GB2076751A

GB2076751A - Fixing An Openable Roof or Roof Member to a Vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2076751A
Application number: GB8016845A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-05-21
Filing date: 1980-05-21
Publication date: 1981-12-09

Abstract

The invention provides fixing hood-type roof, sun-roof panel, or hard top in position by means of a slide-type fastener F. One half 6 of the slide-type fastener may be carried by a windscreen frame and the other half 10 is carried by the roof. Movement of the slider 12 interconnects the fastener halves to fix the roof in position. The slide fastener provides even tension over the roof, a feature which is particularly advantageous where a hood-type roof is being fixed to the windscreen frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fixing an Openable Roof or Roof Member of a Vehicle The invention relates to the fixing of an openable roof or roof member of a vehicle to an adjacent part of the vehicle.

For many years, hoods for motor vehicles have consisted of a soft material mounted over a rigid framework which enables the hood to be folded away at the rear of the passenger compartment.

In the raised position the hood is usually fastened to a section of the vehicle body at the top of the windscreen aperture by individual clamps. Whilst the clamps hold the hood firmly in position, they tend to apply localised tension to the hood which can cause a certain amount of rucking. Moreover, it can be difficult to hold the hood in position whilst simultaneously manipulating the clamps and an object of the invention is to provide an improved form of fixing for an openable roof such as a vehicle hood.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of fixing an openable roof or roof member (hereinafter called a roof) to an adjacent part of a vehicle comprising mounting one half of a slide-type fastener on the roof and mounting the other half of the slide-type fastener on the adjacent body part so that operation of the slide will either interconnect the slide fastener halves to fix the roof in position or separate the slide fastener halves to enable the roof to be opened.

The slide fastener may be a zip comprising two chains of interlocking teeth and a slider, or may be of the type comprising a slider and two elongate male and female plastics extrusions.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle having a roof and an adjacent part to which the roof is to be fixed, the roof and adjacent part each carrying one half of a slide-type fastener so that operation of the slide will either interconnect the slide-fastener halves to fix the roof in position or separate the slidefastener halves to enable the roof to be opened.

The adjacent part is preferably a body part adjacent the top of a windscreen aperture of the vehicle.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a cross-section through part of a motor vehicle roof adjacent the top of the windscreen aperture.

An upper windscreen frame 1 is attached to the main body (not shown) of the vehicle and supports a trim pad 2 and an upper surround 3 for a windscreen 4. The trim pad 2 and surround 3 are secured to the windscreen frame 1 by a series of rivets or other means 5 one only of which is shown. Also secured to the windscreen frame 1 by the rivets 5 is one half 6 (hereinafter called the lower half) of a slide-type fastener F. A hood 7 which forms the roof of the vehicle is provided with a front frame 8 which lies along the top of the windscreen surround 3 when in the closed position. A weather seal 14 lies between the front frame 8 and windscreen surround 3 in the usual way. The front frame 8 has a vertical flange 9 to which is rivetted the upper half 10 of the slide fastener F.A slider 12 (indicated in broken lines) on the slide halves can be drawn along the fastener in one direction to interconnect the slide halves 6, 10 and fix the front frame 8 in the position shown, or can be drawn in the opposite direction to separate the fastener halves. Once the fastener halves are separated, the hood can be folded down and stowed in known manner. A trim flap 13 may be provided on the lower slide half 6 for covering the intersection between the two interconnected halves 6, 10.

The slide fastener provides even tension to the hood over the full length of the fastener whereas conventional clamps tend to apply localised tension as already stated. Furthermore, it is easier to operate a fastener slide than to manipuiate clamps when holding the front frame in position.

The slide fastener does not form a dangerous projection in the passenger compartment and is also advantageous over clamps in that respect. A short length of "lead in" can be provided for the fastener to enable the two halves 6, 10 to be interconnected easily when the hood 7 is placed approximately in the position shown.

