The invention also relates to a portable tool for fitting a channel-shaped sealing, trimming or finishing strip into an embracing frictional position on a flange or similar mount around an opening on a motor vehicle body, comprising a tool body, two main rollers mounted side-by-side on the body for rotation about parallel axes, motor means for rotating the rollers in opposite directions, the main rollers defining a gap between them and for exerting a force tending to press the side walls of the channel towards the flange or the like as the rollers rotate and the tool moves along the strip on the mount, and a further roller rotatably mounted on the tool body about an axis perpendicular to the parallel axes of the main rollers and positioned in front of the main rollers in the direction of travel of the tool along the strip and for exerting a force on the outside of the base of the channel tending to press the channel onto the mounting flange or the like.

The invention further relates to a method of fitting a channel- shaped strip into a frictionally embracing position on a mount, comprising the steps of fitting the channel of the strip embracingly over the mount, and applying sideways-directed forces to the outsides of the side walls of the channel by means of two side by side rollers which contra-rotate about parallel axes and through the gap between which the strip passes in contact with the rollers.

Such tools and method are known, for example, from GB-A-2 215 762. In certain applications where the strips are sealing strips to be fitted to a vehicle body, the sealing strip may have a sideways-extending lip such as, for example, a lip known as a cosmetic lip (for embracing the edge of a trim panel of the vehicle body). However, it is found that such a sideways- extending lip has a tendency to become partially folded between the main rollers and to force the tool off the strip. The invention aims to deal with this problem.

According to the invention, therefore, the tool as first set forth above is characterised by a guiding member mounted on the tool body for contacting a sideways extension from the channel of, and forming part of, the strip and applying a guiding force to the sideways extension which guides it between the rollers. According to the invention, also, the tool as secondly set forth above is characterised by a guiding member mounted on the tool body in front of the main rollers in the direction of travel of the tool along the strip and for contacting a cosmetic lip on the outside of the channel of the strip and for applying a guiding force to the cosmetic lip which guides it into the gap between the main rollers and opposes any tendency for the cosmetic lip in the gap to lift the tool off the strip on the mounting flange or the like.

According to the invention, the method as first set forth above is characterised by the step of applying a sideways-directed guiding force to an extension running longitudinally along an outside wall of the strip so as to guide the extension into the said gap.

Tools and methods according to the invention, and for use in fitting sealing, trimming or finishing strips to motor vehicle bodies, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a sealing, trimming or finishing strip showing it fitted onto a motor vehicle body, such as around the frame of a door opening; Figure 2 shows the strip of Figure 1 during an initial stage of the fitting process; Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the tools, for use in fitting the seal of Figures 1 and 2 in position; Figure 4 is a scrap view looking in the direction of the arrow IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side view corresponding to Figure 3 but showing a modified form of the tool; Figure 6 is a side view corresponding to Figure 3 but showing another modified form of the tool; and Figure 7 is a side view of a further modified form of the tool.

As shown in Figure 1, a sealing, trimming or finishing strip 10 comprises a gripping part 12, a sealing part 14 and a so-called "cosmetic lip"16. The gripping part 12 is channel-shaped and is advantageously extruded from plastics or rubber or similar material 18. The extruded material 18 has integral inwardly directed gripping lips 20, there being in this example two relatively large lips on one inside wall of the channel and three smaller lips on the opposite side; however, the number and sizes of the lips can be varied. In addition, the gripping part 12 incorporates a channel-shaped reinforcing carrier 22, advantageously made of metal or other resilient material. The carrier may comprise a plurality of U-shaped elements arranged side-by-side to define the channel and connected together by short integral connecting links or entirely disconnected from each other. Instead, wire looped to and fro may be used to form the carrier. Other forms of carrier are possible.

Advantageously, the carrier 22 is incorporated into the extruded material 18 using a cross-head extruder.

The gripping part 12 embracingly grips a mounting flange 24, such as forming the frame of a door opening in the motor vehicle body.

