GB2554095B

GB2554095B - A door, a vehicle, an apparatus, a window and a method

Info

Publication number: GB2554095B
Application number: GB1615952.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Noel Newman Nicholas
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2016-09-20
Filing date: 2016-09-20
Publication date: 2019-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-20
Also published as: DE112017004701T5; WO2018054884A1; GB2554095A; GB201615952D0

Description

A DOOR, A VEHICLE, AN APPARATUS, A WINDOW AND A METHOD

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a door, a vehicle, an apparatus, a window and a method. In particular, but not exclusively it relates to a door, a vehicle, an apparatus, a window and a method in car manufacture.

BACKGROUND

It is known for opening side windows of cars to have a sealing element (which may be referred to as a waist seal) extending along the lower edge of the visible portion of the windowpane. The sealing element may have one or more limbs which contact the glass (or windowpane) of the window. A problem with this arrangement is that particulate material, such as dust or grit, may collect along the line where the limb contacts the glass. Consequently when the window is opened foreign particles may become trapped between the sealing element and the glass and scratch the glass during its movement. This can be a problem on windows of doors that are framed, i.e. where the door provides a frame that extends along both the sides and the uppermost edge of the windowpane. However, it is potentially an even greater problem on doors with frameless windows where the window must be partially opened each time the door is to be opened. A second problem is that water may collect along the line where the limb contacts the glass and in cold weather the water freezes. This can prevent the glass from moving when required. Again, this is a problem on windows of doors that are framed, but on frameless doors this can be an even greater problem because it can prevent the door from opening and/or cause damage to the seals/trim and mechanism of the door.

It is an aim of the present invention to address disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a door, a vehicle, an apparatus and a method as claimed in the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a seal support for a windowpane for a window of a door of a vehicle in which the windowpane is arranged to be moveable between a closed position and open positions, and the door comprises a sealing member having a deflectable portion for pressing against a windowpane to provide a seal when the window is in at least some of the open positions, the seal support comprising a strip for attachment to a windowpane, for, in use, holding a deflectable portion of a sealing member away from a windowpane when the window is in the closed position. The seal support defines a channel for receiving particulate material.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a windowpane for forming a window of a door of a vehicle in which the windowpane is arranged to be moveable between a closed position and open positions, and the door comprises a sealing member having a deflectable portion for pressing against a windowpane to provide a seal when the window is in at least some of the open positions, the windowpane comprising a seal support comprising a strip fixed to the windowpane for holding a deflectable portion of a sealing member away from the windowpane when the window is in the closed position. The seal support defines a channel for receiving particulate material.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a door for a vehicle comprising: a windowpane forming a window of the door, the windowpane being arranged to be moveable between a closed position and open positions; a sealing member having a deflectable portion for pressing against the windowpane to provide a seal when the window is in at least some of the open positions; and a seal support comprising a strip fixed to the windowpane for holding the deflectable portion of the sealing member away from the windowpane when the window is in the closed position. The seal support defines a channel for receiving particulate material

This provides the advantage that foreign particles are less likely to become trapped between the deflectable portion and the windowpane when the windowpane is moved to open the window. Consequently, the possibility of the windowpane being scratched by such a foreign particle is reduced.

In some embodiments, the seal support is arranged to hold the deflectable portion away from the windowpane when the window is in at least some of the open positions adjacent to the closed position. This provides the advantage that the window may be opened by relatively small distances without the deflectable portion coming into contact with the windowpane at all and therefore it is not possible to scratch the windowpane when it is opened by such small distances.

In some embodiments, the deflectable portion has a sufficiently long height to enable the seal support to hold the deflectable portion off the windowpane when moved from the closed position to at least some of the open positions adjacent to the closed position. This provides the advantage that the window may be opened by relatively small distances without the deflectable portion coming into contact with the windowpane at all and therefore it is not possible to scratch the windowpane when it is opened by such small distances.

In some embodiments, the door comprises an actuation means wherein the actuation means is arranged to automatically move the windowpane by a preset distance from a closed position to an open position when the door is to be opened, and the deflectable portion has a sufficiently long height to enable the seal support to hold the deflectable portion off the windowpane when moved from the closed position by the preset distance. This provides the advantage that such a door may be opened and closed without the deflectable portion coming into contact with the windowpane and therefore there is very little likelihood of a particle trapped by the sealing member scratching the windowpane during door opening.

In some embodiments, the deflectable portion is configured to be held away from the windowpane by the seal support when the window is in all open positions that are within 8 mm of the closed position. This provides the advantage that the window may be opened by small distances (up to 8mm) with reduced likelihood of a foreign particle trapped by the deflectable portion scratching the window.

