AUTOMOBILE SEAL AND TRIMMING GASKET

Abstract: A seal and trimming gasket (20) is proposed having a substantially ω-shaped section, formed from a fixing web (21) and two wings (23, 24) which are substantially of C-shaped section and are connected to the sides of the web (21). The free lips of the two wings (23, 24) are partly superposed so that on closing the door (10), the projecting lip of the first wing (23) is lowered and is retained directly by the door edge (12) and also by the projecting lip of the second wing (24), this lip also being bent by the door edge (12).

Description: This invention relates to a profiled seal and trimming gasket for gaps and spaces between a door frame and a door edge of an automobile of the type disclosed in FR-A-2 511 319 or GN-A-2 104 008. The main purpose of gaskets used on automobile openings, in particular door openings, is to prevent undesirable air passage, which could be accompanied by the entry of dust, water and noise. The gaskets can also serve to mask spaces and gaps between metal panels and to form smoothly blending shapes. The choice of gaskets therefore requires careful study, because it influences the appearance of automobiles and their behaviour during running, as regards comfort and the aerodynamic drag coefficient (Cx). This is particularly so in the case of door gaskets for those automobiles in which the doors do not penetrate or only partly penetrate into their frames, but instead have their upper edges either at the same level as the roof panel or slightly below it, and are streamlined so as to smoothly blend into and partlyprolong the profile of the roof itself. Generally, in automobiles of this type, spaces and relative gaps tend to appear between the roof and upper edges and between the uprights and door side edges. In some cases these spaces are used as water drainage channels and for this purpose they are provided, at least at the bottom, with seal gaskets such as that described in US-A-3,596,980. In other cases, gaskets are provided which mask the gaps when the dors are closed, and which form a water discharge channel when the doors are open, such as the gasket of substantially V-shaped section of FR-A-2,511,319 (corresponding to GB-A-2 104 008). The gaskets proposed in the aforesaid FR-A-2 511 319 or GB-A-2 104 008 is particularly simple and has no sealing problems. However, it is not entirely satisfactory from the comfort, aerodynamic or aesthetic aspect because the gap is closed by one wing of the V-shaped gasket which is bent by the door against the roof so as to adhere to the other wing. With this conception it can happen that the bent wing projects from the roof and emerges beyond the smooth profile formed by the roof and door, for example if the manufacturing and assembly tolerances of the sheet metal panels and gaskets are all in the same direction. The consequent irregularities in the automobile profile, even if hardly relevant from the aesthetic aspect, cause an increase in aerodynamic drag and generation of disturbing background noise. The object of the present invention is to improve known gaskets by proposing a conception which is more satisfactory from the aerodynamic, comfort and aesthetic aspects. A gasket is therefore proposed having the features claimed in claim 1. In a gasket having these features both wings contribute to sealing, but the first also performs a trimming function, whereas the second also acts as a water discharge channel. With this division of functions the first wing has the most suitable characteristics for improving the aerodynamic, comfort and aesthetic aspects of the automobile. Characteristics and advantages of the invention are illustrated hereinafter with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 3, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention by way of non-limiting example. Figure 1 is a partial side view of an automobile on which a gasket according to the invention can be used; Figure 2 is a partial section on line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view analogous to that of Figure 2, with the door open. In Figure 1, the doors 10 and 11 of an automobile are partially shown with their respective upper edges 12 and 13. The automobile roof is indicated overall by 14. As can be seen from Figure 2, the automobile of Figure 1 is of the type in which the doors 10 and 11 do not penetrate into the interior of their frame 15, but instead have their upper edges 12 and 13 at the level of the roof panel 14. The sliding glass pane 16 of the door 10 and its gasket 17 are partly visible in Figure 2. In the space 18 between the frame 15 and door edges there are mounted two gaskets, an inner gasket 19 of usual type, and an outer gasket 20 constructed in accordance with the invention. The gasket 20 is substantially of ω-shaped overall croos section, and is formed from a fixing web portion 21 substantially of U-shaped section reinforced with a steel profile strip 22, and two wings 23 and 24 substantially of C-shaped section, wich are connected to the sides of said web portion. The gasket 20 is fixed to a joint between the sheet metal plates forming the roof 14 by means of usual spring clips 26 and pins 27. In addition, the wing 24 of the gasket 20 is provided with a bent lip 28 which further retains the gasket 20 on a sheet metal edge 29 of the roof 14. As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the first wing 23 is substantially of more closed C-shaped section, whereas the second wing 24 is of substantially more open C-shaped section, so that the projecting lips of the two wings are partly superposed and spaced apart from each other when the door 10 is open, as shown in Figure 3. When the door 10 is closed, as shown in Figure 2, the projecting lip of the wing 23 is lowered and is retained by the door edge 12, both directly and by way of the projecting lip of the wing 24, this lip also being engaged and bent by the door edge 12. Thus the projecting lip of the wing 23 covers the gap 30 between the roof 14 and edge 12 of the door 10, remaining within the overall outline of the sheet metal parts of the roof 14 and the door edge 12. When the door 10 is opened, the lips of the wings 23 and 24 are free to rise, the lip of the wing 24 forming a channel 31 for discharging the water which either originates from the roof 14 or has infiltrated into the gasket. Even when the door 10 is closed, any water which has infiltrated between the wing lips is discharged because two separate tubular cavities 32 and 33 form between the web portion 21 and the wings 23 and 24 to allow drainage. Thus both wings 23 and 24 are used sealing, but the first also performs a trimming function whereas the second also serves as a water discharge channel. Thus the problems of gasket functionality and the problems concerning the aerodynamic, comfort and aesthetic aspects of the automobile are solved satisfactorily through improvement in the aerodynamic drag coefficient and backround noise elimination.

Claims: 1. A profiled seal and trimming gasket (20) for gaps and spaces between a door frame (15) and a door edge (12, 13) of an automobile, comprising a fixing web portion (21) and two wings (23, 24) connected to the sides of the web portion (21) the two wings (23, 24) being spaced apart from each other in the open position of the door (10, 11), characterised in that the gasket (20) has an overall ω-shaped croos-section with a first wing (23) being substantially of more closed C-shaped section and a second wing (24) being substantially of more open C-shaped section, the projecting lips of the two wings (23, 24) being partly superposed in the open position of the door (10, 11) and the projecting lip of the first wing (23) engaging the edge (12, 13) of the closed door (10, 11) both directly and by way of the projecting lip of the second wing (24) which also engages said edge (12, 13), and in that the first wing (23) defines a covering of the gap (30) between the door edge (12, 13) and the roof (14) of the automobile and remains within the overall outline of the sheet metal parts forming the roof (14) and the door edge (12, 13) when the door is closed. 2. A profiled gasket as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the second wing (24) is provided with a bent lip (28) for retaining the gasket (20) against an edge (2) of the roof sheet metal. 3. A profiled gasket as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the wings (23, 24) form with said web portion (21) two separate tubular cavities (32, 33) when the door (10, 11) is closed. 4. A profiled gasket as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that in the open position of the door (10, 11) the second wing (24) defines with said web portion (21) a water draining channel (31).

Inventors: BIAZZI, GIUSEPPE, GUELFI, GIORGIO, VILLA, EZIO
Applicants: ALFA LANCIA S.P.A.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B60R13
IPC codes: B60J10, E06B7