Roof structure for a vehicle

Abstract

Roof structure (1) for a vehicle, wherein the roof structure (1) comprises a roof sky (2), wherein the roof sky comprises a foam or sandwich layer (3) and a surface layer (4) covering the foam or sandwich layer preferably to a vehicle interior and wherein a microphone unit (5) is arranged at the foam or sandwich layer (3), the microphone unit (5) comprises at least one mounting means (6), the foam or sandwich layer (3) comprises at least one recess (7) to receive the at least one mounting means (6) and the mounting means (6) of the microphone unit (5) in a mounted condition of the microphone unit (5) is arranged in the at least one recess (7) thereby holding the microphone unit (5) at the foam or sandwich layer (3).

Claims

1. A roof structure for a vehicle, comprising: a roof sky comprising a foam or sandwich layer and a surface layer covering the foam or sandwich layer to a vehicle interior; and a microphone unit arranged at the foam or sandwich layer, wherein the microphone unit comprises at least one mounting means, wherein the foam or sandwich layer comprises at least one recess to receive the at least one mounting means and wherein the mounting means of the microphone unit in a mounted condition of the microphone unit is arranged in the at least one recess, thereby holding the microphone unit at the foam or sandwich layer, wherein the at least one mounting means is configured as a clamping means that attaches to the foam or sandwich layer by friction and is not glued, and wherein the microphone unit is not visible from the vehicle interior.

2. The roof structure according to claim 1, wherein the microphone unit comprises at least one positioning means and the foam or sandwich layer comprises at least a further recess for the reception of the at least one positioning means, wherein the at least one positioning means is in an mounted condition of the microphone unit taken up in the at least one further recess.

3. The roof structure according to claim 1, wherein the microphone unit comprises two positioning means that are each configured as protrusions.

4. The roof structure according to claim 2, wherein the recess for the mounting means and the further recess for the positioning means are arranged oppositely.

5. The roof structure according to claim 4, wherein the at least one recess-for the positioning means is formed as a cylindrical blind hole drilling.

6. The roof structure according to claim 1, wherein: the clamping means comprises two arms and a spring element, a bolt is arranged at each of the two arms, the two arms are spreadable by the spring element, the microphone unit comprises two guideways configured so that the bolts are displaceable within the guideways in such a way that a distance of the bolts increases by stretching the spring element and decreases by releasing the spring element, a groove recess is arranged in the foam layer for guiding each bolt and for attachment of the microphone unit to the foam layer, the groove is limited by a circumferential wall, and the bolts are in mounted condition of the microphone unit each pressed by the spring element in opposite orientated force directions against the walls.

7. The roof structure according to claim 3, wherein the protrusions are made of Evoprene.

8. The roof structure according claim 1, characterized in that, the mounting means is in a mounted condition partly arranged in the recess and partly cut into a region of the foam material of the foam layer, which surrounds the recess.

9. The roof structure according to claim 1, wherein the recess taking up the mounting means is a groove.

10. A vehicle, comprising: a roof structure according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the roof structure according to the invention in a section view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the roof structure according of the invention shown in FIG. 1 in an exploded view;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the roof structure as shown in FIG. 1 in a perspective view;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment in perspective top view of a foam layer of the roof structure according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective top view of a roof structure according to FIG. 4 with a microphone unit;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the microphone unit from FIG. 5 in a perspective bottom view.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the roof structure according to the invention, wherein a microphone unit is arranged and fixed at a foam layer;

(9) FIG. 8 shows the microphone unit according to FIG. 7 only being arranged at the foam layer of the roof structure;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a part of the foam layer of the roof structure according to the invention as shown in FIG. 8 in a perspective view.

(11) FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the roof structure according to the invention, wherein a microphone unit is arranged and fixed in the foam layer;

(12) FIG. 11 shows the microphone unit according to FIG. 11 in unmounted condition;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a part of the foam layer of the roof structure according to the invention as shown in FIG. 10 in a perspective view.

(14) FIG. 13 shows a fifth embodiment of the roof structure according to the invention, wherein a microphone unit is arranged and fixed at a foam layer;

(15) FIG. 14 shows the microphone unit according to FIG. 13 only being arranged in the foam layer of the roof structure;

(16) FIG. 15 shows a part of the foam layer of the roof structure according to the invention as shown in FIG. 13 in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(17) FIG. 1 shows the roof structure 1 according to the invention in a section view. The roof structure 1 comprises a roof sky 2, wherein the roof sky 2 comprises a foam or sandwich layer 3 and a surface layer 4 covering the foam or sandwich layer 3, comprising glasfiber on the other side.

