TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to an arrangement for a visual passage through a lower portion of a vehicle door according to the preamble of claim 1 . The invention also relates to a vehicle door. The invention also relates to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART There is an upcoming need of offer a solution for direct vision for the driver through the passenger door of a vehicle, e.g. a truck. By direct vision is intended what the driver can see through windows rather than using mirrors or cameras.

This may be accomplished by placing a window in the lower portion of the passenger vehicle door providing an opening passage through the vehicle door in the direction forward/downwards optimized for best vision for the driver of the vehicle.

JP201 1218856 discloses a window opening in the lower portion of a vehicle door. The opening is sealed by a frame. US4914863 discloses a window opening in the lower portion of a vehicle door.

There is however a need to provide an improved arrangement for a visual passage through a lower portion of a vehicle door.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for a visual passage through a lower portion of a vehicle door which facilitates easy assembly and requires low tolerances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects, apparent from the following description, are achieved by an arrangement and a vehicle as set out in the appended independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the arrangement are defined in appended dependent claims. Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by an arrangement for a visual passage through a lower portion of a vehicle door of a vehicle. Said vehicle door has an inner panel and an outer panel. Said inner panel has an inner opening and said outer panel has an outer opening. Said openings are arranged for providing said visual passage. Said inner and outer panels are spaced apart in connection to said openings and arranged to be joined together along edge portions of said panels. A transparent panel is arranged in connection to said outer opening of the outer panel. Said arrangement comprises a flexible layer shapable to a tunnel configuration and configured to be connected at a first end portion around said outer opening and arranged in connection to the inner opening at an opposite second end portion so as to form said tunnel configuration between said inner and outer openings.

Said transparent panel is according to an embodiment comprised by a transparent glass window. By thus providing a flexible layer shapable to a tunnel configuration and configured to be connected at a first end portion around said outer opening and arranged in connection to the inner opening at an opposite second end portion so as to form said tunnel configuration between said inner and outer openings low tolerances are required facilitating easy assembly. Such a flexible layer shaped to a tunnel configuration facilitates noise reduction during drive. Such a flexible layer shaped to a tunnel configuration provides absorbing properties, should inner and outer panel move relative to each other e.g. in connection to slamming of door and/or during drive. Such a flexible layer takes up very little space during transportation of parts prior to mounting of said vehicle doors. Such a flexible layer shaped to a tunnel configuration does not require any tools to provide particular advanced shapes otherwise required for such a passage to meet up with the door panels. Such a flexible layer shapable to a tunnel configuration is suitable provides for tailoring assembly which is suitable for low volume solutions which may be the case for such doors having visual passage through a lower portion of the door. Such a flexible layer shaped to a tunnel configuration facilitates a cost efficient solution. According to an embodiment of the arrangement said layer is cuttable and sewable. Hereby easy manufacturing of said layer and assembly of said arrangement for visual passage through said lower portion of said vehicle door is facilitated.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement said layer has elastic properties and water resistant properties. Hereby requirements of tolerances are further reduced and the inside of said transparent panel and possible other parts may be efficiently protected from water e.g. entering via the upper normal window which may be opened by means of a window opening mechanism. According to an embodiment of the arrangement said layer is arranged to be sealingly connected around said outer opening. Hereby the inside of said transparent panel and possible other parts may be efficiently sealed from water e.g. entering via the upper normal window which may be opened by means of a window opening mechanism. According to an embodiment of the arrangement said layer is of a material comprised in a family of synthetic rubbers exhibiting good stability and maintaining said flexibility over a wide temperature range, said synthetic rubber family preferably being polychloroprenes. Synthetic rubbers exhibiting good stability and maintaining said flexibility over a wide temperature range, e.g. polychloroprene, is very suitable for providing said flexible layer shapable to a tunnel configuration and has said advantages of requiring low tolerances and providing efficient isolation, sound absorbing, flame resistant, having good elasticity and facilitating snug fit when tailored correctly. Polychloroprene is also called neoprene.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement said openings have a polygonal shape with rounded corners. This provides for good visibility.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement said layer is arranged to be cut to a shape having opposite short sides configured to be attached together for providing said tunnel configuration and having a first long side and an opposite second long side, said long sides being shaped to provide corners configured to match said rounded corners of said openings when shaped to said tunnel configuration, said first long side forming said first end portion and said second long side forming said opposite second end portion of said tunnel configuration. Hereby efficient tailoring of said flexible layer is facilitated and thus efficient assembly for providing said tunnel configuration for said visual passage is provided. Thus a tailor made tunnel configuration is efficiently provided.

