Vehicle glazing edge seal with embedded stiffener
AssigneeGuardian Industries Corp.
InventorDuane Recker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A glazing edge seal is provided so as to include an embedded stiffener which is embedded in a polymer inclusive base portion of the edge seal. The embedded stiffener is flexible so as to allow the base portion of the edge seal to be easily formed to an appropriate shape, but is rigid enough to maintain that formed shape while adhesive sets and/or cures. In certain example embodiments, the bottom surface of the edge seal is provided with a cut-out portion or cavity for receiving an adhesive(s) between the glazing and a main body of the edge seal, thereby permitting the adhesive to be controlled within a defined area, and/or to a defined thickness, thereby simplifying manufacturing.
Claims22
A vehicle window assembly comprising:
- a substrate or glazing having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
- a polymer inclusive profile adhered to only the interior surface of the substrate or glazing via at least an adhesive, the polymer inclusive profile including a polymer inclusive base portion and an elongated flexible lip portion which extends from the base portion in a manner so as to contact a vehicle window frame;
- the profile including each of:
- (a) a substantially U-shaped and/or V-shaped metal inclusive stiffener embedded in the polymer inclusive base portion of the profile, and (b) an adhesive retaining cut-out or cavity defined in a bottom surface of the profile adjacent the interior surface of the substrate or glazing;
- and
- wherein at least a substantial portion of the adhesive for adhering the profile to the interior surface of the substrate or glazing is provided in the adhesive retaining cut-out or cavity defined in the bottom surface of the profile.
A vehicle window assembly comprising:
- a glass substrate having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
- a polymer inclusive profile adhered to the interior surface of the glass substrate via at least an adhesive, the polymer inclusive profile including a polymer inclusive base portion and an elongated flexible lip portion which extends from the base portion in a manner for contacting a vehicle window frame;
- the profile including each of:
- (a) a stiffener embedded in the polymer inclusive base portion of the profile, and (b) an adhesive retaining cavity defined in a bottom surface of the profile adjacent the interior surface of the substrate;
- and
- wherein at least a substantial portion of the adhesive for adhering the profile to the interior surface of the substrate is provided in the adhesive retaining cavity defined in the bottom surface of the profile.
A vehicle window assembly comprising:
- a glass substrate;
- a polymer inclusive profile adhered to the glass substrate via at least an adhesive, the polymer inclusive profile including a polymer inclusive base portion and an elongated flexible lip portion which extends from the base portion in a manner so as to contact a vehicle window frame;
- and
- the profile including at least one of:
- (a) a stiffener embedded in the polymer inclusive base portion of the profile, and (b) an adhesive retaining cavity defined in a bottom surface of the profile adjacent the interior surface of the substrate.
A polymer inclusive profile for use in a vehicle window assembly, the polymer inclusive profile comprising:
- a polymer inclusive base portion;
- an elongated flexible lip portion which extends from the base portion in a manner suitable for contacting a vehicle window frame;
- a stiffener embedded in the polymer inclusive base portion of the profile;
- and
- an adhesive retaining cavity defined in a bottom surface of the profile to be adjacent an interior surface of a window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.