Weather strip for automobile

Abstract

To provide a weather strip for an automobile, which can suppress deterioration of door closing performance, and suppress incursion of water into the automobile by applying force for pressing a projection to a door panel by a support wall using a water pressure to improve sealing performance of a hollow seal part.SOLUTION: This weather strip for the automobile comprises: an attachment base 22 having a car-inside side wall 23 and a car-outside side wall 24 and attached to a flange 05 formed along a door opening edge of a car body; a hollow seal part 26 integrally provided on an outer surface of the car-outside side wall and elastically brought into contact with the door; a linear support wall 31 provided inside the hollow seal part to divide the same into a car-inside seal part 29 and a car-outside seal part 30. When a water pressure is applied to an outer surface of a side opposite to a first projection 32 provided on the outer surface of the car-outside seal part, pressing force for a door panel 06 is applied to the first projection via the support wall by means of this water pressure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a weather strip for an automobile that is attached to the periphery of a door opening on the side of a vehicle body and elastically contacts the periphery of the door to seal between the interior and exterior of the vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] A known example of this type of conventional weather strip for an automobile (hereinafter simply referred to as a weather strip) for a door opening is that described in Patent Document 1 below.

[0003] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automobile to which the present invention and a conventional automobile weatherstrip are applied, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1 showing the conventional automobile weatherstrip with the door open, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1 showing the conventional automobile weatherstrip with the door closed.

[0004] 1 and 4, the conventional weatherstrip 1 described in this publication is attached to a flange portion 05 made by overlapping a plurality of metal panels 04 formed along the periphery of a door opening 03 of, for example, a front door 02 in the body of an automobile 01. A weatherstrip 1' of the same structure is also provided on the periphery of a door opening 03' of a rear door 02', but the following will explain the weatherstrip 1 attached to the door opening 03 on the front door 02 side.

[0005] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, this weather strip 1 has an inverted U-shaped mounting base 2 that is inserted and fitted into the tip of the flange portion 05 and has an interior side wall 3, an exterior side wall 4, and a connecting wall 5 that connects both side walls 3, 4, and a hollow seal portion 6 made of sponge rubber that is integrally formed on the outer surface of the exterior side wall 4 of the mounting base 2 and with which a door panel 06 at the peripheral edge of the front door 02 elastically contacts when the front door 02 is closed.

[0006] The mounting base 2 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 7 that are integral with the inner surface of the vehicle-exterior side wall 4 and come into contact with the vehicle-exterior side surface of the flange portion 05. Meanwhile, a retaining lip 8 is provided on the inner surface of the lower end portion of the vehicle-interior side wall 3 opposite the connecting wall 5 and protrudes toward the vehicle-exterior side wall 4, and is held in a sandwiched state by the protrusions 7 and the retaining lip 8 against the flange portion 05.

[0007] The hollow seal portion 6 is adapted to elastically contact the door panel 06 of the front door 02 while being flexed and deformed by the pressing force of the door panel 06 when the door is closed, and a bridge 9 is provided so as to cross the inside of the hollow seal portion 6. The bridge 9 is bent and formed to have a substantially L-shaped cross section in a free state, with one end 9a being connected to the opening end of the vehicle-exterior side wall 4 of the mounting base 2, and the other end 9b being connected to a portion of the outer wall of the hollow seal portion 6 that corresponds to an adjacent inclined surface that avoids the main contact surface of the door panel 06 of the front door 02 when the door is closed.

[0008] Therefore, when the door is closed, as shown in FIG. 5, the door panel 06 of the front door 02 is pressed against the outer wall of the hollow seal portion 6. At this time, the bridge 9 is further bent and deformed into a V shape, and the joint portion of the other end 9b with the outer wall always abuts against the inclined surface, so that the buckling load of the bridge 9 is reduced and the closing ability of the front door 02 is improved. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-142266 A (see FIG. 1) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] In the conventional weather strip for automobiles, as described above, when the door panel 06 of the front door 02 is pressed against the hollow seal portion 6 when the front door 02 is closed, this pressing force bends the bridge 9 into a substantially V-shape, and a sufficient elastic reaction force to return the hollow seal portion 6 to its original shape is not applied to the hollow seal portion 6. As a result, the pressing force of the hollow seal portion 6 against the door panel 06 becomes small, and sufficient sealing pressure cannot be obtained.

