Abstract:
AAn automobile windshield molding comprisesseals a pair of extruded side molding parts, a pair of corner molding parts, and an extruded upper molding part integral with and extendingspace between the sidea windshield and corner molding partsa periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel. Each of theThe molding parts includes an exterior wingis extruded in a single piece and a connecting portionincludes an exterior wing to cover the space on the exterior side of the vehicle body panel. The exterior wing has an outward wing portion and an  inward wing portion for covering the  which covers a peripheral edge of a vehicle body panel and a peripheral edge of a  surface of an automobile windshield, respectively . The inward wing portion of each of the side molding part is increased its height to define a space between the peripheral surface of  has an eaves which protrudes out over the windshield associated with a side panel. This space serves as a water drain channel for guiding rain water to a predetermined position . The eaves gradually becomes spaced further and further from the windshield thereby creating first water drain channels which begin approximately at first and second corner molding parts and extend towards first and second side molding parts of the windshield molding. The distance by which the eaves protrude out over the windshield gradually increases along the first and second side molding parts thus increasing the depth of the first water drain channels.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.  08 / 397 , 763 , filed on Mar.  2 ,  1995 , now abandoned, which is a reissue application of Ser. No.  07 / 755 , 847 , filed Sep.  6 ,  1991 , U.S. Pat. No.  5 , 190 , 338 . 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a windshield molding for a motor vehicle to seal the space between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel, and a method of producing such windshield molding. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Usually a windshield molding is attached around an edge of a windshield to seal the space between a window opening of a vehicle body panel and the windshield. Such windshield molding comprises an exterior wing for covering a space, on the exterior side of the vehicle, between the window opening periphery of the vehicle body panel and the peripheral edge of the windshield, and a connecting portion extending from an interior side of the exterior wing through the space between the window opening periphery of the vehicle body panel and the edge of the windshield. 
     With this type windshield molding, water drain channels are formed on the molding as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications Nos. 291721/1988 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,757,659 and 4,757,660), 8019/1988, 8020/1988, 8021/1988, 212121/1988, 195032/1989 (corresponding to U.S. 4,865,796), 204713/1989 and 204714/1989. 
     With Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 291721/1988 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,757,659 and 4,757,660) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 244,820/1989, a molding has a top and a leg extending downwardly from the top. The leg has a plurality of arms extending in the direction associated with a windshield, and terminates in a foot. At an upper molding part, the molding receives an upper edge of the windshield in a space between the underside of the top and a first arm. At each side molding part, each side edge of the windshield is received in a space between a second arm and the foot. At the side molding part, the space between the underside of the top and the first arm serves as a water drain channel. At the upper molding part, the portion of the leg which is not used for receiving the windshield is cut off. 
     Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 128411/1989 discloses an extruded joint to be used for connecting an upper molding part and a side molding part. 
     In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications 8019/1988, 8020/1988 and 8021/1988, a strip of a molding extruded in a predetermined shape has a groove along a side of a top decorative portion. The groove is formed by elastic deformation or heated compression molding process. This groove serves as a water drain channel. 
     Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 212121/1988 discloses a molded piece inserted under an arm of a connecting portion of the molding to raise an arm and to define a space, which is used as a water drain channel. 
     With Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 195032/1989 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,796), a whole molding is extruded in a predetermined uniform shape. A portion serving as a water drain channel is cut from the molding where the water drain channel is not necessary. Modified and improved examples of the molding of this citation are proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications 204173 and 204174 of 1989. 
     However, the following inconveniences are experienced with the foregoing prior art moldings. 
     With Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 291721/1988 (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,757,659 and 4,757,660), it is necessary to adjust the posture of the molding on its one side confronting the vehicle body panel and its other side confronting the windshield before the molding is installed in a window opening of the vehicle. This means there is still a space between the molding and the vehicle body panel, which will increase a windage resistance and adversely affect fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Further the extruded molding is cut at portions which are not necessary after the molding is produced, which is disadvantageous in view of production efficiency of the molding. The corner part of the molding is difficult to shape and to install, since an arm supporting the windshield thereon is switched to another arm at the corner part. 
