Integral applique and glass run channel assembly for stub `B` pillar application

An applique and glass run channel assembly includes an applique portion which has a portion thereof which extends over the glass run channel portion of a stub `B` pillar. A glass run attachment is attached to the back of the applique and only a small lip portion extends outward from the edge of the applique. The lip portion is substantially within the plane of the applique. This configuration provides an improved transitional appearance and better tolerances for such an applique. An improved attachment of a stub `B` pillar applique is also provided which includes a novel stud and locking depression combination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an integral applique and glass run channel 
assembly for a `B` pillar of a vehicle. 
In recent years it has been desirable to provide various trim strips to add 
styling and also to functionally cover unsightly portions of a vehicle. A 
particularly troublesome area on a vehicle to accommodate in such a manner 
has been the `B` pillar of a vehicle. 
Because of the high visibility of the `B` pillar area, appliques are in 
common use today to provide an aesthetically pleasing surface on the 
manufactured `B` pillar. Such an applique is used to cover manufacturing 
imperfections and the like on the structural portion of the `B` pillar. 
Commonly, the applique is finished in cooperating or matching vehicle 
colors to provide a desired aesthetic appearance. 
In the past, it has been typical to provide an applique which covers the 
external surfaces of the `B` pillar and which has attached adjacent 
thereto a glass run channel weatherstrip or the like which is visible from 
the exterior of the vehicle. In the past such structures have been a 
relatively suitable solution. However, in recent years there have been 
pressures in automotive design for producing less wind resistant and 
smoother transition surfaces at such areas. Therefore, it has been 
desirable to provide an improved applique wherein the visible transition 
from the applique portion to the glass run channel is greatly decreased 
such that it appears that there is a transition from the applique directly 
to the drop glass window. Such a structure would advantageously provide an 
improved aesthetic appearance and would also operate to reduce wind 
resistance and wind noise associated with such external appliques. In 
addition, such a structure would produce a smoother overall contour which 
is desirable in automotive designs of today. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
`B` pillar applique assembly which provides a smooth transitional surface 
between the drop window of the glass run and the `B` pillar applique. 
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an applique and 
glass run channel assembly for a `B` pillar. The `B` pillar includes an 
outboard surface and a side portion for allowing clearance for a drop 
glass window and glass run channel on a first side and a cut edge on the 
other side. The assembly of the present invention includes an applique 
portion which has an outboard show surface and an inboard surface. The 
applique portion includes a first side and a second side on either side of 
its width. The first end has a portion which extends beyond the outboard 
surface for overlying the side portion of the `B` pillar when installed 
thereon. The first end includes a terminal cut surface. 
A glass run channel attachment is co-extruded onto the rear surface at the 
first end. The glass run channel includes a lip sealing portion which 
extends from the terminal cut surface of the first end. The lip sealing 
portion is attached to the terminal side edge and provides for a 
transitional surface which will substantially not extend outward from the 
front show surface. The lip slidably engages the glass window. The glass 
run attachment includes a body portion for fitting into the side portion 
of the `B` pillar for forming a glass run channel. An overturned lip 
portion is provided at the second end of the applique portion for 
overlying the cut edge of the `B` pillar for securing of the second end to 
the `B` pillar. A locking assembly is provided for securing the applique 
to the `B` pillar. 
Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become 
apparent from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment taken 
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an applique and 
glass run channel assembly generally shown at 10. 
Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a vehicle 12 which includes a door 
assembly 14. The door assembly 14 includes a drop window glass 16. The `B` 
pillar of vehicle 12 is generally indicated at 20 in FIG. 1. The `B` 
pillar 20 separates the front door from the rear window 18. In four-door 
vehicles the `B` pillar would separate the front window 16 from rear doors 
of the vehicle. In typical applications, the `B` pillar must include a 
space for a glass run channel for the drop window glass 16. The present 
invention may be utilized on a normal `B` pillar wherein there is a 
header strip or on a stub `B` pillar such as shown in the drawings. Stub 
`B` pillars are common on hard op ceiling designs. Such hard top designs 
lack the normal header portion but, rely on the existence of the ceiling 
using the primary door aperture in the roof seal as a surrogate door 
header seal. 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 there is shown a more detailed sectional view of 
the stub `B` pillar 20. The stub `B` pillar 20 utilized in accordance with 
the teachings of the present invention includes an outboard side 22 and an 
inboard side 24. The `B` pillar 20 also includes a top cut edge 26. A 
glass run channel receiving area 28 is provided on the other side of the 
width of the `B` pillar 20. As can be seen in the drawings, the `B` pillar 
assembly is made out of two (2) formed metal flanges which are welded 
first along the cut edge 26 and second at the other side along the width 
for forming flange portion 30. 
The outboard side 22 of the `B` pillar 20 includes at least one stud 
locking depression 32 which is provided in the longitudinally extending 
central channel portion 34. The stud locking depression formed therein 
includes an aperture 33 which has a tongue portion 36 extending therein. 
