GB2369849A

GB2369849A - Glass run seal secured by a decorative weather strip

Info

Publication number: GB2369849A
Application number: GB0030090A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward John Smith; Gerry Peter Skidmore
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2000-12-09
Filing date: 2000-12-09
Publication date: 2002-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-09
Also published as: GB0030090D0; GB2369849B

Abstract

A weather strip 20 with a channel shaped cross section secures two sealing members 21, 52 to a flange defining the edge of a window aperture in a vehicle door. The second sealing member incorporates a glass run seal 51. The weather strip and sealing members may mutually engage via interlocking projections 30, 47 and recesses 26, 46, which are preferably T-shaped. In a preferred embodiment, the strip is decorative and made from an extruded aluminium alloy. The strip acts to secure the seals to the door flange and is suitable for use as a waist seal at the bottom of the window aperture.

Description

A Weather Strip and a Motor Vehicle Including Same

This invention relates to a motor vehicle and in particular to a weather strip for a door of a motor vehicle.

It is known from, for example, US 5,970, 659, to provide a weather strip for mounting on a door of a motor vehicle to provide a seal between a movable window and the door. Such weather strips are well known in the art and are often referred to as waist seals.

It is often required to provide the external surface of the waist seal with a decorative finish. This is particularly the case when the door forms part of a luxury motor vehicle. To achieve this a metal trim part is attached to the weather strip to provide such a decorative finish. Such a prior art weather strip is shown in Fig. 2 and has a rubber weather strip 1 covered on an external surface by a brushed aluminium trim strip 2.

As can be seen the weather strip is a large complex extrusion which has to be internally supported by an aluminium spine 3.

Such an assembly is relatively difficult and complex to manufacture as the weather strip 1 has to be extruded onto the spine 3 which itself has to be formed into a U-shape. Such a prior art weather strip is therefore relatively expensive to produce and is a relatively heavy component.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved weather strip for a door of a motor vehicle.

According to the invention there is provided a weather strip for attachment to a flange defining an edge of a window opening in a vehicle door, the weather strip

comprising an elongate decorative trim member having respective first and second legs, a first sealing means connected to the first leg for sealing between the trim member and a first surface of the flange and a second sealing means connected to the second leg for providing a seal between a second surface of the flange and a movable window supported by the door.

The first and second sealing means may be connected to the trim member by means of interengaging projections and recesses formed on the sealing means and the elongate member.

Advantageously, the projections on the first sealing means form a T-shaped groove for co-operation with a complimentary T-shaped projection formed on the trim member.

Preferably, the projections on the second sealing means form a T-shaped groove for co-operation with a T-shaped tongue at the end of the second leg.

The trim member may be extruded from an aluminium alloy.

Advantageously, the second sealing means may have a step formed therein for abutment against an end face of the flange so as to retain the weather strip on the flange.

The first and second sealing means may be made by an extrusion process.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle door assembly having inner and outer panels joined together along one edge to form an upstanding flange defining a lower edge of a window opening and a weather strip to provide a seal between the flange and a movable window supported by the door assembly, the weather strip comprising an elongate trim member of approximate U

shaped cross-section for supporting a first sealing means for sealing between the elongate member and a first surface of the flange and a second sealing means for providing a seal between a second surface of the flange and the movable window.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle having at least one door assembly according to the second aspect of the invention.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a pictorial representation of a door assembly according to a second aspect of the invention fitted with a weather strip according to a first aspect of the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the prior art weather strip previously described; Fig. 3 is a cross-section through a weather strip according to the first aspect of the invention; and Fig. 4 is a cross-section along the line A-A on Fig. 1 showing a weather strip according to the first aspect of the invention in use.

With reference to Figs. 1,3 and 4 there is shown a door assembly 10 having an outer door panel 11 joined to an inner door panel 12 to define a cavity therebetween in which is mounted for sliding movement a window pane 13.

A weather strip in the form of a waist seal 20 is press-fitted onto an upwardly directed flange 14 formed at the juncture of the outer and inner door panels 11,12 defining a lower edge of a window aperture 15.

The waist seal 20 comprises an outer seal member in the form of an extruded body seal 21, an inner seal member in the form of an extruded window seal member 22 and an elongate decorative trim member in the form of a finisher 23.

The finisher 23 is extruded from an aluminium alloy and has an outer decorative surface 24 and an inner surface 25. The inner surface 25 is shaped to provide a number of recesses 26,27, 28,29 for co-operation with corresponding projections 30, 31 and 32,33 formed on the body and window seals 21,22 for use in attaching the body and window seals 21,22 to the finisher 23.

