RETAINING ELEMENT FOR A VEHICLE SIDE WINDOW THAT CAN BE RAISED AND LOWERED

Abstract

A retaining element for a side window of a vehicle, includes a first securing section and a first contact section connected thereto for securing to a first surface of the side window, a second securing section and a second contact section connected thereto for securing to a second surface of the side window, wherein the first and second securing sections are connected to one another opposite the contact sections via a hinge section such that the first securing section together with the first contact section and the second securing section together with the second contact section is pivotable relative to one another, whereby the retaining element is openable and closable. In the closed state, the securing sections are in surface contact with one another and, together, are suitable for securing to the vehicle and the contact sections are suitable for securing to two opposing surfaces of the side window.

Claims

1. A retaining element for a side window of a vehicle, comprising: a first securing section and a first contact section connected thereto for securing to a first surface of the side window, a second securing section and a second contact section connected thereto for securing to a second surface of the side window, wherein the first securing section and the second securing section are connected to one another opposite the contact sections via a hinge section such that the first securing section together with the first contact section and the second securing section together with the second contact section are pivotable relative to one another, whereby the retaining element can be opened and closed, wherein, in the closed state, the first and second securing sections are in surface contact with one another and, together, are suitable for securing to the vehicle, and the first and second contact sections are suitable for securing to two opposing surfaces of the side window.

2. The retaining element according to claim 1, wherein the open state and the closed state are stable as such without action of external forces.

3. The retaining element according to claim 1, which is formed in one piece, wherein the hinge section has lower material thickness than the first and second securing sections and the first and second contact sections in order to ensure the flexibility required for opening and closing the retaining element.

4. The retaining element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second securing sections have, in each case, a hole and wherein the holes are superimposed on one another in the closed state of the retaining element such that a passage for securing to the vehicle extends through the retaining element.

5. The retaining element according to claim 4, wherein the hole of the first securing section is surrounded by at least one guide element, which is implemented as a mandrel or latching hook and is inserted into the hole of the second securing section in the closed state of the retaining element.

6. The retaining element according to claim 1, wherein the first contact section is connected to the first securing section via a first step section and the second contact section is connected to the second securing section via a second step section, and wherein the first and second step sections have the same geometry.

7. The retaining element according to claim 1, wherein the hinge section has a material thickness of 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

8. A side window for a vehicle, having a first surface, a second surface opposite thereto, and a lower edge, and having at least one retaining element attached in the region of the lower edge according to claim 1, wherein, by means of an adhesive, the first contact section is secured to the first surface and the second contact section is secured to the first surface.

9. The side window according to claim 8, wherein the thickness of the adhesive is from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

10. The side window according to claim 8, wherein the adhesive has a modulus of elasticity of at least 20 MPa.

11. A method for producing a side window having a retaining element for a vehicle, comprising: providing a retaining element according to claim 1 and a side window having a first surface, a second surface opposite thereto, and a lower edge, applying an adhesive to the contact sections of the retaining element in the open state, and closing the retaining element around a region of the lower edge of the side window, wherein the first contact section is connected to the first surface and the second contact section is connected to the second surface via the adhesive.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the adhesive is applied only to a central region of the surfaces of the contact sections to be connected to the side window and has a distance from the side edges of the contact sections of at least 2 mm.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a second adhesive is applied between the adhesive and the side edges of the contact sections, which second adhesive is suitable for temporary stabilization of the retaining element on the side window, until the adhesive is cured.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the adhesive has a curing time of less than 10 min, and wherein no measures for temporary positional stabilization during the curing of the adhesive are taken.

15. A method comprising utilizing a side window according to claim 8 as an openable side window of a motor vehicle.

16. The retaining element according to claim 7, wherein the hinge section has a material thickness of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm.

17. The side window according to claim 9, wherein the thickness of the adhesive is from 2 mm to 4 mm.

18. The side window according to claim 10, wherein the modulus of elasticity is from 400 MPa to 600 MPa.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the distance from the side edges of the contact sections is from 2 mm to 10 mm.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the motor vehicle is a passenger car.

Description

[0046] In the following, the invention is explained in detail with reference to drawings and exemplary embodiments. The drawings are a schematic representation and not to scale. The drawings in no way restrict the invention.

