Protective edge molding for vehicle parts

A protective molding for an edge of a hinged motor vehicle part, characterized in that the molding has a substantially V-shape cross sectional configuration and includes a guide leg terminating along one longitudinal side in an end portion, and a mounting leg for mounting on the vehicle part, the mounting leg being provided along the other longitudinal side of the guide leg, the guide leg defining a contact area adopted to contact an inner surface of the vehicle part adjacent said edge, and in that the end portion of the guide leg curves outwardly with respect to said V-shape configuration of the molding in a hook-shape adapted to surround the edge of the vehicle part for protecting said edge and wherein a portion of the outwardly curved, hook-shaped end portion of the guide leg adapted to surround said edge is tapered.

The present invention relates to a protection arrangement and, more 
particularly, to a protective molding of an elastic material adapted to be 
disposed at the edge of a hinged pivotable or swivelable vehicle part, 
with the molding including a guide leg passing over along one longitudinal 
side into an end portion curved outwardly in a hook shape over a contact 
surface thereof. 
In the automobile industry, there have been a number of proposals of 
providing flanged edges of hinged vehicle parts such as, for example, 
doors, an engine hood, or a trunk lid, with protective edge moldings to 
safeguard such flanged areas from, for example, chipping of the paint or 
the like. Generally, such proposed moldings are constructed in the form of 
essentially U-shaped profile and are placed on or attached to the edge to 
be protected with the channel formed by the profile. 
For example, in German Utility Model No. 1,970,377, an arrangement is 
proposed wherein a profile strip, employed as an edge protection, is 
clamped onto flanges of the vehicle bodies such as, for example, flanges 
of the vehicle door. A disadvantage of such a proposed edge molding 
resides in the fact that, due to the projection of one leg of the U-shaped 
profile beyond an outer surface of the hinged vehicle part, such 
projection is exposed to an air flow during driving of the vehicle and 
consequently affects the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle in addition 
to producing troublesome wind noises. 
The aim underlying the present invention essentially resides in providing a 
protective molding for the edge of a hinged vehicle part which does not 
adversely affect the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle nor produce any 
troublesome wind noises. 
In accordance with the present invention, a substantially V-shaped cross 
sectional configuration protective edge molding is provided which includes 
an angularly rigid mounting leg arranged on an opposite longitudinal side 
of the guide leg, with the mounting leg extending, based on the contact 
surface, in opposition to a hook-shaped end portion, which terminates in a 
tapering arcuate portion adjoining an apex of the hook of the hook-shaped 
end portion. 
In accordance with the present invention, the protective edge molding is 
hung with its hook-shaped end portion into an edge of the hinged vehicle 
part to be protected and is adapted to be attached under a pretensioning 
with the mounting leg to the inside of the hinged vehicle part by 
fastening means such as, for example, a layer of cement or fastening 
element such as screws. With such an arrangement the protective edge 
molding is just about flush with an outer surface of the hinged vehicle 
part with the hook-shaped end portion terminating in the tapering arcuate 
portion adjoining the apex of the hook thereby preventing an increase in 
drag along the outer surface of the vehicle part. 
In accordance with advantageous features of the present invention, the 
hook-shaped end portion may have a boundary area disposed approximately in 
parallel with a contact area of the guide leg. The boundary area may lie 
at least almost flush with the outer surface of the vehicle part. By 
providing that the boundary area of the hook-shaped end portion of the 
protective edge molding be so configured, a joint between the hinged 
vehicle part and a frame section surrounding the vehicle part is filled 
out so that the drag coefficient is positively affected by a prevention of 
eddy formations and interfering wind noises especially at higher operating 
speeds of the motor vehicle. 
In order to rigidify the protective edge molding, in accordance with 
further advantageous features of the present invention, a plurality of 
supporting ribs may be spaced along the length of the edge molding at 
regular intervals, with alignment lines which may converge on an apex of 
the boundary area of the hook-shaped end portion. Moreover, fastening 
elements may be arranged on the mounting leg between the supporting ribs 
so that the protective edge molding may be fastened to an inside of the 
hinged vehicle part under a pretensioning. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
protective edge molding of elastic material for hinged vehicle parts which 
avoids, by simple means, shortcomings and disadvantages encountered in the 
prior art. 
Another object of the present invention resides in providing a protective 
edge molding of elastic material for hinged vehicle parts which may be 
manufactured easily from a technical viewpoint. 
Yet another object of the present invention resides in providing a 
protective edge molding of elastic material for hinged vehicle parts which 
does not adversely affect the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle nor 
produce troublesome wind noises during operation of the vehicle even at 
higher speeds.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used in 
both views to designate like parts and, more particularly, to FIG. 1, 
according to this Figure, a vehicle door generally designated by the 
reference numeral 4 includes an outer panel 1, an inner panel 2, and a 
flanged edge 3 surrounded by a vehicle frame section 5. A protective edge 
molding generally designated by the reference numeral 6 is adapted to be 
attached on an inside of the door 4. The molding 6 is formed of a V-shaped 
profile member made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride plastic material. 
The molding 6 includes a guide leg 7 terminating in a hook-shaped end 
portion 8 and a flat mounting leg 9. 
The hook-shaped end portion 8 is provided with an outer boundary area 10 
which extends approximately in parallel to a contact area 11 of the guide 
leg 7, which area 11 is adapted to contact an inner portion of the vehicle 
door 4. Several supporting ribs 12 are arranged at regular intervals along 
the length of the molding 6 to increase the angular rigidification 
thereof. 
The protective edge molding is hung or installed along the edge of the 
vehicle door 4 with the hook-shaped end portion being disposed on or 
surrounding the flanged edge 3 of the vehicle door 4. The molding 6 is 
attached under a pretensioning with the mounting leg 9 to the inner panel 
2 of the vehicle door 4 by means of, for example, sheet metal screws 13. 
When installed along the flanged edge 3 of the vehicle door 4, the 
boundary area 10 of the molding 6 lies almost flush with an outer surface 
of the vehicle door and an outer surface of the frame section 5 and covers 
the joint between these two body parts. Moreover, the outer surface of the 
vehicle body part may taper into the flanged edge 3 to be protected. 
While we have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance with 
the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited 
thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known 
to one having ordinary skill in the art and we therefore do not wish to be 
limited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all 
such modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.