Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to a sealing element, in particular to a sealing element for sealing a hole in a plate to be sealed.

Background Art

[0002] When manufacturing a motor vehicle body, holes are created on the plates of the body structure that need to be closed to prevent dust or water from entering. Sealing elements are used to insert into these holes and form a seal with the plate to be sealed. In some cases, the sealing element also needs to form a connection structure between additional components and the plate to be sealed by other fasteners.

Summary

[0003] At least one object of the present application is to provide a sealing element for sealing a hole in a plate to be sealed, including: a stem portion having an axis, wherein the stem portion has a top and a bottom axially; a lip connected to the top of the stem portion and formed extending from the top portion radially away from the axis; and a sealing portion around the stem portion and molded by an injection molding process at the bottom of the stem portion and movable to the top of the stem portion; wherein the sealing portion is configured such that when the sealing element seals a hole in the plate to be sealed, the sealing portion is sandwiched between the lip and an upper surface of the plate to be sealed so as to seal the hole in the plate to be sealed by an elastic deformation of the sealing portion in an axial direction.

[0004] According to the above, the sealing portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, and the stem portion and the lip are made of a plastic material.

[0005] According to the above, the bottom of the stem portion has at least one hanging table protruding radially away from the axis, the sealing portion being supported on the at least one hanging table. [0006] According to the above, the sealing portion includes an annular groove, which is a circle disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the sealing portion, and the groove depth of the annular groove is provided to facilitate axial deformation of the sealing portion.

[0007] According to the above, the sealing portion is not radially larger in size than the lip so that the sealing portion can be received under the lip when the sealing portion is moved to the top of the stem portion.

[0008] According to the above, the stem portion has a channel extending along the axis, and the lip has a receiving port in communication with the channel.

[0009] According to the above, the sealing element further includes at least one pair of resilient arms disposed between the top and the bottom of the stem portion and extending from the stem portion away from the outer surface of the stem portion to form a free end, wherein a top surface of the resilient arm is axially spaced a distance from the lip so that the sealing portion can be received between the top surface of the resilient arm and the lip when the sealing portion is moved to the top of the stem portion.

[0010] According to the above, the sealing portion has an aperture extending along the axis, and the size of the aperture mates with the stem portion so that the aperture wall of the aperture can partially contact the outer surface of the stem portion.

[0011] According to the above, the aperture wall of the aperture of the sealing portion has at least one pair of notches formed recessed from the aperture wall in a direction away from the axis and disposed at a position corresponding to the at least one pair of resilient arms.

[0012] According to the above, the sealing element is configured to abut the top surface of the at least one pair of resilient arms against a lower surface of the plate to be sealed when the sealing element seals a hole in the plate to be sealed.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0013] Figures 1 A and IB are perspective views of a sealing element according to the present application at two perspectives.

[0014] Figure 2A is a perspective view of a connection portion of the sealing element shown in Figure 1 A. [0015] Figure 2B is a bottom view of the connection portion shown in Figure 2A.

[0016] Figure 2C is a cross-sectional view of the connection portion shown in Figure 2B along the A-A line.

[0017] Figure 3 A is a perspective view of a sealing portion of the sealing element shown in Figure 1A.

[0018] Figure 3B is a front view of the sealing portion shown in Figure 3 A.

[0019] Figure 3C is a top view of the sealing portion shown in Figure 3A.

[0020] Figures 4A and 4B are a perspective view and an axial cross-sectional view of the sealing element shown in Figure 1 A in an injection molded state.

[0021] Figures 5A and 5B are a perspective view and an axial cross-sectional view of the sealing element shown in Figure 1 A in an assembled state.

[0022] Figures 6A and 6B illustrate the process that the sealing element shown in Figure 1 A seals a hole in a plate to be sealed.

