Closure Or Weather Strip Seal Patents (Class 277/921)
  • Patent number: 11976771
    Abstract: A pressure vessel defines an opening with a shoulder around a periphery of the opening. A door is configured to regulate access to the opening. The door is configured to compress against the shoulder when in the closed position. A first seal is between the door and the shoulder. The first seal touches an interior side of the door and the shoulder when the door is in the closed position. The first seal is configured to seal fluid within the pressure vessel. A second, active seal surrounds a periphery of the opening. The seal is actuable between an engaged position and a disengaged position regardless of a position of the door. The second, active seal touches the periphery of the door, perpendicular to the first seal, when in the engaged position and the door is in the closed position. The second, active seal is configured to seal fluid within the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mousa R. Al-Harbi, Khaled A. Al-Odaib, Essam Ahmed Al-Arfaj
  • Patent number: 11840180
    Abstract: A fastening device is provided for arranging a water-catching strip of a motor vehicle on an A-pillar of the motor vehicle. The fastening device can be secured in its position relative to the A-pillar by way of a bolt fastened to the A-pillar. The fastening device has a retaining region for retaining a fastening portion of the water-catching strip. The fastening device includes, in the retaining region, at least one tab, which protrudes from a main body of the fastening device and has a detent element, which detent element is designed to engage in one of a plurality of grooves. The grooves are formed in the fastening portion of the water-catching strip such that the grooves are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction of extension of the at least one tab. An arrangement of a water-catching strip of a motor vehicle on an A-pillar is carried out by a fastening device of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lukas Held, Richard Sosnik
  • Patent number: 11807040
    Abstract: A wheel hub assembly for mounting on an upright of a vehicle has a flanged outer ring provided with a tubular mounting portion inserted over a first axial length (L1) inside a seat of the upright; and a plastic cover having a mounting portion which is also engaged inside the tubular portion, wherein the mounting portion extends outside the tubular portion over a second axial length (L2) which, together with the first axial length (L1), covers less than a mounting length (L) inside the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventors: Giorgio Missiaggia, Fausto Morello
  • Patent number: 11754189
    Abstract: An inflatable seal includes an annular body made of elastic material. The inflatable seal includes a chamber disposed in the annular body. The inflatable seal includes a fixing end and a movable end opposite to the fixing end in a cross section. The inflatable seal further includes first and second sides interconnected between the fixing end and the movable end and opposite to each other. The fixing end includes an annular lining disposed in the annular body. The sealing ability of the inflatable seal is improved in the axial direction and the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventors: Chi-Yun Kung, Wan-Rong Kung
  • Patent number: 11732528
    Abstract: A system including a door, a fastener, and a fastener retaining assembly is provided. The fastener is extending at least partially through an aperture in the door. The fastener retaining assembly includes a bracket and a retainer washer. The fastener retaining assembly is attached to the door and retains the fastener to the door. The retainer washer is disposed around the fastener and disposed between the bracket and the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Enrique Martinez, Walter Campos
  • Patent number: 11674599
    Abstract: A seal assembly configured to seal against a surface of a seal depressor includes a body member configured to elastically deform in at least a first direction of motion from an original state into a compressed state in response to experiencing a load. The body member exerts a sealing pressure against the surface of the seal depressor when in the compressed state. The seal assembly also includes one or more shape memory stiffening members constructed from a shape memory material having a high energy state and a low energy state. The one or more shape memory stiffening members are oriented perpendicular to the first direction of motion of the seal assembly and configured to stiffen the body member of the seal assembly when the shape memory material is in the high energy state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Page, Tyler Emerson Berkey
  • Patent number: 11634879
    Abstract: A tower packer for packing cement slurry of a jacket is disposed between a steel pile and an inner sleeve. It includes a supporting ring, sealing rings and a limiting ring. The supporting ring and the limiting ring are respectively installed on an outer surface of the inner sleeve in the steel pile. A plurality of sealing rings stacked from top to bottom along the sleeving direction of the inner sleeve are arranged between the supporting ring and the limiting ring. Each sealing ring is hermetically and slidably connected along a radial direction. The sealing ring at the bottom is always supported by the supporting ring. The sealing ring at the top abuts a lower surface of the limiting ring. When the inner sleeve is sleeved into the steel pile, the outer surface of the sealing ring with maximum outer diameter hermetically abuts the inner surface of the steel pile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: HENGXIANG TECHNOLOGY INC., LTD
