APPLIQUE AND SEALING ARRANGEMENT AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING SAME

Abstract

An applique arrangement for a vehicle surface, particularly an outer vehicle surface in a pillar region, comprises an applique having a panel portion that extends essentially along a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction and has a first inner portion, and a margin seal which extends along an edge of the applique in the second direction. The panel portion has a panel outer surface for forming a part of the vehicle surface. The first inner portion extends essentially in parallel to the margin seal and projects from the panel portion essentially in a third direction which is transverse to the first and second directions. The margin seal has a plurality of holding portions which are aligned along the direction of extension of the margin seal, and which are arranged at a distance from each other. The first inner portion of the applique has a plurality of receiving portions for receiving respective ones of the holding portions of the margin seal.

Claims

1. An applique arrangement for a vehicle surface, comprising: an applique having a panel portion that extends essentially along a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction, and having a first inner portion; and a margin seal which extends along an edge of the applique in the second direction, wherein the panel portion has a panel outer surface for forming a part of the vehicle surface, wherein the first inner portion extends essentially in parallel to the margin seal and projects from the panel portion essentially in a third direction which is transverse to the first direction and to the second direction, wherein the margin seal has a plurality of holding portions which are aligned along the direction of extension of the margin seal, and which are arranged at a distance from each other, wherein the first inner portion of the applique has a plurality of receiving portions for receiving respective ones of the holding portions of the margin seal, wherein the material of the margin seal is TPE or EPDM, and wherein the material of the applique is a plastic material that is harder than the material of the margin seal.

2. The applique arrangement of claim 1, wherein the receiving portions are formed as through holes in the first inner portion.

3. The applique arrangement of claim 1, wherein the holding portions are integral with a body portion of the margin seal.

4. The applique arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first inner portion has a radial part that extends from the panel portion in the third direction, and has an axial part that extends from the radial part.

5. The applique arrangement of claim 4, wherein at least one of the holding portions has an elastically deformable holding lip which can be compressed between the axial part of the first inner portion and a structure of the vehicle when fitted to the vehicle.

6. The applique arrangement of claim 4, wherein at least one of the holding portions has an elastically deformable locking lip which locks against the first inner portion when inserted into the respective receiving portion.

7. The applique arrangement of claim 1, wherein the margin seal has a body portion from which the holding portions project to one side in the first direction, and wherein the margin seal has a sealing lip portion which projects from the body portion to an opposite side in the first direction.

8. The applique arrangement claim 1, wherein the applique is coated with a coating.

9. The applique arrangement of claim 1, wherein the applique has a second inner portion which defines a sealing strip receptacle for receiving a sealing strip.

10. The applique arrangement of claim 9, wherein the second inner portion comprises at least one attachment location for attaching the second inner portion to a structure of the vehicle.

11. An applique arrangement for a vehicle surface, comprising: an applique having a panel portion that extends essentially along a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction, and having a first inner portion, a margin seal which extends along an edge of the applique in the second direction, wherein the panel portion has a panel outer surface for forming a part of the vehicle surface, wherein the first inner portion extends essentially in parallel to the margin seal and projects from the panel portion essentially in a third direction which is transverse to the first direction and to the second direction, wherein the margin seal has a plurality of holding portions which are aligned along the direction of extension of the margin seal, and which are arranged at a distance from each other, and wherein the first inner portion of the applique has a plurality of receiving portions for receiving respective ones of the holding portions of the margin seal.

12. The applique arrangement of claim 11, wherein the receiving portions are formed as through holes in the first inner portion.

13. The applique arrangement of claim 11, wherein the holding portions are integral with a body portion of the margin seal.

14. The applique arrangement of claim 11, wherein the first inner portion has a radial part that extends from the panel portion in the third direction, and has an axial part that extends from the radial part.

15. The applique arrangement of claim 14, wherein at least one of the holding portions has an elastically deformable holding lip which can be compressed between the axial part of the first inner portion and a structure of the vehicle when fitted to the vehicle.

16. The applique arrangement of claim 14, wherein at least one of the holding portions has an elastically deformable locking lip which locks against the first inner portion when inserted into the respective receiving portion.

17. The applique arrangement of claim 11, wherein the margin seal has a body portion from which the holding portions project to one side in the first direction, and wherein the margin seal has a sealing lip portion which projects from the body portion to an opposite side in the first direction.

18. The applique arrangement of claim 11, wherein the applique is coated with a coating.

19. The applique arrangement of claim 11, wherein the applique has a second inner portion which defines a sealing strip receptacle for receiving a sealing strip.

