Automotive exterior door panel sealing profile

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing profile (6) for a motor vehicle, intended to be mounted between an outer door panel (3) and a door window (4). The sealing profile (6) is snapped onto the outer door panel (3) by means of a retaining clip (12) formed in a reinforcement (8) of the sealing profile (6). According to the invention, a boss (21) forming a clipping finger (20) for the retaining clip (12) comprises an inclined sliding face (26) configured to snap into a corresponding opening (13) in the outer door panel (3), the inclined sliding face (26) having a flat (28) to make the clipping finger (20) more robust. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Sealing profile for an exterior panel of a motor vehicle door

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of motor vehicle doors, and more particularly that of exterior sealing strips for motor vehicle doors intended to be mounted on an upper edge of an exterior panel of a motor vehicle door and provided with a window.

[0002] In the state of the art, an external sealing profile is known which is intended to be mounted on an external panel of a motor vehicle door, at an upper edge of said panel. This profile comprises a slot fitted to the upper edge of the external door panel, and a lip resting on the door window or on a frame trim, said lip limiting the penetration of water and dust into the door.

[0003] Published patent application FR3071196 discloses a sealing profile comprising a body forming a slot with two opposite faces and a lip extending along the body and intended to be in contact with the window. At least one of the two opposite faces of the slot comprises edges extending transversely to the profile and each having an end face outside the slot, with an inclined profile so as to promote the insertion of the upper edge of the exterior door panel into the slot. One of the faces of the sealing profile, called the internal face, comprises a boss having a triangular section extending longitudinally so as to form an inclined sliding face along the upper edge of the exterior door panel. The boss forms a clip capable of engaging with a corresponding orifice in the upper edge so as to keep the sealing profile engaged with the upper edge of the exterior door panel.

[0004] A known disadvantage of this sealing profile lies in quality problems of the clip formed by the boss, making the sealing profile unsuitable for use. More particularly, it has been found that the forces exerted on the sealing profile at the time of its assembly on the exterior door panel of the motor vehicle were too great for the clip formed by the boss, sometimes leading to plastic deformation or even breakage.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to propose a new sealing profile in order to respond at least to a large extent to the preceding problems and to further lead to other advantages.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to improve the quality of such a sealing profile by making it more resistant to the forces undergone during its assembly on an exterior door panel.

[0007] Another aim of the invention is to improve the robustness of such a sealing profile, and more particularly at the level of its assembly clip on the exterior door panel.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a sealing profile intended to be mounted on an upper edge of an exterior door panel of a motor vehicle and provided with a window, the sealing profile comprising (i) a longitudinal extension frame and forming a slot delimited by two opposite faces, the frame being configured to fit the upper edge of the exterior door panel, (ii) an upper lip extending along an upper longitudinal edge of the frame, the upper lip being intended to be pressed against the window of the motor vehicle, (iii) a fixing clip formed on the frame and configured to be able to collaborate by snap-fastening with a corresponding opening formed on the exterior door panel of the motor vehicle, the fixing clip comprising a clipping finger forming a boss located opposite the slot of the sealing profile,the boss having a cross section which extends along an inclined sliding face extended by a snap-in index at its free end. In the sealing profile according to the first aspect of the invention, the inclined sliding face comprises a flat at a base of said inclined sliding face.

[0009] The base of the inclined sliding face is located on the side of a longitudinal leg of the frame, the longitudinal leg being supported by two lateral legs framing the clipping finger.

[0010] Along the inclined sliding face, the base is located at an opposite longitudinal end of the ratchet index.

[0011] The presence of the flat at the base of the inclined sliding face makes it possible to reinforce this part of the clipping finger and to reduce the risks of plastic deformation or breakage. As a result, the quality of the sealing profile is increased.

[0012] The reinforcement of the sealing profile according to the first aspect of the invention is of longitudinal extension in the sense that it extends along a longitudinal axis of the sealing profile. The longitudinal axis of the sealing profile is taken according to its largest dimension.

