Sealing arrangements

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for sealing between a window frame (18,20) carried by the upper part of a vehicle door and the frame (16,16A) of the door opening, comprises a sealing strip (36). An outer frame member (18) of the window frame extends in a peripherally outward direction of the window opening and is curved-over in re-entrant form to define a rigid channel (19). An inner frame member (20) of the window frame extends into this channel and is welded to the outer frame member (18). The sealing strip (36) has a locking portion (41) comprising a flexible wall (42) of a hollow chamber (46). The flexible wall (42) can be partially depressed into the hollow chamber (46) to enable the locking portion to pass into the rigid channel (19), whereafter the wall (42) resiles to lock the sealing strip (36) in position. The flexible material of the sealing strip (36) may be co-extruded with harder material (36B) for reinforcement purposes and, in particular, for holding an integral sealing lip (38) firmly in position against the window frame (18). The outer and inner window frame members (18,20) support a second rigid channel (22) which in turn supports a flexible channel (24) for receiving the window glass (14).

Description: The invention relates to a window and door sealing arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1. Such an arrangement is shown, for example in DE-A-19517756. In this prior arrangement, the rigid support channel faces outwardly of the window opening. The invention aims to provide improved support for the sealing strip. In accordance with the invention, therefore, the arrangement as first set forth above is characterised in that the rigid support channel presents an open mouth facing inwardly of the window opening towards the outside of the base of the flexible window guide channel and the sealing portion is supported by the outside of the base of the rigid support channel. Sealing arrangements embodying the invention, and for use in motor vehicle body construction, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle; Figure 2 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 1, showing one of the arrangements; Figure 3 is a section corresponding to Figure 2 but showing a modified form of the arrangement of Figure 2. The motor vehicle shown in Figure 1 has a door 10 carrying an upper window frame 12 receiving a window glass 14. The door opening is defined by the "A" and "B" pillars of the vehicle body, by the door sill, and by the roof (i.e. frame of the door opening) 16. Figure 2, being a section on the line A-A of Figure 1, shows the window frame 12 running around the window opening which receives the window glass 14. The window frame 12 is in this example made of metal and comprises outer and inner frame members 18 and 20 respectively. These frame members support a metal channel (i.e. rigid support means) 22 and have curved-over ends for receiving, and which are welded to, the walls of the metal channel 22. The outer frame member 18 extends upwardly above the channel 22 where it meets the upper part of the inner frame member 20 and is welded to it. The outer frame member 18 has a curved-over rigid lip (i.e. edge) 18A so as to define a rigid channel 19 facing inwardly of the window opening. The metal channel 22 receives and supports a window sealing, trimming and guiding strip (i.e. flexible window guide channel) 24. This is made of extruded plastics or rubber material, for example, and has lips 26 and 28 extending partway across its mouth for resiliently and sealingly contacting opposite sides of the window glass 14 as the latter rises upwardly during closure of the window. The outwardly facing surfaces of the lips 26,28 may be covered with flock. A further sealing lip 30 is flexibly mounted at the base of the channel 24 for sealing against the edge of the glass 14. The window channel 24 is fixed within the metal channel 22 by means of longitudinal shoulders 32,34 running along its outside side walls which engage against the edges of the curved-over outer and inner window frame members 18,20, so as to hold the channel 24 in position. The window frame 12 also supports an outer door seal (i.e. sealing strip) indicated generally at 36. The purpose of the seal 36 is to provide a seal between the window frame 12 and the vehicle roof 16, the panel defining the roof at this position being indicated at 16A. The seal 36 has a roof-engaging lip (i.e. sealing portion) 38 which, when the door is closed (as shown in the Figure), provides a seal for the gap between the outer window frame member 18 and the roof panel 16A. In addition, the seal 36 has an integral sealing section 40 of generally hollow tubular form. When the door is closed, this sealing section 40 provides an additional seal against the roof panel 16A. Seal 36 is secured in position on the window frame 12 by means of a locking portion 41 comprising a flexible longitudinally extending wall 42 and a lip 44. The wall 42 is the outer wall of a hollow chamber 46. The hollow chamber 46 enables the wall 44 to be hinged or depressed so as to collapse the chamber 46. This enables the seal 36 to be fitted over the rigid metal lip 18A, whereafter the wall 42 resiles into the position illustrated and secures the seal 36 firmly in position. The seal 36 in advantageously extruded from suitable plastics or rubber material. In the form shown in Figure 2, the seal 36 is extruded from rubber material and is in two co-extruded parts: a relatively soft part 36A and a relatively harder part 36B. The harder part 36B provides added strength for the seal, particularly for holding it firmly in position in the window frame. In addition, the relatively harder part 36B strengthens the lip portion 38 and holds it firmly against separation from the upwardly facing outer surface of the outer frame member 18. Any such separation here might allow ingress of water or moisture. In Figure 3, items corresponding to those in Figure 2 are similarly referenced. In Figure 3, the seal 36 is not extruded from hard and soft material 36A,36B as in Figure 2; instead, all the material is of the same hardness. The seal 36, as shown in each Figure, may be arranged to run not only along the top of the door but also along its sides.

