WO2004085185A1

WO2004085185A1 - Sealing, trimming and guiding strips

Info

Publication number: WO2004085185A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/000997
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raymond Plottnik; Achim GRÜTER
Original assignee: Gdx North America Inc.
Priority date: 2003-03-25
Filing date: 2004-03-22
Publication date: 2004-10-07
Also published as: GB2399852A; EP1606129A1; GB0306873D0

Abstract

A sealing, trimming or guiding strip (40) for sealing around a vehicle door is disclosed. In the region above the waist belt line of the door where the window frame (11) is present the strip (40) comprises a first sealing part (42) which is attached to the window frame (11), and a second sealing part (44) engaged with the first sealing part. The first sealing part (42) extends continuously around or substantially continuously around the periphery of the door, whereas the second sealing part is provided only generally above the waist belt line of the door to provide improved noise insulation in that region. The second sealing part (44) is clippingly engaged to the first sealing part (42) by means of an engagement lip (66) and a corresponding recess (58) in the first sealing part (42).

Description

SEALING, TRIMMING AND GUIDING STRIPS

Technical Field

The invention relates to sealing, trimming and guiding strips for sealing openings - for

example, for sealing around vehicle closure members, such as doors.

Background Art

JP54-58718 discloses a strip for sealing openings, such as for sealing around vehicle

closure members, the strip comprising two sealing parts.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sealing, trimming

or guiding strip for sealing an opening closed by a closure member, including a first

sealing part for attachment to one of the opening and the closure member, and a second

sealing part for engagement with the first sealing part.

The closure member may be a vehicle door and the opening may be the door frame

(opening in a vehicle body) which is closed by the door. In the embodiment the strip is

fixed to the periphery of the door and is carried by the door when it moves with respect to

the vehicle body. When the door is closed the strip is compressed between the door and

the body, thereby preventing or reducing noise, moisture and dirt entering the passenger

cabin of the vehicle. In an alternative embodiment (not described below), the strip may

be fixed to the vehicle body around an opening therein. Alternatively, seals may be fixed to both the door and the body.

In the embodiment to be described the first and second sealing parts each include a

surface for bearing against the vehicle body when the closure member closes the opening.

Advantageously, the length of the first sealing part is greater than the length of the second

sealing part and, for example, the first sealing part may be configured to extend

substantially completely around the closure member while the second sealing part is

configured to extend around only a part of the closure member. This part of the closure

member may be only the part extending generally parallel to the roof of the vehicle, the

part extending along the roof and the vehicle "A" pillar or the part extending around the

"B" pillar, the roof and the A pillar (i.e. the part is present above the closure member

waist belt line). The presence of the second sealing part in these regions of the closure

member is advantageous because the second sealing part provides a further barrier to

exterior noise, and the regions mentioned are those closest to the passengers' ears. The

omission of the second sealing part in the region of the lower portion of the closure

member is relatively insignificant in terms of the perceived exterior noise level to

passengers of the vehicle as these parts of the door are distant from the passengers' ears.

The first and second sealing parts may be provided with respective formations for

clippingly engaging the first and second sealing parts together. This formation of the first

sealing part may be a channel or recess, while the formation of the second sealing part may be a lip which passes into and is engaged in the recess. Preferably, the channel or

recess has an enlarged base portion and the lip has an enlarged head portion for being

received in the enlarged base portion. Such an arrangement resists disengagement of the

respective first and second sealing parts.

The first sealing part may be of hollow tubular configuration, and further may include a

relatively soft portion and a relatively hard portion. The soft portion may be foamed or

cellular material. The relatively hard part in the embodiment is the part which is attached

to the closure member and also is the part in which the formation for engagement the

second sealing part is formed.

The first part may include a further channel or recess for engaging a formation fixed to

the c losure m ember for s ecuring the first sealing part to the closure member. This

formation may be a continuous or substantially continuous strip of the extruded material

being T- or mushroom-shaped in cross-section, as described in DE-A-198 09 537 and

formed in the manner described in GB 0229652.3. Alternatively, the first sealing part

may be secured to the closure member by adhesive, such as a heat activated adhesive or a

double sided adhesive tape.

The second part may include a generally planar abutment surface pressing against the

closure member and an abutment lip for pressing against the opening in the vehicle body. Advantageously, both the first and second sealing parts are formed by extrusion. The

relatively simple form of the second sealing part makes this part particularly easy to form

by extrusion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a closure member

for closing an opening and including a strip as defined above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a closure member

for closing an opening including a first sealing part for attachment to the closure member

and the second sealing part engaged with the first sealing part, wherein the first sealing

part is formed substantially completely around the closure member and the second sealing

part is formed around only a portion of the closure member for augmenting at said portion

the sealing provided by the first sealing part.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of

sealing between a closure member and an opening closed by the closure member,

including the steps of:

(a) attaching a first sealing part to one of the opening and the closure member, and

(b) engaging a second sealing part with the first sealing part,

wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed in any order.