    Inventors: Baoquan Liu, Meiqin Ma, Jiande Tian, Jianbang Sun, Yasheng Zhang, Chengang Shi, Ting Yin, Dongze Zhang, Yongxiao Lei
  • Patent number: 11598089
    Abstract: A fire-resistant partition wall includes wall studs and first and second walls each including gypsum boards with vertical and lateral joints. The wall studs are on the back side of the vertical joints. A joint base member is provided at the lateral joints. The gypsum boards, the joint base member, and the wall studs are not screwed with a common screw, and (a) the gypsum boards are screwed to only the wall studs and are not screwed to the joint base member, and the joint base member is fixed to the lateral joint position by being inserted between the gypsum boards and the wall studs, or (b) the gypsum boards are screwed to the wall studs and to the joint base member with different screws, and the joint base member is fixed to the lateral joint position by being inserted between the gypsum boards and the wall studs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: YOSHINO GYPSUM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Ohuchi, Kouji Yamakata, Yusuke Ichino, Shunichi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 9003712
    Abstract: A method of producing a seal comprising forming an elongated strip of a thermoplastic material having laterally spaced, interlockable portions; bending such strip along a longitudinal line disposed between the spaced interlockable portions to position the interlockable portions in opposed relation; and interlocking the interlockable portions together when such portions are disposed in opposed relation to provide a bulb segment and a mount segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Edwards Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Bellmore, Kevin Baxter, Stephen G. Leonard
  • Patent number: 8919045
    Abstract: A method of producing a seal. The method can include forming an elongated strip of a thermoplastic material having laterally spaced, interlockable portions; bending such strip along a longitudinal line disposed between the spaced interlockable portions to position the interlockable portions in opposed relation; and interlocking the interlockable portions together when such portions are disposed in opposed relation to provide a bulb segment and a mount segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Edwards Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Bellmore, Kevin Baxter, Stephen G. Leonard
  • Patent number: 8870258
    Abstract: In a wire core 20 embedded in an opening seal for automobiles, a non-thermo-fusible yarn 221 on the outer-cabin side is provided in a range 401 from a bending start position 21c forming a shoulder 21a on the outer-cabin side of a wire body 21 which is bent roughly in U-shape to a position 52 determined by offsetting a point 51 on a door internal circumference side of a base 12a of a hollow seal member 12 on the inner side whereas a non-thermo-fusible yarn 222 on the inner-cabin side is provided in a range 501 from a bending start position 21e forming a shoulder 21b on the inner-cabin side of the wire body 21 to a position 54 determined by offsetting a point 53 on an opening edge side on an inner-cabin side wall 11b of a base of a protuberance 13 with respect to the wire body 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nishimoto, Shinji Nishikawa, Brian McCabe
  • Patent number: 8857049
    Abstract: A method for environmentally protecting a terminal block includes providing a sealing device including: a base substrate having an anchoring surface; and a gel sealant body having an engagement surface. The gel sealant body is secured to the anchoring surface and extends forwardly from the anchoring surface to the engagement surface. The method further includes: applying the sealing device to the terminal block such that the gel sealant body is interposed between the terminal block and the base substrate and the engagement surface engages the terminal block; and wrapping a retainer member around the terminal block and securing the sealing device to the terminal block using the retainer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Edward O'Sullivan, George W. Pullium, III, Mahmoud K. Seraj
  • Patent number: 8850842
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at an upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a lower portion of the refrigerator body, the refrigerator comprising an ice-making chamber partitioned from the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls, the ice-making chamber containing within it an icemaker and an ice storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 8850843
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at an upper portion of the refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a lower portion of the refrigerator body, comprising an ice-making chamber partitioned from the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls, the ice-making chamber containing an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 8850841
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at an upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a lower portion of the refrigerator body, the refrigerator comprising an ice-making chamber partitioned from the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls, the ice-making chamber containing within it an icemaker and an ice storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 8839589
