Sealing system for vehicle

A sealing system for a vehicle includes: a mounting member including a web, and a first flange and a second flange extending opposite to each other from the web; and a sealing member including a sealing body, and a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion integrally connected to the sealing body, where the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion oppose each other in relation to the web, the first engaging portion is elastically engaged with the first flange, and the second engaging portion is elastically engaged with the second flange.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0042920, filed on Apr. 1, 2021 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

(a) Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a sealing system for a vehicle, more particularly, to the sealing system designed for simple and easy mounting of a sealing member such as a weatherstrip.

(b) Description of the Related Art

A vehicle includes a vehicle door for covering or uncovering a door opening of a vehicle body. In addition, the vehicle includes a sealing structure for the vehicle door in order to create a seal between the vehicle door and the door opening of the vehicle body.

A sealing system for a vehicle includes a door-side weatherstrip mounted on edges of the vehicle door, and a body-side weatherstrip attached to the vehicle body around the door opening. When the vehicle door closes the door opening of the vehicle body, the door-side weatherstrip tightly contacts the vehicle body to create a seal between the vehicle body and the vehicle door, and the body-side weatherstrip tightly contacts the vehicle door to create a seal between the vehicle door and the vehicle body.

Typically, a bus includes a folding door which moves between an unfolded position in which the folding door covers the door opening and a folded position in which the folding door uncovers the door opening. The door-side weatherstrip may be press-fit into an edge of the folding door, and the body-side weatherstrip may be press-fit into the vehicle body around the door opening. For example, a flange may be provided on the edge of the folding door, and the door-side weatherstrip may be press-fit into the flange of the folding door using a tool such as a screwdriver, soapy water, and/or the like. A bracket may be joined to the vehicle body around the door opening by using fasteners, welding, and/or the like, and the body-side weatherstrip may be press-fit into the bracket of the vehicle body.

As a conventional weatherstrip is press-fit into the vehicle door or the vehicle body, the assembly time may be excessively long, and scratches may occur on a panel of the vehicle door due to the tool such as a screwdriver used by an operator during assembly of the weatherstrip.

In addition, it is difficult to fix the conventional weatherstrip to the vehicle door or the vehicle body through fasteners and/or the like, so the weatherstrip may sag or be partially detached from the vehicle door or the vehicle body due to frequent opening and closing of the vehicle door.

The above information described in this background section is provided to assist in understanding the background of the inventive concept, and may include any technical concept which is not considered as the prior art that is already known to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a sealing system for a vehicle designed for simple and easy assembly of a sealing member such as a weatherstrip with respect to a vehicle door and/or a vehicle body.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a sealing system for a vehicle may include: a mounting member including a web, and a first flange and a second flange extending opposite to each other from the web; and a sealing member including a sealing body, and a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion integrally connected to the sealing body. The first engaging portion and the second engaging portion may oppose each other in relation to the web, the first engaging portion may be elastically engaged with the first flange, and the second engaging portion may be elastically engaged with the second flange.

The first engaging portion may be integrally connected to the sealing body through a first connection portion that is elastically deformable, and the second engaging portion may be integrally connected to the sealing body through a second connection portion that is elastically deformable.

The mounting member may include a first groove defined by the web and the first flange, and a second groove defined by the web and the second flange.

The first engaging portion may be elastically inserted into the first groove, and the second engaging portion may be elastically inserted into the second groove.

The first engaging portion may have a first cavity defined therein, and the second engaging portion may have a second cavity defined therein.

The first and second engaging portions may be engaged with the web by a fastener, and the fastener may penetrate the first and second engaging portions and the web through the first and second cavities and fasten the first and second engaging portions and the web.

The sealing system may further include a protection cover for covering the first cavity and the second cavity, and the protection cover may have a first retention barb fitted into the first cavity and a second retention barb fitted into the second cavity.

The first flange may have a first retention barb protruding from an end thereof, and the first retention barb may be perpendicular to the first flange.

The mounting member may include a groove defined by the first flange, the first retention barb, and the web, and the first engaging portion may have a retention barb fitted into the groove of the mounting member.

The second flange may have a second retention barb protruding from an end thereof, and the second retention barb may have a curved shape.

The second connection portion may have a curved shape corresponding to that of the second retention barb.

The mounting member may include a retention flange provided on the web, the retention flange may extend in a curved manner from the web toward the second flange so that the retention flange may define a groove which is open to the second flange, and the second engaging portion may have a retention barb fitted into the groove of the retention flange.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or equivalent elements. In addition, a detailed description of well-known techniques associated with the present disclosure will be ruled out in order not to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure.

In this description, the term “interior” refers to a direction toward an interior space of the vehicle, and the term “exterior” refers to a direction toward an exterior space of the vehicle.

Referring toFIG.1, a bus1may include a vehicle body2having a door opening6, and a vehicle door3for covering or uncovering the door opening6of the vehicle body2. The vehicle door3may include a door panel4, and a glass5fixedly mounted to the door panel4. Referring toFIG.2, the door panel4may include an inner panel4afacing the interior of the vehicle and an outer panel4bfacing the exterior of the vehicle, and the inner panel4aand the outer panel4bmay be joined by using fasteners, welding, and/or the like.

For example, the vehicle door3may be a folding door which moves between an unfolded position in which the door covers the door opening6of the bus1and a folded position in which the door uncovers the door opening6. As another example, the vehicle door3may be a swing door which swings around a hinge axis. As another example, the vehicle door3may be a sliding door which slides in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body2of the bus1.

Referring toFIGS.2to5, a sealing system10for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a mounting member11provided on an edge of the vehicle door3, and a sealing member12detachably engaged with the mounting member11.

The mounting member11may be integrally connected to the door panel4of the vehicle door3. The mounting member11may include a web21extending from the edge of the vehicle door3toward the sealing member12, and a pair of flanges22aand22bextending opposite to each other from the end of the web21. A longitudinal axis of each of the flanges22aand22bmay be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the web21. The pair of flanges22aand22bmay be opposite to each other in relation to the web21. That is, the mounting member11may have a T-shaped cross section defined by the web21and the pair of flanges22aand22b.

The web21may include a first half-web21aextending from the inner panel4aand a second half-web21bextending from the outer panel4b. The first half-web21aand the second half-web21bmay extend toward the sealing member12, and the first half-web21amay be attached to the second half-web21busing fasteners, welding, and/or the like.

The pair of flanges22aand22bmay include a first flange22aextending from an end of the first half-web21a, and a second flange22bextending from an end of the second half-web21b. The first flange22amay extend from the end of the first half-web21atoward the interior of the vehicle, and the second flange22bmay extend from the end of the second half-web21btoward the exterior of the vehicle.

The mounting member11may have a first groove23adefined by the web21and the first flange22a. The first groove23amay be defined by an edge surface of the vehicle door3, the first half-web21a, and the first flange22a, and the first groove23amay be open to the interior of the vehicle. The mounting member11may have a second groove23bdefined by the web21and the second flange22b. The second groove23bmay be defined by the edge surface of the vehicle door3, the second half-web21b, and the second flange22b, and the second groove23bmay be open to the exterior of the vehicle. The first groove23aand the second groove23bmay be located opposite to each other in relation to the web21.

The sealing member12may include a sealing body31, and a pair of engaging portions33aand33bintegrally connected to the sealing body31. The sealing member12may be made of an elastic material such as rubber. Thus, the sealing member12may be easily deformed to sufficiently achieve sealing performance between the vehicle door3and the vehicle body2.

The sealing body31may have a plurality of seal lips31aand31b. The sealing body31may have a tube shape having a cavity31cdefined therein. When the vehicle door3is closed, the sealing body31may elastically contact the vehicle body2around the door opening6.

The pair of engaging portions33aand33bmay include a first engaging portion33aand a second engaging portion33bopposing each other in a width direction of the vehicle. The first engaging portion33amay be elastically engaged with the first half-web21aand the first flange22aof the mounting member11, and the second engaging portion33bmay be elastically engaged with the second half-web21band the second flange22bof the mounting member11.

The first engaging portion33amay face the interior of the vehicle, and the first engaging portion33amay be integrally connected to the sealing body31through a first connection portion32athat is elastically deformable. The first engaging portion33amay be spaced apart from the sealing body31by a first gap35acorresponding to a length of the first connection portion32a. As the first connection portion32ais elastically bent, the first engaging portion33amay be detachably engaged with the first groove23a. The first engaging portion33amay have a shape corresponding to that of the first groove23a, and thus the first engaging portion33amay be tightly and elastically inserted into the first groove23aof the mounting member11. In particular, the first groove23amay be filled with the first engaging portion33aFor example, the first groove23aand the first engaging portion33amay have a corresponding rectangular cross section.

According to an exemplaiy embodiment, a width of the first connection portion32amay be less than a width of the first engaging portion33a, making it easier to bend the first connection portion32aelastically. In addition, the first engaging portion33amay have a first cavity34adefined therein, and the first engaging portion33amay be deformed more easily due to the first cavity34a.

The second engaging portion33bmay face the exterior of the vehicle, and the second engaging portion33bmay be integrally connected to the sealing body31through a second connection portion32bthat is elastically deformable. The second engaging portion33bmay be spaced apart from the sealing body31by a second gap35bcorresponding to a length of the second connection portion32b. As the second connection portion32bis elastically bent, the second engaging portion33bmay be detachably engaged with the second groove23b. The second engaging portion33bmay have a shape corresponding to that of the second groove23b, and thus the second engaging portion33bmay be tightly and elastically inserted into the second groove23bof the mounting member11. In particular, the second groove23bmay be filled with the second engaging portion33b. For example, the second groove23band the second engaging portion33bmay have a corresponding rectangular cross section.

According to an exemplaiy embodiment, a width of the second connection portion32bmay be less than a width of the second engaging portion33b, making it easier to bend the second connection portion32belastically. In addition, the second engaging portion33bmay have a second cavity34bdefined therein, and the second engaging portion33bmay be deformed more easily due to the second cavity34b.

As the first engaging portion33aand the second engaging portion33boppose each other in relation to the web21, the first cavity34aand the second cavity34bmay oppose each other in relation to the web21.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the engaging portions33aand33bof the sealing member12may be engaged with the web21of the mounting member11by a fastener, and the fastener may penetrate the pair of engaging portions33aand33band the web21through the pair of cavities34aand34band fasten the pair of engaging portions33aand33band the web21. Referring toFIG.2, the fastener may be a snap-fit clip40, and the snap-fit clip40may be fitted into through holes41aand41bof the web21and through holes42aand42bof the engaging portions33aand33b. Specifically, the web21may have a first through hole41adefined in the first half-web21aand a second through hole41bdefined in the second half-web21b, and the first through hole41amay be aligned with the second through hole41b. The first engaging portion33amay have a third through hole42aaligned with the first through hole41aof the web21, and the second engaging portion33bmay have a fourth through hole42baligned with the second through hole41bof the web21. For example, the snap-fit clip40may have a head and two elastic legs extending from the head, and each elastic leg may have a retention end portion. The head of the snap-fit clip40may be located in the first cavity34a, and the retention end portions of the elastic legs of the snap-fit clip40may be located in the second cavity34b. As the sealing member12is firmly engaged with the mounting member11by the fastener, the sealing member12may be prevented from sagging or being partially detached from the edge of the vehicle door3due to frequent opening and closing of the vehicle door3.

Referring toFIG.5, the sealing system10for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a protection cover45for covering the first cavity34aand the second cavity34bof the sealing member12. The protection cover45may include a first retention barb45ainserted and fitted into the first cavity34aand a second retention barb45binserted and fitted into the second cavity34b. Thus, the protection cover45may prevent foreign objects from entering the cavities34aand34bof the sealing member12.

Referring toFIG.6, a sealing system50for a vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a mounting member51provided on an edge of the vehicle body2, and a sealing member52detachably engaged with the mounting member51.

