GB2104019A

GB2104019A - Rain moulding strip for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2104019A
Application number: GB8219228A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wolfgang Zipperle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-07-10
Filing date: 1982-07-02
Publication date: 1983-03-02
Also published as: BR8204019A; GB2103164A; CA1206183A; DE3127307A1; GB2104019B; DE3127307C2

Abstract

A rain moulding strip (Fig. 2) for attachment to the rain gutter (G) of a car. The moulding strip (1) is moulded as an integral piece from polymeric material for example rubber or plastics, particularly polyurethane foam. Embedded within the gutter (G) are shaped metal strips (2) for facilitating attachment of the strip (1) to the gutter (G) as well as facilitating the attachment of an external device, for example a luggage rack, to the strip (1) itself. Integrally moulded with the strip (1) is a series of lips (5, 6) and sealing members (1a, 7) at those positions where such additions are needed. A method for producing the strip (1) is also disclosed. <IMAGE>

Description

1

SPECIFICATION

Rain moulding strip for a vehicle This invention relates generally to rain moulding strips for vehicles, particularly automobiles. Rain moulding strips for automotive vehicles are ordinarily contoured strips of metal or plastic having a coating which imparts a metallic appearance to them. The contoured shape must be substantially adapted to the shape of the rain gutter so that the possibility for variation in the shape of the moulding strip or its apperance is very limited.

The object of the present invention is to provide a rain moulding strip for automotive vehicles which permits a greater freedom in construction. This object is achieved by a rain moulding strip having the features set forth in the claims.

The cross-section of a strip of rubber or plastic, for example polyurethane foam, can be freely selected within a wide range. It is therefore possible to provide a lip thereon which forms, with the roof or a length-wise member of the body, a deep water-discharge gutter to prevent water from being driven out of the gutter by the wind and splattering onto the windows while the vehicle is moving. Because of the fact that the lip is integral with the body of the strip, there is no danger of it being torn off. For example, in a car wash a danger of the lip being torn off would exist if the strip body and the lip were to consist of rubber and the lip had to be vulcanised onto the strip body. This construction would also be substantially more expensive than the manufacture of the rain moulding strip in accordance with the invention. The appearance of 100 the rain moulding strip of the invention can be varied within a wide range since not only its colour but also the configuration of its surface can be freely selected. For instance, the surface can readily be provided with graining. The embedded 105 metal strip or strips prevent shrinkage of the body of the strip as well as preventing cold flow, so that the rain moulding strip of the invention is dimensionally stable in the same manner as known moulding strips. Other advantages of the rain moulding strip of the invention are its light weight, the avoidance of steps or shoulders when viewed in the longitudinal direction and, in particular, its inexpensive manufacture, including the one-piece construction of the body of the strip and the lip or other parts thereof.

The metal strip which is embedded in the body of the moulding strip is preferably a shaped aluminium strip. In a preferred embodiment, the metal strip lies in the part of the moulding strip body which lies within the rain gutter. It can also serve to attach the rain moulding strip to the rain gutter. The attachment is particularly simple if the metal strip has a C-shaped cross-section which is open towards the gutter and if the channel, defined by this strip and open towards the gutter, is free of the material which forms the covering. In such instances, the attachment elements which protrude from the gutter can directly engage the GB 2 104 019 A 1_ metal strip and thereby fasten the latter in position.

It is particularly advantageous for the metal strip to have a crosssection including an arm which extends into the part of the strip body which extends around the gutter, since this arm can then absorb compressive forces such as those occurring when a roof luggage rack is attached. If the strip body completely surrounds the gutter and therefore abuts it along its outer side, it is advisable to provide an additional metal strip in the portion of the strip body resting against the gutter, at least in those sections which are to be used for the attachment of a roof luggage rack. The additional strip is also embedded in the strip body.

In order that the user may see where he can clamp a roof luggage rack, which is important not only when the additional metal strip does not extend over the entire length of the body but also with respect to distribution of weight, the strip body can be provided with suitable markings. For example, the marking can be in the form of depressions in the body.

At the place where the rain moulding strip extends along a door, a seal is necessary, which is formed by a tubular rubber member. In order that the connection between the strip body and the sealing body be reliable even if it is attached by adhesives, the strip body and the sealing body are preferably provided with inter-engaging connecting elements, for example, a tongue and groove connection.

