Vehicle body shell with a sealing component for a window shaft

Abstract

Motor vehicle body shell (32) with a shaft (39) provided therein for lowering a vertically movable window pane (35) and a sealing component (1) attached to the motor vehicle body shell (32) for sealing the shaft (39), wherein the sealing component (1) comprises a sealing component (3) made of an elastically deformable plastic with at least one sealing lip (18, 19) for sealing against the window pane (35) and a rail (2) made of a harder plastic connected to the sealing component (3), wherein the rail (2) has an elongated body section (5) and locking elements attached thereto, wherein the locking elements secure the rail (2) in an opening (33) arranged in an outer side wall (38) of the shaft (39), characterized in that the locking elements are designed such that the uppermost sealing component edge (28c) is arranged below the uppermost edge (39a) of the shaft (39) or at the same height as the uppermost edge (39a) of the shaft (39) and that the sealing component (3) and the rail (2) are detachably connected to one another.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle body shell having a sealing component according to the preamble of claim 1. The sealing component serves to seal a window shaft in the body shell of the motor vehicle, wherein a vertically movable window pane can be lowered into the shaft.

[0002] DE 102005022152 A1 discloses a window shaft seal comprising a strip-shaped reinforcing element made of a metal sheet. The reinforcing element is embedded in a sealing strip.

[0003] Sealing arrangements for a window shaft are also known from DE 102016001243 A1 and EP 1384616 B1, which have a carrier made of metal or plastic for reinforcing the sealing arrangement, wherein the carrier is embedded in the elastically deformable sealing material.

[0004] A disadvantage of these known sealing arrangements is that the carrier and the sealing component cannot be easily separated. This is a serious disadvantage with regard to recyclability.

[0005] DE 102009011216 A1 discloses a sealing component intended for the body of a coupe or convertible. It features a sealing strip with a core made of a relatively hard plastic, partially overmolded with a softer plastic using a two-component molding technique. Even with this method of creating strength, separating the plastic materials in a recycling process is not easily feasible.

[0006] DE 202008014739 U1 discloses a generic motor vehicle body shell whose sealing component has a sealing section that partially encloses a reinforcement provided for stiffening. The reinforcement can be made of metal or plastic, and separating the reinforcement and the sealing section is also difficult.

[0007] From DE 4102302 A1 a sealing component intended for sealing a vehicle door window shaft is known, which has a rail detachably connected to a sealing component.

[0008] All of the above-mentioned sealing components are designed for installation in a vehicle body shell in such a way that they protrude beyond the upper edge of the window well and are thus clearly visible. The upper edge of such sealing components is often provided with a decorative strip. This is made of a different material, which, however, is disadvantageous from a sustainability perspective, especially given that the decorative strip essentially serves only a visual function.

[0009] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a generic motor vehicle body shell in which the sealing component has favorable properties with regard to sustainable resource utilization and recyclability.

[0010] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The sealing component intended for sealing the window shaft of the vehicle body shell comprises a sealing component and a plastic rail. The sealing component is made of an elastically deformable plastic. This can be an elastomer, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or an ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM). The rail is made of a plastic that is harder than the plastic of the sealing component, which has at least one sealing lip for sealing against the window pane.

[0011] The rail has an elongated body section with locking elements. These locking elements serve to fasten the rail in an opening arranged in an outer side wall of the shaft provided in the vehicle body shell or in the vehicle body. The locking elements are designed and arranged such that, when the component is fastened to the vehicle body shell, an upper or uppermost component edge is arranged below an upper or uppermost edge of the window shaft or at the same height as said window shaft edge. In other words, the sealing component does not protrude beyond the window shaft but can be flush with said window shaft edge.

[0012] Furthermore, the sealing component is detachably connected to the rail, meaning the sealing component and the rail are joined in such a way that they can be separated again without damage. In simple terms, this could also be described as a mechanical connection between the sealing component and the rail.

[0013] The detachable way of joining the sealing component and the rail allows for easy and non-destructive separation of the materials used when recycling is required. This provides an improved recycling option for materials considered valuable compared to the current state of the art.

[0014] Because the sealing component installed in the vehicle body shell is visually concealed, or essentially visually concealed when the sealing component is flush with the window well edge, there is no need to visually cover any gap between the sealing component and the vehicle body shell, which is why decorative elements, in particular a decorative strip, are necessary. Thus, according to the invention, no decorative strip is provided to cover the gap between the sealing component and the vehicle body shell or the outer side wall of the window well. This also has a favorable effect on the separability of the materials of the sealing component, since decorative strips are often installed in conjunction with the sealing components and form an overall system. The invention also allows for a narrow design of the aforementioned gap, which has a favorable effect in terms of aerodynamics.