In some embodiments, the sealing member has a surface arranged to contact against the seal support, the surface having a height of at least 8 mm extending in the direction of the height of the windowpane. This provides the advantage that the window may be opened by small distances (up to 8mm) with no, or very little, likelihood of a foreign particle trapped by the deflectable portion scratching the window. The deflectable portion may be configured to deflect about a pivot portion and the height of the surface extends from the pivot portion to a distal edge of the deflectable portion. . The channel provides the advantage that foreign particles that could otherwise become trapped between the deflectable portion of the sealing member and the windowpane may fall into the channel where they cannot become trapped in that way. In addition, the channel may receive water and may channel away water that might otherwise become frozen in cold weather and prevent the window from being opened. The channel may have an opening facing an upper edge of the windowpane. The channel may be located between an upper portion of the seal support and the windowpane. This provides the advantage that particulate material or water may fall down the face of the windowpane directly into the channel.

The upper portion of the seal support may comprise a plurality of support elements spaced along the length of the channel for holding the upper portion away from the windowpane. This provides the advantage that stresses in the seal support may be reduced. The channel may have a width of between 0.8 mm and 1.7 mm. The width of the channel may be between 1.2 and 1.5 mm.

In some embodiments, the seal support comprises a polymeric material bonded to the windowpane by an adhesive. This provides the advantage that the seal support may be simply positioned and held in place on the windowpane.

In some embodiments, the windowpane comprises glass.

In some embodiments, the door comprises an actuator means configured to move the windowpane between the closed position and open positions. The actuator means may comprise a window regulator. The actuator means may be arranged to be activated in dependence on a manual input.

In some embodiments, the sealing member is supported on a door panel by a waist finisher element and the deflectable portion and the seal support reside below an uppermost surface of the waist finisher element.

In some embodiments, the window is frameless at least along an upper edge of the windowpane.

In some embodiments, the door defines a frame along at least an uppermost edge of the windowpane.

In some embodiments, the seal support has an upper edge that is arranged to be higher than a distal edge of the deflectable portion when the windowpane is in the closed position, and the upper edge passes over the distal edge when the window is moved from open positions to the closed position. This provides the advantage that the seal support is able to dislodge foreign particles from the distal edge of the deflectable portion when the window is moved to the closed position. This cleaning effect may prevent such foreign particles from scratching the windowpane during its movement.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle comprising a door as described in any one of the previous paragraphs.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for providing a window in a vehicle, wherein the apparatus comprises: a windowpane configured to be mounted within a vehicle on a window regulator for moving the windowpane between a closed position and open positions; and a seal support comprising a strip that is fixed to the windowpane and which extends across the width of the windowpane, for holding a flexible seal away from the windowpane when the window is in a closed position. The seal support defines a channel for receiving particulate material

This provides the advantage that when the windowpane is used to form an openable window, the seal support may be located between a static flexible seal and the windowpane when the windowpane is in a closed position. Consequently, foreign particles are less likely to become trapped between the flexible seal and the windowpane, and the possibility of the windowpane being scratched by such a foreign particle when the window is opened is reduced.

The channel provides the advantage that foreign particles that could otherwise become trapped between a sealing member and the windowpane may fall into the channel where they cannot become trapped in that way.

In some embodiments the windowpane has a lower edge configured to be connected to a window regulator and the channel has an opening facing away from the lower edge. The channel may be located between an upper portion of the seal support and the windowpane.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing for providing a window of a door in a vehicle, the method comprising: fixing a seal support comprising a strip to a windowpane, so that the seal support extends across the width of the windowpane; the seal support defines a channel for receiving particulate material; locating the windowpane within a door and supporting the windowpane by an actuator means configured to support the windowpane and move the windowpane between a closed position and open positions; locating a sealing member against the windowpane to form at least a part of a seal between a door panel and the windowpane; moving the windowpane through open positions in which a deflectable portion of the sealing member presses against the windowpane to provide a seal, through open positions in which the seal support holds the deflectable portion away from the windowpane to a closed position in which the seal support holds the deflectable portion away from the windowpane.

This provides the advantage that a window may be provided in a door of a vehicle using conventional techniques, but, by fixing a seal support comprising a strip to the windowpane, so that the seal support extends across the width of the windowpane, the resulting window is less likely to become scratched by particles trapped between the windowpane and the sealing member.

In some embodiments, the window is frameless at least along an upper edge of the windowpane and the windowpane is moved through open positions in which the seal support holds the deflectable portion away from the windowpane to a closed position in which the seal support holds the deflectable portion away from the windowpane when the door is closed. This provides the advantage that a frameless window may be provided in a door and the window is less likely to become scratched as a result of window movement during door opening.

