GB1579727A

GB1579727A - Channel-shaped sealing trimming and guiding strips

Info

Publication number: GB1579727A
Application number: GB39191/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Draftex Development AG
Current assignee: Draftex Development AG
Priority date: 1976-09-22
Filing date: 1976-09-22
Publication date: 1980-11-26

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CHANNEL-SHAPED SEALING, TRIMMING AND GUIDING STRIPS (71) We, DRAFTEX DEVELOPMENT A.G., a joint stock company organised under the laws of Switzerland, of SchBnbiihl 3, 6300 Zug, Switzerland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strips such as for trimming an edge flange or for sealing or guiding a window.pane. Such strips may for example be used in motor vehicle body construction.

According to the invention, there is provided a channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strip which is curved to match a bend of predetermined radius and held in that shape by means of stiff reinforcing means which is separate from but permanently attached to the strip at the bend and has a length substantially the same as the length of the bend.

According to the invention, there is also provided a channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strip comprising a metal carrier of channel form and arranged to be longitudinally flexible and covered with flexible covering material, the strip being curved to match a bend of predetermined radius and held in that shape by means of stiff reinforcing means which is separate from but permanently attached to the flexible covering material at the bend and has a length substantially the same as the length of the bend.

According to the invention, there is further provided a closed or open loop frame, for fitting around an opening of predetermined shape, such as in a vehicle body, comprising a channel-shaped strip which is sized to match the surround of the opening and provided with curves whose relative positions and respective radiuses are predetermined in accordance with the shape of the surround, and stiff reinforcing members at the said curves and permanently attached to the material of the strip for respectively holding the shape and radius of the said curves.

Channel-shaped sealing or finishing strips embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of one form of the sealing strip; Figure 2 is a scrap view showing a section through part of a modified version of the structure shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 and showing a further modified construction; Figure 4 is another view corresponding to Figure 2 and showing yet another modified construction; Figure 5 is a perspective view of part of another form of the sealing strip; Figure 6 is a scrap view showing a section (on the line VI-VI of Figure 5) through part of a modified version of the construction shown in Figure 5; Figures 7 and 8 correspond to Figures 5 and 6 respectively but show a further form of the sealing strip; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a reinforcing member in the structure of Figures 7 and 8; and Figures 10, 11 and 12 correspond respectively to Figures 7, 8 and 9, but show yet another form of the sealing strip.

The sealing strip shown in Figure 1 is for fitting to an edge flange around the door opening of a motor vehicle body. It is in the form of a channel-shaped gripping portion 5 including a metal carrier 6 consisting of clips 8 of U-shape interconnected by longitudinally extending connecting pieces 10, the carrier 6 having a plastics or similar covering 12 which has inwardly projecting lips 14.

A sealing portion 16 (Figure 2), made of cellular rubber for example, may be attached to the gripping portion 5. In use, the gripping portion 5 grips onto an edge flange around a door opening and supports the sealing section 16 so that the latter extends around the door opening and provides a draught and weatherproof seal onto which the door closes in use. In the absence of the sealing portion 16, the gripping portion 5 performs primarily a trimming or protective function.

The lips 14 form seals against the sides of the flange and also help retention of the gripping portion on the flange.

The carrier 6 may take any other suitable form. For example, the U-shaped clips 8 can be completely disconnected from each other or, if connected, the connecting links can be differently positioned as compared with the links 10. Instead, the carrier may be made of looped wire.

There may be equal numbers of lips 14 on each side of the channel, and the lips can be of the same size.

The sealing portion 16 may be adhesively secured to the plastics covering 12. Instead, however, it is possible to make the covering 12 and the sealing portion 16 of such compatible material that they can be extruded by means of a dual extrusion process, so as to have the desired different hardnesses.

In use, the sealing strip will be required to fit onto the edge flange around a particular door opening. In order to facilitate such fitment, the sealing strip is supplied to the motor vehicle body manufacturer in closed loops or frames which are sized each to fit a particular door opening, that is, they are provided with radiused comers and curves at the appropriate place.

However, because of the inherent flexibility of the sealing strips, it is necessary to provide some means of holding the sealing strip in the appropriate shape - until it is fitted onto the edge flange. In order to do this, appropriately curved metal reinforcing members 18 are attached to the sealing strip at the curves.

