Weather strip

Abstract

A weather strip includes a flexible strip main body, and a core embedded in the strip main body. The core includes a core main body having an engaged portion and an engaging leg member to be inserted into and engaged with a mounting hole on a mounting object. The engaging leg member has a first engaging portion for engaging the mounting hole and a second engaging portion for engaging the engaged portion of the core. At least the first engaging portion is not covered by the strip main body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

The present invention relates to an improvement of a weather strip for sealing between an opening border of various types of openings formed in the body of an automobile, and a door which closes the openings so as to be able to open in the closed state.

There is a weather strip wherein an insert panel (core material) is buried (Refer to Patent Document 1: Journal of Technical Disclosure No. 2004-505195 published by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation). This kind of weather strip integrally includes an axis-like clip in the insert panel, and by inserting and engaging the clip with a mounting hole of a door inner panel, the weather strip can be assembled to a door frame. However, in the case wherein the body of the automobile has complicated three-dimensional curved surfaces, the door frame also has complicated three-dimensional curved surfaces. Accordingly, the above-mentioned insert panel is required to have the same kind of shape. However, when the insert panel is molded in this kind of shape while molding an engaging portion in the clip, an undercut shape tends to be produced, so that a special consideration was required for a die design, and also the die was complicated. Also, due to the above-mentioned reasons, the molding die of the insert panel had limited possibilities for the die design, so that it was difficult to provide an innovative shape for the insert panel in order to enhance the rigidity.

A main object of the present invention is to provide a weather strip molded with a core material including engaging leg members inserted and engaged with a mounting hole formed in a mounting object as an insert, wherein the core material is molded according to the three-dimensional curved surfaces of the mounting object.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, in this invention, a weather strip includes the following structures (1)-(3).

(1) A weather strip includes a synthetic resin core material provided as an insert.

(2) The core material is provided with an engaging leg member which is inserted and engaged with a mounting hole in a mounting object with a tip-end side engaging portion. At least the tip-end side engaging portion of the engaging leg member is made not to be covered by a strip main body made from rubber or plastic with a rubber elasticity; and

(3) The engaging leg member is provided in the core material by engaging a base-side engaging portion formed in the engaging leg member with an engaged portion formed in a core material main body.

Since the tip-end side engaging portion of the engaging leg member of the core material is not covered by the strip main body, the weather strip can be assembled by inserting and engaging the tip-end side engaging portion of the engaging leg member which corresponds to the mounting hole of the mounting object. In the case wherein the body of an automobile has complicated three-dimensional curved surfaces, the core material is also required to have the same shape. However, since the core material is made by combining the core material main body and the engaging leg member which are molded and prepared as separate members, compared with the case wherein both the core material main body and the engaging leg member are integrally molded, it is less prone to produce an undercut shape and the like, so that the core material and the weather strip can be easily molded according to the three-dimensional curved surfaces without complicating the die structure. Also, the configuration of the core material can be reconstructed by changing materials between the core material main body and the engaging leg member if necessary.

The engaged portion of the core material main body may be formed at a terminal end portion of a penetration groove (e.g., elongated hole), said penetration groove extending from an introduction-through hole.

In this case, by introducing the base-side engaging portion of the engaging leg member to the penetration groove by using the introduction-through hole and completely moving the base-side engaging portion to the terminal end portion by being guided by the penetration groove, the base-side engaging portion can be engaged with the engaged portion and, then, the engaging leg member can be assembled to the core material main body.

The base-side engaging portion of the engaging leg member includes a head portion and a neck portion. The engaged portion of the core material main body is formed at the terminal end portion of the penetration groove in such a way as to form a grappling face of the head portion of the engaging leg member at a side of one face of the core material main body. Also, the engaged portion of the core material main body includes a deepest portion which houses the neck portion; and a narrow portion which allows the neck portion to be introduced to the deepest portion by an elastic deformation. Additionally, the head portion of the base-side engaging portion includes a pair of linear marginal portions, and a pitch between the pair of liner marginal portions may be roughly equal to a width of the penetration groove.

