US 7,029,060 B1Granted

Roof ditch molding structure

AssigneeNissan Technical Center North America, Inc.

InventorsGary Osterberg, Rob Blanchard

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Abstract

A roof ditch molding structure is provided with a body member having a drainage groove that receives a roof ditch molding which is preferably coupled thereto by a double sided tape formed of thermally cured urethane. The roof ditch molding has a rigid carrier member and a resilient cover member that substantially covers an outer surface of the carrier member. The rigid carrier member has a first transverse free end disposed between first and second vertical portions of the body member, and a second transverse free end disposed between the first transverse free end and the second vertical portion of the body member. The first transverse free end has a step portion extending substantially toward the second vertical portion of the body member. The cover member has first and second lip portions extending from the first and second transverse free ends of the carrier member, respectively, to form seals between the roof ditch molding and the drainage groove.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A roof ditch molding structure comprising:

a body member including first and second vertical portions extending in a generally longitudinal direction in a roof portion of a vehicle and a bottom portion extending between the first and second vertical portions to define a drainage groove therebetween;
and
a roof ditch molding including a pillar molding section that is substantially retained on the drainage groove, the roof ditch molding including
a rigid carrier member extending substantially parallel to the drainage groove of the body member including a first transverse free end disposed between the first and second vertical portions of the body member, and a second transverse free end disposed between the first transverse free end and the second vertical portion of the body member, the first transverse free end having a step portion and extending substantially toward the second vertical portion of the body member, and
a resilient cover member that substantially covers an outer surface of the carrier member, the cover member including first and second lip portions forming seals between the roof ditch molding and the drainage groove, the first and second lip portions extending from the first and second transverse free ends of the carrier member, respectively.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.