GB2429027A

GB2429027A - Window sealing and guiding arrangements

Info

Publication number: GB2429027A
Application number: GB0516618A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Achim Grueter
Original assignee: GDX North America Inc
Current assignee: GDX North America Inc
Priority date: 2005-08-12
Filing date: 2005-08-12
Publication date: 2007-02-14
Also published as: GB0516618D0; WO2007020525A1; EP1922221A1

Abstract

A sealing or guiding strip arrangement is disclosed. A channel-shaped recess 64A is formed in a sealing strip 18. A rigid member 100 is mounted in the recess 64A. Subsequently, the assembled sealing strip 18 and rigid member 100 are mounted to the flange 58 of a vehicle door frame. The rigid member 100 serves to assist in fixing the sealing strip 18 to the door frame.

Description

1 2429027

WINDOW SEALING AND GUIDING ARRANGEMENTS

The present invention relates to window sealing and guiding arrangements, and more particularly to a sealing or guiding strip comprising flexible material, a sealing or guiding strip assembly including such a strip and a method of fixing a sealing or guiding strip to a mounting flange. Embodiments of the invention, to be described in more detail below by way of example only relate to sealing or guiding strips suitable for being carried by vehicle doors.

It is known in the prior art, for example in WO-A-2004/050408 (WW32669W0, GDX- 7260), to provide a sealing or guiding strip formed of flexible material with a channel- shaped recess into which a mounting flange of a door frame is inserted to fix the sealing or guiding strip to the door in use. It is known to embed a channel-shaped relatively rigid metal carrier within the flexible material and which extends around the channel-shaped recess in the flexible material. This assists in fixing the sealing or guiding strip to the mounting flange. The metal carrier is embedded within the flexible material during the extrusion thereof. During the extrusion of the flexible material, a series of sealing lips may be formed within the channel-shaped recess for pressing against the mounting flange.

It is an object of the embodiment of the invention to provide an alternative to the embedded channel-shaped carrier known from the prior art, and to avoid the complication of embedding a rigid metal carrier in the flexible material during the extrusion thereof.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sealing or guiding strip assembly including a body portion formed of flexible material having a channel- shaped recess formed therein and a relatively rigid member having a channel-shaped part which is positioned in the recess in use for receiving a mounting flange, the arrangement being such that the body portion is located with respect to the mounting flange in use.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sealing or guiding strip comprising flexible material and including a first recess for accommodating a channel-shaped part of a rigid member and a second recess for receiving an attachment part of the rigid member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of fixing a sealing or guiding strip having a mounting recess to a mounting flange, the method including locating a channel-shaped relatively rigid member in the mounting recess and fitting the channel- shaped rigid member to the mounting flange.

A sealing or guiding strip, a sealing or guiding strip assembly and a method of fixing a sealing or guiding strip embodying the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a vehicle door carrying one of the strips; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of area II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line 111-111 of Figure 2 of a prior art strip assembly; Figure 4 is a section on the line 111-111 of Figure 2 of a strip in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a section on the line 111-111 of Figure 2 of a rigid member for fixing the strip of Figure 4 to a mounting flange on a vehicle door; Figure 6 is a section on the line 111-111 of Figure 2 of the mounting flange of a vehicle door and also partially showing the vehicle body shell; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the area IV of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a section on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2 of the sealing or guiding strip assembly, comprising the strip of Figure 4, the rigid member of Figure 5 and the mounting flange of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a section on the line 111-111 of Figure 2 showing a second embodiment of the strip; and Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a waist seal in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, like elements are generally designated with the same reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows a vehicle door 8 carrying a sealing and guiding arrangement 10 in which a pane of window glass 12 is slidable in a vertical direction as it is raised from or lowered into the lower part of the door 8. The sealing and guiding arrangement 10 comprises a window frame and a sealing and guiding strip mounted on the frame. The sealing and guiding strip comprises a first portion extending along the B-pillar of the door 8 and a second portion extending along the roofline of the door 8. The embodiments to be described related to the portion of the sealing and guiding strip that extends along the roofline of the door 8. Where the two portions of the sealing and guiding strip join, a sharp corner is formed (although this is not essential to the invention).

