Wind Deflector Having an Integrated Drive

Abstract

A wind deflector for a convertible vehicle includes a lower frame, which can be fixedly mounted to the vehicle, and an upper frame, on which a wind deflector is formed. The upper frame can be pivoted relative to the lower frame about a deployment axis, between a laid-down position and a wind protection position, by use of a drive. The upper frame and the lower frame are pivotably interconnected via at least two bearing points. The upper frame is operatively connected to the lower frame by a drive thread, and the drive thread is operatively connected to the drive. One of the bearing points has at least one preloading device.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A wind deflector for a convertible, comprising: a lower frame which is mountable fixed to a vehicle; an upper frame which is pivotable with respect to the lower frame about a deployment axis between a storage position and a wind protection position; at least two bearing points, wherein the upper frame and the lower frame are pivotably connected to one another by way of the at least two bearing points; a drive thread by which the upper frame is operatively connected to the lower frame; a drive, wherein the drive thread is operatively connected to the drive; and wherein at least one of the at least two bearing points has a pretensioning device which pretensions the upper frame into the wind protection position.

13. The wind deflector according to claim 12, wherein the drive is arranged either on the upper frame or on the lower frame.

14. The wind deflector according to claim 12, wherein the drive is arranged on a rear portion of the lower frame.

15. The wind deflector according to claim 12, wherein the upper frame has an extension, and the drive thread is connected to the extension at an attachment point.

16. The wind deflector according to claim 12, wherein the drive winds the drive thread.

17. The wind deflector according to claim 12, wherein a total action of the drive thread with respect to a transverse direction of the wind deflector acts parallel to a central plane of the wind deflector.

18. The wind deflector according to claim 12, wherein the drive thread is fastened to the lower frame or upper frame centrally or in a centrally offset manner.

19. The wind deflector according to claim 12, wherein the drive thread is arranged parallel to a central plane of the wind deflector.

20. The wind deflector according to claim 12, wherein the drive thread is deflected on a rear portion of the lower frame.

21. The wind deflector according to claim 12, further comprising: a power supply and/or actuator for the drive arranged in or on the wind deflector.

22. A convertible comprising a wind deflector according to claim 12.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wind deflector according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an upper frame being arranged in a storage position.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wind deflector from FIG. 1, the upper frame being arranged in the wind protection position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a wind protector 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an upper frame 3 being stored on a lower frame 1 in a storage position AP. The upper frame 3 is connected to the lower frame by way of two bearing points 2. A deployment axis A runs parallel to a transverse direction (y axis) through the bearing points 2. Furthermore, the bearing points 2 each comprise a pretensioning device 7, which pretension the upper frame 3 in such a way that it pivots about the deployment axis A into the wind protection position shown in FIG. 2. In the storage position AP, an extension 5 and the drive 6 are in alignment. In the shown exemplary embodiment of the invention, the upper frame 3 is shorter than the lower frame 1. This means that a rear end of the upper frame 3 is arranged closer to the deployment axis A than a rear end of the lower frame 1, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the wind deflector 100 pivoted into the wind protection position WP. The upper frame 3 comprises the extension 5 to which a drive thread 4 is fastened at an attachment point 4.1. The drive thread 4 is operatively coupled to a drive 6 which is arranged in a rear portion 1.1 of the lower frame 1. In this way, the drive thread 4 acts counter to the pretensioning force of the pretensioning devices 7, and the upper frame 3 is thus settable in any desired position between the storage position AP and the wind protection position WP. If a pulling force of the drive 6 exceeds the pretensioning force, the upper frame 3 is pulled onto the lower frame 1. If the drive thread 4 is relaxed, the upper frame 3 pivots about the deployment axis A into the wind protection position WP as a result of the pretensioning force.

[0027] The drive thread 4 may, for example, be embodied as a chord or from a natural material or a synthetic material, and, if required for the design of the system, from a flexible, in particular elastic, material. It goes without saying that the drive thread 4 itself can have any color; however, with regard to the appearance of the wind deflector, an embodiment in black or with a transparent material may be preferred. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive thread 4 is wound and unwound in the drive 6, such that no loose thread end can be seen and the drive thread 4 is always in a controlled state.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the wind deflector 100 is foldable centrally parallel to the longitudinal direction (x axis) in such a way that the bearings 2 come into alignment with one another. The attachment point 4.1 on the extension 5 of the upper frame 3 is therefore mounted in a centrally offset manner, i.e. spaced apart from the longitudinal direction (x axis) and spaced apart from or parallel to a central plane E, which is defined by the longitudinal direction L and the vertical direction (z axis). The spacing is expediently selected to be as small as possible, such that the pull of the drive thread is introduced into the upper frame 3 in the least eccentric manner possible and the folding of the wind deflector 100 is nevertheless possible. In the illustrated embodiment, the extension 5 is arranged centrally on the upper frame 3 and only the attachment point 4.1 in the extension 5 is mounted in a centrally offset manner, such that the wind deflector 100 can be folded and the drive thread 4 runs parallel to the central plane E from the attachment point 4.1 to the drive 6.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0029] 1 Lower frame [0030] 1.1 Rear portion of the lower frame [0031] 2 Bearing points [0032] 3 Upper frame [0033] 4 Drive thread [0034] 4.1 Attachment point [0035] 5 Extension [0036] 6 Drive [0037] 7 Pretensioning device [0038] 100 Wind deflector [0039] A Deployment axis [0040] AP Storage position [0041] E Central plane [0042] WP Wind protection position [0043] X Longitudinal direction [0044] Y Transverse direction [0045] Z Vertical direction