Automobile window molding

• US 5,927,040 A
• Filed: 08/05/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuwabara, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): KENT, CHRISTOPHER T
• Application Number:
  US08/906,337
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 52/208, 52/716.5, 52/716.8, 52/717.01, 52/717.05, 49/489.1, 49/490.1, 296/93
• US Class Current: 52/716.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/70 specially adapted for windows or windscreens

Abstract

An automobile window molding including a molding body to be installed in a clearance between a peripheral edge of a windshield and a peripheral wall of a window frame, and a seal lip which protrudes from the outside of the molding body and which elastically transforms to a curved shape in such a manner that a tip portion thereof contacts the peripheral wall of the window frame, the seal lip decreasing in thickness from a base portion to a middle portion thereof and having an elastically transformable portion of thin thickness formed between the base portion and the middle portion and increasing in thickness from the elastically transformable portion to the tip portion, the tip portion being formed in thick section.

Claims

1. An automobile window molding comprising a molding body to be installed in a clearance between a peripheral edge of a windshield and a peripheral wall of a window frame, said molding body comprising a lea portion, a head portion integral with and extending laterally from said leg portion to a first side thereof, a retaining portion integral with and extending laterally from said leg portion to said first side thereof and spaced from said head portion to define a channel for reception of said peripheral edge of said windshield therein, and a seal lip which protrudes outward from a second opposite side of said molding body leg portion adjacent said retaining portion and which elastically transforms to a curved shape with a tip portion thereof laterally spaced from said second side for contact with the peripheral wall of said window frame, said seal lip progressively decreasing in thickness from a base portion at said second side of said leg portion to a middle portion thereof, forming an elastically transformable portion of reduced thickness, and progressively increasing in thickness from the elastically transformable portion to a maximum thickness at the tip portion.

2. The automobile window molding as defined in claim 1, wherein the tip portion of said seal lip is located inward relative to said head portion toward said retaining portion when said molding body is installed in the clearance between the peripheral edge of the windshield and the peripheral wall of the window frame.

3. The automobile window molding as defined in claim 1, wherein the tip portion of said seal lip has arcuate shape in cross section.

4. The automobile window molding as defined in claim 2 wherein said maximum thickness at said tip portion of said seal lip is at least approximately two times as great as said reduced thickness of said elastically transformable portion, said seal lip at said base portion having a thickness at least approximately 1.8 times as great as said reduced thickness.

5. The automobile window molding as defined in claim 1 wherein said maximum thickness at said tip portion of said seal lip is at least approximately two times as great as said reduced thickness of said elastically transformable portion, said seal lip at said base portion having a thickness at least approximately 1.8 times as great as said reduced thickness.

6. The automobile window molding as defined in claim 2 wherein the tip portion of said seal lip is located inward relative to a roof panel integral with the window frame and toward the retaining portion when said molding body is installed in the clearance between the peripheral edge of the windshield and the peripheral wall of the window frame.

7. The automobile window molding as defined in claim 6 wherein said tip portion has an end face inclined upward toward the peripheral wall of the window frame when the molding body is installed.

8. The automobile window molding as defined in claim 1 wherein the tip portion of said seal lip is located inward relative to a roof panel integral with the window frame and toward the retaining portion when said molding body is installed in the clearance between the peripheral edge of the windshield and the peripheral wall of the window frame.

9. An automobile window molding comprising a molding body to be installed in a clearance between a peripheral edge of a windshield and a peripheral wall of a window frame, said molding body, when installed, comprising:

a head portion for contacting a first surface of the windshield;

a retaining portion for contacting a second surface of the windshield;

a leg portion interconnecting the head portion and the retaining portion; and

a seal lip extending from the leg portion and for extending toward the peripheral wall of the window frame, said seal lip comprising an elastically transformable portion capable of bending into a curved shape, and a tip portion outward from the leg portion of the molding body and for contacting the peripheral wall of the window frame, said seal lip progressively increasing in thickness from the elastically transformable portion to the tip portion, wherein said tip portion has a thickness greater than that of said elastically transformable portion.

10. The automobile window molding as defined in claim 9 wherein the tip portion of said seal lip is located inward relative to a roof panel integral with the window frame and toward the retaining portion when said molding body is installed in the clearance between the peripheral edge of the windshield and the peripheral wall of the window frame.

11. The automobile window molding as defined in claim 9 wherein the tip portion of said seal lip has an arcuate shape in cross section.