As shown in Figure 2, along the B-pillar of the door 8, the sealing and guiding arrangement 10 comprises a strip portion 16. The strip portion 16 is of channel form to receive the window pane 12 and comprises an outer channel wall (on the outside of the window pane 12) and an inner channel wall (on the inside of the window pane).

Along the top of the window frame (along the roofline and the A-pillar of the door 8), the sealing and guiding arrangement 10 comprises a strip portion 18. The strip portion 18 is also of channel form to receive the window pane 12 and comprises an outer channel wall (that is, a channel wall on the outside of the window pane 12) and an inner channel wall (that is, a channel wall on the outside of the window pane 12).

The two strip portions 16 and 18 are mitre-cut and joined together at the sharp corner 14.

The sealing and guiding arrangement 10 is produced, such as by extrusion, from flexible material such as plastics or rubber. It is designed to provide a weather-proof seal for the edge of the window glass 12 and also to impose low frictional movement of the glass 12.

Initially, the prior art arrangement disclosed in WO-A-2004/050408 will be described with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line 111-Ill of Figure 2. The window frame shown generally at 50 is formed by panels 52,54 and 56 of the door, which are joined together to form a mounting flange 58 projecting outwardly of the door. The panels 52 and 54 divert from each other in the direction away from the flange 58 to form a hollow space 60 and then come together to form a further flange 62 where they are again joined together.

The strip portion 18 is extruded integrally from plastics or rubber material and defines a channel-shaped recess 64 which embraces the flange 58 to hold the strip portion 18 in position. The extruded material carries integral, inwardly extending lips 66 to assist in securing the scaling and guiding strip in position on the flange 58. Further, a reinforcing carrier 67 is embedded in the extruded material. The reinforcing carrier 67 is formed from the rigid material, such as metal or plastics. The metal carrier 67 assists in securing the strip portion 18 to the mounting flange 58.

Figure 4 shows a sealing strip portion in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

The strip portion 1 8A is again extruded integrally from plastics or rubber material and defines a channel-shaped recess 64A for embracing a mounting flange (not shown in Figure 4) to hold the strip portion 1 8A in position.

The extruded material of the strip portion 1 8A on the outside wall of the channel-shaped recess 64A carries large flexible sealing lips 68 which, when the vehicle door 8 is closed, seal against the body shell 70 (Figure 6) of the vehicle along the roofline thereof.

The material on the outside of the base 71 of the channel-shaped recess 64 carries a re- entrant lip 72. The extruded material of the strip portion on the inside wall of the channel-shaped recess 64A, adjacent the mouth of the channel- shaped recess 64A, is extended to form a limb 74 which lies against the door panel 54 (Figure 6) and terminates in a lip (a "cosmetic lip") 76 which embraces the edge of the flange 62 (Figure 6). In addition, the distal end of the limb 74 integrally carries the large flexible lip 78 which extends towards the lip 72 so that, together, these lips define the channel 79 for receiving the window pane 12 (not shown in Figure 4). A further lip 80 extends partway across the base of the channel 79.

The surfaces of the lip 72, 78 and 80 which make contact with the window pane 12 may carry layers of flock or other suitable low-friction coating (not shown).

Extending from the opposite side of the limb 74 to the lips 78 and 80 is an integral resiliently deformable protrusion 82 having an enlarged head portion 84. The function of the protrusion 82 will be described later with reference to Figure 8 of the drawings.

Figure 5 shows a rigid member 100. The rigid member 100 may be formed of plastics or metal, for example. The rigid member 100 is formed from a planar sheet of material that is bent or moulded into the configuration shown in Figure 5. The member 100 comprises a channel-shaped part 102 sized for being accommodated in the channel-shaped recess 64A. Integrally extending from a first side of the mouth 104 of the channel 102 is a first clamping part 106. The first clamping part 106 comprises an arm portion 108. The arm 108 is spaced apart from the first side wall 101 of the channel 102 by base part 110. The portion of the arm 108 extending from the base part 110 extends generally parallel to the side wall 101 of the channel 102, whereafter an intermediate part 111 of the arm 108 is inclined towards the side wall 101 of the channel 102, and then terminates in a distal end part 112 which is inclined in the opposite direction. The parts 111 and 112 have a hook- shaped formation.

