Glazing with antenna panel and method for manufacturing such glazing

Abstract

A vehicle glazing and a method for manufacturing the glazing (1), the glazing comprising a glass element (2), a shaped gasket portion (3) and an antenna plate (4), wherein the shaped gasket portion is fixed to at least one edge of the glass element (2) via an outer surface (30) of the shaped gasket portion (3) which is surface-continuous (F1) with an outer surface (20) of the glass element (2), the antenna plate (4) having a fixing portion (45) integrated into the shaped gasket portion (3) and an outer portion (46) extending outside the shaped gasket portion (3), and the outer surface (40) of the antenna plate (4) being surface-continuous (F2) with the outer surface (30) of the shaped gasket portion (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle glazing, and in particular a sunroof glazing, comprising a glass element, a profiled gasket portion and an antenna panel, and a method for producing such a glazing.

[0002] The glass element has an outer face for facing the exterior, side faces, and an inner face for facing the interior.

[0003] The profiled gasket portion has an outer surface for facing the outer space and an inner surface for facing the inner space, and the profiled gasket portion is fixed to at least one edge of the glass element by the outer surface of the profiled gasket portion being surface-continuous with the outer surface of the glass element.

[0004] The antenna board has an outer surface for facing the outer space and an inner surface for facing the inner space, and has a fixing portion integrated into the molded gasket portion and an outer portion extending out of the molded gasket portion. Background Art

[0005] Such a glazing is known in the prior art from patent application DE 10 2007 012 486.

[0006] When this structure is viewed in cross section, the angle between the antenna plate and the formed spacer is acute at the location where the antenna plate penetrates the formed spacer, and a gap exists between the formed spacer and the antenna plate.

[0007] This known construction is unsatisfactory because dirt may remain at the location where the antenna board penetrates the profiled spacer portion.

[0008] Additionally, sharp angles can cause sound waves to be emitted when the vehicle is moving. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Technical issues

[0010] The present invention aims to propose a solution that facilitates the maintenance of the glass windows and the maintenance of the vehicle.

[0011] Furthermore, the proposed solution improves penetration in the air and reduces the aerodynamic noise of the original construction.

[0012] Solutions to technical problems

[0013] The invention is based on the surprising finding that a double flush (or "double flush" in English) can be achieved, i.e., simultaneous flushing of the molded gasket portion with the glass element and simultaneous flushing of the antenna plate with the gasket portion, even though the glass element and the antenna plate are two relatively large components with different manufacturing tolerances and different expansion coefficients.

[0014] Furthermore, a depression can be formed in the outer face of the profiled gasket portion, the shape of which is suitable for draining water, dirt and for reducing aerodynamic noise. Thus, a depression can be formed in the outer face of the profiled gasket portion between two flush areas, the corners of which are rounded.

[0015] Therefore, the present invention relates to a vehicle glass window. Such a vehicle glass window, in particular a sunroof glass window, comprises:

[0016] - a glass element having an outer face intended to face the exterior, a side face and an inner face intended to face the interior,

[0017] a profiled gasket portion having an outer face for facing the outer space and an inner face for facing the inner space, the profiled gasket portion being fixed to at least one edge of the glazing element by means of the outer face of the profiled gasket portion being surface-continuous with the outer face of the glazing element,

[0018] -An antenna board having an external surface facing the external space and an internal surface facing the internal space, and having a fixed portion integrated into the molded gasket portion and an external portion extending beyond the molded gasket portion, the notable feature of this glass window being that the external surface of the antenna board is surface-continuous with the external surface of the molded gasket portion.

[0019] For the purposes of this invention, the term "surface continuity" or "flush" means that two surfaces appear continuous with one another when viewed from the outside. In practice, due to manufacturing tolerances, height differences of up to 1 mm can be measured. Although desirable, in practice, a value of 0.0 mm cannot be achieved 100% of the time at two flush points on a glazing unit; this is well known to those skilled in the art.

[0020] When viewed in cross section, the outer surface of the molded gasket portion may be continuous with the outer surface of the glass element and the outer surface of the antenna board on the same surface (same straight line or same curve).

