Description:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(Section 10 and Rule 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A Divider Channel for a Vehicle Door

APPLICANTS
Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Mahindra Research Valley, Mahindra World City, Plot No:41/1, Anjur P.O., Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu – 603004, India

PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The invention generally relates to a divider channel for a vehicle door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Rear doors of vehicles close adjacent to wheel arches of the vehicles, and the rear doors typically have a tapered profile or a curved profile towards the wheel arches to allow the doors to close. Accordingly, a window glass provided across a width of the rear door will not roll down completely as the curved/tapered profile reduces the space in the rear door preventing the window glass from being rolled down completely leaving the window partially closed.
[003] In order to solve the aforementioned problem, the window glass is split into a movable glass and a fixed glass. Figure 1 shows a rear vehicle door 100 as per prior art. The vehicle door 100 comprises a movable glass 104 and a fixed glass 106. The movable glass 104 is configured to move below a waistline 108 of the rear vehicle door 100. The movable glass 104 and the fixed glass 106 are supported by a divider channel 102, whereby the divider channel 102 is mounted in the vehicle door 100 between the movable glass 104 and the fixed glass 106. The divider channel 102 comprises a first section 110 and a second section 112 opposing the first section 110 as shown in Figure 2B. The first section 110 is configured to support the movable glass 104 and the second section 112 is configured to support the fixed glass 106. The first section 110 and the second section 112 are c-shaped or u-shaped across an entire length of the divider channel 102. The movable glass 104 slides across the entire length of the divider channel 102 on the first section 110. The fixed glass 106 remains fixedly held by the second section 112 of the divider channel 102 above the waistline 108. As a result, the movable glass 104 slides below the waistline 108 of the rear vehicle door 100 whereas the fixed glass 106 remains stationery above the waistline 108. A portion of the divider channel 102 comprising the second section 112 positioned below the waistline 108 thus remains redundant. However, since the divider channel 102 is made of sheet metal, the second section 112 cannot be eliminated because of manufacturing constraints associated with the sheet metal. Thus, there is wastage of material. Moreover, the second section 112 increases overall weight of the divider channel 102, and thereby the rear vehicle door 100, which is undesirable.
[004] Referring to Figures 2A, 2C and 2D, the divider channel 102 is mounted on the rear vehicle door 100 using first and second brackets 114, 116. The first bracket 114 is mounted on a top end and the second bracket 116 is mounted towards a bottom end of the divider channel 102. The first bracket 114 attaches the divider channel 102 to a window opening of the rear vehicle door 100. The second bracket 116 attaches the divider channel 102 to the rear vehicle door 100 below the waistline 108. The first bracket 114 and the second bracket 116 are also made of sheet metal and are welded to the divider channel 102, which is a further manufacturing step. Further, considering, the brackets 114, 116 are also made of metal, the overall weight of the divider channel 102 is further increased.
[005] In an alternative configuration, the divider channel is split into first and second segments wherein the first segment of the divider channel is above the waistline and the second segment of the divider channel is below the waistline. The first segment will have two sections – to support the fixed glass and the movable glass, and the second segment will have one section – to support the fixed glass. The first and second segments of the divider channel are required to be fastened or welded together, resulting in additional manufacturing and processing steps. This also reduces the structural rigidity, and hence such a configuration is undesirable.
[006] Thus, there is a need in the art for a divider channel for a vehicle door, which addresses at least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[007] In one aspect, the present invention provides a divider channel disposed in a vehicle door between a movable glass and a fixed glass. The divider channel includes a bar extending vertically from a top end to a bottom end. The top end extends from a window opening of the vehicle door and the bottom end is disposed below a waistline of the vehicle door. The bar includes a first cavity and a second cavity opposing the first cavity. The first cavity extends from the top end to the bottom end parallelly with the movable glass and is configured to allow the movable glass to move upwards and downwards. The second cavity extends from the top end until the waistline parallelly with the fixed glass and is configured to support the fixed glass.
[008] In an embodiment, the first cavity is c-shaped or u-shaped.
[009] In an embodiment, the second cavity is c-shaped or u-shaped.
[010] In an embodiment, the divider channel is integrally formed and is made of plastic.
[011] In an embodiment, the bar includes one or more mounting brackets that are integrally formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[012] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a vehicle door as per prior art.
Figure 2A shows a divider channel as per prior art.
Figure 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the divider channel across P-P axis as per prior art.
Figures 2C and 2D show perspective views of brackets for mounting the divider channel as per prior art.