[0015] The locking elements can have one or more configurations. In particular, the locking elements can be locking lugs that engage behind an edge of the opening when the rail is pushed into the opening in the shaft side wall or the vehicle body shell, after having performed an elastic movement during the pushing-in process.

[0016] In addition, the locking elements can also be locking hooks that engage behind an edge of the opening, whereby the locking hooks can be pushed onto the edge of the opening in particular.

[0017] Preferably, the locking elements have both locking lugs and locking hooks, wherein the hooks are designed to engage over a lower edge of the opening, and the locking lugs are designed to be pressed into the opening after the hooks have been secured along an upper opening edge. This allows for simple attachment of the sealing component to the vehicle body shell. Of course, it would also be possible for the locking hooks to engage behind the upper opening edge and for the locking lugs to be pressed into the opening along the lower opening edge.

[0018] Preferably, the locking hooks are fastened in recesses in the fuselage section by means of a web running in the longitudinal direction of the fuselage section such that the locking hooks can move slightly elastically perpendicular to the web. This ensures that the rail can be easily released from the opening in the shaft side wall when required, namely by exerting vertical pressure on the rail from above, so that the locking lugs can be released from the upper edge of the opening, the rail can be tilted slightly from the vertical, and then the locking hooks and thus the rail can be pulled off the edge of the opening. Several such webs can also be provided, in particular two.

[0019] It can also be provided that the locking hooks engage behind a lateral opening edge, and the locking lugs are pressed into the opening along an opposite lateral opening edge. In this case, the locking hooks could be secured in recesses of the fuselage section by means of a web extending in the vertical direction of the fuselage section, such that the locking hooks can move slightly elastically in the longitudinal direction of the fuselage section.

[0020] Preferably, the sealing component and the rail are connected to each other in a form-fitting manner. Since the sealing component is made of an elastically deformable plastic, this connection method is particularly suitable here. In particular, it can be provided that the sealing component engages both an upper rail edge and a lower rail edge in a form-fitting manner. The sealing component and the rail can also be connected to each other by clipping. This also allows for easy removal.

[0021] The sealing component and the rail can also be connected to each other in a force-locking manner.

[0022] The rail preferably has means for correctly positioning the component when inserted into the shaft side wall opening. This can in particular be a pin attached to the body section, which has a mushroom-like shape and thus a shaft and a head, wherein a keyhole-like recess is also provided in the outer side wall of the window shaft. To position the rail, the head of the pin is passed through an upper part of the keyhole-like recess, and the pin then slides with its shaft into the lower, narrower section of the recess when the rail is pressed down. These positioning means are particularly advantageous when used with a rail with locking lugs and locking hooks.

[0023] The rail can be manufactured as an injection-molded part or as an extruded part. In the extruded version, the locking elements are manufactured separately and inserted into the extruded part.

[0024] The invention will be explained in more detail below using two exemplary embodiments, with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a first sealing component for sealing a window shaft of a motor vehicle body shell according to the invention, Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view of the sealing component of the Fig. 1 between two locking hooks of a rail of the sealing component, Fig. 3 a vertical sectional view of the sealing component of the Fig. 1 at the location where a mushroom-shaped positioning means is arranged, Fig. 4 a vertical sectional view of the sealing component of the Fig. 1 at the point where a locking lug and a locking hook are arranged below it, Fig. 5 a front partial plan view of the sealing component of the Fig. 1, in which the mushroom-shaped positioning means and a fastening of an adjacent locking hook in a recess by means of a web can be seen, Fig. 6 a vertical sectional view of the sealing component of the Fig. 1 accordingly Fig. 3, wherein it is inserted into an opening of an outer side wall of the window shaft, Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the sealing component inserted into the opening of the Fig. 1, where the cut corresponds to the Fig. 4 and also shows a window pane, Fig. 8 is a vertical perspective sectional view of the sealing component inserted into the opening of the Fig. 1, where the section through the vehicle body is made slightly in front of the opening with the sealing component inserted and the window pane as well as an inner and outer side wall of the window shaft are shown, Fig. 9 a vertical sectional view of a second sealing component for sealing a window shaft of a motor vehicle body shell according to the invention.

