GB2334929A

GB2334929A - A motor vehicle roof liner

Info

Publication number: GB2334929A
Application number: GB9804625A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicolas Clift
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-05
Filing date: 1998-03-05
Publication date: 1999-09-08
Also published as: GB9804625D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle roof liner incorporates membrane switch elements in order to allow multi-occupant control of environmental conditions, seat orientation and entertainment equipment within the motor vehicle. The membrane switch elements are either located in recesses or upon the surface of a roof liner structure element with appropriate electrical connections thereto. The use of membrane switches avoids the inherent weaknesses of lower reliability of mechanical switches and the necessity of relatively extensive modification of the roof liner structure element in order to accommodate such mechanical switches.

Description

A MOTOR VEHICLE ROOF LINER The present invention relates to a motor vehicle roof liner and more particularly to a motor vehicle roof liner incorporating switch elements.

Motor vehicles are increasingly including a wide range of devices to control vehicle operation. In particular environmental condition control and in-car entertainment equipment is becoming more sophisticated and the motor vehicle owner requires a far greater degree of control. Unfortunately, within a motor vehicle the surfaces available to accommodate the necessary switches and slide controls is limited. Furthermore, generally the dashboard of a motor vehicle must accommodate the necessary display and control for driving operation in preference to these environmental and in-car entertainment switching requirements. The driver must also not be overly distracted by a range of switches, etc.

One area of a motor vehicle that could accommodate switching is the roof liner or head liner within a motor vehicle. Such a roof liner has a large surface to accommodate switching and self-evidently is at a position where small children would find it difficult to mischievously operate any switches.

Furthermore, the roof liner would allow switches for environmental and incar entertainment control to be located or associated with each individual seat and so occupant of the motor vehicle. Unfortunately, traditional switching and slide controls tend to be rather bulky and so difficult to accommodate within a motor vehicle roof liner. For example, it will be inconvenient to require dedicated apertures to be punched in the roof liner to accommodate each switch and then subsequently provide electrical wiring from a motor vehicle wiring harness to each of the switches. It will be appreciated that it is an ongoing requirement for motor vehicle manufacture to reduce and diminish the complexity along with the number of assembly operations performed actually on the assembly track, thus, it is normal to provide sub-assemblies, ie. a roof liner, produced away from the assembly track and delivered as required to that track. In such circumstances, additional complexity would not be acceptable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a motor vehicle roof liner which substantially relieves the above-mentioned problems while providing additional switching capacity for the motor vehicle.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a motor vehicle roof liner comprising a roof liner structure covered by a decorative cover material, the roof liner including membrane switching means associated with said liner structure and said cover material.

Preferably, the membrane switching means is sandwiched between said liner structure and said cover material.

The switching means may be recessed so that the roof liner profile is substantially unaltered. Alternatively, the switching means may be mounted upon the roof liner in order to provide an indicament of said switch location.

The roof liner may include markings within said cover material to indicate switch means location.

The cover material may be a fabric or coating applied to the roof liner structure.

The switch means may be associated with other switch mechanisms within said motor vehicle to allow multi-occupant control of environmental conditions and entertainment equipment within the motor vehicle.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only.

A motor vehicle roof liner generally comprises a roof liner structure which provides the necessary strength and resilience for the roof liner within a motor vehicle associated with a decorative cover material such as fabric arranged to provide aesthetic appeal within the motor vehicle. The roof liner structure is generally a laminate of non-woven and/or plastics material mouldable to the desired roof liner profile for a particular motor vehicle. The roof liner will also include means for accommodating the electrical wiring harness and elements for securing the roof liner within the motor vehicle. Generally, the motor vehicle roof liner will be manufactured as a sub-assembly in as near complete a condition as possible for delivery to the motor vehicle manufacturing track side as a sub-assembly for direct location within the motor vehicle with a minimum of additional manufacturing/assembly steps. Typically, the roof liner structure is thermally moulded.

As indicated above, a motor vehicle roof liner is fertile ground for locating switching and control elements for the motor vehicle but previously has generally not included such switching due to the increased number of manufacturing steps to secure such switching within a roof liner, ie. aperture punching and also the general unreliability of mechanical switches which would require replacement upon failure.