[0047] They depict:

[0048] FIG. 1 a plan view of a side window with two generic retaining elements,

[0049] FIG. 2 a cross-section through a prior art retaining element,

[0050] FIG. 3 a perspective view of an embodiment of the retaining element according to the invention in the open state,

[0051] FIG. 4 the retaining element of FIG. 3 during closing and attachment to the side window,

[0052] FIG. 5 the retaining element of FIG. 3 attached to the side window,

[0053] FIG. 6 a cross-section through an embodiment of the retaining element according to the invention in an open state,

[0054] FIG. 7 a cross-section through two embodiments of the retaining element according to the invention in a closed state, and

[0055] FIG. 8 a flow chart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0056] FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of a generic side window I, which is intended as an openable side window for the front side window of a passenger car. Two retaining elements 1, which are intended for connecting to a raising mechanism within the vehicle door, are attached in the region of the lower edge U of the side window. For this, the retaining elements 1 have passages 8 to which the raising mechanism can be secured.

[0057] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-section through a side window I with a prior art retaining element 1. The retaining element 1 has an essentially Y-shaped cross-section. The retaining element 1 comprises two contact sections 2.1, 2.2, which are opposite one another and which are glued to the two surfaces Ia, Ib in the region of the lower edge U of the side window I. The retaining element 1 thus surrounds a region of the lower edge U and a region of the surfaces Ia, Ib adjacent thereto. A securing section 3 that is positioned below the side window I and is directed toward the lower edge U connects to the contact sections 2.1, 2.2. The securing section 3 has a passage 8 for connecting to the raising mechanism.

[0058] In contrast, FIG. 3 depicts a hinged retaining element 1 according to the invention in the open or unfolded state. The retaining element 1 has a first contact section 2.1, to which a first securing section 3.1 is connected via a first step section 5.1. The first contact section 2.1, the first step section 5.1, and the first securing section 3.1 are rigidly connected to one another. The retaining element 1 also has a second contact section 2.2, to which a second securing section 3.2 is connected via a second step section 5.2. The step sections 5.1, 5.2 cause a lateral offset between the respective associated contact section 2.1, 2.2 and the securing section 3.1, 3.2 such that the contact section and the securing section are not in the same plane. The first rigid part of the retaining element 1, consisting of a first contact section 2.1, a first step section 5.1, and a first securing section 3.1, and the second rigid part of the retaining element 1, consisting of a second contact section 2.2, a second step section 5.2, and a second securing section 3.2, are mirror symmetrical to one another. In principle, they result from a prior art retaining element if its securing section were divided in two in the longitudinal direction. Those side edges of the two securing section 3.1, 3.2 that face away from the respective associated step section 5.1, 5.2 with the contact section 2.1, 2.2 are connected to one another via a hinge section 4. The hinge section 4 is bendable and makes it possible for the two parts of the retaining element 1 to be pivoted relative to one another, as a result of which the retaining element 1 can be opened and closed.

[0059] The retaining element 1 is made in one piece from glass-fiber-reinforced polyamide 66. The contact section 2.1, 2.2, the securing sections 3.1, 3.2, and the step sections 5.1, 5.2 have a thickness D (material thickness) of 3 mm. In contrast, the hinge section 4 is considerably thinner with a thickness D of 0.25 mm. Due to the different material thicknesses, the hinge section 4 is bendable, whereas the rest of the retaining element 1 is rigid.

[0060] The width B of the retaining element 1 is, for example, 80 mm. The length L of the contact sections 2.1, 2.2 is, for example, 30 mm. The length L of the securing sections 3.1, 3.2 is, for example, 50 mm.

[0061] Each securing section 3.1, 3.2 has a hole 7.1, 7.2. The holes 7.1, 7.2 are circular and their centers are arranged at the same point in the respective securing section 3.1, 3.2. Thus, in the closed state of the retaining element 1, the holes 7.1, 7.2 coincide concentrically, yielding a passage through the retaining element for securing the raising mechanism.

[0062] The hole 7.1 of the first securing section 3.1 has a diameter of 10 mm and is surrounded by a guide element 6. The hole 7.2 of the second securing section 3.2 is somewhat larger with a diameter of 10.4 mm. When the retaining element 1 is folded together, the guide element 6 is inserted into the hole 7.2, as a result of which the two securing sections 3.1, 3.2 are latched to one another.

