With Means To Accommodate Window Accessory; E.g., Automobile-type Door Patents (Class 49/502)
  • Publication number: 20080222962
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed towards improved mounting structures and methods for formation of window regulator systems for vehicles. In one exemplary embodiment, a mounting structure for a window regulator system is provided. The mounting structure includes a main body defining cavity for rotatably receiving a portion of a pulley; and an engagement feature depending away from the main body, the engagement feature engaging the portion of the pulley and preventing movement of the pulley away from the main body, the engagement feature being substantially free of fasteners for preventing movement of the portion of the pulley away from the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Brian H. Staser, Mike J. Skiba, Timothy A. Neil
  • Publication number: 20080190033
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door arrangement with an inside door subassembly which separates a dry space from a wet space and outside space of the door arrangement includes a window pane, a window lifter with an adjustment device for setting the position of the window pane and a seal, which is assigned to the inside door subassembly, for sealing off the dry space with respect to the wet space and the outside space. The adjustment device includes a drive and an adjustment mechanism, which is connected downstream of the drive, in order to transmit the driving torque produced by the drive to the window pane. The entire adjustment mechanism of the window lifter is arranged in the dry space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Harald Kruger, Olaf Kriese, Markus Schultz
  • Patent number: 7410203
    Abstract: An automobile door has a glass run corresponding to a glass door. The glass run includes a body portion, which has a bottom wall portion, and a vehicle interior side wall portion and a vehicle exterior side wall portion respectively extending from opposite ends of the bottom wall portion, and also includes a pair of seal lips which performs sealing between the door glass and the glass run. Furthermore, in a cross-sectionally substantially-U-shaped outer peripheral portion of the body portion, sponge rubber layers are provided in a predetermined range in a longitudinal direction of a cross-section of the vehicle interior side surface wall portion and a predetermined zone including a continuously connecting portion between the bottom wall portion and the inner outer side surface wall portion, respectively. An auxiliary lip is provided at a continuously connecting portion between the bottom wall portion and the vehicle interior side wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yatsuda, Yoshio Hashimoto, Masanori Aritake, Satoshi Toki, Yukio Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7410202
    Abstract: A substantially flat control element for controlling a vehicle component has touch-sensitive regions and is configured to generate control signals for moving the vehicle component into respective end positions in response to a first and a third one of the touch-sensitive regions of the control element being touched. A second region of the control element has subregions for allowing a variable adjustment of the vehicle component into intermediate positions between the end positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Christen Rose, Arne Stoschek
  • Publication number: 20080179917
    Abstract: A vehicle door structure and a method for its manufacture are disclosed, the structure being for a vehicle having a door frame and a door mounted in the frame, the door having an interior facing into the vehicle and an edge surface in opposed relationship to the frame when the door is closed, the edge surface including sheet metal. An interior door panel is provided which includes a substrate mounted on the interior of the door, an edge portion of which is adjacent the sheet metal. A skin interiorly overlies the substrate to define an interior surface for the door, the skin extending from the door interior over the edge portion, beyond the substrate and onto the sheet metal. Flexing of or movement of the skin permits it to compensate for differences in position of the substrate when mounted on the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: FAURECIA INTERIOR SYSTEMS U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Andreos Kaplanov, Claude Magniez
  • Publication number: 20080178533
    Abstract: A door structure of a vehicle, having an effective space within a vehicle compartment increased, is provided. The door structure has a carrier plate (4) fixed to an inner panel (3) for closing an opening portion (3a) formed in the inner panel (3); and a plurality of trim members (7, 8, 9) for covering an inside of the carrier plate (4) within a vehicle compartment, the plurality of trim members (7, 8, 9) including a belt line trim (7) disposed along a belt line in an upper end portion of the inner panel (3), a pocket trim (8) disposed in the vicinity of a lower portion of the inner panel (3), and an arm rest trim (9) disposed between the belt line trim (7) and the pocket trim (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoji Nakamori, Yutaka Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7401832
