PROTECTION DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE INTERIOR

Abstract

Protection device for a motor vehicle interior having a flexible planar structure which, between a deployed protective position and a compact deposited resting position, is displaceable along an extraction direction so as to be guided by guide rails that lie opposite one another so as to be transverse to the extraction direction. At least one guide tape is disposed on a lateral peripheral region of the flexible planar structure and is at least indirectly connected to the flexible planar structure. The flexible planar structure via the guide tape, is held on one of the guide rails. A functional assembly is provided, which is elastically elongatable at least in the transverse direction and via which the flexible planar structure and the guide tape are mechanically connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner. The electrical connection is for supplying power to an electrical consumer.

Claims

1. A protection device for a motor vehicle interior, having a flexible planar structure which, between a deployed protective position and a compact deposited resting position, is displaceable along an extraction direction so as to be guided by guide rails that lie opposite one another so as to be transverse to the extraction direction; at least one guide tape which is disposed on a lateral peripheral region of the flexible planar structure and is at least indirectly connected to the flexible planar structure; the flexible planar structure via the at least one guide tape, in a transverse direction that is oriented so as to be transverse to the extraction direction, being held on at least one of the guide rails; wherein a functional assembly which is elastically elongatable at least in the transverse direction and via which the flexible planar structure and the guide tape are mechanically connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner is present, the electrical connection being configured for supplying power to an electrical consumer assigned to the flexible planar structure.

2. The protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functional assembly is elongate continuously across an overall length of the peripheral region of the flexible planar structure and/or the guide tape.

3. The protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functional assembly has a conduction device for the electrical connection, and a connection device for the mechanical connection, the latter being connected to the conduction device, the conduction device being elastically elongatable conjointly with the connection device and vice versa.

4. The protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connection device is a textile connection tape which is elastically elongatable at least in the transverse direction.

5. The protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the conduction device has an electrically conductive thread assembly which is elastically elongatable at least in the transverse direction and is connected in a form-fitting manner to the connection device, in particular by sewing, weaving, warp/weft-knitting, flat or circular knitting and/or felting.

6. The protection device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the thread assembly has a thread reserve which is formed from a plurality of thread loops oriented so as to be transverse, in particular orthogonal, and/or parallel to the extraction direction.

7. The protection device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the thread assembly forms a textile conductor tape which is elastically elongatable at least in the transverse direction.

8. The protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functional assembly is an electrically conductive, textile functional tape which is elastically elongatable at least in the transverse direction.

9. The protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connection device is coated with an electrically conductive coating that forms the conduction device, the coating being in particular imprinted on the connection device.

10. The protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functional assembly via at least one connection seam is at least in portions, preferably continuously, connected in mechanical and/or electrically conductive, form-fitting manner to the guide tape and to the peripheral region of the flexible planar structure.

11. The protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical consumer is disposed on the flexible planar structure and, conjointly with the latter, is able to be deployed and deposited in a compact manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further advantages and features of the invention are derived from the claims as well as from the description hereunder of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention which are illustrated by means of the drawings in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic, highly simplified and partially cutaway illustration shows a passenger motor vehicle which is provided with an embodiment of a protection device according to the invention in the form of a shading device;

[0019] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged and schematically simplified sectional illustration of the protection device as per FIG. 1 along a section line I-I, and in a region II as per FIG. 1 in which a functional assembly of the protection device is disposed;

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a schematic, highly simplified, partially cutaway plan view from above onto an upper side of a first variant of the functional assembly;

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a schematic, highly simplified, partially cutaway plan view from below onto a lower side of the variant of the functional assembly as per FIG. 3;

[0022] FIG. 5 shows the variant of the functional assembly as per FIGS. 3 and 4 in a schematic, highly simplified cross-sectional illustration;

[0023] FIGS. 6, 7, 8 show a further variant of the functional assembly in a type of illustration corresponding to that of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5;

[0024] FIGS. 9, 10, 11 show a further variant of the functional assembly;

[0025] FIGS. 12, 13, 14 show a further variant of the functional assembly;

[0026] FIGS. 15, 16, 17 show a further variant of the functional assembly; and

[0027] FIGS. 18, 19, 20 show a further variant of the functional assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Provided according to FIG. 1 is a protection device 1 in the form of a shading device for a motor vehicle interior of a motor vehicle P illustrated only in parts. The protection device 1 in the embodiment shown is provided for shading a window opening which is not referred to in more detail and disposed on the roof on the motor vehicle P.

