Abstract:
An automotive light transmitting panel mounting structure for mounting a light transmitting panel to a frame, includes: a frame having a mounting flange; a light transmitting panel bonded relatively movably to the frame; a weather strip held by the mounting flange of the frame for sealing a space between the frame and the light transmitting panel; and elastic sealing material filled in a space surrounded by the frame, the light transmitting panel and the weather strip. The weather strip includes: a body portion; a leg portion extending from the body portion to face the body portion for clamping the mounting flange of the frame in cooperation with the body portion; and a contact lip projecting from the leg portion in elastic contact with an end face of the light transmitting panel so that the elastic sealing material is prevented from entering between the leg portion and the contact lip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an automotive light transmitting panel mounting structure that is used when, for example, a sunroof panel of an automotive sunroof or other similar automotive light transmitting panels are to be mounted on a frame.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Conventionally, in, for example, an automotive body, a sunroof is provided in a roof panel of the body in order to brighten an automotive interior or to enhance opening feel of the automotive interior. A sunroof panel (light transmitting panel) as a light window portion of the sunroof is made of glass or synthetic resin. For instance, the sunroof panel is fixed to a metal frame by adhesives. A weather strip is arranged along an edge portion between the sunroof panel and the frame to thereby form a mounting structure for sealing the sunroof panel. Then, in the above-described sunroof using the frame, the frame formed integrally with the sunroof panel is mounted on the automotive roof panel through a slide rail structure for horizontal movement and link structure for swing motion. In some of the above-described sunroof panel mounting structures, a relative movement due to difference in linear expansion coefficient between the metal made frame and the glass or synthetic resin made sunroof panel is considered in sealing the frame and the sunroof panel. In particular, in the case where the synthetic resin made sunroof panel is used, an amount of change of the sunroof panel due to thermal expansion or thermal shrinkage is remarkable in comparison with the glass or metal. Therefore, the above-described countermeasure is needed. As to the mounting structure for coping with the above-described problem, the conventional sunroof mounting structure will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.  
           [0005]    As shown in a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 8, a sunroof panel  120  is bonded relatively movably to a frame  110  by adhesives  140 . A weather strip  130  is mounted on the frame  110 . The weather strip  130  has a body portion  131  and a leg portion  132 . A slit-like groove portion  133  is formed between these portions. Amounting flange  112  of the frame  110  is press-fitted into this groove portion  133  whereby the frame  110  is mounted on a rear surface  120   b  side of the sunroof panel  120 . Further, for example, a V-shaped contact lip  134  projecting in a direction toward an end face  120   c  of the sunroof panel  120  from the leg portion  132  is formed in the weather strip  130 .  
           [0006]    This contact lip  134  having elasticity is adapted to keep the contact condition with the end face  120   c  of the sunroof panel  120  when the sunroof panel  120  is expanded or shrunken by temperature change in a direction indicated by an arrow  160  or  162  in FIG. 8. Namely, as shown by tow-dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 9, the contact lip  134  is adapted to move following the movement of the end face  120   c  of the sunroof panel  120 . Also, elastic sealing material  150  having elasticity and viscosity is filled in a space surrounded by the sunroof panel  120 , the frame  110  and the weather strip  130  and pressingly bonded to the back surface  120   b  of the sunroof panel  120 , the frame  110  and the contact lip  134 , respectively. Also, a slant surface  120   d  for preventing a shearing force or the like from being generated in the elastic sealing material  150  due to the depression from the end face  120   c  is formed in the end face  120   c  of the sunroof panel  120 .  
           [0007]    Accordingly, with the above sunroof panel mounting structure, even if the sunroof panel  120  is thermally shrunken or thermally expanded, for example, water is prevented from entering from the outside by the contact lip  134  of the weather strip  130  and the elastic sealing material  150 .  