Brief Description of Drawings A sealing, trimming or guiding strip, a closure member and a method of sealing between a

closure member and an opening closed by the closure member will now be described by

way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional motor vehicle door;

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through a prior art sealing strip formed on a part of a door

running generally parallel to the vehicle roof;

Figure 3 shows a cross-section through a sealing strip in accordance with the present

invention formed on the part of the door running generally parallel to the vehicle roof; and

Figure 4 shows a cross-section through a sealing strip in accordance with an alternative

embodiment of the present invention formed along the part of the door below the waist

belt line.

In the figures like elements are generally designated with the same reference numeral.

Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a conventional motor vehicle body door 4, a front

door in this example which is supported by hinges 5 and 6 its leading edge, a conventional

check strap 8 being positioned between the hinges. The seal for sealing between the periphery of the door and the door opening (not shown) in the motor vehicle main body is

mounted on the peripheral edge of the door as shown by the chain-dotted line 10. As

shown, the path of the seal passes inside (that is, nearer to the inside face of the door than

the outside face thereof) of the hinges 5 and 6 and the check strap 8. At the trailing edge

of the door, there is a recess 9 for receiving that part of the door latching and locking

mechanism which is mounted on the vehicle body itself, and the path of the door seal 10

passes outside this recess.

The door seal is positioned on the door so as to run completely or substantially completely

around the periphery of the door as shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the position

of the door seal on the door varies around the periphery of the door. It is advantageous

for the door seal to pass inside the door hinges 5 and 6, rather than outside these items, in

order to prevent trapping when the door is opened. It is advantageous for the seal to pass

outside the locking mechanism recess 9 in order to allow the striker etc. mechanism on the

door frame to pass into the recess 9 when the door is closed. In general, however, the

door seal is mounted close to the outside of the door so as to act between this relatively

outer part of the door and the corresponding part of the door opening when the door is

closed. Such relatively outward positioning of the door seal has a number of advantages:

thus, it keeps the outer parts of the door aperture relatively clean, by sealing them against

the ingress of air-borne dirt and moisture and in this respect is advantageous compared

with the more inboard seal positioning which occurs with the type of door seal mounted

not on the door itself but on the flange running around the door opening. In addition, the relatively outward positioning of the door seal described is of advantage in reducing wind

noise.

The window frame 11 of the door defines a space 12 in which a (typically openable)

window is located. The window frame 11 includes a first portion X which runs generally

parallel to the vehicle "A" pillar, a second portion Y which runs generally parallel to the

vehicle roof and a third portion Z which runs generally parallel to the vehicle "B" pillar.

The base of the window opening 12 defines the so-called door waist belt line 13.

Figure 2 shows a prior art arrangement of a door seal 20 which is mounted on a vehicle

window frame 11 along the region Y thereof which extends generally parallel to the

vehicle roof and seals between the window frame 11 and the door frame 22 formed in the

vehicle body. The window frame 11 includes a channel 24 which accommodates a

window seal 26 which seals against the window mounted in the opening 12. At the

opposite side to the channel 24 the frame includes a substantially C-shaped member 28

integrally formed with the frame 11. The member 28 comprises a first portion 28A

directed upwardly towards the vehicle roof, a second portion 28B extending generally

parallel to the vehicle roof and a third portion 28C extending downwardly away from the

vehicle roof. The member 28 is not shown in Figure 1.

The door seal 20 is attached to the window frame 11 by any suitable means, such as heat

activatable adhesive or double sided adhesive tape (not shown). The door seal 20

includes a tubular portion 30 defining a hollow space 32. Extending from the tubular portion 30 is a foot portion 34 which is accommodated within the member 28 for locating

the door seal 20, and a second sealing part 36 which extends along the portion 28B of the

member 28 and has an upwardly extending distal lip 38. The tubular part 30 provides a

first sealing function as it presses against the door frame 22 when the door 4 is closed.

The lip 38 of the second sealing part 36 provides an auxiliary sealing function, by the

action of the lip 38 pressing against the door frame 22. The auxiliary sealing function of

the lip 38 provides an additional barrier to moisture, dirt and, particularly, noise.

The tubular part 30, the foot part 34 and the second sealing part 36 of the door seal 20 are

integrally formed by an extrusion process.

In the prior art arrangement of Figure 2, the door seal 20 is formed or cut to a length

sufficient to extend around the window frame 11 (that is for the region above the waist

belt line 13 along the region of the "A" pillar X, the roof Y and the "B" pillar Z. A door

seal of different configuration (not shown) is formed or cut to have a length sufficient to

extend around the part below the waist belt line 13. The configuration of this door seal

will be similar to that of the door seal 20 but without the second sealing part 36. This

door seal will be formed by a separate extrusion process using a different extrusion die.

