Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates generally to appearance features for use on motor vehicle glass and more particularly to an appearance feature for providing a show surface on a polyurethane glass bond on a motor vehicle window.  
         [0002]     An art has developed regarding the means and mechanisms whereby glass windows or lights are mounted and secured within openings of motor vehicle bodies and doors. For many years, stationary glass lights were surrounded by a preformed peripheral gasket fabricated as a continuous extrusion which was subsequently cut to length. The ends of the gasket would then be secured together and the assembly installed in an opening of the motor vehicle. In a later developed technology, the gasket was formed as a continuous undersized loop in a mold and was then stretched to engage the periphery of a glass light.  
         [0003]     Further developments involved the in-situ molding of the gasket directly on the glass light in a suitable mold which received the glass and included a peripheral gasket forming cavity.  
         [0004]     A variation of solid peripheral in-situ gasket molding involves bonding gaskets or weatherstrips on one face of a glass light. Such glass lights may be utilized, for example, as hinged vent windows. While such configurations provide both the necessary seal and live hinge functions, the bonded area, since it may be either on the outside of the glass or be visible from the outside of the glass, may have an unacceptable appearance. That is, both the appearance of the material or materials themselves as well as the appearance of the seal configuration may be deemed unacceptable.  
         [0005]     The present invention is directed to improvements in weatherstrips and seals bonded directly to a glass window or light.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     An appearance feature for a weatherstrip or seal bonded directly to a glass window or light includes a gasket seal assembly comprising molded material and polyurethane bonded directly to the glass and an applique which is secured to the polyurethane material before it cures. The applique may be of any material having suitable shape, color, appearance and weatherability. The applique includes a first, appearance surface and a second, attachment surface which includes projecting pins, chevrons, loops, stirrups and the like which are mechanically held in the polyurethane when it has cured. An alternate embodiment weatherstrip utilizes double sided tape to secure the appliqué to the seal.  
         [0007]     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an appearance feature for a weatherstrip bonded directly to a glass light.  
         [0008]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an appearance feature having a desired color and appearance for attachment to a gasket or seal bonded directly to a glass light.  
         [0009]     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an appearance feature having a show surface and which is mechanically secured to a glass polyurethane bond.  
         [0010]     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiment and appended drawings wherein the like reference numbers refer to the same component, element or feature. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a motor vehicle illustrating the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, full sectional view of an in-situ molded polyurethane weatherstrip and applique according to the present invention, taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged, full sectional view of an alternate embodiment applique attachment structure according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, full sectional view of an in-situ molded polyurethane weatherstrip on a glass light according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, full sectional view of an in-situ molded polyurethane weatherstrip shown during the installation of an applique;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged, full sectional view of an alternate embodiment applique attachment method according to the present invention; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged, full sectional view of the alternate embodiment applique attachment method and in-situ molded polyurethane weatherstrip. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a partial, side elevational view of a four-door motor vehicle such as a pick-up truck, sport utility vehicle (SUV) or hybrid sport utility vehicle is illustrated and designated by the reference number  10 . It is to be noted that such illustration is exemplary only and it will be appreciated that the present invention may also be utilized in passenger vehicles, truck cabs, tractor cabs and the like. The motor vehicle  10  includes a body  12 , a front door  14 , a rear door  16 , a moveable front window  18 , a moveable rear window  22 , a front weatherstrip assembly  24  secured to the front door  14  about the opening receiving the moveable front window  18  and a rear weatherstrip assembly  26  secured to the rear window or glass light  22  which provides a seal to an adjacent portion of the rear door  18 . The front weatherstrip assembly  24  functions to aesthetically conceal the interface between the front door  14  and the front window  18 . Since the rear window  22  is hinged, however, the weatherstrip  26  functions to seal the periphery of the glass light  22  to the adjacent portion of the vehicle  10 .  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the weatherstrip  26  includes first and second regions of molding material  32  which may be ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or a polyvinylchloride (PVC). Between the two regions of molding material  32  is a region of polyurethane  34 . The molding material  32  is in-situ molded to the glass light  22  in a suitable molding cavity (not illustrated). Depending upon the type of molding material  32  and the degree of adhesion required, a primer layer (not illustrated), may be applied to the glass light  22  before application of the molding material  32 . The molding material  32  is formed into a flexible, J-shaped flange  36  which extends outwardly from the glass light  22  and includes a curved end or return  38  which facilitates a seal with the door  16  as will be readily appreciated.  