    Abstract: An automotive glazing having a mounting strip for mounting a glazing component attached adjacent at least one edge thereof is disclosed. The mounting strip comprises at least one ridge positioned in contact with the glazing such that the majority of the mounting strip is spaced apart from the glazing, forming a cavity. The mounting strip is bonded to a major face of the glazing by an adhesive material in contact with at least a portion of the mounting strip, and positioned such that it does not overlap the edge of the glazing. The ridge, the mounting strip end and the major face of the glazing to which the strip is bonded form a cavity having an open end facing the edge of the glazing, the cavity being dimensioned to receive a portion of said glazing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Pilkington Automotive Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Erner
  • Patent number: 8701351
    Abstract: A seal assembly located at the intersection of an extension room and wall of a recreation vehicle, the seal assembly having a flap seal, a bulb snap-in member attached to the flap seal, and a bulb seal member attachable to the bulb snap-in member in a snap-fit manner. The bulb seal member may be attached to the bulb snap-in member by a living hinge. The flap seal may be made removable from the bulb snap-in member. Two flap seals may be used to attach to either side of the recreation vehicle wall. The two flap seals may be connectable with each other and adjustable via a longitudinal mating shaft on one flap seal and a longitudinal mating shaft receiving member on the second flap seal. The seal assembly may be manufactured by a multi-extrusion process so that various components can be made of different materials, such as different types of plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Trim-Lok, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Siegel
  • Patent number: 8550537
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle comprising a body panel including a flange defining an opening. The opening is shaped to receive a component selected from a door, a trunk or a tailgate. The component includes a main body panel and an interior lining having a substantially coplanar region facing the flange when the component is in a closed position. An elongated resilient sealing member is secured to the coplanar region of the component. The sealing member includes a base engaging the interior lining and a tubular body projecting from said base opposite the lining. An arm extends from an edge of the base and overlaps the interior lining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Masatoshi Mori
  • Patent number: 8449016
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for vehicle panes is presented. The sealing arrangement has a mounting rail, a pane, and a cover connected by a connection point to a latching rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventor: Alwin Timmermann
  • Patent number: 8328250
    Abstract: A door handle for a door of an automotive vehicle having a first gasket attached at a distal end of the door handle and a second gasket attached at a proximate end of the door handle. The first gasket and second gasket have an inner surface facing the outer surface of the door and an outer surface facing the respective ends of the door handle. The first gasket and the second gasket also include a lip formed of a resilient material, which protrudes outwardly relative to the outer surface of gaskets and extends longitudinally along the edge of the gaskets to sealingly engage the ends of the door handle. The lip is embossed so that it is recessed relative to the inner surface of the gasket to accommodate compression of the lip as the handle is displaced towards the door. A flattened portion extends from an end of the lip on the first gasket to dampen noise due to impact between the distal end of the door handle and an outer surface of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd., Aisin World Corp. of America
    Inventors: Eric M. Botten, Emiko Okuma, Sadayuki Makino, Norio Konomoto, Todd M. Remtema, Brett A. Campbell
  • Patent number: 8074699
    Abstract: The present application is directed to a manual or automatic flush threshold door seal system used on folding exterior doors along with an alternate embodiment for conventional exterior entryway doors that will not impede the passage of a wheelchair. A flexible weather seal can be put in a retracted or down position within an aluminum extrusion imbedded within the threshold providing a flush access surface and may be raised up into the upright position providing an adequate weather seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: La Cantina Doors, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby Jones, Matthew W. Power
  • Patent number: 8046857
    Abstract: Dock leveler seals and associated methods and systems are described herein. A dock leveler having a rear hinge seal configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a rear support frame and a movable deck. The rear support frame includes a plurality of first support members extending therefrom, and the aft edge portion of the deck includes a plurality of second support members pivotally coupled to the first support members along an axis. The seal of this embodiment includes a first edge portion extending outwardly from a medial portion in a first direction, and a second edge portion extending outwardly from the medial portion in a second direction. The medial portion urges the first edge portion against the support frame and the second edge portion against the aft edge portion of the deck as the deck pivots about the axis in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: 4Front Engineered Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Blake Whitley, William C. Eungard, Michael Story
