GLASS RUN

Abstract

A corner die-molding portion of a glass run includes an outer peripheral portion to cover an end flange portion of an outer panel of a door, a holding portion having one end portion connected to an inner surface of the outer peripheral portion, and a supporting portion provided between the holding portion and the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion. An inner space and its opening are provided between the outer peripheral portion and the holding portion such that, when the glass run is attached to a window frame, the end flange portion of the outer panel is inserted into the inner space from the opening, and then the supporting portion is brought into abutment against a tip end of the end flange portion of the outer panel. It is possible to suppress flexural deformation of the outer peripheral portion, thereby improving the glass run in external appearance.

Claims

1. A glass run that is adapted to be attached to an inner peripheral section of a window frame formed by inner and outer panels of a door, the glass run comprising: a first straight portion formed by an extrusion molding; and a die molding portion forming a corner portion of the glass run, the corner portion being connected to an end portion of the first straight portion, the die molding portion being formed by a die molding, the die molding portion comprising: an outer peripheral portion that is adapted to cover an end flange portion of the outer panel of the door; a holding portion that has one end portion connected to a first position of an inner surface of the outer peripheral portion, and another end portion adapted to extend toward the inner panel of the door; and a supporting portion provided between the holding portion and a second position of the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion, the second position being defined as a position to which the one end portion of the holding portion is not directly connected, wherein the die molding portion has an inner space and an opening of the inner space that are defined between the outer peripheral portion and the holding portion such that, when the glass run is attached to the window frame, the end flange portion of the outer panel of the door is inserted into the inner space from the opening, and then the supporting portion is brought into abutment against a tip end of the end flange portion of the outer panel of the door.

2. The glass run as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting portion is provided in the inner space of the die molding portion and is continuously formed to cover a range in which a force to press down an outer surface of the outer peripheral portion of the die molding portion is applied, when the glass run is attached to the window frame.

3. The glass run as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supporting portion is formed into a plate shape extending between an end portion of the holding portion and the second position of the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion, wherein the supporting portion has a first portion that extends in a direction of the outer peripheral portion from the end portion of the holding portion to a midpoint between the holding portion and the outer peripheral portion, and a second portion that extends from the midpoint to the second position of the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion, wherein the first portion is greater than the second portion in thickness.

4. The glass run as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first portion of the supporting portion is adapted to be substantially horizontal such that the first portion is brought into a vertical abutment against the tip end of the end flange portion of the outer panel, when the glass run is attached to the window frame by pressing down the outer surface of the outer peripheral portion, wherein, when the first portion of the supporting portion is substantially horizontal, the second portion of the supporting portion is inclined relative to the first portion and extends from the midpoint toward a bent portion of the outer peripheral portion, a position of the bent portion corresponding to the second position of the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion.

5. The glass run as claimed in claim 3, wherein a rib that connects the end portion of the holding portion with the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion is provided between the holding portion and the outer peripheral portion at a position that is closer to a vehicle interior than the supporting portion.

6. The glass run as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supporting portion is provided between an end portion of the holding portion and the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion and is adapted to be substantially horizontally arranged such that the supporting portion is brought into a vertical abutment against the tip end of the end flange portion of the outer panel, when the glass run is attached to the window frame by pressing down the outer surface of the outer peripheral portion, the supporting portion as a whole having a substantially uniform thickness.

7. The glass run as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supporting portion is provided between an end portion of the holding portion and the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion and is adapted to be substantially horizontally arranged such that the supporting portion is brought into a vertical abutment against the tip end of the end flange portion of the outer panel, when the glass run is attached to the window frame by pressing down the outer surface of the outer peripheral portion, the supporting portion having a first portion that is connected to the end portion of the holding portion and a second portion that is connected to the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion, the second portion being less than the first portion in thickness.

8. The glass run as claimed in claim 2, wherein a corner is formed between the holding portion and the supporting portion such that the tip end of the end flange portion of the outer panel is fit to the corner.

