GB2086464A - Trim strip for vehicle windows - Google Patents

Abstract

A trim strip for a direct-glazed motor vehicle window comprises a longitudinally extending spine (27), a blade (28) projecting from one side thereof into a gap (20) formed between a window pane (9) and a window frame (1). One side of the blade carries an abutment surface (30) for engaging under the window pane (9) and the other side carries a bent-back flap (32) far engaging the frame (1). The spine (27) also includes lateral flaps (39, 40) for bridging the gap (20). The pane is secured by adhesive (17). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Trim Strip for vehicle windows and windows incorporating such strips This invention relates to trim strips for vehicle windows, especially "direct glazed" windows, and to window assemblies including such strips.

In a "direct glazed" motor vehicle window assembly, a window pane is inserted into a window recess defined by a frame having a peripheral wall and a supporting surface for example in the form of a flange extending inwardly therefrom, and is secured in the recess by an adhesive between the supporting surface and the window pane.

In one known arrangement, several spacer clips are inserted between the window pane and the peripheral wall of the recess, and a trim strip is then attached to these clips to bridge the gap between the window and the frame. This arrangement suffers from the disadvantage that the mounting of the spacer clips on the frame can damage the surface of the frame and lead to corrosion.

In an alternative known assembly, the moulding has a spine from which project a blade, which is inserted into the gap between the peripheral edge of the window pane and the peripheral wall of the frame to project into the adhesive which flows out from beneath the window pane towards the frame when the window is inserted into the recess, and lateral flaps for bridging the gap.

This arrangement is only effective however if the gap between the window pane and the peripheral wall is small. Consequently the frame and window pane must be manufactured to close tolerances. If the gap is large, a correspondingly wider strip must be used, which tends to buckle along its inner edge at the corners of the window pane, producing an unsightly appearance. Moreover, if the adhesive is used to secure the strip in the gap, the window must be tested for water-tightness after assembly of the strip, which can create difficulties in detecting small leaks.

Ourcopending British Patent Application No.

8023562 discloses a trim strip assembly for a vehicle window comprising a first strip of resiliently flexible plastics material having a longitudinally-extending spine and first and second longitudinally-extending blades projecting from one side of the spine and inclined to each other at an acute angle and respectively adapted to engage opposite sides of a gap formed between a window pane and a window frame, and a second longitudinally-extending strip slidably mounted on the other side of the spine and including laterally projecting flaps adapted to bridge the recess between the window pane and the window frame.

According to the present invention, there is provided a trim strip for a vehicle window comprising a body of resilient flexible plastics material having a longitudinally-extending spine, a longitudinallyextending blade projecting from the spine for insertion into a gap formed between a window pane and a window frame, and longitudinally-extending flaps projecting laterally from the spine for bridging the gap between the window pane and the window frame characterised in that one side of the blade carries a longitudinally-extending abutment surface towards its extremity which projects laterally from the blade and in that the other side of the blade carries a longitudinally-extending resilient flap towards its extremity which is bent back to overlie the blade.

In use the trim strip is inserted between the outer edge of a window pane positioned in a recess in a window frame and the peripheral wall of the recess so that the flap on the blade is engaged with the peripheral wall and the opposite side of the blade engages the edge of the window, thereby retaining the laterally projecting flaps in engagement with the outer faces of the window pane and the frame. Since the flap is bent back over the blade and is composed of resilient material, it locates the blade firmly in relatively wide gaps between the frame and the pane, and also accommodates variations in the width of the gap within wide manufacturing tolerances.

The window is secured to the frame by adhesive, and the trim strip can be inserted between the frame and the window pane after the window assembly has been tested for water tightness.

The recess in the frame is preferably formed by a supporting wall projecting inwardly from the peripheral wall of the frame, the adhesive lying between the supporting wall and the inner face of the window pane. Since the edge of the window pane will normally be spaced from the supporting wall, the laterally extending abutment surface can hook around the edge of the window pane to retain the trim strip assembly in position.

