Arrangement for a vehicle roof, method for manufacturing an arrangement for a vehicle roof, vehicle roof, and motor vehicle

Abstract

An arrangement for a vehicle roof has a roof element designed to be coupled to the vehicle roof and to provide a predetermined functionality. The arrangement further has a thread-free film element which is formed by calendering and is coupled to the roof element such that the predetermined functionality is obtained.

Claims

1. An arrangement for a vehicle roof, having: a roof element designed to be coupled to the vehicle roof and to provide a predetermined functionality, and a thread-free film element which is formed by calendering and is coupled to the roof element such that the predetermined functionality is obtained.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, in which the roof element forms a wind deflector and comprises a wind deflector bracket, and in which the thread-free film element is coupled to the wind deflector bracket, thus enabling the arrangement to be transferred from a first, pivoted-in state into a second, pivoted-out state and a predetermined influence on the flow of relative wind to be set up.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, in which the roof element forms a darkening device and comprises a darkening element, and in which the thread-free film element forms the darkening element or is coupled thereto, thus enabling the arrangement to be transferred from a first, uncovering state into a second, darkening state and predetermined shading for a vehicle interior to be set up.

4. The arrangement according to claim 3, in which the film element forms at least one component of a roller blind web which can be wound up and unwound along a pull-out direction, or in which the film element forms at least one component of a sliding headliner which can be moved along the pull-out direction.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, in which the film element has a plurality of recesses or openings which form an embossed pattern or perforations.

6. A vehicle roof for a motor vehicle, comprising: an arrangement according to claim 1, which is coupled to a roof skin of the vehicle roof.

7. A motor vehicle, having: a vehicle roof according to claim 6, which is coupled in a fixed manner to a roof structure of the motor vehicle.

8. A method for manufacturing an arrangement for a vehicle roof, comprising: forming a thread-free film element by means of calendering, providing a roof element designed to be coupled to the vehicle roof and to provide a predetermined functionality, and coupling the thread-free film element to the roof element, such that the arrangement is formed and set up with the predetermined functionality.

9. The method according to claim 8, in which the roof element is provided as a wind deflector and comprises a wind deflector bracket, and in which coupling the thread-free film element to the roof element comprises: coupling the thread-free film element to the wind deflector bracket, thus enabling the arrangement to be transferred from a first, pivoted-in state to a second, pivoted-out state and a predetermined influence on the flow of relative wind to be set up.

10. The method according to claim 8, in which the roof element is provided as a darkening device and comprises a darkening element, and in which the coupling of the thread-free film element to the roof element comprises: coupling the thread-free film element to the darkening device, thus enabling the arrangement to be transferred from a first, retracted state into a second, extended state and predetermined shading for a vehicle interior to be set up.

11. The method according to claim 8, in which the formation of the thread-free film element by means of calendering comprises: providing a rolling installation which comprises at least one rolling element having a predetermined surface structure, wherein, in cooperation with a counter-element, the rolling element forms a gap and delimits it in a predetermined manner, providing a flowable substance having predetermined material properties, and passing the provided substance through the gap and forming the film element with a surface structure predetermined by the rolling element and the counter-element.

12. The method according to claim 8, comprising: introducing a plurality of recesses or openings into the film element, forming an embossed pattern or perforations.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to schematic drawings. In the drawings:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of a vehicle roof having an arrangement,

[0047] FIGS. 2-3 show an exemplary embodiment of the arrangement for the vehicle roof according to FIG. 1,

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a further schematic, perspective view of a vehicle roof with a further exemplary embodiment of the arrangement,

[0049] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a fiber-free film element of the arrangement for the vehicle roof according to FIG. 1 or 4, and

[0050] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for a method for manufacturing an arrangement for a vehicle roof according to FIG. 1 or 4.

[0051] Elements of identical design and function are denoted by the same reference signs throughout the figures. For reasons of clarity, not all the elements illustrated may be denoted by associated reference signs in all the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle roof 1 for a motor vehicle, which has a cover panel system 3. The vehicle roof 1 is coupled in a fixed manner to the rest of the roof structure. The cover panel system 3 is integrated into the vehicle roof 1 and coupled to a roof skin 2 of the vehicle 30 roof 1. The cover panel system 3 comprises, for example, a movable sliding roof cover panel in order to selectively close or at least partially uncover a roof opening in the vehicle roof 1. Alternatively, the cover panel system 3 comprises a transparent roof element, such as a panoramic roof, which is firmly closed. In this case, a stationary transparent roof element is provided.

[0053] An arrangement 10 is coupled to the vehicle roof 1. As will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, the arrangement 10 can be manufactured at low cost, in particular by virtue of a specially designed film element 11, and furthermore enables reliable operation, e.g. of a wind deflector 12 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) or of a darkening device 14 (see FIG. 4).

[0054] The arrangement 10 has a roof element which is embodied as a wind deflector 12 or as a darkening device 14, for example. The roof element 12, 14 is designed to be coupled to the vehicle roof 1 and to provide a predetermined functionality. The arrangement 10 further has the film element 11, which is formed by calendering without threads or woven fabric and is coupled to the roof element 12, 14 such that the predetermined functionality is obtained.