[0025] The sealing component of the Fig. 1 is designated by the reference numeral 1 and comprises the rail designated by the reference numeral 2, which is made of a relatively hard plastic and is slightly curved, as well as a sealing component 3 made of an elastomer.

[0026] An elongated body section 5 of the rail 2 has a series of locking hooks 6 and a series of locking lugs 7. Furthermore, the body section 5 has a mushroom-shaped pin 9 with a head 10 and a shaft 11.

[0027] The locking hooks 6 are each secured in a recess 13 of the fuselage section 5 by means of a web 14. The respective web 14 connects the locking hook 6 to the fuselage section 5 on both sides, with the locking hook 6 having two sections 6a and 6b, which are connected to each other by a central connecting section 6c. This allows the locking hooks 6 to move somewhat elastically in the vertical direction.

[0028] The locking lugs 7 also have an elasticity which allows them a slight vertical freedom of movement within a respective further recess 15 of the fuselage section 5.

[0029] The sealing component 3 has two sealing lips 18 and 19, each with a flocking layer 20 and 21, which could also be replaced by another type of sliding coating. A stop buffer 22 for the sealing lip 19 is arranged between the two sealing lips 18, 19.

[0030] The rail 2 has an upper angled edge portion 24 and a lower angled edge portion 25. Furthermore, it has a longitudinally extending rib 26 on the body portion 5.

[0031] The sealing component 3 has an upper gripping portion 28 and a lower gripping portion 29, which engage the upper and lower edge portions 24, 25 of the rail 2, respectively, thereby establishing a positive connection between the rail 2 and the sealing component 3. This positive connection is also contributed to by the fact that the rib 26 engages with a corresponding groove 27 of the sealing component 3.

[0032] In Fig. 6 shows a part of the vehicle body shell and is designated by 32, wherein the sealing component 1 is inserted into an opening 33 (see Fig. 7) of the outer side wall designated 38 of the window shaft designated 39 and the mushroom-shaped pin 9 is located in a keyhole-like recess 34 which is arranged to the side of the opening 33 in the side wall 38.

[0033] In Fig. 7 also shows a window pane 35 of the motor vehicle, against which the sealing lips 18, 19 are sealingly abutted by the flockings 20, 21. The sealing lip 18 has an approximately horizontally angled end section 18a, which, when the sealing lip 18 is in contact with the pane 35, reduces the free gap between the pane and the side wall 38. The stop buffer 22 serves as a stop for the sealing lip 19.

[0034] A flange portion 28a of the gripping portion 28 and a flange portion 29a of the gripping portion 29 seal against edges of the opening 33. The gripping portion 28 has a surface 28b that forms a highest expansion edge 28c of the sealing component 1, this edge 28c being lower than a highest expansion edge 39a of the window shaft 39.

[0035] In Fig. 8, the inner side wall is shown and designated 37. The inner side wall 37 and the outer side wall 38 together form the window shaft 39. An upper or uppermost edge of the inner side wall 37 is lower than an upper or uppermost edge of the outer side wall 38, which forms the highest extension edge 39a of the window shaft 39.

[0036] The sealing component 1 is inserted into the opening 33 by first inserting the mushroom-shaped pin 9 into the keyhole-like recess 34 of the shell 32 or the outer side wall 38 for the correct positioning of the sealing component 1, which is then pushed downwards so that the locking hooks 6 engage over the lower edge of the opening 33 (see Fig. 7), and finally, the locking lugs 7 are pressed into the opening 33 so that they engage behind the upper edge of the opening 33. The keyhole-like recess 34 is arranged laterally of the opening 33, and another such keyhole-like recess and, accordingly, another mushroom-shaped pin can be provided on the opposite side of the opening 33.

[0037] It can also be provided that a keyhole-like recess is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the sealing component 1 in such a way that the mushroom-shaped pin 9 is pushed sideways after insertion into the recess and locking hooks and locking lugs are attached to the side edges of the rail.

[0038] No decorative strip is provided in the area of the upper gripping section 28 of the sealing component 1 and the adjacent outer side wall 38.

[0039] In the figures, identical features are designated by identical reference numerals. Fig.The further exemplary embodiment of the sealing component according to the invention shown in Figure 9 is designated by the reference numeral 1' and has a rail 2' and a sealing component 3'. The sealing component 1' differs from the first sealing component 1 in that the rail 2', in addition to an upper angled edge section 24', also has a further upper angled edge section 24", and an upper gripping section 28' of the sealing component 3' has a hook section 40. The further features of the sealing component 1' are the corresponding described features of the sealing component 1.