The two door seals are connected together by a moulding process to form a continuous

loop, and are then fitted to the door 4.

This prior art door seal is disadvantageous because, the two parts of the door seal must be moulded together, which increases the cost of and complexity of the door seal

manufacturing process.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment according to the present invention, which is a cross-

section taken along the same parts of the vehicle door and body as shown in Figure 2.

The door seal 40 of Figure 3 comprises a first sealing part 42 and a second sealing part

44. The first sealing part 42 comprises a tubular part 46 defining a hollow portion 48.

The first sealing part 42 comprises material of two different hardnesses. Relatively soft

material 50 is formed of foamed or cellular EPDM is integrally formed by an extrusion

process with material 52 which is relatively hard and is formed of solid EPDM. The

relatively soft material 50 is located for pressing against the door frame 22 in the vehicle

body, whereas the harder material 52 forms a foot 53 of the seal for mounting the seal to

the window frame 11 and also for engaging with the second sealing part 44. The foot 53

of the first sealing part 42 has a recess 54 formed therein which is configured for

receiving a T- or mushroom-shaped clip 56 which is extruded directly onto the door 4 by

a process, for example, described in GB0229652.3. The clip 56 is extruded continuously

around the periphery of the door 4 along the chain dotted line 10 shown in Figure 1. The

enlarged head portion of the clip 56 engages with the correspondingly enlarged portion of

the recess 54 after passing through and resiliently deforming the opening of the recess 54

to securely engage the first sealing part 42 to the door 4. The clip 56 is formed of harder

material than the foot 53 and may, for example, be formed from TPE or polyurethane. The second sealing part may be formed from EPDM.

A further channel or recess 58 is formed in the foot 53 for engaging the second sealing

part 44. The lower portion of the recess 58 is generally 1 -shaped having an enlarged base

portion 60 and a narrower main portion 62. Material of the main portion 62 presses on

one side against the downwardly extending portion 28C of the member 28 and stops just

below the upper surface of the portion 28B of the member 28. At the opposite side of the

main part 62, the material extends further upwards, generally parallel to the portion 28C

of the member 28 and is then curved through approximately 45 degrees to form an

extension portion 64 which lies above and generally parallel to portion 28B of the

member 28.

The second sealing part 44 comprises an engagement lip 66 having an enlarged head

portion 68. The engagement lip 66 is pushed into the channel or recess 58 of the first

sealing part 42. The enlarged head portion of the engagement lip 66 is resiliently

deformed as it passes through the main portion 62 of the channel or recess 58. When the

enlarged head portion 68 reaches the enlarged base portion 60 of the channel or recess 58,

the enlarged head portion 68 resiles to securely engage the second sealing part 44 within

the channel or recess 58 of the first sealing part 42. The second sealing part includes a

generally planar abutment surface 70 which lies along the surface 28B of the member 28.

At the opposite side of the second sealing part 44 a sealing lip 72 extends upwardly for

engaging the door frame 22. Both the first sealing part 42 and the second sealing part 44 are formed separately by an

extrusion process.

However, in contrast to the prior art described in relation to Figure 2, the first sealing part

42 is formed or cut to have a length sufficient to extend completely around the door 4

(along the chain dotted line 10). The first sealing part 42 may be formed as a continuous

loop. The ends of the first sealing part 42 may be moulded together or stuck together by

adhesive.

The second sealing part 44 is only provided around a portion of the door 4. For example,

the second sealing part may be provided just along the region Y of the door 4, along the

regions X and Y of the door or along the regions X,Y and Z of the door 4. The extent of

the region where the second sealing part 44 is provided will be selected according to the

circumstances, but generally the second sealing part 44 will be provided only above the

waist belt line 13 (although the invention is not restricted to this). The second sealing part

44 is not required below the waist belt line 13 because this region of the door is further

from the ears of the passengers of the vehicle than the region adjacent to the roof, "A" and

"B" pillars. (Of course, it should be understood that if the door seal 40 is to be attached to

the rear door of a passenger vehicle, the door seal 40 may conveniently extend along the

"B" pillar, parallel to the roof and along the "C" pillar of the vehicle.) The second sealing part 44 is provided only where required by forming or cutting a length

of extruded material to the required size and then clippingly engaging this to the first

sealing part 42 by the cooperation of the engagement lip 66 and the recess 58.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the first sealing part 42 positioned at a region of

the door 4 below the waist line 13, where it can be seen that the second sealing part 44 is

omitted. Closure of the vehicle door 4 will tend to cause deformation of the softer

material 50 of the first sealing part 42 and would also tend to close the channel or recess

58 formed in the first sealing part 42 provided for engaging the second sealing part 44

elsewhere. In Figure 4, an alternative to the clip 56 and cooperating recess 54 is provided

for securing the door seal 40 to the door 4 in the form of double-sided adhesive tape 74.