A second clamping part 116 extends from the second side of the mouth 104 of the channel 102. The second clamping part 116 comprises an arm 118, an intermediate part 120, a part 121 and a distal end part 122 configured similarly to the correspondingly- named parts of the first clamping part 106. However, a portion of the arm 118 which extends parallel to the second side wall 103 of the channel 102 is longer than the corresponding portion of the arm 108.

The first side wall 101 of the channel 102 at predetermined positions along its length (extending into and out of the page of the drawings) has an indentation 130 formed on the outside surface thereof and a corresponding protrusion 132 formed on the inside thereof, extending into the channel 102. The indentation 130/protrusion 132 may be formed, for example, by a stamping operation.

At a corresponding position on the second side wall 103 of the channel 102 at intervals along the length of the rigid member 100 (extending into and out of the page of the drawings) a cut, as indicated by dotted line 134, is made in the rigid member 100, which allows a generally rectangular tab 136 to be bent away from the second side wall 103 and inclined inwardly into the channel 102.

The strip 18A shown in Figure 4 is provided with a first recess 140 extending generally parallel to the inside wall of the channel 64A, and a second recess 142 extending generally parallel to the outside wall of the channel 64A. The recess 140 accommodates the first clamping part 106, and the second recess 142 accommodates the second clamping part 116, when the channel-shaped part 102 is accommodated in the channel- shaped recess 64A. The recess 140 includes an indentation in its side wall to accommodate the intermediate part 112 and the distal end part 111 of the first arm 108.

Similarly, the second recess 142 includes an indentation 146 to accommodate the intermediate part 121 and distal end part 122 of the second arm 118. These parts of the arms are pressed into the indentations 144,146 when the channel-shaped part 102 is fully accommodated in the channel-shaped recess 64A due to the resilience of the rigid member 100.

As can be seen in Figure 4, an additional lip 148 extends from the outside wall of the channel 64A (from the mouth of the recess 142), across the recess 142 and the recess 64A. This additional lip 148 is pushed away from the recesses 142,64A to allow the rigid member 100 to be inserted into the recesses. When the additional lip 148 is released, it returns, due to its resilience, to the position shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows the outer panel 56A and inner panel 54 of the door 8, and also the part 70 of the body shell of the vehicle of which the door 8 forms a part, along the roofline thereof Where the panels 54 and 56A are joined together at a first end thereof, they form a flange 58A. The panels 54 and 56A diverge from each other in a direction away from the flange 58A to form a hollow space 60 and then come together again to form a further flange 62.

Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of the flange 58A. In accordance with the embodiment, at predetermined positions along the length of the panel 56A (extending into and out of the page of the drawings) a part of the panel 56A is cut away and removed. This creates a recess 160 in the flange 58, the base of the recess 160 being formed by the inner panel 54. The cut-away portion of the panel 56A may be rectangular, for example.

Further, the panel 54 has an aperture 162 formed therein, providing an opening into the hollow space 60.

The assembly shown in Figure 8 is formed by mounting the rigid member 100 to the sealing strip 1 8A, as a first step. The channel-shaped part 102 of the rigid member 100 is fully accommodated in the channel-shaped recess 64A of the strip 18. The first and second clamping parts 106, 116 are likewise fully acconimodated in the first and second recesses 140,142 of the strip 18A. As explained above, the configuration of the clamping parts 106,116 and the indentations 144,146 in the recesses 140,142, together with the resilience of the rigid member 100, serve to fix the rigid member 100 in position with respect to the strip 18.

