STRUCTURE OF A QUADRANT COVER

Abstract

A vehicle quadrant cover structure includes an A-pillar positioned flush with a windshield, a quadrant cover adjacent to the A-pillar and attached to a front door, and a rain gutter positioned on the quadrant cover. The rain gutter includes a first rain gutter positioned adjacent to the A-pillar and a second rain gutter positioned spaced apart from the A-pillar.

Description

BACKGROUND(a) Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a structure of a quadrant cover, and more particularly, to a structure of a quadrant cover for preventing rainwater or washer fluid from flowing onto a front door of a vehicle in which there is no step difference between a windshield and an A-pillar. (b) State of the art

[0002] A quadrant cover is a component mounted on the front door side of a vehicle and serves to enhance the interior aesthetic appearance of the vehicle by covering the area where a side view mirror and a door panel frame interface. One side of the quadrant cover is coupled to the door panel frame. The other side of the quadrant cover is connected to a door frame molding and the like and fixed to the front door.

[0003] The door frame molding is designed to have various curved shapes. If the door frame molding is curved, a method for pre-assembling the door frame molding to the panel frame and subsequently installing the quadrant cover is provided, as described above.

[0004] In addition, a step difference between the windshield and the A-pillar prevents rainwater or washer fluid from flowing onto the front door side.

[0005] Recently, vehicles are being manufactured with a smooth exterior shape without a step difference between the outer surface of a front windshield and an A-pillar. Thus, there is a problem that washer fluid sprayed onto the windshield or rainwater due to airflow during vehicle movement or the like may flow onto the front door in the shape without a step difference, thus blocking or obstructing the view of the side mirror.

[0006] Therefore, in the case of a vehicle without a step difference between the windshield and the A-pillar, it is essential to prevent contamination caused when rainwater or washer fluid flows along a front surface of the vehicle onto the front door. SUMMARY OF REVELATION

[0007] The present disclosure was made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problems. The present disclosure is directed to providing a quadrant cover structure including a rain gutter that prevents liquid from flowing onto a front door of a vehicle that does not have a step difference between the windshield and the front pillar.

[0008] In addition, the present disclosure is directed to providing a quadrant cover structure including line guides of various shapes formed between a plurality of rain gutters.

[0009] The objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the objects described above. Other objects not mentioned can be understood from the following description and are more readily understood by embodiments of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the objects of the present disclosure can be achieved by means described in the claims and combinations thereof.

[0010] To achieve the objects of the present disclosure, a structure of a quadrant cover includes the following configuration.

[0011] The present disclosure relates to a quadrant cover structure and provides the quadrant cover structure including an A-pillar of a vehicle positioned without a step difference from a windshield. The structure, in one embodiment, includes a quadrant cover adjacent to the A-pillar and attached to a front door. The structure also includes a channel member positioned on the quadrant cover. The channel member includes a first channel positioned adjacent to the A-pillar and a second channel positioned to be spaced apart from the A-pillar.

[0012] In addition, the structure of the quadrant cover may further comprise a line or surface contour of an outer surface positioned between the first groove and the second groove.

[0013] In addition, the line guidance or contoured surface may be configured to have a height change of 5 mm to 10 mm in the width direction of the vehicle across the quadrant coverage.

[0014] In addition, the line or surface contour may be configured to protrude so that it has a curvature in the width direction of the vehicle across the quadrant coverage.

[0015] In addition, an upper end of the first channel and an upper end of the second channel may be configured to be attached to a door frame molding of the front door.

[0016] In addition, the first groove and the second groove may protrude to have a height of at least 5 mm in the width direction of the vehicle relative to the outer surface of the quadrant cover.

[0017] In addition, the first groove and the second groove may be configured to protrude in the width direction of the vehicle by an amount that decreases in the height direction of the vehicle.

