# US 7,743,559 B2 · Modular support for automobile doors, door assembly for an automobile and method for mounting the modular support on a door frame > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,559 B2 - Document ID: US7743559B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/370,299 - Filed: 2006-03-08 - Published: 2006-12-21 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-06-16 - Assignees: Grupo Antolin-Ingenieria, S.A. - Inventors: Frederic Papi; John Stickney; Andreas Schmidt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743559B2 ## CPC - B60J 5/0416: {Assembly panels to be installed in doors as a module with components, e.g. lock or window lifter, attached thereto} - F16B 5/02: by means of fastening members using screw-thread ({F16B5/0004 takes precedence}; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00) - F16B 33/002: {Means for preventing rotation of screw-threaded elements (F16B39/00 takes precedence)} - F16B 37/02: made of thin sheet material (fastening to surfaces F16B37/04 {; used as lock-nuts F16B39/14}) - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a modular support for automobile doors, which includes a support panel and at least one attachment unit to attach the panel to a frame. The attachment unit includes an orifice made in the panel; a screw; a nut in which the screw is threaded; and a guide element that allows the nut to move in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the screw which stops the nut from turning about said longitudinal axis of the screw. The present disclosure also relates to a door assembly and an assembly method. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Modular support for automobile doors comprises: a support panel configured for assembly on said panel of accessory elements of an automobile door; and at least one attachment unit for attaching the panel to a door frame; wherein said at least one attachment unit comprises: an orifice in the panel; a screw mounted on said panel that passes through the orifice of the panel, the screw being provided with a head placed on a first side of the orifice; a nut placed on a second side of the orifice, opposite the first side of the orifice, the screw being threaded in the nut; and a guide element that extends from a surface of the panel in correspondence with said second side of the orifice, said guide element being functionally related to the nut so that it the guide element allows a movement of the nut in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (y) of the screw and stops the nut from turning around said longitudinal axis (y) of the screw. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Modular support according to claim 1, wherein the guide element comprises a protrusion that extends from the surface of the panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Modular support according to claim 1, wherein the guide element has an elongated cross section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Modular support according to claim 1, wherein the nut comprises a plate with a threaded part that receives a threaded part of the screw, said plate having on a first end an indentation in which the guide element is engaged. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Modular support according to claim 4, wherein said indentation is configured so that the guide element is inserted by pressure in said indentation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) Modular support according to claim 4, wherein said plate has a second end curved in a direction opposite to the surface of the panel, to facilitate placing the panel on a coupling edge of the door frame, so that said coupling edge is placed between the surface of the panel and said plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Modular support according to claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises a plurality of reinforcement ribs arranged around the orifice. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Modular support according to claim 1, wherein the panel is made of plastic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Modular support according to claim 1, wherein the guide element is a protrusion that integrally forms part of the panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Modular support according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said attachment units, arranged along a perimeter of the panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Modular support according to claim 1, further comprising, mounted on the panel, at least one element selected from among a group of elements including: a lock; window lift rails; a loudspeaker; and a peripheral sealing gasket. ### Claim 12 Door assembly for an automobile, comprising: a door frame; and a modular support, the modular support further comprising: a support panel configured for assembly on said panel of accessory elements of an automobile door; and at least one attachment unit for attaching the panel to the door frame; wherein said at least one attachment unit further comprises: an orifice in the panel; a screw mounted on said panel that passes through the orifice of the panel, the screw being provided with a head placed on a first side of the orifice; a nut placed on a second side of the orifice, opposite the first side of the orifice, the screw being threaded in the nut; and a guide element that extends from a surface of the panel in correspondence with said second side of the orifice, said guide element being functionally related to the nut so that the guide element allows a movement of the nut in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (y) of the screw and stops the nut from moving along said longitudinal axis (y) of the screw. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Door assembly according to claim 12, wherein the door frame further comprises, in correspondence with at least one coupling edge, a plurality of indentations configured to each receive a screw of an attachment unit of the modular support. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Door assembly according to claim 13, wherein said indentations have a width that tapers down away from the coupling edge so that said indentations allow self-centering of the corresponding screw. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) Door assembly according to claim 12, wherein the door frame has a plurality of through orifices, each through orifice sized to allow passage of a nut and a guide element of an attachment unit of the modular support.