Patent Publication Number: US-2007113482-A1

Title: Sealing, trimming or finishing strips

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The invention relates to sealing, trimming or finishing strips to be used for carrying out sealing, trimming or finishing functions in motor vehicle bodies.  
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
      According to the invention, there is provided a sealing, trimming or finishing strip comprising a longitudinally extending sealing part defining a longitudinal hollow interior which becomes partially compressed in use, the hollow interior of the sealing part being provided with means for controlling the compression of the sealing part.  
      The compression controlling means may provide a “stop” which prevents or substantially reduces any further compression of the sealing part beyond a desired amount. For example, when a vehicle closure member closes an opening in the vehicle body, a peak compression force may be applied to the sealing part during the closing operation (for example, by a user to ensure that the closure member will be securely latched closed—such as when a car door is slammed shut). This peak force is applied only momentarily, and the compression controlling means may limit the amount of compression of the sealing part at this time, whereafter the force applied will be reduced.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Sealing, trimming or finishing strips embodying the invention, for use in carrying out sealing functions in motor vehicle bodies, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a vehicle to which the sealing, trimming or finishing strips may be fitted;  
       FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of part of a first form of sealing, trimming or finishing strip;  
       FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view of part of a second form of sealing, trimming or finishing strip;  
       FIG. 2   c  is a perspective view of part of a third form of sealing, trimming or finishing strip;  
       FIG. 2   d  is a perspective view of part of a fourth form of sealing, trimming or finishing strip;  
       FIG. 3   a  is a cross-sectional view, along line I-I of  FIG. 1 , of a sealing, trimming or finishing strip carrying out a sealing function in a vehicle body, in which the vehicle door is exerting normal pressure on the sealing, trimming or finishing strip;  
       FIG. 3   b  is the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3   a , in which the vehicle door is exerting a slight over-pressure on the sealing, trimming or finishing strip;  
       FIG. 3   c  is the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3   a , in which the vehicle door is exerting a greater over-pressure on the sealing, trimming or finishing strip;  
       FIG. 3   d  is the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3   a , in which the vehicle door is exerting a substantial over-pressure on the sealing, trimming or finishing strip;  
       FIG. 4  is a graph showing the force applied (F) to the sealing part of the strip in  FIGS. 2 and 3   a - 3   d  plotted against the amount of deformation (d) of the sealing part of the strip;  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view, along line I-I of  FIG. 1 , of an alternative embodiment of a sealing, trimming or finishing strip;  
       FIG. 6   a  is a cross-sectional view, along line II-II of  FIG. 1 , of an embodiment of a sealing, trimming or finishing strip carrying out a sealing function on the boot of a motor vehicle body;  FIG. 6   b  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a sealing, trimming or finishing strip carrying out a sealing function on the boot of a vehicle body; and  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of part of an alternative configuration of a sealing, trimming or finishing strip of  FIG. 2 . 
    
    
      In the figures like elements are generally designated with the same reference numeral.  
     MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
       FIG. 1  shows a motor vehicle  2 . A sealing, trimming or finishing strip as described hereinafter could be provided to the motor vehicle door region or the vehicle boot region to provide a weather-tight seal, or to any other region where a closure member closes an opening in the body of the vehicle  2 .  
      One form of the sealing, trimming or finishing strip  4  is shown in  FIG. 2   a . Such a sealing, trimming or finishing strip  4  could be applied to a motor vehicle door frame (i.e. the part of the vehicle body against which the door is closed). The strip  4  comprises a sealing part  6  and a mounting part  8 .  
      The mounting part  8  is preferably formed by extrusion, although it could be formed by moulding or any other suitable technique.  
      The mounting part  8  is in the form of a longitudinal channel  10  having a base  60  from which opposite, generally parallel side walls  62 , 64  extend. In use, the mounting part  8  is embracingly clamped to the frame surrounding the motor vehicle door opening in the body. More specifically, the frame surrounding of the door opening normally comprises a flange where the inner and outer body panels are welded together.  
