Flush Window Door Assembly with Top-Mounted Guide Elements
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of flush glass concepts in vehicle door assemblies is complex, requiring a special door concept where the outer door skin is retrofitted after the window pane is inserted, which complicates the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door assembly design that allows the window pane to be mounted from above using frame-side and pane-side guide elements, with closure members to secure the pane in place, enabling the outer door skin to be pre-assembled with the door frame support, eliminating the need for a separate outer door skin retrofitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the window pane is installed from below into a guide channel of a guide element on the body or door, then the window pane can be securely mounted, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires a special door concept with retrofitted outer door skin or completely mountable door frame module
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional installation direction by mounting the window pane from above instead of from below. The guide elements are designed with open ends facing upward, allowing the window pane to be inserted from the upper side of the door, thereby simplifying the assembly process and eliminating the need for complex retrofitted door concepts
Solution Approach 2:
The guide elements are pre-assembled to the door frame with open ends facing upward before window installation. This preliminary configuration enables the window pane to be directly inserted from above, avoiding the need for subsequent outer door skin retrofitting and reducing overall assembly complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the outer door skin is retrofitted after the window pane is inserted, then the window pane can be installed first, but the assembly process requires multiple steps and special door concepts
Solution Approach 1:
The guide elements are pre-mounted to the door frame with their open ends facing upward, creating a ready-to-receive configuration that allows the window pane to be inserted from above in a single straightforward operation, eliminating the need for subsequent outer door skin retrofitting
Solution Approach 2:
The conventional sequence of installing the outer door skin first and then the window pane is inverted. Instead, the guide elements and window pane are installed from above first, allowing the outer door skin to be attached in a simplified manner, thereby improving assembly efficiency
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3C
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
The present invention relates in particular to a vehicle-door assembly comprising at least: an adjustable window pane (FS) for a vehicle window lifter, in which the window pane (FS), when closed, lies flush with the upper and/or lateral body components framing a window opening (O) that should be closed by the window pane (FS); a door frame support (TT), which defines a door surround beneath the window opening (O), into which surround the window pane (FS) is lowered in order to open the window pane and which has at least two lateral frame parts (RA, RB) lying opposite one another on the frame opening (O) and having frame-side guide elements (1, 2); first and second pane-side guide elements (3a, 3b), by means of which the window pane (FS) is displaceably held on the frame-side guide elements (1, 2). According to the invention, each frame-side guide element (1, 2) has an insertion region above the door surround, via which a respective associated pane-side guide element (3a, 3b) can be fitted from above on the respective first or second frame-side guide element (1, 2) in order to mount the window pane (FS) on the door frame support (TT). In addition, the vehicle-door assembly is provided with at least one closure part (4, 4*) for closing at least one of the insertion regions of the first and second frame-side guide elements (1, 2), said closure part being attachable after the fitting of the pane-side first and second guide elements (3a, 3b).