Claims: A window and door sealing arrangement for providing a seal between the frame (12) of a window opening and the frame (16) of a door opening, the window frame (12) being carried by the upper part of a vehicle door (10) and framing the window opening; the window frame (12) comprising a rigid support means (22); a flexible window guide channel (24) being supported on the rigid support means (22) and presenting an open mouth to face into the window opening for receiving a window glass (14) during closing of the window; the window frame (12) further comprising a rigid support channel (19) positioned on the outer periphery of the window frame (12); the arrangement further comprising a sealing strip (36) made of flexible material having an integral locking portion (41) arranged to enter the rigid support channel (19), the locking portion (41) terminating in wall means (42) forming at least part of the wall of a hollow chamber (46) in the locking portion (41) whereby to enable the wall means (42) to be at least partially depressed into the hollow chamber (46) to enable the locking portion (41) to enter the rigid support channel (19), the wall means (42) thereafter resiling to engage an edge (18A) in or adjacent the rigid support channel to lock the sealing strip (36) in position, the sealing strip (36) including a sealing portion (38) which extends between the window frame (12) and the frame (16) of the door opening when the sealing strip (36) is mounted in position; characterised in that the rigid support channel (19) presents an open mouth facing inwardly of the window opening towards the outside of the base of the flexible window guide channel (24) and the sealing portion (38) is supported by the outside of the base of the rigid support channel (19). An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the rigid support channel (19) is formed at least in part by a rigid member (18) of the window frame which extends from the flexible window guide channel (24) in a direction away from and substantially parallel to the window opening, the rigid member (18) being bent over towards the outside of the base of the flexible window guide channel (24) to define the rigid support channel (19). An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the wall means of the locking portion (42) comprises two parts generally inclined to each other and meeting at a ridge extending longitudinally of the strip (36). An arrangement according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the rigid support means (22) comprises a second rigid channel (22) in which is supported the flexible window guide channel (24). An arrangement according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the flexible material of the sealing strip (36) is reinforced. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the flexible material of the sealing strip (36) is reinforced by embedded harder material (36B). An arrangement according to claim 6, characterised in that the sealing strip (36) is made by extrusion and the harder material (36B) is co-extruded material. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the window frame (16) comprises an outer window frame member (18) having a first part on the outside of the vehicle body and extending in a direction generally parallel to the window opening and away from the window opening and then curved over towards the inside of the vehicle body and in a direction towards the window opening to define the rigid support channel (19) facing towards the window opening and a second part integral with the first part and on the outside of the vehicle body and extending in a direction generally parallel to the window opening and towards the window opening and overlapping the window opening, and an inner window frame member (20) having a first part on the inside of the vehicle body and extending into the rigid support channel (19) and attached there to the outer frame member (18) and a second part integral with the first part and on the inside of the vehicle body and extending in a direction generally parallel to the window opening and towards and overlapping the window opening; the rigid support means (22) being supported by the two second parts and comprising a base and two side walls for defining an open mouth facing towards the window opening for receiving the flexible window guide channel (24).

Inventors: HEITMANN CARSTEN, HELLER NORBERT, WILMES GUNTHER, HEITMANN, CARSTEN, HELLER, NORBERT, WILMES, GUNTHER
Applicants: DRAFTEX IND LTD, DRAFTEX INDUSTRIES LIMITED
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B60J10
IPC codes: B60J10