      The mounting portion  8  comprises a reinforcing core or carrier  12  such as made of resilient metal or other resilient and relatively rigid material, which is embedded in the flexible material  14  of the mounting part  8 , such as rubber or plastics material—for example TPE or EPDM. For example, the carrier  12  may be made of metal and in the form of (inverted) U-shaped elements arranged side-by-side to define the channel  10  and connected together by integral short connecting links or disconnected from each other. Other forms of carrier are, of course, possible. The carrier may be made of wire looped to and fro, and may be incorporated in the material  14  using a cross-head extruder.  
      The carrier need not be made of metal, for example a flexible but substantially non-extensible tape may be incorporated into the material  14 .  
      The material  14  is formed to define integral gripping lips  16  and  18  positioned on the opposite inside facing walls  62 , 64  of the channel  10 . The lips  16 ,  18  make contact with the opposite faces of the flange and increase the frictional gripping of the mounting part  8 . Advantageously, the material of the lips  16 ,  18  is arranged to be softer than the remainder of the extruded material  14  to increase the frictional grip of the lips  16 ,  18  against the flange.  
      The sealing part  6  is of generally hollow tubular form and may be co-extruded with the mounting part  8 . However, it is not necessary for the sealing part  6  to be co-extruded with the mounting part  8 . Instead, the sealing part  6  may be made separately, by extrusion or moulding (or other suitable method) from appropriate material(s), and may then be secured to the mounting part  8  by adhesive, moulding, welding or any other suitable technique.  
      The sealing part  6  extends from wall  64  of the mounting part  8 .  
      The extruded material  20  of the sealing part  6  may be foamed or cellular material. Such material is more readily compressible than the non-foamed or solid material of the mounting part  8 . The foamed or cellular material  20  may enhance sealing and allow the sealing part  6  to provide effective sealing even when there are irregularities or discontinuities in the surface which the sealing part  6  abuts or in the flange on which the mounting part is mounted. Of course, it should be appreciated that the extruded material  20  may be partly or wholly formed of non-foamed or solid material, although such material will preferably be more easily compressible than the material  14  of the mounting part  8 .  
      In this example, the extruded material  20  of the sealing part  6  comprises an interior wall  22  defining within the void of the sealing part  6  a first longitudinally extending hollow  24  and a second longitudinally extending hollow  26 . The sealing part  6  thus comprises a hollow interior made up of first and second longitudinally extending hollows  24 ,  26  which are separated by the interior wall  22  formed from the extruded material  20 . The interior wall  22  has a portion  27  of bulbous cross-section and an inherent resilience, enabling the interior wall to act as a “stopper” when excessive pressure is exerted on the sealing part  6 , in a manner to be described hereinafter. The wall  22  and bulbous portion  27  are formed from the same material (having the same hardness) as the rest of the extruded material  20 .  
      Second, third and fourth forms of the sealing, trimming or finishing strip  4  are shown in  FIGS. 2   b ,  2   c  and  2   d  respectively. These alternative forms are substantially of the form of the sealing, trimming or finishing strip described above with reference to  FIG. 2   a , except for the form of the interior wall  22  defining within the void of the sealing part  6  the first longitudinally extending hollow  24  and the second longitudinally extending hollow  26 .  
      In the second form of the sealing, trimming or finishing strip  4 , shown in  FIG. 2   b , the interior wall  22  is not formed of material having the same properties as the material  20  of the sealing part  6 . The material  29  of the interior wall  22  may in this case be harder or softer than the material  20  of the interior wall of the first form of sealing, trimming or finishing strip  4 . In this case, the interior  22  may be co-extruded with the sealing part  6  or may be made separately, by extrusion or moulding (or other suitable method) from appropriate material(s), and then secured to the sealing part  6  by adhesive, moulding, welding or any other suitable technique.  
