Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6095586?dq=5579430
Timestamp: 2017-05-25 23:31:51
Document Index: 762700179

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 8', 'art.\n24', 'art.\n29', 'art 2', 'arts 2', 'arts 2', 'arts 2', 'arts 2', 'arts 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'arts 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'arts 2', 'arts 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'arts 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'arts 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'arts 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'arts 4', 'arts 4', 'art 4', 'arts 4', 'arts 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'arts 9', 'arts 9', 'art 9', 'arts 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'arts 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'arts 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'arts 9', 'arts 9', 'arts 110', 'art 110', 'arts 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'arts 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'arts 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 140', 'art 140', 'art 140', 'art 140', 'art 140', 'art 140', 'arts 190', 'art 190', 'art 190', 'art 190', 'art 190', 'art 190', 'arts 190', 'art 190', 'art 190']

Patent US6095586 - Automobile windshield molding and the method of producing the same - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA windshield molding is installed in the space between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel. The windshield molding comprises a pair of extruded side molding parts, a pair of extruded corner molding parts, and an extruded upper molding part integral with and extending...http://www.google.com/patents/US6095586?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6095586 - Automobile windshield molding and the method of producing the sameAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS6095586 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/372,059Publication dateAug 1, 2000Filing dateAug 11, 1999Priority dateOct 23, 1990Fee statusLapsedPublication number09372059, 372059, US 6095586 A, US 6095586A, US-A-6095586, US6095586 A, US6095586AInventorsYukihiko Yada, Yoichi HiraiOriginal AssigneeTokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (121), Non-Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (8), Classifications (20), Legal Events (7) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetAutomobile windshield molding and the method of producing the same
US 6095586 AAbstract
A windshield molding is installed in the space between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel. The windshield molding comprises a pair of extruded side molding parts, a pair of extruded corner molding parts, and an extruded upper molding part integral with and extending between the side and corner molding parts. Each of the side molding parts associated with each side edge of the windshield is larger in thickness compared to the upper and corner molding parts, where a water drain channel is formed.
1. An automobile windshield molding for sealing a space between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel when said molding is mounted between the vehicle windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel, said molding comprising integral extruded parts including an extruded side molding part, an extruded corner molding part and an extruded upper molding part, each of said side, corner and upper molding parts including:(a) an exterior wing which exteriorly covers the space between the window-opening periphery of the vehicle body panel and each of side, corner and upper edges of the windshield when said molding is mounted between the vehicle windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel, said exterior wing including an inward wing portion for covering the peripheral edge of the windshield when said molding is mounted between the vehicle windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel, said inward wing portion associated with said corner and side edge of the windshield having a large-thickness part gradually increasing in thickness compared to said inward wing portion associated with said upper edge of the windshield, said side inward wing portion having a water drain channel which extends in and along said large-thickness part between an upper wall and a lower wall of said large-thickness part; and (b) a connecting portion extending from said exterior wing and through the space between the window opening periphery of the vehicle body panel and said edge of the windshield when said molding is mounted between the vehicle windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel, said connecting portion forming a foot, wherein a single groove is formed between said inward wing portion and said foot of said connecting portion, and wherein, when said molding is mounted between the vehicle windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel, said foot is interior of the vehicle body panel and a peripheral edge of the windshield is received in the single groove. 2. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 1 wherein the interior side of said exterior wing is divided into inward and outward surfaces at said connecting portion, there being a varying difference in height between said inward and outward surfaces, said large-thickness part of said side inward wing portion having a thickness varying commensurate with the height difference of said inward and outward surfaces.
3. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein the interior side of said exterior wing is divided into inward and outward surfaces by said connecting portion, said inward and outward surfaces having a constant height relationship with respect to each other throughout the length of the molding.
4. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein said water drain channel has a rectangular cross section.
5. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein said water drain channel has a triangular cross section.
6. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein said upper wall projects inwardly into said window opening by an amount which is maintained constant through out the entire molding.
7. An automobile windshield molding for sealing a space along a periphery of a windshield, said molding comprising an integral series of an extruded first molding part, an extruded second molding part and an extruded third molding part, each of said first, second and third molding parts including an exterior wing which covers said space when said molding is mounted to the windshield, at least a part of said exterior wing having a varying cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction of the molding, wherein said exterior wing comprises:an under surface extending over the entire length of said molding and in contact with the exterior surface of the windshield when said molding is mounted to the windshield; a large-thickness part gradually increasing in thickness from said second molding part to the third molding part compared to that of the first molding part; and a water draining channel extending in and along said large-thickness part between an upper wall and a lower wall of said exterior wing portion at the third molding part. 8. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 7, wherein said space is formed between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel.
9. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 7, wherein said exterior wing includes an inward wing portion for covering the peripheral edge of the windshield when said molding is mounted to the windshield.
10. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 7, wherein the water drain channel opens to face the window-opening.
11. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 7, wherein each of the first, second and third molding parts is located so as to correspond to an upper, corner and side edge of the windshield, respectively.
12. An automobile windshield molding for sealing a space between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel when said molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel, said molding comprising an integral series of an extruded first molding part, an extruded second molding part and an extruded third molding part, each of said first, second and third molding parts including:(a) an exterior wing which exteriorly covers said space when said molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel, said exterior wing including an inward wing portion for contacting and covering the peripheral edge of the windshield along the entire length of the molding when said molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel, said inward wing portion having a large-thickness part gradually increasing in thickness from the second molding part to the third molding part compared to that of the first molding part, said inward wing portion of the third molding part having a water drain channel which extends in and along said large-thickness part between an upper wall and a lower wall of said inward wing portion and opens to face the window-opening; and (b) a connecting portion extending from said exterior wing through the space between the window-opening periphery of the vehicle body and said edge of the windshield when said molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel. 13. An automobile windshield molding for sealing the space between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel when said molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel, said molding comprising an integral series of an extruded first molding part, an extruded second molding part and an extruded third molding part, each of said first, second and third molding parts including:(a) an exterior wing which exteriorly covers said space when said molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel, said exterior wing including an inward wing portion for contacting and covering the peripheral edge of the windshield and an outward wing portion in flexible contact with the periphery of the vehicle body panel along the entire length of the molding when said molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel, said inward wing portion having a large-thickness part gradually increasing in thickness from the second molding part to the third molding part compared to that of the first molding part, said inward wing portion of the third molding part having a water drain channel which extends in and along said large-thickness part between an upper wall and a lower wall of said inward wing portion and opens to face the window-opening when said molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel; and (b) a connecting portion extending from a side of said exterior wing through the space between the window opening periphery of the vehicle body panel and said edge of the windshield when said molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel. 14. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 13, wherein the interior side of said exterior wing is divided into inward and outward surfaces at said connection portion, there being a varying difference in height between said inward and outward surfaces, said large-thickness part of said inward wing portion having a thickness varying commensurate with the height difference of said inward and outward surfaces.
15. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 13, wherein the interior side of each said exterior wing is divided into inward and outward surfaces at said connection portion, said inward and outward surfaces having a constant height relationship with respect to each other throughout the length of the molding.
16. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 7 or 12 or 13, wherein said water drain channel has a rectangular cross section.
17. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 7 or 12 or 13, wherein said water drain channel has a triangular cross section.
18. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said connecting portion forms a foot on the interior side of the vehicle body panel said molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel.
19. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 18, wherein said foot defines a single space for receiving the peripheral edge of the windshield between said inward wing portion contacting with the exterior peripheral surface oft he windshield along the entire length of the molding when the molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel.
20. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 18, wherein said foot extends from the connecting portion so as to contact with an interior surface of said windshield when the molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel.
21. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 18, wherein said foot has a forked portion so as to contact with an interior edge of the windshield when the molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel.
22. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 18, wherein said foot extends to as to be received and fixed in a groove of a fastener which is attached to said body panel when the molding is mounted between the windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel.
23. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 7, 12 or 13, wherein said water drain channel varies in depth of the opening along said second molding part.
24. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 23, wherein said water drain channel has a rectangular cross section.
25. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 23, wherein said water drain channel has a triangular cross section.
26. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 7 or 12 or 13, wherein said upper wall and lower wall of the exterior wing portion merge with each other such that said water drain channel is gradually reduced in depth until said water drainage channel is removed.
27. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 7 or 12 or 13, wherein said exterior wing has a uniform outer contour appearance throughout the length of the molding.
28. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the width of said lower wall in the large-thickness part of the inward wing portion from the inner surface of the connecting portion to the inner edge of the side molding part is nearly the same as the width of the inward wing portion from the inner surface of the connecting portion to the inner edge of the upper molding part.
29. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the width of said lower wall in the large-thickness part of the inward wing portion from the inner surface of the connecting portion to the inner edge of the side molding part is nearly the same as the width of the upper wall in the large-thickness part of the inward wing portion.
30. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 7, 12 or 13, wherein the depth of said water drain channel gradually changes.
31. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, including an outward wing portion for flexible contact with the periphery of the vehicle body panel when said molding is mounted between the vehicle windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel.
32. An automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein said water drain channel opens so as to face the window opening when said molding is mounted between the vehicle windshield and the periphery of the window opening of the vehicle body panel.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/020,390, filed Feb. 9, 1998, now pending, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/660,925, filed Jun. 10, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,297, which is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 08/579,806, filed Dec. 28, 1995, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 08/475,618, filed Jun. 7, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,449, which is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/291,088, filed Aug. 18, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,729, which is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/192,623, filed Feb. 7, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,096, which is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 07/781,371, filed Oct. 23, 1991, now abandoned.
This invention relates to an automobile windshield molding for a motor vehicle body to seal the space between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel, and a method of producing such automobile windshield molding.
An automobile windshield molding is usually attached around an edge of a windshield to seal the space between a windshield and a window opening of a vehicle body panel. The automobile windshield molding is directly attached to the vehicle body panel or is supported by a fastener fixedly mounted on the body panel.
Examples of such molding are disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 54416/1982 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 9811/1989. These citations disclose windshield moldings which have water drain channels for receiving water flowing on the surface of the windshield.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication 289427/1987 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 28374/1989 describe windshield moldings in which size of water drain channels is varied in the longitudinal direction of the molding.
In the latter two cases, the molding is divided into a portion without a water drain channel, a portion with a water drain channel of one size, and a portion with a water drain channel of a different size. These molding portions are separately produced, and are then arranged to be coupled as one unit by an injection molder. When they are coupled, there may be lines between joined areas of the molding parts, which would deteriorate decorativeness of the molding.
To overcome the foregoing inconvenience, a variety of proposals have been made in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications 8019/1988, 269612/1989, 195032/1989, 291721/1988, 244820/1989, 269611/1989, 269613/1989, and 283017/1987, and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication 128411/1989.
With Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications 8019/1988 and 283017/1987, the molding has a specified constant cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction. The molding is deformed to serve an article at a portion where a water drain channel is to be formed.
In the citation 269612/1989, the molding has a specified constant cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction. The molding has a leg portion cut at one side, which are used to receive a windshield and to obtain a space for a water drain channel.
In 195032/1989, the molding has a specified constant cross-sectional shape, and a portion for a water drain channel is removed at portions where no water drain channel is necessary.
In 291721/1988 and 244820/1989, the molding has two extending portions to form a pair of grooves, and one of the extending portions is cut off at a portion where no water drain channel is necessary.
The citation 128411/1989 discloses a molding which is a modification of the moldings of the two last mentioned citations. In this citation, a corner joint is used Go connect upper and side molding parts.
With 269611/1989 and 269613/1989, an upper decorative portion of the molding has a specified configuration, but the shape of a portion for receiving the windshield is changed.
In 269613/1989, the molding has a specified cross-sectional shape longitudinally, and the portion for receiving the windshield is changed in position by cutting to obtain a space for a water drain channel.
The foregoing moldings have drawbacks as described hereinafter.
The moldings of 8019/1988 and 269612/1989 have grooves for water drain channel, which are somewhat insufficient to guide water. In 195032/1989, the molding has a sharp edge on its decorative portion. Such sharp edge should be removed later. The depth of the groove in the side molding port cannot be changed serially. With 291721/1988 and 244820/1989, the depth of the grooves of the molding cannot be changed serially. The molding is difficult to attach in the windshield of the automobile since a portion of the molding is cut off to serve as a water drain channel. With 244820/1989, a die should be modified to make a molding.
With the citations 269611/1989, 269913/1989, and 283017/1988, the depth of the grooves can be serially changed. However, at the upper molding part where no water drain channel is formed, portions of the molding in contact with the surface of the windshield should be housed inside the decorative portion. Therefore, the decorative portion should be made large, which would adversely affect the external appearance of the upper molding, and reduce the field of view from the driver's position. Such large upper molding part might be contrary to a demand for a flush surface between the windshield and the vehicle body panel. At the corner molding part, the molding might be wrinkled since the thin decorative portion is curved abruptly.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an automobile windshield molding, in which a water drain channel is formed along the vehicle body side panel.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile windshield molding for sealing a space between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel. The molding comprising an extruded side molding part and an extruded specific molding part integral with and extending from the side molding part. The side and specific molding parts comprising an exterior wing adapted to cover the space, on an exterior side of the vehicle.
The exterior wing comprising an inward wing portion having a uniform exterior contour appearance from the side molding part to the specific molding part; a sub-inward wing portion having an interior surface at the side molding part which continues in succession to an interior surface of the inward wing portion at the specific molding part; and a water drain channel extending in and along the inward wing portion and the sub-inward wing portion and opening inwardly at the side molding part.
At a specified point of the molding, the inward wing portion and the sub-inward wing portion close and merge toward each other such that the water drain channel is gradually reduced in size until the water drain channel is removed.
According to a second aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of producing a strip of an automobile windshield molding: extruding molding material through an opening formed by the dies to form a pair of side molding parts, a pair of corner molding parts and an upper molding part in succession; changing the position of each part in said opening by moving the dies according to the cross-sectional shape of side, corner and upper molding parts to be made; widening part of said opening of the dies to increase distance of each part of the molding material at a portion corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of a side molding part; projecting one of dies into the widened part of said opening of the dies at a specified timing to form a water drain channel on the large thickness portion of the side molding part, and reducing part of said opening of the dies to decrease distance of each part of the molding material and making said each parts of the molding in one body.
The windshield molding of this invention can be manufactured in the shape of strip. The water drain channel can be formed as desired according to a position of each molding part. The molding having a good decorativity can be made as one unit without any cutting process.
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a vehicle body having a windshield molding;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a windshield molding according a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line I--I of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line II--II of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III--III of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of an injection molding machine for making the molding of FIGS. 1 to 6;
FIG. 8 shows how the molding machine operates;
FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a molding according to a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V--V of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along VI--VI of FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along VII--VII of FIG. 9;
FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of an injection molding machine for making the molding of FIGS. 9 to 12;
FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of a corner portion of a windshield molding according to a third embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the molding of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y1--Y 1 of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y2--Y 2 of FIG. 15;
FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view showing the surface of a side molding part;
FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of an injection molding machine for making the molding of FIGS. 14 to 17;
FIG. 20 is a front elevational view showing the operation of the molding machine of FIG. 19;
FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 20 showing the operation of the molding machine of FIG. 19;
FIG. 22 is an enlarged sectional view showing a windshield molding according to a fourth embodiment;
FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Z1--Z 1 of FIG. 22;
FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Z2--Z 2 of FIG. 22;
FIG. 25 is an enlarged sectional view showing a windshield molding according to a fifth embodiment;
FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A--A of FIG. 25;
FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B--B of FIG. 25;
FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C--C of FIG. 25;
FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D--D of FIG. 25;
FIG. 30 is a front elevational view of an injection molding machine for making the molding of FIGS. 25 to 29;
FIG. 31 is a front elevational view showing the operation of the molding machine of FIG. 30;
FIG. 32 is a view similar to FIG. 31 showing the operation of the molding machine of FIG. 30;
FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a molding according to a sixth embodiment;
FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view showing an upper portion of a side molding part of FIG. 33;
FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view showing a central portion of the side molding part of FIG. 33;
FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing a molding according to a seventh embodiment;
FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view showing an upper molding part of FIG. 36;
FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view showing an upper portion of a side molding part of FIG.36; and
FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view showing a lower portion of the side molding part of FIG. 36.
