Abstract:
A sealing profile for securing to a motor vehicle component, more particularly to a frame of a door in the region of the C-pillar includes an insert provided for preventing prohibitive deformations of the sealing profile. The insert has at least one elastically deformable detent for securing to the motor vehicle component and at least one supporting plate for stiffening the sealing profile, the supporting plate being formed integral with the detent in one piece.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a scaling profile for securing to a motor vehicle component, more particularly to a frame of a door. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Extruded channel sections of light alloy, more particularly of aluminum, are used in producing the frame on a series of motor vehicles. These channel sections are bent to adapt to the roof contour of the vehicle. Due to their material properties the channel sections cannot be totally adapted to the roof contour, resulting in a space being created between the upper edge of the frame and the roof. This interspace needs to be covered by a sealing profile. The interspace occurs more particularly in the region of the C-pillar of a motor vehicle. 
     A variety of sealing profiles (weatherseals) is known for covering the interspace. The disadvantage of these sealing profiles is the complicated fastening arrangement involving additional elements, for example, screws. Furthermore, the sealing profile is made of an elastomeric material and is thus flexible and deformable. When the door is open, it often protrudes beyond the frame and is often used in closing the door. Due to the low stiffness of the sealing profile there is a risk of it being prohibitively deformed and thus damaged. Apart from this, the sealing profile may become detached from the frame. 
     The objective of the present invention is thus to provide a sealing profile which can be simply secured to a motor vehicle component, more particularly to a door frame, whilst featuring enhanced stiffness. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, this objective is achieved for a scaling profile of the aforementioned kind in that the sealing profile comprises an insert provided with at least one elastically deformable detent for securing to the motor vehicle component and with at least one supporting plate for stiffening the sealing profile. The supporting plate is materially connected to the detent in one piece. 
     The insert including the at least one detent achieves reliably safe fastening of the sealing profile to the motor vehicle component without the use of additional fasteners. The supporting plate is configured as part of the insert and results in the stiffness of the sealing profile being enhanced. Forces engaging the sealing profile away from the motor vehicle component are transmitted via the insert directly to the motor vehicle component. Deformation of the sealing profile is substantially reduced. 
     Advantageous aspects and further embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims. 
     Advantageously, the detent has a substantially triangular section. Thus, the detent comprises a slanting surface area which, on fitting, contacts protuberance of the motor vehicle component which elastically deforms the detent. After having clasped the protuberance, the detent relaxes to securely locate the sealing profile. 
     In one advantageous aspect the detent comprises a supporting part spaced away from the detent by an interspace. The supporting part prevents the detent from slipping out of the undercut. Due to the interspace, the elastic deformation of the detent is not obstructed. For each detent a separate supporting part may be provided. As an alternative, a full-length supporting part may be used. The supporting part may be additionally likewise configured as a detent in clasping a protuberance of the motor vehicle component in the fitted condition. 
     In accordance with another advantageous aspect, the detent and/or the supporting part protrude from the sealing profile in thus avoiding damage to the sealing profile on fitting. At the same time, a direct contact between the insert and the motor vehicle component is provided so that forces engaging the sealing profile are directly transmitted to the motor vehicle component. 
     Advantageously, the supporting plate is arranged substantially parallel to a closure part to be sealed off by the sealing profile. In this case the supporting plate is located substantially in the plane of the closure part and the door so that the desired position of the sealing profile is reliably maintained. 
     In addition, the sealing profile may comprise an appendage or attachment for clasping a rib of the motor vehicle component. This appendage prevents the end of the sealing profile facing the closure part from being lifted off to further improve the secure location of the profile. 
     In another advantageous embodiment several detents are provided spaced away from each other. The individual detents can then be deformed by little effort so that the sealing profile can be fitted with little force. Advantageously, the detents are located on a curve conforming to the bend of the motor vehicle component. 
     The insert is arranged to advantage in the region of the C-pillar of a motor vehicle. In this region the sealing profile protrudes comparatively far beyond the motor vehicle component. 
     The invention also relates to a motor vehicle component, more particularly a frame of a door of a motor vehicle, to which a sealing profile as described above is secured. The motor vehicle component in accordance with the invention is provided with a number of protuberances and recesses, the protuberances forming undercuts for securing the detents of the sealing profile. Provided between the detents are recesses for receiving the insert in thus achieving a low profile and accordingly a streamlined outer contour. 
