GB2216936A

GB2216936A - Glass run molding

Info

Publication number: GB2216936A
Application number: GB8904425A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Frederick Keys
Original assignee: Standard Products Co
Current assignee: Standard Products Co
Priority date: 1988-04-06
Filing date: 1989-02-27
Publication date: 1989-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-27
Also published as: JPH026220A; GB8904425D0; AU1951292A; AU2871589A; GB2216936B; KR0126917B1; BR8901094A; CA1322019C; KR890015897A; FR2629773B1; MX172346B; FR2629773A1; AU659844B2; AR248103A1

Abstract

A glass run channel molding (10) for automobile windows (16) has a first channel (20) adapted to clamp a flange around a window opening (12) and a second, glass receiving-channel, (22) inversely disposed to the first channel (10). A tubular biasing and sealing element (28) is disposed in the glass run channel (22) to bias a window (16) edge against an opposite leg (25) of the glass run channel (22). <IMAGE>

Description

GLASS RUN MOLDING BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to automotive windows and more particularly, to glass run channel molding for sealing a movable window pane in the window of a door of an automobile.

A common feature of automobile doors is a glass windowpane which can be raised and lowered. Conventionally, the windowpane follows a generally vertically extending glass run channel defined by a channel shaped molding within the door frame and the top edge of the pane engages a generally horizontally extending leg of the glass run channel. The glass run channel is normally lined with flocking or other low friction material which allows the glass pane to slide therein. The glass run channel also protects the pane from damage due to vibration and seals the edges of the pane.

In the most common types of movable automotive windows, the edges of the windowpane are centered in the side and top glass run channel legs with the plane of the outer surface of the pane noticeably offset from the plane of the outer skin surface of the automobile body. However, this arrangement detracts from the overall appearance of the automotive vehicle and disrupts the laminar flow of air around the vehicle body, resulting in unnecessary aerodynamic drag and unpleasant noise. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the automotive industry for vehicles with window panes having outer surfaces which are coplanar or almost coplanar with adjacent vehicle body surfaces.This arrangement is generally referred to as "flush" glass or "semi-flush" glass and is desirable for enhancing vehicle appearance and laminar airflow thereby reducing aerodynamic drag and wind noise.

Several patents disclose the feature of providing a window which is flush or nearly flush with adjacent vehicle body surfaces. Examples of such patents include: U.S. Patent No.

4,409,756, October 18, 1983 to Audenina, et al.; U.S. Patent No.

4,562,676, January 7, 1986 to Kruschwitz; U.S. Patent No.

4,455,785, June 26, 1984 to Wahr, et al.; and U.S. Patent No.

4,4#?,111, July 3, 1984 to Koike.

Although flush and semi-flush glass run channel moldings are kwown, there remains a need for improved glass run channel moldings. Glass run channel moldings must securely retain the window pane while allowing the pane to slide easily in the channel during its raising and lowering. Glass run channels must also seal the interior of the car against noise and weather and minimize window vibration. Glass run channel moldings are also desirably inexpensive to manufacture and easily installed during manufacture of the vehicle. Accordingly, the present invention relates to an improved glass run channel directed to meet the above requirements.

The new and improved glass run channel molding of the present invention includes a support structure having, in cross-section, a "U"-shaped portion and an "L"-shaped portion. The "U" -shaped and "L"-shaped portions combine to define two channels with open ends facing in opposite directions. The "U"-shaped portion defines a channel adapted to secure the glass run channel to a flange on an automobile. A resilient member on the "U"-shaped portion enhances the securing of the glass run channel to the flange. The "L"-shaped portion, in combination with one leg of the "U"-shaped portion defines a channel adapted to slidingly receive a window edge portion. A hollow tubular sealing member with at least one projecting member in the glass run channel is adapted to bias a glass edge portion into sealing engagement against the outer leg of the glass run channel.

Further understanding of the present invention will be had from the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation, broken away, of an automotive vehicle on which a glass run channel molding of the present invention is assembled.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 with the door flange not shown.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing the glass run channel molding without a windowpane.

DETAILS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now referring to the figures, a glass run channel molding of the present invention is shown and indicated generally by the numeral 10. As illustrated in Figure 1, glass run channel molding 10 extends around the top and side of window opening 12 in door 14 of an automotive vehicle having a movable windowpane 16.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, glass run channel molding 10 generally includes, in cross-section a "U"-shaped portion 18 and an "L"-shaped portion 19. "U "-shaped portion 18 defines a mounting channel 20 for mounting glass run channel 10 on a flange of door 14. A glass run channel 22 is defined by interior leg 26 of "U"-shaped portion 18 in conjunction with "L"-shaped cross-section portion 19, having leg 24 extending from interior leg 26 and leg 25 extending at a generally right angle from leg 24.

Located within glass run channel 22 is a hollow tubular sealing and biasing member 28 for sealing windowpane 16 within channel 22 and for biasing windowpane 16 outboard towards leg 25 so that the plane of the outer surface of window pane 16 is flush or nearly flush with the adjacent vehicle panel.

htile "U"-shaped portion 18 and "L"-shaped portion 19 of molding 10 are described individually hereinafter, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a unitary, one piece construction of molding 10 is preferred as is illustrated in the figures. Generally "U"-shaped portion 18 and "L"-shaped portion 19 have a reinforcing single metallic core 30 which is covered by a conventional elastomeric material. For some uses core 30 may not be necessary or only a partial core 30 may be necessary. Core 30 generally has a shape in side elevation which is configured to fit within window opening -12 on all sides except bottom horizontal side 32 which must be open to allow windowpane 16 to extend therethrough. Any conventional sealing strip can be employed along edge 32 in combination with molding 10 of this invention.