Description of Embodiments

[0023] Various specific embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the attached drawings that form a part of the present specification. It should be understood that while terms denoting orientation, such as “front,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “inside,” “outside,” etc., are used in the present application to describe various exemplary structural parts and elements of the present application, these terms are used herein for convenience of illustration only and are determined based on the exemplary orientations shown in the attached drawings. Since the embodiments disclosed in the present application may be disposed in different orientations, these terms denoting orientation are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting.

[0024] Figures 1A to IB are structural schematic diagrams of a sealing element 100 according to the present application for illustrating a general structure of the sealing element 100, where Figure 1 A shows a perspective view of the sealing element 100 viewed from top to bottom and Figure IB shows a perspective view of the sealing element 100 viewed from bottom to top. As shown in Figures 1A and IB, the sealing element 100 is generally in an axisymmetric shape with an axis x. For ease of description below, the direction along axis x is defined as the axial direction of the sealing element 100, the direction about axis x is defined as the circumferential direction of the sealing element 100, and the direction perpendicular to axis x is defined as the radial direction of the sealing element 100.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1A and IB, the sealing element 100 includes a connection portion 150 and a sealing portion 108, the connection portion 150 including a lip 101 and a stem portion 105 having a top 107 and a bottom 109, the lip 101 being connected above the top 107 of the stem portion 105, and the sealing portion 108 being movably connected to the bottom 109 of the stem portion 105. When the sealing portion 108 is subjected to upward thrust, the sealing portion 108 is movable from the bottom 109 to the top 107 of the stem portion 105. After the sealing portion 108 is moved to the top 107 of the stem portion 105, the sealing element 100 is able to seal a hole 641 on a plate to be sealed 640 by an elastic deformation of the sealing portion 108 in the axial direction. In the state shown in Figures 1A and IB, the sealing portion 108 is connected to the bottom 109 of the stem portion 105. In the state shown in Figures 5 A and 5B, the sealing portion 108 is connected to the top 107 of the stem portion 105, and in the state shown in Figure 6B, the sealing element 100 seals the hole 641 on the plate to be sealed 640.

[0026] In the present application, the sealing portion 108 is molded on the stem portion 105 by an injection molding process. However, it is not fixedly connected with the stem portion 105, but is capable of moving relative to the stem portion 105, for example, from the bottom 109 of the stem portion 105 to the top 107 of the stem portion 105. As one example, the sealing portion 108 of the present application is made of a TPE material (i.e., thermoplastic elastomer material) and the connection portion 150 is made of a plastic material (e.g., nylon 66). In the present embodiment, the injection molding process is a secondary molding process (i.e., overmolding process), that is, the connection portion 150 is first molded, and then the sealing portion 108 is molded onto the bottom 109 of the stem portion 105 by an insert injection molding process. Moreover, the profile of the hole inside the sealing portion 108 does not exactly match the outer profile of the stem portion 105. As such, the sealing portion 108 can be connected together with the connection portion 150 by an injection molding process without having an excessively strong viscosity such that the sealing portion 108 cannot move. [0027] As such, the sealing element 100 has an injection molded state in which the sealing portion 108 is at the bottom 109 of the stem portion 105, and an assembled state in which the sealing portion 108 moves to the top 107 of the stem portion 105. In the assembled state, the sealing element 100 may be used to seal the hole 641 on the plate to be sealed 640. This will be described in detail in Figures 4A to 4B, 5A to 5B, and 6A to 6B.

[0028] In particular, the lip 101 is formed extending radially away from the axis x from the top edge of the stem portion 105. As one example, the lip 101 is tilted slightly towards the bottom 109 to form a generally umbrella shape. The radial size of the lip 101 is approximately the same as the radial size of the sealing portion 108 such that when the sealing portion 108 is moved to the top 107 of the stem portion 105, the sealing portion 108 is received below the lip 101 and within the contour range of the lip 101. A receiving port 102 is provided in the middle of the lip 101, and an axially extending channel 204 is provided in the stem portion 105 (see Figure 2C). The receiving port 102 is in communication with the channel 204 to jointly receive other fasteners (such as fastening pins and bolts), thereby connecting other components to the sealing element 100.

