GB1598153A - Vehicle body having means for retaining a headlining panel - Google Patents

Description

(54) A VEHICLE BODY HAVING MEANS FOR RETAINING A HEAD LINING PANEL (71) We, CHRYSLER FRANCE a French Body Corporate of 136, avenue des Champs Elysées, 75008 PARIS, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to a vehicle body having means for retaining a headlining panel.

It is common practice for the inside portion of automobile bodies to be lined with supple or soft fabric, or with a semi-rigid or semistiff assembly, to solve both a problem or appearance and one of noise filtering.

Such a semi-rigid type lining is usually in the form of a moulded self-supporting panel which, as a rule, is taken into the vehicle before fitting the window glasses and is inserted between, on the one hand, the roof panel, and on the other hand, at its lower portion and along its periphery, a flange in the shape of a step defined according to the structure offered by the roof brace and the upper portions of the frames of openings such as those provided for the doors.

This type of mounting is highly convenient and advantageous, for it requires but little time to be fitted. It involves, however, at the connection between the headlining panel and the said flange of the frames of the openings, problems of appearance and attachment or retention where excessive tolerances are allowed in the making of the roof and its structure, or of the lining panel, whose rigidity/may, in addition, present such variations that it will no longer be able to take its bearing on the said flange.

The invention provides a vehicle body having a roof, an opening with a frame, a flexible upper framing strip secured to the frame, the upper framing strip being U-shaped in section and engaged over the periphery of sheets defining the opening, a flexible strip secured to the upper framing strip, and an internal upper headlining panel secured inside of the roof, the periphery of the panel being engaged in a groove formed along the upper portion of the frame of the opening, the groove having its outer side defined by part of the roof structure, its inner side defined by the flexible strip, and its bottom defined by a portion of the upper part of the frame of the opening.

The flexible strip may be U-shaped in section with its two legs engaging over one of the legs of the framing strip.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a cross-sectional view in the region of a vehicle body opening such as one provided for a door.

The roof structure 1 of the automotive vehicle comprises a main metal sheet 2, the ends of which are bent and welded to one end of a metal sheet 3 defining the upper portion of the frame of an opening such as a door.

The sheet 3 towards its opposite inner end is shaped to form part of a flange 4 defined by a substantially horizontal portion 5 and a vertical portion 6 bent downwardly at 90" and the free end surface of which defines, on the inner side of the vehicle, the upper portion of the door opening.

The roof structure 1 also comprises a roof brace or reinforcement 7 composed for example of two substantially identical plates or sheets 8, 9 superposed on one another and which are welded at one end to the main metal sheet 2 whereas their opposite ends are shaped to form part of the aforesaid flange 4.

So, the flange 4 is constituted by three superposed sheets, namely the sheet 3 defining the upper framing portion of the door opening and by the two sheets 8, 9 of the roof brace 7.

The free ends of the sheets 3, 8 and 9 are received, at the lower end of the portion 6 of flange 4, in a flexible U-shaped section framing strip 10 fulfilling the function of a protective strip and defining, on the inner side of the vehicle the door opening.

The two legs 10a and 10b of the flexible framing strip 10 form clip means and are internally provided with deformable longitudinal ribs 11 engaging both sides of the portion 6 of flange 4. The leg 10 b of the framing strip 10 is provided at its end with an internal rib or lip 12, the role of which will be explained later.

The leg 10a of the framing strip 10 on the external side of the opening is provided on its outer surface with a flexible weatherstrip or like sealing means 13 intended to co-operate with the door proper when closed.

The pheriphery of a headlining panel 14 is engaged in a groove 15 formed along the upper portion of the frame of the opening and defined as follows: its outer sideby the roof brace 7, its bottom-by the substantially horizontal portion 5 of the flange 4.

its inner side-by a flexible strip 16 which will be described in more detail hereafter and is secured in position by the flexible farming strip 10.

The flexible strip 16 is U-shaped in section and has its two legs 16a, 1 6b engaging over the leg 10b of the framing strip 10.

The leg 1 6a of the strip 16 is provided at its free end, which is received in the framing strip 10, with a rib 17 forming a lip co-operating with the lip 12 of the leg 10b of the framing strip 10 so as to prevent the disengagement or release of the strip 16. The leg 1 6a of the strip 16 is moreover externally provided with a rib 18 adapted to bear upon the horizontal portion 5 of flange 4.

The bottom 19 of the strip 16 is adapted to engage by its outer surface the inner surface of the headlining 14, thus precluding any lateral displacement of the panel 14.

The free end of the other leg 16b of the strip partially covers the leg 10b of the protective strip 10, thus imparting a carefully finished appearance to the inside of the vehicle.

The mounting of the headlining 14 is performed in a conventional manner, while the strip 16 is not yet secured in position. In other words the headlining 14 is mounted so that its ends bear upon the substantially horizontal portion 5 of the flange 4. The strips 16 are thereafter fitted by forcing their legs 16a into the lining strip 10, i.e.

between the portion 6 of the flange 4 and the leg 10b of the strip 10.

Of course the protective framing strip 10 could be used to fulfil the function of the strip 16, in which case the leg 10b of the strip 10 would have to extend over a height sufficient for it to form the inner side of the groove 15. This, however, would be incompatible with the requirements which it must meet in other respects, e.g. that of being capable of bending according to the radii of curvature existing in door openings.

Moreover, a framing strip of such a shape, usually referred to as "snap-on" is manufactured in linear metres and not directly according to the shape of the vehicle body openings.