      In the third form of the sealing, trimming or finishing strip  4 , shown in  FIG. 2   c , the interior wall  22  is again not formed of material having the same properties as the material  20  as the sealing part  6 . In this form, the interior wall  22  comprises two portions  31 ,  33  which are harder than the material  20  of the interior wall of the first form of sealing, trimming or finishing strip  4 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2   c , the first portion  31  (which comprises the part of the bulbous cross-section portion  27  facing the first longitudinally extending hollow  24 ) is harder than the second portion  33  (which comprises the part of the bulbous cross-section portion  27  facing the second longitudinally extending hollow  26  and the portion of the interior wall  22  which joins the sealing part  6 ), thereby further enhancing the resilience of the bulbous cross-section portion  27  and its ability to act as a “stopper” when excessive pressure is exerted on the sealing part  6 . Again, the interior wall  22  may be co-extruded with the sealing part  6  or may be made separately, by extrusion or moulding (or other suitable method) from appropriate material(s), and then secured to the sealing part  6  by adhesive, moulding, welding or any other suitable technique. Further, the first and second materials  31 ,  33  comprising the interior wall  22  may be co-extruded or may be made separately and then secured together using a suitable technique. The first portion  31  may be softer than the second portion  33 .  
      In the fourth form of the sealing, trimming or finishing strip  4 , shown in  FIG. 2   d , the interior wall  22  is formed of the same material  20  (having the same hardness) as the sealing part  6 . In this form, the bulbous cross-section portion  27  comprises a plurality of spaced apart protrusions or ridges  35  on the surfaces facing the first and second longitudinally extending hollows  24 ,  26 . The protrusions  35  extend longitudinally along the length of the interior wall  22 . The protrusions  35  may reduce the noise generated when the closure member is closed. The protrusions  35  may also reduce the tendency for the bulb  27  to stick to the outer internal surface  36  and/or the inner internal surface  38  of the sealing part  6  when the closure member remains closed for an extended period of time. The protrusions may act to control the outer internal surface  36  and inner internal surface  38  of the sealing part  6  as the motor vehicle door  28  is closed (which will be described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c  and  3   d  ), thereby enhancing the ability of the bulbous cross-section portion  27  to act as a “stopper” when excessive pressure is exerted on the sealing part  6 .  
      In use, the mounting part  8  mounts the sealing, trimming or finishing strip on the motor vehicle door frame, so that the sealing part  6  extends around the motor vehicle door opening, on the outside of the motor vehicle body. The closing door thus partially compresses the sealing part  6  which thereby provides a weather-tight seal.  
       FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c  and  3   d  show cross-sectional views of the sealing, trimming or finishing strip of  FIG. 2  along the line I-I of  FIG. 1  in increasing states of compression as the motor vehicle door  28  is closed. In these examples, the mounting part  8  is mounted to the frame of the door opening defined by an inner body panel  30  and an outer body panel  32  at the point where the inner and outer body panels  30 ,  32  are welded together to form a flange  34 .  
       FIG. 3   a  defines the normal working condition, wherein the motor vehicle door  28  is exerting a normal pressure or force F 1 , on the sealing part  6  of the sealing, trimming or finishing strip. The normal working condition is the condition when the door  28  is closed with no additional pressure being exerted on the door  28 . In this condition, the sealing part  6  is slightly deformed and resiliently presses against the door  28  prevent the ingress of moisture and dirt and to minimise wind noise within the vehicle cabin.  FIG. 3   b  shows the situation where the door  28  is exerting a slight over-pressure or force F 2  on the sealing part  6  of the sealing, trimming or finishing strip. The force F 2  increases the deformation of the sealing part  6  which leads to a reduction of the distance between the outer surface  36  of the sealing part  6  and the interior wall  22  defining the first longitudinally extending hollow  24 . In  FIG. 3   b , the outer internal surface  36  of the sealing part  6  and the interior wall  22  are in fact in contact. However, the force F 2  is not substantial enough to cause deformation of the interior wall  22 .  
