GB2556439A

GB2556439A - Sealing structure of belt line

Info

Publication number: GB2556439A
Application number: GB1716141.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Masumoto Atsuo; Fujimura Yoshio
Original assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-10-14
Filing date: 2017-10-03
Publication date: 2018-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-03
Also published as: JP2018062292A; GB201716141D0; GB2556439B

Abstract

A sealing structure 10 disposed at a window opening in a belt line edge (4, fig.1) of a vehicle door panel (2) and used for sealing a gap between the window opening edge and a windowpane (3). The sealing structure comprises: an attachment base 11 held at the edge of the window opening; and a sealing lip part 12 projecting from the attachment base toward the window. The lip part includes a proximal portion 12a extending downward from the attachment base toward the windowpane, a U-shape portion 12b continuous to the proximal portion 12a, and a distal portion 12c continuous to the U-shape portion 12b and extending upward toward the side of the windowpane. While the windowpane 3 is closed, a space 13 is disposed at a side of the proximal portion 12a opposite to the windowpane 3. A lower section of the attachment base may extend below the lowest part of the U-shape portion. A narrowing b may be formed in the U-shape portion. The device may improve movement of the sliding windowpane 3 when a seal is fixed to the windowpane by frozen water or ice, particularly in a short-drop operation of a sashless door windowpane.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Sealing structure of belt line

Abstract Title: Seal structure of a window opening in a vehicle door belt line edge (57) A sealing structure 10 disposed at a window opening in a belt line edge (4, fig. 1) of a vehicle door panel (2) and used for sealing a gap between the window opening edge and a windowpane (3). The sealing structure comprises: an attachment base 11 held at the edge of the window opening; and a sealing lip part 12 projecting from the attachment base toward the window. The lip part includes a proximal portion 12a extending downward from the attachment base toward the windowpane, a U-shape portion 12b continuous to the proximal portion 12a, and a distal portion 12c continuous to the U-shape portion 12b and extending upward toward the side of the windowpane. While the windowpane 3 is closed, a space 13 is disposed at a side of the proximal portion 12a opposite to the windowpane 3. A lower section of the attachment base may extend below the lowest part of the U-shape portion. A narrowing ‘b’ may be formed in the U-shape portion. The device may improve movement of the sliding windowpane 3 when a seal is fixed to the windowpane by frozen water or ice, particularly in a short-drop operation of a sashless door windowpane.

/4

Figure 1

Figure 2

2/4

Figure 3

Figure 4

12c 12 112b

3/4

Figure 6

4/4

Figure 7

Figure 8

SEALING STRUCTURE OF BELT LINE

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001]

The present invention relates to a sealing structure of an automobile belt line.

BACKGROUND ART [0002]

A typical belt line (waistline) in a side door of an automobile is provided with a sealing member for sealing a gap between a windowpane and a window opening where a 10 windowpane is raised and lowered (hereinafter referred to as a window opening) of a side door. In a cold region, for example, a windowpane and a lip part of a sealing member that comes into contact with the windowpane are bonded together in some cases because rain water remaining between the lip part and the windowpane or freezing rain or the like causes freezing between the lip part and the windowpane.

[0003]

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 8, rain water or the like accumulates between a windowpane (glass) 102 and a tip of a lip part 101b extending from an attachment base 101a of a sealing member 101 attached to a door panel 100 of a side door, and thereby, a frozen part (ice) 103 is generated. Typically, to increase slidability of the lip part 101b relative to the windowpane 102, a brush part 104 is provided on the surface of the lip part 101b, and rain water enters between brushes of the brush part 104 so that a frozen part (not shown) is also generated between the brush part 104 and the windowpane 102.

