GB2233378A

GB2233378A - Vehicle window seal

Info

Publication number: GB2233378A
Application number: GB9011311A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helmut Ginster
Original assignee: Draftex Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Laird Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1989-06-21
Filing date: 1990-05-21
Publication date: 1991-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-21
Also published as: GB9011311D0; GB2233378B; IT1241735B; IT9009427A1; ES2027110A6; GB8914208D0; FR2648859A1; DE9006595U1; FR2648859B1; IT9009427A0

Abstract

A vehicle door carries a metal window frame 10 in the form of an outer metal channel 12 and an inner metal channel, the mouth of the channel facing outwardly of the door. A separate seal has a channel-shaped metal reinforcement covered with extruded plastics or rubber material. This is stretch-bent and, if necessary, formed with sharp mitred corners, so as to match the shape and size of the window frame 10 and is then pressed into the channel and secured in position by quick- fixing studs through the base of the channel. Lips embrace the distal edges of the channels. The window glass presses on the outside of lip 34 and passes inside lip. The outside of the base of channel 12 seals against the normal door seal mounted on a vehicle bodywork flanged joint running around the door opening, and the material adjacent a void in the separate seal forms an outer door seal, sealing against the adjacent vehicle bodywork. <IMAGE>

Description

SEALING ARRANGEMENTS FOR WINDOWS The invention relates to sealing arrangements for windows and more particularly, though not exclusively, to such arrangements for use in motor vehicle body construction.

According to the invention, there is provided a sealing and guiding arrangement for a window having a slidable window pane, comprising a substantially rigid frame for the window and extending at least partially around the window opening and defining a channel having an open mouth facing substantially normally to the plane of the window opening, and a separate seal sized to match the configuration of the window frame and to be received and secured within the open mouth of the channel thereof, the seal defining soft sealing parts for sealing against the inner and outer faces of the window glass.

According to the invention, there is also provided a sealing arrangement for sealing against the vertically slidable window glass of a vehicle door, comprising a metal window frame carried by the door and defining a window opening and being in the form of an open-mouthed channel facing substantially normally of and outwardly of the window, and a separate seal comprising a generally channel-shaped metal reinforcement matching the shape of but smaller than the inner cross-section of the channel of the window frame, extruded plastics or rubber material on the outside of the metal reinforcement so as to form an external profile substantially matching the shape and size of the inside of the channel of the window frame whereby the seal can be fitted into and secured within the latter channel, the extruded material being extended to form, at the open mouth of the channel of the metal reinforcement, respective sealing lips carried by the two side walls of the channel of the reinforcement at its mouth, the lips in use making sliding and sealing contact with the inner and outer faces of the window glass.

Sealing arrangements for windows in car doors and embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car door and window frame and showing part of the sealing arrangement; Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the window frame forming part of Figure 1 and taken on the line II-II of Figure 1 and, in addition, a cross-section of a seal forming part of the arrangement and in the process of being fitted into position; Figure 3 is a cross-section corresponding generally to that shown in Figure 2 but with the seal fitted in position and also showing the car body adjacent to the window frame; and Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3 but shows a modification.

Figure 1 shows a vehicle door 5 having a lower enclosed part 6 and an upper window part 8. In the normal way, the door has a window pane for the window part 8 and which is lowerable into the enclosed part 6 of the door. The window part 8 is formed by a window frame 10. The window frame 10 is in the form of a metal channel, to be described in more detail below, whose open mouth faces to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, that is, outwardly of the door. The window frame 10 extends into the enclosed part 6 of the door which is broken away to show this, and is secured in the lower part of the door by suitable fixtures (not shown).

Figure 2 illustrates the window frame 10 in cross-section along the top of the door (but its form is the same along the sides as well). As shown, the frame is in the form of an outer metal channel 12 and an inner metal channel 14 which is fixed, as by spot welding, within the outer channel.

Figure 2 also shows a seal which is manufactured separately and fitted onto the frame 10.

The seal comprises a generally channel-shape metal reinforcement 18. This may be made of sheet metal and unapertured throughout. Instead, however, it may be provided with slots or slits arranged side-by-side along its length to increase its flexibility. During manufacture, the metal reinforcement 18 is fed through a known form of cross-head extruder and covered with extruded plastics or rubber material shown generally at 20. The extruded material provides an outer covering over the metal as at 22 and inner coverings extending over distal portions of the side walls of the channel 23. Where the extruded material embraces the side walls of the channel 23, it is enlarged and formed with voids 24 and 28 extending along the full length of the seal so as to provide greater flexibility of the extruded material in these regions.In addition, the extruded material provides integral lips 30 and 32 positioned above and below the metal reinforcement 18 and also large and small lips 34 and 36 at the mouth of the channel 23 and a lip 38 extending into the channel.

The seal 16 is manufactured in an indefinite length and then cut to length to match the length of the window frame 10. Using a stretch-bending process, the cut length is then shaped to match the shape of the window frame. If the window frame contains sharp angled corners, such as at A in Figure 1, then it will not be possible to match the seal to the shape of this by stretch bending and it will be necessary to cut the seal and form a mitred joint between the two cut portions. In this way, the vehicle manufacturer receives individual seals, having the cross-section shown at the right hand side of Figure 2, each matched in size and configuration to a particular window frame 10.

