Automotive Glass Run Curved Core Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing glass run configurations for automobile doors face challenges in narrowing the width of the trim strip and glass run body while maintaining ease of assembly and sealing performance, particularly when the glass run body needs to be curved to fit the roof shape of the vehicle, and the conventional designs require excessive force and are difficult to mold into curved shapes.
Innovation Solution
A glass run configuration featuring a glass run body made of elastic material with an insertion groove and a core made of a harder material, where the core's cross-sectional shape has a larger curvature or chamfer-like boundary portions, allowing for easier curvature and assembly along the curved window frame, and a trim strip with engagement portions that can move excessively without compromising appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the width of the trim strip is narrowed to meet design requirements, then the appearance is improved, but the trim strip cannot be assembled without creating visible gaps due to excessive movement
Solution Approach 1:
The glass run body is divided into two functional parts: a core made of rigid material for structural support and positioning, and an outer body made of elastic material for assembly flexibility. This segmentation allows the rigid core to maintain dimensional stability while the elastic outer body accommodates the excessive movement of the trim strip during assembly, enabling narrow trim strip width without visible gaps.
2Length of stationary object
If the width of the glass run body is narrowed to accommodate the narrower trim strip, then the overall size is reduced, but the insertion groove cannot provide sufficient space for sealing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion groove is designed with localized depth variation: it is deeper at the sealing lip region to accommodate the sealing member and ensure sealing performance, while being shallower in other regions. This local quality differentiation allows the glass run body to maintain a narrow overall width while providing sufficient space for sealing where needed.
3Device complexity
If the core is molded with parallel upper and lower plate portions and a vertical plate portion (creating 90-degree corners), then the structure is simple, but excessive force is required to curve the glass run body along the curved window frame
Solution Approach 1:
The core's cross-sectional shape is modified by replacing the 90-degree corners with curved surfaces. Specifically, the boundary portions between the upper/lower plate portions and the vertical plate portion are formed with a radius of curvature of 5mm or more. This curvature allows the glass run body to be easily curved along the window frame's curved shape during assembly, significantly reducing the force required compared to sharp-cornered designs.
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
This configuration enables easier assembly of the glass run along the curved window frame with reduced force requirements and maintains sealing performance even when the trim strip width is narrowed, providing a gap for excessive movement without affecting the appearance.
Implementation Method 1
a glass run body made of an elastic material, and provided with an insertion groove into which a glass run mount is inserted
Implementation Method 2
a core made of a harder material than the elastic material, and buried in the glass run body
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a technique of narrowing a trim strip and improving ease of assembly. A boundary portion between upper and outer plate portions in the cross-section of a core is curved to have a large curvature. An outer portion of a glass run body is provided with an upper elastic protrusion engaging with an upper engagement portion of the trim strip. A gap is formed between an upper part of the outer portion of the glass run body and an upper portion of the trim strip. The gap allows the trim strip to move excessively toward the inside of a cabin.