Patent Publication Number: US-11396267-B2

Title: Pivoting gutter system for a vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     For improved performance and efficiency, vehicles are incentivized to adopt aerodynamic shapes featuring a smooth exterior surface, including the exterior surface between a windshield and side windows. For improved driver visibility through side windows in raining weather conditions, vehicles are also incentivized to adopt elements such as gutter channels interposed between the windshield and the side windows along the exterior surface. Gutter channels interposed between the windshield and a side window are configured for preventing rain from sliding across the exterior surface of the vehicle, from the windshield to the side window according to a headwind of the vehicle when the vehicle is being driven. 
     Known gutter channels are formed from static incongruities in paneling along the exterior surface of the vehicle to catch rain water between the windshield and a window, and guide the caught rain water over a top of the vehicle using the headwind of the vehicle. While known gutter channels may successfully prevent rain on the front of the vehicle from sliding to the side windows in raining weather conditions, the static incongruities forming the gutter channels disrupt the otherwise smooth exterior surface and reduce an aerodynamic aspect thereof, even when the vehicle is driven outside raining weather conditions. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     According to one aspect, a vehicle comprises a body including an A-pillar, and a windshield having an exterior surface and a lateral edge secured to the A-pillar. The A-pillar has a first part and a second part. The first part is positioned between the second part and the lateral edge of the windshield. The first part is movable relative to the second part from a stowed position wherein an outer surface of the first part is flush with an outer surface of the second part, and a deployed position wherein the outer surface of the first part extends obliquely relative to the outer surface of the second part such that in the deployed position the first part together with the second part define a gutter shaped to collect water flowing across the exterior surface of the windshield. 
     According to another aspect, a vehicle comprises a body including an A-pillar having an outer forming part, a windshield having an exterior surface and a lateral edge secured to the A-pillar, and a pivoting gutter system housed in the A-pillar. The gutter system includes a cover and a drive mechanism operably connected to the cover. The drive mechanism is configured to move the cover between a stowed position and a deployed position, where in the stowed position an outer surface of the cover at least partially forms the outer surface of the outer forming part, and where in the deployed position the cover together with the wall of the outer forming part defines a gutter shaped to collect water flowing across the exterior surface of the windshield and channel the water down the outer forming part. 
     According to another aspect, a method of operating a pivoting gutter system provided as part of an outer forming part of an A-pillar of a vehicle body is provided. The method comprise actuating a drive mechanism of the gutter system in response to one of a user command and a sensor input indicating water on an exterior surface of a windshield; and moving a cover of the gutter system operably connected to the drive mechanism from a stowed position where an outer surface of the cover is flush with an outer surface of the outer forming part to a deployed position where the cover is obliquely extended relative to the outer surface of the outer forming part to define with the outer forming part a gutter shaped to collect water flowing across the exterior surface of the windshield and channel the water down the outer forming part. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial top schematic view of a vehicle including a gutter system according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial view of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial view of  FIG. 2  depicting the gutter system according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the gutter system in a stowed position. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial view depicting the gutter system of  FIG. 3  in a deployed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view along a longitudinal, front-back direction of the vehicle of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view along a longitudinal, front-back direction of the vehicle of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view along a longitudinal, front-back direction of the vehicle of  FIG. 2  depicting the gutter system according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the gutter system in a stowed position. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged partial view depicting the gutter system of  FIG. 7  in a deployed position. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view along a longitudinal, front-back direction of the vehicle of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the present disclosure. Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a vehicle  100  including a front windshield  102 , a first (i.e., right) A-pillar  104 , a first (i.e., driver&#39;s) side window  110 , a second (i.e., left) A-pillar  112 , and a second (i.e., passenger&#39;s) side window  114 . As is known in the art, the first and second A-pillars define part of a vehicle body. The first A-pillar  104  is interposed between and separates the windshield  102  from the first side window  110  in a lateral (i.e., width) direction of the vehicle  100 , specifically in a left-right direction of the vehicle  100 , such that an exterior surface  120  of the vehicle  100  includes an exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102 , an outer or exterior surface  124  of the first A-pillar  104  (defined by an outer forming part  126 ), and an exterior surface  130  of the first side window  110  along the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 . As depicted, the exterior surface  124  of the first A-pillar  104  is substantially flush with the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  and the exterior surface  130  of the first side window  110  such that an aerodynamic curve of the exterior surface  120  of the vehicle  100  is substantially continuous from the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  to the exterior surface  130  of the first side window  110  across the exterior surface  124  of the first A-pillar. 
