Device for sealing the edge of a part or window pane of a vehicle body and method for manufacturing the sealing device

Abstract

Device for sealing the edge of a part or window pane (9) of a vehicle body, comprising a fastening element (3) by means of which the sealing device (1) can be attached to a body flange (6) and which is provided for holding at least one sealing strand (2), wherein the fastening element (3) comprises a main leg (4) to which a decorative element (7) is attached, which has a visible surface after installation on the vehicle body, and comprises at least one connecting leg (5) projecting from the main leg (4), which is provided for receiving the sealing strand (2), wherein the fastening element (3) and the decorative element (7) and / or the sealing strand (2) are made of plastic or fiber composite material and the fastening element (3) on the one hand and the decorative element (7) and / or the sealing strand (2) on the other hand are integrally formed together. characterized by that the connecting leg (5) and / or a clamping and / or locking leg (10) of the fastening element (3) projecting from the main leg (4), which is arranged such that a slot (11) is formed between the clamping and / or locking leg (10) and the connecting leg (5), into which the body flange (6) can be inserted for fastening the sealing device (1), are provided with recesses (12, 13), wherein projecting pins (15) are formed on the sealing strip (2), which extend through the recesses (12) and are provided for bearing against the body flange (6) in order to hold the fastening element (3) when it is fastened to the body flange (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for sealing the edge of a part or window pane of a vehicle body, which has a fastening element by means of which the sealing device can be attached to a body flange and which is provided for holding at least one sealing strand, wherein the fastening element comprises a main leg to which a decorative element is attached, which has a visible surface after installation on the vehicle body, and comprises at least one connecting leg projecting from the main leg, which is provided for receiving the sealing strand.

[0002] The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a sealing device.

[0003] Such sealing devices, known from practical use, are employed for the formation of window guide seals and window channel seals in automobiles. The decorative element, the sealing strip, and the fastening element are manufactured separately and joined together before installation on the respective automobile, with the decorative element being glued or clipped onto the outside of the main leg and the sealing strip being clipped or glued onto the connecting leg.

[0004] From US 2014 / 0 212 621 A1, a device for sealing the edge of a window pane of a vehicle body according to the preamble of claim 1 is known.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of creating a sealing device of the type mentioned above that can be manufactured ready for installation with less effort.

[0006] According to the invention, this problem is achieved by providing the connecting leg and / or the clamping and / or locking leg with recesses that can be spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the sealing device. The recesses serve to receive fastening hooks arranged on the body flange. Preferably, the recesses are shaped such that the fastening hooks engage appropriately in them when the sealing device is arranged on the body flange. The recesses are designed to receive pin sections formed on the sealing strand, which can be made of the same material as the sealing strand and are preferably formed integrally with the sealing strand. According to the invention, the pin sections project through the recesses and are designed to bear against the body flange in order to secure the fastening element when it is attached to the body flange.

[0007] The fastening element, as well as the decorative element and / or the sealing strand, are made of plastic or fiber composite material, and the fastening element on the one hand and the decorative element and / or the sealing strand on the other hand are molded together by injection molding.

[0008] The sealing device according to the invention can be manufactured by first producing the fastening element, the decorative element or the sealing strand, optionally by injection molding, and then injection molding a different component of the sealing device, i.e., the decorative element, the sealing strand or the fastening element, onto it.

[0009] Advantageously, the decorative element, sealing strip, or fastening element is joined to the already manufactured component during its production by injection molding. Since the separate process step required for joining the components, as is necessary with conventional sealing devices, is eliminated, particularly simple and rapid production becomes possible.

[0010] While it would be conceivable to first produce the decorative element or the sealing strand and then, possibly simultaneously, injection mold the fastening element onto the decorative element or the sealing strand, in the preferred embodiment of the invention the fastening element is produced first and the decorative element or the sealing strand is injection molded onto the fastening element.

[0011] It is understood that the sealing device may also be designed in such a way that the decorative element and the sealing strand are directly molded onto each other.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the fastening element, the decorative element, and / or the sealing strip are manufactured by multi-component injection molding, wherein the sealing device is produced using an injection molding machine comprising two or more injection units but only one clamping unit. Advantageously, the sealing device can be manufactured with only a single tool in a single operation. The various individual work steps required for assembling known sealing devices are eliminated.