[0018] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a quadrant cover structure comprising an A-pillar of a vehicle positioned without a step difference from a windshield. The structure includes a quadrant cover adjacent to the A-pillar and attached to a front door of the vehicle. The structure also includes a channel member positioned on the quadrant cover. The channel member includes a first channel positioned adjacent to the A-pillar and a second channel positioned to be spaced apart from the A-pillar.

[0019] In addition, the structure of the quadrant cover may further comprise a line guide or surface contour on an outer surface positioned between the first groove and the second groove.

[0020] In addition, the line guide or contour surface can be configured to have a height change of 5 mm to 10 mm in the width direction of a vehicle across the quadrant coverage.

[0021] Additionally, the line pattern or contoured surface may be configured to protrude to exhibit a curvature in the width direction of a vehicle across the quadrant coverage.

[0022] In addition, an upper end of the first channel and an upper end of the second channel may be configured to connect to a door frame strip of the front door.

[0023] In addition, the protruding first groove and the protruding second groove may have a height of at least 5 mm in the width direction of the vehicle relative to the outer surface of the quadrant cover.

[0024] In addition, the first groove and the second groove may be configured to protrude in the width direction of the vehicle by an amount that decreases in the height direction of the vehicle.

[0025] The present disclosure can achieve the following effects by the embodiments described above and by configurations and embodiments described below.

[0026] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to control the liquid flow flowing onto the front door along the A-pillar by providing the structure of the quadrant cover including two rain gutters.

[0027] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the visibility of the side mirror by controlling the liquid flowing onto the front door.

[0028] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the two rain gutters may be attached to the door frame molding to guide the liquid flowing onto the front door. This can prevent rainwater or washer fluid from flowing onto the front door and the door glass, thereby improving the visibility and driving stability of the vehicle.

[0029] It is understood that the terms "vehicle" or "vehicular" or other similar terms, as used herein, generally include motor vehicles. Such motor vehicles may include passenger cars, including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and vessels, aircraft, and the like. Such vehicles may also include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and alternative fuel motor vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As noted herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more power sources, for example, a vehicle powered by both gasoline and electricity.

[0030] The above and other features of the disclosure are discussed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The above and other features of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to specific examples thereof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and are given hereinafter by way of example only and therefore do not limit the present disclosure, and in which: Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a relationship between a windshield and an A-pillar in an installed state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of a quadrant cover with a gutter member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram of the quadrant cover having a line guide with an inclined cross section according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and Fig. 4 is a configuration diagram of the quadrant cover having a line guide with a curved cross section according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and present a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrating the basic principles of the disclosure. The specific design features of the present disclosure as shown and described herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

[0033] In the figures, the same reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present disclosure in the different figures of the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be modified in various forms, and the scope of the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to the following embodiments. The embodiments are intended to more fully describe the present disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0035] In addition, terms such as "...part", "...filler", "...cladding" described in the specification refer to an entity that performs at least one function or operation that can be implemented by a single piece of hardware or a coupling of multiple pieces of hardware.

[0036] Furthermore, the terms used in the specification are used only to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to be limiting of the embodiments. The singular term includes the plural term unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0037] Furthermore, in this description, the names of components may be classified as first, second, etc. to identify and distinguish like components, and the order in the following description is not necessarily limited by such terms. When a component, device, element, or the like of the present disclosure is described as having a purpose or performing an operation, function, or the like, the component, device, or element should be described herein as being "configured" to fulfill that purpose or perform that operation or function.

[0038] In addition, when a direction of an aspect of the configuration is referred to as a "height direction" or a "width direction" in this specification, it can be interpreted to mean a height direction and a left-right width direction of a vehicle based on the normal posture of the vehicle.

[0039] Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping or repetitive descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0040] Fig. 1 illustrates a cross section between a front windshield 10 and an A-pillar 20 installed on a vehicle.

