Roof roller blind system for a motor vehicle and method for mounting a roof roller blind system for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A roof roller blind system for a motor vehicle, having a spring cartridge and a winding shaft is described, wherein the winding shaft comprises a non-circular inner cross-section, wherein an end portion of the spring cartridge contacts the inner cross-section of the winding shaft at least in portions in a torque-transmitting manner. A method for mounting a roof roller blind system for a motor vehicle is also described.

Claims

1. A roof roller blind system for a motor vehicle, having a spring cartridge and a winding shaft, wherein the winding shaft comprises a non-circular inner cross-section, wherein an end portion of the spring cartridge contacts the inner cross-section of the winding shaft at least in portions in a torque-transmitting manner.

2. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring cartridge has a widening in the region of the end portion, which widening is connected to the inner cross-section of the winding shaft in a torque-transmitting manner.

3. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is a form-fitting connection between the widening of the end portion of the spring cartridge and the inner cross-section of the winding shaft, as seen in the peripheral direction.

4. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring cartridge comprises an inner rod, a first spring entrainer, a second spring entrainer and a spring, wherein end portions of the spring are pushed onto a respective spring entrainer and the spring entrainers are coupled to the inner rod.

5. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first spring entrainer and the second spring entrainer are connected to the inner rod in such a way that the first spring entrainer and the second spring entrainer can rotate relative to one another.

6. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the spring entrainers comprises grooves on its outer periphery, which grooves are complementary to windings of an end portion of the spring.

7. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 4, wherein a widening is provided on the second spring entrainer and serves to transfer a torque to the winding shaft.

8. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring cartridge comprises a tensioning device, wherein the tensioning device is provided at an end which is opposite to the end portion which contacts the inner cross-section of the winding shaft in a torque-transmitting manner.

9. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 8, wherein an outer end portion of the tensioning device has an outer cross-section in the form of a simple polygon, in particular a quadrilateral.

10. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spring cartridge comprises a tensioning device, the tensioning device being provided at an end which is opposite to the end portion which contacts the inner cross-section of the winding shaft in a torque-transmitting manner, and wherein the tensioning device is provided on the first spring entrainer.

11. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an anti-rotation device is provided at at least one end of the winding shaft and can be attached to the at least one end of the winding shaft in such a way that the anti-rotation device and the winding shaft are connected for conjoint rotation.

12. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the winding shaft comprises at least one recess at at least one end, into which recess a lug that is complementary to the recess on the anti-rotation device engages.

13. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 8, wherein an anti-rotation device is provided at at least one end of the winding shaft and can be attached to the at least one end of the winding shaft in such a way that the anti-rotation device and the winding shaft are connected for conjoint rotation and wherein a respective depression is provided on an inner side of the anti-rotation device and on an outer side of the tensioning device.

14. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fabric strip is attached to the winding shaft.

15. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fabric strip has a synthetic material reinforcement on at least portions of its periphery, wherein the fabric strip is attached to the winding shaft by thermowelding.

16. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring cartridge extends over 30-90 percent of the length of the winding shaft, preferably over 40-80 percent, more preferably over 50-70 percent.

17. A method for mounting a roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 1 comprising the following steps: mounting the spring cartridge; pushing the spring cartridge into the winding shaft; pretensioning the spring cartridge; securing the winding shaft and the spring cartridge against rotation; installing the assembly consisting of a winding shaft and spring cartridge into the roof roller blind system; and releasing the securing of the winding shaft and of the spring cartridge against rotation.

18. The method for mounting a roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 17, wherein a fabric strip is attached to the winding shaft, in particular by thermowelding, before the spring cartridge is pushed into the winding shaft.

19. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spring cartridge comprises an inner rod, a first spring entrainer, a second spring entrainer and a spring, wherein end portions of the spring are pushed onto a respective spring entrainer and the spring entrainers are coupled to the inner rod.

