Abstract:
A motor vehicle door with a door body includes a door outer shell and a door inner shell between which a window lifter for lifting and lowering a window pane is configured within a door shaft. A component disposed inside the door shaft presents a crosslink between the window pane or the window lifter and at least one door shell. As an antitheft protection the component rests against the window pane or the window lifter under prestress and is swiveled, when the window pane is lifted, from the door shaft into a positive lock position with the door shell by a catch or support disposed on the window pane. In order to improve lateral and front-crash protection, the component is linked with the window pane and establishes a positive or negative lock between the door shells in a defined position of the window pane.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of German Patent Application Number 102 56 131.1, filed on Nov. 29, 2002.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a motor vehicle door.  
         [0003]     A motor vehicle door  1  consists in accordance with the perspective exploded view of  FIG. 1  and the longitudinal sectional view through a motor vehicle door according to  FIG. 2  of door shells  11 ,  12  which are connected together and of which the door outer shell or the door outside panel  11  is adapted to the vehicle body and the door inner shell or door inside panel  12  is connected to a door inside trim  13 . Between the door outer shell  11  and the door inner shell  12  is a door shaft  10  in which different door assemblies, including inter alia a window lifter  3  for lifting and lowering a window pane  2  from and into the door shaft  10 , are mounted on a door module support. The upper closure of the door shaft  10  is formed by a door shaft strip  14  through which the window pane exits from the door shaft  10  when lifted through the window lifter  3  and closes a door opening which is provided above the door shaft  10 .  
         [0004]     The arrangement of the window pane  2  which is movable up and down by the window lifter  3  means that a structural connection between the door outer shell  11  and the door inner shell  12  inside the door shaft  10  is not possible since the door blank or door body is in two parts as a result of the window pane  2  and window lifter  3 , so that both the door outer shell  11  and the door inner shell  12  with their inherent rigidity define the door blank and its stiffness, which would be significantly higher if the door outer shell and door inner shell were joined through a force-locking connection. The rigidity of the vehicle door is therefore reduced compared to the vehicle body since the latter permits a force-locking connection between the outer shell and inner shell and thus offers greater impact protection in the event of side and front crash situations.  
         [0005]     To adapt the side and front impact safety of a vehicle door to the vehicle body would only be possible by using stronger materials for the door shells or by additionally reinforcing the door outer shell  11  and door inner shell  12 . However these two steps would clearly increase the weight of the vehicle door.  
         [0006]     A further problem when designing motor vehicle doors lies in the fact that the upper door shaft strip  14  represents a weak spot both in relation to weather factors and in relation to break-in security. Despite the arrangement of sealing elements which sealingly adjoin the window pane  2  there is the risk of damp entering into the door shaft  10 , particularly in the case of old or damaged sealing elements. In order to prevent the door closing mechanism being broken into from outside, which is very simple through the open door shaft strip  14 , lock covers have to be provided at considerable effort and cost but which do at least impede a vehicle break-in.  
         [0007]     The object of the present invention is to increase the security of a vehicle door without restricting the space requirement and mobility of the window lifter or window pane.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION  
       [0008]     The solution according to the invention ensures increased security for the door body of a motor vehicle door without restricting the functions of or placing structural restrictions on the window lifter or window pane of a motor vehicle door  
         [0009]     By connecting the window pane or window lifter to the door outer shell and/or door inner shell reinforcement elements of the door body can be connected together so that the door body acts as one closed unit. Through a force-locking and/or positive locking connection of the window pane or window lifter to the door outer shell and/or door inner shell or of the door outer shell directly to the door inner shell, an increased inherent rigidity is achieved which in the event of side and front impact crash situations clearly increases the safety of the motor vehicle door without having to provide additional reinforcement means on the door outer shell and/or door inner shell or having to increase the strength of the material of the door shells itself. The force-transferring component part can be fixed directly on the window lifter or directly on the window pane and can assist the structure of the door body to withstand the strain of tension or pressure in the upper stop of the window lifter or during the lifting of the window pane.  
         [0010]     Even with a sole arrangement of a force-transferring component part between the window pane or window lifter and one of the two door shells the solution according to the invention increases the security of the vehicle door against break-in since the component part closes the upper opening of the door shaft and thus blocks access to the door lock through the door shaft strip. Additional security measures to protect the door lock for example by means of a door lock cover are thus unnecessary.  
         [0011]     Accordingly at least one component part is connected to a door shell and is supported with spring tension against the window pane or window lifter.  
