Door glass assembly for vehicle

A door glass assembly for a vehicle, includes a door panel; a fixed wall which is fixedly connected to a top end of the door panel; an upper guide rail which is extended along a top edge of the fixed wall; a lower guide rail which is extended along a bottom edge of the fixed wall; and a door glass which is movable in a horizontal direction with respect to the fixed wall, and is guided to move along the upper guide rail and the lower guide rail in the horizontal direction, wherein the door glass opens and closes a portion of a door opening defined by the door panel and the fixed wall, and an external surface of the door glass is flush with an external surface of the fixed wall when the door glass is in a closed position to close the door opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0120002, filed on Oct. 8, 2018, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a door glass assembly for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Side doors of a passenger vehicle include a door frame having a window opening, a door glass which is movable in a vertical direction to open and close the window opening of the door frame, and a door regulator moving the door glass in the vertical direction.

In general, the side door of the vehicle has a stepped portion between an outer surface of the door frame and an outer surface of the door glass due to a roof of a vehicle body, a weatherstrip belt, a filler of the vehicle body, etc., so that the door glass is recessed relative to the door frame. The stepped portion may degrade the exterior styling of the vehicle, and may cause the generation of turbulence, wind noise, and the like while the vehicle is travelling, thereby degrading aerodynamic performance and noise vibration harshness (NVH) performance.

In addition, as a door panel of a typical side door has a sufficient space for receiving a door glass and a door regulator, the width of the door panel is increased, and thus the interior space of the vehicle is relatively narrowed.

The matters described in the background section are provided to assist in understanding the background of the invention, and may include any technical concept which is not considered as the prior art known to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a door glass assembly for a vehicle, allowing a flush-glass arrangement to minimize parts and guiding a door glass to move in a horizontal direction, thereby maximizing an interior space of the vehicle.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a door glass assembly for a vehicle, may include: a door panel; a fixed wall which is fixedly connected to a top end of the door panel; an upper guide rail which is extended along a top edge of the fixed wall; a lower guide rail which is extended along a bottom edge of the fixed wall; and a door glass which is movable in a horizontal direction with respect to the fixed wall, and is guided to move along the upper guide rail and the lower guide rail in the horizontal direction, wherein the door glass may open and close a portion of a door opening defined by the door panel and the fixed wall, and an external surface of the door glass may be flush with an external surface of the fixed wall when the door glass is in a closed position to close the door opening.

The upper guide rail may include a first upper rail section which is spaced apart from the fixed wall toward an interior space of the vehicle, a second upper rail section which is offset from the first upper rail section toward the interior space of the vehicle, and a third upper rail section connecting the first upper rail section and the second upper rail section, and the lower guide rail may include a first lower rail section which is spaced apart from the fixed wall toward the interior space of the vehicle, a second lower rail section which is offset from the first lower rail section toward the interior space of the vehicle, and a third lower rail section connecting the first lower rail section and the second lower rail section.

The door glass assembly may further include: a vertical guide rail attached to an internal surface of the door glass; and an upper guide shaft connected between the upper guide rail and the vertical guide rail, wherein the upper guide shaft may have a first roller which is guided along the upper guide rail, and a second roller which is guided along the vertical guide rail.

The door glass assembly may further include a lower guide shaft connected between the lower guide rail and an internal surface of a bottom end of the door glass, wherein the lower guide shaft may have a third roller which is guided along the lower guide rail.

The third upper rail section may be extended from a front end of the first upper rail section in an oblique direction, and the second upper rail section may be extended from a front end of the third upper rail section toward the front of the vehicle.

The third upper rail section and the second upper rail section may protrude from a front edge of the fixed wall toward the front of the vehicle.

The third lower rail section may be extended from a front end of the first lower rail section in an oblique direction, and the second lower rail section may be extended from a front end of the third lower rail section toward the front of the vehicle.

The third lower rail section and the second lower rail section may protrude from a front edge of the fixed wall toward the front of the vehicle.

The door glass assembly may further include: an upper support provided on a top end of the fixed wall, and supporting the upper guide rail; and a lower support provided on a bottom end of the fixed wall, and supporting the lower guide rail.