[0013] The sealing profile frame supports the slot, the upper lip, and the fixing clip. The frame ensures relative positioning of the slot, the upper lip, and the fixing clip. It is configured to engage with the upper edge of the outer door panel so that the retaining clip cooperates with the opening of the outer door panel.

[0014] The frame of the sealing profile according to the first aspect of the invention comprises the slot. The slot is a space intended to accommodate the upper edge of the exterior door panel of the motor vehicle. The slot accommodates the upper edge of the exterior door panel of the motor vehicle when the frame overlaps said upper edge.

[0015] The upper lip of the sealing profile is intended to be placed in contact with the trim of the motor vehicle so as to limit the penetration of water and dust between the window and the exterior door panel and to guarantee the appearance.

[0016] The sealing profile according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0017] - a length of the flat is greater than or equal to 500 pm. This configuration advantageous thus makes it possible to guarantee sufficient robustness of the boss forming the clipping finger, at the level of its inclined sliding face, while limiting the longitudinal dimensions of said clipping finger;

[0018] - the flat of the inclined sliding face forms with a rear face of the finger clipping a first projecting angle. Preferably, the flat and the rear face together form a first angle greater than or equal to 60°. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to optimize the robustness of the clipping finger, in particular when it is inserted into the corresponding opening of the exterior door panel with which the sealing profile is intended to collaborate;

[0019] - there is a non-zero functional clearance between the rear face of the clipping finger and the door panel taken at the level of the opening, the functional clearance being preferably equal or substantially equal to 500 pm;

[0020] - the boss forming the clipping finger comprises the inclined sliding face located opposite the slot of the sealing profile, the inclined sliding face forming a second angle of between 10° and 40° with the face on which the corresponding fixing clip is formed. Such an inclined sliding face of the boss forming the clipping finger makes it easier to mount the sealing profile by facilitating the rotation of the clipping finger and reducing the mounting forces when inserting the clipping finger into the corresponding opening on the exterior door panel. Advantageously, a value of the second angle is equal to 30°;

[0021] - the inclined sliding face comprises a middle part located between the flat and the snap index of the boss, said flat and said middle part together forming a third non-zero angle;

[0022] - the third angle formed between the flat and the middle part of the inclined face sliding angle is between 20° and 40°. Preferably, the third angle has a value equal to 30°. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to optimize the robustness of the clipping finger, in particular when it is inserted into the corresponding opening of the exterior door panel with which the sealing profile is intended to collaborate;

[0023] - depending on the cross-section of the clipping finger, the boss is of thickness constant along the inclined sliding face. This advantageous configuration improves the rigidity, robustness and, ultimately, the reliability of the clipping finger;

[0024] - the snap-in index has an upper face located in the extension of the middle part of the inclined sliding face, the upper face of the latching index and the middle part of the inclined sliding face together forming a fourth non-zero angle. This advantageous configuration makes it easier to latch the latching index into the corresponding opening of the exterior door panel. In particular, this configuration makes it possible to better delimit the latching index relative to the inclined sliding face of the boss forming the clipping finger;

[0025] - a value of the fourth angle is equal or substantially equal to a value of the third angle. By substantially equal, we mean that the value of the third angle is equal to the value of the fourth angle, plus or minus ten percent;

[0026] - according to a particularly advantageous configuration, the upper face of the index snap-in is parallel or substantially parallel to the flat of the inclined sliding face;

[0027] - the snap-on index has a lower face forming a heel, the face lower being inclined relative to the upper face of said snap index. In other words, the upper face of the snap index forms a chamfer. This advantageous configuration makes it easier to insert the snap index into the corresponding opening in the exterior door panel of the motor vehicle;

[0028] - in a direction perpendicular to the inclined sliding face, there is a clearance non-zero functional clearance between the inclined sliding face and the door panel taken at the opening, the functional clearance being preferably greater than or equal to 600 pm;

