Glass Run Corner Sealing with Compressed Caulking Sponge
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle door glass runs, gaps often form between the glass run and the door panel in corner parts, leading to issues like wind noise and rainwater penetration, and existing sealing methods are inefficient, requiring effort and additional processes like degreasing or primer coating.
Innovation Solution
A glass run design with an extrusion molding part and a corner part featuring a U-shaped cross section, including engagement bead parts that compress a long caulking sponge member to seal gaps, eliminating the need for adhesive application and simplifying the attachment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-drying sealer is inserted between the vehicle outside sidewall and vehicle outside cover lip to seal gaps in the corner part, then sealing performance is improved, but the glass run or door frame becomes stained and additional cleaning effort is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful function (staining) from the sealing process by replacing the non-drying sealer with a caulking sponge member that achieves sealing through physical compression by engagement bead parts, eliminating the harmful staining effect while maintaining sealing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a disposable caulking sponge member that is compressed by engagement bead parts to seal gaps. The sponge member is simple, inexpensive, and can be easily replaced if needed, avoiding the long-term staining problems associated with non-drying sealers
2Reliability
If a caulking sponge is stuck using adhesive to seal gaps in the corner part, then sealing performance is improved, but additional processes like degreasing and primer coating are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding system (adhesive, degreasing, primer coating) with a mechanical compression system. Engagement bead parts compress the caulking sponge member to achieve sealing, eliminating the need for complex surface preparation and adhesive application processes
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement bead parts automatically compress the caulking sponge member through their geometric shape and positioning, achieving sealing without requiring external adhesive application or surface preparation steps. The structure serves its own sealing function
3Ease of manufacture
If gaps are formed between the vehicle outside sidewall and vehicle outside cover lip in the corner part, then manufacturing is simpler, but wind noise and rainwater penetration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing function from the structural components by introducing a separate caulking sponge member that is compressed by engagement bead parts. This allows the main glass run structure to remain simple for manufacturing while adding a dedicated sealing element to prevent wind noise and rainwater penetration
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively seals gaps in the glass run corner parts, preventing wind noise and rainwater penetration while simplifying the sealing process and reducing attachment effort, without requiring degreasing or primer coating.
Implementation Method 1
an engagement bead part is formed in at least one side surface, which faces the vehicle outside groove part, of the vehicle outside sidewall and the vehicle outside cover lip; in the glass run corner part, a long caulking sponge member is inserted into the vehicle outside groove part; and the engagement bead part compresses an end part of the caulking sponge member to be engaged with the end part
Data Source
AI summary
A glass run includes a main body corresponding to an extrusion molding part and a glass run corner part, formed with a vehicle outside groove part between a vehicle outside sidewall and a vehicle outside cover lip, the main body being formed with a vehicle inside groove part between a vehicle inside sidewall and a vehicle inside cover lip, and tips of a door frame being inserted into the vehicle outside groove part and the vehicle inside groove part. In the glass run corner part, an engagement bead part is formed in at least one side surface, which faces the vehicle outside groove part, of the vehicle outside sidewall and the vehicle outside cover lip, a long caulking sponge member is inserted into the vehicle outside groove part, and the engagement bead part compresses an end part of the caulking sponge member to be engaged with the end part.