GB2136038A

GB2136038A - Seal for vehicle sun roof

Info

Publication number: GB2136038A
Application number: GB08305471A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Brian Lievesley
Original assignee: Autoroofs Ltd
Current assignee: Autoroofs Ltd
Priority date: 1983-02-28
Filing date: 1983-02-28
Publication date: 1984-09-12
Also published as: GB2136038B; GB8305471D0

Abstract

A vehicle sun roof has a seal comprising an outer frame (2) and a gasket (11) of resilient material.The frame is provided with a first upwardly open groove (13) with a projecting lip (18), and a second, T-shaped groove (12) in a substantially vertical face (14). The resilient gasket (11) has a tongue (17) adapted to engage over the projecting lip (18) and a T-shaped portion (16) which is engageable in the groove (12). The portion (16) has larger dimensions than the groove (12) so that when forced into the groove it is deformed to engage tightly. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seal for vehicle sun roof This invention relates to improvements in vehicle sun roofs and is particularly concerned with seals for such sun roofs.

A problem with existing sun roofs is that of providing an effective seal to prevent the ingress of moisture and dirt and dust into the vehicle interior when the sun roof panel is closed. The present invention aims to solve this problem.

According to the invention, there is provided a vehicle sun roof having a seal comprising an outer frame adapted to be fitted in the roof of a vehicle and a gasket of resilient material adapted to be fitted to the frame, wherein the frame is provided with a first groove in a face adapted, in use, to be upwardly facing, said groove having a projecting lip, and a second T-shaped groove provided in a face of the frame member which is adapted, in use, to be substantially vertical and wherein the resilient gasket is provided with a first tongue adapted to engage over the projecting lip of said first groove and with a T-shaped portion which is engageable in the T-shaped groove in said frame member, the T-shaped portion of the resilient gasket having larger dimensions than the dimensions of the T-shaped groove whereby, when said resilient material of the gasket is forced into the groove, said material is deformed to tightly engage the surfaces of said groove to form an effective seal.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a vehicle sun roof according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line Il-Il in Fig.

1 in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 3 is a section corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing the manner of fitting the resilient beading to a frame member of the vehicle sun roof.

Referring to the drawings, the vehicle sun roof according to the invention comprises a panel 1 which is hingedly mounted on a frame 2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the frame consists of an upper section 3 which is adapted to fit into and to overlap the edges of an aperture formed in a vehicle roof 5 and a lower section 4 adapted to engage with the upper section 3 and the underside of the vehicle roof 5. The lower section 4 is secured to the upper section 3 by a series of clamp screws 6 and the two frame sections pivot against one another, under the action of the clamp screws, to create a positive clamping action on the vehicle roof.

After the frame 2 has been fitted to the vehicle roof 5, the roof headlining 7 is drawn over the lower section 4 and is fixed thereto by wrapping the edge of the headlining around the inner edge of the section 4 and by pressing a trim strip 8 of resilient material between the upper section 3 and the lower section 4 to hold the headlining in position. The underside of the fitted frame is therefore completely hidden from view and the only visible parts are the hinge assemblies 9 and latch mechanism 10.

Any suitable hinge and latch mechanisms may be used but it is preferred to use the hinge mechanism which forms the subject of British Patent Application No. 8305468 and the latch mechanism which forms the subject of British Patent Application No. 8305469 or 8305470.

A beading or gasket 11 of resilient material which serves as a seal for the panel 1 when said panel is in its closed position is fitted to the upper frame section 3. For this purpose, the upper frame section is provided on its upper face with a pair of channels 12 and 13 disposed respectively in faces 14 and 1 5 of the section which extend at right angles to one another. The beading has a pair of ribs 16 and 17 which are receivable, respectively, in the channels 12 and 13 whereby the beading is securely held in the upper frame section.

In order to fit the beading to the frame section, the rib 17 is first inserted into the channel 13 with the rib engaging over a lip 18 formed in the frame section by the channel 13. The rib 16 is T-shaped and the lower arm of the T as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is first forced into the channel 12, which is likewise T-shaped, so that the lower arm of the T engages in the lower part of the groove 12. This position is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The upper arm of the T-shaped rib 1 6 is now forced through the narrow entrance gap of the groove 12 and up into the upper part of said groove. The engagement of the rib 17 with the lip 18 in the lower groove 13 ensures that the beading is held in place while the upper limb of the rib 16 is being forced into the groove 12.

The dimensions of the T-shaped rib 16 are greater than the dimensions of the groove 12 so that the material of the ribs is deformed and forced tightly against the edges of the groove 12.

Accordingly, a secure and effective seal is provided for the frame.

The resilient beading or gasket 11 may, if desired, be provided on its upper surface with one or more ribs 19 to provide an effective seal for the panel 1 when said panel is in its closed position.

The beading or gasket 11 is preferably made of natural or synthetic rubber but other mateirals having a like resilience to rubber may be employed if desired.

The panel 1 is preferably made of transparent or translucent material but this is not essential and the panel may, if desired, be made of opaque material.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment but modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.

