Sealing joint between the first and second structures

Abstract

Sealing gasket between first and second structures. Sealing gasket for joining first and second structures, in particular first and second openings (2) of a motor vehicle, comprising at least a first portion (4) of thermoplastic material having a Shore hardness greater than or equal to 70 S and having a through opening (6) opening onto opposite first and second faces (1a, 1b) of the sealing gasket (1; 18) and a shutter (7; 19) capable of being moved by means of removable fastening means between an assembled position in which the shutter (7; 19) closes the through opening (6) and a removed position in which the shutter (7; 19) is removed from the through opening (6). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig 3

Description

Title of the invention: Sealing joint between first and second structures

[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to the sealing of the junction between first and second structures, in particular of first and second openings for motor vehicles, and to the accessibility of an adjustment means, such as a lock adjustment screw, positioned behind a seal mounted on the first and second structures.

[0002] In particular, the invention relates to a seal intended to form a seal between first and second structures, in particular the first and second openings of a motor vehicle.

[0003] In a motor vehicle, a vertical gap remains between two adjacent openings, and particularly at the junction between the front door and the rear door on each lateral side of the vehicle.

[0004] It is known to close and seal this space using a strip-shaped gasket to protect the passenger compartment from the passage of dust, air and / or rainwater.

[0005] An existing sealing joint comprises a flexible portion intended for sealing and a more rigid structural portion reinforcing the joint.

[0006] Conventionally, an adjustment hole formed on the rear door provides access to an adjustment screw associated with the rear door lock.

[0007] Certain maintenance operations require access to this adjusting screw. However, the rigid portion of the sealing gasket is fixed to the rear door, in front of the adjusting hole, and this access can therefore only be achieved after removing the sealing gasket.

[0008] The invention therefore aims to remedy these drawbacks and to propose a solution to facilitate access to a part, such as an adjustment means, positioned behind a joint.

[0009] A sealing gasket is therefore proposed for joining first and second structures, in particular first and second openings of a motor vehicle, comprising at least a first portion made of thermoplastic material having a shore hardness greater than or equal to 70 S and having a through opening leading to first and second opposite faces of the gasket and a shutter capable of being moved by means of removable fixing means between an assembled position in which the shutter closes the through opening and a removed position in which the shutter is removed from the through opening.

[0010] Preferably, the removable fastening means include assembly means for assembling the shutter onto said first portion and retention means for holding the shutter in the assembled position.

[0011] In one embodiment, the shutter may be able to be moved in the through opening between the assembled and removed positions by translational movement.

[0012] According to one feature, the obturator is able to insert itself into the thickness of the sealing gasket in a movement parallel to the plane of the part of the first portion comprising the through opening.

[0013] In addition, the thickness of the shutter can be identical to the thickness of the part of the first portion comprising the through opening so that the first and second opposite faces form a continuity with the two opposite faces of the shutter.

[0014] In another embodiment, the shutter may be able to be moved in the through opening between the assembled and removed positions by helical movement.

[0015] According to one feature, the sealing gasket may include first and second opposing lateral sides.

[0016] In one embodiment, the through opening may also open onto one of the first and second lateral sides of the joint, and the obturator comprising at least one shoulder cooperating in assembled position with a complementary shoulder positioned on the periphery of the through opening.

[0017] According to one feature, one of the shutter and the periphery of the through opening may include at least one notch cooperating in assembled position with a complementary lug positioned on the other of the shutter and the periphery of the through opening.

[0018] In another embodiment, the shutter may include at least one thread cooperating in the assembled position with a complementary thread positioned on the periphery of the through opening.

[0019] Advantageously, the sealing joint may include means for fixing the joint to the first structure and / or means for fixing the joint to the second structure.

[0020] Preferably, the obturator includes at least one sealing lip positioned on one of the first and second faces of the seal and intended to come into contact with one of the first and second structures.

[0021] Advantageously, the shutter may include at least one O-ring positioned between the shutter and the periphery of the through opening.

[0022] Advantageously, the sealing gasket may include at least a second portion made of thermoplastic material having a shore hardness less than or equal to 65 S.

[0023] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one seal as previously described. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] Other purposes, advantages and features will become apparent from the following description, given for illustrative purposes only and made with reference to the accompanying drawings on which:

[0025] [Fig-1] illustrates a seal incorporating a shutter in the assembled position, mounted on a rear door of a motor vehicle, according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0026] [Fig.2] is a detailed view of the rear door shown in [Fig. 1].

[0027] [Fig.3] illustrates the seal of the [Fig.1], with the shutter in the disassembled position, of the [Fig.l].

[0028] [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional view of the shutter illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0029] [Fig.5] is a bottom view of the shutter illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0030] [Fig.6] illustrates a seal incorporating a shutter in the assembled position, according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0031] [Fig.7] illustrates a seal incorporating a shutter in the assembled position, according to a third embodiment of the invention. Detailed description

[0032] In what follows, the bounds of a domain of values ​​are included in that domain, in particular in the expression "between".

[0033] Furthermore, the expression "at least one" used in this description is equivalent to the expression "one or more".

