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Patent US5567449 - Automobile windshield molding and the method of producing the same - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAn apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding for sealing a space between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel utilizes cooperating dies. The windshield molding comprises a pair of extruded side molding parts, a pair of extruded corner molding parts,...http://www.google.com/patents/US5567449?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5567449 - Automobile windshield molding and the method of producing the sameAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5567449 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/475,618Publication dateOct 22, 1996Filing dateJun 7, 1995Priority dateOct 23, 1990Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCA2054021A1, CA2054021C, DE482901T1, DE69122211D1, DE69122211T2, EP0482901A1, EP0482901B1, US5374096, US5474729, US5607197Publication number08475618, 475618, US 5567449 A, US 5567449A, US-A-5567449, US5567449 A, US5567449AInventorsYukihiko YadaOriginal AssigneeTokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (7), Referenced by (4), Classifications (23), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetAutomobile windshield molding and the method of producing the same
US 5567449 AAbstract
An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding for sealing a space between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel utilizes cooperating dies. 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 apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding for decorating along a periphery of a windshield located in an opening of a vehicle body panel, said automobile windshield molding having an exterior wing extending, when installed, along said periphery of the windshield, a cross-sectional profile of which continuously varies in a longitudinal direction from a second molding section to a first molding section and which has a waterdrain channel in and along the second molding section, said apparatus comprising;dies for forming an outer surface and an inner surface of the exterior wing and an inner surface of the water drain channel by extrusion; means for gradually changing a position of said dies in a direction perpendicular to an extruding direction when moving from the forming of said second molding section to the first molding section; and means for moving the die for forming the waterdrain channel with distance from the other dies so as to reduce a size of the waterdrain channel from the second molding section to the first molding section. 2. An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein the means for moving the die for forming the waterdrain channel includes means for moving the die for forming the waterdrain channel with distance from the other dies so as to reduce the size of the waterdrain channel from the second molding section to the first molding section while the dies for forming the exterior wing are closing on each other.
3. An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein the dies move so as to make the size of the waterdrain channel reduced in depth.
4. An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein the dies move so as to make the size of the waterdrain channel reduced in depth and width at the same time.
5. An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein the dies for forming the waterdrain channel and the exterior wing move in an interlocked timing with respect to each other.
6. An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding according to claim 5, wherein said dies for forming the waterdrain channel move at an earlier timing than the dies for forming the exterior wing.
7. An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein the dies for forming the waterdrain channel are disposed at the same position in an extrusion direction in such a manner that the outer and inner surfaces of the exterior wing are formed.
8. An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding according to claim 7, wherein the dies construct a single extrusion opening through which the outer and inner surfaces of the exterior wing are formed.
9. An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding according to claim 8, wherein the dies have shielding plates with which the outer and inner surfaces of the exterior wing are formed.
10. An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding according to claim 7, wherein the die is disposed at the same position to the other dies in the extrusion direction in such a manner that the inner surface of the exterior wing is formed.
11. An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein the die for forming the inner surface of the exterior wing moves so as to extrude a connecting portion adopted for insertion into a gap between the periphery of said windshield and an inner edge of said window opening.
12. An apparatus for producing an automobile windshield molding according to claim 1, wherein the dies for forming the outer and inner surfaces of the exterior wing define a cross-sectional profile of the first molding section and the second molding section by extruding.
This is a division, of application Ser. No. 08/291,088 filed on Aug. 18, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,729, which is a division of application Ser. No. 08/192,623, filed on Feb. 7, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,096, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/781,371, filed on Oct. 23, 1991, abandoned.
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, 613/1989, and 283017/1987, and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication 128411/1989.
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 part 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.
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 2B. All of these molding parts 2A to 2C are extruded as one unit.
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. 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.
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 a 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 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 FIG. 7 and 8.
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 row Y, and the third die 33 is somewhat retracted in the direction shown by an arrow V.
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 21c. 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.
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 9lb.
The connecting portion 92 has a flexible lip 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.
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 91c close each other. No water drain channel is formed on the upper molding part 9A.
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.
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 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 the first die 102. The second die 104 is in the shape of a 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 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 sub-inward 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 one side. All of the molding parts 9A to 9C are extruded by the molding machine in the shape of strip.
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 sub-inward 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 closer, 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.
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 intergal form. If the slanted of the third die 105 is very sharp, a water drain channel can be made on the relatively thin corner molding parts 9C.
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 sub-inward 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.
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 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 portion 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.
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.
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 sub-portion 141c merge. The portion 141a and the sub-portion 141c have a uniform thickness along the water drain channel 148.
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 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 through-out the molding parts 190A to 190C. The frame 192 is arranged to be somewhat apart from the windshield 11 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 sub-portion 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 198 is defined between the portion 191a and sub-portion 191c. The thickness of the portion 191a and the sub-portion 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.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4256685 *Nov 24, 1978Mar 17, 1981W. James KemererVariable profile extrusion methodUS4576773 *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 mouldingsUS4867667 *May 31, 1988Sep 19, 1989Masao MoriyamaApparatus for producing screw feeders for a plastic injection-molding machineUS4960375 *Mar 23, 1989Oct 2, 1990Kinugawa Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd.Die for profile extrusionUS5061335 *Sep 25, 1989Oct 29, 1991Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.Method of, and apparatus for manufacturing elongate plastic articles* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5837297 *Jun 10, 1996Nov 17, 1998Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield molding and the method of producing the sameUS6095586 *Aug 11, 1999Aug 1, 2000Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield molding and the method of producing the sameUS6196615 *Feb 9, 1998Mar 6, 2001Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaAutomobile windshield molding and the method of producing the sameUS20100115883 *Oct 12, 2007May 13, 2010Amir TahricLoad-bearing space lattice structure, lightweight construction element and process for the preparation thereof* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification425/381, 264/167, 425/466, 425/465International ClassificationB29C47/12, B60J1/20, B60J10/00, B60J10/02Cooperative ClassificationB60J10/02, B60J1/2002, B60J10/0017, B29C47/003, B60J10/0011, B29C47/124, B60J10/0045, B60J10/002European ClassificationB60J10/00C4, B60J1/20A, B60J10/00D2, B60J10/00D1, B29C47/12C, B60J10/02, B60J10/00D6Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionApr 12, 2000FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4May 12, 2004REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedOct 22, 2004LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesDec 21, 2004FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20041022RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services