Flush Window Module for a Vehicle and Method for Mounting Same
20220355654 · 2022-11-10
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B60J10/77
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60R13/04
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60J10/79
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60R13/0206
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60J10/78
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B60J10/79
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60R13/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A window module (60) for a vehicle, in particular automobile, comprising: a fixed window (22) comprising an internal face (22c) and an external face (22d), a movable window (14) comprising an internal face (14c) and an external face (14d), edges (14b, 22a) of the windows facing one another and defining a clearance (J) between them, and the external faces (14d, 22d) of the windows being substantially aligned, an elongated guide (26) extending along said edges and attached to the internal face (14c) of the movable window (14), an elongated upright (62) extending along said edges and attached to the internal face (22c) of the fixed window (22), and a trim element (70) fitted and attached to the upright, this trim element comprising at least one member (72) for retaining the guide in a housing (L) of the upright.
Claims
1. A window module (60) for a vehicle, in particular an automobile, comprising: a fixed window (22) comprising an internal face (22c) and an external face (22d), a movable window (14) comprising an internal face (14c) and an external face (14d), edges (14b, 22a) of the windows facing one another and defining a clearance (J) between them, and the external faces (14d, 22d) of the windows being substantially aligned, an elongated guide (26) extending along said edges and attached to the internal face (14c) of the movable window (14), an elongated upright (62) extending along said edges and attached to the internal face (22c) of the fixed window (22), this upright having in cross-section a general U or L shape, one lateral branch (62b) of which extends along and facing said clearance, the upright comprising an internal face (62bb) and an external face (62ba) which at least partly defines a housing (L) extending along said edges and intended to receive at least one part (26b) of the guide, wherein a trim element (70) is fitted and attached to said internal face (62bb) of the upright, this trim element having an elongated shape and extending along the upright, this trim element comprising at least one retaining member (72) which projects from said external face (62ba) of the upright and which comprises a face (72a) for retaining said part of the guide in said housing, in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane (P) which is perpendicular to the internal faces of the windows and which passes through said clearance.
2. The module (60) of claim 1, wherein the trim element (70) comprises a plurality of retaining members (72) distributed along at least one portion of the trim element.
3. The module (60) of claim 1, wherein said at least one retaining member (72) passes through an opening (68) of said upright (62).
4. The module (60) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one retaining member (72) bears on an edge of said upright (62) that extends along the edges of the windows.
5. The module (60) according to claim 1, wherein said trim element (70) comprises at least one hooking tooth (99) on said upright (62).
6. The module (60) according to claim 5, wherein said at least one retaining member (72) comprises a hooking tooth (99), which bears on said external face (62ba) of the upright (62).
7. The module (60) according to claim 1, wherein said retaining face (72a) bears directly on said part (26b) of the guide (26).
8. The module (60) according to claim 7, wherein said at least one member (72) passes through an orifice (30a) of a slide joint (30) engaged at least partly in said housing (L) and itself defining a space (R) for receiving said part (26b) of the guide (26).
9. The module (60) according to claim 1, wherein said retaining face (72a) bears on said part (26b) of the guide (26) by means of a wall of a slide joint (30) engaged at least partly in said housing (L) and itself defining a space (R) for receiving this part of the guide.
10. The module (60) of claim 9, wherein said at least one member (72) is engaged in a groove (94) of the slide joint (30).
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. The module (60) according to claim 1, wherein the slide joint (30) or the upright (62) comprises at least one lip (86) at the level of said clearance and bearing on said edges (14a, 22a) of the windows (14, 22), and/or at least one lip (96) bearing on the internal face (14c) of the movable window (14) and/or on the internal face of the part (26a) of the guide (26).
14. The module (60) according to claim 1, wherein the guide (26) comprises at least one internal leg (64) on which the retaining face (72a) is intended to bear directly or indirectly.
15. (canceled)
16. The module (60) according to claim 1, wherein the upright (62) extends longitudinally beyond the edge (22a) of the fixed window (22) and comprises a part (66) intended to be housed in a casing (10a) of a door (10), this part not being intended to be covered by said trim element.
17. (canceled)
18. The module (60) according to claim 16, wherein said part (66) comprises an external face (62ba) on which are located protruding retaining members (78) configured to cooperate with said part (26b) of the guide (26) and/or a slide joint (30).
