Rigid plastic glass run channel

Abstract

A process for the production of a glass run channel (68) is provided wherein the glass run channel has a S-shaped core (12) of a polymeric material, onto which glass and / or frame sealing components are co-extruded. Preferably, a slip agent coating (25) is applied shortly after the sealing components (18, 24, 26) are added so that a completely polymeric glass run channel (68) is produced in a single operation. The polymeric glass run channel (68) is lighter, less expensive and more easily recycled than the prior art glass run channels.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to a rigid glass run channel for a vehicle window, and, more particularly, to a rigid glass run channel that has production advantages over prior art devices. DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART [0002] Most vehicle doors include a door window that can either be mechanically or electrically lowered into a door well of the door to provide an opening in the door, or raised from the door well to close the opening in a sealing manner. These doors commonly include a resilient glass run having a glass run channel in which the window travels and / or seats when it moved into a closed position. Different glass run designs are known in the art that allow the window to be repeatedly moved, removed or inserted within the glass run channel and still maintain an effective seal against environmental conditions such as wind and moisture. [0003] In modern designs, the glass run includes an outer layer, such as a TPV rubber, an EPDM rubber, a the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024] It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a process for the production of such a glass run channel.

[0025] It is a still further advantage of the present invention to provide a single stage process for the production of such a glass run channel.

[0026] The advantages set out hereinabove, as well as other objects and goals inherent thereto, are at least partially or fully provided by the process of the present invention, as set out herein below.

[0027] Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a glass run channel comprising a polymeric support structure, and preferably an S-shaped polymeric support structure, a polymeric frame sealing portion, and a polymeric glass sealing portion, which glass run channel is capable of being produced in a single stage operation.

[0028] Further, the glass run channel also comprises a slip agent which can also be applied to the glass run channel as part of the single stage operation.

[0029] In a further aspect, the present invention also provides a process for the production of a glass run channel comprising extruding a polymeric support structure, and preferably an S-shaped polymeric support structure, and immediately thereafter, over-extruding a polymeric frame sealing portion and a polymeric glass sealing portion. Further, a slip agent is applied to the glass run channel, immediately after production thereof, in an additional process step.

Problems solved by technology

However, certain disadvantages of these types of glass runs leaves room for improvement.

For example, because most known glass runs are rigid members and are not readily flexible, they must be stretched or bent to the shape of the door opening before being secured to the door flange.

However, inconsistencies in the alignment and position of the flange, as well as the thickness of the flange, require that the glass run be further twisted and bent as it is being secured to the door flange.

Because the glass run is rigid, such a process has obvious drawbacks when trying to secure the glass run to the door flange.

Also, the resulting twisting nature of the glass run may alter the sealing properties of the glass run channel in the glass run.

Although an S-shaped metallic core well serves the aforementioned two functions, it still suffers from the problems described hereinabove with respect to glass run channels having metallic support structures.

A further problem with these types of structures is the requirement for a multi-part production process wherein the support is prepared in one operation, coated with a elastomeric material in a second operation, treated with additional materials, such as slip agents and the like, in a third operation, and then bend or stretched to a suitable shape in a fourth operation.

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