[0041] As shown, the vehicle has a quadrant cover 100 according to the present disclosure positioned and configured in a state in which there is no step difference between the windshield 10 and the A-pillar 20. In other words, as shown in Fig. 1, the outer surfaces of the A-pillar 20 and the windshield 10 are flush with each other without any step or height difference. In this configuration, washer fluid sprayed onto the front windshield 10 or rainwater striking the windshield 10 flows along the A-pillar 20 onto a door glass. Therefore, there is a problem in that the view of a side mirror 50 is obscured, obstructed, or inhibited, i.e., reduced. As a result, the quadrant cover 100 includes a gutter member having a first gutter 110 and a second gutter 120.

[0042] Fig. 2 illustrates the front door of the vehicle equipped with the quadrant cover 100 including the gutter member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] The A-pillars 20 are positioned on either side of the windshield 10, and the front doors are arranged at positions adjacent to the respective A-pillars 20, particularly when the doors are closed. The side mirror 50 is positioned on the front door, particularly when the doors are closed. The side mirror 50 is positioned on the front door, and the front door includes a door frame molding 30 configured to surround the door glass.

[0044] Furthermore, the quadrant cover 100 is installed for a vehicle by being attached to the door frame molding 30. In this case, the quadrant cover 100 may be disposed at a position opposite the A-pillar 20. In one example, one side of the quadrant cover 100 is attached to the door frame molding 30. In other words, the quadrant cover 100 may be disposed in front of the door frame molding 30. Therefore, the quadrant cover 100 may be firmly attached to the door frame molding 30 adjacent to the A-pillar 20.

[0045] Furthermore, a lower end of the quadrant cover 100 may be attached to a panel 40 forming part of the front door. The side mirror and an attached portion of the panel 40 may be covered to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle.

[0046] As described above, the quadrant cover 100 may be configured to surround a front end of the front door glass at a position adjacent to the side view mirror 50, and may be connected to the A-pillar 20 and positioned to protrude or extend rearward by a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, the quadrant cover 100 is positioned to cover at least a portion of the front door glass.

[0047] The quadrant cover 100 and the door frame molding 30 may be configured as a single piece as a unitary structure. Alternatively, the quadrant cover 100 and the door frame molding 30 may be separate components such that an upper end of the quadrant cover 100 is connected to the door frame molding 30.

[0048] A front end of the quadrant cover 100 may be configured to extend in the height direction of the vehicle while opposing the A-pillar 20. The quadrant cover 100 includes the first groove 110 positioned at one end, i.e., along an edge of the quadrant cover 100 opposite the A-pillar 20. The quadrant cover 100 also includes the second groove 120 positioned to be spaced apart from the A-pillar 20. In one example, the first groove 110 is formed along an outer peripheral surface of the front end or edge of the quadrant cover 100. Also in one example, the second groove 120 is disposed along an outer peripheral surface of a rear end or edge of the quadrant cover 100.

[0049] Furthermore, the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 are configured to have a protruding shape in a width direction of the vehicle based on or relative to the outer surface of the quadrant cover 100. In other words, the first and second grooves may protrude outward relative to the outer surface of the quadrant cover 100. Likewise, the quadrant cover 100 is configured so that an upper end of the first groove 110 and an upper end of the second groove 120 approach each other in a height direction of the vehicle. In one example, an uppermost end of the quadrant cover 100, where the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 are closest to each other, may be positioned by attaching it to the door frame molding 30.

[0050] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first groove 110 and / or the second groove 120 are configured to protrude by at least 5 mm based on or relative to the adjacent outer surface of the quadrant cover 100, and may be configured such that the protrusion is relatively reduced, i.e., the protrusion height decreases toward the upper end of the quadrant cover 100. In addition, the first groove 110 and the second groove 120, which are positioned at the uppermost end of the quadrant cover 100 where they are connected to the door frame molding 30, are configured to form surfaces that are substantially parallel to, i.e., flush with, the outer surface of the door frame molding 30 in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0051] A contoured surface 130 configured to conform to the shapes of the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 may be included between the first groove 110 and the second groove 120. The contoured surface 130 may be configured to have a protruding shape in the width direction of the vehicle and may be based on the outer surface of the quadrant cover 100 being convex or protruding between the first and second grooves 110, 120 rather than flat. In other words, the contoured surface may be referred to as a line guide 130 that defines a cross-sectional shape between the first and second grooves 110, 120. The contoured surface or line 130 may be defined to form a peak of the convex or contoured shape of the outer surface between the first and second grooves 110, 120 (shown as a vertical dashed line along the quadrant cover 100 in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shown).

