GB2095315A

GB2095315A - Sealing and finishing strips

Info

Publication number: GB2095315A
Application number: GB8109103A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Draftex Development AG
Current assignee: Draftex Development AG
Priority date: 1981-03-24
Filing date: 1981-03-24
Publication date: 1982-09-29
Also published as: GB2095315B; ES263354Y; IT8209366A0; FR2502563B3; ES263354U; IT8209366A1; DE3207795A1; FR2502563A1; CA1172290A; JPS57172844A; IT1192393B

Abstract

A channel-shaped sealing strip 5 for mounting around the flanges of the luggage compartment opening of a vehicle body defines three large ribs 10, 12, 14 on one inside wall of the channel and four smaller ribs 16 to 22 on the other inside wall. The innermost rib 14 on one side wall, with rib 26 on the other side wall, and with the base of the channel, define a cavity 24 for receiving a mastic sealant which in use seals against the distal edge of the mounting flange 3. A longitudinally extending sealing lip 28 is mounted on the channel adjacent its mouth and extends outwardly and away from the mouth for engaging a drain channel 4. This lip has a tear-off cord 32 by means of which the lip can be manually pulled in a predetermined direction during fitment so as to locate it in the drain channel 4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to sealing and finishing strips The invention relates to sealing and finishing strips such as, for example, to channel-shaped strips supporting a seal and arranged to embrace a flange or the like in a vehicle body.

Various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, given by way of example only, of channel-shaped sealing strips embodying the invention, reference being made to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which is a cross-section through one form of the sealing strip.

More specifically to be described below is a channel-shaped strip made of channel-shaped flexible material having ribs running along the inside of the channel on opposite side walls thereof, there being a plurality of ribs on each such side wall, the innermost ribs on the side walls being juxtaposed so as to define, with the base of the channel, a cavity for receiving a mastic sealant for sealing against the distal edge of a mounting flange or the like in use.

Preferably, at least the other ribs are arranged to exert a gripping force on a mounting flange or the like in use.

Advantageously, the ribs on one side wall are larger than the ribs on the other side wall. For example, there may be three of the relatively larger ribs and four of the relatively smaller ribs.

Advantageously, the two innermost ribs extend substantially perpendicularly from their respective side walls and the other ribs extend obliquely to their respective side walls and are directed towards the base of the channel.

Preferably, a longitudinally extending flexible sealing lip is attached to one side wall of the channel adjacent the mouth of the channel and projects outwardly of and away from the mouth for sealing against a body portion adjacent to the mounting flange in use.

Advantageously, the sealing lip has attached to it a longitudinally extending protrusion by means of which the sealing lip can be manually pulled in a predetermined direction during mounting of the strip on the mounting flange or the like, whereby to achieve a predetermined sealing position.

Advantageously, the said protrusion is mounted so as to be easily torn off.

Preferably, a longitudinally extending seal runs along the outside surface of the channel, for example along the outside of the base of the channel.

In a more specific sense, there will be disclosed a channel-shaped sealing strip for mounting around the luggage compartment opening of a vehicle body, comprising a channel-shaped gripping portion for mounting on and embracing a mounting flange running around the said opening, and a longitudinally extending seal attached to the outside of the channel so as to be positioned, when the channel-shaped portion is mounted on the flange, whereby to seal against the lid of the opening, the channel-shaped portion being made of flexible material having embedded within it a reinforcing carrier and defining three ribs on one inside wall of the channel and four such ribs on the other inside wall, the innermost rib on one said side wall defining in conjunction with the corresponding rib on the other side wall and with the base of the channel a cavity for receiving a mastic sealant which in use seals against the distal edge of a mounting flange, the other said ribs exerting a gripping force on the mounting flange, the said three ribs being relatively larger than the said four ribs, and a longitudinally extending sealing lip mounted on the channel adjacent the mouth thereof and extending outwardly and away from the mouth for engaging a drain channel running around the said flange, the sealing lip having a tear-off protruding strip running along its length by means of which the sealing lip can be manually pulled in a predetermined direction during fitment so as to locate the sealing lip in the drain channel.

The sealing lip to be described is intended for mounting around the luggage compartment opening on a vehicle body, though is not restricted to such use. Such luggage compartment openings normally have a flange (shown dotted at 3) running around them which is generally upstanding and adjacent to a drain channel (shown dotted at 4) for draining away water.

As shown, the sealing strip has a channelshaped gripping portion 5 on which is mounted a sealing portion 6. In use, the gripping portion 5 is mounted on and embraces the flange and thereby positions the sealing portion 6 to run around the opening so that the lid of the luggage compartment closes onto it, partially compressing it and thus providing a sealing function.

Advantageously, therefore, the sealing portion 6 is made of flexible resilient material such as sponge rubber. The gripping portion 5 is constructed of flexible material 7 such as rubber or plastics and advantageously has embedded within it a reinforcing support or carrier 8. The carrier 8 is intended to be sufficiently flexible to allow the strip to be mounted in position but is also sufficiently resilient to stiffen and reinforce the gripping portion 5 and help to increase the force with which it is retained on the mounting flange.

The carrier may have any suitable form. It may, for example, by made of metal. In one possible form, it comprises a series of side-by-side U-shaped elements which are interconnected by links or possibly completely disconnected. Instead, for example, it could be in the form of a corrugated channel. In another form, it can be made of wire such as wire looped back and forth across the width of the channel. However, other forms of carrier are also possible.

The flexible material 7 of the gripping portion 5 is formed with inwardly directed ribs, there being three such ribs 10, 12, 14 on one inside wall of the channel and four, smaller, ribs 16, 18, 20 and 22 on the opposite side. The ribs run along the length of the channel.