[0029] The protection device 1 has a flexible planar structure 2 which, between a deployed protective position and a compact deposited resting position, is displaceable along an extraction direction X so as to be guided by guide rails 3 that lie opposite one another so as to be transverse to the extraction direction X. In the protective position, the interior of the motor vehicle P is shaded by means of the flexible planar structure 2. In the compact deposited resting position, the flexible planar structure 2 leaves said window opening free.

[0030] In the embodiment shown, the extraction direction X is oriented so as to be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle P. The guide rails 3 in the assembled, operationally ready state are fixed to the motor vehicle so as to be disposed on opposite lateral regions of the roof opening and mutually spaced apart along a transverse direction Y. The transverse direction Y is oriented so as to be orthogonal to the extraction direction X and presently so as to be parallel to a transverse axis of the motor vehicle P. The guide rails 3 presently are elongate in a mutually parallel manner. In embodiments not illustrated in more detail in the drawings, the guide rails may also be elongate so as not to be mutually parallel.

[0031] The flexible planar structure 2 presently is held so as to be able to be wound onto winding shaft 4 and unwound from the latter by one end. The winding shaft 4 is rotatably mounted so as to be fixed to the motor vehicle, in a manner known to the person skilled in the art, and presently is disposed on a rear edge of the window opening not referred to in more detail. In the protective position, the flexible planar structure 2 is unwound from the winding shaft 4. In the resting position, the flexible planar structure 2 is wound onto the winding shaft 4. The winding shaft 4 is elongate so as to be parallel to the transverse direction Y. The displacement of the flexible planar structure 2 between the protective position and the resting position can be performed manually and/or in a motorized manner. For example, the flexible planar structure 2 on the front edge thereof that faces away from the winding shaft 4 can be provided with an extraction bow for manual handling. Alternatively or additionally, the protection device can have a drive unit which for the driven displacement interacts with the flexible planar structure 2 and/or the winding shaft 4 in a manner known to the person skilled in the art.

[0032] The protection device 1 moreover has a guide tape 5 (FIG. 2) which is disposed on a lateral peripheral region of the flexible planar structure 2 and is at least indirectly connected to the flexible planar structure 2. The flexible planar structure 2 by means of the at least one guide tape 5 is held on at least one of the guide rails 3 in the transverse direction Y. The protection device 1 in the embodiment shown has a substantially symmetrical design such that each of the two guide rails 3 (FIG. 1) is in each case assigned one guide tape 5. A lateral guiding action on both sides on the guide rails 3, and moreover a connection of the flexible planar structure 2 to the respective guide tape, yet to be described in more detail, are identically designed. Reference hereunder is therefore primarily made to the connection and/or guiding action in a region II, said connection and/or guiding action in terms of a forward travel of the motor vehicle P being configured on the right side. The same preferably applies in an analogous manner to the connection and/or guiding action on the left peripheral region of the flexible planar structure 2.

[0033] As is shown by means of FIG. 2, the guide rail 3 has a guide channel 6 in which the guide tape 5 is held in a form-fitting manner in the transverse direction Y and so as to be able to move by sliding along the extraction direction X. The guide rail 3 presently is moreover configured as an extruded profile.

[0034] As is furthermore shown by means of FIG. 2, the flexible planar structure 2 and the guide tape 5 are connected to one another by means of a functional assembly F. The functional assembly F configures a load-bearing mechanical connection, on the one hand, and a current-conducting, electrically conductive connection between the guide tape 5 and the flexible planar structure 2, on the other hand. The electrically conductive connection serves for providing power to an electrical consumer 7 which is assigned to the flexible planar structure 2 and by means of FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated in a schematic, highly simplified manner.

