DE29816470U1 - Car roll bar - Google Patents

Description

Car roll bar

The invention relates to a car roll bar of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1.

Car roll bars are not only known from motor racing with open racing cars to protect the driver, but are increasingly being installed in road-going convertibles and roadsters. One-piece roll bars that run the entire width of the vehicle, single roll bars behind the driver's seat and passenger seat in cars that usually only have two seats, and roll bars that run the entire width of the vehicle, which are integrated into the roof and have the rear window frame as well as fastening and sealing elements for a removable roof insert. The roll bars of interest here, however, are the so-called single roll bars, each of which has to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of the car rolling over, and which protrude at least slightly beyond the contour of the headrest and are firmly attached to the bottom of the vehicle body. There are two types of single roll bars. In the first case, the supporting structure of the roll bar is a bent steel or light metal tube, if necessary with a foam cover or a U-shaped tube formed from fiber-reinforced plastic using modern lightweight construction techniques. Car roll bars of the second design are known from DE-U-298 07 322. The content of this document is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. The supporting structure of this roll bar principle is a pressed fiber-reinforced plastic shell, or several such shells, and usually has a protective padding or cover covering the upper area of the roll bar. The advantage of the fiber-reinforced plastic shell design is a considerable weight saving and a load-oriented configuration of the roll bar.

The invention is based on the object of creating a car roll bar of the type mentioned above, which can fulfill another purpose in the car in addition to its occupant protection function.

The stated problem is solved with the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the roll bar, which is mounted behind the seat because of its occupant protection function, serves as a placeholder for at least one functional element that is assigned to a function related to driving the car that is foreign to the occupant protection function of the roll bar. The geometric configuration of the roll bar and its favorable position in the car for certain functions that are foreign to the occupant protection function are used to place the functional element in such a way that it is clearly visible, audible and usefully positioned in the car. The roll bar is therefore used as a carrier for the functional element, so that no other storage space in the car needs to be cleared or provided for the functional component. In principle, the strategically favorable position of the roll bar for certain functions is used to position the functional element in an ergonomically favorable and functionally optimal manner. In particular, functional elements are considered that serve their purpose optimally in the position of the roll bar, or that take up space as accessories when installed elsewhere, or that are ergonomically difficult to handle or use, or that could not even be positioned in that position due to the design of the car. In this way, the roll bar fulfills an additional task for which it is not primarily intended, but which does not detract from its occupant protection function. In addition, at least one functional element integrated into the roll bar, which has nothing to do with the safety function of the roll bar, may make a significant contribution to the overall aesthetic impression of the car or the car interior, because it represents an avant-garde or smart design variant that is pleasantly different from the established and traditional car equipment principle.

In this case, only one functional element can be provided on the roll bar or also several functional elements assigned to the same auto operating function or to different auto operating functions, in accordance with claim 2.

Useful examples of such functional elements are: an additional brake light, a hazard warning light, a rear fog light, interior lighting, a

Loudspeakers, a pull-out or swivel lamp, an air outlet or inlet, or a storage net or a pocket, namely on or in the back of the roll bar, according to claim 11. One or more such functional elements can be excellently placed straight on or in the back of the roll bar, so that no further structural features in the car or in the body are required to accommodate these functional elements. Furthermore, such a functional element can be: in the front of the roll bar, an interior light, one or more loudspeakers, an optical or acoustic distance indicator, a parking aid, a pull-out or swivel lamp or an air outlet or inlet, according to claim 12. One or more functional elements incorporated into one side of the roll bar can also be: a fixed or height-adjustable belt deflector, a belt anchoring mechanism, a belt retractor, a belt presenter, an interior light, one or more loudspeakers, an optical or acoustic distance indicator, a pull-out or swivel lamp or an air inlet or outlet, according to claim 13.

According to claim 3, such a functional element can also be assigned to two roll bars mounted next to each other in the car at the same time. This functional element is, for example, according to claim 14, an extendable wind deflector, as is used when driving with the top down for the comfort or health protection of the occupants.

According to claim 4, the functional element is expediently integrated into the supporting structure of the roll bar or fixed to it so that it has a good hold.