In this case, the base-side engaging portion of the engaging leg member which is inserted into the introduction-through hole can be inserted into the penetration groove only in a direction wherein the linear marginal portions of the head portion are slid and contacted to the groove wall of the penetration groove. Next, the narrow portion is elastically pushed and widened by the neck portion in a process that the base-side engaging portion which was inserted into the penetration groove as mentioned above is completely moved to the other end portion of the penetration groove, and herewith, the elasticity is returned when the neck portion is allowed to proceed into the deepest portion, so that the base-side engaging portion of the engaging leg member can be reliably assembled to the engaged portion of the core material main body in a mounting direction by a one touch.

According to the invention, the core material comprises the engaging leg member and the core material main body, and the engaging leg member includes the tip-end side engaging portion and the base-side engaging portion to be inserted and engaged with the mounting hole of the mounting object. The core material is configured by engaging the base-side engaging portion with the engaged portion of the core material main body. As a result, the core material main body can be molded freely according to the three-dimensional curved surfaces of the mounting object. Also, the strip main body is molded not to cover the tip-end side engaging portion, and the weather strip can be easily assembled to the mounting object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a weather strip W in use;

FIG. 2 is a front structural view showing a surface of a core material main body;

FIG. 3 is a rear surface structural view thereof;

FIG. 4 is an end face structural view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a process wherein engaging leg members are assembled to the core material main body;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view in a state wherein the engaging leg members are assembled to the core material main body;

FIG. 7 is a front surface structural view of a core material;

FIG. 8 is a back surface structural view of the core material;

FIG. 9 is a partially broken front view of the engaging leg members;

FIG. 10 is a plan view thereof; and

FIG. 11 is a left side view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11.

Incidentally, FIG. 1 shows a state of a weather strip W assembled to a mounting object P by showing a strip main body 2 as an imaginary line and a core material main body 10 as a section. Also, FIGS. 2-4 respectively show the core material main body 10, and FIG. 3 shows the core material main body 10 viewed from the other face side opposite to FIG. 2. FIGS. 5, 6 show the core material main body 10 as a section at a portion wherein engaged portions 100 are formed so that the process wherein engaging leg members 11 are assembled to the engaged portions 100 of the core material main body 10 can be easily understood. FIG. 5 shows a state wherein base-side engaging portions 110 of the engaging leg members 11 is started to be inserted into penetration grooves 102 configuring the engaged portions 100. FIG. 6 shows a state wherein the base-side engaging portions 110 of the engaging leg members 11 is completely inserted into the penetration grooves 102. Also, FIGS. 7, 8 show a core material 1 respectively, and FIGS. 9 to 11 show the engaging leg members 11 respectively. Incidentally, in FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8, penetration holes 10h and small projections 10i which are formed in the core material main body 10 are not entirely shown, and only a part of those are shown and the rest are omitted.

The weather strip W according to the embodiment is typically used for sealing between an opening border of various types of openings formed in the body of an automobile, and a door or a lid which blocks the openings so as to be able to open in the blocked state.

More specifically, when the weather strip W is used for sealing, for example, between the door opening of the body and the door, a lip 2a is assembled in such a way as to protrude outside from the border portion of a door frame relative to a panel Pa at a vehicle interior side comprising the door frame. When the door is closed, the lip 2a is pressed against the opening border of the door opening in a state wherein the lip 2a is elastically deformed, and the weather strip W is used for the above-mentioned sealing.

The weather strip W comprises a synthetic resin core material 1 as an insert. More specifically, the weather strip W is configured by integrally uniting the core material 1 and the strip main body 2 by covering a necessary area on the outside of the core material 1 with the strip main body 2 comprising plastic with rubber or rubber elasticity by insert molding. In this insert molding, the strip main body 2 is molded in such a way as to include a desired outer shape, and the lip 2a is configured by the strip main body 2. The core material 1 is harder than the strip main body 2, and by injection molding following the insert molding, the desired outer shape can be molded and prepared.