9. The glass run as claimed in claim 8, wherein the corner is adapted to extend along the tip end of the end flange portion of the outer panel such that top and inner surfaces of the tip end of the end flange portion of the outer panel are respectively brought into abutment and surface contact against a lower surface of the supporting portion and an outer surface of the holding portion.

10. The glass run as claimed in claim 8, wherein the supporting portion is substantially perpendicular to the holding portion and vice versa at the corner.

11. The glass run as claimed in claim 8, wherein the holding portion and the supporting portion are adapted to be respectively substantially vertically and horizontally arranged at the corner, and the end flange portion of the outer panel is substantially vertically arranged, such that the tip end of the end flange portion of the outer panel is fit to the corner.

12. The glass run as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rib is substantially parallel with the second portion of the supporting portion.

13. The glass run as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second portion of the supporting portion is substantially perpendicular to the bent portion of the outer peripheral portion.

14. The glass run as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral portion is formed at a lower end thereof with a lip portion that is adapted to be brought into an elastic abutment against an outer surface of the outer panel.

15. The glass run as claimed in claim 4, wherein the outer peripheral portion in a vertical cross-section of the glass run has an inclined upper half portion that extends from the bent portion to an upper end portion of the outer peripheral portion, and a lower half portion that extends substantially vertically from the bent portion to a lip portion formed at a lower end portion of the outer peripheral portion.

16. The glass run as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding portion has an upper end portion that is connected to the first position of the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion, and the upper end portion of the holding portion is substantially perpendicular to the supporting portion.

17. The glass run as claimed in claim 3, wherein the holding portion has an upper end portion that is connected to the first position of the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion, and the upper end portion of the holding portion is substantially perpendicular to the first portion of the supporting portion.

18. The glass run as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supporting portion is continuously formed in a longitudinal direction of the die molding portion.

19. The glass run as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glass run further comprises a second straight portion, and the die molding portion is positioned between the first straight portion as a lower side section of the glass run and the second straight portion as a vertical side section of the glass run, the die molding portion connecting the first and second straight portions together.

20. The glass run as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first straight portion is formed on an inner side thereof with upper and lower lips that are adapted to be slidably in contact with an outer surface of a door glass of the door, thereby providing sealing between the window frame and the door glass.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7 showing a condition in which a glass run according to the present invention is attached to a window frame of an automotive front door;

[0050] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing a glass run according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0052] FIGS. 4-6 are views similar to FIG. 2, but respectively showing glass runs according to second to fourth embodiments of the present invention;

[0053] FIG. 7 is a side view of an automotive front door to which a glass run according to the related art or the present invention can be applied;

[0054] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a glass run according to the related art; and

[0055] FIG. 9A is a sectional view taken along lines 9A-9A of FIG. 8, showing a condition before pressing down an outer peripheral portion of a die molding portion of the glass run by fingers (including thumb); and

[0056] FIG. 9B is a view similar to FIG. 9A, but showing a condition after pressing down the outer peripheral portion with a flexural deformation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Embodiment

[0057] With reference to FIGS. 1-3 and 7, a glass run according to the first embodiment of the present invention is exemplarily described in the following. FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7 showing a condition in which a glass run according to the present invention is attached to a window frame of an automotive front door. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing a glass run according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1

[0058] Similar to the related-art glass run, as shown in FIG. 7, a closed loop-shape glass run 6 for slidably guiding a door glass 5 is attached to an inner peripheral section of a window frame 4 formed of a door body 2 and a door sash section 3.

[0059] This glass run 6 is integrally formed by a rubber material or synthetic resin material as an elastic member. In the present embodiment, the glass run 6 is integrally formed by polyp-phenylene vinylene) (PPV). Furthermore, similar to conventional glass runs, the glass run 6 is constituted of an upper side section 6a, a lower side section 6b, a vertical side section 6c, etc. Each of these sections 6a-6c, etc. is formed by extrusion molding. Each corner portion connected to an end portion of each straight portion is formed of a die molding portion 7 made by die molding. The straight portions are integrally joined together by the die molding portions 7. With this, the glass run as a whole is formed along an inner periphery of the window frame 4.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 2, the glass run 6 is adapted to be fixedly fit between an end flange portion 8a at an end portion of an outer panel 8 of the window frame 4 and an end flange portion 9a at an end portion of an inner panel 9, which is opposed to the end flange portion 8a.