The mounting member51may be detachably engaged with the edge of the vehicle body2by fasteners (screws, rivets, etc.). The mounting member51may include a web61extending from the vehicle body2toward the exterior of the vehicle, and a pair of flanges62aand62bextending opposite to each other from the end of the web61. That is, the mounting member51may have a T-shaped cross section defined by the web61and the pair of flanges62aand62b.

The web61may extend toward the exterior of the vehicle in the width direction of the vehicle, and each of the flanges62and62bmay extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The pair of flanges62aand62bmay include a first flange62aextending from the end of the web61toward the vehicle body2, and a second flange62bextending from the end of the web61toward the vehicle door3.

The first flange62amay include a first retention barb62cprotruding from an end thereof toward the interior of the vehicle, and the first retention barb62cmay be perpendicular to the first flange62aThe mounting member51may include a groove62edefined by the first flange62a, the first retention barb62c, and the web61.

The second flange62bmay include a second retention barb62dprotruding from an end thereof toward the vehicle door3. In particular, the second retention barb62dmay have a curved shape.

The sealing member52may include a sealing body71and a pair of engaging portions73aand73bintegrally connected to the sealing body71. The sealing member52may be made of an elastic material such as rubber. Thus, the sealing member52may be easily deformed to sufficiently achieve the sealing performance between the vehicle door3and the vehicle body2.

The sealing body71may have a plurality of seal lips71aand71belastically contacting the vehicle body2and the vehicle door3. According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of seal lips71aand71bmay include a first seal lip71aelastically contacting the vehicle body2or a component (an exterior-side glass, etc.) attached to the vehicle body2, and a second seal lip71belastically contacting the vehicle door3. Referring toFIG.6, the exterior-side glass2amay be disposed adjacent to the vehicle body2, and the first seal lip71amay elastically contact the exterior-side glass2a. A door-side seal member3amay be mounted on the edge of the vehicle door3, and the second seal lip71bmay elastically contact the door-side seal member3a

The pair of engaging portions73aand73bmay include a first engaging portion73aand a second engaging portion73bopposing each other along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the first engaging portion73aand the second engaging portion73bmay face the interior of the vehicle.

The first engaging portion73amay be integrally connected to the sealing body71through a first connection portion72athat is elastically deformable. The first engaging portion73amay be spaced apart from the sealing body71corresponding to a length of the first connection portion72a. As the first connection portion72ais elastically bent, the first engaging portion73amay be detachably engaged with the first flange62aand the first retention barb62cof the mounting member51.

The first engaging portion73amay have a retention barb74aprotruding from an end thereof toward the exterior of the vehicle. As the retention barb74aof the first engaging portion73ais tightly and elastically fitted into the groove62eof the mounting member51, the first engaging portion73amay be more firmly engaged with the first flange62aof the mounting member51.

The second engaging portion73bmay be integrally connected to the sealing body71through a second connection portion72bthat is elastically deformable. As the second connection portion72bis elastically bent, the second engaging portion73bmay be detachably engaged with the second flange62bof the mounting member51. The second connection portion72bmay have a curved shape corresponding to that of the second retention barb62dof the mounting member51, and the second connection portion72bmay be engaged with the second retention barb62dof the mounting member51.

The mounting member51may have a retention flange64provided on the web61, and the retention flange64may extend in a curved manner from the web61toward the second flange62b, and accordingly the retention flange64may define a groove which is open to the second flange62b. The second engaging portion73bmay have a retention barb74bprotruding from an end thereof toward the interior of the vehicle, and the retention barb74bmay have a curved surface corresponding to that of the retention flange64, and thus the retention barb74bmay be tightly and elastically fitted into the groove of the retention flange64of the mounting member51.

As set forth above, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the sealing member such as a weatherstrip may be easily assembled to the mounting member provided on the vehicle door and/or the vehicle body, and thus the assembly time of the sealing member may be reduced. In addition, since there is no need to use a separate tool, damage to the vehicle door or the vehicle body may be prevented.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as the sealing member and the mounting member have a corresponding T-shaped cross section, the assembly structure of the sealing member may be simple, so the manufacturing cost may be significantly reduced.