Functional unit for an inner space of a vehicle

p0001The invention relates to a functional unit for a vehicle interior having a dimensionally stable functional profile which has two mutually opposite end regions which are arranged longitudinally movably in the vehicle interior side arranged guide profiles, according to the preamble of claim 1.

p0002Such functional unit for a vehicle interior is in the form of a loading space cover for combi passenger cars generally known -eg from <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP0405232A2"><text>EP 0405232 A2</text></patcit>-. Such a loading area cover includes a cover sheet, the up on a shaft mounted in a cassette housing the winding shaft and is held unwound. At its front in the extension direction forehead the tarpaulin with a dimensionally stable extraction ledge is provided, which has over the side edges of the tarpaulin laterally protruding end regions. The end regions are positioned transversely and longitudinally of the guide rails to a longitudinal axis of the pull rod and thus arranged longitudinally movable in horizontally laid just below a beltline of the vehicle interior guide rails. This makes it possible to perform at a defined exhaust or rolling-the tarpaulin the pull rod. Longitudinal movements, ie in particular Verschiebbewegungen lead between the end regions of the pull rod and the vehicle room side guide rails to slide resistance, which increases the manual actuation forces when pulling the tarpaulin.

p0003The object of the invention is to provide a functional unit of the aforementioned type, which enables smooth longitudinal movement of the functional profile within the guide profiles.

p0004This object is achieved in that each end region is provided with at least one rolling element which is so rotatably mounted about at least one axis of rotation at the end region that the rolling element rolls during a longitudinal movement of the end region on at least one surface region of the associated profiled guide. When areas of the profiled guide the entering the at least one rolling element in contact treads are particular to look at each profiled guide structure. As profiled guide rails, guide grooves or other linear profiles are in particular provided, which are straight and / or curved in the vehicle interior, preferably arranged on lateral boundary surfaces of the vehicle interior. The guide profiles can be seated on the corresponding boundary surfaces or be integrated into these boundary surfaces. Preferably corresponding profiled guide in covering parts of the vehicle body pillars are integrated and extend above and / or below or at the level of a vehicle edge. Preferably guide profiles are provided in the range of body-D-pillars and extending approximately at the level of a vehicle edge towards a headliner of the vehicle interior along this body D-pillars, integrated respectively in D-pillar trim panels. The inventive solution the function profile can be extremely smoothly moved in the guide profiles. The fact that the function profile is no longer guided to slide but roll movable in the profiled guide, in addition to the reduced resistance and a reduced noise level is reached. Preferably the rolling elements are mounted rotatably respectively about a single axis of rotation. As rolling elements wheels, rollers, cylinders or spheres as well as other types of rotationally movable bodies are provided. It is possible to provide as the rolling elements are balls, which are rotatably mounted in a ball cage or a ball socket in all degrees of freedom and thus to all spatial axes of rotation.

p0005In an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of rolling elements are provided with parallel or orthogonal axes of rotation at each end region, each different spatial surface regions are assigned in each profiled guide structure for supporting or rolling plant. These rolling elements are thus staggered. The rolling elements need not be present simultaneously and over the entire length of the respective guide profile on the different spatial surface regions. Rather, an only partially-conditioning in the field of different parts of the route of the profiled guide is possible. Concomitant supportive system of at least two rolling elements at spaced surface areas of each guide profile, which are preferably configured as boundary surfaces of the guide profile, allows a positional accurate, play-free forced guidance of the functional profile of a corresponding path section of the profiled guide. The guide profiles are preferably arranged on opposite boundary sides of the vehicle interior and is aligned parallel to one another. The axes of rotation of the rolling elements are aligned parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the functional profile.

p0006Another embodiment of the invention, at least one rolling element of the end region is located at the front. Such a rolling element is thus arranged in the extension of the respective end region.

p0007Another embodiment of the invention, at least one rolling element is arranged longitudinally of the end region. Such rolling element preferably does not protrude beyond the end face of the end region and is located at the end region laterally. The rolling elements are aligned in each case so that they are aligned along the moving directions of the functional profile in order to allow for a corresponding longitudinal movement of the functional Profiles the desired rolling movements.