[0029] - the sealing profile comprises a lower lip extending along one edge lower longitudinal of the frame. The lower lip is intended to be placed in abutment against the exterior door panel of the motor vehicle. In the motor vehicle equipped with the sealing profile according to the first aspect of the invention, the lower lip participates in the mounting of a side trim intended to cover the reinforcement between the upper lip of the sealing profile and the lower lip of the sealing profile. Thus, the lower lip is configured to limit the penetration of water and dust between the trim and the exterior door panel;

[0030] - the fixing clip of the sealing profile according to the first aspect of the invention is located near the longitudinal end of the sealing profile, i.e. at a distance from a longitudinal end less than 10% of a total longitudinal length of the sealing profile. Advantageously, the sealing profile comprises two fixing clips, one fixing clip being formed at each longitudinal end of said sealing profile.

[0031] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a motor vehicle comprising (i) a window, (ii) an exterior door panel, (iii) a sealing profile according to the first aspect of the invention or according to any of its improvements, the sealing profile being mounted on an upper edge of the exterior door panel and collaborating with the window.

[0032] In the motor vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention, the upper lip of the sealing profile is pressed against the trim of the motor vehicle. The upper lip of the sealing profile according to the first aspect of the invention thus limits the penetration of water and dust between the window of the motor vehicle and the exterior door panel of the motor vehicle.

[0033] In the motor vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention, the frame of the sealing profile overlaps the upper edge of the outer door panel. The slot of the sealing profile accommodates the upper edge of the outer door panel of the motor vehicle. The fixing clip of the sealing profile collaborates by snap-fastening with the corresponding opening formed on the outer door panel of the motor vehicle.

[0034] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, integrating according to all of their possible combinations the different optional characteristics set out here.

[0035] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the attached schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0036] [Fig-1] illustrates a side view of a motor vehicle with two profiles sealing according to the invention;

[0037] [Fig.2] illustrates a detail of a sealing profile conforming to the first aspect of the invention at the level of a clipping finger of said sealing profile;

[0038] [Fig.3] illustrates a cross-sectional view of the sealing profile according to first aspect of the invention shown in [Fig.2].

[0039] Of course, the features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0040] In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described can be combined with each other if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

[0041] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0042] [Fig. 1] is a side view of a motor vehicle 1 according to the second aspect of the invention. The motor vehicle 1 comprises two side doors 2, one at the front of the motor vehicle 1 and the other at the rear of the motor vehicle 1. Each door 2 of the motor vehicle 1 comprises an outer panel 3 and a window 4 which can slide along the outer panel 3 of the door 2. Each outer panel 3 of the door 2 comprises an upper edge 5 on which is mounted a sealing profile 6 according to the first aspect of the invention, commonly called a window weatherstrip. The sealing profile 6 collaborates with the window 4 which can slide along the outer panel 3 of the door 2 on which said sealing profile 6 is mounted.

[0043] Each of the sealing profiles 6 extends its largest dimension along a longitudinal axis 7 of the sealing profile 6. The longitudinal axis 7 of the sealing profile 6 extends from the front of the motor vehicle to the rear of the motor vehicle. In this case, the two sealing profiles 6 are aligned and their longitudinal axes 7 are merged. In this configuration, the motor vehicle 1 meets a certain aesthetic requirement and also makes it possible to satisfy technical criteria of sealing quality, in particular acoustic for example.

[0044] Each of the sealing profiles 6 illustrated in [Fig.l] comprises a longitudinal extension frame 8 which fits the upper edge 5 of the outer panel 3 of the door 2 of the motor vehicle 1 and an upper lip 9 which extends along an upper longitudinal edge 10 of the frame 8 of the sealing profile 6 visible in [Fig.2]. The upper lip 9 bears against a trim 41 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0045] In the example illustrated in the FIGURES, each frame 8 of the sealing profile 6 comprises, at one and the other of its longitudinal ends 11, a clip 12 for fixing the sealing profile 6 to the exterior panel 3 of the door 2 of the vehicle. automobile 1. The two fixing clips 12 of each sealing profile 6 are thus each located on either side of the window 4 cooperating with said sealing profile 6.

