Window seal gasket

Abstract

The invention relates to a window seal (1) for an opening comprising a body (3) extending in a longitudinal direction and a sealing lip (4), the body (3) extending between a first face (5), facing an internal element of the opening, and a second face (7), facing the external surface of the window, the first face (5) comprising several fixing zones arranged along the body (3), the second face (7) having several support zones (12) arranged in line with a fixing zone, the body (3) having fixing means projecting from the fixing zones and at least one guide surface (13) on the second face (7), each extending between two support zones (12), designed to allow a finger to slide along the guide surface (13), each support zone (12) being devoid of a guide surface (13). (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Window seal

[0001] The technical field concerns window seals, openings comprising a window seal resting on a glazed surface of the opening, as well as motor vehicles having such an opening.

[0002] In order to create a seal between a sliding window and the various panels constituting an opening in which the window is mounted, a seal is generally fixed to one of the panels. Such a seal generally comprises a profile comprising a flexible lip which extends along the length of the profile and which bears on one face of the window. In order to improve the aesthetics of the vehicle, it is possible to make the seal less visible by fixing the seal along the edge of the body panel and behind this body panel, so that a large part of the seal, including the lip, is hidden by the panel.

[0003] Car manufacturers take great care to improve the quality of finish of their vehicles and their aesthetic aspects and such a seal provides an aesthetic advantage, provided that it is correctly fitted. Indeed, experience shows that this type of seal suffers from frequent assembly defects, caused in particular by the difficulty of positioning the seal in the environment of the opening, which is obviously detrimental to customers.

[0004] Generally, the seals are fixed to the opening using clips engaged by pressure from the fitter's finger on the seal at each clip. The fitter must therefore find, without being able to see the seal, the location of the clips and exert pressure on the seal at each clip, in order to fit the seal. Thus, the method of fitting a hidden sealing seal is by nature difficult, and therefore synonymous with long fitting times and significant risks of incorrect fitting.

[0005] There is therefore a need to facilitate the assembly of a sealing gasket, in particular of the type hidden in the opening, in order to reduce assembly time and the risks of incorrect assembly.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide a sealing gasket making it easier for an assembly operator to assemble it.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a window seal for a motor vehicle opening panel comprising a body extending in a longitudinal direction, and at least one sealing lip, designed to come into contact with an external surface of a window of an opening panel, the body extending between a first face, designed to be arranged opposite an internal bodywork element of the opening panel, and a second face, designed to be arranged opposite the surface exterior of the window, the first face comprising a plurality of fixing zones spaced from each other and arranged along the body, the second face having a plurality of support zones each arranged in line with a fixing zone, the body having fixing means designed to allow the fixing of the sealing gasket, under the effect of pressure exerted by an operator's finger, to the internal element and projecting from each fixing zone, the body having at least one guide surface provided on the second face, each extending between two support zones and designed to allow sliding in the longitudinal direction of the finger along the guide surface, each support zone being devoid of a guide surface.

[0008] The invention also relates to a vehicle opening comprising at least one sealing gasket according to the invention, each first face of the body of the sealing gasket being fixed opposite an internal element of the opening using the fixing means, the lip being supported by an external surface of a window of the opening.

[0009] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having at least one opening according to the invention.

[0010] Thus, the sealing gasket according to the invention is fixed to a bodywork element, for example an opening stiffener, using the fixing means under the effect of pressure exerted by an operator's finger. The position of the fixing means is easily identified by the operator thanks to the guide surface. Indeed, by allowing the finger to slide in the longitudinal direction along the guide surface, the operator identifies the location of a support zone by the interruption of the guide surface. He can then exert pressure with his finger at the correct location to obtain the fixing of the fixing means. Thus, the sealing gasket according to the invention facilitates its assembly thanks to each guide surface, reducing its assembly time and the risks of incorrect assembly compared to a conventional seal.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the sealing gasket, each support zone comprises a support surface arranged set back from each contiguous guide surface.

[0012] Advantageously, each support surface has a dimension allowing the passage of a finger between two contiguous guide surfaces.

[0013] According to one possibility of the sealing gasket, at least one guide surface consists of at least one rib projecting from the second face and each extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0014] In one embodiment, the fixing means comprise at least one fixing clip each projecting from a fixing zone.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the sealing gasket, the lip is designed to be hidden in the opening.

[0016] The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective view of a sealing gasket according to the invention;

[0018] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents cross-sectional views according to the section planes illustrated in [Fig.l];

[0019] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a sectional view of an opening according to the invention showing implementing the window wiper of [Fig.l].

[0020] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0021] A window seal 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is designed to equip an opening 2 of a motor vehicle according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig. 3]. The sealing gasket 1 according to the invention has the advantage of facilitating its mounting on the opening 2.