    Abstract: An opening and closing apparatus of a vehicle includes, an opening and closing member for opening and closing an opening portion of a vehicle body; a lower hinge for pivotably supporting the opening and closing member from below; and a cover member disposed below the opening and closing member placed in a closed state for covering a pivot support portion of the lower hinge from behind, wherein when the opening and closing member is in an open state, a pivoting portion pivotably supported by the pivot support portion straddles the cover member, the opening and closing member is located rearwardly of the cover member, and an uppermost site of the pivoting portion is located at a position not higher than an upper surface of the opening and closing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Kenji Yui, Katsuhisa Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20080163556
    Abstract: A door for an automotive vehicle provides a tailored space to receive a door window if the window is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Martin Witte
  • Publication number: 20080148647
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes inner and outer panels with a space between panels. Guide rails are mounted to the inner panel by an adjustable mounting assembly. The adjustable mounting assembly includes a first fastener, mounted to the rail, and a second fastener, mounted to the inner panel opposite the first fastener. A coupler interconnects the first and second fasteners along a common axis while providing a space between the ends of the fasteners. Apertures are provided near the bottom of the vehicle door to provide access to the couplers. Rotating the coupler with a wrench around the common axis alters the distance between the first and second fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Milos Pavlovic
  • Patent number: 7390050
    Abstract: A belt molding includes an elongated molding body mounted along a clearance portion between a frame member and a panel member of a vehicle, a first acting portion provided at the molding body and configured to push the frame member, and a second acting portion provided at the molding body and configured to engage with the panel member. The second acting portion is elastically formed in order to establish an engaged state where the second acting portion is engaged with the panel member and a disengaged state where the second acting portion is disengaged from the panel member. The second acting portion includes a pressing portion which is configured to be pushed towards the frame member along the panel member by an external device inserted between the panel member and the molding body to change the engaged state to the disengaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignees: Aisin Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Nakao, Tomohiro Taguchi, Yoshimune Shimada
  • Publication number: 20080141592
    Abstract: An automotive door comprises an outer metal panel and an inner metal panel which are coupled with each other to constitute a door base construction. The door base construction has therein a clearance that is defined between the outer and inner metal panels. A module base is incorporated with the inner metal panel and has a swelled portion that is projected into the clearance. Due to provision of module base having such swelled portion, rigidity of the door is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Yasunori Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20080127570
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rear module for fitting to a motor vehicle, the module comprising: a large door for being pivotally mounted about an axis, the large door extending in a direction parallel to said axis between two stiffener uprights both presenting a cross-section of thickness, taken perpendicularly to the door, that is not less than a first thickness, the large door having an opening extending as far as said uprights in the direction parallel to said axis; and a small door mounted on the large door to move between an open position uncovering said opening, and a closed position closing said opening, the small door extending in the direction parallel to the axis between two stiffener uprights both having a cross-section of thickness, taken perpendicularly to the door, that is not less than a second thickness, the uprights of the small door covering the uprights of the large door when the small door is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: COMPAGNIE PLASTIC OMNIUM
    Inventors: Gerald Andre, Guilherme Amorin, Jerome Fillon, Fabien Delwal, Denis Barral
