ZA200302495B - Use a glazing comprising a profiled string rim for its installation in a recess. - Google Patents

Description

Use of a window glass comprising a profiled bead for installing it in an opening

The invention relates to the field of window glass, particularly for motor vehicles, and is aimed more specifically at window glasses equipped with decorative and/or functional elements attached to the glass. It relates more especially to a window glass, particularly for installation in an opening in vehicle bodywork, comprising a sheet of glass with a profiled bead which is fixed at least to the main surface of the sheet of glass facing toward the interior in the installed state. This bead may, by way of covering appendage, comprise a lip projecting beyond the edge of the window glass with a sealing rib which can be applied against an adjacent wall part when the window glass is being installed.

It is generally known practice for vehicle window glass to be bonded into the respective openings in the vehicle bodywork. To that end, the window glasses are often provided with a profiled bead, which adheres at least to their main surface facing toward the interior, in the installed state. A run of adhesive is applied to the profiled bead and/or near to it on this same main surface. The window glass provided with the run of adhesive is then inserted into the opening. The latter is surrounded by a mounting flange, to which the run of adhesive is applied. Window glasses in the installed state have preferably to lie practically flush with the external surface of the bodywork. For that, the mounting flange is recessed with respect to the main surface of the bodywork by means of a peripheral angled step. The height of the angled step corresponds to the thickness of the window glass and of the adhesive. In certain embodiments, the edge faces of the window glass are not covered by the profiled bead. As the dimensions of the window glass and the periphery of the opening cannot be matched to one another without tolerance, because of dimensional variations in manufacture, a space remains, in the form of a groove, between the angled step or the edge of the opening and the window glass.

According to document DE-A1-38 18 930, there is provided, for covering this space, a lip which is formed directly on the profiled bead bonded to the window, for example by extrustion. In another alternative form of the embodiment of the same document, an additional profiled strip made of a flexible elastomeric plastic is bonded along the peripheral surface of the window on the main surface that faces toward the interior. This profiled strip has a tubular portion, which fills said space when the window glass is in the mounted state.

A shape of profile is also known (from DE-A1-43 01 026), which on three sides surrounds the external edge and the edge face of the window in one embodiment, that is to say also on the external main surface, and which further comprises a lip projecting from the window glass and serving to cover the lateral slot.

Thermoplastics, preferably thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) or thermoplastic olefins (TPO) have mainly been used hitherto as materials for such profiles. With these, the lip can be manufactured so that it is already thin enough at the extrusion stage, so that it can be flexed elastically against the edge of the opening when the window glass is installed in the bodywork without generating excessively high reactive forces during the mounting. In addition to its sealing function, the lip centers the window glass in the opening during insertion and keeps the window glass centered.

Now, dirt can still build up in the space thus covered by the folded-over lip, and can be removed from the bottom of the groove only with difficulty. The space which thus remains is in general actually greater than 7 millimeters and allows a great deal of dirt in. :

The object of the invention is a new type of mounting for a window glass comprising a profiled bead that avoids the aforementioned drawbacks and requires no finishing strip to cover part of the window glass.

This object has been achieved according to the invention by a window glass which is designed in particular to be installed by adhesive bonding in an opening of a motor vehicle bodywork, comprising a sheet of glass with a profiled bead which is fixed at least to the main surface of the sheet of glass facing toward the interior in the installed state and which rests against at least half of the opening, the space visible, after installation, between the opening and the edge face of the window glass being less than 5 millimeters and preferably less than 3 millimeters.

The "edge face of the window glass" is to be understood as meaning either the edge face of the window itself or, if the profiled bead covers it, the corresponding portion of the bead. The profiled bead according to the invention may be a continuous or discontinuous element and may be a single or multiple element, that is to say may consist of at least two practically parallel parts deposited at the periphery of the sheet of glass.

The invention thus makes it possible to obtain closure flush with the main surface of the window and with the adjacent wall or bodywork surface. In addition to the technical advantages afforded, this then visually yields a practically closed surface. The techanical advantages are essentially the fact that the visible space between the bodywork opening and the window glass is reduced and that all risks of said region becoming soiled are prevented.

