Vehicle glass run channel

• US 8,661,736 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Roll, James R., Patterson, Matthew C., Kunz, Matthew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strimbu, Gregory J
• Application Number:
  US12/878,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20120060422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 494/40, 494/41, 494/951, 494/751, 494/891
• US Class Current: 49/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/16 consisting of two or more plastic materials having different physical or chemical properties B60J10/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/17 provided with a low-friction material on the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/76 for window sashes; for glass run channels
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/84 arranged on the vehicle body

Abstract

A glass run channel for a vehicle door window opening includes first and second mutually spaced legs having relatively high hardness, a trim lip comprising a member having relatively high hardness and a relatively soft laminate covering a surface of the member. The trim lip includes a hard low friction ramp. The laminate incorporates a low durometer bead and the trim lip includes a low durometer interface to one of the legs.

Claims

1. A glass run channel for a vehicle door having a window opening, a portion of the window opening is defined by a door channel member having an outboard portion adjacent to an outside of a vehicle and an inboard portion adjacent to an interior of the vehicle, both the outboard and inboard portions extending toward a center of the window opening to define a recess for receiving the glass run channel, the glass run channel comprising:

a first leg configured to be mounted in the recess adjacent to the outboard portion and a second leg configured to be mounted in the recess adjacent to the inboard portion, the first and second legs having a hardness of 70 to 90 shore A;

a trim lip configured to extend inboard of, adjacent to, but not in contact with an inboard surface of the inboard portion, the trim lip having a hardness of 70 to 90 shore A and a laminate covering an inboard surface of the trim lip, the laminate having a hardness less than the hardness of the trim lip, and the laminate having a bead on a terminal end thereof, the bead configured to be in contact with the door channel member;

a first sealing lip extending from the first leg and configured to engage an outboard surface of a window pane and a second sealing lip extending from the second leg and configured to engage an inboard surface of the window pane, the first and second sealing lips having a hardness less than the hardness of the second leg;

a lateral lip extending from the first leg to the second leg and having a hardness less than the hardness of the second leg; and

a length of material located between the trim lip and the second leg and defining an elastically flexible hinge area, the hinge area having a hardness less than the hardness of the trim lip.

2. The glass run channel of claim 1, wherein the glass run channel is an extrusion formed in one piece and comprises at least one of thermo plastic vulcanite, ethylene propylene diene monomer, and polypropylene.

3. The glass run channel of claim 1, wherein the trim lip is formed with a ramp extending toward the interior of the vehicle, and the bead being disposed at a terminal end of the ramp.

4. The glass run channel of claim 1, wherein an end of the first leg, adjacent to the lateral lip, is configured to be in contact with the door channel member.

5. The glass run channel of claim 1, wherein:

an end of the second leg, adjacent to the lateral lip, is configured to be in contact with the door channel member.

6. The glass run channel of claim 1 further comprising:

a first finger configured to extend outboard from the lateral lip and contact an inboard surface of the outboard portion of the door channel member, and a second finger configured to extend inboard from the lateral lip and contact an outboard surface of the inboard portion of the door channel member.

7. The glass run channel of claim 1 including a third sealing lip extending from the lateral lip.

8. A glass run channel for a vehicle door having a window opening, a portion of the window opening is defined by a door channel member having an outboard portion adjacent to an outside of a vehicle and an inboard portion adjacent to an interior of the vehicle, both the outboard and inboard portions extending toward a center of the window opening to define a recess for receiving the glass run channel, the glass run channel comprising:

a first leg configured to be mounted in the recess adjacent to the outboard portion and a second leg configured to be mounted in the recess adjacent to the inboard portion, the first and second legs having a hardness of 70 to 90 shore A;

a trim lip configured to extend inboard of, adjacent to, but not in contact with an inboard surface of the inboard portion, the trim lip having a hardness of 70 to 90 shore A and a laminate covering an inboard surface of the trim lip, the laminate having a hardness less than the hardness of the trim lip;

a first sealing lip extending from the first leg and configured to engage an outboard surface of a window pane and a second sealing lip extending from the second leg and configured to engage an inboard surface of the window pane, the first and second sealing lips having a hardness less than the hardness of the second leg;

a lateral lip extending from the first leg to the second leg and having a hardness less than the hardness of the second leg;

wherein an end of the first leg, adjacent to the lateral lip, is configured to be in contact with the door channel member and an end of the second leg, adjacent to the lateral lip, is configured to be in contact with the door channel member; and

a length of material located between the trim lip and the second leg and defining an elastically flexible hinge area, the hinge area having a hardness less than the hardness of the trim lip.

9. The glass run channel of claim 8, wherein the glass run channel is an extrusion formed in one piece and comprises at least one of thermo plastic vulcanite, ethylene propylene diene monomer, and polypropylene.

10. The glass run channel of claim 8, wherein the laminate has a bead on a terminal end thereof, the bead configured to be in contact with the door channel member, and wherein the trim lip is formed with a ramp extending toward the interior of the vehicle, and the bead being disposed at a terminal end of the ramp.

11. The glass run channel of claim 8 further comprising:

a first finger configured to extend outboard from the lateral lip and contact an inboard surface of the outboard portion of the door channel member, and a second finger configured to extend inboard from the lateral lip and contact an outboard surface of the inboard portion of the door channel member.

12. The glass run channel of claim 8 including a third sealing lip extending from the hinge area and configured to engage the inboard surface of the window pane, the third sealing lip having a hardness less than the hardness of the second leg.