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a window comprising: a windowpane arranged to be moveable between a closed position and open positions; a sealing member having a deflectable portion for pressing against the windowpane to provide a seal when the window is in at least some of the open positions; and a seal support comprising a strip fixed to the windowpane for holding the deflectable portion of the sealing member away from the windowpane when the window is in the closed position. The seal support defines a channel for receiving particulate material

It is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives within the scope of the claims that are set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 102 comprising a door 101 which includes a window 104 arranged to be moveable between closed and open positions;

Fig. 2 shows the vehicle 102 with the windowpane 103 of the window 104 lowered;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the door 101 with the window 104 closed; Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the door 101 with the window 104 open; Fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the door 101 with the window 104 open by a relatively small distance;

Fig. 6 shows the door 101 separate from the vehicle 102;

Figs. 7 to 9 each show a cross-sectional view of a specific example of a portion of the windowpane 103, the seal support 303, the sealing member 301, the waist finisher element 603 and an upper portion of the outer door panel 602 of the door 101;

Fig. 7 shows the windowpane 103 in the closed position;

Fig. 8 shows the windowpane 103 after having been moved by a preset distance to allow the door 101 to be opened;

Fig. 9 shows the windowpane 103 in a lower position than in Fig. 8, so that the window 104 is more open;

Fig. 10 shows an alternative embodiment in a cross-sectional partial view;

Fig. 11 shows an apparatus 1101 comprising the windowpane 103 with the seal support 303 attached;

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of an alternative door 101A for a vehicle;

Fig. 13 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the alternative door 101A for a vehicle; and

Fig. 14 shows a flow chart outlining a method 1400 of manufacturing an apparatus for providing a window of a door in a vehicle/

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Figures illustrate a door 101, 101A for a vehicle 102 comprising: a windowpane 103 forming a window 104 of the door 101, 101 A, the windowpane 103 being arranged to be moveable between a closed position and open positions; a sealing member 301 having a deflectable portion 302 for pressing against the windowpane 103 to provide a seal when the window 104 is in at least some of the open positions; and a seal support 303 comprising a strip fixed to the windowpane 103 for holding the deflectable portion 302 of the sealing member 301 away from the windowpane 103 when the window 104 is in the closed position.

The windowpane 103 may be formed of glass or another material that is sufficiently transparent to light to enable most people to see out of the vehicle 102 through the windowpane 103.

As used herein, a window is in an “open position” when: at least one edge of the windowpane of the window is separated from a seal against which seal the at least one edge is located when the window is in a closed position; or at least one edge of the windowpane of the window is out of a channel within which channel the at least one edge is located when the window is in a closed position. A vehicle 102 comprising a door 101 which includes a window 104 arranged to be moveable between closed and open positions is shown in Fig. 1. In this example, the vehicle is a road vehicle and more specifically a car 102. However, in other examples the vehicle may be another type of road vehicle, or may not even be a road vehicle but another type of vehicle, for example an off-road vehicle or a boat.

In the present example, the window 104 may be referred to as “frameless” because the windowpane 103 has at least an upper edge that is not surrounded by a frame part of the door 101 even when the window is in a closed position. Instead, the uppermost edge of the windowpane is received in a sealing channel (304 in Fig. 3) which forms a part of the roof 105 of the car 102. The door 101 is shown in Fig. 6, which illustrates that the uppermost edge 201 of the windowpane 103 is not provided with a frame. In this example, a rearmost edge 601 of the windowpane 103 is also not enclosed by a frame. A lower portion of the windowpane 103 extends inside an outer panel 602 of the door 101 below a waist finisher element 603. As will be described later, with respect to Figs. 7 to 9, the waist finisher element 603 may support a sealing member which provides a seal against the windowpane 103.

With this type of “frameless” windowpane, the windowpane 103 must be lowered to free its uppermost edge 201 from the sealing channel in the roof 105 of the car 102 before the door 101 may be opened. The windowpane 103 is shown lowered in an open position in Fig. 2 so that the uppermost edge 201 of the windowpane 103 is out of the channel and the door 101 is able to be opened. When the door 101 is reclosed the windowpane 103 may then be raised again to bring the uppermost edge 201 of the windowpane 103 into the channel in the roof 105 of the car 102 and thereby close the window 104.

To facilitate opening and closing of the door 101 it is known for this movement of the windowpane 103 to be automated when a person actuates a door handle 106 of the door 101.

The door 101 is shown in a schematic cross-sectional view in Fig. 3. As described above, the windowpane 103 is moveable between closed positions, such as the fully closed position shown in Fig. 3 and open position where the uppermost edge 201 is free of the channel 304 formed at an edge of the roof 105 (shown in Fig. 1) and at least a portion of the windowpane 103 is slid down into a compartment 305 within the door 101. To enable this movement of the windowpane 103, the door 101 is provided with an actuation means 306 located within the compartment 305 of the door 101. The actuation means 306 may be a window regulator of a known type or another means for supporting a lower edge of the windowpane 103 and sliding the windowpane 103 up and down to close and open the window 104.

