Removable Vehicle Windowpane Assembly for Frameless Doors

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicles with frameless passenger doors and convertible roofs, existing technologies fail to allow for easy retraction of windowpanes into the door interior, especially when the doors are removable, leading to disadvantages in terms of damage susceptibility and operational convenience.

Innovation Solution

A removable windowpane assembly comprising an unretractable windowpane with a door-attachment projection, a division bar, and a receiver system within the frameless passenger door that allows the windowpane to move between attached and detached positions, enabling secure attachment and detachment for protection and ease of removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the windowpane is made retractable into the door interior, then the door can be removed more easily, but the windowpane becomes vulnerable to damage during removal and installation processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor removal easeVSAvoidwindowpane damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The window system is divided into two separate components: a retractable windowpane that moves within the door and an unretractable windowpane that remains fixed and attached to the door. This segmentation allows the retractable portion to be protected during door removal while maintaining the desired retractability function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An unretractable windowpane acts as an intermediary protective element between the door structure and the retractable windowpane. This intermediary component absorbs the impact of door removal operations, preventing damage to the more vulnerable retractable windowpane while still allowing the door to be removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the windowpane is made unretractable and fixed to the door, then the windowpane is protected during door removal, but the door cannot be easily retracted when needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewindowpane protectionVSAvoidwindow retraction capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If a frameless door design is used, then the aesthetic appeal and open-air experience are improved, but the windowpane becomes more vulnerable when the door is removable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvertible roof compatibilityVSAvoidwindowpane vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If the retractable windowpane is completely housed in the chamber below the beltline, then the door structure is simplified, but the open-air experience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor structure simplicityVSAvoidopen-air experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The windowpane system incorporates dynamic movement capability, allowing the retractable windowpane to move between a retracted position (completely housed in the chamber) and an extended position (partially above the beltline). This dynamic design enables the system to adapt between simplified structure and enhanced open-air experience based on operational needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10005342B1Removable vehicle windowpane assembly

Publication Date: 2018.06.26 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A vehicle comprising: a removable windowpane assembly comprising an unretractable windowpane and a door-attachment projection attached to the unretractable windowpane; a frameless passenger door comprising: an exterior panel and an interior panel forming a chamber and defining a beltline and a receiver located within the chamber with a top surface adjacent the beltline to receive the door-attachment projection attached to the unretractable windowpane; a retractable windowpane; the retractable windowpane movable between a down position where the retractable windowpane is completely housed in the chamber below the beltline and an up position where the retractable windowpane is partially housed in the chamber and partially extending above the beltline; and the removable windowpane assembly having an attached position and a detached position, wherein in the attached position the receiver has received the door-attachment projection, and wherein in the detached position the receiver is not receiving the door-attachment projection.