Assembly for closing an opening of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly (10) for closing an opening (5) of a motor vehicle (100), characterised in that it comprises: • a first pane (1), the position of which is fixed with respect to the opening (5); • a second pane (2) which is capable of pivoting about a given axis (12), which is substantially parallel to a first edge (11) of the first pane (1) between, on the one hand, a first position (P1), in which the opening of the vehicle is at least partially open and, on the other hand, a second position (P2), in which the opening (5) is closed; and • a seal (3) comprising o a first portion (31) attached to the first pane (1); and o a lip (32) extending substantially along the given axis (12), a cross-section of which, perpendicular to the given axis (12), is curved.

Description

[0001] TITLE: Assembly intended to close an opening in a motor vehicle.

[0002] The invention relates to an assembly for closing an opening of a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with an assembly according to the invention. The invention finally relates to a method for manufacturing an assembly according to the invention.

[0003] An opening of a motor vehicle may be equipped with an assembly comprising a fixed window and a movable window pivoting around the fixed window. The vehicle must then also include sealing means enabling the opening to be closed tightly when the movable window is in the closed position.

[0004] Technical solutions exist in the prior art to resolve the problem of sealing between fixed and movable glass. However, these solutions have disadvantages.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to provide an assembly intended to close an opening of a motor vehicle and a method of manufacturing an assembly according to the invention which overcomes the above drawbacks and improves the assemblies intended to close an opening of a motor vehicle known from the prior art. In particular, the invention makes it possible to produce an assembly and a method of manufacturing an assembly which are simple, reliable and inexpensive, and which make it possible to take into account variations relating to the position of the windows when assembling the vehicle.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to an assembly intended to close an opening of a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising: • a first window whose position is fixed relative to the opening,

[0007] • a second window capable of pivoting around a given axis substantially parallel to a first edge of the first window, between on the one hand a first position in which the opening of the vehicle is at least partially open, and on the other hand a second position in which the opening is closed, and

[0008] • a seal comprising o a first part fixed to the first pane, and o a lip extending substantially along the given axis and of which a section perpendicular to the given axis is curved, the assembly being configured so that, when the second pane is in the second position,

[0009] • the lip is arranged between the first and second panes, the lip delimiting a so-called interior hemi-space containing the first pane and a so-called exterior hemi-space containing the second pane, a center of curvature of the lip being located in the interior hemi-space, and

[0010] • a second edge of the second window rests on the lip.

[0011] A thickness of a hinge connecting the lip to the first part of the seal may be less than a first threshold, and a thickness of the first part of the seal may be greater than a second threshold, the second threshold being strictly greater than the first threshold, so that a support of the second edge of the second pane on the lip causes a deformation of the hinge without deforming the first part of the seal.

[0012] A deformation of the hinge may cause the lip to rotate around a hinge attachment point on the first part of the seal. The first part of the seal may include:

[0013] • a housing intended to contain the first edge of the first pane,

[0014] • a masking strip intended to be placed outside the vehicle and capable of preventing a user located outside the motor vehicle from seeing a support area of ​​the second edge of the second window on the lip.

[0015] When the second pane is in the first position, a first angle can be measured between, on the one hand, an inner face of the masking strip and, on the other hand, a first straight line passing through two ends of a curve formed by the lip of the seal, and when the second pane is in the second position, a second angle can be measured between, on the one hand, the inner face of the masking strip and, on the other hand, a second straight line passing through the ends of the curve formed by the lip of the seal, the second angle being greater than the first angle.

[0016] When the second window is in the closed position, a height of the support area can be:

[0017] - greater than or equal to a so-called minimum height of a so-called lower end of the masking strip, and

[0018] - less than or equal to a so-called maximum hinge height, the minimum and maximum heights being measured along a vertical axis of a reference mark attached to the motor vehicle.

[0019] The seal can be made of thermoplastic material.

[0020] The given axis may be located in a horizontal plane, and / or when the second window is in the second position, the first window and the second window may be located substantially in the same plane, the second window being placed under the first window. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an assembly as defined above.

[0021] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an assembly as defined above, comprising a step of manufacturing the seal comprising an extrusion sub-step.

[0022] The attached drawing represents, by way of example, an embodiment of an antenna mounting bracket according to the invention.

[0023] Figure 1 represents a simplified diagram of the elements of a motor vehicle equipping an assembly according to the invention.

[0024] Figure 2 represents a direct orthonormal reference frame attached to a motor vehicle equipped with an assembly according to the invention.

[0025] Figure 3 is a first perspective view of an assembly according to the invention.

[0026] Figure 4 is a second perspective view of an assembly according to the invention.

