GB2154676A

GB2154676A - Sealing strip for vehicle light

Info

Publication number: GB2154676A
Application number: GB08503862A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reiner Jocher; Horst Dahm; Fritz Haberle
Original assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Current assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Priority date: 1984-02-22
Filing date: 1985-02-15
Publication date: 1985-09-11
Also published as: DE3406378A1; GB2154676B; DE3406378C2; FR2559868A1; FR2559868B1; IT8519479A0; IT1183248B; GB8503862D0

Abstract

A flexible seal 5 for bridging the gap between two components spaced apart from one another, particularly for covering a gap between light units recessed in the body panel of motor vehicles which forms an edge around these light units and which has a fastening leg 5a supported by a supporting flange 7b and an approximately V-shaped curved sealing leg 5b which, while being adapted to the gap width, can be deflected inwards or outwards and forms a line contact with the two components. The fastening leg 5b of the seal is provided with location holes 9 and in which insert elements, which project from the supporting flange 7b and are arranged at intervals on its circumference, engaged to be securely positioned. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A flexible seal arrangement for bridging a gap between two spaced structural components The invention relates to a flexible seal arrangement for bridging a gap between two structural components spaced apart from one another, particularly but not exclusively, for closing a gap between light units recessed in the body panel of motor vehicles and the body rim which forms an edge around these light units and which seal has a fastening leg supported by a supporting flange and an approximately V-shaped bent sealing leg which resiliently adapts to the gap width to close the gap between the two structural components.

A seal of this type is already known from German Offenlugungsschrift 30 01 925. In this case the fastening leg of the seal is inserted into a U-shaped groove in a supporting frame. The fit of the fastening leg in the U-shaped groove is essentially ensured because, in an area which is subjected to bending stress, the sealing leg is very ridigly designed and supported on an inwardly directed body rim because of the headlamp being fitted from the inside of the motor vehicle. The known seal is not suitable for the fitting of headlamps or other light units from the outside of the vehicle, a practice which is being used increasingly in the construction and assembly of motor vehicles.

These problems are further compounded if the seal cannot be designed to encircle or enclose, as is often the case with direction indicators which are recessed in the corners of the vehicle body and which are directly adjacent to the diffusing glass of the headlamps.

In this case a secure fit of the seal can be achieved only by bonding its entire length.

However, this process is time-consuming and thus correspondingly cost-intensive.

The problem underlying the invention is to develop a seal in such a manner that it can be securely mounted irrespective of fitting conditions whilst avoiding adhesive bonding.

According to the present invention there is provided a flexible seal arrangement for closing a gap between two spaced structural components, the seal incuding a fastening leg adapted to be supported by a supporting flange on one of said components and an approximately V-shaped resilient sealing leg which resiliently deflects to close the gap by contacting the other of the structural components, wherein the fastening leg is provided with location openings or recesses each of which is adapted to receive an associated insert element, the insert element projecting from the said supporting flange at intervals around its periphery, to thereby securely position the seal.

The location openings may be in the form of through holes, preferably an oblong hole or slot or slots. The insert elements may have an arrow-like shape.

A nose or projection may be formed on the free edge of the sealing leg and this may engage behind a stop edge which is arranged at a distance from the supporting flange and which is fixed in the relation thereto. In this case, the insert elements may extend in the direction of the stop edge.

The distance between the stop edge and the faces of the insert element is preferably less than the thickness of the fastening leg through which the insert elements pass.

Preferably the supporting flange and the stop edge are formed on two separate structural elements which are welded together where two webs abut to form an integral unit.

Two embodiments of seal according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a seal for a direction indicator unit in its installed position, Figure 2 shows a section along the line ll-ll in Fig. 1, Figure 3 shows, in a perspective view, a section of the seal according to Fig. 2, and Figure 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1 with a modification of the seal.

Fig. 1 shows a partial front view of a motor vehicle 1, with a direction indicator unit 2 integrated in the vehicle body. The direction indicator unit 2 is directly adjacent to a diffusing glass 3 of a twin main headlamp and extends over the corner of a wing 4. Between an edge of the wing 4, surrounding the periphery of the direction indicator unit 2, and the outer contour of the direction indicator unit 2 there is a gap which is covered by a flexible or plastics seal 5.

