SEALANT SYSTEM WITH ASSEMBLED PARTS, FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A sealing device (SD) is fitted to a vehicle comprising a window (VV) coupled to an outer panel (PE) comprising an upper edge (BS). This device (SD) comprises a first part (P1) including a lip (L2) bearing against a face (FI1) of the upper edge (BS), oriented towards the window (VV), and coupled to the outer panel (PE), and a second part (P2) fixedly attached to the first part (P1) and including another lip (L1) bearing against the window (VV). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: SEALING DEVICE WITH ASSEMBLED PARTS, FOR A VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to vehicles comprising at least one window coupled to an exterior panel, and more precisely to the sealing devices which equip the exterior panels of such vehicles. State of the art

[0002] Certain vehicles, possibly of the automobile type, comprise at least one window (possibly sliding) which is coupled to an exterior panel (possibly of a door) to which is coupled a sealing device (or "scraper seal") comprising a lip intended to bear against this window.

[0003] This lip is intended to seal, and to guide and / or clean the outer face of the window when the latter is sliding. It is part of a part which can be installed on the upper edge of the outer panel, which ensures good sealing but makes it visible and unsightly.

[0004] In another embodiment, for example described in patent document FR-B1 2975036, the lip is part of a part which is installed between the window and the outer panel, under the upper edge of the latter. This makes it invisible, but its production is complex and offers little latitude on the shapes of the portion of the part comprising the lip. Indeed, this part is produced by bi-injection of a rigid thermoplastic material then an elastomer in a mold, with possibly a prior deposition of an anti-friction film in the area of ​​the mold which must define the lip. In addition, the shape of the lip is strongly conditioned by the constraints imposed by demolding, which makes it particularly difficult and expensive to determine the optimal shape of the lip during the design phase (once the dimensional dispersions of the sheet metal of the inner and outer panels associated with the windows have been stabilized).

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation for sealing devices with invisible lips. Presentation of the invention

[0006] It proposes in particular for this purpose a sealing device, intended to equip a vehicle comprising at least one window coupled to an exterior panel comprising an upper edge, and comprising a first lip intended to bear against this window and to be coupled to this exterior panel below its upper edge.

[0007] This sealing device is characterized by the fact that it comprises:

[0008] - a first part comprising a second lip intended to bear against a face of the upper edge, facing the glass, and to be coupled to this outer panel, and

[0009] - a second part fixedly secured to the first part and comprising the first lip.

[0010] The use of two separately produced parts advantageously makes it possible to reduce the constraints concerning the shape of the first lip, which makes it less difficult and less expensive to determine the optimal shape of the first lip during the design phase.

[0011] The sealing device according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0012] - its first part can be fixedly secured by welding or gluing to its second room;

[0013] - its first part may comprise a body made of thermoplastic material rigid, intended to be coupled to the outer panel, and comprising a face provided with at least one anti-vibration element intended to be pressed against the outer panel and an end to which the second lip is fixedly secured;

[0014] - in the presence of the last option, the second lip can be fixedly secured to one end of the body of the first part;

[0015] - the second lip can be made of elastomer;

[0016] - its first part can be produced by bi-injection;

[0017] - the first lip may comprise an anti-friction coating in an area intended to contact the glass;

[0018] - in the presence of the last option, the first lip and the anti-friction coating can be made and fixedly joined together by co-extrusion of an elastomer and an anti-friction material.

[0019] - its second part may comprise a coupling part made of thermal material rigid plastic, fixedly secured to the first part, and comprising an end to which the first lip is fixedly secured;

[0020] - its first part may comprise at least one through hole. In this case, it may comprise at least one clip having a foot inserted between the first and second parts, partially passing through the through hole, and a head secured to this foot and intended to be clipped onto the exterior panel.

[0021] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising at least one window coupled to an exterior panel comprising an upper edge, and at least one sealing device of the type presented above, coupled to this exterior panel, and in contact with this window. Brief description of the figures

[0022] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained in CAD / CAM (“Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a transverse plane and vertical, an exemplary embodiment of a sealing device according to the invention, installed between a window and an exterior panel of a vehicle, and

[0024] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a transverse plane and vertically, the various components of the sealing device of [Fig.l], before they are secured to each other. Detailed description of the invention

[0025] The invention aims in particular to propose a sealing device DA, intended to equip a vehicle comprising at least one window VV coupled to an external panel PE, in order to ensure at least sealing, invisibly, in the vicinity of an upper edge BS of this external panel PE.