[0046] Each fixing clip 12 collaborates by snap-fastening with a corresponding opening 13, visible in [Fig. 3], formed on the exterior panel 3 of door 2 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0047] [Fig. 2] shows in more detail the fixing clip 12 of the sealing profile 6 formed on the frame 8. The frame 8 of the sealing profile 6 is shown here on the side intended to face the window 4 of the motor vehicle 1. In this case, the fixing clip 12 has a symmetry with respect to a median plane 50 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 7 of the sealing profile 6.

[0048] The frame 8 of the sealing profile 6 comprises a lower longitudinal edge 17 which is free and opposite the upper longitudinal edge 10 cooperating with the upper lip 9 of the sealing profile 6.

[0049] The frame 8 of the sealing profile 6 comprises a longitudinal tab 18, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis 7 of the sealing profile 6, the longitudinal tab 18 of the frame 8 being located on the side of the lower longitudinal edge 17 of the frame 8. The longitudinal tab 18 of the frame 8 is supported by two lateral tabs 19. The two lateral tabs 19 of the frame 8 extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal tab 18 of the frame 8, from the upper longitudinal edge 10 of the frame 8 towards the longitudinal tab 18 of said frame 8.

[0050] The fixing clip 12 of the sealing profile 6 comprises a clipping finger 20. The clipping finger 20 of the fixing clip 12 forms a boss 21 oriented towards the upper longitudinal edge 10 of the frame 8.

[0051] The clipping finger 20 of the fixing clip 12 is separated from each of the lateral tabs 19 of the frame 8 of the sealing profile 6 by a lateral opening 22 of the fixing clip 12.

[0052] The clipping finger 20 of the fixing clip 12, forming the boss 21, is carried by the longitudinal tab 18 of the frame 8 of the sealing profile 6. The lateral tabs 19 of the frame 8 are separated from the boss 21 by the two lateral openings 22 of the fixing clip 12, located on either side of said boss 21.

[0053] As visible in [Fig. 3], the boss 21 forming the clipping finger 20 has a cross section which extends along an inclined sliding face 26 extended by a latching index 24 at its free end. According to the cross section of the clipping finger 20, the boss 21 is of constant thickness along the inclined sliding face 26 in order to improve the rigidity and robustness of the clipping finger 20.

[0054] According to the invention, the inclined sliding face 26 comprises a flat 28 at a base 60 of said inclined sliding face 26. A length of the flat 28 is greater than or equal to 500 μm.

[0055] The base 60 of the inclined sliding face 26 is located on the side of the longitudinal tab 18 of the frame 8. Along the inclined sliding face 26, the base 60 is located at a longitudinal end opposite the snap-in index 24.

[0056] The flat 28 forms with a rear face 65 of the clipping finger 20 a first salient angle A1 greater than or equal to 60°. The rear face 65 is distant from an edge delimiting the corresponding opening 13. Advantageously, a first functional clearance J1 separating the edge delimiting the opening 13 and the rear face is equal or substantially equal to 500 μm.

[0057] A middle part 25 of the inclined sliding face 26 has an opposite inclined face 27 parallel to the middle part 25. The middle part 25 is located between the flat 28 and the snap-in index 24 of the boss 21. The flat 28 and the middle part 25 together form a third non-zero angle A3, preferably between 20° and 40°, and preferably still equal to 30°.

[0058] In a direction perpendicular to the inclined sliding face 26, there is a second non-zero functional clearance J2 between the inclined sliding face 26 and the exterior panel 3 of door 2 taken at the level of the opening 13. The second functional clearance J2 is preferably greater than or equal to 600 μm. In particular, the second functional clearance J2 is measured at the level of the middle part 25 of the inclined sliding face 26.