[0011] As a result, for example, in the event of a natural disaster such as a river overflowing due to flooding, if roads are flooded and the lower parts of the doors 02, 02' of the automobile 01 are submerged in water, when this water pressure is applied to the outer surface of the lower part of the hollow seal portion 6, a gap may form between the hollow seal portion 6 and the door panel 06, allowing water to enter the interior of the vehicle.

[0012] The present invention has been devised in consideration of the technical problems associated with the conventional weatherstrips for automobiles, and aims to provide an automobile weatherstrip which suppresses deterioration of door closing performance under normal circumstances, but which, when the lower part of the vehicle door is submerged in water and this water pressure is applied to the hollow seal portion, utilizes this water pressure to increase the pressing force of the protrusion against the door panel by the support wall, thereby improving sealing performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The invention described in claim 1 of the present application is an automobile weather strip comprising: an attachment base portion attached to a flange portion formed along an edge of a door opening of a vehicle body, the attachment base portion having an interior side wall, an exterior side wall, and a connecting wall connecting both side walls; and a hollow seal portion integrally provided on an outer surface of the exterior side wall, with which the door panel elastically contacts when the door is closed, a linear support wall is provided inside the hollow seal portion to separate the hollow seal portion into an interior seal portion on the vehicle exterior side wall side and an exterior seal portion on the tip end side of the hollow seal portion with which the door panel abuts; and a protrusion is provided on the outer surface of the hollow seal portion at a portion where one end of the support wall is joined, against which the door panel abuts when the door is closed; This configuration is characterized in that when water pressure is applied to the outer surface of the exterior seal portion opposite the protrusion, this water pressure applies a pressing force to the protrusion against the door panel via the support wall. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the invention described in claim 1 of the present application, deterioration of the door closing performance during normal times when no water pressure is applied to the hollow seal portion is suppressed, while when water pressure is applied to the hollow seal portion, the pressing force of the protrusion portion against the door panel by the support wall is increased, thereby improving sealing performance. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an automobile to which the present invention and a conventional automobile weather strip are applied; [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, showing an embodiment of a weather strip for an automobile according to the present invention in a door-open state. [Diagram 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the automobile weather strip of the present embodiment taken along line AA in FIG. 1 when the door is closed. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, showing a conventional weather strip for an automobile with the door open. [Diagram 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, showing a conventional weather strip for an automobile when the door is closed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an automotive weather strip according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As with the conventional weather strip described above, this weather strip is applied to be attached to the periphery of the door openings of the front and rear doors of a vehicle body, but for the sake of convenience, the following description will be directed to a weather strip attached to the periphery of the door opening 03 of the front door 02.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, showing an embodiment of an automotive weather strip according to the present invention with the door open, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, showing the automotive weather strip of this embodiment with the door closed.

[0018] As described above, the weather strip 21 is attached to a flange portion 05 formed along the periphery of the door opening 03 of the front door 02 of the automobile 01 shown in Fig. 1. This flange portion 05 is formed by overlapping, for example, three metal panels 04 and joining them intermittently in the longitudinal direction by spot welding or the like. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the weather strip 21 of this embodiment has an inverted U-shaped mounting base 22 that fits into the flange portion 05 and has an interior side wall 23, an exterior side wall 24, and a connecting wall 25 that connects both side walls 23, 24, and a hollow seal portion 26 that is integrally formed on the outer surface of the exterior side wall 24 of the mounting base 22 and with which a door panel 06 provided on the peripheral portion of the front door 02 elastically contacts when the front door 02 is closed, for example.

[0019] The mounting base 22 is integrally formed from a hard rubber material or a hard resin material to ensure rigidity, and has a metal core material 22a with a U-shaped cross section embedded therein. The mounting base 22 has upper and lower two stages of retaining lips 23a, 23b protruding from the inner surface of the inner side wall 23 toward the outer side wall 24, and also has three protruding parts 24a protruding toward the inner side wall 23 on the inner surface of the outer side wall 24, and one retaining lip 24b made of a sponge material integrally provided at the lowermost end of the inner surface of the outer side wall 24 in the figure.

[0020] Therefore, when the mounting base 22 is fitted to the flange portion 05, the respective tips of the two retaining lips 23a, 23b and the respective tips of the three protrusions 24a and one retaining lip 24b elastically contact the interior and exterior sides of the flange portion 05 in a clamping state, thereby holding the mounting base 22 to the flange portion 05.

