Two-Piece Slider Window End Stop for Soft Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slider window assemblies for vehicles, particularly pickup trucks, lack effective end stops that can securely and softly engage movable window panels in fully opened or closed positions, often relying on complex and costly molding processes.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece end stop construction featuring a rigid plastic base portion attached to the lower rail and a detachable elastomeric stop portion, providing a soft engagement for the movable window panel without the need for complex molding processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional molding processes are used to create end stops, then the end stops can provide soft engagement for movable window panels, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The end stop is divided into two separate components: a rigid base portion that attaches to the lower rail and a softer elastomeric end portion that engages the movable window panel. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured using simpler, more cost-effective processes while maintaining the soft engagement function through the separate elastomeric portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The end stop combines two different materials with distinct properties: a rigid plastic or metal base portion for structural support and attachment, and a softer elastomeric material for the engagement surface. This composite construction achieves the soft engagement function without requiring complex single-piece molding processes.
2Device complexity
If a single-piece end stop is used, then the structure is simpler, but it cannot provide both rigid support and soft engagement simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The end stop is divided into two separate components: a rigid base portion that attaches to the lower rail and a softer elastomeric end portion that engages the movable window panel. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured using simpler, more cost-effective processes while maintaining the soft engagement function through the separate elastomeric portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The end stop combines two different materials with distinct properties: a rigid plastic or metal base portion for structural support and attachment, and a softer elastomeric material for the engagement surface. This composite construction achieves the soft engagement function without requiring complex single-piece molding processes.
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 offers enhanced manufacturing efficiency and secure, soft stops for movable window panels, improving the operational reliability and cost-effectiveness of the slider window assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient compressible elastomeric end portion that is detachably attached at the base portion and that is configured to engage the carrier
Data Source
AI summary
A slider window assembly for a vehicle includes a movable window panel that is movable at a fixed window panel between closed and opened positions. A lower end region of the movable window panel moves along a channel portion of a lower rail and an end stop is disposed at an end of the channel portion. The end stop includes a rigid base portion attached at the lower rail and a resilient elastomeric stop portion attached at the base portion and configured to engage an end portion of the movable window panel when the movable window panel is moved to its fully opened or fully closed position. The base portion and the stop portion are separately formed in separate forming processes. When the base portion of the end stop is attached at the lower rail, the stop portion is fixedly attached at the base portion and is not removable therefrom.