Weatherstrip carrier

• US 4,869,945 A
• Filed: 05/09/1988
• Issued: 09/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1988
• 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: Harney, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epstein, Henry F.
• Application Number:
  US07/192,019
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 428/122, 428/358, 49/490, 49/498, 52/716
• US Class Current: 428/122
• 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 10/24 having tubular parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/33 characterised by the configuration of the retaining lips
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/80 specially adapted for opening panels, e.g. doors for non-fixed roofs B60J10/90
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24198 Channel-shaped edge component [e.g., binding, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2902 Channel shape

Abstract

According to the invention, a wedging leg extends inwardly from one of the walls of a channel-shaped weatherstrip carrier and reaches angularly toward the base of the weatherstrip carrier. The wedging leg has a foot including a toe portion which frictionally engages with the flange so that the attempted removal of the carrier from the flange is resisted by the frictional engagement of the toe portion with the flange and the wedging leg is placed in a condition of axial compression tending to bow the wedging leg. The wedging leg has a relatively weakened knee joint generally at the mid-length thereof which defines and controls the bowing of the wedging leg as the carrier is removed from the flange. The foot of the wedging leg also has a heel portion which is carried into progressive frictional engagement with the flange during the progressive removal of the carrier from the flange to thereby increase the area of frictional contact between the flange and the foot so that the wedging leg progressively resist the removal of the carrier from the flange. The carrier also has a reaction arm which extends inwardly from the wall generally adjacent the knee joint of the wedging leg so that the reaction arm is engaged by the knee of the wedging leg upon bowing of the wedging leg thereby supporting the wedging leg at a point closer to the foot to minimize the bowing and thereby maintain the wedging leg in generally columnar axial compression and maintain the foot in substantial frictional engagement to resist removal of the carrier from the flange.

Claims

1. A channel shaped weatherstrip carrier of elastomeric material having spaced apart walls connected by a base and contacting legs extending inwardly from the walls to engage with the opposed faces of a flange of a vehicle body installed between the walls to thereby retain the carrier on the vehicle, wherein the improvement comprises:

a wedging leg extending inwardly from at least one of the walls and angularly toward the base, said wedging leg having a foot frictionally engaging with the adjacent face of the flange, said wedging leg having a knee portion located about mid-length thereof between the at least one of the walls and the foot so that the attempted removal of the carrier from the flange places the wedging leg in a condition of axial compression and tends to bow the wedging leg about the knee portion;

and a reaction arm extending inwardly from the one wall adjacent to the wedging leg and being engageable by the wedging leg at the knee portion thereof upon bowing of the wedging leg so that the effective length of the wedging leg is shortened to minimize the bowing of the wedging leg and thereby maintain the wedging leg in generally columnar axial compression whereby the removal of the carrier from the vehicle flange is impeded.

2. A channel shaped weatherstrip carrier of elastomeric material having spaced apart walls connected by a base and contacting legs extending inwardly from the walls to engage with the opposed faces of a flange of a vehicle body installed between the walls to thereby retain the carrier on the vehicle, wherein the improvement comprises:

a wedging leg extending inwardly from at least one of the walls and angularly toward the base, said wedging leg having a foot including a toe portion frictionally engaging with the adjacent face of the flange whereby the attempted removal of the carrier from the flange is resisted by the frictional engagement of at least the foot toe portion with the flange and the wedging leg is placed in a condition of axial compression tending to bow the wedging leg as the carrier is removed from the flange;

said wedging leg having a relatively weakened knee joint generally at the mid length thereof and adapted to define and control the bowing of the wedging leg as the carrier is removed from the flange;

said foot of the wedging leg having a heel portion which is carried into progressive frictional engagement with the flange during progressive removal of the carrier from the flange, thereby increasing the area of frictional contact between the flange and the foot of the wedging leg so that the wedging leg progressively resists the removal of the carrier from the flange;

and a reaction arm extending inwardly from the one wall adjacent to the knee joint of the wedging leg and being engageable by the wedging leg upon bowing of the wedging leg so that the wedging leg supported at a point closer to the foot to minimize the bowing of the wedging leg and thereby maintain the wedging leg in generally columnar axial compression and maintain the foot of the wedging leg in substantial frictional engagement with the flange whereby the removal of carrier from the vehicle flange is substantially resisted.