SEALING OR GUIDING ARRANGEMENTS

Abstract: A sealing and guiding arrangement for a slidable pane of window glass in a window opening forming the upper part of a vehicle door comprising two components (24, 26). Each component comprises a respective zone (A) for extending along the "A" pillar of the vehicle and over the top of the window opening, and a respective zone (B) for extending along the "B" pillar of the vehicle. The two components (24, 26) are injection-moulded with respective cross-sectional shapes so that when they are mounted together in side by side relationship they form a window channel for slidably receiving the pane of window glass. Internal lips (34) running along the side walls of the channel and flexible abutments (36) running along the base of the channel may be integrally moulded on the components (24, 26) with variable croos-sections along the length of the channel. Integrally injection moulded strips (42, 44) can be produced to provide inner and outer waist belts for the window opening. The components (24, 26) can be secured together by adhesive, welding, clips or mechanical interlocking means and/or by being mounted in a rigid support channel forming a frame for the window opening. Instead they can be produced in sufficiently rigid form to function without the use of a separate rigid frame.

Description: SEATJNG OR OT TTDTNO ARRANGEMENTS The invention relates to sealing or guiding arrangements. Embodiments of the invention to be described in more detail below, by way of example only, are in the form of window frames and sealing and guiding channels for window glass, all for use in motor vehicle body construction, particularly for mounting in the upper part of vehicle doors. However, sealing or guiding arrangements embodying the invention can be used in many other applications. According to the invention, there is provided a longitudinally extending sealing or guiding arrangement, comprising two separate components each extending along the length of the arrangement and each forming a respective longitudinal part of the arrangement such that when mounted in side by side relationship the two components together define the required cross-sectional shape of the arrangement throughout its length. According to the invention, there is also provided a longitudinally extending sealing or guiding arrangement, comprising two components each extending along the length of the arrangement and each forming a respective longitudinal part of the arrangement and in cross-section each having the shape of a respective part of a channel, the two components being produced simultaneously by injection-moulding which also produces a flexible longitudinal region extending between and integrally connecting the two components whereby to permit the two components to be hingedly folded from a configuration during the injection-moulding process in which the side walls of the channel are splayed apart and substantially coplanar to a configuration after the injection-moulding process in which the side walls of the channel are substantially parallel. According to the invention, there is further provided a sealing and guiding arrangement for a window pane in a window opening, comprising two longitudinal components in side by side relationship with each other and having such respective cross-sectional shapes that they together define a channel for extending around at least part of the window opening for sealingly and guidingly receiving the window pane, the two components each being produced by injection-moulding to have respective cross sections and longitudinal configurations which vary along their lengths. According to the invention, there is still further provided a method of making a sealing or guiding arrangement, comprising the steps of injection-moulding two longitudinal components of predetermined cross-sectional shape and longitudinal configuration, and placing the two components in side by side relationship, their respective predetermined cross-sectional shapes and longitudinal configurations being such that together they define a channel. Window frames and window glass guiding and sealing channel arrangements embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a motor vehicle body; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing two components of one of the channel arrangements; Figure 3 is a section on the line III-III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a section on the line IN-IN of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view showing part of the two components of Figure 2 when assembled together; Figure 6 is a perspective view showing another part of the two components of Figure 2 when assembled together; Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 2 but shows two components of a modified window channel arrangement; Figure 8 is a perspective view of part of the two components of Figure 7 when assembled together; Figure 9 is a cross section through part of another of the channel arrangements during a stage in its manufacture; and Figure 10 corresponds to Figure 9 but shows a later stage in manufacture. Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle 10 having, in this example, four doors of which two, referenced 12 and 14, on one side of the vehicle are visible in the Figure. In the normal way, the upper part of each door forms a window opening 15 which has a frame 16 with a sharp corner 17. A pane 18 of window glass can be raised into the window opening 15 from the lower part 20 of the door to close the window and can be lowered into the lower part of the door to open the window. To facilitate this movement of the window pane and its sealing, the frame 16 includes a sealing and guiding channel. In accordance with a feature of the invention, the sealing and guiding channel arrangement can be formed as two components 24,26 (Figure 2), each component being generally in the shape of the window frame 16 and having a cross-section corresponding to part of the sealing and guiding channel, so that the two components 24,26 form the channel when brought together. Preferably, the two components 24,26 are produced by injection-moulding