Belt assembly for vehicle having hook and swing attachment and associated method
View Patent ↗A belt assembly for an associated vehicle has a body that includes a substantially planar region dimensioned for abutting engagement with the vehicle. At least one seal lip extends outwardly from a first face of the body to engage an associated surface of a vehicle window. A first hook is provided on the body for receipt over a terminal tip of the vehicle structural assembly, and a second hook is dimensioned for at least partial receipt through an associated opening around the door window opening. The first hook is positioned over the terminal tip and then the second hook is rotated until the second hook elastically deforms outwardly and subsequently snap fits into an associated opening and the substantially planar region abuts along the associated structural assembly of the door to preclude movement of the belt assembly upwardly, cross-car, and fore-and-aft relative to the associated vehicle.
1. A belt assembly for an associated vehicle having at least one opening in a structural assembly adjacent a belt line of a window opening that receives a movable window, the associated vehicle including an outer panel laterally spaced from a flange, the outer panel including a terminal end, and the flange having a substantially planar portion with a tip at one end spaced from the terminal end of the outer panel and the flange further including an opening therein spaced from the tip at a transition region, wherein the outer panel and flange are located at the belt line of the window opening, the belt assembly comprising:
a body having a longitudinal length dimensioned to extend along the associated belt line, the body including a substantially planar region dimensioned for abutting engagement with the substantially planar portion of the flange of the associated structural assembly when assembled thereto;
at least one seal lip extending outwardly from a first face of the body to engage an associated surface of the associated vehicle window;
a first hook provided on the body extending outwardly from a second face opposite the first face of the substantially planar region adjacent a first portion thereof, the first hook dimensioned for receipt over the tip of the flange of the associated structural assembly; and
a second hook provided on the body at a location spaced from the first hook and extending outwardly from the second face of the substantially planar region adjacent a second portion thereof, the second hook dimensioned for at least partial receipt through the opening in the flange of the associated structural assembly, whereby the first hook has a generally L-shape forming a cavity dimensioned to receive and positioned over the tip of the associated structural assembly with the substantially planar region angling outwardly from the associated structural assembly, and rotating the second hook toward the associated opening urges the substantially planar region toward the associated structural assembly until the second hook elastically deforms outwardly and subsequently snap fits into the associated opening and the substantially planar region abuts along the associated structural assembly to preclude movement of the belt assembly upwardly, cross-car, and fore-and-aft relative to the associated vehicle.
2. The belt assembly of claim 1 further comprising an arm provided at a terminal end of the body and dimensioned for receipt over the terminal end of the outer panel of the associated structural assembly.
3. The belt assembly of claim 2 wherein the arm extends outwardly from a second face opposite the first face of the body.
4. The belt assembly of claim 2 wherein the body includes a reinforcing member in the body and the reinforcing member does not extend into the first hook, second hook and arm that extend outwardly from the body.
5. The belt assembly of claim 1 wherein the body includes a reinforcing member in the body and the reinforcing member does not extend into the first hook and second hook that extend outwardly from the body.
6. The belt assembly of claim 1 wherein the second hook includes a protruding shoulder dimensioned for receipt in the associated opening of the associated structural assembly.
7. A belt assembly for an associated vehicle having at least one opening in a structural assembly adjacent a belt line of a window opening that receives a movable window, the associated vehicle including an outer panel laterally spaced from a flange, the outer panel including a terminal end, and the flange having a substantially planar portion with a tip at one end spaced from the terminal end of the outer panel and the flange further including an opening therein spaced from the tip at a transition region, wherein the outer panel and flange are located at the belt line of the window opening, the belt assembly comprising:
a body having a longitudinal length dimensioned to extend along the associated belt line, the body including a substantially planar region dimensioned for abutting engagement with the substantially planar portion of the flange of the associated structural assembly when assembled thereto;
at least one seal lip extending outwardly from a first face of the body to engage an associated surface of the associated vehicle window;
a first hook provided on the body extending outwardly from a second face opposite the first face of the substantially planar region adjacent a first portion thereof, the first hook dimensioned for receipt over the terminal tip of the flange of the associated structural assembly;
a second hook provided on the body at a location spaced from the first hook and extending outwardly from the second face of the substantially planar region adjacent a second portion thereof, the second hook dimensioned for at least partial receipt through the associated opening in the flange of the associated structural assembly;
an arm provided at a terminal end of the body that extends outwardly from the second face of the body and dimensioned for receipt over the terminal end of the outer panel of the associated structural assembly; and
a reinforcing member in the body and the reinforcing member does not extend into the first hook, second hook, and arm that extend outwardly from the body, whereby the first hook has a generally L-shape forming a cavity dimensioned to receive and positioned over the tip of the associated structural assembly with the substantially planar region angling outwardly from the associated structural assembly, and rotating the second hook toward the associated opening urges the substantially planar region toward the associated structural assembly until the second hook elastically deforms outwardly and subsequently snap fits into the associated opening and the substantially planar region abuts along the associated structural assembly to preclude movement of the belt assembly upwardly, cross-car, and fore-and-aft relative to the associated vehicle.
8. The belt assembly of claim 7 wherein the second hook includes a protruding shoulder dimensioned for receipt in the associated opening of the associated structural assembly.