Fastening element of a trim strip to a window seal

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the fixing of a trim on a seal arranged on the periphery of a window mounted on the body of a vehicle.

[0002] Fixed glazing units installed in bodywork bays usually have a seal around their periphery to ensure a seal and prevent glass / metal contact. The glazing is also bonded to the bay using the seal.

[0003] Manufacturers often hide these unsightly joints behind metal or synthetic material hubcaps coated with a metallic film. These hubcaps must be fixed in a sufficiently strong manner to avoid the risk of accidentally coming off. They must also be able to be detached, for example, during work or when replacing the hubcap in the event of a defect, without requiring the complete replacement of the vehicle's glass.

[0004] Various fixing methods have been proposed for these trims, methods which often involve a connection between the seal and the trim. Most often these fixings are done by means of clip type means for simplicity and speed of installation. In these assemblies the trim which is essentially made up of a metal profile is fixed on a part incorporated in the seal itself. The installation of the various elements often requires one or more operations which can only be carried out manually which is not satisfactory from an economic point of view. To simplify these operations, solutions use fixing methods involving the clipping of the profile constituting the trim on a corresponding element, integrated into the peripheral seal from the formation of the latter on the glazing.In particular, Belgian patent application BE 2013 / 0441 proposed a hubcap fastener comprising two separate elements, the first element being a base that is molded directly with the seal and the second comprising the clips intended to receive the tenon of the hubcap. The second element is assembled to the base by engaging the two elements with each other in a movement opposing the separation of the two elements. This solution has the advantage of being able to replace the second element if it is defective. However, this solution leads to the formation of shrinkage at the joint when the fastening element is placed.

[0005] Thus, to address this problem of shrinkage and spatial bulk, the invention proposes a fixing element (100) for a trim (1) on a peripheral seal (10) of a window (11) of a vehicle comprising at least one clip-type assembly consisting of a base (6) bearing on the face intended to receive the trim, one or more semi-rigid clips (7), said clips comprising at least two branches between which a tenon element (4) of the trim is introduced.

[0006] According to the invention, the fixing element (100) is formed from a single piece, comprising the base (6) and one or more semi-rigid clips (7), which is integral with the peripheral seal during the molding thereof on the glazing.

[0007] According to the invention, the one or more semi-rigid clamps (7) of the fixing element constitute the part of the fixing element into which the trim will be clipped. The trim is attached after the seal has been formed.

[0008] The gaskets that comprise the elements involved in this attachment are formed directly onto the glazing by molding. This operation is known as encapsulation. Direct molding of the gaskets and the trim attachment element onto the glazing has the advantage of simplifying the assembly process for the attachment element and the trim, but above all, of reducing the size of this attachment element while reducing the shrinkage phenomenon.

[0009] According to the invention, the branches of the clamps provide the mechanical connection with the trim. The installation of the trim by inserting the tenon between the branches of the clamp(s) completes the operation by preventing the movement which would allow the separation of the two elements.

[0010] In the following, the part of the fixing element incorporated in the seal is referred to as the base, and the part comprising the branches of the clamps is referred to as the clamps. These two elements according to the invention form a single piece which is molded directly onto the glazing on the peripheral seal.

[0011] The invention is described in detail with reference to the figures in which: there figure 1 shows in section the method of fixing by clipping according to the invention; the figure 2 shows in perspective the glazing with the clipping element incorporated in the encapsulation seal; The figure 1 shows a schematic section of the clip-on assembly method. In this representation, the trim 1 has an outer surface 2 intended to conceal the encapsulation seal 10 of the glazing 11. On its face facing the seal, the trim has a tenon 4. According to the invention, the fixing element is made of ABS-PC type plastic produced by means of an injection molding process. The material used must have sufficient flexibility to ensure the clip-on function, as well as adhesion with, according to the invention, the TPE or PVC type encapsulation plastic material.

[0012] The fixing element comprises a base 6 which is taken into the seal during the molding thereof. The fixing element also comprises a clamp 7 intended to receive in a semi-rigid manner the tenon 4 of the trim 1. The clamp 7 is integral with the base 6 and thus constitutes a single part comprising the base 6 and the clamp 7.

[0013] There figure 2 shows an arrangement of the fixing method in the seal 10 of the edge of the glazing 11 for this method of assembly by encapsulation. The trim, not shown, is put in place after the assembly in question.

[0014] The fixing element as shown in the figure 2 , is taken into the seal 10 during its molding on the glazing. Only the upper face of the base 6 including the clamps 7 emerges from the seal 10 the rest is taken into the seal. The clamps 7 are located outside the seal 10.

[0015] Joint 10 of the figure 2 has a shim 12 on which the edge of the trim rests to prevent contact with the vehicle body, and an end stop 13 which is located at the end in the length of the trim. The shim 12 and the stop 13 are produced with the main body of the seal by molding.

[0016] As shown in the figure 2, the base 6 consists of a body of elongated shape and of dimensions such that they allow incorporation into the seal during molding. Thus, insertion into the seal is done easily and repeatably in the encapsulation mold. On the face of the base 6 not taken in the seal, there are the clamps 7. The glazings concerned are often of slightly curved shape, and the positioning of the bases 6 in the seal 10 may not be strictly aligned with the part of the tenon facing them. The presence of two clamps 7 makes it possible to compensate for certain positioning differences. The tenon 4, which has a shape generally complementary to the space existing between the two branches of the clamps 7, advantageously does not necessarily fill it completely. The space in question is preferably slightly larger than the end of the tenon 4.To prevent this play from being detrimental to the maintenance in position of the hubcap, a guide finger which mainly serves to guide the tenon 4 of the hubcap towards the clamps is provided. This guide finger can be arranged between the two clamps 7. This wedge advances slightly relative to the bottom of the space between the clamps so that the tip of the tenon rests on the bottom of this wedge holding the hips of the tenon 4 against the branches of the clamps 7 by playing on the relative elasticity of these clamps.

Claims

1. Element (100) for fastening a trim (1) to a peripheral seal (10) of a window (11) of a vehicle, comprising at least one clip-type assembly constituted by a base (6) bearing, on the face designed to receive the trim, one or more semi-rigid clips (7), said clips comprising at least two arms between which a lug element (4) of the trim is inserted, the window is curved and a guide finger, which principally makes it possible to guide the lug (4) of the trim towards the clips, is provided, and the guide finger may be arranged between the two clips, characterized in that the fastening element (100) is constituted as a single component, comprising the base (6) and at least two semi-rigid clips (7), which is integrated with the peripheral seal during moulding of the latter on the window, the fastening element is made from plastics of ABS-PC type, produced using an injection-moulding process, and the peripheral seal (10) is made from plastics of TPE or PVC type.

2. Fastening element according to Claim 1, wherein the base (6) and the semi-rigid clips (7) are composed of one and the same material.

3. Fastening element (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it is fastened to the peripheral seal (10) of the window by encapsulation.

4. Fastening element (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the arms of the semi-rigid clips (17) comprise polycarbonate / acrylonitrile / butadiene styrene (PC-ABS).