     Advantageously, the motor vehicle component is provided with a protuberance for providing a contact surface area for a supporting part of the sealing profile. This contact surface area results in the insert being supported to further improve locating the sealing profile and transmitting the force into the motor vehicle component. In this arrangement, the contact surface area may be configured flat or form an undercut for locating a supporting part configured as a detent. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a motor vehicle; 
     FIG. 2 is a magnified detail X as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line III—III in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line IV—IV in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line V—V in FIG. 2 after the sealing profile has been fitted; 
     FIG. 6 is plan view of the insert; and 
     FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line VII—VII in FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated diagrammatically a side view of a motor vehicle  10  including a front door  11  and a rear door  12 . Bath doors  11 ,  12  are provided with a seating profile  13  in the region of a frame  17  (see FIG. 2) and a channel seal  14  for guiding and sealing a powered window pane  15 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a magnified detail X as shown in FIG. 1 in the region of the C-pillar  16  of the motor vehicle  10 . Illustrated diagrammatically is a section of the frame  17  of door  12 . The outer contour of the sealing profile  13  is indicated by the broken line  18 . In the region of the C-pillar  16  as shown, the sealing profile  13  clearly protrudes beyond the frame  17 . The reason for this is that the frame  17  cannot be adapted to the roof contour to its full extent. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 to  5 , there is illustrated a section taken along the line III—III, IV—IV and V—V respectively as shown in FIG. 2 in detailing the configuration of the frame  17  and the sealing profile  13 . 
     For guiding and sealing the window pane  15 , the sealing profile  13  is provided with a plurality of lips  26  provided partly with a friction-reducing flock  27 . A lip  24  serves to seal the sealing profile from the roof. The end of the sealing profile  13  facing the windowpane  15  is provided with an attachment  28  clasping a protuberance  29  of the frame  17 . It is this connection that reliably locates the sealing profile  13  in preventing it from being lifting off undesirably. 
     The sealing profile  13  also comprises an insert  30  provided with several detents  31  for securing to frame  17 . As shown in FIG. 4, the frame  17  is provided with protuberances  19  forming undercuts  21  for the detents  31 . Between the protuberances  19  the frame  17  is provided with recesses  20  (see FIG.  2 ). 
     To locate the sealing profile  13 , the insert  30  is furthermore provided with supporting parts  32 . These supporting parts  32  are spaced away from the detents  31  via an interspace  34  so as not to obstruct deformation of the detents  31  on fitting the sealing profile  13 . To support the supporting parts  32 , the frame  17  is provided with a further protuberance  23  forming a flat contact surface area  22  for the supporting parts  32 . 
     The detents  31  have a substantially triangular cross-section and comprise a slanting contact surface area for contacting the protuberances  19 , resulting in the detents  31  being elastically deformed in the direction of the supporting parts  32  on being fitted and latching in place in the undercuts  21  after having negotiated the protuberances  19 . The supporting parts  32  slide along the contact surface area  22  in preventing the detents  31  from emerging from the undercuts  21 . As shown in FIG. 5 the supporting parts  32  result in securement in the horizontal direction and the detents  31  in securement in the vertical direction. Both the detents  31  and the supporting parts  32  protrude from the sealing profile  13  in directly contacting the frame  17 . 
     The insert  30  also comprises a supporting plate  33  that is disposed within the sealing profile  13  and which is connected to the detents  31  and supporting parts  32  substantially in one piece. The detents and supporting parts are integral the supporting plate adjacent an end of the plate. Starting from the frame  17 , the supporting plate  33  extends substantially parallel to the windowpane  15  in the sealing profile  13  for stiffening it and the detents  31  and supporting parts  32  extend generally normal to the plane of the supporting plate and out of the sealing profile  13  for connection to the frame  17 . In addition, a further reinforcement insert  25  may be provided for locating the sealing profile  13  on a flange (not shown) of the frame  17 . Forces acting on the sealing profile  13  are absorbed by the supporting plate  33  and transmitted via the detents  31  and supporting parts  32  to the sealing profile  13  in thus significantly reducing deformations of the sealing profile  13 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated the insert  30  in a plan view and in a magnified detail cross-section. The supporting plate  33  is substantially V-shaped and adapted to the interspace between the frame  17  and the roof. It is provided with a hole or recess  35  to reduce the weight and to improve locating in the sealing profile  13 . The detents  31  are arranged substantially on a circle adapted to the contour of the frame  17 , the supporting parts  32  too being likewise correspondingly arranged. For a better explanation, there is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 7 the lower edge of the sealing profile  13  as a broken line  36 . The detents  31  and the supporting parts  32  protrude from the sealing profile  13 . 
     Due to the insert  30  including the detents  31  and supporting parts  32  the sealing profile  13  in accordance with the invention is quickly and easily fitted to the frame  17  without requiring additional fasteners. The supporting plate  33  of the insert  30  results in the sealing profile  13  being stiffened in thus reliably preventing prohibitive deformation and damage.