Automobile windshield molding and method of producing the same

Abstract

A An automobile windshield molding comprises seals a pair of extruded side molding parts, a pair of corner molding parts, and an extruded upper molding part integral with and extending space between the side a windshield and corner molding parts a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel. Each of the The molding parts includes an exterior wing is extruded in a single piece and a connecting portion includes an exterior wing to cover the space on the exterior side of the vehicle body panel. The exterior wing has an outward wing portion and an inward wing portion for covering the which covers a peripheral edge of a vehicle body panel and a peripheral edge of a surface of an automobile windshield, respectively . The inward wing portion of each of the side molding part is increased its height to define a space between the peripheral surface of has an eaves which protrudes out over the windshield associated with a side panel. This space serves as a water drain channel for guiding rain water to a predetermined position . The eaves gradually becomes spaced further and further from the windshield thereby creating first water drain channels which begin approximately at first and second corner molding parts and extend towards first and second side molding parts of the windshield molding. The distance by which the eaves protrude out over the windshield gradually increases along the first and second side molding parts thus increasing the depth of the first water drain channels.

Description

X--X

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, an extruded windshield molding M1 (hereinafter called as "molding M1") is attached to a peripheral edge of a windshield G, sealing the space between the windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel. The molding M1 comprises an upper molding part M1a to be mounted between the upper edge of the windshield G and a roof portion of a body panel 12 of a vehicle, side molding parts M1b to be mounted between side edges of the windshield G and pillar portions of the body panel 12 of the vehicle body, and corner molding parts M1c for connecting the upper and side molding parts M1a, M1b. All of these molding parts M1a to M1c are extruded as one unit.

The molding M1 shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 is a strip in the cross-sectional shape of T, and is made of elastic material such as synthetic resin extruded as an elongated member by a molding device to be described later. The molding M1 comprises an exterior wing 1 adapted to cover a space, on the exterior side of the vehicle, between the window opening periphery of the body panel 12 and peripheral edge of the windshield G, and a connecting portion 2 extending from an interior side of the exterior wing 1. The connecting portion 2 is inserted in the space between the body panel 12 and the peripheral edge of the windshield G.

A strip of a metal foil 11 is embedded in the molding M1 at an area of a vehicle where the connecting portion extends from the interior side of the exterior wing 1.

The connecting portion 2 includes a foot 8 extending inwardly (toward the windshield G ) along the end thereof, and a flexible lip 9 extending outwardly (toward the vehicle body panel 12) along the end thereof. The foot 8 contacts with the windshield G.

The exterior wing 1 includes an outward wing portion 3 for flexibly covering the periphery of the vehicle body panel 12, and an inward wing portion 4 for flexibly covering the peripheral edge of the windshield G. Both the outward and inward wing portions are branch the exterior wing into two lip-shaped members. The peripheral edge of the windshield G is inserted in a space between the inward wing portion 4 and the foot 8 of the connecting portion 2.

Fundamentally, the molding M1 has a uniform cross-sectional shape throughout its whole area length except for the inward wing portions 4 at the side molding parts. Specifically, the cross-sectional shapes of the connecting portion 2, foot 8, flexible lip 9 and outward wing portion 3 are same throughout the side, upper and corner molding parts. This is because the difference of height between the upper surface of the windshield G and the upper surface of the body panel 12 is kept uniform throughout the entire length of the side, upper and corner molding parts. On the contrary, the inward wing portion 4 between from each corner molding part M1c and to each side molding part M1b rises gradually as described hereinafter.

The upper molding part M1a has a uniform cross-sectional shape throughout its entire length as shown in FIG. 3. The inward wing portion 4 from the corner molding part M1c to the side molding part M1b gradually extends upwardly rises toward the outside of the vehicle. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the inward wing portion 4 gradually rises to form a wall 5 and semi-cylindrical eaves 6 from the corner to the outside. The eaves 6 is uniformly thick , disposed inwardly, gradually and linearly rises toward the outside of the vehicle from the corner section to the side section so as to separate from the surface of the windshield G while keeping a uniform thickness. The wall 5 also rises in proportion to the height of the eaves 6. The bottom of the inward wing portion 4, i.e. the bottom of the wall 5, is in close contact with the upper surface of the windshield G. Thus, an L-shaped space is defined between the upper surface of the windshield G, the wall 5 and the eaves 6, serving as a water drain channel 7.