           [0008]    However, in the above structure, in the case where there is non-uniformity in coating of the elastic sealing material  150  and the elastic sealing material  150  is introduced around and into a region  135  formed between the contact lip  134  and the leg portion  132  when the sunroof panel  120  is to be mounted on the frame  110 , the movement in a direction indicated by the arrow  162  in FIG. 8, in particular, may be limited. Then, if the movement of the contact lip  134  is limited, when the sunroof panel  120  is thermally expanded or thermally shrunken, the contact lip  134  can not follow the movement of the end face  120   c  of the sunroof panel  120  in the direction indicated by the arrow  160  or  162  in FIG. 8. Thus, there arises a problem in that it is difficult to seal the sunroof panel  120 .  
           [0009]    Also, as shown in FIG. 9, when the sunroof panel  120  is thermally expanded or thermally shrunken, an angle defined by the slant surface  120   d  formed on the end surface  120  side of the sunroof panel  120  and the contact lip  134  is changed from a reference angle B 1  shown in FIG. 8 to an angle B 2  or B 3 . In the case where this angle change is remarkable, there is a problem in that the elastic sealing material  150  peels off the contact lip  134 .  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a light transmitting mounting technology that may seal an automotive light transmitting panel without fail when the automotive light transmitting panel is to be mounted on a frame.  
           [0011]    In order to attain this and other objects, there is provided an automotive light transmitting panel mounting structure for mounting a light transmitting panel to a frame, comprising: a frame having a mounting flange; a light transmitting panel bonded relatively movably to the frame; a weather strip held by the mounting flange of the frame for sealing a space between the frame and the light transmitting panel; and elastic sealing material filled in a space surrounded by the frame, the light transmitting panel and the weather strip, the weather strip including: a body portion; a leg portion extending from the body portion to face the body portion for clamping the mounting flange of the frame in cooperation with the body portion; and a contact lip projecting from the leg portion in elastic contact with an end face of the light transmitting panel so that the elastic sealing material is prevented from entering between the leg portion and the contact lip. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automotive body as viewed from the outside;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1 showing a light transmitting panel mounting structure in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 3 and 4 are partially cross-sectional views showing the conditions where the light transmitting panel in the reference condition shown in FIG. 2 is thermally expanded and thermally shrunken, respectively;  
         [0015]    FIGS.  5  to  7  are partially cross-sectional views showing light transmitting panel mounting structures in accordance with second to fourth embodiments of the present invention, respectively;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a partially cross-sectional view showing a conventional automotive light transmitting panel mounting structure; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a view showing the movement of a contact lip shown in FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    An automotive light transmitting panel mounting structure in accordance with first to fourth embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0019]    Incidentally, in each of the embodiments, a sunroof panel mounting structure provided in an automotive sunroof will be described.  
         [0020]    First Embodiment:  
         [0021]    A light transmitting panel mounting structure in accordance with a first embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  4 . A sunroof  2  in which a light window portion is formed by a sunroof panel  20  is provided in a roof panel  1  of an automotive body.  
         [0022]    Incidentally, an arrow FR in FIG. 1 indicates a front side of the vehicle and an arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle.  
         [0023]    As shown in FIG. 2, in the light transmitting panel mounting structure in the first embodiment, there are provided the sunroof panel  20  as a light transmitting panel, a frame  10  on which the sunroof panel  20  is mounted, a weather strip  30  for sealing an edge portion of the sunroof panel  20 , adhesives  40 , elastic sealing material  50  and the like.  
         [0024]    The frame  10  made of, for example, steel has a substantially planar main plate portion  11  and a mounting flange  12  formed by bending this main plate portion  11 .  
         [0025]    The sunroof panel  20  is in the form of a planar shape and made of, for example, polymethylmethacrylate resin, acrylic resin, or polycarbonate resin. Protective coat layers (not shown) are formed on a top surface  20   a  and a back surface  20   b  of the sunroof panel  20 , respectively. The back surface  20   b  of the sunroof panel  20  is bonded to the main plate portion  11  of the frame  10  by the adhesives  40 . Incidentally, semi-cure type adhesives such as urethane adhesives may be used as the adhesives  40 . The frame  10  and the sunroof panel  20  are bonded together movably relative to each other.  
