JPH0523209B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) This invention relates to a roof structure for an automobile.

(Prior Art and its Problems) Conventionally, a roof structure is known in which an opening is provided in the roof of an automobile and a sunroof is slid into the opening to be opened and closed. In the case of such a sunroof type, since the sunroof itself is a hard plate, it cannot be folded, and it is necessary to secure a storage space for the sunroof in the roof, so it is necessary to provide a large opening in the roof. I couldn't do it.
On the other hand, there is a conventional example shown in FIG. 7 in which a large opening is provided in the roof. This is a flat top that slides over the top of the car's roof, and the top is folded like an accordion curtain so that an opening on the top of the roof can be opened and closed. However, the conventional example shown in Fig. 7 is an example of a bonnet type passenger car, and when applied to a large roof such as a cab-over-van type (one-box type) car, a flat canopy roof requires a large opening. I can't get it. As the canopy roof becomes larger, its opening/closing device becomes more complex and requires greater operating force. Furthermore, the area in which the canopy roof is folded and stored becomes large, which detracts from the open feeling of the roof opening. There was a problem like this.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and the first gist thereof is to provide an automobile roof with an upper surface other than the rear end of the automobile roof; An opening is formed that covers almost the entire side surface, and a flexible roof member that can be slid and folded in the front-rear direction of the automobile roof is covered in the opening, and a plurality of rollers are provided on the flexible roof member. By providing a roller and rolling the roller along a slide rail disposed on a side surface of the automobile roof so as to be oriented in the front-rear direction, the opening can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction. A hood storage roof surface is formed in a stepped manner in the front of the rear end of the vehicle roof, and is oriented laterally and is lower than the rear end, and at the front opening of the hood storage roof surface, A reinforcing beam member is provided which is oriented in the lateral direction and has substantially the same height as the roof surface for storing the hood, and the opening portion is divided into the front and back directions.

Moreover, the second gist is that each of the divided openings is covered with a soft roof member.

(Function) Since not only the top surface of the car roof but also the side surfaces are opened, a much wider opening is obtained compared to conventional sunroof cars, and a feeling of freedom similar to that of an open car can be obtained. Moreover, since the soft roof member is foldable and can be slid in the front and rear directions, opening and closing operations are easy, and the opening and closing area can be set arbitrarily.

In addition, since the roof surface for storing the top and the reinforcing beams are provided in the opening in the horizontal direction, the rigidity of the automobile roof can be improved by the roof surface for storing the top and the reinforcing beams. The roof surface for storing the hood and the reinforcing beam material function as pillars that support the flexible roof member.

Furthermore, since the roof surface for storing the hood is formed in a stepped manner, which is lower than the rear end of the automobile roof, the folded flexible roof member can be stored in a position using this surface.
In addition, since the reinforcing beam material is formed at approximately the same height as the roof surface for storing the top, when the soft roof member is fully closed, the height of the soft roof member is at the rear end of the automobile roof. Not only does it tend to be higher than the roof, spoiling its appearance, but it also functions as a guide when the flexible roof member slides.

Furthermore, when a flexible roof member is installed over each of the divided openings, the reinforcing beam material functions as a roof surface for storing the hood, and also functions as a mounting member for attaching a locking means and the like.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

1 to 4 show a first embodiment. In the figures, a roof 2 of a cab-over-van type automobile 1 is formed with an opening 3 whose top and side surfaces are open. In this opening 3, reinforcing beams 4 and 5 are installed horizontally at positions lower than the upper surface of the roof 2 and at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction of the automobile 1. Note that there is a slight roof surface 2a at the rear end of the opening 3.
is left behind, and a roof surface 2b for storing the hood is formed in front of it. That is, the canopy storage roof surface 2b and the reinforcing beams 4 and 5 have the same height and are both shaped like a cross section, and their lower edges are fixed to the side surface of the roof portion 2. There is.

Slide rails 6a and 6b are arranged and fixed on both side surfaces of the roof portion 2 so as to be oriented in the longitudinal direction of the automobile 1. That is, these slide rails 6a, 6b
are the reinforcing beams 4, 5 and the roof surface 2b for storing the canopy.
It is disposed below the lower edge of the tube and has an outwardly opened channel-shaped cross section. A roller of a roof member, which will be described later, is fitted into this channel-shaped cross section, and the roller can roll along the slide rails 6a and 6b.

Note that 7 in FIG. 1 is a deflector provided at the front end of the roof 2 of the automobile.