[0035] The electrical consumer 7 in the embodiment shown is disposed on a textile support structure 8, wherein the textile support structure 8 and the electrical consumer 7 are connected to one another while configuring the flexible planar structure 2. This is to be understood to be purely exemplary. In an embodiment not shown in the drawings, the flexible planar structure per se can configure the electrical consumer and be accordingly specified.

[0036] In the embodiment shown, the electrical consumer 7 is a display installation, a heating installation and/or a loudspeaker installation.

[0037] The electrical consumer 7, conjointly with the textile support structure 8, is displaceable between the protective position and the resting position and to this extent able to be unwound from the winding shaft 4 and wound onto the latter.

[0038] The functional assembly F in the embodiment shown is at least largely, preferably completely, elongate along the extraction direction X across an overall length of the flexible planar structure 2. The functional assembly F here has a tape-shaped design such that the longitudinal extent along the extraction direction X is larger by a multiple than the transverse extent along the transverse direction Y. Moreover, a thickness along a height direction Z is comparatively thin.

[0039] The functional assembly F is elastically elongatable at least in the transverse direction Y. As a result of this elastic elongation capability in the transverse direction Y, a variation in the spacing between the two guide rails 3 along the extraction direction X can be compensated for. Such a variation in the spacing may be caused by production tolerances or by an intentional, non-parallel alignment of the guide rails 3.

[0040] The functional assembly F is able to be wound onto the winding shaft 4 and unwound from the latter conjointly with the flexible planar structure 2.

[0041] The functional assembly F can be connected to the guide tape 5 in a form-fitting, force-fitting or materially integral manner. The same applies in an analogous manner to the connection to the flexible planar structure 2 that in the transverse direction Y is configured on the other end of the functional assembly F.

[0042] Different variants of the functional assembly F according to the invention are illustrated in a schematic, highly simplified manner by means of FIGS. 3 to 20. The schematic functional assembly F, highly simplified by means of FIG. 2, here is to be understood to be a generic placeholder for said variants. A plurality of the variants according to the invention provides that the functional assembly F has a connection device 9 and a conduction device 10 which is connected to the connection device 9. The connection device 9 is specified for mechanically connecting the flexible planar structure 2 in a load-bearing manner to the guide tape 5. The conduction device 10 is specified for electrically connecting the flexible planar structure 2, more specifically the electrical consumer 7 thereof, in a current-conducting manner to the guide tape 5. The remarks pertaining to the illustration of the functional assembly F apply in an analogous manner to the connection device 9 and the conduction device 10 shown by means of FIG. 2. To this extent, the connection device 9 and the conduction device 10 therein are to be understood to be generic placeholders.

[0043] In the variant as per FIGS. 3 to 5, the connection device is a textile connection tape 9a which is elastically elongatable at least in the transverse direction. The textile connection tape 9a is elongate parallel to the lateral peripheral region of the flexible planar structure 2 and/or the guide tape 5. The elastic elongation capability in the transverse direction can be caused by the material and/or by the construction of the connection tape 9a. The textile connection tape 9a in the transverse direction Y is at one end connected in a form-fitting, force-fitting and/or materially integral manner to the guide tape 5. A corresponding connection to the textile planar structure 2 is present at the other end in the transverse direction Y. In the embodiment shown, a form-fitting connection by means of two connection seams 11, 12, which may also be referred to as a first connection seam 11 and a second connection seam 12, is present. The first connection seam 11 establishes a mechanical load-bearing connection between the guide tape 5 and the textile connection tape 9a. The second connection seam 12 establishes a mechanical load-bearing connection between the flexible planar structure 2 and the textile connection tape 9a. The first connection seam 11 and the second connection seam 12 along the extraction direction X are presently elongate continuously across an entire length of the functional assembly Fa and/or of the textile connection tape 9a.

[0044] In the embodiment shown, the textile connection tape 9a forms an upper side of the functional assembly Fa that lies on the top in the height direction Z. In an embodiment not illustrated in the drawings, the textile connection tape 9a can instead be disposed on the lower side.

