Draftex Industries Limited

Draftex Development A.g.

Draftex Development

Heinz Andrzejewski

Heinz-Peter Backes

Werner Kruschwitz

Robert G Bright

Helmut Ginster

Sealing, trimming or guiding strips

A sealing or guiding assembly for sealing or guiding the corner of a movable window glass, such as for the window in a motor vehicle door, comprises two lengths of sealing or guiding strips connected together at a corner. The corner is bridged across by a flexible flap which is produced by an in-situ moulding operation. The moulding operation is carried out so that the flap is connected to each sealing strip only over a small area. The flap is therefore otherwise spaced from each sealing strip by a gap which, during the moulding operation, is occupied by a plate defining part of the mould cavity. This plate and the gap protect an adjacent flocked area of a lip from damage by the heat of the moulding operation. The flap defines a shallow groove or ridge matching a ridge or groove either on the sealing strip or on a rigid support to which the strip and flap are to be attached. The groove-ridge pair engage each other when the two lengths of sealing strip and the flap are together placed into position on the rigid support, so that the areas of the flap which overlap each sealing strip to move into contact with the sealing strip and are held in such contact by the rigid support.

Sealing or guiding assemblies

A method of making a sealing or guiding assembly for sealing or guiding a corner of a movable window glass, such as for the window in a motor vehicle door. The assembly comprises two lengths of sealing or guiding strip which are connected together to form a corner matching the corner of the window glass. The corner between the two lengths of strip is bridged across by a flexible flap which is produced by an in-situ molding operation forming part of the method. The two lengths of strip are placed into the mould which has a cavity matching the shape of the flexible flap but which is arranged so that the flap is connected to each sealing strip only over a small part of the total area of the sealing strip which is overlapped by the flap. The flap is therefore otherwise spaced from each sealing strip by a gap which, during the molding operation, is occupied by a plate which defines part of the mold cavity for forming the flap. This plate and the gap protect an adjacent flocked area of a lip of each sealing strip from damage by the heat of the molding operation. Flocking can thus be carried out before the molding operation, instead of afterwards, thus simplifying production. The flap defines a shallow groove or ridge matching a ridge or groove either on a sealing strip or on a rigid support to which the strip and flap are to be attached. The groove-ridge pair engage each other when the assembly is placed into position on the rigid support.

Sealing or guiding assemblies and methods of making them

A sealing strip for attachment to the window frame running around a window opening on a vehicle door is in two parts each made of extruded plastics or rubber material and incorporating metal reinforcements. One part fits over a flange forming part of the window frame and locks into a channel formed in the frame. This part also has a reinforced lip which defines a channel for receiving the window glass. The reinforcement enables this lip to be relatively thin, thus achieving a 'flush glass' effect. The other extruded part embraces a flange and has a lip for sealing against the window glass.

Sealing strips

A window glass mounting arrangement comprises flexible material which is formed to define first and second channels side-by-side and facing in opposite directions. The first channel is sized to fit over and grip a support member surrounding the window opening so that the second channel then runs alongside the window opening for receiving the window glass. The wall of the second channel furthest from the first channel has a slot for receiving a stiffening member for stiffening that wall so as to secure the window glass in the second channel. The material defining the first channel has embedded in it a metal carrier of substantially channel-shape which is capable of a limited amount of lengthwise compression but substantially no lengthwise stretching. The arrangement is made slightly oversize and then compressed into the opening. This enables the glass to 'float' slightly in use and reduces stretching of the rubber at bends in the opening.

Window glass mounting arrangements

Metal carriers are disclosed for use in channel-shaped sealing, trimming and finishing strips, and channel-shaped window glass guides, such as for fitting to motor vehicle bodies. The carriers comprise a series of U-shaped side-by-side elements which are connected together. Each element is connected to the adjacent element on one side by a single connecting link running along the base of the channel, and is connected to the adjacent element on the other side by two connecting links which join the legs of the adjacent elements. In addition, the distal ends of those legs which are connected together by the connecting links have abutting extensions. In use, the carriers are covered with extruded plastics or rubber material. The abutting extensions prevent or limit stretching of the strip - by preventing movement towards each other of the distal ends of the legs.

Channel-shaped sealing strips

A channel-shaped structure is shown in which a channel-shaped metal carrier has a covering of flexible material which is arranged to define a gripping rib running along and protruding from one inside wall of the channel. Metal reinforcement at least partly extends into the gripping rib. Also disclosed is a metal carrier comprising a series of U-shaped metal elements which are spaced from each other and are each provided with a corrugation which runs around the U from the end of one leg of the U to the end of the other leg thereof.

Channel-shaped sealing, guiding or finishing strips and the like

At a mitre joint between two adjacent portions of a channel-shaped sealing or trimming strip structure such as for trimming a flange around a door opening in an automobile, for example, the mutually contacting tapering ends of the two adjacent portions of the strip structure are reinforced by an L-shaped reinforcing member which bridges across the joint and is secured to these portions, or by separate straight reinforcing members fitted to each of these portions.

Growing community of inventors

Viersen, Germany

Heinz Andrzejewski