The actuation means 306 may be controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) 307 configured to provide electrical signals to the actuation means to cause opening and closing of the window 104 by the actuation means 306. The ECU 307 may itself be configured to receive electrical signals from a window switch unit 308 comprising a manually operable switch 309. In response to the manual actuation of the switch 309, the window switch unit 308 is configured to provide corresponding signals to the ECU 307 and in dependence of receiving such signals the ECU 307 is configured to control the actuation means 306 to open or close the window 104. The window switch unit 308 may be mounted on an interior panel 311 of the door 101 or elsewhere within the vehicle 102.

The ECU 307 may also be configured to receive electrical signals from one or more door handle unit(s) 310 associated with the external door handle 106 and internal door handle 106A. Thus, in response to receiving a user input in the form of a user actuation of a door handle 106, 106A, the door handle unit(s) 310 are arranged to provide a signal to the ECU 307 to cause it to ensure the window 104 is in an open position to allow opening of the door 101. I.e. if the window 104 is in a closed position, as shown in Fig. 3, the ECU 307 controls the actuation means 306 to move the windowpane 103 down by a preset distance from the fully closed position to an open position such that the door 101 may be opened. In this way, the actuation means 306 is arranged to automatically move the windowpane 103 by a preset distance from a closed position to an open position when the door 101 is to be opened.

The door 101 also comprises a sealing member 301 having a deflectable portion 302 for pressing against the windowpane 103 to provide a seal when the window 104 is in at least some open positions. The door 101 is shown again in Fig. 4 with the window 104 in an open position such that the uppermost edge 201 of the windowpane 103 is out of the channel 304 and a relatively large gap 401 is provided between the channel 304 and the edge 201. With the window in this position, the deflectable portion 302 has been allowed to flex towards the windowpane 103 to provide a seal against the windowpane 103. It will be understood that the deflectable portion 302 extends across the width of the windowpane 103 to provide a seal across that width.

The door 101 also comprises a seal support 303 comprising a strip fixed to the windowpane 103 that extends across the width of the windowpane 103 in a position that is substantially parallel to the deflectable portion 302. The seal support 303 is shown separated from the sealing member 301 in Fig. 4. However, when the windowpane 103 is moved to the closed position shown in Fig. 3, the deflectable portion 302 is deflected away from the windowpane 103 by the seal support 303. In this way, the seal support 303 is positioned between the deflectable portion 302 of the sealing member 301 and the windowpane 103 and holds the deflectable portion 302 away from the windowpane 103.

The seal support 303 may also be arranged to hold the deflectable portion 302 away from the windowpane 103 when the window 104 is in at least some open positions adjacent to the closed positions. Therefore, the seal support 303 holds deflectable portion 302 away from the windowpane when the windowpane 103 is moved from the fully closed position shown in Fig. 3, through closed positions in which the uppermost edge 201 of the windowpane 103 is still within the channel 304 and into neighbouring open positions in which the uppermost edge 201 is out of the channel 304. Thus, for example, when the windowpane 103 is automatically lowered by the actuation means 306 to a position, as shown in Fig. 5, to allow the frameless door 101 to be opened, the seal support 303 may be arranged to hold the deflectable portion 302 off the windowpane 103 throughout the movement. An example of how this may be achieved will be described below with respect to Figs. 7 to 9.

Figs. 7 to 9 each show a cross-sectional view of a specific example of a portion of the windowpane 103, the seal support 303, the sealing member 301, the waist finisher element 603 and an upper portion of the outer door panel 602 of the door 101. The sealing member 301 is supported on the outer door panel 602 by the waist finisher element 603. The deflectable portion 302 and the seal support 303 reside below an uppermost surface 720 of the waist finisher element 603.

The waist finisher element 603 may be formed of a metal such as aluminium alloy or a rigid plastics material. An upper portion of the waist finisher element 603 is provided with features that are arranged to engage a second sealing member 701, which provides a seal between the waist finisher element 603 and the outer panel 602 of the door. A lower portion 703 of the waist finisher element 603 has features that are configured to engage with features of the sealing member 302 so that the sealing member 302 is supported in position adjacent to the windowpane 103.

The sealing member 301 has an attachment portion 704 configured to be attached to the lower portion of the waist finisher element 603. The deflectable portion 302 of the sealing member 301 is separated from the attachment portion 704 by a pivot portion 705. The pivot portion 705 is less rigid than either of the deflectable portion 302 or the attachment portion 704 and consequently the deflectable portion 302 is able to be deflected about the line of the pivot portion 705 under forces applied to it by the seal support 303. The sealing member 301 may be formed of a relatively flexible resilient material, such as a synthetic rubber material, whereas the seal support 303 may be formed of a relatively stiffer polymeric material.