  • Patent number: 8047550
    Abstract: A seal assembly is configured to seal a tile gap between a pair of tiles. Each of the tiles may include a tile side surface. At least one of the tiles may include a groove which may be formed along a length of the tile side surface. The seal assembly may comprise a gasket assembly including first and second bulb portions which may be interconnected by a web. A spacer rope may be positionable along the web. The gasket assembly may define a folded configuration for mounting within the tile gap when the web is wrapped around the spacer rope such that the second bulb portion is positioned between the spacer rope and the first bulb portion. The second bulb portion may be receivable within the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William W. Behrens, Andrew R. Tucker
  • Patent number: 8028640
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for creating insulating seals for use in a variety of applications, and to seals created by such compositions and methods. In particular, the present invention provides novel compositions and methods for creating insulating edge seals that provide multiple contact surfaces. The present invention further provides seals that facilitate attachment of flexible covering materials (such as fabrics, plastics, metals, etc.) to hard surfaces (such as plastics, metals, woods, etc.). The present invention is particularly useful for creating insulating edge seals that provide a means of attachment for removable covers for vehicles (such as tops for automobiles, watercraft, and aircraft), structures, and objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Xtreme Seal, LLC
    Inventors: Steven P. Griffith, Carl Van Damme
  • Patent number: 8006338
    Abstract: A repositionable loading dock pit seal panel comprising: (a) a repositionable pit seal panel including a substantially incompressible height and width sized to substantially span an entire vertical dimension and substantially span an entire widthwise dimension of a loading dock pit to substantially close off a cross-sectional area of the loading dock pit when the repositionable pit seal panel is in a barrier position, where the repositionable pit seal panel is repositionably mounted to at least one of an overhead door, a surface partially defining the loading dock pit, and a surface adjacent to the loading dock pit, where the repositionable pit seal panel is repositionable between the barrier position inhibiting horizontal use of a vertically stored dock leveler and a storage position allowing horizontal use of the vertically stored dock leveler, where the repositionable pit seal panel in the barrier position cooperates with the overhead door to close off a loading dock opening defined by a loading dock doorw
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Midwest Industrial Door, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Peter Kimener, Thomas Terrance Kimener, Kenneth A. Frank
  • Patent number: 7992875
    Abstract: A door weather strip includes a base attached along the outer periphery of a door frame and a hollow seal, and a clip attached to the base. The clip includes an engaging part fit in and enagageable with an attaching hole in the door frame and a retained part retained to the base. The retained part includes a retaining piece and a coupling portion coupling the center area of the retaining piece in the longitudinal direction and the engaging part. Using an inserting means equipped with an insertion pin which is nearly cylindrical and sharp-pointed, the insertion pin is pierced into the base so that the retaining piece is fed through the inner peripheral side of the insertion pin to the inner face side of the base, thereby attaching the clip to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Kubo, Hideaki Minoura, Tomonori Inoue
  • Patent number: 7877951
    Abstract: There is provided a caulk free window trim for use with a replacement window in a wall having a window jam. The window jam has a jam liner. The window trim includes a vertical rigid first member for disposing against a portion of the replacement window. An angled flexible second member extends away from a predetermined intermediate position on the vertical rigid first member and above an uppermost portion of the vertical rigid first member in contact with a portion of the jam liner to prevent air from infiltrating into the wall between the jam liner and the replacement window. No caulking or painting is required because the angled flexible second member together with the vertical rigid first member seals any minor gaps and produces an attractive finished product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Rodney Allen Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 7845648
    Abstract: Active seal assemblies employing active materials that can be controlled and remotely changed to alter the seal effectiveness, wherein the active seal assemblies actively change modulus properties such as stiffness, shape orientation, and the like. In this manner, in seal applications such as a vehicle door application, door opening and closing efforts can be minimized yet seal effectiveness can be maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Keefe, William Barvosa-Carter, Christopher P. Henry, Guillermo A. Herrera, Geoffrey P. Mc Knight, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7829786
