Abstract:
A two piece outer belt weatherstrip provides a seal between the upper portion of a door and the lower portion a window. The weatherstrip comprises two individual components: a cover and a body. The cover is generally T-shaped and includes a curved outer surface that is visible when assembled and installed and a centrally disposed web. The body is a complex generally S-shaped member having adjacent parallel slots opening in opposite directions. One slot receives the web of the cover and the other receives a vertical flange of the vehicle door and secures the weatherstrip thereon. An S-shaped metal reinforcing member resides with the body and a pair of wiper flanges extending from one face of the body engage the window glass and seal thereagainst. These components are preferably extruded but may be molded depending, inter alia, upon the configurations of their terminal portions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a weatherstrip for a motor vehicle and more specifically to a two piece outer belt weatherstrip for disposition between the window and door of a motor vehicle. 
     Most motor vehicles are equipped with movable window glass that slides in a window opening from an up or extended position that seals off the opening to a down position, retracted within the vehicle body, that opens all or a portion of the window opening and allows an exchange of air between the inside and outside of the vehicle. A sealing device generically referred to as a weatherstrip is disposed about the periphery of the window opening and provides an air and watertight seal between the vehicle body and the window glass. The interface between the body and the movable window glass at the lower margin of the window opening is typically equipped with a weatherstrip denominated a beltstrip which aesthetically hides the interface and provides at least one wiper flange or blade for cleaning the window as the window extends from and retracts into the body of the vehicle. 
     Design and engineering effort directed to vehicle streamlining for drag reduction and reduction of wind noise is ongoing. To achieve these goals, design considerations such as the elimination of all gaps and channels, low profile configurations, overlapping of the beltstrip or weatherstrip on the glass, as well as installation ease, serviceability and durability have received significant attention. The challenge of achieving such goals depends upon the proper execution of such design considerations. 
     Beltstrips and weatherstrips are generally extruded or roll-formed in a complicated manufacturing process having many steps. Typically, a core metal structure is formed and coated with an adhesive to bond a subsequently extruded layer of synthetic elastomeric material to the metal to form a belt molding which is then cut to length. A sealing strip having a flexible blade for contacting the window may be formed and coated in an extrusion process utilizing rubber or a similar material. An inner surface of the blade is generally flocked to provide a low friction coating exhibiting reduced sliding friction between the blade and the window glass and to reduce the tendency of the weatherstrip and window glass to squeak. The sealing strip is typically affixed to the belt molding. The belt molding and the sealing strip are notched at spaced locations. Clips are then inserted into the notches to couple the belt molding and the sealing strip. The clips also grip a flange formed on the door of the vehicle to hold the weatherstrip to the door. 
     The materials used to form the weatherstrip are typically a combination of thermoset elastomer or thermoset and thermoplastic elastomer. For example, an elastomer may be extruded over a metal carrier and then a post assembled laminate strip of cosmetic film and metal that is roll formed into a C-configuration is mechanically fastened over a section of the front surface of the belt weatherstrip. 
     The requirement of cosmetic surfaces dictates that the surface area be made of a specific thermoplastic, a decorative film or consist of a painted metal while providing a seal to prevent air and water leakage. Conventional weatherstrips lack the flexibility to interchange the front surface in order to provide a different cosmetic appearance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A two piece outer belt weatherstrip provides a seal between the upper portion of a door and the lower portion a window. The weatherstrip comprises two individual components: a cover and a body. The cover is generally T-shaped and includes a curved outer surface which is visible when assembled and installed and a centrally disposed web. The body is a complex generally S-shaped member having adjacent parallel slots opening in opposite directions. One slot receives the web of the cover and the other receives a vertical flange of the vehicle door and secures the weatherstrip thereon. An S-shaped metal reinforcing member resides with the body and a pair of wiper flanges extending from one face of the body engage the window glass and seal thereagainst. These components are preferably extruded but may be molded depending, inter alia, upon the configurations of their terminal portions. For example, the ends or terminal portions may simply be cut in a straight line or in any desired curve to match the adjacent body region or they may include molded end caps having both a desired cross section distinct from the weatherstrip and appropriately shaped or contoured end portions. 
