Interior paneling element for a motor vehicle door

Details Interior paneling element for a motor vehicle door Interior paneling element for a motor vehicle door

1999-06-01

2001-02-27

Redman, Jerry (Department: 3634)

Movable or removable closures

Panel with closure feature

With means to accommodate window accessory; e.g.,...

C296S146700, C296S152000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06192632

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an interior paneling element for a motor vehicle door.
2. Description of the Related Art
DE 195 09 282 A1 has already disclosed a motor vehicle door consisting of a twin-shell bodyshell door having an outside door panel and an inside door panel. The panels are connected to each other in the edge region, the inside door panel having a section which is essentially covered by a bearing plate having functional units, such as a window opener, a lock, cable tree or the like, fitted on it. The door is closed off with respect to the inside by an interior paneling element. At least part of the interior paneling element is prefitted to the bearing plate.
DE 196 20 148 A1 discloses a vehicle door consisting of an outside door panel as a component of the vehicle body, a unit bearer for accommodating functional elements, an interior paneling shell and a movable window pane. The unit bearer divides the door interior into a door cavity toward the outside door panel and into a functional space toward the interior paneling shell. In this case, the window pane is arranged in the door cavity. The unit bearer, the functional elements, the interior paneling shell and also the window pane and its guide elements form a modular installation unit. The unit bearer, which covers the entire functional space and has integrated fastening elements for the interior paneling shell, consists of a dimensionally stable fiber reinforced material having internal friction increased by the embedding of the fibers and having increased impact resistance.
A peripheral, exchangeable linear seal, which follows the contour of the unit bearer, seals the functional space off from the door cavity in a moisture-repelling manner. The functional elements are arranged in the functional space in cup-like, recessed moldings of the unit bearer.
A disadvantage of this prior art is the fact that the production and assembly costs of these vehicle doors which are already constructed in a modular form continue to be quite high. Furthermore, the weight of the vehicle door is also increased because of the use of a bearing plate accommodated in the door interior.
In contrast, the present invention is based on the object of specifying an interior paneling element for a motor vehicle door, the production and assembly costs and also the weight of the motor vehicle door being reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, this object is essentially achieved in that the interior paneling element itself is designed as a bearer of functional units or parts, such as, for example, a window opener with a guide rail for a window pane, a lock, an inside-door operating means, a mirror-adjustment means, side-impact protection, a cavity-reinforcement means, loudspeaker or the like.
This measure makes it possible to dispense with the use of a separate bearing plate which is accommodated in the interior of the vehicle door and is intended for the functional units or parts. The essential functional units or parts of the vehicle door are attached to the interior paneling element itself, so that the use of an additional bearer can be dispensed with. As a result, not only is the number of parts required for the vehicle door and also the weight of the vehicle door reduced but also the assembly procedure for completing the motor vehicle door on the assembly line of the motor vehicle manufacturer is simplified.
According to a first, particularly advantageous development of the invention, at least some of the functional units or parts, in particular the cavity-reinforcement means, the guide rail of the window opener and optionally a strut of the side-impact protection are fastened on the element in the form of a static framework. In this respect, the stiffness of the interior paneling element, which can be designed, for example, as a shell-like body or the like, is reinforced by means of at least some of the functional units or parts and the stiffness of the element as a whole is increased. The stiffness which is required for the interior paneling element can be ensured, according to the particular application, by the individual, specific arrangement and design of the functional units or parts. For this purpose, individual matching of the design of the interior paneling element and of the functional units or parts fastened on the interior paneling element, which design may vary according to the particular application, is required. In any event, however, the stiffness of the interior paneling element is not determined solely by the construction and design of the element but also by the functional units or parts fastened on the element or connected to said element.
Furthermore, it has proven advantageous for at least the cavity-reinforcement means and/or the strut of the side-impact protection [lacuna] are connected, in particular directly, to the element, so that already by this means an increased stiffness of the element is ensured.
According to a further, particular refinement of the invention, it is of advantage if the one or more guide rails, which are essentially transversely directed, i.e. are essentially perpendicularly directed in the installation position, are connected to the cavity-reinforcement means, which is essentially longitudinally directed, i.e. is essentially horizontally directed in the installation position. By virtue of this essentially U-shaped arrangement of some of the functional units or parts on that side of the interior paneling element which faces toward the door interior, it is possible already for very great stiffness or load-bearing capacity of the element to be attained.
The one or more guide rails are connected to the element, optionally with the interconnection of spacer elements, in the region of the lower free sections.
It is furthermore advantageous for one or more guide rails to be connected to the essentially diagonally directed strut of the side-impact protection, so that the cavity-reinforcement means, the two guide rails and the strut of the side-impact protection form a type of frame construction which is coupled fixedly to the element.
It is of advantage for the element to consist of dimensionally stable plastic or fiber reinforced material.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the cavity-reinforcement means and/or the strut of the side-impact protection and/or the one or more guide rails [lacuna] are connected to the element by screws, clips, bonding or the like.
The invention also relates to an element according to the invention in combination with a motor vehicle door, the element being connected in a sealing manner to the motor vehicle door and forming a partition between the wet space and the dry space.
In this case, it may prove to be advantageous in the individual case for one or more functional parts, connected to the element, such as, for example, the cavity-reinforcement means, the strut of the side-impact protection or the like, additionally to be secured on the motor vehicle door or to be connected to the latter. For example, when the element is placed onto the motor vehicle door for assembly purposes, the free end sections of the abovementioned parts or units can engage into holders, couplings or the like provided on the motor vehicle door, so that the framework or the frame construction, connected to the element, is secured on the motor vehicle door via further fastening or fixing points.
Further aims, advantages, features and application possibilities of the present invention emerge from the following description of an exemplary embodiment, which is illustrated in more detail in the drawing. All of the features described and/or shown pictorially form the subject matter of the invention in themselves or in any desired, sensible combination, irrespective also of their combination in the claims or reference back to preceding claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4662115 (1987-05-01), Ohya et al.
patent: 5095659 (1992-03-01), Benoit et al.
patent: 5226259 (1993-07-01), Yamagata et al.
patent:

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