US 7,458,185 B2
Belt molding structure for motor vehicles
Hirotaka Imaizumi, Kanagawa-ken (Japan); and Junsuke Tanaka, Kanagawa-ken (Japan)
Assigned to Shiroki Corporation, Kanagawa-Ken (Japan); and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd, Kanagawa-Ken (Japan)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/76,519.
Claims priority of application No. 2004-067025 (JP), filed on Mar. 10, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2005/0198908 A1, Sep. 15, 2005
Int. Cl. E06B 7/16 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 49—377  [49/440] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A belt molding structure for motor vehicles, comprising:
a molding body which is attachable to an upper edge of a door panel, said molding body including a resiliently-deformable anti-vibration lip which is integrally formed on an inner surface of said molding body so as to be capable of being in resilient contact with said door panel;
an end cap which is attachable to an end of said molding body, said end cap including an insertion portion which is inserted into said molding body from said end of said molding body;
a lip-escape space, provided inside said molding body so as not to interfere with said insertion portion of said end cap, for allowing at least a portion of said anti-vibration lip to come into said lip-escape space when said anti-vibration lip is deformed; and
a deforming guide surface formed on said end cap in a vicinity of an insertion end of said insertion portion to resiliently deform said anti-vibration lip into said lip-escape space in accordance with a movement of said insertion portion into said molding body when said insertion portion is inserted into said molding body;
a holding surface on said insertion portion for holding said anti-vibration lip, which is deformed by said deforming guide surface, in a deformed state;
said deforming guide surface and said holding surface being aligned in said insertion direction, said deforming guide surface being formed as a cut-out portion having an inclined surface, at said insertion end of said insertion portion of said end cap, so that said inclined surface terminates at said insertion end, and
said deforming guide surface being formed as a recess in the shape of an inner surface of a substantially half truncated-cone cut in half along said insertion direction, the radius of which increases from said insertion end toward an opposite end of said insertion portion in said insertion direction.