Henniges Automotive Sealing Systems North America, Inc.

Thomas Groters

Robert B Krueger

Matt Thomson

Steven Johnson

A below belt seal assembly for use in a window seal assembly includes an extruded strip of material extending in length between strip ends and having a base and first and second sides extending the base with each side having an engagement area and first and second lips extending outwardly from the engagement areas. A molding is formed about the base and each of the sides and terminates at the engagement areas of the sides such that the molding is spaced from the lips, with the molding forming at least one bracket bonded to the extruded strip. A fastener is attached to the bracket for facilitating mounting of the assembly to the vehicle. The window seal assembly also includes an upper glass run seal assembly comprising additional extruded strips of material and a second molding for bonding the below belt seal assembly to the upper glass run seal assembly.

Below belt seal assembly, associated window sealing system, and method for manufacturing same

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.

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Waterford, MI, United States of America

Thomas Groters