         [0012]     The component part can be formed as a part which changes its position during the movement of the window pane or window lifter and which at a predetermined position of the window pane or window lifter is connected with positive engagement to a door shell. More particularly the component part can bear against the window pane or window lifter with pretension and as the window pane or window lifter is raised from the door shaft can swivel into a force-transferring position with a door shell by means of a follower or bearing mounted on the window pane or window lifter.  
         [0013]     In this variation of the solution according to the invention the component part has in particular a length-variable swivel arm and a bridging arm connected to the swivel arm whose one end bears through a slide member against the window pane or window lifter and whose other end engages in a rear-cut section of the door shell to connect with a door shell at a predetermined position of the window pane or window lifter. The swivel arm can thereby be designed as a telescopic arm and can be attached to a door shell and pretensioned through a torsion spring against the window pane or window lifter.  
         [0014]     In an alternative embodiment the component part can be movable substantially at right angles to the window pane or window lifter and supported with spring tension against the window pane or window lifter whereby the component part in the fully raised position of the window pane or window lifter bears against a follower or support bearing connected to the window pane or window lifter.  
         [0015]     With the above embodiments the component part can be connected to a windscreen wiper or washer device and can thus easily fulfil an additional function.  
         [0016]     The solution according to the invention enables alternatively or additionally to a pure covering function which in particular is to improve the break-in security, also a reinforcement function to improve the crash safety of the vehicle door in that the component part is connected to the window pane or to the window lifter and at a predeterminable position of the window pane or window lifter, preferably in the upper end position of the window pane or window lifter, produces at least a force-locking connection between the door shells.  
         [0017]     In a first variation the component part has connecting arms associated with the door shells whose contour coincides substantially with the contour of the door shells in the engagement region of the component part with the door shells.  
         [0018]     To guard against break-in the component part extends at least over the region of the door lock and/or of the parts connected to the door lock such as rod linkage, Bowden cables and the like.  
         [0019]     Furthermore the contour of the connecting arms, at least those of the connecting arm directed towards the door outer shell include a drainage channel and thus protects the door fittings from damp.  
         [0020]     The component part preferably consists of safety elements connected to the door shells and a connecting element which is connected to the window pane or window lifter and is preferably fixed to the lower edge of the window pane or window lifter so that in a predeterminable position of the window pane or window lifter, preferably in the upper end position of the window pane or window lifter the connecting element connects at least with force locking engagement with the safety elements which are riveted or welded onto the door shells or are formed as a part of an extruded pressed profile of the door shells.  
         [0021]     The connection between the safety elements and the connecting element can be provided through securing bolts. Alternatively the safety elements can be punctured or slit in the connecting region with the connecting element whilst the connecting element has engagement sections which are aligned with the holes or slits of the safety elements and engage in the safety elements in the predetermined more particularly uppermost position of the window pane or window lifter.  
         [0022]     Furthermore the safety elements and connecting element can produce a positive locking connection in the form of a toothed engagement.  
         [0023]     It is essential when embodying the solution according to the invention that the component is designed as a force-transferring component and/or a component covering the door gap.  
         [0024]     Overall the solution according to the invention involves a reduction in the skeleton weight of the vehicle door, a considerable improvement in anti-theft protection, an improvement in the front and side impact situation of the vehicle door, enables additional functions for the window pane, for example through integrating wiper, washing and cleaning devices and protects the interior of the door body or door shaft through the integration of a water drainage channel in the force-transferring component so that function elements of a vehicle door mounted inside the door shaft are protected better from damp independently of whether they are mounted in the wet or dry space of the door shaft.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]     The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to several embodiments illustrated in the figures in the drawings  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a motor vehicle door;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a vertical section through the motor vehicle door according to  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view through the door body of a motor vehicle door in the region of the door shaft strip with a swivel component mounted between the window pane and door outer shell;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a section as in  FIG. 3  with a component connected to the door outer shell and in sliding contact against the window pane;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view through the door body in the region of the door shaft strip with a component fixed on the lower edge of the window pane for transferring force and connecting the door outer shell to the door inner shell;  
         [0031]      FIG. 6 a  sectional view as in  FIG. 5  with a multi-part force-transferring component whose parts are connected together with positive engagement in the upper closing position of the window pane;  
         [0032]      FIG. 7 a  sectional view through a door body in the region of the door shaft strip with a component as in  FIG. 6  with punctured or slit connection of the individual parts of the component;  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a connecting arm of the force-transferring component connected to a door shell;  
         [0034]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view through a door body in the region of the door shaft strip with a component as in  FIG. 8  with structural means for reducing the distance from the door shells;  
         [0035]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the connection of a safety element with the connecting element of a force-transferring component;  
         [0036]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged partial view of a safety element and a part of the connecting element and  
         [0037]      FIG. 12  is a diagrammatic partial view of the connection between a connecting element and safety elements of a force-transferring component. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0038]      FIG. 3  shows a section through a door body in the region of the door shaft strip  14  in which are arranged sealing elements  31 ,  32  which are connected to the door outer shell  11  and door inner shell  12  respectively and bear against a window pane  2  which is movable in the direction of the double arrow and can be raised from the door shaft  10  or lowered into the door shaft  10 . The window pane  2  is shown in three different movement sections A, B and C, namely in a position A lowered into the door shaft  10 , a central position B and an uppermost position C, that is lifted substantially out of the door shaft  10 .  
