Weatherstrip for vehicle roof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9010850-B2
Application number	US-201313803978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Apr 21, 2015
Grant date	Apr 21, 2015

Abstract

A weatherstrip is attached to a peripheral flange of a roof panel for sealing against a peripheral edge portion of a tailgate. The weatherstrip includes a base portion and is mounted to the roof panel by receiving the roof panel flange between an interior section and exterior section of the base portion. A tongue extends from the base portion toward the vehicle body and covers a space between the roof panel and the vehicle body. A generally tubular seal body extends from the base portion toward the peripheral edge portion of the tailgate. The seal body seals against the tailgate to prevent wind noise by closing a gap between a roof panel and tailgate. An arm extends from the base portion and is positioned between the roof panel and the vehicle body and is attached to an underside of the roof panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A weatherstrip for a vehicle roof panel which is mounted to a vehicle body, the weatherstrip is attached to a peripheral flange of the roof panel for sealing against a peripheral edge portion of a tailgate, the weatherstrip comprising:
a base portion having an interior section, and exterior section and an interconnecting section connecting the interior section and the exterior section, the weatherstrip is mounted to the vehicle roof panel by receiving the peripheral flange of the vehicle roof panel between the interior section and exterior section of the base portion;
a tongue connected to and extending from the base portion toward the vehicle body, the tongue covers a space between the vehicle roof panel and the vehicle body;
a generally tubular seal body connected to and extending from the base portion toward the peripheral edge portion of the tailgate, the generally tubular seal body seals against the tailgate closing a gap between the vehicle roof panel and tailgate; and
an arm connected to and extending from the base portion, the arm is positioned between the vehicle roof panel and the vehicle body and is attached to an underside of the vehicle roof panel.

2. The weatherstrip of claim 1 , wherein the arm includes a first portion facing the roof panel and adapted to receive an adhesive for attaching the arm to the underside of the roof panel.

3. The weatherstrip of claim 2 , wherein the arm includes a second portion facing the vehicle body and adapted to receive a spacer for spacing the arm a predetermined distance from the vehicle body.

4. The weatherstrip of claim 3 , wherein the first portion is defined by a channel formed in an upper surface of the arm, and the second portion is defined a platform formed on a lower surface of the arm.

5. The weatherstrip of claim 1 , wherein the arm defines a tear point positioned between an end portion of the arm and the base portion, the tear point allows the base portion together with the generally tubular seal body and tongue to be separated from the weatherstrip and removed from the vehicle roof panel while leaving a portion of the arm of the weatherstrip attached to the vehicle roof panel.

6. The weatherstrip of claim 5 , wherein the tear point is defined by a laterally extending groove provided in a lower surface of the arm.

7. The weatherstrip of claim 1 , wherein the seal body extends away from an upper end of the exterior section of the base portion.

8. The weatherstrip of claim 7 , wherein the tongue extends away from the interconnecting section of the base portion and engages the vehicle body.

9. The weatherstrip of claim 8 , wherein the arm extends away from an upper end of the interior section of the base portion.

10. The weatherstrip of claim 1 , wherein the base portion is U-shaped in cross-section and the peripheral flange of the vehicle roof panel extends downwardly into the base portion.

11. The weatherstrip of claim 1 in combination with the vehicle roof panel and vehicle body, the vehicle body includes a rear roof rail having a flange, and the peripheral flange of the vehicle roof panel which is received in the base portion of the weatherstrip is spaced forwardly from the flange of the rear roof rail.

12. The combination of claim 11 , further including a second weatherstrip connected to the flange of the rear roof rail, the second weatherstrip having a generally tubular seal body for sealing against an underside of the tailgate.

13. A weatherstrip for a vehicle roof panel which is mounted to a vehicle body, the weatherstrip is attached to a peripheral flange of the roof panel for sealing against a peripheral edge portion of a tailgate, the weatherstrip comprising:
a U-shaped base portion having an interior section, and exterior section and an interconnecting section connecting the interior section and the exterior section, the weatherstrip is mounted to the vehicle roof panel by receiving the peripheral flange of the vehicle roof panel between the interior section and exterior section of the U-shaped base portion;
a tongue extending from the interconnecting section of the U-shaped base portion, the tongue closes a gap between the vehicle roof panel and the vehicle body;
a generally tubular seal body extending from the exterior portion of the U-shaped base portion, the generally tubular seal body seals against the peripheral edge portion of the tailgate; and
an arm extending from interior section of the U-shaped base portion, the arm is positioned between the vehicle roof panel and the vehicle body, the arm includes a first portion adapted to receive an adhesive for adhering the arm to an underside of the vehicle roof panel.

14. The weatherstrip of claim 13 , wherein the arm includes a second portion, and further including a spacer received in the second portion for spacing the arm a predetermined distance from the vehicle body.

15. The weatherstrip of claim 13 , wherein the arm includes a laterally extending groove positioned between the first portion of the arm and the U-shaped base portion, the groove defines a tear point which allows the U-shaped base portion together with the generally tubular seal body and tongue to be separated from the weatherstrip and removed from the vehicle roof panel while leaving the arm of the weatherstrip attached to the vehicle roof panel.

16. A seal assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body including a rear roof rail;
a roof panel fixedly attached to the vehicle body, the roof panel includes a downwardly extending peripheral wall;
a tailgate mounted to the vehicle body, a peripheral edge portion of the tailgate is spaced from the peripheral wall of the roof panel; and
a weatherstrip mounted to the wall of the roof panel; the weatherstrip includes:
a U-shaped base portion mounted to the peripheral wall of the roof panel, the U-shaped base portion has an interior section, an exterior section and an interconnecting section connecting the interior section and the exterior section;
a tongue extending from the interconnecting section of the U-shaped base portion, the tongue closes a gap between the roof panel and the vehicle body;
a generally tubular seal body extending from the exterior portion of the U-shaped base portion, the generally tubular seal body seals against the peripheral edge portion of the tailgate; and
an arm extending from the interior section of the U-shaped base portion, the arm is positioned between the roof panel and the vehicle body and is secured to an underside of the roof panel, the arm defines a tear point which allows the U-shaped base portion together with the generally tubular seal body and tongue to be separated from the weatherstrip and removed from the roof panel while leaving the arm of the weatherstrip attached to the roof panel.

17. The seal assembly of claim 16 , further including a spacer positioned between the arm and the rear roof rail for spacing the arm a predetermined distance from the rear roof rail.

18. The seal assembly of claim 16 , wherein the arm includes a channel adapted to receive an adhesive for attaching the arm to the underside of the roof panel.

19. The seal assembly of claim 16 , wherein the rear roof rail including a flange located rearwardly of the peripheral edge portion of the tailgate, and further including a second weatherstrip mounted to the rear roof rail flange, the second weatherstrip includes a seal body for sealing against an underside of the tailgate.

20. The seal assembly of claim 16 , wherein the roof panel is manufactur

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Bach Edward

Classifications

• B60J10/0074

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60J10/0065

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60J10/081

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60J10/0031 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60J10/32 Primary

  using integral U-shaped retainers · CPC title