JP2008006973A - Weather strip - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a weather strip capable of restraining deterioration of appearance quality of a sealing part, to which hairs are planted. <P>SOLUTION: A weather strip is mounted to a door opening peripheral edge for an automobile door. The weather strip comprises a trim part and a hollow sealing part 6. A hair-plantation part 29 is formed on the sealing part 6 by firmly fixing a multiple number of piles 29a via an adhesive layer 28. Piles having two different colors, i.e., black and white, a length of 0.8 mm, and thickness of 3.3 T are used as the multiple number of piles 29a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a weather strip.

  Generally, a weather strip is provided on the peripheral edge of a door of a vehicle such as an automobile or the peripheral edge of the door opening. As an example of a weather strip, for example, a trim portion having a substantially U-shaped cross-section that is fitted into a flange of a door periphery or a door opening periphery, and a hollow seal portion provided so as to protrude from the trim portion are provided. Things are known. When the door is closed, the seal between the door and the body is sealed by pressing the seal portion against the door opening periphery or the door periphery.

  In recent years, the outer surface of a weather strip, that is, the appearance quality similar to that of an interior fabric or the like is required even in a portion that is visually recognized when the weather strip is attached, such as a design surface or a seal surface. Some of them are pasted to improve the design (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, when fabric is affixed to the weather strip, there is a concern that wrinkles may occur at a deformed portion such as a seal portion. In view of this, it has been studied to form a flocked portion comprising a large number of piles on the outer surface of the seal portion.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 6-104343

  However, since the seal portion is pressed against the periphery of the door opening or the like when the door is closed, as shown in FIG. 5, if the flocked portion 51 is formed on the outer surface of the seal portion 50, the seal surface 52, that is, the door opening periphery The pile 53 is in a collapsed state at a portion that contacts the like. In this way, the pile 53 that has fallen when the door is closed maintains the collapsed state for a while when the door is opened. Become. This contact mark (seal surface 52) appears to shine white and becomes more conspicuous than other parts because the fallen pile 53 reflects light or the like, and as a result, the appearance quality may be deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a weather strip that can suppress deterioration in the appearance quality of a seal portion to which flocking has been applied.

  In the following, each means suitable for solving the above problem will be described in terms of items. In addition, the effect etc. peculiar to the means to respond | correspond as needed are added.

Means 1. In a weather strip having a hollow seal portion attached to the peripheral edge of a vehicle door or the peripheral edge of a door opening and pressed against the peripheral edge of the door opening or the door when the door is closed,
At least on the outer surface of the seal portion, a flocked portion made of a plurality of piles having a length of 0.6 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less and a thickness of 2.2 T (decitex) or more and 6.7 T or less is formed. A featured weather strip.

  According to the means 1, by forming the flocked portion on the outer surface of the seal portion, a fabric-like appearance can be obtained, and high design properties can be obtained with respect to the seal portion. Further, as the pile constituting the flocked portion, when the above-mentioned pile is relatively short and relatively thick compared to the conventional (general electrostatic flocking), the seal portion is pressed against the door opening peripheral edge or the like when the door is closed. In addition, the piles are less likely to fall, and when the door is opened, the fallen piles can easily return to their original state. As a result, when the door is opened, the contact mark is less likely to remain on the portion that was the sealing surface. As a result, it is possible to suppress deterioration in appearance quality such that a fallen pile reflects light and appears to shine white compared to other parts and becomes conspicuous.

  The “outer surface of the seal portion” means a portion of the seal portion surface that is visible in the weather strip mounting state, and a portion or interior facing the trim portion that is the mounting base. This means that it does not include a part that is not visually recognized, such as a part that is covered with a product. Of course, even if a flocked portion is formed in the part that is not visually recognized, no problem is caused, and in order to improve the design, a flocked part is formed at least in a visible part (outer surface) of the seal part. Just do it.