Alternatively, according to claim 5, the functional element is integrated into a cover of the roll bar or attached to it. In this case, the cover is expediently prepared during its manufacture with a view to the later attachment of the functional element.

Alternatively, the functional element according to claim 6 can be inserted into the cover and attached to the supporting structure. In this way, optical

achieve very attractive solutions for the accommodation of the functional element(s).

According to claim 7, the functional element in the roll bar is connected to a supply and/or signal line leading into the car. This means that in this case the roll bar actually only has the role of a placeholder for the functional element, while signals, energy transmission and the like come from elsewhere in the car.

According to claim 8, the respective functional element is expediently placed in the roll bar in such a way that in the event of a rollover of the car it has no influence on the occupant protection function of the roll bar.

The functional element according to claim 9 is expediently arranged in the roll bar so that it is clearly visible and/or audible for the driver or front passenger.

According to claim 10, the front and/or the back or the side areas of the roll bar are suitable for this purpose.

According to claim 15, fastening points for the at least one functional element are expediently provided during the manufacture of the supporting structure and/or the cover of the roll bar, so that the functional element can be easily attached later. It is even conceivable to install the at least one functional element at the same time during the manufacture or completion of the roll bar and to deliver the roll bar with the functional element.

According to claim 16, fastening points of a mechanical abrasion protection of the roll bar are used as fastening points for the functional element in a way that is favorable for assembly. Here, too, the functional element can be integrated during the manufacture of the roll bar.

According to claim 17, the supporting structure of the roll bar is expediently made of molded fiber composite plastic in a shell construction made of one or more

shells, or steel or light metal sheet processed in a shell construction, preferably in the form of a pressed part.

Alternatively, the supporting structure of the roll bar can be a bent steel or light metal tube, or a tube made of fiber-reinforced plastic in a pressed and shell construction.

Embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are explained using the drawing. They show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a car with at least one

built-in roll bar,

Fig. 2 a rear view of a roll bar with at least one integrated functional element,

Fig. 3 a view of the front of a roll bar with different integrated functional elements,

Fig. 4 is a perspective side view of a roll bar with a

laterally integrated functional element,

Fig. 5 a side view of a roll bar with functional elements integrated into the front,

Fig. 6 a perspective view of a roll bar with a laterally integrated functional element,

Fig. 7 a view of two roll bars with a functional element assigned to them,

Fig. 8 a view of a roll bar with a functional element integrated at the rear, and

Fig. 9 a view of the roll bar with integrated at the rear

functional element.

A car A in Fig. 1, e.g. a convertible or a roadster, is equipped with a roll bar B behind the two seats S for the driver and the front passenger, which is attached to the body of the car at 1. The direction of travel is indicated by F. The roll bar B projects beyond the contour of the backrest L and the headrest K of each seat S. In the roll bar B, which consists of a supporting structure 2 for the occupant rollover protection and a covering cover 3, at least one functional element E is integrated, for example, on the side lying at the rear in the direction of travel F, which is in the field of vision of following vehicles. This functional element can be, for example, a rear fog light, an additional brake light or a hazard warning light, which is connected to the power supply or signaling devices or switching devices in the car via cables not shown.

The supporting structure 2 of the roll bar B can be made of fiber-reinforced plastic in a shell construction (molded part), or of steel or light metal sheet, which is processed in a shell construction, or can be a bent steel or light metal tube or even a tube formed from fiber-reinforced plastic. The cover 3 is usually a foam or plastic cover which has springy properties facing the occupants. The back of the supporting structure 2 can be covered by the cover 3 or can be exposed and only provided with a decorative surface coating.

The following specific embodiments of roll bars B with integrated functional elements each have a shell component made of fiber-reinforced plastic with molded structures as the supporting structure 2 and a cover made of plastic or foam or the like, which either covers the back or leaves it free. Alternatively, the supporting structure could also be formed by a bent tube made of steel, light metal or also fiber-reinforced plastic.