The windowpane 103 is shown in a fully closed position in Fig. 7, and so the seal support 303 is positioned alongside the deflectable portion 302 of the sealing member 301. Consequently, the deflectable portion 302 is held away from the windowpane 103 by the seal support 303. In this position, the upper edge 801 of the seal support 303 is arranged to be approximately level with the distal edge 802 of the deflectable portion 302, and consequently the seal support 303 is generally not visible to a user of the vehicle 102. The upper edge 801 of the seal support 303 may be arranged to be slightly lower than the distal edge 802 to ensure that the seal support is not visible. Alternatively, the upper edge 801 of the seal support 303 may be arranged to be slightly higher than the distal edge 802 of the deflectable portion 302 so that the upper edge 801 passes over the distal edge 802 whenever the window 104 is closed. This may provide a cleaning effect by dislodging dirt adhered to the distal edge 802.

The seal support 303 may have a lower portion 706 that has an inner face 707 fixed to the windowpane 103, for example by a suitable adhesive. The seal support 303 may have an upper portion 708 that is connected to the lower portion 706 so that an inner face 709 of the upper portion 708, which faces the windowpane 103, extends in a substantially parallel but separate plane to the inner face 707 of the lower portion 706. Thus, the inner face 709 of the upper portion 708 of the seal support 303 is positioned substantially parallel to the facing part of the windowpane 103 but spaced from it by a gap or channel 710. The gap or channel 710 between the upper portion 708 of the seal support 303 and the windowpane 103 may have a width of between 0.8 mm and 1.7 mm. In some embodiments the channel 710 has a width of between 1.2 and 1.5 mm and is typically about 1,35mm.

The windowpane 103 is shown in the closed position in Fig. 7. The open end of the channel 710 faces upwards, towards the upper edge 201 of the windowpane 103. In addition, the channel 710 is open to the outside atmosphere and consequently it is possible for foreign particles such as sand particles to fall down the outside surface of the windowpane 103 and into the channel 710. Water is also able to fall down the windowpane 103 into the channel 710 and therefore such foreign particles will periodically be washed away through the ends of the channel 710, which may also be arranged to be open. By holding the deflectable portion 302 of the sealing member 301 away from the windowpane 103 and also by providing the channel 710 for foreign particles to fall into, such particles are prevented from being trapped between the deflectable portion 302 and the windowpane 103. Consequently, when the windowpane 103 is moved from this closed position the possibility of a foreign particle being pressed against the windowpane 103 by the sealing member 301 is greatly reduced and scratching of the windowpane 103 by such a particle becomes less likely.

In some embodiments, the seal support 303 is provided with holes or slots (not shown) at spaced positions along the length of the seal support 303, so that water and/or particles may exit the channel 710 through the holes or slots instead of, or in addition to, the ends of the channel 710.

In addition, the height of the deflectable portion 302 may be made sufficiently long so that it is held away from the windowpane 103 while the windowpane is moved into neighbouring open positions, i.e. the deflectable portion 302 is held off the windowpane 103 while it is moved from the fully closed position of Fig. 3 through other positions in which the window may still be regarded as closed and to an open position such as that shown in Fig. 5. In an embodiment, such as that of Fig. 1, where the window 104 is “frameless” the deflectable portion 302 may be provided with a sufficiently long height so that the seal support 303 holds the deflectable portion 302 off the windowpane 103 when moved from the fully closed position by the preset distance that allows the door to be opened.

The windowpane 103 is shown in Fig. 8 having been moved by a preset distance that allows the door 101 to be opened. The upper edge 801 of the seal support 303 has been moved from a position next to the distal edge 802 of the deflectable portion 302 by the preset distance but, due to the sufficiently long height of the deflectable portion 302, the upper edge 801 of the seal support 303 is still applying a force to the deflectable portion 302 along a line above the pivot portion 705. In an example, the preset distance is about 8mm and the length of the deflectable portion 302 from its distal edge 802 to the pivot portion 705 is longer than the preset distance.

By this arrangement, the deflectable portion 302 is arranged to be held away from the windowpane 103 by the seal support 303 when the window is in all open positions that are within a preset distance (such as 8 mm) of the fully closed position. Thus, in the case where the windowpane 103 is arranged to be automatically partially opened to allow opening of the door 101, the deflectable portion 302 never comes into contact with the windowpane 103. Thus, the door 101 may be opened and closed again without the deflectable portion 302 coming into contact with the windowpane 103, and there is no possibility of the deflectable portion 302 trapping a particle against the windowpane 103 and scratching the windowpane 103 during this process.

