GB2272469A

GB2272469A - Moulded vehicle window frame with rubber seal

Info

Publication number: GB2272469A
Application number: GB9223848A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gunther Josef Wilmes; Siegfried Huber
Original assignee: Draftex Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Laird Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1992-11-13
Filing date: 1992-11-13
Publication date: 1994-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2012-11-13
Also published as: GB2272469B; GB9223848D0

Abstract

A window frame (6) for the window opening (8) in the upper part of a vehicle door is made by a moulding operation from glass-fibre-reinforced plastics material in a single moulding operation. A rubber seal (28) may be attached by mechanical interlock (Fig. 5). Alternatively, the moulded frame is transferred to a vulcanising press and rubber parts defining glass sealing and guiding lips and channels are vulcanised directly into position on the glass-fibre-reinforced plastics material. A waist band (26) can also be formed from the glass-fibre-reinforced plastics material, integrally with the remainder of that material, and rubber sealing added in the vulcanising press. The resultant frame is light and strong and easily produced with a varying profile, coloured if required, no bending or joining being necessary and with little or no waste or subsequent finishing operations. <IMAGE>

Description

FRAMES FOR WINDOWS The invention relates to frames for windows. Embodiments of the invention to be described by way of example comprise window frames for motor vehicle bodies.

According to the invention, there is provided a window frame defining at least part of a window opening and comprising a member made of moulded material and at least one rubber sealing part secured onto the moulded material.

According to the invention, there is further provided a window frame for the window opening in the upper part of a vehicle door having a slidable window glass, comprising a member defining the sides and top of the window opening and with the sides extended for attachment in the lower part of the door, the member being a one-piece member which integrally includes the extensions for attachment in the lower part of the door and which is made of mouldable material in a moulding operation.

According to the invention, there is also provided a method of making a window frame for the window opening in the upper part of a vehicle door having a slidable glass panel, including the steps of producing in a single moulding operation from mouldable material a frame member defining the sides and top of the window opening, forming a rubber sealing part to a predetermined shape, and securing the rubber sealing part onto the frame member to form glass sealing and guiding means extending at least along part of the frame defining the window opening.

A window frame embodying the invention, and for a motor vehicle body, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the window frame; Figures 2,3 and 9 are enlarged cross-sections on the lines II-II, III-III and IV-IV respectively of Figure 1; and Figures 5 and 6 are further-enlarged part cross-sectioned views corresponding generally to Figures 2,3 and 4 but showing modifications.

The frame 6 shown in Figure 1 is part of one of the side doors of a motor vehicle body. The frame 6 comprises an upper part defining a window opening 8 and a lower part 10 which extends into the interior of the closed-off lower part of the door. The frame 6 comprises sides 12 and 14 and a top 16. The frame is manufactured by a moulding operation using a mouldable plastics material reinforced with glass fibre. Using known glass-fibre material moulding techniques, a suitable amount of the material, together with a suitable resin, is placed into a mould which has the required shape and cross-section to produce the sides and top of the frame in a single piece (including integral fixing brackets as shown by way of example at 18,20,22 and 24). An example of suitable mouldable plastics material is the material sold under the trade mark FORTRON by Hoechst A.G.

As shown in Figure 1, the frame also incorporates a waist band 26 defining the lower part of the window opening 8.

The waist band 26 can also be formed from the mouldable glass-fibre material, being formed integrally with the remainder of the frame as part of the moulding operation already described. Instead, however, it could be produced separately and secured afterwards to the rest of the frame as by adhesive.

The moulded frame, produced as just described, is then removed from the mould and transferred to a vulcanising press in which rubber sealing and glass-guiding parts are formed in situ, directly onto the glass-fibre frame, and vulcanised in position. Such a vulcanising operation is possible because the moulded glass-fibre reinforced plastics material is capable of withstanding a temperature of 200 C, whereas the temperature required for vulcanising the rubber parts onto it is less than this, being about 180 C.

Figures 2,3 and 4 show the rubber parts 28 which are produced by the vulcanising operation. These Figures also show how the cross-section of the frame varies along its length, this variable cross-section being easily produced by appropriately designing the mould.

As shown in these Figures, the rubber parts 28 provide lips and a guide channel for receiving, guiding and sealing against the window glass 30 for the opening.

Appropriate rubber parts would be provided around at least that part of the frame 6 defining the window opening 8 and would extend part way along the frame portion in the lower part of the door 10. In addition, the vulcanising operation can be used to form one or more sealing lips extending along the waist band 26 so as to provide a waist seal for the window opening.

The fixtures 18 to 24 are used for fixing the frame in the door.

The finished product is very light, being between 1.5 and 1.8 grams per cubic centimetre for example, yet as strong as aluminium. It can be easily provided with a variable profile and coloured if required. The frame is produced in one piece around the window opening without any need for forming bends or joints. The absence of joints improves the sealing performed by the rubber parts.

Substantially no further work is necessary after the moulding operations and there is little or no waste.

Although the use of glass-fibre-reinforced plastics material has been described above as being suitable for producing the frame 6, instead a mouldable thermoplast material can be used. The method is otherwise the same.

Clearly, the thermoplast which is used should be such as to be capable of withstanding the temperature required for vulcanising the rubber part 28 onto it, and suitable thermoplasts are available as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Prior to the in situ formation of the rubber sealing and glass-guiding parts 28 onto the moulded glass-fibre material or the moulded thermoplast material, the glass-fibre or the thermoplast material is coated with a bonding agent.

In another modification, the rubber part 28 can be secured onto the moulded frame member 12 by a mechanical interlock arrangement, as shown in the enlarged view of Figure 5.