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, the decorative element is formed from a plastic suitable for metallization, particularly chrome plating, by being coated with an electrically conductive layer onto which a metal layer can be deposited by electroplating. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is preferably used to form the fastening element, as this plastic has proven particularly suitable for metallization using the aforementioned method. Advantageously, after the sealing device has been manufactured by injection molding, the decorative element can be provided with a metallic-looking surface using one of the plastic metallization processes known from the prior art.

[0014] For metallization, the plastic can, for example, first be etched with an oxidative metal salt solution to roughen the surface. The surface is then activated with metal nuclei, such as palladium, and subsequently metallized chemically by reduction from metal salts, producing a thin layer of copper or nickel. The desired metal layer, which is intended to give the decorative element its metallic appearance, is then deposited onto this thin layer in an electroplating bath. If the plastic is to be chrome-plated, layers of copper and nickel can first be deposited to ensure good adhesion.

[0015] The sealing strand and, if applicable, the fastening element can be made of plastic that is not suitable or intended for metallization, so that the sealing device can be treated as a whole in a plastic electroplating process after its manufacture by injection molding, without the electroplating also taking place on the sealing strand or the fastening element.

[0016] Furthermore, the decorative element could be made from a thermoplastic material, depending on the desired appearance. To give the decorative element a matte finish, it is preferably made from styrene block copolymer-based TPE (TPS) or thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV). It could also be made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate / acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC / ABS), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), and / or acrylate styrene acrylate (ASA). This allows the decorative element to be given a glossy, particularly lacquer-like, appearance.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the fastening element is formed from the fiber composite material and the fiber composite material preferably comprises as a matrix at least one of the plastics polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and / or a fiber reinforcement, preferably made of glass and / or carbon fibers.

[0018] The sealing strand is expediently formed from a thermoplastic polymer, preferably from thermoplastic elastomer (TPS) based on styrene block copolymers or from thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV).

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, the fastening element has a clamping and / or locking leg projecting from the main leg, preferably approximately perpendicularly, which is arranged such that a slot for receiving the body flange is formed between the clamping and / or locking leg and the connecting leg, which preferably also projects approximately perpendicularly from the main leg, so that the sealing device can be attached to the body flange.

[0020] The clamping and / or locking leg and the connecting leg are preferably designed such that the sealing device can be attached to the body flange by means of the clamping and / or locking action of the clamping and / or locking leg and the connecting leg.

[0021] According to the invention, during injection molding, plastic material used to form the sealing strand is injected through the recess to form pins projecting from the sealing strand. An injection mold of the aforementioned injection molding machine is preferably designed such that the plastic material forming the pins is arranged not only within the recess but also on the side of the connecting leg or the clamping and / or locking leg facing the body flange, preferably such that, in the installed state, it sits between the body flange and the connecting leg or the clamping and / or locking leg.

[0022] Advantageously, the sealing device comprises a further sealing strand, which is preferably provided for sealing the edge of the window pane or part, wherein the further sealing strand is preferably made of synthetic rubber, preferably of ethylene-prop-5a-ene rubber (EPDM or thermoplastic elastomer (TP)).

[0023] In a further embodiment of the invention, the additional sealing strand can be connected to the fastening element, preferably by snap-fit ​​and / or clamping, ideally such that the fastening element and the sealing strand are held directly against each other. For this purpose, the additional sealing strand and the fastening element are advantageously adapted in their shapes to each other so that the additional sealing strand can be attached to the fastening element, e.g., by clamping, inserting, or snapping. Unlike combinations of fastening element and sealing strand known from the prior art, in this embodiment the fastening element and the additional sealing strand can be connected to each other before installation on the vehicle body. Advantageously, the manufacturer can supply the sealing device according to the invention already assembled.The arrangement of the sealing device on the bodywork is then considerably simplified and can be carried out in a much shorter time.

[0024] Advantageously, the fastening element and / or the further sealing strand are provided with one or more hooks, by means of which they can be attached to a counter-holder provided on the further sealing strand or the fastening element, possibly with a snap-in mechanism.