[0029] The shape of an outer surface 110 of the stem portion 105 matches the shape of the hole 641 (see Figure 6A) on the plate to be sealed 640. For example, the hole 641 is a square hole, and the stem portion 105 is generally prismatic in shape, so that when the sealing portion 108 is moved relative to the stem portion 105, undesirable rotation is less likely to occur. At least one hanging table 106 is provided on the bottom 109 of the stem portion 105 and at least one pair of resilient arms 103 is provided between the top 107 and the bottom 109 of the stem portion 105. When the sealing portion 108 is connected to the bottom 109 of the stem portion 105, the sealing portion 108 may be supported on the hanging table 106. When the sealing portion 108 is moved to the top 107 of the stem portion 105, the sealing portion 108 is supported on the resilient arm 103 and received below the lip 101. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that according to the shape of the hole 641 on the plate to be sealed 640, the stem portion 105 may also be other shapes as long as the movement of the sealing portion 108 between the top 107 and the bottom 109 of the stem portion 105 is not affected. The hanging table 106 and the resilient arm 103 may also be set to a desired quantity, without affecting the purpose of the present application. More specific structures of the stem portion 105 will be illustrated with reference to Figures 2 A to 2C.

[0030] The sealing portion 108 is generally donut-shaped with a radially central portion having an aperture 331 (see Figure 3 A) axially through the sealing portion 108, and the shape of the aperture 331 partially matches the shape of the outer surface 110 of the stem portion 105 to be connected to the stem portion 105 through the aperture 331. The central portion of the sealing portion 108 in the axial direction has an annular groove 111 extending circumferentially, and the annular groove I l l is provided one turn along the outer peripheral surface of the sealing portion 108. When the bottom of the sealing portion 108 is subjected to an upward pressing force, the annular groove 111 can facilitate elastic deformation of the sealing portion 108 in the axial direction.

[0031] Figures 2A to 2C show the specific structure of the connection portion 150 of the seal 100, where Figure 2A shows a perspective view of the connection portion 150, Figure 2B shows a bottom view of the connection portion 150, and Figure 2C shows a cross-sectional view of the connection portion 150 along the A-A line. As shown in Figures 2A to 2C, the stem portion 105 is a four prism shape that includes four prism angles 225 and four prism faces 226. Each prism face 226A is provided with a resilient arm 103 extending outwardly from the outer surface 110 of the stem portion 105 away from the outer surface 110. Each resilient arm 103 forms a sharp angle with a corresponding prism face 226 to enable the resilient arm 103 to have some elasticity. That is, each resilient arm 103 exceeds the outer surface 110 of the stem portion 105. As one example, the stem portion 105 also includes four recesses 223 extending from the top 107 to the bottom 109, each recess 223 disposed on one prism face 226, and each recess 223 having a cross section of a trapezoid with two opposing sidewalls. Each resilient arm 103 has a connecting end 221 and a free end 222, and the connecting end 221 is connected to a sidewall of a corresponding recess 223, extending from the connecting end 221 towards the other sidewall of the recess 223 and oblique to the direction of extension of the recess 223 to form the free end 222. As such, when the free end 222 is subjected to pressure towards the recess 223, the resilient arm 103 can undergo elastic deformation to move the free end 222 towards the recess 223 so that the resilient arm 103 no longer protrudes out of the range of the outer surface 110 of the stem portion 105, but retracts into the recess 223. [0032] With further reference to Figure 2C, the top surface 227 of the resilient arm 103 is generally horizontally planar for supporting the sealing portion 108 or supporting the plate to be sealed 640 (see Figure 6B). When the sealing portion 108 is moved to the top 107 of the stem portion 105, the sealing portion 108 can be sandwiched between the lip 101 and the top surface 227. Moreover, when the seal 100 is inserted into the hole 641 of the plate to be sealed 640, the top surface 227 is able to abut against the lower surface of the plate to be sealed 640 so that the resilient arm 103 and the lip 101 collectively hold the sealing element 100 and the plate to be sealed 640 in place (see Figure 6B). The bottom of the resilient arm 103 is inclined to the top surface 227 gradually in the direction from the connecting end 221 to the free end 222. This facilitates elastic deformation of the sealing portion 108 as it moves upwardly past the resilient arm 103.

