BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of a window clamp incorporating the subject invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one example of a seal incorporating the subject invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the window clamp and seal of FIGS. 1-2 assembled together.
FIG. 4 is an end view of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is another example of a window clamp incorporating the subject invention.
FIG. 6 is another example of a seal incorporating the subject invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the window clamp and seal of FIGS. 5-6 assembled together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows an example of a window clamp 10 that includes a first clamp arm 12 and a second clamp arm 14. Lower portions of the first 12 and second 14 clamp arms are secured together with at least one fastener 16 as known. Upper portions of the first 12 and second 14 clamp arms are spaced apart from each other to provide a gap G. Each of the first 12 and second 14 clamp arms includes a slot 18.
A seal 20, shown in FIG. 2, is inserted into the gap G. The seal 20 is an extruded single-piece member that is cut to a desired length. The seal 20 can be made out of any type of resilient seal material. The seal 20 includes a base portion 22 and first 24 and second 26 seal arms that extend upwardly from the base portion 22. Upper portions of the first 24 and second 26 seal arms are spaced apart from each other to form a pocket P that receives a vehicle window 28. The first 24 and second 26 seal arms directly engage and seal against opposing sides of the vehicle window 28, i.e. both surfaces of the vehicle window 28 are engaged by the seal 20.
The clamp 10 and seal 20 cooperate to hold the vehicle window 28 within a vehicle door module. The clamp 10 is part of a window regulator assembly (not shown) that is used to move the vehicle window 28 between open and closed positions relative to a vehicle door (not shown). The clamp 10 and seal 20 can be used with any type of window regulator assembly.
As shown FIG. 2, the seal 20 includes at least one attachment feature 30. The attachment feature 30 comprises a snap-in seal portion that easily and effectively secures the seal 20 to the clamp 10 without requiring any additional attachments or operational steps, such as applying an adhesive. In the example shown in FIG. 2, each of the first 24 and second 26 seal arms includes one attachment feature 30.
The first seal arm 24 extends in a first direction and terminates at a first seal flange 32 that extends in a second direction transverse to the first direction. A first attachment feature 30a extends from the first seal flange 32 in a third direction that is transverse to the second direction. The second seal arm 26 extends in the first direction and terminates at a second seal flange 34 that extends in a direction opposite to the second direction, and which is transverse to the first direction. A second attachment feature 30b extends from the second seal flange 34 in the third direction.
The first 30a and second 30b attachment features each comprises a base portion 36 that extends into an enlarged head portion 38. The enlarged head portion is defined by a maximum diameter that is greater than a width of the slots 18 in the first 12 and second 14 clamp arms. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the enlarged head portion 38 includes a gripping portion 40 that engages a clamp surface 42 (FIG. 4) when the seal 20 is installed in the clamp 10.
The first 12 and second 14 clamp arms extend in a first direction from ends that are secured with the fastener 16 to distal ends that are spaced to form the gap G. The first clamp arm 12 includes a first clamp flange 44 (FIG. 1) that extends in another direction transverse to the first direction. The second clamp arm 14 includes a second clamp flange 46 that extends in another direction transverse to the first direction. The first 44 and second 46 clamp flanges extend in opposing directions from each other.
In the example shown in FIGS. 1-4, the slots 18 are formed within the first 44 and second 46 clamp flanges. As shown in FIG. 3, the seal 20 is inserted into the gap G from the top. As shown in FIG. 4, the first 30a and second 30b attachment features are pushed downwardly and are snapped into the slots 18 in the first 44 and second 46 clamp flanges. During insertion, the attachment features 30a, 30b are moved from an initial position to a different position, and are resiliently biased to return to the initial position after insertion. Thus, the attachment features 30a, 30b form a secure snap-fit attachment.
FIGS. 5-7 show another example of a seal 60 that is snap fit to a clamp 62. This example is similar to that of FIGS. 1-4 except that the location of the slots in the clamp 62 is different, and the location and shape of the attachment features on the seal 60 is different.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the clamp 62 includes first 64 and second 66 clamp arms that operate similar to those described above. The first 64 and second 66 clamp arms extend upwardly in a first direction and terminate at distal ends 68 that do not include clamp flanges. Slots 70 are formed in each of the first 64 and second 66 clamp arms. The slots 70 extend along a width of the clamp arms.
The seal 60 is configured similarly to seal 20 described above, and includes first 72 and second 74 seal arms and a base portion 76 that cooperate to form a pocket P for receiving the vehicle window 28. An attachment feature 80 is formed in each of the first 72 and second 74 seal arms themselves, and not in seal flanges as in FIGS. 1-4. The seal arms 72, 74 extend upwardly from the base portion 76 in a first direction, and the attachment feature 80 extends outwardly in a direction transverse to the first direction.
Each attachment feature 80 is a snap-in member that includes a base portion 82 that extends into an enlarged head portion 84. The enlarged head portion 84 is defined by a maximum diameter that is greater than a width of the slots 70 in the first 64 and second 66 clamp arms. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the enlarged head portion 84 includes a gripping portion 86 that engages a clamp surface 88 (FIG. 7) when the seal 60 is installed in the clamp 62.
The seal 60 is inserted between the clamp arms 64, 66 from the top and the attachment features 80 are pushed outwardly into the slots 70. Transversely extending seal flanges 90 abut against upper edges 92 of the first 64 and second 66 clamp arms after installation.
In the configuration of FIGS. 5-7, the clamping area is slightly reduced for the clamp 62 due to the location of the slots 70. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, by forming slots 18 in the clamp flanges, clamping area is not effected. Further, assembly may be facilitated with the configuration of FIGS. 1-4 as the insertion of the seal 20 and the insertion of the attachment features 30 are all occur in a common direction.
It should be understood that the orientation and shape of the attachment features could vary from the examples shown in FIGS. 1-7. Further, the location of the slots could also vary from the example locations shown in the figures.
Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
Patent Application
20080016779
