Vehicle Window Frame with Localized Corner Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet materials for vehicle windows with frame members suffer from compromised external design and reduced rigidity due to large curvature radii at corner portions, leading to undesirable sink marks and reduced structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A sheet material with a resin frame member molded integrally along the circumferential edge, featuring a chamfered surface with a width greater than or equal to the curvature radius, which is less than 3 mm, and a method involving a mold to produce the sheet material with specific dimensions and angles to enhance design and rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the curvature radius of the corner portion of the glass sheet is made large (3 mm or more), then the external design is improved and the glass sheet can be attached to a sharp-shaped opening portion, but the rigidity of the corner portion of the sheet material cannot be enhanced and sink marks are produced in the frame member surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different curvature radii to different corner portions: the first corner portion (attached to the sharp-shaped opening) has a large curvature radius (3 mm or more) for external design, while the second corner portion (not attached to the opening) has a small curvature radius (less than 3 mm) to enhance rigidity and prevent sink marks. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between external design and structural strength.
2Shape
If the curvature radius of the corner portion is made large, then the corner portion cannot be extended to the vicinity of the distal end portion of the frame member, but this causes the rigidity of the corner portion to be insufficient and increases resin volume leading to sink marks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention differentiates the curvature radius between corner portions: the first corner portion has a large curvature radius for aesthetic purposes, while the second corner portion has a small curvature radius to extend closer to the frame member distal end, thereby enhancing rigidity and reducing resin volume to prevent sink marks.
3Manufacturing precision
If a lightening portion is formed in the frame member to prevent visible sink marks, then the surface quality is improved, but the rigidity of the corner portion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forming a lightening portion after molding to address sink marks, the invention preliminarily controls the curvature radius of the second corner portion to be small (less than 3 mm) during the molding process. This prevents sink marks from occurring in the first place by reducing resin volume and improving rigidity, thereby eliminating the need for lightening portions that would compromise structural strength.
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 improves external design and increases the rigidity of the sheet material by forming a pin-angle shape at the parting line and reducing resin volume, thereby minimizing sink marks and enhancing structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the resin frame member is injection-molded integrally around a circumference of a glass sheet
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a sheet material for a window with a frame member in which a resin frame member is molded integrally on at least one of an indoor side surface and a peripheral surface of the sheet material for a window at a circumferential edge portion thereof, in which the sheet material for a window includes a chamfered surface on the circumferential edge portion, and in a plan view of the sheet material for a window, a chamfered width w of the chamfered surface and a curvature radius r of a corner portion of a non-chamfered area satisfy w ≥ r and r < 3 mm.