[0033] A hanging table 106 is provided on each prism angle 225 of the bottom 109 of the stem portion 105, and the hanging table 106 is convexly formed radially away from the axis x from the outer surface 110 at prism angle 225 of the stem portion 105. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that since the radial sizes of the stem portion 105 needs to match the hole 641 on the plate to be sealed 640, the size of the hanging table 106 needs to be limited so that the sealing element 100 can be inserted into the hole 641.

[0034] The stem portion 105 also has an axially extending channel 204 that, as an example, does not pass out of the bottom 109 so as to avoid leakage of the sealing element 100 from the channel 204. Depending on particular needs, a structure such as threads may also be provided in the channel 204 to facilitate connection of the sealing element 100 with other fasteners and other components.

[0035] Figures 3 A to 3C illustrate specific structures of the sealing portion 108, where Figure 3 A illustrates a perspective view of the sealing portion 108, Figure 3B illustrates a front view of the sealing portion 108, and Figure 3C illustrates a top view of the sealing portion 108. As shown in Figures 3A to 3C, the outer profile of the sealing portion 108 is generally circular, including an upper seal ring 337 and a lower seal ring 339, which are connected by a support portion 334. When the sealing portion 108 is pressed by the plate to be sealed 640 (see Figure 6B) and axially deformed, the outer edge of the lower seal ring 339 moves towards the upper seal ring 337. The support portion 334 is the site where axial deformation mainly occurs to produce a sealing effect. The strength of the support portion 334 reflects the sealing strength of the sealing portion 108 to a certain extent. In the present embodiment, the radial sizes of the upper seal ring 337 and the lower seal ring 339 are approximately the same, both larger than the radial size of the support portion 334. As such, an annular slot 111 can be formed between the outer edge of the upper and lower seal rings 337, 339 and the outer side of the support portion 334. That is, the groove depth (i.e., radial depth) of the annular groove 111 reflects the radial size of the support portion 334. When the groove depth of the annular groove I l l is relatively small, the radial size of the support portion 334 is relatively large, and the support portion 334 is squeezed and axial deformation is difficult; however, the seal strength of the sealing portion 108 will be higher. When the groove depth of the annular groove I l l is relatively large, the radial size of the support portion 334 is relatively small, and the support portion 334 is more easily squeezed to deform axially; however, the seal strength of the sealing portion 108 will be reduced accordingly. Those skilled in the art can determine the groove depth of the annular groove 111 and radial size of the support portion 334 according to actual needs, such as the pressing force actually required by the sealing element 100 that can undergo axial deformation and the possible water resistance needs. In some embodiments, the top shape of the upper seal ring 337 is generally the same as the inner side of the lip 101 and has a radial size that is slightly smaller than the inner side of the lip 101 so that the upper seal ring 337 is better received under the lip 101.

[0036] The aperture 331 extends axially through upper seal ring 337, the support portion 334, and the lower seal ring 339 from the central portion of the sealing portion 108, and the aperture 331 is generally square. The size of the aperture 331 mates with the size of the outer surface 110 of the stem portion 105 so that when the sealing portion 108 is connected to the stem portion 105 by an injection molding process, a corner 336 of an aperture wall 332 of the square aperture 331 abuts against the prism angle 225 of the stem portion 105, while other portions of the aperture wall 332 are at least partially separated from the stem portion 105, thereby reducing the connection strength after the sealing portion 108 is molded to the stem portion 105, so that the sealing portion 108 can be moved more easily relative to the stem portion 105.