In this manner, an increase in the size of the adherent surface is also obtained, which also increases the load-carrying capacity of the connection.

In order to avoid the necessity of cutting and partially removing the sealing body where no sealing is necessary, in a preferred embodiment, a filler body is formed onto the body of the strip in the section or sections in which no sealing body or no complete sealing body is required. The filling body supplements the body of the strip to the desired extent. By the insertion or removal of force plugs upon moulding, the filler body can be adaped in a simple manner to the different requirements of, for example, two-door and fourdoor cars.

The invention will be described below in detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing, in which:- Figure 1 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a section along the line 11-11 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section along the line 111-111 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

A rain moulding strip for covering the rain gutter G of a passenger car has an elongated moulded body 1 of a polymer such as rubber or plastic and particularly of polyurethane foam, which extends over the entire length of the rain 2 GB 2 104 019 A 2 moulding strip and is formed as a single integral piece.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the central portion of the cross-section of body 1 adjacent rain gutter G has a C-shaped groove which is open towards the bottom of gutter G. Within this groove is a first aluminium shaped strip 2 which is embedded in body 1 and extends over its entire length. The portion of strip 2 which lies within the groove of the strip body 1 also has a C-shaped profile which is open towards gutter G. This cross-section makes it possible to readily connect the rain moulding strip to gutter G. As shown, for instance, in Figure 2, a connecting strip is fastened, in the embodiment shown, to the bottom of gutter G by fastening elements 4. Connecting strip 3 has a cross-section which engages strip 2 and extends over its free ends. In order to connect the rain moulding strip to the gutter G, body 1 together with strip 2 is pushed over connecting strip 3.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, a thin lip 5 protruding obliquely outwardly and upwardly is formed on the central portion of body 1. Lip 5 rests against the inner flank of gutter G formed by the roof or post.

A side part 1 a which engages the edge of gutter G and also rests against its side is formed on the opposite side of the central section of the cross-sectional profile of body 1. Side part 1 a terminates, in the embodiment shown, at approximately the height of the bottom of gutter G. In the region of transition between the central part and side part 1 a of the body 1 and, therefore, at the place where body 1 lies along the free arm of gutter G, an arm 2a of the aluminium strip 2 is embedded in body 1. Arm 2a extends obliquely outwardly and upwardly from the C-shaped part and has a pair of right angle bends at its free end, thus forming a Ushaped cross-section which is open towards the bottom. Arm 2a of aluminium strip 2 serves, in the same manner as the Cshaped part, to prevent shrinkage of body 1. In addition, when a roof luggage rack is clamped to gutter G arm 2a prevents cold flow of body 1 due to the force exerted on it by the roof luggage rack.

As shown in Figure 2, a second, relatively long lip 6 is formed along the side portion of body 1 on that part of its length which extends along the front roof post. Lip 6 is formed integrally with body 1 and extends from the concavely curved zone which extends above the upper edge of the free arm of gutter G towards the wall against which lip 5 rests. Accordingly, lip 6, together with the central part of body 1 and lip 5, forms a large U- shaped channel which is open only in the region of 120 the free ends of lips 5 and 6. Lip 6, therefore, prevents the water which discharges into the channel formed by the central portion of body 1 and lip 5 from being driven out by wind and blown against the windows of the automobile upon movement of the vehicle. Since this problem only exists in the region of the front post, lip 6 ends adjacent to the upper end of the front door post. This can be noted from Figures 3 and 4 which show sections through the rain moulding strip in the horizontally extending region, i.e. the region which extends along the automobile roof.

A sealing body 7 of tubular shape, formed of silicone rubber lies along an arm 1 b of body 1 along that part of body 1 which extends along the front door post and the upper edge of the door or doors. Sealing body 7 is bonded to arm 1 b of body 1. In order to reinforce the attachment, sealing body 7 is provided, on the surface resting against arm 1 b, with a groove which is open towards the surface and into which a protruding tongue 8 of arm 1 b interengages.