As a second step, the assembled rigid member 100 and strip 18A are mounted onto the door frame. The flange 58 passes into the channel-shaped part 102 of the rigid member (the additional lip 148 being temporarily bent away from the recesses 64A, 142 to facilitate this). As the flange 58 passes into the channel-shaped part 102 of the rigid member 100, the resiliently deformable protrusion 82 of the strip 18 is pushed through the aperture 162 in the panel 54 and into the hollow space 60. After passing through the aperture 162, the enlarged head 84 resiles and presses against the panel 54 around the edges of the aperture 162.

Also, during insertion of the flange 58 into the channel-shaped part 102 of the rigid member 100, the tab 136 is resiliently deformed to lie generally parallel with the second side wall 103 of the channel-shaped part 102 of the rigid member 100 and/or the second side wall 103 is resiliently flexed away from the first side wall 101 as the panel 56A presses against the tab 136. When the tab 136 comes into alignment with the recess 160 formed in the flange 58, this resilient deformation of the tab 136 and/or the side wall 103 ceases and the tab engages against the parts of the panels 56A,54 forming the recess 160.

Also, the protrusion 132 presses against the panel 54 of the flange 58A. The pressure applied by the protrusion 132 and the cooperation of the tab 136/recess 160 serve to prevent or reduce relative movement between the rigid member 100 and the door frame.

The resiliently deformable protrusion 82 of the strip 18 and the aperture 162 in the panel 54 serve to reduce or prevent relative movement between the strip 1 8A of the strip 18 and the door frame.

Figure 9 shows a second embodiment of the invention, which is generally similar to the first embodiment. However, the part of the strip 1 8B which overlies the base 71 of the channel-shaped recess 64A, and which is visible from the exterior of the vehicle of which the door 8 forms a part, has a generally C-shaped recess formed therein, in which a generally Cshaped trim piece 170 is accommodated. The trim piece 170 comprises an arcuate main portion 172 from which inwardly tapering legs 174 and 176 integrally extend. The configuration of the legs 174,176 secures the trim piece 170 in position against the resilience of the material of the strip 1 8B. The trim piece 170 may be formed of coloured plastics or metal. The trim piece 70 may have a gloss or chrome-effect finish to enhance the appearance of the door frame.

Figure 10 shows an alternative arrangement.

In the embodiments, the invention has been described in relation to a glass run extending along the part of a door frame running along the roof line of a vehicle. However, the invention is applicable to sealing arrangements in general, and not to any particular vehicle component or part thereof.

Claims

1. A sealing or guiding strip assembly including a body portion formed of flexible material having a channel-shaped recess formed therein and a relatively rigid member having a channel-shaped part which is positioned in the recess in use for receiving a mounting flange, the arrangement being such that the body portion is located with respect to the mounting flange in use.

2. The strip assembly of claim 1, wherein the rigid member includes at least one clamping part for serving to fix the rigid member with respect to the body portion.

3. The strip assembly of claim 2, wherein the body portion includes a fixing recess for accommodating said clamping part.

4. The strip assembly of claim 3, wherein the clamping part includes a hook-shaped portion for engaging a corresponding indentation in said fixing recess.

5. The strip assembly of claim 2,3 or 4, wherein the rigid member includes two of said clamping parts, integrally extending from opposite sides of said channel-shaped part of said rigid member.

6. The strip assembly of claim 5, wherein the body portion includes two of said fixing recesses located at opposite sides of said channel-shaped recess, for accommodating said respective clamping parts.

7. The strip assembly of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rigid member includes a formation for engaging said mounting flange.

8. The strip assembly of claim 7, wherein said formation includes an indentation in an interior surface of a side wall of said rigid member.

9. The strip assembly of claim 7 or 8, wherein said formation includes an inclined tab extending from an interior surface of a side wall of said rigid member.

10. The strip assembly of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the body portion comprises extruded material.

11. The strip assembly of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the body portion is shaped to define a channel for receiving a pane of window glass for a window opening, and in which the mounting flange is part of a rigid frame for the window opening.

12. The strip assembly of claim 11, wherein the window-receiving channel extends generally perpendicularly to the channel-shaped recess in the body portion.

