Abstract:
A method for assembling a molding, including pre-assembling a molding by placing one of two inwardly bent longitudinal edges of a cover in a groove in a flexible main body, the groove receiving one of the two edges; placing the molding in a fixture so that the cover cannot be substantially flexed when a pushing force is applied to the molding; applying a pushing force to the main body of the molding, causing the main body to flex or compress under the pushing force; sliding the main body past the other of the two edges of the cover; seating the other of the two edges of the cover in another groove by releasing the pushing force allowing the main body to return toward an unflexed and uncompressed state inside the channel of the cover so the two parts form an assembled molding; and removing the assembled molding from the fixture.

Description:
This is a Division of application Ser. No. 10/937,349 filed Sep. 10, 2004. The disclosure of the prior application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention is directed to systems and methods for assembling moldings, such as belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A variety of systems and methods are conventionally used to fabricate and/or assemble window moldings such as, for example, window moldings for motor vehicles which are designed to seal the opening between the body of the motor vehicle and a movable motor vehicle window glass such as, for example, the movable window glass located in the door of an automobile. These window moldings are commonly referred to as belt-line window moldings. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,141,854 to Mueller et al. and 6,742,304 to Mueller et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, teach that a belt-line window molding is fixed to a vehicle body and provides a sealing engagement with the periphery of the window glass to prevent environmental elements or other obstructions from entering the area between the body structure and the movable window glass of a motor vehicle. The Mueller et al. patents teach a typical window molding of a two-part construction including a main body part which, although functional, may not be aesthetically pleasing, and a decorative or ornamental metal cover member designed to hide the functional main body part behind a painted, anodized, chrome-plated or otherwise decoratively treated ornamental cover. 
     Conventionally, such metal cover members are secured to functional main body parts of motor vehicle belt-line window moldings in widely varied ways. The Mueller et al. patents catalog a number of these conventional methods for mating, assembling and/or otherwise securing a metal cover member of such a molding to a functional main body part of the molding. Disadvantages associated with each method are noted. The Mueller et al. patents propose to overcome enumerated shortfalls in previous methods by providing a method of assembling a belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle door, wherein the belt-line molding includes a main body part with a rigid internal construction of aluminum, steel, hardened plastic, PVC or other rigid material, and a metal cover part having a channel configuration of a C-shaped profile intended to cover an exposed portion of the main body part. The disclosed method includes placing one edge of the metal cover part into an edge receiving groove of the main body part, pivoting the metal cover part generally about that edge such that the opposite edge of the metal cover part engages a rigid portion of the main body part, outwardly flexing the channel configuration of the metal cover part in order to slide the edge across the rigid portion of the main body part, and inwardly flexing the metal cover part to complete the assembly of the metal cover part onto the rigid portion of the main body part. The result is an assembled belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Restrictions in product design and manufacturing flexibility are introduced in each of the disclosed conventional methods for assembling belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles. The method taught by the Mueller et al. patents, in fact, introduces its own disadvantage in that the choice of materials for the metal cover part is restricted by the requirement that the metal cover part be capable of being flexed or bent to open even slightly outwardly and then inwardly during assembly. Accordingly, any material chosen for the metal cover part must exhibit certain flexibility. In other words, hard or rigid metal materials such as chromium-plated metal cover parts, anodized aluminum metal cover parts and the like may not be usable in the assembly process disclosed in the Mueller et al. patents. Additionally, undesirable deformation and/or cracks in painted surface layers may occur when metal cover parts fabricated from more rigid materials with harder decorative finishes are bent outwardly and then inwardly during an assembly process. Such deformation or cracking would adversely affect the intent behind inclusion of such a metal cover part, i.e., to enhance the decorative or ornamental appearance of the motor vehicle on which it is installed by substantially hiding a less aesthetically pleasing functional main body part. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the systems and methods according to this invention seek to overcome the shortfalls identified above by, for example, providing systems and methods for assembling moldings, such as, for example, belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles, in a cost-effective manner without restricting the choice of materials selected for fabrication of a decorative, ornamental or otherwise functional cover part designed to cover less aesthetically pleasing exposed portions of a functional main body part. 
     In various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention, a molding, such as, for example, a belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle, may be produced by mating or assembling a cover part to at least a flexible portion of a functional main body part in an assembly process or apparatus. 
     In various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention, at least a flexible portion of a functional main body part of a window molding is at least one of compressed and forced into a cover part with a channel configuration and substantially C-shaped cross-section, the flexible and elastic properties of the main body part facilitating an assembly process. 
     In various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention, an exemplary apparatus may be provided to introduce at least one of a pushing force, a compressing force and a pulling force to at least a flexible portion of a functional main body part to facilitate assembling a cover part to at least a flexible portion of a functional main body part. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the systems and methods according to this invention may further provide at least one molding receiving fixture usable to substantially rigidly hold a cover part substantially ensuring that the cover part is adequately supported such that the cover part is not bent or otherwise excessively deformed during an assembly process. 
     In various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention, during an assembly or mating process, a relatively flexible functional main body part is deformed in such a manner to facilitate assembly of a molding such as, for example, a belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle, substantially by mating the relatively flexible functional main body part to a rigidly held decorative or ornamental cover part, such as, for example, a metal cover part. 
     These and other features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like numerals represent like parts, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a typical general configuration of belt-line window moldings mounted on a motor vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  of an exemplary embodiment of a two-piece belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle, assembled using exemplary systems and methods according to this invention, in a typical motor vehicle installation; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a flexible, functional main body part usable to form a two-piece belt-line molding for a motor vehicle with the exemplary systems and methods according to this invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a substantially C-shaped cover part with a channel configuration usable to form a two-piece belt-line molding for a motor vehicle with the exemplary systems and methods according to this invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the cover part; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a sectional view taken along a line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5  of an end of an exemplary cover part usable to form a two-piece belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle with the exemplary systems and methods according to this invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary molding receiving fixture usable for supporting a cover part in an exemplary apparatus for facilitating assembly of a two-piece belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle with the systems and methods according to this invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a general configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8  of the first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus, in operation, for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a general configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a second view of the general configuration of the second exemplary embodiment of an apparatus, in operation, for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line  12 - 12  in  FIG. 11  of the second exemplary embodiment of an apparatus, in operation, for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention; and 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment of an apparatus, in operation, for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of various exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for fabricating, manufacturing or facilitating assembly of a molding, such as, for example, a belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle, will refer to a typical two-piece belt-line window molding including at least a functional main body part and a cover part. In the various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention, the functional main body part is of a substantially flexible construction and the cover part is of a substantially less flexible construction than is the functional main body part, the cover part comprising a channel configuration, a substantially C-shaped cross-section, and a decorative or ornamental finished external surface or face. This construction of an exemplary two-piece belt-line molding is described and depicted herein for ease of depiction and for the sake of consistency, clarity and familiarity. However, it should be appreciated that the principles of this invention, as outlined and/or discussed below, can be equally applied to any known or later-developed multi-part molding installation wherein a flexible molding designed to keep environmental elements or other foreign objects out of the void created between a sliding panel, such as, for example, a movable window glass in a motor vehicle, and the surrounding housing body, such as, for example, a motor vehicle body panel or body door panel in which such a movable window glass is housed or within which, more generally, the sliding panel is capable of being extended and retracted. Additionally, it should be recognized that such molding may find utility in not only all or most forms of conventional motor vehicles, but also certain forms of recreation vehicles, certain aircraft, or in other like installations that are not strictly limited to vehicles of any description. 
     Various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention employ an exemplary apparatus to retain a cover part during an assembly process substantially ensuring that the cover part is not bent or otherwise excessively deformed during an assembly process, and further provide capability to apply a pushing force to compress or otherwise manipulate a flexible main body part as required in order to effect assembly of an exemplary two-piece belt-line molding for a motor vehicle. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a typical general configuration of belt-line window moldings mounted on a motor vehicle. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an exemplary motor vehicle  100  includes a front door  110  and a rear door panel  140 . 
     Typically, front and rear movable window panels  120 ,  150  are provided to retract into the front door  110  and the rear door panel  140 . Such capability differentiates these movable window panels  120 ,  150  from, for example, the exemplary fixed window panel  180  located as an integral part of the rearmost side panel  170  of the exemplary motor vehicle  100 . 
     Belt-line window moldings  130 ,  160  are generally designed and constructed in such a manner to allow the movable window panels  120 ,  150  to be extended and retracted freely into door panels  10 ,  140 , while maintaining a substantial seal against environmental elements and/or debris gaining access to the inside of the involved door panels  110 ,  140  through the gap between the door panels  110 ,  140  and the movable window panels  120 ,  150 . Such belt-line moldings  130 ,  160  are different in construction and function then from, for example, an exemplary fixed window molding  190  which surrounds the fixed window panel  180 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a two-piece belt-line window molding  200  for a motor vehicle, assembled using exemplary systems and methods according to this invention, in a typical motor vehicle installation. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the exemplary two-piece belt-line window molding  200  comprises a flexible, functional main body part  300  and a cover part  400 . The assembled two-piece belt-line window molding  200  is typically mounted on the bottom of a window opening of a vehicle outer door or body panel  500 . Protrusions from the flexible main body part  300  (as will be discussed in detail below) of the exemplary two-piece belt-line molding  200  rest against a movable window glass  600  of the motor vehicle, which freely extends and retracts in directions depicted by the arrows at A in the vehicle outer door or body panel  500 , substantially sealing the top of a void  550  between the vehicle outer door or panel  500  and the movable window glass  600  from intrusion of environmental elements, debris or other obstructions. The cover part  400  is added in order to give the exemplary two-piece belt-line window molding  200  a more aesthetically pleasing appearance and/or to add a level of protection against damage when mounted to the outer door or body panel  500  of the motor vehicle. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a flexible, functional main body part  300  usable to form a two-piece belt-line molding for a motor vehicle with the exemplary systems and methods according to this invention. As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the exemplary flexible main body part  300  includes an interior portion  310  and an exterior portion  350 . 
     The interior portion  310  of the exemplary flexible main body part  300  further includes a concealing lip  315 , an upper seal lip  320 , a lower seal lip  325 , at least one door panel contacting projection  330  (two shown), and a lower mounting projection  335 . 
     The exterior portion  350  of the exemplary flexible main body part  300  further includes a thinner flexing portion  355  which, as detailed below, further facilitates flexing of the flexible main body part  300  during an assembly process. In other words, it is this thinner flexing portion  355  of the exterior portion  350  of the flexible main body part  300  which is most easily compressed or otherwise deformed during an assembly process so that the flexible main body part  300  can be manipulated and pushed to fit inside a non-flexible metal cover part  400  to achieve a final assembly of a two-piece belt-line window molding  200  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) when a pushing force is applied by an assembly apparatus. Preferably, the thinner flexing portion  355  gradually decreases in thickness from the rest of the exterior portion  350  of the exemplary flexible main body part  300  such that the thinner flexing portion  355  may be smoothly bent in an assembly process. 
     The exterior portion  350  of the exemplary flexible main body part  300  further includes a spring lip  360  which is usable to help ensure that an installed cover part  400 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is firmly held in place and will not, for example, rattle loosely when the two-piece belt-line window molding  200  is installed on a motor vehicle as shown in  FIG. 2 . The exterior portion  350  of the exemplary flexible main body part  300  also includes at least one door panel holding lip  365  (two shown), a lower cushion lip  370  and a projecting upper ridge  375 . Further, the exterior portion  350  of the exemplary flexible main body part  300  includes an upper groove  380  and a lower groove  385  to accommodate upper and lower inwardly bent longitudinal edges of a non-flexible cover part  400 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The shading of the various portions of the exemplary flexible main body part  300  depicted in  FIG. 3B  is intended to indicate that, in construction of an exemplary flexible main body part  300 , rubber-like elastic materials are employed such as, for example, thermoplastic elastomers and thermoplastic resins. Varying compositions of these materials are chosen in order that the concealing lip  315 , upper seal lip  320 , lower seal lip  325 , at least one door panel contacting projection  330 , spring lip  360 , at least one door panel holding lip  365  and the lower cushion lip  370  may be fabricated from such a material which has a hardness which has a different hardness (preferably less hardness) than that of the rest of the exemplary flexible main body part  300 . For example, the hardness of one or more of these other elements may be about one half that of the rest of the main body part  300 . It should be understood, however, that this variable construction with rubber-like materials of varying hardness does not imply that the rest of an exemplary flexible main body part  300 , i.e., the interior portion  310 , lower projecting portion  335 , exterior portion  350  and particularly the thinner flexing portion  355 , is rendered, in any way, non-flexible or inflexible. 
     In an exemplary manner, the flexible main body part  300  is preferably fabricated from an elastic resin, like polypropylene resin, nylon resin, thermoplastic elastomer, or semi-hard rubber, each having a Durometer Hardness between HDD 45 degree and HDD 70 degree, wherein HDD represents Durometer Hardness, formerly Shore D Hardness. Also in an exemplary manner, at least one of the concealing lip  315 , upper seal lip  320 , lower seal lip  325 , at least one door panel contacting projection  330 , spring lip  360 , at least one door panel holding lip  365  and the lower cushion lip  370  is preferably fabricated from elastic elastomer or soft rubber, each having Durometer Hardness between HDA 50 degree and HDA 90 degree, where HDA is Durometer Hardness, formerly Shore A Hardness. For reference, it should be understood that HDA 100 degree nearly equals HDD 45 degree. 
     Additionally, the exterior of at least one of the concealing lip  315 , the upper seal lip  320  and the lower seal lip  325  can be covered in a different material, such as nylon pile flock material  327  (shown here in exemplary manner on the upper and lower seal lips  320 ,  325 ), in order to better allow these lips to slide along the surface of the window glass  600  depicted in  FIG. 2  as the window glass  600  is extended or retracted in directions A. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a substantially C-shaped cover part  400  with a channel configuration usable to form a two-piece belt-line molding  200  for a motor vehicle with the exemplary systems and methods according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , an exemplary cover part  400  includes a main face or decorative surface  450  which can be optionally covered with a protective covering  460  to protect the main face or decorative surface  450  during an assembly process as outlined below. The protective cover  460  may include, for example, a removable adhesive tape or film which is designed simply to help ensure that the main face or decorative surface  450  of the exemplary cover part  400  is not damaged or marred in any way during an assembly process. Further, the channel configuration and substantially C-shaped design of the exemplary cover part  400  includes an inwardly bent longitudinal upper edge  410  and an inwardly bent longitudinal lower edge  420  which are inwardly bent to facilitate an assembly process. 
     It should be appreciated that an exemplary non-flexible cover part  400  may be formed of any suitable material, often a sheet metal strip, regardless of hardness or rigidity because concern regarding flexibility of the exemplary cover part  400  is obviated by an assembly process using the systems and methods according to this invention. The main face or decorative surface  450  of the exemplary cover part  400  may be polished, chrome-plated, anodized, painted or otherwise finished in order to provide a decorative or ornamental appearance without concern that bending or other excessive deformation of the exemplary cover part  400  during an assembly process may result in cracking or other damage to the finish. 
     In various systems and methods according to this invention, concerns regarding fabrication and finishing of an exemplary cover part  400  prior to an assembly process where the exemplary cover part  400  is mated to an exemplary flexible main body part  300 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B, are largely eliminated. The exemplary cover part  400  can be rigidly manufactured and then finished with an understanding that, in the systems and methods according to this invention, at least the main face or decorative surface  450  of the exemplary metal cover part  400  will be rigidly held and otherwise protected, and thereby not substantially allowed to bend or otherwise excessively deform, during the assembly process. 
     It should be appreciated that the exemplary cover part  400  may be made from highly rigid and non-flexible materials. Alternatively, the exemplary cover part may be made from materials which allow the exemplary cover part  400  to be slightly elastically deformed, generally outwardly, during an assembly process as long as such exemplary cover part  400  does not elastically deform far enough during the assembly process that the exemplary cover part  400  is damaged. When the exemplary cover part  400  is made for example, from a stainless steel or aluminum sheet, preferable sheet thicknesses may range from 0.25 mm to 0.70 mm. Such sheet thickness may more preferably be in a range of 0.35 mm to 0.60 mm, and most preferably in a range of 0.40 mm to 0.50 mm. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the cover part. As will be further detailed below, the inwardly bent longitudinal upper and lower edges  410 ,  420  of the cover part  400  are substantially engaged in upper and lower grooves  380 ,  385  of the exterior portion  350  ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ) of the flexible main body part  300 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a sectional view along a line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5  of an exemplary cover part  400  usable to form a two-piece belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle with the exemplary systems and methods according to this invention.  FIG. 6  is included to show that the ends  470  of the exemplary cover part  400  can be pre-bent at some angle (to include more or less than the approximately 90° depicted) in order to aid in further substantially hiding a longitudinal end of the flexible main body part  300  from view. During assembly, a longitudinal end of the flexible main body part  300  may be placed inside the pre-bent end  470  of the exemplary cover part  400  in order to ensure that it remains hidden thereunder. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary molding receiving fixture  700  usable for supporting a cover part  400  in an exemplary apparatus for facilitating assembly of a two-piece belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle with the systems and methods according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , a cover part  400  is laid in the exemplary molding receiving fixture  700  such that the cover part  400  is supported by a molding accommodating groove  720  in the molding receiving fixture  700 . The molding accommodating groove  720  may be configured to precisely and rigidly support the cover part  400  during an assembly process. In this manner, the cover part  400  is substantially kept from being bent or otherwise excessively deformed, or damaged, during an assembly process. 
     Note that the inwardly bent longitudinal lower edge  420  of the cover part  400  has been preset in the lower groove  385  of the exterior portion  350  of the flexible main body part  300 . Additionally, the inwardly bent longitudinal upper edge  410  of the cover part  400  rests against the projecting upper ridge  375  of the exterior portion  350  of the flexible main body part  300 . This can be considered a pre-assembly positioning of the flexible main body part  300  and the cover part  400  in the exemplary molding receiving fixture  700 . 
     The exemplary molding receiving fixture  700  may be constructed from a hard and rigid elemental or manufactured material such as, for example, a resin like polyacetal, nylon, or polyurethane, or from a hard and rigid wood such as, for example, oak. Alternatively, in order to facilitate the cover part  400  being able to be slightly elastically deformed outwardly during an assembly process, the molding receiving fixture  700  may be preferably made from an elastic material that slightly elastically deforms under the force exerted in an assembly process. In such an exemplary embodiment, a semi-hard rubber material, having a hardness similar to that of, for example, a vehicle rubber tire, or a polyurethane resin material such as that typically marketed as a component of a press forming die (commonly known as “urethane die pads”), are preferable. The exemplary molding receiving fixture  700  may optionally include at least one sponge-like absorber  710  usable to optimize the effect of a pushing force exerted against an exemplary main body part  300  during an assembly process to provide optimal compression and manipulation of a flexible main body part  300  to aid in mating of the flexible main body part  300  with a rigidly held cover part  400 . 
     It should be appreciated that different exemplary molding receiving fixtures  700 , with molding accommodating grooves  720  designed specifically to each hold one type of cover part  400 , may be required in order to support assembly of differing two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles with the systems and methods according to this invention. Although the molding accommodating grooves  720  of such exemplary different molding receiving fixtures  700  may differ, the external dimensions of the different molding receiving fixtures  700  can be made of standard dimensions in order that the different molding receiving fixtures  700  are interchangeable in an exemplary assembly apparatus according to this invention, as detailed below. Such flexibility is desirable and advantageous in order to support assembly of a plurality of pre-assembled window moldings, such as, for example, both right side and left side moldings, both front door and rear door moldings, or any combination of two or more molding, the assembly of which constitutes a single assembly operation. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a general configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus  800  for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the apparatus  800  includes a pushing force device interface  810 , an upper support member  820 , a pusher face  830 , a base member  850 , and a base frame  860 . 
