Abstract:
A door frame for a vehicle for ensuring aesthetic features of the vehicle, reducing the production cost, and minimizing the entire weight may be coupled with a bright molding providing for improving aesthetic features of a vehicle and a door glass run guiding open/close of a door glass. The door frame may include: one outer frame at which the bright molding is mounted; and one inner frame disposed at an internal side compared with the outer frame, coupled with the outer frame. The door glass run may be interposed and coupled between a glass run supporting portion formed at the bright molding and a glass run contact portion formed at the outer frame, and the bright molding may be directly mounted to the outer frame without an additional member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority of Korean Patent Application Number 10-2013-0135397 filed Nov. 8, 2013, the entire contents of which application is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a door frame for a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a door frame for a vehicle which is formed so as to couple with a bright molding. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Generally, a door frame for a vehicle is a window frame which is mounted to a door of a vehicle. That is, a door frame for a vehicle is a frame which is formed to surround a door glass. Further, a door glass run is mounted at a door frame for a vehicle so as to guide opening/closing of the door glass. 
     A door frame for a vehicle may be coupled with a bright molding. Herein, the bright molding is exposed to the outside of the vehicle and is mounted at the outside of a door frame of the vehicle. In addition, the bright molding may be manufactured by various designs for improving the aesthetic features of a vehicle. 
     Conventionally, it is not easy for a shape of a door frame for a vehicle to be changed according to a shape of the bright molding. In addition, additional constituent elements are required for coupling the bright molding formed in various shapes in the state of not changing a shape of a door frame for a vehicle. For example, a plastic member is disposed between a door frame for a vehicle and the bright molding such that it is possible to couple a door frame for a vehicle with the bright molding. Further, the bright molding can be coupled with a door frame for a vehicle by using a member such as a rivet. 
     However, engagement composition for coupling a door frame for a vehicle with the bright molding is complex and the production cost is increased if the additional constituent elements are used. In addition, weight of the door frame that the bright molding coupled therewith is increased. Meanwhile, even if the additional constituent elements are used, strong coupling of a door frame for a vehicle and the bright molding of which shapes are different from each other is limited. 
     The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Various aspects of the present invention have been made in an effort to provide a door frame for a vehicle having advantages of ensuring aesthetic features of a vehicle, reducing production cost, and minimizing entire weight. 
     In addition, various aspects of the present invention provide for a door frame for a vehicle having further advantages of easily coupling with a bright molding without an additional coupling member. 
     Various aspects of the present invention provide for a door frame for a vehicle that may be coupled with a bright molding providing for improving aesthetic features of a vehicle and a door glass run guiding open/close of a door glass. The door frame may include: one outer frame at which the bright molding is mounted; and one inner frame disposed at an internal side compared with the outer frame, coupled with the outer frame. The door glass run may be interposed and coupled between a glass run supporting portion formed at the bright molding and a glass run contact portion formed at the outer frame, and the bright molding may be directly mounted to the outer frame without an additional member. 
     The outer frame may include: a molding mounting portion surface contacting with the bright molding; and a hemming portion formed at one end of the molding mounting portion, and hemmed to a part of the inner frame. The glass run contact portion may be bent and extended from the other end of the molding mounting portion toward an internal direction of vehicle, and a hole into which a part of the bright molding may be inserted is formed at the glass run contact portion. 
     The bright molding may include: a frame contact portion surface contacting the molding mounting portion of the outer frame; a first extending portion bent and extended from one end of the frame contact portion toward an internal direction of the vehicle, and formed so as to surround the one end of the molding mounting portion and the part of the hemming portion; and a second extending portion bent and extended from the other end of the glass run supporting portion toward an internal direction of the vehicle, and adapted such that a part thereof is inserted into the hole. The glass run supporting portion may be adapted such that one end thereof is connected with the other end of the frame contact portion and the other end thereof is extended in a shape of a U and contacts the door glass run. 
     A blocker may be formed for blocking one end of the molding mounting portion at the first extending portion, and a part of the second extending portion inserted into the hole may be formed so as to block one side of the hole. 
     A plastic having elastic force may be disposed between the blocker of the first extending portion and the one end of the molding mounting portion. 
     A part of the door glass run may be formed so as to surround the glass run supporting portion and be extended along an external surface of the bright molding. 
     A width of the bright molding exposed to the outside may be determined according a length of the door glass run extended along an external surface of the bright molding. 
