window seal

Abstract

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

Description

Title of the invention: Window sealing gasket

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

[0002] To create a seal between a sliding window and the various panels that make up an opening in which the window is mounted, a sealing gasket is generally fixed to one of the panels. Such a sealing gasket typically comprises a profile with a flexible lip that extends along the length of the profile and bears against one face of the window. To improve the vehicle's aesthetics, the sealing gasket can be made less visible by fixing it along the edge of the body panel and behind it, so that a large part of the gasket, including the lip, is hidden by the panel.

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

[0004] Generally, seals are attached to the opening using clips that are engaged by the installer's finger pressing on the seal at each clip. The installer must therefore locate the clips without being able to see the seal and apply pressure to the seal at each clip in order to install it. Thus, the installation method for a concealed seal is inherently difficult, resulting in lengthy installation times and a significant risk of incorrect installation.

[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 described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a lip seal that facilitates its assembly by an assembly operator.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a window seal for a motor vehicle opening comprising a body extending in a longitudinal direction, and at least one sealing lip, designed to bear against an external surface of a window of an opening, the body extending between a first face, designed to be positioned opposite an internal body element of the opening, and a second face, designed to be positioned opposite the surface exterior of the glass, the first face having a plurality of fixing zones spaced apart and arranged along the body, the second face having a plurality of support zones each arranged opposite a fixing zone, the body having fixing means designed to allow the sealing washer to be fixed, under pressure exerted by an operator's finger, to the internal element and protruding 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 the finger to slide in the longitudinal direction 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 wiper seal according to the invention, each first face of the body of the wiper seal being fixed opposite an internal element of the opening using the fixing means, the lip being in contact with 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 washer according to the invention is attached to a bodywork element, for example, a door / window stiffener, using fastening means under pressure exerted by an operator's finger. The position of the fastening means is easily identified by the operator thanks to the guide surface. Indeed, by allowing the finger to slide longitudinally along the guide surface, the operator identifies the location of a bearing area by the interruption of the guide surface. The operator can then apply pressure with their finger at the correct location to secure the fastening means. Therefore, the sealing washer according to the invention facilitates its installation thanks to each guide surface, reducing installation time and the risk of incorrect installation compared to a conventional sealing washer.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the licker joint, each bearing area comprises a bearing surface arranged in a recess from each contiguous guide surface.

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

[0013] According to one possibility of the lip seal, at least one guide surface is made up of at least one rib projecting from the second face and extending each in the longitudinal direction.

[0014] In one embodiment, the fastening means comprise at least one fastening clip, each protruding from a fastening area.

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

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

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

[0018] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents cross-sectional views along the cutting planes illustrated on [Fig.1];

[0019] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a cross-sectional view of an opening according to the invention showing the implementation of the window licker of [Fig.1].

[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 a window opening 2 of a motor vehicle according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig. 3]. The window seal 1 according to the invention has the advantage of facilitating its installation on the opening 2.

[0022] The sealing lip 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 bear against an outer surface of a pane of glass, not shown in the figures, of the opening 2. The lip 4 extends substantially along the length of the body 3.

[0023] The body 3 extends between a first face 5, designed to be positioned opposite an internal body element 6 of the opening 2 as illustrated in [Fig. 3], and a second face 7, designed to be positioned opposite the outer surface of the glass. The described window seal 1 is designed to be concealed within the opening 2, for example by the skin 8 of the opening 2.

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

[0025] Thus, in the opening 2, the sealing washer 1 is fixed so that the first face 5 is positioned opposite the internal element 6 while the second face 7 is positioned opposite the outer surface of the glass.

[0026] As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the second face 7 has a plurality of bearing zones 12, each arranged opposite a fixing zone 9. In addition, the body 3 has at least one guide surface 13 formed on the second face 7, each extending between two bearing zones 12, in particular two consecutive bearing zones 12 along 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 guide surface 13, each bearing area 12 being devoid of guide surface 13, as illustrated in section AA of [Fig.2] and [Fig.3].

[0027] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], each bearing area 12 has a bearing surface 15 set back from each adjacent guide surface 13. In the example shown in the figures, each bearing surface 15 is formed by a head of the clip 11 inserted into a bore through the body 3. Alternatively, each bearing surface 15 is formed along with the body 3.

[0028] As illustrated in figures 1 and 3, each bearing surface 12 has a dimension allowing the passage of the finger 14 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 extending along the longitudinal direction. Each rib 16 is formed, for example, from the material of the body 3 and has a triangular cross-sectional shape.

[0030] Thus, the lip seal 1 according to the invention is fixed to an internal element 6, for example a sash stiffener, by means of the fastening means 10 under the effect of pressure exerted by the operator's finger 14. The position of the fastening means 10 is easily identified by the operator thanks to each guide surface 13. Indeed, by allowing the finger 14 to slide in the longitudinal direction along the guide surface 13, the operator identifies the location of a bearing area 12 by the interruption of the guide surface 13. He can then exert pressure with his finger 14 at the correct location to secure the fastening means 10. Thus, the lip seal 1 facilitates its installation, reducing installation time and the risk of incorrect installation compared to a conventional seal.

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

Claims

Demands

1. A window seal (1) for a motor vehicle opening (2) 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 positioned opposite an internal body element (6) of the opening (2), and a second face (7), designed to be positioned opposite the outer surface of the window, the first face (5) comprising a plurality of attachment zones (9) spaced apart and arranged along the body (3), the second face (7) having a plurality of bearing zones (12) each positioned opposite a attachment zone (9), the body (3) having attachment means (10) designed to allow the window seal (1) to be fixed under pressure exerted by a finger from an operator,to the internal element (6) and projecting from each fixing zone (9), the body (3) having at least one guiding surface (13) provided on the second face (7), each extending between two bearing zones (12) and designed to allow sliding in the longitudinal direction of the finger (14) along the guiding surface (13), each bearing zone (12) being devoid of a guiding surface (13).

2. A licking seal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each bearing area (12) comprises a bearing surface (15) arranged in recess from each contiguous guide surface (13).

3. Grease 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 licking seal (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one guiding surface (13) is made up of at least one rib (16) projecting from the second face (7) and extending each in the longitudinal direction.

5. A licking seal (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fastening means (10) comprise at least one fastening clip (11), each protruding from a fastening area (10).

6. Leak seal (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lip (4) is designed to be concealed in the opening (2).

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

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