[0021] A cover lip 27 extending toward the inside of the vehicle is integrally provided between the connecting wall 25 of the mounting base 22 and the interior side wall 23. This cover lip 27 covers the tip of an interior material 28 such as a door trim or garnish that extends from the inside of the vehicle toward the interior side wall 23.

[0022] 2 in a free state, the hollow seal portion 26 is integrally formed from a sponge material and is tapered from both end portions 26a, 26b integrally joined to the outer surface of the vehicle-exterior side wall 24 to a tip portion 26c. One end portion 26a of the hollow seal portion 26 is joined to the vehicle-exterior side wall 24 near the lower end portion in FIG. 2, while the other end portion 26b is joined to the vehicle-exterior side wall 24 near the connecting wall 25.

[0023] Further, a linear support wall 31 is provided inside the hollow seal portion 26 to divide the hollow seal portion 26 into an interior seal portion 29 on both ends 26a, 26b and an exterior seal portion 30 on the tip end 26c. That is, the support wall 31 is made of sponge rubber like the hollow seal portion 26, and in a free state when the front door 02 is opened, as shown in Fig. 2, is formed in a linear long plate shape across the interior of the hollow seal portion 26 at the interior center position, and is provided extending along the longitudinal direction of the weather strip 21. The support wall 31 is disposed in a manner to divide the hollow seal portion 26 into the interior seal portion 29 on both ends 26a, 26b from approximately the interior center position, and the exterior seal portion 30 on the tip end 26c with which the door panel 06 elastically contacts when the front door 02 is closed.

[0024] 2, the support wall 31 is formed to be inclined from one end 31a on the vehicle interior side that is joined to the inner surface of the hollow seal portion 26 to the other end 31b on the vehicle exterior side, which is also one end. In other words, the support wall 31 is formed to be inclined from one end 31a to the other end 31b at a predetermined angle θ in a direction away from the vehicle exterior side wall 24 with respect to a line P that is approximately parallel to the outer surface of the vehicle exterior side wall 24.

[0025] Further, a first protrusion 32 is provided integrally on the outer surface of hollow seal portion 26 at a portion where the other end 31b of support wall 31 is joined, and a second protrusion 33 is provided integrally on the same plane as first protrusion 32, toward tip end 26c. These first and second protrusions 32, 33 are made of the same sponge rubber material as hollow seal portion 26 and have a substantially triangular cross section, extend parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction of hollow seal portion 26, and have their respective apexes set at the same height.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, when the front door 02 is closed, the door panel 06 elastically contacts the outer surface of one side 30a of the exterior seal portion 30 at the tip end 26c side, causing the exterior seal portion 30 to be crushed and deformed, so that the first protrusion 32 and the second protrusion 33 together elastically contact the outer surface of the door panel 06.

[0027] In addition, when the front door 02 shown in Figure 3 is closed, for example, during a natural disaster such as a flood, the roads are flooded and the lower parts of the doors 02, 02' of the automobile 01 are submerged in water, and this water pressure W (thin black arrow in the figure) is applied to the outer surface of the other side 30b of the exterior seal portion 30, the support wall 31 is configured to apply a force to press the first protrusion portion 32 toward the outer surface of the door panel 06, as indicated by the thick black arrow in Figure 3.

[0028] Further, a lip portion 34 having a tip portion 34a abutting against the outer surface of the connecting wall 25 is integrally provided on the outer surface of the other end portion 26b side of the hollow seal portion 26. A space 35 is formed between the lip portion 34 and the other end portion 26b of the hollow seal portion 26. As shown in Fig. 3, when the tip portion 26c side (the outer seal portion 30 side) of the hollow seal portion 26 is crushed and deformed when the front door 02 is closed, the tip portion 34a abuts against the outer surface of the connecting wall 25 and is pushed up, thereby maintaining a linear posture from the one end portion 26a of the hollow seal portion 26 to the support wall 31. [Functions and Effects of the Weather Strip According to the Present Embodiment] The effects of the weather strip 21 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0029] In the weatherstrip 21 of this embodiment, when the front door 02 is closed, the hollow seal portion 26 changes from its free state shown in Figure 2 to a state in which one side 30a of the exterior seal portion 30 of the hollow seal portion 26 and the first and second protrusion portions 32, 33 are in elastic contact with the outer surface of the door panel 06 as shown in Figure 3 when the door panel 06 elastically contacts the exterior seal portion 30 of the hollow seal portion 26, causing it to be crushed and deformed.