[0059] When the sealing profile 6 is mounted on the outer panel 3 of the door 2, the inclined sliding face 26 is intended to be oriented towards the window 4 and the opposite inclined face 27 is intended to be oriented towards the outer panel 3 of the door 2.

[0060] The latching index 24 has an upper face 62 located in the extension of the middle part 25 of the inclined sliding face 26. The upper face 62 of the latching index 24 and the middle part 25 of the inclined sliding face 26 together form a fourth non-zero angle A4. Cleverly, a value of the fourth angle A4 is equal or substantially equal to a value of the third angle A3.

[0061] The upper face 62 of the snap-in index 24 is parallel or substantially parallel to the flat 28 of the inclined sliding face 26.

[0062] The snap-in index 24 has a lower face 61 forming a heel, the lower face 61 forming a non-zero angle relative to the upper face 62 of the snap-in index 24: the upper face 62 of the snap-in index 24 thus forms a chamfer at its free end in order to facilitate the insertion of the index snap-on 24 in the corresponding opening 13 of the outer panel 3 of the door 2 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0063] The frame 8 of the sealing profile 6 comprises two longitudinal cutouts 29. The longitudinal cutouts 29 of the frame 8 have an upper edge 30 which takes the form of a circular profile. The longitudinal cutouts 29 of the frame 8 widen from their upper edge 30 towards the lower free longitudinal edge 17 of the frame 8.

[0064] Each lateral tab 19 of the frame 8 of the sealing profile 6 is included between one of the longitudinal cutouts 29 of the frame 8 and one of the lateral openings 22 of the fixing clip 12.

[0065] The fixing clip 12 comprises an upper opening 31 delimited by (i) the boss 21 forming the clipping finger 20, (ii) the upper longitudinal edge 10 of the frame 8, and (iii) the two lateral openings 22. In other words, the lateral openings 22 of the fixing clip 12 are located on either side of the upper opening 31. The lateral openings 22 and the upper opening 31 together form a U-shaped light.

[0066] [Fig.3] shows a cross-section along the median plane 50 shown in [Fig.2] and passing through the median part 25 of the inclined sliding face 26.

[0067] The frame 8 of the sealing profile 6 forms a slot 33 delimited by the two opposite faces 15, 16 of said frame 8. In [Fig. 3], one of the opposite faces 15, 16 forming the slot 33 of the sealing profile 6, corresponding to that located on the window 4 side, is shown in dotted lines because it is located at the rear of the median plane 50.

[0068] The slot 33 of the sealing profile 6 houses the upper edge 5 of the outer panel 3 of the door 2 of the motor vehicle 1. The clipping finger 20 of the fixing clip 12, formed by the boss 21, is inclined towards the slot 33 of the sealing profile 6. The clipping finger 20 collaborates by snap-fastening with the corresponding opening 13 formed on the outer panel 3 of the door 2. More particularly, the inclined sliding face 26 of the boss 21 forming the clipping finger 20 is located opposite the slot 33 of the sealing profile 6, so as to collaborate by snap-fastening with the corresponding opening 13 formed on the outer panel 3 of the door 2.

[0069] At its middle part 25, the inclined sliding face 26 of the boss 21 forms a second angle A2 equal to 30° with the opposite face 15, 16 forming the slot 33 of the sealing profile 6 and located on the window 4 side of the motor vehicle 1.

[0070] The sealing profile 6 comprises a lower lip 36 opposite the upper lip 9. The upper lip 9 and the lower lip 36 of the sealing profile 6 both comprise a longitudinal groove 37, 38, respectively called the upper longitudinal groove 37 and the lower longitudinal groove 38, in which free edges 39, 40 of a trim 41 of the motor vehicle 1 are housed. The trim 41 of the motor vehicle 1 covers the sealing profile 6 at aesthetic purposes. The hubcap 41 of the motor vehicle 1 is held by the upper longitudinal groove 37 of the upper lip 9 of the sealing profile 6 and the lower longitudinal groove 38 of the lower lip 36 of the sealing profile 6.