[0004]

The sealing member 101 is typically made of a hard rubber, and thus, deformation 25 of the lip part 101b, such as shrinkage in the length direction, does not occur unless an extremely large force is applied. Thus, once the frozen part 103 bonds the lip part 101b and the windowpane 102 together, the lip part 101b serves as a brace that pushes the windowpane 102 upward in lowering the windowpane 102. Consequently, the lip part 101b prevents the lowering of the windowpane 102. Accordingly, in an automobile having a short-drop function in which the windowpane 102 is slightly lowered in opening or closing the door, such as a convertible or a hardtop, the windowpane 102 cannot be lowered when freezing occurs, resulting in a problem that the door itself can be neither opened nor closed or a problem that the upper end of the windowpane interferes with a roof part.

[0005]

To solve the problem of freezing between the windowpane and the sealing member,

Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a hot air device is disposed in a side door to defrost by using hot air. Patent Document 2 discloses a structure in which a sealing member includes a heating body that generates heat by applying a voltage thereto in order to melt a freezing part.

CITATION LIST

PATENT LITERATURE [0006] [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-277147 [Patent Literature 2] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-278529

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION [0007]

Although the structures described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 can melt the freezing part between the sealing member and the windowpane, these structures require addition of a new device or a new component in the sealing member. Consequently, the number of fabrication steps increases, and the fabrication cost increases. In addition, it requires a relatively long time to melt the freezing part by driving the hot air device or increasing the temperature by applying a voltage to the heating body. Thus, in the automobile having the short-drop function as described above, a user would have to wait for completion of melting of the frozen part before opening the door of the automobile.

[0008]

The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing problems and has an object of quickly releasing a frozen part between a sealing part in a belt line and a windowpane with only a simple structure, and without addition of a new device or a new component.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS [0009]

To achieve the object, according to the present invention, a lip part of a sealing member has a bent portion, and a space is provided at a side of the bent portion opposite to a windowpane.

[0010]

Specifically, a sealing structure in a belt line according to the present invention is a sealing structure disposed at an edge of a window opening in a belt line of an automobile door panel and used for sealing a gap between the window opening and the windowpane, and includes: an attachment base that is held by the edge of the window opening of the door panel; and a lip part projecting from the attachment base toward the windowpane, wherein the lip part includes a proximal portion extending downward from the attachment base at a side of the windowpane, a bent portion continuous to the proximal portion and bent in a U shape, and a distal portion continuous to the bent portion and extending upward at the side of the windowpane, and while the windowpane is closed, a space is provided at a side of the proximal portion opposite to the windowpane.

[0011]

In the sealing structure according to the present invention, while the windowpane is closed, since a space is provided at a side of the proximal portion of the lip part opposite to the windowpane, the lip part can deform in such a manner that the proximal portion moves toward the space in accordance with lowering movement of the windowpane when the windowpane is opened. Accordingly, even when the windowpane and the lip part are bonded together by freezing, the deformation prevents the lip part from serving as a brace, and the distal portion of the lip part can be lowered accordingly to a distance corresponding to 10 the deformation. As a result, the windowpane can also be lowered. During the lowering of the windowpane, ice, which will cause freezing, is removed from the windowpane and the lip part or the ice is cracked so that the frozen part can be removed. Thus, in the sealing structure according to the present invention, freezing between the sealing part in the belt line and the windowpane can be quickly released with only a simple structure, and without addition of a new device or a new component.

[0012]

In the sealing structure of the belt line according to the present invention, the proximal portion may branch off from the attachment base and extend downward at the side of windowpane, the attachment base may extend to a position below a height of the bent portion, and while the windowpane is closed a space may be provided between the proximal portion and the attachment base.

[0013]

With this configuration, even if the windowpane and the lip part of the sealing member are bonded by freezing, the lip part can be deformed in such a manner that the proximal portion moves toward the space and comes into contact with the attachment base in accordance with lowering movement of the windowpane when the windowpane is opened. In this manner, in the same manner as that described above, the windowpane can be lowered, and consequently, freezing between the sealing member of the belt line and the windowpane can be quickly released.

