Molded component and sealing system for a motor vehicle window

• US 8,444,205 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH
• Inventors: Flammer, Eberhard, Platt, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US13/133,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 296/93, 296/84.1, 296/201
• US Class Current: 296/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/265 the surface being primarily decorative
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/30 characterised by the fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/70 specially adapted for windows or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/67 Rigid angle couplings

Abstract

A molded component to connect a motor vehicle window with a water box includes a first segment affixable to the vehicle window and a second segment having a detent cavity bounded by a resilient leg and configured to receive a rib of the water box in an insertion direction so as to detachably affix the water box in a frictionally and/or geometrically interlocking manner in the detent cavity. A detent element projects into the detent cavity at an acute angle relative to the insertion direction such that the resilient leg is elastically deformed to a greater extent during an extraction of the rib of the water box from the detent cavity than during an insertion of the rib of the water box into the detent cavity. This facilitates the insertion and presents a greater resistance to the extraction of the rib from the detent cavity.

Claims

1. A molded component to connect a motor vehicle window with a water box, the molded component comprising:

a first segment affixable to the vehicle window;

a second segment having a detent cavity bounded by a resilient leg and configured to receive a rib of the water box in an insertion direction so as to detachably affix the water box in at least one of a frictionally and a geometrically interlocking manner in the detent cavity; and

at least one detent element that projects into the detent cavity at an acute angle relative to the insertion direction such that the resilient leg is elastically deformed to a greater extent during an extraction of the rib of the water box from the detent cavity than during an insertion of the rib of the water box into the detent cavity so as to facilitate inserting the rib of the water box into the detent cavity in the insertion direction and present a greater resistance to extracting the rib from the detent cavity in an extraction direction opposite the insertion direction.

2. The molded component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one detent element constitutes a barb.

3. The molded component as claimed in claim 1, wherein an engagement aperture into the detent cavity is delimited in the insertion direction by a free end of the resilient leg and a protrusion disposed between the first and second segments, the at least one detent element projecting into the detent cavity from one of the resilient leg and an undercut disposed behind the protrusion in the insertion direction.

4. The molded component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one detent element projects into the detent cavity from a link-up region to a free longitudinal edge and increases in cross-section from a tapered zone to a curved or beak edge at the free longitudinal edge that is configured to engage with the rib of the water box in the at least one of a frictionally and geometrically interlocking manner.

5. The molded component as claimed in claim 4, wherein, in an installed position of the water box, the curved or beak edge of the at least one detent element is configured to rest in the geometrically interlocking manner in an undercut of the rib of the water box.

6. The molded component as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first segment and the second segment include a reinforcing insert.

7. The molded component as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first segment and the second segment is formed by extrusion.

8. The molded component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first segment has a U-shape so as to be affixable to a bottom of the vehicle window from an outer surface around the bottom to a back side.

9. The molded component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first segment includes a seal configured to be disposed between an outer surface of the vehicle window and the water box in an installed state of the water box.

10. A sealing system for a transition zone of a motor vehicle window, comprising:

a water box having a rib; and

a molded component comprising;

a first segment affixable to the vehicle window; and

a second segment having a detent cavity bounded by a resilient leg and configured to receive a rib of the water box in an insertion direction so as to detachably affix the water box in at least one of a frictionally and a geometrically interlocking manner in the detent cavity, and

wherein at least one detent element projects into the detent cavity at an acute angle relative to the insertion direction such that the resilient leg is elastically deformed to a greater extent during an extraction of the rib of the water box from the detent cavity than during an insertion of the rib of the water box into the detent cavity so as to facilitate inserting the rib of the water box into the detent cavity in the insertion direction and present a greater resistance to extracting the rib from the detent cavity in an extraction direction opposite the insertion direction.

11. The sealing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one detent element constitutes a barb.

12. The sealing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein an engagement aperture into the detent cavity is delimited in the insertion direction by a free end of the resilient leg and a protrusion disposed between the first and second segments, the at least one detent element projecting into the detent cavity from one of the rib of the water box, the resilient leg and an undercut disposed behind the protrusion in the insertion direction.

13. The sealing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one detent element projects into the detent cavity from a link-up region to a free longitudinal edge and increases in cross-section from a tapered zone to a curved or beak edge at the free longitudinal edge that is configured to engage with the rib of the water box in the at least one of a frictionally and geometrically interlocking manner.

14. The sealing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein, in an installed position of the water box, the curved or beak edge of the at least one detent element is configured to rest in the geometrically interlocking manner in an undercut of the rib of the water box.

15. The sealing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of the first segment and the second segment include a reinforcing insert.

16. The sealing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of the first segment and the second segment is formed by extrusion.

17. The sealing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first segment has a U-shape so as to be affixable to a bottom of the vehicle window from an outer surface around the bottom to a back side of the vehicle window.

18. The sealing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first segment includes a seal configured to be disposed between an outer surface of the vehicle window and the water box in an installed state of the water box.