[0030] In this normal state, there is no pressing force from the linear support wall 31 to the first protrusion 32, i.e., no large pressing force acts on the outer surface of the door panel 06 by the first protrusion 32. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the door closing performance when the front door 02 is closed.

[0031] In addition, when the front door 02 is closed, for example, if a river overflows due to flooding and the road is submerged, and the lower parts of the doors 02, 02' of the automobile 01 are submerged in water, the water pressure W is applied to the outer surface of the other side 30b of the outer seal part 30 of the hollow seal part 26 as shown by the thin arrow in FIG. 3. Then, the water pressure W applies a pressing force to the first protrusion 32 toward the door panel 06 of the support wall 31 as shown by the thick arrow in FIG. 3. Therefore, the pressing force (sealing pressure) of the first protrusion 32 against the outer surface of the door panel 06 becomes large, and the sealing property becomes high. As a result, the water that has soaked into the lower parts of the doors 02, 02' of the automobile 01 is sealed by the strong pressing force of the first protrusion 32 against the door panel 06, as well as by the one side 30a and the second protrusion 33 of the outer seal part 30 around it, and is effectively prevented from entering the interior of the automobile.

[0032] In particular, in this embodiment, by forming the support wall 31 inclined from the inside to the outside of the vehicle, when the water pressure W that has soaked into the lower part of each door 02, 02' is applied to the outer surface of the other side 30b of the outer seal part 30, this water pressure W is easily applied from one end 31a of the support wall 31 toward the first protrusion 32 on the other end 31b side via one end 26a of the hollow seal part 26. Therefore, the first protrusion 32 exerts a larger pressing force against the outer surface of the door panel 06 in the closed state, improving watertightness and ensuring a sufficient sealing pressure. As a result, it is possible to more effectively prevent water from entering the vehicle interior.

[0033] In addition, in this embodiment, in addition to the first protrusion 32, the second protrusion 33 is provided on the outer surface of the exterior seal portion 30. Therefore, even if variations occur in the mounting accuracy of the weather strip 21 relative to the flange portion 05 of the door opening edge of the vehicle body or in the assembly accuracy of the vehicle body, when the front door 02 is closed, the first protrusion 32 and the second protrusion 33 are pressed against the outer surface of the door panel 06, providing a double seal and absorbing the variations, thereby ensuring stable sealing performance.

[0034] Furthermore, when the front door 02 is closed and the outer seal portion 30 side of the hollow seal portion 26 is crushed and deformed, the tip portion 34a of the lip portion 34 abuts against the upper surface of the connecting wall 25 and braces itself, thereby maintaining the linear attitude of the one end portion 26a of the hollow seal portion 26 to the support wall 31. As a result, the water pressure W is easily transmitted to the first protrusion portion 32 via the support wall 31.

[0035] The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and is applicable to vehicles such as hatchbacks and sliding door passenger cars in addition to ordinary passenger cars.

[0036] In addition, the material of the support wall 31 can be a slightly harder sponge rubber or a resin material instead of the soft sponge rubber, and the thickness can also be changed as appropriate depending on the specifications and size of the vehicle.

[0037] Furthermore, the water pressure acting on the vehicle exterior seal portion of the hollow seal portion includes, for example, the water pressure of car wash water as well as the water pressure when the automobile 01 is submerged in water due to a natural disaster such as a flood.

[0038] As an example of the weather strip for an automobile based on the embodiment described above, there is one having the following configuration.

[0039] One aspect of the invention is a weather strip for an automobile, comprising: an attachment base portion attached to a flange portion formed along an edge of a door opening of a vehicle body, the attachment base portion having an interior side wall, an exterior side wall, and connecting walls connecting the both side walls; and a hollow seal portion integrally provided on an outer surface of the exterior side wall, with which the door panel elastically contacts when the door is closed, The invention is characterized in that a linear support wall is provided inside the hollow seal portion, dividing the hollow seal portion into an interior seal portion on the exterior side wall side of the vehicle and an exterior seal portion at the tip of the hollow seal portion with which the door panel abuts, and a protrusion is provided on the outer surface of the hollow seal portion at the outer surface where one end of the support wall is joined, against which the door panel abuts when the door is closed, and when water pressure is applied to the outer surface of the exterior seal portion opposite the protrusion, the water pressure applies a pressing force against the door panel to the protrusion via the support wall.

