Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-11
2001-09-11
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
C049S489100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286898
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to sunroof assemblies for motor vehicles and more particularly to a vehicle sunroof structure having an integral weatherstrip mounting flange.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Background Art
Numerous sunroof assemblies have been developed that employ a weatherstrip holder to retain a resilient weatherstrip to the perimeter of a sunroof panel. The devices shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B
are illustrative of the known arrangements in that they include a weatherstrip holder
2
which is bonded to the sunroof panel
4
. The weatherstrip holder
2
typically includes a lip
6
which is spaced apart from the sunroof panel
4
and which terminates at a barb
8
. The lip
6
and the barb
8
are configured to securely engage an attachment groove
10
formed in a weatherstrip
12
to thereby permit the weatherstrip
12
to be fixedly coupled to the sunroof panel
4
.
While such arrangements permit the generation of an effective seal around the perimeter of the sunroof panel, several drawbacks have been noted with these arrangements. One of the significant drawbacks concerns the cost of these arrangements. The tooling and labor associated with the fabricating and bonding of the weatherstrip holder to the sunroof panel often represents a significant portion of the overall cost of a sunroof assembly.
Another drawback concerns the fact that the use of a separate weatherstrip holder creates an additional joint (i.e., the joint between the weatherstrip holder and the sunroof panel) which, if the bond between the sunroof panel and the weatherstrip holder fails, presents a path through which water and noise could infiltrate the vehicle passenger compartment. While failures of the bond between the weatherstrip holder and the sunroof panel are relatively rare, they are extremely difficult to detect due to the fact that the integrity of such joints is usually established through a destructive test wherein the bonded weatherstrip holder is physically removed from the sunroof panel.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a sunroof assembly having a sunroof panel structure with an integrally formed weatherstrip mounting flange which permits the overall cost of the sunroof assembly to be reduced and which improves the integrity of the seal between the sunroof panel structure and a vehicle body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a sunroof panel structure having an integrally formed weatherstrip mounting flange.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for forming a sunroof panel structure having an integrally formed weatherstrip mounting flange.
In one preferred form, the present invention provides a sunroof panel structure for substantially closing a sunroof aperture in a vehicle. The sunroof panel structure includes a sunroof panel member having a plurality of edges or sides and a weatherstrip mounting flange. The weatherstrip mounting flange and the sunroof panel member are unitarily formed such that the weatherstrip mounting flange is coupled to or forms at least one of the plurality of edges. The weatherstrip mounting flange is configured to receive a weatherstrip seal a member without the use of adhesives or other bonding agents or mechanisms. A method for forming a sunroof assembly for an automotive vehicle is also provided.
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Matsuyama Shuji
Mori Eiji
Oka Masashi
Shikada Akira
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
Pedder Dennis H.
Vuteq Corporation
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