Arrangement and method for producing an arrangement for a vehicle roof and a system for a motor vehicle with a vehicle roof

Abstract

A method for producing an arrangement for a vehicle roof can have the steps of providing a first element with a first end and a second end, the element being couplable by the first end to the vehicle roof. The method can also have the steps of providing a pumpable substance with predetermined material properties, and applying the provided substance by injection molding at a predetermined position at the second end of the first element and thereby forming a second element such that the second element is coupled to the first element and is pivotable relative to the first element about an axis of rotation (A). An arrangement and system for a vehicle roof is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for producing an arrangement for a vehicle roof, comprising providing a first element with a first end and a second end, the element being couplable by the first end to the vehicle roof, providing a pumpable substance with predetermined material properties, and applying the provided substance by injection molding at a predetermined position at the second end of the first element and thereby forming a second element such that the second element is coupled to the first element and is pivotable relative to the first element about an axis of rotation (A); and wherein the providing of the first element comprises: providing the first element with a recess at the second end such that, by applying the provided substance by injection molding, the second element is formed with a rotary element which is arranged in the recess.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the first element as a raising lever which is couplable by the first end to a cover for the vehicle roof, and applying the provided substance by injection molding at a predetermined position at the second end of the raising lever and thereby forming the second element as a plastics slider such that the plastics slider is coupled to the raising lever and is pivotable relative to the raising lever about the axis of rotation (A).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing of the first element comprises: providing the first element with a predetermined radial geometry at the second end such that, by applying the provided substance by injection molding, the second element is formed with a radial geometry.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing of the first element comprises: punching and/or stamping a metal blank and thereby forming the first element with the first and second end and the recess and/or the predetermined radial geometry.

5. An arrangement for a vehicle roof, comprising a first element with a first end and a second end, the element being couplable by the first end to the vehicle roof, and a second element which is formed by injection molding at a predetermined position at the second end of the first element with a predetermined geometry such that the second element is coupled to the first element and is arranged pivotably relative to the first element about an axis of rotation (A); and wherein the first element has a recess at the second end, and the second element has a rotary element which is formed by infection molding and is arranged in the recess of the first element.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the first element is a raising lever which is couplable by the first end to a cover for the vehicle roof, and the second element is a plastics slider which is formed by injection molding at a predetermined position at the second end of the raising lever with a predetermined geometry such that the plastics slider is coupled to the raising lever and is arranged pivotably relative to the raising lever about the axis of rotation (A).

7. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the first element has, at the second end, a predetermined radial geometry about which the second element is formed by injection molding.

8. A system for a motor vehicle with a vehicle roof, comprising a cover which is designed to optionally open up and to close a roof opening in the vehicle roof, and an arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the cover is coupled to the raising lever and the plastics slider is coupled to a guide rail, in order to raise the cover in order to open up the roof opening in the vehicle roof and to set same for closing the roof opening in the vehicle roof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWING

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a vehicle roof in a perspective view,

(3) FIGS. 2A-2B show an exemplary embodiment of a raising lever and a plastics slider for a cover,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sequence diagram for a method for producing an arrangement for a cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) Elements of identical design or function are identified by the same reference signs throughout the figures.

(6) FIG. 1 schematically shows, in a perspective view, a system for a motor vehicle 1, which comprises a cover 3 and an arrangement 10. The cover 3 is arranged in a vehicle roof 2 of the motor vehicle 1 and, for example, is designed to be displaceable relative to the vehicle roof 2 in order optionally to open up and to close a roof opening in the vehicle roof 2.

(7) A simple and space-saving guide mechanism can be realized by means of the arrangement 10, which mechanism can be produced cost-effectively and which permits a reliable raising, displacing and adjusting of the cover 3. The arrangement 10 and a corresponding method for producing such an arrangement 10 will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2A-2B and FIG. 3 below.

(8) FIG. 2A shows, in a cross section, a first element 12 with a first end 13 and a second end 14. At the second end 14, a second element 16 is coupled to the first element 12, said second element being formed at a predetermined position at the second end 14 by means of injection molding.

(9) In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the first element 12 is designed as a raising lever 121 and the second element 16 as a plastics slider 161. In further refinements of the arrangement 10, the first and the second element 12 and 16 are designed, for example, as levers and are coupled to each other by means of injection molding and realize part of a lever mechanism for opening the vehicle roof 2, which optionally realizes a convertible folding roof.

(10) The plastics slider 161 is configured in such a manner that it is pivotable relative to the raising lever 121 about an axis of rotation A. For this purpose, the plastics slider 161 has a rotary element 17 which extends through a recess 15 at the second end 14 of the raising lever 121.

