Window seal assembly for limiting air leaks from a vehicle frame into a passenger cabin of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10239398-B2
Application number	US-201815895342-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2018
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle door sealing assembly includes a door trim panel and an inner frame panel defining a door cavity, a window positioned proximate the door trim panel and the inner frame panel, a beltline seal disposed between the door trim and inner frame panels and in selective engagement with the window and a leak seal extending between the door trim panel and the beltline seal to divert a flow of air from the door cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle sealing assembly comprising:
a vehicle frame defining a frame cavity;
a vehicle door having a door trim panel and an inner frame panel that define a door cavity in communication with the frame cavity;
an operable window disposed proximate the door cavity and operable between open and closed positions, wherein an outermost portion of the door trim panel extends downward in a direction parallel to a top portion of the inner frame panel and terminates at a distal end surface of the door trim panel disposed within an area defined directly between the operable window and the inner frame panel;
a beltline seal disposed between the door trim panel and the inner frame panel and in engagement with the operable window in the closed position; and
a first air leak stopper being a separate member from the beltline seal and that is attached to the beltline seal and disposed proximate a boundary defined between the door trim panel and the inner frame panel to divert a flow of air from within the door cavity, wherein the beltline seal is free of direct contact with the door trim panel, and wherein the first air leak stopper extends from the beltline seal to directly engage the distal end surface of the door trim panel.

2. The vehicle sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first air leak stopper is disposed within an area directly between the operable window and the inner frame panel.

3. The vehicle sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal end surface of the door trim panel extends below an upper edge of the inner frame panel.

4. The vehicle sealing assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second air leak stopper extending between the door trim panel and the beltline seal to further divert the flow of air from within the door cavity, wherein the second air leak stopper is disposed distal from the distal end surface of the door trim panel.

5. The vehicle sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first air leak stopper includes a bulb-shaped cross section.

6. The vehicle sealing assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second air leak stopper includes a lip-shaped cross section.

7. The vehicle sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first air leak stopper is made of a thermoplastic compound material.

8. The vehicle sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal end surface of the door trim panel is a surface that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the top portion of the inner frame panel.

9. The vehicle sealing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first air leak stopper extending between the distal end surface of the door trim panel and the beltline seal diverts the flow of air from the door cavity when the first air leak stopper defines a deformed state.

10. The vehicle sealing assembly of claim 9 , wherein the deformed state of the first air leak stopper is defined when a downward force is placed on the door trim panel proximate the first air leak stopper.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Walawender Chester Stanislaus
• Hafiani Fouad
• Laczay Stephen
• Reck Sheri

Classifications

• B60J5/0418

  Water or sound barrier, e.g. watershields or seals between dry/wet compartment, sound or vibration dampers · CPC title

• B60J10/32

  using integral U-shaped retainers · CPC title

• B60J10/75 Primary

  for sealing the lower part of the panes · CPC title

• B60J10/27

  having projections, grooves or channels in the longitudinal direction (for separately inserted fastening means, e.g. beads or strips, B60J10/36) · CPC title

• B60J10/74

  for sliding window panes, e.g. sash guides · CPC title