DEFLECTION ELEMENT FOR A WIND DEFLECTOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A deflection element for a wind deflector of a motor vehicle includes a flexible fabric configured to be transferred by a deployment element of the wind deflector into a raised or spread out use position in relation to a basic position. The deflection element has a fastening device along at least one upper or lower side edge of the fabric for fixing the deployment element on a base element of the wind deflector, or on a motor vehicle chassis. The fastening device has at least one first clamping strip and at least one second clamping strip connected to one another by connecting elements which correspond to one another and penetrate through the fabric to thereby clamp the side edge of the fabric between the first clamping strip and the second clamping strip.

Claims

1. A deflection element for a wind deflector, comprising a flexible fabric which is transferable by means of a deployment element of the wind deflector into a use position raised or spread out in relation to a basic position and which has a fastening device along at least one upper or lower side edge for fastening to the deployment element, to a base element of the wind deflector or to a motor vehicle body, wherein the fastening device has at least one first clamping strip and at least one second clamping strip, which clamping strips are connected to one another by means of mutually corresponding connecting elements passing through the fabric and thereby clamp the side edge of the fabric between the first clamping strip and the second clamping strip.

2. The deflection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fabric has, along its side edge, an arrangement of through openings which correspond in respect of their shape and position with the shape and position of the connecting elements.

3. The deflection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fixing structure entering into a clamping position with the fabric is provided on at least one inner side, which faces the fabric, of at least one of the first clamping strip and the second clamping strip.

4. The deflection element as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fixing structure has a comb strip or toothed strip extending along the at least one upper or lower side edge.

5. The deflection element as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connecting elements have pins and receptacles which mutually correspond in geometry and position on mutually facing inner sides of the first clamping strip and the second clamping strip.

6. The deflection element as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the inner sides of at least one of the first clamping strip and the second clamping strip has at least two differently configured first connecting elements which are connectable to second connecting elements which correspond therewith only in one of a plurality of alignments of the first clamping strip and the second clamping strip with respect to one another.

7. The deflection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fastening element is arranged on at least one outer side of at least one of the first clamping strip and the second clamping strips, by means of which fastening element the deflection element is connectable to at least one of the deployment element, the base element and the motor vehicle body.

8. The deflection element as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fastening element has a latching or clip element which is connectable in a form-fitting manner to at least one of deployment element, the base element and the motor vehicle body.

9. The deflection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first clamping strip and the second clamping strip have a first and a second curved segment which, with respect to their curvature, are connected to each other so as to lie against each other in the radial direction.

10. The deflection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first clamping strip and the second clamping strip is configured integrally and extends over the entire upper and/or lower side edge of the fabric.

11. The deflection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first clamping strip and the second clamping strip is of multi-part configuration, and has at least two curved cheek segments and at least one substantially rectilinear central segment lying between the at least two curved cheek segments.

12. The deflection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fabric is provided in sections with a reinforcing structure which has a first reinforcing strip and a second reinforcing strip, which reinforcing strips are connected to each other by means of mutually corresponding connecting elements passing through the fabric and, in the process, clamp a portion of the fabric between the reinforcing strips.

13. The deflection element as claimed in claim 12, wherein the reinforcing structure is flexibly deformable and is deformable or foldable counter to a prestressing force from a folded-up basic position into an unfolded use position spreading out the fabric.

14. The deflection element as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reinforcing structure surrounds a left and/or right side edge of the fabric.

15. A wind deflector for arranging on a roof opening of a motor vehicle, with at least one deployment element and an optional base element, wherein the deployment element is arrangeable on a body of the motor vehicle so as to be movable between a basic position and a use position raised or spread in relation to the basic position, and with a deflection element which is arranged by means of a fastening device on at least one of the deployment element, the base element and the body of the motor vehicle.

16. The wind deflector as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of the deployment element and the base element has an insertion opening for receiving the fastening device of the deflection element.

