A door rail surround assembly incorporating an anti-rotation feature added to a door rail clamp of the assembly. The anti-rotation feature is a net fit cross vehicle with a hole in the vehicle sport bar thereby eliminating any free movement of the door rail clamp assembly. A second clamp is rotatable for also receiving a fastener of the door rail clamp. A clamp load is applied to the vehicle when the fastener is inserted and torqued to its predetermined value. This clamping load prevents any free movement in the door rail clamp assembly when the door seal load is applied when the vehicle door is closed.

A door rail surround assembly incorporating an anti-rotation feature added to a door rail clamp of the assembly. The anti-rotation feature is a net fit cross vehicle with a hole in the vehicle sport bar thereby eliminating any free movement of the door rail clamp assembly. A second clamp is rotatable for also receiving a fastener of the door rail clamp. A clamp load is applied to the vehicle when the fastener is inserted and torqued to its predetermined value. This clamping load prevents any free movement in the door rail clamp assembly when the door seal load is applied when the vehicle door is closed.

In a method of manufacturing a seal assembly, strips of material are extruded to form first and second bodies, and ends of the bodies are positioned into a mold cavity of a molding apparatus. An elastomeric material is injected into the mold cavity to form a locator device having a foot portion and a tab portion with the tab portion defining a first reference point. A thermoplastic elastomeric material is injected into the mold cavity to form a corner mold covering the body ends and the foot portion of the locator device with the corner mold defining a second reference point. The corner mold bonds the first body end, the second body end, and the locator device together to fix the locator device to the first body end at a locator position such that a predetermined distance between the reference points is maintained during injecting of the thermoplastic elastomeric material.

In a method of manufacturing a seal assembly, strips of material are extruded to form first and second bodies, and ends of the bodies are positioned into a mold cavity of a molding apparatus. An elastomeric material is injected into the mold cavity to form a locator device having a foot portion and a tab portion with the tab portion defining a first reference point. A thermoplastic elastomeric material is injected into the mold cavity to form a corner mold covering the body ends and the foot portion of the locator device with the corner mold defining a second reference point. The corner mold bonds the first body end, the second body end, and the locator device together to fix the locator device to the first body end at a locator position such that a predetermined distance between the reference points is maintained during injecting of the thermoplastic elastomeric material.

A weather strip made of an elastic material includes an insert member having a plurality of through holes which is embedded in a corner portion of the weather strip. In the corner portion, a clip insertion hole in which a clip for attaching the corner portion to the automobile body is insertable is formed, and in the insert member, a clip hole is formed in a position corresponding to the clip insertion hole. In the outer peripheral portion of the clip hole, an additional hole communicating with the clip hole is formed, and the elastic materials of which the corner portion is made and that are situated on the obverse and reverse sides of the insert member are united together through the additional hole.

A weather strip made of an elastic material includes an insert member having a plurality of through holes which is embedded in a corner portion of the weather strip. In the corner portion, a clip insertion hole in which a clip for attaching the corner portion to the automobile body is insertable is formed, and in the insert member, a clip hole is formed in a position corresponding to the clip insertion hole. In the outer peripheral portion of the clip hole, an additional hole communicating with the clip hole is formed, and the elastic materials of which the corner portion is made and that are situated on the obverse and reverse sides of the insert member are united together through the additional hole.

Clip installation tooling and method for installing clips including a magazine for holding a plurality of clips and clip end of arm tooling for picking up at least one clip at a time. The magazine stops at predetermined intervals for spacing each respective clip into openings on the magazine. The clip end of arm tooling has at least one body connected to a plurality of cylinders each with an inlet/outlet port receiving vacuum/air blow off. The clip end of arm tooling picks up one or more clips from the magazine at a time. The vacuum generation to the port(s) assists in holding the clip(s) and eliminates dropping clip(s) prior to placement for installation of the clip(s). After the clip(s) is/are placed, air blow off through the port(s) insures clip(s) are removed from the clip end of arm tooling and stay in the desired position(s).

Clip installation tooling and method for installing clips including a magazine for holding a plurality of clips and clip end of arm tooling for picking up at least one clip at a time. The magazine stops at predetermined intervals for spacing each respective clip into openings on the magazine. The clip end of arm tooling has at least one body connected to a plurality of cylinders each with an inlet/outlet port receiving vacuum/air blow off. The clip end of arm tooling picks up one or more clips from the magazine at a time. The vacuum generation to the port(s) assists in holding the clip(s) and eliminates dropping clip(s) prior to placement for installation of the clip(s). After the clip(s) is/are placed, air blow off through the port(s) insures clip(s) are removed from the clip end of arm tooling and stay in the desired position(s).

A vehicle door seal includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion extending from the first wall portion, the first wall portion and second wall portion combining to define a flow passage. A projection extends from an exterior surface of the second wall portion along an entire length of the second wall portion. The projection is structured to convey excess moisture from a relatively higher portion of the seal downwardly toward another, relatively lower portion of the seal for drainage.

An open roof construction for a vehicle having a roof opening in a fixed roof has a roof edge defining the roof opening and protruding in a downward direction. The open roof construction comprises a stationary part and at least one panel for at least closing the roof opening. The stationary part is provided with sealing assembly comprising a first seal part forming a seal towards the panel, and a second seal part capable of sealing the stationary part against the roof edge. The sealing assembly is provided with an attachment structure protruding from the first seal part and the second seal part and attaching the sealing assembly to the stationary part. A reinforcement member is integrated in the sealing assembly and extends at least between the first and second seal parts. The reinforcement member forms an integral part of the attachment structure of the sealing assembly.