1. A vehicle sun roof having a seal comprising an outer frame adapted to be fitted in the roof of a vehicle and a gasket of resilient material adapted to be fitted to the frame, wherein the frame is provided with a first groove in a first face, said groove having a projecting lip, and with a second,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Seal for vehicle sun roof This invention relates to improvements in vehicle sun roofs and is particularly concerned with seals for such sun roofs. A problem with existing sun roofs is that of providing an effective seal to prevent the ingress of moisture and dirt and dust into the vehicle interior when the sun roof panel is closed. The present invention aims to solve this problem. According to the invention, there is provided a vehicle sun roof having a seal comprising an outer frame adapted to be fitted in the roof of a vehicle and a gasket of resilient material adapted to be fitted to the frame, wherein the frame is provided with a first groove in a face adapted, in use, to be upwardly facing, said groove having a projecting lip, and a second T-shaped groove provided in a face of the frame member which is adapted, in use, to be substantially vertical and wherein the resilient gasket is provided with a first tongue adapted to engage over the projecting lip of said first groove and with a T-shaped portion which is engageable in the T-shaped groove in said frame member, the T-shaped portion of the resilient gasket having larger dimensions than the dimensions of the T-shaped groove whereby, when said resilient material of the gasket is forced into the groove, said material is deformed to tightly engage the surfaces of said groove to form an effective seal. The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a vehicle sun roof according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line Il-Il in Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 3 is a section corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing the manner of fitting the resilient beading to a frame member of the vehicle sun roof. Referring to the drawings, the vehicle sun roof according to the invention comprises a panel 1 which is hingedly mounted on a frame 2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the frame consists of an upper section 3 which is adapted to fit into and to overlap the edges of an aperture formed in a vehicle roof 5 and a lower section 4 adapted to engage with the upper section 3 and the underside of the vehicle roof 5. The lower section 4 is secured to the upper section 3 by a series of clamp screws 6 and the two frame sections pivot against one another, under the action of the clamp screws, to create a positive clamping action on the vehicle roof. After the frame 2 has been fitted to the vehicle roof 5, the roof headlining 7 is drawn over the lower section 4 and is fixed thereto by wrapping the edge of the headlining around the inner edge of the section 4 and by pressing a trim strip 8 of resilient material between the upper section 3 and the lower section 4 to hold the headlining in position. The underside of the fitted frame is therefore completely hidden from view and the only visible parts are the hinge assemblies 9 and latch mechanism 10. Any suitable hinge and latch mechanisms may be used but it is preferred to use the hinge mechanism which forms the subject of British Patent Application No. 8305468 and the latch mechanism which forms the subject of British Patent Application No. 8305469 or 8305470. A beading or gasket 11 of resilient material which serves as a seal for the panel 1 when said panel is in its closed position is fitted to the upper frame section 3. For this purpose, the upper frame section is provided on its upper face with a pair of channels 12 and 13 disposed respectively in faces 14 and 1 5 of the section which extend at right angles to one another. The beading has a pair of ribs 16 and 17 which are receivable, respectively, in the channels 12 and 13 whereby the beading is securely held in the upper frame section. In order to fit the beading to the frame section, the rib 17 is first inserted into the channel 13 with the rib engaging over a lip 18 formed in the frame section by the channel 13. The rib 16 is T-shaped and the lower arm of the T as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is first forced into the channel 12, which is likewise T-shaped, so that the lower arm of the T engages in the lower part of the groove 12. This position is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The upper arm of the T-shaped rib 1 6 is now forced through the narrow entrance gap of the groove 12 and up into the upper part of said groove. The engagement of the rib 17 with the lip 18 in the lower groove 13 ensures that the beading is held in place while the upper limb of the rib 16 is being forced into the groove 12. The dimensions of the T-shaped rib 16 are greater than the dimensions of the groove 12 so that the material of the ribs is deformed and forced tightly against the edges of the groove 12. Accordingly, a secure and effective seal is provided for the frame. The resilient beading or gasket 11 may, if desired, be provided on its upper surface with one or more ribs 19 to provide an effective seal for the panel 1 when said panel is in its closed position. The beading or gasket 11 is preferably made of natural or synthetic rubber but other mateirals having a like resilience to rubber may be employed if desired. The panel 1 is preferably made of transparent or translucent material but this is not essential and the panel may, if desired, be made of opaque material. The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment but modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. CLAIMS

1. A vehicle sun roof having a seal comprising an outer frame adapted to be fitted in the roof of a vehicle and a gasket of resilient material adapted to be fitted to the frame, wherein the frame is provided with a first groove in a first face, said groove having a projecting lip, and with a second, T-shaped, groove in a second face of the frame which is substantially perpendicular to said first face of the frame and wherein the gasket of resilient material is provided with a first tongue adapted to engage over the projecting lip of said first groove and with a T-shaped portion which is engageable in the T-shaped groove in the second face of the frame, the T-shaped portion of the gasket having iarger dimensions than the dimensions of the T-shaped groove whereby, when said resilient material of the gasket is forced into the groove, said material is deformed to tightly engage the surfaces of said groove to form an effective seal.

2. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 1, wherein the said first face of the frame is adapted, in use, to be upwardly facing and wherein the second face of the frame is adapted, in use, to be substantially vertical.

3. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 2, wherein a panel is pivotally mounted on the frame, said panel being movable between open and closed positions and being arranged, when in its closed position, to seat on the gasket of resilient material.

4. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 3, wherein the gasket of resilient material is provided on its upper surface with one or more ribs against which the panel is arranged to be pressed when said panel is in its closed position.

5. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the panel is made of transparent or translucent material.

6. A vehicle sun roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the gasket is made of natural or synthetic rubber.

7. A vehicle sun roof having a seal substantially as described herein with reference-to the drawings.