IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,511,606
Granted Patent B2
US 11,511,606 · App. 16/784,771 · Granted Nov 29, 2022

Sunroof panel for vehicle and manufacturing method thereof

Inventor: Tatsuya Matsui (Kariya, JP)
Assignee: Aisin Corporation
B60J7/022B29C45/14508B60J7/043B29L2031/778
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,511,606
App. No.
16/784,771
Granted
Nov 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sunroof apparatus for a vehicle includes a first side frame and a second side frame disposed at opposing ends of the sunroof apparatus in a vehicle width direction, a frame unit including a main frame, a first sub frame, and a second sub frame, the frame unit connecting an end portion of the first side frame and an end portion of the second side frame in the vehicle width direction, a fixed panel covering the opening portion of the main frame, and a joint layer covering a rim of the fixed panel and joining the main frame and the fixed panel. The first side frame and the second side frame are connected with the first sub frame and the second sub frame in the vehicle front-rear direction, respectively.

Claims (49)

1. A sunroof apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a first side frame disposed at one of opposing ends of the sunroof apparatus in a vehicle width direction, the first side frame extending in a vehicle front-rear direction;

a second side frame disposed at the other of opposing ends of the sunroof apparatus in the vehicle width direction, the second side frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction;

a frame unit including

a main frame including a frame-rim having an edge defining an opening portion extending in the vehicle width direction;

a first sub frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from a first end portion of the main frame in the vehicle width direction; and

a second sub frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from a second end portion of the main frame in the vehicle width direction;

the frame unit connecting an end portion of the first side frame and an end portion of the second side frame in the vehicle width direction;

a fixed panel covering the opening portion of the main frame; and

a joint layer covering a panel-rim of the fixed panel and joining the main frame and the fixed panel; wherein

the first side frame is connected with the first sub frame in the vehicle front-rear direction,

the second side frame is connected with the second sub frame in the vehicle front-rear direction, and

the joint layer covers the edge of the frame-rim and sandwiches the frame-rim.

2. A manufacturing method of a sunroof apparatus for a vehicle, the sunroof apparatus comprising:

a first side frame disposed at one of opposing ends of the sunroof apparatus in a vehicle width direction, the first side frame extending in a vehicle front-rear direction;

a second side frame disposed at the other of opposing ends of the sunroof apparatus in the vehicle width direction, the second side frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction;

a frame unit including

a main frame including a frame-rim having an edge defining an opening portion extending in the vehicle width direction;

a first sub frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from a first end portion of the main frame in the vehicle width direction; and

a second sub frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from a second end portion of the main frame in the vehicle width direction;

the frame unit connecting an end portion of the first side frame and an end portion of the second side frame in the vehicle width direction; and

a fixed panel covering the opening portion of the main frame; wherein

the manufacturing method of the sunroof panel for the vehicle including steps of,

forming the first side frame, the second side frame, and the frame unit separately,

forming a joint layer by hardening liquid resin injected between the frame unit and the fixed panel which are disposed within a mold, the joint layer covering a panel-rim of the fixed panel and joining the main frame and the fixed panel, the joint layer covering the edge of the frame-rim and sandwiching the frame-rim,

connecting the first side frame and the first sub frame in the vehicle front-rear direction, and

connecting the second side frame and the second sub frame in the vehicle front-rear direction.

3. The sunroof apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the main frame includes

a lower portion,

an upper portion, and

an intermediate portion extending from the lower portion to the upper portion,

the upper portion including the frame-rim having the edge defining the opening portion, and

the joint layer comprises

an upper lip portion contacting an outer edge of the panel-rim of the fixed panel,

a joining portion disposed in-between the upper portion of the main frame and the fixed panel, and

a lower lip portion contacting the intermediate portion and the lower portion of the main frame.

4. The sunroof apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first side frame and the first sub frame overlap one another in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the second side frame and the second sub frame overlap one another in the vehicle front-rear direction.

5. The manufacturing method of claim 2 , wherein

the main frame includes

a lower portion,

an upper portion, and

an intermediate portion extending from the lower portion to the upper portion,

the upper portion including the frame-rim having the edge defining the opening portion, and

the joint layer formed in the method comprises

an upper lip portion contacting an outer edge of the panel-rim of the fixed panel,

a joining portion disposed in-between the upper portion of the main frame and the fixed panel, and

a lower lip portion contacting the intermediate portion and the lower portion of the main frame.

6. The manufacturing method of claim 2 , wherein the first side frame and the first sub frame overlap one another in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the second side frame and the second sub frame overlap one another in the vehicle front-rear direction.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 21, 2021
From: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: AISIN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058545/0769 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2020
From: MATSUI, TATSUYA
To: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 051752/0426 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-021469 · Feb 8, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200254856A1 · Aug 13, 2020