p0008In a further embodiment, at least one end region along a profile longitudinal axis of the functional profile is arranged telescopically movable. In a further embodiment of the invention acts on the end region in at least one axial direction of the profile longitudinal axis, a supporting force means. These embodiments allow the tracking of the end regions of the longitudinal curved in the plane of movement of the functional profile curves of the profiled guide. Once the opposite profiled guide change their distance from one another in the course of the guide path, the width of the function profile of an end region fits through corresponding displacement at least necessarily. The supporting force device serves to allow permanent frontal contact of the end regions to capture correspondingly changing profiles of the profiled guide immediately to and effecting the adjustment by means of a positive guide.

p0009Further advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the drawings.<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>shows schematically in perspective an embodiment of a functional unit according to the invention,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>in an enlarged, perspective view of a section of the functional unit to <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>.</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>in further enlarged view of schematically a cross section through a profile function of the functional unit according to the <figref idrefs="f0001">Figures 1 and 2</figref>and</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>in a perspective view a detail of a further functional unit similar to <figref idrefs="f0001 f0002">Figures 1 to 3</figref>,</dd></dl>

p0010A vehicle interior for a vehicle, in this case for a passenger car with hatchback, has a cargo space 1, which is arranged behind a rear seat of a passenger area of ​​the vehicle interior. The cargo space can be enlarged by displacing or turning down a backrest arrangement of the rear seat forward. As a functional unit in the form of a loading space covering a cover sheet 2 is provided, which is a flexible surface structure, which up on a rotatably mounted winding shaft in a cartridge case and is held unwound. On the winding shaft acts in basically known manner, a return spring, the spring force, the winding shaft in the winding direction. In the unloaded state, the covering tarpaulin 2 is therefore converted into their wound in the cartridge casing resting position. The cassette housing is arranged fixed to the vehicle in the area of ​​the back assembly approximately at the level of a vehicle edge of the vehicle body and the vehicle interior.

p0011The cover sheet 2 has on its front in the pull-out end region to a function profile in the form of a dimensionally stable pull-out bar 3 which extends transversely to the pull-out direction across the entire width of the tarpaulin 2 and protrudes on both sides via a respective side edge region of the tarpaulin 2 to the outside. This outwardly projecting spaces end regions 4 of Auszuglei also is ste 3. With the pull bar 3 connected an unspecified designated, dimensionally stable contour part, which has a remaining gap between the tailgate and the pull strip 3 closes in extended state of the tarpaulin. 2

p0012The tarpaulin 2 is pulled in its capping approximately horizontally from the cartridge case to the vehicle rear back and preferably releasably secured in vehicle-mounted receptacles 7a by hanging. The restoring force of the restoring spring, which acts on the winding shaft, tightens the tarpaulin 2 in its hinged cover position. To fix the tarpaulin 2 in its extended operating position the end regions 4 of the extraction ledge 3 are hooked into the onboard recordings 7a and there inevitably led in groove-shaped profiled guide 7b, along with rear-side body side pillars of the vehicle body approximately at the level of the vehicle edge quoting obliquely upwards into a roof frame region extend. The vehicle-mounted receptacles 7a are provided at the height of the rear-side body pillars areas in sidewall panels 5 on both sides of the tailgate. The vehicle-mounted receptacles 7a are designed as baffle-like curved Führungsnutabschnitte which are designed in such open at its lower end, that the end regions 4 of the extraction ledge can be 3 inevitably introduced at a pull-out movement of the tarpaulin 2 in these recordings 7a.

p0013The groove-shaped profiled guide 7b are preferably such spatially arranged in side lining parts 6 above the vehicle edge along the rear-side body side pillars that the profiled guide 7b not protrude over a side facing the interior center panel contour of the interior trim. The profiled guide 7b fit flush into the interior paneling. At the chicane-like Führungsnutabschnitten 7a on each side of the vehicle includes upwardly extending obliquely upwardly extending and in the vehicle longitudinal direction forward guide profiling on 7b. The pull strip 3 would with their end regions 4 along these profiled guide 7b are forced forward and upward by the acting restoring force of the restoring spring of the winding shaft. To prevent this, a blocking element 11 is approximately level with the vehicle edge is provided which projects into its blocking position in the respective profiled guide 7b and forms a positive stop for the pull bar 3 at each end region. 4 The two blocking elements 11 in the opposite profiled guide 7b and rotatably mounted between the blocking position and a release position. To 11 transfer the blocking elements from its blocking position into the release position in which they are moved out of the guide space of each profiled guide structure 7b, each blocking element 11 is associated with a not-shown control member. The control members are synchronized together or driven by a control unit in order to allow a simultaneous release or simultaneous transfer of the blocking members 11 in the blocking position.