An automobile windshield molding according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.
As shown in FIG. 1, a molding 2 is installed to seal the space between a windshield 11 and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel.
The molding 2 is a long plastic strip in the shape of T, and an upper molding part 2A to be mounted between the upper edge of the windshield and the roof panel 12, side molding parts 2C between side edges of the windshield 11 and pillar panels 13 of the vehicle body, and corner molding parts 2B for connecting the upper and side molding parts 2A and 2C. All of these molding parts 2A to 2C are extruded as one unit.
Each of the side, corner and upper molding parts 2A to 2C comprises an exterior wing 21 adapted to cover a space, on the exterior side of the vehicle, between the window-opening periphery of the vehicle body panel and each of side, corner and upper edges of the windshield.
The exterior wing 21 includes an inward wing portion 21a for covering the peripheral edge of the windshield 11, an outward wing portion 21b for covering the periphery of the vehicle body panels 12, 13, and a connecting portion 22 extending from an interior side of the exterior wing 21.
The outward wing portion 21b is a lip-shaped member having a uniform thickness in its longitudinal direction. The inward wing portion 21a is a lip-shaped member, being uniformly thick on the upper molding part 2A, but being thickened gradually from the corner molding part 2B to the side molding part 2C. Specifically, the inward wing portion 21a is thickest at the central portion of the side molding part 2C. Then the inward wing portion 21a is made gradually thin toward the end of the side molding part 2C. The windshield 11 is received in a U-shaped space between the inward wing portion 21a and a foot 24 of the connecting portion 22 from the upper molding part 2A to the corner molding part 2B.
The connecting portion 22 has the foot 24 extending inwardly along the end thereof as shown in FIG. 2. The foot 24 serves to assist in supporting the windshield 11. The connecting portion 22 also has a flexible lip 25 extends outwardly along the end thereof.
The connecting portion 22 divides the interior side of the exterior wing into inward and outward surfaces. There is a varying difference in height between the inward and outward surfaces. The connecting portion 22 is short on the upper molding part 2A (shown in FIG. 3), and gradually becomes longer on the side molding parts 2C (shown in FIGS. 4 to 6), because the distance between the surface of the windshield 11 and the surface of the front pillars 13 is increased compared with the distance between the surface of the windshield 11 and the surface of the roof panel. Specifically, the connecting portion 22 is made gradually longer from the corner molding part 2B toward the central portion of the side molding part 2C, and is again made a little shorter at the end of the side molding part 2C.
A thin metallic foil 23 serving as a core metal is embedded lengthwise in the connecting portion 22 near the junction with the exterior wing 21.
At the majority of the side molding part 2C, the windshield 11 is received in the space formed between the foot 24 of the connecting portion 22 and a sub-inward wing portion 21c which is formed as the connecting portion 22 gradually becomes longer. A water drain channel 28 is formed between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c (FIG. 2). The upper surface of the foot 24 and the interior side of the inward wing portion 21a are aligned in height with each other at the upper and corner molding parts. The upper surface of the foot 24 and the interior side of the sub-inward wing portion 21c are aligned in height with each other at the side molding parts. In other words, the distance between the foot 24 and the inward wing portion 21a (or the sub-inward wing portion 21c at the side molding parts) is equal to the thickness of the windshield 11.
The inward and outward wing portions 21a, 21b have a uniform exterior contour appearance through the entire molding and the sub-inward wing portion 21c has a uniform interior surface through the side molding parts 2C. The interior surface of the sub-inward wing portion 21c continues in succession from the side molding parts 2C to the interior surface of said inward wing portion 21a of the corner molding part 2B and the upper molding part 2A. The interior surface of the inward wing portion 21a breaks between the side molding parts 2C and the upper molding part 2A; direction. However, the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c are gradually separated from each other between the corner molding part and the side molding part since the connecting portion 22 becomes longer and the water drain channel 28 is gradually widened and deepened according to a difference H of height of the upper surface of the windshield 11 and height of the roof panel 12. On the upper molding part 2A, the surface of the roof panel 12 and the upper surface of the windshield 11 is flush as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows that there is the height difference H1 between the roof panel 12 and the windshield 11 at the beginning of the side molding part 2C. FIG. 5 shows that there is the largest height difference H2 on the center of the side molding part 2C. The distance between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c is largest on the central side molding part 2C, and is formed with a water drain channel 28. Then the distance between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c is gradually reduced toward the end of the side molding part 2C. The connecting portion 22 is also changed in its length according to the distance between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c.
The water drain channel 28 is defined between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c of each side molding part 2C. The water drain channel 28 has a triangular cross section and gradually changes its size. The drain channel 28 is located between the end 2D of the corner molding part 2B and the end of the side molding part 2C. Therefore, the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c keeps their uniform shapes throughout the entire molding by adjusting the depth and width of the water drain channel 28 at the side molding parts 2C. At the end of the side molding part 2C, the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c come near each other, finally merging. Then the water drain channel 28 disappears completely. The thickness of the merging body is gradually thinned toward the upper molding part 2A such that the exterior contour appearance of the merging body converge to that of the upper molding part 2A. The exterior contour appearance of the upper molding part 2A is the same as the inward wing portion 21a at the side molding part 2C.
The molding 2 will be attached to the windshield 11 and the vehicle body as described below.
FIGS. 3 to 6 show the manner in which the molding 2 is attached between the corner and the side edges of the windshield 11.
A window opening of the roof panel 12 has a slanted wall 12a and a flange 13b for receiving the windshield 11. The front pillar 13 also has a slanted wall 13a and the flange 13b for receiving the windshield 11. The slanted wall 13a has a height increased gradually from the corner to the side of the vehicle body panel compared with the slanted wall 12a.
Firstly, the molding 2 is attached around the peripheral edge of the windshield 11. Between the upper and corner parts, the edge of the windshield 11 is sandwiched between the foot 24 and the interior side of the inward wing portion 21a. At the side molding parts 2C, each of the side edges of the windshield 11 is sandwiched between the foot 24 and the interior side of the wall 21c. Since the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c are relatively thin at the corner molding part 2B, the molding 2 is curved without wrinkles according to the shape of the corner part of the window opening of the vehicle body panel.
A dam rubber 14 in strip shape is applied around the edges of the flanges 12b and 13b. An adhesive 15 is applied to the outer edge of the dam rubber 14. Then the windshield 11 having the molding 2 mounted therearound is placed on the dam rubber 14. The windshield 11 is then pressed toward the vehicle body, so that the outward wing portion 21b of the molding 2 overlies the body panels 12, 13. Therefore, the foot 24 of the molding 2 is fastened by the adhesive 15, and the flexible lip 25 of the molding 2 is flexibly contacted to the slanted walls 12a, 13b, thereby fastening the windshield 11 to the body panel.
The difference of the height between the outer surface of the body panel and the windshield 11 is equal to the difference of height between the slanted walls 12a and 13a as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper edge of the windshield 11 is nearly flush with the surface of the roof panel 12. The height difference H1 is small between the windshield 11 and the corner part of the front pillar 13 (shown in FIG. 4), while the difference H2 is large at the central side edges of the windshield 11 (shown in FIG. 5). The difference H3 between the end of the side molding part and the front pillar 13 is larger than H1 but smaller than H2 (shown in FIG. 6).
