JP2010076741A - Weatherstrip - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a weatherstrip for preventing a gas reservoir from being formed in a trim portion, and preventing degradation of appearance quality. <P>SOLUTION: The weatherstrip 4 is held by a flange 23, and includes the trim portion 5 made of EPDM fine foam rubber, a seal portion 6 protruded from the trim portion 5 to be pressed against a peripheral edge of a door when closing the door, and an insert 14 which has a plurality of rectangular rib piece portions 31 and is embedded in the trim portion 5. The trim portion 5 is formed by vulcanizing the unvulcanized EPDM fine foam rubber extrusion-molded to cover the insert 14. The rib piece portions 31 are connected by a center bonding portion 32. Additionally, a coating film 51 made of EPDM solid rubber covers at least a part of the rib piece portions 31 positioned between the center bonding portions 32 and the center bonding portions 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a weather strip used for an opening periphery of a vehicle such as an automobile.

  Generally, a door weather strip is provided on the periphery of a door opening of a vehicle such as an automobile. The door weather strip includes a trim portion having a U-shaped cross section that is fitted into a flange at the periphery of the door opening, and a hollow seal portion that protrudes from the trim portion. The trim portion is made of a rubber material, and a metal insert is embedded in the trim portion from the viewpoint of increasing the holding force with respect to the flange. As the insert, there is known an insert having a plurality of strip-shaped bone fragments extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the trim portion, and a bond portion connecting the bone fragments. In addition, in order to improve the followability of attachment to the flange, an insert in which each bone fragment portion is configured separately has been proposed.

  The trim part is formed by obtaining an unvulcanized rubber (trim part intermediate) extruded so as to cover the insert and then subjecting the trim part intermediate to vulcanization. In order to prevent displacement of the embedment position of each bone fragment portion during extrusion molding, even if the insert is configured by separating each bone fragment portion, The pieces are connected to each other by a connecting part, and the connecting part is generally cut after the vulcanization treatment.

  In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for weight reduction regarding door weather strips, and a technique for forming the trim portion with foamed rubber (including finely foamed rubber) has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Here, the foamed rubber is formed by foaming the foaming agent by the vulcanization treatment after adding a foaming agent to the unvulcanized rubber constituting the trim portion.

JP 2003-291744 A

  By the way, foaming gas is generated in the trim portion by performing the vulcanization treatment, but a part of the foaming gas can be released from the surface of the trim portion to the outside. Here, if the foaming gas is released to the boundary side with the insert, the foaming gas accumulates between the insert 94 and the trim portion 95 as shown in FIG. There is a risk that a gas reservoir 96 will be formed during this time. As a result, the surface of the trim portion 95 is swelled in some places, and the appearance quality may be deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a weather strip that can prevent the occurrence of gas accumulation in the trim portion and, in turn, can prevent deterioration in appearance quality. There is to do.

  In the following, each means suitable for solving the above-described object will be described in terms of items. In addition, the effect specific to the means to respond | corresponds as needed is added.

Means 1. A trim portion having a U-shaped cross section made of foamed rubber, and being held by a flange at the periphery of the door opening of the vehicle,
A hollow seal portion that protrudes from the trim portion and is pressed against the periphery of the door when the door is closed,
A plurality of strip-shaped bone fragments arranged substantially parallel to each other, and an insert embedded in the trim portion,
The trim portion is formed by vulcanizing the unvulcanized foam rubber that has been extruded so as to cover the insert,
At least during the vulcanization treatment, the insert is a weather strip having a plurality of connecting portions for connecting the bone fragment portions,
At least a portion of each bone fragment portion located between the connecting portions, and the connecting portions are covered with a coating film made of a solid rubber made of the same or the same material as the foam rubber. Weather strip.

  As described above, there is a possibility that foaming gas may accumulate between the insert and the trim part. As a result of intensive studies by the inventor of the present application, in particular, a connection part (for example, a bond part) and a bone that connect each bone fragment part. It has been found that gas accumulation is particularly likely to occur in a portion (extension portion) extending linearly in the longitudinal direction, which is composed of the portions sandwiched between the connecting portions of the one portion. This is because the rubber constituting the trim part surrounds the insert to cause the adhesion of the trim part to the insert, but the extension part is not surrounded by the rubber in the longitudinal direction. This is because the adhesive force tends to be relatively weak, and as a result, a gap is easily generated between the insert and the trim portion.