19. A vehicle, in particular an automobile, comprising at least one module (60) according to claim 1.
20. A method for mounting a module (60) according to claim 1, wherein it comprises the steps of: a) mounting the movable window (14) next to the fixed window (22), and inserting said part (26b) of the guide (26) into the housing (L) of the upright (62), and b) mounting the trim element (70) on the upright so that the retaining face (72a) of said at least one member (72) engages directly or indirectly with the part of the guide.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein it comprises, between the steps a) and b), a step i) of mounting a slide joint (30) in the housing (L) of the upright (62), the part (26b) of the guide (26) being engaged in a space (R) for receiving the slide joint during the step b).
22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the part (26b) of the guide (26) is inserted by a local elastic deformation of the slide joint (30) during the step i).
23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the upright (62) comprises a part (65) receiving a part of the slide joint (30) and the trim element (70), and another part (66) receiving another part of the slide joint and intended to extend into a casing (10a) of door (10).
24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the trim element (70) is attached to the upright (62) by elastic snap-fit.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0047] The invention will be better understood and other details, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description made by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
[0048]
[0049]
[0050]
[0051]
[0052]
[0053]
[0054]
[0055]
[0056]
[0057]
[0058]
[0059]
[0060]
[0061]
[0062]
[0063]
[0064]
[0065]
[0066]
[0067]
[0068]
[0069]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0070] In the following description and with reference to the drawings, a three-dimensional reference frame is used in which the axis X is horizontal and oriented in the direction of displacement of the vehicle, the axis Y is horizontal and oriented towards the interior of the vehicle, and the axis Z is vertical and oriented upwards. The terms “front” and “rear” refer to the front and rear of the vehicle with respect to the axis X. The terms “interior” and “exterior” refer to the inside and the outside of the vehicle with respect to the axis Y. Finally, the terms “lower” or “bottom” and “exterior” or “upper” refer to the bottom or top of the vehicle with respect to the axis Z.
[0071]
[0072] The rack 11 comprises a lower part or casing 10a and an upper frame 12 defining an opening 13, this upper frame comprising two ascending uprights, respectively rear 12a and front 12b, connected by an upper rail 12c.
[0073] The module 20 comprises a fixed window 22 and a movable window 14.
[0074] The fixed window 22 is mounted in a part, here front, of the opening 13, and is integral with a rising upright 24 extending along a rising edge, here rear 22a, of the fixed window 22 and extending along the opening 13 and below a body belt line in the rack. It therefore extends at least partly into the casing 10a of the rack 11. The fixed window 22 comprises a front ascending edge 22b extending along the front upright 12b. The internal and external faces of the window 22 are designated 22c and 22d respectively.
[0075] The movable window 14 is adapted to close the rest of the opening 13, behind the fixed window 22. The window 14 comprises two rising edges, rear 14a and front 14b respectively, along which guides 25, 26 are attached. Each guide 25, 26 has an elongated shape and is attached by any suitable technique and for example by gluing to an internal face 14c of the window 14. The external face of the window 14 is designated 14d.
[0076] The slide joint 30 is generally inverted U-shaped and comprises two ascending strands, rear 30a and front 30b respectively, connected by an upper strand 30c. The rear strand 30a extends along the rear upright 12a, and the front strand 30b extends along the upright 24. The upper strand 30c extends forward and is connected at its forward end to an additional ascending strand 30d. The extension of the strand 30c extends along the upper edge 22e of the window 22 and a front part of the upper rail 12c. The additional strand 30d extends along the front edge 22b of the fixed window 22 and the front upright 12b.
[0077] A first, rear, external trim element 40 is fitted to the rear strand 30a and attached to the rear upright 12a. A second external front trim element 50 is fitted to the front strand 30b and attached to the upright 24.
[0078] The invention provides a flush window module 60 and a vehicle door 10 comprising such a module. A flush window module 60 in the sense of the invention is a module in which the fixed 22 and movable 14 window have their external faces 22d, 14d which are substantially aligned.
[0079]
[0080] The module 60 is shown in cross-section in
[0081] In addition to the windows 14, 22, the illustrated example of the module 60 comprises: [0082] at least one elongated guide 26 extending along the front ascending edge 14b of the movable window 14, and attached to its internal face 14c, [0083] an elongated upright 62 extending along the rear ascending edge 22a of the fixed window 22, and attached to its internal face 22c.