It is understood that the distance between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c of the molding 2 is changed according to the varying difference of the height between the windshield 11 and the body panel, and that the depth and width of the water drain channel 28 varies accordingly.
The edge of the outward wing portion 21b of the molding 2 is in close contact with the roof panel 12 between the upper and corner parts of the windshield 11. From the upper to corner molding parts, the inward wing portion 21a slightly extends upwardly, i.e. as shown in FIG. 4, the sub-inward wing portion 21c is being formed under the inward wing portion 21a. Therefore water is guided on the surface of the windshield along the wall of the inward wing portion 21a.
Since the inward wing portion 21a accompanies the sub-inward wing portion 21c at the corner molding parts, the exterior wing 21 is free from wrinkles even if it is bent along the corner portions.
The molding 2 can be installed in the window opening of the vehicle after the windshield 11 has been attached thereto. Otherwise, the molding can be inserted into the space between the window opening and the windshield 11 attached therein.
A molding machine for producing the molding 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
A molding machine 3 comprises three dies having openings through which the plastic material is extruded. These dies are first, second and third dies 31, 32, 33 positioned in parallel to the direction for extruding the plastic material, i.e. in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIGS. 7 and 8.
The first die 31 is stationary, having an opening 34 shaped in the shape of a vertically long rectangle according to the cross-sectional shape of the molding 2. Specifically, the upper portion of the opening 34 corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the exterior wing 21, and the lower portion of the opening 34 substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 22, foot 24 and flexible lip 25.
The opening 34 has an upper edge in the shape of an arc which defines portions 341 and 343 with the shield 342 corresponding to the shape of the upper side of the exterior wing 21, and a portion 345 corresponding to the shape of the sub-inward wing portion 21c. The lower edge of the portion 341 together with the shield 342 corresponds to the shape of the lower part of the outward wing portion 21b. The lower section of the portions 343 and 345 substantially correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c. The inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c are in succession when the water drain channel 28 is not formed.
The second and third dies 32, 33 are rectangular plates, which are respectively supported by a pair of guides 32a and a pair of guides 33a to be movable in parallel to the front side of the first die 31.
The second die 32 has an opening 35 which corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 22, foot 24 and the flexible lip 25. The second die 32 is placed on the first die 31 so that the openings 34, 35 of the first and second dies 31, 32 are in the shape of the molding 2. The second die 32 has at its lower portion an operation lever 32d, which is connected to a motor 32c via a converter 32b for converting rotary motion of the motor 32c into rectilinear motion. When driven by the motor 32c, the second die 32 reciprocates between the positions for forming the upper and lower molding portions shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively.
The third die 33 is a thin rectangular plate having a slanted edge 331 pointed with an acute angle corresponding to the water drain channel 28, reciprocating in the direction perpendicular to the second die 32. The third die 33 is connected to a motor 33c via an operation lever 33d and a converter 33b for converting the rotary motion to the rectilinear motion. The third die 33 is guided into and out of the opening 34 of the first die 31 so that the slanted edge 331 advances into the areas 343 and 345 to form the water drain channel 28 between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c of the molding 2. The third die 33 reciprocates according to the movement of the second die 32.
In operation, the molding machine 3 produces the molding 2 as described hereinafter.
The molding 2 comprises a side molding part 2C, a corner molding part 2B, upper molding part 2A, a corner molding part 2B and a side molding part 2C formed in the named order in succession.
Each of the side molding 2C and corner molding 2B will be extruded in order of 2C, 2B, 2A on one side and 2B, 2C on another side and shaped as described referring to FIG. 8. Firstly, the second die 32 is placed on the first die 31 so that the openings 34 and 35 of the first and second dies are in the cross-sectional shape of the side molding part 2C. The plastic material is extruded through the openings 34 and 35 together with a metallic foil strip 23 inserted at a position corresponding to the connecting portion 22 of the opening 34. In this case, the second die 32 is somewhat raised in the direction shown by an arrow Y, and the third die 33 is somewhat retracted in the direction shown by an arrow V.
The plastic material is extruded to a preset extent under this condition. Then the second die 32 is lowered in the direction X. The portions 343, 345 of the opening 34 of the first die 31 are gradually widened to increase the space which forms a groove. Then sub-inward wing portion 21c will be formed under the groove. The other portions of the side molding part 2C are being shaped without any change.
The third die 33 is advanced in the direction W as the space between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c becomes larger to form the groove therein. Thus the third die 33 forms the groove as the water drain channel 28 between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion. Since the third die 33 is moved in synchronization with the moving speed of the second die 32, the depth and the width of the opening of the drain channel 28 are increased but the exterior contour appearance of the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c respectively are the same through the entire molding. Under the condition shown in FIG. 8, the distance between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c is largest, and the water drain channel 28 is the widest and deepest to the preset length of the side molding part 2C.
When the side molding part 2C is extruded to the specified length and a corner molding part 2B is to be formed, the second die 32 is raised again in the direction Y and the third die 33 is retracted to the direction V. Then, the distance between the portions 343 and 345 are reduced, thus the distance between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c are reduced and the size of the water drain channel 28 is reduced. Under this condition, the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c remain uniform in thickness through the entire molding 2. The other portions of the side molding part remain unchanged.
When the third die 33 is retracted completely from the portions 343, 345 of the opening 34, the second die 32 is moved in the direction Y until the top of the second die 32 is flush with the edge of the shield 342 of the first die 31. Under this condition, the molding extruded from the opening 34 is shaped so that the distance between the inward wing portion 21a and the sub-inward wing portion 21c is gradually reduced. When the portions 21a and 21c merge, the water drain channel 28 disappears. After that, the corner molding part 2B is extruded while the top of the shield 342 of the first die 31 and the upper edge of the second die 32 are closed with each other. After that, the shape of the openings 34 and 35 matched together corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the upper molding part 2A. Under this condition, the motors are stopped, and the plastic material is extruded through the openings 34 and 35 for a predetermined period of time to produce the upper molding part 2A.
When the upper molding part 2A becomes long as specified, the motor 32c is driven again to produce the corner molding part 2B and the side molding part 2C on another side in the order named. Thus the molding 2 is produced in the shape of a strip.
A second embodiment of the invention will be described referring to FIGS. 9 to 12.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a windshield molding 4 according to the second embodiment. The molding 4 comprises a pair of extruded side molding parts 4C, a pair of extruded corner molding parts 4B, and an extruded upper molding part 4A integral and extending between the side and corner molding parts.
Each of the molding parts 4A, 4B and 4C includes an exterior wing 41 and a connecting portion 42. The exterior wing 41 has an inward wing portion 41a and an outward wing portion 41b. The outward wing portion 41b has a uniform shape and thickness throughout the molding parts 4A to 4C.
The connecting portion 42 has a foot 44 extending inwardly along the lower end thereof. The foot 44 has a forked portion 444 at its end. One of the forked portion 444 contacts with the lower side of the windshield 11, and another of the forked portion 444 contacts with the side of the windshield 11. Namely, the forked portion 444 contacts with an interior edge of the windshield 11. A flexible lip 45 extends outwardly along the lower end of the connecting portion 42. A wire 43 serving as a core material is embedded along the joint between the connecting portion 42 and the exterior wing 41 of the molding 4.
A decorative metal film 49 is embedded along the central portion of the exterior wing 41 of the molding 4, i.e. along the border between the inward wing portion 41a and the outward wing portion 41b. The outward wing portion 41b has a uniform thickness throughout the molding 4.
The distance between the inward wing portion 41a and the sub-inward wing portion 41c of the molding 4 is changed according to the varying difference of height between the body panels 12, 13 and the windshield 11. The depth and width of a water drain channel 48 are varied with the distance between the inward wing portion 41a and the sub-inward wing portion 41c.
FIG. 10 shows that the inward wing portion 41 a and the sub-inward wing portion 41c are close each other at the beginning of the side molding part 4C, since the difference of height between the upper surface of the windshield 11 and the vehicle body panel is small.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI--VI of FIG. 9, showing that a water drain channel 48 is very small.