17. The wind deflector as claimed in claim 16, wherein a reinforcing element closing the insertion opening at least in regions is arranged on at least one of the deployment element and the base element.

18. A motor vehicle with a wind deflector as claimed in claim 15.

19. A method for producing a deflection element as claimed in claim 1, with the steps: providing a first clamping strip and a second clamping strip which have mutually corresponding connecting elements; trimming a fabric; clamping the fabric between the first clamping strip and the second clamping strip and mutually connecting the first clamping strip and the second clamping strip.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein, in order to produce a plurality of differently dimensioned deflection elements, a plurality of differently dimensioned clamping strips are provided or a plurality of clamping strip segments of differing size and/or design are selected from a choice plurality of clamping strips or clamping strip segments.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] Further aims, features and advantageous configurations of the deflection element, the wind deflector and also the associated production method are explained in the description below of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a wind deflector according to the invention.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a schematic and simplified cross-sectional illustration through an upper side edge of a deflection element in a preassembly configuration.

[0062] FIG. 3 shows the deflection element according to FIG. 2 with a fastening device which is fastened thereto and is formed by two clamping strips.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of a preassembly configuration according to FIG. 2.

[0064] FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration of the deflection element corresponding to FIG. 3.

[0065] FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross section through an arrangement of the deflection element and the wind deflector during final assembly.

[0066] FIG. 7 shows a cross section according to FIG. 6 after connection of the deflection element to the deployment element and the base element.

[0067] FIG. 8 shows an illustration corresponding to FIG. 7, but with a reinforcing element arranged on the deployment element.

[0068] FIG. 9 shows a schematic view from above of a lateral curved portion of the deflection element in a preassembly configuration.

[0069] FIG. 10 shows a further partial illustration of the deflection element according to FIG. 9 with interconnected clamping strips.

[0070] FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of the connection of a reinforcing structure to the left side edge of the fabric in a preassembly position.

[0071] FIG. 12 shows an illustration of the side edge according to FIG. 11, but in a final assembly position.

[0072] FIG. 13 shows a configuration of a comparatively narrow deflection element with a fastening device divided into three segments.

[0073] FIG. 14 shows a wider configuration of the deflection element in comparison to FIG. 13.

[0074] FIG. 15 shows an alternative configuration of the deflection element according to FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0075] FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective illustration, a wind deflector 1 for arranging on a sliding roof opening of a motor vehicle body 16. In the present exemplary embodiment, the wind deflector 1 has a base element 10 coming to lie approximately in the plane of the roof structure of the motor vehicle body 16, and also a deployment element 12 mounted pivotably with respect to said base element. The base element 10 and the deployment element 12 have, as viewed from above, a U-shaped basic geometry, wherein the two outer limbs 10a, 10c of the base element 10 extend approximately in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle. Similarly, the two outer limbs 12a, 12c of the deployment element 12, as viewed from above, are arranged approximately overlapping with the limbs 10a, 10c of the base element 10. The free ends of the limbs 10a, 12a and 10c, 12c are in each case connected pivotably to each other via a joint 11.

[0076] Between the opposite lateral limbs 10a, 10c, 12a, 12c, both the base element 10 and the deployment element 12 have a central segment 10b, 12b which is configured substantially rectilinearly and, in the final assembly configuration on the motor vehicle (not shown explicitly here), extends substantially in the transverse direction (y) of the motor vehicle.

[0077] The deployment element 12 is typically transferable counter to a resetting force, for example counter to a spring force, into a basic position in which it virtually completely lies against the base element 10. Located between the base element 10 and the deployment element 12 is a deflection element 14 which has a flexible, typically air-permeable fabric 2 with an edge-side fastening device 20. The fabric 2 is configured in particular as a flexible net, for example in the form of a woven fabric or a knit.