[0037] The aperture wall 332 of the aperture 331 also has a notch 335 for providing a deformation space for the aperture wall 332 as the resilient arm 103 squeezes the aperture wall 322 and for reducing the contact area of the aperture wall 332 with the stem portion 105. The notch 335 is formed from an inclined depression of the aperture wall 332 in a direction away from the axis x. That is, when the sealing portion 108 is connected to the stem portion 105, the notch 335 and the recess 223 are recessed in opposite directions. As a result, the contact area of the aperture wall 332 with the stem portion 105 can be adjusted by adjusting the size of one of the notch 335 and the recess 223. As one example, the position of the notch 335 corresponds to the position of the resilient arm 103, that is, there are also four notches 335, which are respectively provided on four edges 338 of the aperture wall 332. As such, as the sealing portion 108 moves past the resilient arm 103 relative to the stem portion 105, the area near the notch 335 can elastically deform to avoid the resilient arm 103. More specifically, the inclined depressions of the notches 335 are formed from the middle of each edge 338 towards the comer 336, forming a bevel edge 361 and an arc edge 362, the inclined direction of the notches 335 being consistent with the direction of extension of the resilient arm 103 to better avoid the resilient arm 103. As one example, the position of the arc edge 362 generally corresponds to the position of the free end 222 of the resilient arm 103 in the circumferential direction of the sealing element 100.

[0038] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate the mating relationship of the connection portion 150 and the sealing portion 108 when the sealing element 100 is in an injection molded state, with Figure 4A being a perspective view of the sealing element 100 and Figure 4B being an axial cross-sectional view of the sealing element 100. As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, when the sealing portion 108 is injection molded in the stem portion 105 of the connection portion 150, the corners 336 of the aperture 331 of the sealing portion 108 are in contact with the prism angles 225 of the stem portion 105, and the edges 338 of the aperture 331 are separated from the stem portion 105 at least at a place corresponding to the recesses 223 of the stem portion 105. Also, the lower seal ring 339 of the sealing portion 108 is supported on the hanging table 106 to prevent the sealing portion 108 from falling off the stem portion 105.

[0039] Thus, in the sealing element 100 in an injection molded state, the sealing portion 108 is only partially in contact with the stem portion 105 and supports the sealing portion 108 from below by the hanging table 106, enabling the sealing portion 108 to be connected with the stem portion 105 with limited connection strength, thereby moving the sealing portion 108 relative to the stem portion 105 by applying an external force. In some other embodiments, the connection strength may also be further adjusted by adjusting the contact area of the sealing portion 108 with the stem portion 105.

[0040] As the external force pushes the sealing portion 108 upward, the aperture wall 332 of the aperture 331 of the sealing portion 108 contacts the resilient arm 103, and the resilient arm 103 and the aperture wall 332 squeeze against each other, causing the aperture wall 332 to elastically deform, so that the sealing portion 108 can continue to move upward until it reaches the top 107 of the stem portion 105.

[0041] Figures 5 A and 5B illustrate the mating relationship of the connection portion 150 and the sealing portion 108 when the sealing element 100 is in an assembled state, with Figure 5 A being a perspective view of the sealing element 100 and Figure 5B being an axial cross- sectional view of the sealing element 100. As shown in Figures 5 A and 5B, when the sealing portion 108 is moved to the top 107 of the stem portion 105 of the connection portion 150, the upper seal ring 337 is received below the lip 101 and the lower seal ring 339 is supported on the top surface 227 of the resilient arm 103. As such, the sealing portion 108 can be sandwiched between the lip 101 and the resilient arm 103 in a relatively secure state. In this state, the sealing element 100 may be transported or the like.

[0042] Figures 6A and 6B illustrate the process of sealing the hole 641 on the plate to be sealed 640 by the sealing element 100, where Figure 6 A illustrates a perspective view of the sealing element 100 as it aligns with the hole 641 and Figure 6B illustrates an axial cross- sectional view of the sealing element 100 as it seals the hole 641. It is to be noted that only the interference morphology of the plate to be sealed 640 with the sealing portion 108 is shown in Figure 6B, and the elastic deformation of the sealing portion 108 is not specifically shown.

