Modular door in which a window lift forms the structural frame for the trim panel
AssigneeJohnson Controls Technology Company
InventorJeffrey T. Stout
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A door module employs the window lift structure as a frame or skeleton for providing structural support directly to a relatively thin trim panel. In one embodiment of the invention, the window lift structure includes a Π-shaped skeleton made of a pair of spaced legs extending downwardly from an upper horizontally extending reinforcement member to which the relatively thin trim panel is secured. The module is then attached to a vehicle metal door frame and skin in a conventional manner. In another embodiment, the window lift structure has a single arm which extends downwardly from a horizontally extending reinforcement member and a supplemental spaced leg. is provided and coupled to the trim panel to complete the construction.
Claims25
A modular door assembly for coupling to a window and an outer door frame and skin of a vehicle door, the modular door assembly comprising:
- an interior trim panel molded of a polymeric material and having a perimeter defining an interior portion;
- and
- a window lift assembly including a frame having a horizontal member and a pair of members depending from said horizontal member and providing structural support directly to the interior portion of the interior trim panel, wherein each of said depending members is only supported by said horizontal member, wherein at least one of said depending members comprises a guide rail for movably guiding the window as the window moves between open and closed positions and wherein one of said depending members is spaced inwardly from a side edge of said trim panel closest to said one of said depending members a distance at least one fourth the overall length of said trim panel.
A modular door assembly for coupling to a window and a vehicle door, the modular door assembly comprising:
- an interior trim panel including a seal;
- a Π-shaped frame connected to the trim panel and comprising a cross member and a pair of legs extending generally downwardly from near opposite ends of the cross member, the pair of legs providing rigid structural reinforcement directly to an interior portion of the interior trim panel;
- a window lift mechanism mounted on at least one of the pair of legs and operable to raise and lower the window, wherein each of said legs is only supported by said cross member and wherein one of said legs is spaced inwardly from a side edge of said trim panel closest to said one of said legs a distance at least one fourth the overall length of said trim panel.
A modular door assembly for coupling to a window, the modular door assembly comprising:
- a trim panel molded of a polymeric material and including an outer perimeter defining an interior portion;
- a window lift assembly coupled to the trim panel, the window lift assembly including:
- a frame attached to the trim panel and including a cross member and a first leg and a second leg each of said legs extending generally downwardly from a respective end portion of the cross member, and
- a lift mechanism mounted on the first leg and operable to raise and lower the window;
- wherein the first leg provides structural reinforcement directly to the interior portion of the trim panel;
- wherein each of said first and second legs is only supported by said cross member;
- and
- wherein one of said legs is spaced inwardly from an edge of said trim panel closest to said one of said legs a distance at least one fourth the overall length of said trim panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.