The upper support may include a first upper support section supporting the first upper rail section, a second upper support section supporting the second upper rail section, and a third upper support section supporting the third upper rail section.

The door glass assembly may further include: an upper flat section connected to a top end of the upper support; and at least one weatherstrip disposed between the upper flat section and a top edge of the door glass, wherein the weatherstrip may seal the top edge of the door glass.

The lower support may include a first lower support section supporting the first lower rail section, a second lower support section supporting the second lower rail section, and a third lower support section supporting the third lower rail section.

The door glass assembly may further include: a lower flat section connected to a bottom end of the lower support; and at least one weatherstrip disposed between the lower flat section and a bottom edge of the door glass, wherein the weatherstrip may seal the bottom edge of the door glass.

An interior trim may be fixedly connected to an internal surface of a front edge of the fixed wall, and the interior trim may have at least one weatherstrip sealing a rear edge of the door glass.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or equivalent elements. In addition, a detailed description of well-known techniques associated with the present disclosure will be ruled out in order not to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure.

In a flush-glass arrangement, the door glass is flush with the door frame or the outer surface of the vehicle. In the flush-glass arrangement, however, it is required to maintain a gap between the door frame and the door glass uniformly and to secure the vertical movement of the door glass, so that the door frame structure may become complicated. Thus, expensive parts may be additionally required, and the assembly process may be difficult, resulting in an increase in manufacturing costs.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a door glass assembly10for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, may include a door panel11, a fixed wall12which is fixedly connected to a top end of the door panel11, and a door glass25which is movable in a horizontal direction with respect to the fixed wall12.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, the door panel11may have an outer panel11a, an inner panel11b, and a door trim11c.

As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, a bottom end of the fixed wall12may be fixedly connected to the outer panel11aof the door panel11.

Referring toFIG. 1, in embodiments, the door glass assembly10may open and close a door opening2of a vehicle1. As illustrated inFIGS. 1, 9, and 11, a portion of the door opening2may be opened and closed by the door glass25. The portion of the door opening2to be opened and closed by the door glass25may be defined by the door panel11and the fixed wall12. As illustrated inFIGS. 1, 9, and 11, the portion of the door opening2may be defined by a top edge of the door panel11and a front edge of the fixed wall12. In embodiments, the opening may be defined by the top edge of the door panel, a front edge of the fixed wall12and a portion of a vehicle body.

The door glass25may be movable between an opened position in which the portion of the door opening2is opened (seeFIG. 11) and a closed position in which the portion of the door opening2is closed (seeFIG. 1). The door glass25may be mechanically connected to a drive mechanism50, and the door glass25may be moved horizontally by the drive mechanism50to open and close the portion of the door opening2. Similar to a drive mechanism for a sunroof, the drive mechanism50may have a drive motor and a power transmission mechanism to move the door glass25in the horizontal direction. The drive mechanism50may be disposed inside the door panel11adjacent to the bottom end of the fixed wall12, and thus the door panel11may be made thinner than a typical one.

In the illustrated embodiment, in a state in which the door glass assembly10fully closes the door opening2of the vehicle, the fixed wall12may partition an interior space and an exterior space of the vehicle.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, an upper guide rail21may be fixedly connected to or coupled to a top end of the fixed wall12, and the upper guide rail21may extend along a top edge of the fixed wall12. A lower guide rail22may be fixedly connected to the bottom end of the fixed wall12, and the lower guide rail22may extend along a bottom edge of the fixed wall12. The upper guide rail21and the lower guide rail22may guide the horizontal movement of the door glass25.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, in embodiments, the top edge of the fixed wall12may have a curved section12fon the rear thereof, and the upper guide rail21may have a curved section21fcorresponding to the curved section12fof the fixed wall12.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 5, in embodiments, an upper support13may be provided on the top end of the fixed wall12, and the upper support13may support the upper guide rail21. For example, the upper guide rail21may be connected to the upper support13by welding, fasteners, or the like, so that the upper guide rail21may be supported by the upper support13. The upper support13and the upper guide rail21may be spaced apart from an internal surface12bof the fixed wall12toward the interior space of the vehicle (see the direction of arrow IN).

