Abstract:
The invention relates to a sealing connecting element, a sealing end piece and a seal. In practice different seals are known which are produced as three dimensional structures and then given to the customer. The production, wherein profile strips are ready-made by cutting and adhesion to form the three dimensional structures or wherein the three dimensional structure is obtained by means of corner injection molding, is very costly. In order to simplify the production of seals, it is provided in accordance with the invention that sealing connecting elements and/or sealing end pieces are to be produced as separate molded parts made of a thermoplastic elastomer and these molded parts to be connected, shortly before the installation of a seal, to sealing profile strips to form a complete seal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/554,402 which was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 11, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,666, and which is incorporated herein by reference, and which is the U.S. national stage of PCT/EP 98/07032 filed Nov. 4, 1998. 

   BACKGROUND 
   The invention relates to a sealing connecting element, a sealing end piece and a seal. 
   Seals are used in a number of areas of daily life, in order to seal off specific spaces from each other or from the environment in a liquid- and/or gas-tight manner. A particularly important area of application for seals is that of doors and flaps, at which in part large sealing gaps regularly occur owing to inaccuracies in the assembly process. 
   One particular area of application for seals is motor vehicle construction, in which there are usually extremely high demands placed upon the sealing behavior of a seal and its load capability with respect to environmental influences, such as temperature fluctuations, UV-radiation, the influence of solvents and other environmental factors. In order to be able to guarantee a long serviceable life under possibly extreme environmental conditions, it is known in practice to use elastomer seals. The materials most frequently used for these types of elastomer seals are EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene-copolymers), NBR (natural butadiene rubber), NR/SBR-blends and CR-materials (controlled rheology polypropylene materials). 
   It is known in practice to process the said materials to form strip profiles which are then tailored to suit the specific requirements by being cut and adhered to form three-dimensional structures. It is also known in practice to connect the EPDM-sealing profiles at their corners by means of a TPE-V-injection molding technique (book: Thermoplastische Elastomere—Herausforderung an die Elastomerverarbeiter/VDI-Gesellschaft Kunsstofftechnik, [thermoplastic elastomers—challenge to the elastomer manufacturers/VDI-Gesellschaft synthetic material technology], VDI-Verlag GmbH 1997, page 145). In the said three-dimensional structures, the seals are then given to the customers who install them into vehicles or other structures. 
   In order to be competitive in the market, it is necessary to provide in a rapid manner large quantities of seals which can be assembled in a convenient manner. Owing to its flexibility during processing, the sealing strip material places high demands upon the persons employed in the manufacturing process. 
   It is known per se from JP 01 186447 A to insert the end faces of two sealing profile strips into a hard polyamide coupling piece and to adhere them together. 
   It is known per se from JP 58 224810 A to seal window sealing profiles, which abut each other in a flush manner, with respect to each other by virtue of a locally integrally-formed sealing lip. 
   DE 36 29 343 A1 illustrates as being known per se a corner connector with tapered mandrels and in each case a profile strip is attached and adhered thereto with a hollow space. 
   It is known per se from U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,826 A to attach a window to the bodywork of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the window, sealing profiles and a corner piece are placed in position. Then, the intermediate spaces are filled with a sealing adhesive. 
   According to EP 0 395 444 A1, an end cap is pushed in a manner known per se on to an open end face of a clamping profile, the clamping profile having been placed on to a bodywork flange beforehand. 
   It is known per se from EP 0 378 419 A1,  FIGS. 1 and 5 , to attach a holding device for a rear-view mirror to a window channel structure. The holding device comprises an end piece which is partially coated with polymer. Connection spigots of adjoining frame profiles have a rectangular cross-section and are inserted into an open receiving channel of the end piece. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,761 illustrates as known per se the releasable connection of a window compartment seal to a door seal for a coupé. A transition piece is vulcanized to the window compartment seal. The transition piece comprises a recess, into which it is possible to insert an upper end of the door seal from below. In this inserted state, the connection is secured in an axial manner by virtue of a claw of the transition piece, which claw engages into a complementary recess of the door seal. 
   In accordance with DE 42 43 043 A1, it is known per se to attach together in a flush manner two ends of a clamping profile which comprises a textile coating. The clamping profile comprises a sealing tube, into the hollow space of which a complementary, rubber-elastic spigot is introduced in each case with a part of its length as a coupling element. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is the object of the invention to simplify the production of seals. 
   The object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a sealing connecting element for connecting in a sealing manner at least one first and one second sealing profile strip whose ends are not aligned with each other, and which sealing connecting element is formed separately from the sealing profile strips as a molded part with a profile guide region from a thermoplastic elastomer. The profile guide region of the connecting element moves into position against an outer wall of an inserted sealing profile strip. The invention further provides a sealing end piece for sealing profile strips which are formed separately from the sealing profile strips as a molded part with a profile guide region from a thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the profile guide region moves into position against an outer wall of an inserted sealing profile strip. The invention further provides a seal having at least one sealing profile strip and one sealing connecting element according to the above. 
