OUTER DOOR HANDLE GASKET FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES
A gasket is used for sealing an interface between an outer surface of a door and a door handle of an automotive vehicle. The gasket includes opposite inner and outer surfaces, wherein the inner surface of the gasket faces the door and the outer surface of the gasket faces the handle. The gasket also includes a lip that protrudes outwardly relative to the outer surface of the gasket and extends longitudinally along an edge of the gasket to sealingly engage the handle. The lip is embossed so that it is recessed relative to the inner surface of the gasket to accommodate compression of the lip as the handle is displaced toward the door. A flattened portion extends from an end of the lip to dampen noise due to impact between the handle and a door outer panel of the door.
The invention relates to a gasket for an outer door handle of an automotive vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a gasket having embossments that minimize noise associated with wind and the outer door handle impact with a door panel of the door of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA vehicle door typically includes a pivoting door handle for actuating a lock or latch mechanism that retains the door to the vehicle frame. It is known in the art to provide a gasket between the handle and related bezels and the door panel to prevent water from passing there-between. It remains desirable, however, to provide an improved gasket design that minimizes noise due to wind passing over the handle and door panel and due to an impact between the handle and the door panel as the handle is released.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of the invention, a gasket is provided for sealing an interface between an outer surface of a door and a door handle of an automotive vehicle. The gasket includes opposite inner and outer surfaces, wherein the inner surface faces the door and the outer surface faces tie handle. The gasket also includes a lip that protrudes outwardly relative to the outer surface of the gasket to sealingly engage the handle. The lip is embossed so that it is recessed relative to the inner surface of the gasket to accommodate compression of the lip as the handle is displaced toward the door.
According to another aspect of the invention, a gasket is provided for sealing an interface between an outer surface of a door and a door handle. The gasket includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a lip and a flattened portion. The inner surface faces the door. The outer surface faces the handle. The lip extends longitudinally along an edge of the outer surface of the gasket to sealingly engage the handle. The flattened portion extends from an end of the lip to dampen noise due to contact between the handle and the outside surface of the door.
Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to
Referring to
Lips 38, 40 extends along opposite respective sides of the first gasket 30 to form a longitudinally extending seal with the bezel 18 and handle 12. The lips 38, 40 are embossed, so as to be raised relative to the outer surface 36 and recessed relative to the inner surface 46. Each lip 38, 40 has a flattened portion 42, 44 that contacts the distal end 16 of the handle 12 in the unreleased position. Alternatively, the flattened portions may be spaced apart from the lips, instead than being a portion thereof.
While uncompressed, the lips 38, 40 protrude outwardly from the outer surface 36 of the first gasket 30. The bezel 18 is assembled to the door 10 with screws or bolts and the gasket 30 is compressed between the bezel 18 and an outside surface 20 of tie door outer panel 11. The lips 38, 40 are displaced toward the door 10 due to contact with the bezel 18. The recesses along the lips 38, 40 on the inner surface 46 of the gasket 30 accommodates the displacement of the lips 38, 40 toward the door 10. Contact between the bezel 18 and the lips 38, 40 creates the longitudinally seal that prevents liquid or wind from passing there-between. Further, the use of lips 38, 40 allows the first gasket 30 to be hidden beneath the handle 12 in the unreleased position and the bezel 18.
In
In
While uncompressed, the lips 38′, 40′ protrude outwardly from the outer surface 36′ of the second gasket 30′. The handle 12 is assembled to the door 10 for pivotal movement between the unreleased and released position. As shown in
The gaskets 30, 30′ may be molded from rubber. Alternatively, the gaskets 30, 30′ may be formed from other suitable elastomeric or elastically flexible materials and processes known by those having ordinary skill in the art.
The invention has been described in an illustrative maimer. It is, therefore, to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the lips are substantially straight to engage corresponding edges or surfaces of the bezel. It should be readily appreciated, however, that the lips may be curved or otherwise shaped to correspond with the shape of the bezel and/or handle. As another example, the gaskets may be coupled to the bezel and/or handle as a pre-assembly and held in place along the door when the bezel and/or handle are fixedly secured to the door. Thus, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
Claims
1. A gasket for sealing an interface between an outer surface of a door and a door handle of an automotive vehicle, said gasket comprising:
- an inner surface that faces the door;
- an outer surface that faces the door handle; and
- a lip that protrudes outwardly relative to the outer surface of the gasket to sealingly engage the door handle, the lip being embossed so that it is recessed relative to the inner surface of the gasket to accommodate compression of the lip as the door handle is displaced toward the door.
2. A gasket as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gasket includes a pair of lips that are positioned on opposite sides of the gasket to engage corresponding opposite sides of the door handle.
3. A gasket as set forth in claim 2, wherein each lip extends longitudinally along the opposite sides of the gasket to form a longitudinally extending seal between the door and the handle.
4. A gasket as set forth in claim 3 including an opening disposed between the pair of lips.
5. A gasket as set forth i claim 4 including hooked fasteners formed along opposite edges of the opening.
6. A gasket as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gasket includes a flattened portion that protrudes outwardly relative to the outer surface of the gasket to dampen noise due to contact between the door handle and the outer surface of the door.
7. A gasket as set forth in claim 6, wherein the flattened portion is embossed and recessed relative to the inner surface of the gasket to accommodate displacement of the flattened portion due to contact with the door handle.
8. A gasket as set forth in claim 7, wherein the flattened portion is wider than the lip.
9. A gasket as set forth in claim 8, wherein the flattened portion forms a portion of the lip.
10. A gasket for sealing-an interface between an outer surface of a door and a door handle of an automotive vehicle, said gasket comprising:
- an inner surface that faces the door;
- an outer surface that faces the door handle;
- a lip that extends longitudinally along an edge of the outer surface of tie gasket to sealingly engage the door handle; and
- a flattened portion extending from an end of the lip to dampen noise due to contact between the door handle and the outer surface of the door.
11. A gasket as set forth in claim 10, wherein both the lip and the flattened portion are embossed and protrude relative to the outer surface of the gasket to form a seal with the door handle.
12. A gasket as set forth in claim 11, wherein both the lip and the flattened portion are recessed relative to the inner surface of the gasket to accommodate displacement of the lip as the door handle is displaced toward the door.
13. A gasket as set forth in claim 10, wherein the flattened portion is wider than the lip.
14. A gasket as set forth in claim 13, wherein the flattened portion forms a portion of the lip.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 19, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 21, 2008
Inventors: Eric M. Botten (Southgate, MI), Emilko Okuma (Novi, MI), Sadayuki Makino (Nagoya-shi), Norio Konomoto (Nagoya-shi), Todd M. Remtema (Milford, MI), Brett A. Campbell (Ann Arbor, MI)
Application Number: 11/676,409
International Classification: F16J 15/06 (20060101);