The embodiment according to the invention has been made possible by the choice that the inventors made to go against the precautions usually taken ; the inventors actually chose to reduce the space between the window glass and the opening and were able to demonstrate that, contrary to that which might be expected by the person skilled in the art, the technique according to the invention was acceptable and did not run the risk of damaging the window glass.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the profile is designed to limit the expansion, particularly the lateral expansion, of a bead of adhesive. The shape of the profiled bead is thus advantageously designed to prevent the adhesive which will be used to fix the window glass into the bodywork opening, from spreading excessively and disrupting the field of view of the window glass. This shape also advantageously makes it possible to define the spacing between the window glass and the bottom of the bodywork opening and therefore allow predetermined positioning in at least one direction. The shape of the bead thus defined will also make it possible to predetermine the amount of adhesive needed to fix the window glass and therefore guarantee that the window glass is firmly secured and make it easier for operations to be automated.

According to a first alternative form of embodiment of the invention, the bead of adhesive at least partially covers the profiled bead. According to this alternative form of embodiment and, in particular, depending on the nature of the profiled bead and on the nature of the bead of adhesive, the securing of the window glass is reinforced by the binding of said two beads. In one embodiment according to this alternative form, the bead of adhesive is wholly deposited on the profiled bead and their binding is therefore directly associated with the securing of the window glass. Advantageously, in the latter case, the invention envisages combining, for the binding of the two beads, the forces of bonding and the forces of mechanical attachment ; to do this, the profiled bead preferably has anchoring projections.

These projections accommodate the bead of adhesive which, after curing, is mechanically held. Advantageously also in such a case, the invention envisages obtaining no adhesion between the two beads ; such an embodiment may make it easier for the window glass to be removed if need be. Indeed, if the mechanical binding between the two beads is of the nesting type, removal is then easy.

In other cases, where the bead of adhesive at least partially covers the profiled bead and, in particular, when the sheet of glass comprises at least two sides which have curvatures with small radii of curvature, the profiled bead is produced with a slope such that its surface is inclined downward from its edge oriented toward the center of the window glass toward its other edge positioned at the edge of the sheet of glass. Such an embodiment applies more particularly to windshields or back lights, the lateral approach angles of which are small. This type of embodiment will make it easier for the bead of adhesive to be deposited subsequently by robot ; what happens is that the slope of the profiled bead with respect to the plane of the window glass in this region allows the plane of depositing of the bead of adhesive to be straightened up in the direction of the horizontal when the window glass is resting on its center of the convex side.

According to another alternative form of embodiment of the invention, the bead of adhesive does not in any way cover the profiled bead. The only contact between the two beads is then possibly associated with the fact that the profiled bead may be designed to limit the lateral expansion of the bead of adhesive.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the profiled bead has, over at least part of its length, a lip which projects beyond the edge of the window glass. Such a lip is advantageously made so that it is deformable or flexible.

These features give it mechanical properties which will allow said lip to perform different functions. First of all, when the lip is over all or part of at least two sides of the window glass, it will act as a centering tool for positioning the window glass correctly in the bodywork opening. For example also, in the case where the lip is provided on the upper part of the window glass along all or part of the length of the profile and when the bottom of the window glass rests on stops, said lip may supply a reactive force against the bodywork opening facing it, which guarantees that there will be a defined space between the bodywork opening and the window glass. Furthermore, the lip prevents any risk of contact between the sheet of glass and the bodywork and therefore any risk of damaging the sheet of glass.

The lip thus produced may also have a function of sealing between the opening and the window glass ; what happens is that the lip will bend in one direction or the other, as chosen, and will press against the opening. The pressure thus exerted is enough to guarantee a good seal. For this function, the lip is advantageously provided along at least three sides of the window glass ; it is not actually essential for it to be present on the bottom part of the window glass when the latter is installed.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for a solid wire to be incorporated into the bead of adhesive or into the profiled bead.

This wire has the purpose of making the window glass easier to remove if need be, and in particular, to allow materials to be recycled.

Such a bead is inserted for example into or under the bead of adhesive when the latter is produced, taking care to let at least one end of this wire protrude. It will thus be possible when the window glass is in place to grasp hold of this end, possibly using a tool, then, by pulling on the wire, possibly also using a tool, to break the bead of adhesive.

Such a device making it possibie to break the bead of adhesive or the profiled bead is practically essential in the context of the invention if the window glass is to be removed. What happens is that the space visible between the window glass and the bodywork opening, which space is smalier than 5 millimeters, does not allow a cutting tool in and, in any case, would not allow such a tool to be operated.