[0071] The lower lip 36 of the sealing profile 6 obstructs a gap existing between the frame 8 of the sealing profile 6 and the outer panel 3 of the door 2 of the motor vehicle 1, thus closing the slot 33 of the sealing profile 6 on the side of the trim 41 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0072] In summary, the invention relates to a sealing profile 6 for a motor vehicle 1, intended to be mounted between an exterior panel 3 of a door 2 of a motor vehicle 1 and a window 4 of said door 2. The sealing profile 6 is mounted by snap-fastening onto the exterior panel of the door 2 by means of a fixing clip 12 formed in the frame 8 of the sealing profile 6. According to the invention, a boss 21 forming a clipping finger 20 of the fixing clip comprises an inclined sliding face 26 configured to snap-fasten into a corresponding opening 13 of the exterior panel 3 of the door 2, the inclined sliding face 26 having a flat 28 in order to make the clipping finger 20 more robust.

[0073] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims

Claims

1. Sealing profile (6) intended to be mounted on an upper edge (5) of an exterior panel (3) of a door (2) of a motor vehicle (1) and provided with a window (4), the sealing profile (6) comprising: - a frame (8) of longitudinal extension and forming a slot (33) delimited by two opposite faces (15, 16), the frame (8) being configured to fit the upper edge (5) of the exterior panel (3) of the door (2); - an upper lip (9) extending along an upper longitudinal edge (10) of the frame (8), the upper lip (9) being intended to be pressed against the window (4) of the motor vehicle (1);- a fixing clip (12) formed on the frame (8) and configured to be able to collaborate by snap-fastening with a corresponding opening (13) formed on the exterior panel (3) of the door (2) of the motor vehicle (1), the fixing clip (12) comprising a clipping finger (20) forming a boss (21) located opposite the slot (33) of the sealing profile (6), the boss (21) having a cross-section which extends along an inclined sliding face (26) extended by a snap-fastening index (24) at its free end; characterized in that the inclined sliding face (26) comprises a flat (28) at a base (60) of said inclined sliding face (26).;

2. Sealing profile (6) according to the preceding claim, in which the flat (28) of the inclined sliding face (26) forms with a rear face (65) of the clipping finger (20) a first angle (Al) greater than or equal to 60°.

3. Sealing profile (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the inclined sliding face (26) forms a second angle (A2) of between 10° and 40° with the face on which the corresponding fixing clip (12) is formed.

4. Sealing profile (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the inclined sliding face (26) comprises a middle part (25) located between the flat (28) and the snap-in index (24) of the boss (21), said flat (28) and said middle part (25) together forming a third non-zero angle (A3).

5. Sealing profile (6) according to the preceding claim, in which the third angle (A3) formed between the flat (28) and the middle part (25) of the inclined sliding face (26) is between 20° and 40°.

6. Sealing profile (6) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, in which the snap-in index (24) has an upper face (62) situated in the extension of the middle part (25) of the inclined sliding face (26), the upper face (62) of the snap-in index (24) and the middle part (25) of the inclined sliding face (26) together forming a fourth non-zero angle (A4).

7. Sealing profile (6) according to the preceding claim taken in combination with claim 4, in which a value of the fourth angle (A4) is equal or substantially equal to a value of the third angle (A3).

8. Sealing profile (6) according to any one of claims 6 or 7, in which the upper face (62) of the snap-in index (24) is parallel or substantially parallel to the flat (28) of the inclined sliding face (26).

9. Sealing profile (6) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, in which the snap-in index (24) has a lower face (63) forming a heel, the lower face (63) being inclined relative to the upper face (62) of said snap-in index (24).

10. Motor vehicle (1) comprising at least one door (2) comprising: - a window (4); - an exterior panel (3) of the door (2); - a sealing profile (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, the sealing profile (6) being mounted on an upper edge (5) of the exterior panel (3) of the door (2) and collaborating with the window (4).

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