p0014To enable an extremely smooth-running process of the end region 4 in the profiled guide 7b, thus ensuring that after releasing the end regions 4, the restoring force of the restoring spring of the winding shaft in any case sufficient to pull strip 3 and thus the tarpaulin 2 in an upper comfort position in an upper front end portion of the profiled guide 7b to transfer, both end regions 4 of the extraction ledge 3 with rolling elements 9, 10 are provided on upper and lower guide surfaces F₁, F₂ at least temporarily or partially roll off. Both rolling elements 9, 10 are designed as plastic rollers and rotatably mounted about parallel axes of rotation on the front end area 4, which are aligned parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the pull bar third Both rolling elements 9, 10 project at least partially beyond the circumferential contour of the end region 4, to ensure that each end region 4 at the guide surfaces F₁, F₂ of each profiled guide structure 7b exclusively via the rolling elements 9, 10 is supported without an outer contour portion of the respective end region 4 additionally arrives at one of the guide surfaces of the guide profile 7b in sliding contact.

p0015The rolling element 9 is mounted in a supporting portion 8 of the end region 4, which has a slot- or groove-like receiving means for the embedding of the rolling element. 9 The support portion 8 supports the rolling element 9 eccentric to a central longitudinal axis of the pull bar. The support portion 8 is rigidly connected to the end region 4 or an integral extension of the end region. 4

p0016The second rolling element 10 is frontally mounted on the front end region 4 and thus on the support portion 8 and has a diameter so large that the rolling element 10 simultaneously to the upper guide surface F₁ and an abutment surface of the blocking element can be supported 11th The diameter of the rolling element 10 is, as shown by the<figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 3</figref> it can be seen, but less than the height of the profiled guide structure 7b, so that the rolling element 10 in its resting position on the blocking member 11 and the upper guide surface F₁ at a distance from the lower guide surface F₂ is held. As seen from<figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 3</figref> will also be appreciated, the rotation axes of the rolling elements 9, 10 positioned relative radial and offset in the circumferential direction to a central longitudinal axis of the pull strip 3 and thus of the end region 4 to each other. In particular, the rolling element 9 is thus eccentric to the central longitudinal axis of the pull bar. 3 This embodiment is advantageous because the above-described, dimensionally stable contour part that attaches towards the extraction ledge 3 rear of the vehicle, on the pull strip 3 and thus also on the end regions 4 exerts a lateral moment. The fact that the staggered rolling elements 9, 10 are provided, this tilting moment inevitably means that the outer rolling element 10 is stable at the upper guide surface F₁ and the lower roller 9 is stable at the lower guide surface F₂ supported. Thereby, a stable, play-free rolling movement of each end region 4 is achieved along the profiled guide 7b after releasing the pull bar by removing the blocking element 11th The stable guide the pull bar due to the upper and lower side installation of the rolling elements 9, 10, the dimensionally stable contour part during the entire movement path of the pull bar is held obliquely upward in a stable, steady tilt.