Next, the roof member 8 that is placed over the opening 3 will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. The roof member 8 has a substantially square cross section so as to completely cover the opening 3, and is made of a soft canopy material having folds at regular intervals in the lateral direction. The front portion is formed to be slightly inclined forward, and can be engaged with the front edge of the roof portion 2 via lock members 9, 9. A plurality of rollers 10 are disposed near both lower edges of the roof member 8 at appropriate intervals in the front-rear direction. This roller 10 is fitted into the slide rails 6a, 6b, and
6b.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a handle fixed near the center of the front edge of the roof member 8.

The rollers 10 of the roof member 8 are fitted into the slide rails 6a and 6b of the automobile 1, and the roof member 8
When the roof member 8 is covered over the opening 3, the inside of the roof member 8 comes into contact with the reinforcing beams 4 and 5, and the rear end is attached to the rear end of the canopy storage roof surface 2b with appropriate fixing means. Fixed. On the other hand, the front end surface of the roof member 8 is fixed by lock members 9, 9 provided at the front edge of the roof portion 2, as described above.

To open the roof member 8 from the fully closed state (FIG. 1), remove the lock members 9, 9, hold the handle 11 provided on the front edge of the roof member 8, and move the roof member 8 backward. By pulling the roof member 8, the rollers 10 provided on both lower edges of the roof member 8 roll within the slide rails 6a, 6b, and the roof member 8 is folded and retracted from the crease along the slide rails 6a, 6b. .

When the opening 3 is fully opened, the folded roof member 8 can be completely stored in the hood storage roof surface 2b and fixed to the vehicle body with an appropriate locking device. (See Fig. 4) As described above, the automobile roof structure according to the present example has an opening extending over almost the entire top and side surfaces of the automobile roof. A flexible roof member that can be folded by sliding in the direction is covered, and the opening is configured to be able to be opened and closed in a sliding manner, and the roof member is provided with a plurality of rollers, and the rollers are installed on the automobile roof. The opening can be opened and closed in the front and back direction by rolling along a slide rail arranged on the side of the vehicle in the front-rear direction. It can be opened to create a large opening not seen in conventional sunroof cars, giving a more expansive feeling of openness. Moreover, since the roof member is foldable and rollers roll within the side rails, the roof member can be easily opened and closed from inside the vehicle. In addition, since the roof surface for storing the top and the reinforcing beams are provided in the opening in the horizontal direction, the rigidity of the automobile roof can be improved by the roof surface for storing the top and the reinforcing beams. The roof surface for storing the hood and the reinforcing beam material function as pillars that support the flexible roof member.

Furthermore, since the roof surface for storing the hood is formed in a stepped manner, which is lower than the rear end of the automobile roof, the folded flexible roof member can be stored in a position using this surface.
In addition, since the reinforcing beam material is formed at approximately the same height as the roof surface for storing the top, when the soft roof member is fully closed, the height of the soft roof member is at the rear end of the automobile roof. Not only does it tend to be higher than the roof, spoiling its appearance, but it also functions as a guide when the flexible roof member slides.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 5 and 6.

In this example, the roof member 8 is divided in the longitudinal direction, and each of the divided roof members 8 is placed over the opening 3 so as to be openable and closable. That is, in this example, as shown in FIG. 5, the roof member 8 is divided into a front roof member 8a and a rear roof member 8b. And the front roof member 8a
is covered by the front opening 3a formed by the front edge of the roof 2 of the automobile 1 and the reinforcing beam 4 installed horizontally on the roof 2, and the rear edge of the front root member 8a is It is fixed to the reinforcing beam 4, and the front edge of the front room root member 8a is hooked to lock members 9a, 9a fixed to the front edge of the roof part 2. Thus, the front room root member 8a is moved in the front-back direction within the front opening 3a via the rollers 10 to the slide rails 6a, 6.
b, and by operating the front handle 11a, the front opening 3a can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction. When the front opening 3a is fully open, the front root member 8a is folded and stored in the reinforcing beam 4 and is appropriately locked by the locking means.