Referring toFIG. 3, the upper guide rail21may include a first upper rail section21a, a second upper rail section21band a third upper rail section21c. The first upper rail section21ais spaced apart from the fixed wall12toward the interior space of the vehicle. The second upper rail section21bis offset from the first upper rail section21atoward the interior space of the vehicle. The third upper rail section21cconnecting the first upper rail section21aand the second upper rail section21b. The first upper rail section21amay extend along the top edge of the fixed wall12, and the second upper rail section21bmay be connected to the first upper rail section21athrough the third upper rail section21c. The third upper rail section21cmay extend between the first upper rail section21aand the second upper rail section21bin an oblique direction. In embodiments, the first upper rail section21ais parallel to the second upper rail section21b, and the third upper rail section21cis inclined with respect to the first and second upper rail sections.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the third upper rail section21cmay extend from a front end of the first upper rail section21ain the oblique direction, and the second upper rail section21bmay extend from a front end of the third upper rail section21ctoward the front of the vehicle. In embodiments, the third upper rail section21cand the second upper rail section21bmay protrude from a front end12gof the fixed wall12toward the front of the vehicle (see the direction of arrow FR inFIG. 3). As illustrated inFIG. 3, when the door glass25is in the closed position to close the door opening2, a front edge of the first upper rail section21amay be adjacent to a rear edge of the door glass25, and an external surface25aof the door glass25may be flush with an external surface12aof the fixed wall12. As described above, the second upper rail section21bmay be offset from the fixed wall12toward the interior space of the vehicle, and protrude from the front end12gof the fixed wall12toward the front of the vehicle, so that a simple, compact flush-glass arrangement may be effectively achieved.

Referring toFIG. 3, in embodiments, the upper support13may include a first upper support section13asupporting the first upper rail section21a, a second upper support section13bsupporting the second upper rail section21b, and a third upper support section13csupporting the third upper rail section21c. The first upper support section13amay extend along the top edge of the fixed wall12, and the second upper support section13bmay be connected to the first upper support section13athrough the third upper support section13c. The third upper support section13cmay extend between the first upper support section13aand the second upper support section13bin the oblique direction.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 5, in embodiments, the first upper rail section21amay be connected to the first upper support section13aby welding, fasteners, or the like.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the second upper rail section21bmay be connected to the second upper support section13bby welding, fasteners, or the like. As illustrated inFIG. 5, the second upper support section13bmay be integrally connected to the top end of the fixed wall12through an inclined portion12c.

Referring toFIGS. 1, 4, and 5, in embodiments, an upper flat section14may be connected or coupled to a top end of the upper support13, and the upper flat section14may extend along the top edge of the fixed wall12. Thus, the upper flat section14may be integrally connected to the top end of the first upper support section13a, the top end of the second upper support section13b, and the top end of the third upper support section13c.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the upper flat section14may be adjacent to an interior headliner6and a roof side outer5of the vehicle. As illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5, a first weatherstrip31and a second weatherstrip32may be disposed between the upper flat section14and a top edge of the door glass25. The first weatherstrip31may be mounted on the roof side outer5of the vehicle, and the second weatherstrip32may be mounted on the upper flat section14. The first and second weatherstrips31and32may seal the top edge of the door glass25.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the third upper rail section21cmay be connected to the third upper support section13cby welding, fasteners, or the like.

Referring toFIG. 3, in embodiments, the door glass25may have the external surface25afacing the exterior space of the vehicle (see the direction of arrow EX) and an internal surface25bfacing the interior space of the vehicle (see the direction of arrow IN). A vertical guide rail43which vertically extends may be attached to the internal surface25bof the door glass25. A top end of the door glass25may move along the upper guide rail21and the vertical guide rail43, and an upper guide shaft45may be connected between the upper guide rail21and the vertical guide rail43.