       FIG. 3   c  shows the situation where the door  28  is exerting a greater over-pressure or force F 3  on the sealing part  6 . The force F 3  is in excess of the force F 2 . The force F 3  causes deformation of the sealing part  6  to such an extent that the interior wall  22  is also deformed and the distance between the interior wall  22  and the inner internal surface  38  of the sealing part  6  defining the second longitudinally extending hollow  26  is also reduced. In  FIG. 3   c , the interior wall  22  and the inner surface  38  of the sealing part  6  are in contact.  
       FIG. 3   d  shows the situation where the door  28  is exerting a substantial over-pressure or force F 4  on the sealing part  6 . The force F 4  is in excess of the force F 3 . The force F 4  causes further deformation of the sealing part  6 . However due to the bulbous cross-section portion  27  and inherent resilience of the interior wall  22 , the interior wall  22  acts as a stopper to inhibit any further deformation of the sealing part  6  occurring.  
       FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c  and  3   d  show respective distances d 0 , d 1 , d 2 , d 3  and d 4  measured between the outer internal surface  36  and the inner internal surface  38  of the sealing part  6  at various stages of compression.  FIG. 4  is a graph showing the force applied (F) to the sealing part  6  of the strip in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c  and  3   d  plotted against the reduction in distance (d) between the surfaces  36  and  38 . For example, from this graph it can be seen that a relatively large force is required to cause a relatively small reduction in the distance between the walls  36  and  38  as the door  28  moves from the position shown in  FIG. 3   c  to the position shown in  FIG. 3   d . This increase in force/decrease in distance reduction is due to this last phase of movement of the door requiring compression of the bulbous portion  27  itself. The bulbous portion can be seen to be acting as a “stopper” which controls in normal use the minimum distance allowed between the door  28  and the flange  34 .  FIG. 5  shows an alternative embodiment of a sealing, trimming or finishing strip in cross-section, along the line I-I of  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment the sealing part  6  is not provided with the mounting part  8  for mounting the door on a door frame flange. Instead, the sealing part  6  is secured to the motor vehicle door  28  by adhesive  40 , and the outer surface  36  of the sealing part  6  contacts the motor vehicle door frame  42  to perform the sealing function. The adhesive  14  may be double sided adhesive tape. The sealing part  6  may alternatively be secured to the door  28  by any other suitable means. For example, a flange could be provided on the door which engages the seal (or a mounting part provided on the seal), or a series of studs and correspondingly configured apertures could be provided in the sealing part  6  and the door  28 , respectively, to allow those parts to be secured together.  
      The pressure is exerted on the sealing part  6  by the motor vehicle door frame  42 . Deformation of the sealing part  6  occurs as a consequence of the pressure applied to the door  28  in the same manner as described hereinbefore in relation to  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   d . Again, the interior wall  22  acts as a stopper when substantial pressure is applied to the door  28  due to the bulbous cross-section portion  27  and inherent resilience of the interior wall  22 .  
       FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  show cross-sectional views of sealing, trimming or finishing strips, along the line II-II of  FIG. 1 , where the sealing, trimming or finishing strips are carrying out a sealing function on the boot  46  of a motor vehicle.  
      In  FIG. 6   a , the frame  44  of the opening in the vehicle body has a generally U-shaped cross-section and terminates in a flange  45 . The flange  45  extends generally perpendicularly to the abutment surface of the boot  46 . The sealing part  6  of a sealing, trimming or finishing strip  4 A is mounted on the flange  45 . The strip defines an inverted U-shaped channel  10 A defining a mounting part  8 A. The mounting part  8 A has a similar form and performs a similar function to the mounting part  8  of described above for mounting on the flange  34  of a door frame. However the sealing part  6 A is extends from the base  60  of the channel  10 . The sealing part  6 A comprises an interior wall  22  having a bulbous cross-section portion  27 .  
      The sealing part  6 A is compressed in response to varying applied pressure, in a similar manner as described above in relation to the sealing part  6 , as the boot  46  is closed against the frame  44  in the direction of arrow X.  
      In  FIG. 6   b , the frame  44 A is generally L-shaped and terminates in a flange  45 A.  
