Flush-Fitted Vehicle Door Glazing With Integrated Panel Travel Stops

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Solution Overview

Problem

Combining a fixed glazed section with a vertically movable panel in vehicle doors is challenging due to the need for secure, efficient, and durable guidance, while minimizing component bulk, ensuring a watertight seal, and simplifying assembly and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A glazed device with a movable panel guided by rails, featuring an overmolding or encapsulation with integrated stops and flexible play compensation, allowing for secure and efficient movement along a vertical axis, and simplified assembly and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If a vertically movable panel is combined with a fixed glazed section, then the opening size is maximized, but the guidance system becomes complex and component bulk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening sizeVSAvoidguidance system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the movable panel with an integrated frame structure that incorporates guidance rails and sealing elements. The frame is directly attached to the fixed glazed section, merging multiple functions (support, guidance, sealing) into a single integrated component, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining large opening capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guidance system is segmented into discrete rails mounted on the frame, with separate glides attached to the movable panel. This modular segmentation allows independent optimization of each component and simplifies assembly and maintenance while enabling the panel to move vertically without complex mechanical linkages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of moving object

If component bulk is minimized to maximize clear opening, then guidance reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclear openingVSAvoidguidance reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different structural qualities to different parts of the guidance system: the rails are designed with precise dimensional tolerances and rigid cross-sections for reliable guidance, while the frame structure can be optimized locally for minimal bulk. The glides on the movable panel are positioned and dimensioned to provide stable contact with the rails without adding excessive bulk to the panel assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If assembly and maintenance simplicity is improved, then structural integrity and sealing performance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing elements are pre-installed and pre-positioned on the frame structure during manufacturing, ensuring proper alignment and sealing performance before the movable panel is assembled. This preliminary action allows for simplified field assembly while maintaining high sealing reliability, as the critical sealing interfaces are already optimized during controlled manufacturing conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4426571B1Glazed device for a vehicle door, comprising a flush-fitted movable panel, and corresponding door
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 ADVANCED COMFORT SYST FRANCE ACS
  • EP4426571B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4426571B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4426571B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a glazed device for a vehicle, comprising a fixed glazed part (1) and a movable glazed panel (2) that can slide relative to the fixed part along a substantially vertical axis, the movable panel (2) being guided along rails (5) supported by the fixed part. The movable panel (2) supports an overmolding (3) which is obtained by encapsulation, covers the rim of the mobile panel and extends over at least one edge of the surface of the mobile panel facing the interior of the vehicle; a lower portion of said overmolding (3) extends on the lower edge of the movable panel and includes at least one stop (35), the at least one stop ensuring that the movement of the movable panel (2) relative to the fixed part (1) is limited in two directions substantially perpendicular to the substantially vertical axis, at least while the movable panel is mounted on the fixed part.