Wheaterstrip structure for automotive vehicle

Abstract: A weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle includes a reversed U-shaped main body (1) to define a space (1d) which is open toward an upright mounting flange (11) provided at a vehicle body opening edge. A first grasping lip (4) is provided in the space (1d) extending from one of side sections (1b,1c) of the main body (1) defining the space (1d). A second grasping lip (6) is further provided extending into the space (1d) from a lower end of the other of the side sections (1b,1c). The second lip (6) is adapted to make a tilting movement relative to the other of the side sections so as to facilitate insertion of the mounting flange (11) into the space (1d). A stopper projection (10) is provided between the second lip (6) and the other of the side sections (1b,1c) for limiting the tilting movement of the second lip (6) toward the other of the side sections so as to prevent the second lip from excessively tilting toward the other of the side sections. A sponge rubber projection (8a) may be provided independently of or along with the stopper projection (10) at an inward tip portion (8) of the second lip (6). The sponge rubber projection (8a) is adapted to be pressed against the mounting flange (11) by a reaction force of the second lip (6) after the second lip (6) is tilted toward the other of the side sections (1b,1c) to allow the insertion of the mounting flange (11) into the space (1d).

Description: The present invention relates generally to a weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle which can provide a highly reliable sealing effect at a vehicle body opening edge, i.e. between inside and outside of a vehicle body. A weatherstrip for sealing a space between, for example, a vehicle body opening edge and a trunk lid, is disclosed in US-A-4,848,035 issued on July 18, 1989, on which the preamble of claim 1 is based. In this background art, the weatherstrip includes an elongate main body made of a solid rubber. The main body includes an elongate upper section and a pair of elongate side sections facing each other so as to have a substantially reversed U-shaped cross-section. First and second grasping lips are provided extending inward from the corresponding opposite side sections at vertically intermediate positions thereof for holding therebetween an upright flange provided at the vehicle body opening edge. Specifically, the first grasping lip extends from one of the side sections located inside the vehicle body with respect to the flange (hereinafter referred to as "inside section"), while, the second grasping lip extends from the other of the side sections located outside the vehicle body (hereinafter referred to as "outside section"). A third grasping lip is further provided extending inward from the inside section at a vertical position lower than the first grasping lip. A seesaw lip is further provided at a lower end of the outside section and connected thereto through a linkage section. The linkage section is formed thinner in width than the other portions of the outside section. Specifically, the seesaw lip has a grasping lip section extending inward from the linkage section and a sub-lip section extending outward from the linkage section substantially in a direction opposite to that of the grasping lip section. The first to third grasping lips and the seesaw lip are made of the same material as the main body except for an outward tip of the seesaw lip, i.e. a tip of the sub-lip section. The tip of the sub-lip is made of sponge rubber (rubber foam) other than the solid rubber. When the weatherstrip is depressed to receive the upright flange therein, the flange is grasped under pressure between the first and second grasping lips and between the third grasping lip and the grasping lip section of the seesaw lip so that the weatherstrip is firmly retained on the upright flange. Further, during the insertion of the upright flange into the weatherstrip, the seesaw lip is arranged to pivot or tilt with the linkage section working as a fulcrum. Accordingly, assembling of the weatherstrip onto the upright flange is facilitated. Simultaneously, the pivotal or tilting movement of the seesaw lip allows the sub-lip section to pivot inward until the sponge rubber tip of the sub-lip is pressed against a planar surface which is an outward extension from the upright flange and arranged substantially in perpendicular to the upright flange, so as to ensure a sealing effect therebetween. On the other hand, since the seesaw lip is rather easily pivoted using the linkage section as the fulcrum, it is likely that the seesaw lip is tilted excessively during assembling of the weatherstrip onto the upright flange. This excessive pivotal movement of the seesaw lip causes less pressure applied between the grasping lip section of the seesaw lip and the upright flange, and further causes the sponge rubber tip of the sub-lip section to partially bend or turn up inward so as to generate small gaps between the outward extension of the flange and the sponge rubber tip of the sub-lip section. Accordingly, the sealing effect provided by the grasping lip section and the sub-lip section of the seesaw lip inevitably becomes significantly less to allow invasion of water and dust into the vehicle body. Further, since the grasping lip section of the seesaw lip is