[0078] The fabric 2 is transferable by means of the typically spring-loaded deployment element 12 into the raised or spread-out use position which is shown in FIG. 1 and in which said fabric protrudes at least in regions from the silhouette of the motor vehicle roof and thereby brings about targeted air swirling in the region of the sliding roof when a motor vehicle is in movement. The fabric 2 has an upper side edge 8 which is connected to the deployment element 12. The fabric 2 furthermore has a lower side edge 9 which is connected to the base element 10. Lateral side edges, for example a left side edge 6 (illustrated on the left in FIG. 1) of the fabric 2 and a right side edge 7 of the fabric 2 come to lie spaced apart from the joint 11. The fabric 2 is configured integrally in its extent between the left and right side edges 6, 7. It has an approximately level central segment 4 which, in the transition to the limbs 12a, 12c, 10a, 10c from the deployment element 12 and base element 10, merges into a left cheek portion 3 and into an opposite right cheek portion 5. In particular in the region of said cheek portions 3, 5, it is fairly difficult in terms of manufacturing to bring about a crease-free connection of the flexible fabric 2 to the deployment element 12 or to the base element 10.

[0079] Although not shown in the figures, refinements of the wind deflector 1 which are configured without a base element 10 are also conceivable and within the scope of the invention. In such refinements, the function of the base element 10, that is to say a mounting of the lower side edge 9 of the fabric 2, is provided directly by the motor vehicle body 16. The lower side edge 9 of the flexible fabric 2 is connected here directly to the motor vehicle body 16 by means of a fastening device 20 extending along the lower side edge 9.

[0080] For the fastening of the deflection element 14 and also for increasing its mechanical stability and for its structural reinforcement, the deflection element 14 is provided with a fastening device 20 on the edge sides, that is to say at least along an upper side edge 8 or along a lower side edge 9, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 and in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. The fastening device 20 is formed here by a first clamping strip 22 and by a second clamping strip 24. The two clamping strips 22, 24 have connecting elements 26, 28 which correspond with each other or are configured in a complementary manner to each other. While only one connecting element 26 is shown in the vertical direction (z) of the vehicle in each of FIGS. 4 and 5, the somewhat larger illustration according to FIGS. 2 and 3 discloses a configuration with two connecting elements 26, 28 which are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction (z) of the vehicle or vertically.

[0081] The first and the second clamping strip 22, 24 are connectable to each other by means of the connecting elements 26, 28, as is revealed from the joining position according to FIG. 3. The connecting elements 26, 28 are provided on the mutually facing inner sides 25, 27 of first and second clamping strip 22, 24. The connecting elements 26 of the first clamping strip 22 are configured here as latching projections, in particular as latching pins or in general as connecting pins which are introducible or insertable into connecting elements 28 of the second clamping strip 24, said connecting elements 28 being correspondingly configured as receptacles.

[0082] The connecting elements 26, 28 have mutually corresponding latching elements or latching structures 26a, 28a which enter into engagement with each other in a latching manner when a clamping or assembly position shown in FIG. 3 is reached. For example, the connecting elements 26 configured as pins have latching elements or latching structures 26a which expand outward and come to lie in latching elements or latching structures 28a, which correspond thereto and are configured for example as an undercut, of the connecting element 28 of complementary configuration, with the formation of a form-fitting connection of first and second clamping strips 22, 24.

[0083] In the assembly position shown in FIG. 3, at least one of the connecting elements 26 penetrates the flexible fabric 2. The fabric 2 advantageously has one or more through openings 40 which are matched to the position and geometry of the connecting elements 26. The fabric 2 thus does not undergo any deformation whatsoever in the region of the connecting elements 26, 28 which are in engagement with each other. Creasing can to this extent be effectively countered.

