Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting strip system including interconnectable lighting strip sections and connector sections. The lighting strip sections include lighting means such as light emitting diodes or incandescent lamps encapsulated in a polymeric molding. The connector sections include metallic inserts or metallic strips which partially extend from the polymeric molding of the connector section wherein the metallic inserts or metallic strips are plugged into the lighting strip sections to form an electrical junction between an adjacent lighting strip section and connector section. The lighting strip system is particularly useful for pathway lighting.

Abstract: An elongated electroluminescent light strip. An electroluminescent light element which has a layer of semi-transparent film is encapsulated in a moisture impervious material. A process for extruding such a strip is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to weatherstrips for vehicle closures and more particularly to a weatherstrip for providing a seal between a first window glass panel and a second window glass panel. More particularly, a weatherstrip is provided and includes a resilient base portion having an extending member and two legs adapted to engage a second window glass panel and a resilient lip portion integral with and extending from the base portion toward a first window glass panel. The resilient lip portion is forked, having a sealing lip and a longer lip attached to the base of the sealing lip, wherein the longer lip has a bulbed end portion. The resilient lip portion is also self-biased with its resilience toward the second window glass panel so that it is sealingly engageable with the first window glass panel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a trim strip with an outer heat settable molding bonded to a base with an adhesive attaching member. The method includes heating a liquid heat settable material to be bonded to a hard base with an adhesive member at very low pressures to form a trim strip.

Abstract: A glass reveal molding having a generally J-shaped clamping portion which exerts substantially even gripping pressures on both the top and bottom surfaces of the glass panel is disclosed. The molding includes a relatively rigid clamping portion and a more flexible crown portion. The crown may be provided with a high gloss finish. The molding substantially eliminates roll-over or disengagement of the molding from the glass prior to complete assembly. The molding also provides a crown which covers the gap between the vehicle body and the glass panel. Also disclosed are various methods of producing the glass reveal molding.

Abstract: A magnetic seal is disclosed for releasably sealing two doors arranged side by side on a thermally insulated cabinet such as a refrigerator or freezer. A retainer gasket is affixed to the inner edge of each door. One of the retainer gasket encloses a magnet and retains the magnet fixed in place relative to the door. Another retainer gasket is affixed to the other door and is formed of a base, a sleeve enclosing a second magnet, and two flexible webs connecting the sleeve to the base. The retainer gaskets and magnets are arranged so that the magnets impart an attractive force on each other and releasably seal the doors. When one of the doors is opened slightly, the magnets are arranged to repel each other and assist in easily opening at least one of the doors. Finally, a magnet having more than two magnetic poles may be used to assist in sealing and opening at least one of the doors.

Abstract: A low friction wear resistant coating for the base of a glass run channel and method. A thermoplastic powder is applied to a thermoset rubber substrate. The combination is heated to form free form shaped domains of thermoplastic on the thermoset rubber.

Abstract: A retainer and seal gasket is disclosed for a thermally insulated cabinet having a door. The configuration reduces the gap between the door and cabinet, and eliminates exposure of metal components to the cabinet interior. The retainer clamps the shell and liner of the container together without requiring separate mechanical fasteners. The retainer clips onto the shell and liner of the cabinet. The retainer further has a fastening means for securing the retainer and the seal gasket in an interlocking relationship. The retainer may include at least one anchoring rib for affixing the retainer within insulation inserted between the shell and liner of the container. The seal gasket provides a flexible bumper and a magnetic seal for releasably closing the door of the cabinet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a trim strip with a first and second outer heat settable layer molding bonded to a base with an adhesive attaching member. The method includes heating liquid heat settable materials to be bonded to a hard base with an adhesive member at very low pressures to form a trim strip.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a trim strip with an outer heat settable layer bonded to a core. The method includes heating a liquid heat settable material to be bonded to a core having a desired configuration at very low pressures to form a trim strip.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a trim strip with an outer heat settable molding bonded to a base with an adhesive attaching member. The method includes heating a liquid heat settable material to be bonded to a hard base with an adhesive member at very low pressures to form a trim strip. The trim strip includes a hollow cavity which is injected with liquid foam to provide a foam core.

Abstract: A waist belt for an automotive vehicle has a channel member secured to a vertically extending door skin. The channel member has vertically open slots. A belt weatherstrip has a core that is at least partially covered with an elastomeric material. This core has a plurality of legs which extend downwardly into the slots thereby maintaining the weatherstrip in a held relationship with respect to the waist belt.