     Both of the components may be fabricated of a wide variety of flexible plastic or elastomeric materials. Because each of the components is separate, they can be manufactured of different materials and of different colors to provide specifically desired properties. In addition to different materials and colors, the weatherstrip may be decorated by painting or chromating the surface based upon the specific type of material used. The weatherstrip is formed by inserting the web of the cover into the complementary web receiving slot of the body. The weatherstrip thus allows versatility of the selection of the separate components to meet the individual style and functional needs of a particular motor vehicle design. 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a mechanically assembled weatherstrip comprising separate components. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a beltstrip or weatherstrip made by assembling two separate components. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beltstrip or weatherstrip having two components which may be made of two distinct materials and thus exhibit distinct properties such as color, gloss and resilience. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a beltstrip or weatherstrip having ends which are either cut or include molded end caps. 
     These and other aspects and advantages of the invention are described or apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and appended drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same element, feature or component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial, side elevational view of a motor vehicle incorporating the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of a two piece outer belt weatherstrip according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a two piece outer belt weatherstrip according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an assembled two piece outer belt weatherstrip according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a partial, side elevational view of a four-door motor vehicle such as a pickup truck, sport utility vehicle (SUV) or hybrid sport utility vehicle is illustrated and designated by the reference number  10 . Such illustration is exemplary only and it will be appreciated that the present invention may also be utilized on passenger vehicles, truck cabs, tractor cabs and the like. The motor vehicle  10  includes a body  12 , a front door  14 , a rear door  16 , a movable front window  18 , a movable rear window  22 , a front beltstrip or weatherstrip assembly  24  attached to the front door  14  at an interface with the front window  18  and a similar rear beltstrip or weatherstrip assembly  26  attached to the rear door  16  at an interface with the rear window  22 . The weatherstrip assemblies  24  and  26  extend longitudinally along the lower edges of the front window  18  and the lower edge of the rear window  22 , respectively, and function to aesthetically conceal the interface between the front door  14  and the lower margin of the front window  18  and the rear door  16  and the lower margin of the rear window  22 , as well as to provide a seal to restrict air and water movement therebetween. 
     The rear weatherstrip assembly  26  may include an offset or hip  28  which conforms to the design of the rear door  16 . But for the offset or hip  28  in the rear beltstrip or weatherstrip assembly  26  and the obvious, possible and likely differences of length and configurations of the ends, the front weatherstrip assembly  24  is identical to the rear window assembly  26 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , the rear beltstrip or weatherstrip assembly  26  will be described. As noted previously, inasmuch as the front and rear weatherstrips  24  and  26  are identical, but for the differences described directly above, only the rear weatherstrip assembly  26  will be described, the description applying substantially, fully and completely to the front weatherstrip assembly  24 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the rear beltstrip assembly  26  includes a cover  30  having a curved or arcuate surface  32  defined by a generally horizontal first flange portion  34  and a generally oblique second flange portion  36 . The first flange portion  34  defines a first radiused terminal portion  38  and the second flange portion  36  defines a similarly radiused second terminal portion  40 . Extending from the cover  30  is a depending, generally centrally disposed web  42  having a radiused terminal portion  44 . One or more asymmetrical notches  46  facilitates assembly and retention of the cover  30  into a body  50  as will be more fully described subsequently. 
     The cover  30  serves as an outer decorative component made from material which meets color, gloss and weatherability requirements of the individual motor vehicle manufacturer. The cover  30  may be made of a wide variety of materials and may be molded or extruded using processes well-known in the art. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the cover  30  is made preferably of a colored, weatherable grade, acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile polycarbonate (ASA/PC) alloy. However, the cover  30  may also be made of combinations of nylon alloy materials, such as ASA, thermoplastic (TPO), polyacrylate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the like. Also, the cover  30  may be made of a film laminated thermoplastic material, such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) and polybutylene teraphthalate (PBT) and the like. In addition, the cover  30  may be made of body matched painted thermoplastic material from any variety of thermoplastic families based on ABS, PET, PBT, polyamide (nylon) (PA) and the like. 