(11) Owing to the fact that the plastics slider 161 is formed by means of injection molding, the rotary element 17 is produced integrally with the plastics slider 161 as part thereof. No additional coupling elements, such as bolts or rivets, are therefore required in order to attach the plastics slider 161 to the raising lever 121, and the arrangement 10 can be produced in a cost-effective and time-saving manner within the scope of a production method.

(12) The raising lever 121 is couplable by means of the first end 13 to the cover 3. The raising lever 121 is coupled by means of the second end 14 and the plastics slider 161 formed thereon, for example, to a guide rail in which the plastics slider 161 is arranged. A space-saving guide mechanism for the cover 3 can therefore be realized in a simple manner with a particularly low number of components by means of the arrangement 10 in order to raise the cover 3 in order to open up the roof opening in the vehicle roof 2 and to adjust same for closing the roof opening in the vehicle roof 2.

(13) FIG. 2B shows a cross section of the arrangement 10 at a position of the second end 14 through the rotary element 17 of the plastics slider 161 and the recess 15 of the raising lever 121. The cross section illustrated is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the cross section illustrated in FIG. 2A. It can be seen with reference to FIG. 2B that the rotary element 17 is formed integrally with the plastics slider 161 about the axis of rotation A. The further illustrated edges and shapes of the plastics slider 161 and also of the raising lever 121 have been designed as predetermined geometries within the scope of a production method. Such a method for producing the arrangement 10 will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

(14) FIG. 3 shows a sequence diagram for a method for producing the arrangement 10, in which, in a step S1, the raising lever 121 is provided with the predetermined geometry. The geometry comprises in particular the recess 15 at the second end 14 and optionally also radial regions which permit pivoting of the plastics slider 161 to be formed on the raising lever 121. The raising lever 121 is optionally not provided with a predetermined geometry but rather, in step S1, is formed by means of punching and/or stamping a metal blank. Edges, bent portions, projecting regions and/or further recesses can thereby also be formed at predetermined positions of the metal blank in order to configure the raising lever 121 for reliably and securely guiding the cover 3.

(15) In a further step S3, the raising lever 121 is positioned and clamped, for example, in a specific manner in a mold which permits the formation of the plastics slider 161 by means of injection molding. Such a mold comprises, for example, an upper mold and lower mold with predetermined recesses and cavities which determine the shape to be formed of the plastics slider 161.

(16) In a further step S5, predetermined cavities of the mold are filled with a provided substance and the plastics slider 161 is thereby formed in a specific manner at or around the second end 14 of the raising lever 121. During the formation of the plastics slider 161 it is ensured that the latter does not permanently adhere to the raising lever 121 and therefore a relative rotational movement of said two components with respect to each other is possible. In this regard, for example, the materials of the raising lever 121 and of the plastics slider 161 are coordinated with each other.

(17) The raising lever 121 is realized, for example, as a metal lever to which the provided substance, from which the plastics slider 161 is formed by means of injection molding, is applied. The provided substance has, for example, material properties which lead to a non-adhering or easily detachable behavior of the shape of the plastics slider 161 on the raising lever 121. For example, the plastics slider 161 is manufactured from a material combination consisting of polyamide and carbon fiber, which is injection molded onto the metallic raising lever 121 and forms the plastics slider 161. The plastics slider 161 is therefore realized pivotably about the axis of rotation A and is adapted to the shape of the second end 14 of the raising lever 121 and overall has a radial geometry complementary to that of the raising lever 121 wherever a rotational movement is intended to be permitted.

(18) In a further step S7, the arrangement 10 produced in such a manner is then coupled, for example, to the cover 3 and a guide rail in order to realize a roof module or a system for the vehicle roof 2 of the motor vehicle 1.

(19) By means of the method described, a cost-effective and space-saving configuration of the arrangement 10 for guiding the cover 3 can be realized in a simple manner, said arrangement essentially merely comprising two components which are rotatable with respect to each other, the raising lever 121 and the plastics slider 161 which permit reliable raising, displacing and adjusting of the cover 3 in the vehicle roof 2. No additional components or process steps are necessary, and therefore the described method makes a contribution to a simple installation process of a space-saving guide mechanism or cover mechanism.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(20) 1 Motor vehicle 2 Vehicle roof 3 Cover 10 Arrangement 12 First element 121 Raising lever 13 First end of the raising lever 14 Second end of the raising lever 15 Recess of the raising lever 16 Second element 161 Plastics slider 17 Rotary element of the plastics slider A Axis of rotation