[0027] Figure 5 is a first sectional view of an assembly according to the invention. Figure 6 is a second sectional view of an assembly according to the invention.

[0028] Figure 7 is a third sectional view of an assembly according to the invention.

[0029] An example of a motor vehicle 100 equipped with an embodiment of an assembly 10 according to the invention is described below with reference to FIG. 1.

[0030] The motor vehicle 100 comprises openings intended to be closed by windows.

[0031] In the embodiment described, the vehicle comprises at least one opening 5 equipped with an assembly 10 according to the invention comprising a first and a second window 1, 2. The assembly 10 is intended to close the opening 5 of the motor vehicle 100.

[0032] Figure 2 represents a direct orthonormal frame R attached to the vehicle. In the rest of the document, the terms "above" and "below", "upper" and "lower" refer to the vertical Z axis of the vehicle. In addition, the term "transverse" refers to the direction of the Y axis of the frame attached to the vehicle.

[0033] Figures 3 to 7 illustrate an embodiment of an assembly 10 according to the invention.

[0034] In the embodiment more specifically described in the remainder of the document, the opening 5 is an opening of a window arranged on one side of the body, in particular on a side door located at the level of either a driver or a passenger of the motor vehicle 100.

[0035] Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a first view and a second perspective view of an opening 5 of a window of a driver or a front passenger of the motor vehicle 100. In these figures, the second window 2 is in a first position P1 in which the opening is at least partially open. The position P1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a transitional position, in which the second window 2 is in the process of passing from a fully open position to a closed position P2 or vice versa. A fully open position of the second window 2 may be, for example, a position in which the second window 2 is fully raised and fixed against the first window 1, from the outside, such that the second window 2 is arranged substantially overlapping the first window 1.

[0036] Figures 5 to 7 describe in more detail an embodiment of an assembly 10 according to the invention, in particular an embodiment of a seal 3 of an assembly 10 according to the invention. Figures 5 to 7 represent cross-sectional views of the assembly 10.

[0037] Set 10 includes:

[0038] • the first window 1 whose position is fixed relative to the opening 5,

[0039] • the second window 2 which is able to pivot around a given axis 12 substantially parallel to a first edge 11 of the first window 1, between on the one hand a first position P1 in which the opening 5 is at least partially open, and on the other hand a second position P2 in which the opening 5 is closed, and

[0040] • a seal 3 according to the invention.

[0041] In a non-limiting embodiment, the given axis 12 is located in a horizontal plane, and / or when the second window 2 is in the second position P2, the first and second windows 1, 2 are located substantially in the same plane, the second window 2 being placed under the first window.

[0042] Preferably, the given axis 12 is located less than 5 centimeters, or even less than 3 centimeters, or even less than 2 centimeters, from the first edge 11 of the first window 1 and / or from the second edge 21 of the second window 2.

[0043] In the remainder of the document, the first window 1 is also called “fixed window 1”, and the second window 2 is also called “moving window 2”. In addition, the first position P1 is called “open position P1” and the second position P2 is called “closed position P2”.

[0044] The term "cross-section" is used to denote a section along a plane perpendicular to the given axis 12. In a non-limiting embodiment, the given axis 12 may be substantially parallel to the X axis, and a cross-section may be a section along a plane substantially parallel to the (Y, Z) plane.

[0045] The seal 3 according to the invention comprises

[0046] • a first part 31 fixed to the fixed window 1, and

[0047] • a lip 32 which extends along the given axis 12 and of which a cross-section is curved.

[0048] In the embodiment presented, the fixing of the first part 31 of the seal 3 to the window 1 is carried out by an adhesive 4.

[0049] In the remainder of the document, the geometric descriptions of the assembly 10 refer to geometric shapes and measurements described in a so-called cross-section of the assembly 10, that is to say a section along a plane perpendicular to the given axis 12. In particular, the angles A1, A2, A3 described later in this document are measured on cross-sections of the assembly 10. Similarly, the expression “curve formed by the lip 32” designates a curve formed by a cross-section of the lip 32, extending between a first and a second end of the lip 32.

[0050] Similarly, the terms "hinge thickness" and "first part 31 thickness" refer to thicknesses measured across a cross-section of the assembly 10.

[0051] When the movable window 2 is in the closed position P2.