[0014]

In addition to the aspect described above, the entire attachment base may be disposed only at a position higher than the bent portion and thereby the door panel except the attachment base is exposed at a side opposite to the windowpane at the position of the bent portion, and while the windowpane is closed a space may be provided between the proximal portion and the door panel.

[0015]

In this case, even if the windowpane and the lip part of the sealing member are bonded together by freezing, the lip part can be deformed in such a manner that the distal portion is lowered and the proximal portion moves toward the space and comes into contact with the attachment base in accordance with lowering movement of the windowpane when the windowpane is opened. In this manner, the windowpane can be lowered as described above, and consequently, freezing between the sealing member of the belt line and the windowpane can be quickly released.

[0016]

In the sealing structure of the belt line according to the present invention, a portion of the bent portion near the distal portion is preferably thinner than another portion of the lip part.

[0017]

In this case, the distal portion can be more flexibly movable using the portion having a smaller thickness as a base point so that followability to the windowpane is enhanced. As a result, the sealing function can be enhanced. In addition, even when the lip part is pushed toward the side opposite to the windowpane (i.e., toward the cabin of the automobile) by, for example, movement of the windowpane in the vehicle width direction, the distal portion of the lip part deforms using the portion with the smaller thickness as a base point, and thus, the entire lip part moves toward the cabin of the automobile to prevent clogging of the space. As a result, the space can be constantly maintained.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION [0018]

A sealing structure in a belt line according to the present invention can quickly 10 release the frozen condition between a sealing part in the belt line and a windowpane with only a simple structure, and without addition of a new device or a new component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an example of an automobile to which a sealing 15 structure of a belt line according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section taken along line A-A in FIG. 1 in a state where a windowpane is fully open.

[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section taken along line A-A in FIG. 1 in a state where the windowpane is fully closed and a frozen part is formed.

[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section taken along line

A-A in FIG. 1 when an opening operation is performed from the state illustrated in FIG. 3.

[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a sealing structure according to a variation of the embodiment of the present invention in a state where the windowpane is fully closed.

[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the sealing structure according to the variation of the embodiment of the present invention in a state when an opening operation is performed from the state where the windowpane is fully closed.

[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the sealing structure according to the variation of the embodiment of the present invention in a state when the opening operation continues from the state illustrated in FIG. 6.

[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view for describing a problem in a typical sealing structure in a belt line.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0020]

An embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiment is merely a preferred example in nature, and is not intended to limit the invention, applications, and use of the applications.

[0021]

First, a sealing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

[0022]

In an automobile illustrated in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle body, reference numeral 2 denotes a side door, reference numeral 3 denotes a windowpane (glass) disposed in the side door 2, and reference numeral 4 denotes a belt line in the side door 3.

The edge of a window opening in the belt line 4 is provided with a sealing structure constituted by a sealing member 10 that seals a gap between the edge of the window opening and the windowpane 3.

[0023]

FIGS. 2 through 4 are cross-sectional views of an outer side of the automobile taken 25 along line A-A in FIG. 1, and illustrate a sealing structure provided in the belt line 4. FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which the windowpane 3 is fully open. FIG. 3 illustrates a state in which the windowpane 3 is fully closed. FIG. 4 illustrates a state in which an opening operation is performed from the state in which the windowpane 3 is fully closed.

[0024]

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, the sealing member 10 constituting the sealing structure is made of a hard rubber or a hard thermoplastic elastomer, and includes an attachment base 11 having an inverted U shape in cross section. In the sealing member 10, the attachment base 11 is held while being fitted onto a portion in which a reinforce 6 is assembled to an outer door panel 5 at the window opening edge of the side door 2. A 10 reinforcing core material 11a made of a metal and having an inverted U shape in cross section extending along the shape of the attachment base 11 is embedded in the attachment base 11.