  • Publication number: 20080127569
    Abstract: A window surround module (10) for installation to the perimeter of a window opening (120, 248) in a motor vehicle door panel (118 , 244) comprises individual window surround components that are fabricated into a unitary structure. The individual components include two or more of a header molding (16, 130), a bell molding (18, 132), a mirror base (12, 28, 140), a B-pillar trim piece (14, 134), a glass run channel (150, 260), a wire harness (264), a wire harness support (262), seals (24, 200, 202, 2004), a mirror (30, 114), and a window (122, 246). At least some of the components are molded together to form a unit to which other components are mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Ian Boddy, Peter John Ellis
  • Publication number: 20080115420
    Abstract: An up-stop mechanism for a vehicular window provides, in some embodiments of the present invention, a means of adjustment of a window position from inside the vehicle, rather than, for example, through its beltline. Embodiments of the present invention may also permit adjustment of the window without loss of the position of the up stop and, with it, the vertical limit of the controlled window pane. Fine adjustment of the window position is also enabled through the use of indirect control of the position of the up stop and gradations on an adjacent base plate, on which the up stop is adjustably mounted. Embodiments of the present invention may provide an adjustment interface on a portion of an up stop, while a complementary interface, designed to engage the adjustment interface of the up stop, may be provided on an adjusting component, most preferably one that is borne or mounted separately from the up stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Kidd, Lawrence J. Olivieri
  • Publication number: 20080116722
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a supporting module for vehicle doors and a mounting procedure for said module, wherein said module incorporates the usual functional elements provided in vehicle doors and is meant to facilitate the mounting tasks. It incorporates an element meant to provide a sealing by covering one of the main openings of the inner plate of the door box, thereby separating the wet area and the dry area of the vehicle. The special configuration of the module and the openings of the inner plate of the door box facilitate the mounting and removal tasks of the module and the elements incorporated on the door, as well as the establishment of a sealing. In addition, the module is freed of all structural responsibilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Grupo Antolin-Ingenieria, S.A.
    Inventors: Jose Francisco Garcia Martin, David Osorio Ortega, Cesar Marcos Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 7364218
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an improved hardware carrier for use in a trim panel assembly, and a method of making the same. To this end, the hardware carrier includes a body having a front and back surface and a seal molded to the front surface of the body for contacting the doorframe structure of a motor vehicle to seal the carrier thereto. A two-shot molding process utilizing a single mold assembly is used to form the carrier, with the body being formed in the first shot and the seal being formed in the second shot so that the seal is bonded thereto. The molded seal advantageously is provided with a non-linear configuration, such as a substantially repeating v-shaped configuration, and includes a planar top surface. The non-linear configuration of the seal, in conjunction with the top planar surface, advantageously provides a substantial surface area for contacting the doorframe to prevent water leakage within the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bogdan Radu, John D Youngs, James Gregory
  • Patent number: 7363750
    Abstract: A sliding door for vehicles including a space frame formed from a U-shaped extruded aluminum tube and a crossbeam to which inner and outer aluminum door panels are attached. Hardware for operation of the door is mounted on the exposed inside surface of the door. The overall weight of the door is about 20 pounds and the door is about 35 mm thick. A movable window assembly for such a door and a method of making are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Seksaria, John W. Cobes
  • Patent number: 7347026
    Abstract: A door module, with a trim (9) on which practically all the component items are mounted or assembled, mechanical subassemblies of the lock and the window winder, wiring, etc. with a relative sliding movement between the mechanical subassemblies and the trim, facilitating assembly in the door. The trim includes openings for access to the fixing points for the different items in the door inner liner, as well as a system of waterproofing against moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Grupo Antolin-Ingeniera S.A.