     In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications 8019 to 8021 of 1988, the groove on the top of the molding is not deep enough to serve as a water drain channel efficiently. 
     In Japanese Patent Laid-Open publication 195032/1989 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,796), sharp edges of a top decorative portion have to be rounded in a separate step. Further the cut portion has polish different from the polish of the remaining decorative portion, which adversely affects external appearance of the top portion. Since depth of the groove cannot be changed as desired, the capacity of the groove as a water drain channel is very limited. Further, the molding is installed in the window opening of the vehicle body panel in a deformed manner, the molding easily comes out due to its internal stress. This problem is also experienced with the molding disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication 204713/1989 and 204714/1989. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an extruded windshield molding including water drain channels formed by changing the shape of the molding and to assure a good decorative appearance. 
     According to this invention, there is provided an automobile windshield molding comprises a pair of extruded side molding parts, a pair of extruded corner molding parts and an extruded upper molding part integral with and extending between the side and corner molding parts. Each of the side, corner and upper molding parts includes: an exterior wing adapted to cover a space, on the exterior side of the vehicle, between the window-opening periphery of the vehicle body panel and each of side, corner and upper edges of the windshield, the exterior wing including an inward wing portion for covering the peripheral edge of the windshield and an outward wing portion for covering the periphery of the vehicle body panel, the majority of the inward wing portion associated with each the side edge of the windshield being large in height to be spaced from the side peripheral surface of the windshield, such side inward wing portion having a first water drain channel which extends in and along such large-height part and opens inwardly of the window opening; and a connecting portion extending from an interior side of each the exterior wing through the space between the window-opening periphery of the vehicle body panel and each the edge of the windshield and terminating in a foot on the interior side of the vehicle body panel and a lip on the exterior side of the vehicle body panel. 
     There is proposed a method for producing a strip of an automobile windshield molding by using a molding device including dies. The method comprises: extruding molding material through a hollow portion defined by the dies; adjusting the shape of the hollow portion by moving the dies according to the shape of a molding to be made; and widening part of the hollow portion of the dies to increase height of an inward wing portion associated with a side edge of the windshield to form a water drain channel in and along the inward wing portion. 
     According to this invention, the inward wing portion associated with the side edge of the windshield smoothly rises to form an eves and wall, which define a sufficient space for a water drain channel. A strip of molding can be easily produced by extrusion process, and no cutting process is necessary to form the water drain channel. Thus the molding has an excellent external appearance and is very safe. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle body having a windshield molding; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a windshield molding according to a first embodiment of this invention, showing the structure of a corner molding part; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X—X   3 — 3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y 1 —Y 1   4 — 4 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y 2 —Y 2   5 — 5 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y 3 —Y 3   6 — 6 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a front view showing a molding device for extruding the windshield molding shown in FIGS. 1 to  6 ; 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of the molding device of FIG. 7, showing how dies are moved. 
     FIG. 9 shows basic shapes of the dies of the molding device of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a windshield molding according to a second embodiment of this invention, showing the structure of a corner molding part; 
     FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Z—Z   12 — 12 of FIG. 11; and 
     FIG. 13 is a front view of a molding device for extruding the windshield molding shown in FIGS. 10 to  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in FIG. 1, an extruded windshield molding M 1  (hereinafter called as “molding M 1 ”) is attached to a peripheral edge of a windshield G, sealing the space between the windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel. The molding M 1  comprises an upper molding part M 1 a to be mounted between the upper edge of the windshield G and a roof portion of a body panel  12  of a vehicle, side molding parts M 1 b to be mounted between side edges of the windshield G and pillar portions of the body panel  12  of the vehicle body, and corner molding parts M 1 c for connecting the upper and side molding parts M 1 a, M 1 b. All of these molding parts M 1 a to M 1 c are extruded as one unit. 