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In the following embodiments of the roll bar B, in some cases, several identical or different functional elements or only one functional element are provided in the roll bar B. It should be noted that optional combinations of different functional elements are possible in one and the same roll bar, at the front or rear or on the side, or only a single functional element can be provided. Furthermore, the functional elements explained are only a selection of many possibilities, because basically any functional element, i.e. also other functional elements not shown, can be integrated into the roll bar, which have nothing to do with the safety function of the roll bar, but which make appropriate use of the exposed position of the roll bar in the car, because they bring their information, alarm or operational effect to the fore in an optimal way at this attachment point, possibly even better than at other locations in the car, or because the accommodation of the respective functional element in the roll bar offers the possibility of saving on other structural or body-related measures on the car, for example for an additional brake light, the accommodation of which often requires relatively complex structural measures on the body or the parcel shelf or the rear window, which are expensive and can also limit the field of vision.

In the roll bar B in Fig. 2, an additional brake light or a rear fog light or a warning light is integrated as a functional element E on the rear side R of the supporting structure 2 in the direction of travel in an area left free by the cover 3. The light 5 is shown with an arched shape, although it could be round or straight. The light 5 has a light base 7 which can be adapted to the shape of the supporting structure 2 and is fixed, for example, at 8 to pre-formed fastening points. The light exit disc 6 can be structured or flat. This light 5 can also be designed only as a reflector which reflects incident light but otherwise remains passive. The light 5 is expediently arranged as high as possible. If necessary, a storage net or a storage pocket 29 is provided on the rear side R as an additional functional element E. Fastening points 1' can also be seen on the supporting structure 2, with which the roll bar B is attached to the car.

In Fig. 3, several alternatives for the integration of functional elements E are indicated on the front side V of the roll bar B facing in the direction of travel, although only one of these functional elements E could be provided. For example, one or more loudspeakers 9 are provided in the cover 3 on the supporting structure 2. Furthermore, an interior lighting 10 with a switch 11 could be integrated in the upper edge area of the cover 10. This interior lighting 10 could also be attached to the side and/or lower down. As a further functional element E, an extendable or pivoting lamp 13 is fixed to the cover 3 or the supporting structure 2 with a base part 14, from which the lamp arm 15 extends in a protected, snug position along the curvature of the cover 3 to the lamp head 16 when not in use, which can be anchored with suitable holding elements 17. As another functional element E, an air inlet or outlet 18 in the manner of a conventional ventilation grille with a corresponding channel part can be integrated into the cover and/or the supporting structure 2, which either serves to guide the air flow caused by driving and/or is connected to the ventilation system of the car (not shown). Functional elements E, which require a supply voltage or receive signals or have to respond to signals, can be connected to corresponding components in the car via a supply line 20, the supply line 20 being laid in the supporting structure 2 and, if necessary, embedded in the cover 3. Since open cars in particular are often parked open, it can be expedient to assign hinged or removable covers to the functional elements E (not shown).

The functional component E integrated in the roll bar B in Fig. 4 is, for example, an optical or acoustic distance indicator device 21 of a parking aid system. This functional element E is positioned laterally in the roll bar B or its cover so that it is in the driver's field of vision when reversing or is approximately at the height of the driver's ears. If it is an acoustic indicator, then it could remain completely in the background visually and only be heard through corresponding perforations in the cover.

In Fig. 5, two parking aid distance indicators 21 are integrated as functional elements E in the front of the roll bar or in the cover 3. For example, these are light strips that are gradually illuminated more brightly as the distance to a vehicle behind them decreases.

In Fig. 6, an oblique top view of the front of the roll bar B, a belt deflector 22 is incorporated as a functional element E on the outside. The belt deflector 22 is expediently anchored with its base body 23 to the supporting structure 2 of the roll bar. At 24 it is indicated that the belt deflector 22 is height-adjustable in order to be adapted to different occupant sizes. Instead of the belt deflector 22, a belt anchor, a belt presenter or even a belt retractor (not shown) could also be provided. The safety belt is indicated schematically with G.

In Fig. 7, two roll bars B arranged at a distance from one another are assigned a so-called wind deflector 25 as a functional component E, which is expediently pulled out from a storage device 26 (only indicated) upwards to the end position shown and then anchored to fastening points 27 on the roll bars B. The wind deflector is either windproof or wind-permeable and can be stowed in the storage device 26 attached to the roll bars b when not in use.

In the roll bar B in Fig. 8, a light 28 is integrated on the rear side R as a functional element E into a shape structure of the supporting structure 2, which can function as an additional brake light, as a rear fog light or as a hazard warning light.

