Motor vehicle door with a door body separated into a wet area and a dry area

• US 6,409,250 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Inventors: Schultheiss, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Stephen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLE, PATRICIA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/712,689
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 296/146.1, 296/146.7, 495/02, 442/85, 442/414
• US Class Current: 296/146.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/248 Air-extractors, air-evacuation from the vehicle interior
• 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: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0243 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0892 for humidity insulation sealing strips B60R13/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0021 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories

Abstract

A motor vehicle door has a door body separated by a separator into a wet area and a dry area, whereby the wet area is bounded on one side by an outer door panel and on the other side by the separator. The dry area bounds the separator in a direction towards the vehicle interior and the separator comprises an area-permeable pressure equalization element. The pressure equalization element is air-permeable at least from the side of the dry area in a direction towards the wet area and is water- and dust-impermeable in the opposite direction. The wet-area side of the pressure equalization element preferably has a low affinity for water and dust.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle door comprising a door body separated by a separator into a wet area and a dry area, whereby the wet area is bounded on one side by an outer door panel and on the other side by a first side of the separator, the dry area is bounded by at least a second side of the separator opposite the first side of the separator and extends in a direction towards the vehicle interior, wherein the separator includes an air-permeable pressure equalization element.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the pressure equalization element is at least air-permeable in a direction passing from the dry-area side to the wet area side, and is water-impermeable in the opposite direction.

3. The motor vehicle door of claim 2, wherein the wet area side of the pressure equalization element has minimum affinity to water and dust.

4. The motor vehicle door of claim 2, wherein the pressure equalization element is formed from a fabric made of hydrophobic fibers.

5. The motor vehicle door of claim 2, wherein the pressure equalization element is formed from a fabric having a coating of a hydrophobic substance on the wet area side.

6. The motor vehicle door of claim 2, wherein the pressure equalization element is formed from a diaphragm made of a hydrophobic substance.

7. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the pressure equalization element is arranged completely above a predetermined maximum standing water line.

8. The motor vehicle door of claim 1 further comprising a functional unit connectable to one of a door lining and the separator, wherein the pressure equalization element is a component of the functional unit.

9. The motor vehicle door of claim 8, wherein the pressure equalization element is formed from a diaphragm of a speaker.

10. The motor vehicle door of claim 8, wherein the pressure equalization element is part of a housing of the functional unit.

11. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein an additional zone is formed on the housing of the functional unit and is provided with the pressure equalization element, whereby this additional zone covers a corresponding opening in one of the door lining, a support plate, and other separation element.

12. The motor vehicle door of claim 11, wherein a drive unit of a window regulator is associated with the additional zone.

13. The motor vehicle door of claim 11, wherein the additional zone is associated with a side airbag.

14. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein the additional zone is associated with a holder for a door lock.

15. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the pressure equalization element closes an assembly opening between the wet area and the dry area.

16. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the pressure equalization element is a component of a door lining and closes an opening between the wet area and the dry area.

17. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the pressure equalization element is a component of a foam sheet provided as a sealing element and closes an opening between the wet area and the dry area.

18. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the separator is formed from a support plate of a door module, which sealingly covers a large cutout in a door lining and supports a plurality of functional components.