     The bright molding and a plastic having elastic force may be integrally formed by an injection molding after the bright molding is formed by roll forming. 
     The plastic may be injection-molded so as to entirely surround the bright molding, and a width of the bright molding exposed to the outside may be determined by cutting the plastic. 
     The plastic disposed between one end of the bright molding and a vehicle body may form a lip which is protruded toward the vehicle body. 
     The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary door frame for a vehicle according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an exemplary door frame for a vehicle according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an internal view of an exemplary door frame for a vehicle according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an external view of an exemplary door frame for a vehicle according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a door frame for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a door frame  10  for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention includes an outer frame  100  and an inner frame  110 . In addition, the door frame  10  is coupled with weather strips  30  and  34  and a bright molding  20 . 
     The outer frame  100  is the door frame  10  which is disposed at the outside of the vehicle in the state that the door of the vehicle is closed, and the inner frame  110  is the door frame  10  which is disposed at the inside of the vehicle in the state that the door of the vehicle is closed. In addition, the outer frame  100  and the inner frame  110  are respectively and independently formed and are coupled with each other. 
     As the outer frame  100  and the inner frame  110  are independently formed and then are coupled with each other, design freedom of the door frame  10  can be improved. Particularly, design freedom of a portion where the bright molding  20  is mounted can be improved. 
     In detail, the bright molding  20  is directly mounted at a part of the outer frame  100 , and the part of the outer frame  100  is variously formed according to a shape of the bright molding  20 . At this time, the inner frame  110  is variously formed according to a shape of the outer frame  100  and is coupled with the outer frame  100  so as to increase strength of the portion where the bright molding  20  is mounted. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a vehicle body  2  and a door glass  3  are additionally shown. That is, the state of closing a door and a door glass  3  of a vehicle is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The door frame  10  is disposed between the vehicle body  2  and the door glass  3  in the state that the door and the door glass  3  of a vehicle are closed such that the vehicle body  2  is closed with the door glass  3 . In addition, the weather strips  30  and  34  are respectively disposed between the door frame  10  and the vehicle body  2  and between the door frame  10  and the door glass  3 . 
     The weather strips  30  and  34  include a door weather strip  30  and a door glass run  34 . 
     The door weather strip  30  is a weather strip which is disposed between the door frame  10  and the vehicle body  2  closed with the door in the state of closing the door of the vehicle. 
     The door glass run  34  is a weather strip which is disposed between the door frame  10  and the door glass  3  in the state of closing the door glass  3 . In addition, a plurality of lips  36  which contact the door glass  3  are formed at the door glass run  34 . Furthermore, the door glass run  34  guides open/close of the door glass  3 . 
     Herein, the weather strips  30  and  34  are rubber packing which is installed on edges of the door such that air outside of the vehicle or external noise does not flow into the vehicle. The weather strips  30  and  34  are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art such that a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     The bright molding  20  is a portion which is exposed to the outside of the vehicle and is mounted for improving the aesthetic features of the vehicle. In addition, the bright molding  20  can be manufactured in various shapes according to design of the vehicle. 
     Hereinafter, the outer frame  100  at which the bright molding  20  is mounted, the inner frame  110  with which the outer frame  100  is coupled, and the door glass run  34  and the bright molding  20  which are mounted at the outer frame  100  and the inner frame  110  will be described in detail. 
     The outer frame  100  includes a molding mounting portion  102 , a hemming portion  104 , a glass run contact portion  106 , and a mounting hole  108 . 
     The molding mounting portion  102  is a portion where the bright molding  20  is mounted. The molding mounting portion  102  is bent according to a shape of the bright molding  20  such that the bright molding  20  is directly mounted. The molding mounting portion  102  has a uniform width so as to have one surface which contacts the bright molding  20 . 
     The hemming portion  104  is formed at one end of the molding mounting portion  102 . In addition, the hemming portion  104  surrounds a part of the inner frame  110 . 
     The glass run contact portion  106  is bent and extended from the other end of the molding mounting portion  102  toward an inside direction of the vehicle. The glass run contact portion  106  may be formed in various shapes by a person of ordinary skill in the art such that the door glass run  34  is easily mounted at the glass run contact portion  106 . That is, the glass run contact portion  106  may be bent such that the door glass run  34  is easily mounted. 
     The mounting hole  108  is a hole which is formed at the glass run contact portion  106 . In addition, the mounting hole  108  is formed such that a part of the bright molding  20  penetrates it. Further, the mounting hole  108  is formed to close with the other end of the molding mounting portion  102 . 
