Patents by Inventor Robert G. Bright
Robert G. Bright has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6401739Abstract: A cantilever umbrella characterized by a folding canopy which is mounted in cantilever fashion on a support post rotatably mounted in a base and can be positioned at a selected location in the orbit of the canopy around the support post for shelter against rain or sunlight. In a preferred embodiment a support arm extends in angular relationship from the support post. A canopy support sleeve is mounted on a descending segment of the support arm, and multiple canopy support ribs which support the canopy are pivotally mounted on the canopy support sleeve in radially-extending relationship therefrom. Multiple spreader struts are pivotally attached at one end of each to the corresponding canopy support rib, and the other end of each spreader strut is pivotally mounted on a common strut support sleeve. A winch is mounted on the support post and a cable attached to the winch engages a pulley provided on the strut support sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Inventors: Robert G. Bright, John S. Lazarone
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Patent number: 5752345Abstract: A reinforcing channel-shaped carrier for a sealing, trimming or guiding strip is made of metal and provided with slots of several different types. Slots of a first type extend across the base of the carrier and for short distances into the side walls and facilitate bending about an axis parallel to the base and perpendicular to the length of the channel. Slots of a second type are positioned in the side walls and facilitate bending about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the base. The latter slots are of two different forms. Slots of one form are shorter than those of the other form. This increases the stiffness of the carrier. The carrier is produced by slitting a flat metal blank and then rolling it along stretch paths to cause it to be thinned-down and expanded lengthwise to convert the slits into slots. The carrier is advantageously used in a sealing, trimming or guiding strip in closed loop form ready for fitting to a vehicle door opening.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1996Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Assignee: Draftex Industries LimitedInventors: Robert G. Bright, Norbert Heller
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Patent number: 5651218Abstract: A reinforcing channel-shaped carrier for a sealing, trimming or guiding strip is made of metal and provided with slots of several different types. Slots of a first type extend across the base of the carrier and for short distances into the side walls and facilitate bending about an axis parallel to the base and perpendicular to the length of the channel. Slots of a second type are positioned in the side walls and facilitate bending about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the base. The latter slots are of two different forms. Slots of one form are shorter than those of the other form. This increases the stiffness of the carrier. The carrier is produced by slitting a flat metal blank and then rolling it along stretch paths to cause it to be thinned-down and expanded lengthwise to convert the slits into slots. The carrier is advantageously used in a sealing, trimming or guiding strip in closed loop form ready for fitting to a vehicle door opening.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1995Date of Patent: July 29, 1997Assignee: Draftex Industries LimitedInventors: Robert G. Bright, Norbert Heller
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Patent number: 4996756Abstract: A tool is described for assembling a length of sealing strip onto a mounting flange around a door opening in a motor vehicle. The strip has a channel-shaped gripping part whose walls are initially splayed apart so that it is an easy fit onto the flange. It carries a tubular sealing part. The tool comprises a roller which engages the outside of the base of the channel of the gripping part and a perpendicularly mounted roller which engages the outside of the tubular sealing part of the strip and, via this sealing part which it compresses, exerts a side force on the corresponding wide wall of the channel of the gripping part. A flange rigid with the roller engaging the gripping part itself engages the opposite side wall of the gripping part. The two rollers may or may not be geared together and are driven via a flexible drive shaft by a motor. The tool thus travels along the length of the sealing strip which is drawn off a coil or other supply.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1989Date of Patent: March 5, 1991Assignee: Draftex Industries LimitedInventors: Robert G. Bright, Heinz J. Hennen
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Patent number: 4902549Abstract: A sealing strip for a vehicle door opening has a generally channel-shaped gripping part supporting a tubular sealing part. Initially, the side walls of the channel of the gripping part are splayed apart so as to enlarge the mouth of the channel. This eases the application of the gripping part to the normal mounting flange surrounding the vehicle door opening. The flange can pass freely between gripping lips on the opposite inside walls of the gripping part. A suitable tool is then employed to press the side walls of the channel towards each other so as to render them substantially parallel, thus pressing the lips into gripping and sealing contact with the flange surfaces, this configuration being therefore resiliently maintained by a metal carrier embedded in the gripping part. One of the sealing lips is particularly advantageous for secondary sealing purposes because it is directed outwardly of the mouth of the channel, unlike the other lips.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1988Date of Patent: February 20, 1990Assignee: Draftex Industries LimitedInventors: Robert G. Bright, Erich Weimar