20. The roof roller blind system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first spring entrainer and the second spring entrainer are connected to the inner rod in such a way that the first spring entrainer and the second spring entrainer can rotate relative to one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Further advantages and properties of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawings to which reference is made and in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through an end portion of a roof roller blind system in accordance with the invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a spring cartridge of the roof roller blind system in accordance with the invention of FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of an end portion of the spring cartridge of FIG. 2;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows an assembly for the roof roller blind system in accordance with the invention of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of an end of the assembly of FIG. 4;

[0038] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the end portion of the roof roller blind system in accordance with the invention of FIG. 1; and

[0039] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an end portion of the roof roller blind system opposite the end portion illustrated in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through an end portion of a roof roller blind system 10.

[0041] The roof roller blind system 10 serves as a sun blind of a sliding roof system of a motor vehicle. The roof roller blind system 10 thus serves in particular to reduce sunlight entering through a roof opening of the motor vehicle into the interior of the motor vehicle.

[0042] The roof roller blind system 10 comprises a spring cartridge 12, a winding shaft 14 made from synthetic material with a fabric strip 16 attached thereto and a holder 18.

[0043] The structure of the spring cartridge 12 is explained in more detail hereinunder with the aid of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0044] The spring cartridge 12 comprises an inner rod 20, a first spring entrainer 22 attached to the inner rod 20, a second spring entrainer 24 attached to the inner rod 20 and a spring 26.

[0045] The spring 26 is in this case formed as a coil spring and is located on the inner rod 20. A spring wire thickness for the spring 26 can be between 0.6 mm and 1.2 mm, in particular between 0.7 mm and 1.1 mm, e.g. 0.8 mm to 0.9 mm.

[0046] A respective end portion of the spring 26 is pushed onto one of the spring entrainers 22, 24. The spring entrainers 22, 24 in this case each have grooves 28 on their outer periphery, which grooves are complementary to the respective end portion of the spring 26. In this way, the spring 26 is connected in a form-fitting manner to the spring entrainers 22, 24 for conjoint rotation in a respective rotational direction.

[0047] The spring entrainers 22, 24 are attached to the inner rod 20 in such a way that they can rotate relative to one another, wherein the inner rod 20 keeps the two spring entrainers 22, 24 at a distance apart.

[0048] A non-circular, in this case cog-like, widening 30 is attached to the second spring entrainer 24, in particular is connected as one piece to the second spring entrainer 24.

[0049] A tensioning device 34 is provided on the first spring entrainer 22, wherein the tensioning device 34 is attached to the first spring entrainer 22 for conjoint rotation therewith. The spring 26 can be pretensioned in that the tensioning device 34 is rotated. An outer cross-section 35 of the tensioning device 34 is in this case formed as a quadrilateral, in particular a square. However, the outer cross-section 35 can also be in the shape of another simple polygon.

[0050] The tensioning device 34 further comprises a central bore 36. By means of the bore 36, the spring cartridge 12 can be attached to the roof roller blind system 10, e.g. by means of a bearing pin.

[0051] As shown particularly clearly by FIG. 2, the spring 26 can optionally have a casing 32 at least in portions, said casing being made of synthetic material, in particular polyethylene. In this way, noise generated when the spring 26 impacts components located outside the spring 26 is damped.

[0052] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the spring cartridge 12 can also comprise an outer pipe 37, wherein in particular a film 38 can be provided between the spring 26 and the outer pipe 37.

[0053] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a winding shaft 14 with a spring cartridge 12 pushed therein, wherein FIG. 5 illustrates the spring cartridge 12 with the first spring entrainer 22 detached for improved clarity.

[0054] The spring cartridge 12 in this case extends over about 65 percent of the length of the winding shaft 14. However, it is also possible for the spring cartridge to extend over 30 to 90 percent of the length of the winding shaft 14. In other words, the spring cartridge 12 forms a spring drive which is universally usable for different winding shaft lengths.

[0055] The winding shaft 14 has an non-circular inner cross-section 42 into which the widening 30 on the second spring entrainer 24 engages at least in portions in a torque-transmitting manner. By means of the second spring entrainer 24 and the widening 30, the spring 26as viewed in the peripheral directionis connected to the winding shaft 14 in a form-fitting, torque-transmitting manner.

[0056] In the embodiment illustrated in this case, the inner cross-section 42 is substantially complementary to the widening 30.