  In this regard, according to the above means 1, at least a portion of each bone fragment portion located between the connecting portions and the connecting portions are covered with a coating film made of solid rubber. For this reason, it is possible to more reliably prevent the foaming gas from reaching the insert due to the presence of the coating film, and that the foaming gas is accumulated between the insert and the coating film. It can prevent more reliably.

  Further, the solid rubber constituting the coating film is formed of the same or the same kind of material as the foam rubber constituting the trim portion. For this reason, by passing through a vulcanization process, a trim part and a covering film can be pasted up and it can prevent more certainly that a gap will arise between both. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the foam gas from accumulating between the trim portion and the coating film.

  By adopting the present means 1 in this manner, it is possible to more reliably prevent gas accumulation from occurring in the trim portion, and in turn to prevent deterioration in appearance quality.

  Mean 2. The weather strip according to means 1, wherein the entire surface of the insert is coated with the coating film.

  According to the means 2, since the coating film is provided so as to cover the entire surface of the insert, it is possible to more reliably prevent the occurrence of gas accumulation in the trim portion. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the appearance quality from being deteriorated.

Means 3. A trim portion having a U-shaped cross section made of foamed rubber, and being held by a flange at the periphery of the door opening of the vehicle,
A hollow seal portion that protrudes from the trim portion and is pressed against the periphery of the door when the door is closed,
A plurality of strip-shaped bone fragments arranged substantially parallel to each other, and an insert embedded in the trim portion,
The trim portion is formed by vulcanizing the unvulcanized foam rubber that has been extruded so as to cover the insert,
At least during the vulcanization treatment, the insert is a weather strip having a plurality of connecting portions for connecting the bone fragment portions,
At least a part located between each connecting part among the bone fragment parts, and a coating film covering each connecting part,
Prior to the extrusion molding, the coating film has a cross-linking agent applied to at least a portion of each bone fragment portion located between the connection portions and the surface of the connection portions, and the extrusion molding is performed. A weather strip formed by performing the vulcanization treatment later.

  According to the said means 3, about the unvulcanized foamed rubber located in the site | part to which the crosslinking agent was apply | coated, crosslinking will be accelerated | stimulated rather than foaming by performing a vulcanization process. For this reason, at least a part of each bone fragment that is located between the connecting portions and each connecting portion are covered with each other, and a strong cross-linked coating film having a relatively low degree of foaming is formed. As a result, basically the same effects as those of the means 1 are obtained.

  Further, the step of covering the insert with the coating film can be omitted as compared with the above means 1 and the like. Therefore, simplification of the manufacturing process and the manufacturing apparatus can be achieved, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  Means 4. The weather strip according to claim 3, wherein the cross-linking agent is applied to the entire surface of the insert.

  According to the means 4, a strongly crosslinked coating film is formed so as to cover the entire surface of the insert. For this reason, the same effect as the said means 2 will be show | played.

It is a perspective view which shows a motor vehicle. It is sectional drawing which shows a weather strip. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows structures, such as insert. (A)-(c) is a partial expanded sectional view for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the weather strip in 1st Embodiment. (A)-(c) is a partial expanded sectional view for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the weather strip in 2nd Embodiment, etc. FIG. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows the coating film in 2nd Embodiment. It is a partial enlarged plan view which shows the structure of the insert in another embodiment. It is a partial enlarged plan view which shows the structure of the insert in another embodiment. It is a partial expansion perspective view of a car for showing the arrangement position etc. of the weather strip in another embodiment. It is the JJ sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows the coating film in another embodiment. It is a partial expanded sectional view for demonstrating the problem in a prior art.

