Seal adapted to cover the longitudinal groove in a roof bar

• US 6,176,404 B1
• Filed: 06/01/1999
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automaxi Industries
• Original Assignee: Automaxi Industries
• Inventors: Fourel, Pascal
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory M.
• Application Number:
  US09/323,353
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 224/309, 224/316, 224/317, 224/321, 224/322, 224/325, 224/326
• US Class Current: 224/309
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/052 Carriers comprising elongate members extending only transversely of vehicle B60R9/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A seal covers a longitudinal groove forming a slide on the top of a roof bar which has in cross section, on its face that faces upward, two longitudinal lips projecting substantially toward each other to cover partly a longitudinal cavity of the bar and to define the groove between them. The seal has on each longitudinal lateral edge a conformation of substantially U-shaped cross section complementary to that of the corresponding longitudinal lip in order to interengage with the lip. The seal has two longitudinal cuts on its face facing toward the cavity, between the two longitudinal lateral conformations. The cuts extend from that face to the vicinity of a top surface of the seal to form a longitudinal central tongue between the cuts which is easily separated from the two longitudinal lateral parts of the seal.

Claims

1. A seal adapted to cover a longitudinal groove forming a slide on the top of a roof bar which has in cross section on its face that faces upward two longitudinal lips projecting substantially toward each other to cover partly a longitudinal cavity of said bar and to define said groove between them, said seal having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending conformations of substantially U-shaped cross section complementary to that of the corresponding longitudinal lips in order to interengage with said lips, said seal having on its face facing toward said cavity, between said two longitudinal lateral conformations, two longitudinal cuts extending from said face to the vicinity of a top surface of said seal to form between said cuts a longitudinal central tongue adapted to be easily separated from said two longitudinal lateral conformations of said seal.

2. The seal claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second longitudinal lateral conformation on at least one longitudinal lateral edge which in cross section extends outwardly relative to the corresponding longitudinal conformation and having a shape in cross section adapted to interengage with at least one second conjugate longitudinal lateral member of said bar to prevent movement of the corresponding one of the lateral conformations of said seal in a cross section plane of said seal.

3. The seal claimed in claim 2 wherein said conjugate longitudinal lateral member of said bar is a second longitudinal lateral lip which partly covers a corresponding longitudinal lateral cavity of said bar forming a corresponding longitudinal lateral groove of said bar and the corresponding second longitudinal lateral conformation of said seal has a shape in cross section including a first portion forming a foot adapted to pass through the corresponding lateral groove and a portion forming a head extending said portion forming a foot and adapted substantially to fill the corresponding lateral cavity of said bar.

4. The seal claimed in claim 3 having two longitudinal lateral conformations on respective opposite sides of said separable longitudinal central tongue.

5. The seal claimed in claim 1 further comprising on a top face of one of said conformations a longitudinal lateral part extending substantially vertically above and outside one of said longitudinal cuts, a longitudinal member projecting upward and having in cross section an aerodynamic shape adapted to guide the airflow over said bar.

6. The seal claimed in claim 1 having a constant shape in cross section adapted to be extruded and to cooperate with a roof bar having a constant shape in cross section adapted to be extruded.

7. The seal claimed in claim 1 made from a rigid or semi-rigid plastics material.

8. A roof bar fitted with a seal, said roof bar comprising a longitudinal groove forming a slide on the top of said roof bar which has in cross section on its upper face two longitudinal lips projecting substantially laterally toward each other to cover partly a longitudinal cavity of said roof bar and to define said groove between them, said seal being adapted to cover said longitudinal groove and having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending conformations of substantially U-shaped cross section complementary to that of the corresponding longitudinal lips in order to interengage with said lips, said seal having on its face facing toward said cavity, between said two longitudinal lateral conformations, two longitudinal cuts extending from said face to the vicinity of a top surface of said seal to form between said cuts a longitudinal central tongue adapted to be easily separated from said two longitudinal lateral conformations of said seal.

