Sealing strip for vehicle window and method of making it
View Patent ↗A window assembly for sealingly attaching a window glass to a frame of a motor vehicle door is disclosed. The window assembly includes a sealing assembly in combination with a window glass. The sealing assembly comprises a sealing, trimming or guiding strip comprising a length of extruded material, a polypropylene or the like part which is joined to the window glass at an edge of the window glass, and a molded material, which is joined to the polypropylene or the like part and connected to said sealing strip. The molded material is preferably made of TPE. The strip is preferably made of EPDM. The molded material is molded in a mold with the polypropylene or the like part, which has previously been molded onto the window glass, and the strip to mold onto and thereby connect to these parts.
1. A window assembly for attachment to a frame of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a strip formed from an extruded material for mounting on the frame with said strip including a first coupling portion;
a window glass coupled to said strip; and
a connecting part coupled to said window glass and formed from a moulded material with said connecting part including a second coupling portion fixedly engaging said first coupling portion to interlock said connecting part to said strip;
wherein said first coupling portion defines a recess and said second coupling portion includes a key with said key engaging said recess and said recess at least partially encapsulating said key to join said window glass to said strip and to fix said window glass relative to said strip;
wherein said strip includes a channel receiving an edge of said window glass, said channel being formed with said recess and said connecting part being located at said edge of said window glass;
wherein said window glass carries a cap member extending around and connected to said edge of said window glass, said connecting part overlying and being connected to said cap member.
2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said recess extends along a length of said channel.
3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said channel includes first and second walls interconnected by a base, said first wall defining said recess.
4. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said strip includes a reinforcement, said reinforcement extending into said first wall.
5. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said second wall includes a lip sealing against said window glass.
6. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said connecting part includes a lip for engaging the frame of the motor vehicle.
7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein said connecting part includes a second lip for engaging the frame of the motor vehicle.
8. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cap member is formed at least substantially of polypropylene.
9. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said moulded material is made at least substantially of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material.
10. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said strip is made at least substantially of ethylene propylene diene Monomer (EPDM) material.
11. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said strip is extruded in a closed loop.