The windowpane 103 is shown in Fig. 9 in a lower position than in Fig. 8, so that the window is more open. In this position the upper edge 801 of the seal support 303 is lower than the deflectable portion 302 of the sealing member 301 and consequently the sealing member 301 has been able to return from its deflected position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 to a less stressed position in which the distal edge 802 of the deflectable portion 302 presses against the windowpane 103 to provide a seal.

When the windowpane 103 is once again raised from the position shown in Fig. 9, to close the window, the upper edge 801 of the seal support 303 pushes the deflectable portion 302 back away from the windowpane 103.

In the embodiment of Figs. 7 to 9, the lower portion 706 of the seal support 303 is fixed to the windowpane 103 and the upper portion 708 of the seal support 303 is held away from the windowpane 103 in the manner of a cantilever. However, in an alternative embodiment shown in the cross-sectional partial view of Fig. 10, the seal support 303 is provided with a plurality of support elements 1001 spaced along the length of the channel 710. The embodiment of Fig. 10 may otherwise be the same as the embodiment of Figs. 7 to 9.

The support elements 1001 may be positioned at, or near to, the upper edge 801 of the seal support 303. The support elements 1001 may be located on the face 709 of the upper portion 708 of the seal support 303 that faces the windowpane 103 and may each comprise a bump formed in the material of the seal support 303. The support elements 1001 may extend from the face 709 by a distance that is substantially equal to the width of the channel 710 to enable the support elements 1001 to provide assistance with maintaining the width of the channel 710 when the upper portion 708 of the seal support is holding the deflectable portion 302 away from the windowpane 103.

Apparatus 1101 comprising the windowpane 103 with the seal support 303 attached is shown in the perspective view of Fig. 11. The windowpane 103 is provided with a lower edge 1103 and/or features 1102 in the form of apertures that enable it to be mounted within the vehicle 101 on a window regulator 306. This enables movement of the windowpane 103 between a closed position and open positions as discussed above. The seal support 303 comprises a strip fixed to the windowpane 103, which extends across the width of the windowpane 103, for holding a flexible seal 301 away from the windowpane 103 when the window 104 is in a closed position.

The upper portion 708 of the seal support 303 may be supported by the lower portion 706 of the seal support 303 so that a channel 710 exists between the upper portion 708 and the windowpane 103 as discussed above with regard to Fig. 7. The windowpane 103 may be formed of laminated or toughened glass by conventional methods. The seal support 303 may be formed by moulding or extruding a plastics material. If the seal support 303 is provided with spaced support elements 1001, the support elements 1001 may be formed, for example, as part of the seal support 303 when it is created by moulding. The seal support 303 may be attached to the windowpane 103 by an adhesive suitable for adhering to the plastics material of the seal support 303 and to the material of the windowpane 103. The adhesive may form part of a double sided adhesive tape that is applied to the seal support 303 prior to fixing the seal support 303 to the windowpane 103.

An alternative door 101A for a vehicle is shown in the perspective view of Fig. 12 and the schematic cross-sectional view of Fig. 13. The door 101A may have a similar construction to door 101. However, the door 101A differs from the door 101 in that it includes a frame 1201 that surrounds all of the edges of the windowpane 103 above the outer door panel 602, including at least the uppermost edge 1301 of the windowpane 103. The frame 1201 may be provided with a channel 1304 in which the uppermost edge 1301 of the windowpane 103 resides when the window 104 is in a closed position.

Like the windowpane 103 of the door 101, the windowpane 103 of the door 101A is moveable by an actuation means 306 which may be controlled by an ECU 307 in response to signals received from a manually operable switch 309 of a window switch unit 308. However, in this arrangement, there is no requirement for the windowpane 103 to be in an open position when the door 101A is opened. Consequently, user actuation of the door handles 106, 106A does not cause automatic opening of the window 104.

Like the door 101, the door 101A has a sealing member 301 having a deflectable portion 302 which is able to seal against the windowpane 103 when the window 104 is open with the windowpane 103 sufficiently lowered. It also has a seal support 303 for holding the deflectable portion 302 away from the windowpane 103 when the windowpane 103 is in a closed position. The seal support 303 and the sealing member 301, including the deflectable portion 302, may be configured in the same manner as described above with regard to Figs. 3 to 5 and 7 to 9. However, in this embodiment the height of the deflectable portion 303 may be relatively smaller (e.g. less than 8mm) because the windowpane 103 is not going to be repeatedly automatically opened for the purposes of allowing the door to be opened. A flow chart outlining a method 1400 of manufacturing an apparatus for providing a window of a door in a vehicle is shown in Fig. 14. The method 1400 comprises, at block 1401, fixing a seal support comprising a strip to a windowpane, so that the seal support extends across the width of the windowpane. For example, as described with regard to Fig. 11, a seal support 303 may be fixed to a windowpane 103 using an adhesive. The adhesive may be applied to the seal support 303 in the form of a double sided adhesive tape. A backing strip may cover the adhesive, and the backing strip may then be removed just before locating the seal support 303 against the windowpane 103 to fix it in place. The seal support 303 is positioned on the windowpane 103 such that when the windowpane 103 is later located within the door 101 in a closed position, the seal support 303 is positioned alongside the sealing member 301 (for example, as shown in Fig. 7).