During assembly of the vehicle, the seals are pushed into the channel of the window frame 10 as shown by the arrow B in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows the seal in position. The seal is held in position by means of a series of quick-fixing studs such as shown at 40 in Figure 3, or with bolts or similar fittings. These extend through the base of the channel 23 and through the base of the metal channel 14 of the window frame 10. In addition, the lips 30 and 32 embrace the distal ends of the channels 12 and 14. In this way, the seal 16 is supported so as to run around the window frame 10.

Figure 3 shows the window glass 42 in its raised position. It will be apparent that the inner face of the window pane 42 engages the outer face of the lip 34 of the seal and compresses and bends this so as to form an effective weather-proof seal. The window pane passes inside the lip 36 and its periphery presses against the lip 38. In order to reduce friction and improve sealing, the surfaces of the extruded material which come in contact with the window pane 42 can be flocked such as shown at 44 in Figure 2.

Figure 3 also shows the adjacent part 46 of the vehicle bodywork running across the top of the door opening.

The bodywork is shown as comprising inner and outer sheet metal panels 48 and 50 which are welded together to form a flange 52. This flange carries a known form of door seal comprising a channel-shaped gripping part 54 which embracingly grips the flange 52 and supports a soft sealing part 56. The gripping part 54 may be made of extruded plastics or rubber material having an embedded channel-shaped metal carrier and the sealing part 56 may also be of extruded plastics or rubber material co-extruded with the material of the gripping part but preferably of a reduced hardness. As shown, the outer end face of the outer channel 12 of the window frame 10 engages and seals against the sealing part 56 when the door is closed. In addition, the extruded material surrounding the void 24 of the seal 16 engages the body panel 50 on the outside of the door opening to provide further sealing.

The extruded material 20 of the seal 16 need not be of the same hardness throughout. For example, those parts of the seal 16 which come into contact with the sliding glass pane 42 may be made of softer material than the remainder, as may the material contacting the body panel 50.

Although Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the arrangement along the top of the window frame 10, it will be the same along the sides thereof.

The metal reinforcement 18 may be extended substantially at right angles, as shown at 58 in Figure 4, so as to project into the lip 36 and thus to overlap the edge of the glass pane 42 to provide increased retaining strength for the glass pane. Preferably, the reinforcement would only be extended in this way along the length of the frame parallel to the "B" pillar of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A sealing and guiding arrangement for a window having a slidable window pane, comprising a substantially rigid frame for the window and extending at least partially around the window opening and defining a channel having an open mouth facing substantially normally to the plane of the window opening, and a separate seal made of flexible material and sized to match the configuration of the window frame and to be received and secured within the open mouth of the channel thereof, the seal defining soft sealing parts for sealing against the inner and outer faces of the window glass, the seal having two lips made of unreinforced flexible material which define slots for receiving the edges of the channel, and including mechanical securing means for securing the seal in the channel.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, in which the separate seal incorporates metal reinforcement which is clear of the said lips.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, in which the metal reinforcement is generally channel-shaped but of smaller cross-section than the channel of the window frame and in which the seal includes plastics or rubber material extruded around the outside of the reinforcement so as to form a matching profile of substantially the same shape and size as the inside of the channel of the window frame.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, in which the extruded rubber or plastics material forms the said lips.

5. An arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, in which the extruded plastics or rubber material of the seal forms the soft sealing parts for respectively sealing against the inside and outside surfaces of the window pane, these parts being positioned adjacent to the mouth of the channel of the metal reinforcement.

6. An arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 5, in which the window frame is movable into and out of a fixed surround and in which the extruded plastics or rubber material includes a soft sealing part for sealing against the periphery of this surround.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, in which the outside of the window frame opposite to the mouth of its channel is adapted to seal against a seal carried by the said surround.

8. An arrangement according to any one of claims 2 to 7, in which one wall of the channel of the metal reinforcement is extended into the soft sealing part which seals against the outer face of the window glass.

9. A sealing arrangement for sealing against the vertically slidable window glass of a vehicle door, comprising a metal window frame carried by the door and defining a window opening and being in the form of an open-mouthed channel facing substantially normally of and outwardly of the window, and a separate seal comprising a generally channel-shaped metal reinforcement matching the shape of but smaller than the inner cross-section of the channel of the window frame, extruded plastics or rubber material on the outside of the metal reinforcement so as to form an external profile substantially matching the shape and size of the inside of the channel of the window frame whereby the seal can be fitted into and secured within the latter channel, the extruded plastics or rubber material defining unreinforced lips which respectively embrace the side walls of the channel of the window frame, the extruded material being extended to form, at the open mouth of the channel of the metal reinforcement, respective sealing parts carried by the two side walls of the channel of the reinforcement at its mouth, the sealing parts in use making sliding and sealing contact with the inner and outer faces of the window glass, and mechanical securing means for positively securing the seal in the channel of the window frame.

10. An arrangement according to claim 9, in which the mechanical securing means comprises fixing means extending through the metal reinforcement at the base of its channel and through the base of the channel of the window frame.

11. An arrangement according to claim 9 or 10, in which the extruded plastics or rubber material also defines a soft sealing part for sealing against an outer part of vehicle bodywork defining the opening for the door.

12. An arrangement according to any one of claims 9 to 11, in which the part of the window frame on the inside of the door is adapted to make sealing contact with an inner door seal carried by the vehicle bodywork.

13. An arrangement according to any one of claims 9 to 12, in which the said channel of the window frame is secured within a larger outer metal channel.

14. A sealing arrangement for the window of a vehicle door, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawing.

15. A sealing arrangement for the window of a vehicle door, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawing as modified by Figure 4 thereof.