     The body  50  is a complex, generally S-shaped component having an S-shaped, metal internal reinforcing channel member  52  which provides strength, rigidity and dimensional stability to the body  50 . In addition to the s-shaped metal reinforcing member  52  illustrated, it may also be one or more wires or a flexible metal carrier capable of conforming to the configuration of the doors  14  and  16  and any associated hip  28  or other feature. The reinforcing member  52  is fully surrounded by elastomeric material  54  defining a plurality of webs, flanges and other features. A first slot or throat  56  includes a plurality of inwardly directed, obliquely oriented, generally alternating ribs or ears  58  which engage a vertical flange  60  extending upwardly from the rear door  16  and secure the weatherstrip assembly  26  thereupon. A second parallel and adjacent throat or slot  64  also includes a plurality of inwardly directed, obliquely oriented, generally alternating ribs or ears  66 . The second plurality of ribs or ears  66  engage and retain the web  42  of the cover  30  within the second slot  64 . The asymmetrical notch  46  is preferably engaged by one of the second plurality of ribs or ears  66  which further assists retention of the cover  30  on the body  50 . The elastomeric material  54  of the body  50  also defines a generally semi-circular channel  68  having a radius equal to the radius of the second terminal portion  40  of the cover  30 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the terminal portion  40  seats within the semi-circular channel  60  and provides an attractive and minimally visible junction between the cover  30  and the body  50 . The body  50  also includes a thin, relatively flexible terminal flange  72  which engages the rear door  16  and due to its thinness and flexibility provides a relatively secure windproof and waterproof seal thereagainst. 
     Adjacent the first slot  56  and extending upwardly and obliquely toward the rear window  22  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) are a pair of upper and lower wiper lips or flanges  74 . Preferably, the wiper flanges  74  include flocking  76  or other low friction surface treatment such as a low-friction coating or low-friction film which engages the rear window glass  22  and both minimizes the likelihood of squeaks or noise and wipes the window glass  22  as well as providing a physical seal between the upper portion of the door  16  and the window glass  22  as will be readily appreciated. The wiper flanges  74  thus prevent the ingress of water, moisture or foreign matter into the door interior and reduce the amount of noise transmitted to the interior of the vehicle  10 . 
     The body  50  may be made from any inherently dimensionally stable thermoplastic material to meet dimensional stability and exterior motor vehicle requirements. In the preferred embodiment, the body  50  is made from material substantially identical to the cover  30  and may be molded or extruded. However, the body  50  may also be made from PA material, glass filled PA, and the like. Furthermore, the body  50  may be made of heat formable material or heat stretch formable material. 
     If desired, the wiper flanges  74  may be made of a distinct material, preferably a flexible elastomeric material such as rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (EPDM), Santoprene® thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and the like. Santoprene® is a registered trademark of Advanced Elastomer Systems, L. P., of Akron, Ohio. 
     It should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to a particular geometric configuration or shape of the cover  30  and the body  50 . It is envisioned that the body  50  can be adapted to a variety of cross-sectional shapes so that the weatherstrip assemblies  24  and  26  can accommodate and be installed in a wide variety of door configurations and vehicle body styles. 
     Furthermore, the ends of the weatherstrip assemblies  24  and  26  may define various configurations such as a square (perpendicular) cut  82 , a curve or radiused cut  84  or other irregular profile, all intended to match or complement adjacent features of the vehicle  10  such as the door or other weatherstrip components. As a first alternative, end caps (not illustrated) may be molded on one or both ends of the beltstrip or weatherstrip  26  in a separate molding process. Molded end caps can provide both distinct cross sections such as filled and sealed regions of the slots  56  and  64  as well as appropriately shaped or contoured end portions which again match or complement adjacent features of the vehicle body. As a second alternative, end caps may be integrally molded or formed with the cover  30 . 
     It should also be appreciated that a two piece outer belt weatherstrip assembly  24  or  26  according to the present invention provides two specific advantages. The first relates to the adaptability and smoothness with which the beltstrip conforms to any body configuration such as the hip  28  or other curve or feature of the doors  14  and  16 . The two piece construction minimizes the forces of tension and compression generated within the weatherstrip  26  as it is displaced from a linear configuration, thus facilitating a more accurate match between the weatherstrip  26  and the door panel  16 . Secondly, because a weatherstrip  26  can be conformed more accurately to a vehicle shape, its appearance and the overall appearance of the vehicle  10  are improved. 
     The foregoing disclosure is the best mode devised by the inventors for practicing this invention. It is apparent, however, that products incorporating modifications and variations will be obvious to one skilled in the art of weatherstrip assemblies. Inasmuch as the foregoing disclosure presents the best mode contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention and is intended to enable any person skilled in the pertinent art to practice this invention, it should not be construed to be limited thereby but should be construed to include such aforementioned obvious variations and be limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.