Beading profile strip

• US 4,695,499 A
• Filed: 08/29/1986
• Issued: 09/22/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trim-Lok Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trim-Lok Incorporated
• Inventors: Whitener, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Alexander S.
• Application Number:
  US06/902,221
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 428/122, 428/358, 428/138, 49/490, 52/716
• US Class Current: 428/122
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/33 characterised by the configuration of the retaining lips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24198 Channel-shaped edge component [e.g., binding, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 including nonapertured component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2902 Channel shape

Abstract

A beading profile strip or trim strip comprises an extruded resilient member disposed about a metallic core formed into a U-shaped channel member having one or more sheet engaging structures for gripping the edge of a sheet or blade, such as a car door. The engaging structures comprise a downward angled leg having a foot attached thereto, and a downward angled stop adjacent to and above the leg, for frictional engagement of the sheet. The strip is easy to install, but difficult to remove.

Claims

1. A beading profile strip comprising:

a. a semi-rigid rectilinear core formed into a U-shaped strip having a channel;

b. a yielding resilient coating disposed about and covering said core forming a coated U-shaped strip having a channel;

c. said coating U-shaped strip comprising a pair of limbs interconnected by an arcuate connecting member and an open portion opposite the arcuate connecting member;

d. at least one leg integrally formed from said resilient coating and projecting from one limb of said coated U-shaped strip inwardly into the channel of the coated U-shaped strip and downwardly at an angle to the limb in a direction extending away from the open portion of the coated U-shaped strip, the leg running continuously throughout the length of said coated U-shaped strip and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said coated U-shaped strip;

e. a foot attached to the leg at the innermost portion of the leg by a joining ankle;

f. at least one stop integrally formed from said resilient coating and projecting from the same limb to which the leg is attached, the stop projecting inwardly into the channel of the coated U-shaped strip and downwardly at an angle to the limb in a direction extending away from the open portion of the coated U-shaped strip;

g. said stop located adjacent to said leg but offset from it so that the stop is always further away from the arcuate connecting portion and closer to the open portion of the coated U-shaped strip; and

h. said stop being shorter than said leg and said ankle of said leg being vertically aligned with the inwardly projecting end of said stop;

i. whereby when a sheet is inserted into the channel through the open portion, the stop does not come in contact with the sheet and does not serve to retard entrance of the sheet and when the sheet is withdrawn from the channel, the stop acts as a fulcrum against which the ankle of the leg must pivot, allowing the foot to rotate upward, be compressed and squeezed between the sheet and stop to thereby provide a resistance force to retard the sheet from being withdrawn from the channel.

2. A beading profile strip in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stop is parallel to said leg.

3. A beading profile strip in accordance with claim 2 wherein said foot further comprises a curved outer surface which faces into the channel.

4. A beading profile strip in accordance with claim 3 wherein said leg, including said ankle and said foot, and said stop together comprise a sheet engaging structure, and said beading profile strip further comprises four said sheet engaging structures, with two first said sheet engaging structures disposed on one limb located to one side of said channel in spaced relation to each other, and the remaining two said sheet engaging structures disposed on the second limb located to the opposite side of said channel and opposing said first two sheet engaging structures.

5. A beading profile strip in accordance with claim 4 wherein a respective one of said first sheet engaging structures is located directly opposite a respective one of said remaining two sheet engaging structures and a gap is defined between opposed sheet engaging structures.

6. A beading profile strip in accordance with claim 3 wherein said leg, including said ankle and said foot, and said stop together comprise a sheet engaging structure, and said beading profile strip further comprises two said sheet engaging structures, with a first sheet engaging structure disposed on one limb located to one side of said channel, and the second sheet engaging structure disposed on the second limb located to the opposite side of said channel and opposing the first sheet engaging structure.

7. A beading profile strip in accordance with claim 6 wherein the first and second sheet engaging structures are located directly opposite each other and a gap is defined between the sheet engaging structures.

8. A beading profile strip in accordance with claim 3 wherein said leg, including said ankle and said foot, and said stop together comprise a sheet engaging structure, and said beading profile strip further comprises two said sheet engaging structures disposed on one limb located to one side of said channel in spaced relation to each other.

9. A beading profile strip in accordance with claim 3 wherein said leg, including said ankle and said foot, and said stop together comprise a sheet engaging structure, and said beading profile strip further comprises three said sheet engaging structures, with two first said sheet engaging structures disposed on one limb located to one side of said channel in spaced relation to each other, and the remaining said sheet engaging structure disposed on the second limb located to the opposite side of said channel and opposing said two first sheet engaging structures.

10. A beading profile strip in accordance with claim 9 wherein the remaining sheet engaging structure is located between said two first sheet engaging structures and a gap is defined between opposed sheet engaging structures.

11. A beading profile strip in accordance with claim 1 wherein said resilient coating is formed from a polymer and said semi-rigid core is formed of sheet steel.

12. A beading profile strip comprising:

a. a yielding resilient core forming a U-shaped strip having a channel;

b. said U-shaped strip comprising a pair of limbs interconnected by an arcuate connectng member and an open portion oposite the arcuate connecting member;

c. at least one leg integrally formed from said resilient core and projecting from one limb of said U-shaped strip inwardly into the channel of the U-shaped strip and downwardly at an angle to the limb in a direction extending away from the open portion of the U-shaped strip, the leg running continuously throughout the length of said U-shaped strip and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said U-shaped strip;

d. a foot attached to the leg at the innermost portion of the leg by adjoining ankle;

e. at least one stop integrally formed from said resilient core and projecting from the same limb to which the leg is attached, the stop projecting inwardly into the channel of the U-shaped strip and downwardly at an angle to the limb in a direction extending away from the open portion of the U-shaped strip;

f. said stop located adjacent to said leg but offset from it so that the stop is always further away from the arcuate connecting portion and closer to the open portion of the U-shaped strip; and

g. said stop being shorter than said leg and said ankle of said leg being vertically aligned with inwardly projecting end of said stop;

h. whereby when a sheet is inserted into the channel through the open portion, the stop does not come in contact with the sheet and does not serve to retard entrance of the sheet and when the sheet is withdrawn from the channel, the stop acts as a fulcrum against which the ankle of the leg must pivot, allowing the foot to rotate upward, be compressed and squeezed between the sheet and stop to thereby provide a resistance force to retard the sheet from being withdrawn from the channel.