In the illustrated embodiment, a first roller51may be rotatably mounted on one end of the upper guide shaft45, and an axis of rotation of the first roller51may be orthogonal to an axis of the upper guide shaft45. The first roller51may roll along the upper guide rail21. A second roller52may be rotatably mounted on the other end of the upper guide shaft45, and an axis of rotation of the second roller52may be coincident with or parallel to the axis of the upper guide shaft45. The second roller52may roll and move along the vertical guide rail43. When the first roller51of the upper guide shaft45moves along the curved section21fof the upper guide rail21, the second roller52of the upper guide shaft45may move along the vertical guide rail43so that the door glass25may be moved in the horizontal direction. The upper guide shaft45may move along the upper guide rail21in the horizontal direction while moving along the vertical guide rail43in the vertical direction, so that the door glass25may be stably moved in the horizontal direction regardless of the curvature of the curved section21fof the upper guide rail21.

Referring toFIGS. 6 to 8, in embodiments, a lower support15may be provided at the bottom end of the fixed wall12, and the lower support15may support the lower guide rail22. For example, the lower guide rail22may be connected to the lower support15by welding, fasteners, or the like, so that the lower guide rail22may be supported by the lower support15.

Referring toFIG. 6, the lower guide rail22may include a first lower rail section22awhich is spaced apart from the fixed wall12toward the interior space of the vehicle, a second lower rail section22bwhich is offset from the first lower rail section22atoward the interior space of the vehicle, and a third lower rail section22cconnecting the first lower rail section22aand the second lower rail section22b. The first lower rail section22amay extend along a longitudinal direction of the fixed wall12, and the second lower rail section22bmay be connected to the first lower rail section22athrough the third lower rail section22c. The third lower rail section22cmay extends between the first lower rail section22aand the second lower rail section22bin an oblique direction. In embodiments, the first lower rail section22ais parallel to the second lower rail section22b, and the third lower rail section22cis inclined with respect to the first and second lower rail sections.

Referring toFIG. 6, the lower support15may include a first lower support section15asupporting the first lower rail section22a, a second lower support section15bsupporting the second lower rail section22b, and a third lower support section15csupporting the third lower rail section22c. The first lower support section15amay extends along the bottom edge of the fixed wall12, and the second lower support section15bmay be connected to the first lower support section15athrough the third lower support section15c. The third lower support section15cmay extends between the first lower support section15aand the second lower support section15bin the oblique direction.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the first lower rail section22amay extends along the top edge of the fixed wall12, the third lower rail section22cmay extends from a front end of the first lower rail section22ain the oblique direction, and the second lower rail section22bmay extends from a front end of the third lower rail section22c. In embodiments, the third lower rail section22cand the second lower rail section22bmay protrude from the front end12gof the fixed wall12toward the front of the vehicle (see the direction of arrow FR inFIG. 6). As illustrated inFIG. 6, when the door glass25is in the closed position to close the door opening2of the vehicle1is closed, a front edge of the first lower rail section22amay be adjacent to the rear edge of the door glass25, and the external surface25aof the door glass25may be flush with the external surface12aof the fixed wall12. As described above, the second lower rail section22bmay be offset from the fixed wall12toward the interior space of the vehicle, and protrude from the front end12gof the fixed wall12toward the front of the vehicle, so that a simple, compact flush-glass arrangement may be effectively achieved.

As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 8, the first lower rail section22amay be connected to the first lower support section15aby welding, fasteners, or the like.

As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, the second lower rail section22bmay be connected to the second lower support section15bby welding, fasteners, or the like. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the second lower support section15bmay be integrally connected to the bottom end of the fixed wall12through an inclined portion12d.

Referring toFIGS. 1, 7, and 8, a lower flat section16may be connected to a bottom end of the lower support15, and the lower flat section16may extend along the bottom edge of the fixed wall12. Thus, the lower flat section16may be integrally connected to the bottom end of the first lower support section15a, the bottom end of the second lower support section15b, and the bottom end of the third lower support section15c.

