Specific Door Or Door Opening Edge Feature Patents (Class 296/146.9)
  • Patent number: 6409251
    Abstract: A decorative window surround sealing system includes a plurality of seals adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body for sealing a movable window panel in a window opening, each of the seals having an exterior surface, at least one fitting on at least one of the plurality of seals, a one piece surround cap having at least one cooperative fitting compatible with at least one fitting on the at least one of the plurality of seals for attaching the surround cap to the at least one fitting, the decorative surround cap covering a substantial portion of the exterior surface of each of the plurality of seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Schlegel Corporation
    Inventors: Randy L. Kaye, Adolfo Enrico Milani
  • Publication number: 20020063440
    Abstract: A passenger door having a self engaging latch for latching the door in a closed position, the door further including a plurality of fixing bolts positioned about the periphery of the door to further secure the door in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Nigel Victor Spurr, Gurbinder S. Kalsi, Richard Watson, Andrew J. Fairey, Gregory Keyes, Axel Fauveau, Sidney Fisher
  • Patent number: 6386619
    Abstract: A retainerless weather strip to be fixed to a door panel of an automobile by a clip, which comprises: a base bottom portion to be attached to the door panel; a hollow seal portion to seal between the door panel and a body panel; and a seal lip portion, wherein the base bottom portion has a cutout-shaped step portion formed at a lower end portion on the automobile exterior side of the base bottom portion, and the weather strip further comprises a thick waterproof sponge member provided on the cutout-shaped step portion, wherein the thick waterproof sponge member has a thickness sufficiently larger than the depth of the cutout-shaped step portion, and has an elasticity such that a portion in which the clip is located and portions in which the clip is not located can be equally elastically contracted when the base bottom portion is fixed to the door panel by the clip so that watertightness is kept between the thick waterproof sponge member and the door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideshi Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 6386618
    Abstract: A vehicle has a body; a side door, mounted on the body, at a side of the vehicle; and a back door, mounted on the body, at a back of the vehicle. The side door and the back door are mounted on the body such that a rear edge of the side door and an outboard edge of the back door are adjacent to each other when the side door and the back door are closed. The invention may also include a seal to seal a gap between the rear edge of the side door and the outboard edge of the back door. The invention may further include a back pillar outer panel recessed from an outer surface of the vehicle. The seal can be mounted on the back pillar outer panel to seal a gap between the rear edge of the side door and the outboard edge of the back door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignees: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc., Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis B. Luckow, Doug Wilson
  • Patent number: 6371549
    Abstract: A tailgate pull handle of automobile adapted to lower a pull handle formed at a tailgate when the tailgate is opened, thereby allowing a short person to have an easy access to the pull handle for closing same, the pull handle comprising an actuating device mounted at an inner lower side or a lower end of the tailgate for moving same toward the ground when the tailgate is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yong-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6367865
    Abstract: A seal for providing a sealed interface between confronting surfaces having a reduced clearance in at least one relative position of the confronting surfaces. The seal is particularly configured for components movable between a first and a second position wherein the components provide relatively low clearances, typically about 6 mm, or less, in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Schlegel Corporation
    Inventor: Marion A. Royse
  • Publication number: 20020038964
    Abstract: A door weather strip with seal lips attached thereto, fitted to a door sash, and provided with a gap of a given magnitude on a vertical plane between edges of respective seal lips of both an extrusion molded part on the side of a roof and an extrusion molded part on the side of a center pillar, a reinforcing rib is provided over the whole length of a seal lip of a molded part, which connects the extrusion molded parts with each other to form a corner section. The reinforcing rib is located on the interior side of an automobile where no elastic contacts with a body panel is being made, thereby preventing the waving from occurring to the molded part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Takashi Yamashita, Masaki Soda
  • Publication number: 20020036414