The "U"-shaped cross-section mounting portion 18 generally provides mounting means for attaching molding 10 to a flange of the door frame 12. Thus, "U"-shaped portion 18 has legs 26 and 27 joined by web portion 29 which provide channel 20 for attachment of mounting portion 18 to a flange. A large rib 36 extends inwardly from leg 27 into channel 20 and has an arrow-shaped head portion 38 which cooperates with protrusion 40 to facilitate easy attachment of channel 20 to a flange but resistance to removal of channel 20 therefrom. In opposition to rib 36 is protrusion 46 on inner leg 26. Rib 36 and protrusion 40 are shown on leg 27 of mounting portion 18 but alternatively could be on inner leg 26 with opposing protrusions 46 on leg 27. Extending outwardly from the mouth of channel 20 are a pair of sealing lips 48 and 51 which are intended to sealingly engage the associated door opening.

Glass run channel 22 is defined by "L"-shaped portion 19 in combination with inner leg 26 of "U" -shaped portion 18.

Outboard leg 25 of "L"-shaped portion 19 is adapted to retain the edge of glass pane 16 received in glass run channel 22. Leg 50 of core 30 extends almost the length of leg 25 to ensure retention of glass pane 16 in channel 22. Lip 52 extends from the closed end of channel 22 to provide further sealing of molding 10 with respect to the door opening.

It is important that a flush glass structural arrangement retain easy slidability of windowpane 16 in glass run channel 22.

It is also important that a good seal be maintained between molding 10 and gless pane 16 when glass pane 16 is in a closed position.

Thus, a tubular biasing and sealing element 28 is provided.

Tubular element 28 has a side wall 54 joined to a lateral wall 56 which in turn is joined to inner leg 26 of "Ir-shaped portion 18.

Side wall 54 is joined to leg of "L"-shaped portion 19 intermediate the ends thereof Tubular element 28 has a hollow interior 60. Side wall 54 of biasing and sealing element 28 has a pair of ribs 62 and 64 extending inwar@@@ into channel 22. In opposition to ribs 62 and 64 is rib 66 extending inwardly into channel 22 from leg 25.Ribs t2c, 64 and 66 preferably carry flocking 68 or other low fraction material on their surfaces coming into contact witb class pane lm. Tubular element 28 has a somewhat pentagonal cross-sectional shape fcr @@@ancing the sealing of the windowpane 16 in channel 22 and serves Well to #.as window pane 16 outboard to provide a flush or nearly flush glass azzangement.

While the above illustrates and describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention it will become apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications, variations, and alterations may be made without deviating from the scope in fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

Claims

1. A glass run molding for an automobile window comprising: a "U"-shaped cross-section portion forming a mounting channel; an "L"-shaped cross-section portion, one end of ~ said "L"-shaped portion extending from an end of one leg of said "U"-shaped portion to form a glass run channel, said mounting channel and glass run channel having open mouths facing in opposite directions; and a tubular biasing and sealing element secured in said glass run channel for sealing a window in said glass run channel and for biasing an edge portion of said window outwardly against a leg of "L"-shaped portion.

2. The glass run channel molding according to Claim 1 wherein said tubular biasing and sealing element has at least one rib extending therefrom into said glass run channel.

3. The glass run channel molding according to Claim 2 wherein said tubular biasing and sealing element has a generally pentagonal cross-sectional shape.

4. The glass run channel molding according to Claim 3 wherein at least one rib extends from a leg of said glass run channel toward said tubular biasing and sealing element.

5. The glass run channel molding according to Claim 4 wherein at least one rib extends from said molding outside of either of said channels for sealing said molding with respect to an associated door frame.

6. The glass run channel molding according to Claim 5 wherein said molding has an inner metallic core covered with an elastomeric material.

7. An elongate sealing strip suitable for sealing a movable pane of glazing material in relation to a window opening of an automobile door, the strip comprising two channels, adjacently disposed but facing in opposite directions and sharing a common wall, one of the channels being adapted to engage clampingly a flange of the window opening, the other being adapted to receive, in sliding engagement, an edge of the pane of glazing material, wherein there is defined in the other of the two channels a resilient tubular element which, in use, biases the edge of the pane of glazing material, when received in the other channel, away from the common wall shared by the two channels.

8. An elongate strip according to claim 7, wherein the tubular element is provided with at least two sealing lips projecting into the other channel and generally away from the common wall shared by the two channels.

9. An elongate strip according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the tubular element is of generally pentagonal shape in cross-section.

10. An elongate strip according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the wall of the other channel opposite to the shared wall of the two channels is provided with a sealing lip which projects into the other channel generally toward the shared wall.

11. An elongate strip according to any one of claims 7 to 10, which is further provided with at least one sealing lip directed away from the channels and adapted for sealing, in use, the strip with respect to an associated door frame.

12. An elongate strip according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the strip comprises an inner metallic core covered with an elastomeric material.

13. An automobile door including a window opening in which a pane of glazing material is vertically movable, the pane of glazing material being sealable in relation to the periphery of the window opening by an elongate sealing strip secured on a flange around two sides and the top of the window opening, the sealing strip comprising two channels, adjacently disposed but facing in opposite directions and sharing a common wall, one of the channels being clamped on a flange of the door opening, the other being capable of receiving, in sliding engagement, an edge of the pane of glazing material, wherein there is defined in the other of the two channels a resilient tubular element which, when the pane of glazing material is in a closed position, biases the edge of the pane of glazing material away from the common wall shared by the two channels in the direction of the outer surface of the door whereby the outer surface of the pane of the glazing material is held substantially flush with the outer surface of the door.

14. An elongate sealing strip substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A door substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.