from suitable elastomeric or plastomeric material. Each component comprises a zone A which, when the components are brought together and mounted on the vehicle door, is aligned with the "A" pillar of the vehicle and then runs along the top of the window opening, and a zone B which is aligned with the "B" pillar of the vehicle. Because the components 24 and 26 are produced by injection-moulding, the zones A and B are formed integrally in each component. Each component 24,26 may be shaped, in cross-section, to match a respective side of the sealing and guiding channel and a part of the base thereof. Such a configuration is shown in the sectional views of Figures 3 and 4 which respectively represent cross-sections of the zones A and B of the component 24. It will be appreciated that the cross-sectional shapes of the zones of the component 26 would correspond to, but be the mirror-images of, the cross-sections shown in Figures 3 and 4. Figures 3 and 4 show that the cross-sectional shape of the component 24 is not the same in each of the zones A and B, and the same is true for the component 26. Figure 3 shows that, in zone A, the component 24 has a side wall 30, a base part 32 and a lip 34 integrally extending from the channel side wall 30. In addition, the component 24 has a lip 36 extending along the base part 32. The configuration of the corresponding region of component 26 is the same except that it does not have the lip 36. Figure 4 shows that the component 24 in zone B has the same general configuration as shown in Figure 3 except that the lip 36 is omitted, and the configuration of the corresponding part of the component 26 is the same. In use, the two components 24,26 are brought together to form the complete sealing and guiding channel. Figure 5 shows this channel along zone A. The two components 24,26 are shown as fixed together along a joining region 40. This will be discussed below in more detail. Figure 5 illustrates how the upper edge 40 of the window glass 18 contacts the lip 36 which extends across the joining region 40, the lip 36 thus forming a sealing and resilient abutment for the glass. The opposite faces of the glass are sealingly contacted by the lips 34 as it is raised into the channel. Figure 6 shows the form of the channel adjacent the "B" pillar. This Figure again shows that, when the two components 24,26 are brought together to form the channel, the lips 34 contact the opposite faces of the window glass 18 as it is raised from and lowered into the lowered part 20 of the door. It will be appreciated that the lips 34,34, and 36 will need to be more flexible than the channel side walls 30,30 and the base parts 32,32. This variation in hardness can easily be achieved using known multi-material injection-moulding processes. Instead, it may be achieved merely by the moulded configuration. The Figures show how the use of an injection-moulding process allows each component 24,26 to have a varying cross-sectional shape along its length, and to be made in a single piece including the co er 17. This thus contrasts with known methods of manufacture where window sealing and guiding channels are produced using an extrusion process. With methods of manufacture using extrusion, the parts of the channel having different cross-sectional shapes must be extruded separately and then joined together. This necessitates producing a connecting corner piece to form the corner 17. Various methods of producing such corner connections are known, normally requiring the insertion of the two ends of the extruded channel into a mould and the production of the corner piece by a moulding operation. Such an operation is not only time-consuming and labour- intensive, and therefore expensive, but may also produce an unsatisfactory appearance in the finished article. This is completely avoided in the channel arrangement embodying the invention, where injection-moulding is used. In addition, injection-moulding more easily enables the cross-sectional shape to be varied along the length of the channel. Where channel parts are produced by extrusion as explained above, each part will have the same cross-sectional shape along its length. In order to reduce the number of extruded parts, there will be an incentive to use the same cross-sectional shape along a length of the channel when, ideally, the cross-sectional shape should be varied along this length. Furthermore, it may be necessary to have other local modifications to the shape of the channel, such as providing bends or curves or cut-outs or other small variations in shape to match local variations in the shape of the vehicle bodywork or window frame. When extrusion is used to produce the channel, these variations must be carried out by separate post-extrusion operations, such as involving cutting or over-moulding or the addition of other parts (including the corner parts mentioned above). Again, these post-extrusion operations are time-consuming and labour-intensive and are completely avoided by the use of injection-moulding. Advantageously, the surfaces of the lips 34,34 and 36, which come into contact with the window glass 18, are covered with flock or other suitable low-friction material. Using a suitable process, the flock can be applied during the injection-moulding operation, such as by using a flocked tape. Instead, the parts to be covered with flock can be produced separately and then inserted into the mould for incorporation into the components 24,26 during the moulding operation. A further possibility is to produce flocked parts separately which can be attached to the injection-moulded parts after completion of the injection-moulding process, such as by mechanically interlocking them with the injection- moulded part or attaching them by glueing or welding. The two injection-moulded components 24,26 can be secured together to form the complete channel by any suitable method, such as by glueing, welding, over-moulding, clipping or interlocking. However, it may not be necessary to secure the two components 24,26 together. For example, where the window frame 16 comprises a rigid metal channel with its channel mouth facing