Membrane switches which comprise separated layers of plastic material incorporating respective electrodes with a spacer layer in between are highly reliable. The spacer layer includes an aperture such that on compression of one plastic layer, the plastic layer is deformed into the aperture so that the electrodes contact. Thus, under appropriate control of a control element, initialisation of electrical function can be initiated by one switch deformation and subsequently by a repeat operation of the same membrane switch or another membrane switch that electrical function switched off. Furthermore, it can be arranged that the longer electrical contact is maintained between the electrodes the greater the amplitude of electrical function performed. Thus, the membrane switch in such a condition operates in a similar manner to a slide control for such operations as sound output from a loudspeaker.

Membrane switches are also very thin and so can be accommodated readily within the roof liner. The membrane switch can be located in a recess formed during the moulding stage for the roof liner structure or be surface mounted. In the surface mounted configuration, it will be appreciated that a slight disruption in the roof liner profile will be created and this will allow a tactile indicament of switch location. In a recessed configuration, the membrane switch can be configured such that the roof liner profile is substantially unaltered or if deep recessed it will be appreciated that a disruption in the roof liner profile may be created in order to achieve a depression tactile indicament of switch location.

Electrical connection to the membrane switch may be through ribbon wiring similarly mounted upon the surface or preferably recessed within the roof liner structure. Alternatively, a complete layer of membrane switch elements incorporating appropriate electrical pathways for each switch may be secured over the roof liner.

Normally, the membrane switch will be located in a sandwich configuration between the liner structure and the cover material.

Furthermore, the cover material will be marked to indicate switch location.

As indicated above, the number and performance ranges for environmental and entertainment equipment within a motor vehicle is forever increasing both as a result of product development and motor vehicle user demand. By provision of switch elements within the motor vehicle roof liner it will be appreciated that each occupant of the motor vehicle may be able to control, to varying degrees, certain environmental conditions and entertainment equipment outputs. Thus, each particular occupant may be able to adjust air conditioning outputs, light level and in-car entertainment sound output for their segment of the motor vehicle or for the whole vehicle without distracting or requiring the attention of the driver. Furthermore, a the roof liner is generally static, it will be appreciated that switching mechanisms normally mounted in the mobile hinged doors may be located more conveniently in the roof liner. In any event, the provision of switching within the roof liner for specific seat controls such as height, orientation and seat heaters will allow these features to be individually controlled by the occupant thereof.

Typically, the cover material used for decorative purposes within a motor vehicle will be a fabric. However, it will be appreciated upon repeated contact with a users finger, such fabrics may become discoloured, thus, it is necessary to provide a washable surface in order to clean the roof liner as necessary. However, it will be appreciated that the membrane is generally sealed so cleaning with appropriate care should not be too detrimental to that membrane switch. Membrane switches are extremely reliable and should not require replacement during a lifetime of a motor vehicle.

Claims

C LMS CLAIMS 1. A motor vehicle roof liner comprising a roof liner structure associated with a decorative cover material, the liner including membrane switch means associated with said liner structure and said cover material to allow control of electrical equipment within a motor vehicle.
2. A liner as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said membrane switching means is sandwiched between said liner structure and said cover material.
3. A liner as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said switch means is located within a recess of said roof liner structure.
4. A roof liner as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said switch means is located in said recess constitutes a proportion of said roof liner profile which is substantially consistent with said profile about said recess such that as perceived with regard to the decorative cover, said roof liner profile is substantially unaltered.
5. A roof liner as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said switch means is located in said recess such that said roof liner profile includes a feature about said recess which as viewed with regard to said decorative cover material is perceivable as an indicament of said switch means location.
6. A roof liner as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said switch means is mounted upon said roof liner structure such that said roof liner profile as perceived through said decorative cover material includes a raised surface indicament of select switch means location.
7. A liner as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said cover material includes a mark to indicate switch means location therein.
8. A roof liner as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said decorative cover material is a fabric.
9. A motor vehicle roof liner as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said switch means is associated with other switch mechanisms or similar switch means within said motor vehicle to allow independent multi-occupant control of environmental conditions, seat orientation and entertainment equipment within the motor vehicle.