GB2233375A

GB2233375A - Sealing strip

Info

Publication number: GB2233375A
Application number: GB8918635A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helmut Ginster
Original assignee: Draftex Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Laird Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1989-06-22
Filing date: 1989-08-15
Publication date: 1991-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-15
Also published as: GB2233375B; GB8914300D0; GB8918635D0

Abstract

A sealing strip, such as for fitting along the bottom of door openings in motor vehicle body construction, comprises a base 14 extruded from relatively hard rubber and defining a channel 17 for receiving T-shapod studs 24 fixed at intervals along the bodywork. Stainless steel metal strips 20, 22 are embedded within the base and have V-shaped portions which are clear of the extruded material and face each other across the mouth of the channel. The base is mounted on the studs 24 by forcing the metal strips apart against the resilience of the material of the base so that the V-shaped portions thereafter engage the undersides of the heads of the studs. A hollow sealing part 16 made of softer material is supported by the base. <IMAGE>

Description

SEALING STRIP The invention relates to sealing strips and more particularly, though not exclusively, for use in motor vehicle bodies.

According to the invention, there is provided a sealing strip for attachment to a mounting member by fixtures arranged to protrude at intervals from the member and each having an enlarged head, comprising a longitudinally extending base made of resilient material and providing an aperture for receiving each fixture, the aperture having a mouth defined between the surfaces of two facing metal elements which are at least partially embedded in the resilient material and are spaced apart by a distance less than the corresponding dimension of the heads of the fixtures, whereby the metal elements are forced apart against the resilience of the base as each fixture enters the aperture, the material thereafter residing whereby the metal elements engage the undersides of the heads to prevent removal of the base from the fixtures.

According to the invention, there is further provided a sealing strip for mounting on a motor vehicle body by means of a plurality of fixtures attached or to be attached to the body along the intended line of the sealing strip thereon and each having an enlarged head, comprising a base made of extruded plastics or rubber material and defining a longitudinally extending channel, two separated metal elements embedded within the plastics or rubber material along opposite sides of the channel and each having a portion of V-shape in cross-section, the metal elements being mounted with the apices of the V-shaped portions facing each other and defining the narrowest dimension across the channel and adjacent its mouth, this dimension being less than the corresponding dimension of each head of the fixtures whereby the head of each fixture is received within the channel by forcing apart the apices of the metal elements against the resilience of the rubber or plastics material, the material then resiling so that the metal elements prevent subsequent removal of the base from the fixtures by engaging the undersides of the heads, and a sealing part made of softer rubber or plastics material and attached to and running along the base on the opposite side thereof to the channel.

Sealing strips embodying the invention for use in motor vehicle body construction will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the motor vehicle; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section through one of the sealing strips before fitment to the vehicle; Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 but showing the sealing strip fitted on the vehicle; and Figures 5 and 6 correspond to Figures 3 and 4, respectively, and show a modified form of one of the sealing strips.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a motor vehicle body 5 with front and rear doors 6 and 8. In order to provide effective sealing against the ingress of draughts, water and dirt, sealing strips are provided around each door opening on the vehicle body for sealing against the closed door. The sealing strip to be described in more detail below is for fitting along the bottom of the door openings and over the rear wheel arch, that is, along the path A-B-C as shown in Figure 1, the sealing strip preferably passing continuously between the two door openings. The sectional view in Figure 2 shows how the sealing strip is positioned. Figure 2 shows the vehicle bodywork 5A running along the bottom of the door openings and made of body panels welded together. Also shown in Figure 2 is the door 6 having a downwardly directed flange 10 made up of the welded together inner and outer door panels.The sealing strip 12 to be described in more detail below provides a seal between the inner face of the flange 10 and the outer surface of the body work 5A. As shown in Figure 2, the sealing strip 12 comprises a base part 14 and a sealing part 16 which will now be described in more detail with reference to Figure 3.

The sealing strip is produced from a plastics or rubber, preferably rubber, extrusion. The base part 14 is releatively hard and has a hollow interior 17 which is closed off by a relatively thin web 18. The sealing part 16, which is integrally extruded with the base part 14, is made of softer material and defines a hollow interior 18. Metal strips 20 and 22, made of stainless steel for preference, are embedded within the material of the base 14, such as by incorporating them in the base during the extrusion process which uses a known cross-headed extruder. Each of the strips 20,22 extends for the length of the sealing strip and is fully embedded within the rubber material except for an exposed portion which is V-shaped having an apex 20A,22A, and these apices face each other across the interior 17.The strips are preferably extended towards each other over the top of the hollow interior 17 as shown at 20B,22B.

The sealing strip is attached to the body work member 5A by means of a number of T-shaped studs 24 (see Fig.

2) which protrude from the body member 5A at intervals along the path A-B-C.

