Multi-functional lock strip for a weatherseal

Abstract

A vehicular weatherseal includes a weatherseal body having a flange engaging channel, a panel contacting member and a lock strip for securing the channel relative to a flange of the vehicle. The lock strip performs at least one of a sealing function with a panel of the vehicle or a trim function and includes a gap closing lip extending generally laterally from the flange engaging channel. The panel contacting member extends from one of the projecting legs for contacting the vehicle panel at a location transverse to the flange engaging channel.

1 . A vehicular weatherseal for a vehicle having a flange and a spaced panel, the vehicular weatherseal comprising: 
 (a) a weatherseal body including (i) a flange engaging channel having a first closed end and a pair of projecting legs sized to receive a portion of the flange, an outer surface of the first closed end including a spreader jaw and (ii) a panel contacting member extending from one of the projecting legs for contacting the spaced panel at a location transverse to the projecting leg; and    (b) a lock strip forming an exposed surface of the flange engaging channel, the lock strip having (i) a locking tab for cooperatively engaging the spreader jaw to secure the flange engaging channel to the flange and (ii) a gap closing lip extending a distance transverse to one of the projecting legs.    
     
     
         2 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the panel contacting member is a trim member.  
     
     
         3 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the panel contacting member is a sealing member.  
     
     
         4 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the panel contacting member includes a glass receiving channel having a second closed end extending from one of the projecting legs and a second leg projecting from the second closed end.  
     
     
         5 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 4 , wherein the gap closing lip includes a panel contacting surface within the glass receiving channel.  
     
     
         6 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the gap closing lip includes a panel contacting surface.  
     
     
         7 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the lock strip is hingedly connected to one of the flange engaging channel and the panel contacting member.  
     
     
         8 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the panel contacting member is a bulb.  
     
     
         9 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the panel contacting member has a cellular structure.  
     
     
         10 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the lock strip is integrally and hingedly connected to the weatherseal body.  
     
     
         11 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the gap closing lip overlies a portion of the panel contacting member.  
     
     
         12 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the gap closing lip forms a sealing surface for contacting the panel.  
     
     
         13 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the gap closing lip is a different material than the locking tab.  
     
     
         14 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the gap closing lip is a trim portion forming an exposed surface of the vehicular weatherseal.  
     
     
         15 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the gap closing lip overlies a portion of the panel contacting member.  
     
     
         16 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing member in one of the projecting legs.  
     
     
         17 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , further comprising a second panel contacting member extending from the flange engaging channel.  
     
     
         18 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the panel contacting member is a static seal.  
     
     
         19 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the panel contacting member is a dynamic seal.  
     
     
         20 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , further comprising a gripping fin extending from one of the projecting legs for contacting the flange.  
     
     
         21 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing member within the locking tab.  
     
     
         22 . The vehicular weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the weatherseal body and the lock strip are recyclable.  
     
     
         23 . A method of forming a vehicular weatherseal, comprising: 
 (a) forming a weatherseal body including (i) a flange engaging channel having a first closed end and a pair of projecting legs sized to receive a portion of the flange, an outer surface of the first closed end including a spreader jaw and (ii) a panel contacting member extending from one of the projecting legs for contacting the spaced panel at a location transverse to the projecting leg; and    (b) forming a lock strip sized to provide an exposed surface of the flange engaging channel, the lock strip having (i) a locking tab for cooperatively engaging the spreader jaw to secure the flange engaging channel to the flange and (ii) a gap closing lip extending a distance transverse to one of the projecting legs.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the panel contacting member as a trim member.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the panel contacting member as a sealing member.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the panel contacting member to include a glass receiving channel having a second closed end extending from one of the projecting legs and a second leg projecting from the second closed end.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising forming the gap closing lip to include a panel contacting surface within the glass receiving channel.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the gap closing lip to include a panel contacting surface.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising hingedly connecting the lock strip and the weatherseal body.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the panel contacting member as a bulb.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the panel contacting member to include a cellular structure.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising integrally and hingedly connecting the lock strip to the weatherseal body.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising sizing the gap closing lip to overlie a portion of the panel contacting member.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the gap closing lip to provide a sealing surface for contacting the panel.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the gap closing lip of a different material than the locking tab.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the gap closing lip as a trim portion defining an exposed surface of the vehicular weatherseal.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising sizing the gap closing lip to overlie a portion of the panel contacting member.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising disposing a reinforcing member in one of the projecting legs.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising extruding the weatherseal body and the lock strip.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the panel contacting member as a static seal.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the panel contacting member as a dynamic seal.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming a gripping fin extending from one of the projecting legs for contacting the flange.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising disposing a reinforcing member within the locking tab.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming the weatherseal body and the lock strip of recyclable material.