[0084] Furthermore, by provision of a plurality of through openings 40, 42, approximately forming a connecting template, in the edge region of the fabric 2, as illustrated for example in FIG. 4, particularly simple preassembly of the first clamping strip 22 with the fabric 2 can be provided. It can thus be provided in terms of assembly that the fabric 2 can be placed with its preconfigured through openings 40, 42 onto the first clamping strip 22 in such a manner that the protruding connecting elements 26, 36 pass through the through openings 40, 42, and therefore the fabric 2 comes to lie against the relevant clamping strip 22 as extensively and flatly as possible in the regions located between the connecting elements 26, 36.

[0085] By production of a connection of first and second clamping strip 22, 24 by means of the connecting elements 26, 28, 36, 38 configured in a complementary manner, an entirely homogeneous surface pressure can be achieved between the inner sides 25, 27 of first and second clamping strip 22, 24, and therefore an entirely homogeneous and durable clamping action can be exerted on the relevant side edge 8, 9 of the fabric 2.

[0086] In order to improve a clamping action, provision can furthermore be made to provide, on at least one of the inner sides 25, 27, a fixing structure 30 between or outside the connecting elements 26, 28, 36, 38. The fixing structure 30 can be configured in particular in the form of a comb strip or toothed strip 31 and can have individual teeth or hooks which are of comparatively small construction or of small configuration and by means of which an even better adhesion of the fabric 2 between the inner sides 25, 27 of first and second clamping strip 22, 24 can be brought about.

[0087] As shown schematically in FIG. 4, individual fixing structures 30 can be configured on the relevant clamping strip 22 at different distances in the transverse direction (z) and also in different lengths (y). It is furthermore conceivable for fixing structures 30 which enter into engagement with one another or are arranged offset with respect to one another to also be provided on the two mutually facing inner sides 25, 27, by means of which fixing structures a clamping action between the clamping strips 22, 24 can be improved once again. The fixing structures 30 can be connected integrally to the respective clamping strip 22, 24 or can be configured as an integral part of same. If the clamping strips 22, 24 are configured, for example, as a plastics injection molded component, the fixing structures 30 can be realized virtually neutrally in terms of costs.

[0088] As illustrated in FIG. 4, different pairs of connecting elements 26, 28 and 36, 38 can be provided on the first and second clamping strip 22, 24. In the present case, the pairs of connecting elements 26, 28 and 36, 38 differ by their geometrical design or geometrical shaping. The connecting elements 26 are designed as pins which are cylindrical or are of comparatively round configuration, while the connecting elements 36 have a substantially angular cross-sectional contour.

[0089] The connecting elements 28, 38 of the second clamping strip 24, which connecting elements are in each case configured in a complementary manner with respect to the connecting elements 26, 36, are also configured in a corresponding manner. The through openings 40, 42 in the edge region of the fabric 2 also have a contour corresponding to the connecting elements 26, 28 which are in each case configured in the manner of a pin. Such differently designed connecting elements 26, 36, 28, 38 make it possible to compel a mutual arrangement and fastening of fabric 2 and first and second clamping strip 22, 24 to be possible only in a single, namely in the predetermined, orientation.

[0090] The arrangement of different through openings 40, 42 in the edge region of the fabric virtually represents a connecting template which is connectable only in a correct orientation to a connecting template which is configured in a complementary manner with respect thereto and is formed by the connecting elements 26, 28, 36, 38. Instead of or in addition to connecting elements 26, 28, 36, 38 and through openings 40, 42 of geometrically different design, it can also be provided to configure the distances between adjacent connecting elements 26, 36 or 28, 38 in an irregular manner, and therefore a mutual arrangement in each case requires an unambiguous positioning of the clamping strips 22, 24 and of the fabric 2 with respect to each other.

[0091] According to the present exemplary embodiment, outwardly protruding fastening elements 32, 34 are in each case provided on the outer sides 21, 23, which face away from each other, of first and second clamping strip 22, 24, by means of which fastening elements the fastening device 20 formed by clamping strips 22, 24 is connectable to at least one of the deployment element 12 and the base element 10. For this purpose, a respective elongate insertion opening 52, 50 which, corresponding to the shape and contour of the fastening device 20, can substantially completely accommodate the fastening device 20 is provided on the deployment element 12 and on the base element 10.

