Device for adjusting the cover of a sunroof of an automobile

Abstract

An apparatus for a sunroof that contains at least one cover part for selectively closing and at least partially opening an opening in a rigid roof surface of an automobile. The apparatus is used in conjunction with a roof opening that contains a base part with side parts that lie opposite one another and define a longitudinal direction. The sunroof includes a cover part that can be tilted as well as slid along the longitudinal direction. The apparatus includes a cover carrying element that is connected to the cover part and can be pivoted about a cam pin which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction and can slide along the longitudinal direction.

1 . Adjusting device ( 10 ) for a sunroof that contains at least one cover part ( 12 ) for selectively closing and at least partially opening an opening ( 14 ) in a rigid roof surface ( 16 ) of an automobile, wherein the roof opening is limited by a base part with side parts ( 18 ) that lie opposite one another and define a longitudinal direction (D), and wherein said cover part ( 12 ) can be tilted as well as slid along this longitudinal direction (D), 
 with at least one cover carrying element ( 20 ) that is connected to the cover part ( 12 ) and that can be tilted (pivoted) about a first cam ( 22 ) that extends transverse to the longitudinal direction (D) and slid along the longitudinal direction (D),    with at least one guide element ( 32 ) that extends along the longitudinal direction (D) and that is provided on the base part,    with at least one carriage element (transport carriage  30 ) that is guided in slidable fashion along the guide element ( 32 ) and moves the cover part ( 12 ), and    with adjusting means ( 20 - 28 ) for tilting and sliding the cover part ( 12 ), wherein said adjusting means connects the cover part ( 12 ) to the carriage element ( 30 ) such that they can be moved relative to one another and slid along the longitudinal direction (D), characterized by the fact    that at least one locking means ( 34 ) is provided for independently interlocking the at least one carriage element ( 30 ) and one adjusting means ( 20 ),    that the at least one guide element ( 32 ) is provided with at least one control means ( 36 ), such that the carriage element ( 30 ) and the adjusting means ( 20 ) are effectively interlocked in the longitudinal direction (D), i.e., the carriage element and the adjusting means are unable to move relative to one another, when the carriage element ( 30 ) is slid between positions between which the cover part ( 12 ) is essentially only slid in the longitudinal direction (D) in the tilted position, and    that the carriage element ( 30 ) and the adjusting means ( 20 ) are disengaged from one another, i.e., the carriage element and the adjusting means are able to move relative to one another in the longitudinal direction (D), when the carriage element ( 30 ) is slid between positions in which the cover part ( 12 ) is essentially aligned with the roof opening ( 14 ) and merely tilted.    
     
     
         2 . Adjusting device according to    claim 1   , characterized by the fact that the locking means is realized in the form of a locking means that acts on one side and is arranged in such a way that it only transmits driving forces onto the adjusting means ( 20 ) during the closing movement of the carriage element ( 30 ) in the sliding phase.  
     
     
         3 . Adjusting device according to    claim 2   , characterized by the fact that the locking means ( 34 ) engages behind the rear end region of the adjusting means ( 20 ) in the interlocked position.  
     
     
         4 . Adjusting device according to one of claims  1 - 3 , characterized by the fact that the control means is arranged on the guide element ( 32 ), and by the fact that the control means contains a depression ( 36 A) for partially accommodating the locking means ( 34 ) in the unlocked position.  
     
     
         5 . Adjusting device according to one of claims  1 - 4 , characterized by the fact that the control means ( 36 ) contains a switching surface ( 36 B) for sliding the locking means ( 34 ) during the opening movement of the carriage element ( 30 ), namely from the unlocked position into a position in which the carriage element ( 30 ) and the adjusting means ( 20 ) are interlocked.  
     
     
         6 . Adjusting device according to one of claims  1 - 5 , characterized by the fact that the locking means ( 34 ) is provided with a pivot arm ( 34 A) for pivoting the locking means ( 34 ) about a pivot point ( 34 B) arranged on the carriage element ( 30 ).  
     
     
         7 . Adjusting device according to one of claims  1 - 6 , characterized by the fact that first and second cam arrangements ( 22 ,  24 ;  26 ,  28 ) that act between the adjusting means ( 20 ) and the carriage element ( 30 ) carry out the raising and lowering movements of the adjusting means ( 20 ).  
     
     
         8 . Adjusting device according to    claim 7   , characterized by the fact that the first cam arrangement ( 22 ,  24 ) which serves for raising the front edge of the cover is provided with a front guide curve zone ( 24 A), the inclination of which approximately corresponds to the longitudinal direction (D), in particular, extends parallel to said longitudinal direction.  
     
     
         9 . Adjusting device according to one of claims  1 - 8 , characterized by the fact that a cam arrangement ( 22 ,  40 ) that acts between the adjusting means ( 20 ) and the guide element ( 32 ) is provided, wherein a guide curve ( 40 ) arranged within the front guide region contains a region ( 40 A) that inclines toward the rear and transforms into a region ( 40 B) that extends approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction (D).  
     
     
         10 . Adjusting device according to    claim 9   , characterized by the fact that the guide curve ( 40 B) contains an opening that is directed toward the rear and serves as an inlet and an outlet for the cam ( 22 ).