peripherally inward of the window opening, the two components 24,26 can be inserted into the channel of the window frame and firmly held there by the resilience of the material of the components. In an important modification, however, a separate rigid window frame 16 is not used. The functions of the rigid window frame and the sealing and guiding channel are combined. Thus, the two components 24,26 are produced by the injection-moulding process so that the channel side walls 30,30 and the base parts 32,32 are sufficiently strong and rigid to form the window frame, the lips 34 and 36 being more flexible, of course. When the two components 24,26 are joined together, in any suitable way as discussed above, they form both the window frame and the sealing and guiding channel. Advantageously, the two components 24,26, when attached together such as in any of the ways discussed above to form the sealing and guiding channel for the window glass, can be supplied in this form to the vehicle manufacturer together with the window glass mounted between them and in the channel, the whole being supplied to the vehicle manufacturer as a single unit ready for fitting into the vehicle door. Such a single unit thus replaces several separate units which must be supplied to the vehicle manufacturer using present-day extruded products. These several different components must be delivered and stored separately, accounted for separately, handled separately within the factory, and then assembled together onto the vehicle, thus involving substantial time and labour and thus expense. Figure 7 shows a modification, in which the components 24,26 respectively include outer and inner waist belts 42 and 44. Waist belt 42 is simultaneously produced with the component 24 during its injection-moulding process and waist belt 44 is simultaneously produced during the injection-moulding process which produces component 26. Figure 8 shows the cross-sectional shapes of the waist belts 42 and 44, which are integrally connected to the respective components 24,26 so as to leave a gap 46 between them through which the window glass 18 slidably moves. Figure 8 shows that the cross- sectional shapes of the waist belts 42 and 44 differ significantly from the cross-sectional shapes of the remainder of the components 24,26. Each has a wall portion 45 and a lip 46. However, there is no difficulty in producing these different cross-sectional shapes by the injection-moulding process. Where sealing and guiding channels are produced by extrusion, it is of course essential to produce the waist belts separately in order to be able to produce the required different shapes. They must then be fitted to the vehicle separately, or joined to the extruded window channel by a difficult and expensive joining operation. Various modifications may be made. For example, it is not necessary for each of the components 24,26 to be in the form of a respective half-channel - as illustrated in Figures 3 to 7 for example. One component could comprise one channel side wall and the whole of the base of the channel, with the other component simply comprising the other channel side wall. Other configurations are of course possible. It is also possible to vary the stiffness of the window channel around the periphery of the window opening so that the window glass is held more tightly in some positions than in others. It may be desirable to achieve this requirement in order to control the mode of vibration of the window glass in response to acoustic energy. By stiffening the support of the window glass at predetermined positions around the window frame, the transmission of acoustic energy through the window glass, from outside the vehicle to inside the vehicle, can be minimised, as explained in more detail, for example, in European Specification No. 0908867. Figure 9 shows a modification, in which the two components 24,26 are simultaneously produced in the same injection mould. By means of bi-material injection-moulding, a more flexible hinge part 48 is moulded between the two components 24,26 and not only joins them together but, after removal from the mould, enables the two components to be folded into the required channel shape (Figure 10). Instead, mono-material injection- moulding can be used, the flexibility of the hinge part being obtained by reducing the thickness of the material in this region. Figures 9 and 10 show the configuration of the components 24,26 along the zone A (see Figure 2), that is, for fitting along the "A" pillar of the vehicle and along the top of the window opening. Along the zone B, the lip 36 is omitted, which is easily achieved by the injection-moulding operation. Although the invention has been described above as a window glass sealing and guiding arrangement, it may also be used in other applications to provide sealing or guiding functions such as, for example, to provide a seal for a door or other opening where a particular cross-sectional shape is required. Such a shape can be provided by injection- moulding two components which together provide the required cross-sectional shape.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A longitudinally extending sealing or guiding arrangement, comprising two separate components (24,26) each extending along the length of the arrangement and each forming a respective longitudinal part of the arrangement such that when mounted in side by side relationship the two components (24,26) together define the required cross- sectional shape of the arrangement throughout its length. 2. An arrangement according to claim 1 , in which the cross-sectional shape of the components (24,26) varies along their lengths so that, when mounted in the side by side relationship, the two components define a cross-sectional shape for the arrangement which varies along its length. 3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, in which each of the two components (24,26) is bent or curved such that, when the two components are mounted in the side by side relationship, they define a bend or curve in the arrangement. 4. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which each of the two components (24,26) is made in one piece by injection-moulding. 5. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, including joining means (48) for joining the two components (24,26) together in the side by side relationship. 6. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, including longitudinally extending mounting means (16) for receiving the two separate components (24,26) and mounting them in the side by side relationship. 7. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which each of the two components (24,26) has a respective cross-section such that along at least part of the length of the arrangement the two components when mounted in the side by side relationship define a channel. 8. An anangement according to claim 7, in which at least one of the components (24,26) includes a formation extending at least partway therealong which, when the two components are mounted in the side by side relationship, forms a lip (34) along the channel and mounted on an inside side wall thereof. 9. An arrangement according to claim 8, in which the shape of the lip (34) varies along its length. 10. An arrangement according to any one of claims 7 to 9, in which at least one of the components (24) includes a formation (36) extending at least partway therealong such that, when the two components are mounted in the side by side relationship, the formation forms an abutment extending along the inside of the channel on its base. ι 11. An arrangement according to claim 9 or 10, in which the or each formation (36) is softer than the remainder of the components (24,20). 12. An arrangement according to any one of claims 7 to 11, in which the parts of the two components (24,26) which, when the two components are mounted in the side by side relationship, define the channel are shaped so that the channel follows at least part of the periphery of a window opening and the channel sealingly and guidingly receives a pane of window glass (18) for the opening. 13. A longitudinally extending sealing or guiding arrangement, comprising two components (24,26) each extending along the length of the arrangement and each forming a respective longitudinal part of the arrangement and in cross-section each having the shape of a respective part of a channel, the two components (24,26) being produced simultaneously by injection-moulding which also produces a flexible longitudinal region (48) extending between and integrally connecting the two components (24,26) whereby to permit the two components (24,26) to be hingedly folded from a configuration during the injection-moulding process in which the side walls of the channel are splayed apart and substantially coplanar to a configuration after the injection-moulding process in which the side walls of the channel are substantially parallel. 14. An arrangement according to claim 13, in which the cross-sectional shape of the components (24,26) varies along their lengths so that the two components define a cross- sectional shape for the anangement which varies along its length. 15. An arrangement according to claim 13 or 14, in which each of the two components (24,26) is bent or curved such that they define a bend or curve in the arrangement. 16. An arrangement according to any one of claims 13 to 15, including longitudinally extending mounting means (16) for receiving the components. 17. An arrangement according to any one of claims 13 to 16, in which at least one of the components (24,26) includes a formation extending at least partway therealong which forms a lip (34) along the channel and mounted on an inside side wall thereof. 18. An arrangement according to claim 17, in which the shape of the lip (34) varies along its length. 19. An arrangement according to any one of claims 13 to 18, in which at least one (24) of the components includes a formation (36) extending at least partway therealong such that the formation forms an abutment extending along the inside of the channel on its base. 20. An arrangement according to any one of claims 17 to 19, in which the or each formation (34,36) is softer than the remainder of the components (24,26). 21. An arrangement according to any one of claims 13 to 20, in which the parts of the two components (24,26) which define the channel are shaped so that the channel follows at least part of the periphery of a window opening and the channel sealingly and guidingly receives a pane of window glass (18) for the opening. 22. A sealing and guiding arrangement for a window pane in a window opening, comprising two longitudinal components (24,26) in side by side relationship with each other and having such respective cross-sectional shapes that they together define a channel for extending around at least part of the window opening for sealingly and guidingly receiving the window pane (18), the two components (24,26) each being produced by injection-moulding to have respective cross sections and longitudinal configurations which vary along their lengths. 23. An arrangement according to claim 22 , for use where the window pane (18) is slidable into and out of the window opening, in which the two components (24,26) together define the channel to extend around only part of the window opening whereby to provide a gap through which the window pane slides into and out of the window opening, and in which at least one of the components (24) also includes an integral strip (42) extending alongside the gap. 24. An arrangement according to claim 23, in which the other component (26) also integrally include a strip (44) for extending alongside the gap so that the two strips together define a slot extending along the gap through which the window pane (18) slides. 25. An arrangement according to claim 23 or 24, in which the or each strip (42,44) defines a formation extending along its length and produced by the injection-moulding process for forming a lip (46) extending alongside the gap and for flexibly contacting a surface of the window glass (18). 26. An arrangement according to any one of claims 22 to 25, in which at least one of the components (24,26) includes a formation produced by the injection-moulding process and which forms a lip (34) extending along at least part of one inside side wall of the channel for flexibly contacting a surface of the window glass (18). 