[0084] The guide 26 can be seen in
[0085] The extension part 26b extends from the side of the fixed window 22 and comprises an external surface 26b1 and a bearing surface 26b2 which is oriented along the axis X toward the rear.
[0086] To facilitate the guiding of the window 14, while facilitating its mounting and optimizing its mass, the guide 26 may comprise legs 64 oriented along the axis Y towards the interior. These legs 64 allow the bearing surface 26b2 to be extended locally towards the interior of the vehicle. These legs 64 are, for example, two in number and are located respectively in the vicinity of the longitudinal ends of the guide 26.
[0087] The upright 62 can be seen in particular in
[0088] The median wall 62c extends perpendicularly to the windows 14, 22, towards the interior of the vehicle. The internal branch 62b extends from the fixed window 22 on the side of the movable window 14, parallel to the internal faces 14c, 22c of the windows. It extends here opposite a part of the internal face 14c of the movable window 14 as well as a clearance J extending between the edges 14b, 22a facing the windows (
[0089] The branch 62b comprises openings 68 for the passage of retaining members 72 carried by a trim element 70. These openings 68 are regularly spaced along the axis Z and are for example four in number (
[0090] The internal branch 62a may comprise an inwardly opening longitudinal groove 74 (
[0091] The lower part 66 of the upright 62 comprises retaining members 78 which project from the external face 62ba of its outer branch 62b. These members 78 are located, for example, in place of the aforementioned openings 68. These members 78 are evenly spaced along the axis Z and are for example four in number (
[0092] This external branch 62a comprises on its internal face 62bb an attachment leg or flange 80 in the interior of the casing 10a of the door 10. The flange 80 is generally L-shaped and is formed in one piece with the upright 62 (
[0093] In a manner known to a person skilled in the art, the manufacture of this type of part by molding may require the use of trays intended to define the molding areas and surfaces of the part. The holes 82 may result from the use of these trays, of which there are eight in the example shown (see
[0094] A first series of trays are intended to be moved in translation along the axis X, through the holes 82 in the median wall 62c. A second series of trays are intended to be moved in translation along the axis Y, through the holes 82 of the external branch 62a.
[0095] As can be seen in
[0096] The joint 30 is mounted in the housing L and itself defines a space R for receiving the guide 26, and in particular its extension part 26b.
[0097] In cross-section, the joint 30 is generally U-shaped and also comprises two branches, respectively internal 84a and external 84b, connected to each other by a median wall 84c.
[0098] The external branch 84b extends over and into the external branch 62a of the upright 62 and is connected at its longitudinal edge located on the side of the movable window 14 to a longitudinal lip 86. This lip 86 occupies at least a part of the clearance J between the edges 14b, 22a facing the windows 14, 22, and bears on these edges to ensure a seal across the clearance J. On the opposite side, the external branch 84b is connected to the median wall 84c which extends along and on the median wall 62c of the upright 62.
[0099] The internal branch 84a extends over and outside the internal branch 62b of the upright 62.
[0100] In the upper part 65 of the upright 62, the external face 84ba of the branch 84b comprises a longitudinal protrusion 88 which is engaged in the groove 74 of the external branch 62a with a view to limiting the displacements of the branch 84b along the axis X.
[0101] In the lower part 66 of the upright 62, the external face 84ba of the branch 84b comprises a groove or notches 90 for receiving lugs 91 of the external branch 62a with a view to limiting the displacements of the branch 84b along the axis X.
[0102] The internal branch 84a of the joint 30 comprises two longitudinal parts, respectively front 92a and rear 92b, connected to each other by a part 92c with a U, C or V cross section. This section is U-shaped in the example shown. The parts 92a, 92b extend over and along the external face 62ba of the internal branch 62b. The U-shaped part 92c protrudes from this face 62ba and defines a longitudinal groove 94 that opens towards the interior. This groove 94 extends along the entire length of the rising strand 30b of the slide joint 30, which can be easily carried out by extrusion for example.
[0103] The internal branch 84a is further connected, on the side opposite the median wall 84c, to one or more sealing lips 96 which bear on the internal face 14c of the movable window 14 and/or on the internal face of the part 26a of the guide 26.
