Flexible sealing and trimming strips

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for sealing around the periphery of the door opening in a motor vehicle body comprises a relatively rigid support strip (18) of invariable length and on which is mounted a soft sealing profile (16). A plurality of clips (20) are integrally moulded with the support strip (18) and, in use, engage pre-positioned holes extending through the flange (18). A soft sealing strip (22) provides a seal between the underside of the support strip (18) and the flange (8). A cosmetic lip (26) covers the protruding distal ends of the clips (20) and also the distal edge of the flange (8). The sealing arrangement can be fitted in a substantially single operation, and the use of the substantially rigid support strip (18) prevents shrinkage of the material of the sealing arrangement (14).

Description: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement for sealing around the periphery of an opening closable by a closure member, comprising a linearly extending support strip which provides first and second oppositely directed faces, locking means on the support strip for co-operating with matching engaging means on the periphery of the opening for securing the support strip to the periphery of the opening with the first face of the strip directed towards the periphery of the opening, and the soft sealing profile mounted on the second face of the support strip so as to be partially compressed by the closing closure member when the support strip is secured to the periphery of the opening. One form of such a sealing arrangement is known from GB-A-934 249. In the known arrangement, however, the support strip is formed from a resilient material. Such a support strip, when carrying the required sealing profile, is difficult to assemble onto the periphery of an opening. The invention aims to deal with this problem. The sealing arrangement in accordance with the present invention is characterised in accordance with the invention in that the support strip is of predetermined and substantially invariable length which matches a predetermined length along the periphery of the opening and is substantially rigid to enable fitting of the sealing arrangement in a single operation. Flexible sealing arrangements embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with refeence to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of part of a motor vehicle body showing a door opening to be sealed by one of the sealing strips; Figure 2 is a cross-section through one of the sealing arrangements, showing it mounted on the vehicle body of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the sealing arrangement of Figure 2 but partially compressed by the closing door; and Figure 4 shows another one of the sealing arrangements. As shown in Figure 1, a motor vehicle body 5 has a door opening 6, the door not being shown. The bodywork around the door opening defines a flange 8 (to be described in more detail below) where the inner and outer skins of the bodywork meet and are welded together. The sealing arrangements to be described in more detail below are mounted on the flange 8 so as to run around the door opening and to present a soft sealing profile which is partially compressed by the closing door so as to provide a weather-proof seal. One such sealing arrangement is shown diagrammatically at 14 in Figure 1, ready to be fitted to the vehicle body in a manner to be described. Figure 2 shows the flange 8 surrounding the door opening 6 of Figure 1 and formed where the adjacent body panels 10 and 12 come together at the door opening and are welded to each other. The sealing arrangement is shown generally at 14 and is mounted on the flange 8 in a manner to be described in more detail. The sealing arrangement 14 has a tubular sealing profile 16 which is advantageously made by extrusion from sponge rubber or similar material. In a manner to be explained, it is supported so as to be attached to the flange 8 and to extend around the whole of the door opening. The sealing arrangement supports the sealing profile 16 so that it is presented towards the outside of the opening and so as to be partially compressed by the closing door 17 as shown diagrammatically in Figure 3. The partially compressed sealing profile 16 thus provides a weather-proof seal running around the door opening. As shown in Figure 2, the sealing strip 14 includes a substantially rigid support strip 18 of thin rectangular cross-section which is advantageously produced by moulding from compact hard rubber or plastics material. The support strip 18 carries clips 20 which are positioned at intervals along the length of the strip and are advantageously produced integrally with the strip 18 during the moulding operation and from the same material. The strip 18 carries the soft sealing profile 16. The profile 16 may be produced separately, such as by extrusion, and then adhesively secured to the strip 18. Instead, it can be produced simultaneously with the support. In addition, the sealing arrangement 14 includes a soft seal strip 22, such as produced by moulding or extrusion from supple rubber. The seal strip 22 is of thin rectangular cross-section generally matching the cross-section of the support strip 18. The seal strip 20 is provided with through holes which are spaced apart to match the spacing of the clips 20, and the clips pass through these holes. In accordance with a feature of the sealing arrangement, the flange 8 is provided with through holes 24 arranged at intervals around the door opening and with a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the clips 20. Figure 1 shows the flange 8 with the holes 24 arranged in it. The sealing arrangement 14, comprising the rigid support strip 18 and the integrally moulded clips 20, and also including the soft seal strip 22 mounted thereon by means of its holes which engage the clips 20, is mounted in position by offering it up to the flange 8 in a single operation, as indicated in Figure 1. The clips 20 thus pass through the holes 24 and secure the sealing strip in position on the flange. In this way, assembly of the sealing strip onto the vehicle body involves only a single operation. This contrasts with known arrangements in which (for example) sealing strips comprise a channel-shaped gripping section which has to be pushed embracingly over the flange and which supports a soft sealing section similar to the section 16 of Fig. 2. With such known arrangements, the channel-shaped gripping section has to be pressed onto the flange, such as by means of a mallet or possibly some other tool. This involves the application of force to the gripping section along substantially the whole of its length. This is a time-consuming process and may damage the gripping section. In addition, such a gripping section, being flexible and resilient, may not have an accurately controlled length. It may therefore have to be selected to be initially over-length (that is, longer than the periphery of the door opening), and then compressed lengthwise to fit it finally into place. Subsequently, it may shrink, providing a gap. This disadvantage is avoided with the form of sealing strip shown in Figure 2. Its length is accurately controlled by use of the rigid support strip 18. The pitch of the clips 20 is known accurately, thus enabling corresponding holes 24 to be produced in the flange 8. The length of the sealing arrangement is thua unaffected by the fitting process and is selected initially so as to match the periphery of the door opening substantially exactly. As shown in Figure 2, the sealing arrangement 14 advantageously also includes a so-called cosmetic lip 26. This extends along the length of the arrangement 14 and covers over the distal ends of the clips 20. It has a portion 28 which covers over the distal edge of the flange 8, a main body portion 30 which clips over the distal end of each of the clips 20, and a flap 32 which resiliently contacts the inner skin 12 of the bodywork. Advantageously, the trimming fabric on the bodywork 12 can be gripped under the edge flap 32. The cosmetic lip 26 can be produced separately by means of a moulding or extrusion operation and held in position by resiliently gripping the distal ends of the clips 20. Instead, it can be produced integrally with the seal strip 22. Figure 4 shows a cross-section corresponding to that of Figure 2 but through a modified form of the strip, and parts in Figure 4 corresponding to parts in Figure 2 are correspondingly referenced. As before, the soft sealing section 16 is mounted on and attached to a substantially rigid support strip 18 produced by moulding or extrusion or other suitable process from plastics or rubber material for example. Again, the soft sealing section 16 can be adhesively secured to the support strip 18 or moulded or extruded integrally with it. In the case of the Figure 4 arrangement, however, there are no clips 20. In order to mount the sealing strip in position, a second longitudinally extending support strip 40 is provided, made of flexible material such as moulded or extruded plastics or rubber. The support strip 40 is secured to the flange 8 by means of adhesive. The cross-section of the support strip 40 generally matches that of the support strip 18, and both of them are sized width-wise and length-wise so as to match the shape and size of the flange 8 around its periphery. As shown in Figure 4, the facing surfaces of the supports 18 and 40 are provided with continuous strips of contact fastener material 42 of the "Velcro" type, or other similar type operating on the same general principle, which thus engage each other, as shown in Figure 4, and secure the sealing firmly in position on the flange. Thus, the sealing arrangement 14 can be manufactured to match the length of the flange 8 substantially exactly and secured in position by substantially a single operation, simply involving clipping the two lengths of "Velcro" together. In the case of the Figure 4 arrangement, the cosmetic lip 26 is advantageously integral with the sealing section 16 and made of the same material or a different material.

