Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1322~19
GL2 SS RUN MCltDING
~CKGROUND AND SUM~ARY 0~ THE INV~TION
m e present invention relates to automotive windows and
more particularly, to glass run channel molding for sealing a
movable window pane in the window of a door of an automobile.
A common feature of automobile doors is a qlass
windowpane which can be raised and lowered. Conventionally, the
windowpane follows a generally vertically extending glass run
channel defined by a channel shaped molding within the door frame
and the top edge of the pane engages a generally horizontally
extending leg of the glass run channel. The glass run channel is
normally lined with flocking or other low friction material which
allows the glass pane to slide therein. me glass run channel also
protects the pane from damage due to vibration and seals the edges
of the pane.
In the most common types of movable automotive wnndows,
the edges of the windowpane are centered in the side and top glass
run channel legs with the plane of the outer surface of the pane
noticeably offset from the plane of the outer skin surface of the
automobile bcdy. However, this arrangement detracts from the
overall appearance of the autamotive vehicle and disrupts the
laminar flow of air around the vehicle body, resulting in
unnecessary aerodynamic drag and unpleasant noise. Recently, there
has been increasing interest in the aut~amotive industry for
vehicles with window panes having outer suxfaces which are coplanar
or almost coplanar with adjacent vehicle body surfaces. This
l322als
arrangement is generally referred to as "flush" glass or
"semi-flush" glass and is desirable for enhancing vehicle
appearance and laminar airflow thereby reducing aerodynamic drag
and wind noise.
Several patents disclose the feature of providing a
window which is flush or nearly flush with adjacent vehicle bcdy
surfaces. Examples of such patents include: U.S. ~atent No.
4,409,755, October 18, 1983 to Audenina, et al.; U.S. Patent No.
4,562,676, January 7, 1986 to Kruschwitz; U.S. Patent No.
4,455,785, June 26, 1984 to Wahr, et al.; and U.S. Patent No.
4,457,111, July 3, 1984 to Koike.
Although flush and semi-flush glass run channel moldings
are known, there remains a need for improved glass run channel
moldings. Glass run channel moldings must securely retain the
window pane while allowing the pane to slide easily in the channel
during its raising and lowering. Glass run channels must also seal
the interior of the car against noise and weather and minimize
window vibratlon. Glass run channel moldings are also desirably
inexpensive to manufacture and easily installed during manufacture
of the vehicle. Accordingly, the present invention relates to an
improved glass run channel directed to meet the above requirements.
The new and improved glass run channel molding of the
present invention includes a supyort ~tructure havil~, in
cross-section, a "U"-shaped portion and an "L"-shaped portion. me
"U"-shaped and "L"-shaped portions combine to define tw~ channels
with open ends facing in opposite directions. The "U"-shaped
portion def m es a channel adapted to secure the glass run channel
~322~19
to a flange on an automobile. A resilient member on the "U"-
shaped portion enhances the securing of the glass run channel
to the flange. The "L"-shaped portion, in combination with one
leg of the "U"-shaped portion defines a channel adapted to
slidingly receive a window edge portion. A hollow tubular
sealing member with at least one projecting member in the glass
run channel is adapted to bias a glass edge portion into sealing
engagement against the outer leg of the glass run channel.
In summary, therefore, the present invention may be
considered as providing a glass run channel molding for an
automobile window comprising: a "U"-shaped cross-section
portion forming a mounting channel; an "L"-shaped cross-section
portion, one end of the "L"-shaped portion extending from an end
of one leg of the "U"-shaped portion to form a glass run channel
having inner and outer legs joined by a web, the inner leg being
a leg of the mounting channel, the mounting channel and glass
run channel haYing open mouths facing in opposite directions,
at least one elastomeric rib extends from the outer leg of the
glass run channel into the glass run channel toward the tubular
biasing and sealing element; sealing member for sealing the
molding with respect to an associated door frame, the sealing
member extending from the L-shaped cross-section portion on a
the opposite the opening; and a tubular elastomeric biasing and
sealing element secured in the glass run channel for sealing a
window in the glass run channel and for biasing an edge portion
of the window outwardly against the elastomeric rib on the outer
leg of the glass run channel, the tubular element having a first
wall joined intermediate the web of the glass run channel, a
second wall joined to the second leg of the glass run channel,
JJ: ~ 3
1322~1~
a third wall contiguous with a portion of the web, and a fourth
wall contiguous with one leg of the "U"-shaped channel, the
tubular biasing and sealing element having a pair of elastomeric
rihs extending from the first wall into the glass run channel
such that the elastomeric ribs extending from the outer leg and
tubular biasing and sealing element oppose one another.
