GB2140065A

GB2140065A - A sealing strip for a retractible window

Info

Publication number: GB2140065A
Application number: GB08412033A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francois Mesnel
Original assignee: Mesnel SA
Current assignee: Mesnel SA
Priority date: 1983-05-19
Filing date: 1984-05-11
Publication date: 1984-11-21
Also published as: IT8467505A1; SE8402671D0; SE8402671L; JPS60179323A; IT1179680B; BR8402488A; IT8453389V0; JPH0238405B2; DE3418606A1; GB8412033D0; SE464857B; DE3418606C2; GB2140065B; IT8467505A0

Abstract

An extruded sealing strip 2 with a metallic core is approximately S-shaped in cross-section having a first part 3 for clamping around a flange of a vehicle window opening and a second larger part 5 for reception and guidance of the window edge. The window edge is held between the outer limb 6 of the second part 5 and a flexible auxiliary lip 7. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A sealing strip for a retractible window This invention relates to a particularly simple construction of sealing strip for guidance of a retractible window, for example in a door of an automobile such that the surface of the window remains substantially flush with the surrounding bodywork.

In accordance with the invention the strip is formed as an extrusion with a central metallic reinforcement and is approximately S-shaped in cross-section having a first U-profile part for clamping around the bodywork edge of the window space and a second inversely disposed and somewhat enlarged U-profile part for reception and guidance of the window edge between the outer limb of the second Uprofile part and a flexible auxiliary lip attached to the strip.

The advantage of this arrangement is that while there is direct guidance and sliding of the window in the enlarged U-profile part of the strip at the opening edge of the window at the top of the door, the same strip provides a clamping U-profile to tightly engage around the bodywork edge.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a door of an automobile, considered from the outside, having a retractible window mounted in a strip in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view illustrating an upper portion of a retractible window when closed mounted for guidance in a first embodiment of the sealing strip of the invention, the corresponding door frame not being shown; Figure 3 is a cross-section, to a slightly larger scale, of the strip of Fig. 2 clamped onto the internal perforated edge of the door; and Figure 4 is a cross-section of a second embodiment of the strip of the invention clamped onto the door edge.

In accordance with these Figures it can be seen that the guidance and sliding of the edges of the retractible window 1 both laterally and at the top of the window result from direct interaction of this window 1 with the rigid sealing strip 2 fitted into the window space. The strip 2 is extruded from hard rubber, for example, and has a central metallic reinforcement. It has an S-shaped crosssection and constitutes at one and the same time a first U-profile part 3 for clamping around the edge 4 of the opening in the door for the window and a second inversely disposed and enlarged U-profile part 5 for reception and holding of the window 1. The window edge is held between the outer limb 6 of the second U-profile parts and a flexible auxiliary lip 7 which is made for example of cellular rubber and glued to the strip 2.Friction between the window 1 and the limb 6 and lip 7 is reduced by the flocking indicated at 8 or by covering the same zones with fabric. The window is held and guided at its lower end by conventional so-called "Licker" elements, which are not shown.

In moving up and down, the function of the window remains as is conventional for automobile doors as does the function of the surrounding strip 2. The improvement compared to known retractible windows lies in offsetting the outer surface of the retractible window 1 so that it is substantially flush with the surrounding surfaces of the bodywork.

This improves the streamlining of the vehicle by reducing the drag coefficient in the atmospheric air.

The sealing strip of the present invention can also be used for the mounting of curved retractible windows. Of course, a corresponding curvature of the sealing strip is then required.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. On the contrary, the scope of the present invention extends expressly to all variants within the scope of the claims. For example, a coating of plastics material or of an elastomer may be substituted for rubber, around the extruded inset sealing strip profile, the essential characteristics of which are that of being reinforced by a band or a leaf of aluminium alloy of the order of 1 millimetre thickness, of being resistant to splitting open of being capable of surrounding in a mobobloc manner, in accordance with Fig. 2, the two lateral edges and the upper edge, of the retractible window 1, and of readily clamping onto the edge of the window opening in the door.The exact cross-section of the sealing strip 2 can vary, without departing from the scope of the invention and, as illustrated in Fig. 4, it can advantageously include a supplementary fold or partition so as to form a third U-profiie for clamping a tightness lip 9.

The illustrated lip 9 has one limb reinforced by a metallic reinforcement 10, to strengthen this fixing. The retractible window 1 may then project between the lip 9 and an opposing protuberance 11, in the form of a small end lip on the outer limb 6 of the second U-profile part 5.