(18) The surface layer 4 preferably covers the foam or sandwich layer 3 to a vehicle interior (not shown). The microphone unit 5 is—in a mounted condition at the foam or sandwich layer or in the vehicle respectively—not visible viewed from a vehicle interior or an inside space of an vehicle, e.g. passenger compartment.

(19) The roof structure 1 further comprises a microphone unit 5 which is arranged at the foam or sandwich layer 3. Mounting or fixation of the microphone unit 5 at the foam or sandwich layer 3 is achieved via spring forces caused by mounting means 6, 6′. Therefore, the microphone unit 5 comprises mounting means 6, 6′ (see FIG. 2) and the foam or sandwich layer 3 comprises recesses 7, 7′ (see FIG. 2) to receive the mounting means 6, 6′ and the mounting means 6, 6′ of the microphone unit 5 in a mounted condition (mounted at the foam or sandwich layer, see FIGS. 1 and 3) of the microphone unit 5 is arranged in the recesses 7, 7′ thereby holding or fixing the microphone unit 5 at the foam or sandwich layer 3.

(20) The non-adhesive arrangement of the microphone unit 5 at the foam or sandwich layer 3 enables to ensure high quality mounting of the microphone unit 5 in the roof structure 1 of the vehicle (not shown) and a simplified removing of the microphone unit 5 if necessary. It is a further advantage that the microphone unit 5 can be integrated in the roof structure 1 and in a vehicle respectively in an invisible way thereby maintaining an aesthetic impression of the roof structure 1 and the vehicle respectively.

(21) The roof structure 1 comprises mounting means 6, 6′ designed as a clamping means in order to enable safe fastening of the microphone unit 5 at the foam or sandwich layer 3 (see FIG. 3).

(22) The mounting means 6, 6′ are designed as spring arms 10, 10′. Optionally, the spring arms 10, 10′ may comprise protrusions in order to enhance mounting stability in a non-adhesive way.

(23) The microphone unit 5 comprises positioning means 9, 9′ and the foam or sandwich layer 3 comprises further recesses 8, 8′ for the reception of the positioning means 9, 9′. The positioning means 9, 9′ are in an mounted condition of the microphone unit 5 at the foam or sandwich layer 3 (see FIG. 1 or FIG. 3) taken up in the further recesses 8, 8′ (see FIG. 2).

(24) The two positioning means 9, 9′ are each designed as protrusions 12, 12′, each particularly comprising a preferably circumferential collar 11, 11′.

(25) A tool to provide cutted slits can also be provided. The tool can be positioned by further recesses 8, 8′. The tool would make minimum one recess by cutting the slits with an optional marking of the slit by some kind of paint, for example ink.

(26) A recess 7, 7′ can also be just a cutted slit.

(27) Foam or sandwich layer 3 could also comprise surface layer 4 generating a sandwich layer. Such a sandwich layer can also be made of different materials, for example cardboard, paper multilayer or any supporting rigid material.

(28) Optionally a roof sky 2 with glasfiber finish 13 can be provided.

(29) Lower part 14 can be made of rubber. Lower part 14 acts as a drawer for PCBA.

(30) FIG. 4 shows a perspective top view of a foam layer 103 of the roof structure (see FIG. 5) according to the invention.

(31) The surface layer 104 preferably covers the foam layer 103 to a vehicle interior (not shown). The microphone unit 105 (FIG. 5) is—in a mounted condition at the foam layer or in the vehicle respectively—not visible viewed from a vehicle interior or an inside space of an vehicle, e.g. passenger compartment.

(32) The roof structure 101 according to FIG. 5 comprises a roof sky 102, wherein the roof sky 102 comprises a foam layer 103 and a surface layer 104 covering the foam layer 103. The roof structure according to FIG. 102 further comprises a microphone unit 105 which is arranged at the foam layer 103.

(33) The microphone unit 105 comprises a mounting means 106 (see FIG. 6) and the foam layer 103 comprises a recess 107 (see FIG. 4) to receive the mounting means 106, and the mounting means 106 of the microphone unit 105 in a mounted condition (mounted at the foam layer, see FIG. 5) of the microphone unit 105 is arranged in the recess 107 thereby holding the microphone unit 105 at the foam layer 103.

(34) The recess 107 taking up the mounting means 106 is designed as a groove (see FIG. 4).