[0045] Furthermore, the functional assembly Fa of the variant as per FIGS. 3 to 5 has a conduction device 10a. The conduction device 10a has a thread assembly 13a. The thread assembly 13a is electrically conductive, and compliant and/or elastically elongatable at least in the transverse direction Y. The thread assembly 13a is formed by at least one thread, one yarn, one twisted yarn or the like. Moreover, the thread assembly 13a is elongate so as to meander between the guide tape 5 and the flexible planar structure 2, as well as along the extraction direction X. The thread assembly 13a covers a lower side of the textile connection tape 9a which is not referred to in more detail. In other words, the thread assembly 13a and/or the conduction device 10a form/forms a lower side of the functional assembly Fa. A width of the thread assembly 13a, which is not referred to in more detail and extends in the transverse direction Y, presently corresponds to a width of the textile connection tape 9a, which is not referred to in more detail here. The same applies in an analogous manner to a length of the thread assembly 13a that is elongate along the extraction direction X.

[0046] The thread assembly 13a by means of the first connection seam 11 is connected to the guide tape 5 and the textile connection tape 9a, on the one hand. On the other hand, the thread assembly 13a by means of the second connection seam 12 is connected to the textile connection tape 9a and the flexible planar structure 2. This is shown in particular by means of the schematic, highly simplified cross-sectional illustration as per FIG. 5 which may also be referred to as a seam diagram.

[0047] The functional assembly Fa, on the internal periphery thereof that faces the flexible planar structure 2, electrically contacts a contact tape 14 (FIG. 2). The contact tape 14 is assigned to an upper side of the flexible planar structure 2. The contact tape 14 presently is a silver contact which is disposed on the upper side of the flexible planar structure 2 and is fixedly connected to the latter. The contact tape 14 is designed so as to be flexible, and conjointly with the flexible planar structure 2, is displaceable between the protective position and the resting position.

[0048] The thread assembly 13a is electrically conductive and simultaneously elastically elongatable. To this end, the thread assembly 13a may have an elastically elongatable support thread 13, for example, which is not shown in more detail and is helically wrapped by an electrically conductive conduction thread.

[0049] Furthermore, a first electrically conductive connection seam 15 and a second electrically conductive connection seam 16 are presently provided. The first and the second electrically conductive connection seams 15, 16 are to be understood to be purely optional. Said connection seams 15, 16 are accordingly not present in embodiments not illustrated in the drawings. As is shown in particular by means of FIG. 5, the first and the second electrically conductive connection seam 15, 16 configure in each case an (additional) electrically conductive connection between the textile connection tape 9a and the conduction device 10a, more specifically the thread assembly 13a.

[0050] The thread assembly 13a is sewn to the connection device 9, more specifically the textile connection tape 9a, by means of the first connection seam 11, the second connection seam 12, the first electrically conductive connection seam 15 and/or the second electrically conductive connection seam 16. Alternatively or additionally to such a seam connection, in embodiments not illustrated in the drawings the thread assembly can be connected to the textile connection tape 9a by weaving, flat or circular knitting, warp/weft-knitting or felting.

[0051] The further variants Fb to Ff of the functional assembly F shown by means of FIGS. 6 to 20 are in each case largely identical to the functional assembly Fa as per FIGS. 3 to 5. For the avoidance of repetitions, only the substantial differences of the individual variants in comparison to the functional assembly Fa and/or further variants will therefore be discussed hereunder. Functionally identical components and/or portions are provided with identical reference signs and are not separately discussed in each variant.

[0052] The functional assembly Fb differs from the functional assembly Fb substantially in that the conduction device 10b is configured by a thread assembly 13b having a thread reserve R. The thread reserve R is formed by a plurality of “loose” thread loops S of the thread assembly 13b. “Loose” in this context means that the respective thread loops S are able to move in the transverse direction Y. This mobility is presently guaranteed in that the thread assembly 13b in the region of the thread loops S is not sewn by means of the connection seams 11 12 and/or the electrically conductive connection seams 15, 16. In the variant as per FIGS. 6 to 8, the thread loops S are oriented transversely, in particular orthogonally, to the extraction direction X. The thread assembly 13b in the transverse direction Y has said thread reserve R on both sides such that reference may also be made to an internal and external thread reserve R.