Figure 3 shows a vehicle door in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4A shows a divider channel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figures 4B and 4C show cross-sectional views of a divider channel across A-A and B-B axes in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 shows the divider channel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[013] The present invention provides a divider channel for supporting a movable glass and a fixed glass of a vehicle door. The divider channel is integrally formed, light weight and does not require any external/additional bracket for mounting the divider channel.
[014] Figure 3 shows a vehicle door 300 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The vehicle door 300 is a rear door of the vehicle. As can be seen, the vehicle door 300 has a curved profile to accommodate/align with a wheel well of the vehicle. The shape and configuration of the vehicle door can vary depending upon design of the vehicle. As shown in figure 3, the vehicle door 300 has a window opening in which a divider channel 302 is disposed between a movable glass 304 and a fixed glass 306. The divider channel 302 extends vertically from a top end to a bottom end. The top end extends from a top edge of the window opening of the vehicle door 300 and the bottom end is disposed below a waistline 308 of the vehicle door 300. The movable glass 304 is slidable between an open and a closed position and can be operated by a user by manually operated or automatically operated mechanisms such as hand levers or power windows.
[015] Figure 4A shows the divider channel 302 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The divider channel 302 comprises a bar 402 extending vertically from the top end to the bottom end. The bar 402 comprises a first cavity 404 and a second cavity 406 opposing the first cavity 404 and separated by a common wall 405. The common wall 405 extends from the top end to the bottom end of the divider channel 302. The first cavity 404 extends from the top end to the bottom end parallelly with the movable glass 304 and is configured to allow the movable glass 304 to slide/move upwards and downwards. The second cavity 406 extends from the top end until the waistline 408 parallelly with the fixed glass 306 and is configured to support the fixed glass 306. In an embodiment, the first cavity 404 and the second cavity 406 are c-shaped or u-shaped. The first cavity and the second cavity can accommodate various rubber seals or gaskets for mounting the respective glasses.
[016] Figures 4B and 4C show cross-sectional views of a divider channel 302 across A-A and B-B axes in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 4B shows the first cavity 404 and the second cavity 406 of the divider channel 302 above the waistline 408. Figure 4C shows the first cavity 404 of the divider channel 302 below the waistline 408. Accordingly, the divider channel 302 is devoid of the second cavity 406 below the waistline 408. In other words, a portion of the second cavity 406 is eliminated, resulting in a lightweight divider channel 302.
[017] In an embodiment, the divider channel 302 is integrally formed, and is made of plastic by one of plastic extrusion, injection moulding, blow moulding, and the like processes. In one example, the divider channel 302 is made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic. Accordingly, the divider channel is lightweight.
[018] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the divider channel 302 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, the bar 402 includes one or more mounting brackets 10 and 20 integrally formed with the bar. The bracket 10 is integrally formed with the top end of the bar 402. The bracket 10 is a L-shaped bracket with a countersunk hole for receiving a fastener. The bracket 20 is a plate extending from the divider channel. The bracket 20 has a countersunk hole for receiving a fastener. Since, the brackets are integrally formed with the bar, the divider channel is light weight. Further, the divider channel can be installed easily with fasteners. The divider channel of the present invention being integrally formed thus obviates the additional process of welding the brackets to the divider channel.
[019] Advantageously, the present invention provides a divider channel for supporting a movable glass and a fixed glass of a vehicle door whereby the divider channel is integrally formed, light weight and does not require any external/additional bracket for mounting the divider channel.
[020] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
, Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A divider channel (302) disposed in a vehicle door (300) between a movable glass (304) and a fixed glass (306), the divider channel (302) comprising:
a bar (402) extending vertically from a top end to a bottom end, the top end extending from a window opening of the vehicle door (300) and the bottom end disposed below a waistline (308) of the vehicle door (300), the bar (402) comprising:
a first cavity (404) and a second cavity (406) opposing the first cavity (404), the first cavity (404) extending from the top end to the bottom end, the first cavity (404) parallel with the movable glass (304) and configured to allow the movable glass (304) to move upwards and downwards, and the second cavity (406) extending from the top end until the waistline (308), the second cavity (406) parallel with the fixed glass (306) and configured to support the fixed glass (306).

2. The divider channel (302) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cavity (404) is c-shaped or u-shaped.

3. The divider channel (302) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second cavity (406) is c-shaped or u-shaped.

4. The divider channel (302) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the divider channel (302) is integrally formed and is made of plastic.

5. The divider channel (302) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bar (402) comprises one or more mounting brackets (10, 20) that are integrally formed.

Dated this 7th day of February 2023

MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LIMITED
By their Agent & Attorney

(Janaksinh Jhala)
of Khaitan & Co
Reg No IN/PA-2193