The term “hard” herein refers to a hardness ranging from 60 to 90 measured with a type-A durometer defined in JIS K6253, and may be a solid material having no bubbles or a sponge material containing bubbles.

[0025]

The sealing member 10 includes a lip part 12 branching off from the attachment base 11 and extends at a side of the windowpane 3. The sealing member 10 also includes a lower lip part 14 continuous to the attachment base 11 and extending upward at the side of the windowpane. Portions of the lip part 12 and the lower lip part 14 facing the windowpane 3 are provided with brush parts 15 for enhancing slidability of the lip part 12 and the lower lip part 14 on the windowpane. The brush parts 15 are made of, for example, a resin, and may be made of a nylon resin, a polyester resin, or a polyamide resin. While the windowpane 3 is closed, the lip part 12 and the lower lip part 14 contact the windowpane 3 and seal a gap between the windowpane 3 and the edge of the window opening of the side door 2. The lip part 12 is also made of the hard rubber or the hard thermoplastic elastomer described above, but may be made of a material different from that of the attachment base 11. Specifically, the lip part 12 may be made of a material having a hardness lower than that of the attachment base 11 and integrated with the attachment base 11. FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate an example in which the attachment base 11 and the lip part 12 are made of the same material, but the present invention is not limited to this example.

[0026]

The lip part 12 includes a proximal portion 12a branching off from the attachment base 11 and extending downward at the side of the windowpane, a bent portion 12b continuous to the proximal portion 12a and bent in a U shape, and a distal portion 12c 10 continuous to the bent portion 12b and extending upward at the side of the windowpane.

Since the proximal portion 12a of the lip part 12 branches off from the attachment base 11 extending downward and extends downward at the side of the windowpane as described above, while the windowpane 3 is fully open or fully closed, a space 13 is formed between the attachment base 11 and the proximal portion 12a as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. This configuration can easily separate the lip part 12 and the windowpane 3 that are bonded together by freezing. This mechanism will be described below.

[0027]

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in a case where a frozen part 30 is generated between the windowpane 3 and the distal portion 12c of the lip part 12 and the brush part 15, in a typical sealing structure, the lip part 12 of a hard rubber is not easily deformed. Specifically, the lip part 12 is not easily shrunk in the protruding length direction, and thus serves as a brace that pushes the windowpane 3 upward even when the windowpane 3 is being lowered. On the other hand, in the sealing structure of this embodiment, since the space 13 is formed between the proximal portion 12a of the lip part 12 and the attachment base 11, when a lowering operation of the windowpane 3 causes a downward force to be applied to the distal portion

12c bonded to the windowpane 3 through the frozen part 30 and received by the bent portion 12b, the bent portion 12b can move to the space 13 so as to weaken the force. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the proximal portion 12a deforms to approach the attachment base 11 (see arrows in FIG. 4). Consequently, the distal portion 12c can be lowered (can slightly move) to a distance corresponding to the deformation of the bent portion 12b and the proximal portion 12a, and accordingly, the windowpane 3 can be lowered to the same distance. When the windowpane 3 and the distal portion 12c are lowered (slightly moved), the frozen part 30 is removed or cracked, and thus freezing between the windowpane 3 and each of the distal portion 12c and the brush part 15 is released.

[0028]

As described above, the sealing structure according to this embodiment can quickly release the frozen condition between the windowpane and the lip part of the sealing member in the belt line with only a simple structure, and without addition of a new device or a new component for removing a frozen part. Thus, in an automobile having a short-drop function, for example, even when a frozen part is generated between a windowpane and a sealing member, the sealing structure of this embodiment enables a short-drop function in which the windowpane is lowered when a door is open.

[0029]

The frozen part 30 is generated by freezing of rain water accumulated between the distal portion 12c of the lip part 12 and the windowpane 3 in the event of rain, for example.