Indeed, only the case mentioned previously whereby the binding between the window glass and the bodywork is of purely mechanical nature when the profiled bead has anchoring projections would allow the window glass to be removed without entailing a device such as a cutting wire. However, it should be noted that the combination of such a wire with this mounting exhibiting only mechanical retaining means is envisaged by the invention ; in this case, it is no longer truly a cutting wire but a wire which provides assistance with disengaging the bead of adhesive and the profiled bead.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least two wires are incorporated into the bead of adhesive or the profiled bead. The wires are then preferably positioned some distance from one another so that each of them has only to slit through part of the bead of adhesive. The forces needed for this operation are therefore reduced.

Means in particular for fitting such wires are, for example, described in patent applications EP-A-0 121 480 and EP-A-0 298 788.

Still according to this same principle of incorporating an element into the bead of adhesive or into the profiled bead or alternatively at least incorporating an element between the profiled bead and the bead of adhesive, the invention advantageously envisages fitting a sheath into which another element can then be inserted. This may then be a cutting wire or alternatively another type of element having a different function.

One advantageous embodiment of the invention envisages a profiled bead made of a two-part material. It is, for example, a polyurethane. The choice of such a material has the advantage of being able to exhibit excellent compatibility with the adhesive which will be used, it easily being possible for this adhesive to be chosen from a similar kind.

Another embodiment according to the invention envisages producing the profiled bead from a thermoplastic. Such material in particular has the advantage of being easy to recycle, which is often a requirement. As regards its compatibility with the adhesive, this is not always simpie to obtain. When it proves necessary, particularly when the bead of adhesive at least partially covers the profiled bead made of a thermoplastic, the surface of the latter is then advantageously coated beforehand with an adhesion primer.

In both instances, the means of producing the profiled bead are varied.

According to a first type of embodiment, the invention advantageously envisages obtaining the profiled bead directly by extrusion onto the surface of the sheet of glass. Advantageously in the case of a profile made of a thermoplastic, the extrusion device and, in particular, the extrusion head and piping are heated.

In an alternative form of embodiment, the profiled bead and the bead of adhesive are co-extruded directly onto the sheet of glass with a bead of adhesive which remains plastically deformable and adhesive until the window glass is fitted into the bodywork opening.

According to a second type of embodiment of the invention, the profiled bead is manufactured beforehand, for example by extrusion, and fixed later to the sheet of glass, for example by adhesive bonding. Such a profile is, for example, made by extrusion in a long length and then cut to the required length for a given window glass and fixed to it. To fix it, it is possible to adhesively bond it, for example by providing a perforated profile, it being possible for the adhesive to pass through the holes and come into contact with the sheet of glass and thus secure the profile firmly.

According to a last embodiment of the invention, the profile is obtained using an encapsulation technique.

According to any of these techniques of obtaining the profiled bead, said profiled bead is produced on the internal face of the window glass, when the latter is fixed into the bodywork opening, but it may still cover part of the edge face of the glass window and/or cover part of the external face of the window glass.

The profiled bead and/or the bead of adhesive may be in direct contact with the glass or in contact with an opaque layer, such as an enameled coating, itself deposited onto the glass.

As regards the window glass, this consists of at least one sheet of glass and may therefore consist of a iaminated window giass.

The invention also proposes a window glass consisting in particular of a sheet of glass comprising a profiled bead and in particular intended to be fixed by adhesive bonding into a bodywork opening and which can, in particular, allow use as described previously and for example be fixed in such a way that the space visible after mounting between the window glass and the bodywork opening is smaller than 5 millimeters.

Other advantageous details and features of the invention will be become apparent hereinafter from the exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to figures 1 to 3 which depict: o figure 1, a diagram illustrating a window glass for an embodiment of the invention, o figure 2, a diagram illustrating another window glass for an embodiment according to the invention, e figure 3, a diagram of an embodiment according to the invention using another window glass.

Figure 1 depicts a window glass consisting of a sheet of glass 1 provided with a profiled bead 2 adhering near its edge to one of its main surfaces, which will be the interior surface once the window glass has been installed in a bodywork opening.

The profiled bead 2 can be deposited directly onto the surface of the sheet of glass 1 or, as illustrated here, onto a coating 3, such as an enameled layer deposited by screen printing. The profiled bead 2 is deposited preferably by extrusion or by some other method such as overmolding or encapsulation, adhesive bonding of a prefabricated bead, etc. It is made of a thermoplastic, preferably an elastomer or a blend of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) or thermoplastic olefin(s) (TPO(s)). It may also be a two-part material such as a polurethane.

The sheet of glass 1 may consist of glass or of a transparent plastic and may be produced monolithically or, unlike the illustration, with a laminated structure combining at least two sheets of glass and/or transparent plastic.

