Window Molding for Automobile

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a window molding for an automobile adapted to be mounted in an endless manner in the space defined between the outer periphery of the rear window glass and the inner periphery of the rear window opening in the body of the automobile so as to garnish and seal the space.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional window molding adapted to be mounted on the outer periphery of the rear window glass of an automobile is comprised of two kinds of molded parts, that is, a first molded part which is mounted on the upper portion and the opposite side portions of the rear window glass and a second molded part which is mounted on the lower portion of the rear window glass. This construction is used so that the trunk panel is capable of being upwardly opened in the vicinity of the lower portion of the rear window glass.

The first molded part has a structure such that it can be fitted on the outer periphery of the rear window glass, and the outer edge of the garnish or trim portion of the first molding part is adapted to elastically abut against and sealingly contact the roof panel of the automobile. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the second molded part M', which is mounted on the lower portion of the rear window glass G, is bonded over a wide area to both the rear window glass G and the lower panel 1 of the automobile, so that the lower portion of the rear window glass G and the peripheral area therebelow are concealed by the second molding part M'.

The construction of the conventional automobile rear window molding has the following shortcomings.

(1) The molding consists of two parts having different cross-sectional shapes, and the two parts are connected together at two joint portions. The joint portions usually are provided on opposite sides of the lower portion of the rear window glass. Accordingly, these joint portions detract from the appearance of the automobile;

(2) Because the cross-sectional shapes of the two molded parts are widely different from each other, large steps and gaps are present at each joint portion. Accordingly, such large steps and gaps result in accumulation of dirt and/or generation of noise due to rapid changes in air flow therepast during running of the automobile;

(3) Because it is necessary to form two kinds of molded parts having widely different cross-sectional shapes, different molding dies and associated equipment are required for molding the two kinds of molded parts, resulting in an increase in the manufacturing cost; and

(4) Because the two kinds of molded parts are connected together at the two joint portions, and the cross-sectional shapes of the molding parts are widely different, the number of mounting steps required for mounting the molded parts to the roof panel and the lower panel of the automobile is increased.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome the above problems in the conventional rear window moldings and simultaneously ensure a smooth opening and closing operation of the trunk of the automobile by employing a single molding for trimming the entirety of the outer periphery of the rear window glass.

According to the present invention, for achieving the above object, there is provided a window molding for an automobile adapted to be mounted, in an endless fashion, in the space defined between the outer periphery of the rear window glass and the inner periphery of the rear window opening in the body of said automobile so as to trim and seal said space, in which the body of the window molding, which molding is to be mounted on the entirety of the outer periphery of said rear window glass, is formed with a planar cover portion projecting from only the portion of said molded body that is to be mounted on the lower portion of the rear window glass so as to elastically abut against the lower panel forming the rear opening.

The planar cover portion is formed to project from the molded body of the window molding only at the lower portion of the molded body in which the lower portion of the rear window glass is mounted. Accordingly, the entirety of the outer periphery of the rear window glass can be trimmed and bordered by the molding which is formed as a single part having a single joint portion. Further, because the cover portion of the molded body projects to the lower panel of the automobile body and elastically abuts against the lower panel, the lower portion of the rear window glass and the peripheral area thereof can be concealed by the cover portion.

There will now be described a plurality of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automobile C as viewed from the rear end thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line X--X in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the molding M.sub.1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 2 and showing a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 2 and showing a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a prior art window molding;

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 2 and showing a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 3 and showing the fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 2 and showing a fifth embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 3 and showing the fifth embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a rear window glass G is provided in a rear window opening defined by a roof panel 2 and a lower panel 1 (FIG. 2) of the automobile C. An endless molding M.sub.1 is mounted in the space defined between the outer periphery of the rear window glass G and the inner periphery of the above-mentioned rear window opening. The body 10 of the molding M.sub.1 is of one-piece integral construction and it is comprised of a garnish or trim portion 11, a column portion 12 projecting downwardly from the lower surface of the trim portion 11, and a fitting portion 14 projecting inwardly from the lower end of the column portion 12, thus forming a substantially U-shaped configuration in cross-section. A fitting groove or channel 17 is provided on an inner periphery of the molded body 10 by the above-mentioned U-shaped configuration. The channel 17 is continuous along the entire length of molding M.sub.1 so that the molding will form a continuous border on the perimeter of rear window glass G. As best shown in FIG. 3, at only the lower portion of the molded body 10, that is, the portion that is to be fitted on the lower edge portion of the rear window glass G, the molded body 10 is integrally formed with a substantially planar cover portion 13 which projects away from the window glass G and toward the lower panel 1 and elastically abuts against the same (FIG. 2). The outer periphery of the rear window glass G is fitted in the fitting groove 17 of the molded body 10, so that the molding M.sub.1 is mounted on and borders the entirety of the outer periphery of the rear window glass G. A thin metal reinforcing sheet 15 is embedded in the column portion 12.

Because the cover portion 13 projects from the lower portion of the molded body 10 that is mounted on the lower edge portion of the rear window glass G, the cross-sectional shape of the molding M.sub.1 does not change greatly, as a whole.

