U-shaped Member Or Portion Mounts Seal Patents (Class 49/490.1)
  • Patent number: 6935072
    Abstract: A weather strip includes a trim body having a generally U-shaped cross section, a hollow seal portion that protrudes from an outside surface of the trim body, and a holding lip formed on the trim body so as to extend from an inside surface of the trim body toward the inside of the trim body. The weather strip is mounted on the vehicle body such that the trim body is held by a flange provided at a periphery of a door opening of a motor vehicle. The weather strip is formed by extrusion molding such that the length of the holding lip is changed in a stepped manner in accordance with the thickness of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harumi Kogiso, Kiminori Mine, Masaki Ohashi, Takaaki Sato, Tomofumi Nishikawa, Masahiro Nozaki, Toshihiro Nahara
  • Patent number: 6926944
    Abstract: A door opening trim weather strip for a motor vehicle, which can be readily attached to a flange provided in a door opening portion of a vehicle body and is difficult to be pulled thereoff. The door opening trim weather strip includes a trim portion in which the flange is adapted to be inserted, and a seal portion for sealing between the door opening portion and a vehicle door. The trim portion includes a plurality of outer flange holding lips which respectively extend from an outer side wall of the trim portion, and two inner flange holding lips which respectively extend from an inner side wall of the trim portion. Each of the two inner flange holding lip has a connecting part which obliquely extends from the inner side wall toward an open mouth of the trim portion, and a main part which extends from an extending end of the connecting part obliquely toward the bottom wall of the trim portion, thereby defining a generally inverted v-shaped cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6889985
    Abstract: A core metal insert is provided for reinforcing a weatherseal. The core metal insert has a generally U-channel shaped cross-section and has first and second tines extending from a longitudinally extending backbone strip. The tines are bent to provide the U-channel shaped cross-section. The backbone strip is preferably double-coined to provide first and second grooves, one along each face of the backbone strip. Double coining results in greater length extension of the core metal insert, and also provides for more reliable bending of the tines which are less prone to snap off due to bending stress. Preferably, the backbone strip is provided with a plurality of score marks on both of its opposing faces to facilitate reliable and consistent severance of the backbone strip along the score marks to provide discrete structural staples in the weatherseal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Scovil Hanna Corporation
    Inventor: Roy L. Bonds
  • Patent number: 6878428
    Abstract: Weatherstripping is provided having a backing which a composite portion is either integral with or adhered to for reducing stretch and shrinkage in the weatherstripping. The composite portion is composed of strand portion, preferably a plurality of strands, embedded in a matrix. The strand portion may be fibreglass and the matrix may be polypropylene. The composite portion is bonded to or integral with the weatherstripping backing along its length such that the strand portion is oriented linearly in the same direction as the backing. The strand portion has a higher tensile modulus than the backing and thus provides resistance to stretching induced by pull forces during installation. The strand portion also tends to resist shrinkage in the backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: Robert B. Hope
  • Patent number: 6874281
    Abstract: There is provided a weather strip for a car without a metal insert which comprises a grip part having a U-shaped grip body in section and a seal part integrally molded to the outer surface of the grip part. The weather strip is installed to a flange provided to a door opening, a trunk portion and the like. The grip body is unprovided with a metal insert, and, at least, the bottom wall and the inner wall of the grip part is made of highly hardened rubber or resin having a hardness of more than Hs 90 degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Fujita, Syuuji Raisu
  • Patent number: 6854240
    Abstract: A trim insert 10 made of metal sheet in which a plurality of core pieces 11 arranged parallel to each other at regular intervals are connected together via bonded portions 12, wherein a deformed linear section 20 is formed in the lengthwise direction a of the core piece. The deformed section is a bent portion 21, a projected portion 22, 23 or a groove portion 24, and is formed all over the surface of the core pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignees: Nihon Ply Kabushiki Kaisha, Sankyo Steel Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sei-no-suke Mizuno, Mamoru Komaba
  • Patent number: 6849310
    Abstract: A contiguous surface film for a composite strip, such as a weatherseal is disclosed, wherein the surface film is formed of a colliquefied powder coating. The surface film can be located on a carrier, sealing or trim portion of the weatherseal, wherein the surface film can be colored, and selected to provide a desired surface characteristic such as reduced coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Schlegel Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin R. Willett