Figure 4 shows one of these studs at 24. It is located in the vehicle body member 50 by welding or other suitable means and has an enlarged head 26.

In order to enable the sealing strip to be fitted on to the studs, the web 18 (Figure 3) covering the hollow interior 17 is provided with apertures at intervals along its length and positioned to correspond to the position of the T-studs 24. The sealing strip is then placed in position with these apertures respectively aligned with the studs and pressed onto the studs so that each stud engages the facing surfaces of the metal strips 20,22, forcing them apart slightly against the resilience of the base 14 so as to allow the enlarged head 26 of the stud to pass into the hollow interior 17, the material of the base then resiling so that the metal strips 20,22 engage the main part of each stud below its enlarged head, thus retaining the sealing strip in position.

Figures 5 and 6 show a modified form of the sealing strip where the portions of the metal strips 20,22 which extend towards each other over the top of the hollow interior 17 as shown at 20B,22B are omitted.

The portions of the web 18 between the studs strengthens the base 14 by providing added resistance to the stretching of the rubber during the fitting process, and ensures that the strip is firmly secured on the studs.

The studs may be made of metal or plastics. Their form may differ from that illustrated and they may be replaced by other suitable fixing members which have enlarged heads for forcing apart the metal strips 20,22 and locating within the hollow interior 17 thereafter.

The web 18 may be omitted altogether if desired so that the hollow interior 17 is in the form of an open-mouthed channel.

The studs 24 may be pre-inserted into the strip, that is, before the strip is fitted to the vehicle body.

The latter fitting process then involves pressing the ends of the studs into suitable holes in the body member 5A (Figure 2) where they are retained by suitable fixing means.

Claims

1. A sealing strip for attachment to a mounting member by fixtures arranged to protrude at intervals from the member and each having an enlarged head, comprising a longitudinally extending base made of resilient material and providing an aperture for receiving each fixture, the aperture having a mouth defined between the surfaces of two facing metal elements which are at least partially embedded in the resilient material and are spaced apart by a distance less than the corresponding dimension of the heads of the fixtures, whereby the metal elements are forced apart against the resilience of the base as each fixture enters the aperture, the material thereafter resiling whereby the metal elements engage the undersides of the heads to prevent removal of the base from the fixtures.

2. A strip according to claim 1, in which the base defines a longitudinally extending hollow interior in one of whose walls is positioned the said aperture for receiving each fixture, two further walls of the hollow interior being defined at least in part by the metal elements.

3. A sealing strip according to claim 2, in which each metal element has a portion of V-shape in cross-section, the metal elements being mounted in the resilient material with the apices of the V-shaped portions facing each other across the hollow interior with the distance between them being the smallest dimension of each said aperture.

4. A sealing strip according to claim 3, in which each metal element is completely embedded in the resilient material except in the regions of the apices of the metal elements which protrude out of the resilient material into the hollow interior.

5. A sealing strip according to claim 3 or 4, in which the metal elements extend towards each other in that part of the resilient material defining the wall of the hollow interior opposite the aperture for each said fixture.

6. A sealing strip according to any preceding claim, including a sealing part made of softer material than the base and mounted thereon to extend along the length of the base.

7. A sealing strip according to claim 6, in which the sealing part is integrally extruded with the base.

8. A sealing strip for mounting on a motor vehicle body by means of a plurality of fixtures attached or to be attached to the body along the intended line of the sealing strip thereon and each having an enlarged head, comprising a base made of extruded plastics or rubber material and defining a longitudinally extending channel, two separated metal elements embedded within the plastics or rubber material along opposite sides of the channel and each having a portion of V-shape in cross-section, the metal elements being mounted with the apices of the V-shaped portions facing each other and defining the narrowest dimension across the channel and adjacent its mouth, this dimension being less than the corresponding dimension of each head of the fixtures whereby the head of each fixture is received within the channel by forcing apart the apices of the metal elements against the resilience of the rubber or plastics material, the material then resiling so that the metal elements prevent subsequent removal of the base from the fixtures by engaging the undersides of the heads, and a sealing part made of softer rubber or plastics material and attached to and running along the base on the opposite side thereof to the channel.

9. A sealing strip according to claim 7, in which the mouth of the channel is closed off by an integral web of rubber or plastics material which is apertured at intervals therealong to receive the fixtures.

10. A sealing strip according to claim 8 or 9, in which the metal elements are completely embedded in the rubber or plastics material except for the apices of the V-shaped portions which are clear of the rubber or plastics material.

11. A sealing strip according to any preceding claim, including one or more substantially inextensible flexible members running along and within the material of the base to prevent longitudinal stretching thereof.

12. A sealing strip, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawing.

13. A sealing strip, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawing.

14. A sealing strip, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawing.

15. A sealing strip, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawing.