Weatherstrip Butt Joint Hooking Pin Stabilization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing butt joints for sealing strands lack stability, particularly in sealing beads used for vehicle bodies, as they do not effectively secure the connecting piece within cavities, leading to potential gaps and leakage.

Innovation Solution

A hooking pin protruding perpendicularly from the connecting piece engages in a bore within the cavity wall, stabilizing the butt joint, with optional teeth for interlocking with elastomeric material and a stop piece to limit penetration, allowing for secure attachment via hooking, gluing, or welding, and facilitating easy assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a connecting piece engages in cavities of sealing strands, then the butt joint can be assembled, but the connecting piece is not securely fixed and the joint lacks stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of butt jointVSAvoidsecuring of connecting piece
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from planar engagement to three-dimensional securing by adding hooking pins that protrude perpendicularly from the connecting piece into bores through the cavity walls. This dimensional extension provides mechanical interlocking that prevents displacement in multiple directions, thereby stabilizing the butt joint while reliably securing the connecting piece within the cavities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If hooking pins are added to secure the connecting piece, then stability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of butt jointVSAvoidcomplexity of connecting piece
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into the connecting piece: the body engages in the cavities, hooking pins protrude for secure attachment, and teeth provide additional interlocking. By integrating these elements into a single component rather than separate fasteners, the design achieves stable and reliable connection while minimizing the number of discrete parts and assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the connecting piece is securely fixed within cavities, then sealing reliability improves, but the ease of installation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidease of installation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hooking pins are pre-positioned on the connecting piece before assembly, and the bores are pre-formed in the cavity walls during sealing strand manufacturing. This preliminary preparation allows the connecting piece to be simply inserted and automatically secured through the hooking pins engaging the bores, achieving reliable sealing fixation while maintaining ease of installation without requiring complex fastening operations during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2512851B1Joining ends of weatherstrip
Publication Date: 2014.09.03 CQLT SAARGUMMI TECH S A R L
  • EP2512851B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2512851B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2512851B1 patent drawingFigure 7(a)~7(b)

AI summary

The invention relates to a butt joint between ends of sealing strips (1,1') or of a sealing strip, comprising a connecting piece (2) for engaging into cavities (5) in the sealing strips (1,1') or in the sealing strip, said chambers being open at the front face thereof. According to the invention, the connecting piece (2) has devices (7,9) for hooking onto the walls of the hollow chambers (5).