[0063] A layer of an adhesive 9 is applied to the adhesive surfaces of the contact sections 2.1, 2.2 in each case. The adhesive is, for example, DOW Betaforce 9050S with a modulus of elasticity of 400 MPa, elongation at break of 80%, tensile strength of 15 MPa, and pot life of 6 min. The thickness of the adhesive layers before joining is, for example, 4 mm. The adhesive 9 is in each case applied only in a central region of the adhesive surfaces such that a 5-mm-wide circumferential edge region of the adhesive surfaces remains free. When bonding the retaining element 1, the adhesive can be distributed over this free region such that it does not escape from the intermediate spaces between the side window and the contact sections 2.1, 2.2.

[0064] FIG. 4 depicts how the retaining element 1 of FIG. 3 is mounted on the side window I. The retaining element 1, which was provided with the adhesive 9 in the open state, is folded together around the lower edge U of the side window I, i.e., closed. The side window I is, for example, implemented as single-pane safety glass (ESG) made of 3.85-mm-thick soda lime glass. For the sake of simplicity, the side window I is depicted flat in the figure; however, in reality, it has a curvature as is usual for passenger car windows.

[0065] FIG. 5 depicts the retaining element 1 of FIGS. 3 and 4 completely assembled on the side window I. The contact sections 2.1, 2.2 adhere to the surfaces Ia, Ib of the side window I via the adhesive 9. The guide element 6 is arranged within the hole 7.2 and latches the two securing sections 3.1, 3.2 to one another.

[0066] In the figure, arrows indicate the dimensions of the width B and the length L in the context of the invention.

[0067] FIG. 6 depicts a cross-section through a retaining element 1 according to the invention in the open state with the first contact section 2.1, the first step section 5.1, the first securing section 3.1, the hinge section 4, the second contact section 2.2, the second step section 5.2, and the second securing section 3.2. In addition, the dimension of the thickness D (material thickness) in the context of the invention is depicted.

[0068] FIG. 7 depicts a cross-section through two retaining elements 1 according to the invention with different guide elements 6. In the case of the retaining element 1 of FIG. 6a, the guide element 6 is designed as a mandrel that extends into the hole 7.2 of the opposite securing section 3.2. The mandrel, in the context of the invention, is an elevation, preferably with a constant width or tapering, which is suitable for insertion into a complementary hole, but which does not have elements that actively prevent its release from the hole. In contrast, in the case of the retaining element 1 of FIG. 6b, the guide element 6 is implemented as a latching hook. It is formed with a barb at its end that counteracts release from the hole.

[0069] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the guide element 6, whether designed as a mandrel or as a latching hook, can completely surround the hole 7.1 of the first securing section 3.1. However, alternatively, a plurality of mandrels or latching hooks can be distributed around the hole 7.1.

[0070] FIG. 8 depicts a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for producing a side window according to the invention with a retaining element.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0071] (1) retaining element for a side window of a vehicle [0072] (2.1) first contact section of the retaining element 1 [0073] (2.2) second contact section of the retaining element 1 [0074] (3.1) first securing section of the retaining element 1 [0075] (3.2) second securing section of the retaining element 1 [0076] (4) hinge section of the retaining element 1 [0077] (5.1) first step section of the retaining element 1 [0078] (5.2) second step section of the retaining element 1 [0079] (6) guide element [0080] (7.1) hole in the first securing section 3.1 [0081] (7.2) hole in the second securing section 3.2 [0082] (8) passage through the securing sections 3.1, 3.2 [0083] (9) adhesive [0084] I side window of a vehicle [0085] Ia first surface of the side window I [0086] Ib second surface of the side window I [0087] (O) upper edge of the side window I [0088] (U) lower edge of the side window I [0089] (V) front edge of the side window I [0090] (H) rear edge of the side window I [0091] (1) retaining element according to the prior art [0092] (2.1) first contact section of the retaining element 1 [0093] (2.2) second contact section of the retaining element 1 [0094] (3) securing section of the retaining element 1 [0095] (8) passage through the securing section 3 [0096] (L) length/height [0097] (B) width [0098] (D) thickness/material thickness