As shown in FIG. 12, the water drain channel 48 is widest and deepest where the distance between the inward wing portion 41a and the sub-inward wing portion is largest. The water drain channel 48 is triangular in its cross section. The inward wing portion 41a and the sub-inward wing portion 41c are uniformly thick throughout the side molding part 4C.
The depth and width of the water drain channel 48 depends upon the distance between the inward wing portion 41a and the sub-inward wing portion 41c.
The molding 4 of the second embodiment is as effective as the molding of the first embodiment.
A molding machine for producing the molding 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 13.
A molding machine 5 comprises three dies having openings through which the plastic material is extruded. These dies are first, second and third dies 51, 52, 53 positioned in parallel to the direction for extruding the plastic material, i.e. in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 13.
The first die 51 is stationary, having an opening 54 shaped in the shape of a vertically long rectangle according to the cross-sectional shape of the molding 4. Specifically, the upper portion of the opening 54 corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the exterior wing 41, and the lower portion of the opening 54 substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 42, foot 44 and flexible lip 45.
The second and third dies 52, 53 are rectangular plates, which are respectively supported by a pair of guides 52a and a pair of guides 53a to be movable in parallel to the front side of the first die 51.
The second die 52 has an opening 55 which corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 42, foot 44 and the flexible lip 45. The second die 52 is placed on the first die 51 so that the openings 54, 55 of the first and second dies 51, 52 are in the shape of the molding 4. The second die 52 has at its lower portion an operation lever 52d, which is connected to a motor 52c via a converter 52b for converting rotary motion of the motor 52c into rectilinear motion. When driven by the motor 52c, the second die 52 reciprocates between the positions for forming the upper and lower molding portions.
The third die 53 is a thin rectangular plate having a slanted edge corresponding to the water drain channel 48, reciprocating in the direction perpendicular to the second die 52. The third die 53 is connected to a motor 53c via an operation lever 53d and a converter 53b for converting the rotary motion to the rectilinear motion. The third die 53 is guided into and out of the opening 54 of the first die 51 so that the slanted edge advances into the opening 54 of the first die 51. The third die 53 reciprocates according to the movement of the second die 52.
In operation, the molding machine 5 produces the molding 4 by moving the two dies 52, 53 as described with reference to the first embodiment.
FIGS. 14 to 17 show a third embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 14, a molding 9 comprises a pair of extruded side molding parts 9C, a pair of extruded corner molding parts 9B, and an extruded upper molding part 9A integral with and extending between the side and corner molding parts.
Each of the molding parts 9A, 9B and 9C includes an exterior wing 91 and a connecting portion 92. The exterior wing 91 has an inward wing portion 91a and an outward wing portion 91b.
As shown in FIG. 14, the connecting portion 92 includes a foot 94 extending inwardly along the lower end thereof. At the upper molding part 9A, the upper edge of the windshield 11 is received in the space formed by the foot 94 and the inward wing portion 91a. At the majority of the side molding part 9C, the inward wing portion 91a is gradually projected to the exterior direction to form a sub-inward wing portion 91c thereunder. A water drain channel 98 is formed between the inward wing portion 91a and the sub-inward wing portion 91c. Therefore, the edge of the windshield 11 is received in the U-shaped space between the foot 94 and the sub-inward wing portion 91c. The U-shaped space for receiving the windshield 11 is uniform in the shape throughout the whole molding parts.
The connecting portion 92 has a flexible lift 95 extending from the lower end thereof toward the vehicle body panels 12, 13 throughout the molding parts. The flexible lip 95 is bent in the L-shape to contact with the slanted walls 12a, 13a. A core metal 93 is longitudinally embedded at the joint between the exterior wing 91 and the connecting portion 92.
In this embodiment, the body panels 12, 13 are in equal in height, having the uniform cross-sectional shape. The molding 9 has the uniform cross-sectional shape except for the side molding part 9C where the inward wing portion 91a is gradually bulged to form the sub-inward wing portion 91c thereunder.
Near the end of the side molding part as shown in FIG. 17, the distance between the inward wing portion 91a and the sub-inward wing portion 91c is largest. The water drain channel 98 having a triangular cross-sectional shape is widest and deepest between the inward wing portion 91a and the sub-inward wing portion 91c.
Toward the upper region of the side molding part 9C, the water drain channel 98 gradually becomes smaller in the depth and width as shown in FIG. 16. Therefore, the distance between the inward wing portion 91a and the sub-inward wing portion 91c also becomes smaller. Near the corner molding part 9B, the water drain channel 98 disappears completely, thereby making the inward wing portion 91a and the sub-inward wing portion close each other. No water drain channel is formed on the upper molding part 9A.
The molding 9 thus formed can function as effectively as the molding of the first embodiment.
The inward wing portion 91a gradually bulges at the majority of the side molding parts 9C. As shown in FIG. 14, the inward wing portion 91a bulges as if it rotates with a radius OP. The edge of the inward wing portion 91a is contoured as shown by O1 P1,O2,P2, . . . ,O5 P5, O6 P6, in FIG. 18.
In FIGS. 14 to 17, the reference numeral 15 stands for a sealant for adhering the molding 9 and the windshield 11 to the body panels 12, 13, and 14 represents a dam rubber for preventing the sealant 15 from flowing.
The molding 9 will be attached to the wind opening of the vehicle as described with reference to the foregoing embodiments.
A molding machine for producing the molding 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21. The molding machine 100 comprises first to third dies 102, 104, 105 which are positioned in parallel to the direction (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 19) in which the molding 9 is extruded, forming an opening through which plastic material is to be extruded. The first die 102 is stationary, having an opening 101 which is shaped according to the cross-sectional shape of the molding 9. The shape of the opening 101 is changed as shown in FIGS. 19 to 21 to form the inward wing portion 91a and the sub-inward wing portion 91c and the water drain channel 98 at the side molding part 9C.
The second and third dies 104, 105 are made of plate members, and are supported to be movable on the front surface of a the first die 102. The second die 104 is in the shape of sector, being positioned over the opening 101. A side 104a of the sector-shaped second die 104 is shaped according to the upper contour of the inward wing portion 91a. The second die 104 is rotatable centrally of the fulcrum 103. The fulcrum 103 is located above a position corresponding to the boundary between the inward and outward wind portions 91a, 91b of the molding 9. The second die 104 is operated to change the shape of the opening 101 according to the size of the water drain channel 98.
The third die 105 is guided by a pair of guides 106 to be rectilinearly movable. The third die 105 is connected to a motor 107 via an operating lever 109 and a converter 108. The rotary motion of the motor 107 is converted into the rectilinear motion by the converter 108. Therefore the third die 105 moves rectilinearly, advancing and retracting into and from the opening 101 at portions for forming the upper, corner and side molding parts as shown in FIGS. 19 to 21.
The third die 105 has a slanted edge corresponding to the water drain channel 98, which is movable into the opening 101 corresponding of the shape of the inward wing portion 91a and the subinward wing portion 91c. The third die 105 is movable into and from the opening 101 of the first die 102 in response to the reciprocative movement of the second die 104.
In operation, the molding 9 will be produced in the order of the side molding part 9C, corner molding part 9B, upper molding part 9A on one side, corner molding part 9B, and side molding part 9C on another side. All of the molding parts 9A to 9C are extruded by the molding machine in the shape of strip.
The first to third dies 102, 104, 105 are mutually positioned as shown in FIG. 21 to form a side molding part 9C. A strip of thin metallic foil is inserted into the opening 101 of the first die 102 at a position corresponding to the connecting portion 92 of the molding 9. Firstly, the plastic material is extruded through the opening 101 of the first die 102, thereby forming a leading end (shown right-hand in FIG. 15) of the side molding part 9C (having the cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 17). Under this condition, the distance between the inward wing portion 91 and the sub-inward wing portion 91c is largest, and the water drain channel 98 widest and deepest.