  • Patent number: 6848217
    Abstract: A weather strip for sealing a gap between an opening and a partition panel in a vehicle, including a grip part attached on the vehicle body, a lip part that contacts the partition panel, and a connection part connecting the grip part with the lip part. The grip part, the lip part, and the connection part being integral with each other, and upper surfaces of the grip part and the lip part are formed approximately as a flat plane so as to improve a waterproof property of the weather strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Sugami Mitate, Akira Tamagawa
  • Patent number: 6843024
    Abstract: A weather strip having a high sealing capability and an aesthetic appearance when attached to a vehicle body. The weather strip includes an extruded portion and a molded portion connected to the extruded portion and having a trim and a hollow seal. The trim includes a first wall from which the hollow seal extends. The first wall has a slot provided with a rounded corner. A second wall extends from the first wall in a direction opposite the hollow seal. A third wall extends from the second wall in a manner opposing the first wall. The third wall includes a cutaway portion defined at a position facing the slot of the first wall. The cutaway portion includes a rounded corner. A core used to mold the hollow seal of the molded portion is removed from the molded portion through the slot and the cutaway portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nozaki, Yoshihisa Kubo, Tomonori Inoue
  • Patent number: 6837005
    Abstract: A weatherstrip for an automobile includes an attaching portion having an inverse U-shape cross section. A rising portion is formed in a protruding manner on the attaching portion and lip pieces are formed for sealing between a door inner panel and a window glass. The rising portion includes a sloping guide that leads to a concave groove with which the trim end of a trim is fitted and latched. To attach the weatherstrip to the upper edge of an inner panel of a door beltline, the attaching portion is attached to the flange by insertion. Then the trim end of the trim is pressed against the guide and is, thrust so as to be fitted and latched with the concave groove. Since the trim end need not climb over the flange while keeping a weatherstrip attached thereto, even if the angle created by the door beltline and a pillar is an acute angle, the creation of a large gap between the weatherstrip end and the pillar is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mithuaki Arata, Hitoshi Hamanaka, Ken Yoshioka, Kazuhiko Tokutomi
  • Patent number: 6811857
    Abstract: The invention concerns an essentially flat plastic product, at least partly transparent and whereof one part at least of the external surface consists of added overmoulded plastic material. The invention also concerns two methods for making said product, using injection moulding technique and the use of said product as glazing for transport vehicles or buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Bravet, Rym Benyahia, Bernard Bureau, Fabrice Ducreuzot
  • Patent number: 6804915
    Abstract: A door gasket at a refrigerator freezer is kept in place by an elastic part (32) of the gasket with two legs holding around a waist (35) of a ridge-shaped element (34), which part (32) in profile substantially has the shape of an arc of a circle extending over about 270°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventor: Rolf Holmqvist
  • Patent number: 6769700
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for vehicle windscreens (10) comprises a profiled element (20) to be attached to a lower marginal area (12) of the windscreen. A spring member (25) serves for sealed locking engagement with a snapper fin (16) of a water box cover (14) and has a sealing lip (30), fitting between the bottom edge (13) of the windscreen and the upper edge (18) of the water box cover (14). The sealing lip 30 is substantially flush with external surfaces A and G and is bonded to, or integral with, an inclined surface (22) that projects outwardly from a supporting or wedge-shaped rib (21) and has a resiliently deformable, preferably wedge-shaped curved element which is clamped between, and supported by, the bottom edge (12) of the windscreen and the fin (16). The profiled element (20) and/or the sealing lip (30) can be composite elements which are soft on the outside and hard on the inside. Stiffeners 26 and 26′ increase the elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Ortmüller, Günter Gründel
  • Patent number: 6763639
    Abstract: An entryway system includes an elongated threshold assembly and a pair of plastic jamb boots attached to the ends of the threshold assembly. The jamb boots have flat level upper faces and a pair of jambs having square-cut bottoms are secured to the jamb boots and extend upwardly from the threshold assembly. A head jamb completes a door frame. The jamb boots may be formed with integral drains that receive water from within the threshold cap channel of the threshold assembly and direct it away from the entryway. The plastic jamb boots prevent rotting and eliminate the need to mill the bottoms of jambs with haunches configured to fit the threshold assembly. Plastic mull post boots also are provided for supporting square-cut bottom mull posts in sidelight or double door entryways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Endura Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel S. Bennett, Victor T. Massey