     The second A-pillar  112  features a construction similar to the first A-pillar  104 , where the second A-pillar  112  is interposed between and separates the windshield  102  from the second side window  114  in the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 , specifically a right-left direction of the vehicle  100 , such that the exterior surface  120  of the vehicle  100  includes an outer or exterior surface  132  of the second side window  114 , an exterior surface  134  of the second A-pillar  112  (defined by an outer forming part  136 ), and the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  along the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 . As depicted, the exterior surface  134  of the second A-pillar  112  is substantially flush with the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  and the exterior surface  132  of the second side window  114  such that the aerodynamic curve of the exterior surface  120  of the vehicle  100  is substantially continuous from the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  to the exterior surface  130  of the first side window  110  across the exterior surface  134  of the second A-pillar  112 . 
     By way of example, each outer forming part  126  and  136  is described herein as an outer trim member of the respective first A-pillar  104  and second A-pillar  112 . However, it should be appreciated that each outer forming part  126  and  136  can be an outer body panel of the respective first A-pillar  104  and second A-pillar  112 . Further, each outer forming part  126  and  136  can have a chrome exterior surface or can have an exterior surface color matched to that of the vehicle body. 
     The windshield  102  is interposed between and separates the first A-pillar  104  and the second A-pillar  112  in the lateral, right-left direction of the vehicle  100 , and the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  is continuous between the first A-pillar  104  and the second A-pillar  112  in the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 . As such, the aerodynamic curve of the exterior surface  120  of the vehicle  100  is substantially continuous from the exterior surface  124  of the first A-pillar  104  to the exterior surface  134  of the second A-pillar  112  across the windshield  102  in the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 , and is further substantially continuous from the exterior surface  130  of the first side window  110  to the exterior surface  132  of the second side window  114  across the exterior surface  124  of the first A-pillar  104 , the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102 , and the exterior surface  134  of the second A-pillar  112  in the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 . 
     A first pivoting gutter system  140  is disposed or housed in the first A-pillar  104  and at least partially forms the exterior surface  124  of the outer trim member  126  of the first A-pillar  104 . A second pivoting gutter system  142  has a construction similar to the first gutter system  140  and has an orientation opposite from the first gutter system  140  with respect to the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 . To this end, the second gutter system  142  is disposed or housed in the second A-pillar  112  and at least partially forms the exterior surface  134  the outer trim member  136  of the second A-pillar  112 . According to the present disclosure, the first and second gutter systems  140 ,  142  are configured to channel water down the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102 , and down the outer trim member  126 ,  136 , thereby preventing water from sliding across the exterior surface  120  of the vehicle  100 , from the windshield  102  to the first and second side windows  110 ,  114  according to a headwind of the vehicle when the vehicle is being driven. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the first gutter system  140  includes a cover  144  that at least partially defines the outer trim member  126  at a location between a first lateral edge  146  of the windshield  102  and the first side window  110  in the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 . In this manner, the exterior surface  120  of the vehicle  100  is at least partially formed by the windshield  102 , the cover  144 , the outer trim member  126  and the first side window  110  in the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 . Similarly, the second gutter system  142  includes a cover  148  that at least partially defines the outer trim member  136  at a location between a second opposite lateral edge  150  of the windshield  102  and the second side window  114  in the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 . Therefore, in this manner, the exterior surface  120  of the vehicle  100  is at least partially formed by the windshield  102 , the cover  148 , the outer trim member  136  and the second side window  114  in the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 . 
