Automotive vehicle seal with decorative trim sealing surface

• US 6,370,824 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson Sealing Systems Incorporated (Totalenergies Se)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson Sealing Systems Incorporated (Totalenergies Se)
• Inventors: Mayfield, Charles C. Jr., Keeney, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Curtis A.
• Application Number:
  US09/567,580
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 494/40, 494/41, 494/751, 494/891, 494/981, 494/961
• US Class Current: 49/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/17 provided with a low-friction material on the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/74 for sliding window panes, e.g. sash guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/79 for flush-glass windows, i.e. for windows flush with the vehicle body or the window frame

Abstract

A weather strip seal for an automotive vehicle is provided. The weather strip seal includes a first extrusion of elastomeric material forming a sealing wing for sealing a first structure of the vehicle with respect to a second structure of the vehicle. The weather strip seal also includes a second ionomer material which is connected onto the first surface of the sealing wing and forms a thin layer thereon.

Claims

1. A weather strip seal for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a carrier reinforcement;

a first elastomeric material extruded onto said carrier forming a retention portion and a sealing wing extending from said retention portion, said retention portion connecting said weather strip seal with a first structure, and said sealing wing having a first surface for sealing said first structure with respect to a second movable structure by contacting said second movable structure with said first surface of said sealing wing; and

a second ionomer material co-extruded onto said first surface of said sealing wing, said second material forming a low friction layer between 50 and 30 microns on said sealing wing first surface, having a gloss level between 20 degrees and 90 degrees and having a durometer between 30 Shore A to 57 Shore D and said second material being harder than said first material.

2. A weather strip seal for an automotive vehicle as described in claim 1 wherein said seal has a concealment wing with a second surface continuous with said sealing wing first surface and said second material forms a layer on said concealment wing.

3. A method of forming a weather strip seal for an automotive vehicle having a first extrusion of an elastomeric material forming a sealing wing for sealing a first structure on an automotive vehicle with respect to a second structure by contacting said second structure with a first surface of said sealing wing and a second ionomer material co-extruded onto said first surface of said sealing wing first extrusion forming a thin layer on said first sealing wing, said method comprising:

extruding onto a carrier said first elastomeric material forming said sealing wing;

extruding onto said first surface of said sealing wing a thin layer of an ionomer material between 50 and 30 microns on said sealing wing first surface, having a gloss level between 20 degrees and 90 degrees and having a durometer between 30 Shore A to 57 Shore D and said second material being harder than said first material.

4. A method of sealing a first structure of an automotive vehicle with respect to a second movable structure of said automotive vehicle, said method comprising:

connecting with said first structure a retention portion of a weather strip seal formed from an extrusion of a first material having a first hardness;

extending from said retention portion a sealing wing from a first elastomeric material integrally formed with said retention portion having a first surface for compliant contact with said second structure;

sealably contacting a thin ionomer low friction material co-extruded onto said sealing wing with said second structure between 50 and 30 microns on said sealing wing first surface, having a gloss level between 20 degrees and 90 degrees and having a durometer between 30 Shore A to 57 Shore D and said second material being harder than said first material.