In an example shown in the figures, the core material 1 is molded in such a way that a part is curved in order to have a shape according to the corner of the door frame. In the example shown in the figures, the core material 1 is configured by the core material main body 10 having a plate shape with length and width as a main material. One side face 10a of the core material main body 10 becomes a face on the mounting side relative to the panel Pa. Both faces 10a, 10b of the core material main body 10 include an outer border 10c located outside a curve and an inner border 10d located inside the curve. A pitch between both borders 10c and 10d is comparatively and roughly even and large between one end 10e side of the core material main body 10 and a curved portion 10f. Subsequently, as the core material main body 10 goes toward the other end 10g side from the curved portion 10f, the core material main body 10 decreases gradually, and in the other end 10g of the core material main body 10, both borders 10c and 10d come close and the other end has a thin stick shape.

Also, in the example shown in the figures, in the core material main body 10, a plurality of penetration holes 10h (shown in a circle with a large diameter in FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8) is formed, and a plurality of small projections 10i (shown in a circle with a small diameter in FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8) is projected from both faces, respectively. Accordingly, unity between the core material main body 10 and the strip main body 2 can be improved.

Also, in the core material 1, the engaging leg members 11 are provided, inserted into a mounting hole Pb formed in the panel Pa which becomes a mounting object P, and engaged with the mounting hole Pb by tip-end side engaging portions 112. Also, the engaging leg members 11 are provided in the core material 1 by engaging the base-side engaging portions 110 formed in the engaging leg members 11 with the engaged portions 100 formed in the core material main body 10. At least the tip-end side engaging portions 112 of the engaging leg members 11 are not covered by the strip main body 2.

More specifically, in the embodiment, the core material 1 is configured by combining the core material main body 10 and the engaging leg members 11, and also the strip main body 2 is molded with the core material 1 as the insert in such a way as not to cover the tip-end side engaging portions 112 of the engaging leg members 11. (FIG. 1)

Since the tip-end side engaging portions 112 of the engaging leg members 11 of the core material 1 are not covered by the strip main body 2, the weather strip W can be assembled by inserting and engaging the tip-end side engaging portions 112 of the engaging leg members 11 with the mounting hole Pb of the panel Pa. In the case that the body of the automobile has complicated three-dimensional curved surfaces, the panel Pa also has the above-mentioned three-dimensional curved surfaces, so that the core material 1 is also required to have the shape according to the three-dimensional curved surfaces. However, since the core material main body 10 and the engaging leg members 11 are molded and prepared as separate members, combined together, and make the core material 1, compared to the case that both core material main body 10 and the engaging leg members 11 are integrally molded, it is difficult to produce an undercut shape and the like, so that the core material 1 and the weather strip W can be easily molded according to the three-dimensional curved surfaces without complicating die structure. Also, the core material 1 can be configured by changing materials of the core material main body 10 and the engaging leg members 11 according to needs. For example, if the core material main body 10 is made from fiber-reinforced plastic, rigidity of the overall core material 1 can be improved without decreasing the elasticity of the engaging leg members 11.

In the example shown in the figures, the engaged portions 100 of the core material main body 10 are formed in terminal end portions 102b of the penetration grooves 102 wherein groove-beginning ends 102a are communicated with introduction-through holes 101.

In the example shown in the figures, the engaged portions 100 and the introduction-through holes 101 are provided at two portions and spaced in a length direction of the core material main body 10 between one end 10e and the curved portion 10f of the core material main body 10. The introduction-through holes 101 have a circular shape. The penetration grooves 102 allow the groove-beginning ends 102a to communicate with the introduction-through holes 101 and extend along the length direction of the core material main body 10. In the example shown in the figures, the penetration groove 102 wherein one of the two engaged portions 100 is formed is located on the side of one end 10e of the core material main body 10. This penetration groove 102 communicates with the introduction-through hole 101 which is located on the side of the curved portion 10f rather than the penetration groove 102, and extends to the side of one end 10e of the core material main body 10. Also, the penetration groove 102 wherein the other of two engaged portions 100 is formed is located on the side of the curved portion 10f of the core material main body 10. The penetration groove 102 communicates with the introduction-through hole 101 which is located on the side of one end 10e of the core material main body 10 rather than the penetration groove 102, and extends to the side of the curved portion 10f of the core material main body 10.

