GB2153420A

GB2153420A - Sealing strip

Info

Publication number: GB2153420A
Application number: GB08402138A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Franz-Josef Theelen
Original assignee: Draftex Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Laird Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1984-01-27
Filing date: 1984-01-27
Publication date: 1985-08-21
Also published as: IT1201215B; DE3501196A1; ES283624U; GB8402138D0; IT8509316A0; FR2558782A1; ES283624Y

Abstract

A channel-shaped sealing strip for mounting on a flange 22, e.g. for a motor vehicle luggage boot is extended to provide a lip 11 which is adhesively secured to an adjacent body part 26 by means of a length of rubber (or similar) strip 14. The strip 14 has layers of adhesive on its opposite surfaces, each of which may initially be covered by a removable covering. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sealing strips The invention relates to sealing strips particularly but not exclusively for use in motor vehicle body construction.

According to the invention, there is provided a channel-shaped sealing strip made of channel shaped flexible material and having a lip providing a surface extending alongside the mouth of the channel, the lip being adapted to be adhesively secured to a surface adjacent to mounting means for the sealing strip.

According to the invention there is further provided a sealing strip for mounting on a flange running at least partially around an opening in a vehicle body, comprising channel-shaped flexible material in which is embedded a reinforcing metal carrier and which is integrally extended along one edge of the mouth of the channel to form an integral lip defining a surface which, when the strip is mounted in position on the flange, faces a body surface adjacent the flange, and a length of relatively soft material running along the lip and providing two opposite major surfaces one of which is adhesively secured to the said surface of the lip and the opposite of which is covered by a removable covering strip which, when removed, enables the length of material to be secured to the said body surface.

A sealing strip embodying the invention for sealing the luggage boot opening of a motor vehicle will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which: Figure lisa cross-section through the sealing strip before it is fitted to the vehicle body; and Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing the sealing strip in position on the vehicle body.

As shown in Figure 1, the sealing strip comprises a channel-shaped strip 9 of rubber or plastics material in which is embedded a metal carrier 10 which is also of channel shape. The metal carrier may comprise a series of interconnected or entirely unconnected U-shaped metal strips or elements or may be made of wire or other suitable form so as to be longitudinally flexible.

As shown, one side wall of the strip 9 is extended to form an integral lip 11 which runs along the entire length of the strip.

Another lip 12 extends upwardly from the inverted base of the channel-shaped material 9. The lip 12 may be formed integrally with the material 9 or may be separate but secured to the material 9 in any suitable way, such as by means of adhesive.

The lip 12 is advantageously of softer consistency than the material 9; it may for example be of foamed consistency.

Attached to the under surface of the lip 11 is a strip 14, again running the entire length of the strip 9. The strip 14 comprises soft material, such as made of rubber or plastics 16, whose outermost surface is adhesive and is covered over by a removable covering 18.

For example, the strip 14 originally be in the form of rubber or plastics material both of whose opposite major surfaces are adhesive and each of which is covered by a removable covering. One of these coverings is removed to expose the adhesive which is then used to attach the strip to the under surface of the lip 11.

For example, the material 14 could be of unvulcanised butyl, thus providing two exposed tacky surfaces which are covered by the two coverings referred to.

As shown in Figure 1, the material of the strip 9 may have integral gripping lips 20 on its opposite inside walls.

Figure 2 shows the sealing strip in position on a mounting flange 22 which forms the termination of the motor vehicle body panel 24 around the edge of the luggage boot opening. A part 26 of the motor body work panel adjoins the mounting flange 24 and provides a drainage groove between the flange and a part 30.

As shown in Figure 2, the gripping lips 20 press against the side of the flange 22 and help to secure the sealing strip in position. In addition, however, during the mounting process the covering strip 18 (see Fig. 1) running along the adhesive-covered strip 16 is removed so as to expose the adhesive surface of the strip 16. The lip 11 is then pressed into contact with the body part 26 (Fig. 2). In this way, therefore, the lip 11 is firmly secured to the body panel not only providing a weather-tight seal to prevent water or moisture from seeping under the lip 11, around the inside of the channel over the flange 22, and then into the luggage boot, but also firmly securing the whole sealing strip in position on the flange 22.

These sealing and securing functions performed by the adhesive strip 14 may be sufficiently effective to enable the gripping lips 20 to be dispensed with entirely.

Figure 2 also shows the luggage boot lid 36 having an edge 38 and incorporating a stiffening member 40 in the form of a sheet metal plate which may be welded or otherwise secured to the lid.

When the lid is closed on to the luggage boot opening, it sealingly presses against the lip 12, bending the lip as shown in Figure 2.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the lip 12 may be positioned on the side, instead of the inverted base, of the channel-shaped strip 9. Instead, the lip 12 may be replaced by a seal of tubular construction which could be positioned to run along a side, or along the inverted base, of the channel. This tubular seal could be integral with the material of the strip 9 or separate but attached to it as by means of adhesive, and could be made of material of foamed consistency.

