Jam protection for a power-operated closing device

• US 6,463,698 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metzeler Automotive Profile Systems GmbH (Cooper-Standard Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Metzeler Automotive Profile Systems GmbH (Cooper-Standard Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hofmann, Knut
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/701,155
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 49/28, 49/26, 49/27, 200/61.43
• US Class Current: 49/28
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/431 specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/142 of the elongated strip type

Abstract

A trapping protector (1) for disposition about an opening in a vehicle body such as a sun roof includes a hollow profile (12) for a power-operated closing device (14) for closing the opening. Terminals (16) are provided at one end of the hollow profile (12) and a function-checking arrangement (28) is provided at the other end of the hollow profile (12). The two ends (23, 24) are brought close together and are axially aligned along a longitudinal centerline and the function-checking arrangement (28) as well as the terminals (16) are arranged laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline (13) of the hollow profile (12) to thus achieve a trapping protector function along substantially the entire periphery of the opening.

Claims

1. A trapping protector for a power-operated closing device, including an elastomer hollow profile comprising electrically conductive portions spaced away from each other whose contact triggers a switching action of a drive assembly of said device, terminals for said electrical conductive portions being provided at one end of said hollow profile and a function-checking means being provided at an opposite end of said hollow profile, in which said two ends are brought close together so as to lie one adjacent the other along a longitudinal centerline of said hollow profile and said function-checking means as well as said terminals are arranged laterally offset from said longitudinal centerline of said hollow profile.

2. The trapping protector as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said terminals (16) are arranged on the same side of said hollow profile (12) as said function-checking means (28).

3. The trapping protector as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said two ends (23, 24) of said hollow profile (12) are mechanically connected to each other and insulated from each other electrically.

4. The trapping protector as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that a spacer (26) is inserted between said two ends (23, 24) of said hollow profile (12).

5. The trapping protector as set forth in claim 4, characterized in that said spacer (26) is made of an electrical insulation material.

6. The trapping protector as set forth in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said spacer (26) comprises a hollow (27).

7. The trapping protector as set forth in any of the claims 3 to 6, characterized in that said two ends (23, 24) are bonded to each other or to said spacer (26) by means of an electrically insulating adhesive, more particularly a PE adhesive.

8. The trapping protector as set forth in any of the claims 3 to 7, characterized in that said two ends (23, 24) to be connected to each other are potted (25) in plastics.

9. The trapping protector as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that said function-checking means (28) and said terminals (16) are surrounded by said potting (25) of said ends (23, 24).

10. The trapping protector as set forth in claim 1 in which said function-checking means is a resistor.

11. A trapping protector for a power-operated closing device comprising:

a) an elongated elastomer hollow profile having opposite ends, the hollow profile extending around the periphery of an opening to be closed by the power-operated device such that the opposite ends of the hollow profile are disposed one adjacent the other and are axially aligned along a longitudinal centerline of said hollow profile;

b) electrically conductive portions on said hollow profile spaced away from each other whose contact along the length of the profile triggers a switching action of a drive assembly of said power-operated closing device;

c) terminals for said electrical conductive portions provided at one of said opposite ends of said hollow profile;

d) a function-checking means provided at the other of said opposite ends of said hollow profile such that said terminals and function-checking means are brought close together; and

e) said function-checking means as well as said terminals are arranged laterally offset from said longitudinal centerline of said hollow profile.