Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-08
2001-12-25
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
C296S213000, C296S216020, C049S476100, C049S484100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332645
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a sealing arrangement for the gap between adjacent cover edges of two adjustable cover elements which lie one behind the other in their closed position, i.e., cover elements of a motor vehicle sliding roof, sliding and lifting roof, spoiler roof, louvered roof or the like, with a sealing element which is elastic, at least in areas, and which is attached to a cover element in the gap area.
2. Description of Related Art
In a known sealing arrangement of the type to which the invention is directed (German Patent DE 44 43 525 C1), the sealing element is located on a water drain of the cover element which is the rear, and this sealing element has an elastically bendable sealing section which is molded on in one piece, and which can be moved by an impact edge of the cover element which is forward of it, depending on the opening and closing motion thereof, between a relieved rest position which is raised upwardly and which forms a splash-proofing, and a loaded position which covers over the drain. In the case of the known sealing arrangement, proceeding from the closed position of the cover elements, the front cover element with its impact edge is raised relative to the rear cover element or vice versa, the rear cover element with its drain is lowered relative to the front cover element. But, it is not possible, proceeding from the closed position, to raise the rear cover element with its drain relative to the front cover element or to lower the front cover element with its impact edge relative to the rear cover element. As a result of the configuration of the sealing arrangement, therefore, the mutual adjustability of the cover elements is limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to devise a sealing arrangement which can be used in a more versatile manner and which especially allows, proceeding from the closed position of the cover elements, selectively raising or lowering one cover element with its edge facing the other cover element and/or the other cover element with its edge facing the one cover element.
This object is achieved, proceeding from a sealing arrangement of the initially mentioned type, by a sealing element, which is elastic at least in areas, being attached in the same way to the other cover element in the gap area, by the two sealing elements being located along the cover edges of the two cover elements and overlapping one another to form a seal in the closed position of the cover elements in the gap area, and by the elasticity and shape of the sealing elements being such that the sealing elements allow mutual tilting and/or vertical adjustment movements of the two cover elements.
When using the sealing arrangement in accordance with the invention, the adjacent cover edges of two cover elements can be raised up completely independently of one another from the closed position or lowered down while in the closed position, yet fault-free sealing of the gap between the adjacent cover edges is ensured. For operation of the sealing system, it also makes no difference which of the two cover elements is moved first into the closed position.
Preferably, the two sealing elements are made at least roughly mirror-image identical.
In another embodiment of the invention, the overlapping parts of the sealing elements are made elastic.
The overlapping parts of the sealing elements can run essentially in directions parallel to the extension of the cover elements. In particular, they can be arched or kinked. Each of the sealing elements can advantageously be attached in the conventional manner (above mentioned German Patent DE 44 43 525 C1) to a gutter which fits under the respective cover edge in the closed position of the associated cover element, and which for its part, is connected to the pertinent cover element. Instead of or additionally, each of the sealing elements itself can form an elastic gutter which fits under the respective cover edge in the closed position of the corresponding cover element.
Auxiliary seals can be attached to each of the cover edges themselves.
According to a modified embodiment of the invention, each of the sealing elements can form an elastic gutter which projects above the respective cover edge in the direction toward the adjacent cover edge.
The part of the sealing elements which forms the gutter is preferably concavely curved.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4729596 (1988-03-01), Fujihara et al.
patent: 5197779 (1993-03-01), Mizuno et al.
patent: 5836642 (1998-11-01), Salz
patent: 3100757 (1981-12-01), None
patent: 44 43 525 (1996-02-01), None
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Pedder Dennis H.
Safran David S.
Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
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