Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-13
2001-07-17
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C296S107040, C049S480100, C049S490100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260906
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a sealing system having at least one sealing profile section for the roof frame of an automobile having at least one movable, frameless window.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A known sealing system of this type (shown in German utility model DE 296 21 997 U1 of the applicant) does not yet offer sufficient freedom for the optimum design of the profile strip.
One carrier rail which is not divided longitudinally is known from German utility model DE 295 09 880 U1 of the applicant. One area of the carrier rail facing the roof connecting bar is provided with an elastomer layer. A sealing lip of a one-piece elastomer profile strip protrudes in each case from a limb of the carrier rail into a concave side of the sealing profile.
A U-shaped holding rail which is not divided longitudinally is known per se from published German Patent Application DE 195 31 600 A1, wherein a sealing section is attached fixedly adhering in each case to the limbs of the holding rail. Each sealing section comprises a sealing lip which extends as far as the window.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to achieve greater freedom for designing the profile strip.
This object is achieved by forming a sealing profile section having a profile strip which is reinforced by a reinforcement and consists of at least one elastomer. The profile strip cooperates in a sealing manner with the window. The reinforcement is formed as a pre-fabricated synthetic material injection molded part and is provided with the profile strip on at least a part of its surface in a forming tool. The reinforcement has a substantially U-shaped cross section, with a base and limbs extending from the base, almost over its total length. The sealing system is formed in a three dimensional manner and can be fixed to connection parts of the roof frame with attachment elements. The reinforcement and the profile strip are longitudinally partitioned in the region of the base in each case in to piece parts. Each reinforcement piece part is provided in the forming tool separately with the associated profile strip piece part.
Such sealing systems are used in particular with hardtops or coupés or with a folding roof cover for cabriolets. The longitudinal division provides the opportunity for each reinforcing piece part and the associated profile strip piece part to be designed and formed in an optimum manner. These two components are finally joined together and fixed by means of the attachment elements to the associated connection part. In an advantageous manner, after the components have been joined together, they are placed into a forming tool, in which an end cap is formed as one on at least one end face of each sealing profile section. Details relating to this latter feature are evident in the aforementioned German utility model DE 296 21 997 U1. Each of the components is formed in a three-dimensional manner without any internal stress in a dimensionally-stable and optimum manner from a reinforcing piece part and a profile strip piece part. The sealing system joining the two components also has these characteristics which are ideal as far as the dimensions are concerned and which guarantee that the sealing system is mounted on the motor vehicle with a precise fit, in a manner which can be reproduced and can be performed in a particularly rapid manner. The fact that the sealing system is provided in two parts means that it is possible for the two components to be adjusted relative to each other in the transverse direction and only then are they to be attached to the associated connection part of the roof frame using the attachment elements. In this manner, any peculiarities of the installation arrangement can be taken into consideration and the optimum relative position of the profile strip piece parts can be secured.
To simplify and improve the mounting process of each sealing profile section the reinforcement piece part can be mounted along a partition joint in contact with each other.
The handling of the sealing system is also made easier by fixing the reinforcement piece parts to each other, even for a possible attachment of end caps.
The piece parts are preferably fixed in the partition joint by means of adhesive. The adhesive can be applied over a surface-area or only in spots.
The piece parts may also be fixed by welding. The welding process is preferably performed in the form of a spot-welding process. This is quite sufficient because in any case it is only intended that the two components of the sealing system be fixed in position relative to each other and held in this position until the entire sealing system is fixed by means of the attachment elements to the associated connection part.
The components can be secured to one another through the use of spigots on one reinforcing piece part inserted and secured in an orifice in the other reinforcement piece part. Preferably there is a comparatively tight fit between the spigot and the orifice.
As an alternative, a form-locking fixing arrangement can also be achieved if a free end of each spigot is formed behind the other reinforcement piece part into a head, the cross section of the head being larger than the cross section of the associated orifice.
The two components of the sealing system may be joined together in a precise fit at the partition joint through the use of a profiling for centering the reinforment piece parts relative to each other.
Having a free longitudinal edge of one reinforcement piece part engaging a longitudinal groove of the other reinforcement piece part and locking the free longitudinal edge within the longitudinal groove by means of a latching connection in a form-locking manner ensures that the two components of the sealing system are joined together in a reliable and tight-fitting manner.
Allowing the reinforcement piece parts to be placed one above the other along the partition joint and to be fixed to each other and to the connection part by means of attachment elements makes it possible to adjust the two components of the sealing system in a transverse manner and in a relative manner with respect to each other, prior to the sealing system being attached by means of the attachment elements to the connection part of the roof frame.
To provide an excellent sealing arrangement between the sealing system and the connection part of the roof frame the reinforcement piece part facing the connection part is provided on a surface facing the connection part with a layer of the associated profile strip piece part.
This sealing effect is further improved if required by providing the layer with a sealing lip in the region of at least one of its longitudinal edges, the sealing lip cooperating with the connection part.
Each profile strip piece part comprises a sealing lip associated with a limb, and formed as one in the region of its free end. To avoid the unfavorable visual impression caused by a gap between the sealing lips when the window is disposed outside the sealing system the view into the interior space of the sealing system is blocked by allowing the free ends of the sealing system to overlap each other in a transverse manner with respect to a movement direction of the window. When the window is inserted into the sealing system the free ends lie, in each case, on a side of the window.
Biasing the free ends of the sealing lips against each other makes it impossible for dust and foreign bodies to penetrate into the inside of the sealing system when the window is disposed outside the sealing system.
Providing a stop bead on the reinforcing piece part disposed towards the outer side of the motor vehicle for engaging an outer side of the window inserted into the sealing system limits the extent to which the closed window can move towards the outside if a negative pressure is exerted on the outer side on the window when the vehicle is travelling at high speeds.
Positioning at least one stiffening rib within an interior space of the substantially U-shaped cross section of the sealing system provides addi
Coletta Lori L.
Dayoan D. Glenn
Meteor Gummiwerke K. H. Bädge GmbH & Co.
Synnestvedt & Lechner LLP
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