(35) The roof structure 101 comprises a mounting means 106 designed as a swivelling rotor (see FIG. 6).

(36) Mounting or fixation of the microphone unit 105 at the foam layer 103 can be achieved by rotation of the mounting means 106, namely the swiveling rotor. Rotation of the swivelling rotor causes that swiveling rotor cuts into the foam layer 3, thereby engaging into the foam layer 103 and fixing the microphone unit 105 at the foam layer 103. The mounting means 106 is designed as a rotor comprising at least one wing 110.

(37) In a mounted condition of the microphone unit 105 at the foam layer 103, the mounting means 106 is partly arranged in the recess 107 and partly cut into a region of the foam material of the foam layer 103, which surrounds the recess 107.

(38) The non-adhesive arrangement of the microphone unit 105 at the foam layer 103 enables to ensure high quality mounting of the microphone unit 105 in the roof structure 101 of the vehicle (not shown) and a simplified removing of the microphone unit 105 necessary. It is a further advantage that the microphone unit 105 can be integrated in the roof structure 101 and in a vehicle respectively in an invisible way thereby maintaining an aesthetic impression of the roof structure 101 and the vehicle respectively.

(39) The microphone unit 105 comprises positioning means 109, 109′ (see FIG. 6) and the foam layer 103 comprises further recesses 108, 108′ (see FIG. 4) for the reception of the positioning means 109, 109′.

(40) The positioning means 109, 109′ are in a mounted condition of the microphone unit 105 at the foam layer 103 (see FIG. 5) taken up in the further recesses 108, 108′ (not shown). The further recesses 108, 108′ are formed as cylindrical drillings, in particular blind hole drillings. The two positioning means 109, 109′ are in present embodiment each designed as protrusions (FIG. 6).

(41) FIG. 7 shows the roof structure 201 according to the invention.

(42) The roof structure 201 comprises a roof sky 202, wherein the roof sky 202 comprises a foam layer 203 and a surface layer 204 covering the foam layer 203.

(43) The surface layer 204 preferably covers the foam layer 203 to a vehicle interior (not shown). The microphone unit 205 is—in a mounted condition at the foam layer or in the vehicle respectively—not visible viewed from a vehicle interior or an inside space of an vehicle, e.g. passenger compartment.

(44) The roof structure 201 further comprises a microphone unit 205 which is arranged at the foam layer 3 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). Mounting or fixation of the microphone unit 205 at the foam layer 203 is achieved via spring forces caused by a mounting means 206 (FIG. 8). Therefore, the microphone unit 205 comprises a mounting means 206 (see FIG. 9) and the foam layer 203 comprises a recess 207 (see FIG. 7) to receive the mounting means 206 of the microphone unit 205.

(45) In a mounted condition of the microphone unit 205 at the foam layer 203, the microphone unit 205 is fixed by spring forces caused by mounting means 206 (see FIG. 7), which is designed as a clamping means.

(46) Additional fixation of the microphone unit 205 is achieved by the fact, that the clamping means comprises two arms 210, 210′, wherein the microphone unit 205 further comprises an activation means 211, wherein the arms 210, 210′ of the clamping means are moveable by actuating the activation means 211 in such a manner that in a mounted condition of the microphone unit 205 the arms 210, 210 are spread at least partly into foam material of the foam layer 203 surrounding the recess 207.

(47) The mounting means 206 of the microphone unit 205 is in a mounted condition partly arranged in the recess 207 and partly cut into a region of the material of the foam layer 203, which surrounds the recess 207 (see FIG. 7).

(48) The recess 207 taking up the mounting means 206 is designed as a groove.

(49) The non adhesive arrangement of the microphone unit 205 at the foam layer 203 enables to ensure high quality mounting of the microphone unit 205 in the roof structure 201 of the vehicle (not shown) and a simplified removing of the microphone unit 205 if necessary. It is a further advantage that the microphone unit 205 can be integrated in the roof structure 201 and in a vehicle respectively in an invisible way thereby maintaining a aesthetic impression of the roof structure 201 and the vehicle respectively.

(50) The microphone unit 205 comprises positioning means 209, 209′ (FIGS. 7 and 8) and the foam layer 203 comprises further recesses 208, 208′ (FIG. 9) for the reception of the positioning means 209, 209′. The positioning means 209, 209′ are in an mounted condition of the microphone unit 205 at the foam layer 203 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) taken up in the further recesses 208, 208′. The two positioning means 209, 209′ are each designed as protrusions.