     The molding M 1  shown in FIGS. 2 to  6  is a strip in the cross- sectional  shape of T, and is made of elastic material such as synthetic resin extruded as an elongated member by a molding device to be described later. The molding M 1  comprises an exterior wing  1  adapted to cover a space, on the exterior side of the vehicle, between the window opening periphery of the body panel  12  and peripheral edge of the windshield G, and a connecting portion  2  extending from an interior side of the exterior wing  1 . The connecting portion  2  is inserted in the space between the body panel  12  and the peripheral edge of the windshield G. 
     A strip of a metal foil  11  is embedded in the molding M 1  at an area of a vehicle where the connecting portion extends from the interior side of the exterior wing  1 . 
     The connecting portion  2  includes a foot  8  extending inwardly (toward the windshield G ) along the end thereof, and a flexible lip  9  extending outwardly (toward the vehicle body panel  12 ) along the end thereof. The foot  8  contacts with the windshield G. 
     The exterior wing  1  includes an outward wing portion  3  for flexibly covering the periphery of the vehicle body panel  12 , and an inward wing portion  4  for flexibly covering the peripheral edge of the windshield G. Both the outward and inward wing portions are  branch the exterior wing into two lip-shaped members. The peripheral edge of the windshield G is inserted in a space between the inward wing portion  4  and the foot  8  of the connecting portion  2 . 
     Fundamentally, the molding M 1  has a uniform cross-sectional shape throughout its whole area  length except for the inward wing portions  4  at the side molding parts. Specifically, the cross-sectional shapes of the connecting portion  2 , foot  8 , flexible lip  9  and outward wing portion  3  are same throughout the side, upper and corner molding parts. This is because the difference of height between the upper surface of the windshield G and the upper surface of the body panel  12  is kept uniform throughout the entire length of the side, upper and corner molding parts. On the contrary, the inward wing portion  4 betweenfrom each corner molding part M 1 c and  to each side molding part M 1 b rises gradually as described hereinafter. 
     The upper molding part M 1 a has a uniform cross-sectional shape throughout its entire length as shown in FIG.  3 . The inward wing portion  4  from the corner molding part M 1 c to the side molding part M 1 b gradually extends upwardly  rises toward the outside of the vehicle. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 to  6 , the inward wing portion  4  gradually rises to form a wall  5  and semi-cylindrical eaves  6 from the corner to the outside. The eaves  6 is uniformly thick , disposed inwardly, gradually and linearly rises toward the outside of the vehicle from the corner section to the side section so as to separate from the surface of the windshield G while keeping a uniform thickness. The wall  5  also rises in proportion to the height of the eaves  6 . The bottom of the inward wing portion  4 , i.e. the bottom of the wall  5 , is in close contact with the upper surface of the windshield G. Thus, an L-shaped space is defined between the upper surface of the windshield G, the wall  5  and the eaves  6 , serving as a water drain channel  7 . 
     The wall  5 gradually rises from a midpoint of a corner section to the side section and is highest at the upper portion of the side molding part M 1 b (as shown in FIG.  5 ), keeping its height to the end of the side molding part M 1 b. The eaves  6  laterally extends from the upper part of the wall  5  over the windshield G. The eaves  6 has a uniform lateral length from a midportion of a corner section to the side section and gradually becomes longer from the upper portion to the longer end of the side molding part M 1 b where the wall  5  maintains the maximum height. Thus, the water drain channel  7  is gradually deepened, as is the width of its opening. The size of the water drain channel  7  changes in width and depth in relation to each other. 
     The molding M 1  is attached to the windshield G and the vehicle body panel  12  as described below. 