         [0026]    The weather strip  30  has a body portion  31  and a leg portion  32  facing the body portion  31 , and a slit-like groove portion  31   a  into which the mounting flange  12  of the frame  10  may be fitted is formed between these portions  31  and  32 . The weather strip  30  is formed of, for example, rubber such as solid rubber of ethylene propylene rubber or chloroprene rubber and foamed sponge rubber or soft resin such as soft chloroethene resin. The weather strip  30  has a surface side lip  33   a  projecting from a top end of the body portion  31  in an inside direction (right side direction in FIG. 2) and coming into area contact with the top surface  20   a  of the sunroof panel  20 , and an outside lip  33   b  projecting from the top end of the body portion  31  in an outward direction (left side direction in FIG. 2) and coming into contact with an inside surface of a window opening portion (not shown) formed in the roof panel  1 .  
         [0027]    The weather strip  30  is further provided with a piece of contact lip  34  projecting obliquely upwardly toward the end face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20  from a lower end of the leg portion  32  and contacting the end face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20  with elasticity. Since the contact lip  34  has elasticity, when the sunroof panel  20  is thermally shrunken or thermally expanded so that the end face  20   c  is moved in the direction indicated by an arrow  60  or an arrow  62  in FIG. 2, the contact lip  34  is adapted to keep the contact condition with the end face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20 . Since the contact lip  34  projects obliquely upwardly toward the end face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20 , there is no region where the elastic sealing material  50  may enter between the leg portion  32  and the contact lip  34 . Thus, even if the elastic sealing material  50  is moved toward the leg portion  32  along the contact lip  34 , the elastic sealing material  50  can not enter between the leg portion  32  and the contact lip  34 . Accordingly, the movement of the contact lip  34  is not limited. Even in the case where the sunroof panel  20  is thermally expanded or thermally shrunken, it is possible to maintain the seal of the sunroof panel  20 .  
         [0028]    The mounting flange  12  of the frame  10  is fitted in the groove portion  31   a  between the body portion  31  and the leg portion  32  whereby the weather strip  30  is mounted on the frame  10 . Under this condition, the surface side lip  33   a  of the weather strip  30  is brought into elastic area contact with the top surface  20   a  of the sunroof panel  20  to thereby seal the edge portion of the sunroof panel  20 .  
         [0029]    The elastic sealing material  50  having elasticity and viscosity is filled in a space S surrounded by the main plate portion  11  of the frame  10 , the contact lip  34  and the back surface  20   b  of the sunroof panel  20 . It is preferable to use as the elastic sealing material  50  material such as a rubber system hot melt elastic sealing material having performance such that even if the sunroof panel  20  is thermally expanded to be kept in the compressed condition, there is generated no high stress and in the case where the sunroof panel  20  is thermally shrunken and subjected to the tension stress, there is no fear that the end face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20  is peeled off the contact lip  34  or there is no fear that the material fracture occurs.  
         [0030]    A slant surface  20   d  forming a sharp angle θ relative to the surface  20   a  is formed in the end face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20 . Then, this slant surface  20   d  and the contact lip  34  form a predetermined angle. The slant surface  20   d  is provided in the end face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20  so that the shearing or the like of the elastic sealing material  50  caused by the depression from the end face  20   c  may be prevented.  
         [0031]    Since the contact lip  34  of the weather strip  30  projects from the lower end of the leg portion  32 , the length of the contact lip  34  is elongated so that the angle defined by the contact lip  34  and the slant surface  20   d  of the sunroof panel  20  may be reduced as much as possible. Thus, in the case where the sunroof panel  20  is thermally expanded or thermally shrunken so that the position of the end face  20   c  relative to the weather strip  30  is shifted, the angular change of the angle defined by the contact lip  34  and the slant surface  20   d  may be reduced. Thus, it is possible to suppress the peel of the elastic sealing material  50  off the contact lip  34  as much as possible.  
