Molded urethane window gasket assembly with hinge member and apparatus and method for making same

• US 4,761,916 A
• Filed: 01/15/1987
• Issued: 08/09/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Libbey-Owens-Ford Co. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Sheller Globe Corp. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Adams, David G., Sanok, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): KANNAN, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US07/005,334
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 49/381, 49/501, 296/84 R, 160/231 A
• US Class Current: 49/381
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0038 with sealing means or the like seals on envelopes used in tyre retreading B29D30/542; for injection moulding footwear B29D35/0045
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0072 with a configuration promoting turbulency, e.g. for after-mixing in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/246 Moulding high reactive monomers or prepolymers, e.g. by reaction injection moulding [RIM], liquid injection moulding [LIM] casting monomers B29C39/006, mixing construction B29B7/74
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/74 Moulding material on a relatively small portion of the preformed part, e.g. outsert moulding B29C70/845 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2709/08 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/265 Packings, Gaskets
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/778 Windows profiled elements for making window frames B29L2031/005, windscreens B29L2031/3052
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/10 fixedly mounted B60J1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/1884 about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/70 specially adapted for windows or windscreens

Abstract

An improved window gasket assembly with an integral living hinge member and the apparatus and associated method for reaction injection molding and bonding such assemblies, as well as other molded articles, are disclosed. The gasket is preferably integrally molded from an elastomeric material such as urethane, and at least a portion of which is simultaneously bonded onto at least one substantially transparent window panel. The gasket and window assembly can then be mounted and bonded or secured directly to a vehicle body panel opening, for example, with adhesives, thereby eliminating the need for discrete mechanical fasteners, with at least one window panel being hingedly and pivotally attached to said vehicle body panel. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, an improved aftermixer and gating apparatus includes a mixing body in which a flowable multi-constituent molding material is separated into a number of generally serpentine mixing passageways and reunited in a common mixing cavity before being conveyed through a fan-gate passageway to the mold cavity. Adjustment means is provided for selectively altering the size of the mixing cavity and its inlet openings in order to selectively alter the back-pressure exerted on the material flowing therethrough, thereby enhancing the mixing of the molding material constituents. An improved mold apparatus is also preferably employed and includes elongated elastomeric members along the preferable edge of the mold cavity for supportingly engaging the mold members and substantially minimizing or preventing flashing of the molding material therefrom.

Claims

1. In a window assembly having at least one substantially transparent window panel and a window gasket assembly for sealing between said transparent window panel and a window opening in a vehicle body panel or the like, the improvement wherein said gasket assembly includes a fixed gasket member adapted to be bonded and secured directly to a peripheral area of said body panel surrounding said window opening with an adhesive material without the use of a mechanical fastener device, a movable gasket member secured to at least a portion of the peripheral edge area of said window panel, said fixed and movable gasket members being interconnected by a flexible hinge web extending therebetween, said window panel and said movable gasket member being hingedly and pivotally movable relative to said fixed gasket member and said body panel, said fixed and movable gasket members and said hinge web being integrally molded in a one-piece structure, said movable gasket member being integrally molded onto at least said portion of said peripheral edge area of the window panel and bonded thereto, and said one-piece structure being reaction injection molded from a multi-constituent urethane material.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said movable gasket member is integrally molded substantially continuously around substantially the entire peripheral edge area of the window panel and bonded thereto.

3. In a window assembly having at least one substantially transparent movable window panel, at least one substantially transparent fixed window panel, and a window gasket assembly for sealing between said window panels and a window opening in a vehicle body panel or the like, the improvement wherein said gasket assembly includes a fixed gasket member adapted to be bonded and secured directly to a pheripheral area of said body panel surrounding said window opening with an adhesive material without the use of a mechanical fastener device, said fixed gasket member being secured to at least a portion of the peripheral edge area of said fixed window panel, a movable gasket member secured to at least a portion of the peripheral edge area of said movable window panel, said fixed and movable gasket members being interconnected by a flexible hinge web extending therebetween, said movable window panel and gasket member being hingedly and pivotally movable relative to said fixed window panel and gasket member and said body panel, at least said fixed and movable gasket members and said hinge web being integrally molded in a one-piece structure, said fixed gasket member being integrally molded onto at least said portion of said peripheral edge area of the fixed window panel and bonded thereto, said movable gasket member being integrally molded onto at least said portion of said peripheral edge area of the movable gasket member and bonded thereto, and said one-piece structure is reaction injection molded from a multi-constituent urethane material, said fixed gasket member including an opening extending therethrough between said fixed window panel and said body panel in order to allow direct adhesive bonding between said body panel and said fixed window panel.

