Roller blind for sliding roof assembly

p0001The invention relates to a motor vehicle sliding roof system-blind, which consists of a flexible material and has two guide elements, which extend along the longitudinal edges of the roller blind and are intended to engage in a guide for the respective longitudinal edge.

p0002Such a roller blind can be mounted below an opening in a vehicle roof, to cover the opening, depending on the wishes of the vehicle occupant, more or less. If the opening is to be released, the roller blind is wound up on a winding axis. From this it can be deducted, so that it covers the opening. In order for the blind, when it is located below the opening in the vehicle roof, there is no slack in the vehicle interior in the longitudinal edges of the roller blinds are received in a guide, so that it can be transversely kept tensioned to the displacement direction. Typically, the longitudinal edges of the roller blinds are bent and inserted in guide grooves of a guide rail (see the<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP1010559A1"><text>EP 1010559 A1</text></patcit>). In this way, the desired voltage can be applied in the transverse direction. The disadvantage here is that a greater height is required due to the angled longitudinal edges. This reduces the headroom in the vehicle interior. In addition, the transition region of the winding shaft must be covered up to the entry into the guide of a veneer, which causes the blindness is the wider.

p0003From the <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="DE1269782"><text>DE 1269782</text></patcit> discloses a device for guiding the lateral edges of a curtain in the interior of rails with a narrow slit.

p0004The <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="GB1416431A"><text>GB 1416431</text></patcit> shows a blackout panel for an aircraft window.

p0005The <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US4825921A"><text>US 4,825,921</text></patcit> shows an insect screen, which can be applied to windows or doors.

p0006The object of the invention is to provide a roller blind, which can be received in a guide with little effort and a small footprint, so it can be held taut in the transverse direction.

p0007To achieve this object there is provided according to the invention in a motor vehicle sliding roof system roller blind of the type mentioned, that the guide element is a flat strip of spring steel, which is fixed to the corresponding longitudinal edge so that it can be wound up together with the roller blind, that the guide element in the initial condition having a first cross-sectional shape, which serves for receiving the guide element in the guide, and it can be brought into a second cross-sectional shape which makes it possible to wind the blind space-saving, that the guide element when it has the first cross-sectional shape as viewed in section is curved runs.

p0008The invention is based on the basic consideration, the roller blind is no longer laterally to angle to make it penetrate into a guide so that it can be held taut, but along the longitudinal edges of the roller blind to apply the guide elements constructed as flat strips which are substantially straight, that is without that they must be bent, can run into a the corresponding longitudinal edge associated guide. The guide elements are received in the guide that the desired preload can be obtained in the transverse direction. The use of a guide element having in the initial state has a first cross-sectional shape, which serves for receiving the guide element in the guide, and it can be brought into a second cross-sectional shape which makes it possible to wind up the blind, allows a change in shape of the guide element to use that the guide element can be accommodated on the one hand suitable in the associated guide, but can be wound flat on a winding axis together with the roller blind on the other hand. Particularly suitable for this purpose is a curved cross-sectional shape of the guide element. When the guide member is curved, it has a comparatively large height, which can be used for secure anchoring in the interior of the corresponding guide. When the guide element is pressed flat against it, it has a relatively low height which essentially corresponds to the material thickness. In this state, the guide member can be coiled to save space along with the blind.

p0009According to a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the guide element is designed as a flat strip having a rectangular cross-section. This can, in particular if it is only partially connected to the blind, also providing a secure anchorage in the guide can be used.

p0010Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

p0011The invention is described below with reference to a preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:<ul><li><figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> a perspective view of a vehicle roof with a roller blind according to the invention;</li><li><figref idrefs="f0001">figure 2</figref> a schematic side view of a blind according to the invention;</li><li><figref idrefs="f0002">figure 3</figref> schematically shows a section along the plane III-III of <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idrefs="f0002">figure 4</figref> on an enlarged scale the detail IV of <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 2</figref>; and</li><li><figref idrefs="f0003">figure 5</figref> in a view corresponding to that of <figref idrefs="f0002">figure 3</figref> an alternative embodiment of the invention.</li></ul>

p0012In <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> is a vehicle roof 5 to see, which is provided with an opening. 7 The opening 7 is associated with a lid 9 of a sliding roof system. The lid 9 is movable between a closed position in which it closes the Öffnung- 7, and one in<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> shown, open position can be adjusted. Below the cover 9, and also below the opening 7 a roller blind 10 is disposed. The blind 10 may, relative to the vehicle, forward and backward to move. When the shade 10 is completely pushed to the back, the opening 7 is completely released. Fresh air and sunlight then have free access to the vehicle interior. When the blind 10 is fully pushed forward, the opening 7 is covered by the roller blind. Fresh air and sunlight can thus reach only to a limited extent in the vehicle interior.