Claims: A sealing arrangement for sealing around the periphery of an opening (6) closable by a closure member, comprising a linearly extending support strip (18) which provides first and second oppositely directed faces, locking means (20, 42) on the support strip (18) co-operating with matching engaging means on the periphery of the opening (6) for securing the support strip (18) to the periphery of the opening (6) with the first face of the strip (18) directed towards the periphery of the opening (6), and a soft sealing profile mounted on the second face of the support strip (18) so as to be partially compressed by the closing closure member when the support strip (18) is secured to the periphery of the opening (6), characterised in that the support strip (18, 22, 40) is of predetermined and substantially invariable length which matches a predetermined length along the periphery of the opening (6) and is substantially rigid to enable fitting of the sealing arrangement in a single operation. A sealing arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking means (20) comprises a plurality of projecting clips (20) extending substantially perpendicularly to the said first face of the support strip (18) and the engaging means (24) comprises holes at predetermined positions around the periphery of the opening (6). A sealing arrangement according to claim 2, characterised by a generally flat soft seal (22) matching the length of the support strip (18) and mounted on the first face of the support strip (18) so as to be sealingly interposed between that face and the periphery of the opening (6). A sealing arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised by a flexible covering lip (26) corresponding in length to the length of the support strip (18) and attached directly or indirectly to the support strip (18) so as to extend along the periphery of the opening (6) on the opposite side thereof to the support strip (18) when the support strip (18) is mounted on the periphery of the opening (6). A sealing arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking means (20, 42) comprises a plurality of clips (20) projecting from the first face of the support strip (18) and positioned at predetermined intervals therealong and the engaging means (24) comprises a plurality of correspondingly positioned holes (24) in the periphery of the opening (6), the clips (20) extending through the holes (24) so that their distal ends protrude through the holes (24), and including a flexible covering lip (26) matching the length of the support strip (18) and adapted to be mounted on the opposite side of the periphery of the opening (6) to the support strip (18) and to cover over the protruding distal ends of the clips (20). A sealing arrangement according to claim 5, characterised in that the covering lip (26) is adapted to engage the protruding distal ends of the clips (20). A sealing arrangement according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the arrangement includes a generally flat soft seal (22) matching the length of the support strip (18) and mounted on the first face of the support strip (18) so as to be sealingly interposed between that face and the periphery of the opening (6). A sealing arrangement according to any one of claims 2, 3 and 5 to 7, characterised in that the clips (20) are produced integrally with the support strip (18). A sealing arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking means comprises continuous contact fastener means (42) carried by the first face and extending along the length thereof and the engaging means comprising corresponding continuous contact fastener means (42). A sealing arrangement according to claim 9, characterised in that the contact fastening means (42) of the engaging means is mounted on a generally flat second support strip (40) which generally matches the length of the first-mentioned support strip (18) and which is adapted to be secured to the periphery of the opening (6). A sealing arrangement according to claim 10, characterised in that the second support strip (40) is adapted to be secured to the periphery of the opening (6) by adhesive. A sealing arrangement according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised by a flexible covering lip (26) embracing the periphery of the opening (6). A sealing arrangement according to claim 12, in which the covering lip (26) is secured to the first-mentioned support strip (18). A sealing arrangement according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterised in that the opening (6) is an opening in a motor vehicle body and the periphery is at least partly defined by a flange (10, 12).

Inventors: ROBINAULT MICHEL, ROBINAULT, MICHEL
Applicants: DRAFTEX IND LTD, DRAFTEX INDUSTRIES LIMITED
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B60J10
IPC codes: B60J10