Seal structure for removable roof
US5950366A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60J10/82
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A seal structure is provided for a vehicle having a removable roof member. Advantageously, the single integral seal structure seals between a front end of the roof member, an upper edge of a windshield, and a header rail. The seal structure includes a base retainer portion secured to the header rail and a windshield lip portion covering and sealing against the upper edge of the windshield. The windshield lip portion is integrally coupled to the base retainer portion. The seal structure also includes a weatherstrip portion integrally coupled with the windshield lip portion and the base retainer portion for sealably engaging the front end of the roof member. Preferably, the weatherstrip portion includes at least one hollow weatherstrip bulb for sealably engaging the forward end of the roof member. Also preferably, a living hinge portion hingedly couples the weatherstrip portion to the windshield lip portion at the intersection with the base retainer portion such that the weatherstrip portion is rotatable about the living hinge portion for ease of assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.