Weather strip

• US 5,207,029 A
• Filed: 07/09/1992
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nozaki, Masahiro, Koide, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): KANNAN, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US07/910,871
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 49/495, 49/488, 49/491, 49/490, 49/497, 49/498, 49/475, 49/506
• US Class Current: 49/495.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/15 characterised by the material
• 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 10/86 arranged on the opening panel

Abstract

A weather strip is provided having a first seal, a second seal and a connecting portion so as to be engaged by a small engaging force with a flange having engaging portions on both sides thereof. The connecting portion, being made of hard material, connects a receiving portion of a first seal and a receiving portion of a second seal. A longitudinal groove or a bending portion made of soft material is provided near the receiving portion of the second seal of the connecting portion. The weather strip can be easily engaged with a seal supporting portion of the flange by a bending action of the connecting portion.

Claims

1. A weather strip for engaging a flange, said flange having first and second engaging portions, said weather strip comprising:

a first seal having a first receiving portion;

a second seal having a second receiving portion;

a connecting portion connecting said first and second receiving portions; and

means for bending defined in said connecting portion and being disposed adjacent said second receiving portion, said second receiving portion including means for fastening defined on an end thereof, said first receiving portion engaging with said first engaging portion of the flange, pressure applied to said connecting portion permitting said second receiving portion to bend about said bending means permitting engagement of said second receiving portion and said fastening means with said second engaging portion of the flange so as to affix the weather strip to the flange.

2. The weather strip according to claim 1, wherein said connecting portion is made of solid rubber.

3. The weather strip according to claim 1, wherein said first seal is a tubular seal made of the sponge rubber.

4. The weather strip according to claim 1, wherein an inner side of said second seal is made of sponge rubber and an outer side thereof is made of solid rubber.

5. The weather strip according to claim 1, wherein said means for bending include a groove defined in said connecting portion.

6. The weather strip according to claim 1, wherein said means for bending includes material which is more flexible than material of said connecting portion so as to facilitate bending.

7. The weather strip according to claim 1, wherein said first receiving portion includes a fastening element.

8. The weather strip according to claim 1, wherein said first receiving portion has a U-shape.

9. The weather strip according to claim 8, wherein said first receiving portion includes an insert.

10. The weather strip according to claim 9, wherein said first receiving portion includes supporting lips which engage with said first engaging portion of the flange.

11. A method of installing a weather strip to a flange, the weather strip including a first seal having a first receiving portion;

a second seal having a second receiving portion;

a connecting portion connecting said first and second receiving portions; and

means for bending defined in said connecting portion and being disposed adjacent said second receiving portion, said second receiving portion including means for fastening defined on an end thereof, the flange including an upper surface having first and second engaging portions disposed at opposing ends thereof, the method comprising the steps of ;

engaging said first receiving portion with said first engaging portion of the flange;

disposing said connecting portion so as to engage with said upper surface of the flange;

bending said connecting portion about said bending means; and

engaging said second receiving portion and said fastening means with said second engaging portion of the flange so as to affix the weather strip to the flange.