[0026] In the following, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the sealing device DA is intended to equip a vehicle of the automobile type. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. Indeed, the sealing device DA can equip any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) comprising at least one window coupled to an external panel.

[0027] Furthermore, it is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the window VV is sliding and forms part of a side door (or door) of a motor vehicle. But the invention also relates to fixed (or non-sliding) windows when they are coupled to exterior vehicle panels.

[0028] In Figures 1 and 2, the X direction is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V, which is parallel to the lateral sides comprising the side doors, the Y direction is the transverse direction of the vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the Z direction is the vertical direction of the vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal directions X and transverse directions Y.

[0029] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a part of a window VV and a part of an exterior panel PE of a vehicle V, between which is installed an exemplary embodiment of a sealing device DA according to the invention. It is recalled that in the example described here, the window VV is sliding and forms part of a side door (or door) comprising the exterior panel PE. The latter (PE) is therefore part of the bodywork of the vehicle.

[0030] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a sealing device DA, according to the invention, comprises at least first PI and second P2 parts secured together fixedly to each other. For example, this joining can be done by welding (e.g. ultrasonic). But it could also be done by gluing.

[0031] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the second part P2 comprises a first lip L1 which is intended to bear against the outer face FE of the window VV and to be coupled to the outer panel PE below an upper edge BS of the outer panel PE.

[0032] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the first part PI comprises a second lip L2 which is intended to bear against an (internal) face Fil of the upper edge BS of the outer panel PE, facing the window VV, and to be coupled to the outer panel PE. Since the support is made on the internal face Fil, and therefore below the upper end of the upper edge BS, the sealing device DA is invisible to a person located next to or inside the vehicle.

[0033] It is important to note that each of the first PI and second P2 parts extends over the entire length of the upper edge BS (here along the longitudinal direction X). Furthermore, here the term "lip" means a flexible element so as to establish continuous and sealed contact with the element on which it rests (here the outer face FE of the window VV or the upper edge BS).

[0034] Thanks to this embodiment of the sealing device DA in at least two parts PI and P2, obtained separately, the constraints concerning the shape of the first lip L1 are reduced, which makes it less difficult and less expensive to determine the optimal shape of the first lip L1 during the design phase.

[0035] It will be noted, as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 1], that the first part PI may comprise a body CP made of rigid thermoplastic material and intended to be coupled to the outer panel PE. For example, this thermoplastic material may be ethylene (or PE), polyamide (or PA) or polyvinyl chloride (or PVC).

[0036] As illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, this body CP comprises a face FC, oriented towards the outer panel PE and provided with at least one anti-vibration element EA intended to be pressed against the outer panel PE, and an end (upper), to which the second lip L2 is fixedly secured.

[0037] Each anti-vibration element EA may extend over the entire length of the upper edge BS (here along the longitudinal direction X), but this is not obligatory. Indeed, each anti-vibration element EA may extend over a part, or even punctually over a very small part, of the length of the upper edge BS. For example, each anti-vibration element EA may be made of elastomer.

[0038] In the example illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, the face FC of the body CP is provided with two anti-vibration elements EA parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal direction X. But it could be provided with any number of anti-vibration elements EA.

[0039] For example, it is the body CP of the first part PI which can be fixedly secured by welding or gluing to the second part P2.

[0040] Also for example, the second lip L2 can be made of elastomer.

[0041] It will also be noted that the first part PI can, for example, advantageously be produced by bi-injection in a dedicated mold. Indeed, the body CP can thus be produced with a rigid thermoplastic material during a first injection in the dedicated mold, then the second lip L2 and each possible anti-vibration element EA can be produced in elastomer during a second injection with overmolding in this same dedicated mold. This provides a first single-piece part PI. However, the various constituents of the latter (PI) could be assembled by gluing or welding (for example ultrasonic).

[0042] The first part PI now being produced independently of the first lip L1, its dedicated mold proves to be simpler to design and therefore less expensive.