         [0032]    In the above-described panel mounting structure, when the sunroof panel  20  is thermally expanded from the reference condition shown in FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the contact lip  34  is depressed with stronger depression force than that of the reference condition by the end face  20   c . Then, the contact lip  34  is shifted to a position indicated by the solid lines from a position indicated by tow-dot-and-dash lines, for example, under the condition that the contact lip  34  is in contact with the end face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20 . In this case, the angle A 2  defined between the slant surface  20   d  of the sunroof panel  20  and the contact lip  34  of the weather strip  30  is smaller than the angle Al of the reference condition. Also, the elastic sealing material  50  that is kept in contact with the slant surface  20   d  of the sunroof panel  20  is compressed and deformed to thereby absorb the thermal expansion of the sunroof panel  20 . Under the condition in this embodiment, it is possible to seal the sunroof panel  20  without fail with the seal structure of the contact lip  34  of the weather strip  30  and the elastic sealing material  50 .  
         [0033]    On the other hand, when the sunroof panel  20  is thermally shrunken from the reference condition shown in FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 4, the depression force for depressing the contact lip  34  by the end face  20   c  is weaker than that of the reference condition in accordance with the movement of the contact face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20  in the direction indicated by the arrow  66 . Then, the contact lip  34  is moved from the position indicated by the two-dot-and-dash lines to the position indicated by the solid lines, for example, by its restoration force under the condition that the contact lip  34  is kept in contact with the end face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20 . In this case, the angle A 3  defined by the slant surface  20   d  of the sunroof panel  20  and the contact lip  34  of the weather strip  30  is greater than the angle A 1  in the reference condition.  
         [0034]    Also, in this case, the peel of the elastic sealing material  50  that is in contact with the slant surface  20   d  of the sunroof panel  20  is prevented by the action of the elastic restoration force and the viscosity.  
         [0035]    With the panel mounting structure in accordance with the first embodiment, the contact lip  34  projects substantially in the form of a flat plate obliquely upwardly toward the end face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20  and there is no region that the elastic sealing material  50  enters between the leg portion  32  and the contact lip  34 . Accordingly, even if the elastic sealing material  50  is moved in the direction toward the leg portion  32  along the contact lip  34 , there is no region where the elastic sealing material  50  is introduced there into so that the movement of the contact lip  34  is limited. It is therefore possible to prevent the movement of the contact lip  34  being limited without fail by the elastic sealing material  50 .  
         [0036]    Also, since the contact lip  34  projects from the lower end of the leg portion  32  and the length of the contact lip  34  is elongated, even if the sunroof panel  20  is thermally expanded or thermally shrunken so that the end face  20   c  is moved relative to the weather strip  30 , it is possible to reduce the angular change of the angle defined by the contact lip  34  and the slant surface  20   d . It is possible to reduce the peel of the elastic sealing material  50  due to the increase in this angular change as much as possible.  
         [0037]    Accordingly, with the seal structure of the contact lip  34  of the weather strip  30  and the elastic sealing material  50 , it is possible to seal the sunroof panel  20  without fail.  
         [0038]    Second Embodiment:  
         [0039]    A panel mounting structure in accordance with a second embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. Incidentally, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or like components as shown in FIGS.  2  to  4 .  
         [0040]    As shown in FIG. 5, a contact lip  74  of a weather strip  70  in accordance with the second embodiment projects obliquely upwardly toward an end face  21   c  of a sunroof panel  21  from a lower end of a leg portion  72  and comes in elastic area contact with the end face  21   c  of the sunroof panel  21  in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Also, this contact lip  74  is formed of one piece in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Also, a convex portion  76  as movement preventing means for preventing the elastic sealing material  50  from moving toward the leg portion  72  is formed on the elastic sealing material  50  side of the contact lip  74 . Further, recess grooves  77  are formed at boundary positions between the leg portion  72  and the contact lip  74 .  
