Profiled section, especially for a motor vehicle, and method for the production thereof

Abstract

A profile section (10) for a motor vehicle comprises a decorating portion (40), which is composed of a fiber composite material. The fiber composite material comprises an elastomer matrix made of a first elastomer and flock fibers (50). The flock fibers (50) each have a fiber length which is comprised of a first length and a second length. In addition, the flock fibers have one matrix portion embedded in the elastomer matrix and one exposed portion protruding from the elastomer matrix. The matrix portion has the first length and the exposed portion has the second length.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a profile section having a mounting portion for mounting the profile section to a motor vehicle and a decorating portion comprising the steps of: a) extruding a mixture of a first elastomer and flock fibers for forming the decorating portion with elevations and depressions in a visible surface of the decorating portion, wherein the extruded first elastomer forms an elastomeric matrix within which the flock fibers are embedded in a way that the flock fibers have a fiber length composed of a first length that is embedded within the elastomeric matrix and a second length that protrudes from the elastomeric matrix for creating textile-like optics and haptic, wherein the first length is longer than the second length; b) forming the mounting portion; and c) arranging the decorating portion on the mounting portion.

2. The method of claim 1, including a step of mixing the first elastomer and the flock fibers before the step of extruding the mixture.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the step of forming the mounting portion includes a step of coextruding the mounting portion together with the decorating portion.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the step of extruding includes a step of forming the elevations and depressions as variations in a thickness of the elastomeric matrix.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of: d) providing the decorating portion with a coating comprising at least one of a textured coating and a sliding coating.

6. The method of claim 1 including a step of mixing the first elastomer and the flock fibers during the step of extruding the mixture.

7. The method of claim 1 in which first length that is embedded within the elastomeric matrix is more that 90% of the fiber length of the flock fibers.

8. The method of claim 3 in which the mounting portion is coextruded from a second elastomer that is different from the first elastomer.

9. The method of claim 3 in which the mounting portion is coextruded around a reinforcement.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the step of coextruding includes coextruding the mounting portion together with a sealing portion having a surface facing away from the mounting portion.

11. The method of claim 4 in which the step of forming the elevations and depressions as variations in a thickness of the elastomeric matrix includes forming the elevations with a first cusp and a height, respectively, and forming the depressions with a second cusp, respectively, wherein the first cusps of two neighboring elevations are separated by the second cusp of one of the depressions.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the height is measured orthogonal to a connecting line between the second cusps of two neighboring depressions to the elevation one of the first cusps that is disposed between the second cusps of the two neighboring depressions, and the height is between 10 m and 500 m.

13. The method of claim 12 in which a distance between the first cusps of the two neighboring elevations is between 500 m and 1 mm.

14. The method of claim 5 in which the step of providing the decorating portion with a coating includes forming the coating with a structured finish containing particles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) Embodiments of the invention will be explained hereinafter in reference to the attached figures.

(2) FIG. 1 is a lateral partial view of a motor vehicle.

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross section along the line I-I of a first embodiment of the profile section.

(4) FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the area A from FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross section along the line II-II of a second embodiment of the profile section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) According to FIG. 1, a motor vehicle 500 comprises a sealing section 10 which is arranged in the interior at the upper side of a door opening. The sealing section 10 covers the transition to the roof lining.

(7) As shown in FIG. 2, the sealing section 10 according to the first embodiment comprises a mounting portion 20, a sealing portion 30, and a decorating portion 40.

(8) The mounting portion 20 is made of TPE. The mounting portion 20 has a receiving portion 21 for receiving a protrusion of the motor vehicle 500. The receiving portion 21 is bounded by a first leg 22, a second leg 23 and a base portion 24. The first and second legs 22, 23 are arranged at ends of the base portion 24 distant from one another and extend essentially parallel in the same direction. A first reinforcement 27 and a second reinforcement 28 are embedded in the mounting portion 20.

(9) At the first leg 21 four outer fixing lips 25 are arranged which extend into the receiving portion 21 in direction towards the second leg 23. At the second leg 23 two inner fixing lips 26 are arranged which extend into the receiving portion 21 in direction towards the first leg 21. At the base portion 24 a decorating lip 29 is arranged, which extends from the base portion 24 in a direction away from the base portion 24.

(10) The first reinforcement 27 is essentially U-shaped and embedded in the first leg 22, the second leg 23, and the base portion 24. The second reinforcement 28 is embedded in the first leg 22 on the side facing the sealing portion 30.

(11) When the receiving portion 21 receives a protrusion of the motor vehicle 500, the outer and inner fixing lips 25, 26 are propped against the protrusion and prevent a removal of the sealing section 10. The first reinforcement 27 additionally forces the inner and outer fixing lips 25, 26 against the protrusion so that a higher holding power is created.

(12) The sealing portion 30 is made of EPDM. The sealing portion 30 has a sealing surface 31 which is facing away from the mounting portion 20. The sealing surface 31 comprises a flocking layer 32 made of flock. In addition, the flocking layer 32 is provided with a sliding finish layer 33. The sealing portion 30 and a portion of the first leg 22 together define a cavity 34. Three first protrusions 35, which are arranged on one leg of the sealing portion 30, project into the cavity 34. A second protrusion 36 is located at an end of the leg which is facing towards the mounting portion 20. The second protrusion 36 is larger and projects further into the cavity 34 than the first protrusions 35.