[0040] To connect the sealing component 3' to the rail 2', the hook portion 40 of the gripping portion 28' is pressed into the recess formed by the two edge portions 24' and 24". Clipping takes place, namely by the hook portion 40 engaging with the edge portion 24" and being secured there against withdrawal by the angling of the edge portion 24". The rail 2' is designed somewhat thicker in cross-section than the rail 2, and an end region 42 of the gripping portion 28' is provided for sealing against the upper edge of the opening 33 of the outer shaft side wall 38. List of reference symbols: 1, 1' sealing component 2, 2' rail 3, 3' sealing component 5 fuselage section 6 locking hooks 6a section of 6 6b Part of 6 6c middle connecting section of 6 7 locking lugs 9 mushroom-shaped pin 10 Head of 9 11 shaft of 9 13 Recess 14 jetty 15 recess 18 Sealing lip 18a End section of 18 19 Sealing lip 20 flocking 21 Flocking 22 stop buffers 24 upper angled edge section of 2 24' upper angled edge section of 2' 24" additional upper angled edge section of 2' 25 lower angled edge section of 2 26 rib 27 groove of 3 28 upper gripping section of 3 28a Flange section of 28 28b Surface of 28 28c highest extension edge of 1 28' upper gripping section of 3' 29 lower gripping section of 3 29a Flange section of 29 32 Motor vehicle body shell 33 opening of 38 34 keyhole-like recess 35 window pane 37 inner side wall of 39 38 outer side wall of 39 39 Shaft 39a highest extension edge of 39 40 hook section of 28' 42 end area of 28'

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle body shell (32) with a shaft (39) provided therein for lowering a vertically movable window pane (35) and a sealing component (1) attached to the motor vehicle body shell (32) for sealing the shaft (39), wherein the sealing component (1) comprises a sealing component (3) made of an elastically deformable plastic with at least one sealing lip (18, 19) for sealing against the window pane (35) and a rail (2) made of a harder plastic connected to the sealing component (3), wherein the rail (2) has an elongated body section (5) and locking elements attached thereto, wherein the locking elements secure the rail (2) in an opening (33) arranged in an outer side wall (38) of the shaft (39), characterized bythat the locking elements are designed such that the uppermost sealing component edge (28c) is arranged below the uppermost edge (39a) of the shaft (39) or at the same height as the uppermost edge (39a) of the shaft (39) and that the sealing component (3) and the rail (2) are detachably connected to one another. [2] Motor vehicle body shell (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the locking elements are at least partially locking lugs (7) which engage behind an edge of the opening (33) when the respective locking lug (7) is pressed into the opening (33). [3] Motor vehicle body shell (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the locking elements are at least partially locking hooks (6) which engage behind an edge of the opening (33). [4] Motor vehicle body shell (1) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized bythat the locking hooks (6) are provided for engagement with a lower edge of the opening (33) and the locking lugs (7) are provided for engagement with an upper edge of the opening (33), or vice versa. [5] Motor vehicle body shell (1) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized by that the locking hooks are provided for engagement with a lateral edge of the opening (33) and the locking lugs are provided for engagement with an opposite lateral edge of the opening (33). [6] Motor vehicle body shell (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by that the locking hooks (6) are elastically fastened in recesses (13) of the fuselage section (5) by means of at least one web (14) extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. [7] Motor vehicle body shell (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sealing component (3) and the rail (2) are positively connected to one another. [8] Motor vehicle body shell (1) according to claim 7, characterized bythat the sealing component (3) positively engages both an upper rail edge (24) and a lower rail edge (25). [9] Motor vehicle body shell (1') according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by that the sealing component (3') and the rail (2') are connected to each other by clipping (24", 40). [10] Motor vehicle body shell (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sealing component (3) and the rail (2) are connected to each other in a force-locking manner. [11] Motor vehicle body shell (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the rail (2) has means for correctly positioning the sealing component in the opening (33). [12] Motor vehicle body shell (1) according to claim 11, characterized bythat the positioning means comprise at least one mushroom-shaped pin (9) attached to the body section (5) and intended to engage in a keyhole-like recess (34) in the outer side wall (38) of the shaft (39).

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