Self-adjusting weatherstrip

• US 4,474,402 A
• Filed: 05/05/1983
• Issued: 10/02/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Shelton, Alan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US06/491,738
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 296/76, 296/93, 49/497, 49/485, 49/490, 49/498, 49/489, 49/495, 49/488, 49/493, 49/491, 52/716, 52/717, 52/718
• US Class Current: 296/76
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/35 using adhesive tapes, e.g. double-sided tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/82 for movable panels in roofs

Abstract

A compressible weatherstrip includes a mounting portion adapted for attachment on the vehicle body and a tubular deflection portion integrally molded with the mounting portion and having a sealing face adapted for engagement by the closure panel upon movement of the closure panel to the closed position. A feeler portion is integrally molded with the tubular deflection portion and is adapted to engage with a flange of the body panel defining the vehicle body opening and deflect the tubular body portion to an adjusted angular orientation so that the sealing face is automatically adjusted to a certain vertical position irrespective of a variation in the vertical position of the weatherstrip mounting portion. Accordingly, the sealing face is reliably poised at a precisely adjusted position which will provide a consistently reliable magnitude of weatherstrip compression upon closure of the closure panel.

Claims

1. A compressible weatherstrip for mounting on a vehicle body to seal a gap around a vehicle body opening defined by a body panel flange and selectively closable by a movable closure panel comprising:

a mounting portion adapted for attachment on the vehicle body;

a tubular deflection portion integral with the mounting portion and having a sealing face adapted for engagement by the closure panel upon movement to the closed position so that the tubular deflection portion is forcibly compressed and bears upon the closure panel to seal against the entry of moisture therebetween; and

a feeler portion integral with the tubular deflection portion and adapted to engage with the flange of the body panel upon attachment of the mounting portion on the vehicle body and concomitantly deflection the tubular body portion relative to the mounting portion whereby the sealing face is automatically adjusted into a certain vertical position irrespective of a variation in the vertical position of the mounting portion so that the sealing face is poised at a precisely adjusted position which provides a consistently reliable magnitude of weatherstrip compression.

2. In a motor vehicle body having a compartment defined by a vehicle compartment panel and accessible through the flanged opening in a body panel and closable by a hinged body panel, a compressible weatherstrip for compressive sealing engagement between the compartment panel and the closure panel comprising:

a mounting portion having a recess adapted to receive the edge portion of the compartment panel to mount the mounting portion on the compartment panel;

a tubular deflection portion integrally molded with the mounting portion and adapted for engagement by the closure panel upon movement of the closure panel to the position closing the opening so that the tubular deflection portion is forcibly compressed and bears upon the closure panel to seal against the entry of moisture therebetween; and

a feeler portion integral with the tubular deflection portion and adapted to interfere with the flange of the body panel in a manner to effect a bodily deflection of the tubular deflection portion upon mounting of the mounting portion of the weatherstrip onto the edge portion of the compartment panel so that the tubular portion is deflected to a position in which the deflection portion is poised at a precise location for establishing a predeterminedly consistent degree of compressive engagement by the closure panel to seal the interface between the compartment panel and closure panel and provide a predetermined degree of closing effort.