  • Patent number: 6761954
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laminate flexible strip for attachment to a vehicle in the form of a weather sealing strip. The strip includes a core member and a filler layer of elastomeric seal material disposed about and into the voids of the core member. The core member includes a bent wire in an undulating pattern that forms a number of continuously connected longitudinally spaced and laterally extending u-shaped metal clamping clips for reinforcing the seal material and a number of continuous laterally spaced and longitudinally extending linear fibers connected to the clips to maintain the spatial relationship between the bent wire members. While the fibers or laminate maintain the longitudinal spacing of the wires, they also allow the core to flex laterally and compress longitudinally in the finished extrusion. The fibers may be made of the same material as or a material dissimilar to the clips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Hauser International Group
    Inventor: Bruce H. Hauser
  • Publication number: 20040111973
    Abstract: The invention provides a weatherstrip forming a motor vehicle window slideway, the weatherstrip including at least one reinforced clip of channel section with a web and two substantially parallel jaws, and being suitable for fitting onto a flange of the frame of a window opening of the vehicle, wherein the strip is made of a rigid thermoplastic material, and wherein the reinforcing means of the clip are situated either solely in the jaws, or solely in the web of the clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Emmanuelle Moisy, Stephane Drivon
  • Patent number: 6740390
    Abstract: A pillar applique for use at a pillar area (e.g., A-pillar area) of a vehicle. The pillar applique includes a substrate portion and a thermoplastic elastomer portion. Each of the substrate portion (21) and the thermoplastic elastomer portion (23) are formed via injection molding in certain embodiments of the invention, and the thermoplastic elastomer portion may be injection molded over the substrate portion during its forming process (or vice versa) so that the two portions may be bonded to one another without the need for additional adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Randazzo
  • Publication number: 20040088925
    Abstract: A door seal structure for sealing between a door opening portion of a vehicle body and a door frame of a vehicle door. The door seal structure has a protrusion formed in the door frame and protruding inwardly of a glass run holding part for holding a glass run, and a cover member for covering the protrusion and concealing it from a vehicle compartment when the vehicle door is closed. The protrusion has a longitudinally extending depression near a protruding wall of the protrusion, and an inner end edge of the cover member is seated in the longitudinally extending depression. When the vehicle door is closed, the protrusion of the door frame is not seen from the vehicle compartment, and the inner end edge of the cover member does not contact a tubular seal portion of an opening weather strip attached along the door opening portion to prevent wear of the tubular seal portion. Accordingly, the appearance and durability around the door frame are improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Masahiro Nozaki
  • Patent number: 6729674
    Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle provides at least one fixed panel or window and a movable panel or window. The window assembly includes a frame which includes a perimeter portion and a dividing portion. The fixed window panel is secured to the dividing portion and a portion of the perimeter portion, while the movable window panel slidably engages the dividing portion. The window assembly includes a resilient seal secured to the frame. The resilient seal is secured to the frame via integral molding of the resilient seal to the frame. The resilient seal may have different cross sectional forms at different portions of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Davis, Loren B. Renkema
  • Patent number: 6726978
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is the development of a support strip, which lends a seal, made from a rubber material, a stiffness adequate for production and assembly, has good extension and compression properties, has an adequate mobility in order to be able to follow the given directional curves of the chassis components and lends the seal a clamping force sufficient for a secure and durable seating of the seal on the attachment flange of the chassis components. Said aim must be achieved with the proviso of a lowest possible weight and low production costs for said support strip. The aim is achieved by means of an asymmetric arrangement of short (2) and long (3) wedge-like recesses and slots (4) in the support strip as in FIG. 1, permitting a low weight and low production costs in fulfilling the said aims. The invention further relates to an asymmetric strip which can be used as reinforcing support for a seal made from rubber material in chassis production of automobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Saar Gummi GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Sehr
  • Patent number: 6723414