In use, when the gripping portion 5 is pressed onto the flange 3, the ribs on opposite sides of the channel are forced apart to allow entry of the flange and press against the sides of the flange.

The ribs 10, 12, 16, 18 and 20 are designed to exert a gripping and sealing force on the flange. In doing so, they help to resist removal of the strip from the flange and also help to prevent water or moisture from entering the luggage compartment by running around the flange on the inside of the channel.

The ribs 10 to 22 may be formed integrally with the flexible material 7 such as by an extrusion process. They need not be of the same hardness as the flexible material 7 and it may in fact be advantageous for them to be made of softer material than the material 7 because (in the case of ribs 10, 12,16, and 20) this is found to improve their sealing and gripping action.

The sealing portion 6 may also be extruded simultaneously with the material 7 (and the lips 10 to 22) or it may be formed separately and secured to the gripping section 5 as by means of adhesive.

In addition, a suitable mastic sealant is piaced in the base of the channel, at 24, to provide an additional seal and water barrier, so that the distal edge of the flange presses into this mastic.

The provision of the relatively thin top ribs 14 and 22 is advantageous because they define a cavity, at 24, within which the mastic is locate, and help to prevent the mastic from running down onto the main gripping ribs 10, 12, 16, 1 8 and 20.

Without the provision of such ribs 14, 22, it is found that the mastic does have this tendency to run onto the main gripping ribs, reducing their gripping force. The ribs 14 and 22 also enable a smaller quantity of mastic sealant to be used.

These ribs are primarily designed for mastic retention and exert substantially no gripping force on the flange 3.

The arrangement of the ribs so that there are three relatively large ribs on one side of the channel and four relatively small ones on the other side is advantageous in giving additional stability to the gripping section 5 when mounted on the flange.

The lower large gripping rib 10 has a cut-out 26 to increase its flexiblility.

In addition, the gripping portion 5 has a downwardly and outwardly extending longitudinal sealing lip 28 which may advantageously be formed integrally with the material 7. In use, when the gripping portion 5 is mounted on the mounting flange, the sealing lip 28 extends into the drain channel 4 which runs around the luggage compartment opening. It is important that the lip 28 does not become inadvertently tucked up inside the gripping portion 5 when the gripping portion is forced onto the flange 3. In order to guard against this possibility, the lip 28 is provided with a tear-off cord 32 running along the length of the lip. This cord is integrally formed with the material of the lip 28 but is attached to it by a relatively weak neck 34 and the cord may extend beyond the length of the lip 28. In use, the fitter grips the cord 32 and uses it to pull the distal edge 36 of the lip 28 outwardly and upwardly - and thus away from the mouth of the gripping portion 5, and, simultaneously, tears the cord 32 off via the weakened beck 34. In this way, the lip 28 is positively located within the drain channel 4 at the correct location, as shown dotted in the drawing, so as to provide most effective sealing. At the same time, the cord 32 is removed so as not to impede sealing.

Claims

1. A channel-shaped strip made of channelshaped flexible material having a plurality ribs running along the inside of the channel on opposite side walls thereof, there being a plurality of ribs on each such side wall, the innermost rib of both side walls being juxtaposed so as to define, with the base of the channel, a cavity for receiving a mastic sealant for sealing against the distal edge of a mounting flange or the like in use.

2. A strip according to claim 1, in which at least the other ribs are arranged to exert a gripping force on the mounting flange or the like in use.

3. A strip according to claims 1 or 2, in which the ribs on one side wall are larger than the ribs on the other side wall.

4. A strip according to claim 3, in which there are three of the relatively larger ribs and four of the relatively smaller ribs.

5. A strip according to any preceding claim, in which the two innermost ribs extend substantially perpendicularly from their respective side walls and the other ribs extend obliquely to their respective side walls and are directed towards the base of the channel.

6. A strip according to the preceding claim, in which a longitudinally extending flexible sealing lip is attached to one side wall of the channel adjacent the mouth of the channel and projects outwardly of and away from the mouth for sealing against the body portion adjacent to the mounting flange in use.

7. A strip according to claim 6, in whcih the sealing lip has attached to it a longitudinally extending protrusion by means of which the sealing lip can be manually pulled in a predetermined direction during mounting of the strip on the mounting flange or the like, whereby to achieve a predetermined sealing position.

8. A strip according to claim 7, in which the said protrusion is mounted so as to be easily torn off.

9. A strip according to any preceding claim, in which a longitudinally extending seal runs along the outside surface of the channel.

10. A channel-shaped sealing strip for mounting around the luggage compartment opening of a vehicle body, comprising a channelshaped gripping portion for mounting on and embracing a mounting flange running around the said opening, and a longitudinally extending seal attached to the outside of the channel so as to be positioned, when the channel-shaped portion is mounted on the flange, whereby to seal against the lid of the opening, the channel-shaped portion being made of flexible material having embedded within it a reinforcing carrier and defining three ribs on one inside wall of the channel and four such ribs on the other inside wall, the innermost rib on one side wall defining in conjunction with the corresponding rib on the other side wall and with the base of the channel a cavity for receiving a mastic sealant which in use seals against the distal edge of the mounting flange, the other said ribs exerting a gripping force on the mounting flange, the said three ribs being relatively larger than the said four ribs, and a longitudinally extending sealing lip mounted on the channel adjacent the mouth thereof and extending outwardly and away from the mouth for engaging a drain channel running around the said flange, the sealing lip having a tear-off protruding strip running along its length by means of which the sealing lip can be manually pulled in a predetermined direction during fitment so as to locate the sealing lip in the drain channel.

11. A channel-shaped strip, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.