Generally, of course, either a clip 56 or adhesive tape 74 will be used around the entire

periphery of the door 4. Other methods of attaching the door seal 40 to the door 4, such

as the use of heat activatable adhesive, will be known to those skilled in the art and may

be used in accordance with the present invention.

Although the embodiments described relate to a door seal 40 which is mounted to a

vehicle door 4, a seal in accordance with the invention may alternatively or additionally

be provided around the door frame 22 of the vehicle body. Again, with such an

arrangement, a second sealing part (corresponding to the second sealing part 44 of the

illustrated embodiment) will be provided only on the generally upper region of the door opening as this is adjacent to the ears of the passengers.

Claims

1. A sealing, trimming or guiding strip (40) for sealing an opening closed by a closure

member, including a first sealing part (42) for attachment to one of the opening and the

closure member, and a second sealing part (44) for engagement with the first sealing part

(42).

2. A strip (40) of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sealing parts (42 and 44) each

include a surface for bearing against the other of the opening and the closure member

when the closure member closes the opening.

3. The strip (40) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the length of the first sealing part (42) is

greater than the length of the second sealing part (44).

4. The strip (40) of claim 1 ,2 or 3 , wherein the first sealing part (42) is configured to

extend substantially completely around said one of the opening and the closure member,

and the second sealing part (44) is configured to extend around only a part of the said one

of the opening and the closure member.

5. The strip (40) of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second sealing

parts (42 and 44) include respective formations for clippingly engaging the first and

second sealing parts together.

6. The strip (40) of claim 5, wherein the formation of the first sealing part (42) is a

channel or recess (48) and the formation of the second sealing part (44) is a lip (66).

7. The strip (40) of claim 6, wherein the channel or recess (48) has an enlarged base

portion (60) and the lip (66) has an enlarged head portion (68) for being received in the

enlarged base portion (60) for resisting disengagement of the respective first and second

sealing parts (42 and 44).

8. The strip (40) of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first sealing part (42) is of

hollow tubular configuration.

9. The strip (40) of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the first sealing part (42)

includes a relatively soft portion (50) and a relatively hard portion (52).

10. The strip (40) of claim 9, wherein the soft portion (50) contacts the other of the

opening and the closure member.

11. The strip (40) of claim 9 or 10, wherein the relatively soft portion (50) is formed

of foamed or cellular material.

12. The strip (40) of any one of claims 9 to 11 , wherein the relatively hard portion (52) is for attachment to said one of the opening and the closure member.

13. The strip (40) of any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the relatively hard portion (52)

of the first sealing part (42) has said formation of said first sealing part (42) formed

therein.

14. The strip (40) of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the first sealing part (42)

includes a channel or recess (54) for engaging a formation fixed to said one of the

opening and the closure member for securing the first sealing part (42) thereto.

15. The strip (40) of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the first sealing part (42)

comprises EPDM.

16. The strip (40) of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the first sealing part (42) is

formed by extrusion.

17. The strip (40) of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the second sealing part (44)

comprises EPDM.

18. The strip (40) of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the second sealing part (44) is

formed by extrusion.

19. The strip (40) of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the second sealing part (44)

includes a generally planar abutment surface (70) for pressing against said one of the

opening and the closure member and an abutment lip (72) pressing against the other of the

opening and the closure member.

20. A closure member for closing an opening and including a sealing, trimming or

guiding strip (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. A closure member for closing an opening, including a first sealing part (42) for

attachment to the closure member and the second sealing part (44) engaged with the first

sealing part (42), wherein the first sealing part (42) is formed substantially completely

around the closure member and the second sealing part (44) is formed around only a

portion of the closure member for augmenting at said portion the sealing provided by the

first sealing part (42).

22. The closure member of claim 21 , wherein the closure member is a vehicle door (4)

having a window frame (11) and wherein the second sealing part (44) is formed in the

region of the window frame (11).

23. The closure member of claim 21 or 22, wherein the closure member has formed

thereon a clip (56) for engagement with a channel or recess (54) in the first sealing part

(42) to attach the strip (4) to the closure member.

24. A method of sealing between a closure member and an opening closed by the

closure member, including the steps of:

(a) attaching a first sealing part (42) to one of the opening and the closure member,

and

(b) engaging a second sealing part (44) with the first sealing part (42),

wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed in any order.

25. The method of claim 24, including extruding the first sealing part (42).

26. The method of claim 24 or 25, including extruding the second sealing part (44).

27. The method of claim 24,25 or 26, including extruding a clip (56) substantially

continuously around said one of the opening and the closure member and attaching the

first sealing part (42) to the clip (56).