Said opposite short sides configured to be attached together are according to an embodiment configured to be sewed together.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement said outer opening is greater than said inner opening. Hereby efficient view from the driver seat is provided. According to an embodiment of the arrangement said arrangement comprises a frame arranged to run around said outer opening, said as tunnel configuration shaped layer being connected to said frame. Hereby efficient connection of said as tunnel configuration shaped layer in connection to said outer opening is facilitated. Said frame is according to an embodiment arranged to support said transparent panel.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement said frame comprises a groove running around the circumference of the frame facing towards said outer opening and configured to receive an edge portion of said as tunnel configuration shaped layer for said connection to the frame. Hereby efficient connection of said as tunnel configuration shaped layer is facilitated, such connection being suitable for providing efficient sealing.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement said arrangement comprises a flexible strip arranged around said first end portion of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer, said flexible strip being configured to be folded so that the first end portion faces away from said outer opening for connection to said groove. Hereby efficient connection of said as tunnel configuration shaped layer is facilitated, such connection being suitable for providing efficient sealing. By having said flexible strip folding and thus assembly of said first end portion to said groove is facilitated.

Said flexible strip is according to an embodiment outwardly arranged around said first end portion of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer. Said flexible strip may be attached to the first end portion of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer by any suitable attachment means. Said flexible strip is according to an embodiment sewed to the first end portion of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement said arrangement comprises a cover portion arranged to cover a support member of said inner panel comprising said inner opening, said cover portion having an opening and being arranged in connection to said inner opening and connected to said second end portion of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer. Hereby efficient arrangement of said tunnel configuration shaped layer in connection to said inner opening is facilitated as well as providing an inner surface covering the support member.

Said cover portion is according to an embodiment a flexible cover portion. According to an embodiment of the arrangement said cover portion is cuttable and sewable. According to an embodiment of the arrangement said cover portion has elastic properties and water resistant properties. According to an embodiment of the arrangement said cover portion is of a material comprised in a family of synthetic rubbers exhibiting good stability and maintaining said flexibility over a wide temperature range, said synthetic rubber family preferably being polychloroprenes.

Said cover portion is according to an embodiment of the arrangement configured to be attached to said second end portion of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer in connection to the inner edge of the opening of the cover portion. Said inner edge of the opening of the cover portion is according to an embodiment of the arrangement configured to be sewed together with the second end portion of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer.

Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a vehicle door having an inner panel and an outer panel, said inner panel having an inner opening and said outer panel having an outer opening, said openings being arranged for providing said visual passage, said inner and outer panels being spaced apart in connection to said openings and arranged to be joined together along edge portions of said panels, a transparent panel being arranged in connection to said outer opening of the outer panel, said vehicle door comprising an arrangement as set out herein. According to an embodiment of the vehicle door said inner panel has a support member comprising said inner opening.

According to an embodiment said vehicle door comprises an intermediate mounting panel configured to support vehicle door components comprising one or more of cables, cable connectors, loud speakers, control units, locking members etc. The vehicle door is according to an embodiment the passenger vehicle door.

Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a vehicle comprising a vehicle door as set out herein. The vehicle is according to an embodiment a truck having a cab with said vehicle door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention reference is made to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a vehicle according to the present invention;

Fig. 2a schematically illustrates an external side view of a vehicle door having an arrangement for a visual passage through a lower portion of the door according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2b schematically illustrates a short side view of the vehicle door in fig. 2a;

Fig. 2c schematically illustrates an internal side view of the vehicle door in fig. 2a; Fig. 3a schematically illustrates cross sectional view A-A of the vehicle door in fig. 2c;

Fig. 3b schematically illustrates cross sectional view B-B of the vehicle door in fig. 2c; Fig. 4a schematically illustrates a plan view of a flexible layer of the arrangement for a visual passage through a lower portion of a vehicle door, said flexible layer being cut to a shape for providing a tunnel configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4b schematically illustrates a perspective view of said flexible layer in fig. 4a shaped as a tunnel configuration;