Rain water can also be accumulated in a recess on the bent portion 12b of the lip part 12, of course, because of the shape of the bent portion 12b. In this embodiment, however, although not shown, a slope is provided in the direction in which the recess extends (in the direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet of FIG. 2), that is, the belt line 4 in FIG. 1 is tilted downward toward the front of the vehicle body, and thus, the structure is configured to cause rain water to flow downward. This structure can prevent occurrence of a problem such as clogging of the space 13 caused by freezing of rain water that has entered the space 13.

[0030]

In this embodiment, since the lower lip part 14 is disposed below the lip part 12, 5 rain water is easily accumulated in a distal portion of the lower lip part 14. Thus, the lower lip part 14 has a typical structure different from that of the lip part 12. However, the lower lip part 14 may have the same structure as the lip part 12.

[0031]

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a portion of the bent portion 12b near 10 the distal portion 12c has a thickness “a” smaller than a thickness “b” of another portion of the lip part 12. Thus, the distal portion 12c of the lip part 12 can bend suitably at a base point P having a small thickness and can more flexibly move so that followability to the windowpane is enhanced. As a result, the sealing function can be enhanced. In addition, the base point P can absorb movement of the lip part 12 in accordance with movement of the windowpane in the vehicle width direction so that clogging of the space 13 can be prevented. Furthermore, even when the distal portion 12c contacts the windowpane with a strong force because of variations in assembly, the posture of the lip part 12 can be adjusted by the base point P, and the entire lip part 12 moves toward the cabin of the automobile, thereby preventing clogging of the space 13. In this manner, the base point P functions to constantly maintain the space 13.

[0032]

As described above, in this embodiment, the attachment base 11 having the inverted U shape in cross section enables the sealing member 10 to be fitted and held onto the outer door panel 5 of the side door. The sealing structure according to the present invention, however, is not limited to this example. With reference to FIGS. 5 through 7, a variation of the embodiment using another attachment structure will now be described. FIG. 5 illustrates a state in which the windowpane 3 is fully closed. FIG. 6 illustrates a state in which an opening operation starts from the state in which the windowpane 3 is fully closed. FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the opening operation continues from the state illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0033]

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, a sealing member 20 having a sealing structure according to this variation and made of a hard rubber includes an attachment base 21 having a rectangular shape in cross section, and the attachment base 21 has a recess 21a. In this variation, a metal seal attachment part 7 serving as a door panel member is disposed at the 10 side of an outer door panel facing the windowpane 3, and the attachment part 7 includes a groove 7a that is open to the windowpane 3, a projection 7b projecting toward the inside of the groove 7a, and a panel 7c extending downward from the groove 7a. The sealing member is attached to the seal attachment part 7 by fitting the attachment base 21 into the groove 7a of the seal attachment part 7 and fitting the projection 7b of the seal attachment part 7 into the recess 21 a of the attachment base 21.

[0034]

Although not shown in FIGS. 5 through 7, upper and lower sealing members may be provided by attaching another sealing member to a lower portion of the panel 7c.

[0035]

The sealing member 20 includes a proximal portion 22a extending downward from a lower portion of the attachment base 21 at the side of the windowpane 3, a bent portion 22b continuous to the proximal portion 22a and bent in a U shape, and a lip part 22 continuous to the bent portion 22b and extending upward at the side of the windowpane. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in this variation, since the proximal portion 22a also extends downward from the attachment base 21 at the side of the windowpane, while the windowpane 3 is fully closed, a space 23 is formed between the panel 7c of the seal attachment part 7 and the proximal portion 22a. Thus, the sealing structure according to this variation enables the lip part 22 to deform in a manner similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4 described above.

[0036]

In FIG. 5, the panel 7c is gradually curved from the groove 7a toward the lip part 22 and then extends downward. To obtain the sufficiently large space 23, the curvature of this curve is larger than a curvature of the side surface of the proximal portion 22a facing the panel 7c. More preferably, to obtain the sufficiently large space 23, the panel 7c is not 10 curved and extends straight downward.