[0057] At at least one end of the winding shaft 14 an anti-rotation device 44 is attached to the winding shaft 14 for conjoint rotation therewith. The anti-rotation device 44 comprises a lug 46 which engages into a corresponding recess 48 in the winding shaft 14 to form a form-fitting connection for conjoint rotation.

[0058] As shown particularly clearly in FIG. 3, the tensioning device 34, on its outer side, and the anti-rotation device 44, on its inner side, have a respective depression 50, 52.

[0059] The fabric strip 16 (not shown for the sake of clarity in FIGS. 2 to 7) is attached to an outer side of the winding shaft 14. The fabric strip 16 comprises a synthetic material reinforcement, at least in portions, on its periphery, wherein the fabric strip can be attached to the winding shaft 14 by thermowelding of the synthetic material reinforcement and the winding shaft 14.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows an inclined view of the holder 18 and of an assembly consisting of a winding shaft 14 and spring cartridge 12. The holder 18 comprises an anti-rotation portion 54 which is designed in such a way that the tensioning device 34 engages with its outer cross-section 35 in a form-fitting manner into the inner cross-section of the anti-rotation portion 54 for conjoint rotation therewith. In the embodiment illustrated in this case, the anti-rotation portion 54 is formed as a cuboid into which the tensioning device 34 can be inserted in a form-fitting manner for conjoint rotation therewith.

[0061] FIG. 7 shows an end portion of the assembly consisting of a winding shaft 14 and spring cartridge 12, which is opposite the end portion shown in FIG. 6. The assembly consisting of a winding shaft 14 and spring cartridge 12 is in this case rotatably attached to the roof roller blind system 10 by means of a bearing pin 56 via a connecting element 58.

[0062] A method for mounting the roof roller blind system 10 is explained hereinunder.

[0063] The spring cartridge 12 is mounted first. For this purpose, the spring 26 is pushed onto the inner rod 20 and the spring entrainers 22, 24 are attached to the inner rod 20. Ends of the spring 26 are now pushed onto a respective one of the spring entrainers 22, 24.

[0064] Furthermore, the fabric strip 16 is attached to the winding shaft 14 by thermowelding and wound thereon.

[0065] The premounted spring cartridge 12 is now pushed into the winding shaft 14.

[0066] The spring 26 of the spring cartridge 12 is then pretensioned in that the tensioning device 34 is rotated. If a desired level of pretensioning is achieved, the depressions 50, 52 of the tensioning device 34 and of the anti-rotation device 44 are positioned opposite one another.

[0067] The anti-rotation device 44 and the tensioning device 34 are now secured against a relative rotational movement. This takes place e.g. in that, as shown in FIG. 1, a blocking element 53, in particular a wire pin, is inserted into the depressions 50, 52. By means of a form-fitting arrangement this prevents relative rotational movement of the anti-rotation device 44 and tensioning device 34. Since the anti-rotation device 44 and the winding shaft 14 are connected for conjoint rotation, the tensioning device 34 and the winding shaft 14 are therefore also secured against a relative rotational movement.

[0068] The assembly consisting of a winding shaft 14 and spring cartridge 12 is now inserted into the holder 18, whereby the tensioning device 34 lies in a form-fitting manner against the anti-rotation portion 54 for conjoint rotation therewith. A retracting moment which the spring 26 exerts onto the winding shaft 14 can thereby be supported against the anti-rotation portion 54.

[0069] Both ends of the assembly consisting of a winding shaft 14 and spring cartridge 12 are fastened, e.g. by means of bearing pins 56 which can be formed as common parts, in particular at both ends.

[0070] The securing of the winding shaft 14 and of the spring cartridge 12 against rotation is now released. In the example shown in this case, the blocking element 53 is for this purpose removed from the depressions 50, 52.

[0071] Alternatively, the securing of the winding shaft 14 and of the spring cartridge 12 against rotation can also even be released after the assembly consisting of the winding shaft 14 and spring cartridge 12 is inserted into the holder, i.e. even before the assembly consisting of the winding shaft 14 and spring cartridge 12 is fastened by means of the bearing pin 56.