Vehicle Door Structure Offset Joint Garnish Gap Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing door structure of vehicles, where resin garnishes are used, faces issues with thermal expansion leading to interference and a compromised outward appearance due to visible gaps and inferior door line aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A door structure design where the first and second doors have resin garnishes with an expanded part and recessed part respectively, and a door joint offset in the direction of door arrangement, ensuring the gaps align and preventing inner parts from being visible, while maintaining a consistent appearance and preventing interference during thermal expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a flange part is formed at an end of one garnish to extend toward the backside of the other garnish, then the garnishes can overlap to prevent visibility through the garnish gap, but thermal expansion causes interference between the garnishes when doors are closed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent offsets the door joint in the door arrangement direction (front-rear dimension) relative to the garnish gap position. This spatial offset in one dimension allows the garnishes to overlap sufficiently to block visibility while maintaining adequate clearance to prevent thermal expansion interference. The expanded part and recessed part further utilize the available space by creating asymmetric overlapping geometry.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the flange part size is increased to prevent visibility through the garnish gap, then outward appearance improves, but the door gap width must increase to prevent interference, degrading appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by utilizing the door arrangement direction (front-rear dimension) for the offset between door joint and garnish gap, rather than increasing the lateral overlap in the width direction. This allows sufficient garnish overlap to block visibility while maintaining a narrow door gap for good appearance. The expanded part and recessed part create asymmetric geometry that maximizes overlap effectiveness within the available space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different geometries to different parts of the garnish assembly: the expanded part at one end creates localized overlap to block visibility, while the recessed part at the other end provides clearance for thermal expansion. This localized differentiation allows each region to serve its specific function without compromising overall appearance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a larger flange part is used to prevent visibility, then the garnish gap coverage improves, but the door gap interval must be larger to accommodate thermal expansion, worsening the door gap line appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent offsets the door joint in the door arrangement direction (front-rear dimension) relative to the garnish gap position. This spatial offset allows the garnishes to overlap sufficiently to block visibility while maintaining a narrow door gap for good appearance. The expanded part and recessed part further utilize the available space by creating asymmetric overlapping geometry that maximizes coverage without increasing the door gap interval.
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 design enhances the outward appearance by aligning door and garnish gaps, preventing inner parts from being visible, and maintaining a consistent look without increasing the door gap width, thus improving the vehicle's salability and preventing interference due to resin thermal expansion.
Implementation Method 1
as a garnish made of resin has thermal expansion (or thermal extension), the size of the above flange part cannot be large in consideration of prevention of interference between the garnishes when the doors are closed
Data Source
AI summary
A door structure of a vehicle, in which between the outer surfaces of a first garnish at a first door and a second garnish at a second door, a garnish gap, which joins a door gap between the door, is provided; the first door has a first garnish attachment part, and at an end of this part, the end facing the second door, an expanded part is provided, which protrudes toward the second door; the second door has a second garnish attachment part, and at an end of this part, the end facing the first door, a recessed part is provided, which is recessed in a direction away from the first door; and with respect to the garnish gap, a door joint between the first garnish attachment part and the second garnish attachment part is offset toward the second door in a direction in which the doors are arranged.