     Firstly, the molding M 1  is attached around the peripheral edge  11  of the windshield G. Between the upper and corner parts, the edge  11  of the windshield G is sandwiched between the foot  8  and the interior side of the inward wing portion  4 . Each of the side edges of the windshield G is sandwiched between the foot  8  and the interior side of the inward wing portion  4 . The corner molding parts M 1 c are curved according to a predetermined curvature, without any wrinkles at the curved portions, despite a difference in the length along the curved direction, because the molding M 1  is increased thickness as described above. 
     A dam rubber  16  in a strip shape is applied around the edge of a flange  12   b  of the body panel  12 . An adhesive  14  is applied around the dam rubber  16 . Then the windshield G having the molding M 1  mounted therearound is placed on the dam rubber  16 . The windshield G is pressed toward the vehicle body, so that the foot  8  of the connecting portion  2  is fastened by the adhesive  14 , and the flexible lip  9  of the connecting portion  2  is L-shaped  bent to flexibly contact with a slanting wall  12 a of the body panel  12 , thereby fastening. A repulsion due to the bending causes the molding M 1 to be fastened firmly. 
     The windshield G is mounted on the flange  12 b of the body panel  12  to be substantially flush with the surface of the body panel  12 . The outward wing portion  3  of the molding M 1  is in close contact with the body panel  12  throughout the whole molding parts M 1 a, M 1 b, M 1 c. From the corner to the side molding parts, the inward wing portion  4  gradually extends upwardly as shown in FIG.  4 . FIGS. 5 and 6 show that the inward wing portion  4  gradually becomes taller to become tallest at the center of the side molding part toward the end of the side molding part  FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 . The upper molding M 1 a, as shown in FIG. 3, has a uniform cross-sectional shape throughout the entire length thereof, without any heightened part. From a midpoint in a corner section to a side section, as shown in FIG. 4, the inward wing portion  4  gradually rises upward and becomes higher so as to form a large-height part. In the side molding part M 1 b, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the maximum large-height part is formed and maintained throughout the central portion toward the lower portion of the side molding part M 1 b. 
     Rain water is guided on the windshield G along the inward wing portion of the molding M 1  and the water drain channel  7  to be discharged to a predetermined position. 
     It is also possible to attach the molding M 1  after the windshield G is installed in the window opening of the vehicle body panel. 
     A molding device for producing the foregoing molding M 1  will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to  9 . 
     The molding device comprises three dies i.e. first to third dies  22 ,  23 ,  24 . These dies have openings for extruding plastic material, being juxtaposed one another in the direction for extruding the molding, i.e. the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.  7 . 
     The first die  22  is stationary, having an opening  21  which is shaped according  so as to cover the cross-sectional shape of the molding M 1 . A part of the opening  21  is square-shaped according to the shape of the inward wing portion  4 forcovering the upper, corner and side molding parts M 1 a, M 1 c, M 1 b, as shown in FIG.  9 . 
     The second die  23  is positioned in front of the first die  22 , being movable up and down in parallel to the first die  22  by a pair of guides  25 . 
     The third die  24  is positioned in front of the second die  23 , being movable horizontally and in parallel  the perpendicular direction to the direction of movement of the second die  23  by a pair of guides  26 . 
     The second die  23  is a substantially rectangular plate, of which one corner is cut according to the shape of the upper edge  eaves  6  and wall  5 of the inward wing portion  4 . That cut corner of the second die  23  is put on the part of the opening  21  corresponding to the inward wing portion  4  of the first die  22 . To form the inward wing portion  4  of the side molding part M 1 b, the second die  23  is moved in parallel to the first die  22   so that the cut corner of the second die  23  covers the part (corresponding to the inward wing portion  4 ) of the opening  21  of the first die  22 . Therefore, the area of the opening  21  (corresponding to the inward wing portion  4 ) is gradually changed to heighten the inward wing portion  4  of the side molding part M 1 b. 