made of the solid rubber having a relatively high rigidity, the inward tip of the grasping lip section can not precisely follow configuration of an outer surface of the upright flange against which the inward tip of the grasping lip section is pressed. For example, when a difference in level or a step is formed on the outer surface of the upright flange due to superposition of another flange at a joint portion therebetween, or a seal point is applied to the above-noted stepped portion to provide a rugged surface thereon, the inward tip of the grasping lip section can not precisely follow such a configuration on the outer surface of the upright flange so that gaps are generated therebetween to allow invasion of water and dust into the vehicle body. GB-A-2 172 642 discloses a sealing strip having a main body of U-shaped cross-section having an internal space within which a mounting flange is received, two short grasping lips projecting into the internal space from one leg of the U, and a long grasping lip projecting into the internal space from the second leg of the U. A barb projects from the long grasping lip towards the second leg of the U and a projection projects from the second leg of the U towards the long grasping lip. If the long grasping lip is dragged towards the mount of the U because of a force tending to remove the sealing strip from the mounting flange, the barb engages a camming face on the projection and forces the long grasping lip into tighter engagement with the flange. It is an object of the present invention to provide a weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle, that can eliminate the above-noted defects inherent in the background art. It is another object of the present invention to provide a weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle, that can ensure a highly reliable sealing effect at a vehicle body opening edge, i.e. between inside and outside of a vehicle body. The invention provides a weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a main body having first, second and third sections, said second and third sections extending substantially parallel to each other from opposite ends of said first section so as to define therebetween a space which is open at one end remote from said first section for receiving a weatherstrip mounting member fixed to a vehicle body into said space, said second section being positioned to be located inside the vehicle body with respect to said weatherstrip mounting member and said third section being positioned to be located outside the vehicle body with respect to said weatherstrip mounting member; a first lip extending into said space from an inner surface of the second section, said inner surface facing said space, said first lip being arranged to be pressed against one side of said weatherstrip mounting member when said weatherstrip mounting member is received in said space; a second lip connected on said third section near said open end of said space via a linkage portion and having an inner extending section which extends into said space from said linkage portion and an outer extending section which extends from said linkage portion in a direction opposite to that of the inner extending section, said second lip being adapted to tilt relative to the third section by means of said linkage portion to allow said inner and outer extending sections to tilt relative to the third section as one integral unit; characterised in that projection means is provided between said inner extending section of the second lip and an inner surface of the third section, said inner surface of the third section facing said space, for limiting the tilting movement of the second lip beyond a predetermined level when the weatherstrip mounting member is inserted into said space, said projection means and said second lip being so arranged that, when the tilting movement of the second lip is limited by said projection means, said inner extending section presses against the other side of the weatherstrip mounting member to hold the weatherstrip mounting member firmly between said first lip and said inner extending section of the second lip, and simultaneously, said outer extending section is pressed at its outer end remote from said linkage portion against the vehicle body for providing a reliable sealing therebetween. Further developments in line with claim 1 are referred to in the dependent claims 2 to 10. The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given hereinbelow and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the invention, which are given by way of example only, and are not intended to be limitative of the present invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1A is a crosss-sectional view showing a weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing the weatherstrip structure of Fig. 1A, wherein a corresponding mounting flange is received in a main body of the weatherstrip structure; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1A and 1B show a first preferred embodiment of a weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle according to the present invention. In Figs. 1A and 1B, the weatherstrip structure is applied for sealing an opening edge of a vehicle body and a trunk lid. A welt 1 as a main body of the weatherstrip is made of a solid rubber and has a substantially reversed U-shaped