In those sections of the strip body 1 along which a roof luggage rack can be placed, a second aluminium contoured strip 9 is embedded, in arm 1 b of body 1, as shown in Figure 3. Aluminium strip 9 lies, in the embodiment shown, not only within the part of arm 1 b of body 1 which rests on the outside against gutter G but also, due to the shape of arm 1 b, within the adjoining section of arm 1 b which protrudes outwards from the rain strip. Second strip 9 is therefore of angle iron. In the same way as arm 2a, which protrudes from the C-shaped portion of first aluminium strip 2, the second strip 9 prevents cold flow of body 1 under the force which is exerted upon it by a roof luggage rack. The clamping device which clamps the roof luggage rack to gutter G engages from the outside between body 1 and sealing body 7, it thereby presses arm 1 b against the free arm of gutter G.

In order to avoid the necessity of notching and cutting sealing body 7 at places where its entire cross-section is not required, a filler body 10 which lies parallel to strip body 1 adjoins sealing body 7. Filler body 10 is constructed of polyurethane foam, like body 1, and is joined to arm 1 b of the latter in the same way as sealing body 7 along the outwardly facing side of arm 1 b.

As shown in Figure 4, filler body 10 has a crosssection similar to the upper portion of sealing body 7, i.e. as that part which would remain if the sealing body 7 were cut and partially removed. The advantage of filler body 10, however, is not merely that the cutting of sealing body 7 is dispensed with, but that it also prevents the presence of porous regions, such as would occur if the sealing body 7 were cut. Below the body 10 there is seen a part 11 of the vehicle body sheet to which the gutter G is attached.

As a rule, the individual sections of a rain moulding strip must have a curved course. In order to eliminate the use of a mould, such as an injection mould, in which the elongated cavity already has the curved course which the final rain moulding strip is to have, one can also start from a metal strip which lies in a plane over its entire length or part of its length. In order to produce the moulding strip, this metal strip is placed in a mould whose elongated cavity has only those curvatures which lie in the plane of the metal strip or only a portion of the curvatures which extend from this plane. Such a mould is substantially more economical than a mould in which the elongated cavity has the same course as the rain 3 GB 2 104 019 A 3 moulding strip has when ready for attachment, i.e. is curved in three dimensions. The individual portions of the rain moulding strip are then bent into final shape after removal from the mould. Due to the stresses which occur during the bending and which may be disturbing particularly in case of large temperature variations, sharp curvatures cannot be produced by bending the strip after removal from the mould.

Claims

1. A rain moulding strip for attachment to the rain gutter of a vehicle, comprising an elongated body moulded of a polymer material, said elongated body having at least one metal strip embedded therein, and said elongated body including at least one projecting lip which is integrally moulded therewith.

2. A rain moulding strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shaped aluminium strip comprises said metal strip.

3. A rain moulding as claimed in claim 1, wherein said metal strip is disposed in the portion of said elongated body adjacent said rain gutter.

4. A rain moulding strip as claimed in claim 3, wherein said metal strip has a C-shaped crosssection which is open towards said rain gutter and the channel defined by said C-shaped crosssection is free of said moulded, polymer material.

5. A rain moulding strip as claimed in claim 3, wherein said metal strip includes an arm extending into the portion of said elongated body which extends away from said rain gutter.

6. A rain moulding strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said polymer material comprises polyurethane foam.

7. A rain moulding strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second metal strip is embedded in that region of said strip body which rests against the outside of said rain gutter.

8. A rain moulding strip as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second metal strip is disposed in those portions of said elongated body which are intended for the attachment of a roof luggage rack.

9. A rain moulding strip as claimed in claim 8, wherein said portions of elongated body which are intended for the attachment of a roof luggage rack are provided with marking indicia to permit the user to position said luggage rack.

10. A rain moulding strip as claimed in claim 1 further including a tubular sealing body, said elongated body and said sealing body including inter-engaging tongue and groove attaching elements.

11. A rain moulding strip as claimed in claim 1 further including a filler member moulded integrally with said elongated body, said filler member being disposed alongside elongated body in that section of said elongated body in which a further sealing element is not required.

12. A method of manufacturing a rain moulding strip as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of, positioning said metal strip in a moulding means, moulding said elongated body about said metal strip and bending said completed moulding into final form after removal from the mould.

13. A rain moulding strip constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings. 70

14. A method of manufacturing a rain moulding strip, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1983. Published by the Patent Office 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.