The wall 5 gradually rises from a midpoint of a corner section to the side section and is highest at the upper portion of the side molding part M1b (as shown in FIG. 5), keeping its height to the end of the side molding part M1b. The eaves 6 laterally extends from the upper part of the wall 5 over the windshield G. The eaves 6 has a uniform lateral length from a midportion of a corner section to the side section and gradually becomes longer from the upper portion to the longer end of the side molding part M1b where the wall 5 maintains the maximum height. Thus, the water drain channel 7 is gradually deepened, as is the width of its opening. The size of the water drain channel 7 changes in width and depth in relation to each other.

The molding M1 is attached to the windshield G and the vehicle body panel 12 as described below.

Firstly, the molding M1 is attached around the peripheral edge 11 of the windshield G. Between the upper and corner parts, the edge 11 of the windshield G is sandwiched between the foot 8 and the interior side of the inward wing portion 4. Each of the side edges of the windshield G is sandwiched between the foot 8 and the interior side of the inward wing portion 4. The corner molding parts M1c are curved according to a predetermined curvature, without any wrinkles at the curved portions, despite a difference in the length along the curved direction, because the molding M1 is increased thickness as described above.

A dam rubber 16 in a strip shape is applied around the edge of a flange 12b of the body panel 12. An adhesive 14 is applied around the dam rubber 16. Then the windshield G having the molding M1 mounted therearound is placed on the dam rubber 16. The windshield G is pressed toward the vehicle body, so that the foot 8 of the connecting portion 2 is fastened by the adhesive 14, and the flexible lip 9 of the connecting portion 2 is L-shaped bent to flexibly contact with a slanting wall 12a of the body panel 12 , thereby fastening . A repulsion due to the bending causes the molding M1 to be fastened firmly.

The windshield G is mounted on the flange 12b of the body panel 12 to be substantially flush with the surface of the body panel 12. The outward wing portion 3 of the molding M1 is in close contact with the body panel 12 throughout the whole molding parts M1a, M1b, M1c. From the corner to the side molding parts, the inward wing portion 4 gradually extends upwardly as shown in FIG. 4. FIGS. 5 and 6 show that the inward wing portion 4 gradually becomes taller to become tallest at the center of the side molding part toward the end of the side molding part FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The upper molding M1a, as shown in FIG. 3, has a uniform cross-sectional shape throughout the entire length thereof, without any heightened part. From a midpoint in a corner section to a side section, as shown in FIG. 4, the inward wing portion 4 gradually rises upward and becomes higher so as to form a large-height part. In the side molding part M1b, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the maximum large-height part is formed and maintained throughout the central portion toward the lower portion of the side molding part M1b.

Rain water is guided on the windshield G along the inward wing portion of the molding M1 and the water drain channel 7 to be discharged to a predetermined position.

It is also possible to attach the molding M1 after the windshield G is installed in the window opening of the vehicle body panel.

A molding device for producing the foregoing molding M1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

The molding device comprises three dies i.e. first to third dies 22, 23, 24. These dies have openings for extruding plastic material, being juxtaposed one another in the direction for extruding the molding, i.e. the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 7.

The first die 22 is stationary, having an opening 21 which is shaped according so as to cover the cross-sectional shape of the molding M1. A part of the opening 21 is square-shaped according to the shape of the inward wing portion 4 for covering the upper, corner and side molding parts M1a, M1c, M1b, as shown in FIG. 9.

The second die 23 is positioned in front of the first die 22, being movable up and down in parallel to the first die 22 by a pair of guides 25.