    Abstract: A vehicle glass run is formed with a horizontal-side extrusion part, vertical-side extrusion parts, and corner molding parts for connecting the terminal ends of those in an L shape by molding. The horizontal-side extrusion part and the vertical-side extrusion parts are made of a first material of an olefin thermoplastic elastomer. The corner molding parts are made of a second material which is an olefin thermoplastic elastomer and has a viscosity lower than that of the first material. The material swiftly reaches the terminal ends of the extrusion parts, and heat welds them together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Aritake, Hitoshi Omori
  • Publication number: 20040060242
    Abstract: The invention provides a weatherstrip forming a slideway for a motor vehicle window, the strip comprising at least a fixing portion in the form of a channel-section clip suitable for engaging on a flange of the frame of a window opening of the vehicle, and a portion for supporting sealing lips that are suitable for coming into sliding contact with a sliding window pane, wherein the fixing portion and the portion for supporting sealing lips are both made of rigid thermoplastic material without any reinforcing means being present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Laurent Coldre, Stephane Drivon
  • Publication number: 20040040215
    Abstract: There is provided a weather strip for a car without a metal insert which comprises a grip part having a U-shaped grip body in section and a seal part integrally molded to the outer surface of the grip part. The weather strip is installed to a flange provided to a door opening, a trunk portion and the like. The grip body is unprovided with a metal insert, and, at least, the bottom wall and the inner wall of the grip part is made of highly hardened rubber or resin having a hardness of more than Hs 90 degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Fujita, Syuuji Raisu
  • Patent number: 6684575
    Abstract: A weather strip includes an attachment base (10) and a hollow seal portion (30). The hollow seal portion (30) is integrally moulded with the outer wall (11) of the attachment base (10), and it makes a resilient contact with the door (42) when the door (42) of a vehicle is closed. The hollow seal portion (30) has a first wall (31), second wall (32), third wall (33), fourth wall (34) and bridge (35). The bridge (35) is spanned between the second wall (32) and the fourth wall (34). The hollow seal portion (30) includes bending points which bend when the door (42) is closed. The bending points include a connection part (51) formed between the second wall (32) and the third wall (33), a connection part (52) formed between the third wall (33) and the fourth wall (34), and a connection part (53) formed between the first wall (31) and the fourth wall (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignees: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromu Oda, Syuuji Raisu, Takashi Yamashita, Takashi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6684574
    Abstract: A U-shaped insert for a weather strip includes a plurality of segments, which are spaced apart by a predetermined interval. Adjacent pairs of the segments are attached together by a pair of coupling members. The coupling members of each pair of the segments are substantially parallel to one another. Acutely angled corners are formed by each coupling member and the segments to which it is attached. The acutely angled corners include notches, which are cylindrical and extend into the associated segment. This permits deformation of the insert, while the insert resists tensile deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keizo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6686020
    Abstract: There is provided a weather strip for an automobile, wherein a void due to a gas pocket is prevented from occurring to a boundary part between a core bar and a slightly foamed solid rubber portion, and a continuous extrusion molding system for molding the same. The weather strip for the automobile comprises a U-shaped trim formed by embedding the core bar in the slightly foamed solid rubber portion, foamed so as to have a specific gravity of 0.8 to 1.2, and tiny holes having a depth reaching the core bar are defined in part of the slightly foamed solid rubber portion in such a way as to be arranged in line along the longitudinal direction of the weather strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noboru Sakuma
  • Patent number: 6679003
    Abstract: A door frame structure of a vehicle, of which a door frame is covered with a frame molding. The door frame has a flat peripheral wall extending around a window opening of a vehicle door and a protrusion protruding from an inside end of the flat peripheral wall. The frame molding is composed of a synthetic resin or TPO and is attached to an outside end of the peripheral wall of the door frame. A pair of shelf projections are integrally formed on an inside surface of the frame molding from about a widthwise center thereof so as to be spaced from each other. By press-inserting the flat peripheral wall of the door frame between the shelf projections of the frame molding, the frame molding is secured to the door frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Yotoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nozaki, Katsunori Kawai
  • Patent number: 6677020
