Open roof construction for a vehicle, and panel for use therein

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9308803-B2
Application number	US-201414288639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2014
Priority date	May 30, 2013
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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.

2. The open roof construction according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling vessel comprises a variable closed volume communicating with the space in the panel.

3. The open roof construction according to claim 2 , wherein the controlling vessel includes first and second vessel spaces separated by a movable wall, the first vessel space communicating with the space between the sheets, the second vessel space communicating with the ambient air.

4. The open roof construction according to claim 3 , wherein the movable wall is a deformable membrane.

5. The open roof construction according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling vessel is disposed in or on the stationary part.

6. The open roof construction according to claim 5 , wherein the controlling vessel communicating with the space between the sheets of the panel includes a flexible hose.

7. The open roof construction according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling vessel is arranged at the rear edge of the roof opening.

8. The open roof construction according to claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises valves, one cooperating with the controlling vessel and one with the space in the panel, the valves configured to close the controlling vessel and space in the panel, respectively, when disconnected and connecting the controlling vessel and space in the panel when connected.

9. The open roof construction according to claim 1 , wherein the panel includes a reinforcement and the pressure equalizing device being combined with the reinforcement.

10. The open roof construction according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling vessel is elongated and extends in a transverse direction with respect to forward movement of the vehicle.

11. The open roof construction according to claim 4 , wherein the membrane in the controlling vessel extends substantially parallel to an elongated direction of the controlling vessel, such that the vessel is divided in top and bottom vessel spaces, or the membrane in the controlling vessel is an inflatable and deflatable balloon attached to an outlet of the space between the panel sheets.

12. The open roof construction according to claim 5 , wherein the panel comprises a front and rear panel positioned one behind the other, wherein the pressure equalizing device is arranged at a position near a rear edge of the front panel and a front edge of the rear panel.

13. The open roof construction according to claim 12 , wherein the space in the panel comprises a front panel space in the front panel and a rear panel space in the rear panel, the front panel being movable and the front panel space in the front panel being connected to the controlling vessel through a valve assembly when the front panel is in its closed position, the rear panel space in the rear panel communicating with the controlling vessel through a flexible tube.

14. The open roof construction according to claim 7 , wherein the panel is movable at least between the closed position and a venting position in which a rear edge of the panel is raised.

15. The open roof construction according to claim 9 , wherein the reinforcement member is on the front and/or rear side of the panel.

16. The open roof construction according to claim 4 wherein the membrane in the controlling vessel is an inflatable and deflatable balloon attached to an outlet of the space between the panel sheets.

17. 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.

18. The panel according to claim 17 , wherein the pressure equalizing device is provided on at least one of the front and rear sides of the panel.

19. The panel according to claim 17 , wherein the pressure equalizing device is provided mainly within the reinforcement.

20. The open roof construction according to claim 17 , wherein the controlling vessel comprises a variable closed volume communicating with the space in the panel.

21. The open roof construction according to claim 20 , wherein the controlling vessel includes first and second vessel spaces separated by a movable wall, the first vessel space communicating with the space between the sheets, the second vessel space communicating with the ambient air.

22. The open roof construction according to claim 21 , wherein the movable wall is a deformable membrane.

23. The open roof construction according to claim 2 , wherein the membrane in the controlling vessel extends substantially parallel to an elongated direction of the controlling vessel, such that the vessel is divided in top and bottom vessel spaces.

24. The panel according to claim 2 wherein the membrane in the controlling vessel is an inflatable and deflatable balloon attached to an outlet of the space between the panel sheets.

25. The panel according to claim 17 wherein the controlling vessel is container having dehydrating material.

26. The open roof construction according to claim 17 , wherein the controlling vessel is elongated and extends in a transverse direction with respect to forward movement of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Inalfa Roof Sys Group Bv

Inventors

• Nabuurs Martinus Wilhelmus Maria
• Rikkert Robert
• De Bie Sander

Classifications

• B60J7/0007

  moveable head-liners, screens, curtains or blinds for ceilings · CPC title

• B60J7/04 Primary

  with rigid plate-like element or elements {, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels (B60J7/061 takes precedence)} · CPC title