Weatherstrip for a vehicle door

• US 5,355,628 A
• Filed: 07/07/1992
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Dranchak, Lawrence J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KANNAN, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US07/909,835
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 49/483, 49/491, 49/490.1
• US Class Current: 49/483.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/38 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/40 characterised by contact between two or more cooperating sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/84 arranged on the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/86 arranged on the opening panel

Abstract

A weatherstrip for a vehicle having a seal gap defined by a door and a door flange surrounding a door opening is provided. The weatherstrip includes a magnet positioned around the door opening in the seal gap such that the door is magnetically secured thereto when the door is closed. The weatherstrip also includes a resilient web having a pocket in which the magnet is mounted and a gripping member having a channel for straddling the door flange. The gripping member has at least one rib on an internal wall of the channel for affixing the gripping member to the door flange. Also, the gripping member is integrally joined to the web to provide a weatherstrip which substantially seals the seal gap when the door is closed.

Claims

1. A weatherstrip for a vehicle having a seal gap define by a door and a door flange surrounding a door opening on said vehicle, said weatherstrip comprising:

a first member having a bulb portion which is curvilinear in shape and an integrally joined base which is adhesively secured to said door, said first member comprising a rigid elastomeric material; and

a second member having a gripping portion for affixing said second member to said door flange and an integrally joined securing channel correspondingly sized to receive said bulb portion of said first member when said door is in a closed position, said second member being mounted around said door opening such that said bulb portion is firmly secured in said securing channel when said door is in said closed position so as to substantially seal said seal gap, said second member comprising a resilient elastomeric material.

2. The weatherstrip of claim 1 wherein said gripping portion comprises a gripping channel for straddling said door flange and at least one rib on an internal wall of said gripping channel for affixing said second member to said door flange.

3. The weatherstrip of claim 2 further comprising a reinforcing wire located in said internal wall of said gripping channel.

4. The weatherstrip of claim 1 further comprising an interior trim flap extending from said gripping portion of said second member into the interior of said vehicle.

5. The weatherstrip of claim 1 wherein said resilient elastomeric material has a hardness in a range from about 20 Shore A to about 25 Shore A.

6. The weatherstrip of claim 1 wherein said rigid elastomeric material has a hardness in a range from about 30 Shore A to about 40 Shore A.

7. The weatherstrip of claim 1 wherein said gripping portion comprises two ribs which firmly secure said second member to said door flange.