    Abstract: The invention concerns a joint wherein inside the second extruded profile (5) and along part at least of the length thereof is housed a third extruded profile (7), with U-shaped cross-section, of reduced dimensions compared to those of the second extruded profile (5) and whereof the ends of the branches are also adjacent to the same wing or at the base of the first extruded profile (1), said third extruded profile (7) being likewise made of an elastically deformable material and being designed to counter local resistance to compressive effort exerted by the opening, while reinforcing sealing and soundproof conditions at the opening frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: BTR Sealing Systems France
    Inventor: Bernard Dron
  • Patent number: 6660360
    Abstract: A laminate of an elastomeric substrate and a high density polyethylene having certain properties is disclosed. The preferred high density polyethylene has a density of from 0.940 to 1.000 g/cm3, a melt index of less than 10 grams per 10 minutes under conditions of 190° C. and 2.160 kg load and 298.2 kPa, and a melt index of greater than 5 grams per 10 minutes under conditions of 190° C. and 21.6 kg load and 2,982.2 kPa pressure. The laminate is particularly well suited for use in automotive seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Cooper Technology Services, LLC
    Inventors: Elaine Audrey Mertzel, James Patrick Sheets, John Walter Truskowski
  • Patent number: 6652952
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle molding for enhancing the appearance of a vehicle includes a thermoplastic elastomer main body and an ionomeric show surface. A plastic or metal core member can be embedded in the main body to provide additional stiffness and support. The ionomeric show surface is extruded onto a belt line seal portion or other visible section of the molding. The ionomeric show surface provides a tough, scratch resistant exterior that can easily be colored provided with a glossy surface to improve the aesthetics of the molding and more closely match its appearance with the painted exterior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Cooper Technology Services, LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Drozd, Sean Scott, Peter Koetsier
  • Patent number: 6647667
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a trim or a seal member such as an opening trim weather strip. The trim or a trim body in the seal member has a holding lip portion and modified holding lip portions. And the holding lip portion and modified holding lip portions have head portions. The head portions are made to bulge out toward a bottom wall portion at the tip ends of modified holding lip portions of the trim or the trim body of trim portion. The modified holding lip portions are formed so that projecting lengths of the head portions from the end surfaces of tip end portions of the modified holding lip portions, and the thicknesses of the head portions increase in inverse proportion to lip projecting lengths of the modified holding lip portions from an inner surface of an interior side wall portion. Alternatively, a slope inclined with respect to an extension plane of an opening-portion-side surface of a base end portion is formed at tip ends of the modified holding lip portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiminori Mine, Kazuo Ogawa, Keizo Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20030188491
    Abstract: A weather strip contains an extruded portion and a molded portion, which is integrally connected to an end portion of the extruded portion. The extruded portion includes a sealing portion formed by extrusion molding from a sponge rubber, soft thermoplastic elastomer or sponge thermoplastic elastomer, and an attachment portion having a separable core member embedded therein and formed by co-extrusion molding from a solid rubber, low foamed rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. The molded portion comprises a sealing portion formed of a soft thermoplastic elastomer or spongy thermoplastic elastomer, and an attachment portion formed of a semi-rigid resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: Masanori Aritake
  • Patent number: 6623014
    Abstract: In said joint, at least one first lip (17) protrudes towards the inside of a tubular profiled section from a part which is adjacent to the opening panel or frame with which it is used. At least one second lip (18) protrudes towards the inside of the tubular profiled section in the direction of the first lip (11) from the opposite portion of the wall thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: BTR Sealing Systems
    Inventor: Ange Martin
  • Patent number: 6623832
    Abstract: A sealing strip, such as for fitting to the frame of a door opening in a motor vehicle body, comprises a longitudinally extending channel-shaped mounting portion incorporating a channel-shaped reinforcing carrier. The hollow tubular longitudinally extending sealing portion is attached to the outside of the mounting portion. When such a strip is bent to follow curves in the door frame, the increased tension in the mounting portion at the curves can cause the sealing portion to move inwardly of the curve so as partially the bridge across the curve. In order to avoid this, the sealing strip, and particularly the mounting portion are longitudinally compressed at positions corresponding to the positions where curves are to be formed in the strip. This local longitudinal compression helps to maintain the sealing portion in its correct attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: GenCorp Property, Inc.