The flange 24 may be formed where inner and outer body panels 26 and 28 are brought together at the door opening and welded to each other. The gripping part 12 tightly grips the flange 24, the lips 20 frictionally contacting the opposite faces of the flange. For this purpose, the material of the lips is advantageously softer than the remainder of the extruded material of the gripping part to provide an increased coefficient of friction.

The sealing part 14 is mounted on one outside wall of the channel of the gripping part 12 and, in this example, is of hollow tubular form. It is advantageously extruded from plastics or rubber or similar material but is softer than the extruded material 18 of the gripping part 12. For example, the sealing part 14 may be extruded from cellular material. It may be co- extruded with the material 18 or formed separately and adhesively or otherwise secured to the gripping part 12. When the gripping part 12 is mounted on the flange 24 in the manner shown, the sealing part 14 runs around the frame of the door opening facing outwardly of the vehicle so as to be partially compressed by the closing door thus forming a weatherproof seal.

The cosmetic lip 16 is advantageously co-extruded with the material 18. When the gripping part 12 is mounted in position on the flange 24, the cosmetic lip is positioned on the inside of the vehicle, running around the frame of the opening, and is used to cover, and partially secure, the edge of the vehicle trim on the inside of the vehicle and adjacent to the door opening.

Figure 2 shows the manner in which the sealing strip 10 is mounted on the flange 24. As shown, the gripping part 12 is supplied to the vehicle manufacturer with the side walls of the channel splayed outwardly relative to each other. In this way, the fitter on the assembly line can easily position the gripping part on the flange 24 because the channel mouth is much wider than the width of the flange. Thereafter, using the tool to be described in more detail below, the splayed-apart side walls of the gripping part are pressed towards each other so as to force them, and the lips 20, into tight frictional gripping contact with the flanges-and thus into the configuration shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the tool shown there comprises a motor 30 such as an air motor driven by compressed air. The motor 30 is connected to a gearbox 32 by a mounting bracket 34.

The gearbox 32 supports an output unit 36 from which rotatably extend two main rollers 38 and 40. The rollers 38 and 40 are arranged to be rotatable around respective axes shown dotted at 42 and 44. Via the gearbox 32, the output shaft (not shown) of the air motor 30 drives the rollers 38 and 40 to rotate in opposite directions about these axes.

The output unit 36 also carries a roller support 46 which has two oppositely facing jaws 48 and 50 between which is rotatably mounted a third"or top"roller 52 which is undriven.

Mounted on the output unit 36 is a guidance roller 54 which is rotatably mounted on an arm 56 and extends downwardly, generally parallel to the rollers 38 and 40 although, its axis is not co- planar with their axes. As shown in Figure 4, the roller 54 is positioned ahead of the rollers 38,40 and 52 in the direction of the arrow A. The arm 56 has a right angle bend and the arm part 56A is mounted on the roller support 46 by means of a mount 57.

As shown in scrap view at B in Figure 3, the arm part 56A may be mounted by means of a spring-loaded arrangement 58 which urges the arm 56 and the roller 54 bodily to the left (as viewed in Figure 3). The surface of the roller 54 is inclined to its rotational axis.

In use, the strip 10, in the configuration shown in Figure 2, is placed over the mounting flange 24. The tool is then placed over the strip 10 on the flange so that the gripping part 12 (with its splayed-apart side walls), the sealing part 14 and the cosmetic lip 16 are all positioned in the space 60 between the side rollers 38,40 (it will be appreciated that the strip 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is illustrated to a larger scale than the scale of the tool in Figure 3). The inclined surface of the guiding roller 54 makes contact with the outside of the cosmetic lip 16 at a point ahead of the part of the cosmetic lip (and the remainder of the strip) which is positioned in the gap 60. The top roller 52 makes contact with the (inverted) base of the gripping part 12.

The air motor 30 is then energised which will cause contra- rotation of the rollers 38,40, thus carrying the tool along the strip 10 on the flange 24 in the direction of the arrow A (Figure 4), the tool being guided during its travel by the fitter. As the tool moves in this way along the strip on the flange, the rollers 38,40 have the effect of forcing the splayed-apart side walls of the gripping part 12 towards the flange 24 so that the lips 20 make tight frictional contact with the flange. During this process, the metal carrier 22 is similarly re-configured and ensures that, as the tool passes each particular point along the length of the strip 10, the gripping part 12 maintains its new configuration which corresponds to that shown in Figure 1 and in which the strip is held securely on the flange.