    Inventors: Jose Francisco Garcia Martin, Jose Ignacio Gonzalez Saiz, Alberto Manso Moneo, Ricardo Manzanas Rodriguez, Cesar Marcos Gonzalez, Francisco Javier Martinez Moral
  • Patent number: 7347483
    Abstract: A retrofit vehicle door lift conversion kit adapted for lifting a vehicle door vertically that fits as a conversion kit replacing factory door hinges on a variety of different types of existing vehicles. A door attaching arm is mounted to a fixed chassis plate by a double axis connector for horizontal and vertical motion. A lift assisting actuator, which may be a vehicle specific pressure adjustable gas pressure spring, pivotally mounted between the plate and the arm, assists in lifting the door vertically. Replaceable vehicle specific plates mount to the fixed chassis plate. A replaceable vehicle specific arm and door attaching brackets mount to the door attaching arm. A horizontal limiter, a mechanical vertical height limit adjustment device, a vertical lift adjustment, and a safety lock for maintaining the door in the up position are adjustable for specific vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph M. De Bono
  • Publication number: 20080034667
    Abstract: A window blind for motor vehicle doors including a winding shaft arranged underneath the window's lower edge is provided. One edge of the blind sheet is fastened to the winding shaft and its other edge is attached to a pull bar. The pull bar is connected to at least one support rod that is arranged approximately at a right angle to the pull bar and projects into the body of the door. The support rod is guided is guided in the body of the door and is provided at its inner end with a dog. The dog is designed to cooperate with the lower pane edge, so that the window blind is also opened semiautomatically when the window is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: BOS Gmbh & Co. KG
    Inventor: Erik Fischer
  • Publication number: 20080034668
    Abstract: A window blind for motor vehicle doors including a winding shaft arranged underneath the window's lower edge is provided. One edge of the blind sheet is fastened to the winding shaft and its other edge is attached to a pull bar. The pull bar is connected to at least one support rod that is arranged approximately at a right angle to the pull bar and projects into the body of the door. The support rod is guided in the door body and it is provided at its inner end with a dog. The dog is designed to cooperate with a dog driven by the window lifter, so that the window blind is also opened semiautomatically when the window is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: BOS GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Erik Fischer
  • Publication number: 20080022602
    Abstract: This door lining fixing construction is constructed such that: an assist grip provided on a vehicle interior side of a door lining is fixed to a bracket provided on a vehicle exterior side of the door lining; the bracket is extended to an inner handle opening that is formed in the door lining; the bracket is fixed to a door inner panel through the inner handle opening; an inner handle is disposed between the bracket and the door lining; and an operation hole is formed in the inner handle for fixing the bracket to the door inner panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Senoo
  • Publication number: 20080022601
    Abstract: A window regulator, e.g., for a vehicle window, which includes opposing block and pulley arrangements that interact via a lift pulley mounted to a lift plate that slides along a rail. Operative movement of a crank assembly in a first sense tensions a cable to move the lift plate towards a first end of the rail and operative movement of the crank assembly in a second sense, opposite the first sense, tensions a cable to move the lift plate towards a second end of the rail. The regulator enables the reduction of the operating torque requirements without affecting the packaging of the crank assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: Peter J. Smith
  • Patent number: 7324894
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a directional attitude of a driven load in respect to a level plane is employed to adjust initial driving power requirements in order to overcome the effects of such attitude. The apparatus employs a sensor for measuring the attitude, a processor for comparing the measurement against a threshold and a driver for altering the initial driving power requirements. Additional sensors for measuring shock, vibration, and temperature levels that the load is subjected to prior to the movement may be employed for calibration of the directional attitude measuring sensor or for further adjustment of the initial driving power requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Urman, James W. Citta, Warren D. Roddy
  • Publication number: 20070294950
    Abstract: The invention concerns a window assembly in a vehicle having a window pane that is fixed in a window frame that is also used for movable windows. The window assembly may have a window mounting bracket assembly including a support plate mounted to the vehicle structure; a window support cam mounted to the support plate and pivotable about a cam axis, the window support cam having a lobe portion extending away from the cam axis and a peripheral window support surface for receiving and supporting a lower edge of the window pane; and a cam lock operatively engaging the window support cam to selectively prevent the window support cam from rotating relative to the support plate. The invention also concerns a method of mounting the fixed window pane in the vehicle window assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Randy C. Allen, David T. Renke