cross-section. The welt 1 is an elongate member and includes an upper section 1a and a pair of side sections 1b and 1c to define an elongate space 1d which is open downward. A hollow sealing member 2 made of a sponge rubber is fixedly disposed on the upper section 1a and extends over a full lenght of the welt 1. The sealing member 2 is brought into close contact with a peripheral edge of the trunk lid when the latter is closed. Grasping lips 3, 4 and 5 are provided in the space 1d. Specifically, the grasping lip 3 extends from the side section 1c toward the opposite side section 1b, and the grasping lip 4 extends from the side section 1c at a position lower than the grasping lip 3 toward the opposite side section 1b. The grasping lip 5 extends from the side section 1b toward the opposite side section 1c so as to substantially face the grasping lip 3 at their tips. In this embodiment, the grasping lip 5 has a portion 5a at its tip made of a sponge rubber. Further, a seesaw lip 6 is provided at a lower end of the side section 1b. The seesaw lip 6 has a grasping lip section 7 and a sub-lip section 8 and is connected to the lower end of the side section 1b through a linkage section 9 which is formed thinner in width than the other portions of the side section 1b. Specifically, the grasping lip section 7 extends from the linkage section 9 toward the opposite side section 1c, while, the sub-lip section 8 extends from the linkage section 9 in a direction substantially opposite to that of the grasping lip section 7. Accordingly, when an upward or downward force is applied to the grasping lip section 7, the seesaw lip 6 makes a pivotal or tilting movement with the thin linkage section 9 working as a fulcrum. An outer tip 8a of the seesaw lip 6, i.e. a tip 8a of the sub-lip section 8 is formed of the sponge rubber. As seen from Fig. 1A, an inward tip 7a of the seesaw lip 6, i.e. a tip of the grasping lip section 7 is arranged significantly lower than a tip of the corresponding grasping lip 4. Similarly, the linkage section 9 is also arranged lower than a base portion of the grasping lip 4 where the grasping lip 4 is connected to the side section 1c. In practice, the grasping lips 3, 4 and 5 and the seesaw lip 6 are integral extensions of the welt 1 and made of the same material as the welt 1, i.e. the solid rubber except for the tips 5a and 8a which are made of the sponge rubber. As appreciated, the grasping lips 3, 4 and 5 and the seesaw lip 6 extend over the full lenght of the welt 1. Further, a stopper projection 10 made of the solid rubber is integrally formed at an inner surface of the side section 1b, spacing a given distance from the linkage section 9. The stopper projection 10 has a substantially semicircular cross-section and extends over the full length of the welt 1. The stopper projection 10 works as a stopper for limiting the pivotal or tilting movement of the seesaw lip 6 so as to define a maximum tilted position of the seesaw lip 6. A flange member 11 is provided at the vehicle body opening edge so as to surround the latter. The flange member 11 has an upright mounting flange 11a having inner and outer surfaces 11b and 11c with respect to the vehicle body, and further includes an integral outer extension 11d from the upright mounting flange 11a. The outer extension 11d is arranged substantially in perpendicular to the upright flange 11a. As shown in Fig. 1B, when the weatherstrip having the foregoing structure is depressed onto the upright flange 11a so as to receive it in the space 1d of the welt 1, the upright flange 11a first allows the grasping lip section 7 of the seesaw lip 6 to make the pivotal movement in a clockwise direction as indicated by an arrow A, and then warps the grasping lip 4 upward. Subsequently, the grasping lips 3 and 5 are warped to receive the upright flange 11a therebetween so that the upright flange 11a is tightly held between the grasping lips 3 and 5 and between the grasping lip 4 and the grasping lip section 7 of the seesaw lip 6. Since the maximum tilting movement of the grasping lip section 7 in the direction A is defined by the abutment between the projection 10 and a portion of an upper surface 7b of the grasping lip section 7 neighboring the linkage section 9, prevention of the excessive tilting movement of the seesaw lip 6 is ensured. As a result, the tip 7a of the grasping lip section 7 is tightly pressed against the outer surface 11c of the upright flange 11a due to elastic reaction forces from the projection 10 and of the grasping lip section 7 itself. Further, as noted above, since the excessive tilting movement of the seesaw lip 6 is effectively prevented, the pivotal movement of the sub-lip section 8 in a direction as indicated by an arrow B is also controlled so as to prevent the sponge rubber tip 8a of the sub-lip section 8 from partially bending or turning up inward. Accordingly, the sponge rubber tip 8a of the sub-lip 8 is evenly pressed against the outer extension 11d of the flange member 11 to ensure highly reliable water-tightness therebetween. As a result, the reliable sealing effect is provided through double sealing, i.e. between the sponge rubber tip 8a of the sub-lip 8 and the outer extension 11d of the flange member 11 and between the tip 7a of the grasping lip section 7 and the outer surface of the upright flange 11a. Further, the sponge rubber tip 5a of