Lightweight door for motor vehicles

• US 6,668,490 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wagon Automotive GmbH (Wagon PLC)
• Original Assignee: Wagon Automotive GmbH (Wagon PLC)
• Inventors: Huy, Vuong, Hock, Jürgen, Marutschke, Stefan, Hock, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Hugh B.
• Application Number:
  US10/024,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 495/02, 495/01, 494/28, 494/14, 494/15, 494/16, 494/19, 49D/IG.2, 494/901, 494/40, 494/41, 494/751, 494/951, 296/146.9, 296/146.2, 428/99, 428/122, 428/492
• US Class Current: 49/502
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/235 the parts being joined along their longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/265 the surface being primarily decorative
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/76 for window sashes; for glass run channels
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/84 arranged on the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/87 with additional seals on the panel side
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0402 window frame details, including sash guides and glass runs
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0405 Inboard or outboard side of window frame formed integrally with the lower door structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0483 lightweight metal, e.g. aluminum, magnesium

Abstract

A lightweight door for vehicles comprises a door box having a top portion delimited by inner and outer window gutter profiles. A lightweight window frame is coupled to the door box and is formed of light metal or light metal alloy. The window frame is formed from an extruded bent profile that has a closed hollow chamber and at least one mounting formation. The mounting formation may include a mounting groove or a clip-on strip. The mounting formation continuously follows a length of the profile and is for receiving at least one add-on component. A plastic molded panel module is coupled to the frame. The module has a support surface and outer panels formed as a single piece along the frame adjacent a roof rail and a B-pillar of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A lightweight door for vehicles, the door comprising:

a door box, the door box having a top portion delimited by inner and outer window gutter profiles;

a lightweight window frame coupled to the door box, the frame formed of metal selected from the group consisting of light metal and light metal alloy;

the window frame formed from an extruded bent profile, the profile comprising an inside comprising a closed hollow chamber and an outside comprising at least one mounting formation selected from the group consisting of a mounting groove and a clip-on strip, the at least one mounting formation continuously following a length of the profile and capable of receiving at least one add-on component;

a window area encompassed by the window frame and the top portion of the door box; and

a plastic molded panel module coupled to the window frame, the module comprising outer panels formed as a single piece along a roof rail and B-pillar of the frame, the module further comprising at least one window channel seal.

2. The lightweight door of claim 1, wherein the door box comprises a substantially U-shaped supporting frame.

3. The lightweight door of claim 2, wherein the supporting frame is formed of a part selected from the group consisting of a pressed part and a deep-drawn part, the part comprising sheet metal selected from the group consisting of light metal and light metal alloy.

4. The lightweight door of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting groove comprises a first T-shaped acceptance groove, the groove formed for attachment of a main seal on a door side of the window frame.

5. The lightweight door of claim 4, wherein the at least one mounting groove further comprises a second T-shaped acceptance groove, the groove provided for attachment of the panel module and a roof rail panel.

6. The lightweight door of claim 5, wherein the second acceptance groove is arranged diagonally opposite the first acceptance groove.

7. The lightweight door of claim 4 wherein the clip-on strip protrudes from the profile at a right angle relative to the bearing surface.

8. The lightweight door of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting groove comprises a second T-shaped acceptance groove, the groove provided for attachment of the panel module and a roof rail panel.

9. The lightweight door of claim 1, further comprising an additional seal, the seal clipped onto the clip-on strip.

10. The lightweight door of claim 1, further comprising an outer window gutter seal coupled to the panel module.

11. The lightweight door of claim 10, wherein the panel module comprises a U-profile cross-section constituting an acceptance device for a window channel seal and an L-profile cross-section constituting a connection device for an additional seal on the clip-on strip of the window frame.

12. The lightweight door of claim 1, wherein the panel module comprises a U-profile cross-section constituting an acceptance device for a window channel seal and an L-profile cross-section constituting a connection device for an additional seal on the clip-on strip of the window frame.

13. The lightweight door of claim 1, wherein the outside of the window frame profile comprises a bearing surface, the panel module comprises a support surface, adjacent the bearing surface, and the door further comprises at least one tension clamp, the at least one tension clamp coupling the panel module to the at least one mounting groove.

14. The lightweight door of claim 13, the at least one tension clamp comprises a metal spring clamp.

15. The lightweight door of claim 13, further comprising a plastic molded roof rail panel coupled to the mounting formation, the roof rail panel being curved and covering an indoor surface of the outside surface of the profile.