(51) The recesses 208, 208′ for the positioning means 209, 209′ are formed as cylindrical drillings, in particular blind hole drillings.

(52) FIG. 10 shows the roof structure 301 according to the invention, wherein the microphone unit 305 is arranged and fixed in the foam layer 303 (see also FIG. 12).

(53) The roof structure 1 comprises a roof sky 302, wherein the roof sky 302 comprises a foam layer 303 and a surface layer 304 covering the foam layer 303 (see also FIG. 12).

(54) The surface layer 304 preferably covers the foam layer 303 to a vehicle interior (not shown). The microphone unit 305 is—in a mounted condition at the foam layer or in the vehicle respectively—not visible viewed from a vehicle interior or an inside space of an vehicle, e.g. passenger compartment.

(55) The roof structure 301 further comprises a microphone unit 305 which is arranged at the foam layer 303. Mounting or fixation of the microphone unit 305 at the foam layer 303 is achieved by mounting means 306.

(56) Therefore, the microphone unit 305 comprises at least one mounting means 306 and the foam layer 303 comprises recesses 307, 307′ to receive the mounting means 306. The mounting means 306 of the microphone unit 305 in a mounted condition of the microphone unit 305 according to FIG. 10 is arranged in the recess 307, 307′ thereby holding the microphone unit 305 at the foam layer 303.

(57) Mounting or fixation of the microphone unit 305 is achieved by spring forces caused by the mounting means 306 being designed as a clamping means.

(58) The clamping means comprises two arms 309, 309′ and a spring element 310, wherein a bolt 312, 312′ is arranged at each arm 309, 309′, wherein the arms 309, 309′ are spreadable by the spring element 310, wherein the microphone unit 305 comprises two guideways 313, 313′, wherein the guideways 313, 313′ are designed in such a manner that the bolts 312, 312′ are displaceable within the guideways 313, 313′ in such a way that a distance of the bolts 312, 312′ increases by stretching the spring element 310 and decreases by releasing the spring element 310, wherein as a groove 314, 314′ designed recess is arranged in the foam layer 303 for guiding each bolt 312, 312′ and for attachment of the microphone unit 305 to the foam layer 303, wherein the groove 314, 314′ is limited by a circumferential wall 315, 315′ (see FIG. 11) and wherein the bolts 312, 312′ are in mounted condition of the microphone unit 305 each pressed by the spring element 310 (FIG. 11) in opposite orientated force directions against the walls 315, 315′.

(59) The non-adhesive arrangement of the microphone unit 305 at the foam layer 303 enables to ensure high quality mounting of the microphone unit 305 in the roof structure 301 of the vehicle (not shown) and a simplified removing of the microphone unit 305 if necessary. It is a further advantage that the microphone unit 305 can be integrated in the roof structure 301 and in a vehicle respectively in an invisible way thereby maintaining an aesthetic impression of the roof structure 301 and the vehicle respectively.

(60) Mounting and fixation of the microphone 305 unit can be achieved by moving, e.g. pulling spring element 310, which can be interpreted as a lock, the bolts 312, 312′ thereby moving towards walls 316, 316′. Releasing of spring element 310 leads to movement of bolts back towards walls 315, 315′ in a moving direction 311.

(61) The microphone unit 305 comprises positioning means (not shown), and the foam layer 303 comprises further recesses 303, 308′ (see FIG. 12) for the reception of the positioning means. The positioning means are in a mounted condition of the microphone unit 305 at the foam layer 303 (see FIG. 10 or FIG. 11) taken up in the further recesses 308, 308′ (not shown).

(62) The recesses 307, 30′ for the mounting means 306 and the further recesses 308, 308′ for the positioning means (not shown) are arranged oppositely (see FIG. 12).

(63) The recesses 308, 308′ for the positioning means are formed as cylindrical drillings, in particular as blind hole drillings.

(64) FIG. 13 shows the roof structure 401 according to the invention, wherein the microphone unit 405 is arranged and fixed in the foam layer 403 (see also FIG. 15). The microphone unit 405 according to present invention is also shown in FIG. 14.

(65) According to FIG. 13, the roof structure 401 comprises a roof sky 402, wherein the roof sky 402 comprises a foam layer 403 and a surface layer 404 (see FIG. 15) covering the foam layer 403 (see also FIG. 15).

(66) The surface layer 404 preferably covers the foam layer 403 to a vehicle interior (not shown). The microphone unit 405 is—in a mounted condition at the foam layer or in the vehicle respectively—not visible viewed from a vehicle interior or an inside space of an vehicle, e.g. passenger compartment.