The profiled bead 2 essentially comprises a base profile resting on a main surface of the sheet of glass. This profile projects pratically at right angles from the surface of the sheet of glass 1 and, at its free end, forms a bearing rib 4. The latter, in the installed position, finds itself against a mounting flange of a bodywork opening and will, upon mounting, define the position of the window glass in the bodywork opening in terms of the depth to which it is set in said opening. Co

In the embodiment depicted, the profiled bead 2 adheres only to the main surface of the sheet of glass 1 intended to face toward the interior. As an alternative, it may cover two or three faces of the sheet of glass, namely a main surface and at least part of the edge face of said sheet of glass or, respectively, the two main surfaces and the edge face of the sheet of glass, straddling the edge of the latter.

Figure 2 illustrates another type of window glass consisting, as before, of a sheet of glass 5 but which, as already stated, could be a sheet of plastic or a laminated window glass. A profiled bead 6 produced according to one of the previously mentioned methods of one of the materials mentioned is fixed to the sheet of glass 5 or, more precisely, to an opaque layer 7, itself deposited on at the periphery of the sheet of glass 5.

This figure 2 also depicts the bead of adhesive 8 which is deposited on the profile 6. This bead of adhesive could, in other types of embodiment, be deposited directly on the sheet of glass 5 or the opaque layer 7, or alternatively could partially cover the profiled bead 6. This bead of adhesive 8 is deposited between two bearing ribs 9 which will limit the expansion of the adhesive on each side, and define the distance separating the bottom of the bodywork opening from the window glass.

The profiled bead 6 additionally comprises a lip 10 projecting beyond the edge of the window glass.

The lip 10, formed of one piece, projects from the base profile 6 at a certain angle with respect to the main extension of the latter, possibly practically parallel to the main surface of the sheet of glass, more or less mid-way between the sheet of glass 5 and the bearing ribs 9, and extends beyond the periphery of the sheet of glass 5.

In this configuration, the lip 10 may have different functions. It advantageously forms an elastically deformable part of the profiled bead 6. The lip 10 can thus be deformed upon installation in the bodywork opening and act as a centering element. It of course also has a function of protecting the sheet of glass 5 because it prevents any violent contact between said sheet of glass and the metal parts of the bodywork opening. Furthermore, the lip 10 may also have a sealing function because it is applied under great pressure against the bodywork opening ; its deformation may at the very least make it possible to form channels for discharging rain or washing water. The functions of this lip will be discussed again during the description of figure 3.

Figure 2 again depicts a cutting wire 11 incorporated into the profile 6. Such a wire could even be fitted in the bead of adhesive or between the two beads. At least one end needs to be left free so that, after mounting, it can be grasped by an operator, possibly using a tool. A tensile force can then allow either the bead of adhesive 8 or the profiled bead 6, as in the case of figure 2, to be cut.

Figure 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment according to the invention of the mounting of a window glass 12 comprising a profiled bead 13 in a bodywork opening 14, using a bead of adhesive 15. Also visible here in addition to a window glass 12 and a profiled bead 13 is the edge of an opening 14 in bodywork which is not further illustrated. The window glass 12 is connected by adhesion to the bodywork upright 14 by means of a bead of adhesive 15 applied to the profiled bead 13. It is also possible to see lips 16 which extend the profiled bead 13 so as to project beyond the edge of the window glass 12 in their deformed state. Figure 3 also clearly shows the various functions that the lip may have, particularly the centering, sealing and water run-off functions.

v 10

In this mounted state, the external main surface of the window glass 12 is practically flush with the external surface of the bodywork. Furthermore, according to the invention, the space 17 visible between the bodywork opening and the window glass has a size smaller than 5 millimeters.

By comparison with the earlier configurations for the mounting of such window glasses there is obtained here a space between the window glass and the bodywork opening which makes it possible to avoid the presence of dirt.

Furthermore, it has been found that the reduction in said space also makes it possible to reduce aerodynamic noise. Another advantage of the embodiment according to the invention is that it affords a very particular visual and attactive appearance, because, to an observer standing a relatively short distance away from the vehicle which has this set-up, the window glass seems to be an uninterrupted continuation of the bodywork.

The detailed description which has just been given relates more particuiarly to a window glass equipped by extrusion with a profiled bead which adheres to a main surface. :

The same teachings apply to profiles obtained by other techniques (encapsulation or adhesive bonding) and/or covering more than one face of the window.