[0022] The sealing gasket 1 according to the invention comprises a body 3 extending in a longitudinal direction and at least one sealing lip 4. The lip 4 is designed to come into contact with an external surface of a window, not illustrated in the figures, of the opening 2. The lip 4 extends substantially over the length of the body 3.

[0023] The body 3 extends between a first face 5, designed to be arranged opposite an internal bodywork element 6 of the opening 2 as illustrated in [Fig. 3], and a second face 7, designed to be arranged opposite the external surface of the window. The sealing gasket 1 described is designed to be hidden in the opening 2, for example by the skin 8 of the opening 2.

[0024] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the first face 5 comprises a plurality of fixing zones 9, spaced from each other and arranged along the body 3. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the body 3 has fixing means 10 designed to allow the sealing gasket 1 to be fixed to the internal element 6. The fixing means are, for example, formed of fixing clips 11. The fixing means project from each fixing zone 9.

[0025] Thus, in the opening 2, the sealing gasket 1 is fixed so that the first face 5 is arranged opposite the internal element 6 while the second face 7 is arranged opposite the external surface of the window.

[0026] As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the second face 7 has a plurality of support zones 12 each arranged in line with a fixing zone 9. In addition, the body 3 has at least one guide surface 13 provided on the second face 7, each extending between two support zones 12, in particular two consecutive support zones 12 in the longitudinal direction. Each guide surface 13 is designed to allow sliding in the longitudinal direction of a finger 14 of an assembly operator along a guide surface 13, each support zone 12 being devoid of a guide surface 13, as illustrated in section AA of [Fig.2] and [Fig.3].

[0027] As illustrated in [Fig.l], each bearing zone 12 comprises a bearing surface 15 arranged set back from each contiguous guide surface 13. In the example illustrated in the figures, each bearing surface 15 is formed by a head of the clip 11 introduced into a bore passing through the body 3. Alternatively, each bearing surface 15 is integral with the body 3.

[0028] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, each bearing surface 12 has a dimension allowing the finger 14 to pass between two contiguous guide surfaces 13.

[0029] In the example illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, each guide surface 13 consists of at least one rib 16 projecting from the second face 7 and each extending in the longitudinal direction. Each rib 16 is, for example, integral with the body 3 and has a triangular cross-sectional shape.

[0030] Thus, the sealing gasket 1 according to the invention is fixed to an internal element 6, for example an opening stiffener, using the fixing means 10 under the effect of pressure exerted by the finger 14 of the operator. The position of the fixing means 10 is easily identified by the operator thanks to each guide surface 13. Indeed, by allowing the sliding of the finger 14 in the longitudinal direction along the guide surface 13, the operator identifies the location of a support zone 12 by the interruption of the guide surface 13. He can then exert pressure with his finger 14 at the correct location to obtain the fixing of the fixing means 10. Thus the sealing gasket 1 facilitates its assembly, reducing its assembly time and the risks of incorrect assembly compared to a conventional seal.

[0031] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the sealing gasket described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Window seal (1) for an opening (2) of a motor vehicle comprising a body (3) extending in a longitudinal direction and at least one sealing lip (4), designed to bear against an outer surface of a window of an opening (2), the body (3) extending between a first face (5), designed to be arranged opposite an internal bodywork element (6) of the opening (2), and a second face (7), designed to be arranged opposite the outer surface of the window, the first face (5) comprising a plurality of fixing zones (9) spaced from each other and arranged along the body (3), the second face (7) having a plurality of bearing zones (12) each arranged in line with a fixing zone (9), the body (3) having fixing means (10) designed to allow the fixing of the window seal (1), under the effect of pressure exerted by an operator's finger,to the internal element (6) and projecting from each fixing zone (9), the body (3) having at least one guide surface (13) provided on the second face (7), each extending between two support zones (12) and designed to allow sliding in the longitudinal direction of the finger (14) along the guide surface (13), each support zone (12) being devoid of a guide surface (13).,

2. A sealing gasket (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each bearing zone (12) comprises a bearing surface (15) arranged set back from each contiguous guide surface (13).

3. A licking seal (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that each bearing surface (15) has a dimension allowing the passage of a finger (14) between two contiguous guide surfaces (13).

4. A sealing gasket (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one guide surface (13) consists of at least one rib (16) projecting from the second face (7) and each extending in the longitudinal direction.

5. Sealing gasket (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fixing means (10) comprise at least one fixing clip (11) each projecting from a fixing zone (10).

6. A weatherstrip (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lip (4) is designed to be hidden in the opening (2).

7. Vehicle opening (2) comprising at least one sealing strip (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, each first face (5) of the body (3) of the sealing strip (1) being fixed opposite an internal element (6) of the opening (2) using the fixing means (10), the lip (4) being supported on an external surface of a window of the opening (2).

8. Motor vehicle having at least one opening (2) according to claim 7.

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