One-piece plastic retainer with integrated water management feature
View Patent ↗A one-piece retainer is preferably an injection molded that receives and retains a weatherseal therein. The retainer assembly includes first and second portions that are bonded together to form the one-piece retainer. Fasteners further aid in securing the portions together and also securing the assembly to the associated vehicle. An outer show surface portion overlies a door body side of the vehicle. The show surface covers a cavity that serves as a water management channel around the perimeter of the window opening.
1. A one-piece retainer for securing an associated weatherseal to an associated opening edge of an associated body side of an associated vehicle comprising:
a first portion formed of a plastic material including:
a seamless outer show surface portion for overlying an associated perimeter of the associated body side,
a first leg including a first retaining flange, and
a first generally planar base extending from the first leg;
a second portion including:
a second leg including a second retaining flange, and
a second generally planar base extending from the second leg; and
wherein a portion of the first generally planar base and a portion of the second generally planar base are disposed in overlapping relation and wherein a portion of the first generally planar base and a portion of the second generally planar base are fused together to define the one-piece retainer.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein an inner surface of the outer show surface portion and the associated opening edge of the associated body side define a channel for managing water from around the associated opening edge.
3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the outer show surface portion transitions smoothly along an associated surface of the associated vehicle surrounding the associated opening edge.
4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the first and second retaining flanges together define a cavity to hold the associated weatherseal in place.
5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the first generally planar base includes a plurality of spaced apart first openings and the second generally planar base includes a plurality of spaced apart second openings for securing the one-piece retainer to the associated vehicle.
6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the plurality of first openings mate with the plurality of second openings to define a fastening portion for receiving an associated fastener for securing the one-piece retainer to the associated vehicle.
7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the fused portion of the first generally planar base and a portion of the second generally planar base are fused together by ultrasonic spot welds to define the one-piece retainer.
8. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a foam tape secured to a backside surface of the first and second legs.
9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the retainer is used to retain a weatherseal engaged by the first and second legs.
10. The invention of claim 9 wherein an inner surface of the outer show surface portion and the associated opening edge define a channel for managing water from around the associated opening edge.
11. The invention of claim 9 wherein the outer show surface portion overlies an associated body side perimeter of the associated window frame.
12. The invention of claim 9 wherein the first leg includes a first retaining flange and the second leg includes a second retaining flange.
13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the first and second retaining flanges together define a cavity to hold the weatherseal in place.
14. The invention of claim 9 wherein the generally planar base includes a plurality of spaced apart openings for receiving associated fasteners for securing the one-piece retainer to the associated vehicle.
15. The invention of claim 9 further comprising a foam tape secured to a backside surface of the first and second legs.