(67) The roof structure 401 further comprises a microphone unit 405 which is arranged at the foam layer 403. Mounting or fixation of the microphone unit 405 at the foam layer 403 is achieved by mounting means 406, 406′.

(68) Therefore, the microphone unit 405 comprises mounting means 406, 406′ and the foam layer 403 comprises recesses 407, 407′ (see FIG. 15) to receive the mounting means 406, 406′. The mounting means 406, 406′ of the microphone unit 405 in a mounted condition of the microphone unit 405 at the foam layer 403 according to FIG. 13 is arranged in the recesses 407, 407′ thereby holding the microphone unit 405 at the foam layer 403.

(69) Mounting or fixation of the microphone unit 405 is achieved by spring forces caused by the mounting means 406, 406′ being designed as a clamping means.

(70) The microphone unit 405 (see also FIG. 14) comprises two clamping means as mounting means, wherein the clamping means are designed as spring arms 410, 410′, wherein the clamping means in a mounted condition each intervene in a recess 407, 407′ arranged in the foam layer 403.

(71) The foam layer 403 comprises two further recesses 408, 408′ (see FIG. 15) for the reception of two positioning means 409, 409′ (see FIG. 14), comprised by the microphone unit 405, wherein the positioning means 409, 409′ in a mounted condition of the microphone unit 405 at the foam layer 403 (see FIG. 13) are each taken up in the further recesses 408, 408′, wherein the microphone unit 405 is in a mounted condition held at the foam layer 403 by retention forces generated by the spring arms 410, 410′.

(72) From FIG. 15 it is apparent that the two recesses 407, 407′ for the mounting means 406, 406′ and the two recesses 408, 408′ for the positioning means 409, 409′ each being arranged on a meant line.

(73) The non-adhesive arrangement of the microphone unit 405 at the foam layer 403 enables to ensure high quality mounting of the microphone unit 405 in the roof structure 401 of the vehicle (not shown) and a simplified removing of the microphone unit 405 necessary. It is a further advantage that the microphone unit 405 can be integrated in the roof structure 401 and in a vehicle respectively in an invisible way thereby maintaining an aesthetic impression of the roof structure 401 and the vehicle respectively.

(74) The microphone unit 405 comprises positioning means 409, 409′ (FIG. 14), and the foam layer 403 comprises further recesses 408, 408′ (see FIG. 15) for the reception of the positioning means 409, 409′. The positioning means 409, 409′ are in a mounted condition of the microphone unit 405 at the foam layer 403 taken up in the further recesses 408, 408′.

(75) According to FIG. 14, free ends 411, 411′ of the spring arms 410, 410′, which are in a mounted condition of the microphone unit 405 taken up in the recesses 407, 407′ are designed as curved pads 412, 412′.

(76) The spring arms 410, 410′ according to FIG. 14, in particular the pads 412, 412′ of the spring arms 410, 410′, each comprise at least one edge 413, 413′.

(77) The recesses 407, 407′ and the further recesses 403, 408′ are formed as cylindrical drillings, in particular as blind hole drillings.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(78) 1 roof structure 2 roof sky 3 foam or sandwich layer 4 surface layer 5 microphone unit 6, 6′ mounting means 7, 7′ recess 8, 8′ further recess 9, 9′ positioning means 10, 10′ spring arm 11, 11′ collar 12, 12′ protrusion 13 glasfiber finish 14 lower part 101 roof structure 102 roof sky 103 foam layer 104 surface layer 105 microphone unit 106, 106′ mounting means 107, 107′ recess 108, 108′ further recess 109, 109′ positioning means 110 wing 201 roof structure 202 roof sky 203 foam layer 204 surface layer 205 microphone unit 206 mounting means 207 recess 208, 208′ further recess 209, 209′ positioning means 210, 210′ arm 211 activation means 301 roof structure 302 roof sky 303 foam layer 304 surface layer 305 microphone unit 306 mounting means 307, 307′ recess 308, 308′ further recess 309, 309′ arm 310 spring element 311 moving direction 312, 312′ bolt. 313, 313′ guideway 314, 314′ groove 315, 315′ wall (outer side) 316, 316′ wall (inner side) 401 roof structure 402 roof sky 403 foam layer 404 surface layer 405 microphone unit 406, 406′ mounting means 407, 407′ recess 408, 408′ further recess 409, 409′ positioning means 410, 410′ spring arms 411, 411′ free end 412, 412′ curved pad 413, 413′ edge