In Fig. 9, an additional brake light with an arched structure 5 is also integrated as a functional element E in the rear side R of the roll bar B, expediently so that its housing is designed to take the shape structures of the rear side R into account.

The functional elements integrated into the roll bars in the examples are assigned to functions that are specific to the operation of the car and have nothing to do with the occupant protection function of the roll bar. The roll bar only acts as a placeholder for the functional element that uses the exposed and, for certain functions, extremely useful position of the roll bar in the car. In this way, functional elements can be placed visibly or audibly that could not be installed in these positions at all due to the open design of the car, but that meet today's requirements for the equipment of modern cars.

Claims (18)

Expectations 1. Car roll bar (B) which is mounted as an occupant protection element in the car behind the driver or front passenger seat (S) and whose geometric configuration projects beyond the backrest contour including the headrest, characterized in that at least one functional element (E) which is foreign to the protective function of the roll bar and is assigned to at least one car operating function is structurally integrated into the geometric configuration of the roll bar (B). 2. Car roll bar according to claim 1, characterized in that several functional elements (E) assigned to the same car operating function or to different car operating functions are structurally integrated into the roll bar (B). 3. Car roll bar according to claim 1, characterized in that in the case of two roll bars (B) mounted next to one another in the car, the at least one functional element (E) is integrated jointly into both roll bars (B) and extends between these two roll bars (B). 4. Car roll bar according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional element (E) is integrated into the supporting structure (2) of the roll bar (B) provided for the rollover protection function or is fixed to this. 5. Car roll bar according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional element (E) is incorporated into and fastened to a protective or decorative cover (3) attached to the supporting structure (2) of the roll bar (B). 6. Car roll bar according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional element (E) is incorporated into a protective or decorative cover (3) attached to the supporting structure (2) of the roll bar (B) and is fastened to the supporting structure (2) of the roll bar (B). 7. Car roll bar according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional element (E) in the roll bar (B) is connected to a supply and/or signal line (20) leading from the roll bar (B) into the car (A). 8. Car roll bar according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional element (E) is incorporated in the roll bar (B) at a position which lies outside the working range of the roll bar (B) intended for the rollover protection function. 9. Car roll bar according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional element (E) is arranged visibly and/or audibly in or on the roll bar (B). 10. Car roll bar according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional element (E) is arranged in the front side (V) pointing in the direction of travel (F) and/or in the rear side (R) pointing against the direction of travel and/or in a side region of the roll bar (B) oriented transversely relative to the direction of travel. 11. Car roll bar according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional element (E) is an additional brake light (5) arranged on the rear side (R), a hazard warning light, a rear fog light (28), an interior light (10), a loudspeaker (9), a pull-out or swivel lamp (13), an air outlet or inlet (8) or a storage net or a bag (29). 12. Car roll bar according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional element (E) is an interior light (10) arranged in the front side (V) of the roll bar, a loudspeaker (9), an optical or acoustic distance indicator (21), a pull-out or swivel lamp (13) or an air inlet or outlet (18). 13. Car roll bar according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional element is a fixed or height-adjustable belt deflector (22) arranged in one side of the roll bar (B), a belt presenter, a belt retractor, an interior light, a loudspeaker (9), an optical or acoustic distance indicator (21), a pull-out or tilting lamp (13) or an air inlet or outlet (18). 14. Car roll bar according to claim 3, characterized in that the functional element (E) integrated into both roll bars (B) is an extendable wind deflector (25). 15. Car roll bar according to claim 4, characterized in that preformed fastening points (8) for the functional element (E) are formed in the supporting structure (2) or in the covering (3) of the roll bar (B). 16. Car roll bar according to claim 15, characterized in that fastening points of a mechanical roll bar abrasion protection are simultaneously designed as fastening points for the functional element (E). 17. Car roll bar according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting structure (2) of the roll bar (B) is designed in a shell construction with a shaped main surface made of fiber composite plastic or steel or light metal sheet, preferably as a molded part. 18. Car roll bar according to at least one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the supporting structure (2) of the roll bar (B) is a bent steel or light metal or fiber composite plastic tube.