Vehicle Glass Run Channel

• US 20120060422A1
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Roll, James R., Patterson, Matthew C., Kunz, Matthew M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,661,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/441
• 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 10/17 provided with a low-friction material on the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/76 for window sashes; for glass run channels
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/84 arranged on the vehicle body

Abstract

A glass run channel for a vehicle door window opening includes first and second mutually spaced legs having relatively high hardness, a trim lip comprising a member having relatively high hardness and a relatively soft laminate covering a surface of the member. The trim lip includes a hard low friction ramp on a reverse facing lip. The trim lip incorporates a low durometer bead at the door surface interference and a low durometer interface to the high hardness leg, allowing the trim lip to operate independently from the inboard leg.

Claims

1. A glass run channel for a vehicle window opening, comprising:

first and second mutually spaced legs having relatively high hardness;

a trim lip comprising a member having relatively high hardness and a relatively soft laminate covering a surface of the member;

sealing lips having relatively low hardness, secured to and extending from the legs; and

a lateral lip extending between and secured to the legs, the trim lip, legs, sealing lips and lateral lip being formed in one piece.

2. The glass run channel of claim 1, wherein the glass run channel is an extrusion whose material is at least one of thermo plastic vulcanite, ethylene propylene diene monomer, and polypropylene.

3. The glass run channel of claim 1, wherein the trim lip is formed with a ramp extending laterally toward an interior of the vehicle.

4. The glass run channel of claim 1, wherein the trim lip further comprises a bead of soft material located at an outer periphery of the trim lip member.

5. The glass run channel of claim 1, further comprising:

a length of relatively soft material located between the trim lip member and the second leg, providing an elastically flexible zone; and

wherein the trim lip is formed with a ramp directed toward an outer periphery of the glass run channel and inclined laterally toward an interior of the vehicle.

6. The glass run channel of claim 1, wherein:

a first sealing lip is adapted to engage an outer surface of a glass pane; and

a second sealing lip is adapted to engage an inner surface of the glass pane.

7. The glass run channel of claim 1, wherein the lateral lip further comprises:

first and second laterally spaced fingers, the first finger adjacent the first leg and extending inward from an outer periphery of the glass run channel, the second finger adjacent the second leg and extending inward from the outer periphery of the glass run channel.

8. A glass run channel for a vehicle window opening, comprising:

first and second mutually spaced legs having relatively high hardness, extending around the opening and adapted to fit within a door channel;

a trim lip, connected to one of the legs, located inboard of the legs and extending along a length of the door channel, including a member having relatively high hardness, and a relatively soft laminate covering a surface of the member, the trim lip located inboard of the door channel;

sealing lips having relatively low hardness, secured to and extending from the legs; and

a lateral lip extending between and secured to the legs, the trim lip, legs, sealing lips and lateral lip being formed in one piece.

9. The glass run channel of claim 8, wherein the glass run channel is an extrusion whose material is at least one of thermo plastic vulcanite, ethylene propylene diene monomer, and polypropylene.

10. The glass run channel of claim 8, wherein the trim lip is formed with a ramp directed toward an outer periphery of the glass run channel and inclined toward an interior of the vehicle.

11. The glass run channel of claim 8, further comprising:

a length of relatively soft material located between the trim lip member and the second leg, providing an elastically flexible zone; and

wherein the trim lip is formed with a ramp directed toward an outer periphery of the glass run channel and inclined toward an interior of the vehicle, the trim lip able to bend elastically in the flexible zone.

12. The glass run channel of claim 8, wherein:

a first sealing lip is adapted to engage an outer surface of a glass pane supported on the door; and

a second sealing lip is adapted to engage an inner surface of the glass pane.

13. The glass run channel of claim 9, wherein the lateral lip further comprises:

first and second laterally spaced fingers, the first finger adjacent the first leg and extending inward from an outer periphery of the glass run channel, the second finger adjacent the second leg and extending inward from the outer periphery of the glass run channel.

14. A glass run channel for a vehicle window opening, comprising:

first and second legs having relatively high hardness, extending along a length of the glass run channel and directed inward from an outer periphery of the glass run channel;

a trim lip, connected to one of the legs, located inboard of the legs and extending along a length of the glass run channel, including a member having relatively high hardness, and a relatively soft laminate covering a surface of the member;

sealing lips having relatively low hardness, secured to and extending from the legs; and

a lateral lip extending between and secured to the legs, the trim lip, legs, sealing lips and lateral lip being formed in one piece.

15. The glass run channel of claim 14, wherein the glass run channel is an extrusion whose material is at least one of thermo plastic vulcanite, ethylene propylene diene monomer, and polypropylene.

16. The glass run channel of claim 14, wherein the trim lip is formed with a ramp directed toward the outer periphery of the glass run channel and inclined toward an interior of the vehicle.

17. The glass run channel of claim 14, further comprising:

a length of relatively soft material located between the trim lip member and the second leg; and

wherein the trim lip is formed with a ramp directed toward the outer periphery of the glass run channel and inclined toward an interior of the vehicle.

18. The glass run channel of claim 14, wherein the trim lip further comprises a bead of soft material located at an outer periphery of the trim lip member.

19. The glass run channel of claim 14, wherein:

a first sealing lip is adapted to engage an outer surface of a glass pane; and

a second sealing lip is adapted to engage an inner surface of the glass pane.

20. The glass run channel of claim 14, wherein the lateral lip further comprises:

first and second laterally spaced fingers, the first finger adjacent the first leg and extending inward from an outer periphery of the glass run channel, the second finger adjacent the second leg and extending inward from the outer periphery of the glass run channel.