the grasping lip 5 ensures a highly reliable water-tightness relative to the outer surface 11c of the upright flange 11a to improve the sealing effect therebetween. Still further, the pivotal movement of the seesaw lip 6 in the direction A before the abutment between the grasping lip section 7 and the stopper projection 10 facilitate insertability of the weatherstrip due to reduction of the friction force between the tip 7a of the grasping lip section 7 and the outer surface 11c of the upright flange 11a. It is to be appreciated that this insertability of the weatherstrip is further improved by means of the vertically offset arrangement of the grasping lip 4 and the grasping lip section 7 of the seesaw lip 6. Fig. 2 shows a second preferred embodiment of the weatherstrip structure according to the present invention. In Fig. 2, the same or like members or elements are designated by the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1A and 1B so as to omit further explanation thereof for avoiding a redundant disclosure. In the second preferred embodiment, the stopper projection 10 in the first preferred embodiment is provided on the upper surface 7b of the grasping lip section 7 of the seesaw lip 6. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the stopper projection 10 is formed integral with the seesaw lip 6 susbtantially at a center position of the upper surface 7b across its width. As in the first preferred embodiment, the stopper projection 10 on the upper surface 7b extends over the full length of the grasping lip section 7. The other structures are substantially the same as in the first preferred embodiment. As appreciated, the stopper projection 10 in the second preferred embodiment functions substantially in the same manner as in the first preferred embodiment to define the maximum tilting movement of the seesaw lip 6 in the direction A by means of the abutment between the stopper projection 10 on the upper surface 7b and the inner surface of the side section 1b of the welt 1. Accordingly, the reliable sealing effect is ensured between the sponge rubber tip 8a of the sub-lip 8 and the outer extension 11d of the flange member 11 and between the tip 7a of the grasping lip section 7 and the outer surface 11c of the upright flange 11a. It is to be appreciated that the stopper projections 10 may be provided both on the upper surface 7b of the grasping lip section 7 and on the inner surface of the side section 1b of the welt 1. In this case, the stopper projections 10 may be arranged facing each other at their tips, or being vertically offset from each other. In case the stopper projections 10 are arranged being offset from each other, more reliable stopper effects are ensured to define the maximum inclination of the seesaw lip 6. It is to be further appreciated that, by varying a position or a height of the stopper projection 10, the maximum tilted position of the seesaw lip 6 can be optimumly set. Figs. 3 and 4 respectively show third and fourth preferred embodiments, wherein the same or like members or elements are designated by the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1A to 4 so as to omit further explanation thereof for avoiding a redundant disclosure. In the preferred embodiment of Fig. 3, the weatherstrip includes both the stopper projection 10 in the first preferred embodiment of Fig. 1A and a sponge rubber projection 12. As appreciated, further improved sealing effect can be attained by combining the first preferred embodiment and the sponge rubber projection (12). The height of the stopper projection 10 may be adjusted to ensure the optimum sealing effect between the sponge rubber projection 12 and the outer surface 11c of the upright flange 11a and between the sponge rubber tip 8a of the sub-lip 8 and the outer extension 11d of the flange member 11. In the preferred embodiment of Fig. 4, the weatherstrip includes both the stopper projection 10 in the second preferred embodiment of Fig. 2 and the sponge rubber projection 12. As appreciated, further improved sealing effect similar to the preferred embodiment of Fig. 3 can be attained by combining the second and and the sponge rubber projection (12). The height of the stopper projection 10 may be adjusted to ensure the optimum sealing effect between the sponge rubber projection 12 and the outer surface 11c of the upright flange 11a and between the sponge rubber tip 8a of the sub-lip 8 and the outer extension 11d of the flange member 11. It is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the embodiments described above, and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined from in the appended claims. For example, the linkage section 9 in the first to fourth preferred embodiments is not necessarily formed thinner than the other portions of the outer side section 1b of the welt 1 as long as a required pivotal or tilting movement of the seesaw lip 6 is ensured. Further, the sponge rubber projection 12 in the third and fourth preferred embodiments may have a subtantially semicircular cross-section or a substantially rectangular cross-section or the like. Still further, the weatherstrip according to the present invention is applicable not only for sealing space between the vehicle body opening edge and the trunk lid but also for sealing other space, for example, between the vehicle body opening edge and a vehicular door.