16. The lightweight door of claim 15, further comprising a detent strip, the strip coupling the roof rail panel to the mounting formation, wherein the strip secures tension clamps of the panel module in the acceptance groove.

17. The lightweight door of claim 11, wherein the panel module is clipped onto the clip-on strip by an acceptance device.

18. The lightweight door of claim 17, further comprising a seal, the seal sandwiched between the module and the clip-on strip.

19. The lightweight door of claim 1, wherein the panel module further comprises extensions of window channels for insertion into the door box, the extensions protruding down beyond the window gutter profiles.

20. The lightweight door of claim 1, further module, comprising a mirror triangle, the mirror triangle integrated with the panel module.

21. The lightweight door of claim 1, further comprising a frame reinforcement part, the frame reinforcement part coupled to and reinforcing the B-pillar of the window frame.

22. The lightweight door of claim 21, wherein the frame reinforcement part is selected from the group consisting of a pressed part and a deep drawn part, the reinforcement part being permanently connected to the window frame and comprising metal selected from the group consisting of light metal and light metal alloy.

23. The lightweight door of claim 22, wherein the permanent connection is a weld connection.

24. the lightweight door of claim 21, further comprising at least one clip connection, the clip connection coupling the panel module to the window frame at the reinforcement part.

25. The lightweight door of claim 1, further comprising a plastic molded roof rail panel, the panel coupled to the frame by an add-on component.

26. The lightweight door of claim 25, wherein the outside surface of the profile comprises an indoor surface, the indoor surface covered by the roof rail panel.

27. The lightweight door of claim 25, wherein the outside surface of the profile comprises an indoor surface, wherein the roof rail panel is curved and is coupled to the acceptance groove such that the roof rail panel covers the indoor surface.

28. The lightweight door of claim 27, wherein the acceptance groove comprises an opposite border, and wherein the roof rail panel is curved to encompass the opposite border.

29. The lightweight door of claim 25, further comprising a cover for a mirror triangle, the cover being integrated with the roof rail panel.

30. The lightweight door of claim 25, further comprising a window channel seal, the seal comprising a lip which covers the acceptance groove and dually transitions to form a strip on the roof panel.

31. The lightweight door of claim 25, wherein the molded plastic roof rail is injection molded.

32. The lightweight door of claim 1, wherein the acceptance groove comprises a border, the border recessed from an adjacent edge of the window frame profile, the edge being rounded at a radius suitable for a particular wall thickness of the window frame profile.

33. The lightweight door of claim 1, wherein the light metal is aluminum and the light metal alloy is aluminum alloy.

34. The lightweight door of claim 1, wherein the window frame is permanently connected to the inner window gutter profile of the door box.

35. A lightweight door for vehicles, the door comprising:

a door box, the door box having a top portion delimited by inner and outer window gutter profiles;

a lightweight window frame permanently coupled to the door box, the frame formed of metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloy;

the window frame formed from an extruded bent profile, the profile comprising an inside comprising a closed hollow chamber and an outside comprising at least one mounting formation selected from the group consisting of a mounting groove and a clip-on strip, the mounting formation continuously following a length of the profile and capable of receiving at least one add-on component;

a window area encompassed by the window frame and the top portion of the door box;

a plastic molded panel module coupled to the window frame, the module having outer panels formed as a single piece along a roof rail and a B-pillar of the frame, the module comprising at least one window channel seal;

a plastic molded roof rail panel, the roof rail panel coupled to the window frame at an indoor surface of the outside of the window frame profile; and

an elongated frame reinforcement part coupled to and reinforcing the B-pillar of the frame.

36. A lightweight door for vehicles, the door comprising:

a door box, the door box having a top portion delimited by inner and outer window gutter profiles;

a lightweight window frame coupled to the door box, the frame formed of metal selected from the group consisting of light metal and light metal alloy;

the window frame formed from an extruded bent profile, the profile comprising an inside comprising a closed hollow chamber and an outside comprising a bearing surface and at least one mounting formation selected from the group consisting of a mounting groove and a clip-on strip, the at least one mounting formation continuously following a length of the profile and capable of receiving at least one add-on component;

a window area encompassed by the window frame and the top portion of the door box; and

a plastic molded panel module coupled to the mounting formation, the module comprising a support surface positioned adjacent the frame bearing surface and outer panels formed as a single piece along a roof rail and a B-pillar of the frame, the module further comprising at least one window channel seal.