     Herein, an internal surface defines a surface which is coupled with the inner frame  110  of the outer frame  100 , and an external surface defines an opposite surface. This definition has a same meaning with reference to an external direction and an internal direction a the vehicle. 
     The inner frame  110  includes a coupling portion  112  and an extending portion  114 . 
     The coupling portion  112  is a part which is surrounded by the hemming portion  104  of the outer frame  100 , of the inner frame  110 . That is, the coupling portion  112  of the inner frame  110  is hemmed by the hemming portion  104  of the outer frame  100  such that the outer frame  100  is coupled with the inner frame  110 . In addition, the coupling portion  112  is hemmed in the one end of the molding mounting portion  102  and is adapted to have a uniform width so as to surface contact an internal surface of the molding mounting portion  102 . 
     The extending portion  114  is bent and extended from the coupling portion  112  toward an internal direction of a vehicle. In addition, the extending portion  114  forms the door frame  10  as one surface of the extending portion  114  contacts one surface of the glass run contact portion  106 . Herein, the one surface of the extending portion  114  will be called “outer frame contacting surface  115 ”, and the one surface of the glass run contact portion  106  will be called “inner frame contacting surface  105 ”. Meanwhile, the extending portion  114  may be formed in various shapes by a person of ordinary skill in the art such that the door weather strip  30  may be easily mounted at a part of the extending portion  114  between the extending portion  114  and the vehicle body  2 . 
     Meanwhile, a part of the door glass run  34  is formed to surround the outer frame contacting surface  115  and the inner frame contacting surface  105 . 
     The bright molding  20  includes a frame contact portion  21 , a first extending portion  22 , a first blocker  23 , a glass run supporting portion  24 , a second extending portion  25 , and a second blocker  26 . 
     The frame contact portion  21  is a portion which contacts one surface of the molding mounting portion  102  formed at the outer frame  100 . In addition, the frame contact portion  21  has a uniform width so as to surface contact the molding mounting portion  102 . 
     The first extending portion  22  is bent and extended from one end of the frame contact portion  21  toward an internal direction of vehicle. In addition, the first extending portion  22  is formed so as to surround one end of the molding mounting portion  102  and a part of the hemming portion  104 . 
     The first blocker  23  is formed at the first extending portion  22 . In addition, the first blocker  23  is formed to surround the part of the hemming portion  104 . The bright molding  20  is prevented from escaping from the outer frame  100  as one end of the molding mounting portion  102  where the hemming portion  104  is formed is blocked by the first blocker  23 . 
     The glass run supporting portion  24  is extended in a shape of a “U” from the other end of the frame contact portion  21 . In addition, the glass run supporting portion  24  is a portion where the frame contact portion  21  is further extended over the width of the molding mounting portion  102  surface contacting the frame contact portion  21 . If a portion which is connected with the other end of the frame contact portion  21  is one end of the glass run supporting portion  24 , the other end of the glass run supporting portion  24  is bent in a shape of a “U” and is then extended to near the molding mounting portion  102 . Meanwhile, the glass run supporting portion  24  supports the door glass run  34  and prevents the door glass  3  from escaping from the door frame  10 . 
     The second extending portion  25  is bent and extended from the other end of the glass run supporting portion  24  extended to near the other end of the molding mounting portion  102  toward an internal direction of the vehicle. That is, the second extending portion  25  is extended in the same direction as the glass run contact portion  106  of the outer frame  100 . 
     The second blocker  26  is formed at the second extending portion  25  so as to hook one side surface of the mounting hole  108 . In addition, the second blocker  26  hooks the mounting hole  108  such that the bright molding  20  is prevented from escaping from the outer frame  100 . 
     As described above, the door glass run  34  is disposed between the glass run contact portion  106  and the glass run supporting portion  24 . In addition, the glass run contact portion  106  and the glass run supporting portion  24  are formed in shapes which are formed for easily mounting the door glass run  34  by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further, an additional shape of the glass run contact portion  106  for mounting the door glass run  34  and preventing the door glass  3  from escaping is not required according to the door glass run  34  being mounted between the glass run contact portion  106  and the glass run supporting portion  24 . Thus, the shape of the outer frame  100  can be simple. 
     Meanwhile, the bright molding  20 , the outer frame  100 , and the inner frame  110  may be formed by roll forming. Herein, the roll forming is a method which is often used when a plate or a frame bent in a complex shape is manufactured, and the method is well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art such that a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     The bright molding  20  further includes a plastic portion  40 . 
