Vehicle Door Lining Assembly Wedge Transition Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle door configurations that prioritize accessibility and safety often result in gaps between doors and openings, allowing external elements and substances to intrude into the vehicle interior, posing risks to the vehicle and occupants.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door lining assembly with a support structure that guides and attaches a weatherstrip, featuring a wedge-shaped transition portion to enhance the seal between the door and the door opening, ensuring a smooth transition from the lining assembly to the panel assembly and maintaining attachment to the door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door is configured with various shapes and configurations to facilitate ingress/egress, then accessibility and safety are improved, but gaps are formed between the door and door opening that permit intrusion of external elements
Solution Approach 1:
A weatherstrip is introduced as an intermediary element between the door and door opening. The weatherstrip includes a sealing portion that contacts the door opening and a body portion that extends into the gap, effectively blocking external elements while preserving the door's accessible shape and configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly is segmented into multiple functional components: the door panel, the weatherstrip with distinct sealing and body portions, and the door lining assembly. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the door provides accessibility while the weatherstrip provides sealing.
2Device complexity
If the weatherstrip is attached directly to the door, then the sealing function is simplified, but the weatherstrip cannot maintain proper orientation and attachment throughout the door opening
Solution Approach 1:
The door lining assembly serves as an intermediary structure between the door and the weatherstrip. The lining assembly includes a support structure with attachment features that securely hold the weatherstrip in proper orientation, while the lining itself provides structural support and transitions between different door sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure extends into the gap between the door and door opening in a third dimension, providing multiple attachment points and maintaining the weatherstrip's orientation. This dimensional approach allows the weatherstrip to remain securely attached while accommodating the door's shape variations.
3Reliability
If the door lining assembly provides extensive support structure, then the weatherstrip attachment is improved, but the assembly becomes more complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The door lining assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the weatherstrip, creates the necessary transitions between door sections, and incorporates attachment features. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure, attachment features, and transition elements are merged into a single integrated door lining assembly. This consolidation reduces the number of separate parts and assembly steps, making the system easier to manufacture while providing comprehensive support for the weatherstrip.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments are directed to a door lining assembly for use with a vehicle having a vehicle interior, a vehicle door, and weather-stripping configured to facilitate sealing of the door in a closed position. The door lining assembly can include a front portion connected to a lower section of the vehicle door. The front portion can include a flange that is connected to the weather-stripping. The door lining assembly can also include an elongated transition portion that extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction and is attached to the front portion and the lower section of the vehicle door. The transition portion can be structured to have a gradually varying depth in a lateral direction of the vehicle, such that one end of the transition portion that is connected to the front portion extends further into the vehicle interior than the opposite longitudinal end.