Sunroof panel for vehicle and manufacturing method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11511606-B2
Application number	US-202016784771-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2020
Priority date	Feb 8, 2019
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

A sunroof apparatus for a vehicle includes a first side frame and a second side frame disposed at opposing ends of the sunroof apparatus in a vehicle width direction, a frame unit including a main frame, a first sub frame, and a second sub frame, the frame unit connecting an end portion of the first side frame and an end portion of the second side frame in the vehicle width direction, a fixed panel covering the opening portion of the main frame, and a joint layer covering a rim of the fixed panel and joining the main frame and the fixed panel. The first side frame and the second side frame are connected with the first sub frame and the second sub frame in the vehicle front-rear direction, respectively.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sunroof apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
a first side frame disposed at one of opposing ends of the sunroof apparatus in a vehicle width direction, the first side frame extending in a vehicle front-rear direction;
a second side frame disposed at the other of opposing ends of the sunroof apparatus in the vehicle width direction, the second side frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction;
a frame unit including
a main frame including a frame-rim having an edge defining an opening portion extending in the vehicle width direction;
a first sub frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from a first end portion of the main frame in the vehicle width direction; and
a second sub frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from a second end portion of the main frame in the vehicle width direction;

the frame unit connecting an end portion of the first side frame and an end portion of the second side frame in the vehicle width direction;
a fixed panel covering the opening portion of the main frame; and
a joint layer covering a panel-rim of the fixed panel and joining the main frame and the fixed panel; wherein
the first side frame is connected with the first sub frame in the vehicle front-rear direction,
the second side frame is connected with the second sub frame in the vehicle front-rear direction, and
the joint layer covers the edge of the frame-rim and sandwiches the frame-rim.

2. A manufacturing method of a sunroof apparatus for a vehicle, the sunroof apparatus comprising:
a first side frame disposed at one of opposing ends of the sunroof apparatus in a vehicle width direction, the first side frame extending in a vehicle front-rear direction;
a second side frame disposed at the other of opposing ends of the sunroof apparatus in the vehicle width direction, the second side frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction;
a frame unit including
a main frame including a frame-rim having an edge defining an opening portion extending in the vehicle width direction;
a first sub frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from a first end portion of the main frame in the vehicle width direction; and
a second sub frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from a second end portion of the main frame in the vehicle width direction;

the frame unit connecting an end portion of the first side frame and an end portion of the second side frame in the vehicle width direction; and
a fixed panel covering the opening portion of the main frame; wherein
the manufacturing method of the sunroof panel for the vehicle including steps of,
forming the first side frame, the second side frame, and the frame unit separately,
forming a joint layer by hardening liquid resin injected between the frame unit and the fixed panel which are disposed within a mold, the joint layer covering a panel-rim of the fixed panel and joining the main frame and the fixed panel, the joint layer covering the edge of the frame-rim and sandwiching the frame-rim,
connecting the first side frame and the first sub frame in the vehicle front-rear direction, and
connecting the second side frame and the second sub frame in the vehicle front-rear direction.

3. The sunroof apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the main frame includes
a lower portion,
an upper portion, and
an intermediate portion extending from the lower portion to the upper portion,
the upper portion including the frame-rim having the edge defining the opening portion, and

the joint layer comprises
an upper lip portion contacting an outer edge of the panel-rim of the fixed panel,
a joining portion disposed in-between the upper portion of the main frame and the fixed panel, and
a lower lip portion contacting the intermediate portion and the lower portion of the main frame.

4. The sunroof apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first side frame and the first sub frame overlap one another in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the second side frame and the second sub frame overlap one another in the vehicle front-rear direction.

5. The manufacturing method of claim 2 , wherein
the main frame includes
a lower portion,
an upper portion, and
an intermediate portion extending from the lower portion to the upper portion,
the upper portion including the frame-rim having the edge defining the opening portion, and

the joint layer formed in the method comprises
an upper lip portion contacting an outer edge of the panel-rim of the fixed panel,
a joining portion disposed in-between the upper portion of the main frame and the fixed panel, and
a lower lip portion contacting the intermediate portion and the lower portion of the main frame.

6. The manufacturing method of claim 2 , wherein the first side frame and the first sub frame overlap one another in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the second side frame and the second sub frame overlap one another in the vehicle front-rear direction.

Assignees

• Aisin Corp

Inventors

• Matsui Tatsuya

Classifications

• B29C45/14508

  Joining juxtaposed sheet-like articles, e.g. for making trim panels · CPC title

• B29L2031/778

  Windows (profiled elements for making window frames B29L2031/005, windscreens B29L2031/3052) · CPC title

• B60J7/022 Primary

  Sliding roof trays or assemblies · CPC title

• B60J7/043

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

• B62D25/06

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