Thus, during manufacture, the sealing strip is applied to a jig and given the desired radiuses in the positions where bends are required and the reinforcing metal members 18 are then attached and thercafter hold the sealing strip in the desired shape at the bends and curves.

Tlle reinforcing members 18 may be attached to the sealing strip by adhesively securing there to the covering material 12 as shown in Figures 2 to 4. In Figure 2, the reinforcing members 18 are shown fitted near the open mouth of the channel, while in Figure 3 they are shown fitted further into the channel and below the gripping lips 14.

The reinforcing members 18 may be attached to the material 12 by any suitable adhesive such as, for example, an adhesive which is activated by the application of heat. If desired and as shown in Figure 4, the reinforcing members 18 could be partially embedded within the material 12.

At each bend or corner, there can be two reinforcing members 18 or possibly merely one.

In Figures 5 and 6, parts corresponding to parts in Figures 1 to 4 are similarly referenced.

In Figures 5 and 6, there is shown a modified form of reinforcement, comprising a channelshaped stiff reinforcing member 20 (preferably of metal) which is inserted into the channel of the gripping portion 5 at a position where a corner or curve is to be provided and holds the sealing strip in the appropriate shape - ready for fitting onto an edge flange. The reinforcing member 20 may be attached to the sealing strip by adhesively securing it to the material 12.

In Figures 7 to 9, again parts corresponding to parts in the preceding Figures are similarly referenced. As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the reinforcing member 20 is provided with tangs 22 which, when the member 20 is placed in position in the gripping portion 5, bite into the material 12 and hold, or help to hold, the member 20 in position. Adhesive may still be used (as mentioned with reference to Figures 5 and 6) but the tangs provide an additional locating and holding effect. However, if the tangs are provided, it may be possible to dispense with the use of adhesive.

The tangs may take any suitable form and may be in any suitable position on the member 20.

It will be appreciated that the member 20 may have other forms and in each such case tangs corresponding to the tangs 22 may be provided.

In Figures 10 to 12, again parts corresponding to parts in the preceding Figures are similarly referenced. In Figures 10 to 12, the reinforcing member 20 is provided with further tangs 24 which extend in the opposite direction to the tangs 22, that is, inwardly of the channel. The tangs 24 are intended to make gripping contact with the flange when the strip is placed in position thereon.

The tangs 22 and 24 may take any suitable form and may be in any suitable position on the member 20.

As shown in Figures 10 to 12, the reinforcing member 20 is asymmetrical in cross-section and has its tangs 24 positioned on one side only.

However, it may instead be symmetrical in form (particularly where the gripping lips 14 are symmetrically positioned with respect to the gripping portion 5), and in this case tangs 24 can be positioned on each side of the reinforcing member. If desired, the tangs 22 can be omitted.

particularly if adhesive or other means is used to help secure the reinforcing member 20 in the gripping section 5.

Indeed, although the member 20 has been illustrated in Figures 5 to 12 as being asymmetrical in shape, with one side wall of the channel having a greater height than the other, this is not essential and it may be symmetrical in cross-section.

It will be appreciated that the reinforcing members 18 and 20 can be used to hold the sealing strip in any desired configuration. For example, instead of being used to produce the corner shapes shown in Figures 1, 5, 7 and 10, they could be used to form curves of "S" bends for example. In some applications of sealing strip, the sealing strip, whether in completely closed or partially open loop form, does not necessarily lie completely in the same plane throughout its length, and the reinforcing members disclosed herein can be used to hold the sealing strip in this non-co-planar configuration.

In the structures shown herein, the sealing portion 16 (if provided) can be reinforced at bends therein by injecting sponge rubber or the like into its hollow part.

References in this Specification to door openings in vehicles include references to the door openings of luggage and other compartments in vehicles.

Although the sealing strips described and illustrated are for fitting to an edge flange around a door opening, it will be appreciated that modified forms of construction may be use used as a window guide channel for fitting in a mounting groove or similar configuration around a window opening. In such cases, the strip will have to be provided with bends or curves and each of these may be pre-formed and held so formed by means of reinforcing members similar to the member 18 or 20.

The reinforcing members 18 and 20 are also applicable in cases where the strips are formed into open- (instead of closed-) loop frames.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strip which is curved to match a bend of predetermined radius and held in that shape by means of stiff reinforcing means which is separate from but permanently attached to the strip at the bend and has a length substantially the same as the length of the bend.