9. A roof bar according to claim 8 with said seal further comprising a second longitudinal lateral conformation on at least one longitudinal lateral edge which in cross section extends outwardly relative to the corresponding longitudinal conformation and having a shape in cross section adapted to interengage with at least one second conjugate longitudinal lateral member of said roof bar to prevent movement of the corresponding one of the lateral conformations of said seal in a cross section plane of said seal.

10. A roof bar according to claim 9 wherein said conjugate longitudinal lateral member of said bar is a second longitudinal lateral lip which partly covers a corresponding longitudinal lateral cavity of said roof bar forming a corresponding longitudinal lateral groove of said roof bar and the corresponding second longitudinal lateral conformation of said seal has a shape in cross section including a first portion forming a foot adapted to pass through the corresponding lateral groove and a portion forming a head extending said portion forming a foot and adapted substantially to fill the corresponding lateral cavity of said roof bar.

11. A roof bar according to claim 10 with said seal having two longitudinal lateral conformations on respective opposite sides of said separable longitudinal central tongue.

12. A roof bar according to claim 8 with said seal further comprising on a top face of one of said conformations a longitudinal lateral part extending substantially vertically above and outside one of said longitudinal cuts, a longitudinal member projecting upward and having in cross section an aerodynamic shape adapted to guide the airflow over said roof bar.

13. A roof bar according to claim 8 with said seal having a constant shape in cross section adapted to be extruded and to cooperate with said roof bar having a constant shape in cross section adapted to be extruded.

14. A roof bar according to claim 8 with said seal being made from a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material.

15. A roof bar fitted with a seal, said roof bar comprising a longitudinal groove forming a slide on the top of said roof bar which has in cross section on its upper face two longitudinal lips projecting substantially laterally toward each other to cover partly a longitudinal cavity of said roof bar and to define said groove between them, said seal being adapted to cover said longitudinal groove and having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending conformations of substantially U-shaped cross section complementary to that of the corresponding longitudinal lips in order to interengage with said lips, said seal having on its face facing toward said cavity, between said two longitudinal lateral conformations, two longitudinal cuts extending from said face to the vicinity of a top surface of said seal to form between said cuts a longitudinal central tongue adapted to be easily separated from said two longitudinal lateral conformations of said seal, said longitudinal central tongue of said seal constructed such that when it has been separated, it includes on respective opposite lateral sides of said longitudinal central groove two longitudinal lateral parts of said seal respectively interengaged with at least one corresponding longitudinal lip and, where appropriate, at least one corresponding second longitudinal lateral member of said roof bar.

16. A roof bar according to claim 15 with said seal further comprising a second longitudinal lateral conformation on at least one longitudinal lateral edge which in cross section extends outwardly relative to the corresponding longitudinal conformation and having a shape in cross section adapted to interengage with at least one second conjugate longitudinal lateral member of said roof bar to prevent movement of the corresponding lateral conformation of said seal in a cross section plane of said seal.

17. A roof bar according to claim 16 wherein said conjugate longitudinal lateral member of said bar is a second longitudinal lateral lip which partly covers a corresponding longitudinal lateral cavity of said roof bar forming a corresponding longitudinal lateral groove of said roof bar and the corresponding second longitudinal lateral conformation of said seal has a shape in cross section including a first portion forming a foot adapted to pass through the corresponding lateral groove and a portion forming a head extending said portion forming a foot and adapted substantially to fill the corresponding lateral cavity of said roof bar.

18. A roof bar according to claim 17 with said seal having two longitudinal lateral conformations on respective opposite sides of said separable longitudinal central tongue.

19. A roof bar according to claim 15 with said seal further comprising on a top face of one of said conformations a longitudinal lateral part extending substantially vertically above and outside one of said longitudinal cuts, a longitudinal member projecting upward and having in cross section an aerodynamic shape adapted to guide the airflow over said roof bar.

20. A roof bar according to claim 15 with said seal having a constant shape in cross section adapted to be extruded and to cooperate with said roof bar having a constant shape in cross section adapted to be extruded.

21. A roof bar according to claim 15 with said seal being made from a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material.