Adapter for the assembly of a door control module to a motor vehicle door

An adapter received in an opening of a partition wall of a vehicle door connects a cable plug of a cable harness to a module plug of a door control module. The adapter includes a mount for the module plug, a mount for the cable plug, and an abutment face providing a seal at the partition wall. The adapter further includes a latching tab. When the adapter is inserted into the opening, the latching tab flexes outwardly, securing the adapter to the partition wall. The module plug and the cable plug can be inserted into or removed from the adapter without affecting the sealing between the wet area and the dry area of the vehicle door.

This patent application claims priority to German Patent Application Number DE 102 08 106.9 filed on Feb. 26, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a vehicle door module assembled in a vehicle door including an adapter received in an opening in a partition wall that separates a wet area from a dry area. The adapter connects a cable plug of a cable harness to a module plug of a door control module to power an assembly unit of a vehicle door that includes functional components, such as a window lifter motor or door lock. The adapter allows for assembly and disassembly of the door control module and the cable harness from the adapter.

A cable harness is employed to provide power to an assembly unit in a vehicle door that includes various functional components, such as a window lifter or a door lock. In the prior art, a cable plug of the cable harness is connected to a door control module to provide power to the assembly unit. German Patent Publication 196 53 733 discloses an electric plug connection between a door control module and a cable plug. The door control module is a simple circuit that is integrated in a plug connector. The plug connector is inserted in an opening in a partition wall of the vehicle door and includes latching tabs that non-releasably lock the plug connector to the partition wall. The cable plug is plugged into the plug connector on the opposing side of the partition wall. Seals at the interface of the plug connector and the opening in the partition wall provide sealing between the wet area and the dry area of the vehicle door.

A disadvantage to the vehicle door module of the prior art is that the door control module cannot be disassembled from the cable plug because the latching tabs non-releasably lock the plug connector in the opening of the partition wall, preventing removal of the plug connector from the partition wall. Therefore, the door control module cannot be removed from the partition wall.

There is a need in the art for a vehicle door module that allows the door control module to be removable from the partition wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A vehicle door module assembled in a vehicle door includes an adapter received in an opening of a partition wall of a vehicle door. The adapter connects a cable plug of a cable harness to a module plug of a door control module. The partition wall separates a dry area from a wet area. The adapter includes a mount for the module plug, a mount for the cable plug, and an abutment collar including a seal that presses against the partition wall when the adapter is received in the opening. The adapter provides a connection between the door control module and the cable harness to power an assembly unit of the vehicle door that includes various functional components, such as a window lifter motor or a door lock.

The adapter includes a skirt extending from the abutment face that defines an interior space. The module plug is received in a mount formed by the interior space, and the cable plug is received in a mount formed by an exterior surface of the skirt. The skirt further includes a latching tab adapted to lock the adapter in the opening of the partition wall. When the adapter is inserted in the opening of the partition wall, the latching tab presses inwardly. After the adapter is inserted in the opening, the flexible latching tab flex outwardly, locking the adapter in the opening in the partition wall.

The door control module and the abutment face of the adapter are located in the dry area of the vehicle door. The cable plug further includes a sealing layer. When the cable plug is attached to the adapter, the sealing layer creates a tight seal between the wet area and the dry area that is maintained even when the door control module is removed from the adapter.

As the adapter is secured in the opening in the partition wall by the latching tabs, the module plug and the cable plug can be inserted into or removed from the adapter without affecting the seal between the wet area and the dry area of the vehicle door. The module plug and the cable plug can also be easily assembled and disassembled for maintenance. For example, the door control module may be removed from the adapter without removing the cable plug from the adapter.

These and other features of the present invention will be best understood from the specification and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1shows a vehicle door module9of a vehicle door including a door control module10employed to control a window lifter motor, a door lock, or other vehicle door functional component. The functional door components are part of an assembly unit34. A module plug12, shown schematically, is fitted to the door control module10. In one example, the module plug12is integral with the door control module10. However, it is to be understood that other types of attachment of the module plug12to the door control module10are possible, and the structure of the module plug12is not essential for understanding the invention. The module plug12connects the door control module10to a cable plug16of a cable harness14which provides power to the assembly unit34.

