Abstract:
An elastomeric web cap ( 15 ) for securing to a web ( 14 ) of a frameless door ( 10 ), more particularly a motor vehicle door ( 10 ). The web cap ( 15 ) is secured to the web ( 14 ) by at least one anchoring element ( 24; 31; 41 ) arranged in the middle of the web cap ( 15 ) to thus make for a reliable anchoring of the web cap ( 15 ) whilst achieving an enhanced overall visual appeal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an elastomeric web cap for securing to a web of a frameless door, more particularly a motor vehicle door. 
     On frameless doors webs are known as a partition element disposed between two panes. A web cap located on the face side of the web serves to seal the door opening. Known web caps are secured to the web by bonding or mounting. The drawback in this arrangement is that no reliable securement of the web cap is attainable. In addition, the web cap overlaps the web and protrudes outwards, spoiling the visual appeal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is thus to provide a web cap which can be reliably secured to the web. 
     In accordance with the invention this object is achieved with a web cap of the aforementioned kind in that the web cap is secured to the web by at least one anchoring element arranged in the middle of the web cap. 
     This anchoring element permits reliable securement of the web cap to the web, any accidental removal or detachment in operation being reliably avoided. An overlap as required hitherto can now be eliminated thus making for a better overall visual appeal. 
     Advantageous aspects and further embodiments of the invention read from the sub-claims. 
     Advantageously, the anchoring element is concealed from the environment. Concealing it in this way may be done by the web cap and/or the web itself so that the anchoring element is not visible from without. This permits making use of anchoring elements which are unalike without spoiling the overall visual appeal. 
     In accordance with one advantageous further embodiment the anchoring element is secured to the web cap, thus reliably excluding any risk of the anchoring element being lost. 
     In a first advantageous aspect the web cap comprises a key engaging undercuts in the web. The key is molded to advantage together with the web cap to thus minimize complications in production. 
     In accordance with another advantageous further embodiment the web is provided with at least one substantially lobed cross-section appendage which is clasped by the web cap. The at least one lobed appendage prevents the web cap from being pulled off, thus achieving an improved fastening. 
     In accordance with a second advantageous aspect the web cap comprises an insert including a latching key for securing to the web. This latching key ensures a reliable securement of the web cap to the web even under heavy-duty conditions. 
     In yet another advantageous further embodiment the latching key comprises a flexible latching tongue for locating a recess in the web. To fit the web cap it is simply mounted on the web and shifted relative thereto until the latching tongue locates the recess, thus eliminating the need for any tool in speedy assembly. 
     Advantageously the insert is vulcanized in place in the web cap, resulting in a high-strength connection between the insert and the web cap. At the same time the insert is captively locked in place in the web cap to thus further simplify warehousing and assembly thereof 
     In accordance with still another advantageous aspect use is made of lightning holes. Said lightning holes reduce the weight of the insert. In addition, locating the insert relative to the web cap is improved by the lightning holes. 
     In accordance with a third advantageous aspect the web cap is covered by a cap which is secured to the web by means of an anchoring element. The web cap is thus reliably held by the cap over the majority of its outer surface or by the entirety thereof. 
     Advantageously the anchoring element penetrates the web cap, the web cap then being held not only at its outer surface by the cap but simultaneously at its inner surface by the anchoring element to thus improve the securement. 
     In still a further advantageous embodiment the cap is made of metal, more particularly of aluminum. Making use of a metal for the cap permits adapting it to the color scheme of the web without variations to the web cap. Furthermore, by adapting it to the color scheme of the web a substantially enhanced overall visual appeal is achieved. 
     In accordance with still another advantageous aspect the anchoring element is secured to a middle portion of the web, this middle portion existing in known webs and serving to stiffen the arrangement, i.e. eliminating the need for any additional component or major alterations to known webs. 
     Advantageously the web cap is flush-fitted at the outer and/or inner surface of the door with the web, thus achieving a smooth outer and/or inner surface which substantially enhances the visual appeal. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be detailed by way of example embodiments as shown schematically in the drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a door; 
     FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line II—II in FIG. 1 shown magnified; 
     FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a first embodiment of the web cap in accordance with the invention;. 
     FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line IV—IV in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of a second embodiment of the web cap in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line VI—VI in FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of a third embodiment of the web cap in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a schematic side view of a frameless door  10 . Provided in the door  10  are two panes  11 ,  12 . Pane  12  is movable in the direction of the arrow  13 . Disposed between the panes  11 ,  12  is a web  14 . The web  14  serves to mount and guide the panes  11 ,  12 . At its upper side the web  14  is provided with a web cap  15 . The web cap  15  serves to seal the web relative to the door opening (not shown). 
     Referring now to FIG. 2 there is illustrated a cross-section through the web  14  below the guide portion for the pane  1 . The web  14  comprises two opposite side portions  22  connected via a middle portion  21 , resulting in an approximately H-shaped cross-section. Secured to the web  14  are two profiles  16 ,  17 . The profile  16  is prevented from moving on the web  14  by lips  20  and a pin  23 . This profile  16  serves to guide the pane  11 . Arranged at the opposite side is the profile  17  for guiding the pane  12 . This profile  17  is likewise secured via lips  20 . Sealing lips  18  serve to seal the pane  12 . Provided further is a friction-reducing coating  19  to enhance the ease of movement of the pane  12  and to subdue squeaking. 
     Both profiles  16 ,  17  protrude somewhat beyond the web  14  and are therefore visible from the outside. The web cap  15  is joined to the profiles  16 ,  17 , for example by being heated, to thus achieve a smooth transition between the profiles  16 ,  17  and the web cap  15 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is illustrated a first embodiment of the web cap  15  in accordance with the invention. This elastomeric web cap comprises a key  24 . This key  24  is flared towards the web  14  and engages undercuts  25  in the web, as a result of which the web cap  15  is reliably prevented from becoming detached from the web  14 . 
     To further enhance this captive lock the web  14  is provided with two appendages  26  substantially lobed in cross-section which are clasped by the web cap  15 . Due to this substantially lobed cross-section the appendages  26  counteract any tendency of the web cap  15  to become detached. 
     The web cap  15  is a flush fit with both the outer surface  27  and the inner surface  18  of the web  14  to thus provide a smooth surface throughout which substantially enhances the overall visual appeal. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 there is illustrated yet another embodiment of a web cap  15   a  in accordance with the invention in a view as shown in FIG.  3 . Vulcanized in place in the web cap  15   a  is an insert  30 . This insert  30  comprises a latching key  31  for securing to the web  14 . The insert  30  is provided with openings  33  which improve the joint between the insert  30  and the web cap  15   a.    
     Referring now to FIG. 6 there is illustrated how for securement a flexible latching tongue  32  is arranged on the key  31 , this latching tongue  32  engaging a recess  34  in the web cap  15  in the fitted condition of the web cap  15   a . For fitting, the web cap  15   a  is mounted on the web  14  and then urged downwards, causing the latching tongue  32  to automatically locate the recess  34 . No additional tool is required for this, the web cap  15   a  being reliably secured to the web  14  after latching in place. 
     It is to be noted that in the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1 to  6  the anchoring element  24 ,  31  is secured to the web cap  15 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 7 there is illustrated a third embodiment of a web cap  15   b  in accordance with the invention. The web cap  15   b  is covered by a cap  40 , i.e. is visible only at its edge portion. The cap  40  directly connects the web  14  and is made of aluminum, thus enabling the color scheme of the cap  40  to be adapted to that of the web so as to produce a uniform surface finish to the observer. 
     For securing the web cap  15   b  the cap  40  comprises an anchoring element  41  penetrating the web cap  15   b.  The anchoring element  41  is provided with lightning holes  42  illustrated schematically. Said lightning holes  42  reduce the weight of the anchoring element  41 . For securing to the web  14  a key may be made use of as shown in FIG.  5 . As an alternative the anchoring element  41  may be screwed to the side portions  22  of the web  14 . 
     It is to be noted that in all embodiments of the web cap  15  in accordance with the invention the anchoring elements are concealed from the environment and not visible on the outside. The outer surface of the web cap  15  may be configured irrespective of the anchoring elements and adapted to the web  14  to thus make for a reliable anchoring of the web cap  15  whilst achieving an enhanced overall visual appeal.