[0061] As shown by a dashed line of FIG. 2, the lower side section 6b as a waist side (waist line) seal is formed on its one side on the interior side with upper and lower lips 14a, 14b that are slidably in contact with an outer surface of a door glass 5.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the die molding portion 7 that connects the lower side section 6b and the vertical section 6c is formed in a generally L-shape in plan view. The die molding portion 7 has an outer peripheral portion 11 on the vehicle exterior side that is bent in a generally curved shape in a transverse or vertical cross-section, a holding portion 12 on the vehicle interior side that extends from an inner surface 11a of an inner end portion of the outer peripheral portion 11 towards the window frame 4 and then is in abutment and held on the end flange portion 9a of the inner panel 9, and an opening 13 that is formed between the outer peripheral portion 11 and the holding portion 12 and allows an upward insertion of the end flange portion 8a of the outer panel 8 from below into an inner space that is defined therebetween from the opening 13.

[0063] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer peripheral portion 11 is elongated in cross-section to have a thickness that increases gradually from an upper end portion 11b to a lower end portion 11c and is arranged to cover the side of the end flange portion 8a of the outer panel 8 and the end flange portion 9a of the inner panel 9 with a bent portion lie that is positioned generally at a center of the outer peripheral portion 11 in a vertical direction and with the lower end portion 11c. The lower end portion 11c of the outer peripheral portion 11 is monolithically formed at its lower end with a lip portion 11d that is brought into elastic contact with an upper surface of the end flange portion 8a, when the end flange portion 8a of the outer panel 8 is inserted into the inner space between the outer peripheral portion 11 and the holding portion 12 through the opening 13. This lip portion 11d is bent to be inclined toward the holding portion 12 in order to maintain a predetermined elastic contact force against the upper surface of the end flange portion 8a.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 3, the holding portion 12 as a whole is formed into a generally linear shape in the vertical direction, but is formed at a generally central position in the vertical direction to be bent into a moderate crank shape. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in positions except a predetermined region S1 near a bent area of the L-shape in plan view of the die molding portion 7, the holding portion 12 is monolithically connected at its upper end portion 12a in FIG. 3 as one end portion to the inner surface 11a of the upper end portion 11b of the outer peripheral portion 11. On the other hand, the lower end portion 12b in FIG. 3 as another end portion is in abutment and held on an inner surface 9b of the end flange portion 9a of the inner panel 9 in a condition that the glass run 6 is attached to the window frame 4.

[0065] In the predetermined region S1 (see FIG. 1) where the upper end portion 12a of the holding portion 12 directly connected to the inner surface 11a of the outer peripheral portion 11 is not provided, a supporting portion 15 against which a tip end 8b of the end flange portion 8a is brought into abutment from below is connected between an end portion 12c on the side of the upper end 12a of the holding portion 12 and the inner surface 11a of the bent portion lie of the outer peripheral portion 11. As shown in FIG. 2, at the end portion 12c, a corner C is provided between the supporting portion 15 and the holding portion 12, which are respectively substantially horizontally and vertically arranged. The end flange portion 8a is substantially vertically arranged, such that the tip end 8b is fit to the corner C when the glass run 6 is attached to the window frame 4. With this, the glass run 6 is securely supported on the outer panel 8, thereby suppressing the flexural deformation of the outer peripheral portion 11. The upper end 12a of the holding portion 12 is also adapted to be substantially vertically arranged.