[First Embodiment]
The first embodiment will be described below 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 door weather strip (hereinafter referred to as “weather”) is provided at the periphery of a door opening 3 on the body side corresponding to the door 2. 4) is attached. The weather strip 4 of this embodiment is mainly formed by an extrusion molding method, and has a substantially 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 vehicle inner side wall portion 11, a vehicle outer side wall portion 12, and side wall connecting portions 13 that connect both side wall portions 11, 12, and has a U-shaped cross section as a whole. The trim portion 5 is made of EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer) microfoam rubber (corresponding to the “foam rubber” of the present invention), and a metal insert 14 is embedded therein. ing.

  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. In addition, a cover lip 18 is formed on the side wall connecting portion 13 so as to extend to the inside of the vehicle so as to cover an end portion of an interior product such as a garnish (not shown).

  Further, a flange 23 is formed at 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. More specifically, the weather strip 4 is held on the periphery of the door opening 3 by sandwiching the flange portion 23 between the holding lip portions 15 and 16.

  On the other hand, the seal portion 6 protrudes and is integrally provided on the vehicle outer side wall portion 12 and is formed in a hollow shape mainly by EPDM foam rubber. 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.

  In the present embodiment, both the trim part 5 and the seal part 6 are made of foamed EPDM rubber. However, the material constituting the trim part 5 is a fine foam material and constitutes the seal part 6. The degree of foaming is lower than that of the material. That is, the material constituting the trim part 5 has a higher density than the material constituting the seal part 6, and thus has sufficient rigidity. Therefore, the holding lip portions 15 and 16 have sufficient rigidity so that the weather strip 4 can be assembled to the flange portion 23 in a stable state.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the insert 14 includes a plurality of bone fragment portions 31 and a center bond portion 32 (corresponding to a connection portion) that connects the bone fragment portions 31 to each other. Further, each bone fragment portion 31 is disposed substantially in parallel, and the vehicle interior side wall corresponding portion 41 corresponding to the vehicle interior side wall portion 11 and the vehicle exterior side wall corresponding portion corresponding to the vehicle exterior side wall portion 12. 42 and a side wall connection portion corresponding portion 43 corresponding to the side wall connection portion 13 and has a substantially U-shaped cross section.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the EPDM solid rubber includes the center bond portion 32 and a portion located between the center bond portions 32 in the bone fragment portion 31 along the longitudinal direction of the weather strip 4. The coating film 51 is formed by the coating. The material constituting the coating film 51 and the material constituting the trim portion 5 covering the coating film 51 are both EPDM rubber. For this reason, when using it as a product, both are in a state of adhering to each other without being separated from each other.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the weather strip 4 will be described. First, an extruder comprising a first die having an opening hole for forming the coating film 51 and a second die (not shown) having an opening hole for forming the weather strip 4. EPDM unvulcanized rubber is continuously supplied together with a substantially flat insert 14 (not shown). Then, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), from the first die, the center bond part 32 of the insert 14 and the part sandwiched by the center bond part 32 of the bone fragment 31 are covered with EPDM unvulcanized rubber. The formed first intermediate body M1 is extruded. The EPDM unvulcanized rubber covering the periphery of the center bond portion 32 and the like constitutes the coating film 51.

  Next, the extrusion molding machine contains an EPDM unvulcanized rubber (EPDM unvulcanized fine foam rubber) containing a predetermined amount of foaming agent and a relatively larger amount of foaming agent than the predetermined amount. EPDM unvulcanized rubber (EPDM unvulcanized foamed rubber) is continuously fed. Then, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the first intermediate M1 is covered with the EPDM unvulcanized fine foamed rubber from the second die, and the hollow EPDM unvulcanized foamed rubber is formed. Is extruded to the outer surface of the EPDM unvulcanized fine foamed rubber, and a second intermediate M2 (EPDM unvulcanized foamed rubber is not shown) is extruded. The EPDM unvulcanized fine foamed rubber constitutes the trim portion 5 and the EPDM unvulcanized foamed rubber constitutes the seal portion 6.

