Vehicle door unit, method for assembling the unit, and vehicle comprising the unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle door unit, to a method for assembling the unit, and to a vehicle comprising the unit. Said vehicle door unit comprises: an inner door panel, an outer door panel, and at least one reinforcement, one edge of said inner panel being connected to an edge of said outer panel, said outer panel being provided with a handle opening, and said at least one reinforcement being attached to said inner panel between said inner panel and said outer panel; and a handle unit attached to said inner panel and to said at least one reinforcement by means of a plate-shaped support, said support being configured to not be connected to said outer panel and being configured such that an outer end of said handle unit is flush with an outer side of said outer panel by passing through said handle opening.

Description

VEHICLE DOOR ASSEMBLY, METHOD OF ASSEMBLY OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND VEHICLE COMPRISING THE ASSEMBLY FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention claims priority from Chinese application 202210276414.1 filed on March 21, 2022, the contents of which (text, drawings and claims) are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicle manufacturing, and in particular to a vehicle door assembly. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for assembling such a door assembly, and to a vehicle comprising such a door assembly. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Typically, a handle assembly, which allows a vehicle door to be opened from the outside, is mounted to the door structure using a plate-like bracket fixed between an outer door panel and an inner door panel. To maintain the vehicle's aesthetic appearance, the outer end of the handle assembly (the surface of the handle bar facing outwards) is usually designed to be flush with the outer edge of the door panel.

[0004] Fig. 1 represents a schematic view of the outer side of a vehicle door assembly in the prior art. As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle door assembly comprises: an inner door panel 1, an outer door panel 2 (not shown in Fig. 1), a plurality of reinforcements attached to the outer side of the inner door panel 1 (as shown, a first reinforcement 41, a second reinforcement 42 and a third reinforcement 43 connecting the first reinforcement 41 to the second reinforcement 42), and a handle assembly (not shown in the figure) attached to the inner side of the outer door panel 2 by means of a plate-shaped support 3.

[0005] Figures 2A to 2C illustrate the assembly steps of the plate-shaped bracket 3 onto the outer door panel 2 of the vehicle door assembly shown in Fig. 1. First, as shown in Fig. 2A, three threaded studs 5 are glued to specific positions on the inner side of the outer door panel 2; then, the plate-shaped bracket 3 shown in Fig. 2B is provided, the plate-shaped bracket 3 being provided with a handle opening 31 for the exit of the handle bar from the handle assembly, four first holes 32 for fixing the handle assembly, and three second holes 33 for the passage of these threaded studs 5; then, as shown in Fig. 2C, the plate-shaped support 3 with a structural adhesive is glued and screwed to the inner side of the outer door panel 2 by applying the structural adhesive to a plurality of positions 35 of the plate-shaped support 3 adjacent to the second holes 33 and passing each threaded stud 5 through the corresponding second hole 33, and the handle opening 31 of the plate-shaped support 3 is aligned with a handle opening 21 of the outer door panel 2. Furthermore, as shown in Fig.l, a shock absorber adhesive can be arranged between an upper edge position 341 of the plate-shaped support 3 and the first reinforcement 41, and between a lateral edge position 342 of the plate-shaped support 3 and the third reinforcement 43.

[0006] The disadvantage of this method of fixing, in which the plate-shaped support 3 is fixed to the outer door panel 2 using threaded studs 5 and structural glue, is that the outer door panel 2 deforms under the effect of a significant force exerted on the outer door panel 2, due to the high bonding strength of the threaded stud 5 and that of the structural glue used to bond the plate-shaped support 3, which affects the sensory quality of the bodywork. SUBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a vehicle door assembly that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above. Specifically, the outer door panel, which forms part of the vehicle door assembly according to the present invention, cannot be deformed by the mounting of the plate-shaped support, thus ensuring good tactile quality of the bodywork.

[0008] To this end, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle door assembly, comprising: an inner door panel, an outer door panel, and at least one reinforcement, one edge of said inner door panel being connected to that of said outer door panel, said outer door panel being provided with a handle opening, and said at least one reinforcement being fixed to said inner door panel between said inner door panel and said outer door panel; a handle assembly fixed to said inner door panel and to said at least one reinforcement, by means of a plate-shaped support, said plate-shaped support being configured so as not to be connected to said panel exterior of door, and being configured such that an outer end of said handle assembly is flush with an outer side of said exterior door panel by passing through said handle opening.