The method further comprises, at block 1402, locating the windowpane 103 within a door 101 and supporting the windowpane 103 by an actuator means 306 configured to support the windowpane 103 and move the windowpane 103 between a closed position and open positions. For example, as described with regard to Fig. 3, the door 101 may be fitted by an actuator means 306 in the form of a window regulator. The windowpane 103 may be lowered inside the outer panel 602 of the door 101 and a lower part of the windowpane 103 located on the window regulator 306.

At block 1403, the method 1400 comprises locating a sealing member 301 against the windowpane to form at least a part of a seal between a door panel and the windowpane 103. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, a sealing member 301 may be fitted to a waist finisher element 603. The waist finisher element 603, with the sealing element fitted, may be located at an upper end of an outer panel 602 of the door 101 so that the sealing element is located in a space between the outer door panel 602 and the windowpane 103.

At block 1404, the method 1400 comprises moving the windowpane 103 through open positions in which a deflectable portion of the sealing member 301 presses against the windowpane 103 to provide a seal, through open positions in which the seal support 303 holds the deflectable portion 302 away from the windowpane 103 to a closed position in which the seal support 303 holds the deflectable portion 302 away from the windowpane 103. For example, the windowpane 103 may be moved by actuation of the window regulator 306 to form an open position in which the deflectable portion 302 of the sealing member 301 is pressed against the windowpane 103, as shown in Fig. 4 to a closed position in which the seal support 303 holds the deflectable portion 302 away from the windowpane 103 as shown in Fig. 3.

In an example of the method 1400, the window 104 is frameless at least along an upper edge 201 of the windowpane 103, for example as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, and the windowpane 103 is moved through open positions, such as shown in Fig. 5, in which the seal support 303 holds the deflectable portion 302 away from the windowpane 103 to a closed position, such as shown in Fig. 3, in which the seal support 303 holds the deflectable portion 302 away from the windowpane 103 when the door 101 is closed.

For purposes of this disclosure, it is to be understood that the electronic control units described herein can each comprise a control unit or computational device having one or more electronic processors. A vehicle and/or a system thereof may comprise a single control unit or electronic controller or alternatively different functions of the controller(s) may be embodied in, or hosted in, different control units or controllers. A set of instructions could be provided which, when executed, cause said controller(s) or control unit(s) to implement the control techniques described herein (including the described method(s)). The set of instructions may be embedded in one or more electronic processors, or alternatively, the set of instructions could be provided as software to be executed by one or more electronic processor(s). For example, a first controller may be implemented in software run on one or more electronic processors, and one or more other controllers may also be implemented in software run on or more electronic processors, optionally the same one or more processors as the first controller. It will be appreciated, however, that other arrangements falling within the scope of the claims are also useful, and therefore, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to any particular arrangement falling within the scope of the claims. In any event, the set of instructions described above may be embedded in a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory storage medium) that may comprise any mechanism for storing information in a form readable by a machine or electronic processors/computational device, including, without limitation: a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppy diskette); optical storage medium (e.g., CD-ROM); magneto optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM ad EEPROM); flash memory; or electrical or other types of medium for storing such information/instructions.

The blocks illustrated in the Fig. 14 may represent steps in a method. The illustration of a particular order to the blocks does not necessarily imply that there is a required or preferred order for the blocks and the order and arrangement of the block may be varied. Furthermore, it may be possible for some steps to be omitted.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, although the above described embodiments relate to a window of a door of a vehicle, it will be appreciated that the window may be located within a fixed wall of a vehicle. For example, the window may be a rear side window in a three door car.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Claims

1. A door for a vehicle comprising: a windowpane forming a window of the door, the windowpane being arranged to be moveable between a closed position and open positions; a sealing member having a deflectable portion for pressing against the windowpane to provide a seal when the window is in at least some of the open positions; and a seal support comprising a strip fixed to the windowpane for holding the deflectable portion of the sealing member away from the windowpane when the window is in the closed position; wherein the seal support defines a channel for receiving particulate material.

2. A door according to claim 1, wherein the seal support is arranged to hold the deflectable portion away from the windowpane when the window is in at least some of the open positions adjacent to the closed position.