The arrangement and mounting of the seal 5 can be seen more clearly in Fig. 2. The direction indicator unit 2 consists of a diffusing glass 6, on which a web 6a and a stop edge 6b are formed and a reflector 7 which is provided with a web 7a and insert elements 7b (Fig. 3). The webs 6a and 7a are directed towards one another and welded together on their faces so as to form a structural unit. This direction indicator unit 2 is mounted in the vehicle body in such a manner that, towards the panel of the wing 4 surrounding this unit, a gap 8 is formed. Because of production tolerances this gap 8 does not have a constant width, having different values within the scope of the specified tolerances for the vehicle bodies or even in a body shell.Therefore, in addition to the sealing function, for example to prevent dust penetration. the seal is intended to conceal any visual impression of different gap widths.

For this purpose the seal 5 has a fastening leg 5a, a sealing leg 5b and a nose 5c. The fastening leg 5a is provided with location holes or recesses 9 in which the insert elements 7b positively engage and thus hold the seal 5. The sealing leg 5b is V-shaped and supported on the inner wall of the wing 4 by its angular point. In order that the angular point of the sealing leg 5b may form a line contact in each recess of the vehicle body, the leg is resiliently deformed in the installed position so that is is subjected to a prestress directed outwards. This prestress is determined by the material involved and occurs as a result of the unstressed position of the sealing leg 5b as indicated by dot-dash lines.

In order that the sealing leg 5b may nevertheless be retained in an initial position which facilitates fitting, it engages with the nose Sc behind the raised stop edge 6b of the diffusing glass 6 and is consequently prestressed.

When the direction indicator unti 2 is inserted into the recess in the wing 4, the sealing leg 5b is deflected inwards according to the width of the gap 8 in each case and bears resiliently against the inner edge of the wing 4. The possible extent of deflection of the sealing leg 5b is designed so as to fully cover the range of specified tolerances of the components.

A section of the seal 5 and of the associated edge area of the direction indicator unit 2 is shown in Fig. 3. In this connection the function of the periphery of the reflector 7 acting as a supporting flange for the insert elements 7b and the seal 5 can be seen. The insert elements 7b have an arrow like shape so that they are gripped in the cooperating location recess 9 in the seal 5. The fit of the seal 5 when mounted is ensured in every stress direction. In a modified embodiment the fastening leg 5a can be provided with through holes 10, through which extend the stems of the insert elements 7b, and can lead to the rear engagement of the insert elements 7b being gripped by the fastening leg 5a.

Fig. 4 shows such a modification of the seal 5 on a modified locating flange. In this case the through holes 10 are in the form of slots or oblong holes in which insert elements 7c, projecting at an angle from an extension of the reflector 7. engage positively. Since in this case only the retaining forces achieved by friction occur in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the insert elements 7c, the selected distance between the stop edge 6b and the faces of the insert elements 7c is less than the thickness of the fastening leg 5a through which the insert elements 7c pass. Consequently, the seal 5 is securely mounted, but on the other hand cannot be dismounted so that the unit formed by the diffusing glass 6 and the reflector 7 is broadened around the seal 5. Butt-welding with heat reflectors has proved a successful method for joining this unit.

Claims

1. A flexible seal arrangement for closing a gap between two spaced structural components, the seal including a fastening leg adapted to be supported by a supporting flange on one of said components and an approximately V-shaped resilient sealing leg which resiliently deflects to close the gap by contacting the other of the structural components, wherein the fastening leg is provided with location openings or recesses each of which is adapted to receive an associated insert element, the insert elements projecting from the said supporting flange at intervals around its periphery, to thereby securely position the seal.

2. A flexible seal arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the location openings are formed by through holes.

3. A flexible seal arrangement according to claim 2, the through holes are in the form of an oblong hole or slot.

4. A flexible seal arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the insert elements have an arrow-like shape.

5. A flexible seal arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a nose or projection is formed on the free edge of the sealing leg.

6. A flexible seal arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the nose engages behind a stop edge which is arranged at a distance from the supporting flange and which is fixed in relation thereto.

7. A flexible seal arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the insert elements extend in the direction of the stop edge.

8. A flexible seal arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the distance between the stop edge and the faces of the insert elements is less than the thickness of the fastening leg through which the insert elements pass.

9. A flexible seal arrangement according to any one of more of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting flange and the stop edge are formed on two separate structural elements which are welded together where two webs abut to form an integral unit.

1 0. A flexible seal arrangement for closing a gap between two structural components substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 1 to 3 as modified by Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.