding roofcomprising an opening in the roof of the vehicle, a memberslidably supported for movement to open and close the opening, and, between the periphery of the opening and the opposing periphery of the slidable member, a pre-formed member having a corrosion resistant surface and a sealing member; one of these two members being mounted on the periphery ofthe opening and the other being mounted on the periphery of the slidable member so that the slidable member seals on said corrosion resistant surface in the closed position of the slidable member.

2. A vehicle sliding roof as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-formed member is a substantially closed construction of box-like form that is secured to a step at the periphery of the opening.

3. A vehicle sliding roof as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pre-formed member presents to the sealing member a surface that is inclined into the opening in the direction from the bottom of the pre-formed member to the top thereof, and wherein the sealing member presents to the pre-formed member a bulge and a lip above the bulge, which bulge and lip sealingly engage the inclined surface of the pre-formed member in the closed position of the slidable member.

4. A vehicle sliding roof as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-formed member has, in section, substantially the shape of an inverted L, a folded lip at the lower edge of the pre-formed member being engaged over the lower edge of a depending portion of the roof that is at the periphery of the opening, or over the lower edge of a depending portion of the slidable member, and the upper part of the preformed member being fitted onto a step above the depending portion over which the lip is engaged.

5. A vehicle sliding roof as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-formed member is of channelsection and embraces the periphery of the slidable member.

6. A vehicle sliding roof as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the pre-formed member presents to the sealing member an upright surface, and wherein the sealing member presents to the pre-formed member a bulge which sealingly engages the upright surface of the pre-formed member in the closed position of the slidable member.

7. A vehicle sliding roof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pre-formed member is of stainless steel.

8. A vehicle sliding roof as claimed in any one of cla.ims 1 to 6, wherein the pre-formed member is of aluminium alloy.

9. A vehicle sliding roof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pre-formed member is of hard synthetic resin.

10. Avehicle sliding roof as substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3, or Figure 4, or Figure 5, or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.