Claims: A weatherstrip structure for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a main body having first (1a), second (1c) and third (1b) sections, said second (1c) and third (1b) sections extending substantially parallel to each other from opposite ends of said first section (1a) so as to define therebetween a space (1d) which is open at one end remote from said first section (1a) for receiving a weatherstrip mounting member (11) fixed to a vehicle body into said space (1d), said second section (1c) being positioned to be located inside the vehicle body with respect to said weatherstrip mounting member (11) and said third section (1b) being positioned to be located outside the vehicle body with respect to said weatherstrip mounting member (11); a first lip (3,4) extending into said space (1d) from an inner surface of the second section (1c), said inner surface facing said space (1d), said first lip (3,4) being arranged to be pressed against one side of said weatherstrip mounting member (11) when said weatherstrip mounting member (11) is received in said space; a second lip (6) connected on said third section (1b) near said open end of said space (1d) via a linkage portion (9) and having an inner extending section (7) which extends into said space (1d) from said linkage portion (9) and an outer extending section (8) which extends from said linkage portion (9) in a direction opposite to that of the inner extending section (7), said second lip (6) being adapted to tilt relative to the third section (1b) by means of said linkage portion (9) to allow said inner (7) and outer (8) extending sections to tilt relative to the third section (1b) as one integral unit; characterised in that projection means (10) is provided between said inner extending section (7) of the second lip (6) and an inner surface of the third section (1b), said inner surface of the third section (1b) facing said space, for limiting the tilting movement of the second lip (6) beyond a predetermined level when the weatherstrip mounting member (11) is inserted into said space, said projection means (10) and said second lip (6) being so arranged that, when the tilting movement of the second lip (6) is limited by said projection means (10), said inner extending section (7) presses against the other side of the weatherstrip mounting member (11) to hold the weatherstrip mounting member (11) firmly between said first lip (3,4) and said inner extending section (7) of the second lip (6), and simultaneously, said outer extending section (8) is pressed at its outer end remote from said linkage portion (9) against the vehicle body for providing a reliable sealing therebetween. A weatherstrip structure as set forth in claim 1, characterised in that said projection (10) means is a projection provided on said inner surface of the third section (1b), and that the inner extending section (7) of the second lip (6) is prevented from tilting toward the inner surface of the third section (1b) beyond the predetermined level by abutment between said inner extending section (7) of the second lip and said projection (10). A weatherstrip structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein said projection (10) is formed integral with said third section (1b). A weatherstrip structure as set forth in claim 1, characterised in that said projection means (10) is a projection provided on one side of the inner extending section (7) of the second lip so that the inner extending section (7) of the second lip is prevented from tilting toward the inner surface of the third section (1b) beyond the predetermined level by abutment of the projection (10) and the inner surface of the third section (1b). A weatherstrip structure as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said first (3,4) and second (6) lips are arranged offset rlative to each other so that the weatherstrip mounting member (11) first pushes the second lip (6) and then the first lip (3,4) when the weatherstrip mounting member (11) is received in said space (1d). A weatherstrip structure as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said linkage portion (9) is formed thinner in width than the third section (1b) to allow said second lip (6) to tilt relative to the third section (1b). A weatherstrip structure as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said inner extending section (7) of the second lip includes at its inward tip portion remote from said linkage portion a projection (12) such as to be pressed against said other side of the weatherstrip mounting member (11) when the tilting movement of the second lip (6) is limited by said projection means, and wherein the said projection (12) at the inward tip portion of the second lip (6) is made of a material having less rigidity than that of other portions of the second lip. A weatherstrip structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein the said projection (12) at the inward tip portion of the second lip (6) is made of a sponge rubber. A weatherstrip structure as set forth in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the said projection (12) at the inward tip portion of the second lip (6) has a substantially triangular cross-section with an acute angled tip which is pressed against said other side of the weatherstrip mounting member (11) to provide a substantially linear contact therebetween. A weatherstrip structure as set forth in any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that said projection (12) at the inward tip portion of the second lip (6) is provided closer to the open end of said space (1d) defined in the main body than said inward tip of the inner extending section (7) of the second lip such that said projection (12) is pressed against said other side of the weatherstrip mounting member (11) with said inward tip of the inner extending section (7) being out of contact with said other side of the weatherstrip mounting member (11) when the tilting movement of the second lip (6) is limited by said projection means (12), while said inward tip of the inner extending section (7) is pressed against said other side of the weatherstrip mounting member (11) with said projection (12) being out of contact with said other side of the weatherstrip mounting member (11) when the main body is moved in a releasing direction from the weatherstrip mounting member (11).

Inventors: SAKAMAKI YUJI KINUGAWA RUBBER, SHIMIZU TOSHIMITSU KINUGAWA RU, SUGAWARA TOMIO KINUGAWA RUBBER, USUTA TAKAHIRO KINUGAWA RUBBER, SAKAMAKI,YUJI KINUGAWA RUBBER IND.CO.LTD., SHIMIZU, TOSHIMITSU KINUGAWA RUBBER IND.CO.LTD., SUGAWARA,TOMIO KINUGAWA RUBBER IND.CO.LTD., USUTA,TAKAHIRO KINUGAWA RUBBER IND.CO.LTD.
Applicants: KINUGAWA RUBBER IND, NISSAN MOTOR, KINUGAWA RUBBER INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B60J10
IPC codes: B60J10