The tongue portion 36 is formed from the metal which forms the front 
outboard side of the `B` pillar 20 and includes a bent leg 38 for 
recessing the tongue portion 36 in the aperture 33. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 6 the applique article 10 of the present 
invention is shown in more detail as will be seen below. The applique 
article 10 of the present invention includes a flat sheet strip portion 40 
which has a predetermined length and width for fitting on the `B` pillar 
20. The strip 40 includes a first overturned end portion 42 and a second 
cut edge 44 on either side of its width. The applique 10 includes an upper 
end 46 and a lower end 48 which are best shown in FIG. 6. The strip 
includes an inboard surface 50 and an outboard surface 52. The outboard 
surface 52 is treated with a finish coating such as a DURANAR.RTM. or 
FLUOREX.RTM. coating to color match the vehicle styling or may be coated 
in a contrasting yet cooperating color as would be aesthetically pleasing. 
The inner surface 50 is coated with a CHEMLOK (a registered trademark of 
Hughson Chemical Company) bonding enhancer for promoting rubber/metal 
bonding during extrusion. The use of such a composition provides 
advantageous secure bonding of the glass run channel when extruded onto 
the inboard side 50 of the strip 40. 
The width of the strip 40 is wide enough such that a portion 51 of the 
strip 40 adjacent the cut edge 44 extends over the surfaces 28 forming the 
glass run channel receiving portion of the `B` pillar. Referring now to 
FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a glass run channel 54 is extruded onto the inboard 
side of the strip at the cut edge portion 44. The glass run channel 54 is 
extruded on the inboard side 50 of strip 40 such that an outside sealing 
lip portion 56 extends from the cut edge 44 in substantially the same 
plane as the strip 40. The glass run channel 54 includes an attachment 
portion 58 which attaches directly to the CHEMLOK.RTM. treated inboard 
surface 50 at the overhanging edge 44. The remaining portion of the glass 
run channel 54 includes a pair of inward sealing lips 60 and 62 which seal 
against the inside of the drop glass window 16. A flange engaging channel 
64 is formed at the other edge of the glass run channel assembly for 
engaging the flange portion 30 of the `B` pillar 20. As will be readily 
appreciated by those skilled in the art, the extruded channel could 
include a strengthening core if a particular `B` pillar application did 
not include the structural flange 30. 
The applique assembly of the present invention also includes at least one 
locking stud protrusion 66 which is attached to the inboard side 50 of the 
strip portion 40. The number of locking stud protrusions corresponds to 
the number of locking stud apertures in the `B` pillar 20. The locking 
stud protrusion 66 includes an enlarged head portion 68 and sloping sides 
70 which lead to a base portion 72. The locking studs 66 may be attached 
to the strip portion 40 by way of spin welding or the like or may be glued 
or otherwise attached to the portion 40. Referring specifically to FIGS. 5 
and 7, applique 10 is slid into position by a downward movement along `B` 
pillar 20 whereby the locking studs 66 are moved into position. The 
locking studs 66 snap into the locking depression 32 and tongue 36 engages 
the sloping side portion 70 underneath the enlarged head portion 68 to 
secure the applique in place on the `B` pillar. 
Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 8 the applique assembly is shown in its 
working environment. In its final manufacturing form the applique may 
include an end cap 73 at the upper end 46 to provide the proper fit and 
finish at the top of the stub `B` pillar 20. A flange portion 74 may be 
provided at the lower portion which includes a screw aperture 76 and 
attaches even with the belt shelf 78 of a typical vehicle door 14. 
In operation, the stub `B` pillar 20 preferably includes three (3) locking 
depressions 32. Thereafter the applique assembly as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 
and 7 is moved in a downward direction along the stub `B` pillar somewhat 
deflecting the strip portion 40 outward in order to provide clearance for 
the locking protrusions 66. Upon reaching the alignment of the locking 
protrusions 66 with the stud locking depressions 32, the installer 
provides inward pressure and downward pressure in order to lock the 
protrusion 66 into the depressions 32 for securing the applique onto the 
`B` pillar as shown best in FIG. 4. After this is accomplished, a fastener 
may be fastened through the aperture 76 onto the belt shelf 78 and a belt 
weather strip 79 is placed along the belt shelf 78 thereby covering the 
flange portion 74. 
Thus in the finished assembly, the outside appearance is a single color 
fastener-free appearance all along the width of the applique and 
substantially covering the glass run, wherein only a small width lip 
portion 56 is provided to give the transition from the applique to the 
glass 16. This is a substantial improvement in both finish and function 
over the prior art which is shown in FIG. 9. 
Referring to FIG. 9 in the prior art assembly, the prior art applique 
includes a first applique portion 100 and a second glass run channel 
portion 102. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the applique portion 100 includes 
an overturned flange 104 on a first end and an angled flange 106 on a 
second end which fits into the glass run space 108 on the `B` pillar 110. 
In the prior art the glass run assembly extended outward from the glass run 
in order to provide clearance for the lip 112 which engages the glass 116. 
The glass run of the prior art included a rather wide leg portion 118 
which detracted from the appearance and made a noticeable transition from 
the surface of the applique 100 to the glass panel 116. 
Thus, in the present invention this problem has been solved in that the 
transition between the applique and the glass 16 is just slightly more 
than the thickness of the applique itself. And also the lip portion 56 
which is the only visible portion of the glass run channel weather strip 
assembly is relatively minor thus giving a more pleasing appearance and 
also improving the functionality of the sealing lip 56. 
The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is 
to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to 
be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. 
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are 
possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of 
the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than 
as specifically described.