Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2002-01-01
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
C296S216090, C049S476100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06334646
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a movable roof panel or opening and closing an opening in the roof of an automobile. More specifically, the present invention relates to a drainage structure that discharged water from a space between the panel and a weather strip.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, an opening is formed in a roof
2
of an automobile. A movable roof panel, or a sliding roof panel
1
, closes the opening. A weather strip
5
is attached to the periphery of the sliding panel
1
. The weather strip
5
prevents air and water from passing through a space between the sliding panel
1
and the edge of the opening when the automobile is running.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the sliding panel
1
includes a transparent window
13
and a frame
3
. The weather strip
5
is fitted between the frame
3
and the window
13
. A groove
14
is formed in the weather strip
5
.
When the transparent panel
13
is made of synthetic resin, the thermal expansion coefficient of the window
13
differs greatly from that of the metal frame
3
. Therefore, the window
13
is expanded and deformed by heat. To permit the thermal deformation of the window
13
, a clearance
14
a
is formed between the window
13
and the weather strip
5
.
However, this weakens the seal between the weather strip
5
and the window
13
. Water sometimes enters the clearance
14
a
between the weather strip
5
and the window
13
. To drain water from the clearance
14
a
, a drainpipe
15
is formed in the weather strip
5
. The drainpipe
15
is connected to the clearance
14
a
and extends downward. The drainpipe
15
drains water from the clearance
14
a
to a trough
12
.
A space
8
is formed along the entire periphery of the weather strip
5
to obtain the appropriate elasticity. An air hole (not shown) for releasing air in the space
8
is formed at a certain location on the weather strip
5
.
If the cross-sectional shape of the weather strip
5
were entirely uniform, the entire weather strip
5
could be fully formed by extrusion. However, in the prior art, the drainpipe is independently formed and is then attached to the extrusion portion of the weather strip
5
. Accordingly, another mold for making the drainpipe
15
is necessary. Also, the frame
3
includes a through hole such that the drainpipe extends downward. Therefore, the manufacture and assembly of the product shown in
FIG. 3
is complicated.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the drainpipe
15
projects from an inner part of the weather strip
5
, in other words, from a location located inward from the edge of the opening. Therefore, the trough
12
must extend inward from the edge of the opening. This narrows the opening. Also, when the sliding panel
1
is opened, the sliding panel
1
is moved downward first and is then inclined and moved rearward. Then, the sliding panel
1
is accommodated between a ceiling panel and the roof
2
. When the sliding panel
1
is moved downward, the weather strip
5
is pushed upward by the friction between the panel
13
and the weather strip
5
, which is may detach the weather strip
5
from the frame
3
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of the present invention is to provide a movable roof that is easily installed and has a drain structure maximizing the actual opening of the roof the vehicle.
To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a weather strip to be attached to the periphery of a plate and a frame. The weather strip includes a hollow space, a first groove for engaging the plate, a through hole connecting the first groove to the hollow space, and a drain hole extending downward from the hollow space.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
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patent: 5516186 (1996-05-01), Scherf et al.
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patent: 5-185839 (1993-07-01), None
patent: 405185839 (1993-07-01), None
patent: 6-23811 (1994-03-01), None
Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Pedder Dennis H.
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