2. A channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strip comprising a metal carrier of channel form and arranged to be longitudinally flexible and covered with flexible covering material, the strip being curved to match a bend of predetermined radius and held in that shape by means of stiff reinforcing means which is separate from but permanently attached to the flexible covering material at the bend and has a length substantially the same as the length of the bend.

3. A strip according to claim 2, in which the metal carrier comprises a series of U-shaped members completely disconnected from each other or connected by means of short flexible connecting links.

4. A strip according to claim 2 or 3, in which the covering material on the carrier defines one or more gripping lips extending longitudinally within the channel on one or each of the internal walls of the channel so as to seal against a flange which the strip embraces in use.

5. A strip according to any preceding claim, in which the reinforcing means comprises one or more curved metal members.

6. A strip according to claim 5, in which the or each metal member is permanently attached to the strip adjacent the mouth of the channel.

7. A strip according to claim 5, in which the or each metal member is permanently attached to the strip adjacent the base of the channel.

8. A strip according to claim 5, in which the or each metal member is at least partially embedded in the wall of the strip.

9. A strip according to any one of claims 5 to 8, in which the reinforcing metal member comprises a curved metal channel which sits in the bottom of the channel of the strip and is oriented therein to match the channel of the strip.

10. A strip according to claim 9, including tangs positioned at intervals on the inside surface of at least one inside wall of the said member so as to be directed inwardly of its channel and thus to contact a flange which the strip embraces in use.

11. A strip according to any one of claims 5 to 10, in which the or each said member is permanently attached to the material of the strip at least oartlv bv adhesive.

12. A strip according to any one of claims 5 to 11, in which the or each member is permanently attached to the material of the strip at least partly by tangs.

13. A closed or open loop frame, for fitting around an opening or predetermined shape, such as in a vehicle body, comprising a channel-shaped strip which is sized to match the surround of the opening and provided with curves whose relative positions and respective radiuses are predetermined in accordance with the shape of the surround, and stiff reinforcing members at the said curves and permanently attached to the material of the strip for respectively holding the shape and radius of the said curves.

14. A frame according to claim 13, in which the strip comprises a channel-shaped metal carrier covered with elastomeric material.

15. A frame according to claim 12 or 13, in which the reinforcing members comprise curved metal members.

16. A frame according to any one of claims 13 to 15, in which at least one of the metal members is channel-shaped in cross-section and is sized to sit in the bottom of the channel of the strip at each said curve and to be oriented in the same way as the channel of the strip.

17. A frame according to claim 16, including tangs positioned at intervals on the inside surface of at least one inside wall of the said channel-shaped member so as to be directed inwardly of the channel thereof and thus to contact a flange which the frame embraces in use.

18. A frame according to any one of claims 13 to 17, in which reinforcing members are secured to the material of the strip at least partly by adhesive.

19. A frame according to any one of claims 13 to 18, in which the reinforcing members are secured to the material of the strip at least partly by tangs.

20. A channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strip, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompany

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. members disclosed herein can be used to hold the sealing strip in this non-co-planar configuration. In the structures shown herein, the sealing portion 16 (if provided) can be reinforced at bends therein by injecting sponge rubber or the like into its hollow part. References in this Specification to door openings in vehicles include references to the door openings of luggage and other compartments in vehicles. Although the sealing strips described and illustrated are for fitting to an edge flange around a door opening, it will be appreciated that modified forms of construction may be use used as a window guide channel for fitting in a mounting groove or similar configuration around a window opening. In such cases, the strip will have to be provided with bends or curves and each of these may be pre-formed and held so formed by means of reinforcing members similar to the member 18 or 20. The reinforcing members 18 and 20 are also applicable in cases where the strips are formed into open- (instead of closed-) loop frames. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strip which is curved to match a bend of predetermined radius and held in that shape by means of stiff reinforcing means which is separate from but permanently attached to the strip at the bend and has a length substantially the same as the length of the bend.

ing drawings.

21. A channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strip, substantially as described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strip, substantially as described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strip, substantially as described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strip, substantially as described with reference to Figures 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A channel-shaped trimming, sealing or guiding strip, substantially as described with reference to Figures 10 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A closed or open loop frame for fitting around an opening of predetermined shape in a vehicle body, comprising a channel-shaped trimming or sealing strip according to any one of claims 20 to 25.