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a plan view of a cover portion of the arrangement for a visual passage through a lower portion of a vehicle door according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a plan view of a support member of an inner panel of the vehicle door in fig. 2c according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7a schematically illustrates a perspective view of the as tunnel shaped flexible layer in fig. 4b and the cover portion in fig. 5 arranged in connection to and through the support member in fig. 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7b schematically illustrates a side view of the in fig. 7a shown as tunnel shaped flexible layer in fig. 4b and the cover portion in fig. 5 arranged in connection to and through the support member in fig. 6;

Fig. 7c schematically illustrates a zoomed in short side view of a flexible strip for said as tunnel shaped flexible layer; Fig. 8a schematically illustrates an external side view of a comprises a frame arranged to run around an outer opening of said vehicle door according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8b schematically illustrates a perspective view of the frame in fig. 8a; Fig. 9 schematically illustrates a cross sectional view C-C of the frame in fig. 8a, illustrating a groove of the frame according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 10 schematically illustrates an internal side view of the frame in fig. 8a with a transparent panel attached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a vehicle V according to the present invention. The exemplified vehicle V is a heavy vehicle in the shape of a truck. The vehicle according to the present invention could be any suitable vehicle.

The exemplified vehicle V has a cab 1 and a vehicle body 2. The vehicle V comprises a vehicle door D. The shown vehicle door D is the passenger door D. The vehicle door D has a normal window W1 arranged in the upper portion of the vehicle door D. The vehicle door D comprises a visual passage P through the door D, said visual passage being arranged in a lower portion of the door D. A transparent panel W2 is arranged in connection to an outer portion of said passage P.

The vehicle door D comprises an arrangement A for visual passage through said lower portion of the vehicle door D according to the present invention. Said vehicle door D is described in more detail with reference to fig. 2a-c below. Said arrangement A is describe in more detail below. The vehicle comprises said arrangement A for visual passage through said lower portion of the vehicle door D.

Fig. 2a schematically illustrates an external side view of a vehicle door D having an arrangement A for a visual passage through a lower portion D2 of the door D according to an embodiment of the present invention; fig. 2b schematically illustrates a short side view of the vehicle door D in fig. 2a; and fig. 2c schematically illustrates an internal side view of the vehicle door D in fig. 2a.

The vehicle door D has a normal window W1 arranged in the upper portion D1 of the vehicle door D. The window W1 arranged in the upper portion D1 of the vehicle door D may according to an embodiment be opened and closed by a window operation mechanism of any suitable kind.

The vehicle door D comprises a visual passage P through the door D, said visual passage being arranged in a lower portion D2 of the door D. A transparent panel W2 is arranged in connection to an outer portion of said passage P. The transparent panel W2 may be glass window.

The vehicle door D has an inner panel 10 and an outer panel 20. Said inner panel 10 has an inner opening O10 and said outer panel 20 has an outer opening O20. Said openings O10, O20 are arranged for providing said visual passage P. Said inner and outer panels 10, 20 are spaced apart in connection to said openings O10, O20 and arranged to be joined together along edge portions of said panels 10, 20.

Said openings O10, O20 have a polygonal shape with rounded corners. According to this embodiment both said inner opening O10 has a polygonal shape with five rounded corners, see e.g. fig. 6, and said outer opening O20 has a polygonal shape with four rounded corners. According to an embodiment of the arrangement A said outer opening O20 is greater than said inner opening 010. Said transparent panel W2 is arranged in connection to said outer opening O20 of the outer panel 20.

The vehicle door D comprises an arrangement A for visual passage through said lower portion D2 of the vehicle door D according to the present invention.

Said inner panel 10 of the vehicle door D has a support member 12 comprising said inner opening 010.

According to an embodiment said vehicle door D comprises an intermediate mounting pane, not shown, configured to support vehicle door components comprising one or more of cables, cable connectors, loud speakers, control units, locking members etc.

Said arrangement A comprises a flexible layer 30 shapable to a tunnel configuration. Said flexible layer 30 is described below in more detail with reference to fig. 3a-b, 4a and 4b. Fig. 3a schematically illustrates cross sectional view A-A of the vehicle door D in fig. 2c; and fig. 3b schematically illustrates cross sectional view B-B of the vehicle door in fig. 2c.

A portion of the window W1 is shown.

Different cross sections of the inner panel 10 and an outer panel 20 of the vehicle door D are shown in fig. 3a-b. Said inner panel 10 has said inner opening O10 and said outer panel 20 has said outer opening O20. Said openings O10, O20 are arranged for providing said visual passage P. Said inner and outer panels 10, 20 are spaced apart in connection to said openings O10, O20 and arranged to be joined together along edge portions of said panels 10, 20.

