Sealing system for vehicle window panes

• US 6,769,700 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH
• Inventors: Ortmüller, Michael, Gründel, Günter
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickard, Alison K.
• Application Number:
  US10/221,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20030057660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 277/637, 277/641, 277/642, 277/644, 277/647, 277/921, 277/650, 277/651, 296/93, 494/771, 494/901
• US Class Current: 277/642
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/18 provided with reinforcements or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/265 the surface being primarily decorative
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/70 specially adapted for windows or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/921 Closure or weather strip seal

Abstract

A sealing assembly for vehicle windscreens (10) comprises a profiled element (20) to be attached to a lower marginal area (12) of the windscreen. A spring member (25) serves for sealed locking engagement with a snapper fin (16) of a water box cover (14) and has a sealing lip (30), fitting between the bottom edge (13) of the windscreen and the upper edge (18) of the water box cover (14). The sealing lip 30 is substantially flush with external surfaces A and G and is bonded to, or integral with, an inclined surface (22) that projects outwardly from a supporting or wedge-shaped rib (21) and has a resiliently deformable, preferably wedge-shaped curved element which is clamped between, and supported by, the bottom edge (12) of the windscreen and the fin (16). The profiled element (20) and/or the sealing lip (30) can be composite elements which are soft on the outside and hard on the inside. Stiffeners 26 and 26′ increase the elasticity. A bearing surface (23) of the profiled element (20) has staggered or vertically spaced contact regions (38) between which an adhesive layer 36 engages a surface section (33), for example, an adhesive tape (36) disposed flush in a recess (34) and perforated if desired.

Claims

1. A sealing assembly for vehicle windscreens, particularly for the lower region of a motor vehicle windscreen (10), comprising a profiled element (20) having a hook shape in cross section a bearing surface (23) of the profiled element (20) forming an upper part of the hook shape for attachment to a lower margin (12) of said windscreen via said bearing surface (23), said profiled element (20) having a spring-loaded limb (25) as a lower part of the hook shape and optionally being provided with a resilient reinforcement (26), said limb (25) being adapted to sealing lock with a recessed fin (16) of a water box cover (14), wherein the profiled element (20) comprises at least one sealing lip (30) extending from a middle part of the hook-shaped profile element (20) and being adapted to fit between a bottom edge (13) of the windscreen (10) and an upper edge (18) of the water box cover (14) with whose external surfaces (A, G) said lip (30) is substantially flush.

2. A sealing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealing lip (30) comprises an at least partially flexibly deformable body shaped to at least partially have a wedge or cuboid like cross-section.

3. A sealing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealing lip (30) extends from the profiled element (20) at an angle thereto, in particular protruding outwardly therefrom below the substantially plane bearing surface (23).

4. A sealing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealing lip (30) comprises at least one separate curved or nose-shaped edge (39:

41).

5. A sealing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the profiled element (20) and/or the sealing lip (30) consist of one or more parts, the profiled element (20) and/or the sealing lip (30) comprising a combination of materials specifically in the form of a compound of soft and hard materials.

6. A sealing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the profiled element (20) has a wedge-shaped or supporting rib (21) which forms a resilient clamping and/or bracing element between the lower margin (12) of the windscreen (10) and the recessed fin (16) of the water box cover (14).

7. A sealing assembly according to claim 6, wherein the supporting rib (21) is substantially wedge-shaped, T-shaped or U-shaped.

8. A sealing assembly according to claim 6, wherein the wedge-shaped or supporting rib (21) is provided with a resilient reinforcement (26'"'"').

9. A sealing assembly according to claim 6, wherein the wedge-shaped or supporting rib (21) includes a plane and/or curved surface (22) with which inner surfaces (32) of the sealing lip (30) are integral or are firmly bonded thereto.

10. A sealing assembly according to claim 9, wherein the surface (22) of the wedge-shaped or supporting rib (21) carries at least one further sealing lip (40) which bears tightly against the motor vehicle windscreen (10) or the water box cover (14).

11. A sealing assembly according to claim 10, wherein the sealing lips (30, 40) are bonded to each other or form an integral unit.

12. A sealing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surface (23) of the profiled element (20) bears against the windscreen (10) over at least one section (33) of a supporting or adhering layer (36).

13. A sealing assembly according to claim 12, wherein the supporting or adhering layer (36) has or forms an element which is at least in part flexibly deformable.

14. A sealing assembly according to claim 12, wherein the supporting or adhering layer (36) is self-adhesive and/or perforated.

15. A sealing assembly according to claim 12, wherein the bearing surface (23) of the profiled element (20) exhibits vertically spaced contact regions (38) between which the supporting or adhering layer (36) is enclosed.

16. A sealing assembly according to claim 12, wherein a portion (33) of the surface extends inwardly away from the windscreen (10), preferably by way of a flat recess (34) with which an adhesive tape (36) is in snug contact.

17. A sealing assembly according to claim 12, wherein the bearing surface (23) of the profiled element (20) is perforated in the at least one surface section (33), specifically with at least one row of holes (24).

18. A sealing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rear of the profiled element (20) has at least one supporting rib (48, 49) and/or buffer strip (28) for support thereof against a vehicle body part (K).

19. A sealing assembly according to claim 18, wherein the at least one supporting rib (48;

49) is integral with the profiled element (20).

20. A sealing assembly according to claim 19, wherein at least one supporting rib (48) carries said buffer strip (28).

21. A sealing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the profiled element (20) is provided at its upper limb end (42) with a nose-shaped extension (43) or with an undercut.