The body seal 21 has a central body portion 40 supporting the two projections 30, 31 which in combination form a T-shaped groove 41. At one end of the central body portion 40 there is a first resilient limb 42 for abutment against the outer body panel 11 and towards the other end of the central body portion 40 there are formed second and third resilient limbs 43,44 also for abutment against the outer body panel 11. The limbs 42,43, 44 form a seal between the body seal 21 and the outer body panel 11 preventing the ingress of moisture between the finisher 23 and the flange 14. The limbs 43,44 forming a seal between the finisher 23 and an outwardly facing surface of the flange 14.

The window seal 22 is V-shaped in cross-section an has a first arm 51 for abutment against the window pane 13 and a second arm 52 used primarily to secure the window seal 22 to the finisher 23.

One surface of the first arm 51 is coated with a low friction material such as flocked fabric pile 54 so as to reduce the friction between the window seal 22 and the window pane 13. The projection 33 on the first arm 51 forms in combination with the projection 32 on the second arm 52 a T-shaped groove 46 used to attach the window

seal 22 to the finisher 23. The corresponding edge of the finisher 23 forming a Tshaped tongue 47.

The second arm 52 has a step 55 formed therein defining an abutment face 56 for abutment against an end face 17 of the outer body panel 11 forming the flange 14. Abutment between the face 56 and the face 17 is used to hold the waist seal 20 in position on the flange 14 particularly when the window pane 13 is moved in a closing direction.

To assemble the waist seal 20 the body and window seals 21 and 22 are engaged with one end of the finisher 23 bringing the projections 30,31 and 32,33 formed on the body and window seals 21 and 22 into engagement with the recesses 26,27, 28, 29 in the finisher 23. End caps (not shown) are then fitted to both ends of the finisher 23 to seal off the ends of the finisher 23.

The waist seal 20 is then merely pushed into position on the flange 14 until the limb 42 is firmly in abutment with the outer door panel 11.

By producing a weather strip in this manner the weather strip is easier to produce because the body and waist seals are relatively small extrusions and there is no need to extrude the material onto a U-shaped central spine. This is because the finisher performs a decorative function but also supports the body and window seals so that no central spine is required.

It will also be appreciated that the prior art waist rail is very difficult to recycle because the seals are moulded or extruded onto the aluminium spine whereas in accordance with the invention the seals can be easily removed from the finisher for recycling. In addition, the distance"D"between an upper edge of the flange 14 and the inner surface 25 of the finisher 23 is less than can be achieved with the prior art form of construction and this gives the weather strip a more attractive appearance.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A weather strip for attachment to a flange defining an edge of a window opening in a vehicle door, the weather strip comprising an elongate decorative trim member having respective first and second legs, a first sealing means connected to the first leg for sealing between the trim member and a first surface of the flange and a second sealing means connected to the second leg for providing a seal between a second surface of the flange and a movable window supported by the door.
2. A weather strip as claimed in Claim 1 in which the first and second sealing means are connected to the trim member by means of interengaging projections and recesses formed on the sealing means and the elongate member.
3. A weather strip as claimed in Claim 2 in which the projections on the first sealing means form a T-shaped groove for co-operation with a complimentary T shaped projection formed on the trim member.
4. A weather strip as claimed in Claim 2 or in Claim 3 in which the projections on the second sealing means form a T-shaped groove for co-operation with a T shaped tongue at the end of the second leg.
5. A weather strip as claimed in any preceding claim in which the elongate member is an extruded decorative trim member.
6. A weather strip as claimed in any preceding claim in which the trim member is extruded from an aluminium alloy.
7. A weather strips claimed in any preceding claim in which the second sealing means has a step formed therein for abutment against an end face of the flange so as to retain the weather strip on the flange.
8. A weather strip as claimed in any preceding claim in which the first and second sealing means are made by an extrusion process.
9. A motor vehicle door assembly having inner and outer panels joined together along one edge to form an upstanding flange defining a lower edge of a window opening and a weather strip to provide a seal between the flange and a movable window supported by the door assembly, the weather strip comprising an elongate trim member of approximate U-shaped cross-section for supporting a first sealing means for sealing between the resilient member and a first surface of the flange and a second sealing means for providing a seal between a second surface of the flange and the movable window.
10. A motor vehicle having at least one door assembly as claimed in Claim 9.
11. A weather strip substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A motor vehicle door assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. A motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.