  • Publication number: 20070289222
    Abstract: The door assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a door part and a trim panel (1) configured for attachment to a door part (21, 22) by means of attachment means (4, 5) configured to achieve the attachment by means of two movements, one of these being perpendicular to the other. The assembly comprises a connection system (7, 8, 9) between an opening handle (6) and a latch (3); this connection system comprises two pivotable elements (7, 8) which are coupled to each other when the trim panel is coupled to the door part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Frederic Papi, John Stickney
  • Patent number: 7300097
    Abstract: A door for a vehicle includes an outer panel for forming the contour of the door, a door reinforcement formed in a perimeter shape shaped in conformity with the contour of the door, and a substantially U-shaped inner panel that is upwardly open. Front and rear edges and lower edges of the door reinforcement and the inner panel are respectively connected to each other by welding to form a box-shaped section. Both ends of a side impact bar are welded or fused to front and rear vertical walls and of the door reinforcement, and a door hinge is attached to the vertical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hayami Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20070220812
    Abstract: A door core module and integrated door system are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the core module includes a molded panel having two or more channels injection molded therein, and a plurality of notches formed in an upper surface of the panel arranged about the panel to provide control break points. In at least one specific embodiment, the integrated door system includes an outer panel, an inner panel, and a core module. The core module includes two or more channels injection molded therewith and a plurality of notches formed in an upper surface thereof. The notches are arranged about the core module to provide control break points. Further, the core module is adapted to attach to either the outer panel or the inner panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Jeffrey Valentage, Joseph Gustaaf Marie Flendrig
  • Patent number: 7263804
    Abstract: A vehicle door, wherein a drive unit for raising and lowering a glass plate is constructed so that a plurality of pulleys across which wires are laid are provided at upper and lower sides of a base panel. The glass plate is moved up and down by driving the wires, and the glass plate is prevented from moving in a vehicle inward direction when the door is closed. Wire fixing portions are prevented from being damaged by large upward and downward stroke movements of the glass plate Furthermore, the wires are prevented from slackening when the wires are driven and stopped by providing a supporting rod along a path of upward and downward movement of the glass plate, and a contact member which has no contact with the supporting rod. Trumpet-shaped guide portions are provided at hole edges of the wire fixing portions, and the V-shaped circumferential surfaces of a tensioner eliminates slack in the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Ansei
    Inventors: Koji Ishii, Shinichi Nishikawa, Takashi Nishio, Yoshihiro Ando
  • Publication number: 20070199248
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door with a door body is formed from a door inner part and a door outer panel fastened thereto. The door body has toward a top, a shaft opening for a window shaft located inside the door body, and a shaft reinforcement fastened to the door inner part and extends below the shaft opening and on which the door outer panel is supported with its upper flange which lies adjacent to the shaft opening and is bent off downwardly. A window seal is assigned to the shaft opening and is received in a fastening groove formed at least by a first upright longitudinal web of the shaft reinforcement. For production reasons, the downwardly bent-off flange is made as a free-standing wall connected firmly to the shaft reinforcement only with its lower end portion. The free-standing wall delimits the fastening groove laterally together with the longitudinal web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Klaus Rieder, Manfred Appel, Karlheinz Keller
  • Publication number: 20070169418
    Abstract: The vehicular open and close panel system includes a drive means configured to supply power for sliding, and opening and closing a panel to open and close an opening of a vehicle body; a drive mechanism configured to operate the panel by power from the drive means; and a controller configured to control an operation of the panel, wherein the controller includes a pinch detection mode of making the panel perform a pinch elimination operation upon detecting a pinch in a close direction operation, and a complete close mode of prioritizing a close direction operation, depending on a complete close operation of a passenger, and wherein after performing the pinch detection operation by the pinch detection mode, the controller changes the close direction operation to the complete close mode until a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Noro, Kenji Shioiri