Claims (33)

Claims

1. The use of a window glass, particularly for installation by adhesive bonding in an opening of a vehicle bodywork, comprising a sheet of glass with a profiled bead which is fixed at least to the main surface of the sheet of glass facing toward the interior in the installed state and which rests against at least part of the opening, characterized in that the space visible, after installation, between the opening and the edge face of the window glass is less than 5 mm.

2. The use of a window glass as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the profiled bead limits the lateral expansion of a bead of adhesive.

3. The use of a window glass as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the profiled bead is at least partially covered by a bead of adhesive.

4. The use of a window glass as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the profiled bead has a slope with respect to the plane of the window glass in the region where said bead is fixed.

5. The use of a window glass as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the profiled bead has anchoring projections.

6. The use of a window glass as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the profiled bead has, over at least part of its length, a lip which projects beyond the edge of the window glass.

7. The use of a window glass as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a solid wire, used if necessary as a cutting wire, is incorporated into the bead of adhesive or into the profiled bead.

8. The use of a window glass as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that at least two cutting wires are incorporated into the bead of adhesive or into the profiled bead.

9. The use of a window glass as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sheath is incorporated into the bead of adhesive or into the profiled bead.

10. The use of a window glass as claimed in one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the profiled bead is made of a two-part material.

11. The use of a window glass as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the profiled bead is made of a thermosplastic.

12. The use of a window glass as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the profiled bead is obtained directly by extrusion onto the surface of the sheet of glass.

13. The use of a window glass as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the profiled bead and the bead of adhesive are co-extruded directly onto the sheet of glass and in that at least the bead of adhesive remains plastically deformable and adhesive until the window glass is fitted into the bodywork opening.

14. The use of a window glass as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the profiled bead is manufactured beforehand and fixed to the sheet of giass later, for example by adhesive bonding.

15. The use of a window glass as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the profiled bead is obtained using an encapsulation technique.

16. A window glass, particularly intended to be fixed by adhesive bonding into a bodywork opening and which may in particular be positioned so that it lies flush with the bodywork, leaving only a visible space between the window glass and the bodywork, particularly of the order of 5 millimeters or less than 5 millimeters, comprising a sheet of glass with a profiled bead which is fixed at least to the main surface of the sheet of glass facing toward the interior in the installed state.

17. The window glass as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the profiled bead collaborates, for securing the window glass, with a bead of adhesive, the two beads being superposed, partially overlapping, or being adjacent.

18. The window glass as claimed in claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the profiled bead comprises at least a part has an orientation practically perpendicular to the plane of the window glass in this region to limit the lateral expansion of a bead of adhesive.

19. The window glass as claimed in one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the profiled bead is designed to be at least partially covered by a bead of adhesive.

20. The window glass as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the profiled bead has a slope with respect to the plane of the window glass in the region where said bead is fixed.

21. The window glass as claimed in claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the profiled bead has anchoring projections.

22. The window glass as claimed in any of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that the profiled bead has, over at least part of its length, a lip which projects beyond the edge of the window glass.

23. The window glass as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that over at least part of the profile on at least one side of the window glass, the lip has a rigidity such that it can extert a reactive force against the bodywork opening when said window glass is being mounted in said opening. :

24. The window glass as claimed in claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the profiled bead has a lip along at least two sides of the window glass.

25. The window glass as claimed in any of claims 16 to 24, characterized in that a solid wire, used if necessary as a cutting wire, is incorporated into or onto the profiled bead.

26. The window glass as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that at least two cutting wires are incorporated into or onto the profiled bead.

27. The window glass as claimed in one of claims 16 to 26, characterized in that at least one sheath is incorporated into or onto the profiled bead.

28. The window glass as claimed in one of claims 16 to 27, characterized in that the profiled bead is made of a two-part material.

29. The window glass as claimed in one of claims 16 to 27, characterized in that the profiled bead is made of a thermosplastic.

30. The window glass as claimed in one of claims 16 to 29, characterized in that the profiled bead is obtained directly by extrusion onto the surface of the sheet of glass.

31. The window glass as claimed in one of claims 16 to 30, characterized in that the profiled bead and a bead of adhesive are co-extruded directly onto the sheet of glass and in that at least the bead of adhesive remains plastically deformable and adhesive until the window glass is fitted into the bodywork opening.

32. The window glass as claimed in one of claims 16 to 29, characterized in that the profiled bead is manufactured beforehand and fixed to the sheet of glass later, for example by adhesive bonding.

33. The window glass as claimed in one of claims 16 to 29, characterized in that the profiled bead is obtained using an encapsulation technique.