Illuminating weatherseal

• US 20040144035A1
• Filed: 10/03/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlegel Corporation (GKN PLC)
• Original Assignee: Schlegel Corporation (GKN PLC)
• Inventors: Whitehead, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,082,721 B2
• 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 (10) can seal a gap between confronting surfaces and illuminate the adjacent environment. The illuminating weatherseal includes a light emitting line (80) extending along a longitudinal dimension of the weatherseal (10), wherein the light is emitted from the light emitting line (80) along a path non coincident with the longitudinal dimension. A switch can be incorporated into the illuminating weatherseal (10) for selectively actuating the light emitting line (80).

Claims

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

(a) an elongate polymeric body selected to attach to the first confronting surface, the polymeric body including a sealing portion adapted to be spaced from the second confronting surface in the spaced apart open position of the confronting surfaces and the sealing portion adapted to contact the second confronting surface in the adjacent closed position of the confronting surfaces, the polymeric body including a seating channel extending along a longitudinal dimension of the polymeric body; and

(b) a light generating line disposed in the seating channel for generating and emitting light.

2. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the light generating line emits light.

3. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the polymeric 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 generating line is one of a fiber optic, a light emitting diode and 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 generating line includes a side-emitting fiber optic cable.

9. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the polymeric 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.

74. The weatherseal of claims 1, 42, 55 or 65, wherein the polymeric body includes at least one of a plastic, thermoplastic, thermosetting, thermoplastic elastomer, ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene.

75. The weatherseal of claims 1 or 3, wherein the light generating line extends along less than an entire length of the polymeric body.

13. A weatherseal assembly comprising:

(a) a weatherseal body having a longitudinal dimension; and

(b) a fiber optic light line connected to the body, the fiber optic light line selected to emit light along a portion of the longitudinal dimension.

14. The weatherseal assembly of claim 13, wherein the body is polymeric 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 fiber optic light line includes a pair of fiber optics.

17. The weatherseal assembly of claim 13, wherein the fiber optic 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.

20. An illuminating weatherseal assembly having a weatherseal body having a cross sectional dimension and a light generating line extending along a longitudinal dimension of the weatherseal body, the light generating line having a cross sectional area less that the cross sectional area of the weatherseal body and selected to generate and emit light.

21. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 20, wherein the weatherseal body includes a polymeric body connected to the light generating line.

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

23. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 20, wherein the light generating line is one of a fiber optic, a light emitting diode and 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.

26. An elongate trim piece, comprising:

(a) an 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.

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.

35. An illuminating assembly, comprising

(a) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis;

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

(c) a switch integral with the elongate body, the switch being 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.

42. A weatherseal for sealing a gap intermediate a first and a second confronting surfaces, the first and second confronting surfaces moveable between a spaced apart open position and an adjacent closed position, the weatherseal, comprising:

(a) an elongate polymeric body selected to attach to the first confronting surface, the polymeric body including a sealing portion adapted to be spaced from the second confronting surface in the spaced apart open position of the confronting surfaces and the sealing portion adapted to contact the second confronting surface in the adjacent closed position of the confronting surfaces, the polymeric body including a seating channel extending along a longitudinal dimension of the polymeric body; and

(b) a light transmitting line disposed in the seating channel, the light transmitting line transmitting light along a length of the light transmitting line.

43. The weatherseal of claim 42, wherein the light transmitting line emits light.

44. The weatherseal of claim 42, wherein the polymeric body includes a carrier portion.

45. The weatherseal of claim 44, wherein the carrier portion includes a reinforcing member.

46. The weatherseal of claim 45, wherein the reinforcing member is a metal or a thermoplastic.

47. The weatherseal of claim 42, further comprising at least one of a fiber optic, a light emitting diode and an incandescent element.

48. The weatherseal of claim 47, wherein the fiber optic is one of a glass or a plastic.

49. The weatherseal of claim 42, wherein the light transmitting line is a side-emitting fiber optic cable.

50. The weatherseal of claim 42, wherein the polymeric body includes a trim portion.

76. The weatherseal of claims 42 or 65, wherein the light transmitting line extends along less than an entire length of the polymeric body.

51. A weatherseal assembly having a weatherseal body having a cross sectional dimension and a light transmitting line extending along a longitudinal dimension of the weatherseal body, the light transmitting line having a cross sectional area less that the cross sectional area of the weatherseal body and selected to transmit light.

52. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 51 wherein the weatherseal body includes a polymeric body connected to the light transmitting line.

53. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 52, wherein the polymeric body includes a seating channel sized to receive the light transmitting line.

54. The illuminating weatherseal of claim 51, further comprising one of a fiber optic, a light emitting diode and an incandescent element.

55. A weatherseal for sealing a gap intermediate a first and a second confronting surface, the first and second confronting surfaces moveable between a spaced apart open position and an adjacent closed position, the weatherseal, comprising:

(a) an elongate polymeric body selected to attach to the first confronting surface, the polymeric body including a sealing portion adapted to be spaced from the second confronting surface in the spaced apart open position of the confronting surfaces and the sealing portion adapted to contact the second confronting surface in the adjacent closed position of the confronting surfaces; and

(b) a light transmitting line connected to the polymeric body, the light transmitting line transmitting light along a length of the light transmitting line.

56. The weatherseal of claim 55, wherein the light transmitting line emits light.

57. The weatherseal of claim 55, wherein the polymeric body includes a carrier portion.

58. The weatherseal of claim 57, wherein the carrier portion includes a reinforcing member.

59. The weatherseal of claim 58, wherein the reinforcing member is a metal or a thermoplastic.

60. The weatherseal of claim 55, further comprising at least one of a fiber optic, a light emitting diode and an incandescent element.

61. The weatherseal of claim 60, wherein the fiber optic is one of a glass or a plastic.

62. The weatherseal of claim 55, wherein the light transmitting line is a side-emitting fiber optic cable.

63. The weatherseal of claim 55, wherein the polymeric body includes a trim portion.

64. The weatherseal of claim 55, wherein the light transmitting line extends along less than an entire length of the polymeric body.

65. A weatherseal for sealing a gap intermediate a first and a second confronting surfaces, the first and second confronting surfaces moveable between a spaced apart open position and an adjacent closed position, the weatherseal, comprising:

(a) an elongate polymeric body selected to attach to the first confronting surface, the polymeric body including a sealing portion adapted to be spaced from the second confronting surface in the spaced apart open position of the confronting surfaces and the sealing portion adapted to contact the second confronting surface in the adjacent closed position of the confronting surfaces; and

(b) a light generating line connected to a length of the polymeric body for generating and emitting light.

66. The weatherseal of claim 65, wherein the light generating line emits light.

67. The weatherseal of claim 65, wherein the polymeric body includes a carrier portion.

68. The weatherseal of claim 67, wherein the carrier portion includes a reinforcing member.

69. The weatherseal of claim 68, wherein the reinforcing member is a metal or a thermoplastic.

70. The weatherseal of claim 65, wherein the light generating line is one of a fiber optic, a light emitting diode and an incandescent element.

71. The weatherseal of claim 70, wherein the fiber optic is one of a glass or a plastic.

72. The weatherseal of claim 70, wherein the light generating line includes a side-emitting fiber optic cable.

73. The weatherseal of claim 65, wherein the polymeric body includes a trim portion.