Flange engaging strip with a carrier for engaging a flange having a varying thickness along a longitudinal dimension

• US 20070209313A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlegel Corporation (GKN PLC)
• Original Assignee: Schlegel Corporation (GKN PLC)
• Inventors: Willett, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,997,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/716.800
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/18 provided with reinforcements or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/22 having varying cross-section in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/32 using integral U-shaped retainers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A flange engaging strip is provided for engaging a vehicle flange, wherein the flange has a varying thickness along a longitudinal dimension. The flange engaging strip has a closed end and projecting limbs and can include a carrier having a corresponding base and projecting legs that define a constant combined cross sectional length, wherein the cross sectional length of the closed end varies corresponding to the thickness of the flange along a longitudinal dimension of the flange engaging strip.

Claims

1. A flange engaging strip for operatively gripping a flange having a known variable thickness along a longitudinal dimension of the flange, the flange engaging strip comprising a carrier and having a cross section including a closed end and a pair of projecting limbs, prior to operable engagement with the flange a cross sectional dimension of the closed end varying along a length of the flange engaging strip in a predetermined manner corresponding to the known variable thickness of the flange.

2. The flange engaging strip of claim 1, wherein the relative orientation of the limbs is substantially constant and independent of the variable thickness of the flange.

3. The flange engaging strip of claim 1, wherein the limbs are substantially parallel independent of the variable thickness of the flange.

4. The flange engaging strip of claim 1, wherein the closed end and the limbs have a constant combined cross sectional length and a cross sectional length of the closed end varies along a longitudinal dimension of the flange engaging strip.

5. The flange engaging strip of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional length of the closed end and one limb varies along a longitudinal dimension of the flange engaging strip.

6. The flange engaging strip of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional length of the closed end and both limbs vary along the longitudinal dimension of the flange engaging strip.

7. The flange engaging strip of claim 1, wherein the limbs have a substantially constant relative orientation along the longitudinal dimension of the flange engaging strip.

8. The flange engaging strip of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional dimension of the closed end varies along a length of the flange engaging strip in a predetermined manner corresponding to a known variable thickness of the flange, and the relative orientation of the limbs is substantially constant and independent of the variable thickness of the flange.

9. The flange engaging strip of claim 1, further comprising a polymeric body encapsulating the carrier.

10. The flange engaging strip of claim 1, wherein the carrier has a cross sectional length defined by a pair of legs and an interconnecting base, the legs and the base having a constant combined cross sectional length and a cross sectional length of the base varying along a longitudinal dimension of the carrier.

11. The flange engaging strip of claim 10, wherein the cross sectional length of the base and one leg varies along the longitudinal dimension of the carrier.

12. The flange engaging strip of claim 10, wherein the cross sectional length of the base and both legs vary along the longitudinal dimension of the carrier.

13. The flange engaging strip of claim 10, wherein the legs have a substantially constant relative orientation along the longitudinal dimension of the carrier.

14. The flange engaging strip of claim 10, wherein the cross sectional dimension of the base varies along a length of the flange engaging strip in a predetermined manner corresponding to a known variable thickness of the flange, and the relative orientation of the legs is substantially constant and independent of the variable thickness of the flange.

15. The flange engaging strip of claim 1, further comprising a grip fin projecting from one of the limbs.

16. The flange engaging strip of claim 15, wherein the orientation of the grip fin relative to the flange is independent of the variable thickness of the flange.

17. The flange engaging strip of claim 15, wherein the location of the grip fin relative to the flange is dependent on the variable thickness of the flange.

18. The flange engaging strip of claim 1, further comprising a sealing member connected to one of the limbs and the closed end.

19. The flange engaging strip of claim 18, wherein the orientation of the sealing member relative to the flange is independent of the variable thickness of the flange.

20. The flange engaging strip of claim 18, wherein the location of the sealing member relative to the flange is dependent on the variable thickness of the flange.

21. The flange engaging strip of claim 18, wherein the sealing member is a bulb.

22. The flange engaging strip of claim 18, wherein the sealing member is a flap.

23. The flange engaging strip of claim 18, wherein the sealing member is a lip.

24. A method of engaging a flange engaging strip on a flange, the flange having a known variable thickness along a longitudinal dimension, the flange engaging strip including a carrier and having a cross section including a closed end and a pair of projecting limbs, the method comprising:

(a) installing a first section of the flange engaging strip having a previously formed first dimension of the closed end with a first length of the flange having a first width; and

(b) installing a contiguous second section of the flange engaging strip having a previously formed different second dimension of the closed end with a second length of the flange of a different second width.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising maintaining a relative orientation of the projecting limbs independent of the predetermined variation in thickness of the flange along a longitudinal dimension.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising forming the flange engaging strip to include a polymeric body embedding at least a portion of the carrier.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising forming the flange engaging strip to include a grip fin.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising forming the flange engaging strip to include a sealing member.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising maintaining a relatively constant location of the sealing member relative to the flange independent of the variable thickness of the flange.