Abstract: A sealing, trimming or guiding strip 15 for windows of a motor vehicle comprises a loop formed around the fixed quarter light 11 of the vehicle and a further loop formed around the sliding main window 9 of the rear door of the vehicle. This seal comprises an extruded part 19 extending along both loops to provide a pleasing continuous appearance for the exterior of the vehicle: A portion of the extruded material 19 is cut away and replaced by moulded material moulded onto the extruded part 19 for the portion of the strip into which the quarter light 11 is mounted.

Abstract: Frame for a door and/or window, particularly for a transport vehicle, comprising a seal support, and a seal which seals between at least part of a peripheral edge of the door and/or window and the seal support when the door and/or window is or are in the closed position, and which is in the form of an injection-molded element of elastic nature, characterized in that it further comprises an intermediate element which is equipped with the seal molded onto it and which has the first fixing means, and in that the seal support and second fixing means capable of collaborating with the said first fixing means to fix the intermediate element, equipped with the seal molded onto it, to the seal support.

Abstract: A vehicle door has inner and outer panel parts (5, 6) defining the hollow interior (16) of the door which supports a rigid frame (not shown) for a window glass (18) which slides into and out of the hollow interior (16) through a waist gap (20) formed by the upper marginal edges of the panel parts (5, 6). Inner and outer waist seals (22, 24) are mounted on the inner and outer panel parts (5, 6) for sealing against the window glass (18) along the waist gap (20). The outer waist seal (24) comprises flexible material (44), preferably extruded, which defines first and second channels (46, 48) facing in opposite directions. The first channel (46) embracingly grips the marginal edge of the outer panel part (6) to support the waist seal (24) in position. The second channel (48) embracingly grips interlocking legs of a decorative strip arrangement (56). The decorative strip arrangement (56) may comprise two separate parts (56A and 56B) presenting contrasting decorative appearances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for joining the ends of two profile sections (5, 6) such as two sealing, trimming or finishing strips for use in motor vehicle body construction, is shown. The two profile sections (5, 6) are clamped in respective retaining devices (18, 20) and a length of heat-responsive foil-like material (24) is unwound from a roll (22) into a position between the facing ends of the profile sections. Heaters (26-32) carried by a heater unit (34) are then moved into position between the ends of the profile sections (5, 6) and the foil (24). The outermost heaters (26, 30) heat the ends of the profile sections, and the innermost heaters (28, 32) heat the foil. The heaters (26 to 32) are then withdrawn, and the two retaining devices (18, 20) are then moved towards each other so as to move the ends of the two profile sections into contact with opposite sides of the heated foil (24) which thus heat-bonds the ends of the profile sections together.

Abstract: Two profile sections (5,6), such as two sealing, trimming or finishing strips for use in motor vehicle body construction, are joined together end to end by use of a heat-sensitive foil (24) such as made of thermoplastics material. The profile sections (5, 6) are clamped in respective retaining devices (18, 20) and the foil (24) is unwound from a roll (22) into position between the facing ends of the profile sections. Heaters (26, 28) are moved into position for heating the foil (24) and the ends of the profile sections and are then withdrawn. The two retaining devices (18, 20) are then moved towards each other so as to move the ends of the two profile sections into contact with opposite sides of the heated foil (24) which thus heat-bonds the end of the profile sections together.

Abstract: A portable tool for fitting a channel-shaped sealing, trimming or guiding strip onto a mounting flange comprises a gear box having an input shaft rotated by suitable motor and which drives two rollers in contra-rotating directions about respective axes. When the motor is energized to contra-rotate the rollers, the tool is driven along the strip and the rollers force the sides of the channel of the strip into tight frictional contact with the flange. The axis of one of the rollers is fixed in relation to the tool body. The other roller is mounted on a sub-frame so that its axis can pivot about a pivot axis which intersects with the rotation axis of that roller. The tool also includes a third roller for engaging the outside of the inverted base of the channel.

