Movable Roof Device

Abstract

The invention concerns the field of roof devices for opening roofs. In particular, the invention concerns a roof device comprising sliding roof panels which are configured so as to be movable along a rail system. The invention also concerns an opening roof comprising the movable roof device. The invention also concerns the use of the roof device in a roof. The invention furthermore also concerns a method for opening and closing the roof device.

1 . A roof device for an opening roof, comprising:
 a plurality of stackable panels which are configured so as to be movable along a rail system, wherein the movable panels are configured such that they can move repeatably between:   a first, closed roof state in which the panels lie aligned next to each other in the same plane, and   a second, open roof state in which the panels lie aligned and stacked one above the other; and   a connection system configured for repeatably coupling adjacent movable panels which lie next to each other in the closed state, by a downward movement of a rear panel wall of a top movable panel along a front panel wall of a bottom movable panel in the open roof state, wherein the connection system comprises connection elements and connection points for the adjacent movable panels, arranged such that the connection element of each movable panel is configured for repeatably coupling with a connection point of an adjacent movable panel; and wherein the connection element comprises a downwardly pointing body which extends laterally from the rear panel wall; and wherein the connection point comprises an upwardly pointing body which extends laterally from the front panel wall,   the connection system further comprising at least one stiffening element comprising an upwardly pointing body which extends laterally from a said movable panel.   
     
     
         2 . The roof device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening element is connected to the connection element by a front part of the body of the connection element which extends rearward from the rear panel wall of the front panel. 
     
     
         3 . The roof device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a clip or a roller bearing is attached to an end of the connection element, the connection point, or a combination thereof, wherein the clip or the roller bearing is configured, during coupling, to come into contact with at least one of an end of the connection point, and the connection element of the adjacent panel and limit the friction between the connecting element and the connection point. 
     
     
         4 . The roof device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a stacking system configured for repeatably coupling adjacent movable panels which are stacked one above the other by movement of a top movable panel over a bottom movable panel. 
     
     
         5 . The roof device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rail system is a single-track rail system, wherein the movable panels move along the same plane. 
     
     
         6 . The roof device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rail system is a multi-track rail system, wherein the movable panels move along different, parallel planes. 
     
     
         7 . An opening roof for a terrace covering, comprising a roof device comprising:
 a plurality of stackable panels which are configured so as to be movable along a rail system, wherein the movable panels are configured such that they can move repeatably between a first, closed roof state in which the panels lie aligned next to each other in the same plane and a second, open roof state in which the panels lie aligned and stacked one above the other; and   a connection system configured for repeatably coupling adjacent movable panels which lie next to each other in the closed state, by a downward movement of a rear panel wall of a top movable panel along a front panel wall of a bottom movable panel in the open roof state, wherein the connection system comprises connection elements—and connection points for the adjacent movable panels, arranged such that the connection element of each movable panel-is configured for repeatably coupling with a connection point of an adjacent movable panel; and wherein the connection element comprises a downwardly pointing body which extends laterally from the rear panel wall; and wherein the connection point comprises an upwardly pointing body which extends laterally from the front panel wall, the connection system further comprising at least one stiffening element comprising an upwardly pointing body which extends laterally from a said movable panel.   
     
     
         8 . A method for closing a roof device from an open roof state into a closed roof state, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of panels stacked one above the other and configured to be movable along a multiple rail system;   controlling an initial movable panel to move along the rail system, whereby an adjacent movable panel becomes a new bottom movable panel;   controlling the new bottom movable panel to move along the rail system, whereby another adjacent movable panel becomes a new bottom movable panel;   coupling the adjacent movable panels by a connection system such that the adjacent movable panels lie aligned and next to each other in the same plane; and   repeating the controlling of the initial moveable panel and the new bottom moveable panel along the rail system and coupling of the adjacent moveable panels until all movable panels lie aligned next to each other in the same plane.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the moveable panels are coupled together by a stacking system, the method further comprising:
 decoupling of the stacking system of a movable panel from the plurality of movable panels stacked one above the other.   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the decoupling comprises:
 decoupling of the initial movable panel from an adjacent movable panel prior to controlling the initial moveable panel to move along the rail system; and   decoupling of the new bottom movable panel from the adjacent movable panel prior to controlling the new bottom moveable panel to move along the rail system.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 ,
 wherein the decoupling of the stacking system between the initial movable panel and the adjacent movable panel takes place by a downward movement of the bottom movable panel away from a panel wall of the adjacent movable panel.   
     
     
         13 . A method for opening a roof device from a closed roof state into an open roof state, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of panels lying next to each other in the same plane and configured to be movable along a multiple rail system, wherein the movable panels are coupled together by means of a connection system;   decoupling the connection system of an initial movable panel from an adjacent movable panel;   controlling the initial movable panel to move along the rail system, whereby the adjacent movable panel becomes a bottom movable panel; and   repeating the decoupling of the connection system and controlling of the initial moveable panel until all movable panels lie stacked one above the other.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 by a stacking system, the initial movable panel to the bottom movable panel so that the initial movable panel and the bottom movable panel lie stacked one above the other.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 ,
 wherein the decoupling of the connection system between the initial movable panel and the adjacent movable panel takes place by an upward movement of the initial movable panel along a panel wall of the adjacent movable panel, wherein the initial movable panel transfers from an adjacent position to a top position.   
     
     
         16 . The roof device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening element stands perpendicularly relative to the top face of the first movable panel. 
     
     
         17 . The roof device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connection system comprises a plurality of stiffening elements for a corresponding plurality of movable panels, wherein the stiffening elements are configured such that in the closed roof state, the stiffening element of a front movable panel improves the stiffness of a rear movable panel. 
     
     
         18 . The roof device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening element comprises an upwardly pointing body which extends laterally from the rear panel wall of a said movable panel. 
     
     
         19 . The roof device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the movable panels comprise an engagement element and a corresponding notch, wherein the engagement element of each movable panel is configured for being repeatably placed in a notch of an adjacent movable panel. 
     
     
         20 . The roof device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the movable panels are configured to move next to each other and sequentially through the single-track rail system, coupled by the connection system. 
     
     
         21 . The roof device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the movable panels are configured to be stacked above each other and move simultaneously through the multi-track rail system, coupled by a stacking system. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the decoupling of the stacking system between the new bottom movable panel and the adjacent panel takes place by a downward movement of the new bottom moveable panel away from the bottom panel wall of the adjacent moveable panel. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the coupling by the connection system of the bottom moveable panel to the new bottom moveable panel takes place by a downward movement of the new bottom moveable panel along a panel wall of the bottom moveable panel, whereby the new bottom moveable panel transfers from a top position to an adjacent position. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the coupling of the stacking system between the initial movable panel and the bottom movable panel takes place by a sideways movement of the initial movable panel over a panel wall of the bottom, movable panel.