4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein said fixed gasket member is integrally molded substantially continuously around substantially the entire peripheral edge area of the fixed window panel and bonded thereto, said movable gasket member being integrally molded substantially continuously around substantially the entire peripheral edge area of the movable window panel and bonded thereto.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein said fixed gasket member and window panel are bonded and secured to said body panel substantially continuously around said peripheral area surrounding said window opening in order to substantially distribute the bonding and securing forces throughout said peripheral area surrounding said window opening.

6. A reaction injection molded window gasket assembly for a window assembly having at least two substantially transparent window panels, one of said window panels being fixed and one of said window panels being pivotally movable relative to said fixed window panel, said gasket assembly comprising a fixed gasket member integrally molded onto at least a portion of a peripheral edge area of said fixed window panel, the fixed gasket member and window panel assembly being adapted to be bonded and secured directly to a peripheral area surrounding a window opening in a vehicle body panel or the like with an adhesive material without the use of mechanical fastener devices, a movable gasket member integrally molded onto at least a portion of a peripheral edge area of said movable window panel, a flexible living hinge member interconnectably extending between said fixed and movable gasket members and being integrally formed in a one-piece structure therewith, said gasket assembly being reaction injection molded from a multi-constituent urethane material.

7. A window gasket assembly according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said gasket members has a pigmented material on at least a portion of its external surface, said pigmented material being transferred to said at least one gasket member during the reaction injection molding thereof.

8. A window gasket assembly according to claim 6, wherein said fixed gasket member and window panel assembly are adapted to be bonded and secured to said body panel substantially continuously around said peripheral area surrounding said window opening in order to substantially distribute the bonding and securing forces throughout said peripheral area.

9. In a window assembly having at least one substantially transparent movable window panel and a window gasket assembly for sealing between said window panels and a window opening in a vehicle body panel or the like, the improvement wherein said gasket assembly includes a first gasket member, a second gasket member secured to at least a portion of the peripheral edge area of said movable window panel, said first and second gasket members being interconnected by a flexible hinge web extending therebetween, said movable window panel and said second gasket member being hingedly and pivotally movable relative to said first gasket member and said body panel at least said first and second gasket members and said hinge web being integrally molded in a one-piece structure, said second gasket member being integrally molded onto at least said portion of said peripheral edge area of the movable gasket member and bonded thereto, and said one-piece structure being reaction injection molded from a multi-constituent urethane material.

10. In a window assembly having at least a pair of substantially transparent window panels and a window gasket assembly for sealing between said transparent window panel and a window opening in a vehicle body or the like, the improvement wherein said gasket assembly includes a gasket member adapted to be bonded and secured directly to a peripheral area of said portion of body surrounding said window opening with an adhesive material without the use of a mechanical fastener device, said gasket members also being secured to at least a portion of the peripheral edge areas of said window panels, said gasket members being interconnected by a flexible hinge web extending therebetween, said window panels and said movable gasket members being hingedly and pivotally movable relative to one another, said gasket members and said hinge web being integrally molded in a one-piece structure, said gasket members being integrally molded onto at least said portion of said peripheral edge areas of their respective window panels and bonded thereto, and said one-piece structure being reaction injection molded from a multi-constituent urethane material.

11. The invention according to claim 10, wherein said movable gasket member is integrally molded substantially continuously around substantially the entire peripheral edge areas of their respective window panels and bonded thereto.