Sealing, trimming or finishing strips

• US 20070113482A1
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Henniges Automotive Sealing Systems North America Incorporated (Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Henniges Automotive Sealing Systems North America Incorporated (Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Todt, Bernd, Dumke, Lothar
• Application Number:
  US10/580,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20070113482A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/498.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/16 consisting of two or more plastic materials having different physical or chemical properties B60J10/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/248 having two or more tubular cavities, e.g. formed by partition walls
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/27 having projections, grooves or channels in the longitudinal direction for separately inserted fastening means, e.g. beads or strips, B60J10/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/33 characterised by the configuration of the retaining lips
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/84 arranged on the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/86 arranged on the opening panel

Abstract

A sealing, trimming or finishing strip (4) comprises a longitudinally extending sealing part (6) defining a longitudinal hollow interior which becomes partially compressed in use, the hollow interior of the sealing part being provided with means (27) for controlling the compression of the sealing part (6). In an embodiment described, the compression controlling means (27) comprises an interior wall (22) spanning the hollow of the sealing part and thereby defining first and second longitudinally extending hollows (24, 26). The interior wall (22) includes a portion of relatively large cross-section, bulbous cross-section. The compression controlling means (27) may provide a “stop” which prevents or substantially reduces any further compression of the sealing part (6) beyond a desired amount.

Claims

1. A sealing, trimming or finishing strip comprising a longitudinally extending sealing part defining a longitudinal hollow interior which becomes partially compressed in use, the hollow interior of the sealing part being provided with means for controlling the compression of the sealing part, the compression controlling means comprising an interior wall spanning the hollow interior of the sealing part and thereby defining first and second longitudinally extending hollows, and said interior wall including a controlling portion for controlling said compression having at least one abutment surface for abutting an internal surface of said hollow interior when relative movement between said internal surface and said abutment surface occurs in use in response to compression of the sealing part, wherein said portion has a cross-section that is:

relatively large,

at least one of elliptical and bulbous, and

at least one of solid, cellular and solid, foamed across the entire cross-section.

2. The strip according to claim 1, including two of said abutment surfaces for abutting spaced apart portions of said internal surface of said hollow interior.

3. The strip according to claim 1, in which the or each abutment surface is convex.

4. The strip according to claim 1, in which the interior wall comprises a harder material than the a material comprising the sealing part.

5. The A strip according to claim 1, in which the interior wall comprises a softer material than a material comprising the sealing part.

6. The strip according to claim 1, in which the interior wall comprises a first portion having a first hardness and the a second portion having a second hardness, the first and second hardnesses being different.

7. The strip according to claim 6, in which the first portion defines a portion of the interior wall including the abutment surface that faces the first longitudinally extending hollow and is harder than the second portion of the interior wall.

8. The strip according to claim 1, in which the abutment surface of the interior wall comprises a plurality of at least one of longitudinally extending protrusions and ridges.

9. The strip according to claim 8, in which a number of the at least one of the longitudinally extending protrusions and ridges protrude into the first longitudinally extending hollow and a number of the at least one of the longitudinally extending protrusions and ridges protrude into the second longitudinally extending hollow.

10. The strip according to claim 1, in which the sealing part is carried by a mounting part for mounting the sealing part at a position to seal an opening.

11. The A strip according to claim 10, in which the interior wall (22) spans the hollow interior of the sealing part near to but separated from the mounting part.

12. The strip according to claim 10, in which the mounting part is relatively rigid compared to the sealing part.

13. The strip according to claim 10, in which the mounting part comprises at least one of a reinforcing core and a carrier.

14. The strip according to claim 10, in which the mounting part is channel shaped.

15. The strip according to claim 14, in which the mounting part comprises integral gripping lips positioned on opposite inside facing walls of the channel shaped mount part.

16. The strip according to claim 15, in which the gripping lips are relatively soft compared to the mounting part.

17. The strip according to claim 10, in which the mounting part is made of an extruded material.

18. The strip according to claim 1, in which the sealing part is made of an extruded material.

19. The strip according to according to claim 18, in which the sealing part is carried by a mounting part for mounting the sealing part at a position to seal an opening, and in which the mounting part and the sealing part are co-extruded.

20. The strip according to claim 1, in which the strip also comprises a cosmetic lip.

21. The strip according to claim 20, in which the cosmetic lip extends from a region where the mounting part and the sealing part meet and covers the mounting part.

22. The strip according to claim 10, in which at least one of the mounting part and the sealing part are provided with a fabric covering.

23. The strip according to claim 1, wherein the sealing part comprises at least one of cellular and foamed material.

24. The strip according to claim 1, wherein the compression controlling means serves to reinforce the hollow interior and resists partial collapse of the hollow interior when longitudinal bending of the strip occurs so as to bend a longitudinal axis which extends along the hollow interior.

25-29. -29. (canceled)