Vehicle Door Seal With Hidden Lighting for Discreet Interior Trim

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting signatures in motor vehicles lack originality and aesthetic integration within the passenger compartment, particularly on door panels, and are not discreetly integrated, leading to disappointing appearances.

Innovation Solution

A sealing strip for vehicle doors featuring a first lip covering interior trim and a light device under the lip, with an LED strip or reflective tube, retained by elastomer beads, creating a localized and discreet lighting effect that is easy to manufacture and assemble.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a seal is made opaque to prevent light leakage, then light leakage is prevented, but visual monitoring of the sealed space becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight leakageVSAvoidvisual monitoring
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is divided into multiple segments or sections, with at least one segment being transparent while others can be opaque. This segmentation allows the seal to simultaneously prevent light leakage through opaque portions and enable visual monitoring through transparent portions, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the seal have different optical properties - some areas are made opaque to prevent light leakage, while specific local areas are made transparent to allow visual monitoring. This local differentiation of properties allows the seal to fulfill both functions of preventing light leakage and enabling observation of the sealed space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If a transparent seal is used to enable visual monitoring, then visual monitoring becomes possible, but light leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual monitoringVSAvoidlight leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is divided into multiple segments or sections, with at least one segment being transparent while others can be opaque. This segmentation allows the seal to simultaneously prevent light leakage through opaque portions and enable visual monitoring through transparent portions, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the seal have different optical properties - some areas are made opaque to prevent light leakage, while specific local areas are made transparent to allow visual monitoring. This local differentiation of properties allows the seal to fulfill both functions of preventing light leakage and enabling observation of the sealed space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If a luminous device is added to enable space identification, then space identification becomes possible, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace identificationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The luminous device is integrated directly into the seal structure itself, merging the lighting function with the sealing function. This combination eliminates the need for separate external lighting systems, reducing overall device complexity while still enabling space identification and visual monitoring capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides sealing, prevents light leakage, enables visual monitoring through transparency, and incorporates luminous capabilities for space identification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides an original and aesthetically pleasing lighting signature within the vehicle interior, maintaining a discreet appearance and avoiding direct visibility of the light source, while ensuring seamless integration and manufacturing simplicity.

Implementation Method 1

a seal (1) comprising a sealing body (11) configured to form a sealed space (12)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP4003767B1Seal comprising a luminous device
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 RENAULT SA
  • EP4003767B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4003767B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4003767B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Seal (10) for a door (6) of a motor vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises a first lip (15) intended to at least partially cover an inner trim element (7) of a motor vehicle (1), and a luminous device (11) extending under the first lip (15).