[0021] The outer face of the profiled gasket portion may have a boss, which is located between the glass element and the outer portion of the antenna plate to facilitate the manufacture of the glass window; the boss preferably has a height of at most 1 mm to facilitate the drainage of water, dirt and reduce aerodynamic noise.

[0022] The outer surface of the profiled gasket portion may have a depression facing the interior space and located between the glass element and the outer portion of the antenna panel to allow drainage of water and dirt and reduce aerodynamic noise. The depression preferably has rounded corners to facilitate drainage of water and dirt and reduce aerodynamic noise. The depression may be closer to the outer portion of the antenna panel than the glass element.

[0023] In order to facilitate the integration of the fixed part of the antenna board into the interior of the molded gasket portion, it can be set that the fixed part of the antenna board actually extends opposite to the side of the glass element; it can be set that the fixed part of the antenna board does not include a part that is roughly oriented parallel to the inner surface of the glass element; it can be set that the fixed part of the antenna board does not extend opposite to the inner surface of the glass element.

[0024] The fixing portion has at least one, and preferably several, holes to enhance the mechanical anchoring of the fixing portion in the profiled gasket portion.

[0025] The invention further relates to a method for producing a vehicle glazing, and in particular a sunroof glazing, and in particular a glazing according to the invention, comprising:

[0026] - a glass element having an outer face intended to face the exterior, a side face and an inner face intended to face the interior,

[0027] a profiled gasket portion having an outer face for facing the outer space and an inner face for facing the inner space, the profiled gasket portion being fixed to at least one edge of the glazing element by means of the outer face of the profiled gasket portion being surface-continuous with the outer face of the glazing element,

[0028] an antenna plate having an outer face for facing the outer space and an inner face facing the inner space, and having a fixing portion integrated into the profiled gasket portion and an outer portion extending outside the profiled gasket portion,

[0029] The method includes a molding step, wherein the glass element is located in an encapsulation mold, the encapsulation mold having a molding cavity corresponding to the shape of the molded gasket portion. The method is notable in that, in the molding step, at least a portion of the mold has a molded external surface, which simultaneously realizes the external surface of the molded gasket portion being surface-continuous with the external surface of the glass element and the external surface of the molded gasket portion being surface-continuous with the external surface of the antenna board.

[0030] The moulding surface may be unitary, ie formed in one piece.

[0031] The molding surface may be two contiguous portions with a divider located at the point of contact with the outer surface of the contoured gasket portion.

[0032] The portion of the molded surface in contact with the outer surface of the glass element can be made of metal or a metal alloy, and the portion of the molded surface in contact with the outer surface of the antenna board can be made of a material with a Shore A hardness between 45 and 90, or even between 55 and 85.

[0033] The partition is preferably located in a recess towards the interior space and between the glass element and the outer portion, so that, if necessary, the impression of the partition on the outer face of the profiled gasket portion is more unnoticeable.

[0034] Advantages of the invention Due to the double flush, there is double surface continuity, which prevents dirt from being trapped while improving aesthetics, air penetration and reducing aerodynamic noise.

[0035] Thanks to the rounded recesses, water and dirt are properly drained away and minimal noise is generated when the vehicle is moving.

[0036] Advantageously, the method according to the invention allows a simple, reliable and precise adaptation of the moulding cavity profile to the various curve variations necessarily present in a series of identical curved glazings (same overall curvature to enclose the same window).

[0037] Advantageously, the invention can be applied to peripheral contours, that is to say to be implemented over the entire circumference of the glass. Such contours are particularly difficult to produce.

[0038] Furthermore, the invention advantageously allows the use of a mold having a single molding cavity for the entire outline of the glass element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of an antenna for implementing the present invention.

[0040] Figure 2 It is a partial cross-sectional view of a first embodiment variant of a mold for integrating an antenna according to the present invention.

[0041] Figure 3 It is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment variant of a mold for integrating an antenna according to the present invention.

[0042] Figure 4 It is a partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment variant of a mold for integrating an antenna according to the present invention.

[0043] Figure 5 It is a partial cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment variant of a mold for integrating an antenna according to the present invention.

