Vehicle seal system, and/or method of making the same

• US 20110126473A1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian Industries Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Belliston, Troy, Prater, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,978,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/484.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/265 the surface being primarily decorative
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/76 for window sashes; for glass run channels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

In certain example embodiments of this invention, improved seal systems that include flexible seals that are integrally formed (e.g., co-extruded) with other vehicle components, and/or methods of making the same, are provided. In certain example embodiments, some or all sealing system components may be integrated into trim and/or other components of the vehicle such as, for example, more structural elements of the vehicle that generally are required to be present. For instance, in certain example embodiments, the current U-shaped seal that typically is used to receive the glass of a window may be replaced with seal members attached to elements of the overall vehicle construct. Certain example embodiments accomplish this integration, for example, by forming seal members together with the trim components, e.g., as a part of the roll form and/or extruding processes.

Claims

1. A vehicle sealing system, comprising:

a door construct including a generally U-shaped cavity formed therein for receiving glass from a window;

an outer sash molding component provided at an outer edge of the vehicle sealing system;

an inner sash trim component provided at an interior of the vehicle sealing system;

a first seal proximate to an exterior of the vehicle sealing system, the first seal including a flexible seal member co-extruded with the outer sash molding component;

a second seal proximate to an interior of the vehicle sealing system, the second seal including a lip or trim fastener; and

first, second, and third seal members provided in or on the generally U-shaped cavity formed in the door construct, wherein;

the first seal member is dual shot molded together with the inner sash trim component,

the second seal member is co-extruded with the outer sash molding component, the first and second seal members being inwardly rotatable upon receiving a biasing force from upward movement of the glass, and

the third seal member is provided on a base of the generally U-shaped cavity so as to form a cushion between the glass and the door construct.

2. The vehicle sealing system of claim 1, wherein the flexible seal member of the first seal and the second seal member form an outer glassrun seal and margin seal that are integrated into the outer sash molding component.

3. The vehicle sealing system of claim 1, wherein the inner sash trim component and the first seal member form an inner glassrun seal.

4. The vehicle sealing system of claim 2, wherein the inner sash trim component and the first seal member form an inner glassrun seal.

5. The vehicle sealing system of claim 1, wherein the sash molding component comprises roll-formed stainless steel or aluminum.

6. The vehicle sealing system of claim 1, wherein the flexible seal member of the first seal comprises EPDM or TPE.

7. The vehicle sealing system of claim 1, wherein the first seal member comprises TPE.

8. The vehicle sealing system of claim 1, further comprising a fourth seal member located on an inner leg of the generally U-shaped cavity, the fourth seal member forming a cushion between the first seal member and the inner leg of the cavity.

9. The vehicle sealing system of claim 1, wherein the door construct comprises a roll-formed outer structure and a stamped inner structure.

10. The vehicle sealing system of claim 1, wherein a generally U-shaped seal element is not provided to the generally U-shaped cavity.

11. A vehicle door comprising a sealing system, comprising:

a door construct including a generally U-shaped cavity formed therein for receiving glass from a window, the door construct comprising a roll-formed outer structure and a stamped inner structure;

a roll-formed outer sash molding component provided at an outer edge of the vehicle sealing system;

an inner sash trim component provided at an interior of the vehicle sealing system; and

first, second, and third seal members provided in or on the generally U-shaped cavity formed in the door construct, wherein;

the first seal member is dual shot molded together with the inner sash trim component,

the second seal member is co-extruded with the outer sash molding component, the first and second seal members being inwardly rotatable upon receiving a biasing force from upward movement of the glass, and

the third seal member is provided on a base of the generally U-shaped cavity so as to form a cushion between the glass and the door construct.

12. The vehicle door of claim 11, further comprising a first seal proximate to an exterior of the vehicle sealing system, the first seal including a flexible seal member co-extruded with the outer sash molding component.

13. The vehicle door of claim 12, wherein:

the flexible seal member of the first seal and the second seal member form an outer glassrun seal and margin seal that are integrated into the outer sash molding component, and

the inner sash trim component and the first seal member form an inner glassrun seal.

14. The vehicle door of claim 11, further comprising a fourth seal member located on an inner leg of the generally U-shaped cavity, the fourth seal member forming a cushion between the first seal member and the inner leg of the cavity.

15. A vehicle comprising a vehicle door according to claim 11.

16. A method of making a vehicle door including a sealing system, the method comprising:

providing a door construct so as to include a roll-formed outer structure and a stamped inner structure, the door construct including a generally U-shaped cavity formed therein for receiving glass from a window, the door construct comprising;

roll-forming an outer sash molding component for an outer edge of the vehicle sealing system;

providing an inner sash trim component at an interior of the vehicle sealing system; and

providing first, second, and third seal members in or on the generally U-shaped cavity formed in the door construct, wherein;

the first seal member is dual shot molded together with the inner sash trim component,

the second seal member is co-extruded with the outer sash molding component, the first and second seal members being inwardly rotatable upon receiving a biasing force from upward movement of the glass, and

the third seal member is provided on a base of the generally U-shaped cavity so as to form a cushion between the glass and the door construct.

17. The method door of claim 16, further comprising providing a first seal proximate to an exterior of the vehicle sealing system, the first seal including a flexible seal member co-extruded with the outer sash molding component.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the flexible seal member of the first seal and the second seal member form an outer glassrun seal and margin seal that are integrated into the outer sash molding component, and

the inner sash trim component and the first seal member form an inner glassrun seal.

19. The method door of claim 16, further comprising providing a fourth seal member located on an inner leg of the generally U-shaped cavity, the fourth seal member forming a cushion between the first seal member and the inner leg of the cavity.

20. The method door of claim 16, wherein a generally U-shaped seal element is not provided to the generally U-shaped cavity.