Thus, the panel 14 once put in place, is correctly retained by the strip 16, which is directly supported by the protective framing strip 10 of the door openings. Moreover, the strip 16 is shaped so that the assembly seen from the inside of the vehicle presents a relatively pleasing appearance.

In the example described, use is made of a U-section flexible strip 16, one leg 1 6a of which fulfils the function of an abutment and is partially inserted in the protective strip 10, whereas its other leg 16b plays a secondary role of providing a pleasing appearance of the assembly. In alternative forms of embodiment, however, use can be made of strips 16 which are not necessarily U-shaped.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A vehicle body having a roof, an opening with a frame, a flexible upper framing strip secured to the frame, the upper framing strip being U-shaped in section and engaged over the periphery of sheets defining the opening, a flexible strip secured to the upper framing strip, and an internal upper headlining panel secured inside of the roof, the periphery of the panel being engaged in a groove formed along the upper portion of the frame of the opening, the groove having its outer side defined by part of the roof structure, its innner side defined by the flexible strip, and its bottom defined by a portion of the upper part of the frame of the opening.

2. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible strip is U-shaped in section with its two legs engaging over one of the legs of the framing strip.

3. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flexible strip has a rib on its exterior bearing upon the bottom of the said groove and has a rib on its interior cooperating with a rib provided on the interior of the framing strip.

4. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the exterior side and bottom of the said grooves are formed by a roof brace comprising at least one metal sheet welded at one end to the roof and with the other end extending into the U-shaped framing strip.

5. A vehicle body substantially as hereindescribed with reference to and as shown in accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. portion 6 of flange 4. The leg 10 b of the framing strip 10 is provided at its end with an internal rib or lip 12, the role of which will be explained later. The leg 10a of the framing strip 10 on the external side of the opening is provided on its outer surface with a flexible weatherstrip or like sealing means 13 intended to co-operate with the door proper when closed. The pheriphery of a headlining panel 14 is engaged in a groove 15 formed along the upper portion of the frame of the opening and defined as follows: its outer sideby the roof brace 7, its bottom-by the substantially horizontal portion 5 of the flange 4. its inner side-by a flexible strip 16 which will be described in more detail hereafter and is secured in position by the flexible farming strip 10. The flexible strip 16 is U-shaped in section and has its two legs 16a, 1 6b engaging over the leg 10b of the framing strip 10. The leg 1 6a of the strip 16 is provided at its free end, which is received in the framing strip 10, with a rib 17 forming a lip co-operating with the lip 12 of the leg 10b of the framing strip 10 so as to prevent the disengagement or release of the strip 16. The leg 1 6a of the strip 16 is moreover externally provided with a rib 18 adapted to bear upon the horizontal portion 5 of flange 4. The bottom 19 of the strip 16 is adapted to engage by its outer surface the inner surface of the headlining 14, thus precluding any lateral displacement of the panel 14. The free end of the other leg 16b of the strip partially covers the leg 10b of the protective strip 10, thus imparting a carefully finished appearance to the inside of the vehicle. The mounting of the headlining 14 is performed in a conventional manner, while the strip 16 is not yet secured in position. In other words the headlining 14 is mounted so that its ends bear upon the substantially horizontal portion 5 of the flange 4. The strips 16 are thereafter fitted by forcing their legs 16a into the lining strip 10, i.e. between the portion 6 of the flange 4 and the leg 10b of the strip 10. Of course the protective framing strip 10 could be used to fulfil the function of the strip 16, in which case the leg 10b of the strip 10 would have to extend over a height sufficient for it to form the inner side of the groove 15. This, however, would be incompatible with the requirements which it must meet in other respects, e.g. that of being capable of bending according to the radii of curvature existing in door openings. Moreover, a framing strip of such a shape, usually referred to as "snap-on" is manufactured in linear metres and not directly according to the shape of the vehicle body openings. Thus, the panel 14 once put in place, is correctly retained by the strip 16, which is directly supported by the protective framing strip 10 of the door openings. Moreover, the strip 16 is shaped so that the assembly seen from the inside of the vehicle presents a relatively pleasing appearance. In the example described, use is made of a U-section flexible strip 16, one leg 1 6a of which fulfils the function of an abutment and is partially inserted in the protective strip 10, whereas its other leg 16b plays a secondary role of providing a pleasing appearance of the assembly. In alternative forms of embodiment, however, use can be made of strips 16 which are not necessarily U-shaped. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A vehicle body having a roof, an opening with a frame, a flexible upper framing strip secured to the frame, the upper framing strip being U-shaped in section and engaged over the periphery of sheets defining the opening, a flexible strip secured to the upper framing strip, and an internal upper headlining panel secured inside of the roof, the periphery of the panel being engaged in a groove formed along the upper portion of the frame of the opening, the groove having its outer side defined by part of the roof structure, its innner side defined by the flexible strip, and its bottom defined by a portion of the upper part of the frame of the opening.

2. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible strip is U-shaped in section with its two legs engaging over one of the legs of the framing strip.

3. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flexible strip has a rib on its exterior bearing upon the bottom of the said groove and has a rib on its interior cooperating with a rib provided on the interior of the framing strip.

4. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the exterior side and bottom of the said grooves are formed by a roof brace comprising at least one metal sheet welded at one end to the roof and with the other end extending into the U-shaped framing strip.

5. A vehicle body substantially as hereindescribed with reference to and as shown in accompanying drawing.