GB2286416A

GB2286416A - Window sealing and guiding arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2286416A
Application number: GB9402654A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Klaus Peter Maass
Original assignee: Draftex Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Laird Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-11
Filing date: 1994-02-11
Publication date: 1995-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2014-02-11
Also published as: DE29502214U1; GB2286416B; GB9402654D0

Abstract

A division pillar for dividing the window frame carried by a vehicle door into a small part incorporating a fixed pane of window glass and a large part incorporating a vertically slidable pane of window glass comprises flexible extruded plastics or rubber material (18) defining the two channels (20, 22). Metal strips (34, 36) are embedded in the flexible material (18). One metal strip (34) is embedded in one wall (20A) of one of the channels (20) and extends through the central portion (19) of the flexible material and into the corresponding wall portion (22A) of the other channel (22). The second metal band (36) is embedded in the other wall portion (22B) of the first channel (20) and extends through the central portion (19) of the flexible material (18) and into the corresponding wall portion (22B) of the other channel (22). The metal strips (34, 36) may be provided with regular slits or slots to increase their flexibility. <IMAGE>

Description

WINDOW SEALING AND GUIDING ARRANGEMENTS The invention relates to window sealing and guiding arrangements particularly, though not exclusively, for use in motor vehicle body construction.

According to the invention, there is provided a window sealing and guiding arrangement for supporting the edges of, and separating, two substantially parallel and aligned window panes, comprising longitudinally extending flexible material having a central longitudinally extending portion from which integrally extend in opposite perpendicular directions first and second side portions which define first and second longitudinally extending parallel channels in alignment with each other and respectively facing in the said opposite directions for respectively receiving the edges of the window panes, each said side portion comprising two wall parts each forming one of the walls of the channel of that side portion, each wall part being aligned with the corresponding wall part of the other side portion and with an intervening part of the central portion, and two longitudinally extending reinforcing strips embedded in the flexible material, one of the strips being embedded in one wall part of the first side portion, in the corresponding wall part of the second side portion and in the intervening part of the central portion, and the other strip being embedded in the other wall part of the first side portion, in the corresponding wall part of the second side portion and in the intervening part of the central portion.

Window sealing and guiding arrangements for use in motor vehicle body construction will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a motor vehicle body incorporating one of the sealing and guiding arrangements; Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section corresponding to Figure 2 but showing a modified arrangement; Figure 4 is a side view of a complete window seal incorporating one of the sealing and guiding arrangements; and Figures 5,6,7 and 8 are cross-sections on the lines V-V, VI-VI, VII-VII and VIII-VIII, respectively, of Figure 4.

The motor vehicle 5 shown in Figure 1 has doors 6 and 8, each having a closed-off hollow lower part 6A,8A and carrying a window frame 6B,8B defining a window opening 10,12.

As part of each window frame 6B,8B, there is provided a dividing pillar 14,16. The dividing pillars 14,16 each divide the respective window openings into a small part 10A,12A and a large part 10B,12B. The window glass within each small part is fixed but the window glass within each large part is raisable and lowerable.

Figure 2 shows the construction of the division pillar 14 (the division pillar 16 would be similarly constructed).

As shown, the division pillar 14 comprises a plastics or rubber extrusion 18 having a central portion 19 and defining two oppositely facing channels 20,22. Channel 20 has walls 20A and 20B and receives the edge of the window glass in the small part 10A of the window opening 10 (Fig.

1). The window glass is fixed within the channel 20. As shown in Figure 2, the facing interior side walls of the channel 20 may be provided with serrations 24 for gripping the edge of the glass.

The channel 22 has walls 22A and 22B and receives the window glass in the large part 10B of the window opening 10. This window glass slides vertically within the channel 22, and the channel is therefore provided with flock 26 on its inside surfaces to provide a low-friction seal against the edge of the window glass. In addition, the extruded material 18 is arranged to define lips 28,30 and 32 which flexibly project into the channel to improve sealing against the edge of the window glass.

In order to strengthen the pillar 14, strips 34 and 36 are embedded within the material 18. These strips may be of any suitable material but are preferably made of metal.

They may extend the full height of the pillar. The strips 34 and 36 are incorporated into the material 18 during the extrusion process, using a cross-head extruder.

The use of the reinforcing strips 34,36 enables the material 18 to be of reduced thickness where it defines the side walls 20A,20B,22A,22B of the channels 20 and 22, so as to provide a "flush glass" effect.

The division pillar is simple and inexpensive to make, only one extrusion process being necessary. It can be cut to length as it is extruded. It is simple to fit into the vehicle body because of its one piece construction.