[0104] The trim element 70 can be seen in
[0105] In the illustrated example, the trim element 70 is intended to cover the internal face 62bb of the internal branch 62b as well as the face 62ca of the median wall 62c, which connects this external face 62ba to the internal face 22c of the fixed window 22.
[0106] The trim element 70 is also fitted and attached to the upper part 65 only of the upright 62. The lower portion 66 of this upright 62 is located in the interior of the casing 10a of the door 10 and does not need to receive a part of the trim element 70.
[0107] The trim element 70 is formed in one piece and is shown alone in
[0108] As can be seen in
[0109] The trim element 70 comprises a second hooking tooth 99 at its opposite longitudinal edge. This hooking tooth 99 is engaged in the aforementioned groove 76 of the median wall 62c of the upright 62.
[0110] Finally, the trim element 70 comprises on an external face 70a, i.e. on its surface facing the internal face 62ba of the branch 62b of the upright 62, the projecting retaining members 72 which have the function of cooperating with the guide 26 with a view to holding it in position.
[0111] In the example shown, this cooperation is indirect. The members 72, here four in number, are evenly spaced along the trim element 70 and are generally parallelepipedal in shape. The free end or the top of each of these members 72 may be rounded or beveled. This shape is preferably complementary to that of the groove 94 defined by the U-shaped part 92c of the slide joint 30, as in the example shown.
[0112] The members 72 pass through appropriately shaped and sized openings 68 in the upright 62 and are received in the groove 94 of the slide joint 30. As can be seen in
[0113] In the mounted position, the extension part 26b of the guide 26 is located at a distance D3 from the external face 62ba of the internal branch 62a. This distance is measured between this face 62ba and the free end of the legs 64 of the guide 26. The distance D3 is less than D2 so that the guide 26 can come to bear by its bearing surface 26b2 on the members 72 or at least the U-shaped part 92c of the joint 30 mounted on these members 72. The distance D3 may be less than, equal to or greater than D1.
[0114] Reference is now made to
[0115]
[0116] These teeth 99 are located on the side of the free longitudinal edge of the upright 62, i.e. on the side opposite the retaining faces 72a, and cooperate by bearing with the external face 62ba of the internal branch 62b of the upright 62. These teeth 99 ensure that the trim element 70 is properly attached to the upright 62. Thus, it is possible to maintain larger mounting clearances between the members 72 and the openings 68 of the upright 62, on the one hand, and between the members and the groove 94 of the V-shaped part 92c, on the other hand, thus allowing to facilitate the mounting of these parts.
[0117]
[0118] The alternative embodiment of
[0119] It can be seen in this embodiment that the members 72 do not pass through openings 68 but bear on the free longitudinal edge of the upright 62. The internal branch 62b of the upright 62 has a dimension along the axis X that is shorter than that of the first embodiment. The trim element 70 and in particular its wall 97 has a dimension along the axis X which is greater than that of the branch 62b, and its internal face 70a comprises longitudinal ribs 71 for supporting the slide joint 30, and in particular its part 92b.
[0120] The alternative embodiment of
[0121] The retaining member 72 of the trim element 70 extends through openings 68 in the upright 62 and comprise retaining faces 72a against which the bearing surface 26b2 of the guide 26 can directly bear.
[0122] In another variant of the invention not shown, the trim element 70 could comprise at its longitudinal ends orifices for the passage of screws which would be intended to be hidden by appropriate coverings inside the vehicle. The module 60 according to the invention has many advantages, including: [0123] a better compactness of the tolerances along the axes X and Y of the fixed window 22 and the upright 62, which is thus more aesthetic. [0124] an easy mounting of the slide joint 30 in the door 10, [0125] an easier mounting of the movable window 14 and in particular of its guide 26, the shape of which, with the legs 64, can allow more precise indexing of the window with respect to the door along the axes X and Y, [0126] a locking of the positioning of the joint 30 and of the window 14 via its guide 26, by the mounting of the trim element 70; this locking could be verified by an operator who would hear the sound associated with the snap-fitting of the trim element 70 on the upright 62, [0127] the elimination of the defects in the appearance of the upright 62 due to the fact that it can be completely covered and thus hidden by the trim element 70.