  Moreover, in order to make the contact traces when the door is closed more inconspicuous, the pile length is more preferably 0.6 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less, and the thickness is more preferably 3.3 T or more. . However, a pile having a length shorter than 0.6 mm is not preferable because, when a curved pile as will be described later is used, the curve is difficult to appear and becomes a substantially straight line. Further, a pile having a thickness larger than 6.7 T is not preferable because it is difficult to obtain a fabric-like appearance.

  Mean 2. The weather strip according to means 1, characterized in that the multiple piles are composed of two or more different colored piles including at least white.

  According to the above means 2, since the entire flocked portion has a mixed color in which white is mixed, even if a trace of contact is made on the seal portion and the fallen pile reflects light, the contact trace and other parts The difference between and is less likely to appear, and the contact marks are less noticeable. As a result, deterioration in appearance quality can be suppressed.

  Means 3. The weather strip according to means 1 or 2, wherein the pile is curved.

  If a straight (straight hair) pile is implanted perpendicularly to the surface of the seal portion, the problem described in the above problem may appear more remarkably. On the other hand, when a curved (curved) pile is implanted, the piles are intertwined with each other or the pile is obliquely implanted with respect to the surface of the seal portion. The In addition, in the pile whose length is shorter than 0.6 mm, since a curve does not appear easily and it becomes a substantially straight line, it is preferable that the length of a pile is 0.6 mm or more. On the other hand, when the length is longer than 1.0 mm, the piles are entangled in the spray nozzle, the nozzle becomes easily clogged, and uniform spraying becomes difficult, which is not preferable.

  Means 4. The weather strip according to any one of means 1 to 3, wherein the direction of flocking of the plurality of piles is made random.

  According to the means 4, since the flocking direction of each pile with respect to the seal portion surface is random, even if the pile is linear, the same effect as the means 3 can be obtained. Alternatively, the effect can be enhanced by a synergistic effect with the means 3. In addition, when forming a hair transplant part on the outer surface of a seal part, after forming an adhesive bond layer on the outer surface of a seal part, it piles up a pile to the said adhesive bond layer (fixes one end of a pile). The “flocking direction” means a direction in which one end of a pile sticks into the adhesive layer, that is, a direction in which a fixed end of the pile faces. For this reason, the piles are intertwined and appear to be fabric-like, and even when the seal portion is deformed, the spaces between the piles are stretched and sparse, and the base (base) black is not seen. In addition, when the pile is straight and electrostatic flocking, each pile is flocked upright and does not look like a fabric, and when the seal portion is deformed, the piles are stretched and loosened. There is a risk of seeing the black color of the substrate. In addition, examples of the method for flocking a plurality of piles in a random direction include a method of filing piles using a pressure spray gun or an electrostatic spray gun.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a door 2 is provided on the side of an automobile 1 as a vehicle so as to be openable and closable, and a weather strip 4 is attached to the periphery of a door opening 3 on the body side corresponding to the door 2. The weather strip 4 of the present embodiment is formed mainly by an extrusion method, and has an annular shape as a whole.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the weather strip 4 includes a trim portion 5 and a seal portion 6. The trim portion 5 includes a connecting portion 13 that connects the vehicle inner side wall portion 11, the vehicle outer side wall portion 12, and both side walls 11, 12, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section as a whole. The trim portion 5 is made of EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer) solid rubber, and a metal insert 14 is embedded therein. As described above, in this embodiment, EPDM rubber is adopted as the rubber material constituting the weather strip 4. This EPDM rubber contains carbon black as a reinforcing material, and its base color is black.

  A plurality of holding lip portions 15 extending toward the inner side (vehicle inner side) of the trim portion 5 are integrally formed on the inner surface (vehicle inner side surface) of the vehicle outer side wall portion 12, and the inner surface (vehicle outer surface) of the vehicle inner side wall portion 11 is integrally formed. A holding lip portion 16 that extends toward the inner side (vehicle outer side) of the trim portion 5 is integrally formed.