     A lever  23   a  extends from an upper edge of the second die  23  to be connected to a converter  29 , which is driven by a motor  25   27 to convert the rotary motion of the motor  25   27 to the rectilinear motion. The motor  27  causes the second die  23  to reciprocate between the position for forming the upper molding part (FIG. 8) and the position for forming the side molding part (FIG.  7 ). 
     The third die  24  is a long slender plate whose righthand edge (FIG. 7) is cut semi-circular according to the shape of the eaves  6  of the inward wing portion  4 . The third die  24  is moved in the opening  21  of the first die  22  at the part corresponding to the inward wing portion  4 , thereby forming  so that the eaves  6  of the inward wing portion  4 changes its length. This movement is caused by operation of a motor  28  which drives a converter  31  which converts rotary motion of the motor  28  to rectilinear motion. 
     The following describe how the molding device operates to produce the molding M 1 . 
     The molding M 1  is extruded by the molding device in the following order: a side molding part M 1 b, a corner molding part M 1 c, an upper molding part M 1 a, a corner molding part M 1 c, and a side molding part M 1 b. 
     To extrude the side molding part M 1 b, the second and third dies  23 ,  24  are arranged for the first die  22  as shown in FIG. 7, so that the opening  21  of the first die  22  kept widest. A strip of metal foil is supplied to the opening  21  of the first die  22  at the portion corresponding to the connecting portion  2  of the molding M 1 . The end of the side molding part M 1 b, having the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 6, is firstly extruded. The side molding part M 1 b has the inward wing portion  4  whose wall  5  is highest and whose eaves  6  is longest to form the water drain channel  7  having the largest cross-sectional area. 
     The side molding part M 1 b is extruded to a predetermined length. Then the third die  24  is moved in the direction shown by an arrow Q. As the third die  24  is advanced into the opening  21  of the first die  22  to further shield part of the opening  21  according to the shape of the eaves  6  of the inward wing portion  4 . When the third die  24  reaches the position shown by a dash-and-double-dot line, the side molding part M 1 b is extruded in the shape as shown in FIG. 5. At this point, multiple dies ( initially all three dies  22 - 24  and then just the first die  22  and second die  23   )  have been disposed at the same position while the outer surface of the exterior wing and the top surface of the eaves were formed.  After this, the second die  23  is moved in the direction shown by an arrow P to form the side and corner molding parts M 1 b, M 1 c having the cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG.  4 . The cross-sectional area  height of the wall  5  is gradually reduced so that the water drain channel  7  is gradually reduced in proportion to the decrease of the height of the inward wing portion  4 . 
     When the corner molding part M 1 c is completely extruded, the second die  23  stops at its destination as shown in FIG.  8 . Under this condition, the water drain channel  7  disappears from the inward wing portion  4  of the molding M 1 . The opening  21  of the first die  22  corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the upper molding part M 1 a. Thereafter, the molding device extrudes the upper molding part M 1 a to a predetermined length. 
     After completion of the upper molding part M 1 a, the corner and side molding parts M 1 c, M 1 b are extruded in the sequence opposite to the above-mentioned sequence. Consequently, in FIG. 7, the second die is moved in the direction shown by the arrow R and third die is moved in the direction shown by the arrow S. Thus, the molding M 1  will be extruded in the shape of a strip  single piece and the eaves will have a uniform outer contour appearance. 
     FIGS. 10 to  12  show a molding M 2  according to a second embodiment of this invention. In these drawing figures, the members identical to those of the first embodiment are assigned a mark (′). 
     The outward wing portion  3 ′ of the exterior wing  1 ′ is downwardly pulled by a piece  30 , which extends from the connecting portion  2  of the molding M 2 . The pulled portion, i.e. concave portion, of the exterior wing  1 ′ serves as a second water drain channel  32 . This second water drain channel  32  is formed throughout the molding M 2  to guide rain water from the body panel  12 ′ at the roof side when the motor vehicle is decreasing its speed or stops, thereby assuring a good view for the driver. 