[0044] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a glass window according to the present invention.

[0045] Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a glass window according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] A vehicle window 1 is composed of at least one glass element 2 , a profiled gasket portion 3 and an antenna plate 4 .

[0047] The glazing 1 is used to enclose a window, in particular a window of a vehicle sunroof, by forming a partition between an exterior space E outside the vehicle and an interior space I inside the vehicle. The glazing element 2 thus has an exterior face 20 facing the exterior space E, an interior face 22 facing the interior space I, and a peripheral side face 21 located between these two faces.

[0048] The glazing element 2 can be monolithic, i.e., made of a single sheet, or composite, i.e., made of several sheets with at least one layer of adhesive interposed between them, as in the case of laminated glazing, or with at least one interlayer space between them, as in the case of multiple glazing (double glazing, triple glazing, etc.). The sheets can be inorganic, in particular glass, or organic, in particular plastic.

[0049] The profiled gasket part 3 has an outer face 30 for facing the outer space E and an inner face 32 for facing the inner space I. The profiled gasket part 3 is fixed simultaneously to the edge of the glass element 2 and to the edge of the antenna plate 4 .

[0050] The antenna board 4 has an outer face 40 for facing the exterior space E and an inner face 42 for facing the interior space. The antenna board 4 has two parts: a fixing part 45 that is integrated into the molded gasket part 3 (it is molded into this molded gasket part) and an outer part 46 that extends outside the molded gasket part 3 and can connect the electronic component 5 and the protective cover 6.

[0051] In the case of glazing units for vehicles, the glazing units usually have a decorative strip, not shown here, at least partially along their periphery. This decorative strip is usually formed by enamel deposition on the inner face of the glazing unit or on the interlayer face of a composite glazing unit, but can also be formed by partial and / or peripheral coloring of the sheet material used, in particular a sheet of organic material.

[0052] like Figures 2 to 5As can be seen from the transverse cross-sectional view of , the molded gasket portion 3 is manufactured by implementing a manufacturing method known as "encapsulation", since the method comprises a step of molding the molded portion in a molding device 10 comprising a mold, the mold comprising at least one mold fixed part 11 and at least one mold movable part 12 movable relative to the mold fixed part, or even a plurality of mold movable parts 12, 12', during the molding step, said mold parts cooperate with the glass element 2 and the antenna plate 4 in the mold closed state to form a molding cavity having a cross-section in the shape of the molded gasket portion 3.

[0053] The molding apparatus 10 also includes means for opening and closing the mold, and means for applying pressure to the mold when injecting the material forming the molded gasket portion into the molding cavity; these means are not shown here.

[0054] To produce the profiled gasket portion by molding, the glass element 1 is positioned in a mold part, here the lower mold fixed part 11, and then the upper mold movable part 12, 12' is positioned onto the mold fixed part 11 to form the molding in the space enclosed between the two mold parts.

[0055] The edge of the glass element thus penetrates into the moulding cavity, so that a gasket portion can be moulded on the periphery of the glass element 2 .

[0056] The movement for opening and closing the mould, ie the movement of the movable mould part 12, 12' relative to the fixed mould part 11, is here a vertical movement, but it can also be horizontal or in any other direction, possibly curved.

[0057] The plastic material constituting the molded gasket portion is injected into the molding cavity through at least one injection port (not shown).

[0058] Since the glass element 2 is not flat but curved (although this is not visible in these figures), there is the problem of adapting the glass element 2 in the mould for the same series of glazings. In fact, the technology that makes it possible to produce curved glass elements, and in particular the technology for bending inorganic glass sheets, does not guarantee absolute reproducibility of the curve of one glass element for another in the same series: there are always manufacturing tolerances, which in the best case are around 1.0 mm, sometimes even 1.5 mm, depending on the size of the glass element.

[0059] A suction system is located in the fixed part of the mould; this system creates a negative pressure between the two gaskets during the injection of the plastic material, allowing the glass element to be held in place in the mould.

