GB2304774A - Seal for hood of convertible vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A seal (10) for a hood of a convertible vehicle, the seal having a body portion (12) comprising resilient material for abutting a surface of a window (W) and a tensioning strap (16) for pressing the body portion against the window surface.

Description

CONVERTIBLE HOOD SEAL The invention relates to hood assemblies for convertible vehicles. In particular, it relates to a seal for preventing ingress of rain water at the interface between the convertible hood and a glass window.

It is known to provide a convertible hood for a vehicle, wherein the hood, in its operable position, provides the roof of the vehicle extending rearwardly from the front windscreen to the tail of the vehicle. Such a convertible hood can be made of canvas for example, and comprise a substantially flat roof section and two side and an end panel which depend therefrom. In use, the canopy is supported by a frame which extends upwardly from the vehicle, for example, the frame comprising inverted Ushaped members. The convertible hood can be held in position using press-buttons attached thereto which connect to cooperating studs on the vehicle body.

It is known to provide a window feature in the rear of such convertible hoods. However, since the hood is required to be rolled up when not in use, it is not possible to provide a glass window with such convertible hoods. Therefore, such hoods generally comprise windows of plastics material. Such windows do not provide as good optical properties as a glass window and are not very durable.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hood assembly for a convertible vehicle, the assembly comprising a hood and a seal for sealing the hood to an unsupported edge of a vehicle window, the seal comprising a body portion formed from resilient material and a tensioning member arranged to be put under tension to hold the body portion against the window.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of the vehicle including a hood assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through a seal forming part of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of part of the seal of Figures 1 and 2; Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views through part of the vehicle Figures 1 and 2; Figure 6 is a perspective view of part of a strap and anchor for the seal of Figure 2; Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the top of the seal of Figure 2; and Figures 8 is a section through an upper part of the assembly of Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 9 and 10 are sectional views, corresponding to Figure 8, of second and third embodiments of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a vehicle comprises a side and rear body panel B and rear tailgate T which is mounted on side hinges and openable in a known manner by rotation about a vertical axis. The tailgate T comprises a lower steel portion L and a frameless rigid glass window W which extends upwards from the lower portion L and is retractable into the lower portion L. The vehicle further comprises a convertible hood C which is attachable to the body panel B and sealable against the window W by means of a seal 10.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the window W is curved along its vertical height. The seal 10 is adapted to accommodate the curvature of window W thereby to prevent ingress of rain water into the vehicle.

The seal 10 comprises a shaped body portion 12 made of a length of resilient foam having an outer face 14 along one side which operably abuts the inside curved surface of window W. A lateral flange 15 extends down the side of the outer face and abuts against the side edge of the window W.

An upper tab 24 projects outwards from the top end of the outer surface 14 and is joined to the top end of the lateral flange 15. The upper tab 24 abuts an upper edge of window W. The body portion 12 is held in position by a strap 16 which extends through a narrow longitudinal hole or opening 18 which extends right through the body portion 12 and has a rectangular cross-section adapted to carry strap 16. The hole 18 is straight and the outer surface 14 is curved so that its ends are closer to the hole than its centre. This can be seen from Figures 4 and 5 which are sections through parts of the seal 10 on lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Figure 1. Figure 4 shows the body portion 12 at a relatively thick portion thereof towards the middle of the seal. Figure 5 shows seal 10 towards its upper end where the thickness of body portion 12 is less than at a central position such as shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 7, the strap 16 is attached at its upper end to an upper cross beam 20 and is attached to it by having its upper end 22 wrapped round it. The cross beam 20 is attached to the hood C and extends across the whole width of the window W. The hood C is arranged such that the cross beam 20 is parallel to the top edge of the window W and, when the window is in its raised position, close to it. This ensures that, when the strap 16 is attached to the cross beam 20, it is at a suitable position adjacent the side edge of window W. The upper tab 24 abuts the upper edge of window W and helps to locate the seal in position when fitting the convertible hood.

At the lower end of the seal 10, the strap 16 protrudes from the hole 18 and is provided at its lower end with an eye-let 26 and handle 28 as shown in Figure 6. The handle can be used to pull the strap 16 downwards, against the retaining force of cross-bar 20, in order to engage the eyelet 26 on an anchor 30 which has a hook 32 on it and is attached to the vehicle on the inside of the side and rear body panel B adjacent the edge of the tailgate opening.

Accordingly both ends of strap 16 are held when in use and the tension in strap 26 presses the outer face 14 of body portion 12 against the inside surface of window W. The outer edge of the flange 15 is pressed against the inside of the vehicle body along the edge of the tailgate aperture. The seal 10 therefore seals the gap between the window W and the vehicle body B.

It will be appreciated that, whilst body portion 12 is preferably shaped to the curvature of window W, by using resilient material at surface 14 it is possible for seal 10 to adapt to the curvature of the window each time the seal is re-fitted, even if the outer surface 14 is flat.

The anchor 30 is retractable into the body portion B of the vehicle when the convertible hood is not in use. This is achieved using an electric motor and automatic actuator to cause retraction of the anchor into a recess in the vehicle body when the hood is removed. A sensor, in the form of a switch, is provided on the vehicle body which is closed when the hood is in its in use position.

Alternatively, the end fixings of the strap 16 such as the lower fixing could comprise a simple clamp for cooperation with part of the body or anchor.

As shown in Figure 8 the convertible hood C is tucked over the upper edge of window W in order to provide an upper seal. Figures 9 and 10 show alternative upper seals Referring to Figure 9, in a second embodiment of the invention, the upper tab 24 extends across the full width of a window W to a second body portion 12 adapted to seal the opposite side of window W to that shown in Figure 1.

This results in a seal comprising a single piece body having two side portions substantially identical to the body portion 12 joined at the top by an upper portion 34 which fits over the top edge of the window W. The upper portion 34 is shaped with a central groove to fit against both the front and back faces of the window W. The body portion is formed by a single injection moulding process and is held within a frame 36 which is C shaped supporting the upper portion 34 on three sides. The C shaped frame 36 is attached to a cross member 20 to hold it in position.

Referring to Figure 10 a further embodiment of the invention comprises a frame 38 which fits over the upper edge of a window W. In this embodiment, the channel-form frame 38 has a bore through it through which the cross member 20 extends. The channel-form frame 38 is made of moulded plastics material.

Claims (13)

1. A hood assembly for a convertible vehicle, the assembly comprising a hood and a seal for sealing the hood to an unsupported edge of a vehicle window, the seal comprising a body portion formed from resilient material and a tensioning member arranged to be put under tension to hold the body portion against the window.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the body portion has an elongate surface and the tensioning means is adapted to press the elongate surface against the window along substantially the length of the elongate surface.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the body portion has a surface arranged to be held against the window, the surface being shaped so as to match the shape of a window.

4. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the body portion further comprises a lateral flange for abutting an edge of the window.

5. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the body portion further comprises an upper tab for abutting an upper edge of the window.

6. An assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the tensioning means comprises a strap.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein the body portion has a hole through it to accommodate the strap.

8. An assembly according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the strap has one or two end fixings by means of which it can be held under tension.

9. An assembly according to any of claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein the strap comprises handle means for tensioning the strap.

lO.An assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the seal comprises two body portions each for abutting a respective one of two opposite side regions of the window.

l1.An assembly according to claim 10 wherein the body portions are formed from a single member.

12.An assembly according to claim 11 wherein the body portions are made of injection moulded plastics.

13.An assembly for a convertible vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.