Window Panel Support Structure with Inverted Guide Groove

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional window panel support structures in vehicles face difficulties in easily setting the fixed panel and maintaining a seamless appearance due to the placement of guide members and slide members, which complicates the fitting process and visibility of the guide members.

Innovation Solution

The window panel support structure features a guide member on the interior face of the fixed panel with a guide groove oriented towards the adjacent movable panel, allowing the slide member on the movable panel to be bent and fitted into the groove, enabling easy setting of the fixed panel and covering the slide member for a unified appearance, with additional features like notches and spring portions to absorb backlash and prevent noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the guide member is opened toward the movable panel and the slide member projects from the interior-side face of the movable panel, then the movable panel can be guided to move up and down, but the fitting direction of the fixed panel becomes reverse to the fitting direction of the guide member, making it difficult to set the fixed panel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of setting fixed panelVSAvoidfitting direction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member is inverted in orientation: instead of opening toward the movable panel, it now opens toward the fixed panel. The guide groove is formed on the interior-side face of the fixed panel, allowing the slide member to be fitted from the same direction as the fixed panel installation, thereby resolving the conflicting fitting directions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the guide member is provided between the fixed panel and the movable panel to guide the movable panel, then the movable panel can be supported to move up and down, but the guide member serves as a sash exposed outside, clearly separating the fixed panel from the movable panel and making it difficult to secure an appearance like a single panel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of setting fixed panelVSAvoidappearance uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member is merged with the fixed panel by forming the guide groove directly on the interior-side face of the fixed panel. This integration eliminates the need for a separate exposed guide member, allowing the fixed and movable panels to appear as a unified single panel from the outside while maintaining the guiding function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3007919B1Window panel support structure
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3007919B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3007919B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3007919B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A window panel support structure includes a fixed panel (11), and a movable panel (21). The movable panel opens and closes a window (4) by moving up and down. A front-side guide member (12) is provided on an interior-side face of a rear edge part (11c) of the fixed panel which is adjacent to the movable panel. The front-side guide member includes a front-side guide groove (14) provided along the rear edge part. The front-side guide groove is opened toward a front edge part (11a). A front-side slide member (22) is provided on an interior-side face of a front edge part (21c) of the movable panel which is adjacent to the fixed panel. The front-side slide member includes a front slider (25) provided along the front edge part and is bent toward a rear edge part (21a). The front slider is fitted to the front-side guide groove.