    Abstract: A sealing structure for forming a seal between a weather strip attached to a door opening portion of a vehicle body, and a periphery of a vehicle door. The weather strip includes a base portion having a generally U-shaped cross-section for attachment to the door opening portion, and a tubular seal portion which expands from an outer side wall of the base portion. A projection is formed in the weather strip so as to project from the outer side wall of the base portion into an interior of the tubular seal portion so as to be spaced from an inner surface of a projecting top of a sealing wall of the tubular seal portion. When the vehicle door is closed, an inside surface of a periphery of a door panel contacts and presses the projecting top of the sealing wall, which faces the projecting end of the projection, while an inside surface of a door frame contacts and presses a side part of the sealing wall apart from the projecting top of the sealing wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Masahiro Nozaki, Kiyotaka Tamaoki, Katsunori Kawai, Hidehiro Ito
  • Patent number: 6354651
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a door wire harness capable of passing through the inside of a door frame without being splashed with water. A door harness is provided from a body side of a vehicle over a door side and reaches to the inside area of a door frame by passing through a first penetration hole provided in the body of the vehicle to a second penetration hole provided in a side panel area of a hinge installation area of the door frame, is pulled out between the door frame and trim cover by passing through a third penetration hole provided in the inner panel area of the door frame. The area of the door harness that extends from the first penetration hole over to the third penetration hole is passed through the inside of consecutive grommets, and joint areas provided in the grommets are connected with the first penetration hole, second penetration hole, and third penetration hole, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Mori
  • Publication number: 20020027377
    Abstract: A weather strip for sealing an opening portion around an opening in a vehicle body against a periphery of a closing member for closing the opening in the vehicle body. The weather strip includes a base portion and a tubular seal portion which projects outwardly from an outer surface of the base portion. The tubular seal portion includes a pair of leg portions which project outwardly from the base portion, extending portions which extend from ends of the leg portions in opposite directions along the outer side wall to have an L-shaped cross-section with the leg portion, and a seal wall for connecting ends of the extending parts into an arc-shaped cross-section. The base portion and the leg portions are composed of a solid material while the seal wall is composed of a sponge material. A boundary between the solid material and sponge material is located in each of the extending portions of the tubular seal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20020027378
    Abstract: A weather strip has a base portion and seal lips. The base portion has a base bottom portion attached to a door frame, side wall portions extending from substantially opposite sides of the base bottom portion, and a bridge portion connecting the opposite side wall portions. A hollow portion is formed by these portions. An exterior-side seal lip is provided to extend from a substantially border portion between the exterior-side side wall portion and the bridge portion. An interior-side seal lip is provided to extend from the bridge portion more interior than the exterior-side seal lip. In the bridge portion, the opposite sides of the root portion of the interior-side seal lip are formed into thin portions respectively. Thus, when the door is closed, even if the gap is narrowed, the interior-side seal lip is bent and the bridge portion is deformed easily in the thin portions so that the repulsion stress is restrained from increasing conspicuously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nozaki
  • Patent number: 6349989
    Abstract: A vibration protected tailgate structure for an automobile constructed to reduce generation of noise occurring in the opening direction of the tailgate, the structure including first and second guide bumpers, respectively, mounted at the tailgate and a body and contacted when the tailgate is closed thereby restricting vibration of the tailgate, the structure comprising: a hitching groove formed on one of the bumpers; and a hitching unit formed on the other bumper for being hitched by the hitching groove when the tailgate is closed thus restricting vibration of the tailgate and is detached from the hitching groove when the tailgate is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yong-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6332641
    Abstract: Double-leafed hinged door type front and rear doors do not have a center pillar in a side opening. In order that one can open and close the front and rear doors independently of each other and in order to protect passengers by absorbing any impact caused by side collision, reinforcing members (10, 11) obtained from high tensile steel by hydroforming are provided near joint surfaces of the front door (2) and rear door (3) provided to the side opening of a car body (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Fumio Okana
  • Patent number: 6331030
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle having a door that has a leading edge with a sloped upper portion and hinges on a straight lower portion, such that the upper portion of the door is subject to fluttering under the forces encountered in use, and a catch assembly disposed between the vehicle and the door on the sloped upper portion near the upper end of the door. The catch assembly is of the type that engages as an incident to coming together as the door is closed, and is disengaged by a predetermined approximate opening force greater than the fluttering forces to be encountered in use. The preferred catch assembly comprises a leaf spring with a detent bend in a free end engageable with a catch member having a ramp for loading the spring and a detent recess into which the bend snaps on closing, and reverse-camming surfaces on the detent and the catch member for disengaging the catch for opening of the door. An important feature is the method of preventing door flutter in the foregoing manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Hehr International