         [0039]     A component  4  fixed for rotational or swivel movement on the door outer shell  11  or ledge reinforcement  110  of the door outer shell  11  , as well as a component  4 ′ fixed on the door inner shell  12 , likewise for rotational or swivel movement, have a length-adjustable swivel arm  41 ,  41 ′ respectively and a bridging arm  42 ,  42 ′ running substantially perpendicular to the length-adjustable swivel arm  41 ,  41 ′ and mounted at the end opposite the connecting point of the swivel arm  41 ,  41 ′ on the ledge reinforcement  110  of the door outer shell  11  or door inner shell  12 . The swivel arms  41 ,  41 ′ are designed as telescopic arms and have a sliding joint so that the distance between the bridging arms  42 ,  42 ′ and the connections of the swivel arms  41 ,  41 ′ is variable.  
         [0040]     As a result of a torsion spring  40 ,  40 ′ mounted on the connecting points of the components  4 ,  4 ′ the components  4 ,  4 ′ are pretensioned in the direction of the arrow V and with the upper side of the bridging arms  42 ,  42 ′ bear against the outside face of the window pane  2  when the latter is located in the door shaft  10 .  
         [0041]     Followers or catches  21 ,  21 ′ are fixed each side on the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2  and change their position as the window pane is raised so as to stop in position B of the window pane  2  against the one end  422  of the bridging arms  42 ,  42 ′ of the component  4 . In this position of the components  4 ,  4 ′, shown in dotted lines, further lifting of the window pane  2  leads to a swivel movement of the components  4 ,  4 ′ against the pretensioning direction V until they in the uppermost position C of the window pane  2 , that is in their fully extended position out from the door shaft  10 , are turned with the other end  421  of the bridging arms  42 ,  42 ′ into a relieved section  15  of the ledge reinforcement  110  of the door outer shell  11  or door inner shell  12 .  
         [0042]     In this position the components  4 ,  4 ′ are blocked between the followers  21 ,  21 ′ and the relieved section  15  as well as a similar relieved section of the door inner shell  12  and seal the door shaft  10  from intervention through the seal  31  connected to the door outer shell  11  and the seal  32  connected to the door inner shell  12 . The security against a break-in through engagement through the door shaft strip  14  is thereby significantly increased since the door lock located in the door shaft  10  cannot be manipulated through the gap formed in the region of the door shaft  14  between the window pane  2  and door outer shell  11  or door inner shell  12 .  
         [0043]     The ends  422  of the bridging arms  42 ,  42 ′ on which the followers  21 ,  21 ′ engage are preferably provided with a slide member in order to reduce the friction between the surface of the window pane  2  and the bridging arms  42 ,  42 ′.  
         [0044]     Although to guard against theft the arrangement of only one component  4  between the door inner shell  12  and window pane  2  is sufficient, extra security is provided through the arrangement of a component  4 ′ with a substantially coinciding function as the component  4  with a corresponding configuration of the follower  21 ′ fixed on the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2 . Furthermore in the uppermost position of the window pane  2 , i.e. in position C according to  FIG. 3 a  force-transferring connection is also produced through the components  4 ,  4 ′ between the door outer shell  11  and the door inner shell  12  which is transferred through the followers  21 ,  21 ′ which are fixed either side on the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2 . When the window pane  2  is lowered this arrangement also improves the security against intervention through the door shaft strip  14  in the region between the window pane  2  and door inner shell  12  where for example door components mounted in this region could be manipulated.  
