Motor Vehicle Comprising a Roof Having a First Area and Two Second Areas

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a roof that has a first area and two second areas, wherein, in the transverse direction of the vehicle, the first area is located between the two second areas, and the roof is lower in the first area than in the two second areas.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A motor vehicle, comprising: a roof comprising a first area and two second areas, wherein in a transverse direction of the vehicle, the first area is arranged between the two second areas; and the roof is configured to be lower in the first area than in the two second areas.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the roof comprises a rigid construction.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the roof comprises a foldable and/or removable construction.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the foldable and/or removable construction is configured for folding and/or removing the first area or a part of the first area.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein a distance between an upper side of the first area and an upper side of one or both of the two second areas is more than one of: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 cm.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein a first distance between an upper side of the first area and an upper side of one or both of the two second areas deviates from a second distance between the upper side of the first area and the upper side of one or both of the two second areas.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein a trailing edge and/or a spoiler is arranged at an end of the first area and/or at an end of the two second areas.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the two second areas terminate the roof toward lateral sides of the vehicle.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein an upper lateral side or one or more doors of the vehicle is/are configured to be higher than the first area of the roof.

21. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein one or both of the two second areas of the roof comprise at least one of: a structure for operating a sliding roof; a structure for operating an airbag; one or more cables for operating the vehicle; a structure for vehicle air-conditioning; electronics for operating the vehicle; or a structural component of the vehicle body.

22. The motor vehicle according to claim 21, wherein the structure for operating the sliding roof is a connecting member for opening and/or closing the sliding roof; and/or the structure for operating the airbag comprises one or more head airbags.

23. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein a receptacle for a roof rail and/or a luggage rack is arranged on one or both of the two second areas.

24. A method of producing a roof of a motor vehicle, comprising: forming a first roof area and two second roof areas of the roof, wherein the first roof area is formed between the two second roof areas, and the roof is configured to be lower in the first roof area than in one or both of the two second roof areas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle with a roof according to one embodiment of the disclosure;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows views of both sides of a vehicle with a roof according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0047] FIG. 3 shows views of the front side and rear side of a vehicle with a roof according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] In the following descriptions, identical reference numbers relate to identical features or features which are at least functionally or structurally similar.

[0049] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the disclosure and in which specific aspects in which the present disclosure can be understood are shown for the purpose of illustration.

[0050] A disclosure about a described method generally also applies to a corresponding device in order to carry out the method or produce the device or to a corresponding system which comprises one or more devices, and vice versa. If, for example, a special method step is described, a corresponding device can comprise a feature in order to carry out the described method step even if this feature is not explicitly described or represented. If, on the other hand, for example, a special device is described on the basis of functional units and/or structure features, a corresponding method can comprise a step which carries out the described functionality or with which a corresponding structure can be produced even if such steps are not explicitly described or represented. A system with corresponding device features can likewise be provided or with features to carry out a specific method step. Features of the various aspects and embodiments described above or below can be combined with one another unless indicated expressly otherwise.

[0051] FIG. 1 discloses a plan view of a vehicle 100 according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The roof comprises a first area 101 which is arranged in the center. The roof furthermore comprises a first second area 102 and a second second area 103 which are arranged on the outer sides of the roof. The second areas are higher by a height H than the first area of the roof. This is explained in even greater detail in the following description. The opening of sliding roof 104 is arranged in the first area 101. The mechanism for operating the sliding roof is arranged partially in the second areas. In particular, a connecting member and a drive for moving the sliding roof are arranged in the second areas. This means that the connecting member and the drive are arranged in the space which is made available by the elevated second areas of the roof.

[0052] FIG. 2 discloses the vehicle 100 from FIG. 1 in a first side view 200a and a second side view 200b. A side view 201 of the second raised roof area 103 from FIG. 1 can be seen in the side view 200a. A side view 202 of the second raised roof area 102 from FIG. 1 can correspondingly be seen in the side view 200b. The first area is largely covered in the two side views since it is not higher at any point than the second areas. A trailing edge 204 which represents an end of the first region can be seen solely at the end of the roof. The second areas have a height difference H in comparison with the first area. It is furthermore apparent that the doors protrude into the side areas 201, 202. This means that the upper sides of the doors are at least partially higher than the first area. This is also apparent on the basis of the fact that the doors are arranged slightly higher than the trailing edge 204. In particular, ease of getting in is improved as a result of the enlarged door frames.

[0053] FIG. 3 discloses the vehicle 100 from FIG. 1 in a front view 300a and a rear view 300b. The roof 301 is formed substantially of the same shape in the front view 300a. No height difference is apparent between the first area and the second areas. The first area 302 nevertheless drop downwards toward the rear side. This is apparent in the rear view 300b. The end 303 of the first region 302 at the side of the roof facing the rear side of the vehicle is arranged lower than the start of the first area which faces the front side. The indentations 304, 305 which are formed by the elevated second areas in the roof are clearly apparent in this view. The end of the first area 302 forms an M-shaped joint cross-section with the cross-section on the upper sides of the second areas. The height difference between the end 303 of the first area and the upper side of the second area 304, 305 is represented by the parameter H. The aerodynamics of the vehicle are improved by the sloping first area 302. As a result of the elevated second areas 304, 305, the vehicle has a side view which has a powerful appearance. The spaces which are formed by the second areas can simultaneously be used for vehicle functions or vehicle structures. For example, spatial comfort in the area of the heads of the occupants can be improved. Additionally or alternatively, cables, parts of air-conditioning systems or airbags, vehicle electronics, antennae, etc. can be arranged in spaces of the second areas.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0054] 100 Vehicle [0055] 101 First area of the roof [0056] 102 Second area of the roof [0057] 103 Third area of the roof [0058] 104 Opening of the sliding roof [0059] 200a Side view of the vehicle [0060] 200b Side view of the vehicle [0061] 201 Second area of the roof [0062] 202 Second area of the roof [0063] 203 Height difference between first area and the second areas of the roof [0064] 204 Trailing edge [0065] 205 Vehicle doors [0066] 300a Front view of the vehicle [0067] 300b Rear view of the vehicle [0068] 301 Vehicle roof [0069] 302 Start of the first area of the roof [0070] 303 End of the first area of the roof [0071] 304 Second area of the roof [0072] 305 Second area of the roof