The flaps may be formed as a separate component, adapted to be mounted on the spine. For example the flaps form part of a second longitudinally extending strip which includes a clip for gripping the spine. The clip being optionally formed from metal. Preferably however, the flaps and the blade are formed integrally with the spine.

In order to strengthen the spine, it preferably includes a longitudinally extending reinforcement strip of a more rigid material than the plastics material, e.g. a metal.

In order to facilitate bending of the strip, the flap on the spine on the said one side of the blade preferably projects laterally from the spine by an amount less than the flap on the other side of the spine.

Additionally, to improve the seal between the flap on the spine and the window frame at corners, the flap projecting from the spine on the said other side of the blade preferably includes a tip portion which is bent towards the flap on the extremity of the blade.

In most motor vehicle bodies, the supporting wall of the window frame is formed as a flange extending inwardly from the peripheral wall. With such a construction, a resilient supporting strip is preferably provided to prevent the window from making direct The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

contact with the supporting wall. For example the supporting strip may comprise two blades for gripping the flange which engages the window.

In order to provide a neat appearance to the adjacent ends of the trim strip, a connecting clip is preferably engaged between the window and the peripheral wall, which clip includes a cover overlying the ends of the second clips. Such a clip may suitably comprise a spine carrying the cover on one side and at least two legs extending from the other side thereof and respectively engaging opposite sides of the gap between the window pane and the peripheral wall of the recess.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cross-section through a window assembly incorporating a trim strip assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the trim strip assembly of Figure 1 separated from the window assembly; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a clip used in the window assembly of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a window assembly, in this case a windscreen of a motor vehicle, comprises a window frame 1 formed by an outer body panel 2 and an inner body panel 3 of the vehicle bodywork.

The outer panel 2 forms an internal peripheral wall 4 and an inwardly extending flange 5 which is attached to a similar flange 6 of an inner body panel 7. The wall 3 and flanges 5,6 define a window recess 8 for receiving a window pane 9.

A sheet of interior trim material 10 e.g. of cloth or sheet plastics material is wrapped around the flanges 5, 6 and is held in place by a longitudinally extending supporting strip 11 which extends around the inner periphery of the window recess 8. The supporting strip 11 is an integral moulding of resilient plastics material, for example polyvinyl chloride. The supporting strip 11 includes a spine 12 from which extend laterally blades 13, 14. The blades 13, 14 are normally inclined towards each other, as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 1 and therefore firmly grip the flanges 5, 6 and retain the trim material 10 thereon.

The spine 12 of the supporting strip 11 projects outwardly from the flanges 5,6 to form an abutment 16 against which the window pane 9 lies in spaced relation to the flange 5.

The window pane 9 is secured in the window recess 8 by means of an adhesive, indicated schematically at 17, forming a gap 20 between the peripheral wall 4 of the window recess 7 and the edge 21 of the window pane 9.

In order to provide an attractive appearance to the window, this gap is concealed by a trim strip 25.

The trim strip 25 comprises an extruded body 26 of resiliently flexible plastics material, e.g. polyvinyl chloride. The body 26 has a longitudinally extending spine 27 from one side of which projects a longitudinally extending blade 28. On one side of the blade 28, at its extremity is formed a longitudinally extending abutment surface 30 which projects laterally approximately normally from the blade 28 along the outer surface thereof. As illustrated in Figure 1, this surface 30 hooks underthe inner edge of the window pane 9 to prevent the strip 26 from being withdrawn from the gap 20.

On the other side of the blade 28, at its extremity, is formed a longitudinally extending resilient flap 32 at its extremity, which is bent back to overlie the external surface of the blade 28. The flap 32 can be forced to lie close to the surface ofthe blade 28, as illustrated in Figure 1, to allow the second strip to be inserted into the gap 20. After insertion, the flap exerts a lateral thrust on the peripheral wall 4 and generates a frictional force which resists withdrawal of the first strip 26 from the gap 20.