Said arrangement A comprises a flexible layer 30 shapable to a tunnel configuration. Said as tunnel configuration shaped flexible layer 30 has a first end portion 30a and an opposite second end portion 30b. Said as tunnel configuration shaped flexible layer 30 is configured to be connected at said first end portion 30a around said outer opening O20 and is configured to be arranged in connection to the inner opening O10 at said opposite second end portion 30b so as to form said tunnel configuration between said inner and outer openings O10, O20.

Said arrangement A comprises a frame 40 arranged to run around said outer opening O20. Said as tunnel configuration shaped layer 30 is arranged to be connected to said frame 40. Said frame 40 comprises a groove 42 running around the circumference of the frame 40 facing towards said outer opening O20 and configured to receive said edge portion 30a of said as tunnel configuration shaped layer 30 for said connection to the frame 30. Said layer is arranged to be sealingly connected around said outer opening O2. Said arrangement A comprises a flexible strip 50 arranged around said first end portion 30. The groove 42 is as shown in fig. 3a-b configured to receive said flexible strip 50 arranged around said first end portion 30a of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer 30, said flexible strip being configured to be folded so that the first end portion faces away from said outer opening O20 for connection to said groove 42.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement A said layer 30 is cuttable and sewable. According to an embodiment of the arrangement A said layer 30 has elastic properties and water resistant properties. According to an embodiment of the arrangement A said layer 30 is of a material comprised in a family of synthetic rubbers exhibiting good stability and maintaining said flexibility over a wide temperature range, said synthetic rubber family preferably being polychloroprenes, also denoted neoprene.

Said transparent panel W2 is configured to be attached to said frame 40. Said transparent panel W2 is may e.g. be glued to the frame 40. Fig. 4a schematically illustrates a plan view of said flexible layer 30 of the arrangement for a visual passage through a lower portion of a vehicle door and fig. 4b schematically illustrates a perspective view of said flexible layer in fig. 4a shaped as a tunnel configuration. In fig. 4a, said flexible layer is cut to a shape for providing a tunnel configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Said layer 30 is cut to a shape having opposite short sides 30c, 30d configured to be attached together for providing said tunnel configuration. Said layer 30 is further cut to a shape having a first long side 30a and an opposite second long side 30b. Said first long side 30a is shaped to provide corners C1 a, C2a, C3a, C4a configured to match said rounded corners of said outer opening O20 and said second long side 30b is shaped to provide corners C1 b, C2b, C3b, C4b, C5b configured to match said rounded corners of said outer opening O20 when shaped to said tunnel configuration as shown in fig. 4b.

Said first long side 30a is forming said first end portion 30a and said second long side 30b is forming said opposite second end portion 30b of said tunnel configuration when said flexible layer 30 is shaped to said tunnel configuration as shown in fig. 4b. Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a plan view of a cover portion 60 of the arrangement for a visual passage through a lower portion of a vehicle door according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Said cover portion 60 is arranged to cover said in fig. 2c illustrated support member 12 of said inner panel 10 comprising said inner opening O10. See also fig. 7a.

Said cover portion 60 has a ring shape with an outer edge 62. Said cover portion has an opening O60 having an inner circumferential edge 64. Said inner edge 64 forming said inner opening O60 has a polygonal shape with five rounded corners essentially corresponding to the polygonal shape of the end portion 30b of the as tunnel configuration shaped flexible layer 30 as illustrated in fig. 4b.

Said cover portion 60 is according to an embodiment a flexible cover portion. According to an embodiment of the arrangement said cover portion 60 is cuttable and sewable. According to an embodiment of the arrangement said cover portion 60 has elastic properties and water resistant properties. According to an embodiment of the arrangement said cover portion 60 is of a material comprised in a family of synthetic rubbers exhibiting good stability and maintaining said flexibility over a wide temperature range, said synthetic rubber family preferably being polychloroprenes, also denoted neoprene.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a plan view of said support member 12 of said inner panel 10 of the vehicle door D in fig. 2c according to an embodiment of the present invention. Said support member 12 comprises said inner opening O10. Said support member 12 has a ring shape with an outer edge 12a. Said inner opening O10 of said support member 12 has an inner circumferential edge 12b. Said inner edge 12b forming said inner opening O10 has a polygonal shape with five rounded corners essentially corresponding to the polygonal shape of the end portion 30b of the as tunnel configuration shaped flexible layer 30 as illustrated in fig. 4b and the thus the polygonal shape of the inner opening O60 of the cover portion 60 as illustrated in fig. 5.

