Motor vehicle door module

• US 5,904,002 A
• Filed: 02/13/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Dimig, Steven J., Emerling, David M., Morrison, Gerald O., Cannon, Carter S., Leshan, Kimberly C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Curtis A.
• Application Number:
  US08/799,199
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 49/502, 49/503, 16/146.5, 16/146.6, 16/146.7
• US Class Current: 49/502
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0406 window frame formed separately as module
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0411 Beltline
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0416 Assembly panels to be installed in doors as a module with components, e.g. lock or window lifter, attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0418 Water or sound barrier, e.g. watershields or seals between dry/wet compartment, sound or vibration dampers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/34 Protection against weather or dirt, e.g. against water ingress closures or guards for keyholes E05B17/14

Abstract

A door assembly for a motor vehicle. The door assembly comprises a molded door panel having a first side and a second side. The first side of the door panel is adapted to face into a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The second side of the door panel supports a belt line reinforcement, a lock and catch assembly, and a window lift assembly. The door assembly is adapted for joining with a door exterior.

Claims

1. A structural door trim module for combining with and reinforcing an outer door panel of a motor vehicle to make a vehicle door assembly, the door trim module comprising:

an inner door panel having an inner appearance side and an outer side having a structural characteristic, the inner appearance side being adapted to face into a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and the outer side being adapted to face the outer door panel;

an inner door panel reinforcement mounted on the outer side of the inner door panel to provide the structural characteristic and having spaced portions adapted to interface with the outer door panel in respective spaced locations with each spaced portion being readily accessible and operable to detachably and structurally secure the inner door panel in an easy-on, easy-off combination with the outer door panel; and

a lock mounted on the outer side of the inner door panel for selectively locking and unlocking the outer door panel with respect to the motor vehicle when the inner door panel is secured in combination with the outer door panel, said lock being sufficiently adjacent to one of said spaced portions of said inner door panel reinforcement that said lock is readily accessible and operable to detachably and structurally secure said lock in combination with the outer door panel in one of said spaced locations when the inner door panel is secured in combination with the outer door panel.

2. The structural door trim module of claim 1 wherein said spaced locations are on opposite sides of said inner door panel so that said spaced portions of said inner door reinforcement are more readily accessible when securing the inner door panel in combination with the outer door panel.

3. The structural door trim- module of claim 1 wherein one of said spaced portions of said inner door panel reinforcement is configured substantially normal to said inner door panel adjacent said lock to cause said one of said spaced portions in one of said spaced locations to interface with a peripheral portion of the outer door panel when both the inner door panel and the lock are secured in combination with the outer door panel.

4. The structural door trim module of claim 1 including a window pane frame and a window pane regulator affixed to said inner door panel reinforcement and operable to move said window pane in and out of said window pane frame.

5. The structural door trim module of claim 1 wherein said inner door panel reinforcement is configured to resist crash loads impacting the motor vehicle.

6. The structural door trim module of claim 1 wherein said inner door panel reinforcement is configured to form a door pull support when the inner door panel is secured in combination with the outer door panel.

7. The structural door trim module of claim 1 including a door handle connected to said lock and an interior door handle recess on said inner door panel reinforcement between said spaced portions for receiving said door handle on said inner appearance said of said inner door panel to provide reinforcement for said door handle when said inner door panel is secured in combination with the outer door panel.

8. The structural door trim module of claim 1 including a water management system covering the outer side of said inner door panel to inhibit the introduction of water, noise and dust into the passenger compartment.

9. The structural door trim module of claim 8 including a flange on the inner door panel reinforcement and a belt line glass seal attached to said flange as part of said water management system.

10. The structural door trim module of claim 8 including electrical devices on said outer side of said inner door panel, and wherein said water management system is a sheet configured to conformingly seal said electrical devices.

11. A door assembly for a motor vehicle including a door outer panel having an opening, the door assembly comprising:

a door trim panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being adapted to face into a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, the door trim panel being insertable into the opening;

a catch mounted on the outer surface of the door panel and operable to detachably secure the door assembly in a closed position; and

a lock mounted on the outer surface of the door panel and engaged with the catch to permit selective operation of the catch.

12. A structural door trim module for combining with and reinforcing an outer door panel of a motor vehicle to make a vehicle door assembly, the door trim module comprising:

an inner door panel having an inner appearance side and an outer side having a structural characteristic, the inner appearance side being adapted to face into a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and the outer side being adapted to face the outer door panel;

an inner door panel reinforcement mounted on the outer side of the inner door panel to provide the structural characteristic and having spaced portions adapted to interface with the outer door panel in respective spaced locations with each spaced portion being readily accessible and operable to detachably and structurally secure the inner door panel in an easy-on, easy-off combination with the outer door panel; and

a window pane frame and a window pane regulator affixed to said inner door panel reinforcement and operable to move said window pane in and out of said window pane frame.

13. A structural door trim module for combining with and reinforcing an outer door panel of a motor vehicle to make a vehicle door assembly, the door trim module comprising:

an inner door panel having an inner appearance side and an outer side having a structural characteristic, the inner appearance side being adapted to face into a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and the outer side being adapted to face the outer door panel;

an inner door panel reinforcement mounted on the outer side of the inner door panel to provide the structural characteristic and having spaced portions adapted to interface with the outer door panel in respective spaced locations with each spaced portion being readily accessible and operable to detachably and structurally secure the inner door panel in an easy-on, easy-off combination with the outer door panel; and

a lock mounted on said inner door panel reinforcement and having a handle for operating said lock, said handle adapted to extend into an exterior hand grab position through the outer door panel when said inner door panel is secured in combination with the outer door panel.