[0009] According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, said plate-shaped support is provided with a handle opening aligned with said handle opening of the outer panel, said handle assembly is fixed to an inner side of said plate-shaped support, and said plate-shaped support is configured such that the outer end of said handle assembly is flush with the outer side of said outer door panel by passing through said handle opening of the outer panel and said handle opening of the support.

[0010] According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, said plate-shaped support comprises at least one portion for connecting to the inner panel and at least one portion for connecting to the reinforcement, which are adjacent to the edge of the support and respectively fixed to said inner door panel and to said at least one reinforcement.

[0011] According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, said at least one portion of connection to the inner panel and said at least one portion of connection to the reinforcement are respectively glued to said inner door panel and to said at least one reinforcement, using a structural adhesive.

[0012] According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, said plate-shaped support comprises two portions for connection to the inner panel, projecting from the corner positions of the support.

[0013] According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, said at least one reinforcement comprises a first reinforcement fixed at a height position of said inner door panel and extending horizontally, a second reinforcement fixed at a lower position of said inner door panel and extending obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction, and a third reinforcement connecting a central position of said first reinforcement to that of said second reinforcement, and said plate-shaped support comprises two portions for connecting to the reinforcement, respectively fixed to said first reinforcement and to said third reinforcement.

[0014] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle comprising a vehicle door assembly according to the first aspect.

[0015] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a method for assembling a vehicle door assembly according to the first aspect, said method comprising steps the following in order: A) fix said at least one reinforcement to said inner door panel; B) fix said handle assembly to said inner door panel and to said at least one reinforcement, using said plate-shaped support; and C) connect the edge of said inner door panel to that of said outer door panel.

[0016] According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, step C) comprises wrapping and gluing the edge of said outer door panel (2) onto that of said inner door panel.

[0017] Compared to previous designs, the vehicle door assembly according to the present invention has several beneficial effects, including: the present invention proposes to modify the mounting method of the plate-shaped support; the plate-shaped support is fixed to the inner door panel and to the reinforcement arranged on this inner panel, instead of being connected to the outer door panel; that is to say, the area of ​​arrangement of the handle bar on the outer door panel is not connected to the plate-shaped support, nor to the inner door panel, thus avoiding deformation of the outer door panel under the effect of a significant force exerted on the outer door panel, and thus ensuring a good sensory quality of the bodywork;Furthermore, the plate-shaped support has a simple structure, allows for easy assembly, and has a low economic cost; therefore, the vehicle door assembly according to the present invention can be widely used in various types of vehicles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying figures. Reference numbers identical to those in the figures indicate identical or similar components.

[0019] Fig.1 represents a schematic view of the outside side of a vehicle door assembly in the prior art, in which an outer door panel is not shown for ease of presentation;

[0020] Figures 2A to 2C represent assembly steps of a plate-shaped support on the outer door panel of the vehicle door assembly shown in Fig. 1;

[0021] Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the exterior side of a door assembly. vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which an exterior door panel is not shown to facilitate presentation;

[0022] Fig.4A represents a schematic view of the outside side of a plate-shaped support of the vehicle door assembly shown in Fig.3;

[0023] Fig.4B represents a schematic view of the inner side of the plate-shaped support of the vehicle door assembly shown in Fig.3.

[0024] It is understood that the figures above are used not only for the explanatory description of the invention but also, if necessary, to help define it. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION METHODS

[0025] The implementation and use of the embodiments are described in detail below. However, it is understood that the specific embodiments described herein illustrate only, by way of example, particular ways of implementing and using the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] In the description, directional indications, such as "upper" and "lower," used to describe the structural positions of the components, are not absolute but relative. These directional indications are appropriate when the components are arranged as shown in the figures; however, when the positions of the components in the figures are changed, these directional indications should be modified accordingly.