[0043] As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the plate to be sealed 640 has a hole 641 that is substantially square and is substantially the same size as or slightly larger than the size of the stem portion 105 of the sealing element 100; however, the size of the hole 641 is smaller than the sizes of the lip 101 and the sealing portion 108, so the stem portion 105 of the sealing element 100 can be inserted into the hole 641, but the lip 101 and the sealing portion 108 cannot pass through the hole 641. [0044] During insertion of the sealing element 100 into the hole 641 from top to bottom, since the resilient arm 103 exceeds the outer surface 110 of the stem portion 105, the resilient arm 103 is squeezed by the edge of the hole 641, elastically deformed into the recess 223 to retract into the recess 223. After the resilient arm 103 passes through the hole 641, the resilient arm 103 is no longer squeezed by the edge of the hole 641, and returns to a position beyond the stem portion 105, and the top surface 227 of the resilient arm 103 abuts against the lower surface of the plate to be sealed 640.

[0045] In this process, the sealing portion 108 supported on the top surface 227 of the resilient arm 103 is squeezed by the upper surface of the plate to be sealed 640 such that the sealing portion 108 is axially deformed. The lower seal ring 339 moves towards the upper seal ring 337, and the support portion 334 is squeezed and deformed by the plate to be sealed 640 to form a seal structure. This causes the sealing portion 108 to be sandwiched between the lip 101 and the upper surface of the plate to be sealed 640, sealing the hole 641 on the plate to be sealed 640.

[0046] Upon completion of sealing the hole 641 by the sealing element 100, the receiving port 102 and the channel 204 of the connection portion 150 may receive other pin-like fasteners from above the sealing element 100, thereby enabling connection of other components to the plate to be sealed 640.

[0047] In some existing seals, the seal ring needs to be sieved before it can be snared over the stem portion of the respective seal by manual or mechanical apparatus to enable the seal to function as a seal. The process usually requires an additional assembly line and the seal ring needs to be purchased from a third party at a significant cost. Generally, the seal ring connected to the seal by an injection molding process can only be molded on the outer edge of the lip, and the effect of dust and water resistance is limited.

[0048] In the present application, after molding the sealing portion to the stem portion through the injection molding process, the assembly can be completed only after pushing the sealing portion upwards to the top without the need for additional production lines and without the need to purchase the sealing ring from a third party. The assembly process is simple, and the cost is low. In addition, in the present application, the sealing effect is achieved by the elastic deformation of the sealing portion, and the sealing site is closer to the hole of the plate to be sealed. Therefore, the sealing effect is good, and it is not easy to fail.

[0049] Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with examples of the embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or foreseeable now or in the near future, may be apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. In addition, the technical effects and/or technical problems described in the present specification are exemplary and not limiting; therefore, the disclosure in the present specification may be used to solve other technical problems and have other technical effects and/or may solve other technical problems. Therefore, examples of embodiments of the present disclosure as set forth above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is intended to include all known or earlier developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents.

[0050] The present application discloses a seal for sealing a hole in a plate to be sealed, including: a stem portion, a lip, and a sealing portion around the stem portion and molded by an injection molding process at the bottom of the stem portion and movable to the top of the stem portion; wherein the sealing portion is configured such that when the seal seals a hole in the plate to be sealed, the sealing portion is sandwiched between the lip and an upper surface of the plate to be sealed so as to seal the hole in the plate to be sealed by an elastic deformation of the sealing portion in an axial direction. In the present application, after molding the sealing portion on the stem portion by the injection molding process, the assembly can be completed only after pushing the sealing portion up to the top, and the assembly process is not only simple, but also has a low cost. In addition, in the present application, the sealing effect is achieved by the elastic deformation of the sealing portion, and the sealing site is closer to the hole of the plate to be sealed. As a result, the sealing effect is good, and it is not easy to fail.