The side molding part 9C is extruded to a specified length. Then, the second die 104 is moved downwardly in the direction X as shown in FIG. 21, thereby decreasing the area of the opening 101 corresponding to the inward wing portion 91a and the subinward wing portion 91c. As the area of the opening 101 corresponding to the inward wing portion 91a and the sub-inward wing portion 91c decrease, the third die 105 is retracted in the direction W as shown in FIG. 21 in timed relation with the movement of the second die 104, thereby decreasing the depth and width of the opening of the water drain channel 98. Under these conditions, the inward wing portion 91a and the sub-inward wing portion 91c remain uniform in thickness through the entire molding 9.
When the entire side molding part 9C becomes long as predetermined, the third die 105 begins to move away from the opening 101 of the first die 102 and to form a corner molding part 9B as shown in FIG. 20. Under this condition, the water drain channel 98 begins to disappear on the inward wing portion 91a and the sub-inward wing portion 91c as shown in FIG. 16.
When the corner molding part 9B is extruded to the specified length, the third die 105 completely moves away from the opening 101 of the first die 102, and the second die 104 moves further downward in the direction X as shown in FIG. 19. Then the upper molding part 9A will be extruded to the specified length.
The foregoing operations of the first and second movable dies 104, 105 are repeated to extrude the corner and side molding parts 9B, 9C on another side in the order named in the integral form. If the slanted edge of the third die 105 is very sharp, a water drain channel can be made on the relatively thin corner molding parts 9C.
A molding 110 according to a fourth embodiment is shown in FIG. 22 to 24. The molding 110 comprises an exterior wing for covering the space between the windshield 11 and the window opening of the vehicle body panels 12, 13. The exterior wing includes an inward wing portion 115 and an outward wing portion 117. The molding 110 is attached to the roof panel 12 and pillar panel 13 via a fastener 112 by an adhesive tape 111. The fastener 112 is U-shaped, including a flexible lip 112a to extend along slanted walls 12a, 13b to cover the edges of the roof panel 12 and the pillar panel 13. A member 114 extending from the connecting portion 113 is received in the U-shaped fastener 112 to fasten the molding 110.
In this embodiment, the vehicle body panels 12, 13 are substantially flush with the upper surface of the windshield 11. Therefore, the molding 110 has a uniform cross-sectional shape at the upper and corner molding parts 110A, 110B. At the side molding part 110C, the inward wing portion 115 gradually bulges to form a sub-inward wing portion 116 thereunder. The configuration of the inward wing portion 115 and the sub-inward wing portion 116 is similar to those shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, and will not be described here. The outward wing portion 117 is flexibly contacted to the vehicle body panels 12, 13 via the flexible lip 112a of the fastener 112.
The molding 110 of this embodiment is as effective as the moldings of the foregoing embodiments, and will be attached to the vehicle as described above.
The foregoing moldings are also applicable to attach a rear window of the vehicle.
FIGS. 25 to 29 show a molding 120 according to a fifth embodiment of this invention. The molding 120 comprises side, corner, upper, corner and side molding parts 120C, 120B, 120A, 120B, 120C, being extruded as one unit. Each molding part comprises an exterior wing 121 and a connecting portion 122 extending from the exterior wing 121. The exterior wing 121 includes an inward wing portion 121a and an outward wing portion 121b similarly to the moldings described above.
The molding 120 is gradually heightened between the corner molding part 120B and the side molding part 120C as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, having the largest height between the central side molding part and the end of the side molding part 120C. Specifically, the molding 120 varies its height in two steps toward the center of the side molding part 120C as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29.
A core metal is embedded at the joint between the exterior wing 121 and the connecting portion 122. The connecting portion 122 has a foot 124 and a flexible lip 125 extending from the end thereof. The foot 124 supports the peripheral edge of the windshield 11. The flexible lip 125 is in flexible contact with the wall 112a of the vehicle body panel 12 (or 13).
The inward wing portion 121a and outward wing portion 121b are in the shape of lip to cover the peripheral edge of the windshield 11 and the edge of the vehicle body panels 12, 13, respectively. At the upper and corner molding parts 120A, 120C, the foot 124 of the connecting portion 122 and the inward wing portion 121a form a U-shaped space to receive the peripheral edge of the windshield 11.
At the majority of the side molding part 120C, the molding 120 is gradually varying its height according to the difference of height between the vehicle body panel 13 and the upper surface of the windshield 11. A sub-inward wing portion 121c is formed between the inward wing portion 121a and the foot 124 of the connecting portion. The U-shaped space for receiving the windshield 11 remains the same between the foot 124 and the sub-inward wing portion 121c at the side molding part 120C.
The outward wing portion 121b has the uniform shape and thickness throughout the molding parts 120A to 120C.
Between the center and the end of the side molding part 120C, the distance between the inward wing portion 121a and the sub-inward wing portion 121c is the largest according to the difference of height between the upper surface of the windshield 11 and the vehicle body panel. A water drain channel 128 is formed between the inward wing portion 121a and subinward wing portion 121c, being widest and deepest at this region. The depth and width of the water drain channel 128 depends upon the varying distance between the inward wing portion 121a and the sub-inward wing portion 121C as shown in FIGS. 27 to 29.
Near the corner molding part 120B, the inward wing portion 121a and the sub-inward wing portion 121c merge to be slightly thicker than at the upper molding part 120A, so that the water drain channel 128 disappears as shown in FIG. 26. No water drain channel exists at the upper molding part 120A. The inward wing portion 121a is in contact with the upper surface of the windshield 11.
The molding 120 is produced by a molding machine 3 shown in FIGS. 30 to 32. The molding machine is similar to that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
Production of the side molding 120C will be described by referring to FIG. 32. Firstly, the second and third dies 32, 33 are placed on the first die 31 so that the openings 34 and 35 of the first and second dies are in the cross-sectional shape of the side molding part 120C. The plastic material is extruded through the openings 34 and 35 together with a metal foil strip 123 inserted at a portion corresponding to the connecting portion 12 of the opening 34. In this case, the distance between the openings 343 and 345 are longest. The plastic material is extruded to form an end of the side molding part 120C (right-hand side of FIG. 25). In other words, the distance between the inward wing portion 121a and the sub-inward wing portion 121c is largest to form a water drain channel 128 so that the side molding part 120C have the cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 29.
The plastic material is extruded to a preset extent under this condition. Then the second die 32 is being raised in the direction Y. The opening 34 of the first die 31 gradually decrease the area. The other portions of the side molding part 120c remain the same.
The third die 33 is retracted in the direction V as the inward wing portion 121a and the sub-inward wing portion 121c become closer to decrease the size of the water drain channel 128. Thus the third die 33 moves in timed relation with the second die 32. The thickness of the sub-inward wing portion 121c and the inward wing portion 121a respectively remain uniform through the entire molding 120. The is identical other portions of the side molding part 120C are being shaped without any change.
When the first, second and third dies are related as shown in FIG. 31, the third die 33 is stopped temporarily to extrude the central region of the side molding part 120C to the specified extent. When the side molding part 120C is extruded to the specified length and a corner molding part 120B is to be formed, the second die 32 is raised again in the direction Y and the third die 33 is retracted to the direction V. Then, the distance between the portions 343 and 345 are reduced in size, thus the distance between the inward wing portion 121a and the sub-inward wing portion 121c are reduced and the size of the water drain channel 128 is reduced. Under this condition, the other portion of the side molding part 120c remain unchanged. Since the third die 33 moves in synchronization with the second die 32, the inward wing portion 121a and the sub-inward wing portion 121c remain uniform in thickness through the entire molding 120. When the third die 33 moves away completely from the openings 343, 345 of the first die 31 after the second die 32 is further raised in the direction Y, the inward wing portion 121a merges with the sub-inward wing portion 121c, so that the water drain channel 128 disappears completely.
Then, the corner molding part 120B is extruded to the specified length. The second and third dies 32, 33 reach the positions as shown in FIG. 30.