As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, in embodiments, the lower flat section16may be adjacent to the outer panel11aand the door trim11cof the door panel11. A third weatherstrip33and a fourth weatherstrip34may be disposed between the lower flat section16and a bottom edge of the door glass25. The third weatherstrip33may be mounted on the outer panel11aof the door panel11, and the fourth weatherstrip34may be mounted on the lower flat section16. The third and fourth weatherstrips33and may seal the bottom edge of the door glass25. In one embodiment, the fixed wall12, the upper and lower supports13and15and the upper and lower flat sections14and16may be formed of a single piece metal plate.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the third lower rail section22cmay be connected to the third lower support section15cby welding, fasteners, or the like.

Referring toFIG. 6, in embodiments, a bottom end of the door glass25may move along the lower guide rail22, and a lower guide shaft46may be connected between the lower guide rail22and the internal surface25bof the bottom end of the door glass25. A third roller53may be rotatably mounted on one end of the lower guide shaft46, and an axis of rotation of the third roller53may be orthogonal to an axis of the lower guide shaft46. The third roller53may roll along the lower guide rail22. A fixed bracket55may be provided at the other end of the lower guide shaft46, and the fixed bracket55may be attached to the internal surface25bof the bottom end of the door glass25, so that the other end of the lower guide shaft46may be fixedly connected to the internal surface25bof the bottom end of the door glass25through the fixed bracket55. As the third roller53of the lower guide shaft46rolls along the lower guide rail22, the bottom end of the door glass25may move along the lower guide rail22in the horizontal direction.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1, 3, and 6, when the door glass25is in the closed position, the rear edge of the door glass25may face the first upper rail section21a, and the external surface25aof the door glass25may be flush with the external surface12aof the fixed wall12. In the illustrated embodiment, there is no stepped portion between the door glass25and the fixed wall12.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 6, an interior trim26may be fixedly connected to the internal surface of the front edge of the fixed wall12. The interior trim26may have a fifth weatherstrip35and a sixth weatherstrip36sealing the rear edge of the door glass25. When the door glass25is in the closed position, the rear edge of the door glass25may be adjacent to the front edge of the fixed wall12, and the interior trim26may be disposed between the rear edge of the door glass25and the front edge of the fixed wall12.

When the door glass25fully closes the door opening2as illustrated inFIG. 1, the first roller51of the upper guide shaft45may be positioned on the second upper rail section21bof the upper guide rail21as illustrated inFIG. 3, and the third roller53of the lower guide shaft46may be positioned on the second lower rail section22bof the lower guide rail22as illustrated inFIG. 6.

In embodiments, when the door glass25starts moving to the opened position by the drive mechanism50to open a portion of the door opening2as illustrated inFIG. 9, the first roller51of the upper guide shaft45may be guided along the third upper rail section21cof the upper guide rail21as illustrated inFIG. 10, and the door glass25may protrude toward the exterior space of the vehicle (see the direction of arrow EX).

When the door glass25is moved to the fully opened position to fully open the door opening2as illustrated inFIG. 11, the first roller51of the upper guide shaft45may be guided along the first upper rail section21aof the upper guide rail21as illustrated inFIG. 12, and the door glass25may move along the external surface12aof the fixed wall12.

As set forth above, the door glass25may be guided along the upper guide rail21, the vertical guide rail43, and the lower guide rail22, so that the drive mechanism for moving the door glass25may be relatively compact inside the door panel11, compared to a corresponding one according to the related art. Since the thickness of the door panel11is made thin, the interior space of the vehicle may be increased, and sufficient spaces for displays, storage, and the like, may be secured in the inside of the door panel11.

In addition, the second upper rail section21bof the upper guide rail21and the second lower rail section22bof the lower guide rail22may be offset from the fixed wall12toward the interior space of the vehicle1and protrude from the front edge of the fixed wall12toward the front of the vehicle, so that a simple, compact flush-glass arrangement may be effectively achieved. Thus, the exterior styling, aerodynamic performance, and noise vibration harshness (NVH) performance of the vehicle may be improved, and parts such as a door module, a door regulator, a center pillar, and a door frame may be eliminated, so that the manufacturing cost may be reduced.

Hereinabove, although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, but may be variously modified and altered by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure claimed in the following claims.