    Inventor: Helmut Greven
  • Publication number: 20030150168
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement, such as for a vehicle door opening, comprises a channel-shaped mounting or gripping portion (10) for embracingly gripping a mounting flange (40) extending around the door opening. The mounting portion (10) integrally includes an outwardly inclined support member or lip (34) on which is supportingly mounted a tubular seal (38) so as to be presented to and to be sealingly compressed by the closing door. The tubular seal (38) is advantageously made of open-cellular thermoplastic elastomer material, and is covered by a skin-like covering (42) of closed-cellular thermoplastic elastomer material. The skin-like covering (42) extends from the mounting portion (10), over the outside of the tubular seal (38) and partially over the surface of the support member (34) facing the outside of the one of the channel side walls (14) of the mounting portion (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Henricus Van Den Oord
  • Patent number: 6604323
    Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a composite window framework fabricated using recycled styrene foam panels. This window framework consists of a window frame (30) and one or more movable sashes (12). Each of the window frame (30) and the movable sashes (12) consists of an aluminum outside panel (45), (25) and an insulation inside panel (35), (15). The inside panel (35), (15) is produced using recycled styrene foam through an extrusion process. A magnet (5) is set on the facing surfaces of the sashes (12) so as to allow the windows (10) and (10′) to be magnetically attracted to each other while accomplishing a desired sealing effect at the junction between them when the windows are closed. This window framework accomplishes a desired soundproofing and insulating effect, and is less likely to be decayed or deformed due to moisture or temperature differences between the outdoor and indoor environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventor: Boo Don Joo
  • Patent number: 6598349
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for joining the ends of a weatherstrip from inside a channel section of the weatherstrip. A v-shaped fastening clip has a plurality of teeth extending therefrom and the orientation of the teeth can be altered to securely grip both ends of the weatherstrip. The v-shaped clip may also have a structural frame depending from it to define a w-shaped configuration. The w-shaped configuration provides flexural rigidity to the spliced section of the weatherstrip and additional strength and rigidity that is particularly useful for heavy components. The method comprises inserting the fastening clip (either the v-shaped or w-shaped configuration) into the first end of the weatherstrip and then inserting the fastening clip into the second end of the weatherstrip. The teeth of the fastening clip are then re-oriented to mechanically grip the weatherstrip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Cooper Technology Services, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathon H. Balbaugh, Casey R. Gill, Gregory J. Grudzinski, Steven A. Ingraham
  • Patent number: 6589664
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laminate comprising an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer which comprises: (a) a substratum layer comprising an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition (A) having the following characteristics {circle around (1)} to {circle around (3)}: {circle around (1)} 9≦Y−0.43X≦27  (1)  wherein X denotes the JIS A-hardness value (a dimensionless value) of the olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition determined according to the prescription of JIS K6301 and Y represents the compression set value (expressed by %) of the olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition determined according to the prescription of JIS K6301 under a condition of 70° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoko Kobayashi, Noboru Sakamaki, Akira Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20030121211
    Abstract: A weather strip for a vehicle body is disclosed. The weather strip is used for sealing a gap between an opening and a partition panel, and is composed of a grip part attached on the vehicle body, a lip part provided to contact the partition panel, and a connection part connecting the grip part with the lip part. The grip part, the lip part, and the connection part being integral with each other, and upper surfaces of grip part and the lip part are formed approximately as a flat plane so as to improve waterproof property of the weather strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Sugami Mitate, Akira Tamagawa
  • Patent number: 6572176
    Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle provides at least one fixed panel or window and a movable panel or window. The window assembly includes a frame which includes a perimeter portion and a dividing portion. The fixed window panel is secured to the dividing portion and a portion of the perimeter portion, while the movable window panel slidably engages the dividing portion. The window assembly includes a resilient seal secured to the frame. The resilient seal is secured to the frame via integral molding of the resilient seal to the frame. The resilient seal may have different cross sectional forms at different portions of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Davis, Loren B. Renkema
  • Patent number: 6571514
    Abstract: A weather strip comprises an extruded portion and a molded portion which is integrally connected to a longitudinal end portion of the extruded portion. The extruded portion includes a sealing portion formed by extrusion molding from a sponge rubber, soft thermoplastic elastomer or sponge thermoplastic elastomer, and an attachment portion having a separable core member embedded therein and formed by co-extrusion molding from a solid rubber, low foamed rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. The molded portion comprises a sealing portion formed of a soft thermoplastic elastomer or spongy thermoplastic elastomer, and an attachment portion formed of a semi-rigid resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Aritake
  • Patent number: 6548143
    Abstract: A sealing, trimming or finishing strip, comprises a channel-shaped gripping portion (5) supporting a soft hollow sealing portion (6). The gripping portion (5) comprises extruded material (8) in which is embedded a resilient reinforcement or carrier (10). The strip may be mounted in position on a mounting flange running around an opening in a motor vehicle body by forming it so that the side walls of the gripping portion (5) are initially splayed apart for ease of mounting on the flange, and are then forced together into gripping engagement with the flange by means of a tool which is externally passed along the length of the gripping portion and applies inwardly directed forces to its side walls (10A, 10B) of the carrier are integrally connected to a central part (10C) in the base of the channel by inclined regions (10D, 10E).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: GenCorp Property Inc.