[0066] As shown by a broken line of FIG. 1, the supporting portion 15 is continuously provided along the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral portion 11, in the predetermined region S1 where the upper end portion 12a of the holding portion 12 directly connecting to the outer peripheral portion 11 is provided, that is, in a range where the pressing-down force in the downward direction by fingers (including thumb) against the outer surface of the upper end portion 11b of the outer peripheral portion 11 is applied when the glass run 6 is attached to the window frame 4, in the interior of the die molding portion 7.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 2, the supporting portion 15 is formed into a plate shape extending between an end portion 12c of the holding portion 12 and the inner surface 11a of the outer peripheral portion 11. The supporting portion 15 has a first portion 15a that extends in a direction of the outer peripheral portion 11 from one end connected to the end portion 12c of the holding portion 12, to a midpoint 15c, and a second portion 15b that extends from the midpoint 15c to another end connected to the inner surface 11a of the outer peripheral portion 11. The first portion 15a is generally horizontally arranged so as be brought into a vertical abutment against the tip end 8b of the end flange portion 8a. In contrast, the second portion 15b is inclined relative to the first portion 15a and extends from the midpoint 15c toward the bent portion 11e of the outer peripheral portion 11. The first portion 15a is set to be greater than the second portion 15b in thickness. The upper end portion 12a of the holding portion 12 is substantially perpendicular to the first portion 15a (see FIG. 2).

[Advantageous Effects of Glass Run According to First Embodiment]

[0068] Firstly, when the die molding portion 7 for connecting the vertical side section 6c and the lower side section 6b as a waist side (waist line) seal is attached to the window frame 4 (see FIG. 7), similar to the case shown in FIG. 9(a), the outer surface of the upper end portion 11b of the outer peripheral portion 11 is pressed down by fingers (including thumb) in a downward direction shown by the arrow of FIG. 9(a). This pressing-down force makes the end flange portion 8a of the outer panel 8 inserted from the opening 13 into the inner space defined between the holding portion 12 and the outer peripheral portion 11. Then, while the tip end portion of the end flange portion 8a is kept in abutment with the outer surface of the holding portion 12, the tip end 8b is brought into abutment from below against the lower surface of the first portion 15a in the vicinity of the position connected to the end portion 12c of the holding portion 12.

[0069] As a result, the outer peripheral portion 11 is supported on the end flange portion 8a via the supporting portion 15 to be resistant against the is pressing-down force. That is, the supporting portion 15 serves as a stopper in relation with the end flange portion 8a, thereby preventing an excessive flexural deformation of the outer peripheral portion 11. With this, the occurrence of a downward displacement of the die molding portion 7 as a whole like the related-art one (see FIG. 9B) can be suppressed, thereby achieving a secure positioning of the glass run and preventing lowering of external appearance thereof.

[0070] Even in case that the tip end 8b of the end flange portion 8a of the outer panel 8 is slightly short in length or slightly low in position, or even in case that the size of the opening 13 between the outer peripheral portion 11 and the holding portion 12 is greater than the standard due to the production error, etc., if an abutment between the supporting portion 15 and the tip end 8b of the end flange portion 8a is secured, it is possible to sufficiently suppress an excessive flexural deformation of the outer peripheral portion 11. Therefore, the positional displacement of the die molding portion 7 as a whole, etc. can be prevented.

[0071] Furthermore, the supporting portion 15 is provided in the form of connecting the outer peripheral portion 11 and the holding portion 12. Therefore, in case that a force is applied to press down the outer surface of the outer peripheral portion 11, it is possible to prevent the opening 13 from accidentally opening up since the supporting portion 15 stretches between the outer peripheral portion 11 and the holding portion 12. With this, the tip end 8b of the end flange portion 8a does not come off the abutment surface of the supporting portion 15 that is in abutment with the tip end 8b, thereby making a stable support possible.

[0072] Furthermore, the supporting portion 15 is provided in the inner space of the die molding portion 7 and is continuously formed in a longitudinal direction of the die molding portion 7 (see FIG. 1) to cover the predetermined range S1 in which a force to press down the outer surface of the outer peripheral portion 11 is applied. Therefore, it becomes possible to sufficiently resist the force via the end flange portion 8a. With this, it is possible to further suppress the flexural deformation of the outer peripheral portion 11 and to sufficiently prevent the positional displacement of the die molding portion 7 as a whole, etc.

[0073] In the supporting portion 15, the first portion 15a is greater than the second portion 15b in thickness (see FIG. 2). With this, it is possible to increase the supporting force when abutted against the tip end 8b of the end flange portion 8a, thereby stably and securely suppressing the flexural deformation of the outer peripheral portion 11 by the pressing-down force.