[0053] Moreover, the thread assembly 13b in accordance with the thread assembly 13a extends so as to meander between the guide tape 5 and the flexible planar structure 2. One thread loop of the thread assembly 13b that is sewn to the guide tape 5 here is in each case followed by two loose thread loops S. The same applies in an analogous manner when proceeding from a thread loop that is sewn to the flexible planar structure 2, or the contact tape 14, respectively.

[0054] The variant as per FIGS. 9 to 11 has a functional assembly Fc which differs from the variant as per FIGS. 6 to 8 substantially by a thread reserve R′ of a different design. The thread reserve R′ is formed by thread loops S′ which are oriented so as to be parallel to the extraction direction X.

[0055] The functional assembly Fd as per FIGS. 12 to 14 again has a textile connection tape 9a as the connection device. Moreover, a thread assembly 13d is again provided as the conduction device 10d. As opposed to the functional assemblies Fa, Fb and Fc, the thread assembly 13d configures a conductor tape LB. The conductor tape LB forms a lower side of the functional assembly Fd that is not referred to in more detail. The conductor tape LB is preferably configured as a woven fabric, a warp/weft-knitted fabric, a flat or circular knitted fabric or the like in the shape of a tape. The conductor tape LB is elastically elongatable in the transverse direction Y. This is presently guaranteed by a corresponding woven-fabric and/or knitted-fabric construction. The textile conductor tape LB is sewn to the textile connection tape 9a by means of the connection seams 11, 12 and/or the electrically conductive connection seams 15, 16. The connection seams 11, 12 simultaneously establish a connection between the conductor tape LB and the guide tape 5, on the one hand, and the flexible planar structure 2, on the other hand.

[0056] Provided in the variant as per FIGS. 15 to 17 is a functional assembly Fe which as opposed to the functional assemblies Fa, Fb, Fc and Fd, in simple words, does not have any functional separation in terms of the mechanical connection, on the one hand, and the electrical connection, on the other hand. Instead, the functional assembly Fe is a textile functional tape Fb which is mechanically configured so as to be load-bearing as well as electrically configured so as to be conductive. As is shown in particular by means of FIG. 17, the present variant, as opposed to the variants discussed by means of FIGS. 3 to 14, has a single-layer construction. In terms of FIGS. 5, 8, 11 as well as 14, reference may instead be made to a dual-layer construction in which a first layer is formed by the respective conduction device or thread assembly, respectively, and a second layer, lying thereabove in the height direction Z, is formed by the connection device.

[0057] The textile functional tape FB by means of a first and a second connection seam 11, 12 is again sewn to the guide tape 5, on the one hand, and to the flexible planar structure 2, on the other hand. Electrically conductive connection seams 15, 16, such as is shown by means of FIGS. 15 and 16, can again be additionally present. The electrically conductive connection seams 15, 16 are not indicated in FIG. 17.

[0058] Shown by means of FIGS. 18 to 20 is a functional assembly Ff in which the connection device is coated with an electrically conductive coating B that configures the conduction device 10f. The coating B is applied to a lower side of the connection device. The connection device is again designed as a textile connection tape 9f and differs from the textile connection tape 9a of the preceding variants only by way of the coating B present on the lower side. The coating B in the embodiment shown is imprinted on the textile connection tape 9f. Suitable printing methods to this end are in any case known per se, at least in the field of printing technology. The coating B is schematically symbolized by means of the longitudinal lines apparent in FIG. 19, and irrespective of the latter establishes an electrically conductive connection in the transverse direction Y between the guide tape 5 and the flexible planar structure 2. A first connection seam 11 and a second connection seam 12 are again present in order for the functional assembly Ff to be connected. The electrically conductive connection seams 15, 16 plotted in FIGS. 18 and 19 may optionally be present.

[0059] Moreover, it is common to all of the functional assemblies F, Fa to Ff that said functional assemblies F, Fa to Ff are displaceable between the protective position and the resting position conjointly with the flexible planar structure 2. With a view to the present embodiment having the winding shaft 4 (FIG. 1), this means that the functional assemblies F, Fa to Ff are able to be wound onto the winding shaft 4 and unwound from the latter in a space-saving manner.