         [0020]     An applique  40  having an outwardly directed show surface  42  fully covers the molding material  32  as well as the flange  36  and engages the glass light  22  thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the peripheral portion of the glass light  22 . The applique  40  defines a curved end or return  46  which is adapted to engage the glass light  22  and hide the molding material  32  and the polyurethane  34 . The applique  40  also includes a securement structure  46  extending from its surface opposite the show surface  42  such as a continuous chevron or arrowhead shaped feature which securely retains the applique  40  within the polyurethane  34 .  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a first alternate embodiment weatherstrip  26 ′ is illustrated. The weatherstrip  26 ′ includes two spaced apart regions of molding material  32  and an intermediate region of polyurethane  34 . The region of molding material  32  adjacent the edge of the glass light  22  extends beyond the glass light  22 , forms a J-shaped flange  36  and includes a flexible terminal portion or return  59  which facilitates and ensues a secure, weather tight seal with and against the door  16 . The weatherstrip  26 ′ also includes an appliqué  50  having a show surface  52  and a centrally disposed U-shaped plurality of discrete, i.e., discontinuous or spaced apart, anchors  54  which embed within the polyurethane  34  to retain the applique  50  adjacent the glass light  22 . The applique  50  likewise includes a curved, edge or return  56  which engages the glass light  22 .  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a first method of assembly of the weatherstrip  26  or the first alternate embodiment weatherstrip  26 ′ is illustrated. First of all, the window or glass light  22  is washed or cleaned by any conventional and well known process such that the glass light  22  is free of dust, grease or other foreign substances which might interfere with the positive and secure adhesion of the molding material  32  and the polyurethane  34  to it. Depending upon the particular materials used for these features, it may be desirable or necessary to apply a primer layer (not illustrated) to the glass light  22  after cleaning and before emplacement of the molding material  32  and the polyurethane  34  thereon. Emplacement of the molding material  32  is preferably achieved in a conventional two-piece mold (not illustrated) having upper and lower sections which cooperatively receive the glass light  22  and include peripheral channels which correspond with the desired cross-section and configuration of the molding material  32 . The molding material  32  is then preferably cured and the glass light  22  with the regions of molding material  32  secured thereto is removed from the mold.  
         [0023]     The space between the two strips of molding material  32  is then filled with liquid polyurethane at an elevated temperature. Before the polyurethane  34  cools and solidifies, the appliqué  40  or  50  is assembled to the molding material  32  and glass light  22  such that when the polyurethane  34  cools and solidifies, the appliqués  40  and  50  are retained therein.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an alternate attachment method for an appliqué  40 ′ utilizes a strip of double sided tape  60 . The double sided tape  60  includes durable, weather resistant, pressure sensitive adhesive on both its upper and lower surfaces. The appliqué  40 ′ includes a pair of small preferably continuous locating ribs  62  on its inside opposite its show surface  64  or underside which are shown somewhat enlarged for purposes of clarity. The locating ribs  62  generally identify that region of the appliqué  40 ′ upon which the double sided tape  60  is preferably secured. After fabrication of the molding material  32  and subsequent addition of the polyurethane  34  and allowing the polyurethane  34  to fully cool, the appliqué  40 ′ with the attached double sided tape  60  is pressed into position as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , completing assembly of the appliqué  40 ′ and the weatherstrip onto the glass light  22 . Once again, it may be necessary or advisable, depending upon the materials utilized to apply a suitable primer to the surfaces engaged by the double sided tape  60 .  
         [0025]     The foregoing disclosure is the best mode devised by the inventors for practicing this invention. It is apparent, however, that devices incorporating modifications and variations will be obvious to one skilled in the art of sealing and appearance features for use on motor vehicle glass. Inasmuch as the foregoing disclosure is intended to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to practice the instant invention, it should not be construed to be limited thereby but should be construed to include such aforementioned obvious variations and be limited only by the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Technology Category: 7