   It is provided in accordance with the invention, to produce sealing connecting elements and/or sealing end pieces as separate molded parts from a thermoplastic elastomer and only to connect these molded parts to sealing profile strips to form a complete seal shortly prior to the installation of a seal. The fact that the sealing connecting elements and/or sealing end pieces on the one hand or sealing profile strips on the other hand are produced separately and are transported separately serves on the one hand to simplify the production of the individual parts and on the other hand serves to minimize the transportation cost. Whereas it is necessary in the prior art to position sealing profile strips manually in a corresponding mold for the connection by means of an adhesive or an injection-molded TPE-corner piece, it is possible for the production of the sealing connecting elements and sealing end pieces according to the invention to be fully automated. 
   After transporting the individual sealing parts which requires less space than complete seals, the said sealing parts can then be joined together in the form of a kit to form complete seals, in that sealing profile strips are moved into position against the profile guide regions of the sealing connecting elements or sealing end pieces, wherein it is possible to join said sealing parts together in a particularly convenient manner if longer sealing profile strips are already attached and thus fixed to a rigid structure. 
   The thermoplastic elastomer sealing connecting elements and sealing end pieces in accordance with the invention provide a kit component which renders it possible when mounting a seal on a structure, which is not produced to precise dimensions, to react rapidly and readily by virtue of the fact that instead of a sealing profile strip of a predetermined length, a different sealing profile strip is used which has an individually tailored length. This minimizes assembly costs and rejects. 
   The kit concept which forms the basis of the seals in accordance with the invention and the sealing connecting elements and/or sealing end pieces used in said seals is particularly advantageous if large-capacity seals or small production-lots of seals are to be produced, since the ease of handling and the possibility of using standard components are particularly beneficial aspects. 
   Preferably, the profile guide region is formed having a thin wall, so that the arrangement between the outer contour of the sealing profile strip and the outer contour of the sealing connecting element is only slightly offset. This offset arrangement and an associated failure in the sealing arrangement can be minimized further if the profile guide region runs out to zero, i.e. the region tapers to a point. 
   In the case of motor vehicle bodywork seals for the purpose of sealing the engine compartment, it is often desired to seal an installation part separately after providing a peripheral seal. At such points, three sealing profile strips meet each other and must be connected together. In order in this case to reduce the risk of failures in the sealing arrangement and to reduce assembly costs, it is advantageous to design a holding portion of the sealing connecting element in such a manner that it can be attached to a continues sealing profile strip. 
   A particularly convenient assembly process is achieved if the sealing connecting element in accordance with the invention comprises a holding portion for clamping the connecting element to a sealing profile strip which is to be connected. In this case, it is possible to dispense with the process of adhering or welding the sealing connecting element to the respective sealing profile strip. 
   If an adhesion or welding process is performed to guarantee a permanent connection of the individual sealing components, it is advantageous to provide the sealing connecting elements with a stop which is formed as a counter bearing for sealing profile strips which are to be connected to the connecting element in an inserting manner. This type of design ensures straightforward assembly, particularly if the sealing connecting elements have a small over-dimension with respect to the respective sealing profile strips. 
   The production of complicated seals in small production-lots is simplified if different sealing connecting elements, which are preferably mirror-symmetrical with respect to a miter plane, are available with respect to a sealing profile strip type. In a similar manner to sanitary installation waste water pipe bends, these sealing connecting elements can then be joined together in an extremely convenient manner with sealing profile strips to form a desired three-dimensional structure. 