  • Patent number: 7246465
    Abstract: An automotive door module has a plastic support panel and a plurality of door hardware components mounted thereon as a preassembled unit. The plastic support panel has forward and rearward pairs of upper and lower integrally molded stand-offs that secure forward and rearward rolled section guide rails of a cable operated window regulator without any intervening brackets. The plastic support panel also has an integrally molded handle bracket that rotatably supports a handle that operates a push-pull cable. The plastic support panel also includes an integrally molded bumper stop support that extends from the lower stand-off of one of the pairs of stand-offs through a hole in the guide rail secured to it and supports an annular bumper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Brian Hale Staser
  • Patent number: 7234274
    Abstract: A vehicle door drive unit for raising and lowering a glass plate is constructed so that a plurality of pulleys across which wires extend are provided at upper and lower sides of a base panel. The glass plate is supported by a carrier plate which is connected to the wire ends. The glass plate is moved up and down by the wires and is prevented from excessively moving in a vehicle inward direction when the door is closed by a supporting rod positioned along an upward and downward path of the glass plate and a contact member. Trumpet shaped guide portions are formed at the edges of holes of the wire fixing portions of the carrier plate and the circumferential surfaces of a V-shaped tensioner are provided for eliminating slack in the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Ansei
    Inventors: Koji Ishii, Shinichi Nishikawa, Takashi Nishio, Yoshihiro Ando
  • Patent number: 7234756
    Abstract: An exterior accessory assembly or module for a vehicle door assembly comprises an exterior rearview mirror and/or door cap assembly, which may further include a cover member, a door handle, window frame, window seal and/or an exterior rearview mirror assembly. The vehicle door assembly includes a door frame, which includes a cap and/or mirror mounting region, a lock and/or latch mechanism, trim pieces, and/or the like, and is mountable to a vehicle at the vehicle assembly plant as a single unit. The exterior rearview mirror and/or the cap assembly may mount to the modular door and provide an exterior rearview mirror, a window frame and/or door handle. The cap assembly and door frame may include corresponding electrical connectors for connecting electrical accessories of the cap assembly to a door wiring or harness. The cap assembly may include a window seal for slidably engaging a movable window panel of the cap assembly or door assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Niall R Lynam, Peter J Whitehead, David E Nestell, Loren B Renkema
  • Patent number: 7219949
    Abstract: A door of a motor vehicle has a substantially rigid sheet that extends downwardly from a lower edge of the door. The sheet may be opaque, translucent, or transparent. The sheet may be fixed in the extended position or may be selectively retractable and extendable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Plavetich, John Cupit
  • Patent number: 7210730
    Abstract: There is provided a mounting structure of an automobile, wherein a belt line outer weather strip and a center pillar garnish are mounted on a door panel via an end cap mechanism. The center pillar garnish comprises a concave groove in a lower end portion thereof. The concave groove opens in a down ward direction. The end cap mechanism comprises a roughly U-shaped gripping groove in an upper portion thereof and a clip portion in a lower portion thereof. The gripping groove of the end cap mechanism holds a cut upper end portion of the belt line outer weather strip and an upper concave groove portion of the center pillar garnish as well as an upper pass hole portion of the center pillar portion. The clip portion is inserted into a mounting hole of the door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Fujita, Eiichi Baba, Syuuji Raisu
  • Patent number: 7198319
    Abstract: The invention relates to a door module (2) for a vehicle door, which is divided in a sealed manner into an outer wet chamber (44) that faces the door shell (1) and an inner dry chamber (43). Said door module is equipped with pre-assembled mechanical and/or electrical functional components that are fixed in the dry chamber and can be mechanically and/or electrically connected to door components that are located in the wet chamber. The seal between the dry chamber and the wet chamber is formed by a separation sheet (12), which is penetrated by sealed connecting elements of the functional components that are held on the dry side of said separation sheet in the door module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Helmut Schröder, Alexander Schidan, Hans-Helmut Mieglitz, Harald John, Derek Jones
  • Patent number: 7156417