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings relating to these embodiments. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a cross-sectional view of a sealing device according to the invention, Fig. 2 a further sealing device according to the invention in cross-section, and Fig. 3 another sealing device according to the invention in cross-section.

[0026] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a strand-shaped sealing device 1 according to the invention, which is arranged on a body flange 6 of a vehicle door and is provided for sealing a movable window pane 9 and for sealing the vehicle door against a body section 16 forming the door frame.

[0027] The sealing device 1 comprises a fastening element 3, which has a main leg 4 and a connecting leg 5 projecting approximately perpendicularly thereto, and at a distance therefrom, a clamping and / or locking leg 10 projecting approximately perpendicularly from the main leg 4. On a side of the main leg 4 facing away from the connecting leg 5 and the clamping and / or locking leg 10, a decorative strip 7 is arranged on the main leg 4, which completely covers the main leg 4 on said side and forms a visible surface that is visible from the outside.

[0028] A sealing strip 2 is arranged on the connecting element 5, serving to seal the vehicle door against the body section 16. The sealing strip 2 comprises two legs designed to abut the body section 16 and provided with a surface texture on their respective contact surfaces 17. Several recesses 12 are formed longitudinally at intervals in the connecting leg 5, through which pins 15 extend from the sealing strip 2. These pins are shaped such that they are located in a pin head area between the body flange 6 and the side of the connecting leg 5 facing the body flange 6. In the installed state, the pins bear against both the connecting leg 5 and the body flange 6.

[0029] Furthermore, the sealing string 2 includes a sealing nose 24, which is located at the end of the connecting leg 5 that is facing away from the main leg 4, and which seals the space between the connecting leg 5 and the body flange 6 to the outside.

[0030] The connecting leg 5, the pin 15, and the clamping and / or locking leg 10 are arranged at intervals from one another and are shaped such that a slot 11 for receiving the body flange 6 is formed between them, and that they can be stably placed onto the body flange 6, forming a clamping effect. Recesses 13 are formed longitudinally at intervals in the clamping and / or locking leg 10, which are designed to receive hook elements 14 projecting from the body flange 6 and intended for attaching the sealing device 1 to the body flange 6.

[0031] On the side of the main leg 4 facing away from the decorative strip and on the side of the clamping and / or locking leg 10 facing away from the connecting leg 5, a further sealing strand 8 is arranged on the fastening element 3. This sealing strand is intended for sealing the window pane 9 and has several sealing legs 18 designed to abut the window pane 9. A locking lug 19 is formed on an inner side of the main leg 4, which serves as a counter-holder to a locking lug 20 formed on the further sealing strand. The further sealing strand 8 is also provided for support against further sections 25, 26 of the body.

[0032] The fastening element 3, the decorative element 7 and the sealing strand 2 were produced successively in a multi-component injection molding process in an injection molding machine that includes two or more injection units but only one clamping unit, so that the sealing device 1 can be produced with only one tool in a single operation.

[0033] In a first step, the fastening element 3 is manufactured, and then the decorative strip 7 is injection-molded onto the fastening element 3, followed by the injection-molded sealing strip 2 onto the fastening element 3 and the decorative strip 7. For this latter step, the injection mold is designed such that the material intended to form the sealing strip 2 can flow through the recesses 12 in the connecting leg 5 to form the pins 15.

[0034] The fastening element 3 is made of a fiber composite material, preferably with a matrix of polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and with glass or carbon fibers as reinforcement material.

[0035] The decorative strip 7 is made of a thermoplastic material, depending on the desired appearance of the visible surface, e.g., from styrene block copolymer-based TPE (TPS) or from thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV), from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), from a mixture of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC / ABS), from styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) or from acrylate ester styrene acrylonitrile (ASA).

[0036] Furthermore, the decorative strip 7 can be made of a galvanizable plastic, for example acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), if it is to be given a metallic appearance.

[0037] The sealing strand 2 is also made of a thermoplastic polymer, e.g. TPS or TPV.

