Weather strip for use in automobile

• US 5,072,546 A
• Filed: 11/21/1990
• Issued: 12/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US07/617,260
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 49/490, 49/491, 49/496, 49/497
• US Class Current: 49/490.1
• 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 10/18 provided with reinforcements or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/24 having tubular parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/32 using integral U-shaped retainers
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/33 characterised by the configuration of the retaining lips

Abstract

A weather strip for mounting on a flange provided along a peripheral edge portion of an opening in a body of an automobile, including a trim portion of a U-shaped cross-section for being fitted on the flange, the trim portion having a pair of opposed side walls and holder lips which are formed on the inner surface of each of the opposed side walls and extend to the opposite side wall; a seal portion formed on an outer surface of one of the side walls which is adapted to be directed toward the exterior of the automobile body when the weather strip is mounted on the flange, the seal portion projecting outwardly from a generally central portion of the one side wall and being adapted to be pressed against a closure member for closing the opening; a seal lip extending from a distal end of the one side wall so as to be pressed against a portion of a body panel extending along the flange; and a core member embedded in the trim portion, the core member having a row of core elements spaced at a predetermined distance from one another. The core member has connective portions interconnecting the core elements so that when the trim portion is bent along a corner portion of the peripheral edge portion of the opening, the connective portions being either disposed in the one side wall and disposed inwardly of the neutral axis of the bending or disposed in the other side wall and disposed outwardly of the neutral axis.

Claims

1. In a weather strip for mounting on a flange provided along a peripheral edge portion of an opening in a body of an automobile, comprising:

(a) a trim portion of U-shaped cross-section for being fitted on the flange, said trim portion having inner and outer side walls and holder lips which are formed on the inner surface of each of the inner and outer side walls and extend to the opposite side wall the trim portion being bent in such a manner that the opening side of said U-shaped cross section of said trim portion is directed radially outwardly of the bend when said weather strip is mounted on said flange;

(b) a seal portion formed on an outer surface of said outer side wall which is adapted to be directed toward the exterior of the automobile body when said weather strip is mounted on the flange, said seal portion protection outwardly from a generally central portion of said outer side wall and being adapted to be pressed against a closure member for closing the opening;

(c) a seal lip extending from a distal end of said outer side wall so as to be pressed against a portion of a body panel extending along the flange; and

(d) a core member embedded in said trim portion, said core member having a row of core elements spaced at a predetermined distance from one another;

said core member having consecutive portions interconnecting said core elements;

when said trim portion is bent along a corner portion of the peripheral edge portion of the opening, said connective portions being disposed in said outer side wall, radially inwardly of a neutral axis of the bending when said weather strip is mounted on said flange.

2. A weather strip according to claim 1, further comprising another connective portion disposed in the inner side wall, outwardly of said neutral axis.