Urethane bonded windshield dam

• US 4,438,609 A
• Filed: 01/30/1981
• Issued: 03/27/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlegel Corporation (GKN PLC)
• Original Assignee: Schlegel Corporation (GKN PLC)
• Inventors: Hope, Robert B., Nielson, Erik I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Murtagh, John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHILCOT, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US06/229,848
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 52/208, 52/397, 52/398, 52/400-402, 52/716-718, 52/741, 49/441, 49/491, 49/490, 49/492-494, 296/93
• US Class Current: 52/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/45 Assembling sealing arrangements with vehicle parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/70 specially adapted for windows or windscreens

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved one-piece window trim and adhesive dam structure that is provided with sealing means for effectively sealing the window when the latter is installed in vehicles without the necessity of having separate sealing elements secured to the window itself prior to its installation. The present invention also relates to an improved process for installing such windows.

Claims

1. A method of installing windows in vehicles provided with body cavities for receiving windows and flanges therein for supporting such windows consisting of the step of

placing an elongated trim provided with a pair of window engaging ribs onto the flange located within the body cavity in which the window is to be sealed so that the window engaging ribs face outwardly away from the body cavity,

placing a bead of adhesive material about the periphery of the window,

positioning the window within the body cavity,

and pressing the window into contact with one of the two ribs while deflecting the other rib thereby forming said other rib into an internal dam for controlling the flow of the adhesive as the window is pressed into place thereby substantially preventing adhesive from flowing outwardly from the body cavity along the interior surface of the window and selaing between the outer peripheral edge of the window and the body cavity.

2. A method of installing windows in vehicles provided with body cavities for receiving windows and flanges therein for supporting such windows consisting of the steps of

placing an elongated trim provided with a pair of inner and outer window engaging ribs onto the flange located within the body cavity in which the window is to be sealed so that the window engaging ribs face outwardly away from the body cavity,

placing a bead of adhesive material about the periphery of the window or within the body cavity,

moving the window into the body cavity until one side thereof engages the outer one of said ribs and while forcing the adhesive throughout the chamber defined between the trim, the body cavity and the periphery of the window, forming the interior one of ribs into an internal dam to control the flow of adhesive and substantially preventing it from leaking along the interior surface of the window and inserting molding along the edge of the window and into the adhesive.

3. A system for securing a window in a vehicle and for sealing the periphery thereof consisting of a body cavity formed in the vehicle, first trim means for providing an integral seal about the window in the body cavity and for engaging a portion of the body cavity, second trim means for enclosing the edge area between the periphery of the window and the body cavity and an adhesive composition for joining said first and second trim means together thereby securing the window in place within the body cavity and sealing the periphery thereof, wherein said first trim means includes an internal flexible sealing member having a concave surface facing the cavity at least when the window is inserted therein and a separate integrally formed exterior sealing member for forming an exterior seal about the window so that as the window is positioned in the body cavity the adhesive is forced through the remaining cavity space and said internal sealing member controls the movement of said adhesive composition thereby producing a tight seal about said window.

4. A system as in claim 3 wherein said interior and exterior sealing members cooperate together to define the insertion depth of the window within the body cavity.

5. An integral, elongated trim for use in sealing the periphery of windshields about a cavity provided in a vehicle body comprising an elastomeric member having reinforcing means for providing strength to the elastomeric member, said elastomeric member and said reinforcing means cooperating together to define a mounting groove for mounting the trim to the vehicle and first and second upstanding rib members for forming interior and exterior seals against the interior surface of the windshield about the periphery thereof wherein said first rib member is positioned adjacent the interior of the trim so that said first rib member forms the only interior seal adjacent that portion of the window adjacent said trim to control the flow of an adhesive when the window is installed on the vehicle and wherein the second rib member, positioned outwardly of said first rib member, forms the exterior trim about the periphery of the window with said first and second rib members acting together to define the depth of insertion of the window into the body cavity during window installation, wherein said first and second rib members are positioned substantially normally to said mounting groove.

6. An elongated trim as in claim 5 wherein at least said first and second members are comprised of an elastomeric material having a different hardness than the remaining portions of the elastomeric body.

7. A body trim for simultaneously providing both an esthetic external seal and an internal dam to control the flow of window adhesive within a cavity defined by a vehicle body opening consisting of an elastomeric body having an integrally molded clip means for retaining said body trim about said body opening, a first portion of said clip means being embedded within said elastomeric body and a second non-embedded portion being fully exposed within said cavity, said elastomeric body having a pair of integrally formed and spaced apart window engaging internal damming means and external sealing means, respectively, positioned outwardly of said second exposed portion, said internal damming means being positioned adjacent said second exposed portion and including a member angled so as to be flexible toward said second exposed portion, said external sealing means being positioned outwardly from said internal damming means and including a member angled so as to be flexible in a direction opposite to that of said internal damming means so that when said body trim is positioned around said body opening and the window is inserted therein, the said member included within said internal damming means is flexed inwardly to define a concave surface opening toward the cavity to control the flow of adhesive within the cavity and through said second exposed portion and said external sealing means forms an esthetic exterior trim in engagement with and extending about the window.

8. A window trim as in claim 7 wherein said internal and external flexible members are positioned substantially normal to the direction of said second non-embedded portion.

9. A window trim as in claim 7 wherein said clip means comprises a substantially U-shaped winding of reinforcing wire.

10. A window trim as in claim 7 wherein at least said pair of damming and sealing means are comprised of an elastomeric material.

11. A window trim as in claim 7 wherein said internal damming means is more flexible than the external sealing means.

12. A window trim as in claim 7 wherein a plurality of internal damming rib members are employed.