[0027] Furthermore, in the description, the terms "interior" and "exterior" are defined in relation to the inside and outside of a vehicle; for example, "interior side" indicates the side facing inward, and "exterior side" indicates the side facing outward. In the figures, the X-axis direction indicates the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y-axis direction indicates the transverse direction of the vehicle, and the Z-axis direction indicates the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0028] Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the exterior side of a vehicle door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 3, the vehicle door assembly according to the present invention comprises: an inner door panel 1, an outer door panel 2 (not shown in Fig. 3; by reference to the outer door panel 2 provided with handle opening 21, shown in Figures 2A and 2C), at least one reinforcement (preferably a plurality of reinforcements), and a handle assembly (not shown) fixed using a plate-shaped support 3.

[0029] Said at least one reinforcement is fixed to the inner door panel 1 between the inner door panel 1 and the outer door panel 2, and comprises, for example, a first reinforcement 41 fixed at a mid-size position on the inner door panel 1 and extending substantially in the horizontal direction, a second reinforcement 42 fixed at a lower position on the inner door panel 1 and extending obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction, and a third reinforcement 43 connecting a substantially central position of said first reinforcement 41 to that of said second reinforcement 42 and extending substantially in the vertical direction. These reinforcements are fixed to the outer side of the inner door panel 1, for example, by welding, and a shock-absorbing adhesive may be arranged between these reinforcements and the inner side of the outer door panel 2.It is understood that "shock absorber glue" is only a damping element and not a bonding or fixing element, playing primarily a role in absorbing and damping shocks.

[0030] Fig. 4A shows a schematic view of the outer side of the plate-shaped bracket 3 of the vehicle door assembly shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 4B shows a schematic view of the inner side of the plate-shaped bracket 3 of the vehicle door assembly shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the plate-shaped bracket 3 has a handle opening 31 aligned with the handle opening 21 of the outer panel for the handle bar of the handle assembly to protrude, and four initial holes 32 for attaching the handle assembly. The handle assembly is attached to the inner side of the plate-shaped bracket 3 by means of screws passing through these initial holes 32.

[0031] It is understood that the handle assembly (not shown) includes, for example, a handle support element attached to the plate-shaped support 3, as well as a handle bar and a rotating shaft mounted on the handle support element. The handle bar is visible from outside the vehicle through the handle opening 31 of the support and the handle opening 21 of the outer panel, so as to allow the vehicle door to be opened by pulling the handle bar and rotating it around the rotating shaft.

[0032] To prevent deformation of the outer door panel 2 by mounting the plate-shaped support 3, the present invention proposes modifying the mounting method of the plate-shaped support 3, such that the plate-shaped support 3 is fixed to the interior door panel 1 and at least one reinforcement arranged on this interior door panel 1, instead of being connected to the exterior door panel 2. That is, the handle assembly is fixed to the interior door panel 1 and at least one reinforcement using the plate-shaped support 3, and allows the outer end (i.e. the surface of the handle bar facing outwards from the vehicle) of the handle assembly to be flush with the outer side of the exterior door panel 2 by passing through the handle opening 31 of the support and the handle opening 21 of the exterior panel, which are aligned with each other.

[0033] More specifically, the plate-shaped support 3 comprises at least one connecting portion 36 to the inner panel and at least one connecting portion to the reinforcement, which are adjacent to the edge of the support and respectively attached to the inner door panel 1 and to said at least one reinforcement. By way of non-limiting example, said at least one connecting portion 36 to the inner panel and said at least one connecting portion to the reinforcement are respectively bonded to the inner door panel 1 and to said at least one reinforcement, using a structural adhesive.

[0034] For example, as shown in Figures 3, 4A, and 4B, the plate-shaped support 3 includes two connecting portions 36 to the inner panel, projecting respectively from an upper corner position of the support and a lower corner position of the support. The two connecting portions 36 to the inner panel can, for example, be slightly curved towards the inner door panel 1, to be bonded to the inner door panel 1 by applying a structural adhesive. It is understood that the number and position of said at least one connecting portion 36 to the inner panel are not limiting and can be determined according to the actual configuration of the plate-shaped support 3 and that of the inner door panel 1.