    Abstract: An automotive side impact assembly 10 is provided. The automotive side impact assembly 10 includes a door assembly 18 having a door body portion 20 and a window opening portion 22. The door body portion 20 and said window opening portion 22 meet to form a beltline 24. A window assembly 26 is positioned within the window opening portion 22 and extends into the door body portion 20 when in a window closed condition 28. An automotive seat assembly 12 is positioned adjacent said door assembly 18. A side-impact air bag assembly 32 is positioned within the automobile 14 such that the side air-bag 32 is deployed between the door assembly 18 and the automotive seat 12. The side-impact air bag assembly 32 has a deployed condition in which a side air-bag 32 is deployed during a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Zheng James Peng
  • Patent number: 7156448
    Abstract: An impact protection system is provided for a door of a motor vehicle and extends between upright door frames of a door body. On one side the impact protection system is connected with a hinge column by way of hinges and, on the other side, adjacent to a lock of the door, is connected with an additional column. The hinge column and additional column are integrated in a body structure of a body of the motor vehicle. In order to optimize this impact protection system, the lock is mounted on the latter and, in the closed condition of the door, an engaging device of the door interacts with a receiving device of a deformation device which is fastened to the additional column of the vehicle body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reiner Armbruster, Andre Scholz, Martin Goehrke, Jens Zimmer, Andreas Kohler
  • Patent number: 7152373
    Abstract: A glass run channel assembly for mounting on the door frame of an automotive vehicle and for accommodating a glass run seal and a glass window comprising a glass run channel upper frame, a glass run guide, and a glass run lower frame frame, each having a bottom wall and two side walls disposed on either side of the bottom wall, forming a U-shape. In operation, the lower frame is slidably engaged within the guide until the lower frame converges with a lower frame stop formed by a side wall of the guide. A tab locator is formed in each of the two side walls of the upper frame to guide the guide as it slidably engages within the upper frame. Upon sliding within the upper frame, a channel upper stop formed in a side wall of the guide converges with one of the tab locators on the upper frame locator, thereby preventing the guide from sliding too far into the upper frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Decoma International Inc.
    Inventors: Belton Hoffman, Davinder Singh
  • Patent number: 7124541
    Abstract: A curved vehicle door having a correspondingly curved windowpane and a correspondingly curved function carrier on which all of the add-on parts and door coverings are held and which can be used as protection for the occupant in the event of a lateral crash against the door. The function carrier is constructed in a sandwich-like manner from at least two shell bodies each having one of horizontal and vertical stiffening sections, the stiffening sections forming crossing points for fastening the shell bodies to each other so that the shell bodies form together a continuously closed frame of the function carrier. The outer shell body forms the curved outer side of the function carrier having at least two parallel grooves for accommodating a window lifting and lowering device which has a curvature matched to the curvature of the vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventor: Gerald Fellner
  • Patent number: 7125067
    Abstract: A lightweight automotive vehicle door assembly incorporates a modular concept having an outer door panel, an inner door panel, a reinforcement beam, and a hardware mounting module. The outer panel is preferably formed from aluminum, polypropylene or steel, while the inner door panel is preferably cast from magnesium with the hardware mounting module formed of thermoplastic. The magnesium inner panel is mounted to the outer panel by a hemming process while hardware is mounted to the inner panel through the use of two-piece thermoplastic inserts creating a dielectric barrier between the fasteners and the magnesium inner panel. The reinforcement beam is formed of a composite material consisting of a glass and carbon fiber reinforced outer skin with an interior core of polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roy Bonnett, Greg Bretz, Saravanan Subramanian, Patrick Blanchard
  • Patent number: 7100330
    Abstract: A door module support, for fixing to a door body, between the damp space and the dry space of a motor vehicle, having a support plate for the location of functional elements of a vehicle door, for example, a window winder, a doorlock, door handle and/or a door internal cladding, first fixing points on for the support plate which serve for the fixing of the support plate to the door body. In the mounted state thereof, one surface of the support plate is facing the damp space and the other surface is facing the dry space with a sealing contour around the edge thereof, along which the support plate lies against the door body in a sealed manner when in the mounted state. The support plate further includes second fixing points, for the fixing of at least one functional element to the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignees: Brose Fahrzeugtelle GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg, Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Reul, Thierry Florentin, Bertrand Stelandre, Herve Leconte
