Weatherseal Having Flexible Projection

• US 20110131887A1
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Amesbury Group Incorporated (Tyman Plc)
• Original Assignee: Amesbury Group Incorporated (Tyman Plc)
• Inventors: Henry, Joseph, Huntress, John E.
• Application Number:
  US12/959,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20110131887A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/493.1
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/22 by means of elastic edgings, e.g. elastic rubber tubes; by means of resilient edgings, e.g. felt or plush strips, resilient metal strips E06B7/18 takes precedence

Abstract

A weatherseal includes a T-shaped base having a first edge, a second opposing edge, and an intermediate portion between the first edge and the second opposing edge. A substantially continuous projection is secured to and projects from at least one of the first edge and the second opposing edge. A sealing element extends from the intermediate portion. Methods for manufacturing the weatherseal include extruding a substantially continuous projection onto at least one of the first edge and the second opposing edge. The weatherseal may be inserted into a frame member defining a substantially T-shaped slot. Methods for inserting the weatherseal include inserting the first edge into the T-shaped slot at an angle through a throat opening, and forcing the second opposing edge into the T-shaped slot through the throat opening.

Claims

1. A weatherseal comprising:

a T-shaped base comprising a first edge, a second opposing edge, and an intermediate portion between the first edge and the second opposing edge;

a substantially continuous projection secured to and projecting from at least one of the first edge and the second opposing edge; and

a sealing element extending from the intermediate portion.

2. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises at least one of a pile material, a foam profile, and a hollow bulb.

3. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the substantially continuous projection is secured to and projects from each of the first edge and the second opposing edge.

4. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a material comprising a first stiffness and the projection comprises a material comprising a second stiffness that is less than the first stiffness.

5. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the substantially continuous projection comprises a material having a Rockwell Shore A hardness less than about 80.

6. The weatherseal of claim 5, wherein the substantially continuous projection comprises a material having a Rockwell Shore A hardness less than about 40.

7. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the substantially continuous projection comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomers, flexible polyvinyl chloride, and ethylene vinyl acetate.

8. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a material having a Rockwell Shore D hardness greater than about 20.

9. The weatherseal of claim 8, wherein the base comprises a material having a Rockwell Shore D hardness greater than about 60.

10. The weatherseal of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, rigid polyvinyl chloride, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

11. A method for manufacturing a weatherseal, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a T-shaped base comprising a first edge, a second opposing edge, and an intermediate portion between the first edge and the second opposing edge; and

extruding a substantially continuous projection onto at least one of the first edge and the second opposing edge.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the substantially continuous projection is secured to and projects from each of the first edge and the second opposing edge.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a sealing element extending from the intermediate portion.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sealing element is extruded onto the intermediate portion.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the base providing step comprises extruding the base and wherein the projection extruding step comprises co-extruding the projection with the base.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the base comprises a material comprising a first stiffness and the projection comprises a material comprising a second stiffness that is less than the first stiffness.

17. A fenestration frame comprising:

a frame member defining a substantially T-shaped slot; and

a weatherseal comprising;

a T-shaped base comprising a first edge, a second opposing edge, and an intermediate portion between the first edge and the second opposing edge, wherein the base is located substantially within the T-shaped slot;

a sealing element extending from the intermediate portion; and

a substantially continuous projection secured to and projecting from at least one of the first edge and the second opposing edge.

18. The fenestration frame of claim 17, wherein the weatherseal defines a weatherseal width.

19. The fenestration frame of claim 18, wherein the T-shaped slot comprises a nominal width substantially equal to or less than the weatherseal width to promote a close fit or an interference fit.

20. The fenestration frame of claim 17, wherein the sealing element comprises a sealing element width proximate the intermediate portion.

21. The fenestration frame of claim 20, wherein the T-shaped slot comprises a throat width larger than the sealing element width.

22. The fenestration frame of claim 17, wherein the substantially continuous projection is secured to and projects from the first edge and the second opposing edge.

23. A method for inserting a weatherseal into a frame member defining a substantially T-shaped slot with a throat opening, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a weatherseal comprising;

a T-shaped base comprising a first edge, a second opposing edge, and an intermediate portion between the first edge and the second opposing edge,

a sealing element extending from the intermediate portion, and

a substantially continuous projection secured to and projecting from at least one of the first edge and the second opposing edge;

inserting the first edge into the T-shaped slot at an angle through the throat opening; and

forcing the second opposing edge into the T-shaped slot through the throat opening.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the forcing step utilizes at least one of a roller and an insertion finger.