Movable or removable closures – Safety means responsive to obstruction to closure – Sensing shoe on leading edge
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-28
2001-05-22
Redman, Jerry (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Safety means responsive to obstruction to closure
Sensing shoe on leading edge
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233872
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a weatherseal for sealing a powered closing device, more particularly for sealing automotive sunroofs, including an elastomeric hollow profile comprising a substantially planar base portion and a mounted domed profile portion circumscribing a hollow chamber.
One such weatherseal is known from DE 43 08 215 C1. This known weatherseal is conceived as a weatherstrip for a rigid lid in a vehicular roof. This weatherseal is configured with a hollow profile comprising a substantially planar base portion and a mounted domed profile portion circumscribing a hollow chamber. Weatherstrips of this kind find application more particularly in sunroofs and seal off the gap between sunroof and roof aperture. To define the weatherseal an appendage is provided in the base portion positively engaging a frame defined at the lid.
Where powered closing devices, more particularly electric automotive sunroofs, are concerned, there is a risk of bodily injury due to trapping on closure of such devices. Anti-trap guards are thus known to prevent such trapping injuries in the case of of powered closing device.
In DE 43 29 535 A1 an anti-trap guard for a powered closing device is described which consists of an extruded elastomeric hollow profile comprising spaced coextruded conductive portions in which metallic conductors are integrated to reduce the resistance. The conductive portions, serving as contact elements, are obtained by admixing conductive material to the elastomeric material. In this context it is known to apply the anti-trap guard as a separate part or integrally in material combination with the weatherseal. In a trapping situation the contact elements are brought together to thus activate a switching action in controlling the drive assembly of the closing device.
Described in EP 405 351 B1 is an anti-trap guard comprising a hollow profile with a hollow chamber. Provided in the hollow profile are coextruded conductive portions configured as strip-like protuberances jutting into the hollow chamber. In the base portion a companion contact surface area is provided which is likewise configured as a coextruded conductive portion. Such an anti-trap guard is designed for powered systems such as shutter gates and weldmesh shutters, aerial work access platforms and the like and is not intended as a weatherseal. In a trapping situation the contact elements configured as strip-like protuberances are brought into contact with the companion contact surface area in bridging the hollow chamber, activating a switching pulse for the drive assembly of the closing device.
The invention is based on the object of proposing a weatherseal of the aforementioned kind in which an anti-trap guard is integrated without detrimenting the sealing function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve this object it is proposed for a weatherseal of the aforementioned kind in accordance with the invention to provide at the base portion or at the domed profile portion two contact elements spaced away from each other configured as coextruded electrically conductive profile portions separated from each other by insulating profile portions, that the contact elements are oriented in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile and protrude into the hollow chamber, that the contact elements are assigned an electrically conductive contact surface area arranged at the inner side of the profile portion or at the base portion, the contact surface area being configured as the coextruded electrically conductive profile portion and that the contact of the contact elements and/or of the contact surface area together with the contact elements activate a switching action for controlling the drive assembly of the closing device.
The weatherseal in accordance with the invention is characterized by it providing a sufficient flexure for the sealing function despite the integrated anti-trap guard so that the latter does not detriment the sealing function of the weatherseal. In a parallel trapping situation of the weatherseal in accordance with the invention the contact surface area is brought into contact with the contact elements protruding into the hollow chamber to thus activate the switching action. In a slanted trapping situation contacting is made either via the contact surface area or by bringing the two contact elements together, depending on the angle of attack. It is this contacting procedure differing as a function of the angle of attack that ensures a sufficient flexing to satisfy the sealing function. Furthermore, the weatherseal in accordance with the invention is characterized by it being simple to manufacture since it may be fabricated as a one-part coextrusion, this one-part structure also resulting in a long life since the contact elements are materially integrated.
In this arrangement the contact elements may be arranged either on the base surface area or at the inner side of the domed profile portion.
The weatherseal in accordance with the invention is conceived more particularly for sealing automotive sunroofs, although, of course, it may also find application as a weatherstrip for doors or trunk lids and the like.
Advantageous aspects of the invention read from the sub-claims.
To advantage the contact elements comprise an approximately L-shaped cross-sectional shape and are arranged mirror-inversely to each other.
To reduce the insulation resistance it is good practice to embed a full-length metallic conductor in the contact elements and/or the contact surface area.
To advantage, the metallic conductors are arranged in a plane located parallel to a fastening surface area of the base portion, so as to avoid material stress in a wrap-around configuration.
To advantage, the conducting profile portions are produced by admixing electrically conductive material to the elastomeric material, carbon black, graphite or powdered metal being applicable as the conductive material.
In another aspect it is proposed to provide the outer side of the mounted profile portion flaked.
In yet another aspect a fastener, to advantage a sticky tape, is provided at the outer side of the base portion.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4273974 (1981-06-01), Miller
patent: 5459962 (1995-10-01), Bonne et al.
patent: 5834719 (1998-11-01), Kaji et al.
patent: 6125591 (2000-10-01), Schmidhuber et al.
Ahmad Rashid
Glagow Klaus
Westerhoff Bernd
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Metzeler Automotive Profiles GmbH
Redman Jerry
Salai Esq. Stephen B.
Shaw Esq. Brian B.
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