WEATHERSTRIPPING E.G. FOR AUTOMOBILES

Abstract: A resilient weatherstrip for an automobile door has a hollow, mushroom-shaped bulbous portion (7) which is integral with a metal reinforced carrier (8) that attaches to the flange (9) of the automobile frame surrounding the door. The carrier has fingers (26,27) with stops (28,29) for engaging abutments (32,33) which project into the opening through which the flange (9) passes as the carrier (8) is mounted in the door opening. The flange (9) pushes the fingers (26,27) apart so that the stops (28,29) interlock with the abutments should the carrier attempt to leave the flange. The bulbous portion (7) has a cap portion (12) carried by stem portions (13,14). The wall thickness of the stem portions (13,14) increases towards the carrier (8), and the wall thickness of the cap portion (12) increases towards its peak (16). This shape gives the bulbous portion good characteristics when compressed.

Description: This invention relates to weatherstripping, especially resilient elastomeric weatherstripping that is used to seal the doors or decklid openings of automobiles. Such weatherstripping generally comprises a hollow bulbous portion which acts to seal the space between two automobile parts, and an integrally formed device for holding the weatherstripping in place between the parts. The stiffness of the material and the wall thickness, shape and size of the bulbous portion all affect the closing of the doors or decklids. US Patents Nos. 4,263,750 and 4,348,443 are typical of the many patents which disclose a bulbous portion which is hollow and has an oval or circular cross-section that is integral with a carrier which has angularly disposed tabs of fingers for holding onto a metal strip to which the carrier is secured. US Patent Nos. 4,030,245; 4,114,320 and 4,374,880 disclose similar bulbous portions and carriers. US Patent No. 2,969,252 discloses a bulbous portion with a vent for allowing the escapement of air from within the bulbous portion as it becomes distorted. US Patent No. 3,126,590 discloses a refrigerator gasket which comprises two semi-circular bulbous portions, the outer portion having a thicker sidewall than the lower portions, apparently to promote bending or collapse of the lower portion before the outer portion. US Patent Nos. 2,498,851 and 2,880,049 disclose bulbous portions with uniform thickness walls, so that bending of a desired area of the seal is probably accomplished by the shape of the bulbous portion. JP-A- 40941/84 discloses a weatherstrip having a hollow portion with a cap portion and a stem portion. Indentations are present on the stem portion. The invention is directed to an improved weatherstrip with good sealing and wrapping around characteristics. The invention provides a resilient weatherstrip adapted to fit between two parts, one of which is movable relative to the other, stationary, part;the weatherstrip comprising means for fastening the weatherstrip to the stationary part, and a hollow bulbous portion to be engaged and compressed by the movable part as it moves towards the stationary part, the bulbous portion being mushroom-shaped in cross-section with a stem portion comprising a pair of legs extending away from the fastening means, and a cap portion on the stem portion and having an outer surface smoothly curved away from the stem portion (as disclosed e.g. in US-A-4 114 320, US-A-4 374 880 characterised in that the legs are thinnest adjacent the cap portion, increasing in thickness towards the fastening means, and being substantially upright and parallel adjacent the fastening means; the cap portion increases in thickness from the join with the legs towards its peak, and is thicker than the legs where they join it so that the legs bend more easily at their thinnest portion than the cap portion; and at least one aperture is provided in at lease one of the legs to allow escape of air from within the hollow bulbous portion. Dependent claims 2 to 7 relate to optional features Embodiments of the invention are now described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Fig. 1 is a section of a weatherstrip embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the sealing action of the weatherstrip with an automobile door; and Fig. 3. is a similar section showing the wraparound effect of the bulbous portion of the weatherstrip and the retention of the carrier of the weatherstrip. With reference to Figs. 1-3, there is shown an elongated weatherstrip or seal 5 which, in this instance, is designed to be mounted around a car door opening to sealingly engage the car door 6 when it is rotated to a closed position. The seal 5 is composed of any suitable, resilient, elastomeric material, e.g. rubber. The seal 5 comprises a hollow, bulbous portion 7 which extends from a carrier portion 8 which is secured to a flange 9 of the car frame and holds the bulbous portion 7 in place for engaging the car door 6. The bulbous portion 7, shown in dotted line of Fig. 1, is positioned on the carrier portion 8 to engage an adjacent decklid 10, if such is desired. The bulbous portion 7, in cross-section, is mushroom-shaped having an outwardly curved cap 11 and a step 12 that consists of two separate legs 13, 14 which curve inwardly towards each other from the cap 11 to the carrier 8 and which increase in thickness as they approach the carrier 8. A plurality of similar apertures 15 are placed in the inner leg 13 closest the car frame, to allow the escape of air from within the hollow bulb, 7 to facilitate collapse of the bulb 7 and closing of the car door 6. The cap 11 increases in thickness from the legs 13, 14 to the peak 16 of the cap 11 midway between the legs 13, 14. The cap 11 is thicker than the legs 13, 14 of the stem 12, adjacent the cap 11, especially at the peak 16 of the bulb 7, i.e. the part of the bulb 7 farthest from the carrier 8. As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the complete collapse of the cap 11 will not affect the aperture 15 which, in some prior art seals, will close upon collapse or distortion of the bulb. The carrier 8, in cross-section essentially comprises a U-shaped body 16 with an open end 17, and a mechanism 18 for compressively engaging and holding the flange 9 of the car frame, when the carrier 8 is mounted on the flange 9. A U-shaped piece 19 of metal is embedded in the body 16 to reinforce the closed end 20 and opposing, parallel sidewalls 21, 22 of the carrier 8. A pair of oppositely disposed abutments 23, 24 project from the sidewalls 21, 22 inwardly into the longitudinally extending space or opening 25 between the sidewalls 21, 22 in spaced relation from the open end 17 of the carrier 8. A pair of resilient fingers 26, 27 extend from the sidewalls 21, 22 adjacent the open end 17 inwardly towards the closed end 20 beyond the abutments 23, 24 to compressively engage the flange 9 of the door frame as the carrier 8 is mounted on the flange 9. A pair of stops 28, 29 are provided at the free distal ends 30, 31 of the fingers 26, 27 for interlocking engagement with the abutments 23, 24 should the carrier 8 attempt to pull away or escape from the flange 9, as seen in Fig. 2. The flange 9 pushes the fingers 26, 27 apart as it enters the opening 25 to bring the stops 28, 29 into alignment with the abutments 23, 24. Note that the engaging faces 32, 33 and 34, 35 of the abutments 23, 24 and stops 28, 29, respectively, are substantially parallel and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the opening 25 to provide a positive interlock between the abutments and stops and a tighter gripping action of the mechanism 18. Thus, there has been described a mushroom shaped bulbous portion which is integrally formed with a carrier which is provided with a pair of fingers for firmly gripping the flange of a car frame on which the carrier is desired to be mounted. The mushroom stem or legs for holding the mushrooms cap are purposely made narrower where they engage the cap, so that they and not the mushroom cap will initially deflect and become distorted uniformly under the cap, which, upon further compression, will be resisted by the substantially upright parallel legs in much the same way as a weight lifter's extended arms press weight to protect the seal from severe distortion and possible ruination. The mushroom cap has good wraparound characteristics, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, because of the ease at which the resilient legs of the stem will adapt to forces imposed on the cap.