13. The strip assembly of claim 11 or 12, wherein the window-receiving channel includes at least one lip for sealing against said pane of window glass.

14. The strip of claim 13, wherein said lip has a flocked surface or the like.

15. The strip assembly of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the body portion includes an integral resiliently deformable protrusion for engaging a rigid frame of the window opening of which said mounting flange forms a part.

16. The strip assembly of claim 15, wherein said integral resiliently deformable protrusion includes an enlarged head portion for passing through an aperture in the frame and for clamping the body portion to the frame.

17. The strip assembly of any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein said resiliently deformable protrusion extends from a side wall of said windowreceiving channel.

18. The strip assembly of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the body portion includes a formation for receiving a trim part.

19. The strip assembly of claim 18, wherein the trip part overlies the region of the body portion corresponding to the base of the channelshaped recess.

20. The strip assembly of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the body portion includes at least one sealing lip for sealing against a vehicle body part with respect to which the sealing assembly moves relatively in use.

21. A sealing or guiding strip comprising flexible material and including a channel- shaped recess for accommodating a channel-shaped part of a rigid member and a fixing recess for receiving a clamping part of the rigid member.

22. The strip of claim 21, wherein said fixing recess includes an indentation for accommodating a hook-shaped portion of said clamping part of the rigid member.

23. The strip of claim 21 or 22, including two of said fixing recesses, located at opposite sides of said channel-shaped recess, for accommodating respective ones of said clamping parts.

24. The strip of claim 21,22 or 23, wherein this strip is shaped to define a channel for receiving a pane of window glass for a window opening.

25. The strip of claim 24, wherein the window-receiving channel extends generally perpendicularly to the channel-shaped recess.

26. The strip of any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein the window-receiving channel includes at least one lip for sealing against the pane of window glass.

27. The strip of claim 26, wherein said lip has a flocked surface or the like.

28. The strip of any one of claims 21 to 27, including an integral resiliently deformable protrusion for engaging a rigid frame to which said strip is mounted in use.

29. The strip of claim 28, wherein said integral resiliently deformable protrusion includes an enlarged head portion for passing through an aperture in the frame and for clamping the strip to the frame.

30. The strip of any one of claims 24 to 29, wherein said resiliently deformable protrusion extends from a side wall of said window-receiving channel.

31. The strip of any one of claims 21 to 30, including a formation for receiving a trim part.

32. The strip of claim 31, wherein the trim part overlies a region of the strip corresponding to the base of the channel-shaped recess.

33. The strip of any one of claims 21 to 32, wherein the body portion includes at least one sealing lip for sealing against the vehicle body part with respect to which the strip moves relatively in use.

34. A vehicle door frame assembly including a sealing or guiding strip having a channel-shaped recess formed therein, a relatively rigid member having a channel-shaped part which is positioned in the recess in use, and a door frame including a mounting flange which is received in the channel-shaped part of the rigid member in use, the arrangement being such that the strip is located with respect to the mounting flange by means of the intermediate rigid member.

35. The assembly of claim 34, including the features of the body portion andlor rigid member claimed in any one of claims I to 33.

36. The assembly of claim 34 or 35, wherein the frame includes a portion extending generally perpendicular to said flange.

37. The assembly of claim 34,35 or 36, wherein said frame comprises at least two panels, which are joined to form said mounting flange, and which elsewhere are spaced apart to form a hollow cavity therebetween.

38. A method of fixing a sealing or guiding strip having a mounting recess to a mounting flange, the method including locating a channel- shaped relatively rigid member in the mounting recess and fitting the channel-shaped rigid member to the mounting flange.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the strip and/or rigid member has the features claimed in any one of claims I to 33.

40. A sealing or guiding strip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or substantially as illustrated in any one of or any combination of figures 1 and 2 and 4 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

41. A sealing or guiding strip assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or substantially as illustrated in any one of or any combination of figures 1 and 2 and 4 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

42. A method of fixing a sealing or guiding strip to a mounting flange, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or substantially as illustrated in any one of or any combination of figures 1 and 2 and 4 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.