The top of the shield 342 of the first die 31 and the upper edge of the second die 32 are flush with each other, i.e. the shape of the openings 34 and 35 matched together corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the upper molding part 120A. Under this condition, the plastic material is extruded through the openings 34 and 35 for a predetermined period of time to produce the upper molding part 120A.
When the upper molding part 120A becomes long as specified, production of the corner molding part 120B and the side molding part 120C on another side in the order named is started. Thus the molding 120 is produced in the shape of a strip.
FIG. 33 to FIG. 35 show still another molding according to a sixth embodiment of the invention. A molding 140 comprises a metal frame 142 and a plastic molding member 141 extruded along the metal frame 142. The metal frame 142 is bent according to a space between the window opening of the vehicle and the windshield 11, being attached to the body panels 12, 13 along the window opening by fasteners such as clips and bolts. The metal frame 142 has a uniform cross-sectional shape in its longitudinal direction. The metal frame 142 confronts with the side edge of the windshield with some space therebetween at the side molding part according to the difference of height between the vehicle body panel and the upper surface of the windshield 11.
The plastic molding member 141 covers the peripheral edge of the windshield 11, including a portion 141a and a portion 141b. The portion 141a extends over the edge of the windshield 11, and the portion 141b covers the edge of the body panels 12, 13. At the upper molding part 140A, the portion 141a is in close contact with the surface of the windshield 11. At the side molding part 140C, the portion 141a and the metal frame 142 are away from the windshield 11.
A water drain channel 148 is formed in the space between the portion 141a and sub-portion 141c as the distance between these portions 141a, 141c becomes larger. The sub-portion 141c is in contact with the windshield 11 at the side molding part 140C. The molding member 141 is thickest at the center of the side molding part 140C, being reduced in thickness toward the corner molding part 140B. The water drain channel 148 varies its width and depth depending upon the molding member 141, disappearing at the corner molding part 140B where the portion 141a and subportion 141c merge. The portion 141a and the subportion 141c have a uniform thickness along the water drain channel 148.
The molding 140 of this embodiment is as effective as those of the foregoing embodiments.
FIGS. 36 to 39 show a molding 190 according to a seventh embodiment. The molding 190 comprises a pair of extruded side molding parts 190C, corner molding part 190B and an extruded upper-roof molding part 190A. At the corner molding part 190B, the inward wing portion 191a and the sub-inward wing portion 191c, a corner molding part 190B close and merge toward each other such that water drain channel 198 is gradually reduced in size until the water drain channel 198 is removed. Each molding part includes a metal frame 192 and a molding member 191 extruded along the metal frame 192. The molding member 191 has a portion 191a for covering the edge of the windshield 11. At the upper molding part 190A, the portion 191a is in contact with the surface of the windshield 11.
The metal frame 192 has a uniform shape throughout the molding parts 190A to 190C. The frame 192 is arranged to be somewhat apart from the windshield at the side molding part 190C according to the difference of height between the upper surface of the windshield 11 and the body panels 12, 13.
At the majority of the side molding part 190C, the distance between the portion 191a and the subportion 191c gradually becomes larger so that a water drain channel 198 is formed therein, as shown in FIGS. 38 and 39. Specifically, the water drain channel is defined between the portion 191a and sub-portion 191c. The thickness of the portion 191a and the subportion 191c remain the same along the water drain channel 198. The size of the water drain channel 198 depends upon the varying distance of the portion 191a and the sub-portion 191c.
It is needless to say the moldings according to the invention are applicable to installation of a rear window.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3583757 *Oct 18, 1968Jun 8, 1971Daimler Benz AgInstallation for reducing the soiling of side windows in motor vehiclesUS4165119 *Nov 23, 1977Aug 21, 1979General Motors CorporationWindow reveal moldingUS4256685 *Nov 24, 1978Mar 17, 1981W. James KemererVariable profile extrusion methodUS4358917 *May 11, 1981Nov 16, 1982Chrysler CorporationSelf-adjustable window molding for retaining glassUS4405174 *May 1, 1981Sep 20, 1983Nissan Motor Company, LimitedWindow structure of a vehicle bodyUS4439125 *Mar 31, 1982Mar 27, 1984The Firestone Tire & Rubber CompanyAdjustable die mechanismUS4454614 *Dec 27, 1982Jun 19, 1984Ifo Sanitar AbValve arrangement for water toiletsUS4518197 *Apr 20, 1983May 21, 1985Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftWater guide channel for motor vehiclesUS4534724 *Jul 1, 1983Aug 13, 1985Continental Gummi-Werke AktiengesellschaftApparatus for producing profiled strandsUS4576773 *Feb 3, 1984Mar 18, 1986S.A.I.A.G. S.P.A.Method and apparatus for extruding weather strip for motor-vehiclesUS4584150 *Dec 9, 1983Apr 22, 1986S.A.I.A.G. S.P.A.Method for the continuous extrusion of an extrusion, particularly a weather strip for motor vehicle bodiesUS4757659 *Dec 4, 1986Jul 19, 1988Tokiwa Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.Front glass mouldingsUS4757660 *Dec 4, 1986Jul 19, 1988Tokiwa Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.Front glass mouldingsUS4765936 *Apr 3, 1986Aug 23, 1988S.A.I.A.G. S.P.A.Method for the manufacture of a weather strip for motor vehiclesUS4858988 *Apr 19, 1988Aug 22, 1989Donnelly CorporationVehicular window assemblyUS4865796 *Apr 13, 1988Sep 12, 1989Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Method of producing molding membersUS4867667 *May 31, 1988Sep 19, 1989Masao MoriyamaApparatus for producing screw feeders for a plastic injection-molding machineUS4884380 *Dec 22, 1988Dec 5, 1989Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding and method of producing the sameUS4960375 *Mar 23, 1989Oct 2, 1990Kinugawa Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd.Die for profile extrusionUS4968543 *Nov 25, 1988Nov 6, 1990Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Window molding members and method of manufacturing sameUS4984839 *Jun 9, 1988Jan 15, 1991Tokiwa Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.Front glass moulding for vehicleUS5028460 *May 19, 1989Jul 2, 1991Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Molding member and method of producing sameUS5035459 *Dec 19, 1990Jul 30, 1991Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding unit for use with an automobileUS5039157 *Dec 12, 1990Aug 13, 1991Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield moldingUS5044684 *Nov 20, 1990Sep 3, 1991Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding for windshield of automobileUS5049346 *Jun 26, 1989Sep 17, 1991Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMethod of molding a decorative trimUS5061335 *Sep 25, 1989Oct 29, 1991Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Method of, and apparatus for manufacturing elongate plastic articlesUS5070590 *Aug 24, 1990Dec 10, 1991Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Method of manufacturing window moldings for vehicleUS5074610 *Jul 13, 1989Dec 24, 1991Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Automobile molding member having improved weir structureUS5078444 *Oct 22, 1990Jan 7, 1992Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding for windshield of automobile and its molding apparatusUS5094498 *May 13, 1991Mar 10, 1992Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding unit for use with an automobileUS5104173 *Apr 18, 1991Apr 14, 1992Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Window molding member for automobiles, and method of manufacturing the sameUS5107646 *Aug 17, 1988Apr 28, 1992Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Window molding members and method of manufacturing sameUS5112547 *Aug 7, 1989May 12, 1992Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Method of making an elongate articleUS5114206 *Oct 16, 1990May 19, 1992Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMounting of window glass plate on vehicle body panelUS5133537 *Oct 22, 1990Jul 28, 1992Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding for windshield of automobile and its molding apparatusUS5149168 *Jun 24, 1991Sep 22, 1992Tokai Kogyo Co. Ltd.Window molding for automobileUS5167893 *Sep 6, 1991Dec 1, 1992Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMethod of producing automobile windshield moldingUS5174623 *Mar 15, 1991Dec 29, 1992Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield moldingUS5174624 *Feb 3, 1992Dec 29, 1992Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding for use with an automobile and process for manufacturing