20. A method of producing an applique arrangement, comprising the steps of: providing a margin seal that has a plurality of holding portions which are aligned along the direction of extension of the margin seal, and which are arranged at a distance from each other, and providing an applique having a panel portion and a first inner portion, wherein the first inner portion has a plurality of receiving portions for receiving respective ones of the holding portions of the margin seal, and inserting the holding portions into the receiving portions so as to produce the applique arrangement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0054] Further features and advantages of the invention can be taken from the subsequent description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0055] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle having an applique arrangement;

[0056] FIG. 2 is cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an applique arrangement, corresponding to a cross-section along a line II-II in FIG. 1;

[0057] FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of sealing arrangement comprising a margin seal and a sealing strip that are molded together, for the applique arrangement of FIG. 2;

[0058] FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the margin seal of FIG. 3;

[0059] FIG. 5 is a side view of an applique for the applique arrangement of FIG. 2; and

[0060] FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view of a prior art applique arrangement, corresponding to a cross-section along a line II-II in FIG. 1.

EMBODIMENTS

[0061] In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail.

[0062] An automobile, like a passenger car vehicle, is schematically shown in FIG. 1 and generally denoted by 10. The vehicle 10 has a body 12, to which are hingedly connected a front door 14 and a rear door 16.

[0063] The front door 14 has a front door window 18. The rear door 16 has a rear door window 20.

[0064] The front door 14 and the rear door 16 are each preferably hingedly mounted at the respective forward edges. The body 12 includes an A-pillar region 22 in the area of the forward edge of the front door 14, and a B-pillar region 24 which is arranged essentially between the front door 14 and the rear door 16. Preferably, the rear door 16 is hingedly mounted to the B-pillar region 24.

[0065] The front door 14 has a front door window sealing arrangement 26 for the front door window 18. The rear door 16 has a rear door window sealing arrangement 28 for the rear door window 20.

[0066] The body 12 defines a first direction L, which is preferably a longitudinal direction of the vehicle 10. Further, the body 12 defines a second direction V which is preferably a vertical direction of the vehicle 10. In addition, the body 12 defines a third direction T, which is preferably a transverse direction of the vehicle. The three directions are also used to describe an applique arrangement.

[0067] The vehicle 10 includes an applique arrangement 30 which is provided in the B-pillar region 24 between the front door window 18 and the rear door window 20.

[0068] The applique arrangement 30 includes a first applique which is assigned to the rear door 16, and preferably also a second applique 34 which is assigned to the front door 14. The second applique 34 is an optional element. Each of the appliques 32, 34 extend essentially in a flat shape along the first direction L and the second direction V and provide an aesthetic appearance in the B-pillar region.

[0069] The first applique 32 has an applique edge 36 which extends along the second direction V.

[0070] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the applique arrangement 30 along a line II-II in FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0071] The rear door 16 has a rear door B-pillar structure 40 to which a B-pillar inner lining 42 is attached which faces into an interior I of the vehicle 10, i.e. to a passenger compartment. A front door rear edge structure is shown schematically at 44. It can be seen, that the optional second applique 34 is attached to the front door rear edge structure 44.

[0072] The front door 14 and the rear door 16 are provided for separating the interior I of the vehicle from the outside O thereof, or allowing access thereto when opened.

[0073] The first applique 32 has a panel portion 50 which essentially extends along the first direction L and the second direction V. The panel portion 50 has a panel outer surface 51, which is visible from the outside O of the vehicle.

[0074] Further, the first applique 32 has a first inner portion 52 and a second inner portion 54.

[0075] The first inner portion 52 is joined to the panel portion 50 in the area of a front portion of the panel portion 50 in the first direction L. On the other hand, the second inner portion 54 is joined to the panel portion 50 in an area of a rear portion of the panel portion 50 in the first direction L.

[0076] The second inner portion 54 forms a sealing strip receptacle 56 which has a U-shaped cross section along a plane defined by the first direction L and the third direction T.

[0077] A sealing strip 58 is introduced into the sealing strip receptacle 56. The sealing strip 58 guides a front edge of the rear door window 20 in this embodiment. The sealing strip 58 is shown schematically. Typically, the sealing strip 58 includes a number of sealing lips for engaging the window 20 and/or a number of locking portions for engaging the rear door B-pillar structure 40, as is shown in FIG. 6

[0078] The second inner portion 54 comprises at least one attachment location 60 for attaching the second inner portion 54 to the structure 40.

[0079] The first inner portion 52 includes a radial part 62 which is joined to the first applique 32 at the applique edge 36 thereof. The radial part 62 projects from the panel portion 50 essentially in the third direction T, and extends along the second direction V.

[0080] The first inner portion 52, further, includes an axial part 64 which is joined to an inner portion of the radial part 62. The axial part 64 projects from the radial part 62 in the first direction L, and extends in the second direction V. The front part of the panel portion 50, the radial part 62 and the axial part 64 form a U-shaped cross section along a plane defined by the first direction L and the third direction T.

[0081] The radial part 62 has a number of margin seal receiving portions 66, one of which being shown in FIG. 2. The margin seal receiving portions 66 are formed as through holes in the radial part 62. Each of the trough holes extends in the first direction L. The receiving portions 66 are aligned along the second direction V, as can be seen in FIG. 5, and are arranged at a distance from each other in the second direction V.

[0082] The first applique 32 is preferably provided with an outer coating 68, which is preferably a metallic coating like a chrome coating.