[0074] Furthermore, the first portion 15a is adapted to be substantially horizontal. With this, the first portion 15a is brought into a vertical abutment against the tip end 8b of the end flange portion 8a by applying the pressing-down force. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a stable supporting force to support the outer peripheral portion 11.

[0075] Furthermore, the second portion 15b is less than the first portion 15a in thickness. With this, it becomes possible to suppress the occurrence of sink of the outer peripheral portion 11 when conducting the die molding by a rubber material or a resin material.

[0076] The second portion 15b extending from the midpoint 15c toward the bent portion lie of the outer peripheral portion 11 is inclined relative to the first portion 15a and is perpendicular to the bent portion 11e, thereby effectively suppressing sink on the bent portion 11e where sink tends to occur during the die molding.

Second Embodiment

[0077] FIG. 4 shows a glass run according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which is the same as that according to the first embodiment, except in that a reinforcing rib 16 that connects a tip end of the end portion 12c of the holding portion 12 with the inner surface 11a of the upper end portion 11b of the outer peripheral portion 11 is monolithically joined thereto. This reinforcing rib 16 is formed at a position that is closer to the vehicle interior than the supporting portion 15, to be generally parallel with the supporting portion 15 along the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral portion 11.

[0078] Therefore, according the second embodiment, the reinforcing rib 16 can assist the supporting portion 15. Therefore, it becomes possible to further resist the force to press down the outer peripheral portion 11. As a result of this, it is possible to more effectively suppress the flexural deformation of the outer peripheral portion 11.

[0079] Since the outer peripheral portion 11 and the holding portion 12 are doubly connected with each other by the supporting portion 15 and the reinforcing rib 16, it is possible to prevent the increase of the size of the opening 13 caused by deformation of the lower end portion 11c of the outer peripheral portion 11 in the direction of the vehicle exterior. That is, it becomes possible to prevent the opening 13 from accidentally opening up. With this, it is possible to keep the lip portion 11d of the outer peripheral portion 11 in abutment firmly all the time against the upper surface of the end flange portion 8a.

Third Embodiment

[0080] FIG. 5 shows a glass run according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in which structure of the supporting portion 15 of the first embodiment has been modified.

[0081] That is, the supporting portion 15 is provided between the end portion 12c of the holding portion 12 and the inner surface 11a of a spot below the bent portion 11e of the outer peripheral portion 11 and is adapted to be substantially horizontally arranged such that the supporting portion 15 is brought into a vertical abutment against the tip end 8b of the end flange portion 8a, when the glass run 6 is attached to the window frame 4 by pressing down the outer surface of the outer peripheral portion 11. Furthermore, the supporting portion 15 as a whole has a substantially uniform thickness that is relatively thick to be as thick as that of the first portion 15a.

[0082] According to the third embodiment, the supporting portion 15 as a whole is thick and thereby increased in rigidity. This increases the supporting force for supporting the outer peripheral portion 11 when abutted against the tip end 8b of the end flange portion 8a, thereby further suppressing the flexural deformation of the outer peripheral portion 11 and effectively preventing the opening 13 from opening similar to the second embodiment.

Fourth Embodiment

[0083] FIG. 6 shows a glass run according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to that according to the third embodiment, except in that an end portion 15d of the supporting portion 15 on the side of the outer peripheral portion 11 is formed thinner in thickness as compared with the rest of the supporting portion 15.

[0084] Similar to the first embodiment, according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to suppress the flexural deformation of the outer peripheral portion 11 and to prevent the opening 13 from opening, when pressing down the outer peripheral portion 11.

[0085] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments. For example, the die molding portion 7 is not limited to one positioned between the lower side section 6b as a waist side (waist line) seal and the vertical section 6c, but also may be applied to other positions of the window frame 4 (see FIG. 7). Furthermore, it is possible to further change structure of the supporting portion 15.

[0086] The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-107186 filed on Jun. 29, 2021, of which priority is claimed in the present application, including specification, drawings, claims and summary, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.