     Further depicted in  FIG. 1 , the cover  144  extends along a majority of a length of the first lateral edge  146  of the windshield, and the cover  148  extends along a majority of a length of the second lateral edge  150  of the windshield. It should be appreciated that by having the covers  144 ,  148  extended in this manner substantially all of the water on the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  can be channeled away from the first and second A-pillars  104 ,  112 . According to one aspect, each of the covers  144 , cover  148  can be a laterally split cover having at least two interconnected sections to accommodate for differing curvatures of the windshield  102  and the outer trim member  126 ,  136 . 
     Unless otherwise stated, the following description made with reference to the first gutter system  140  is similarly applicable to the second gutter system  142 . The first gutter system includes the cover  144  and a drive mechanism  160  (schematically shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) operably connected to the cover, for example, via a drive linkage  162  (schematically depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .) The drive mechanism  160  is configured to move the cover  144  between a stowed position ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) and a deployed position ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ). The drive mechanism can include an electric motor and a speed reduction mechanism; although, alternative drive components are contemplated. In the stowed position, an outer surface or exterior surface  170  of the cover  144  is flush with the exterior surface  124  of the outer trim member  126  of the first A-pillar  104 . In the deployed position, the outer or exterior surface  170  of the cover  144  is extended obliquely relative to the exterior surface  124  of the outer trim member  126  such that in the deployed position the cover  144  together with an inwardly extended wall of the outer trim member  126  that interests the outer surface  124  define a gutter  174  shaped to collect water flowing across the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  and channel the water down the outer trim member of the first A-pillar  104 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , to accommodate the cover  144  in the stowed position, the outer trim member  126  of the first A-pillar  104  includes a channel  180  elongated in both a front-back direction and a bottom-up (i.e., height) direction of the vehicle  100 . The channel  180  is defined by inboard and outboard sidewalls  182 ,  184  and a base wall  186  interconnecting the sidewalls  182 ,  184 . In the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 , the inboard sidewall  182  is located closer to the first lateral edge  146  of the windshield  102  than the outboard sidewall  184 . Each sidewall  182 ,  184  is inwardly extended and intersects the outer surface  124  of the outer trim member  126 . The channel  180  is sized to receive the cover  144  in the stowed position. Further, each of the inboard and outboard sidewall  182 ,  184  of the channel  180  can be provided with a seal to sealingly engage the cover  144  in the stowed position. In this manner, in the stowed position of the cover  144  can prevent water and dirt from entering into the channel  180 . 
     In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the cover  144  of the first gutter system  140  includes the outer surface  170  (i.e., a top surface), a bottom surface  190 , an inboard lateral edge portion  192  and an outboard lateral edge portion  194 . In the lateral direction of the vehicle  100 , the inboard lateral edge portion  192  is located closer to the first lateral edge  146  of the windshield  102  than the outboard lateral edge portion  194 . As shown, the outer surface  170  conforms to the aerodynamic shape of the outer surface  124  of the outer trim member  126  in the stowed position of the cover  144 . And in the deployed position of the cover  144 , the outboard lateral edge portion  194  is pivoted inwardly toward the base wall  186 , wherein the cover  144  together with the sidewall  184  of the outer trim member  126  defines the gutter  174 . As shown, the sidewall  184  can be curved to allow for the pivoting movement of the outboard lateral edge portion  194  into the channel  180 . 