  Further, the extruded second intermediate M2 is guided to a high-frequency vulcanization tank (UHF) (not shown) and subjected to primary vulcanization. Thereafter, it is guided to a hot air vulcanized layer (HAV) (not shown) and subjected to secondary vulcanization. As a result, the unvulcanized rubber is vulcanized and the foaming agent is foamed. As shown in FIG. 4C, the coating film 51 made of solid rubber and the trim part made of EPDM fine foam rubber 5 etc. are formed. The weather strip 4 is obtained by bending the trim portion 5.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, portions of the center bond portion 32 and the bone fragment portion 31 located between the center bond portions 32 are covered with the coating film 51 made of solid rubber. Yes. Thereby, it can prevent more reliably that foaming gas reaches | attains the surface of the center bond part 32 grade | etc., Of insert 14, and by extension, foaming gas accumulates between the insert 14 and the coating film 51. It can prevent more reliably.

  Further, the solid rubber constituting the coating film 51 has the same kind of rubber component as the rubber component of the fine foam rubber constituting the trim portion 5. For this reason, through the vulcanization step, the trim portion 5 and the coating film 51 can be fixed, and it is possible to more reliably prevent a gap from being generated between them. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the foam gas from accumulating between the trim portion 5 and the coating film 51.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to more reliably prevent a gas pool from being generated in the trim portion 5, and thus it is possible to prevent the appearance quality from being deteriorated.

By the way, it is conceivable that the trim portion 5 and the insert 14 are bonded with an adhesive to suppress the formation of a gap due to the foaming gas, and hence a gas reservoir, between them. However, in this method, since it is necessary to separately provide an adhesive application step, the productivity is significantly reduced, and the feasibility is poor. In this regard, according to the present embodiment, there is no need to separately provide an adhesive application step. That is, compared with the method of bonding the trim part 5 and the insert 14 with an adhesive, the present invention has excellent feasibility in terms of preventing a reduction in productivity.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the second embodiment will be described with a focus on differences from the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (c), the second embodiment is different in that it is a method for forming a coating film 52 that covers the insert 24. That is, when the EPDM unvulcanized fine foamed rubber constituting the trim portion 55 is vulcanized in the vulcanization process, the coating film 52 is formed so that the unvulcanized rubber around the insert 24 is less than other parts. In other words, it is formed by crosslinking with a greater degree of crosslinking.

  Next, a method for forming the coating film 52 will be described in detail. That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, first, a crosslinking agent 53 (for example, sulfur powder) is applied in advance to the entire surface of the insert 24. Then, the EPDM unvulcanized fine foamed rubber and the EPDM unvulcanized foamed rubber (not shown) are continuously fed to the extruder (not shown) together with the insert 24 coated with the crosslinking agent 53. To supply. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the insert 24 is covered with the EPDM unvulcanized fine foamed rubber, and the intermediate body in which the hollow EPDM unvulcanized foamed rubber (not shown) is joined. M3 is extruded from the die of the extruder. Then, the intermediate M3 is guided to the high-frequency vulcanization tank (UHF) and the hot air vulcanization tank (HAV), and vulcanized. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), the cross-linking agent 53 promotes the cross-linking of the rubber around the insert 24 in preference to the other parts. That is, in the peripheral region of the insert 24, the cross-linking proceeds before foaming occurs, and in this region, the coating film 52 having a property close to solid rubber (having almost no bubbles) is formed. . As described above, in the second embodiment, the crosslinking agent 53 is applied to the entire surface of the insert 24. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the coating film 52 is formed so as to cover the entire surface of the insert 24 (note that the trim portion 55 is omitted in FIG. 6).

  As described above in detail, according to the second embodiment, basically the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment are achieved. In addition, complication of dies and the like can be prevented, and the manufacturing apparatus and the production process can be simplified.

  In addition, since the coating film 52 is provided so as to cover the entire surface of the insert 24, the occurrence of gas accumulation in the trim portion 55 can be more reliably prevented. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the appearance quality from being deteriorated.