Abstract: An engine compartment cover seal strip has a retention mechanism, securing mechanism, bulb seal and lip flange seal. The retention mechanism maintains the seal strip onto the edge of an engine compartment cover. The securement mechanism retains a member, such as insulation, adjacent to the edge of the engine compartment cover. The bulb seal is adapted to sealingly engage with a surface on axis with the cover edge to reduce noise and prevent precipitation from entering into the vehicle passenger compartment. The flange seal is to sealingly contact a second surface laterally positioned with respect to the cover edge to reduce noise and prevent precipitation from entering the passenger compartment. The lip flange seal includes a pair of bulbs which prevent unwanted deformation when the seal encounters inside and outside radius situations. The retention member, securement member, bulb seal and flange seal are co-extruded with one another to form an elongated seal strip.

Abstract: A belt weatherstrip for an automotive vehicle door having a flush mounted window assembly is disclosed. This belt weatherstrip has a body portion with attaching members for attaching the weatherstrip to the door assembly. A trim member extends from the body portion into a gap located between an outer door panel and the window assembly when the window assembly is in a closed position. The trim member provides the gap with a show surface that is substantially flush with the exterior surfaces on both the window assembly and the door panel. In addition, a curved member extends from the body portion and sealingly engages a surface on the window assembly when the window assembly is in a closed position. This curved member also engages the window assembly as it moves between open and closed positions, thereby wiping water and debris from the window assembly.

Abstract: A method of forming a body comprising resin material which can be crosslinked to form a thermally stable resin is carried out by the sequential steps of:(A) providing a body of resin which can be crosslinked to form a thermally stable resin;(B) selectively crosslinking said body to provide a first zone of substantially uncrosslinked resin; a zone of substantially crosslinked resin and a transition zone therebetween;(C) forming said first zone and transition zone; and(D) substantially crosslinking said first zone and transition zone.Step (C) can be carried out by introducing a first zone and associated transition zone into a mold cavity in effective contacting relationship with second zone of substantially uncrosslinked resin and associated transition zone and then step (D) can be carried out to thereby bond said first and second zone together. The present invention also relates to the products made by the method of this invention.

Abstract: The present invention is a weather seal adapted to be secured on a flange of a vehicle to seal a gap between the flange and a panel member. The weather seal includes retaining members for retaining the weather seal on the flange and a separate trim lip for sealing the gap between the flange and panel member. The weather seal also includes an attachment portion receiving one end of the trim lip to removably secure the trim lip to the weather seal and allow accurate positioning of the trim lip to seal the gap when the weather seal is secured to the flange.

Abstract: A method of forming an elongated decorative trim strip of thermoplastic material with an end of the strip having a desired shape of non-constant cross-section in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the strip. An extruded length of thermoplastic material is first made of a length substantially equal to the desired length of the decorative trim strip with a first longitudinally extending surface of the length being a front show face and a second longitudinally extending surface opposite the first surface being a back mounting surface. At an end portion of the extruded length, material is removed inwardly from the second surface to create a cavity behind the first surface while leaving the show face generally undisturbed.

Abstract: An integral hybrid molding and weatherstrip for attachment to a vehicle includes a core member and a first layer extruded to the core member. A second layer abuts the first layer at one edge thereof, and is extruded to the core member. The first and second layers are of a thermoset and thermoplastic material which is co-extruded in-line.

Abstract: A glass run channel strip for providing an improved chamfered surface transition from an end flange of a vehicle to a slidable window pane, said glass run strip comprising a core member, a first chamfer forming lip portion extending from the core member in a direction toward the glass run channel and normally positioned at an angle to a window pane, said first lip portion including an outer surface for forming a chamfered surface between the end flange and the window pane, said lip portion being under cut at its attachment to the core member for allowing flexible hinging of the lip portion, wherein a second lip portion extending into the glass run channel, said second lip portion for deflecting the window pane during movement of the window pane relative to the strip away from the end flange to an extend which ensures that the first lip portion will hinge to its normal position for forming the chamfered surface transition.

Abstract: A belt weatherstrip which is adapted for engagement over an end flange of a vehicle. The belt weatherstrip includes a one-piece core member which has a backing leg, an intermediate leg and a show surface leg which generally form a U-shaped member having a width which fits over the end flange of a vehicle. An elastomeric coating is extruded onto portions of the core member for providing at least one sealing lip extending from the core member. A plurality of perforations formed in the intermediate leg allow expansion in the width of the perforated leg such that the width of the weatherstrip may be varied along the length of the weatherstrip during forming of the weatherstrip. In accordance with the method steps of the present invention a weatherstrip core blank is first provided and thereafter a plurality of perforations are formed in the blank along a longitudinal portion of the blank.