DOOR SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A door system for a vehicle, including a door assembly and lateral roof assembly. The door assembly includes a door frame body, at least a first sealing member and a glazing element. The lateral roof assembly includes a lateral roof portion and at least a second sealing member. The door frame body surrounds at least partially the glazing element. The door frame body is movable between an open and closed position relative to the lateral roof assembly. The glazing element is adjustable between an open and closed position. The first sealing member is arranged between the glazing element and door frame body and seals the glazing element in the closed position of the glazing element. The second sealing member is arranged at the lateral roof portion and receives at least one edge of the glazing element in the closed position of the glazing element and door frame body.

Claims

1. A door system for a vehicle, the door system comprising: a door assembly; and a lateral roof assembly; the door assembly comprising a door frame body, at least a first sealing member and a glazing element; the lateral roof assembly comprising a lateral roof portion and at least a second sealing member; the door frame body surrounding at least partially the glazing element; the door frame body being movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the lateral roof assembly; the glazing element being adjustable between an open position and a closed position; the first sealing member being arranged between the glazing element and the door frame body and configured to seal the glazing element in the closed position of the glazing element; and the second sealing member being arranged at the lateral roof portion and configured to receive at least one edge of the glazing element in the closed position of the glazing element and the door frame body.

2. The door system according to claim 1, the lateral roof assembly further comprising a roof trim member, the roof trim member being arranged at the lateral roof portion, the roof trim member receiving at least partially the second sealing member.

3. The door system according to claim 2, the lateral roof assembly further comprising a fixing means, the fixing means being configured to fix the roof trim member at the lateral roof portion.

4. The door system according to claim 2, the second sealing member being inserted in the roof trim member by means of press fit, interference fit or snap-in fit.

5. The door system according to claim 1, the door assembly further comprising a third sealing member, the third sealing member being arranged at the door frame body and configured to seal between the door frame body and the lateral roof portion in the closed position of the door frame body.

6. The door system according to claim 5, the lateral roof assembly further comprising a fourth sealing member, the fourth sealing member being arranged at the lateral roof portion and configured to seal between the door frame body and the lateral roof portion in the closed position of the door frame body.

7. The door system according to claim 6, the third sealing member and the fourth sealing member being arranged substantially perpendicular to each other in the closed position of the door frame body.

8. The door system according to claim 1, the edge of the glazing element being received by the first sealing member in the closed position of the glazing element and in the closed position of the door frame body being an upper horizontal edge of the glazing element.

9. The door system according to claim 1, the door assembly further comprising at least one run seal member, the run seal member being arranged at the door frame body and configured to receive at least one vertical edge of the glazing element.

10. The door system according to claim 6, the first sealing member, the second sealing member, the third sealing member and/or fourth sealing member comprising a tubular seal element and/or a lip seal element.

11. The door system according to claim 1, the door assembly further comprising a concealing element, the concealing element being arranged to cover the door frame body.

12. A vehicle comprising the door system according to claim 1.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising at least two door assemblies, the first door assembly being a front door assembly and the second door assembly being a rear door assembly, the first glazing element of the first door assembly and the second glazing element of the second door assembly being arranged flush with each other in case of a closed position of the door assemblies and glazing elements.

14. A method for manufacturing a door system, the method comprising: providing a door assembly comprising a door frame body, at least a first sealing member and a glazing element; providing a lateral roof assembly comprising a lateral roof portion and at least a second sealing member; at least partially surrounding the glazing element by the door frame body; arranging the first sealing member between the glazing element and the door frame body; and arranging the second sealing member at the lateral roof portion; the door frame body being movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the lateral roof assembly; the glazing element being adjustable between an open position and a closed position; the first sealing member being configured to seal the glazing element in the closed position of the glazing element; and the second sealing member being configured to receive at least one edge of the glazing element in the closed position of the glazing element and the door frame body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Exemplary aspects will be described in the following with reference to the following drawings.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows schematically and exemplarily an exampleof a vehicle including according to the present disclosure.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows schematically and exemplarily an exampleof a door system according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 300 including a door system 1. The door system 1 includes a door assembly 100 and a lateral roof assembly 200 (see also FIG. 2). The door assembly 100 may be a first (front) door assembly 100′ and/or a second (rear) door assembly 100″.

[0049] A vehicle body of the vehicle 300 includes at least one b-pillar 30 arranged between a first glazing element 12′ of the first door assembly 100′ and a second glazing element 12″ of the second door assembly 100″. The vehicle 300 may include several sensors at its lateral side for monitoring environment, thus, assisting autonomous driving functions of the vehicle 300. Such sensors may be preferably located at the b-pillar 30. A cover member 31 may be configured to house such sensors. The first glazing element 12′, the second glazing element 12″ and the cover member 31 of the b-pillar 30 may be arranged flush or non-flush relative to each other. In case of a flush arrangement, a monitoring range of sensors may not be interfered by any protruding components.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 2, the door assembly 100 includes a door frame body 10 and a glazing element 12. The door frame body 10 may be pivotably connected to the vehicle body of the vehicle 300. The door frame body 10 is, thus, movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the vehicle 300. The door frame body 10 surrounds at least partially the glazing element 12. The door frame body 10 includes a window opening, at which the glazing element 12 may be adjusted between an open position and a closed position.