  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 technical idea of the present invention is applied to a so-called center bond type insert 14 that includes a plurality of bone fragment portions 31 and a center bond portion 32 that connects the bone fragment portions 31. However, the technical idea of the present invention may be applied to weather strips having other types of inserts. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, a so-called side comprising a plurality of bone fragments 61 and side bond portions 62 and 63 (corresponding to coupling portions) that connect both end portions of each bone fragment 61. The technical idea of the present invention may be applied to a weather strip having a bond type insert 64 (the figure shows a state before bending). Further, as shown in FIG. 8, during extrusion molding, each bone fragment portion 71 is connected by the side bond portions 72 and 73, while after the vulcanization treatment, the side bond portions 72 and 73 are cut, The technical idea of the present invention may be applied to a weather strip having a so-called separation type insert 74 that separates the bone fragments 71 from each other. FIG. 8 shows a state before bending and before the side bond portions 72 and 73 are broken. Moreover, in the same figure, the side bond parts 72 and 73 are fractured | ruptured along the dashed-two dotted line of the same figure.

  The weather strip 75 having the separation-type insert 74 is, for example, shown in FIG. 9 when the trunk lid (luggage door) 82 that opens and closes the opening 83 of the trunk room of the automobile 81 is closed. What is provided in the said opening part 83 in order to seal between the lid 82 and the peripheral part of the opening part 83 of a trunk room is mentioned.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the weather strip 75 protrudes from the trim portion 76 held by the flange 84 formed in the opening 83 and the trim portion 76, and the trunk lid 82 is closed when the trunk lid 82 is closed. And a hollow seal portion 77 pressed against the periphery of the lid 82. Moreover, although the said insert 74 is embed | buried under the inside of the said trim part 76, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the side bond part among the said side bond parts 72 and 73 and the bone piece part 71 is shown. A portion located between 72 and 73 is covered with a coating film 78 formed of EPDM solid rubber.

  (B) 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 a rear door, a back door, a roof door (sliding roof panel), etc. It is also possible to apply to a weather strip provided on the other door opening periphery.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,81 ... Automobile as a vehicle, 2 ... Door, 3 ... Door opening, 4,75 ... Weather strip, 5,55 ... Trim part, 6 ... Seal part, 14, 64, 74 ... Insert, 23 ... Flange, 31, 61, 71 ... bone fragment part, 32 ... center bond part as connection part, 51, 52, 78 ... coating film, 53 ... cross-linking agent, 62, 63 ... side bond part as connection part, 72, 73 ... Side bond part as connecting part.

Claims (4)

A trim portion having a U-shaped cross section made of foamed rubber, and being held by a flange at the periphery of the door opening of the vehicle,
A hollow seal portion that protrudes from the trim portion and is pressed against the periphery of the door when the door is closed,
A plurality of strip-shaped bone fragments arranged substantially parallel to each other, and an insert embedded in the trim portion,
The trim portion is formed by vulcanizing the unvulcanized foam rubber that has been extruded so as to cover the insert,
At least during the vulcanization treatment, the insert is a weather strip having a plurality of connecting portions for connecting the bone fragment portions,
At least a portion of each bone fragment portion located between the connecting portions, and the connecting portions are covered with a coating film made of a solid rubber made of the same or the same material as the foam rubber. Weather strip.   The weather strip according to claim 1, wherein the entire surface of the insert is covered with the coating film. A trim portion having a U-shaped cross section made of foamed rubber, and being held by a flange at the periphery of the door opening of the vehicle,
A hollow seal portion that protrudes from the trim portion and is pressed against the periphery of the door when the door is closed,
A plurality of strip-shaped bone fragments arranged substantially parallel to each other, and an insert embedded in the trim portion,
The trim portion is formed by vulcanizing the unvulcanized foam rubber that has been extruded so as to cover the insert,
At least during the vulcanization treatment, the insert is a weather strip having a plurality of connecting portions for connecting the bone fragment portions,
At least a part located between each connecting part among the bone fragment parts, and a coating film covering each connecting part,
Prior to the extrusion molding, the coating film has a cross-linking agent applied to at least a portion of each bone fragment portion located between the connection portions and the surface of the connection portions, and the extrusion molding is performed. A weather strip formed by performing the vulcanization treatment later.   The weather strip according to claim 3, wherein the cross-linking agent is applied to the entire surface of the insert.