Panel body of sunroof device and method for producing panel body of sunroof device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9623735-B2
Application number	US-201514904992-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2015
Priority date	Jan 28, 2014
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

A panel body of a sunroof device able to have reduced weight and a method for producing the panel body. The panel body of a sunroof device includes: a sunroof panel; a holder attached to the peripheral rim of the bottom surface of the sunroof panel and provided with a concavity; a lid member occluding the opening of the concavity; and a resin holding member formed in a manner so as to integrate the sunroof panel, holder, and lid member. The panel body of a sunroof device includes the holder having flanges, an end of the lid member being sandwiched between the top surface of the flanges and the bottom surface of the sunroof panel, and the holding member having a sandwiched section entering the space encircled by the top surface of the flanges, the bottom surface of the sunroof panel, and the end surface of the lid member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A panel body for a sunroof device, comprising:
a sunroof panel;
a holder being attached to a peripheral portion of a lower surface of the sunroof panel, and including a recessed portion;
a lid member closing an opening of the recessed portion; and
a holding member formed of resin so as to integrate the sunroof panel, the holder, and the lid member;
wherein the holder includes a flange portion;
an end portion of the lid member is sandwiched between an upper surface of the flange portion and a lower surface of the sunroof panel;
the holding member includes a sandwiched portion which enters a first space surrounded by the upper surface of the flange portion, the lower surface of the sunroof panel, and an edge face of the lid member;
the lid member is arranged across a pair of opening edges of the recessed portion to close the recessed portion;
the sandwiched portion is formed on each of opposite sides of the lid member bestriding the recessed portion;
an entire lower surface of the holder is covered by the holding member; and
a lower surface of the lid member and the recessed portion of the holder define an enclosed second space which is not and cannot be intruded into by the resin when the holding member is formed.

2. A method for producing a panel body for a sunroof device, where the panel body includes a sunroof panel, a holder being attached to a peripheral portion of a lower surface of the sunroof panel and including a recessed portion, a lid member closing an opening of the recessed portion, and a holding member formed of resin so as to integrate the sunroof panel, the holder, and the lid member; the holder includes a flange portion; an end portion of the lid member is sandwiched between an upper surface of the flange portion and a lower surface of the sunroof panel; the holding member includes a sandwiched portion which enters a first space surrounded by the upper surface of the flange portion, the lower surface of the sunroof panel, and an edge face of the lid member; the lid member is arranged across a pair of opening edges of the recessed portion to close the recessed portion; and the sandwiched portion is formed on each of opposite sides of the lid member bestriding the recessed portion; wherein
the method comprises:
a step of closing the opening of the recessed portion of the holder with the lid member, and arranging the sunroof panel, the holder, and the lid member in a forming die; and
a step of integrally forming the holding member to hold the sunroof panel, the holder, and the lid member while forming the sandwiched portion on each of the opposite sides of the lid member and covering an entire lower surface of the holder, by injecting resin material into the forming die,
wherein, in the step of closing the opening of the recessed portion of the holder, a lower surface of the lid member and the recessed portion of the holder define an enclosed second space which cannot be intruded into by the resin material, and the resin material does not intrude into the enclosed second space in the step of integrally forming the holding member.

Assignees

• Yachiyo Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Akuzawa Masanori
• Tsukamoto Hiroyuki

Classifications

• B29C45/14467

  Joining articles or parts of a single article (B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence) · CPC title

• B29C45/14377

  using an additional insert, e.g. a fastening element · CPC title

• B29K2075/00

  Use of {PU, i.e.} polyureas or polyurethanes {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material · CPC title

• B62D65/06

  the sub-units or components being doors, windows, openable roofs, lids, bonnets, or weather strips or seals therefor {(assembling sealing arrangements with vehicle parts, e.g. doors, windows B60J10/45)} · CPC title

• B29C45/14065

  Positioning or centering articles in the mould · CPC title