The third die 24 is positioned in front of the second die 23, being movable horizontally and in parallel the perpendicular direction to the direction of movement of the second die 23 by a pair of guides 26.

The second die 23 is a substantially rectangular plate, of which one corner is cut according to the shape of the upper edge eaves 6 and wall 5 of the inward wing portion 4. That cut corner of the second die 23 is put on the part of the opening 21 corresponding to the inward wing portion 4 of the first die 22. To form the inward wing portion 4 of the side molding part M1b, the second die 23 is moved in parallel to the first die 22 so that the cut corner of the second die 23 covers the part (corresponding to the inward wing portion 4) of the opening 21 of the first die 22. Therefore, the area of the opening 21 (corresponding to the inward wing portion 4) is gradually changed to heighten the inward wing portion 4 of the side molding part M1b.

A lever 23a extends from an upper edge of the second die 23 to be connected to a converter 29, which is driven by a motor 25 27 to convert the rotary motion of the motor 25 27 to the rectilinear motion. The motor 27 causes the second die 23 to reciprocate between the position for forming the upper molding part (FIG. 8) and the position for forming the side molding part (FIG. 7).

The third die 24 is a long slender plate whose righthand edge (FIG. 7) is cut semi-circular according to the shape of the eaves 6 of the inward wing portion 4. The third die 24 is moved in the opening 21 of the first die 22 at the part corresponding to the inward wing portion 4, thereby forming so that the eaves 6 of the inward wing portion 4 changes its length. This movement is caused by operation of a motor 28 which drives a converter 31 which converts rotary motion of the motor 28 to rectilinear motion.

The following describe how the molding device operates to produce the molding M1.

The molding M1 is extruded by the molding device in the following order: a side molding part M1b, a corner molding part M1c, an upper molding part M1a, a corner molding part M1c, and a side molding part M1b.

To extrude the side molding part M1b, the second and third dies 23, 24 are arranged for the first die 22 as shown in FIG. 7, so that the opening 21 of the first die 22 kept widest. A strip of metal foil is supplied to the opening 21 of the first die 22 at the portion corresponding to the connecting portion 2 of the molding M1. The end of the side molding part M1b, having the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 6, is firstly extruded. The side molding part M1b has the inward wing portion 4 whose wall 5 is highest and whose eaves 6 is longest to form the water drain channel 7 having the largest cross-sectional area.

The side molding part M1b is extruded to a predetermined length. Then the third die 24 is moved in the direction shown by an arrow Q. As the third die 24 is advanced into the opening 21 of the first die 22 to further shield part of the opening 21 according to the shape of the eaves 6 of the inward wing portion 4. When the third die 24 reaches the position shown by a dash-and-double-dot line, the side molding part M1b is extruded in the shape as shown in FIG. 5. At this point, multiple dies (initially all three dies 22-24 and then just the first die 22 and second die 23) have been disposed at the same position while the outer surface of the exterior wing and the top surface of the eaves were formed. After this, the second die 23 is moved in the direction shown by an arrow P to form the side and corner molding parts M1b, M1c having the cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 4. The cross-sectional area height of the wall 5 is gradually reduced so that the water drain channel 7 is gradually reduced in proportion to the decrease of the height of the inward wing portion 4.

When the corner molding part M1c is completely extruded, the second die 23 stops at its destination as shown in FIG. 8. Under this condition, the water drain channel 7 disappears from the inward wing portion 4 of the molding M1. The opening 21 of the first die 22 corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the upper molding part M1a. Thereafter, the molding device extrudes the upper molding part M1a to a predetermined length.

After completion of the upper molding part M1a, the corner and side molding parts M1c, M1b are extruded in the sequence opposite to the above-mentioned sequence. Consequently, in FIG. 7, the second die is moved in the direction shown by the arrow R and third die is moved in the direction shown by the arrow S. Thus, the molding M1 will be extruded in the shape of a strip single piece and the eaves will have a uniform outer contour appearance.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show a molding M2 according to a second embodiment of this invention. In these drawing figures, the members identical to those of the first embodiment are assigned a mark (').