[0052] In one example, a maximum protruding area, i.e., the peak height, of the contoured surface or line guide 130 may be configured to be located or positioned equidistant between the first groove 110 and the second groove 12. The outer surface of the quadrant cover 100 may also be configured such that the protrusion height is reduced toward a position adjacent to each of the first groove 110 and the second groove 120.

[0053] In addition, the shape of the contoured surface or line guide 130 may have an inclined shape from the position adjacent to both the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 and have a peak positioned in the middle, that is, where the two inclined surfaces meet at the vertical dashed line in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Furthermore, as another embodiment, the shape of the contoured surface or line guide 130 may be configured to have a sloped cross-section toward the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 along a central region. The surfaces of the sloped portions or sloped portions may be flat or curved as desired, and the peak may define a sharp-edged peak or a rounded peak.

[0054] The contoured surface or line guide 130 has a shape that protrudes to have a height of 5 mm to 10 mm based on the outer surface of the quadrant cover 100 in the width direction of the vehicle. In one example, a maximum protruding height of a maximum protruding portion of the outer surface of the quadrant cover 100 is configured to be in a range of 5 mm to 10 mm. The height specified herein for the contoured surface or line guide 130 may be taken relative to a planar reference line extending between the first and second grooves 110, 120, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shown.

[0055] Fig. 3 illustrates a structure of the quadrant cover 100 having the contoured surface or line guide 130 with the shape inclined from the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as described above.

[0056] As illustrated, the quadrant cover 100 is positioned adjacent the A-pillar 20 and is installed and positioned by attaching it to the door panel 40 in which the side view mirror 50 is positioned. Furthermore, the quadrant cover 100 is configured to have a narrower width in the longitudinal or rearward direction of the vehicle toward the upper end relative to the lower end attached to the door panel 40. The uppermost end of the quadrant cover 100 is configured to be attachable to the door frame molding 30.

[0057] The contoured surface or line guide 130 is configured in an inclined shape to protrude from the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 in the width direction of the vehicle. A central portion of the contoured surface or line guide 130 (the vertical dashed line) has the greatest protruding height and includes a peak region in which a protruding height in a range of 5 mm to 10 mm is formed.

[0058] Therefore, when a liquid sprayed onto the windshield 10 moves along the A-pillar 20 toward the door glass, the liquid moves upward along the gutter member of the quadrant cover 100. Specifically, the liquid moves upward along the first gutter 110 in the height direction of the vehicle. The liquid moved by the contoured surface or line guide 130 to the second gutter 120 moves toward the uppermost end of the quadrant cover 100 along the second gutter 120. Furthermore, the liquid moving along the first gutter 110 and the second gutter 120 is guided or directed to move toward the upper end and rear of the vehicle along the door frame molding 30, which is positioned to extend from the uppermost end of the quadrant cover 100.

[0059] In one example, a turbulence zone is formed in the door frame molding 30, which is attached to the uppermost ends of the first groove 110 and the second groove 120. This zone is created by airflow when the vehicle is driven or moving. The fluid moving along the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 toward the upper end of the quadrant cover 100 is thus diverted along the upper end of the door glass.

[0060] Fig. 4 illustrates the quadrant cover 100 configured such that the contoured outer surface or line guide 130 has a curved shape according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0061] The quadrant cover 100 is positioned by attaching it to the door panel 40 adjacent to the side view mirror 50 and includes the first groove 110 positioned on the outer peripheral surface or front edge of the quadrant cover 100 adjacent to the A-pillar 20 and the second groove 120 positioned on the outer peripheral surface or rear edge of the quadrant cover 100 spaced from the A-pillar 20.