[0037]

Specifically, in the lip part 22 of the sealing structure according to this variation, since the space 23 is formed between the proximal portion 22a and the panel 7c, when the windowpane 3 performs an opening operation, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a downward force is applied to the distal portion 22c in accordance with a lowering operation of the windowpane 3 and received by the bent portion 22b, the bent portion 22b moves toward the panel 7c so as to weaken the force (see arrows in FIG. 6). Then, the proximal portion 22a contacts the panel 7c to fill the space 23. Thereafter, when the windowpane 3 is further lowered, as illustrated in FIG. 7, only the distal portion 22c deforms and follows the movement of windowpane 3 (see an arrow in FIG. 7).

[0038]

As described above, in this variation, since the lip part 22 deforms in the manner similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, even when a frozen part is generated between the distal portion 22c of the lip part 22 and the windowpane 3, the windowpane 3 can be lowered without interference of the lip part 22, and the frozen part can be quickly removed while the windowpane is lowered.

[0039]

In this variation, a portion of the bent portion 22b near the distal portion 22c may be thinner than the other portion of the lip part 22 so that this thinner portion can also serve as a base point P to allow the distal portion 22c to be more flexibly movable. Consequently, followability to movement of the windowpane in the vehicle width direction can be enhanced so that the sealing function can be also enhanced, and clogging of the space 13 caused by movement of the entire lip part 12 toward the cabin of the automobile can be prevented.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, irrespective of the attachment structure of the sealing member, it is only sufficient that a space is formed at the side of the proximal portion of the lip part opposite to the windowpane. With this configuration, when the distal portion of the lip part deforms in accordance with lowering of the windowpane, the bent portion and the proximal portion of the lip part deform toward the space. That is, when a force applied to the distal portion of the lip part by the lowering operation of the windowpane is transmitted to and received by the bent portion, this force can be weakened by deformation. Thus, the lip part does not act against the force like a brace, and the distal portion of the lip part deforms to move downward in accordance with lowering of the windowpane. As a result, even if a frozen part is generated between the windowpane and the lip part, the sealing member does not hinder lowering (slight movement) of the windowpane so that a frozen part can be quickly removed by the lowering (slight movement).

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS [0041] vehicle body

2 side door

3	windowpane (glass)
4	belt line
5	outer door panel
6	reinforce
7	seal attachment part
7a	groove
7b	projection
7c	panel
10, 20	sealing member
11,21	attachment base
21a	recess
12, 22	lip part
12a, 22a	proximal portion
12b, 22b	bent portion
12c, 22c	distal portion
13,23	space
14	lower lip part
15,25	brush part
30	frozen part

Claims

1. A sealing structure disposed at an edge of a window opening in a belt line of an automobile door panel and used for sealing a gap between the window opening and the

5 windowpane, the sealing structure comprising:

an attachment base that is held by the edge of the window opening of the door panel; and a lip part projecting from the attachment base toward the windowpane, wherein the lip part includes a proximal portion extending downward from the attachment 10 base at a side of the windowpane, a bent portion continuous to the proximal portion and bent in a U shape, and a distal portion continuous to the bent portion and extending upward at the side of the windowpane, and while the windowpane is closed, a space is provided at a side of the proximal portion opposite to the windowpane.

2. The sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion branches off from the attachment base and extends downward at the side of windowpane, the attachment base extends to a position below a height of the bent portion, and 20 while the windowpane is closed, a space is provided between the proximal portion and the attachment base.

3. The sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the entire attachment base is disposed only at a position higher than the bent portion 25 and thereby the door panel except the attachment base is exposed at a side opposite to the windowpane at the position of the bent portion, and while the windowpane is closed, a space is provided between the proximal portion and the door panel.

5

4. The sealing structure of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a portion of the bent portion near the distal portion is thinner than another portion of the lip part.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1716141.5 Examiner: Mr Matthew Hanson