Fig. 7a schematically illustrates a perspective view of the as tunnel shaped flexible layer 30 in fig. 4b and the cover portion 60 in fig. 5 arranged in connection to and through the support member 12 in fig. 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention; and fig. 7b schematically illustrates a side view of the in fig. 7a shown as tunnel shaped flexible layer in fig. 4b and the cover portion in fig. 5 arranged in connection to and through the support member in fig. 6. Said cover portion 60 has said ring shape with said outer edge 62 and said opening O60 having an inner circumferential edge 64. Said cover portion 60 is arranged in connection to said inner opening 010 and connected to said second end portion of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer 30. Said cover portion 60 is according to this embodiment of the arrangement A configured to be attached to said second end portion 30b of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer 30 in connection to the inner edge 64 of the opening O60 of the cover portion 60. Said inner edge 64 of the opening of the cover portion 60 is according to an embodiment of the arrangement configured to be sewed together with the second end portion 30b of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer 30. The outer edge 62 of the cover portion is essentially following the outer edge 12a of the support member 12.

According to an embodiment shown in fig. 7b a flexible strip 50 is arranged around said first end portion 30a of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer 30.

Said flexible strip 50 is according to this embodiment outwardly arranged around said first end portion 30a of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer 30. Said flexible strip 50 may be attached to the first end portion of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer by any suitable attachment means. Said flexible strip is according to an embodiment sewed to the first end portion of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer [SANT?].

Fig. 7c schematically illustrates a zoomed-in short side view of said flexible strip 50 in fig. 7b for said as tunnel shaped flexible layer. Said flexible strip 50 has a thickness T and a height H. The flexible strip 50 may have any suitable thickness T for allowing application of the flexible strip around the edge portion 30a of the as tunnel configuration shaped flexible layer 30 shown in fig. 7b. The thickness T of the flexible strip 50 may be in the range of about 1 mm. The height H of the flexible strip 50 may be in the range of 10 mm. The flexible strip 50 has first side 50a and an opposite second side 50b, said sides having said thickness T. The first side 50a is arranged to face inwardly towards the inner panel and the second side 50b is arranged to face outwardly when the flexible strip 50 is applied around said edge portion 30b of the flexible layer 30 shown in fig. 7b, prior to the folding of the flexible strip 50 to fit the groove 42. When the flexible strip 50 is folded so that the first end portion 30a faces away from said outer opening O20 for connection to said groove 42, as shown and described with reference to fig. 3a-b, the outer end 50b will face towards the groove 42. The flexible strip 50 has an inner side 50c arranged to be applied against the outer surface of the flexible layer 30 in connection to the first edge portion 30a and an opposite outer side 50d.

Fig. 8a schematically illustrates an external side view of said frame 40 arranged to run around an outer opening of said vehicle door as illustrated in fig. 3a-b, and fig. 8b schematically illustrates a perspective view of the frame 40 in fig. 8a.

Said frame 40 has a ring shape with an outer edge 40a. Said frame has an opening O40 having an inner circumferential edge 40b. Said inner edge 40b forming said inner opening O40 has a polygonal shape with four rounded corners essentially corresponding to the polygonal shape of the end portion 30a of the as tunnel configuration shaped flexible layer 30 as illustrated in fig. 4b.

Fig. 9 schematically illustrates a cross sectional view C-C of the frame 40 in fig. 8a, illustrating a groove 42 of the frame 40. The frame 40 thus has an S-shaped cross section, wherein said groove 42 of the frame is arranged to run around the circumference of the frame 40 facing towards said outer opening, see e.g. fig. 3a-b. The groove 42 is as shown e.g. in fig. 3a-b configured to receive an edge portion 30a of said as tunnel configuration shaped layer 30 for said connection to the frame. The groove 42 is as shown e.g. in fig. 3a-b configured to receive said flexible strip 50 arranged around said first end portion 30a of the as tunnel configuration shaped layer 30, said flexible strip being configured to be folded so that the first end portion faces away from said outer opening O20 for connection to said groove 42.

Fig. 10 schematically illustrates an internal side view of the frame 40 in fig. 8a with said transparent panel W2 attached.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.