Frame of a vehicle roof and production thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10369871-B2
Application number	US-201515526266-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2015
Priority date	Nov 21, 2014
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to a frame, comprising, on each of its two sides relative to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, a respective longitudinal beam made of sheet metal and at least one transverse beam made of sheet metal and connecting the two longitudinal beams to each other. The longitudinal beams and the at least one transverse beam are connected to each other via joint lines made of polyurethane foam. Moreover, a method for producing the frame is proposed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle roof comprising a frame, which at least partially surrounds a roof opening, which can be closed or at least partially released as desired by means of a lid element, and/or serves for supporting and fixing a rigid roof panel forming a hard top section, comprising, on each of its two sides relative to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, a respective longitudinal beam made of sheet metal and at least one transverse beam made of sheet metal and connecting the two longitudinal beams to each other, wherein the longitudinal beams and the at least one transverse beam are connected to each other via joint lines made of polyurethane foam.

2. The vehicle roof according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises at least one functional section, which is made of polyurethane foam and is connected to at least one of the longitudinal beams and/or the at least one transverse beam.

3. The vehicle roof according to claim 2 , wherein the functional section comprises a holding section for a seal of a roof opening system.

4. The vehicle roof according to claim 3 , wherein the holding section comprises a seal groove, into which the seal is inserted.

5. The vehicle roof according to claim 2 , wherein the functional section secures a reinforcing sheet to at least one of the longitudinal beams and/or the at least one transverse beam.

6. The vehicle roof according to claim 2 , wherein the functional section comprises a panel, which is formed on at least one of the longitudinal beams and/or on the at least one transverse beam.

7. The vehicle roof according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle roof comprises at least one visible surface, which is made of a polyurethane foam connected to the transverse beam and/or to at least one of the longitudinal beams.

8. The vehicle roof according to claim 7 , wherein the visible surface comprises a grain, which is formed in the polyurethane foam.

9. A vehicle roof comprising a frame, which at least partially surrounds a roof opening, which can be closed or at least partially released as desired by means of a lid element, and/or serves for supporting and fixing a rigid roof panel forming a hard top section, comprising, on each of its two sides relative to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, a respective longitudinal beam made of sheet metal and at least one transverse beam made of sheet metal and connecting the two longitudinal beams to each other, wherein the vehicle roof comprises at least one functional section, which is made of a polyurethane foam and is connected to at least one of the longitudinal beams and/or the transverse beam.

10. The vehicle roof according to claim 9 , wherein the functional section comprises a holding section for a seal of roof opening system.

11. The vehicle roof according to claim 10 , wherein the holding section comprises a seal groove, into which the seal is inserted.

12. The vehicle roof according to claim 9 , wherein the functional section secures a reinforcing sheet to at least one of the longitudinal beams and/or the transverse beam.

13. The vehicle roof according to claim 9 , wherein the functional section forms a panel on at least one of the longitudinal beams and/or the transverse beam.

14. The vehicle roof according to claim 13 , wherein the vehicle roof comprises a visible surface, which is made of a polyurethane foam connected to at least one of the longitudinal beams and/or the transverse beam.

15. The vehicle roof according to claim 14 , wherein the visible surface comprises a grain, which is formed in the polyurethane foam.

16. A vehicle roof comprising a frame, which at least partially surrounds a roof opening, which can be closed or at least partially released as desired by means of a lid element, and/or serves for supporting and fixing a rigid roof panel forming a hard top section, comprising, on each of its two sides relative to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, a respective longitudinal beam made of sheet metal and at least one transverse beam made of sheet metal and connecting the two longitudinal beams to each other, wherein the vehicle roof comprises a visible surface, which is made of a polyurethane foam connected to at least one of the longitudinal beams and/or the transverse beam.

17. The vehicle roof according to claim 16 , wherein the visible surface comprises a grain, which is formed in the polyurethane foam.

18. The vehicle roof according to claim 1 , characterized by a disk element, which is fixed to the two longitudinal beams via a molding section made of a polyurethane foam.

19. A method for producing a frame of a vehicle roof, which at least partially surrounds a roof opening, which can be closed or at least partially released as desired by means of a lid element, and/or serves for supporting and fixing a rigid roof panel forming a hard top section and which comprises, on each of its two sides relative to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, a respective longitudinal beam made of sheet metal and at least one transverse beam made of sheet metal and connecting the two longitudinal beams to each other, wherein the longitudinal beams and the transverse beam are connected to each other via a polyurethane foam according to a foam molding process and under formation of joint lines.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the longitudinal beams and the transverse beam are inserted into a foaming mold, in which the joint lines are formed.

21. The method according to claim 19 , wherein a functional section is realized during the foam molding process, said functional section being connected to at least one of the longitudinal beams and/or to the transverse beam.

Assignees

• Webasto SE

Inventors

• Hoelzel Dominik

Classifications

• B29C44/1228

  Joining preformed parts by the expanding material · CPC title

• B62D29/002

  a foamable synthetic material or metal being added in situ (shaping of substances in a plastic state by foaming, in general B29C44/00) · CPC title

• B60J7/043 Primary

  Sunroofs (B60J7/047 - B60J7/053 take precedence){e.g. sliding above the roof} · CPC title

• B62D25/06 Primary

  Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) · CPC title

• B60J10/30

  characterised by the fastening means · CPC title