Illuminating weatherseal for vehicular sunroof

Abstract

An illuminating weatherseal can seal a gap between confronting surfaces and illuminate the adjacent environment. The illuminating weatherseal includes a light emitting line extending along a longitudinal dimension of the weatherseal, wherein the light is emitted from the light emitting line along a path non coincident with the longitudinal dimension. A switch can be incorporated into the illuminating weatherseal for selectively actuating the light emitting line.

1 . An automotive weatherseal intermediate a sun roof and an automotive body, the sun roof moveable between an open position and a closed position, the weatherseal comprising: 
 (a) a polymeric elongate body intermediate the sun roof and the automotive body in the closed position of the sunroof, the elongate body attached to one of the sun roof and the automotive body; and    (b) a light line connected to the elongate body.    
     
     
         2 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body includes a sealing portion sealing a gap between the sun roof and the automotive body in the closed position of the sun roof.  
     
     
         3 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the light line generates light.  
     
     
         4 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the light line emits light.  
     
     
         5 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the light line transmits light.  
     
     
         6 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body includes a carrier portion.  
     
     
         7 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 6 , wherein the carrier portion includes a reinforcing member.  
     
     
         8 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcing member is a metal or a thermoplastic.  
     
     
         9 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the light line is one of a fiber optic, a light emitting diode and an incandescent element.  
     
     
         10 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 9 , wherein the fiber optic is one of a glass or a plastic.  
     
     
         11 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the light line includes a side-emitting fiber optic cable.  
     
     
         12 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body includes a trim portion.  
     
     
         13 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch integral with the elongate body.  
     
     
         14 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 13 , wherein the switch is one of a pressure sensitive switch, a capacitive switch and a touch sensitive switch.  
     
     
         15 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 13 , wherein the switch includes a field effect transistor.  
     
     
         16 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 13 , wherein the switch creates a switching signal to control illumination of the light line.  
     
     
         17 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body includes a carrier portion, a trim portion and a sealing portion.  
     
     
         18 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensing electrode embedded in the elongate body.  
     
     
         19 . The automotive weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body includes a seating channel sized to receive a portion of the light line.  
     
     
         20 . A method of illuminating an environment adjacent an automotive sunroof, the method comprising: 
 (a) attaching a polymeric elongate body to one of the sun roof and the automotive body to locate the elongate body intermediate the sunroof and the automotive body, the elongate body including a light line connected to the elongate body; and    (b) controlling illumination of the light line.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising integrally connecting one of a pressure sensitive switch, a capacitive switch and a touch sensitive switch to the elongate body.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising moving the sunroof between an open position and a closed position, and sealing a gap intermediate the sunroof and the automotive body with a portion of the elongate body in the closed position of the sunroof.