  Further, a flange 23 is formed on the periphery of the door opening 3 by joining the inner panel 21 and the outer panel 22 of the body. By fitting the trim portion 5 into the flange 23, the weather strip 4 is It is held at the periphery of the door opening 3.

  On the other hand, the seal portion 6 is provided so as to protrude to the vehicle outer side of the vehicle outer side wall portion 12, and is formed in a hollow shape by EPDM sponge rubber as a sponge elastic material. When the door 2 is closed, the seal portion 6 is pressed against the periphery of the door 2 to seal between the door 2 and the body of the automobile 1. A lip portion 18 is formed on the inner peripheral side of the door opening 3 of the seal portion 6 so as to cover the end portion of the interior product 25 such as garnish.

  When the weather strip 4 is attached, the outer surface of the seal portion 6 in the range from the root portion of the seal portion 6 on the outer periphery side of the door opening 3 to the tip portion of the lip portion 18 is a portion that is visible when the door 2 is opened. Become. Therefore, a flocked portion 29 is formed in the predetermined range D including the outer surface of the seal portion 6 through the adhesive layer 28 as can be seen from the partially enlarged sectional view of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, a water-based urethane resin adhesive is used as the adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 28. The adhesive is colored in an opaque and gray color according to the interior product 25 by mixing a colorant. Of course, the color type to be colored on the adhesive layer 28 is not limited to the gray color, and may be any color according to the interior product 25 as long as it is a color type other than black based on carbon black (for example, Red, blue, beige, brown (dark brown) etc.). In addition, when the interior goods 25 are black type | system | groups, in order to match the color and glossiness with the black of the interior goods 25, you may adjust by adding a black pigment.

  Next, the flocked portion 29 will be described in detail. The flocked portion 29 in the present embodiment is formed by spraying a large number of piles 29a on the adhesive layer 28 using a pressurized spray gun (pressurized flocking). Accordingly, one end of each pile 29a is fixed to the adhesive layer 28, and the angle (flocking direction) with respect to the surface of the seal portion 6 is in a random (random) state.

  As each pile 29a, for example, a crimped bending type polyamide fiber having a length of about 0.8 mm and a thickness of 3.3 T (decitex) is used. As a result, among the multiple piles 29a constituting the flocked portion 29, some piles are intertwined with each other or some are flocked to the surface of the seal portion 6 so that the flocked portion 29 is closer to the fabric. (Fabric tone).

  The multiple piles 29a are composed of two different types of piles, a white pile and a black pile. As a result, the flocked portion 29 has a gray color (mixed color of white and black) of the same color as the interior product 25 and the adhesive layer 28 as a whole. Of course, the mixed color is not limited to the gray color, and may be any color that matches the interior product 25 as with the adhesive layer 28.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the weather strip 4 will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a part of a production line for the weather strip 4, in which the weather strip 4 is produced while proceeding from the left to the right.

  First, in the extrusion molding process, the insert 14 is continuously supplied to the rubber extruder 31 together with the EPDM unvulcanized rubber. And the intermediate molded body 32 used as the weather strip 4 is extrusion-molded from the die | dye of the rubber extruder 31 in the state in which the insert 14 was coat | covered with the EPDM unvulcanized rubber. At this stage, the insert 14 corresponding to the trim portion 5 is extruded in a substantially flat plate shape with the portion embedded therein being opened.

  In the subsequent vulcanization step, the extruded intermediate molded body 32 is guided to a high frequency vulcanization tank (UHF) 33 and subjected to primary vulcanization. Then, it guides to a hot air vulcanization tank (HAV) 34, secondary vulcanization is performed, and vulcanization is completed.

  In the subsequent surface treatment step, the surface treatment device 37 subjects the intermediate molded body 32 to a surface treatment so that an adhesive layer 28 described later can be easily formed. Examples of the surface treatment include plasma treatment, corona discharge treatment, and primer treatment such as primer application.

