Gasket seal for a fixed window which is solidly connected to the flanges of an opening and the production method thereof

• US 20050104406A1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rehau Incorporated (Wagner Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Rehau Incorporated (Wagner Holding AG)
• Inventors: Pennerath, Eddy
• Granted Patent: US 7,111,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/70 specially adapted for windows or windscreens

Abstract

The invention relates to a gasket seal (1) in the form of a profile comprising a U-shaped groove (23), which is intended to claim the edge (9) of the window (3) and a flexible masking lip (25) which is used to conceal the gap (8) between the window and the body (5). The inventive seal also comprises a longitudinal rib (29) which is provided with local deformations (30) that act as positioners (17). The method of producing the aforementioned gasket seal comprises a step involving the extrusion of a profile which comprises a U-shaped groove, a flexible masking lip and a continuous longitudinal rib and, subsequently, a step whereby said rib is deformed locally in order to form the positioners. During said deformation step, the rib is flattened locally by a crushing or pinching in order to reduce the thickness thereof and increase the height of same in the relevant area. The invention is particularly suitable for manufactures of motor vehicle accessories.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A seal for a fixed window (3) covering an opening (4), specifically an opening in an automobile, in the form of a profile (13) comprising a longitudinal groove (23) with a sidewise u-shaped transverse section for attachment to an edge (9) of the window (3) and a masking lip (25) covering a space (8) between the edge of the window and an adjacent edge of the opening, wherein on an interior surface of the seal a longitudinal rib (29) which has, only in certain discontinuous localized areas, at least one permanent deformation (30) which constitutes a higher area on the rib than along the rest of the rib, thereby forming a projecting portion that serves as a positioning stop (17) in order to maintain optimal spacing between the seal (1) and edges (7) of the opening.

18. The seal according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the deformations (30) is a flattened area on the rib (29) constituting a thinner and higher area than the rest of the rib, thereby forming a projecting portion that serves as a positioning stop (17).

19. The seal according to claim 17, wherein the local deformations (30) of the longitudinal rib (29) are disposed in precise locations on the seal (1), selected and imposed for technical reasons and corresponding to areas on the edges of the opening where manufacturing standards must be respected precisely with little allowance.

20. The seal according to claim 17, wherein the seal further comprises five local deformations (30) serving as positioning stops (17).

21. The seal according to claim 17, wherein the seal is designed to surround the entire perimeter of the window (3).

22. The seal according to claim 17, wherein the seal is designed to surround only a portion of the perimeter of the window (3), preferably three sides of the window.

23. The seal according to claim 17, wherein the seal is formed of several profile elements (14, 15) integrated with one another.

24. The seal according to claim 23, wherein the profile elements (14, 15) are integrated with one another by soldering the adjacent extremities (15) previously bisected at 45°

.

25. The seal according to claim 17, wherein the seal formed of a polymer material that can be extruded and permanently locally deformed.

26. The seal according to claim 17, wherein the seal is formed of a plastic material formulated with thermoplastic properties.

27. The seal according to claim 17, wherein the seal is made of charged polypropylene or PVC.

28. The seal according to claim 17, wherein the seal is designed to be used on a windshield (3), a rear window or a back window on an automobile.

29. A method of manufacturing a seal for a fixed window (3) covering an opening (4), specifically an opening in an automobile, the method comprising the steps of:

extruding a profile (13) comprising a longitudinal groove (23) with a sidewise U-shaped transverse section designed for attachment to an edge (9) of the window, a masking lip (25) for covering a gap (8) between the edge of the window and an adjacent edge of the opening, and on an interior surface, a continuous longitudinal rib (29);

locally deforming the rib (29) to form one or more positioning stops (17) for maintaining optimal spacing between the seal (1) and the edges (7) of the window.

30. The method of manufacturing a seal according to claim 29, further comprising the step of flattening the rib by crushing or pinching, during which step the rib (29) is locally flattened to reduce a thickness and increase a height in a predetermined area in order to form a projecting portion (30) that can serve as a positioning stop (17).

31. The method of manufacturing a seal according to claim 30, wherein the flattening step is accomplished using a pneumatic press that crushes the rib (29) using jaws of a gripping tool.

32. The method of manufacturing a seal according to claim 29, wherein the deformation step is a cold process.