    Abstract: A sealing system for sealing a component (102) within an electronic device (100) is provided. The system includes one or more apertures (206) within an internal housing (202). Further the system includes an adhesive (602), adhered on a first surface to a ledge (502) and bottom perimeter surface 402 of the component. Furthermore, the system includes an external housing (204). The external housing presses the perimeter of the component onto the ledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Fuerstenberg, Christopher D. Crawford, Jorge L. Garcia, Jody H. Akens, Salvador P. Magana
  • Patent number: 7651144
    Abstract: A seal between a base structure and a slide out structure of a recreational vehicle includes a panel section mounted to the base structure, the panel section including a front edge, a rear edge, a first side and a second side. A sealing element extends from the panel section, between the front edge and the rear edge, in a direction from the first side toward the second side of the panel section, the sealing element extending to contact the slide out structure and wipe moisture therefrom upon relative movement of the slide out structure and base structure. A catch flange extends upwardly from the rear edge of the panel section. A first side basin detail extends from the first side of the panel section, and a second side basin detail extends from the second side of the panel section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Clark Rubber & Plastic Company
    Inventors: Gregory M. Clark, James T. Clark, II, Jeff A. Lippus
  • Patent number: 7631514
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a refrigerator. According to an aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by means of insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker, a first heat exchanger for generating cold air to regulate the temperature in the ice-making chamber, and a second heat exchanger for generating cold air to regulate the temperature in the freezing and refrigerating chambers, wherein the first and second heat exchanger are components of a heat exchange cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7624538
    Abstract: Gate with an at least partially peripheral sealing means, with a retaining strip made from metal, within which the seal is arranged, wherein the seal may be activated pneumatically, with an adjustable plate which is located above the seal and is guided by guide means so as to be adjustable relative to the retaining strip, with an electrically conductive fabric strip which electrically connects the retaining strip to the plate, and with spring contacts which are arranged on the plate, are electrically conductive and may be brought into abutment with the rabbet of the installation frame provided on the building side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sommer Metallbau-Stahlbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Hautmann, Jürgen Hofmann, Oliver Sommer
  • Patent number: 7594290
    Abstract: A dock leveler sealing system that includes a barrier configured to be attached to a dock leveler and a hinged region located in the barrier and configured to facilitate one portion of the barrier moving with respect to a second portion of the barrier. The dock leveler sealing system also includes a biasing apparatus attached to the barrier and configured to position the first portion of the barrier at a bias relative to the second portion of the barrier. Also, a method of providing a seal between a loading dock and an area outside of the loading dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: 4Front Engineered Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Eungard, William Amundson, Laura M. Smith
  • Patent number: 7556324
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a door that is fastened to the heat-insulating housing thereof and a swell chamber as a door-opening aid. The chamber can be impinged upon by a pressure medium and is disposed between the rear side of the door and a face of the housing. A reservoir feeding the swell chamber with a pressure fluid is disposed on a face of the door and can be compressed by pulling a door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Benz
  • Patent number: 7540116
    Abstract: A mobile structure, such as a recreational vehicle, that includes a wall having first and second opposed surfaces and an edge surface. The edge surface defines an opening through the wall. A slide-out room or other enclosure is moveably located in the opening. A trim member having an integral seal is attached at the opening and the seal is engageable with a flange on the enclosure. A second trim member has an integrally attached flexible member projecting outwardly therefrom. The flexible member engages the enclosure and wipes moisture and debris from the enclosure as it is moved into a retracted position with the mobile structure. The two trim members have an overlapping portion with the opening and can be simultaneously secured to the wall by driving a mechanical fastener through the overlapped portions of the trim members. A method of manufacturing such mobile structures is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Lifetime Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Martinson
  • Patent number: 7413099