    Inventor: Norbert Heller
  • Publication number: 20030041523
    Abstract: A door panel assembly for a dishwasher includes an inner door panel having a formation extending therefrom, and a seal member having a head portion and an opening therethrough. The opening receives the formation and attaches the seal member to the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Jeffrey Thomas Kiesler, Roger Shawn Nelson, Deryl Craig York, John Joseph DiEnno, Raymond Edward Yuenger
  • Publication number: 20030019159
    Abstract: A door gasket at a refrigerator or freezer is kept in place by an elastic part (32) of the gasket with two legs holding around a waist (35) of a ridge-shaped element (34), which part (32) in profile substantially has the shape of an arc of a circle extending over about 270°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventor: Rolf Holmqvist
  • Patent number: 6499256
    Abstract: A weather strip comprises an extruded part and a molded part which is connected to the extruded part. The molded part is molded from a material containing a solid particle antifriction material and has 1 to 50 &mgr;m of ten points average surface roughness (Rz) on the surface of the molded part. The material is a thermoplastic elastomer or a soft resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignees: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Chemical Co., Limited
    Inventors: Masanori Aritake, Hironobu Shigematsu, Nobuhiro Natsuyama
  • Patent number: 6487820
    Abstract: A vehicle has a movable member movably disposed in an opening to close or open the opening. The seal is mounted to one of the movable member and an inner edge surrounding the opening conforming to each other. The seal has a seal portion subject to elastic deformation when being pressed against the movable member or the inner edge. The seal portion is made of a vulcanizable rubber. A base portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer. The seal portion and the base portion are integrated by coextrusion. The rubber of the seal portion is vulcanized when passing through a vulcanizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Nakajima, Masanori Aritake, Atsushi Sumida, Hidetaka Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 6478308
    Abstract: Door edge seal and retainer assemblies, particularly adapted for swing doors of motor truck and similar cargo containers, include elongated channel shaped retainer parts adapted to be mounted on the panel edges of the cargo container doors and comprising generally channel shaped members adapted to be secured to the panel edges. One or more elongated seal lip parts are integrally joined to the retainer part and may be cut away to provide access to one or more slots formed on the retainer part to receive flanges of replacement seal lip members for mounting the replacement seal lip members on the retainer parts without removing them from the panel edge in the event of damage to the original seal lip parts. The integral seal lip parts and retainer parts are preferably coextruded of polyvinylchloride wherein the lip parts are more flexible and of a lower hardness than the retainer part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. McMillin, Alfred T. Dietrich
  • Patent number: 6451411
    Abstract: A weatherseal for releasably engaging a movable panel such as a glass panel in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The weatherseal has a substrate with an elongate recess. The recess includes a floor adjacent at least one groove. An adhesive is disposed in a portion of the recess, wherein excess adhesive is captured in the groove. A contact layer is bonded to the adhesive. Thus, the contact layer is accurately located with respect to the weatherseal and variances in adhesive volume are accommodated by the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Schlegel Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Howard Riley
  • Patent number: 6446392
    Abstract: A window weatherstrip that can be clipped onto a mounting structure of a motor vehicle door frame adjacent an opening containing a window glass such that the weatherstrip can be completely hidden from view thereby avoiding the need for any decorative type finish. More specifically, the window weatherstrip is clipped onto a mounting structure having a horizontally extending mounting flange integrally connected with a downwardly projecting vertical mounting flange such that the weatherstrip can be completely hidden from view underneath a door liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Green Tokai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Renji Maki
  • Patent number: 6435597
    Abstract: A profiled seal for sealing between a vertically sliding window pane and a roof frame of a convertible automobile comprises a length of profiled elastomer which is co- extruded with a metal reinforcement. The profiled seal has a three-dimensional shape and can be fixed to connection parts of the roof frame. A holding section having a U-shaped cross-section is part of the length of profiled elastomer and contains the embedded reinforcement which is likewise U-shaped in cross-section. A sealing section is formed laterally as one on a first limb of the holding section which can be placed in a self-clamping and sealing manner on an attachment flange. A foot formed as one on the first limb comprises on a first longitudinal edge adjacent to a free longitudinal edge of the first limb a longitudinal groove into which a dimensionally stable edge flange of a roof of the convertible engages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Meteor Gummiwerke K.H. Bädje GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Jens Anders, Martin Gentemann