Method of assembling a roof assembly and such roof assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9751387-B2
Application number	US-201615092374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2016
Priority date	Apr 9, 2015
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A method of assembling a roof assembly for a vehicle comprises providing a first frame part having a drive element guide, providing a second frame part having a drive element guide and providing a drive element configured to drive a movable part of the roof assembly and being driven by a drive motor. The first and second frame parts are mounted to each other such that the drive element extends from the drive element guide of the first frame part to the drive element guide of the second frame part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of assembling a roof assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
providing a first frame part having a drive element guide;
providing a second frame part having a drive element guide; and
providing a drive element configured to drive a movable part of the roof assembly and being driven by a drive motor; and
mounting the first and second frame parts to each other such that the drive element extends from the drive element guide of the first frame part to the drive element guide of the second frame part, wherein the drive element is provided as a first drive element portion and a second drive element portion, the first drive element portion being pre-mounted in the drive element guide of the first frame part, the second drive element portion being pre-mounted in the drive element guide of the second frame part, the first and second drive element portions being coupled to each other when the first and second frame parts have been mounted to each other; and
wherein a first drive element coupling member of the first drive element portion and a second, complementary, drive element coupling member of the second drive element portion are automatically coupled upon connection of the first and second frame parts by engagement of the first and the second drive element coupling members when the first and second frame parts are engaged with each other.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second drive element portions are coupled to each other at a position close to a connection between the drive element guide of the first frame part to the drive element guide of the second frame part, in which the drive element portions protrude at least partly from the drive element guides.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second drive element portion is connected to the movable part before the first and second frame parts are connected to each other.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the movable part is in its position closest to the first frame part when the drive element portions are interconnected.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the first and second frame parts to each other comprises vertical displacement of the frame parts relative to each other.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first and second drive element portions are coupled to each other with the vertical displacement of the frame parts relative to each other.

7. A roof assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
at least one movable part supported by the frame;
a drive motor supported by the frame; and
a drive element guided by a cable guide supported by the frame and extending at least between the drive motor and the movable part, the frame including at least a first frame part and a second frame part mounted to each other, the drive element comprising at least first and second drive element portions which are configured to be coupled to each other close to an area where a drive element guide of the first frame part connects to a drive element guide of the second frame part;
wherein the first and second drive element portions are provided with a coupling and counter coupling member; and
wherein the coupling and counter coupling members are automatic coupling and counter coupling members configured to be aligned by the first and second frame parts when the first and second frame parts are engaged with each other.

8. The roof assembly of claim 7 , wherein the coupling member includes a hook-like projection and the counter coupling member includes a recess capable of receiving the hook-like projection.

9. The roof assembly of claim 7 , wherein the coupling and counter coupling members are provided with a fastening part to couple the coupling and counter coupling member together.

10. The roof assembly of claim 9 , wherein the fastening part is a screw that is screwed into the coupling and counter coupling members.

11. The roof assembly of claim 7 , wherein the drive element guides and the coupling and counter coupling members are such that the drive element guides prevent the coupling and counter coupling members from disengaging.

12. The roof assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first and second drive element portions are connected to each other.

13. The roof assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the frame parts is provided with guide walls at a position where the drive element guide of the first frame part connects to the drive element guide of the second frame part in order to at least laterally guide the coupling and/or counter coupling member of the drive element portions.

14. The roof assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the drive element portions is a drive cable portion.

15. The roof assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first frame part is a transverse beam, and the second frame part is a longitudinal guide rail of the frame guiding the movable part.

16. The roof assembly of claim 15 , wherein the transverse beam supports the drive motor.

17. The roof assembly of claim 9 , wherein the fastening part is a screw that is screwed into the coupling and counter coupling members, or a portion of the coupling member that is deformed by a tool to be coupled to the counter coupling member.

Assignees

• Inalfa Roof Sys Group Bv
• Inalfe Roof Systems Group B V

Inventors

• Nellen Marcel Johan Christiaan
• Manders Peter Christiaan Leonardus Johannes

Classifications

• B60J7/022

  Sliding roof trays or assemblies · 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

• B60J7/0573 Primary

  power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical · CPC title

• F16C1/101

  Intermediate connectors for joining portions of split flexible shafts and/or sheathings · CPC title

• B60Y2410/12

  Production or manufacturing of vehicle parts · CPC title