      The flange  45 A extends generally parallel to the abutment surface of the boot  46 . In this embodiment, the sealing portion  6 B extends from the wall  64  of the mounting portion  8  to seal against the abutment surface of the boot  46 . The sealing part  6 B is provided with additional abutment lips  70 , 72  which abut against the surface of the frame  44 A which extends perpendicularly to the flange  45 A to help locate the sealing part  6 B.  
      In both  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  the bulbous portion  27  of interior wall  22  acts as a stopper when substantial pressure is applied to the boot  46  due to the bulbous cross-section and inherent resilience of the bulbous portion  27  of the interior wall  22 .  
       FIG. 7  shows an alternative configuration of a sealing, trimming or finishing strip. In this configuration, the materials  14  and  20  of the mounting part  8  and sealing part  6  are formed to define a so-called “cosmetic lip”  48 . Such a cosmetic lip  48  is used to cover over, and to help secure, the edge of a trim panel or the like inside the vehicle body. The cosmetic lip  48  is preferably co-extruded with the sealing part  6  and the mounting part  8 .  
      The mounting part  8  and the sealing part  6  may also be provided with a covering layer  50 . Such a covering layer may be a fabric layer. The covering layer  50  may provide the strip with a desired appearance (such as a particular colour). The covering layer  50  is advantageously provided to any of the embodiments described herein where the sealing part  6  is formed of foamed or cellular material, the covering layer  50  being a non-foamed or solid material.  
      In use, the mounting part  8  mounts the sealing part  6  around the frame of an aperture, so that the sealing part  6  extends around an opening (a door opening or a boot opening), on the outside of the vehicle body. The closing door or boot thus partially compresses the sealing portion  6  which thereby provides a weather-tight seal. When mounted in this way, the mouth of the channel  10  will of course face away from the centre of the door or boot opening. In order to provide good sealing, it is desirable that the material  20  of the sealing part  6  should be very soft and flexible. In this way, it can provide effective sealing even if there are discontinuities or variations in the thickness of the flange and/or the abutment surface of the door or boot. Soft material is also advantageous because it may be of foamed or cellular form, and therefore light in weight. However, it is necessary for the strip  4  to be bent to follow curves or corners in the door or boot frame. When bent in this way, there will be a tendency for the sealing part  6  to become wrinkled at the curves or corners as the strip  4  is bent to follow the curves or corners. The mouth of the channel  10  will be on the outside of the bend, The softer the material of the sealing part  6 , the greater the tendency for this to wrinkle at the curves or corners will be. The interior wall  22  may act as a reinforcement to the sealing part  6 , and may increase the stiffness of the sealing part  6  in the directions of arrows D ( FIG. 2 ) without reducing the effective softness in the direction of arrows E. The increased stiffness in the direction of arrows D reduces or substantially eliminates any tendency of the sealing part  6  to wrinkle at, or “bridge across”, bends or curves in the mounting flange. In this way, therefore, it is possible for the sealing portion  6  to be made of substantially softer material because the increased tendency of such very soft material to wrinkle at or bridge across bends or corners is substantially eliminated by the presence of the interior wall  22 . The interior wall  22  may be formed of the same material  20 , with the same hardness, as the remainder of the sealing part  6 . Alternatively, the interior wall  22  may be formed of material which is harder than the remainder of the sealing part  6 . In an alternative arrangement, the sealing part may be provided with a reinforcement (not shown) which is incorporated within the wall  22 . The reinforcement may comprise a length of looped wire of generally zig-zag configuration, or could instead be a thin metal sheet. Other forms of reinforcement are possible. Such a reinforcement could be incorporated into the wall  22  by co-extrusion during the extrusion process forming the sealing part  6 . For example, reinforcements of the type described in our United Kingdom patent GB 2327451 (the content of which is fully incorporated herein by reference) may be provided in the interior wall  22  described herein.  
      As an alternative to the bulbous portion  27  being integrally formed with the wall  22 , the bulbous portion could be formed integrally with one of the side walls  36 , 38  of the sealing part—forming a protrusion therefrom. In this embodiment there would only be a single hollow or void within the sealing part.