[0035] Furthermore, for example, as shown in Fig. 3, the plate-shaped support 3 comprises a first connecting portion 371 to the reinforcement adjacent to the upper edge of the support, and a second connecting portion 372 to the reinforcement adjacent to the lateral edge of the support. The first connecting portion 371 to the reinforcement and the second connecting portion 372 to the reinforcement are bonded to the first reinforcement 41 and the third reinforcement 43, respectively, by applying a structural adhesive. It is understood that the number and position of said at least one connecting portion to the reinforcement are not limiting and can be determined according to the actual configuration of the panel-shaped support 3 and that of the reinforcement.

[0036] During the assembly of the vehicle door assembly, firstly, the first reinforcement 41, the second reinforcement 42 and the third reinforcement 43 are fixed to the outer side of the interior door panel 1; then, the handle assembly is fixed to the plate-shaped support 3, and the plate-shaped support 3 with the handle assembly is glued to the interior door panel 1, to the first reinforcement 41 and to the third reinforcement 43 using a structural glue, in order to achieve the fixing of the handle assembly to the interior door panel 1 and to the reinforcements; finally, the edge of the interior door panel 1 is connected to that of the exterior door panel 2, for example, the edge of the exterior door panel 2 wraps around and is glued to that of the interior door panel 1 using a hem device, in order to achieve the assembly of the vehicle door assembly.

[0037] In summary, in the vehicle door assembly according to the present invention, the arrangement area of ​​the handle bar on the outer door panel 2 is not connected to the plate-shaped support 3, nor to the inner door panel 1, thus avoiding deformation of the outer door panel 2 under the effect of a significant force exerted on the outer door panel 2, and thus ensuring good sensory quality of the bodywork.

[0038] The technical content and technical features of the present invention have been disclosed above. It is understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art may be made to the various embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0039] The description of embodiments is exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of protection of the present invention is determined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS Vehicle door assembly, characterized in that it comprises: - an inner door panel (1), an outer door panel (2) and at least one reinforcement, one edge of said inner door panel (1) being connected to that of said outer door panel (2), said outer door panel (2) being provided with a handle opening (21), and said at least one reinforcement being fixed to said inner door panel (1) between said inner door panel (1) and said outer door panel (2); and - a handle assembly fixed to said inner door panel (1) and to said at least one reinforcement, by means of a plate-shaped support (3), said plate-shaped support (3) being configured not to be connected to said outer door panel (2), and being configured such that an outer end of said handle assembly is flush with an outer side of said outer door panel (2) by passing through said handle opening (21).Vehicle door assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said plate-shaped support (3) is provided with a handle opening (31) aligned with said handle opening (21) of the outer panel, in that said handle assembly is fixed to an inner side of said plate-shaped support (3), and in that said plate-shaped support (3) is configured such that the outer end of said handle assembly is flush with the outer side of said outer door panel (2) by passing through said handle opening (21) of the outer panel and said handle opening (31) of the support.A vehicle door assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said plate-shaped support (3) comprises at least one connecting portion (36) to the inner panel and at least one connecting portion to the reinforcement, which are adjacent to the edge of the support and respectively fixed to said inner door panel (1) and said at least one reinforcement. A vehicle door assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said at least one connecting portion (36) to the inner panel and said at least one. portion of the connection to the reinforcement are respectively glued to said inner door panel (1) and to said at least one reinforcement, using a structural glue.

5. Vehicle door assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said plate-shaped support (3) comprises two connecting portions (36) to the inner panel, projecting from the corner positions of the support.

6. Vehicle door assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said at least one reinforcement comprises a first reinforcement (41) fixed at a waist position of said inner door panel (1) and extending horizontally, a second reinforcement (42) fixed at a lower position of said inner door panel (1) and extending obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction, and a third reinforcement (43) connecting a central position of said first reinforcement (41) to that of said second reinforcement (42), and in that said plate-shaped support (3) comprises two reinforcement connection portions, respectively fixed to said first reinforcement (41) and said third reinforcement (43).

7. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a vehicle door assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A method for assembling a vehicle door assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps in order: a. attaching said at least one reinforcement to said inner door panel (1); b. attaching said handle assembly to said inner door panel (1) and to said at least one reinforcement, using said plate-shaped support (3); and c. connecting the edge of said inner door panel (1) to that of said outer door panel (2).

9. Assembly method according to claim 8, characterized in that step C) comprises wrapping and gluing the edge of said outer door panel (2) onto that of said inner door panel (1).

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