The outward wing portion 3' of the exterior wing 1' is downwardly pulled by a piece 30, which extends from the connecting portion 2 of the molding M2. The pulled portion, i.e. concave portion, of the exterior wing 1' serves as a second water drain channel 32. This second water drain channel 32 is formed throughout the molding M2 to guide rain water from the body panel 12' at the roof side when the motor vehicle is decreasing its speed or stops, thereby assuring a good view for the driver.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the inward wing portion 4' gradually rises in the shape of arc between the corner molding part M1c M2c and the side molding part M1b M2b, being formed as a wall 5' an eaves 6'. The wall 5' is slightly inclined toward the upper surface of the windshield G. The space defined between the eaves 6' and the wall 5' is somewhat depressed in the shape of L, serving as a water drain channel 7'. Reference numeral 34 designates a wire portion, while reference numeral 35 designates a hollow portion.

The eaves 6' of the inward wing portion 4' is uniform in shape and thickness, contrary to the eaves 6 of the first embodiment.

The molding M2 of this embodiment is as advantageous as the molding M1 of the foregoing embodiment. The molding M2 can be attached around the windshield G and then installed in the window opening of the body panel of the vehicle. Otherwise, the windshield G is firstly installed in the window opening of the body panel. Secondly, the molding M2 is installed with the connecting portion inserted into the space between the windshield G and the body panel 12.

A molding device for producing the molding M2 will be described hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 13, the molding device comprises a first die 37 and a second die 38, both of which have openings corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the molding M2. The first and second dies 37, 38 are juxtaposed in the direction for extruding the molding M2 (i.e. in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 13). The first die 37 is stationary, and the second die 38 is angularly movable in front of the first die 37. The first die 37 has the opening 36 through which the molding M2 is extruded. Part of the opening 36 is shaped according to the cross-sectional shapes of the inward wing portion 4' of the upper, corner and side molding parts M1a, M1b, M1c M2a M2c, M2b.

The second die 38 is substantially disc-shaped. The peripheral edge of the second die 38 is partially cut in the shape of the eaves 6' and wall 5' of the inward wing portion 4'. The opening 36 of the first die 37 has a side corresponding to the wall 5' which is in contact with the surface of the windshield G. The cut portion of the second die 38 is superimposed over the area of the opening 36 corresponding to the inward wing portion 4'. When the second die 38 is angularly moved, the area of the opening 36 corresponding to the inward wing portion 4' is changed to let the inward wing portion 4' rise as described above.

The second die 38 is formed with a rack 39 on part of the circumference thereof. A pinion 43 engaged with the rack 39 is connected to a motor 41 via a lever 42. The driving force of the motor 41 causes the second die 38 to reciprocate the position corresponding to the upper molding part and the position corresponding to the side molding part shown in FIG. 13.

Operation of this molding device for the molding M2 is substantially similar to the operation of the device for the molding M1 except that the second dies 38 is angularly moved and that no third die is used. Therefore, the description on the molding device will be omitted here.

In the foregoing two embodiments, the water drain channels 7' can be formed at desired positions and in a desired size. For instance, the water drain channel will be sometimes formed only at the upper portions of the side molding parts. In such case, the decorative function of the molding will not be affected at all.

When the exterior wing of the molding is thinned to decrease the difference of height between the upper surface of the body panel and the upper surface of the windshield, wrinkles may be unfortunately formed at the corner molding parts. However such wrinkles cannot be formed since the molding is made thicker as described on the foregoing embodiment, thereby assuring a reliable installation of the molding on the vehicle.

This invention is also applicable to install a rear window.

In the foregoing embodiments, the inward wing portion covering the peripheral edge of the windshield is made to gradually rise between the corner molding part to the side molding part, thereby forming a water drain channel in a space between the inward wing portion and the upper surface of the windshield. Since all the side, corner, upper, corner and side molding parts are integrally extruded, the water drain channel can be formed very easily. The molding of this invention can assure a safety, good appearance and decorative functions.