     At least one hinge  200  can pivotally connect the cover  144  to the outer trim member  126 , specifically the inboard lateral edge portion  192  of the cover  144  to the inboard sidewall  182  of the channel  180 , wherein the outboard lateral edge portion  194  of the cover is freely suspended over the channel  180  in the stowed position. With this arrangement, the cover  144  is cantilevered over the channel  180 , the cover only being supported at the inboard lateral edge portion  192 . However, it should be appreciated that a movable support can be provided in the channel  180  for supporting the outboard lateral edge portion  194 , wherein the support moves out of the channel  180  as the cover is pivoted to the deployed position. The at least one hinge  200  can extend substantially the entire length direction of the cover  144  in the front-back direction of the vehicle. Further, the at least one hinge  200  can be a single hinge, can be at least two hinges, or can be a plurality of hinges. According to the present disclosure, the at least one hinge can configured as a spring hinge or the like configured to bias the cover  144  to one of the stowed position and deployed position and maintain the cover  144  in that position absent a driving force from the drive mechanism  106 . By way of example, the at least one hinge  200  can be adapted to bias the cover  144  to the stowed position, and the drive mechanism  160  is operably to overcome the bias of the at least one hinge  200  and pivot the cover  144  inwardly toward the base wall  186  to the deployed position. Alternatively, the at least one hinge can be adapted to bias the cover  144  to the deployed position, and the drive mechanism  160  is operable to overcome the bias of the at least one hinge  200  and move the cover  144  to and maintain the cover in the stowed position. 
     The first gutter system  140  can further include a retention member  210  configured to maintain the cover  144  in one of the stowed position and deployed position prior to actuation of the drive mechanism  160 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the retention member  210  can be at least one magnet connected to the outer trim member  126 . The at least magnet can be secured beneath the base wall  186  of the channel  180  so that the at least one magnet faces the bottom surface  190  of the cover  144 . According to one aspect, the at least one magnet can be an electromagnet which is energized when the cover  144  is in the stowed position—in an embodiment where the at least one hinge  200  biases the cover  144  to the deployed position—or when the cover  144  is in the deployed position—in an embodiment where the at least one hinge biases the cover to the stowed position. To allow for the use of the at least one magnet, the cover  144  can be formed of a plastic material (similar to the material of the outer trim member  126 ) impregnated with a metallic material, or can have a metallic core that is overmolded by a plastic material. It should be appreciated that the at least one magnet can include plural magnets spaced along the length of the cover  144 . It should also be appreciated that alternative configurations for the retention member  210  are contemplated. For example, the retention member  210  can be in the form of a resilient finger provide on the bottom surface  190  of the cover  144  that releasably engages a catch located in the channel  180 . The retention member  220  can also be in the form of a biasing member (e.g., a spring) that interconnects the cover bottom surface  190  and the base wall  186  of the channel  180 . 
     Rain or moisture sensors (only sensor  216  associated with the first gutter system  140  is schematically depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) can be provided on the vehicle  100  (e.g., on the windshield  102  adjacent the first A-pillar  104 ) for a number of purposes, including automatically turning on windshield wipers (not shown) when an amount of water detected on the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  exceeds a nominal amount, and adjusting the speed of the windshield wipers based on the amount of water that is detected. The operation of the first and second gutter systems  140 ,  142  can be controlled by controllers (only controller  220  associated with the first gutter system  140  is schematically depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) in signal communication with the sensors. By way of example, regarding the first gutter system  140 , the controller  220  (e.g., a computer processing unit) can be configured to actuate the drive mechanism  160  coupled to the cover  144  in response to an input from a user (e.g., by the driver actuating a switch or lever in the vehicle) and/or from an input of the sensor  216 . However, it should be appreciated that the windshield wipers (not shown) can be actuated independent of the first and second gutter systems  140 ,  142 . For example, deployment of the covers  144 ,  148  may not be necessary when a driver is simply removing excess water from the windshield  102  (e.g., after a car wash) or when the windshield  102  is being cleaned while driving as is known in the art. Therefore, where there is not an input from a user, actuation of the drive mechanisms of the first and second gutter systems  140 ,  142  by the controllers can be generally limited to a vehicle driving condition where an amount of water detected by the sensors exceeds a nominal amount. It should be appreciated that the controllers may be part of a main electronic control unit for various electronically implemented vehicle systems. It should further be appreciated that regarding the retention member  210  in the form of at least one electromagnet, the controller can be configured to selectively energize the at least one electromagnet depending in the position of the cover  144 . 