On the other hand, the rear roof member 8b is covered with the rear opening 3b formed by the reinforcing beam 4 and the top storage roof surface 2b, and the rear edge of the rear roof member 8b is covered with the top storage roof surface 2b. At the same time, the front edge of the rear roof member 8b is hooked to lock members 9b, 9b fixed to the reinforcing beam 4. In this way, the rear roof member 8b is moved along the slide rails 6a, 6b in the front and rear direction through the rollers 10 inside the rear opening 3b.
By operating the rear handle 11b, the rear opening 3b can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction. When the rear opening 3b is fully open, the rear roof member 8b is folded and stored on the top storage roof surface 2b and is appropriately locked by a locking means.

In this example, since the roof member 8 is divided into two parts, front and rear, the front and rear openings 3a and 3b can be opened and closed as desired, and the front opening 3a
The rear opening 3b can be opened and closed while the rear opening 3b remains fully closed, and vice versa. Therefore, the roof can be opened and closed independently on the driver's seat side and the rear passenger seat side, which has the effect of further improving the operability of the roof members 8a and 8b and expanding the flexibility of opening and closing the roof. Other effects are almost the same as in the first embodiment.

(Effects) The present invention forms an opening in the automobile roof that covers almost the entire top and side surfaces except for the rear end of the automobile roof, and slides the automobile roof into the opening in the front-rear direction. A foldable flexible roof member is installed over the roof member, and a plurality of rollers are provided on the flexible roof member, and the rollers are rolled along a slide rail disposed on a side surface of the automobile roof so as to be oriented in the front-rear direction. By moving the opening, the opening can be opened and closed in the front and rear directions,
A hood storage roof surface is formed in a stepped manner in the front part of the rear end of the automobile roof in the opening, and is oriented laterally and is lower than the rear end, and an opening in front of the hood storage roof surface. By providing reinforcing beams oriented laterally and at approximately the same height as the roof surface for storing the top, and dividing the opening in the front and rear direction, not only the upper surface of the automobile roof but also the side surface can be Since the roof is also opened, the opening is much wider than that of conventional sunroof cars, giving a sense of freedom similar to that of an open car.

Moreover, since the soft roof member is foldable and can be slid in the front and rear directions, opening and closing operations are easy, and the opening and closing area can be set arbitrarily.

In addition, since the roof surface for storing the top and the reinforcing beams are provided in the opening in the horizontal direction, the rigidity of the automobile roof can be improved by the roof surface for storing the top and the reinforcing beams. The roof surface for storing the hood and the reinforcing beam material function as pillars that support the flexible roof member.

Furthermore, since the roof surface for storing the hood is formed in a stepped manner, which is lower than the rear end of the automobile roof, the folded flexible roof member can be stored in a position using this surface. In addition, since the reinforcing beam material is formed at approximately the same height as the roof surface for storing the top, when the soft roof member is fully closed, the height of the soft roof member is at the rear end of the automobile roof. Not only does it tend to be higher than the roof, spoiling its appearance, but it also functions as a guide when the flexible roof member slides.

In addition, when a soft roof member is placed over each of the divided openings, the reinforcing beam material functions as a roof surface for storing the canopy, and also serves as a mounting member for attaching a locking means, etc. It has the effect of functioning.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the roof member is fully closed to the roof opening of an automobile, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the roof member. 3 is a perspective view of the roof opening of an automobile, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the roof member is fully opened and stored in the roof opening of the automobile. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the roof member divided into two parts, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the roof member shown in FIG. It is a perspective view showing a stored state. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional example. 1...Automobile, 2...Roof, 2a...Roof surface, 2b...Roof surface for storing the hood, 3, 3a, 3b)
...Opening, 4, 5...Reinforcement beam material, 6a, 6b
... Slide rail, 8, 8a, 8b ... Roof member, 10 ... Roller.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An opening is formed in the automobile roof that covers almost the entire top and side surfaces of the automobile roof except for the rear end, and the automobile roof is slid into the opening in the front-rear direction. A foldable flexible roof member is installed over the roof member, and a plurality of rollers are provided on the flexible roof member, and the rollers are rolled along a slide rail disposed on a side surface of the automobile roof so as to be oriented in the front-rear direction. By moving the opening, the opening can be opened and closed in the front and rear directions, and a hood storage device is provided in the front of the rear end of the automobile roof in the opening, which is oriented laterally and is lower than the rear end. The roof surface is formed in steps, and a reinforcing beam member is provided in the front opening of the top storage roof surface and is oriented laterally and has substantially the same height as the top storage roof surface, so that the opening is An automobile roof structure characterized by being divided into front and rear sections. 2. The automobile roof structure according to claim 1, wherein a soft roof member is provided covering each of the divided openings.