p0017In order to convert the tarpaulin 2 of a wound in the cartridge casing resting position into the covering position, the covering tarpaulin 2 is manually approximately horizontally extended rearward. Preferably here a grip element or grip recess is provided in the region of the contour portion in a manner not shown, which facilitates the gripping of the tarpaulin 2 by hand. In the rear area of ​​the cargo space 1, the end regions 4 are introduced into the open, which is arranged on the opposite side walls of the cargo hold areas of Führungsnutabschnitte 7a, via the in<figref idrefs="f0001">FIG. 2</figref> Chicane represented respectively guided upwards and then released, or released by the corresponding operator removed her hand from the contour part. By removing the manual operating force the return force of the return spring arrangement the winding shaft exerts a stress on the tarpaulin 2 in the winding, whereby the end regions 4 of the extraction ledge 3 are pressed against the blocking elements 11th The blocking members 11 are positioned approximately level with the vehicle edge in its blocking position, so that the tarpaulin 2 is in this stable position in approximately horizontally pulled-out capping. Now, if the tailgate or preferably an upper plate of the tailgate is opened, together with the press, ie the opening, the tailgate lock each blocking element 11 is driven and moves to its release position, thereby acting on the tarpaulin 2 in the winding restoring the pull bar 3 and the end regions 4 along the profiled guide 7b moves to the front upper end portion of the profiled guide 7b to the front and upwards. In this position the tarpaulin 2 forms a comfortable position because the load space area located under the tarpaulin 2 is easily accessible from the open part of the tailgate. As soon as the operator no longer needs access to the loading space 1, the operator performs the tarpaulin 2 by hand again to the horizontal cover position back. When passing the front end region 4 to the blocking elements 11 this automatically lock back into its blocking position, so that the stable cover position is reached for the tarpaulin 2 again. Now the tailgate part, preferably the disc part, to be closed.

p0018In non-illustrated embodiments of the invention semiautomatic movement operations of the tarpaulin 2 are provided. The renewed repatriation of tarpaulin 2 from its upper comfort position to the capping is done in such embodiments by driving means so that a manual operation or a manual feeding back the tarpaulin is no longer needed in the covering. In such embodiments, it is also possible that already are assigned 2 flanking profiled guide along the horizontal extension movement of the tarpaulin, in which the run provided with the rolling elements end regions. Preferably, these horizontal guide profiles are provided with drive means to enable automatic transfer of the tarpaulin in the covering position. Manual operation is not necessary in such embodiments.

p0019In the embodiment of <figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 4</figref> a cover sheet 2a is provided, which analogously to the embodiment according to <figref idrefs="f0001 f0002">Figures 1 to 3</figref> is held up and unwound on a winding shaft of a cassette housing or a similar receiving device. The tarpaulin 2a is provided in its front in the pulling direction of the forehead area with a pull bar which is associated with a dimensionally stable contour part. The pull bar has a rectangular cross-sectional profile. The pull bar is guided with its opposite end regions 4a in horizontal, rail-like profiled guide 7c in a vehicle interior not shown. The profiled guide 7c includes a lower guide surface F₃, An upper guide surface F₄ and an outer guide surface F₅ on. All three guide surfaces F₃ to F₅ are precisely designed and orthogonal similarly joined a C-section. Each guide surface F₃ to F₅ is assigned to the end region 4a each one rolling element 12 to 14. The rolling elements 12 to 14 have the guide faces F₃ to F₅ respectively parallel axes of rotation and are partially submerged in the outer contour of the end region 4a stored. All rolling elements are made cylindrical. A lower rolling element 12 is mounted on a front in the pulling direction edge of the end region 4a, an upper roller member 14 at an upper and rear in the extension direction edge of the end region 4a and the outer rolling element 13 on the end face of the end region 4a. In addition, the end regions 4a according to the in<figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 4</figref> Double arrow shown telescopically relative to the pull bar movably supported so that they can be displaced within certain limits coaxially. This is a change in the length of the extension bar allows. This embodiment is especially advantageous if the opposite profiled guide 7c not parallel to each other, but rather change their distance from one another in the course of its length. The profiles of the profiled guide can thus be tapered or expand relative to each other. The end regions 4a are subjected to a force along the pull bar by a supporting-force device to the outside, preferably pressure-spring-loaded to the end face and so that the outer rolling element 13 of each end region 4a permanently against the lateral guide surface F₅ to press. This takes the respective end region 4a automatically inwards or outwards takes place curvatures of the profiled guide 7c true and adjusts accordingly.

p0020In the embodiments illustrated hold covers are provided as functional units. However, it is also possible to provide other types of functional units for a vehicle interior having at least one functional profile that can be longitudinally displaced by profiled guide structures within the vehicle interior. As functional units in particular partition nets or other shaped separator structure are suitable, which can be pulled out approximately vertically upward in a protective position, in which a loading space is separated from a passenger compartment. Even pocket-like hanging pictures that are slidably disposed in the hold, may be formed by inventive functional units. The same applies to at least partially rigid segmentation parts that can be displaced in the corresponding functional profiles within the loading space to create variable space portions.