Abstract: A weather seal includes an elongated micro-cellular foam bulb, and an elongated micro-cellular foam fin element attached to an extending along the length of the foam bulb. The fin elements includes a spine having opposed planar surfaces and at least one microcellular foam barb extending outwardly and at a downward angle from each surface and along the length of the spine. As an alternative to barbs, another option is to use a higher durometer foamed thermoplastic elastomer in a hollow circle shape that would push into a retention pocket. A t-slot version that has a foamed bulb and a polypropylene base is another option.

Abstract: Pile articles (20,22), especially pile weather stripping, and a method and apparatus (10) for making such articles where the backing (24) and the pile (26) are of unlike material, especially nylon yarn for the pile (26) and polypropylene containing material for the backing (24), wherein prior to the welding of the pile (26) to the backing (24) the pile is first pre-heated using ultrasonic energy to melt the pile in a region (65) thereof where the pile is ultrasonically welded to the backing and before the weld is made. The ultrasonic melting occurs upstream of the location where the pile (26) is welded to the backing (24) so that the ultrasonically pre-heated melted region (65) of the pile (26) can cool and become at least partially solidified. Then pile (26) at the pre-heated melted region (65) is welded to the backing (24) and causes a reactive or chemical weld to occur, thereby attaching the pile (26) to the backing (24).

Abstract: A plurality of caps are provided each with a visual coding of color and/or indicia for use with different sizes of bottles at least in accordance with a height of the bottles from a closed bottom end to an open top end for engaging each of the caps. Each of the caps has a tube mounted to, or through, an aperture extending through a top closed end of the cap to extend a selected length enabling one end of the tube to reach or extend along an interior surface of the bottom end of any of the bottles of the height to which the cap is coded for use therewith. The other end of tube is extendable to a bioreactor container. Each of the caps has another tube or port to another aperture of the cap to provide an air vent with an optional air filtering device.

Abstract: A plurality of caps are provided each with a visual coding of color and/or indicia for use with different sizes of bottles at least in accordance with a height of the bottles from a closed bottom end to an open top end for engaging each of the caps. Each of the caps has a tube mounted to, or through, an aperture extending through a top closed end of the cap to extend a selected length enabling one end of the tube to reach or extend along an interior surface of the bottom end of any of the bottles of the height to which the cap is coded for use therewith. The other end of tube is extendable to a bioreactor container. Each of the caps has another tube or port to another aperture of the cap to provide an air vent with an optional air filtering device.

Abstract: A plurality of caps are provided each with a visual coding of color and/or indicia for use with different sizes of bottles at least in accordance with a height of the bottles from a closed bottom end to an open top end for engaging each of the caps. Each of the caps has a tube mounted to, or through, an aperture extending through a top closed end of the cap to extend a selected length enabling one end of the tube to reach or extend along an interior surface of the bottom end of any of the bottles of the height to which the cap is coded for use therewith. The other end of tube is extendable to a bioreactor container. Each of the caps has another tube or port to another aperture of the cap to provide an air vent with an optional air filtering device.

Abstract: A weather seal includes an elongated micro-cellular foam bulb, and an elongated micro-cellular foam fin element attached to and extending along the length of the foam bulb. The fin element includes a spine having opposed planar surfaces and at least one microcellular foam barb extending outwardly and at a downward angle from each surface and along the length of the spine. As an alternative to barbs, another option is to use a higher durometer foamed thermoplastic elastomer in a hollow circle shape that would push into a retention pocket. A t-slot version that has a foamed bulb and a polypropylene base is another option.

Abstract: A system to enable operators of extrusion facilities to eliminate the error of installing the incorrect weatherseal in an extrusion or profile. The operators extruding the profiles are provided a list by the fabricator of what weatherseal is to be inserted by placing indicia on the backing of the weatherseal, as by printing the die or profile number on the actual backing of the weatherseal, thereby providing improved weatherseals having unique indicia. The indicia designates the profile which will receive the die. The indicia correlates weatherseal with the profile/die number to confirm that the proper weatherseal is being used. To confirm the correct weatherseal is being used for the profile being produced, all the operator has to do is look at the back of the weatherseal.