[0060] like Figures 2 to 5 It can be seen that when the mold is closed, the outline of the molding cavity is determined by the following parts, at its lower part:

[0061] - a portion of the inner face of the fixed part 11 of the mould, which forms the inner face 32 of the profiled gasket portion,

[0062] - through a portion of the inner face 42 of the antenna plate, and

[0063] - through a side face 21 of the glass element and a portion of the periphery of the inner face 22 of the glass element,

[0064] And in its upper part:

[0065] - a portion of the inner face of one or more movable parts 12, 12' of the mould, which is used to form the outer face 30 of the profiled gasket portion,

[0066] - through a portion of the outer face 40 of the antenna panel, and

[0067] - through a portion of the periphery of the outer face 20 of the glass element.

[0068] The mold cavity further comprises a fixing portion 45 for integration into the molded gasket portion 3. Preferably, this portion does not touch the wall of the mold cavity so as to fill the mold cavity. It therefore has an end 48 that is fully integrated into the molded gasket portion 3.

[0069] Therefore, in Figures 2 to 5 In a variant embodiment, the method includes a molding step, wherein the glass element 2 is located in an encapsulation mold 10, the encapsulation mold 10 having a molding cavity corresponding to the shape of the molded gasket portion 3, and during this molding step, one or more movable mold parts 12, 12' have a molded outer surface 120, which forms an outer surface 30 of the molded gasket portion 3 that is simultaneously in surface continuity F1 with the outer surface 20 of the glass element 2 and in surface continuity F2 with the outer surface 40 of the antenna board 4.

[0070] This thus achieves double surface continuity or double flushing.

[0071] During the injection of the material into the molding cavity, the mold fixing portion 11 directly supports the glass element 2 and indirectly supports the antenna board 4 through the spacer 101 .

[0072] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 In FIG. 1 , the molding surface 120 is continuous in one piece; therefore, it is unique to the encapsulation mold 10 .

[0073] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the movable mold part 12 rests directly on the glass element 2 and the antenna plate 4 .

[0074] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment, the movable part 12 of the mold is indirectly pressed against the antenna board 4 through the gasket 102.

[0075] Each gasket 101 , 102 may be of the type described in international patent application No. WO 2018 / 002502.

[0076] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment of the present invention, the molding surface 120 is not continuous but in two adjacent parts, with a partition 125 located between the two surface continuations F1 and F2 at the point of contact with the outer face 30 of the molded gasket portion 3. The partition 125 is located at least 3 mm from each of the surface continuations F1 and F2, so as to limit the risk of defects at the location of these surface continuations F1 and F2.

[0077] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In FIG. 1 , the movable mold part 12 rests directly on the glass element 2 , while the movable mold part 12 ′ rests directly on the antenna plate 4 .

[0078] The portion of the molded surface 120 that is in contact with the outer surface 20 of the glass element 2 is made of metal or a metal alloy (e.g., steel), while the portion of the molded surface 120 that is in contact with the outer surface 40 of the antenna board 4 is made of a material having a Shore A hardness between 45 and 90, or even between 55 and 85; for example, it can be made of Hytrel, which is a registered trademark of DuPont.

[0079] exist Figure 5 In the embodiment, the outer surface 30 of the molded gasket portion 3 has a recess 35 facing the inner space I and is located between the glass element 2 and the outer surface 46, and the partition 125 is located in the recess 35, preferably at the bottom of the recess.

[0080] Figure 6 and Figure 7 The glazing 1 obtained by implementing the method according to the invention is shown. The outer face 30 of the profiled gasket portion 3 is simultaneously in surface continuity F1 with the outer face 20 of the glass element 2 and in surface continuity F2 with the outer face 40 of the antenna plate 4 .

[0081] The outer portion 46 is a plate having an edge which is positioned opposite the side 21 of the glass element 2 with the material of the profiled gasket portion 3 sandwiched therebetween.

[0082] The fixing portion 45 projects from the outer portion 46 at an angle α, which is preferably greater than 90° and, in this case, 110°. It extends into the interior of the profiled gasket portion 3 and is completely integrated therein. It has a hole 47 through which the material of the profiled gasket portion 3 passes during the molding step. This hole 47 is thus filled with the material of the profiled gasket portion 3 and enhances the securement of the fixing portion 45 in the profiled gasket portion 3.