[0062] In this example, the contoured surface or line guide 130 is positioned between the first groove 110 and the second groove 120, and a cross section of the line guide 130 is formed in a curved shape that protrudes in the width direction of the vehicle based on the outer surface of the quadrant cover 100.

[0063] In one example, the illustrated cross-section of the quadrant cover 100 is described. The first channel 110 and the second channel 120 are configured to have a protruding shape based on the outer surface of the quadrant cover 100. The contoured surface or guide 130 is configured to have a maximum protrusion in the central region in a curved shape between the inner ends of the first channel 110 and the second channel 120, which are opposite each other.

[0064] Therefore, the fluid moving along the windshield 10 and the A-pillar 20 is configured to be drained through the first channel 110, the contoured surface or line guide 130, and the second channel 120 after flowing to the upper portion of the door glass.

[0065] The above detailed description is an illustration of the present disclosure. In addition, the content described above is intended to illustrate and describe various embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments of the present disclosure can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments. In other words, changes or modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the concept of the disclosure disclosed in the description, the scope corresponding to the disclosed content, and / or the scope of ordinary skill in the art or the knowledge of the prior art. The disclosed embodiments describe examples of implementing the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and various changes required in specific application fields and uses of the present disclosure are also possible.Therefore, the above detailed description of the disclosure is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, the appended claims should be interpreted to include other embodiments.

Claims

[1] Structure of a quadrant cover of a vehicle, the structure comprising: an A-pillar positioned and configured without any step difference to an adjacent windshield; a quadrant cover adjacent to the A-pillar and attached to a front door; and a gutter member positioned on the quadrant cover, the gutter member comprising a first gutter positioned adjacent the A-pillar and a second gutter positioned to be spaced from the A-pillar. [2] The structure of claim 1, further comprising a surface contour on an outer surface positioned between the first groove and the second groove. [3] The structure according to claim 2, wherein the surface contour is configured to have a height change of 5 mm to 10 mm in the width direction of a vehicle across the quadrant coverage. [4] The structure of claim 2, wherein the surface contour is configured to protrude to have a curvature in the width direction of a vehicle across the quadrant cover. [5] The structure of claim 1, wherein an upper end of the first channel and an upper end of the second channel are configured to be attached to a door frame molding of the front door. [6] The structure according to claim 1, wherein the first groove and the second groove protrude to have a height of at least 5 mm in the width direction of a vehicle relative to the outer surface of the quadrant cover. [7] The structure according to claim 6, wherein the first groove and the second groove are configured to protrude in the width direction of the vehicle by an amount that decreases in the height direction of the vehicle. [8] Structure of a quadrant cover of a vehicle, the structure comprising: an A-pillar positioned without a step difference to a windshield; a quadrant cover adjacent to the A-pillar and attached to a front door; and a gutter element positioned on the quadrant cover, the gutter element comprising: a first gutter positioned adjacent to the A-pillar and protruding in the width direction of the vehicle, and a second gutter positioned so as to be spaced from the A-pillar and projecting in the width direction of the vehicle. [9] The structure of claim 8, further comprising a surface contour of an outer surface positioned between the first groove and the second groove. [10] The structure of claim 9, wherein the surface contour is configured to have a height change of 5 mm to 10 mm in the width direction of the vehicle across the quadrant cover. [11] The structure of claim 9, wherein the surface contour is configured to protrude to have a convex curvature in the width direction of the vehicle across the quadrant cover. [12] The structure of claim 8, wherein an upper end of the first channel and an upper end of the second channel are configured to be connected to a door frame molding of the front door. [13] The structure according to claim 8, wherein the projecting first groove and the projecting second groove have a height of at least 5 mm in the width direction of the vehicle relative to the outer surface of the quadrant cover. [14] The structure according to claim 13, wherein the first groove and the second groove are configured to protrude in the width direction of the vehicle by an amount that decreases in a height direction of the vehicle.

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