[0052] • the lip 32 is arranged between the fixed window 1 and the movable window 2, the lip 32 delimiting a so-called interior hemi-space 321 containing the fixed window 1 and a so-called exterior hemi-space 322 containing the movable window 2, a center of curvature of the lip 32 being located in the interior hemi-space 321, and

[0053] • a second edge 21 of the movable window 2 rests on the lip

[0054] 32. Thus, when it is in the closed position P2, the movable window 2 rests on the lip 32, which creates a sealed closure of the opening 5. The orientation of the center of curvature of the lip 32 makes it possible to make contact on a single support point between the movable window 2 and the lip 32.

[0055] Advantageously, the seal 3 comprises a hinge 33 connecting the lip 32 to the first part 31 of the seal 3, and a thickness of the hinge 33 is less than a first threshold S1. In addition, a thickness of the first part 31 of the seal 3 is greater than a second threshold S2, the second threshold being strictly greater than the first threshold S1. Thus, as illustrated by FIGS. 5 to 7, a support of the second edge 21 of the movable window 2 on the lip 32 causes a deformation of the hinge 33 without deforming the first part 31 of the seal 3.

[0056] As a note, the thickness of the first part 31 is not uniform. The term “thickness of the first part 31” should be interpreted as the smallest thickness of the sub-parts of the first part 31.

[0057] In one embodiment, the first threshold S1 may be, for example, 1 millimeter, and the second threshold S2 may be 1.8 millimeters. In this embodiment, the thickness of the lip could be 1.5 millimeters.

[0058] The dimensions of the seal 3 are thus defined so that a deformation of the hinge 33 causes a rotation of the lip 32 around a fixing point 01 of the hinge 33 on the first part 31 of the seal 3.

[0059] In the embodiment of the assembly 10 represented by figures 5 to 7, the first part 31 of the seal 3 comprises

[0060] • a housing 311, in particular of the groove type, intended to contain the first edge 11 of the fixed window 1, and

[0061] • a masking strip 312 intended to be arranged outside the vehicle and capable of preventing a user located outside the vehicle from seeing a so-called support zone 211 of the second edge 21 of the second window 2 on the lip 32 when the movable window is in the closed position P2.

[0062] In one embodiment, the housing 311 and the masking strip 312 extend substantially along the given axis 12.

[0063] Figures 5 and 6 represent a first angle A1 formed between

[0064] - on the one hand, an inner face 3121 of the masking strip 312, that is to say a face 3121 of the masking strip 312 facing the interior of the vehicle, and

[0065] - on the other hand, a given face 3111 of the housing 311 located opposite the lip.

[0066] The dimensions of the seal 3 are defined so that the angle A1 is constant regardless of the position P1, P2 of the movable window. Thus, the masking strip 312 retains the same position and the same shape regardless of the position of the movable window 2.

[0067] On the other hand, as illustrated by figures 5 and 6, the position of the lip 32 varies depending on the position of the window 2. Indeed,

[0068] - when the second window 2 is in the first position P1, a first angle A2 is measured between,

[0069] (i) on the one hand, an inner face 3121 of the masking strip 312 and, on the other hand,

[0070] (ii) a first straight line D1 passing through two ends of a curve formed by the lip 32 of the seal 3, and

[0071] - when the second window 2 is in the second position P2, a second angle A3 is measured between,

[0072] (i) on the one hand, the inner face 3121 of the masking strip 312 and,

[0073] (ii) on the other hand, a second straight line D2 passing through the ends of the curve formed by the lip 32 of the seal 3, the second angle A3 being greater than the first oriented angle A2.

[0074] In other words, the masking strip 312 being thicker, therefore more rigid, than the hinge 33, the support of the movable window 2 on the lip 32 causes a deformation of the hinge 33 without causing a deformation of the masking strip 312.

[0075] When the window 2 is in the closed position P2, the height of the contact point 211 between the movable window 2 and the lip 32 can advantageously be between

[0076] - a minimum height h_min, in particular the height h_min corresponding to the height of a so-called lower end 02 of the masking strip 32, and

[0077] - a maximum height h_max, in particular the height h_max corresponding to the height of the hinge 33, the heights h_min and h_max being measured along the vertical axis Z of the reference R attached to the vehicle.

[0078] Thus, thanks to the characteristics of the seal 3 according to the invention, the position - in particular the height - of the point of contact 21 1 between the movable window 2 and the lip 32 (corresponding to a window 2 in the closed position P2) can be variable from one vehicle to another without this penalizing the sealing of the closure or the aesthetics of the vehicle.

[0079] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an assembly 10 according to the invention, comprising a step of manufacturing the seal 3.

[0080] Advantageously, the step of manufacturing the seal 3 comprises only an extrusion sub-step. In other words, the manufacture of a seal 3 of an assembly 10 according to the invention does not require a step of molding or overmolding a part of the seal. Finally, an assembly 10 according to the invention has multiple advantages.