       FIGS. 7-9  illustrate another aspect of the first and second gutter systems  140 ,  142 , which differs in the manner by which the covers  144 ,  148  move from the stowed positions to the deployed positions. Again, unless otherwise stated, the following description made with reference to the first gutter system  140  is similarly applicable to the second gutter system  142 . 
     As depicted, the least one hinge  200  pivotally connects the cover  144  to the outer trim member  126 , specifically the outboard lateral edge portion  194  of the cover  144  to the outboard sidewall  184  of the channel  180 , wherein the inboard lateral edge portion  192  of the cover is freely suspended over the channel  180  in the stowed position. With this arrangement, the cover  144  is again cantilevered over the channel  180 , the cover only being supported at the outboard lateral edge portion  194 . However, it should be appreciated that a movable support can be provided in the channel  180  for supporting the inboard lateral edge portion  192 , wherein the support moves out of the channel  180  as the cover is pivoted to a deployed position. The drive mechanism  160  is operably engaged to the cover  144  via, for example, the drive linkage  162  (schematically depicted in FIG.  8 ), and is configured to move the cover between a stowed position ( FIG. 7 ) and the deployed position ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ). In the stowed position, the outer surface or exterior surface  170  of the cover  144  is flush with the exterior surface  124  of the outer trim member  126  of the first A-pillar  104 . In the deployed position, the cover  144  is extended obliquely outward relative to the exterior surface  124  of the outer trim member  126 . Therefore, similar to the previous embodiment, in the deployed position the cover  144  together with the inwardly extended outboard sidewall  184  of the outer trim member  126  define the gutter  174  shaped to collect water flowing across the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  and channel the water down the outer trim member of the first A-pillar  104 . 
     Therefore, according to the present disclosure, each of the first A-pillar  104  and the second A-pillar  112  has a first part (i.e., the covers  144 ,  148 ) and a second part (i.e., the outer trim members  126 ,  136 ). The first part is positioned between the second part and the lateral edge  146 ,  150  of the windshield  102 . The first part is movable relative to the second part from a stowed position wherein an outer surface of the first part is flush with an outer surface of the second part, and a deployed position wherein the outer surface of the first part  144 ,  148  extends obliquely relative to the outer surface of the second part  126 ,  136  such that in the deployed position the first part together with the second part define a gutter  174  shaped to collect water flowing across the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  and channel the water down the second part  126 ,  136 . 
     As is evident from the foregoing, a method of operating a pivoting gutter system  140 ,  142  provided as part of an outer trim member  126 ,  136  of an A-pillar  104 ,  112  of a vehicle body is provided. The method comprises actuating a drive mechanism of the gutter system in response to one of a user command and a sensor input indicating water on an exterior surface  122  of a windshield  102 ; and moving a cover  144 ,  148  of the gutter system  140 ,  142  operably connected to the drive mechanism from a stowed position where an outer surface of the cover is flush with an outer surface of the outer trim member  126 ,  136  to a deployed position where the cover  144 ,  148  is obliquely extended relative to the outer surface of the outer trim member  126 ,  136  to define with the outer trim member a gutter shaped to collect water flowing across the exterior surface  122  of the windshield  102  and channel the water down the outer trim member  126 ,  136 . 
     The exemplary method further includes positioning the cover  144 ,  148  in the stowed position in a channel  180  formed in the outer trim member  126 ,  136 , the channel elongated in a front-back direction of the vehicle. The exemplary method further includes maintaining the cover  144 ,  148  cover in one of the stowed position and deployed position with a retention member  210  of the gutter system  140 ,  142  prior to actuation of the drive mechanism. 
     It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the above-disclosed features and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.