     The pushing force device interface  810  is usable to connect the upper support member  820 , which is in contact with the pusher face  830 , to a pushing force device (not shown) in order to translate an applied pushing force to move the entire upper assembly  810 ,  820 ,  830  in a direction depicted as B, which is preferably a substantially vertical direction, in order to exert a pushing force between the pusher face  830  and a pre-assembled two-piece belt-line molding  200  which has been mounted in a molding receiving fixture  700  as shown in  FIG. 7 . An interchangeable exemplary molding receiving fixture  700  is mounted on or in the base member  850  which, with the base frame  860 , provides support against the pushing force exerted by the upper assembly  810 ,  820 ,  830  to aid in assembly of the two-piece belt-line molding. The applied pushing force can be exerted from any pushing force device (not shown), i.e., any drive source suitable to exert such a pushing force via the pushing force device interface  810  to the upper support member  820  and pusher face  830 . Such pushing force devices include, but are not limited to, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders or drive units, electric motors, and lever-principle mechanical devices designed to exert such a pushing force. 
     The base member  850  can accommodate one or more different exemplary molding receiving fixtures  700  which may be interchangeable in order to accommodate varying sizes and/or combinations of two-piece belt-line molding components, and specifically exemplary cover parts  400 , in their respective molding accommodating grooves  720 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , an exemplary molding receiving fixture  700  is mounted suitably in or on a base member  850 . Additionally, the block  300 / 400  represents that the two components, a flexible main body part  300  and a metal cover part  400  have been suitably positioned in their pre-assembly position in the exemplary molding receiving fixture  700  as depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
     Note that the pusher face  830  will exert a pushing force substantially along an entire axial or longitudinal length of the lower assembly  700 / 850  containing the components  300  and  400  for the assembly of the two-piece belt-line window molding according to this invention. The pushing force is specifically applied to the flexible main body part  300  of the pre-assembled two piece belt-line window molding mounted in the molding accommodating groove  720  of the molding receiving fixture  700 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8  of a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus  800 , in operation, for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 9 , a pushing force is being exerted in a direction C on the upper support member  820  and the pushing face  830 . The pusher face  830  can be designed and constructed in any manner that will efficiently facilitate proper application of the pushing force as demonstrated by the exemplary bi-level construction of the exemplary pusher face  830  shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     As a pushing force is applied, the flexible main body part  300  is flexed, compressed or otherwise elastically inwardly deformed while the cover part  400  is held in the molding accommodating groove  720  of the exemplary molding receiving fixture  700 . In this manner, the cover part  400  is not substantially bent or otherwise excessively deformed during application of a pushing force in a direction C in an assembly operation. As the flexible main body part  300  is flexed, compressed or otherwise inwardly elastically deformed during application of the pushing force in the assembly operation, the cover part may slightly elastically outwardly deform as well in order to facilitate the assembly operation. 
     Note that the at least one sponge-like absorber  710  may be compressed to help optimally spread the pushing force in order to facilitate assembly of the two-piece belt-line molding. 