the sameUS5190338 *Sep 6, 1991Mar 2, 1993Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield molding and method of producing the sameUS5193875 *Mar 30, 1992Mar 16, 1993Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Automobile windshield molding member and method of manufacturing the sameUS5193876 *Nov 29, 1991Mar 16, 1993Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield moldingUS5203946 *Jul 12, 1991Apr 20, 1993Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Method of, and apparatus for manufacturing elongate plastic articlesUS5222336 *Aug 26, 1991Jun 29, 1993Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding for use with an automobileUS5228738 *Jun 11, 1992Jul 20, 1993Tokiwa Chemical Industries, Co., Ltd.Windshield glass molding for vehiclesUS5229054 *Nov 29, 1991Jul 20, 1993Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMethod of manufacturing automobile windshield moldingUS5233805 *Oct 10, 1990Aug 10, 1993Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding for automotive front glass and molding apparatusUS5281291 *Oct 23, 1991Jan 25, 1994Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding and method of producing the sameUS5297843 *Apr 22, 1993Mar 29, 1994Tokai Kogyo Co. Ltd.Window molding for automobileUS5310236 *Jun 8, 1992May 10, 1994Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Molding member for automobile window plateUS5332541 *Apr 15, 1993Jul 26, 1994Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Method of manufacturing window molding membersUS5344205 *Nov 6, 1991Sep 6, 1994Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield moldingUS5348364 *Jun 11, 1993Sep 20, 1994Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaStrip-shaped fastener for mounting strip-shaped member to automobile body and device for manufacturing the sameUS5350211 *Sep 30, 1992Sep 27, 1994Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehicles and the production method thereofUS5374096 *Feb 7, 1994Dec 20, 1994Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield molding and the method of producing the sameUS5389423 *May 29, 1992Feb 14, 1995Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehiclesUS5443299 *Jun 9, 1994Aug 22, 1995Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehicles and the production method therofUS5445780 *Aug 20, 1993Aug 29, 1995Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAssembly of a windshield glass and a weather strip having a partly modified cross section and method of manufacturing sameUS5454614 *Mar 17, 1994Oct 3, 1995Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehicles and the production method thereofUS5468438 *Jun 25, 1993Nov 21, 1995Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaProduction method of molding stripsUS5474729 *Aug 18, 1994Dec 12, 1995Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMethod of producing an automobile windshield moldingUS5474817 *Apr 24, 1995Dec 12, 1995Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding and production method thereofUS5492387 *Mar 29, 1994Feb 20, 1996Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield moldingUS5507992 *Feb 18, 1994Apr 16, 1996Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehicles and the production method thereofUS5523041 *Nov 3, 1994Jun 4, 1996Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehicles and the production method thereofUS5534316 *Oct 1, 1993Jul 9, 1996Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding and method of producing the sameUS5553423 *Jan 17, 1995Sep 10, 1996Tokiwa Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.Molding for front glass for vehiclesUS5567449 *Jun 7, 1995Oct 22, 1996Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield molding and the method of producing the sameUS5588691 *Jan 3, 1996Dec 31, 1996Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehicles and the production method thereofUS5607197 *Jun 7, 1995Mar 4, 1997Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield molding and the method of producing the sameUS5618079 *Apr 7, 1995Apr 8, 1997Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehicles and the production method thereofUS5628948 *Jun 7, 1995May 13, 1997Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield molding methodUS5656223 *Jun 7, 1995Aug 12, 1997Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehicles and the production method thereofUS5718470 *Feb 21, 1997Feb 17, 1998Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehicles and the production method thereofUS5795597 *Mar 8, 1996Aug 18, 1998Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehiclesUS5804118 *Apr 24, 1996Sep 8, 1998Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMolding and method of producing the sameUS5833297 *Jan 16, 1997Nov 10, 1998Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaWindshield molding for vehicles and the production method thereofUS5837297 *Jun 10, 1996Nov 17, 1998Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield molding and the method of producing the sameEP0310262A2 *Sep 14, 1988Apr 5, 1989Hashimoto Forming Industry Co LtdWindow molding members and method of manufacturing sameEP0319262A2 *Nov 30, 1988Jun 7, 1989Hashimoto Forming Industry Co LtdWindow molding members and method of manufacturing sameFR2579927A1 * Title not availableFR2620661A1 * Title not availableJP1109116A Title not availableJP1128411A Title not availableJP1195032A Title not availableJP1202518A Title not availableJP1242225A Title not availableJP1242226A Title not availableJP1244820A Title not availableJP1269611A Title not availableJP1269612A Title not availableJP1269613A Title not availableJP3128721B2 Title not availableJP4365621B2 Title not availableJP5154890B2 Title not availableJP5754416B2 Title not availableJP6215044A Title not availableJP59137213A Title not availableJP62283017A Title not availableJP62289427A Title not availableJP63141849U Title not availableJP63212121A Title not availableJP63291721A Title not availableJPS634712A * Title not availableJPS638019A * Title not availableJPS638020A * Title not availableJPS638021A * Title not availableJPS649811A * Title not availableJPS5754416A * Title not availableJPS5931513A * Title not availableJPS5952060A * Title not availableJPS6215044A * Title not availableJPS6378810A * Title not availableJPS6393619A * Title not availableJPS59137213A * Title not availableJPS62283017A * Title not availableJPS62289427A * Title not availableJPS63141849A * Title not availableJPS63212121A * Title not availableJPS63291721A * Title not available* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1 *Patent Abstracts of Japan, JP4 365621, Dec. 17, 1992.2Patent Abstracts of Japan, JP4-365621, Dec. 17, 1992.3 *Patent Abstracts of Japan, JP5 24433, Feb. 2, 1993.4Patent Abstracts of Japan, JP5-24433, Feb. 2, 1993.* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6814385 *Oct 16, 2002Nov 9, 2004Tokai Kogyo Co., Ltd.Molded articles for vehiclesUS7073842May 2, 2003Jul 11, 2006Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaFitting structure of a window moldingUS7111889Jan 21, 2003Sep 26, 2006Rehau SaGasket seal with positioning stops for a fixed window glued to flanges of an openingUS20030075947 *Oct 16, 2002Apr 24, 2003Tokai Kogyo Co., Ltd.Molded articles for vehiclesUS20040212216 *May 2, 2003Oct 28, 2004Mamoru KagawaFitting structure of a window moldingUS20050104406 *Jan 21, 2003May 19, 2005Eddy PennerathGasket seal for a fixed window which is solidly connected to the flanges of an opening and the production method thereofWO2003062003A1 *Jan 21, 2003Jul 31, 2003Rehau SaGasket seal for a fixed window which is solidly connected to the flanges of an opening and the production method thereofWO2004000593A1 *May 2, 2003Dec 31, 2003Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaFitting structure of a window molding* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification296/93, 52/204.597, 296/208International ClassificationB60J10/02, B60J10/00, B29C47/12Cooperative ClassificationB29C47/003, B29C47/124, B29C47/0026, B60J10/25, B60J10/22, B60J10/21, B60J10/18, B60J10/70European ClassificationB60J10/00C4, B60J10/02, B29C47/12C, B60J10/00D6, B60J10/00D2, B60J10/00D1Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionFeb 5, 2000ASAssignmentOwner name: TOKAI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPANFree format text: INVALID RECORDING;ASSIGNORS:YADA, YUKIHIKO;HIRAI, YOICHI;REEL/FRAME:010578/0141;SIGNING DATES FROM 19991101 TO 19991102Feb 10, 2000ASAssignmentOwner name: TOKAI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPANFree format text: RE-RECORD TO CORRECT THE RECORDATION DATE OF 02-05-00 TO 02-10-00. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 10578 FRAME 0141.;ASSIGNORS:YADA, YUKIHIKO;HIRAI, YOICHI;REEL/FRAME:010857/0350;SIGNING DATES FROM 19991101 TO 19991102Jan 5, 2004FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jan 4, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Mar 12, 2012REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedAug 1, 2012LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesSep 18, 2012FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20120801RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services