[0055] The film element 11 offers a plurality of possible uses and, in addition, enables reliable functionalities of the arrangement 10 for the vehicle roof 1. According to FIGS. 1-3, the film element 11 can form a component of a wind deflector 12. In this case, the film element 11 makes it possible to substitute a conventional woven wind deflector mesh and contributes to a low-cost construction of the wind deflector 12.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the wind deflector 12, which has the film element 11. In particular, the film element 11 can be of opening-free or continuous design and can thus contribute to particularly reliable guidance of an air flow which results from relative wind during operation of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the wind deflector 12 is opened and transferred from a first, retracted state into a second, deployed state. This takes place, as a rule, when the roof opening in the vehicle roof 1 is uncovered in order to reduce an unwanted air flow through the uncovered roof opening into the vehicle interior. By means of the continuous film element 11, the impinging air flow can be selectively deflected (see schematic sectional illustration in FIG. 3). Alternatively, however, the film element 11 can also be designed with perforations or an embossed pattern 17 and can have a plurality of openings in order to provide a certain air permeability (see FIG. 5).

[0057] FIG. 4 shows another schematic view of the vehicle roof 1 for a motor vehicle which, in contrast to the vehicle roof according to FIG. 1, has the arrangement 10 in the form of a darkening device 14. The darkening device 14 is coupled to the vehicle roof 1 and designed, for example, as a roller blind or sliding headliner system and configured to reduce the incidence of light through the cover panel system 3, if required, by means of a darkening element 15. The darkening element 15 is configured, for example, as a roller blind web or sliding headliner and has an embodiment of the film element 11.

[0058] In the case of a roller blind web, the latter can be formed completely by the film element 11, thus enabling a particularly flat and space-saving design of the darkening device 14 to be achieved. The roller blind web or the film element 11 can be wound up and unwound along a pull-out direction L by means of a winding shaft, for example. In the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 4, the pull-out direction L also corresponds to a vehicle longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle or of the vehicle roof 1.

[0059] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the film element 11 which has a plurality of openings in the form of perforations 17 in order to provide a certain air permeability. Such holes can be formed selectively by means of vacuum suction, for example. Alternatively, in a manufacturing process of the film element 11, for example, the holes are formed in a predetermined manner in that, for example, roll elements by means of which the film element 11 is formed have a predetermined surface structure with prongs, teeth or points and corresponding free spaces, with the result that the film element 11 has a correspondingly predetermined structure when it is passed through or guided through between the roll elements. As an alternative to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, however, the film element 11 can also be designed continuously without holes or openings.

[0060] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart for a method for manufacturing an embodiment of the arrangement 10 for the vehicle roof 1. In a step S1, it is possible to provide a rolling installation and a flowable or pumpable substance which forms a raw material or starting material of the film element 11. A plastic with predetermined material properties which is to be processed by means of the rolling installation, such as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate), is provided, for example. The rolling installation comprises at least one rolling element having a predetermined surface structure which, in cooperation with a counter-element, in particular a second rolling element, forms a gap and delimits it in a predetermined manner.

[0061] In a further step S2, the film element 11 is formed by passing the supplied substance through the gap. In particular, the roll element or elements are temperature-controlled in a predetermined manner and have a predetermined surface structure in order to establish a desired appearance or structure of the film element 11. In this way, an embossed pattern, a logo and/or also openings can be formed on the film element 11 or introduced into the film element 11. Thus, the film element 11 is formed by means of calendering.

[0062] In a further step S3, a roof element is then provided for the vehicle roof 1, for example. According to FIGS. 1-3, the roof element can be provided as a wind deflector 12 or as an associated wind deflector bracket 13, to which the film element 11 is to be connected. Alternatively, the roof element can, according to FIG. 4, be provided as a darkening device 14 or as one or more associated darkening components, to which the film element 11 is to be attached. For example, the film element 11, in cooperation with the darkening device 14, is to form a shading element in the form of a roller blind or is to be attached to a sliding headliner. Alternatively, it is also possible to form two or more film elements 11 which are to be coupled to respective roof elements and are to contribute to the construction of a vehicle roof.

[0063] In a further step S4, the film element 11 formed in the predetermined manner is coupled, e.g. clamped, adhesively bonded, screwed and/or stitched, to the roof element provided for this purpose. In this way, a configuration of the arrangement 10 can be formed and a predetermined functionality can be set up. In the case of the darkening device 14, the predetermined functionality comprises, in particular, shading or darkening a vehicle interior of the associated motor vehicle as required. In addition, the functionality can also provide an attractive lighting function which can be achieved by means of optical fibers which are processed with the film element 11 when the latter is produced. In this way, it is possible to contribute to a beautiful appearance of the arrangement 10 and to increased comfort of the motor vehicle.

[0064] A corresponding increase in comfort can be achieved by a selectively provided embossed pattern or perforations of the film element 11. Such a structure or the introduction of a plurality of depressions, recesses or openings into the film element 11, which form an embossed pattern or perforations 17, can be formed in particular when the raw material of the film element 11 is passed through. Alternatively or in addition, the film element 11 can subsequently be processed and formed with a predetermined structure. For example, openings or holes can be introduced into the film element 11 by means of a laser.

[0065] By means of the method described and the described structure of the arrangement 10, the latter can be implemented in a low-cost manner on the basis of the film element 11 and, in addition, makes possible reliable operation of a wind deflector 12, a darkening device 14 and also other arrangements which comprise a roof element and allow interaction with an embodiment of the film element 11 described.