    Abstract: A fit-holding groove is formed by notching the outer periphery of a door element to be fitted to close a container body. A sealing element interposed between the container body and door element is composed of an endless portion to be fitted into the fit-holding groove, a protruding part projected from the peripheral corner of the endless portion, obliquely and outwardly with respect to the open front of the container body, forming a substantially acute angle between itself and the contact surface of the open front of the container body and a pair of fitting ribs projectively formed on the obverse surface of the endless portion so as to be fitted in contact with the compartmentalized inner wall of the fit-holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignees: Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Takahashi, Yoshiaki Fujimori, Yoshio Azuma, Yasuyuki Nishimura, Naohiro Horita
  • Patent number: 7401439
    Abstract: An adjustable draft excluder includes at least a first draft blocking body for sealing a gap between architectural members such as a bottom of a door, window, or the like, and an adjacent surface. The draft blocking body includes an elongated sleeve having first and second ends, a lengthwise adjustable support assembly disposed within the sleeve and extending between the first and second ends of the sleeve, and an insulating material contained within the sleeve, whereby the draft blocking body is lengthwise adjustable. Alternatively, the sleeve comprises two halves slidably engaged such that the sleeve length is adjustable. A retaining member may be attached to the draft blocking body to attach the draft blocking body to the architectural member, such that the adjustable draft excluder moves with the architectural member. The retaining member may be a second draft blocking body similar to the first draft blocking body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: HIP Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Steve G. Heroux
  • Patent number: 7395576
    Abstract: A wiper cover is mounted in an opening in a vehicle housing and receives a wiper arm which pivots within the opening. The cover has a hollow body mounted in the opening, a rear flap which projects upwardly and forwardly from a rear side of the body, and a front flap which projects upwardly and rearwardly from a front side of the body. The front flap extends above and overlaps a portion of the rear flap. The flaps substantially cover the opening and slidably engage the wiper arm as it pivots within the opening. The body has upper and lower flanges which form a groove therebetween which receives an edge of the housing. The flaps include a notch and a recess which receives the wiper arm when the wiper arm is in a park position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Dean Arden Boyce
  • Patent number: 7356967
    Abstract: A weatherseal has a backbone, which is curvilinear in cross section to define a flange engaging channel and a window receiving channel, wherein the backbone is free of structural metal. The backbone is sufficiently curvilinear to sufficiently distribute stress loading within the cross section to allow unsupported lengths of the weatherseal to operably retain, locate and direct the glass panel. The flange engaging channel can include an arcuate closed end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Schlegel Corporation
    Inventors: David T. Zwolinski, Kevin Willett
  • Patent number: 7313888
    Abstract: A device for preventing rattling of a door window glass for vehicles. In an activated condition, i.e. upon the upward and downward movement of the window glass, smoother upward and downward movement of the window glass is enabled, thereby eliminating noise due to frictional contact between the window glass and the weatherstrip. In an inactivated or stopped condition of the window glass, the inside walls of the weatherstrip are supportedly brought into close contact with the surfaces of the window glass, thereby also eliminating noise due to rattling of the window glass caused by external factors such as wind, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ja Kyung Ku
  • Patent number: 7258347
    Abstract: Active seal assemblies employing active materials that can be controlled and remotely changed to alter the seal effectiveness, wherein the active seal assemblies actively change modulus properties such as stiffness, shape orientation, and the like. In this manner, in seal applications such as a vehicle door application, door opening and closing efforts can be minimized yet seal effectiveness can be maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: GM Gobal Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Keefe, William Barvosa-Carter, Christopher P. Henry, Guillermo A. Herrera, Geoffrey P. Mc Knight, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7252294
    Abstract: A weather strip has a trim part adapted to be mounted on a flange, a seal part having a hollow portion and a cover lip. The trim part has a bottom wall portion, and an interior and an exterior side wall portions which constitute a pair of side wall portions and is formed into a shape, as a whole, having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and an insert of a center bonded type is embedded in the interior of the trim part so constructed. In a skeletal piece of the insert, an angle ?a formed by a bottom wall part embedded in the bottom wall portion and an internal part embedded in the interior side wall portion and an angle ?b formed by the bottom wall part and an external part embedded in the exterior side wall portion are made to form acute angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Yamada, Satoshi Inagaki, Hiroshi Kuzuya
  • Patent number: 7219899
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bulb seal capable of navigating both interior corners and exterior corners of an opening while maintaining consistent and adequate sealing capacity, the invention comprising a tubular member having internal strain-controlling cavities, vent holes, and a pair of external collapse-controlling protrusions, and an attachment member for receiving a component to be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Mantaline Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Kesseg