Instead of the strips 34,36, the extruded material 18 can be reinforced with wire.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 (in which parts similar to those in Figure 2 are correspondingly referenced), the reinforcing strips 34,36 are replaced by strips 34A,36A. These strips are provided with slits 34B,34C,36B,36C at regular intervals along the length of each strip. Instead, slots may be provided. These slits or slots increase the flexibility of the strips 34A,36A as compared with the flexibility of the strips 34 and 36, and therefore enable the division pillar to be bent into a slightly curved configuration (in either plane through its longitudinal axis).

The division pillar 14 (and similarly for the division pillar 16) may be incorporated into a complete window seal as shown in Figure 4. As shown, the complete window seal 40 comprises a part 40A which, together with the division pillar 14, defines a sealing part for receiving the fixed window pane 10A. Similarly, the window seal 40 has a part 40B which, together with the division pillar 14, defines a seal for receiving the slidable window pane lOB. The sectional views of Figures 5 to 8 show the cross-sections of the different parts of the seal 40 which are arranged with channels 42 for locating on metal flanges in the rigid metal window frame carried by the door. In addition, channels 44 are defined for receiving the window glass - except for the waist sealing portion 40C. Along this region of the seal 40, there has to be a gap, of course, to enable the window pane 10B to be raised and lowered into and from the hollow part of the door. As shown in Figure 6, along this region 40C of the seal 40, the seal defines a flexible lip 46 for sealingly contacting the side of the window glass.

The division pillar 14 is inserted into slots at 48 and 50 in the seal 40. Advantageously, it is fixed in position in one or both of the slots, such as by vulcanisation preferably. As shown in Figure 4, the division pillar 14 has a portion 14A which extends downwardly from the seal 40. This downwardly extending portion 14A helps to guide the slidable window pane 10B as it moves up and down. The portion 14A extends downwardly into the hollow part of the door and may, if desired, be rigidly attached to the interior of the door.

The resulting complete window seal 40, as shown in Figure 4, can be pre-fitted with the fixed window glass 10A and delivered to the vehicle manufacturer in that form. It can then be easily fitted by the vehicle manufacturer into the window frame carried by the door in a single operation, thus reducing assembly costs.

Claims

1. A window sealing and guiding arrangement for supporting the edges of, and separating, two substantially parallel and aligned window panes, comprising longitudinally extending flexible material having a central longitudinally extending portion from which integrally extend in opposite perpendicular directions first and second side portions which define first and second longitudinally extending parallel channels in alignment with each other and respectively facing in the said opposite directions for respectively receiving the edges of the window panes, each said side portion comprising two wall parts each forming one of the walls of the channel of that side portion, each wall part being aligned with the corresponding wall part of the other side portion and with an intervening part of the central portion, and two longitudinally extending reinforcing strips embedded in the flexible material, one of the strips being embedded in one wall part of the first side portion, in the corresponding wall part of the second side portion and in the intervening part of the central portion, and the other strip being embedded in the other wall part of the first side portion, in the corresponding wall part of the second side portion and in the intervening part of the central portion.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, in which each reinforcing strip is a thin metal strip.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, in which each metal strip is provided with slits or slots at regular intervals along its length, each slit or slot extending partway through the width of the strip so as to increase its flexibility.

4. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which one window pane is immovably fixed in the first channel, and the other window pane is slidable in the second channel.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, in which at least part of the inside walls of the second channel is covered in flock.

6. A window seal for fitting into a window frame of a window opening which is carried at the upper portion of a door of a motor vehicle body, comprising a window seal in the form of a closed ring and adapted to be mounted in the frame to define the window opening, and a window sealing and guiding arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3 located with respect to the window seal at two points oppositely positioned across the ring before the seal is fitted in the frame, so as to divide the window opening into two parts, a first one for receiving an immovably fixed window pane and the second one for receiving a window pane which is slidable into and out of a hollow part of the door in use.

7. A window seal according to claim 6, including a window pane immovably fixed in the said first part of the window opening before the seal is fitted in position in the window frame.

8. A window seal according to claim 6 or 7, in which the window sealing and guiding arrangement is fixed in position in the seal at at least one of the said points.

9. A window seal according to claim 8, in which the window sealing and guiding arrangement is fixed in position by vulcanisation.

10. A window seal according to any one of claims 6 to 9, in which the window sealing and guiding arrangement is extended outside the said ring so as to define a portion which extends downwardly into the interior of the door when the window seal is mounted in position in the said frame, the downwardly extending portion of the window sealing and guiding arrangement helping to guide the slidable window pane in use.

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

12. A window sealing and guiding arrangement, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A window seal, substantially as described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.