    Inventor: Charles Wayne Geiger
  • Patent number: 6328373
    Abstract: A closure member for a closing an aperture in a vehicle body. The closure member includes a frame structure and a seal member. The frame structure has an upper frame member that defines a window aperture. The seal member is formed onto at least a portion of the frame member and includes a body seal portion and a window seal portion. The body seal portion forms a seal between the vehicle body and at least a portion of the upper frame member. The window seal portion forms a seal between the at least a portion of the upper frame member and a window member that is movable relative to the frame structure. A method for forming a closure member is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: The Budd Company
    Inventors: John P. Pacella, Joseph E. Mrozowski, Earl E. Kansier
  • Publication number: 20010022455
    Abstract: A combination B-pillar molding and belt-line window molding for a motor vehicle door, and method for manufacturing the same. The molding comprises a main body including a window sealing structure and a mounting structure. The sealing structure is formed from a resilient material constructed and arranged to seal a belt-line gap between a motor vehicle door and a motor vehicle window. The mounting structure is constructed and arranged to mount the main body on a belt-line region of the motor vehicle door. The molding further includes a metal cover member having an elongate first portion with a channel configuration The channel configuration of the first portion is flexible outwardly to receive a portion of the main body and flexible inwardly to grippingly engage the portion of the main body in secured relation. The metal cover member has an elongate second portion integrally formed with the first portion and extends laterally from the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Applicant: Decoma International Inc
    Inventors: Roland Mueller, Urs Binder
  • Patent number: 6279987
    Abstract: A weather strip molding for sealing a movable glass panel in an automotive vehicle is provided. The weather strip molding is placed within a window opening having at least two intersecting boundaries along a peripheral edge of the window opening. The weather strip molding is continuous between the first and second boundaries. The weather strip molding includes a retention portion for connecting the weather strip to a rigid structure adjacent to one of the window opening boundaries. The weather strip molding also includes a sealing wing connected with the retention portion having a colored first surface for sealing against the movable glass panel. The color of the sealing first surface can be coordinated with the interior trim of the vehicle as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Hutchinson Sealing Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Keeney, Nathan W. Ellis
  • Patent number: 6260906
    Abstract: Sealing system is disclosed for the roof frame of a motor vehicle having at least one moveable, frameless window. The sealing system has at least one sealing profile section with a profile strip which is reinforced by a reinforcement and is formed of at least one elastomer. The profile strip cooperates with the window in a sealing manner. The reinforcement is provided with the profile strip as a pre-fabricated synthetic material injection molded part in a forming tool at least on one part of its surface. The reinforcement has a substantially U-shaped cross section with a base and limbs extending from the base. The sealing system is formed in a three-dimensional manner and can be fixed to connection parts of the roof frame with attachment elements. The reinforcement and the profile strip are partitioned longitudinally in the region of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Meteor Gummiwerke K. H. Bädge GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hans-Volker Buchholz
  • Patent number: 6247746
    Abstract: An agricultural tractor includes a cab frame having structural support post. The tractor also includes a hinge member having a first end portion which is pivotally coupled to the structural support post of the cab frame, and a second end portion which is opposite the first end portion. The tractor further includes a support arm secured to the second end portion of the hinge member in a substantially horizontal orientation. The support arm has a mounting boss secured thereto. The tractor further includes a window panel having a mounting aperture defined therein. The tractor further includes a fastener that is received through the mounting aperture so as to engage the mounting boss thereby securing the window panel to the support arm. Such a configuration allows for replacement of the window panel in the event of breakage thereof without the need to remove the hinge member from the structural support of the cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Brush
  • Publication number: 20010002760