  • Patent number: 7204568
    Abstract: A sealing structure for a refrigerator is provided. The structure includes a gasket formed at a door of the refrigerator and at least two air pockets provided in the gasket. There is at least one connector, which separates the at least two air pockets from each other, and first convection cut-off members provided inside of the at least two air pockets. Additionally, the seal structure includes an inner case provided at an interior side of the refrigerator; a door liner, which lines the door, provided at an interior side of the refrigerator; and an air dam provided between the inner case and the door liner. Further, second convection cut-off members are provided in the air dam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyoung Keun Lim, Yang Gyu Kim, Se Young Kim, Chan Ho Chun, Youn Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 7178809
    Abstract: A roof weather strip for use in a convertible car is composed of a plurality of weather strip pieces corresponding to the folding of a sliding roof thereof. When the sliding roof is unfolded to form a roof of the convertible car, longitudinal end parts of adjacent roof weather strip pieces contact each other to define a continuously extending roof weather strip for sealing a side edge of the sliding roof. Each of the weather strip pieces has a base portion, a tubular door glass-sealing portion, and a sliding roof-sealing portion. In each of the longitudinal end parts, the sliding roof-sealing portion is formed tubular, and the tubular sliding roof-sealing portion and the tubular door glass-sealing portion are closed with end faces, respectively, which are provided in each of the longitudinal end parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kuzuya, Yoshihiro Kurosaki, Toshiya Miyashita
  • Patent number: 7178810
    Abstract: A closure seal for doors, hatches and the like comprising a pneumatically inflatable sealing element of generally known configuration housed in a specially constructed channel-shaped retainer. The sealing element comprises a flat, relatively stiff base portion of predetermined width and a flexible portion comprising spaced apart side walls, joined with the base, and an outer wall joining with the side walls to form a hollow expandable section. The base forms shoulders where it joins with the side walls. A retaining channel, formed of sheet metal and of generally U-shaped cross section, receives the sealing element and is formed with longitudinally spaced apart, opposed, inwardly projecting elements forming longitudinally spaced apart constrictions of slightly less width than the base of the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: The Presray Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel B. Kuhary
  • Patent number: 7178293
    Abstract: A gasket for a refrigerator includes a pivotable flexible gasket main body extending in a longitudinal direction, the gasket main body having a front contact side portion and a rear side portion opposite to the front contact side portion, the front contact side portion of the gasket being contactable with a front contact side portion of another gasket to form a contact interface; an elastic portion formed in the gasket main body, the elastic portion having an elastic connection portion, the elastic connection portion extending from the front contact side portion to the rear side portion; and a magnet provided within the gasket main body and located on the front contact side portion of the gasket main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Young-Nam Kim
  • Patent number: 7150358
    Abstract: An assembly for sealing a shaker screen assembly in a shaker separator includes a substantially inflexible gasket affixed to each screen support and a flexible gasket affixed to each screen support such that the screen frame rests atop the gaskets on the support around its periphery. A wedge block retainer bracket is affixed to each side wall of the shaker separator above the corresponding section of the screen frame. A wedge block is selectively drivable into the space between the wedge block retainer bracket and the corresponding section of the screen frame, providing force thereto sufficient to seat the screen frame against the inflexible gasket and to compress the flexible gasket between the screen frame and the screen support, thereby providing a substantially fluid tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brian Carr, Ari Hukki
  • Patent number: 7150089
    Abstract: An apparatus that has housing for containing objects. The housing has two heat-conducting partial-boundaries having an interface between them. The apparatus also has a medium for enhancing heat transfer across the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Scafidi
  • Patent number: 7125927
    Abstract: Paint or varnish composition comprising, as solids: from 10 to 50 parts by weight of at least one polyurethane in aqueous emulsion form; from 10 to 30 parts by weight of at least two acrylic polymers or copolymers in aqueous emulsion form; from 10 to 70 parts by weight of mineral or organic fillers; from 5 to 20 parts by weight of processing aids; and from 0 to 10 parts by weight of crosslinking agent; said composition furthermore comprising from 40 to 150 parts by weight of water, the parts being given by weight of active material in the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Nathalie Thenault, Celine Desaindes