Sealing arrangement for vehicle body construction

Claim 2

In a vehicle body construction including a base sill structure, an inner trim wall and an outer fender wall ahdered to the base sill structure and having a water vent formed at its lowermost end, all of which define a space for accommodating a vertically slidable side window, a sealing arrangement for intercepting any water from the occupant compartment, comprising in combination: an upper inner panel substantially vertically depending from the upper portion of the inner trim wall toward the base sill structure for leaving a clearance therebetween; a lower inner panel partially juxtaposed inside of and at a spacing from said upper inner panel and adhered to the base sill structure, the partially juxtaposed portions of said upper and lower inner panels defining therebetween a water passage having its upper and lower ends open; and a sealing partition adhered to said upper inner panel at its upper and side periphery and extending midway of said water passage; whereby water having flown into the space through a clearance formed between the side window and the uppermost ends of the outer fender wall and the inner trim wall is intercepted by said sealing partition and then is drained through the water vent to the exterior of the vehicle body after it flows down through said water passage and the first-named clearance.

Claim 3

A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper inner panel has formed therein a plurality of windows for providing easy access therearound.

Claim 4

A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper inner panel has at least one partially offset lowermost end adhered to the base sill structure.

Claim 5

A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper inner panel has at least one partially offset lowermost end adhered to said lower inner panel.

Claim 6

In a vehicle body construction including an inner trim wall and an outer panel wall, both of which define a space for accommodating a vertically slidable side window, a sealing arrangement for intercepting any water from the occupant compartment, comprising in combination: a lower inner panel having a vertical portion adhered to the inner trim wall and a stepped base portion hemmed at its extending end to the lowermost end of the outer panel wall, said stepped base portion being provided with a water vent formed at its lowermost end; an upper inner panel adhered at its upper end to the uppermost end of the inner trim wall and substantially vertically depending therefrom toward said stepped base portion for leaving a clearance therebetween, said upper inner panel being partially juxtaposed outside of and at a spacing from said lower inner panel for defining therebetwen a water passage having its upper and lower ends open; and a sealing partition adhered to said upper inner panel at its upper and side periphery and extending midway of said water passage, whereby water having flown into the space through a clearance formed between the side window and the uppermost ends of the outer panel wall and the inner trim wall is intercepted by said sealing partition and then is drained through said water vent to the exterior of the vehicle body after it flows down through said water passage and the first-named clearance.

Claim 7

In a vehicle body construction including an inner trim wall and an outer panel wall, both of which define a space for accommodating a vertically slidable side window, a sealing arrangement for intercepting any water from the occupant compartment, comprising in combination: a lower inner panel having a vertical portion adhered to the inner trim wall and a stepped base portion hemmed at its extending end to the lowermost end of the outer panel wall, said stepped base portion being provided with a water vent formed at its lowermost end; an upper inner panel adhered at its upper end to the uppermost end of the inner trim wall and substantially vertically depending therefrom toward said stepped base portion for leaving a clearance therebetween, said upper inner panel being partially juxtaposed outside of and at a spacing from said lower inner panel for defining therebetwen a water passage having its upper and lower ends open; and a sealing partition adhered to said upper inner panel at its upper and side periphery and extending midway of said water passage, whereby water having flown into the space through a clearance formed between the side window and the uppermost ends of the outer panel wall and the inner trim wall is intercepted by said sealing partition and then is drained through said water vent to the exterior of the vehicle body after it flows down through said water passage and the first-named clearance.

Claim 8

A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said upper inner panel has formed therein a plurality of windows for providing easy access therearound.

Claim 9

A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said upper inner panel has at least one partially offset lowermost end adhered to the vertical portion of said lower inner panel.

Claim 10

A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said upper inner panel has at least one partially offset lowermost end adhered to the stepped base portion of said lower inner panel.