     As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the inward wing portion  4 ′ gradually rises in the shape of arc between the corner molding part M 1 c  M 2 c and the side molding part M 1 b  M 2 b, being formed as a wall  5 ′ an eaves  6 ′. The wall  5 ′ is slightly inclined toward the upper surface of the windshield G. The space defined between the eaves  6 ′ and the wall  5 ′ is somewhat depressed in the shape of L, serving as a water drain channel  7 ′. Reference numeral  34  designates a wire portion, while reference numeral  35  designates a hollow portion. 
     The eaves  6 ′ of the inward wing portion  4 ′ is uniform in shape and thickness, contrary to the eaves  6  of the first embodiment. 
     The molding M 2  of this embodiment is as advantageous as the molding M 1  of the foregoing embodiment. The molding M 2  can be attached around the windshield G and then installed in the window opening of the body panel of the vehicle. Otherwise, the windshield G is firstly installed in the window opening of the body panel. Secondly, the molding M 2  is installed with the connecting portion inserted into the space between the windshield G and the body panel  12 . 
     A molding device for producing the molding M 2  will be described hereinafter. 
     As shown in FIG. 13, the molding device comprises a first die  37  and a second die  38 , both of which have openings corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the molding M 2 . The first and second dies  37 ,  38  are juxtaposed in the direction for extruding the molding M 2  (i.e. in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.  13 ). The first die  37  is stationary, and the second die  38  is angularly movable in front of the first die  37 . The first die  37  has the opening  36  through which the molding M 2  is extruded. Part of the opening  36  is shaped according to the cross-sectional shapes of the inward wing portion  4 ′ of the upper, corner and side molding parts M 1 a, M 1 b, M 1 c  M 2 a M 2 c, M 2 b. 
     The second die  38  is substantially disc-shaped. The peripheral edge of the second die  38  is partially cut in the shape of the eaves  6 ′ and wall  5 ′ of the inward wing portion  4 ′. The opening  36  of the first die  37  has a side corresponding to the wall  5 ′ which is in contact with the surface of the windshield G. The cut portion of the second die  38  is superimposed over the area of the opening  36  corresponding to the inward wing portion  4 ′. When the second die  38  is angularly moved, the area of the opening  36  corresponding to the inward wing portion  4 ′ is changed to let the inward wing portion  4 ′ rise as described above. 
     The second die  38  is formed with a rack  39  on part of the circumference thereof. A pinion  43  engaged with the rack  39  is connected to a motor  41  via a lever  42 . The driving force of the motor  41  causes the second die  38  to reciprocate the position corresponding to the upper molding part and the position corresponding to the side molding part shown in FIG.  13 . 
     Operation of this molding device for the molding M 2  is substantially similar to the operation of the device for the molding M 1  except that the second dies  38  is angularly moved and that no third die is used. Therefore, the description on the molding device will be omitted here. 
     In the foregoing two embodiments, the water drain channels  7 ′ can be formed at desired positions and in a desired size. For instance, the water drain channel will be sometimes formed only at the upper portions of the side molding parts. In such case, the decorative function of the molding will not be affected at all. 
     When the exterior wing of the molding is thinned to decrease the difference of height between the upper surface of the body panel and the upper surface of the windshield, wrinkles may be unfortunately formed at the corner molding parts. However such wrinkles cannot be formed since the molding is made thicker as described on the foregoing embodiment, thereby assuring a reliable installation of the molding on the vehicle. 
     This invention is also applicable to install a rear window. 
     In the foregoing embodiments, the inward wing portion covering the peripheral edge of the windshield is made to gradually rise between the corner molding part to the side molding part, thereby forming a water drain channel in a space between the inward wing portion and the upper surface of the windshield. Since all the side, corner, upper, corner and side molding parts are integrally extruded, the water drain channel can be formed very easily. The molding of this invention can assure a safety, good appearance and decorative functions.