3. A door according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the deflectable portion has a sufficiently long height to enable the seal support to hold the deflectable portion off the windowpane when moved from the closed position to at least some of the open positions adjacent to the closed position.

4. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising an actuation means wherein the actuation means is arranged to automatically move the windowpane by a preset distance from a closed position to an open position when the door is to be opened, and the deflectable portion has a sufficiently long height to enable the seal support to hold the deflectable portion off the windowpane when moved from the closed position by the preset distance.

5. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the deflectable portion is configured to be held away from the windowpane by the seal support when the window is in all open positions that are within 8 mm of the closed position.

6. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sealing member has a surface arranged to contact against the seal support, the surface having a height of at least 8 mm extending in the direction of the height of the windowpane.

7. A door according to claim 6, wherein the deflectable portion is configured to deflect about a pivot portion and the height of the surface extends from the pivot portion to a distal edge of the deflectable portion.

8. A door according to claim 1, wherein the channel has an opening facing an upper edge of the windowpane.

9. A door according to claim 8, wherein the channel is located between an upper portion of the seal support and the windowpane.

10. A door according to claim 9, wherein the upper portion of the seal support comprises a plurality of support elements spaced along the length of the channel for holding the upper portion away from the windowpane.

11. A door according to any preceding claim, wherein the channel has a width of between 0.8 mm and 1.7 mm.

12. A door according to claim 11, wherein the width of the channel is between 1.2 and 1.5 mm

13. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the seal support comprises a polymeric material bonded to the windowpane by an adhesive.

14. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the windowpane comprises glass.

15. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the door comprises an actuator means configured to move the windowpane between the closed position and open positions.

16. A door according to claim 15, wherein the actuator means comprises a window regulator.

17. A door according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the actuator means is arranged to be activated in dependence on a manual input.

18. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the sealing member is supported on a door panel by a waist finisher element and the deflectable portion and the seal support reside below an uppermost surface of the waist finisher element.

19. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the window is frameless at least along an upper edge of the windowpane.

20. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the door defines a frame along at least an uppermost edge of the windowpane.

21. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the seal support has an upper edge that is arranged to be higher than a distal edge of the deflectable portion when the windowpane is in the closed position, and the upper edge passes over the distal edge when the window is moved from open positions to the closed position.

22. A vehicle comprising a door according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

23. Apparatus for providing a window in a vehicle, wherein the apparatus comprises: a windowpane configured to be mounted within a vehicle on a window regulator for moving the windowpane between a closed position and open positions; and a seal support comprising a strip that is fixed to the windowpane and which extends across the width of the windowpane, for holding a flexible seal away from the windowpane when the window is in a closed position; wherein the seal support defines a channel for receiving particulate material.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the windowpane has a lower edge configured to be connected to a window regulator and the channel has an opening facing away from the lower edge.

25. An apparatus according to claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the channel is located between an upper portion of the seal support and the windowpane.

26. A method of manufacturing an apparatus for providing a window of a door in a vehicle, the method comprising: fixing a seal support comprising a strip to a windowpane, so that the seal support extends across the width of the windowpane; wherein the seal support defines a channel for receiving particulate material; locating the windowpane within a door and supporting the windowpane by an actuator means configured to support the windowpane and move the windowpane between a closed position and open positions; locating a sealing member against the windowpane to form at least a part of a seal between a door panel and the windowpane; moving the windowpane through open positions in which a deflectable portion of the sealing member presses against the windowpane to provide a seal, through open positions in which the seal support holds the deflectable portion away from the windowpane to a closed position in which the seal support holds the deflectable portion away from the windowpane.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the window is frameless at least along an upper edge of the windowpane, and the windowpane is moved through open positions in which the seal support holds the deflectable portion away from the windowpane to a closed position in which the seal support holds the deflectable portion away from the windowpane when the door is closed.

28. A windowpane for forming a window of a door of a vehicle in which the windowpane is arranged to be moveable between a closed position and open positions, and the door comprises a sealing member having a deflectable portion for pressing against a windowpane to provide a seal when the window is in at least some of the open positions, the windowpane comprising a seal support comprising a strip fixed to the windowpane for holding a deflectable portion of a sealing member away from the windowpane when the window is in the closed position; wherein the seal support defines a channel for receiving particulate material.

29. A seal support for a windowpane for a window of a door of a vehicle in which the windowpane is arranged to be moveable between a closed position and open positions, and the door comprises a sealing member having a deflectable portion for pressing against a windowpane to provide a seal when the window is in at least some of the open positions, the seal support comprising a strip for attachment to a windowpane, for, in use, holding a deflectable portion of a sealing member away from a windowpane when the window is in the closed position; wherein the seal support defines a channel for receiving particulate material.