         [0041]    Accordingly, in accordance with the panel mounting structure of the second embodiment, it is possible to prevent the elastic sealing material  50  from moving in the direction toward the leg portion  72  by the convex portion  76  provided on the elastic sealing material  50  side of the contact lip  74 . For instance, even if the region into which the elastic sealing material  50  may be introduced is formed between the leg portion  72  and the contact lip  74 , it is possible to prevent the elastic sealing material  50  from moving in the direction between the leg portion  72  and the contact lip  74 . Accordingly, there is no fear that the elastic sealing material  50  is introduced into this region. The number, the shape or the like of the movement preventing means is not limited and may be changed as desired. For example, the movement preventing means may be a hook-shaped projection. Also, the position where the movement preventing means is provided is not limited to the contact lip  74 . For instance, it is possible to provide the movement preventing means on the side of the leg portion  72 .  
         [0042]    Also, it is possible to enhance the smoothness of the movement of the contact lip  74  by the grooves  77  provided at the boundary positions between the leg portion  72  and the contact lip  74 .  
         [0043]    Incidentally, in the first embodiment, although the slant surface  20   d  is provided at the end face  20   c  of the sunroof panel  20 , it is possible to dispense with the slant surface as in the sunroof panel  21  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0044]    Third Embodiment:  
         [0045]    A panel mounting structure in accordance with a third embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 6. Incidentally, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or like components as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0046]    As shown in FIG. 6, a contact lip  84  of a weather strip  80  in accordance with the third embodiment projects obliquely upwardly toward the end face  21   c  of the sunroof panel  21  from the substantially center position of the leg portion  82  and comes into contact with the end face  21   c  of the sunroof panel  21  with elasticity. Also, this contact lip  84  is formed of one piece as in the first embodiment.  
         [0047]    Incidentally, it is preferable that the contact lip  84  projects from the lower end of the leg portion  82  as shown in the first embodiment. However, it is not always necessary that the contact lip  84  projects from the lower end of the leg portion  82 . The arrangement of the contact lip  84  to the leg portion  82  is not limited and may be changed as desired.  
         [0048]    Fourth Embodiment:  
         [0049]    A panel mounting structure in accordance with a fourth embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 7. Incidentally, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or like components as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0050]    As shown in FIG. 7, a contact lip  94  of a weather strip  90  in accordance with the fourth embodiment has an upper portion piece  98   a  and a lower portion piece  98   b . A hollow portion  99  is formed at a position surrounded by the leg portion  92  and the contact lip  94 . In the same manner as in the other embodiments, the hollow-shaped contact lip  94  projects obliquely upwardly toward the end face  21   c  of the sunroof panel  21  from the leg portion  92  and comes into contact with the end face  21   c  of the sunroof panel  21  with elasticity. Incidentally, the upper portion piece  98   a  and the lower portion piece  98   b  are formed thinner than the contact lip of the other embodiments.  
         [0051]    Accordingly, with the panel mounting structure in accordance with the above-described fourth embodiment, the contact lip  94  has an excellent followability to the end face  21   c  of the sunroof panel  21 .  
         [0052]    The present invention is not limited to the above-described first to fourth embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible. For instance, the convex portion  76  as the movement preventing means of the elastic sealing material  50  in accordance with the second embodiment may be applied to the other embodiments other than the second embodiment.  
         [0053]    In each of the foregoing embodiments, although the synthetic resin made sunroof panels  20 ,  21  have been described, the material of the light transmitting panel is not limited to the synthetic resin. For example, it is possible to apply the invention to the combination of the glass made light transmitting panel and the metal made frame. This combination has a less difference in linear expansion coefficient than the combination of the synthetic resin made sunroof panel and the metal made frame. However, since the amount of the relative shift at the end portion of the light transmitting panel is also in proportion to the size of the light transmitting panel, the present invention may be well applied, in particular, to the case where the size of the light transmitting panel is large. Namely, the present invention may be applied to the case where the materials having different linear expansion coefficients are applied to the light transmitting panel and the frame.  
         [0054]    Also, in each of the foregoing embodiments, the sunroof panel mounting structure in the automotive sunroof has been described. However, it is possible to apply the present invention to any panel mounting structure to be mounted in a variety of vehicles other than the automotive vehicle or to be provided in other parts other than the sunroof.