     The thinner flexible portion  355  of the exterior portion  350  of the flexible main body part  300 , under the pressure of the exerted pushing force, is forced to flex substantially in a direction D. The inwardly bent longitudinal upper edge  410  of the cover part  400  may remain rigid and in place, or may slightly outwardly flex, while the projecting upper ridge  375  of the exterior portion  350  of the flexible main body part  300  is forced, under pressure, to flex, compress or otherwise elastically inwardly deform with the coincident flexing of the thinner flexing  355  of the exterior portion  350  of the flexible main body part  300 . The projecting upper ridge  375  of the exterior portion  350  of the flexible main body part  300 , once forced past the inwardly bent longitudinal upper edge  410  of the cover part  400 , will elastically spring back to its original shape and into place, or un-deform, allowing the inwardly bent longitudinal upper edge  410  of the cover part  400  to engage and substantially seat itself in the upper groove  380  of the exterior portion  350  of the flexible main body part  300  thereby substantially completing the assembly process. The upper support member  820  and the pusher face  830  are then retracted by retraction of the pushing force device interface  810  and the finished two-piece belt-line molding is extracted from the molding accommodating groove  720  of the exemplary molding receiving fixture  700 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a general configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of an apparatus  900  for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the apparatus  900  includes a pushing force device interface  910  which, like the pushing force device interface  810  in  FIG. 8  illustrating a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus  800 , provides an interface between a drive source suitable to exert a pushing force such as, for example, a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or drive unit, an electric motor, a lever-principle mechanical device, or the like, and an upper support member  920  so that movement of the upper assembly can be effected in directions depicted as E in  FIG. 10 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment of an apparatus  900 , the upper support member  920  houses a slider groove  925  in which a slidable pusher  930  is mounted and allowed to translate. The slidable pusher  930  includes a pusher roller  935 , which rotates about a pusher roller shaft  932 , and a driving device such as longitudinal drive source  940 . The slidable pusher  930  is allowed to slide under control of the longitudinal drive source  940  in directions as depicted by the arrows F in  FIG. 10  between end stoppers  922 ,  924  mounted to the ends of the upper support member  920 . As in the first exemplary embodiment of the apparatus  800 , a base member  950  is provided which is configured to securely hold at least one of a plurality of different exemplary molding receiving fixtures  700  which, as shown in  FIG. 7  and described above, are usable to facilitate assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the two components to be assembled, i.e., a flexible main body part  300  and a cover part  400 , are depicted in exemplary manner as a single block unit resting in a pre-assembly condition in the exemplary molding receiving fixture  700 . 
     It should be appreciated that although the upper support member  920  is shown as a vertically moving member in the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 10 , as was the upper support member  820  in the previous exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 8 , other exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention could be configured such that the upper support member  920  of exemplary apparatus  900  (and in like manner the upper support member  820  of exemplary apparatus  800 ) is fixed while the base member  950  (or  850 ), and optionally the base frame  960  (or  860 ), is movable. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a second view of the general configuration of the second exemplary embodiment of an apparatus  900 , in operation, for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 11 , a pushing force has been exerted from a pushing force device (not shown) translated through the pushing force device interface  910  to an upper support member  920  which has been displaced from its upper or at rest position vertically downward in a direction depicted by arrow E. A pushing force is applied such that the pusher roller  935  of the slidable pusher  930  contacts the pre-assembled two-piece belt-line molding for a motor vehicle mounted in the exemplary molding receiving fixture  700 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , at a single point along the longitudinal or axial length of the pre-assembled molding. Normally, this initial contact point will be at one end or the other of the pre-assembled two-piece belt-line molding. When the pusher roller  935  contacts the pre-assembled two-piece belt-line window molding, the longitudinal drive unit  940  engages to push the slidable pusher  930  in the direction depicted as F such that the pusher roller  935  rotates about the pusher roller shaft  932  in a direction depicted as G. In this manner, a pushing force is applied, not to an entire axial or longitudinal length of a two-piece belt-line molding at the same time, but rather incrementally along the axial or longitudinal length of the two-piece belt-line molding as the pusher roller  935  of the slidable pusher  930  applies the pushing force in a substantially longitudinal motion and the pusher roller  935  rolls along on top of the pre-assembled two-piece belt-line molding mounted in the exemplary molding receiving fixture  700 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line  12 - 12  in  FIG. 11  of the second exemplary embodiment of an apparatus  900 , in operation, for facilitating assembly of a two-piece belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the pushing force has been exerted forcing the upper support member  920  down into its assembly position. The slider groove  925  accommodates the top of the slidable pusher  930  as a type of guide member for the slidable pusher  930 . The slidable pusher  930  includes a pusher roller holder  933  that is slightly movable in a vertical direction with respect to the slidable pusher  930 , and a roller shaft  932  about which a pusher roller  935  rotates as the pusher roller  935  is forced along the surface of the pre-assembled two-piece belt-line molding by the longitudinal drive member  940 . The slight relative vertical movement is enabled by, e.g., the roller shaft  932  interacting with elliptical openings in the walls of the slidable pusher  930 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     In order to maintain substantially constant pushing force of the pusher roller  935  held by the pusher roller holder  933  against the pre-assembled two-piece belt-line molding, optional compression springs  938  may be provided surrounding slidable guide pins  937  attached to the top of the pusher roller holder  933 , the slidable guide pins  937  being able to freely move in a vertical direction in guide bushings  936  of the slidable pusher  930  assembly. Accordingly, the pusher roller  935 , the roller shaft  932 , the pusher roller holder  933 , and the attached guide pins  937 , as a complete assembly, may move slightly vertically with respect to the slidable pusher  930  as the pusher roller  935  is forced along the surface of the pre-assembled two-piece belt-line molding by the longitudinal drive member  940 . Such variations in vertical displacement of the complete assembly are usable to maintain substantially constant pushing force against the pre-assembled two-piece belt-line molding even when slight variations in the contour of the molding are encountered, while avoiding damage to the molding. 