(13) The decorating portion 40 is arranged at the mounting portion 20. The decorating portion 40 has a visible surface 41, which can be seen by a viewer when fitted. The visible surface 41 is provided with elevations 42 and depressions 43. The decorating portion 40 is made from a fiber blend. The fiber blend has an elastomeric matrix of EPDM and flock fibers 50 made of polyamide embedded therein. The decorating portion 40 is provided with a finish layer 47. The finish layer 47 contains a structured finish containing particles.

(14) As shown in FIG. 3, the elevations 42 have first cusps 44, and the depressions 43 have second cusps 45. For the sake of clarity, only the first and second cusps 44, 45, which are essential for the explanation, are shown in FIG. 4.

(15) Two adjacent second cusps 45 are connected by a connecting line 46. The examined elevation 42 has a height h. The height h is the orthogonal distance between the first cusp 44 of the examined elevation 42 and the connecting line 46. The height h of the elevation 42 is between 100 m and 500 m.

(16) Two adjacent elevations 42 have a distance d from one another. The distance d is the shortest distance between the respective first cusps of the two adjacent elevations 42. The distance d is between 500 m and 1 mm.

(17) FIG. 3 further displays in a schematic manner one of the flock fibers 50. The flock fiber 50 has a matrix portion 51, an exposed portion 52, and a fiber length L. The matrix portion 51 is embedded in the elastomeric matrix and has a first length L1. The exposed portion 52 protrudes from the elastomeric matrix and has a second length L2. The first length L1 is greater than the second length L2. The second length L2 is 15 m.

(18) The sealing section 10 is produced by means of extrusion. To this end, first the first and second reinforcement 27, 29 are provided. In a single process, the mounting portion 20, the sealing portion 30, and the decorating portion 40 are coextruded around the first and second reinforcement 27, 29. The mounting portion 20 is extruded of a TPE. The sealing portion 30 is extruded of EPDM. The decorating portion 40 is extruded of the fiber mixture that contains an elastomeric matrix of EPDM and flock fibers 50 made of polyamide embedded therein. The decorating portion 40 is provided with the finish coating 47, which includes a structured finish.

(19) The motor vehicle 500 further comprises a sealing section 110 according to a second embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 4. The sealing section 110 is provided as a window slot sealing.

(20) The sealing section 110 comprises a mounting portion 120, a sealing portion 130, and a decorating portion 140.

(21) The mounting portion 120 is made of EPDM. The mounting portion 120 has a receiving portion 121 for receiving a protrusion of the motor vehicle 500. For the rest, the mounting portion 120 is identical to the mounting portion 120.

(22) The sealing portion 130 is made of TPS. The sealing portion 130 has a sealing surface 131 which is facing away from the mounting portion 120. The sealing surface 31 comprises a sliding finish layer 133. For the rest, the sealing portion 130 is identical to the sealing portion 30.

(23) The decorating portion 140 is arranged at the mounting portion 120. The decorating portion 140 has a visible surface 141. The visible surface 141 can be seen, like visible surface 41 of the first embodiment, by a viewer when fitted. The decorating portion 140 is made from a fiber blend. The fiber blend has an elastomeric matrix of TPV and flock fibers made of polyethylene embedded therein. The decorating portion 140 is provided with a finish layer 147. The finish layer 147 contains a sliding finish. For the rest, the decorating portion 140 is identical to the decorating portion 40.

(24) The sealing section 110 is produced by means of extrusion. To this end, first the first and second reinforcement 27, 29 are provided. In a single process, the mounting portion 120, the sealing portion 130, and the decorating portion 140 are coextruded around the first and second reinforcement 27, 29. The mounting portion 120 is extruded of an EPDM. The sealing portion 130 is extruded of TPS. The decorating portion 140 is extruded of the fiber mixture that contains an elastomeric matrix of TPV and flock fibers made of polyethylene embedded therein. The decorating portion 140 is provided with the finish coating 147, which contains a sliding finish.

(25) Through the sealing section according to the present invention, the visual appearance and the haptic properties of textiles, woven fabrics, or knitted fabrics can be emulated. The use of the fiber blend is much less expensive than a lamination of the profile section with textile materials. Compared to the previously existing textile-like decorating portions, in the sealing section according to the present invention, a distinct fabric texture can be emulated which is in addition relatively insensitive to mechanical stress such as abrasion.

REFERENCE LIST

(26) TABLE-US-00001 10 sealing section 20 mounting portion 21 receiving portion 22 first leg 23 second leg 24 base portion 25 outer fixing lip 26 inner fixing lip 27 first reinforcement 28 second reinforcement 29 decorating lip 30 sealing portion 31 sealing surface 32 flocking layer 33 sliding finish layer 34 cavity 35 first protrusion 36 second protrusion 40 decorating portion 41 surface 42 elevation 43 depression 44 first cusp 45 second cusp 46 connecting line 47 finish coating 50 flock fiber 51 matrix portion 52 exposed portion 110 sealing section 120 mounting portion 121 receiving portion 130 sealing portion 131 sealing surface 133 sliding finish layer 140 decorating portion 141 surface 147 finish coating 500 motor vehicle h height d distance L fiber length L1 first length L2 second length