[0040] According to this aspect of the invention, for example, when the lower part of the door of an automobile is submerged in water and water pressure is applied to the weather strip, that is, when water pressure is applied to the outer surface of the hollow seal part on the opposite side to the protrusion, this water pressure exerts a pressing force on the protrusion in the direction of the door panel through the support wall. This increases the pressing force of the protrusion against the door panel and improves the sealing performance, making it possible to effectively prevent water from entering the interior of the automobile.

[0041] On the other hand, under normal conditions when water pressure is not applied to the outer seal portion, there is no pressing force from the linear support wall against the protrusion, i.e., no large pressing force is exerted by the protrusion against the door panel, thereby preventing deterioration of the door closing performance.

[0042] More preferably, the support wall is formed inclined away from the vehicle exterior side wall from one end on the vehicle interior side connected to the inner surface of the hollow seal portion toward the other end which is the one end on the vehicle exterior side.

[0043] According to this aspect of the invention, the support wall is formed in an inclined shape from the inside of the vehicle toward the outside of the vehicle, so that when water pressure is applied to the outer surface of the exterior seal part opposite the protrusion, the pressure acts from one end of the support wall toward the protrusion at the other end. Therefore, the pressing force of the protrusion against the door panel in the closed state of the door is increased, improving watertightness and ensuring sufficient sealing pressure.

[0044] More preferably, a second protrusion is provided on the outer surface of the hollow seal portion, closer to the tip end of the exterior seal portion than the protrusion, for contacting the door panel when the door is closed.

[0045] According to this aspect of the invention, even if there is variation in the accuracy of attachment of the weather strip to the flange portion of the door opening edge of the vehicle body, when the door is closed, the two protrusions are pressed against the door panel, providing a double seal, thereby ensuring stable sealing performance.

[0046] More preferably, the interior seal portion of the hollow seal portion has one end joined to the exterior side wall in the vicinity of the connecting wall and the other end joined to the end of the exterior side wall on the opening side of the mounting base, and has a lip portion on the outer surface of the one end side, the tip of which abuts the outer surface of the connecting wall. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 01…Automobiles 02...Front door 03…Body opening 05...Flange 06…Door panel 21…Automotive weather strips 22…Mounting base 23…Inside wall of the car 24…Exterior side wall 25…Connecting wall 26…Hollow seal part 26a·26b…Both ends 26c...Tip 29…Inside seal 30…Exterior seal 31…Supporting wall 31a...One end 31b...other end (one end) 32...first protrusion 33…Second protrusion 34…Lip 34a...Tip

Claims

1. A weather strip for an automobile comprising: an attachment base portion attached to a flange portion formed along an edge of a door opening of a vehicle body, the attachment base portion having an interior side wall, an exterior side wall, and connecting walls connecting the both side walls; and a hollow seal portion integrally provided on an outer surface of the exterior side wall, the hollow seal portion being in elastic contact with a door panel when the door is closed, a linear support wall is provided inside the hollow seal portion to separate the hollow seal portion into an interior seal portion on the vehicle exterior side wall side and an exterior seal portion on a tip end side of the hollow seal portion and against which the door panel abuts; a protrusion is provided on an outer surface of the hollow seal portion at a portion where one end of the support wall is joined, the protrusion being in contact with the door panel when the door is closed; A weather strip for an automobile, characterized in that when water pressure is applied to the outer surface of the vehicle exterior seal portion opposite the protrusion, the water pressure applies a pressing force to the protrusion against the door panel through the support wall.

2. 2. The weather strip for an automobile according to claim 1, a support wall formed in an inclined shape so as to move away from the vehicle exterior side wall from one end on the vehicle interior side that is connected to the inner surface of the hollow seal portion toward the other end that is the one end on the vehicle exterior side.

3. 2. The weather strip for an automobile according to claim 1, A weather strip for an automobile, characterized in that a second protrusion is provided on the outer surface of the hollow seal portion, the second protrusion being located on the outer surface of the outer seal portion closer to the tip of the outer seal portion than the protrusion, against which the door panel abuts when the door is closed.

4. 2. The weather strip for an automobile according to claim 1, a hollow seal portion having one end connected to the vehicle exterior side wall in the vicinity of the connecting wall and another end connected to the vehicle exterior side wall in the vicinity of an opening of the mounting base, and having a lip portion on the outer surface of the one end side, the tip of which abuts against the outer surface of the connecting wall.

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