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Patent number: 4858385Abstract: A door seal is mounted to run around the periphery of the door in a vehicle body and is mounted relatively adjacent to the outer surface of the door so as not only to perform the normal sealing action between the door and door frame but also to ensure that soiling of the door aperture itself by ingress of dirt and moisture is prevented or reduced and to reduce wind noise. The door seal has a sealing part integrally extruded with a mounting part. The latter defines a hollow interior of triangular cross-section in which is mounted a metal carrier. The base of the hollow interior is closed off by a web which supports an adhesive strip for mounting the seal on the door. The metal carrier has an extrusion which is slightly longitudinally compressible so as to permit controlled compression of the adjacent part of the seal where it is curved to follow a curve in the door. A non-stretchable tape may be incorporated to prevent unsightly stretching of the outside of the door seal at such a bend.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1987Date of Patent: August 22, 1989Assignee: Draftex Industries LimitedInventor: Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4749203Abstract: A metal carrier for a channel-shaped sealing strip is disclosed. The carrier is of continuous construction but is formed with assymetrically arranged slots. The slots are of a first type and a second type, each slot of the first type extending from a particular one of the distal edges of the channel, through the entire corresponding side of the channel, through the entire base of the channel and through part of the opposite side of the channel but stopping short of the distal edge of the opposite side. Each slot of the second type extends from the distal edge of the said opposite side, entirely through that side and through part only of the base. The slots of the first and second types alternate along the length of the carrier. The slots permit the carrier to be easily curved about an axis or axes extending vertically. This makes the carrier particularly suitable for use in a sealing strip for an engine compartment or luggage trunk opening in a motor vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1986Date of Patent: June 7, 1988Assignee: Draftex Industries LimitedInventor: Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4699837Abstract: A carrier for a channel-shaped trimming or sealing strip is manufactured by leading a main wire between meshing teeth so as to give the wire a zig-zag configuration. The emerging wire is pushed between guide walls. Simultaneously, looped edge wires are fed in, along the walls, and mesh with the ends of the loops of the main wire. The meshed wires are fed into the mouth of a cross-head extruder. This extrudes plastics or rubber material around the meshed wires so as to hold them in meshing engagement. The resultant generally flat strip can then be bent into channel-shape.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1986Date of Patent: October 13, 1987Assignee: Draftex Industries LimitedInventor: Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4653166Abstract: Apparatus for fitting a sealing strip to a mounting flange running around a motor vehicle door opening is disclosed. The sealing strip is preferably in the form of a closed ring and is longitudinally resilient having a channel-shaped gripping section and a soft sealing section. A jig is in the form of an outer plate which is larger in area than the door opening defined by the flange. The strip in ring form is placed on this outer plate and then pulled inwardly by gripping fingers so as to distort it into a shape limited by arm ends and to take up a peripheral size less than the size of the door opening. The jig then positions the seal, which is partially compressed between the outer plate and an inner plate, within the door opening. The gripping fingers are then released and the arm ends move outwardly so as to press the gripping section of the sealing strip onto the flange.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1985Date of Patent: March 31, 1987Assignee: Draftex Industries LimitedInventor: Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4448430Abstract: Sealing strips, such as for sealing around door openings in vehicle bodies, for example. The sealing strip comprises a hollow tubular soft sealing section which is supported around the door opening by means of a channel-shaped gripping section. In order to support the sealing section at positions around the opening where the sealing strip has to be curved or bent, lengths of soft flexible material of generally rectangular cross-section are positioned within the hollow interior of the sealing section at the appropriate positions. Each such length is a relatively loose fit within the hollow interior of the sealing section and is held in position by means of adhesive. The lengths of the soft flexible material prevent partial "collapse" or distortion of the sealing section at the bends or curves, but because they do not fill the hollow interior of the sealing section, they do not impair its compressibility in the sealing direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1982Date of Patent: May 15, 1984Assignee: Draftex Development AGInventor: Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4399644Abstract: A sealing, trimming or finishing strip has a metal carrier advantageously made up of U-shaped side-by-side metal elements interconnected by integral connecting links. The carrier is completely embedded in flexible material, such as rubber or plastics material, which defines inner gripping and sealing lips. A sealing portion is also provided. Substantially all of the material on the inside of the carrier (including the material of the lips) is sufficiently transparent or translucent to enable the carrier, or at least the connecting links thereof, to be visible through it. This facilitates cutting of the strip into lengths, because it enables the cutter to be located so as to cut through the connecting links of the carrier, rather than through the U-shaped elements thereof. The channel-shaped material externally of the carrier is visually opaque.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1982Date of Patent: August 23, 1983Assignee: Draftex Development AGInventor: Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4304816Abstract: Channel-shaped strip structures are disclosed for use, for example, in vehicle body construction, such as for fitting onto door surround flanges or for use for mounting or sealing window glass. The strip structure comprises a channel-form metal carrier embedded in extruded or plastics or rubber material. The design of the metal carrier may be such as to resist lengthwise compression of the strip. In addition, the carrier has secured to it and running along one surface, and under the extruded plastics or rubber material, a flexible substantially inextensible member, such as polyester tape, which substantially prevents stretching of the strip.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1979Date of Patent: December 8, 1981Assignee: Draftex Development AGInventors: Robert G. Bright, Helmut Theisen