[0051] The lateral roof assembly 200 includes a lateral roof portion 20 and a roof trim member 22. The lateral roof portion 20 may be the uppermost portion of the vehicle 300 and/or the vehicle body, which extends from a front windshield (now shown) to a rear windshield (now shown) at each lateral side of the vehicle 300 relative to a driving direction of the vehicle 300.

[0052] The roof trim member 22 is mounted at the lateral roof portion 20 via a fixing means 23. The fixing means 23 may include a mechanical means such as screw, rivet or clamp or an adhesive means. The roof trim member 22 is dimensioned to extend at least partially along the lateral roof portion 20 of the vehicle 300.

[0053] The door assembly 100 further includes a first sealing member 11 and the lateral roof assembly 200 further includes a second sealing member 21. The first sealing member 11 is arranged between the glazing element 12 and the door frame body 10 and configured to seal the glazing element 12 in the closed position of the glazing element 12. The first sealing member 11 is particularly formed to prevent the glazing element 12 from falling inwardly to the vehicle cabin and maintain its position.

[0054] The second sealing member 21 is configured to receive at least one edge of the glazing element 12 in the closed position of the glazing element 12 and the door frame body 10. The second sealing member 21 is mounted at the lateral roof portion 20 of the vehicle 300 via the roof trim member 22. The roof trim member 22 receives at least partially the second sealing member 21. In other words, the second sealing member 21 is inserted in the roof trim member 22 by means of press fit, interference fit or snap-in fit. Alternatively, the second sealing member 21 may be directly mounted at the lateral roof portion 20 without the roof trim member 22.

[0055] If the glazing element 12 is raised into the closed position and the door assembly 100 is also in the closed position, an edge of the glazing element 12, preferably an upper edge 13 facing the lateral roof portion 20 is surrounded by the second sealing member 21, which is directly mounted at the lateral roof portion 20 together with the roof trim member 22. Therefore, substantially no gap is visible between the lateral roof portion 20 and the door assembly 100 from outside of the vehicle 300.

[0056] The door assembly 100 further includes a third sealing member 14 and the lateral roof assembly 200 further includes a fourth sealing member 24. The third sealing member 14 is connected to the door frame body 10 to seal between the door frame body 10 and the lateral roof portion 20 of the vehicle 300 in the closed position of the door frame body 10. The fourth sealing member 24 is arranged at the lateral roof portion 20 and configured to seal between the door frame body 10 and the lateral roof portion 20 in the closed position of the door frame body 10.

[0057] In the closed position of the door frame body 10, both of the third sealing member 14 and the fourth sealing member 24 are interposed between the vehicle body, i.e. lateral roof portion 20, and the door frame body 10. Preferably, the third sealing member 14 and the fourth sealing member 24 are arranged along a circumference of the door frame body 10 and/or the lateral roof portion 20. Hence, a direct contact between the door frame body 10 and the vehicle body, both of which may include a metal material having a relative high strength, may be avoided.

[0058] The first sealing member 11, the second sealing member 21, the third sealing member 14 and/or the fourth sealing member 24 may include thermoplastic vulcanizate (or thermoplastic elastomer) (TPV), polymer or copolymer such as polypropylene. The first sealing member 11 includes a lip seal structure. The second sealing member 21 is substantially U-shaped to receive the upper edge 13 of the glazing element 12. The third sealing member 14 and/or the fourth sealing member 24 include a tubular seal element. However, the shape of each sealing member is not limited to the mentioned formed. Hence, the first sealing member 11, the second sealing member 21, third sealing member 14 and/or the fourth sealing member 24 include a tubular seal element and/or a lip seal element.

[0059] The first sealing member 11, the second sealing member 21, the third sealing member 14 and/or fourth sealing member 24 may be dimensioned such that it provides a tight seal between the vehicle body and the door frame body 10 against noise and humidity to provide more comfort in the vehicle cabin. Further, at least the third sealing member 14 and the fourth sealing member 24 are also configured to absorb an impact transferred from outside through the door frame body 10.

[0060] The door assembly 100 further includes a run seal member 16 (see FIG. 1). The run seal member 16 is arranged at the door frame body 10 and configured to receive at least one, preferably both vertical edges of the glazing element 12 in case of the closed position of the glazing element 12. Together with the second sealing member 21, the run seal member 16 may entirely encompass the glazing element 12, if the glazing element 12 is raised into the closed positon and the door frame body 10 is also in the closed position.

[0061] The door assembly 100 further includes a concealing element 15 arranged to cover the door frame body 10. The concealing element 15 is configured to retain the door frame body 10 and/or sealing members and hide them from the outside of the door assembly 100.

[0062] It has to be noted that embodiments of the disclosure are described with reference to aspects. In particular, some of the aspects of the disclosure are described with reference to method type claims whereas other aspects are described with reference to the device type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the following description that, unless otherwise notified, in addition to any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combination between features relating to different aspects is considered to be disclosed with this application. However, all features can be combined providing synergetic effects that are more than the simple summation of the features.

[0063] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The disclosure is not limited to the disclosed examples. Other variations to the disclosed examples can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing a claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.

[0064] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items re-cited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are re-cited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.