Abstract: A seal for use in a fenestration system including: a seal base; an elongated, resilient bulb member; wherein: the stem portion of the seal base and the resilient bulb member are mechanically connected to each other; the bulb member includes an exterior bulb wall with an interior surface, and a first interior wall; the exterior bulb wall defines an interior space; the first interior wall separates and at least partially defines a first chamber and a second chamber within the interior space of the exterior bulb wall; the first interior wall comprises a first set of at least two internal support flaps connected to a first side of the first interior wall extending in the same direction away from the first side of the first interior wall into the first chamber; and the interior surface comprises a second set of at least two internal support flaps extending in the same direction away from the interior surface into the second chamber.

Abstract: A seal for use in a fenestration system including: a seal base; an elongated, resilient bulb member defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction; wherein: the stem portion of the seal base and the resilient bulb member are rigidly directly mechanically connected to each other; the bulb member includes an exterior bulb wall and a first interior wall; the exterior bulb wall defines an interior space; the first interior wall separates and at least partially defines a first chamber and a second chamber within the interior space of the exterior bulb wall; one of the first chamber or the second chamber comprises a foam filling.

Abstract: A seal for use in a fenestration system including: a seal base; an elongated, resilient bulb member defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction; wherein: the stem portion of the seal base and the resilient bulb member are rigidly directly mechanically connected to each other; the bulb member includes an exterior bulb wall with an interior surface, a first interior wall, and a second interior wall; the exterior bulb wall defines an interior space; the first interior wall and the second interior wall separate and at least partially define a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber within the interior space of the exterior bulb wall.

Abstract: A weatherstrip for use with a T-slot. The weatherstrip includes a scaling element, such as a pile of yarn, on one side thereof and a bead on the opposite side thereof. The bead includes a curved surface for engaging an interior surface of the T-slot. Preferably, the bead is a material which adheres to the weatherstrip and comprises a hot melt glue such as ethylene vinyl acetate.

Abstract: Weatherstrips (13, 15) having opposed pile sealing elements (226) are installed in opposed slots in a frame member (14) so that the piles may engage opposite sides of a panel, shutter or screen (203), by insertion apparatus having laterally-movable slotted guides (60, 62). The weatherstrips are driven through the slots in the guides by a drive wheel (42). A laterally reciprocating cutter (48) has openings (107, 109), through which the weatherstrips are driven, and shearing edges (98) for cutting ends of the weatherstrips to facilitate entry of the weatherstrips from the slots in the guide into the slots in the frame member. Metering wheel (44) engages at least one of the weatherstrips moving through the guides, and provides for actuation of the cutter, when the desired length of the weatherstrips is driven through the guides; the length corresponding to the length of the frame member which receives the weatherstrips.

Abstract: Angled fiber pile brushes are anchored to a backing at a predetermined angle to the perpendicular are made by winding yarn around a flat band The pile is anchored to a backing which is disposed at the desired angle to the band The band wrapped with the pile and the backing move together along an assembly path Ultrasonic horns each have a split end, which moves perpendicular to the backing Mechanisms guide the backings and the band each include a slotted plate o?ented at the requisite angle The edge of the pile wrapped band extends through the slot in the guide into contact with the backing The band and the horn move in the same, horizontal plane, thereby simplifying the construction of the assembly apparatus The wrapped yam may be slit longitudinally by a slitter in the direction o the travel to provide a pair of angled brushes.

Abstract: Filamentary materials, such as yarn (18), is wound a frame (28), provided by pairs of movable filaments or wires (35, 38), about which the end of the spindle (22) rotates provides the turns (26) of the winding as the article having the winding is moved along a process path. Mechanically or hydraulically actuated pins (34) support the winding frame in a fixed position. The filaments of the frame may be provided by laterally spaced pairs (44, 46) of filaments of weldable material.