   Further advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are evident in the subordinate claims and in the drawings in conjunction with the description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a sealing connecting element in accordance with the invention having an inserted sealing profile strip, 
       FIG. 2  shows a sectional view of the sealing connecting element in  FIG. 1  along the line II—II in  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 3  shows a sectional view of the sealing connecting element and the sealing profile strip in  FIG. 1  along the line III—III in  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 4  shows a sectional view of the sealing connecting element and the sealing profile strip in  FIG. 1  along the line IV—IV in  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 5  shows an enlarged view of the sealing profile strip in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , 
       FIG. 6  shows a second embodiment of a sealing connecting element according to the invention, which is clamped in a lateral manner to a continues sealing profile strip, 
       FIG. 7  shows a sectional view of the sealing connecting element and the sealing profile strip in  FIG. 6  along the line VII—VII in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , 
       FIG. 8  shows a sectional view of the sealing connecting element and the sealing profile strip in  FIG. 6  along the line VIII—VIII in  FIG. 6 , 
       FIG. 9  shows a third embodiment of a sealing connecting element according to the invention having a sealing profile strip, 
       FIG. 10  shows a sectional view of the sealing profile strip in  FIG. 9  along the line X—X in  FIG. 9 , 
       FIG. 11  shows a sectional view of the sealing connecting element and the sealing profile strip in  FIG. 9  along the line XI—XI in  FIG. 9 , 
       FIG. 12  shows a sectional view of the sealing connecting element and the sealing profile strip in  FIG. 9  along the line XII—XII in  FIG. 9 , 
       FIG. 13  shows a fourth embodiment of a sealing connecting element according to the invention having a sealing profile strip, 
       FIG. 14  shows a sectional view of the sealing profile strip in  FIG. 13  along the line XIV—XIV in  FIG. 13 , 
       FIG. 15  shows a sectional view of the sealing connecting element and the sealing profile strip in  FIG. 13  along the line XV—XV in  FIG. 13 , 
       FIG. 16  shows a sectional view of the sealing connecting element and the sealing profile strip in  FIG. 13  along the line XVI—XVI in  FIG. 13 , 
       FIG. 17  shows a sealing end piece in accordance with the invention having an inserted sealing profile strip, and 
       FIG. 18  shows a sectional view of the sealing end piece and the sealing profile strip in FIG.  17 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The sealing connecting element  100  according to a first embodiment as illustrated in  FIGS. 1  to  4  is provided as a 90° corner piece for an engine compartment seal  124 . It is formed in a symmetrical manner with respect to a miter plane and comprises a first insertion end  102  and a second insertion end  104  for receiving sealing profile strips  106 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the two sealing profile strips  106  extend longitudinally in different directions at the point of connection via the connecting element  100 , here each of the two profile strips  106  extending longitudinally at 90° from one another. 
   In the region of the insertion ends  102 ,  104 , the sealing connecting element  100  has thin-walled profile guide regions  108 ,  110  which move into position against the outer wall of an inserted sealing profile strip  106  in such a manner that only a minimal step  112  remains between the sealing profile strip and the sealing connecting element and this step does not have a significant effect upon the sealing behavior of the seal  124 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the thin-walled profile guide regions  108 ,  110  generally comprise wall regions that are thin relative to wall regions  108   a  and  110   a  respectively. In certain preferred embodiments, the thin-walled profile guide regions of the present invention are tapered. In even more preferred embodiments, the thin-walled profile guide regions are tapered to a point. 
   The sealing connecting element  100  according to the first embodiment is provided for a sealing profile strip  106  made from EPDM which is illustrated in detail in FIG.  5 . This sealing profile strip  106  comprises a base region  114  for attaching the sealing profile strip  106  to a metal cross-piece [not illustrated] and comprises a sealing region  116  made from cellular rubber with a Shore-hardness of  15  which together with the base region  114  forms a channel-like hollow chamber  118 . The base region  114  encloses in a dense rubber (Shore hardness of 60) a metal insert  120  which has a U-shaped cross-section and provides the base region  114  of the sealing profile strip  106  with the level of rigidity required for the support on the metal cross-piece. In order to hold the sealing profile strip  106  in a fixed manner on the metal cross-piece, resilient projections  122  are provided. 
   The sealing connecting element  100  is formed in such a manner that its outer contour follows the progression of the sealing profile strip  106 . Consequently, a metal cross-piece, on to which there is placed a seal  124  consisting of sealing profile strips  106  and sealing connecting elements  100 , is completely enclosed which can prevent the metal cross-piece from becoming corroded. Only in the attachment region of the base region  114  of the sealing profile strip  106  does the sealing connecting element  100  comprise an opening which permits a clamping connection of the sealing profile strip  106  and the metal cross-piece. 
   In order to be able to guide the sealing profile strip  106  in an effective manner on the sealing connecting element  100  and to simplify the assembly process, the sealing connecting element is provided with a core portion  128  which is chamfered on its edge and whose cross-sectional profile is tailored to suit the cross-sectional profile of the hollow chamber  118 . 
   The sealing connecting element  100  comprises in the region of its first and second insertion end  102 ,  104  stops  130 ,  132 , against which it is possible to push sealing profile strips  106  which are to be inserted. For example, with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , it is seen that an end face of the profile strips  106  abuts against the stops  130 ,  132 , and that the stops  130 ,  132 , the respective core portions  128 , and the respective walls  133  of the profile guide regions  108 ,  110  form channels  135  for receiving the sealing profile strips. If sealing profile strips  106  which are used have been pre-cut in a precise manner, it is possible by taking these stops  130 ,  132  into consideration to produce extremely dimensionally accurate seals. 
   The sealing connecting element  100  is injection-molded from a thermoplastic elastomer, preferably from a polymer blend or a block copolymer and in particular from TPE-V in a fully automated process. During the injection-molding process, the form which is mirror-symmetrical with respect to the miter plane only requires two cores which can be drawn in an automated manner. The properties of the thermoplastic elastomer material used are such that it is possible to deform the sealing connecting element  100  in its sealing region  116  by at least 50% of its height extension. 