27. An arrangement according to any one of claims 22 to 26, in which at least one of the components (24) defines a formation produced by the injection-moulding process which forms an abutment (36) along the inside of the base of the channel for contacting an edge of the window glass (18). 28. An arrangement according to any one of claims 25 to 27, in which the or each formation (34,36) is softer than at least part of the remainder of the respective component (24,26). 29. An arrangement according to any one of claims 22 to 28, in which the two components (24,26) are produced separately by the injection-moulding process. 30. An arrangement according to claim 29, including joining means (48) for joining the two components (24,26) together in the side by side relationship. 31. An arrangement according to claim 30, in which the joining means comprises adhesive. 32. An arrangement according to claim 30, in which the joining means comprises mechanical connection means. 33. An arrangement according to any one of claims 22 to 28, in which the two components (24,26) are simultaneously produced in the same mould by the injection- moulding process. 34. An arrangement according to claim 33, in which the injection-moulding process also produces a flexible longitudinal region (48) extending between and integrally connecting the two components (24,26) whereby to permit the two components to be hingedly folded from a configuration during the injection-moulding process in which the side walls of the channel are splayed apart and substantially coplanar to a configuration after the injection-moulding process in which the side walls of the channel are substantially parallel. 35. An arrangement according to any one of claims 22 to 33, in which the two components (24,26) are mounted in the side by side relationship within rigid mounting means (16) forming at least part of a frame for the window opening. 36. An arrangement according to claim 35, in which the rigid mounting means comprises a rigid channel. 37. An arrangement according to any one of claims 22 to 34, in which at least part of each component (24,26) is stiff whereby the two components in the side by side relationship form at least part of a frame for the opening. 38. A method of making a sealing or guiding arrangement, comprising the steps of injection-moulding two longitudinal components (24,26) of predetermined cross-sectional shape and longitudinal configuration, and placing the two components (24,26) in side by side relationship, their respective predetermined cross-sectional shapes and longitudinal configurations being such that together they define a channel. 39. A method according to claim 38, in which the injection-moulding step forms the channel to extend around part of a window opening and for receiving a pane of window glass (18) for the opening, the channel being omitted for part of the window opening to provide a gap through which the pane of window glass (18) slides into and out of the window opening and into and out of the channel. 40. A method according to claim 39, in which the injection-moulding step produces each component (24,26) to have a cross-sectional shape and longitudinal configuration which varies along its length. 41. A method according to claim 39 or 40, in which the injection-moulding step produces each component (24,26) with a strip (42,44) extending from one point thereon to another point thereon whereby the strips (42,44) are positioned along and on opposite sides of the gap when the components (24,26) are mounted in the side by side relationship, the gap defining a slot through which the pane of window glass (18) slides into and out of the window opening and into and out of the channel. 42. A method according to any one of claims 39 to 41, in which the injection- moulding step produces a formation extending along part of the length of at least one of the components (24,26) to produce a flexible lip (34) extending along one inside side wall of the channel for contacting one face of the pane of window glass (18). 43. A method according to any one of claims 39 to 42, in which the injection- moulding step produces a formation extending along part of the length of at least one of the components (24) to produce an abutment (36) extending along the inside of the base of the channel for contacting an edge of the pane of window glass (18). 44. A method according to any one of claims 38 to 43, in which the step of mounting the two components (24,26)in the side by side relationship comprises the step of securing them together after the injection-moulding process. 45. A method according to claim 44, in which the securing step is an adhesive step. 46. A method according to claim 44, in which the securing step is a mechanical interlocking step. 47. A method according to any one of claims 38 to 46, in which the injection- moulding step comprises two separate injection-moulding steps for respectively producing the two components (24,26). 48. A method according to any one of claims 38 to 43, in which the injection- moulding step comprises a single injection-moulding step for simultaneously producing the two components (24,26). 49. A method according to claim 48, in which the injection-moulding process also produces a flexible longitudinal region (48) extending between and integrally connecting the two components (24,26) whereby to permit the two components (24,26) to be hingedly folded from a configuration during the injection-moulding process in which the side walls of the channel are splayed apart and substantially coplanar to a configuration after the injection-moulding step in which the side walls of the channel are substantially parallel.

Inventors: DURAND PHILIPPE, LEPRE NATHALIE, RENZO BERNARD, DURAND, PHILIPPE, LEPRE, NATHALIE, RENZO, BERNARD
Applicants: DRAFTEX IND LTD, DURAND PHILIPPE, LEPRE NATHALIE, RENZO BERNARD, DRAFTEX INDUSTRIES LIMITED, DURAND, PHILIPPE, LEPRE, NATHALIE, RENZO, BERNARD
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B60J10
IPC codes: B29C45, B29L31, B60J10