[0043] It will also be noted, as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, that the first lip L1 may comprise an anti-friction coating RA in an area which is intended to contact the window VV. This area is located on an (internal) face FI2 which is intended to be oriented towards the window VV.

[0044] In this case, the first lip L1 and the anti-friction coating RA can advantageously be produced and fixedly secured to each other by co-extrusion of an elastomer (for L1) and an anti-friction material (for RA). The latter can, for example, be a polyethylene (or PE), possibly high density (or HDPE) or crosslinked (or PER).

[0045] This co-extrusion makes it possible to further reduce the shape constraints of the first lip L1, which makes it even less difficult and less expensive to determine its optimal shape during the design phase. In addition, it makes it possible to significantly simplify the production of a first lip L1 with a localized RA anti-friction coating.

[0046] It will also be noted, as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, that the second part P2 may comprise a coupling part PC which is made of rigid thermoplastic material and fixedly secured to the first part PI (here on its body CP). For example, this thermoplastic material may be ethylene (or PE), polyamide (or PA) or polyvinyl chloride (or PVC). In this case, the coupling part PC comprises an (upper) end to which the first lip L1 is fixedly secured, for example by gluing or welding (for example ultrasonic). But in an alternative embodiment, the second part P2 could be made by bi-injection in a mold. In this case, the coupling part PC can be made with a rigid thermoplastic material during a first injection, then the first lip L1 can be made of elastomer during a second injection.

[0047] It will also be noted, as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, that the first part PI may comprise at least one through hole T1 (preferably at its body CP), and the sealing device DA may comprise at least one clip CF for coupling it to the outer panel PE. As illustrated, this (each) clip CF comprises a foot PCF inserted between the first PI and second P2 parts, partially passing through the corresponding through hole T1 in order to be immobilized, and a head TCF secured to this foot PCF and intended to be clipped onto the outer panel PE, for example at a corresponding dedicated hole T2. Preferably, the first part PI comprises at least two through holes T1 and the sealing device DA comprises at least two clips CF partially and respectively passing through these through holes T1 and clipped respectively into corresponding dedicated holes T2 of the outer panel PE.This ensures that the DA sealing device is permanently held on the PE outer panel in a predefined position.

[0048] But in an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the sealing device DA could be fixedly secured to the outer panel PE by at least two screws passing through its first PI and second P2 parts, instead of the clips CF.

Claims

Claims

1. Sealing device (DA) for a vehicle comprising at least one window (VV) coupled to an outer panel (PE) comprising an upper edge (BS), said device (DA) comprising a first lip (L1) intended to bear against said window (VV) and to be coupled to said outer panel (PE) below said upper edge (BS), comprising i) a first part (PI) comprising a second lip (L2) intended to bear against a face (F11) of said upper edge (BS), facing said window (VV), and to be coupled to said outer panel (PE), and ii) a second part (P2) fixedly secured to said first part (PI) and comprising said first lip (L1), characterized in that said first part (PI) comprises at least one through-hole (T1), and in that it comprises at least one clip (CF) having a foot (PCF) interposed between said first (PI) and second (P2) parts, partially crossing said through hole (Tl),and a head (TCF) secured to said foot (PCF) and intended to be clipped onto said exterior panel (PE).,

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first part (PI) is fixedly secured by welding or gluing to said second part (P2).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first part (PI) comprises a body (CP) made of rigid thermoplastic material, intended to be coupled to said outer panel (PE), and comprising a face (FC) provided with at least one anti-vibration element (EA) intended to be pressed against said outer panel (PE) and an end to which said second lip (L2) is fixedly secured.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said second lip (L2) is made of elastomer.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said first part (PI) is produced by bi-injection.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said first lip (L1) comprises an anti-friction coating (RA) in an area intended to contact said window (VV).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said first lip (L1) and said anti-friction coating (RA) are produced and fixedly secured to each other by co-extrusion of an elastomer and an anti-friction material.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said second part (P2) comprises a coupling part (PC) made of rigid thermoplastic material, fixedly secured to said first part (PI), and comprising an end to which said first lip (L1) is fixedly secured.

9. Vehicle comprising at least one window (VV) coupled to an outer panel (PE) comprising an upper edge (BS), characterized in that it further comprises at least one sealing device (DA) according to one of the preceding claims, coupled to said outer panel (PE) and in contact with said window (VV).

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