  • Patent number: 7097231
    Abstract: A vehicle door module includes a door trim defining a plane and a window regulator rail separably fixed to the door trim. The rail is fastened to a door at a fastening point. A projecting line extends from the fastening point and perpendicular to the rail to intersects the plane outside the door trim A method for assembling the door module in a door includes introducing the window regulator rail into the shell of the vehicle door, fastening the fastening point to the shell, and separating the door trim from the rail. Access is not impeded by the door trim. The arrangement simplifies mounting of the window regulator to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Systems - France
    Inventors: Chris Rhodes, Sylvain Chonavel
  • Patent number: 7097742
    Abstract: A vehicle door body outer panel includes a lower frame arranged in a lower portion of the door body, extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, an outside plate forming a surface of the vehicle body outside the lower frame, and an inside plate folded back at a lower end portion of the outside plate, extending to the inside of the lower frame. When the lower frame and the outer panel are joined to each other, a closed cross section is formed in the lower portion of the door body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Furuse
  • Patent number: 7093393
    Abstract: A profiled frame, as a window frame and/or door frame of a motor vehicle door or lid, is manufactured as a roll formed profile from flat strip material, in particular from flat steel, with a preferably closed hollow profile and with preferably at least one flange following the progression of the hollow profile, and with at least one contact surface (15) and/or one attachment formation (16) on the hollow profile and/or the flange. At least one contact surface (15) and/or attachment formation (16) is fashioned into an additional profile which is separate from a hollow profile, and that the additional profile is permanently and rigidly connected with said hollow profile, in particular welded to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Wagon Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Hock, Juergen Hock, Thomas Krebs, Thomas Krimm, Thomas Ueberreiter, Klaus Vath
  • Patent number: 7086201
    Abstract: Frame for a door and/or window, particularly for a transport vehicle, comprising a seal support, and a seal which seals between at least part of a peripheral edge of the door and/or window and the seal support when the door and/or window is or are in the closed position, and which is in the form of an injection-molded element of elastic nature, characterized in that it further comprises an intermediate element which is equipped with the seal molded onto it and which has the first fixing means, and in that the seal support and second fixing means capable of collaborating with the said first fixing means to fix the intermediate element, equipped with the seal molded onto it, to the seal support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: GenCorp Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Louis Philip Marie Ghislain Struyven, Heinz-Peter Backes
  • Patent number: 7077450
    Abstract: A sound-absorbing material is attached to the bottom edge of a periphery of the lower portion of a car door 30. The material is positioned above the seal member 1 which makes a resilient contact with a body panel 20, and carries out the seal between the outside and the inside of the car. The material is made of a foam 10 having specific gravity of about 0.05–0.4. The material restrains the noise. The foam 10 may be provided with a plurality of protrusions 12 on the surface thereof, or it may be provided with a hollow part 13 along the longitudinal direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kohara, Tatsuo Kobayashi, Syuuji Raisu
  • Patent number: 7069696
    Abstract: An assembly including a door panel, a window regulator housing component, and a window regulator drive system component. The door panel is secured to the window regulator housing component by a deformed portion to provide a subassembly. The deformed portion is utilized to releaseably secure the window regulator drive system component to the subassembly via a fourth component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems-France
    Inventors: Mark Graham Lawrie, Yann Le Gallo, Pascal de Vries, Klaus B. Wilhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damien Cabanne
  • Patent number: 7062945
    Abstract: A door handle apparatus having a door handle 12 which is provided on a back door of an automobile in such a manner as to oscillate freely and a cover member 20 for covering the door handle 12, wherein a detection sensor 30 for detecting the approach of an operator toward the door handle 12 is provided between the door handle 12 and the cover member 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Saitoh, Kazuhiko Yamada, Tomofumi Ichinose