As shown in Figure 5, the moulding operation producing the frame member 12 produces it with keyways 32,33. These interlock with keys 34,35 produced by the moulding operation which forms the rubber part 28. The mechanical interlock formed by the key and keyway arrangement secures the rubber part 28 to the frame member 12 but enables them to be separated for re-cycling purposes when the vehicle is eventually dismantled.

The rubber part 28, with its keys 34,35, can be produced in a separate moulding operation and vulcanised, and thereafter fitted onto the frame member 12 and secured thereto by interlocking the keys 34,35 into the keyways 32,33. Instead, however, the rubber part 28, with its keys 34,35, can be formed in situ on the frame member 12 during the same type of moulding and vulcanising operation as explained above with reference to Figures 2 to 4. In this case, and if it is intended that the rubber part should be separable from the frame member 12 for re-cycling purposes, then the bonding agent referred to above would be omitted.

Figure 6 shows another modification in which the rubber part 28 is secured onto the moulded frame member 12 by a mechanical interlock arrangement. As shown in Figure 6, the moulded frame member 12 is of a slightly different construction than shown in the other Figures. As shown in Figure 6, the frame member 12 has a downwardly depending leg 40, the end of which is bent upwardly at 42 to define a slot 44. A second slot 46 is defined by a sideways extension 48. The end of the leg 40 also carries a rigid lip 50. The leg 40 is provided with a series of through holes of which one, referenced 52, is shown. The rubber part 28, preferably produced by an in situ moulding and vulcanising operation similar to that described above, has lips 54 and 56 extending into the slots 44 and 46 respectively, and the rubber material covers over the leg 40 and its upward and sideways extensions 42 and 48 and also the lip 50, the rubber also extending through the hole 52 and the other similar holes not shown. The rubber part 28 is thus held securely in position on the frame member 12, in particular by the lips 54 and 56 and by the rubber extending through the holes 52. Therefore, the rubber part can be secured in position on the frame member 12 without using the bonding agent referred to above.

This enables the rubber part to be separated from the frame member for re-cycling purposes when the vehicle is eventually dismantled.

Claims

1. A window frame defining at least part of a window opening and comprising a member made of moulded material and at least one rubber sealing part secured onto the moulded material.

2. A window frame for the window opening in the upper part of a vehicle door having a slidable window glass, comprising a member defining the sides and top of the window opening and with the sides extended for attachment in the lower part of the door, the member being a one-piece member which integrally includes the extensions for attachment in the lower part of the door and which is made of mouldable material in a moulding operation.

3. A frame according to claim 2, including a waist band defining the lower part of the window opening and moulded integrally with the moulded member.

4. A frame according to claim 3, including a rubber sealing part secured onto the waist band to define a waist seal for the window glass.

5. A frame according to claim 2 or 3, including at least one rubber sealing part secured onto the moulded member to define glass sealing and guiding means extending therealong at least partly around the window opening.

6. A frame according to any one of claims 1,4 and 5, in which the or each rubber sealing part is secured onto the moulded member by vulcanisation.

7. A frame according to claim 6, in which the or each rubber sealing part is secured to the moulded member by being moulded onto it during a subsequent operation.

8. A frame according to claim 7, in which the moulded member is at least partly coated with a bonding agent prior to the subsequent moulding operation to bond the or each rubber sealing part.

9. A frame according to claim 5, in which the rubber sealing part is at least partly secured onto the moulded member by a mechanical interlock arrangement, permitting subsequent separation for re-cycling purposes.

10. A frame according to any preceding claim, in which the moulded material is integrally provided with fixing brackets or the like during the moulding operation.

11. A frame according to any preceding claim, in which the moulded material is glass-fibre-reinforced plastics material.

12. A frame according to claim 11, in which the glass-fibre-reinforced plastics material is integrally coloured.

13. A frame according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the moulded material is a thermoplast.

14. A frame according to any preceding claim, which has a varying cross-section.

15. A method of making a window frame for the window opening in the upper part of a vehicle door having a slidable glass panel, including the steps of producing in a single moulding operation from mouldable material a frame member defining the sides and top of the window opening, forming a rubber sealing part to a predetermined shape, and securing the rubber sealing part onto the frame member to form glass sealing and guiding means extending at least along part of the frame defining the window opening.

16. A method according to claim 14, in which the rubber part is formed and secured onto the frame member by being moulded onto the frame member in a mould to which the moulded frame member is transferred after its own moulding, the rubber part being subsequently vulcanised.

17. A method according to claim 16, including the step of at least partly coating the frame member with a bonding agent prior to the step of moulding the rubber part onto the frame member, the bonding agent serving to bond the rubber part to the frame member.

18. A method according to claim 15, in which the rubber part is secured to the moulded frame member by a mechanical interlock which permits the two parts to be separated for re-cycling.

19. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, in which the single moulding operation also integrally forms extended sides for the frame for attachment in the lower part of the vehicle door.

20. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, in which the single moulding operation also integrally forms fixing brackets for the frame member.

21. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 20, in which the single moulding operation also integrally forms a waist band defining the lower part of the window opening.

22. A window frame for the window opening in the upper part of a vehicle door, substantially as described with reference to Figure 2,3 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A window frame for the window opening in the upper part of a vehicle door, substantially as described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A window frame for the window opening in the upper part of a vehicle door, substantially as described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A method of making a window frame for the window opening in the upper part of a vehicle door, substantially as described with reference to Figures 2,3 or 4 of the accompanying drawing.

26. A method of making a window frame for the window opening in the upper part of a vehicle door, substantially as described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A method of making a window frame for the window opening in the upper part of a vehicle door, substantially as described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.