p0013The shade 10 is made of a flexible material such as fabric or a plastic film. At its front edge, a hoop 12 is provided on which a vehicle occupant can attack to move the shade to the front or rear. Side along the opening 7 extend two guides 14, in which the two longitudinal edges of the shade, so in the vehicle longitudinal direction considered the right and the left edge of the shade 10, are added. In the area of ​​the rear end of the opening 7 there is a winding shaft 16 on which the blind 10 can be wound up. The winding shaft 16 is normally biased by a spring so that the shade 10 is automatically taken up on the winding shaft 16, when the bow 12 is moved to the rear.

p0014Along the longitudinal edges of the curtain 10, ie in the area of ​​the guides 14 associated with each roller blind is provided with a guide element 18, which in the embodiment of <figref idrefs="f0002">figure 3</figref> is designed as a thin metal strip of spring plate. The guide element 18 has in its initial state, ie when no external forces acting on it, which in<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 3</figref> visible, curved cross-sectional shape. The roller blind 10 is connected to the guide member 18 only on the outer half of the guide element 18 with this, ie from the outer edge up to about the apex of the guide element 18. This region is in<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 3</figref> designated by the reference numeral 20th The roller blind 10 may be glued to the guide element 18 in particular.

p0015The guide 14 has secured a generally rectangular cross section, in the interior of the guide member 18 together with the attached thereto edge portion of the shade 10 on average. On the side directed toward the vehicle center side, the guide has a leg 22, which engages between the roller blind 10 and the directional center of the vehicle portion of the guide element 18, ie in the region in which the shade 10 is not glued to the guiding element 18th The guide element 18 can thus be supported below the leg to keep the roller blind 10 transversely stretched.

p0016At 10 wind the blind on the winding shaft 16, the guide member 18 from the in will <figref idrefs="f0002">figure 3</figref> brought first cross-sectional shape shown in a second cross-sectional shape. This is in<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 4</figref> shown (see the indicated by the arrow P the transition region). After leaving the guide 14 and when wound on the winding shaft 16, the guide element 18 is flat compressed, so that it has a rectangular cross section, the height of the material thickness of the guide element 18 corresponds. In this state, the blind 10 can be coiled to save space along with the guide elements 18th

p0017In addition to the curvature in the transverse direction may be 18 curved in the longitudinal direction, the guide element, so that it rolls up automatically. In this way, can be dispensed with the usual wind-up on the winding shaft 16th At the same time is achieved a constant tension. Another effect is to increase the displacement force, so as to obtain a self-locking it. Thus a manually operated roller blind remains in any intermediate position are without an additional blind brake is necessary.

p0018In <figref idrefs="f0003">figure 5</figref> there is shown an alternative embodiment. while the same reference numerals are used for the parts known from the first embodiment, and reference is made to the above explanations.

p0019The difference from the in <figref idrefs="f0002">Figures 3 and 4</figref> Embodiment shown is that the in <figref idrefs="f0003">figure 5</figref> Guide member 18 shown innately a flat rectangular cross section. is to be received in the guide 14, as in the embodiment according to<figref idrefs="f0002">Figures 3 and 4</figref>, The roller blind 10 is connected only with one half of the guide member 18 so that the other half can be received behind the leg 22nd

p0020When the shade 10 is wound on the winding axis 16, the edge portion of the shade is slightly rotated so that the guide member 18 applies flat against the blind 10th In this state, it is then wound up together with the roller blind 10 on the winding axis sixteenth

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

p0021<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>5</dt><dd>vehicle roof</dd><dt>7</dt><dd>opening</dd><dt>9</dt><dd>cover</dd><dt>10</dt><dd>roller blind</dd><dt>12</dt><dd>Spriegel</dd><dt>14</dt><dd>guide</dd><dt>16</dt><dd>winding axis</dd><dt>18</dt><dd>guide member</dd><dt>20</dt><dd>connecting portion</dd><dt>22</dt><dd>leg</dd></dl>