1. A channel-shaped sealing strip made of channel-shaped flexible material and having a lip providing a surface extending alongside the mouth of the channel, the lip being adapted to be adhesively secured to a surface adjacent to mounting means for the sealing strip.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Sealing strips The invention relates to sealing strips particularly but not exclusively for use in motor vehicle body construction. According to the invention, there is provided a channel-shaped sealing strip made of channel shaped flexible material and having a lip providing a surface extending alongside the mouth of the channel, the lip being adapted to be adhesively secured to a surface adjacent to mounting means for the sealing strip. According to the invention there is further provided a sealing strip for mounting on a flange running at least partially around an opening in a vehicle body, comprising channel-shaped flexible material in which is embedded a reinforcing metal carrier and which is integrally extended along one edge of the mouth of the channel to form an integral lip defining a surface which, when the strip is mounted in position on the flange, faces a body surface adjacent the flange, and a length of relatively soft material running along the lip and providing two opposite major surfaces one of which is adhesively secured to the said surface of the lip and the opposite of which is covered by a removable covering strip which, when removed, enables the length of material to be secured to the said body surface. A sealing strip embodying the invention for sealing the luggage boot opening of a motor vehicle will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which: Figure lisa cross-section through the sealing strip before it is fitted to the vehicle body; and Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing the sealing strip in position on the vehicle body. As shown in Figure 1, the sealing strip comprises a channel-shaped strip 9 of rubber or plastics material in which is embedded a metal carrier 10 which is also of channel shape. The metal carrier may comprise a series of interconnected or entirely unconnected U-shaped metal strips or elements or may be made of wire or other suitable form so as to be longitudinally flexible. As shown, one side wall of the strip 9 is extended to form an integral lip 11 which runs along the entire length of the strip. Another lip 12 extends upwardly from the inverted base of the channel-shaped material 9. The lip 12 may be formed integrally with the material 9 or may be separate but secured to the material 9 in any suitable way, such as by means of adhesive. The lip 12 is advantageously of softer consistency than the material 9; it may for example be of foamed consistency. Attached to the under surface of the lip 11 is a strip 14, again running the entire length of the strip 9. The strip 14 comprises soft material, such as made of rubber or plastics 16, whose outermost surface is adhesive and is covered over by a removable covering 18. For example, the strip 14 originally be in the form of rubber or plastics material both of whose opposite major surfaces are adhesive and each of which is covered by a removable covering. One of these coverings is removed to expose the adhesive which is then used to attach the strip to the under surface of the lip 11. For example, the material 14 could be of unvulcanised butyl, thus providing two exposed tacky surfaces which are covered by the two coverings referred to. As shown in Figure 1, the material of the strip 9 may have integral gripping lips 20 on its opposite inside walls. Figure 2 shows the sealing strip in position on a mounting flange 22 which forms the termination of the motor vehicle body panel 24 around the edge of the luggage boot opening. A part 26 of the motor body work panel adjoins the mounting flange 24 and provides a drainage groove between the flange and a part 30. As shown in Figure 2, the gripping lips 20 press against the side of the flange 22 and help to secure the sealing strip in position. In addition, however, during the mounting process the covering strip 18 (see Fig. 1) running along the adhesive-covered strip 16 is removed so as to expose the adhesive surface of the strip 16. The lip 11 is then pressed into contact with the body part 26 (Fig. 2). In this way, therefore, the lip 11 is firmly secured to the body panel not only providing a weather-tight seal to prevent water or moisture from seeping under the lip 11, around the inside of the channel over the flange 22, and then into the luggage boot, but also firmly securing the whole sealing strip in position on the flange 22. These sealing and securing functions performed by the adhesive strip 14 may be sufficiently effective to enable the gripping lips 20 to be dispensed with entirely. Figure 2 also shows the luggage boot lid 36 having an edge 38 and incorporating a stiffening member 40 in the form of a sheet metal plate which may be welded or otherwise secured to the lid. When the lid is closed on to the luggage boot opening, it sealingly presses against the lip 12, bending the lip as shown in Figure 2. Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the lip 12 may be positioned on the side, instead of the inverted base, of the channel-shaped strip 9. Instead, the lip 12 may be replaced by a seal of tubular construction which could be positioned to run along a side, or along the inverted base, of the channel. This tubular seal could be integral with the material of the strip 9 or separate but attached to it as by means of adhesive, and could be made of material of foamed consistency. CLAIMS

2. A strip according to claim 1, in which the lip is adapted to be adhesively secured to the said surface by carrying a layer of adhesive covered by a removable covering.

3. A strip according to claim 2, in which the layer of adhesive is one of two adhesive layers on opposite major surfaces of a generally flat length of flexible material, the length of material being secured to the said surface of the lip by the other of the two adhesive layers.

4. A strip according to any preceding claim, in which the lip is integral with the remainder of the said channel-shaped flexible material.

5. A strip according to any preceding claim, in which the said channel-shaped flexible material has a reinforcing metal carrier embedded within it.

6. A strip according to any preceding claim, in which the said channel-shaped flexible material carries, at least on one of its inside side-wall surfaces, a further lip for sealingly and grippingly contacting the said mounting means in use.

7. A strip according to any preceding claim, including a soft sealing member mounted on an external surface of the channel-shaped flexible material and running along the length thereof.

8. A sealing strip for mounting on a flange running at least partially around an opening in a vehicle body, comprising channel-shaped flexible material in which is embedded and reinforcing metal carrier and which is integrally extended along one edge of the mouth of the channel to form an integral lip defining a surface which, when the strip is mounted in position on the flange, faces a body surface adjacent the flange, and a length of relatively soft material running along the lip and providing two opposite major surfaces one of which is adhesively secured to the said surface of the lip and the opposite of which is covered by a removable covering strip which, when removed, enables the length of material to be secured to the said body surface.

9. A strip according to claim 8, including a soft sealing member mounted on the outside surface of the channel-shaped material and running along the length of the strip.

10. A strip according to claim 8 or 9, in which the channel-shaped material defines one or more gripping lips running along each of the two opposite inside side-wall surfaces for sealingy and grippingly contacting the flange in use.

11. A sealing strip, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.