During this mounting process, the guide roller 54 guides the cosmetic lip 16 into the gap 60 and ensures that the cosmetic lip 16 is held in its correct position as each successive part of its length comes between the rollers 38,40. Cosmetic lips may be made of relatively bulky material and it is found that there is a tendency for the cosmetic lip 16 to rise upwardly relative to the gripping part 12 (as viewed in Figures 1 and 2) as the tool moves along the sealing strip. This tendency can become sufficient to force the tool completely off the sealing strip 10.

This tendency is prevented or minimised by the guiding roller 54 which tends to press the cosmetic lip downwardly as each part of it comes between the two rollers 38 and 40, this process being assisted by the inclined surface of the roller.

Although Figure 3 illustrates the guiding roller 54 as being undriven, and thus freely rotating by its frictional contact with the outside of the cosmetic lip 16 as the tool moves along the strip, the roller 54 could instead be driven by the air motor so as to assist the process of driving the tool along the strip.

The guiding roller 54 needs to be positioned in front of the side rollers 38,40 (in the direction of travel of the tool) but may be behind or in alignment with the top roller 52 instead of being in front of the top roller. The top roller 52 is preferably undriven but may instead be driven.

In Figure 5, items corresponding to those in Figures 3 and 4 are similarly referenced.

In the tool of Figure 5, the guiding roller 54 is replaced by two guiding balls 70,72 which are rotatably mounted on a swing arm 74 pivotted at 75 on the roller support 46. At the pivot point 75, a spiral spring may be provided which tends to drive the arm 74 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in the Figure). The operation of the tool of Figure 5 is generally the same as described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The balls 70,72 make contact with the outside of the cosmetic lip 16 as the tool moves along the strip 10 on the flange, the balls 70,72 guiding the cosmetic lip into the gap between the rollers 38 and 40 and preventing the cosmetic lip 16 from tending to rise upwardly between the rollers 38 and 40.

In the tool of Figure 6, in which, again, parts corresponding to parts in the other Figures are similarly referenced, the guiding roller 54 and the guiding balls 70,72 of the previous Figures are replaced by a fixed guide arm 80 which is suitably mounted on the outside of the roller support 46. The arm 80 has an inclined surface 81 which, again, exerts an inwardly and downwardly directed force on the outside of the cosmetic lip 16 to guide it between the side rollers 38,40 and to prevent it rising upwardly between them. Instead of being completely fixed, the guiding arm 80 may be sprung-mounted so as to exert a force to the left as viewed in the Figure.

In the tool of Figure 7, the guiding member 86 is, like the guiding member 80 of Figure 6, non-rotary but in this case has an inner profile 88 which is shaped to match the shape of the cosmetic lip 16 (Figure 1). The cosmetic lip is thus fitted within the inner profile 88 and held there as the tool moves along the sealing strip, the guiding member 86 again guiding the cosmetic lip into a gap between the rollers 38 and 40 and holding the cosmetic lip in the correct attitude.

It will be appreciated that the tools illustrated may also be used for fitting strips in which the sealing part 14 is mounted on the outside of the (inverted) base of the gripping part 12 instead of one outside side wall. In such a case, the top roller 52 will make contact with the sealing part. The tools shown may also be used to fit strips in which there is no sealing part 14 but only the cosmetic lip 16. Instead, however, the tools illustrated may be used in a modified form in which the guiding roller 54, the guiding balls 72,74 or the guiding members 80,86 act on the sealing part instead of on the cosmetic lip.

In a further modification, the tool may carry a guiding roller 54 (or the guiding balls 72,74 or the guiding member 80,86) on both sides of the tool instead of only on one side. Such tools will therefore guide cosmetic lips or sealing parts, or other sideways extensions, on both sides of the strip.