[0034] Fig. 1 illustrates a sealing joint 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention, intended to form a seal at the junction between a front door, not shown, and a rear door 2 of a motor vehicle.

[0035] In the illustrated example, the sealing gasket is advantageously designed to form a seal against air and dust it contains, as well as against water, in particular rainwater.

[0036] The rear door 2 of the motor vehicle has an adjustment hole 3, visible in [Fig.2], which provides access to an adjustment screw, not shown, of a lock of the rear door 3.

[0037] The sealing gasket 1 has first and second opposing faces, respectively 1a and 1b. The first face 1a is intended to be positioned opposite from the outside of the vehicle and the second face 1b is intended to be positioned facing the inside of the vehicle.

[0038] The sealing joint 1 extends transversely between first and second opposite lateral sides, respectively IA and IB.

[0039] The illustrated sealing joint 1 comprises a first portion 4 of thermoplastic material having a shore hardness greater than or equal to 70 S, intended to reinforce the joint, and a second, more flexible portion 5 of thermoplastic material having a shore hardness less than or equal to 65 S, intended for sealing.

[0040] Preferably, the shore hardness of the first rigid portion 4 made of thermoplastic material is between 75 and 80 S.

[0041] Preferably, the shore hardness of the second flexible portion 5 made of thermoplastic material is between 55 and 65 S.

[0042] In the illustrated example, the first portion 4 is L-shaped, positioned on the first lateral side IA, and is designed to fit an outer face of the edge 2a of the rear door 2. Furthermore, the second portion 5, extending from the first portion 4 and positioned on the second lateral side IB, is curved. The second portion 5 is designed to fit both an outer face and an opposite inner face of an edge of the front door.

[0043] The shape and dimensions of the sealing gasket 1 can be adapted to the shape and dimensions of the first and second structures on which it is mounted.

[0044] The first portion 4 has a through opening 6, opening onto both the first face la and the second face 1b of the sealing joint 1.

[0045] The first portion 4 also includes a shutter 7 intended to close the through opening 6.

[0046] The sealing gasket 1 has removable fixing means for the shutter 7 on the through opening 6 so that the shutter 7 is able to be moved by means of the removable fixing means between an assembled position, illustrated in [Fig.1], in which the shutter closes the through opening 6 and a withdrawn position, visible in [Fig.3], in which the shutter 7 is withdrawn from the through opening 6.

[0047] The removable plug 7 ensures both the sealing and the sealing of the adjustment hole 3 without requiring the entire sealing gasket 1 to be disassembled for access, particularly during maintenance. The adjustment and assembly operations of the sealing gasket 1 are thus made independent.

[0048] Advantageously, the removable fastening means can include both assembly means for assembling the shutter 7 onto the first portion 4 and retention means for holding the shutter 7 in the assembled position.

[0049] In the first embodiment of the sealing joint illustrated in figures 1 and 3, the obturator 7 can be adapted to be moved in the through opening 6 between the assembled and removed positions by translational movement.

[0050] In the illustrated example, the obturator 7 is inserted into the thickness of the sealing gasket 1 in a movement parallel to the plane of the part of the first portion 4 comprising the through opening 6.

[0051] Advantageously, the through opening 6 leads to the first lateral side IA of the sealing joint 1.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the assembly means are formed by a shoulder 8 on the shutter 7 cooperating in the assembled position with a complementary shoulder 9 positioned on the periphery 6a of the through opening 6.

[0053] The shoulder 8 of the shutter 7 and the complementary shoulder 9 of the perimeter 6a of the through opening 6 may have a right-angled stepped shape, as illustrated, or any other shape or angle suitable for the assembly of the shutter 7 and the rest of the sealing gasket 1.

[0054] Alternatively, the shutter 7 may include several shoulders, each cooperating in assembled position with a complementary shoulder positioned on the periphery 6a of the through opening.

[0055] The illustrated sealing gasket 1 forms a removable tab.

[0056] The shoulder 8 of the obturator 7 and the complementary shoulder 9 of the rest of the sealing gasket 1 form a slide allowing the obturator 7 to be easily inserted and removed.

[0057] Preferably, and as illustrated, the thickness of the shutter 7 can be identical to the thickness of the part of the first portion 4 comprising the through opening 6 so that the first and second opposite faces la and 1b form a continuity with the two opposite faces of the shutter 7.

[0058] In the illustrated example, the retaining means are formed comprising two notches 10 and 11 on the shutter 7 each cooperating in assembled position with a complementary lug positioned on the periphery 6a of the through opening 6.

[0059] The notches 10 and 11 are arranged on the shoulder 8 of the obturator 7 and the additional lugs, not visible, are arranged on the additional shoulder 9 of the perimeter 6a of the through opening 6.

[0060] The two notches 10 and 11 are preferably positioned respectively on two opposite sides of the shutter 7.

[0061] Alternatively, the perimeter 6a of the through opening 6 may include one or more notches and the shutter 7 may include the additional lugs.

[0062] The shutter 7 can thus be clipped onto the first portion 4 by means of the notches 10, 11 and the complementary lugs.