1. A sealing strip for guidance of a retractible window, for example for a vehicle door, characterised in that to maintain the outer surface of the window, when closed, flush with the surrounding bodywork, the strip is formed as an extrusion with a central metallic reinforcement and is approximately S-shaped in cross-section having a first U-profile part for

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A sealing strip for a retractible window This invention relates to a particularly simple construction of sealing strip for guidance of a retractible window, for example in a door of an automobile such that the surface of the window remains substantially flush with the surrounding bodywork. In accordance with the invention the strip is formed as an extrusion with a central metallic reinforcement and is approximately S-shaped in cross-section having a first U-profile part for clamping around the bodywork edge of the window space and a second inversely disposed and somewhat enlarged U-profile part for reception and guidance of the window edge between the outer limb of the second Uprofile part and a flexible auxiliary lip attached to the strip. The advantage of this arrangement is that while there is direct guidance and sliding of the window in the enlarged U-profile part of the strip at the opening edge of the window at the top of the door, the same strip provides a clamping U-profile to tightly engage around the bodywork edge. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a door of an automobile, considered from the outside, having a retractible window mounted in a strip in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view illustrating an upper portion of a retractible window when closed mounted for guidance in a first embodiment of the sealing strip of the invention, the corresponding door frame not being shown; Figure 3 is a cross-section, to a slightly larger scale, of the strip of Fig. 2 clamped onto the internal perforated edge of the door; and Figure 4 is a cross-section of a second embodiment of the strip of the invention clamped onto the door edge. In accordance with these Figures it can be seen that the guidance and sliding of the edges of the retractible window 1 both laterally and at the top of the window result from direct interaction of this window 1 with the rigid sealing strip 2 fitted into the window space. The strip 2 is extruded from hard rubber, for example, and has a central metallic reinforcement. It has an S-shaped crosssection and constitutes at one and the same time a first U-profile part 3 for clamping around the edge 4 of the opening in the door for the window and a second inversely disposed and enlarged U-profile part 5 for reception and holding of the window 1. The window edge is held between the outer limb 6 of the second U-profile parts and a flexible auxiliary lip 7 which is made for example of cellular rubber and glued to the strip 2.Friction between the window 1 and the limb 6 and lip 7 is reduced by the flocking indicated at 8 or by covering the same zones with fabric. The window is held and guided at its lower end by conventional so-called "Licker" elements, which are not shown. In moving up and down, the function of the window remains as is conventional for automobile doors as does the function of the surrounding strip 2. The improvement compared to known retractible windows lies in offsetting the outer surface of the retractible window 1 so that it is substantially flush with the surrounding surfaces of the bodywork. This improves the streamlining of the vehicle by reducing the drag coefficient in the atmospheric air. The sealing strip of the present invention can also be used for the mounting of curved retractible windows. Of course, a corresponding curvature of the sealing strip is then required. It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. On the contrary, the scope of the present invention extends expressly to all variants within the scope of the claims. For example, a coating of plastics material or of an elastomer may be substituted for rubber, around the extruded inset sealing strip profile, the essential characteristics of which are that of being reinforced by a band or a leaf of aluminium alloy of the order of 1 millimetre thickness, of being resistant to splitting open of being capable of surrounding in a mobobloc manner, in accordance with Fig. 2, the two lateral edges and the upper edge, of the retractible window 1, and of readily clamping onto the edge of the window opening in the door.The exact cross-section of the sealing strip 2 can vary, without departing from the scope of the invention and, as illustrated in Fig. 4, it can advantageously include a supplementary fold or partition so as to form a third U-profiie for clamping a tightness lip 9. The illustrated lip 9 has one limb reinforced by a metallic reinforcement 10, to strengthen this fixing. The retractible window 1 may then project between the lip 9 and an opposing protuberance 11, in the form of a small end lip on the outer limb 6 of the second U-profile part 5. CLAIMS

1. A sealing strip for guidance of a retractible window, for example for a vehicle door, characterised in that to maintain the outer surface of the window, when closed, flush with the surrounding bodywork, the strip is formed as an extrusion with a central metallic reinforcement and is approximately S-shaped in cross-section having a first U-profile part for clamping around the bodywork edge of the window space and a second inversely disposed and somewhat enlarged U-profile part for reception and guidance of the window edge between the outer limb of the second Uprofile part 1 and a flexible auxiliary lip attached to the strip.

2. A sealing strip as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that friction between the edge of the window and the second U-profile part of the sealing strip are suitabiy reduced by provision of flocking or a covering of fabric in the zone of contact of the sealing strip.

3. A sealing strip for guidance of a retractible window, for example for a vehicle door, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, or in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.