     The actual assembly process occurs in essentially the same manner as was described in paragraphs [0052]-[0055] above except that the pushing force is incrementally applied to the flexible main body part  300  of the two-piece belt line molding in the molding receiving fixture  700  rather than being applied to an entire longitudinal length of the flexible main body part  300  at the same time. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment of an apparatus  1000 , in operation, for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the apparatus includes a pushing force device interface  1010 , an upper support member  1020 , and a pusher face  1030  which makes contact with a pre-assembled two-piece belt-line window molding seated in a pre-assembly condition wherein the two pieces, i.e., a flexible main body part  300  and a cover part  400 , are preliminarily mounted in a pre-assembly phase in an exemplary molding holding fixture  700 , as depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
     In this exemplary apparatus, a cam  1025  vertically protrudes from the upper support member  1020 . As the upper support member  1020  is translated vertically downward under an exerted pusher force, the pusher face  1030  pushes the flexible main body  300  downward, flexing, compressing or otherwise elastically inwardly deforming the flexible main body part  300  as noted in the foregoing descriptions of other embodiments. Simultaneously, the cam  1025  moves vertically downward and a hook point  1045  of a hook-like catcher  1040  connected by an integrating member  1035  to a cam follower  1031  pulls the lower projecting portion  335  of the interior portion  310  of the flexible main body part  300  such that the thinner flexing portion  355  of the exterior portion  350  of the flexible main body part  300  flexes inwardly in a direction depicted as H. This movement allows the inwardly bent longitudinal upper edge  410  of the cover part  400  to more easily slide over the projecting upper ridge  375  of the exterior portion  350  of the flexible main body part  300  before coming to rest and substantially seating itself in the upper groove  380  of the exterior portion  350  of the flexible main body part  300 . As an alternative to the cam driven portion of the exemplary apparatus shown, a separate pulling force device (not shown) attached by the same or a separate integrating member to the hook-like catcher  1040  could be employed to exert the pulling force described above. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, when the pushing force is removed and the upper support member  1020  raises vertically, the cam  1025  allows the cam follower  1031  to move back to the left under, for example, the elastic spring pressure of the flexible main body part  300  simply returning to its unstretched original position, or the cam follower may be augmented in a return to its original position with the aid of at least one optional urging device, such as a coil spring  1032 . When the upper support member returns to its upper or at rest position, and the external pushing and tensioning forces are released from the flexible main body part  300 , the assembly process is substantially complete. The assembled two-piece belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle is then removed from the molding accommodating groove  720  of the exemplary molding receiving fixture  700  in the exemplary apparatus  1000 . 
     It should be appreciated that, in many cases, alternative exemplary embodiments of an apparatus to those depicted contemplate making certain of the depicted fixed parts alternatively movable and certain depicted movable parts alternatively fixed in varying alternative exemplary embodiments of an apparatus for facilitating assembly of two-piece belt-line window moldings for motor vehicles according to this invention. 
     While this invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations and/or improvements may be possible. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, and not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the systems and methods according to this invention are intended to embrace all now known or later-developed alternatives, modifications, variations and/or improvements. 
     For example, the flexible main body part  300  need not be entirely flexible, but may instead include both flexible and rigid or semi-rigid portions. Additionally, for example, the cover part  400  may be rigid and non-flexible, or alternatively, may be slightly elastically deformable.