Two longitudinally extending flaps 39, 40 project laterally from the spin 27 and respectively engage the outer surfaces of the frame 1 and the window pane 9 to bridge the gap 20. The flap 40 at the side of the blade which carries the abutment surface 30 projects laterally from the spine 27 by an amount less than the flap 39 on the other side of the spine. This facilitates bending of the strip around external corners of the pane 9. Additionally, as best seen in Figure 2, the tip of the flap 39 is bent towards the flap 32 on the extremity of the blade. This assists sealing between the flap 39 and window frame 2 at corners.

A reinforcing member 29 in the form of a longitudinally extending strip of metal is moulded into the spine of the strip to retain the shape of the strip when bent and to provide rigidity. As seen in Figure 1 the member 29 is positioned relative to the flaps 39, 40 and blade 28 to overlie the gap 20 and lies in approximately the same plane as the two flaps 39, 40 on the spine.

In use, the window pane 9 is mounted in the recess 8 and, when the adhesive 17 has set, the assembly is tested for water tightness. The strip 26 is then inserted into the gap 20. The gap 20 is relatively wide and its width can be allowed to vary within relatively large tolerances. The flap 32 accommodates these variations in width of the gap whilst retaining the blade 28 firmly in engagement with the wall 21 of the window pane 9.

Figure 3 illustrates a connecting clip 50 which is used to hide the gap between adjacent ends of the trim strip assembly. The clip 50 includes a spine 41 of plastics material, e.g. nylon, having a metal cover plate 42 attached to one side thereof. Two pairs of legs 43 extend from the other side of the spine 41 and are integrally moulded therewith. Each leg is provided with a lateral abutment surface 44, similar to the abutment surface 30, for hooking underthe edge of the window pane 9. When inserted into the gap 20 the legs 43 engage opposite sides of the gap 20 to retain the clip in the gap, and the cover plate 42 overlies the ends of the trim strip 25.

Claims (11)

1. A trim strip for a vehicle window comprising a body of resilient flexible plastics material having a longitudinally extending spine, a longitudinally extending blade projecting from the spine for insertion into a gap formed between a window pane and a window frame, and longitudinally extending flaps projecting laterally from the spine for bridging the gap between the window pane and the window frame characterised in that one side of the blade car ries a longitudinally extending abutment surface towards its extremity which projects laterally from the blade and in that the other side of the blade car ries a longitudinally extending resilient flap towards its extremity which is bent back to overlie the blade.

2. A trim strip according to Claim 1 wherein the flaps and the blade are formed integrally with the Spine.

3. Atrim strip according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the spine includes a longitudinally extend ing reinforcing strip of a more rigid material than the plastics material.

4. A trim strip according to Claim 3 wherein the reinforcing strip is composed of metal.

5. A trim strip according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the flap on the said one side of the blade projects laterally from the spine by an amount less than the flap on the other side of the spine.

6. A trim strip according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the flap projecting from the spine on the said other side of the blade includes a tip which is bent towards the flap on the extremity ofthe blade.

7. A window assembly comprising a frame having an inner peripheral wall, a supporting surface extending inwardly therefrom to define a window recess, a window pane mounted in the recess and a trim strip according to any one of the preceding claims between the peripheral wall and the edge of the window, the said blade being the flap projecting from the blade and the abutment surface being respectively engaged with the peripheral wall and the adjacent edge of the window to retain the flaps on the spine in engagement with the outer faces of the window pane and the frame.

8. A window assembly according to Claim 7 wherein the supporting surface comprises a flange extending inwardly from the peripheral surface, and carrying a supporting strip which has two blades gripping the flange and which projects upwardly from the flange into engagement with the window.

9. A window assembly according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 further comprising a connecting clip engaged between the window and the peripheral wall and including a cover overlying adjacent ends of the spine.

10. A window assembly according to Claim 9 wherein the connecting clip includes a spine carrying the cover on one side and at least two legs extending from the other side thereof, and respectively engaging opposite sides of the gap between the window pane and the peripheral wall.

11. A window assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.