Abstract: Weatherstripping is inserted in an extrusion on-line with an extruder which provides the extrusion as it moves towards a station. The extrusion at such station is pulled and cut into sections from which frames of windows are fabricated by fabricators, thereby avoiding the need for insertion of the weatherstrip into the sections offline by the window fabricator. The insertion apparatus includes rollers and an insertion wheel which inserts the weatherstrip into a slot on one side of the extrusion.

Abstract: Weatherstrips (13, 15) having opposed pile sealing elements (226) are installed in opposed slots in a frame member (14) so that the piles may engage opposite sides of a panel, shutter or screen (203), by insertion apparatus having laterally-movable slotted guides (60, 62). The weatherstrips are driven through the slots in the guides by a drive wheel (42). A laterally reciprocating cutter (48) has openings (107, 109), through which the weatherstrips are driven, and shearing edges (98) for cutting ends of the weatherstrips to facilitate entry of the weatherstrips from the slots in the guide into the slots in the frame member. Metering wheel (44) engages at least one of the weatherstrips moving through the guides, and provides for actuation of the cutter, when the desired length of the weatherstrips is driven through the guides; the length corresponding to the length of the frame member which receives the weatherstrips.

Abstract: A seal that includes a hollow bulb that defines an interior space, and further includes at least one solid divider wall located in the interior space in order to divide the interior space so that it includes at least a first chamber and a second chamber, where the first and second chambers are not in fluid communication with one another. In some preferred embodiments: (i) the interior wall is generally V-Shaped in transverse cross-section; (ii) the first chamber is generally triangular in transverse cross-section; and (iii) the second chamber is generally U-shaped in transverse cross-section. Some preferred embodiments further include a seal base (for example, a T-shaped base), with the hollow bulb being mechanically connected to the base at the bottom of the T-shape so that an open end of the V-shaped interior wall is oriented to directly face the seal base. In some preferred embodiments, the first and second chambers are hollow.

Abstract: Weatherstrips (13, 15) having opposed pile sealing elements (226) are installed in opposed slots in a frame member (14) so that the piles may engage opposite sides of a panel, shutter or screen (203), by insertion apparatus having laterally-movable slotted guides (60, 62). The weatherstrips are driven through the slots in the guides by a drive wheel (42). A laterally reciprocating cutter (48) has openings (107, 109), through which the weatherstrips are driven, and shearing edges (98) for cutting ends of the weatherstrips to facilitate entry of the weatherstrips from the slots in the guide into the slots in the frame member. Metering wheel (44) engages at least one of the weatherstrips moving through the guides, and provides for actuation of the cutter, when the desired length of the weatherstrips is driven through the guides; the length corresponding to the length of the frame member which receives the weatherstrips.

Abstract: A pile weatherstrip has a pile of yarn ultrasonically welded to a backing strip inside a channel defined by flanges, called pile directors, which direct the pile perpendicularly with respect to the backing. A film provides a covering for the pile and is releasably attached to the flanges on the outside thereof. The covering film may have perforations therein which are located adjacent to the flanges near the upper ends of the flanges. Alternatively, a weak ultrasonic weld of the covering to the flanges, such as made at much lower energy than used to weld the pile and the backing together, provides a releasable attachment for the covering. The covering protects the pile, for example during installation in a frame which may be painted after the weatherstrip is installed. The covering can be released by being pulled off the pile director flanges after installation and painting.

Abstract: A pile article is provided having a band of textile material, and a plurality of fiber loops defining a pile having sides from ends extending longitudinally along the band. The band is ultrasonically welded to the ends and a portion of the sides of the pile, and is sufficiently wide to support the sides of the pile substantially upright. An interior textile strip may optionally extend longitudinally within the pile at the ends of the pile and within a portion of the pile sides.