  Thereafter, in the adhesive application step, the adhesive is applied to the surface of the intermediate molded body 32 by the adhesive application device 38 to form the adhesive layer 28.

  In the subsequent flocking process, first, in the flocking device 39, a large number of piles 29a are sprayed onto the site to which the adhesive has been applied using a pressure spray gun. The pressurized spray gun is capable of conveying the pile 29a to the inside of the coating booth with a predetermined air pressure, and spraying the pile 29a from the outlet to the site where the adhesive is applied with a predetermined air pressure. At this time, the sprayed pile 29a is implanted in the adhesive layer 28 in various directions. Then, after the adhesive is heated and cured in the dryer 40 and the pile 29a is fixed so that it cannot be removed, the excess pile 29a is blown off in the blower 41. The flocked portion 29 is completed through these steps.

  The intermediate molded body 32 that has undergone the flocking process is bent by a bending machine 42 to form a trim portion 5 having a substantially U-shaped cross section. Then, the weather strip 4 is obtained by cutting into a predetermined size by the cutter 43.

  The bending by the bending machine 42 may be performed after the vulcanization process and before the adhesive application process. In this case, the flocked surface can be prevented from being damaged by the roller of the bending machine 42. Furthermore, the insert 14 may be preformed into a letter C shape and supplied to the rubber extruder 31 for ease of bending and rubber coating.

  Moreover, although the said manufacturing method showed what was manufactured with a continuous line, once the long body of the vulcanized weather strip was manufactured, the flocking was carried out with respect to the long body with another line. You may manufacture as it gives.

  As described above in detail, by forming the flocked portion 29 on the outer surface of the seal portion 6, a fabric-like appearance can be obtained, and high design properties can be obtained for the seal portion 6. Further, by using the pile that is relatively short and relatively thick as compared with the conventional pile as the piled portion 29, the pile 29 a is provided even when the seal portion 6 is pressed against the periphery of the door 2 when the door 2 is closed. It becomes difficult to fall down, and when the door 2 is opened, the fallen pile 29a is easily returned to the original state. As a result, when the door 2 is opened, the contact mark is less likely to remain on the portion that was the sealing surface. As a result, it is possible to suppress a deterioration in appearance quality such that the fallen pile 29a reflects light and appears to shine white compared to other parts and becomes conspicuous.

  In addition, a bending type pile is adopted as the pile 29a that constitutes the flocked portion 29, and the flocked direction of each pile 29a with respect to the surface of the seal portion 6 is random. Furthermore, the multiple piles 29a are configured by two different types of piles, a white pile and a black pile, and the flocked portion 29 has a gray color (a mixed color of white and black) as a whole. For this reason, even if a contact mark is made on the seal portion 6 and the fallen pile 29a reflects light, a difference between the contact mark and another part is not likely to appear, and the contact mark is less noticeable. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in appearance quality as compared with a case where a linear pile is implanted perpendicularly to the surface of the seal portion 6.

  In addition, it is not limited to the description content of the said embodiment, For example, you may implement as follows. Of course, other application examples and modification examples not illustrated below are also possible.

  (A) In the above embodiment, the weather strip 4 provided at the periphery of the door opening 3 on the body side corresponding to the (side front) door 2 is embodied, but the periphery of the door 2 or the rear door, back door It is also possible to apply to weather strips provided on the peripheral edge of other doors such as luggage doors (trunk lids) and roof doors (sliding roof panels) or on the opening peripheral edges of the doors facing the doors.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the weather strip 4 is attached over the perimeter of the door opening 3 periphery, it may not necessarily be a perimeter, for example, the weather strip attached partially may be sufficient. Moreover, you may equip partly with the shaping | molding part.

  (B) In the above embodiment, EPDM is exemplified as a material constituting the weather strip 4, but other rubber materials such as IR (isoprene rubber) and CR (chloroprene rubber) may be used. Further, instead of sponge rubber, the seal portion 6 may be formed of solid rubber.

