Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-18
2001-12-11
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C296S146900, C049S502000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328373
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to closure members for automotive vehicles and more particularly to a closure member having a frame structure with a molded-on multi-function seal member.
2. Background Art
Modern consumers are demanding vehicles having higher quality and performance and lower costs. One area which has the potential to cause consumers to forgo the purchase of a particular vehicle concerns the quality and performance of the seals on its closure members (e.g., side doors, tailgate). High quality seals inhibit the transmission of wind and road noise, dust and moisture to the interior of the vehicle body, providing the passengers with a quieter and more comfortable environment.
Complex, high performance seals are routinely employed for sealing the closure member to the vehicle body and for sealing a window member to the frame of the closure member. While these configurations have generally been successful at providing a high quality seal, they are typically costly to fabricate and install. Furthermore, defects in the installation of these seals tend to negate a substantial degree of their benefits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a closure member having a high quality seal member which is coupled thereto in an efficient and relatively error-free manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a closure member having a seal member having both a body seal portion and a window seal portion.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for forming a seal member onto the frame structure of a closure member.
In one preferred form, the present invention provides a closure member for a closing an aperture in a vehicle body. The closure member includes a frame structure and a seal member. The frame structure has an upper frame member that defines a window aperture. The seal member is formed onto at least a portion of the frame member and includes a body seal portion and a window seal portion. The body seal portion forms a seal between the vehicle body and at least a portion of the upper frame member. The window seal portion forms a seal between the at least a portion of the upper frame member and a window member that is movable relative to the frame structure. A method for forming a closure member is also provided.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4648208 (1987-03-01), Baldamus et al.
patent: 4956943 (1990-09-01), Yamada et al.
patent: 5139305 (1992-08-01), Kranz et al.
patent: 6039384 (2000-03-01), Schulte et al.
Kansier Earl E.
Mrozowski Joseph E.
Pacella John P.
Carpenter Scott
Gordon Stephen T.
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
The Budd Company
LandOfFree
Encapsulated vehicle door frame does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Encapsulated vehicle door frame, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Encapsulated vehicle door frame will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2579995