[0063] With reference to figures 4 and 5, the shutter 7 has a sealing lip 12 positioned on the second face 1b of the sealing gasket 1, intended to come into contact with the rear door.

[0064] Preferably, the sealing lip 12 is made of thermoplastic material having a shore hardness less than or equal to 65 S, preferably between 55 and 65 S, and more preferably of the same material as the material forming the second portion 5.

[0065] In the illustrated example, the sealing lip 12 is circular so as to form a seal around the adjustment hole 3.

[0066] Advantageously, the sealing gasket 1 also includes means for fixing, preferably removable, the sealing gasket 1 to the rear door 2.

[0067] In this regard, the sealing gasket 1 includes two clips 13 and 14 intended to be inserted, respectively, into the holes 15 and 16 provided on the rear door 2.

[0068] In addition, the dimensions and radius of curvature of the second portion 5 of the sealing gasket 1 are adapted to allow the second portion 5 to be fixed to the edge of the front door.

[0069] Advantageously, the first portion 4 comprises sealing supports 13, preferably linear and extending longitudinally over the second face 1b of the sealing joint 1.

[0070] The sealing supports 17 come into contact with the rear door 2 when the sealing gasket 1 is fixed to the rear door 2.

[0071] Figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment of a sealing joint 18 according to the invention.

[0072] The shutter 19 of the second embodiment differs from the shutter 7 of the first embodiment.

[0073] The structural elements of the second embodiment, which are identical to the structural elements of the first embodiment, bear identical references.

[0074] The shutter 19 of the second embodiment is able to be moved in the through opening 6 between the assembled and removed positions by helical movement, i.e. by screwing.

[0075] In this regard, the shutter 19 includes at least one thread 21 cooperating in the assembled position with a complementary thread 20 positioned on the periphery 6a of the through opening 6.

[0076] In the second embodiment, the thread 21 and the complementary thread 20 form both assembly means and means for retaining the obturator 19 on the rest of the sealing gasket 18.

[0077] The shutter 18 has a screw shape.

[0078] Fig. 7 illustrates a third embodiment in which the sealing lip 12 carried by the second face 1b of the shutter 19 is replaced by an O-ring 22 positioned between the shutter 19 and the perimeter 6a of the through opening 6.

[0079] Advantageously, the shutter 19 has a groove 23 carried by the first face la of the shutter 19.

[0080] The sealing gasket 1,18, including the obturator 7, 19, can be manufactured by bi-material injection.

[0081] The sealing gasket 1, 18 according to the invention is not limited to an application between two openings of a motor vehicle, and can be positioned between any two adjacent structures, requiring both a seal obtained by the installation of a gasket and a removable shutter for easy access to the rear of the gasket, in the automotive field or any other industrial field.

Claims

Demands

1. Sealing gasket for joining first and second structures, in particular first and second openings (2) of a motor vehicle, comprising at least a first portion (4) of thermoplastic material having a shore hardness greater than or equal to 70 S and having a through opening (6) leading to first and second opposite faces (la, 1b) of the sealing gasket (1; 18) and a shutter (7; 19) capable of being moved by means of removable fastening means between an assembled position in which the shutter (7; 19) closes the through opening (6) and a removed position in which the shutter (7; 19) is removed from the through opening (6).

2. Sealing gasket according to claim 1, wherein the removable fixing means comprise assembly means for assembling the shutter (7; 19) on said first portion (4) and retention means for holding the shutter (7; 19) in the assembled position, the shutter (7; 19) being able to be moved in the through opening (6) between the assembled and removed positions by translational or helical movement.

3. Sealing joint according to claim 2, comprising first and second opposing lateral sides (IA, IB), the through opening (6) further opening onto one of the first and second lateral sides (IA, IB) of the sealing joint (1; 18), and the obturator (7; 19) comprising at least one shoulder (8) cooperating in assembled position with a complementary shoulder (9) positioned on the periphery (6a) of the through opening (6).

4. Sealing gasket according to claim 2 or 3, wherein one of the obturator (7; 19) and the periphery (6a) of the through opening (6) comprises at least one notch (10, 11) cooperating in assembled position with a complementary lug positioned on the other of the obturator (7; 19) and the periphery (6a) of the through opening (6).

5. Sealing gasket according to claim 2, wherein the obturator (7; 19) comprises at least one thread (21) cooperating in assembled position with a complementary thread (20) positioned on the periphery (6a) of the through opening (6).

6. Sealing joint according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means for fixing (13, 14, 15, 16) the sealing joint (1; 18) on the first structure (2) and / or means for fixing (5) the sealing joint (1; 18) on the second structure.

7. Sealing joint according to claim 6, in which the obturator (7; 19) comprises at least one sealing lip (12) positioned on one of the first and second faces (la, 1b) of the sealing joint (1; 18) and intended to come into contact with one of the first and second structures (2).

8. Sealing joint according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shutter (7; 19) comprises at least one O-ring (22) positioned between the shutter (7; 19) and the periphery (6a) of the through opening (6).

9. Sealing gasket according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least a second portion (5) of thermoplastic material having a shore hardness less than or equal to 65 S.

10. Motor vehicle comprising at least one sealing gasket (1; 18) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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