   The sealing connecting element  200  according to a second embodiment as illustrated in  FIGS. 6  to  8  is designed with respect to the connection to a first sealing profile strip in such a manner that it corresponds to the design of the sealing connecting element  100  according to the first embodiment in the region of its insertion ends  102 ,  104 . For the purpose of describing the sealing connecting element  200  according to the second embodiment, reference numerals which are increased by the value  100  with respect to the corresponding reference numerals in the first embodiment will therefore be used to describe regions which correspond to regions of the sealing connecting element  100  according to the first embodiment. Reference is made to the corresponding description. 
   The sealing connecting element  200  having a core portion  228  and a stop  232  is provided for an abutting connection of a first sealing profile strip [not illustrated] on a continuous second sealing profile strip  240 . The continuous sealing profile strip  240  has the same features as the sealing profile strip  106 . In order to guarantee a seamless transition from the first sealing profile strip to the second, continuous sealing profile strip  240 , the profile guide region  210  of the sealing connecting element  200  is drawn through up to a holding portion  242  which on its upper end lying against the sealing region  244  of the sealing strip profile  240  comprises a hook  246  which engages around a sealing projection  248  of the second sealing profile strip  240 . The holding portion  242  is formed in such a manner that it adapts to the outer contour of the second sealing profile strip  240 . 
   The sealing connecting element  200  according to the second embodiment can be produced from a thermoplastic elastomer in an injection-molding process in the same manner as the sealing connecting element  100  according to the first embodiment, wherein only two cores are required for this purpose. 
     FIGS. 9  to  12  illustrate a sealing connecting element  300  made from TPE according to a third embodiment. This sealing connecting element  300  is a simplified embodiment in comparison to the sealing connecting element  100  according to the first embodiment, so that for portions which correspond to portions of the sealing connecting element  100  in accordance with the first embodiment, reference numbers are used which are increased by  200 . Reference is made to the corresponding description. 
   The sealing connecting element  300  consists substantially of two holding portions  350 ,  352  being formed in such a manner that they adapt to a related sealing profile strip  306 . Both the holding portions  350 ,  352  end in a common miter plane extending at 45° with respect to the longitudinal extension of the holding portion  350 ,  352 . At their upper ends the holding portions comprise a hook  354 ,  356  by means of which the sealing connecting element  300  is fixedly held on the sealing profile strips  306 . At the lower end of the sealing connecting element  300  each holding portion  350 ,  352  is provided with a counter bearing portion  358 ,  360  which prevents slippage of the sealing connecting element  300  from the respective sealing profile strips. As seen in  FIG. 12 , the profile guide region  310  moves into position against the outer wall of the inserted sealing profile strip  306 , the sealing profile being insertable up to and against the stop  332 . 
   The sealing connecting element  300  is especially simple to produce by means of injection molding and requires only extremely low expenditure on materials. It has the disadvantage that bluntly cut ends of sealing profile strips are left open both in the sealing region and the base region. 
   In  FIGS. 13  to  16  a sealing connecting element  400  is shown, which sealing connecting element is provided for sealing profile strips  470  in accordance with a second embodiment. These sealing profile strips  470  comprise a base region  472  corresponding with respect to its formation having an inner metal insert (not shown) and with holding projections (not shown), to the base region  114  of the sealing profile strip  106  as shown in  FIGS. 1  to  5 . However, in its sealing region  474  the sealing profile strip  470  does not comprise a chamber, but only a sealing lip  476 . This sealing lip  476  and the base region  472  are encompassed by the sealing connecting element  400  according to the fourth embodiment, wherein only the attachment region  426  remains free. A profile guide region  410  moves into position against the outer wall of the inserted sealing profile strip  470 , the sealing profile being insertable up to and against the stop  432 . The sealing connecting element  400  according to the fourth embodiment, which can be produced from a thermoplastic elastomer in an injection-molding process in the same manner as the other sealing connecting elements, represents a particularly effective compromise between the material consumption and sealing behavior, wherein it should be emphasized that the entire base region  472  of the sealing profile strips is sealed, even if the sealing profile strips are cost-effectively separated in a transverse manner with respect to their longitudinal extension. 
   The sealing end piece  500 , shown in  FIGS. 17-18 , comprises a profile guide region  510  which is movable into position against an outer wall of at least one sealing profile strip  506  upon insertion of said profile strip into said profile guide region. Sealing end piece  500  further comprises an end wall  520  for sealing a hollow chamber  518  of said profile strip  506 . The sealing end piece is formed separately from the sealing profile strips as a molded part from a thermoplastic elastomer.