The fastener F is preferably a zip type having two chains of interlocking teeth. The zip is particularly useful in that it provides both vertical and side-to-side location of the front frame 8. The zip may aiso be installed in an inclined manner to provide for and aft location in addition. However, the fastener may be of the type having its halves formed as male and female plastics extrusions which are interengaged by movement of the sldier. In the latter case some external form of sideways location for the roof front frame 8 is desirable.

The slider 12 can be arranged to remain on either the upper or the lower half when the roof is opened.

A single slide fastener can be used extending for the majority of the length the roof front frame or two or more fasteners each extending part-way along can be used.

Although the invention is particularly useful for fixing motor vehicle holds, sun-roof panels, complete hard top roofs or roof sections can be fixed in a similar way. With a sun roof panel, the front end could be fixed with a slide fastener and the rear end could locate in a slot in the adjacent roof section or vice versa.

The term "vehicle" as used herein includes caravans and any other form of trailer, or any other conveyance in or by which objects, animals or people can be transported.

Claims

1. A method of fixing an openable roof or roof member of a vehicle (hereinafter termed "a roof") to an adjacent part of the vehicle comprising mounting one half of a slide-type fastener on the roof, mounting the other half of the slide-type

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fixing an Openable Roof or Roof Member of a Vehicle The invention relates to the fixing of an openable roof or roof member of a vehicle to an adjacent part of the vehicle. For many years, hoods for motor vehicles have consisted of a soft material mounted over a rigid framework which enables the hood to be folded away at the rear of the passenger compartment. In the raised position the hood is usually fastened to a section of the vehicle body at the top of the windscreen aperture by individual clamps. Whilst the clamps hold the hood firmly in position, they tend to apply localised tension to the hood which can cause a certain amount of rucking. Moreover, it can be difficult to hold the hood in position whilst simultaneously manipulating the clamps and an object of the invention is to provide an improved form of fixing for an openable roof such as a vehicle hood. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of fixing an openable roof or roof member (hereinafter called a roof) to an adjacent part of a vehicle comprising mounting one half of a slide-type fastener on the roof and mounting the other half of the slide-type fastener on the adjacent body part so that operation of the slide will either interconnect the slide fastener halves to fix the roof in position or separate the slide fastener halves to enable the roof to be opened. The slide fastener may be a zip comprising two chains of interlocking teeth and a slider, or may be of the type comprising a slider and two elongate male and female plastics extrusions. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle having a roof and an adjacent part to which the roof is to be fixed, the roof and adjacent part each carrying one half of a slide-type fastener so that operation of the slide will either interconnect the slide-fastener halves to fix the roof in position or separate the slidefastener halves to enable the roof to be opened. The adjacent part is preferably a body part adjacent the top of a windscreen aperture of the vehicle. The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a cross-section through part of a motor vehicle roof adjacent the top of the windscreen aperture. An upper windscreen frame 1 is attached to the main body (not shown) of the vehicle and supports a trim pad 2 and an upper surround 3 for a windscreen 4. The trim pad 2 and surround 3 are secured to the windscreen frame 1 by a series of rivets or other means 5 one only of which is shown. Also secured to the windscreen frame 1 by the rivets 5 is one half 6 (hereinafter called the lower half) of a slide-type fastener F. A hood 7 which forms the roof of the vehicle is provided with a front frame 8 which lies along the top of the windscreen surround 3 when in the closed position. A weather seal 14 lies between the front frame 8 and windscreen surround 3 in the usual way. The front frame 8 has a vertical flange 9 to which is rivetted the upper half 10 of the slide fastener F.A slider 12 (indicated in broken lines) on the slide halves can be drawn along the fastener in one direction to interconnect the slide halves 6, 10 and fix the front frame 8 in the position shown, or can be drawn in the opposite direction to separate the fastener halves. Once the fastener halves are separated, the hood can be folded down and stowed in known manner. A trim flap 13 may be provided on the lower slide half 6 for covering the intersection between the two interconnected halves 6, 10. The slide fastener provides even tension to the hood over the full length of the fastener whereas conventional clamps tend to apply localised tension as already stated. Furthermore, it is easier to operate a fastener slide than to manipuiate clamps when holding the front frame in position. The slide fastener does not form a dangerous projection in the passenger compartment and is also advantageous over clamps in that respect. A short length of "lead in" can be provided for the fastener to enable the two halves 6, 10 to be interconnected easily when the hood 7 is placed approximately in the position shown. The fastener F is preferably a zip type having two chains of interlocking teeth. The zip is particularly useful in that it provides both vertical and side-to-side location of the front frame 8. The zip may aiso be installed in an inclined manner to provide for and aft location in addition. However, the fastener may be of the type having its halves formed as male and female plastics extrusions which are interengaged by movement of the sldier. In the latter case some external form of sideways location for the roof front frame 8 is desirable. The slider 12 can be arranged to remain on either the upper or the lower half when the roof is opened. A single slide fastener can be used extending for the majority of the length the roof front frame or two or more fasteners each extending part-way along can be used. Although the invention is particularly useful for fixing motor vehicle holds, sun-roof panels, complete hard top roofs or roof sections can be fixed in a similar way. With a sun roof panel, the front end could be fixed with a slide fastener and the rear end could locate in a slot in the adjacent roof section or vice versa. The term "vehicle" as used herein includes caravans and any other form of trailer, or any other conveyance in or by which objects, animals or people can be transported. Claims