Abstract: A sealing strip, such as for fitting to the frame of a door opening in a motor vehicle body, comprises a longitudinally extending channel-shaped mounting portion incorporating a channel-shaped reinforcing carrier. The hollow tubular longitudinally extending sealing portion is attached to the outside of the mounting portion. When such a strip is bent to follow curves in the door frame, the increased tension in the mounting portion at the curves can cause the sealing portion to move inwardly of the curve so as partially the bridge across the curve. In order to avoid this, the sealing strip, and particularly the mounting portion are longitudinally compressed at positions corresponding to the positions where curves are to be formed in the strip. This local longitudinal compression helps to maintain the sealing portion in its correct attitude.

Abstract: A sealing, trimming or finishing strip, comprises a channel-shaped gripping portion (5) supporting a soft hollow sealing portion (6). The gripping portion (5) comprises extruded material (8) in which is embedded a resilient reinforcement or carrier (10). The strip may be mounted in position on a mounting flange running around an opening in a motor vehicle body by forming it so that the side walls of the gripping portion (5) are initially splayed apart for ease of mounting on the flange, and are then forced together into gripping engagement with the flange by means of a tool which is externally passed along the length of the gripping portion and applies inwardly directed forces to its side walls (10A, 10B) of the carrier are integrally connected to a central part (10C) in the base of the channel by inclined regions (10D, 10E).

Abstract: A force-responsive sensor is disclosed, such as for incorporation in a safety system for detecting an obstruction in a window opening closable by a motorized slidable window pane. The sensor is mounted within a hollow volume in flexible material running alongside the top frame member of the window opening. The sensor comprises an upper flexible and resilient layer supporting a continuous longitudinally extending conductive strip. This upper layer is spaced from a similar layer supporting a continuous longitudinally extending conductive strip, the two layers being separated from each other by insulating spacers spaced at intervals along the length of the sensor. Any obstruction in the window opening is carried upwardly by the rising window glass and applies a force to the flexible material. A ridge in the lower wall of the hollow chamber responds by causing contact between the two conductive strips to produce a warning signal.

Abstract: A sealing strip (6), such as for a vehicle door frame, comprises a gripping part (10) of channel-shape and a tubular sealing part (8). The sealing part (8) is made of material (16, 16A) at least part (16A) of which is verty soft to improve the sealing properties of the strip and to reduce weight. The hollow interior of the sealing part (8) is divided by an interior wall (28). In order to resist partial collapse or wrinkling of the sealing part (8) when the strip (6) is bent to follow a curve in the door frame, the interior wall (28) incorporates reinforcement (30) which may be metal wire or sheet. This is longitudinally compressible but stiff in the perpendicular direction.

Abstract: A safety system, such as for detecting obstructions in a window opening having a motor-slidable window glass (32) and for arresting the window glass in the presence of such an obstruction, comprises a glass-receiving channel (34). The base (48) defines a hollow chamber (60) incorporating a sensor (62). The sensor supports two substantially parallel longitudinally extending force-responsive sensing units (12, 14) each positioned immediately adjacent to a respective one of the side walls (44, 46) of the channel (34). If an obstruction in the window opening is carried upward by the slidable window pane (32), it will apply a force to the distal edge of one or both of the side walls (44, 46) and this force will be transmitted to the respective sensing unit (12, 14). Electrically conductive strips of the relevant sensing unit (12, 14) move into contact to produce an electrical signal which arrests the window glass.

Abstract: A window frame carried on the door of a vehicle is in the form of an aluminum extrusion having a smooth bend in the region where the top of the frame meets the corner between the “B” pillar of the vehicle and the vehicle roof. The window glass has a sharp angle matching this corner. The aluminum extrusion carries flanges directed towards but stopping short of the sharp corner. The sealing and guiding strip assembly comprises a molded part incorporating a separate metal corner piece and defining a window glass receiving channel. The metal corner piece has clips which fit in a channel on the aluminum extrusion. The molded part is concealed beneath extruded strip parts meeting at a miter join at the sharp corner. These strip parts extend away from the corner piece and form integral parts of extruded window glass receiving channels matching the channel in the molded part.