[0081] Firstly, the assembly 10 according to the invention, and more specifically the seal 3, makes it possible to achieve a tight closure of an opening equipped with the invention, and this on glazings which may have assembly dispersions. In other words, the position of the glazings can vary significantly from one vehicle to another, and the shape of the seal 3 makes it possible to absorb these variations while achieving a tight closure between the fixed window and the movable window. These benefits are favored in particular by the orientation of the center of curvature of the lip 32 towards the fixed window and the presence of a hinge 33.

[0082] Furthermore, the seal 3 comprises a masking strip whose shape remains identical regardless of the position of the movable window and regardless of the assembly dispersions of the vehicles. In addition, the masking strip masks the support area of ​​the movable window on the lip, regardless of the assembly dispersions of the vehicles. Thus, the deformation of the seal 3 occurs in an area located inside the seal and which is not visible from the outside.

[0083] Furthermore, the manufacturing process of the seal 3 is simple and inexpensive, since it only comprises one extrusion step. Furthermore, the development process of the seal 3 is reduced, since the sealing between the two panes is achieved at a single point of contact between the movable pane and the lip 32. Thus, the development of the seal 3 is carried out solely on the shape, in particular the thickness, of the lip, the dimensions of the other parts of the seal remaining unchanged.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Assembly (10) intended to close an opening (5) of a motor vehicle (100), characterized in that it comprises: • a first window (1) whose position is fixed relative to the opening (5), • a second window (2) capable of pivoting around a given axis (12) substantially parallel to a first edge (11) of the first window (1), between on the one hand a first position (P1) in which the opening of the vehicle is at least partially open, and on the other hand a second position (P2) in which the opening (5) is closed, and • a seal (3) comprising o a first part (31) fixed to the first pane (1), and o a lip (32) extending substantially along the given axis (12) and of which a section perpendicular to the given axis (12) is curved, and in that, when the second pane is in the second position (P2), • the lip (32) is arranged between the first and second panes, the lip (32) delimiting a so-called interior hemi-space (321) containing the first pane (1) and a so-called exterior hemi-space (322) containing the second pane (2), a center of curvature of the lip (32) being located in the interior hemi-space, and • a second edge (21) of the second window (2) rests on the lip (32).

2. Assembly according to the preceding claim, characterized in that • a thickness of a hinge (33) connecting the lip (32) to the first part (31) of the seal (3) is less than a first threshold (S1), and • a thickness of the first part (31) of the seal (3) is greater than a second threshold (S2), the second threshold being strictly greater than the first threshold (S1), so that a support of the second edge (21) of the second window (2) on the lip (32) causes a deformation of the hinge (33) without deforming the first part (31) of the seal (3).

3. Assembly according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a deformation of the hinge (33) causes a rotation of the lip (32) around a fixing point (01) of the hinge (33) on the first part (31) of the joint (3).

4. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part (31) of the seal (3) comprises • a housing (311) intended to contain the first edge (11) of the first pane (1), • a masking strip (312) intended to be arranged outside the vehicle and capable of preventing a user located outside the motor vehicle (100) from seeing a support zone (211) of the second edge (21) of the second window (2) on the lip (32).

5. Assembly (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that • when the second window (2) is in the first position (P1), a first angle (A2) is measured between, on the one hand, an inner face (3121) of the masking strip (312) and, on the other hand, a first straight line (D1) passing through two ends of a curve formed by the lip (32) of the seal (3), and • when the second window (2) is in the second position (P2), a second angle (A3) is measured between, on the one hand, the inner face (3121) of the masking strip (312) and, on the other hand, a second straight line (D2) passing through the ends of the curve formed by the lip (32) of the seal (3), the second angle (A3) being greater than the first oriented angle (A2).

6. Assembly (10) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that, when the second window (2) is in the closed position (P2), a height of the support zone (211) is: - greater than or equal to a so-called minimum height (h_min) of a so-called lower end (02) of the masking strip (32), and - less than or equal to a so-called maximum height (h_max) of the hinge (33), the minimum and maximum heights (h_min, h_max) being measured along a vertical axis (Z) of a reference (R) attached to the motor vehicle (100).

7. Assembly (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (3) is made of thermoplastic material.

8. Assembly (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the given axis (12) is located in a horizontal plane, and / or in that when the second window (2) is in the second position (P2), the first and second windows (1, 2) are located substantially in the same plane, the second window (2) being placed under the first window.

9. Motor vehicle (100) comprising an assembly (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims.

10. Method of manufacturing an assembly (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a step of manufacturing the seal (3) comprising an extrusion sub-step.

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