Claims: A resilient weatherstrip adapted to fit between two parts (9,6,10) one of which (6,10) is movable relative to the other, stationary, part (9); the weatherstrip comprising means (8) for fastening the weatherstrip to the stationary part (9), and a hollow bulbous portion (7) to be engaged and compressed by the movable part as it moves towards the stationary part, the bulbous portion (7) being mushroom-shaped in cross-section with a stem portion (12) comprising a pair of legs (13,14) extending away from the fastening means, and a cap portion (11) on the stem portion and having an outer surface smoothly curved away from the stem portion; characterised in that the legs (13,14) are thinnest adjacent the cap portion (11), increasing in thickness towards the fastening means, and being substantially upright and parallel adjacent the fastening means; the cap portion (11) increases in thickness from the join with the legs (13,14) towards its peak (16), and is thicker than the legs (13,14) where they join it so that the legs (13,14) bend more easily at their thinnest portion than the cap portion (11); and at least one aperture (15) is provided in at least one of the legs (13,14) to allow escape of air from within the hollow bulbous portion (7). A weatherstrip according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means include: a carrier (8) for attachment to said other part (9), the carrier (8), in cross-section, including: a generally U-shaped body (16) with an open end (17) in longitudinal spaced relation from a closed end (20), and a pair of opposing sidewalls (21,22) extending from the closed end (20) to the open end (17), a pair of abutments (23,24) projecting from the sidewalls (21,22) inwardly towards each other into the space between the sidewalls (21,22), the abutments (23,24) each having a stop engaging face (32,33) in spaced relation from the open end (17) of the body (16), a pair of fingers (26,27) extending from the sidewalls (21,22) adjacent the open end (17) of the body (16) inwardly towards the closed end (20) of the body (16) beyond the abutments (23,24) and terminating at free distal ends (30,31), the fingers (26,27) adapted to compressively engage therebetween a flange (9) of said other part, and a pair of stops (28,29) at the free distal ends (30,31) of the fingers (26,27) for engaging the abutments (23,24) when the carrier (8) is mounted on a flange (9) of said other part (9) and the carrier (8) attempts to leave the flange (9). A weatherstrip according to claim 2 wherein a U-shaped piece of metal (19) is embedded in the closed end (20) and sidewalls (21,22) of the body (16). A weatherstrip according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the abutments (23,24) and stops (28,29) have engaging faces (32,33;34,35) which are substantially parallel to each other and normal to the longitudinal axis of the body (16) to provide a positive interlock between the abutments (23,24) and stops (28,29). A weatherstrip according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the bulbous portion (7) is normal to the carrier (8), which is adapted for attachment to a flange (9) of an automobile frame adjacent a door opening. A weatherstrip according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the bulbous portion (7) is axially aligned with the carrier (8) which is adapted for attachment to a flange (9) of an automobile frame adjacent a decklid opening. A weatherstrip according to any one of the preceding claims when fitted to a said stationary part which is an automobile frame adjacent a door opening.

Inventors: BOCCHINFUSO, PETER
Applicants: GENCORP INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B60R13
IPC codes: E06B7, B60R13, B60J10