         [0045]     The component  5  illustrated in  FIG. 4  has a similar function to the component  4  illustrated in  FIG. 3  although it is not fixed for swivel action on the door outer shell but is mounted with a base body  53  in a recess  111  in the ledge reinforcement  110  of the door outer shell  11 . A securing arm  51  of the component  5  is guided in the base body  53  substantially perpendicular to the plane of the window pane  2  and is supported with spring elasticity against same by means of a compression spring  50  so that the securing arm  51  is supported by its end opposite the compression spring  50  on the outside of the window pane  2  preferably through a slide member or slide roller  52 . As a result of the guide of the securing arm  51  in the base body  53  sufficient strength and securing against bending of the securing arm  51  is provided so that intervention into the door shaft  20  through the door shaft strip  14  is at least made considerably more difficult.  
         [0046]     Additional securing against outside intervention can be achieved similar to the arrangement according to  FIG. 3  through a follower  21  which is connected to the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2  and in the uppermost position of the window pane  2  bears fixedly against the securing arm  51  so as to prevent the securing arm  51  from bending round or down.  
         [0047]     The component  4  and  5  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  respectively can additionally be connected to a pane wiper and/or washer device which cleans the surface of the window pane  2  during each movement of the window pane  2 .  
         [0048]     Also in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 a  component corresponding to the component  5  is mounted between the door inner shell  12  and the window pane  2  so that in the uppermost position of the window pane  2  a direct connection is produced between two components through the pane lower edge  20  or follower  21  fixed on the pane lower edge  20  which increases the crash safety of the vehicle door through the force-locking connection between the door shells  11 ,  12 .  
         [0049]     In order to avoid force transfer through the window pane  2  the follower  21  can be formed on the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2  so that the securing arms  51  in the uppermost position of the window pane  2  engage in corresponding recess of the follower  21  and thus produce a direct force-locking connection of the securing arms through the follower  21 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 5  shows in a sectional view through the door body in the region of the door shaft strip  14  a further variation of the solution according to the invention in which the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2  is connected to a force-transferring component  6  which in the uppermost position of the window pane  2  produces a force locking connection between the ledge reinforcements  110 , 120  of the door outer shell  11  and the door inner shell  12 . For this purpose the component  6  has a connecting section  60  which engages round the lower edge  20  as well as either side of the connecting section  60  connecting arms  61 ,  62  which correspond to the contour of recesses or indentations  111 ,  121  of the ledge reinforcements  110 ,  120  of the door outer shell  11  and the door inner shell  12 .  
         [0051]     The contours of the connecting arms  61 ,  62  are thereby selected so that water drainage channels  63 ,  64  are formed which like a roof gutter prevent moisture entering through the door shaft strip  14  from running onto door components mounted in the door body.  
         [0052]     Through the direct connection of the ledge reinforcements  110 ,  120  of the door shells  11 ,  12  by means of the force-transferring component  6  in the uppermost position of the window pane  2  and as a result of combining the inherent rigidity of the door shells  11 ,  12  the safety against a side impact crash in the direction of arrow K is clearly increased and additionally there is better prevention against intervention from outside for example in the direction of arrow T in the region between the door outer shell  11  and window pane  2  in the region of the door shaft strip  14 .  
         [0053]     As an alternative to fixing the component part  6  on the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2  as illustrated in  FIG. 5  the component can be fixed directly on the window lifter for lifting and lowering the window pane  2  whereby the type of window lifter is immaterial, i.e. whether a cross-arm or cable window lifter. Furthermore the component  6  can be fixed on a continuous rail connected to the lower edge  20  of the window pane.  
         [0054]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment in which the force-transferring component part  7  does not engage positively with securing arms into corresponding positive locking regions of the door shells  11 ,  12  but is designed multi-part and in the closing position of the window pane  2  produces a positive locking connection between its individual components.  
         [0055]     The force-transferring component  7  consists of a connecting element  70  connected to the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2  or to a suitable part of a window lifter for lifting and lowering the window pane  2 , and of a safety element  71 ,  72  which is connected to the ledge reinforcement  110  of the door outer shell  11  or ledge reinforcement  120  of the door inner shell  12  and which in the closing position of the window pane engages through securing bolts  73 ,  74  into the connecting element  70 . The safety elements  71 ,  72  are connected by rivets  75 ,  76  to the ledge reinforcements  110 ,  120  of the door shells  11 , 12  or are welded or stuck to same.  