  (C) In the above embodiment, a water-based urethane resin adhesive is used as the adhesive constituting the adhesive layer 28, but acrylic, vinyl acetate, EVA, PVA, epoxy, and vinyl chloride are used. Other adhesives such as silicone-based and phenol-based adhesives may also be used. However, it is preferable that the adhesive has an elongation of 100% or more in consideration of followability to deformation of the seal portion 6 and does not emit volatile organic compounds (VOC) in consideration of the environment. . Further, among water-based urethane resin adhesives, a carbodiimide curing agent or an epoxy curing agent added may be employed in consideration of wear resistance. Note that the color of the adhesive is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, a transparent (colorless) color may be adopted.

  (D) In the above embodiment, as the pile 29a constituting the flocked portion 29, a polyamide fiber having a length of about 0.8 mm and a thickness of 3.3 T and a crimped bending type is adopted. However, the configuration of the pile 29a is not limited to this. For example, a pile made of polyethylene or the like may be employed, or a linear pile may be employed. However, in order to make the contact mark when the door 2 is closed inconspicuous, it is preferable to use a pile having a length of 0.6 mm to 1.0 mm and a thickness of 2.2 T to 6.7 T. In order to make it less noticeable, the length of the pile 29a is more preferably 0.6 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less, and the thickness is more preferably 3.3 T or more.

  The bending type pile is also called a curl type pile. Further, when a pile having a length longer than 1.0 mm is used, when the door 2 is closed, it becomes easy to sleep so that the pile at the contact portion is crushed, and the contact mark is conspicuous. For this reason, it is conceivable to increase the rigidity of the pile by increasing the thickness of the pile, but increasing the restoring force of the pile itself. It becomes impossible to apply pressure spray. Therefore, the length and thickness of the pile that do not make the contact mark conspicuous and can be uniformly planted are within the above range.

  (E) The multiple piles 29a in the above embodiment are composed of two different types of piles, a white pile and a black pile, and the flocked portion 29 is a gray color that is a mixed color of white and black as a whole. It has become. The color of the pile 29a is not limited to this. For example, a pile of three or more colors may be used in combination, or a transparent (colorless) pile may be included. However, in order to make the contact mark when the door 2 is closed inconspicuous, it is preferable to include at least white.

  (F) In the above-described embodiment, the flocked portion 29 is formed by spraying a large number of piles 29a on the adhesive layer 28 using a pressure spray gun (pressure flocking). It is not limited, and other hair transplantation methods such as using an electrostatic spray gun may be used.

  (G) The range in which the flocked portion 29 is formed is not limited to the range D in the above-described embodiment, and may be formed at least on the outer surface of the seal portion 6. Moreover, when the trim part 5 grade | etc., Becomes the design surface which appears in an external appearance, you may give a flock to the said design surface.

It is a perspective view which shows a motor vehicle. It is sectional drawing which shows the weather strip in one Embodiment. It is a partial expanded sectional view for demonstrating an adhesive bond layer and a flocked part. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of production line of a weather strip. It is a partial expanded sectional view for demonstrating the fall of a pile.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automobile, 2 ... Door, 3 ... Door opening, 4 ... Weather strip, 5 ... Trim part, 6 ... Seal part, 28 ... Adhesive layer, 29 ... Flocking part, 29a ... Pile.

Claims (4)

In a weather strip having a hollow seal portion attached to the peripheral edge of a vehicle door or the peripheral edge of a door opening and pressed against the peripheral edge of the door opening or the door when the door is closed,
At least on the outer surface of the seal portion, a flocked portion made of a plurality of piles having a length of 0.6 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less and a thickness of 2.2 T (decitex) or more and 6.7 T or less is formed. A featured weather strip.   2. The weather strip according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of piles are composed of two or more kinds of piles having different colors including at least white.   The weatherstrip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pile is curved. The weather strip according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a direction of flocking the plurality of piles is random.

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