The door control module10is installed inside a vehicle door, of which only a partition wall18is shown. The partition wall18divides the interior of the vehicle door into a dry area T and a wet area N. An adapter22including an abutment collar24and a skirt26defining a hollow interior space27is received in an opening20in the partition wall18. The skirt26also has an exterior surface41. The skirt26includes two flexible latching tabs28having free ends29located opposite the abutment collar24. A seal36on the surface of the abutment collar24presses against the partition wall18and prevents leakage of moisture when the adapter22is received in the opening20. The cable plug16and the module plug12are plugged into each other through the opening20in the partition wall18.

A connector plug30is provided on the rear side of the door control module10facing away from the module plug12. The connector plug30cooperates with a complementary connector plug32attached to the assembly unit34. The assembly unit34includes various functional components, such as a window lifter motor or a door lock.

FIG. 2illustrates the assembly of the adapter22on the module plug12of the door control module10. When assembled, the module plug12is received in the interior space27of the skirt26of the adapter22. The interior space27defines the mount for the module plug12, and the module plug12can be guided by the inner surface of the skirt26.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 6, after assembly of the adapter22on the module plug12, the adapter22is subsequently inserted into the opening20of the partition wall18from the dry area T of the partition wall18.

When the skirt26of the adapter22is pushed through the opening20of the partition wall18, the latching tabs28press against the skirt26of the adapter22, allowing the skirt26of the adapter22to pass through the opening20. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 7, the adapter22is pushed through the opening20until the abutment collar24rests against the partition wall18. The latching tabs28flex outwardly, securing the adapter22firmly in place in the partition wall18. The seal36pressed between the abutment collar24and the partition wall18provides sealing from moisture.

To ensure that all of the forces acting on the door control module10during operation are transferred to the partition wall18by the adapter22, the door control module10is separately fastened to the partition wall18by at least one attachment member38. The attachment member38extends through fastening brackets40on the door control module10and is received in the partition wall18. In one example, the attachment member38is a screw. However, the attachment member38can be fastening clips or rivets.

After fitting the door control module10to the partition wall18, the cable plug16of the cable harness14is plugged into the module plug12from the wet area N. The cable plug16includes a wall33having a unshaped cross section. The wall33includes an inner wall37, an outer wall39, a cavity35defined between the walls37and39, and a sealing layer42.

The cable plug16is received in a mount defined by the exterior surface41of the skirt26. When the cable plug16is plugged into the module plug12, the outer wall33of the cable plug16engages the skirt26of the adapter22, which guides and mounts the cable plug16. The sealing layer42provides a seal at the end face31of the skirt26of the adapter22.

Finally, as shown inFIG. 5, the connector plug32of the assembly unit34is plugged into the connector plug30of the door control module10from the side of the partition wall18facing away from the cable plug16. Direct access to the connector plug30is not required, and therefore the assembly unit34can be mounted blindly.

Since the cable plug16is received in the adapter22independently of the module plug12, the door control module10can be disassembled without unplugging the cable plug16. To remove the door control module10, as shown inFIG. 9, the fastening member38is first removed. As shown inFIG. 10, the door control module10is then pulled out of the adapter22. After the door control module10is removed, as shown inFIG. 11, the cable plug16remains in the adapter22. The sealing layer42that contacts the end face31of the skirt26of the adapter22provides a seal from moisture when the door control module10is removed.

Alternately, the cable plug16can be unplugged without the module plug12or the door control module10being affected. When the cable plug16is unplugged, the module plug12remains in the adapter22.

There are several advantages to the vehicle door module9of the present invention. For one, as the adapter22is secured to the partition wall18and not to the door control module10, the door control module10or the cable harness14can be easily removed from the partition wall18. Additionally, the seal36around the abutment collar24provides sealing between the wet area N and the dry area T. Additionally, the vehicle door module9including the adapter22is low cost.