[0092] In particular, mating fastening elements 54, for example in the form of undercuts, are provided on the inner sides of the insertion openings 50, 52, said mating fastening elements 54 interacting, for example in a form-fitting or frictional manner, with the fastening elements 32, 34 of the clamping strips 22, 24 when a final assembly position illustrated in FIG. 7 is reached. In the present case, the fastening elements 32, 34 are configured as a latching element which is provided with a run-on stop and latches in the manner of a fastening clip with the mating fastening element 54, that is to say with the undercut formed on the inner side of the insertion opening 50, 52, when the final assembly configuration shown in FIG. 7 is reached. It is basically sufficient if only one of the clamping strips 22, 24 has an outwardly protruding fastening element 32, 34. It is also conceivable for fastening elements 32, 34 configured on opposite outer sides 21, 23 of first and second clamping strip 22, 24 to be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the clamping strips 22, 24.

[0093] For the final assembly of the deflection element 14, for example on the deployment element 12, the connection of a further reinforcing element 60, as shown in FIG. 7, can be provided. The reinforcing element 60 can be designed, for example, in the manner of a metal or plastic clip and can extend at least in regions along the deployment element 12. The reinforcing element 60 can also be connected to the deployment element 12 by means of a separate connecting element 62. The deployment element 12 which is typically manufactured as a plastics injection molded component has a connecting element 64 which is configured, for example, in the form of an insertion opening and receives the connecting element 62 of the reinforcing element, said connecting element being designed as an insertion pin.

[0094] In the final assembly configuration shown in FIG. 8, the reinforcing element 60 arranged on the deployment element 12 overlaps the insertion opening 52 at least in sections, and therefore the reinforcing element 60 not only contributes to a structural reinforcement of the deployment element 12, but likewise also contributes to a particularly secure and durable fixing of the relevant fastening device 20 of the deflection element 14 to the deployment element 12.

[0095] FIGS. 9 and 10 show a connection of the fastening device 20 in a region of curvature of the fabric 2, the connection corresponding to FIGS. 4 and 5. The clamping strips 22, 24 can extend along the entire transverse extent, that is to say along the entire upper or lower side edge 8, 9 of the fabric 2 and can in particular also provide a connection of the fabric 2 in the region of curvature of the fabric 2, for example in the transition between central segment 4 and the lateral cheek portions 3, 5. To this extent, the clamping strips 22, 24 can also have, at their opposite ends, curved cheek portions 22a, 22c, 24a, 24c which are connected to one another via a central portion 22b, 24b which is of substantially rectilinear configuration.

[0096] FIGS. 9 and 10 each show only the left outer curve or cheek portion 22a, 24a. In the configuration shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cheek portions 24a, 22a have mutually corresponding connecting elements 26, 28 which can be guided through through openings 40, which are provided for this purpose, in the cheek portion 3 of the fabric 2 and by means of which the cheek portions 22a, 24a are connectable to each other in a clamping manner. Also in the curved cheek portions 22a, 24a of the clamping strips 22, 24, at least one fixing structure 30 is provided on one of the inner sides of the clamping strips 22, 24. With respect to their radius of curvature as viewed from above in the illustration according to FIGS. 9 and 10, the cheek portions 24a, 22a lie against each other in a clamping manner in the radial direction (r), and therefore the fabric 2, in particular the cheek portion 3 thereof, is held substantially without creases and securely in the region of the curvature.

[0097] FIGS. 11 and 12 show the assembly of a reinforcing structure 120 on the left side edge 6 of the fabric 2 in a further plan view from above. The reinforcing structure 120 can be upwardly adjacent to an upper fastening device 20 and downwardly adjacent to a lower fastening device 20, and consequently to the deployment elements 12 and base elements 10 which are in engagement with the relevant fastening devices 20.