[0083] exist Figure 6 In the embodiment, the outer surface 30 of the molded gasket portion 3 is flat; this embodiment corresponds to the embodiment of Figures 2 to 4 A glass window obtained by one of the variations of .

[0084] exist Figure 7 In the embodiment, the outer surface 30 of the molded gasket portion 3 has a recess 35 facing the inner space I and located between the glass element 2 and the outer portion 46 to drain water and dirt. The edges and bottom of the recess 35 are not sharp, but rounded to facilitate the drainage of water and dirt. This corresponds to the embodiment of Figure 5 The glass window obtained by the modification.

Claims

1. A glass window (1) for a vehicle, comprising: a glass element (2) having an outer face (20) for facing the exterior space (E), a side face (21) and an inner face (22) for facing the interior space (I), a profiled gasket portion (3) having an outer face (30) for facing the outer space (E) and an inner face (32) for facing the inner space (I), the profiled gasket portion (3) being fixed to at least one edge of the glass element (2) with the outer face (30) of the profiled gasket portion (3) being in surface continuity (F1) with the outer face (20) of the glass element (2), - an antenna plate (4) having an outer face (40) facing the outer space (E) and an inner face (42) facing the inner space (I), and having a fixing portion (45) integrated into the profiled gasket portion (3) and an outer portion (46) extending outside the profiled gasket portion (3), It is characterized in that the outer surface (40) of the antenna plate (4) and the outer surface (30) of the molded gasket part (3) are surface-continuous (F2).

2. The glazing (1) according to claim 1, wherein The outer surface (30) of the profiled gasket portion (3) has a recess (35) facing the inner space (I) and is located between the glass element (2) and the outer portion (46).

3. The glazing (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The fixing portion (45) has at least one hole (47).

4. The glazing (1) according to claim 1, wherein The glazing is a skylight glazing.

5. The glazing (1) according to claim 3, wherein The fixing portion (45) has several holes (47).

6. The glazing (1) according to claim 2, wherein The recess (35) has rounded corners.

7. A method for manufacturing a glazing (1) for a vehicle, in particular a glazing (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the glazing (1) comprising: a glass element (2) having an outer face (20) for facing the exterior space (E), a side face (21) and an inner face (22) for facing the interior space (I), a profiled gasket portion (3) having an outer face (30) for facing the outer space (E) and an inner face (32) for facing the inner space (I), the profiled gasket portion (3) being fixed to at least one edge of the glass element (2) with the outer face (30) of the profiled gasket portion (3) being in surface continuity (F1) with the outer face (20) of the glass element (2), - an antenna plate (4) having an outer face (40) facing the outer space (E) and an inner face (42) facing the inner space (I), and having a fixing portion (45) integrated into the profiled gasket portion (3) and an outer portion (46) extending outside the profiled gasket portion (3), The method comprises a molding step, wherein the glass element (2) is located in an encapsulation mold (10), the encapsulation mold (10) having a molding cavity corresponding to the shape of the molded gasket portion (3), It is characterized in that during the molding step, at least a portion (12, 12') of the mold has a molded outer surface (120), which simultaneously realizes the outer surface (30) of the molded gasket part (3) being surface continuous (F1) with the outer surface (20) of the glass element (2), and the outer surface (30) of the molded gasket part (3) being surface continuous (F2) with the outer surface (40) of the antenna board (4).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The molded exterior face (120) is unitary.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The molded outer face (120) is in two contiguous parts with a divider (125) located at the contact with the outer face (30) of the profiled gasket portion (3).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The portion of the molded outer surface (120) in contact with the outer surface (20) of the glass element (2) is made of metal or a metal alloy, and the portion of the molded outer surface (120) in contact with the outer surface (40) of the antenna board (4) is made of a material with a Shore A hardness between 45 and 90.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The partition (125) is located in the recess (35) facing the inner space (I).

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The portion of the molded outer surface (120) that contacts the outer surface (40) of the antenna board (4) is made of a material having a Shore A hardness between 55 and 85.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The glazing is a skylight glazing.

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