Sealing profile, vehicle body equipped with such and method for working it

• US 10,449,845 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Berndt, Frank-Olaf, Will, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Black, Melissa A
• Application Number:
  US15/832,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20180154751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/16 consisting of two or more plastic materials having different physical or chemical properties B60J10/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/233 Modular sealing arrangements, i.e. arrangements built up from a large number of joined modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/35 using adhesive tapes, e.g. double-sided tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/45 Assembling sealing arrangements with vehicle parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/82 for movable panels in roofs
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/84 arranged on the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 29/002 a foamable synthetic material or metal being added in situ shaping of substances in a plastic state by foaming, in general B29C44/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/024 Positioning of sub-units or components with respect to body shell or other sub-units or components

Abstract

A sealing profile includes an elastomer body with a first and a second profile section. The first profile section is harder than the second profile section and has an elongated cross section with an exposed flank. A first plane that is tangential with respect to the exposed flank subdivides the second profile section in the relaxed state into a first and a second sealing region.

Claims

1. A sealing profile for a vehicle to seal a gap between a first body element and a second body element surrounding the first body elements, the sealing profile comprising an elastomer body having a first profile section delimited by a first major face defining a plane and having first and second longitudinal edges and a second major face opposite the first major face, and a second profile section forming a cross-sectional region of the elastomer body, which projects over the plane in a direction from the second major face to the first major face and adjacent the first longitudinal edge, wherein the first profile section is harder than the second profile section.

2. The sealing profile according to claim 1, wherein a flank of the cross-sectional region adjoins the first major face at the first longitudinal edge in a flush manner.

3. The sealing profile according to claim 2, wherein the flank of the cross-sectional region has a concaved surface with respect to the first major face such that a cut angle defined between a tangent at a point of tangency on the concave surface of the flank and the plane approaches 180°

as the point of tangency approaches the first longitudinal edge.

4. The sealing profile according to claim 3, wherein the cross-sectional region and the first profile section do not overlap as seen in a direction that is perpendicularly to the first major face.

5. The sealing profile according to claim 4, wherein the second profile section forms a sealing region on the second major face.

6. The sealing profile according to claim 5, wherein the sealing region and the cross-sectional region are formed in one piece with one another.

7. The sealing profile according to claim 5, wherein the sealing region delimits a hollow space extending along the elastomer body.

8. The sealing profile according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional region comprises as a rib, which at a narrow side of its cross section adjoins the first profile section.

9. The sealing profile according to claim 1, wherein the first profile section and the second profile section comprise the same elastomer material, wherein the elastomer material in the second profile section is a foamed elastomer material.

10. The sealing profile according to claim 1, further comprising an insert disposed in the first profile section, wherein a stretchability of the insert is less than a stretchability of the first profile section.

11. The sealing profile according to claim 10, wherein the insert comprises at least one fibre extending in a longitudinal direction of the sealing profile.

12. The sealing profile according to claim 1, wherein the first major face is delimited at the second longitudinal edge by a web projecting over the plane.

13. A vehicle body comprising:

a first body element;

a second body element spaced apart from the first body element and defining a gap therebetween;

a seal at least partially disposed over the gap and secured to the second body, the seal including an elastomer body having a first profile section delimited by a first major face defining a plane and having first and second longitudinal edges and a second major face opposite the first major face, and a second profile section forming a cross-sectional region of the elastomer body, which projects over the plane in a direction from the second major face to the first major face and adjacent the first longitudinal edge, wherein the first profile section is harder than the second profile section.

14. The vehicle body according to claim 13, further comprising a third body element located inside, wherein the second profile section abuts the third body element and bridges an intermediate space between the first body element and the third body element.

15. A method for working a sealing profile to a vehicle body component comprising:

providing a sealing profile including an elastomer body having a first profile section delimited by a first major face defining a plane and having first and second longitudinal edges and a second major face opposite the first major face, and a second profile section forming a cross-sectional region of the elastomer body, which projects over the plane in a direction from the second major face to the first major face and adjacent the first longitudinal edge, wherein the first profile section is harder than the second profile section;

pressing the first major face against a flat support; and

cutting the sealing profile by bringing a blade into contact with the support through the sealing profile.