[0098] Similarly to the connection and mutual connection of the clamping strip 22, 24, the reinforcing structure 120 also has mutually corresponding reinforcing strips, namely a first reinforcing strip 122 and a second reinforcing strip 124 which, provided with connecting elements 126, 128 configured in a corresponding manner to each other, are connectable to each other and, in the process, clamp a portion of the fabric 2, namely the side edge 6, between them.

[0099] In addition to the structural reinforcement of the side edge 6, 7 of the fabric 2, the reinforcing structure 120 formed by the two reinforcing strips 122, 124 furthermore serves for a defined folding of the fabric 2 during the raising and lowering of the deployment element 12. It can be provided in particular that at least one of the reinforcing strips 122, 124 is provided with a prestress which, for example, then strives to transfer the reinforcing structure 120 into its spread-out use position shown in FIG. 1.

[0100] The fastening device 20 which can be arranged in particular along the entire upper side edge 8 and along the entire lower side edge 9 can either be configured as a single part, with the clamping strips 22, 24 provided for the formation of said fastening device having correspondingly curved cheek portions 22a, 22c, 24a, 24c on their opposite end portions. Alternatively, a multiple segmented configuration of clamping strips 22, 24 can also be provided, as is sketched in FIGS. 13 to 15 in a schematic illustration without the associated fabric 2.

[0101] The fastening device 20 according to FIG. 13 has a total of three segments, namely a left cheek portion 20a, a central portion 20b and a right cheek portion 20c. Each of said cheek portions 20a, 20b, 20c is in each case formed by two correspondingly configured clamping strip segments comprising cheek portions 22a, 22c, 24a, 24c. The left cheek portion 20a is formed in each case by first and second left cheek portions 22a, 24a. The central portion 20b is formed by first and second central segments 22b, 24b, while the right cheek portion 20c is formed by first and second right cheek portions 22c, 24c.

[0102] The fastening device 20, in particular a deflection element 14 configured therewith, is comparatively narrow in the transverse direction (y) of the vehicle. For the expansion and for the formation of a wider deflection element 14 for a wind deflector 1 of correspondingly wider configuration, a deflection element 14 which extends somewhat longer in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle should be provided with a correspondingly longer fastening device 20′, as indicated in FIG. 14. The cheek portions 20a, 20c can be retained here unchanged in comparison to the configuration according to FIG. 13.

[0103] An extension of the fastening device 20, and consequently of the deflection element 14 and of the wind deflector 1, can be achieved solely by replacing the central portion 20b by a correspondingly longer central portion 20b′. The central portion 20b′ of the fastening device 20′, which central portion is configured to be somewhat longer to this extent and in comparison to FIG. 13, has central segments 22b′, 24b′ of first and second clamping strips 22, 24, said central segments being accordingly of longer configuration than the central segments 22b, 24b of FIG. 13. Alternatively, instead of the replacement of the central portion 20b by a longer central portion 20b′, provision can also be made, according to FIG. 15, to combine two central portions 20b which are identical or differ in length in order overall to arrive at the required length of an alternative fastening device 20″ as shown in FIG. 15.

[0104] For the formation of a corresponding deflection element 14, the different configurations of the fastening devices 20, 20′, 20″ of course also include correspondingly configured or trimmed fabrics 2. For a multiplicity of differently geometrically configured fabrics and deflection elements, different lengths and geometrical contours for fastening devices 20, 20′, 20″ can in each case be provided by a skillful combination of individual segments of clamping strips 22, 24.

[0105] For the formation of individual cheek portions and central portions, it is basically sufficient to provide a comparatively small number of standard components of different length or different geometrical configuration for clamping strips 22, 24, and therefore even small piece numbers of wind deflectors can be produced economically in terms of manufacturing and cost-effectively with comparatively low tool and investment costs.