Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Fold at edge
Patent
1997-03-13
1999-03-16
Epstein, Henry F.
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Fold at edge
428358, E06B 716
Patent
active
058827668
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a sealing arrangement for sealing an edge of an opening, comprising a rigid frame for positioning along the edge and a sealing strip made of flexible material for attachment to the frame, the frame comprising a flange extending transversely to the plane of the opening for receiving the sealing strip, the sealing strip defining a channel for embracingly gripping the flange, the flange being located at one edge of an aperture and extending away from the plane of the aperture, the opposite edge of the aperture defining a rigid formation, and the sealing strip defining an integral locking portion arranged to enter the aperture as the flange enters the channel of the strip, the locking portion terminating in a shoulder presenting a distal face extending longitudinally of the strip and facing away therefrom in a direction so as to be inclined both to the depth of the channel of the strip and to the plane of the aperture and thereby to obliquely engage the rigid formation as the flange enters the channel, whereby the shoulder flexes and passes through the aperture, the material of the locking portion thereafter resiling on the opposite side of the rigid formation to hold the sealing strip in position.
Such an arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5038521 (Andrzejewski et al), corresponding to French Patent Specification No. 2648887. In this known arrangement, however, the locking portion comprises a relatively thick and stiff member of lesser cross-sectional size than the aperture and which, during the fitting process, passes through the aperture. On one of its longitudinally extending faces, an integral lip extends substantially perpendicularly to engage one edge of the aperture, and the opposite longitudinally extending face defines a groove for engaging the rigid formation along the opposite edge of the aperture. The lip therefore has to flex in order to enable the locking portion to enter the aperture so that the groove can engage the rigid formation. If the lip is sufficiently flexible or hingeable to enable easy fitting, the sealing strip may not be adequately secured in position. If the lip is less flexible or hingeable, fitting will be more difficult and so also will be disassembly (e.g. for recycling purposes). The invention aims to deal with these problems.
Accordingly, the known sealing arrangement is characterised in that the locking portion also defines a hollow chamber running longitudinally of the strip and positioned immediately behind the said shoulder to enable the shoulder to pivot by partial collapse of the flexible material into the hollow chamber as the shoulder passes through the aperture.
Embodiments of the invention to be described in more detail below, by way of example only, are in the form of sealing arrangements for use in vehicle body construction and, in particular, for sealing the movable panes of window glass in vehicle windows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Sealing strips and sealing arrangements embodying the invention and for fitting around the window openings of vehicle doors will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of part of a vehicle showing a door to which the sealing strip may be fitted;
FIG. 2 is a cross-section on the line II--II of FIG. 1, showing one of the sealing strips in position;
FIG. 3 shows the sealing strip of FIG. 2 in the course of being fitted into position; and
FIG. 4 is a cross-section corresponding to FIG. 3 but showing another of the sealing strips.
The vehicle 5 (FIG. 1) has a door with a window frame 8 defining a window opening 10. A pane of window glass is slidable in a vertical direction in the frame 8 so as to be lowerable into and raisable from the lower hollow part of the door 6.
The window frame 8 (FIG. 2) is in the form of a metal section 12 defining a channel 14 facing outwardly of the vehicle. A second metal section 16 is fitted into the channel 14 and welded to the metal section 12 to form flanges at 18 and 20.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3371447 (1968-03-01), Ruff et al.
patent: 4581851 (1986-04-01), Warner
patent: 4608779 (1986-09-01), Maeda et al.
patent: 5038521 (1991-08-01), Andrzejewski et al.
patent: 5194312 (1993-03-01), Verig
Draftex Industries Limited
Epstein Henry F.
LandOfFree
Sealing strips does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sealing strips, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sealing strips will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-815558