Illuminating weatherseal

• US 20020152686A1
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schlegel Corporation (GKN PLC)
• Original Assignee: Schlegel Corporation (GKN PLC)
• Inventors: Whitehead, William
• Application Number:
  US09/837,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20020152686A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/475.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/00 Sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/273 for enclosing or housing devices for purposes other than sealing, e.g. cables
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/80 specially adapted for opening panels, e.g. doors for non-fixed roofs B60J10/90
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/82 for movable panels in roofs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/78 for generating luminous strips, e.g. for marking trim component edges
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/919 Seal including electrical feature

Abstract

An illuminating weatherseal for sealing an interface between confronting surfaces and illuminating the adjacent environment is disclosed. The illuminating weatherseal includes light line extending along a longitudinal dimension of the weatherseal, wherein the light is emitted along a path defining a non zero angle with the longitudinal dimension. A switch can be incorporated into the illuminating weatherseal for selectively actuating the light line.

Claims

1. An illuminating weatherseal for sealing a gap intermediate two confronting surfaces, the confronting surfaces moveable between a spaced apart open position and an adjacent closed position, the weatherseal, comprising:

(a) an elongate elastomeric body selected to attach to one of the confronting surfaces, the elastomeric body including a sealing portion being spaced from a remaining contacting surface in the open position of the confronting surfaces and contacting the remaining confronting surface in the closed position of the confronting surfaces, the elastomeric body including a seating channel extending along a longitudinal dimension of the elastomeric body; and

(b) a light line disposed in the seating channel.

2. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the light line emits light along a path defining a non zero angle with the longitudinal dimension.

3. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric body includes a carrier portion.

4. The weatherseal of claim 3, wherein the carrier portion includes a reinforcing member.

5. The weatherseal of claim 4, wherein the reinforcing member is a metal or a thermoplastic.

6. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the light line includes one of a fiber optic, an LED, a fluorescent or an incandescent element.

7. The weatherseal of claim 6, wherein the fiber optic is one of a glass or a plastic.

8. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the light line is a side-emitting fiber optic.

9. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric body includes a trim portion.

10. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 1, further comprising a switch integral with the elastomeric body.

11. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 10, wherein the switch is one of a pressure sensitive switch, a capacitive switch or a touch sensitive switch.

12. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 10, wherein the switch creates a switching signal to control illumination of the light line.

14. The weatherseal assembly of claim 13, wherein the body is elastomeric and includes a carrier portion and a sealing portion.

15. The weatherseal assembly of claim 14, wherein the carrier portion includes a seating channel sized to receive the light line.

16. The weatherseal assembly of claim 13, wherein the light line includes a pair of fiber optics.

17. The weatherseal assembly of claim 13, wherein the light line includes a side emitting fiber optic.

18. The weatherseal assembly of claim 13, further comprising a switch integral with the body.

19. The weatherseal assembly of claim 13, wherein the switch is one of a capacitive switch, a pressure switch or a touch sensitive switch.

13. A weatherseal assembly comprising:

(a) a weatherseal body having longitudinal dimension; and

(b) a fiber optic light line connected to the body, the fiber optic light line selected to emit light along a path non parallel to the longitudinal dimension.

20. An illuminating weatherseal assembly having a weatherseal body having a cross sectional dimension and a light line extending along a longitudinal dimension of the weatherseal, the light line having a cross sectional area less that the cross sectional area of the weatherseal body and selected to emit light along a path defining a non zero angle with the longitudinal dimension.

21. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 20 wherein the weatherseal body includes an elastomeric body connected to the light line.

22. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 21, wherein the elastomeric body includes a seating channel sized to receive the light line.

23. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 20 wherein the light line includes one of a fiber optic, an LED, a fluorescent or an incandescent element.

24. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 20 further comprising a switch integral with the weatherseal.

25. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 24, wherein the switch is one of a capacitive switch, a pressure sensitive switch or a touch sensitive switch.

27. The trim piece of claim 26, further comprising a gripping fin extending into the U shaped cross section.

28. The trim piece of claim 26, wherein the reinforcing member is embedded in the body.

29. The trim piece of claim 26, wherein the reinforcing member is a metal or a thermoplastic.

30. The trim piece of claim 26, wherein the light line includes one of a fiber optic, an LED, a fluorescent or an incandescent element.

31. The trim piece of claim 30, wherein the fiber optic is one of a glass or a plastic.

32. The trim piece of claim 26, wherein the light line is a side-emitting fiber optic.

33. The elongate trim piece of claim 26, further comprising a switch integral with the body.

34. The elongate trim piece of claim 33, wherein the switch is one of a pressure sensitive switch, a capacitive switch or a touch sensitive switch.

36. The illuminating assembly of claim 35, wherein the body is elastomeric and includes a sealing portion.

37. The illuminating assembly of claim 35, wherein the switch is one of a pressure sensitive switch, a capacitive switch or a touch sensitive switch.

38. The illuminating assembly of claim 35, wherein the body includes a carrier portion, a trim portion and a sealing portion.

39. The illuminating assembly of claim 35, wherein the switch extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body.

40. The illuminating assembly of claim 35, wherein the switch includes a field effect transistor.

41. The illuminating assembly of claim 35, further comprising a sensing electrode embedded in the body.

26. An elongate trim piece, comprising:

(a) elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a U shaped cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis;

(b) a reinforcing member having a corresponding U shaped cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis; and

(c) a light line connected to the body to emit light along a path non parallel to the longitudinal axis.

35. An illuminating assembly, comprising

(a) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis;

(b) a light line connected to the body along the longitudinal axis; and

(c) a switch integral with the elastomeric body.