    Abstract: A door seal interface structure for a motor vehicle space frame includes a longitudinally extending hydroformed tubular rail portion, a hydroformed tubular pillar portion connected at a joint to the rail portion and a transition structure. The rail portion and the pillar portion provide respective surface portions constructed and arranged to sealingly engage a door seal to seal a peripheral portion of a closed vehicle door. The pillar and rail surface portions are angularly related to one another in the vicinity of the joint. The transition structure is mounted on the rail portion and the pillar portion in the vicinity of the joint and provides a transition surface that provides a transition between the pillar and rail surfaces of the pillar and rail portions, the transition surface portion being constructed and arranged to sealingly engage a portion of the door seal to seal the closed vehicle door and thereby provide a door seal-engagable surface in the vicinity of the joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: June 7, 2001
    Inventors: Gianfranco Gabbianelli, Richard D. Ashley
  • Patent number: 6226926
    Abstract: A glass run comprised of at least one molded part. The molded part comprises a channel portion having a bottom portion, side walls, seal lips projecting from the side walls and one or more gutters provided on the surface of the bottom portion for discharging debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Aritake, Hitoshi Omori
  • Patent number: 6213536
    Abstract: A sealing device for at least one frameless window of a motor vehicle includes at least one sealing body with at least one embedded supporting rail, with elastomer profile strands being provided that are formed by areawise sheathing of the supporting rails and which cooperate with the inside and the outside of the window. To improve the sealing action of the sealing device and to make manufacture less expensive, provision is made such that the elastomer profile strands of each sealing body that cooperate with the inside of the window and with the outside of the window have separate supporting rails associated with them, in that both supporting rails are connected with one another at legs that are directed in the same direction and are mounted one on top of the other, and in that the areas of the elastomer profile strands that are in an operating relationship with the window overlap one another areawise in the transverse direction of the vehicle when the sealing bodies are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Dieter Raisch, Friedrich Depfenhart, Dirk Arnold, Wilfried Kalb
  • Patent number: 6189950
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealing structure for a convertible, by which water used for washing, etc. is prevented from invading inside the compartment. In a sealing structure for a convertible, the roof of which is openable at a foldable hood portion 1, the attaching base 5a of weather strip 5 is fitted to a retainer 7 fixed at a link 6, the end portions 8a of elevating and lowering side glass 8 are resiliently engaged in the hollow sealing portion 5b of the weather strip 5 when the hood portion 1 is closed, and the hood sealing portion 10 is resiliently engaged in the hood portion 1 from inside the compartment; another hood sealing portion 15 corresponding to the folding portions X, Y and Z of the hood portion 1 is die-molded at the end portion of the hood sealing portion 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Kawazoe, Hideki Yoshioka, Katsuhisa Ishihara, Yoshihiro Aoi
  • Patent number: 6189951
    Abstract: A structure for positioning weather strips including a roughly L-shaped weather strip having a seal portion resiliently contacting a door formed integrally therewith. The weather strip is inserted into and attached to a sash which is located at a periphery of an opening of a vehicle body. A single garnish is provided in which no insert metal is internally incorporated. The single garnish is fixed at the sash corresponding to a side of the weather strip. A subseal is attached to the sash corresponding to an upper face of the weather strip in such a state where the subseal is in contact with the weather strip, and a clip is provided for fixing the weather strip at the subseal at a more upper position than a fixing position of the garnish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouzo Deguchi
  • Patent number: 6186579
    Abstract: A body shell part for a motor vehicle body having a profile edge that is form-lockingly embedded in an elastic edge profile. The elastic edge profile has an elastically bendable detent nose profile arrangement which is form-lockingly locked onto an adjacent circumferential edge of the structural vehicle body part. A detachable securing arrangement is assigned to the detent nose profile arrangement for blocking the elastically bendable detent nose profile arrangement in its operating position reaching over the circumferential edge of the structural vehicle body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fussnegger, Volker Thoms
  • Patent number: 6170219
    Abstract: A flange of a panel is inserted into an extrusion port of an extrusion molding die through an insertion slit, which opens laterally of the extrusion port, to thereby form a molding space that corresponds to a trim member between the extrusion port and the flange. A material for forming the trim member is extruded forwardly of the extrusion port through the molding space. The die and the flange are moved relative to each other while adjusting the insertion depth of the flange into the extrusion port so that the distance between a reference on the panel and the trim member is maintained at a desired distance. Thus, a trim member is extrusion molded on the edge of the flange of the panel and is mounted thereon simultaneously, thereby accurately mounting the trim member on the in a desired outer shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiko Yada, Takeaki Niwa