         [0056]     The connection of the connecting element  70  to the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2  can be achieved through adhesive or positive engagement or through adhesive and positive engagement or through a pin or screw connection.  
         [0057]      FIG. 7  shows a component  8  which connects the door shells  11 ,  12  together in the closing position of the window pane  2  with force locking engagement and which consists of a connecting element  80  connected to the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2 , and of securing arms  81 ,  82  which are connected to the ledge reinforcements  110 ,  120  of the door shells  11 ,  12  and which in the closed position of the window pane  2  engage with positive locking connection into the connecting element  80 . The securing arms  81 ,  82  are connected through rivet or screw connections  85 ,  86  to the ledge reinforcements  110 ,  120  of the door shells  11 ,  12  and have according to  FIG. 8  slits  810 ,  820  in which corresponding comb-like projections  801 ,  802  of the connecting element  80  engage. In order to produce a secured positive locking connection in the engaged state of the connecting element  80  with the securing arms  81 ,  82  the ends of the securing arms  81 ,  82  have bent parts  811 ,  821  which secure the positive locking and force locking connection between the connecting element  80  and securing elements  81 ,  82 .  
         [0058]     Also in this embodiment the connecting element  80  can be connected alternatively or additionally to a window lifter which moves the window pane  2 .  
         [0059]      FIG. 9  likewise shows a section through a door shaft  10  of a door body in the region of the door shaft strip  14  with a force-transferring component  9  which each has a connecting element  90  and a securing element  91 ,  92  connected to the door outer shell  11  and door inner shell  12 . The securing elements  91 ,  92  can be designed as extruded pressed profiles and can be a part of the outer shell  11  and inner shell  12  respectively. The connecting element  90  is connected to the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2  in that it is stuck by way of example to the lower edge  20  by a region  900  embracing the lower edge  20 .  
         [0060]     The connecting element  90  has two connecting arms  903 ,  904  which are designed as box profiles running along the free lower edge in order to reduce the distance of the connecting element from the ledge reinforcements  110 ,  120  of the door outer shell  11  and door inner shell  12  which additionally through profiling provide a minimum distance from the connecting arms  903 ,  904 .  
         [0061]     The connection between the connecting arms  903 ,  904  and the securing elements  91 ,  92  is produced according to  FIG. 10  as a type of toothed engagement in which teeth  901 ,  902  protruding from the connecting arms  90 ,  904  of the connecting element  90  engage in recesses  910 ,  920  of the securing elements  91 ,  92 . Through this connection between the connecting element  90  and the securing elements  91 ,  92  which runs over the entire length of the pane lower edge a large engagement and connecting surface area is ensured which takes up the front and side impact forces. The box profile of the securing elements  91 ,  92  thereby serves additionally as side impact support to break down the side impact forces acting on the vehicle door.  
         [0062]     The teeth  901  of the connecting arms  903 ,  904  of the connecting element  90  can according to  FIG. 11  be provided with a relieved section  905  in order to ensure the engagement of the teeth  901 ,  902  in the recesses  910 ,  920  of the securing elements  91 ,  92  designed as counter profiles.  
         [0063]      FIG. 12  shows diagrammatically a further variation of the connection between a connecting element  90 ′ and the securing elements  91 ′,  92 ′ in which a positive engagement is produced in the Y-direction of the vehicle without bores or recesses and which is particularly suitable in a design as an extruded pressed profile. The ends of the connecting arms  901 ′,  902 ′ of the connecting element  9 ′ which is placed with a region  900 ′ around the lower edge  20  of the window pane  2  and is connected to same through adhesive thereby engage round the ends of the securing elements  91 ′,  92 ′ in the manner of a clip and thereby produce a force-transferring connection between the door shells  11 ,  12  according to  FIG. 9 .  
         [0064]     The embodiments described above clearly show the different possibilities for embodying the idea on which the invention is based for securing a vehicle door against break-in and for improving the front and side impact protection. Common to all the embodiments is the closing of the upper door shaft slit at least when the window pane is completely lifted out from the door shaft so that an effective anti-theft protection is guaranteed. Alternative embodiments additionally provide a force-transferring connection between the door shells of the vehicle door so that front and side impact forces are better absorbed through an increase in the inherent strength of the door body. The additional material and assembly expense is slight compared to additional measures otherwise required to cover the lock to improve the anti-theft protection or to increase the inherent strength of the door shells through corresponding profiling and stronger materials which lead to an increase in the inherent weight of the vehicle door and thus of the vehicle itself.