1. A method of fixing an openable roof or roof member of a vehicle (hereinafter termed "a roof") to an adjacent part of the vehicle comprising mounting one half of a slide-type fastener on the roof, mounting the other half of the slide-type fastener on the adjacent part of the vehicle and operating the fastener slide so as to interconnect the slide fastener halves to fix the roof in position.

2. A vehicle having a roof or roof member (hereinafter termed "a roof") and an adjacent part to which the roof is to be fixed, the roof and adjacent part each carrying one half of a slidetype fastener so that operation of the fastener slide will interconnect the slide fastener halves to fix the roof in position.

3 A vehicle according to Claim 2 in which the said adjacent part is a windscreen frame of the vehicle.

4. A vehicle according to Claim 3 in which the windscreen frame carries a surround which is shaped to define a flange against which its associated slide-type fastener half is held by fastening means.

5. A vehicle according to Claim 2, 3 or 4 in which the roof is in the form of a hood which carries a roof frame member on which the roof half of the slide-type fastener is mounted.

6. A vehicle according to Claim 5 when appendant to Claim 4 in which the roof frame member includes a flange which lies substantially in the same plane as the said flange of said surround when the roof is fixed in position, the roof half of the slide-type fastener being held against said flange on the roof frame member by fastening means.

7. A vehicle according to Claim 5 or 6 in which a sealing element sealingly engages the roof frame member and a surface on said surround when the roof is fixed to the windscreen frame.

8. A vehicle according to Claim 7 in which the sealing element is carried by the roof frame member.

9. A vehicle according to any of Claims 5 to 8 in which the roof half of the slide-type fastener extends substantially along the full length of the roof frame member.

10. A vehicle according to any of Claims 5 to 8 in which two or more slide-type fasteners are provided, the roof halves of which extend part way along the roof frame member

11. A vehicle according to any of Claim 2 to 10 in which the halves af the slide-type fastener comprise two chains of teeth which can be interlocked or unlocked by the slide.

12. A vehicle according to any of Claims 2 to 10 in which the halves of the slide fastener comprise elongate resilient male and female elements which can be interengaged or disengaged by the slider.

1 3. A vehicle according to Claim 12 in which locating means is provided to prevent movement of the roof longitudinally of the slide fastener after the slide-fastener halves have been interconnected.

14. A vehicle according to any of claims 2 to 1 3 in which end portions of each slide fastener half are left free of the roof and adjacent vehicle part to provide a lead-in for the slide fastener.

1 5. A vehicle contructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.