[0038] If the decorative strip 7 is to be provided with a metallic-looking visible surface, the decorative element 7 is made of a plastic, e.g., ABS, which is suitable for coating with an electrically conductive layer firmly adhering to the plastic, onto which a metal layer can be deposited by electroplating in an electroplating bath. After the sealing element 1 has been manufactured, the decorative element is electroplated in a manner known per se using a plastic electroplating process. If a plastic or fiber composite material is used to manufacture the fastening element 3 and the sealing element 2, on which no metal is deposited when the entire fastening element 3 is electroplated in an electroplating bath, e.g., because no electrically conductive layer is provided on it, the metallic-looking surface forms exclusively on the decorative element 7.

[0039] In this example, the additional sealing strand 8 is made of ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and is manufactured in a separate operation and attached to the fastening element 3. However, it would also be conceivable to manufacture the additional sealing strand 8 from a thermoplastic material, e.g., TPS or TPV, and to mold it directly onto the fastening element 3 using a multi-component injection molding process.

[0040] The sealing device 1 is installed on the body by placing it onto the body flange 6 such that the flange projects into the slot 11 between the connecting leg and the clamping and / or locking leg 10, with the hooks 14 of the body flange 6 engaging in the recesses 13 in the clamping and / or locking leg 10. The sealing device 1 is then held in place by a clamping action between the clamping and / or locking leg 10 and the pins 15, and also by the hooks 14 on the body flange 6. Since the pins 15, as well as the sealing strand 2, are made of a softer material than the fastening element 3, the pins 15 ensure a particularly stable fit to the body flange 6. The further sealing strand 8 is held in place by the locking lug 19 of the main leg 4 and by its support against the body sections 25 and 26.The fastening element 3 and the further sealing strand 8 are therefore only assembled during the installation of the sealing device 1 on the body flange 6 and are held together by the support on the body sections 25,26 and on the body flange 6 on the other hand.

[0041] It will now be referred to as Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 Reference is made where identical or equivalent parts are used with the same reference number as in Fig. are designated as 1 and each reference number is followed by a letter.

[0042] Another one, in Fig. The sealing device 1a shown in Figure 2 according to the invention differs from that shown in Figure 2. Fig. 1 by the shape of its clamping and / or locking leg 10a of its fastening element 3a. At one end of a clamping and / or locking leg 10a, which is turned away from a main leg 4a, an angle is formed in the direction away from a connecting leg 5a, which is provided on its side facing the main leg 4a with a locking lug 22, which is provided as a counter-holder for a locking lug 23 formed on a further sealing strand 8a.

[0043] The further sealing strand 8a can be inserted into the space between the clamping and / or locking leg 10a and the main leg 4a and is held there by locking actions of the aforementioned locking lugs 22,23 and a locking lug 19a formed on the inside of the main leg 4a and a further locking lug 20a formed on the further sealing strand 8a.

[0044] The additional sealing strand 8a can be attached to the fastening element 3a before installation on the vehicle body in such a way that it holds itself in place. This simplifies the installation effort of the pre-assembled sealing device 1a, for example, compared to the sealing device according to [reference to relevant document]. Fig. 1, clearly.

[0045] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a further sealing device 1b according to the invention, which is suitable for sealing a window shaft. The sealing device 1b differs from that according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in particular by the shape of a sealing strip 2b, which is designed such that the sealing strip 2b is suitable for sealing a window pane to be arranged in the window recess. Furthermore, a fastening element 3b and a decorative strip 7b have shapes adapted for sealing the window recess, wherein a main leg 4b of the fastening element 3b and the decorative strip 7b are shaped such that an end of the decorative strip 7b facing away from the sealing strip 2b abuts a lower section 25b of a body flange 6b.

[0046] Both in the case of the sealing device 1a according to Fig. 2 as well as in the sealing device 1b according to Fig. 3. The fastening element 3a,3b, the decorative strip 7a,7b and the sealing strip 2a,2b are installed as above for the sealing device 1. Fig.1. Manufactured in a single operation using multi-component injection molding. The materials mentioned above for sealing strip 1 can be used for this purpose. As explained above, a metallic appearance can be given to a visible surface of the decorative strip 7a, 7b by means of a plastic electroplating process.

Claims

[1] Device for sealing the edge of a part or window pane (9) of a vehicle body, comprising a fastening element (3) by means of which the sealing device (1) can be attached to a body flange (6) and which is provided for holding at least one sealing strand (2), wherein the fastening element (3) comprises a main leg (4) to which a decorative element (7) is attached, which has a visible surface after installation on the vehicle body, and comprises at least one connecting leg (5) projecting from the main leg (4), which is provided for receiving the sealing strand (2), wherein the fastening element (3) and the decorative element (7) and / or the sealing strand (2) are made of plastic or fiber composite material and the fastening element (3) on the one hand and the decorative element (7) and / or the sealing strand (2) on the other hand are integrally formed together. characterized by , that the connecting leg (5) and / or a clamping and / or locking leg (10) of the fastening element (3) projecting from the main leg (4), which is arranged such that a slot (11) is formed between the clamping and / or locking leg (10) and the connecting leg (5), into which the body flange (6) can be inserted for fastening the sealing device (1), are provided with recesses (12, 13), wherein projecting pins (15) are formed on the sealing strip (2), which extend through the recesses (12) and are provided for bearing against the body flange (6) in order to hold the fastening element (3) when it is fastened to the body flange (6). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by , that the fastening element (3) as well as the decorative element (7) and / or the sealing string (2) are manufactured by means of multi-component injection molding. [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the decorative element (7) is made of a plastic, preferably acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which is suitable for being coated with an electrically conductive layer for metallization of the plastic, on which a metal layer can be deposited by electroplating. [4] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the decorative element (7) is made of a thermoplastic polymer, preferably of thermoplastic elastomer (TPS) or thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) based on styrene block copolymers, of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), of polycarbonate / acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC / ABS), of styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) or / and of acrylate styrene acrylonitrile (ASA). [5] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by, that the fastening element (3) is formed from the fiber composite material and the fiber composite material preferably comprises as a matrix at least one of the plastics polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and / or a fiber reinforcement, preferably made of glass and / or carbon fibers. [6] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the sealing strand (2) is formed from a thermoplastic polymer, preferably from thermoplastic elastomer (TPS) based on styrene block copolymers or from thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV). [7] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by, that the clamping and / or locking leg (10) and the connecting leg (5) are preferably provided in such a way that the sealing device (1) can be attached to the body flange (6) by clamping and / or locking action of the clamping and / or locking leg (10) and the connecting leg (5). [8] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the sealing device (1;1a) comprises a further sealing strand (8;8a) which can be connected to the fastening element (3;3a) preferably by snapping and / or clamping, and which is preferably provided for sealing the edge of the window pane (9;9a) or the part, wherein the further sealing strand (8;8a) and the fastening element (3a) are preferably adapted to each other in their shapes in such a way that they automatically hold each other when connected. [9] Method for manufacturing a device for sealing the edge of a part or window pane (9) of a vehicle body, comprising a fastening element (3) by means of which the sealing device (1) can be attached to a body flange (6) and which is provided for holding a sealing strand (2), wherein the fastening element (3) comprises a main leg (4) to which a decorative element (7) is attached, which has a visible surface after installation on the vehicle body, and comprises at least one connecting leg (5) projecting from the main leg (4), which is provided for receiving the sealing strand (2),wherein the fastening element (3) and the decorative element (7) and / or the sealing strand (2) are made of plastic and / or fiber composite material and the fastening element (3) on the one hand and the decorative element (7) and / or the sealing strand (2) on the other hand are formed together by injection molding , characterized by , that a recess (12) is formed in the main leg (4) and / or in a clamping and / or locking leg (10) of the fastening element (13) and that during injection molding, plastic material, by means of which the sealing strand (2) is formed, is injected through the recess (12) to form pins (15) that protrude from the sealing strand (2). [10] Method according to claim 9, characterized by, that the decorative element (7) and / or the sealing strand (2) is injection molded onto the fastening element (3) or the fastening element (3) is injection molded onto the decorative element (7) and / or the sealing strand (2). [11] Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by , that the fastening element (3) as well as the decorative element (7) and / or the sealing string (2) are manufactured by means of multi-component injection molding. [12] Method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by , that the decorative element (7) is formed from a plastic, preferably acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which is suitable for being coated with an electrically conductive layer for metallization of the plastic, on which a metal layer can be deposited by electroplating.

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