Further understanding of the present invention will
be had from the following description and claims taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DE8CRIPTION OF TNE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation, broken away, of an
automotive vehicle on which a glass run channel molding of the
present invention is assembled.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
2-2 of Figure 1 with the door flange not shown.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure
2 but showing the glass run channel molding without a
windowpane.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ENBODIMENT
Now referring to the figures, a glass run channel
molding of the present invention is shown and indicated
generally by the numeral 10. As illustrated in Figure 1, glass
run channel molding
JJ:~ 3a
1322019
10 extends around the top and side of window opening 12 in door 14
of an automotive vehicle having a movable windowpane 16.
As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, glass run channel
molding 10 generally includes, in cross-section a "U"-shaped
portion 18 and an "Ln-shaped portion 19. "U"-shaped portion 18
defines a mounting ~hannel 20 for mounting glass run channel 10 on
a flange of door 14. A glass run channel 22 is defined by interior
leg 26 of "U"-shaped portion 18 in conjunction with "L"-shaped
cross-section portion 19, having leg 24 extending from interior leg
26 and leg 25 extending at a generally right angle from leg 24.
Lccated within glass run channel 22 is a hollow tubular sealing and
biasing member 28 for sealing windowpane 16 within channel 22 and
for biasing win~owpane 16 outboard bowards leg 25 so that the plane
of the outer surface of window pane 16 is flush or nearly flush
with the adjacent vehicle panel.
While "U"-shaped portion 18 and "L"-shaped portion 19 of
molding 10 are described individually hereinafter, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that a unitary, one piece
construction of molding 10 is preferred as is illustrated in the
figures. Generally "U"-shaped portion 18 and "L"-shaped portion 19
have a reinforcing single metallic core 30 which is covered by a
oonventional elastomeric material. For some uses core 30 may not
be necessary or only a partial core 30 may be necessary. Core 30
generally has a shape in side elevation which is configured to fit
within window opening 12 on all sides except bottom horizontal side
32 which must be qpen to allow windowpane 16 to extend
.
1322~19
therethrough. Any conventional sealing strip can be employed along
edge 32 in combination with molding lO of this invention.
The "U"-shaped cross-section mounting portion 18
generally provides mounting means for attaching molding 10 to a
flange o~ the door frame 12. Thus, "U"-shaped portion 18 has legs
26 and 27 joined by web portion 29 which provide channel 20 for
attachment of mc~nting portion 18 to a flange. A large rib 36
extends inwardly from leg 27 into channel 20 and ~s an
arrow-shaped head portion 38 which cooperates with protrusion 40 to
facilitate easy attachment of channel 20 to a flange but resistance
to removal of channel 20 therefrom. In opposition to rib 36 is
protrusion 46 on inner leg 26. Rib 36 and prot~usion 40 are shown
on leg 27 of mounting portion 18 ~ut alternatively could be on
inner leg 26 with opposing protrusions 46 on leg 27. Extending
outwardly from the mouth of channel 20 are a pair of sealing lips
48 and 51 which are intended to sealingly engage the associated
door opening.
Glass run channel 22 is defined by "L"-shaped portion 19
in combination with inner leg 26 of "U"-shaped portion 18.
Outboard leg 25 of "L"-shaped portion 19 is adapted to retain the
edge of glass pane 16 received in glass run channel 22. Leg 50 of
core 30 extends almost the length of leg 25 to ensure retention of
glass pane 16 ~n channel 22. Lip 52 extends from the closed end of
channel 22 to provide further ~ealing of molding 10 with respect to
the door opening.
It is important that a flush glass structural arrangement
retain easy slidability of windowpane 16 in glass run channel 22.
1322~19
It is also important that a good seal be maintained between molding
10 and glass pane 16 when glass pane 16 is in a closed position.
Thus, a tubular biasing and sealing element 28 is provided.
I'ubular element 28 has a side wall 54 joined to a lateral wall 56
which in turn is joined to inner leg 26 of "U"-shaped portion 18.
Side wall 54 is joined to leg 24 of "L"-shaped portion 19
intermediate the ends thereof. Tubular element 28 has a hollow
interior 60. Side wall 54 of biasing and sealing element 28 has a
pair of ribs 62 and 64 extending inwardly into channel 22. In
opposition to ribs 62 and 64 is rib 66 extending inwardly into
channel 22 from leg 25. Ribs 62, 64 and 66 preferably carry
flocking 68 or other low friction material on their surfaces coming
into contact with glass pane 16. Tubular element 28 has a somewhat
pentagonal cross-sectional shape for enhancing the sealing of the
windowpane 16 in channel 22 and serves well to bias window pane 16
outboard to provide a flush or nearly flush glass arrangement.
While the above illustrates and describes a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, it will become apparent to
those skilled in the art that mLdifications, variations, and
alterations may be made without deviating from the scope in fair
neaning of the subjoined claims.