Herewith, in the example shown in the figures, by using the above-mentioned introduction-through holes 101, the base-side engaging portions 110 of the engaging leg members 11 are introduced to the penetration grooves 102, and the base-side engaging portions 110 are completely moved to the terminal end portions 102b by being guided by the penetration grooves 102. As a result, the base-side engaging portions 110 can be engaged with the engaged portions 100, and the engaging leg members 11 can be assembled to the core material main body 10.

In the example shown in the figures, the base-side engaging portions 110 of the engaging leg members 11 include head portions 110a and neck portions 110e.

Also, the engaged portions 100 of the core material main body 10 are formed in the terminal end portions 102b of the penetration grooves 102 in such a way as to form grappling faces 100a of the head portions 110a of the engaging leg members 11 at the side of one face (side of the other face 10b opposite to the mounting side on the panel Pa in the example shown in the figures) of the core material main body 10. Also, the engaged portions 100 of the core material main body 10 include deepest portions 100b housing the neck portions 110e; and narrow portions 100c allowing the neck portions 110e to be introduced to the deepest portions 100b by elastic deformation.

Also, the head portions 110a of the base-side engaging portions 110 of the engaging leg members 11 include a pair of linear marginal portions 110b, and the pitch between this pair of liner marginal portions 110b is roughly equal to the width of the penetration grooves 102.

Herewith, in the example shown in the figures, the base-side engaging portions 110 of the engaging leg members 11 which were inserted into the introduction-through holes 101 can be inserted into the penetration grooves 102 only by the direction wherein the linear marginal portions 110b of the head portions 110a are slid and contacted to groove walls 102d of the penetration grooves 102. Next, the narrow portions 100c are elastically pushed and opened by the neck portions 110e in the process wherein the base-side engaging portions 110 which were inserted into the penetration grooves 102 as mentioned above are completely moved to the terminal end portions 102b of the penetration grooves 102. Herewith, the elasticity is returned when the neck portions 110e are allowed to proceed into the deepest portions 10b . As a result, the base-side engaging portions 110 of the engaging leg members 11 can be reliably assembled to the engaged portions 100 of the core material main body 10 in a mounting direction by a one touch.

In the example shown in the figures, the engaged portions 100 are made open at the side of the introduction-through holes 101 and include roughly U-shaped flange portions 100d which border insides of the terminal end portions 102b in such a way as to form the grappling faces 100a with a step surface in the terminal end portions 102b of the penetration grooves 102 between groove borders 102c located on the side of the other face 10b of the core material main body 10. The grappling faces 100a of the flange portions 100d and the face of the opposite side are configured in such a way as to form the same face with one face 10a of the core material main body 10. In both opening portions of the roughly U-shaped flange portions 100d, projections 100e respectively projecting to the inside are formed, and due to the projections 100e, the opening portions are slightly narrower than diameters of the neck portions 110e of the base-side engaging portions 110 of the engaging leg members 11. When the neck portions 110e are introduced into the deepest portions 100b, lower surfaces (jaw faces) of the head portions 110a are widely contacted to the grappling faces 100a of the flange portions 100d at the portion except for the opening portions.

The engaging leg members 11 integrally include the base-side engaging portions 110 comprising the head portions 110a and the neck portions 110e on one side sandwiching the intermediate flanges 111, and intermediate flanges 111. Also, the engaging leg members 11 include the tip-end side engaging portions 112 on the other side sandwiching the intermediate flanges 111.