[0083] The applique arrangement 30 includes a margin seal 70. The margin seal 70 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0084] The margin seal 70 includes a body portion 72 that extends essentially along the second direction V. Further, the margin seal 70 includes a sealing lip portion 74. The sealing lip portion 74 projects from the body portion 72 in the first direction L, particularly in a forward direction if the applique arrangement 30 is fitted to the vehicle structure 44.

[0085] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the sealing lip portion 74 is arranged so as to bridge the distance between the first applique 32 and the front door, particularly the second applique 34 of the front door. The sealing lip portion 74 extends along the second direction V.

[0086] Further, the margin seal 70 includes a number of holding portions 76. Each of the holding portions 76 protrudes from the body portion 72 in the first direction L, particularly to a side in the first direction which is opposite to the side into which the sealing lip portion 74 projects.

[0087] The holding portions 76 are each assigned to a respective receiving portion 66, are aligned along the second direction V and are arranged at a distance from each other.

[0088] Further, at least one of the holding portions 76 of the margin seal 70 includes a holding lip 78. The holding lip 78 is provided in an end area of the respective holding portion 76.

[0089] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the holding portions 76 of the margin seal 70 are introduced into the respective receiving portions 66 such that the holding portions 76 project into the U-shaped cross section formed by the panel portion 50 and the first inner portion 52.

[0090] Particularly, the holding portions 76 are introduced into the U-shaped cross section such that the holding portions 76 are arranged between a portion of the rear door B-pillar structure 40, which extends into the U-shaped section, and the axial part 64 of the first inner portion 52.

[0091] The holding lips 78 are arranged such that they are elastically deflected between the structure 40 and the axial part 64 in the third direction T, and thereby convey a force onto the panel portion 50 which is directed to the interior I of the vehicle 10.

[0092] In addition, at least one of the holding portions 76 of the margin seal 70 includes a locking lip 79 which is provided between the body portion 72 and the holding lip 78.

[0093] When inserted into the receiving portion 66, the locking lip 79 of the holding portion 76 engages behind a portion of the radial part 62 and/or of the axial part 64, so as to lockingly engage the first inner portion 52. The locking lip 79 serves to secure the margin seal 70 to the first applique 32, particularly against forces in the first direction L.

[0094] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the margin seal 70 can be an extruded element, from which intermediate portions between holding portions 76 are cut out.

[0095] The first applique 32 is typically an injection molded element having the number of margin seal receiving portions 66 in the radial part 62 of the first inner portion 52 thereof, and the panel outer surface 51 which forms the visible part of the panel portion 50.

[0096] The margin seal 70 and the sealing strip 58 are joined together by means of a mold portion 80, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

[0097] In fact, the mold portion 80 may be provided for joining the margin seal 70, the sealing strip 58 and also an upper portion of the rear door window sealing arrangement 28 together.

[0098] Therefore, the applique arrangement 30 is preferably produced by first joining the margin seal 70 and the sealing strip 58 via the mold portion 80. In a second step, the first applique 32 is formed by injection molding and optionally coated. In a third step, the first applique 32 is attached to the margin seal 70, by introducing the holding portions 76 into the receiving portions 66. in some examples, the sealing strip is inserted in the sealing strip receptacle 56.

[0099] Finally, the so-produced applique arrangement 30 can be mounted to the body 12 of the vehicle, particularly to the rear door B-pillar structure 40.

[0100] FIG. 6 shows a prior art applique arrangement, having a first applique 32 which comprises a panel portion 50 and a first inner portion 52. The first inner portion 52 has an axial part 64 as in the above embodiments.

[0101] A margin seal 70 is attached to an edge of the first applique 32 by means of a thermoplastic weld 90.

[0102] In FIG. 6, a sealing strip 58 is shown which may replace the sealing strip 58 shown schematically in FIG. 2.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0103] 10 automobile/vehicle [0104] 12 body [0105] 14 front door [0106] 16 rear door [0107] 18 front door window [0108] 20 rear door window [0109] 22 A-pillar region [0110] 24 B-pillar region [0111] 26 front door window sealing arrangement [0112] 28 rear door window sealing arrangement [0113] 30 applique arrangement [0114] 32 first applique [0115] 34 second applique [0116] 36 applique edge [0117] 40 rear door B-pillar structure [0118] 42 B-pillar inner lining [0119] 44 front door rear edge structure [0120] 50 panel portion (32) [0121] 51 panel outer surface (visible) [0122] 52 first (front) inner portion (32) [0123] 54 second (rear) inner portion (32) [0124] 56 sealing strip receptacle [0125] 58 sealing strip [0126] 60 attachment location [0127] 62 radial part (52) [0128] 64 axial part (52) [0129] 66 margin seal receiving portions [0130] 68 coating [0131] 70 margin seal [0132] 72 body portion (70) [0133] 74 sealing lip portion (70) [0134] 76 holding portions (70) for 66 [0135] 78 holding lip (76) [0136] 79 locking lip (76) [0137] 80 mould portion [0138] 90 thermoplastic weld [0139] L longitudinal (first) direction [0140] V vertical (second) direction [0141] T transversal (third) direction [0142] I inside [0143] O outside