A space 3 is defined between the roof panel 2 and the portion of the outer periphery of the rear window glass G, which space extends along the upper portion and the opposite side portions of the rear window glass. The molding M.sub.1 is mounted in the space 3 so as to seal and trim the upper edge portion and side edge portions of the periphery of the space 3 in such a manner that the periphery of the trim portion 11 elastically abuts against the roof panel 2.

On the other hand, a space 5 is defined between the lower portion of the rear window glass G and a trunk panel 4. However, as the trunk panel 4 is adapted to be upwardly opened, the space 5 cannot be concealed or covered by the trim portion 11 of the molding M.sub.1. To cope with this, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the planar cover portion 13 is formed to project from the vicinity of the lower end of the column portion 12 of the molding body 10 to the lower panel 1 and to elastically abut against the lower panel 1. With this construction, the lower portion of the rear window glass G and the peripheral area thereof can be concealed by the cover portion 13, with the space 5 simultaneously permitting the movement of the trunk panel 4 defined.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 6 designates an adhesive for fixing the rear window glass G to the lower panel 1 and the roof panel 2, and reference numeral 7 designates a rubber dam for preventing the adhesive 6 from flowing away.

A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, an auxiliary panel la having an upstanding wall is provided on the lower panel 1. An elastic lip 26 projects outwardly from the lower end of the column portion 22 of the molding M.sub.2. The lip 26 elastically abuts against the upstanding wall of the auxiliary panel 1a with a large elastic deformation. With this construction, until the adhesive 6 is hardened, the molding M.sub.2 is prevented from disengaging from the rear window glass G by the reaction force of the elastic lip 26. Further, the cover portion 23 projects outwardly from the vicinity of the upper end of the column portion 22 so as to conceal the auxiliary panel 1a and elastically abut against the lower panel 1. In FIG. 4, reference numerals 20, 21 and 24 designate the molding body, the trim portion and the fitting portion of the molding M.sub.2, respectively.

A third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 5, an elastic lip 36 projects outwardly from the lower end of the column portion 32 of the molding M.sub.3, and a cover portion 33 is integrally formed so as to extend from the elastic lip 36 to the lower panel 1. Further, another elastic lip 34 is formed to project inwardly from the lower end of the column portion 32, so that the outer periphery of the rear window glass G is held by and between the elastic lip 34 and the trim portion 31 of the molding M.sub.3. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 30 designates the molded body of the molding M.sub.3.

A fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The molded body 40 is further formed with a seal portion 43 which projects outwardly from the upper trim portion 41. The seal portion 43 is adapted to sealingly engage the panel 2 along the upper edge portion and the two opposite side edge portions of the rear window glass G. However, the seal portion 43 is not present on the lower edge portion of the molded body 40. The planar cover portion 44 projects from the vicinity of the lower end of the column portion 42 of the molded body 40 to the lower panel 1 and elastically abuts against the lower panel 1. The seal portion 43 is omitted at only the lower portion of the molded body, that is, the portion that has the planar cover portion 44.

Reference numbers 45, 46 and 47 identify the fitting portion, the thin metal reinforcing sheet and the fitting groove, respectively.

With this construction, the lower portion of the rear window glass G and the peripheral area thereof can be concealed by the cover portion 44 with the space 5 permitting the movement of the trunk panel 4. At the same time, the space 5 defined between the trim portion 41 and the trunk panel is widened to thereby ensure smooth opening and closing operation of the trunk panel 4.

A fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The molded body 50 is further provided with a lower, outwardly projecting flange 53 which projects outwardly from the lower portion of the column 52. The flange bent into a substantially L-shaped configuration and 53 sealingly engages the upright wall portion of the panel 2, along the upper edge portion and the two opposite side edge portions of the rear window glass G. However the flange 53 is not present on the lower edge portion of the molded body 50. The planar cover portion 54 projects from the vicinity of the upper end of the column portion 52 of the molded body 50 to the lower panel 1 and elastically abuts against the lower panel 1. The flange 53 is omitted only at the lower portion of the molded body, that is, the portion that has the planar cover portion 54.

With this construction, the L-shaped flange 53 and the opposing portion of the column 52 define an upwardly opening channel 56 in which rain can be collected. The flange 53 need not necessarily be provided at the lower end of column 52, but rather, it can be provided at any suitable vertical position along the column 52 so long as the channel 56 is formed. Thus, rain that falls on panel 2 can flow into channel 56, travel therealong to the lower portion of the window opening and then can flow onto the panel 1. Also, the space 5 between the trunk panel 5 and the planar flange portion 54 can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the planar cover portion 14, 24, etc. is formed to project from the molded body so as to elastically abut against the lower panel only at the lower portion of the molded body. Accordingly, the molded body has no large change in cross-sectional shape considered as a whole. Further, the entirety of the outer periphery of the rear window glass can be trimmed by a single molding having a single joint portion, and no large steps and gaps are created at the joint portion. Therefore, the appearance of the molding mounted on the rear window glass can be improved.

As the entirety of the outer periphery of the rear window glass can be trimmed by a single molding, the number of molding dies and associated equipment can be reduced to thereby reduce the manufacturing cost for the molding. Moreover, because only a single joint portion of the molding is needed, the number of steps involved in mounting the molding to the roof panel and the lower panel of the automobile is reduced.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.