The neck portions 110e configuring the base-side engaging portions 110 are located between the intermediate flanges 111 and the head portions 110a, and have an axis shape whose external diameter is smaller than both the intermediate flanges 111 and the head portions 110a. Also, the head portions 110a are configured as a plate with length and width. The linear marginal portions 110b are formed by both marginal portions along the length direction of the head portions 110a. Also, one end side of the head portions 110a is projected to the outer side than the intermediate flanges 111. Protruding portions 110d decline in such a direction that the protruding portions 110d gradually approach the side of the intermediate flanges 111 as the protruding portions 110d go to a terminal portion, so that the neck portions 110e cannot be inserted into the penetration grooves 102 from a protruding portion 110d side. Herewith, in the example shown in the figures, the neck portions 110e of the base-side engaging portions 110 of the engaging leg members 11, which are inserted into the introduction-through holes 101 in such a way as to protrude the tip-end side engaging portions 112 from one side face 10a of the core material main body 10, can be pushed into the penetration grooves 102 from the opposite side of the protruding portions 110d in such a way as to press against the declined external surface of the protruding portions 110d by a finger.

The tip-end side engaging portions 112 include core portions 112a integrally protruding from the intermediate flanges 111 at the other side of the intermediate flanges 111 with both long surfaces in the length direction of the head portions 110a; and elastic piece portions 112b integrally connecting one end to the end of the core portions 112a at both ends of the core portions 112a and integrally connecting the other end to the intermediate flanges 111. Transformation gaps 112g are formed between the core portions 112a and the elastic piece portions 112b. Also, the intermediate flanges 111 have a size so as not to be inserted into the mounting hole Pb of the panel Pa, and engaging projections 112c with engaging faces 112d which face the side of the intermediate flanges 111 are formed on outer faces of the pair of elastic piece portions 112b. The size between top portions 112e of the engaging projections 112c of the pair of elastic piece portions 112b is made slightly larger than the diameter of the mounting hole Pb of the panel Pa. Inclining hem faces 112f are formed between the top portions 112e of the engaging projections 112c and one end of the elastic piece portions 112b, and make it easy to be inserted into the mounting hole Pb. Herewith, in the example shown in the figures, after the elastic piece portions 112b are once bent in the process wherein the tip-end side engaging portions 112 are inserted into the mounting hole Pb of the panel Pa, a recoil force is produced at the position wherein the top portions 112e of the engaging projections 112c are slipped out to the front from the inserting end of the mounting hole Pb. As a result, the weather strip W can be assembled to the panel Pa wherein the tip-end side engaging portions 112 are engaged with the mounting hole Pb by a one touch.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-173883, filed on Jul. 2, 2007, is incorporated in the application.

While the invention has been explained with reference to the specific embodiments of the invention, the explanation is illustrative and the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A weather strip, comprising; a flexible strip main body; anda core embedded in the strip main body, and including a core main body having an engaged portion and an engaging leg member to be inserted into and engaged with a mounting hole on a mounting object, said engaging leg member having a first engaging portion for engaging the mounting hole and a second engaging portion for engaging the engaged portion of the core, wherein at least the first engaging portion is not covered by the strip main body.

2. A weather strip according to claim 1, wherein the core further comprises a hole for introducing the second engaging portion, said hole including a main hole and an elongated hole extending from the main hole, the engaged portion being formed at an end portion of the elongated hole relative to the main hole.

3. A weather strip according to claim 2, wherein the second engaging portion includes a head portion and a neck portion, wherein the engaged portion includes a grappling face of the head portion at a side of the core main body around a deepest portion of the elongated hole away from the main hole for housing the neck portion, and a portion for defining a narrow portion of the elongated hole for allowing the neck portion to be introduced to the deepest portion from the main hole, said portion being elastically deformed when the neck portion passes therethrough.

4. A weather strip according to claim 3, wherein each head portion include a pair of linear marginal portions, and a pitch between the pair of the liner marginal portions is roughly equal to a width of the elongated hole.

5. A weather strip according to claim 4, wherein said first engaging portion includes a core portion extending from the neck portion, and a plurality of elastic pieces extending radially outwardly from the core portion.

6. A weather strip according to claim 5, wherein the strip main body covers the core in a condition that the engaging leg member is attached to the engaged portion.

7. A weather strip according to claim 1, wherein the strip main body is formed of rubber or plastic with elasticity.

8. A weather strip according to claim 1, wherein the core is formed of a synthetic resin material.