     The plastic portion  40  is integrally formed with the bright molding  20  by injection molding after the bright molding  20  is formed by roll forming. The plastic portion  40  is injected to entirely surround the bright molding  20  (e.g., molded with the bright molding in situ) and then is cut as necessary. Further, the plastic portion  40  is formed of a plastic material having elastic force. That is, the plastic portion  40  may be formed of a material such as rubber. 
     The plastic portion  40  is separated to a first plastic portion  42  and a second plastic portion  44  by cutting. 
     The first plastic portion  42  surrounds the first extending portion  22  and the first blocker  23  of the bright molding  20 . In addition, the first plastic portion  42  further surrounds a part of the frame contact portion  21  connected with the first extending portion  22 . The first plastic portion  42  functions such that the molding mounting portion  102  smoothly passes the first blocker  23  and is easily positioned at the first extending portion  22  when the bright molding  20  is mounted at the outer frame  100 . 
     The first plastic portion  42  forms a skin lip  46 . The skin lip  46  is protruded toward the vehicle body  2  closed by the door and contacts the vehicle body  2 . In addition, the skin lip  46  is exposed to the outside of the vehicle between the bright molding  20  and the vehicle body  2 . Furthermore, it is possible to remove a lip which is required to be formed at the door weather strip  3  and extended to between the bright molding  20  and the vehicle body  2  according to the skin lip  46  being formed at the first plastic portion  42 . Therefore, a shape of the door weather strip  30  can be simple. 
     The second plastic portion  44  surrounds the glass run supporting portion  24  of the bright molding  20 . The second plastic portion  44  further surrounds a part of the frame contact portion  21  that is connected with the glass run supporting portion  24 . 
     An amount of the first plastic portion  42  and the second plastic portion  44  surrounding the frame contact portion  21  is regulated by regulating an amount of cutting the plastic portion  40  between the first plastic portion  42  and the second plastic portion  44 . That is, the width S of the bright molding  20  which is exposed is regulated according to an amount of cutting the plastic portion  40 . 
     The door glass run  34  further includes an external lip  38 . 
     The external lip  38  is extended from the door glass run  34  so as to surround the glass run supporting portion  24  of the bright molding  20  surrounded by the second plastic portion  44 . The external lip  38  is further extended so as to further surround a part of the frame contact portion  21  connected with the glass run supporting portion  24 . The width S of the bright molding  20  which is exposed is secondly regulated according to a length that the external lip  38  is extended if the external lip  38  is further extended over the second plastic portion  44  surrounding a part of the frame contact portion  21 . 
     Herein, the bright molding  20  may be formed of as SUS material (e.g., stainless steel or other suitable materials), and the plastic portion  40  may be formed of a PVC material. Colors of the bright molding  20  and the plastic portion  40  may be predetermined considering the aesthetic features by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Hereinafter, the simple composition of a door frame for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described referring to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a door frame for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention,  FIG. 3  is an internal view of a door frame for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is external view of a door frame for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , a door frame for a vehicle  10  according to various embodiments of the present invention is composed of the one piece of outer frame  100  and the one piece of inner frame  110 . Therefore, the aesthetic features of a vehicle can be improved when a door is opened. 
     A door panel  1  coupled with the door frame  10  has structure in which a pillar portion is removed. In addition, the bright molding  20  which is not integrally formed with the door glass run  34  is applied, and tape  60  is stuck to a B pillar  109  to which the bright molding  20  is not applied. Furthermore, the bright molding  20  is also applied to an upper end of the door panel  1 . Therefore, the bright molding  20  can realize a surround molding surrounding both front and rear door glasses  3 , and simultaneously weight can be lightened and the production cost can be reduced. The surround molding is well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art such that a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     According to various embodiments of the present invention, engagement composition of the bright molding  20  and the door frame  10  can be simple as additional constituent elements are not used and the bright molding  20  is directly coupled with the door frame  10 . Therefore, the entire weight can be lightened. In addition, the aesthetic features can be ensured and improved according to the bright molding  20  being exposed instead of the door frame  10 , and simultaneously it is possible for the width of the exposed bright molding  20  to be regulated. Further, the shape of door frame  10  can be simple, additional constituent elements for coupling the bright molding  20  with the door frame  10  may be removed, and the production cost can be reduced as the shape of the door weather strip  30  becomes simple. 
     For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms upper, front or rear, and etc. are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.