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Patent number: 4214036Abstract: A channel-shaped sealing, trimming or finishing, or guiding strip comprises a carrier covered with flexible covering material, and is characterized in that relatively stiff or semi-rigid lengths of the carrier alternate along the length of the strip with relatively flexible lengths of the carrier, the relatively flexible lengths of the carrier being positioned at predetermined places where bends in the strip are required in use. The strip may be in the form of a closed loop.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 1978Date of Patent: July 22, 1980Assignee: Draftex Development AGInventor: Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4196546Abstract: There is disclosed a channel-shaped sealing strip incorporating a metal carrier covered with flexible material, the metal carrier comprising a series of side-by-side U-shaped elements each of which is connected to the next element by at least one connecting link. At least during the manufacturing process for the strip, adjacent elements are also connected by at least one other connection whose thickness is reduced compared with the connecting link and with the remainder of the metal; these other connections may, and advantageously do, break during the manufacturing process so that, in the finished strip, each U-shaped element is connected to the next element by the connecting link but is also spaced therefrom by distance pieces formed from the broken-off connections.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1978Date of Patent: April 8, 1980Assignee: Draftex Development A.G.Inventor: Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4107898Abstract: A channel-shaped structure is shown in which a channel-shaped metal carrier has a covering of flexible material which is arranged to define a gripping rib running along and protruding from one inside wall of the channel. Metal reinforcement at least partly extends into the gripping rib. Also disclosed is a metal carrier comprising a series of U-shaped metal elements which are spaced from each other and are each provided with a corrugation which runs around the U from the end of one leg of the U to the end of the other leg thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1977Date of Patent: August 22, 1978Assignee: Draftex Development AGInventors: Heinz Andrzejewski, Werner Kruschwitz, Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4099765Abstract: A channel-shaped guiding, sealing or finishing strip, such as for use in vehicle bodies for sealing door flanges or windows, comprises a channel-shaped metal carrier covered with plastics or rubber material. The metal carrier is made up of a series of side-by-side generally U-shaped elements which are interconnected by short connecting links. The connecting links are each kinked or corrguated so as to enable the sealing strip to be stretched or compressed slightly.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1976Date of Patent: July 11, 1978Assignee: Draftex Development AGInventor: Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4074465Abstract: A channel-shaped sealing strip, such as for embracing, protecting and decorating the flange around the door opening of a vehicle body, comprises a channel-shaped metal core or carrier embedded in elastomeric material. The metal carrier comprises side-by-side U-shaped metal strip elements which overlap each other and are interconnected by short flexible and integral connecting links.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 1976Date of Patent: February 21, 1978Assignee: Draftex Development AGInventor: Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4042741Abstract: A channel-shaped sealing strip for mounting on a flange, for example around a door or window opening in a motor vehicle body, comprises a channel-shaped metal core or carrier. On to one wall of the channel, relatively hard flexible material, such as plastics, is directly extruded, while on to the other side wall of the channel relatively softer material, such as rubber, is directly extruded, the relatively hard material extending over the outside surface of the carrier to meet the relatively softer material. The relatively softer material is extruded integrally with an external sealing bead running along the sealing strip. The flexible material may extend over part or all of the inside surface of the carrier member.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1975Date of Patent: August 16, 1977Assignee: Draftex Development AGInventor: Robert G. Bright
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Patent number: 4015398Abstract: A channel shaped sealing strip is made of two L-shaped members which lock together to define a channel. Each member may be made of extruded flexible material such as plastics or rubber in which is embedded a metal core or carrier. Each member may define on one of its walls a gripping rib which, in the assembled channel, faces the corresponding rib on the other member and extends continuously along and within the channel to assist in holding the strip onto a mounting flange. The extruded material of the two members may be of respectively different hardnesses. The strip may be made up into a closed loop frame, the two members along one side of which may be pulled apart to facilitate mounting of the frame on to its mounting flange.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1975Date of Patent: April 5, 1977Inventor: Robert G. Bright