Patent ID: 6260254
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: B60J,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of assembling and installing a combination B-pillar and belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle door, said combination molding comprising i) a metal cover member having a first portion with a pair of edges and a channel configuration, and a second portion integrally formed with said first portion and extending laterally from said first portion, said second portion constructed and arranged to be mounted on the door to extend vertically and in overlying relation to a B-pillar of said door, (ii) a main body including an elongate resilient window sealing structure constructed and arranged to extend horizontally to seal a belt-line gap between the motor vehicle door and a motor vehicle window carried by said door, and a mounting structure constructed and arranged to mount the main body on a belt-line region of the motor vehicle door with a rigid portion of said mounting structure overlying an exterior surface of said door, said rigid portion having sufficient rigidity such that when one of said edges of said metal cover member is inserted into said edge receiving recess and then said cover member is pivoted generally about said one edge so as to engage an opposite one of said edges of said metal cover member with said rigid portion, applying a force to said cover member to move said opposite edge of said metal cover member in sliding relation across said rigid portion to outwardly flex said cover member, said method comprising:forming said main body by extrusion;placing said one edge of said first portion of said metal cover member in said edge receiving recess of said main body;pivoting said metal cover member generally about said one edge so as to engage said opposite edge of said first portion of said metal cover member with said rigid portion of said mounting structure;applying a force to said cover member to move said opposite edge of said metal cover member in sliding engagement across said rigid portion such that said metal cover member outwardly flexes to an extent sufficient to allow said opposite edge to slide over said rigid portion and such that, after said opposite edge slides over said rigid portion, said cover member flexes back towards its original configuration and into gripping engagement with said rigid member to secure said cover member to said main body; andmounting said main body and said first portion of said cover member on the belt-line region of said door and said integrally formed second portion of said cover member in overlying relation with respect to the B-pillar of said door.