Tailgate sealing gasket
First Claim
1. A sealing gasket for sealing gaps;
- the sealing gasket comprising;
an elongated member made of a deformable and at least somewhat resilient polymeric material, the polymeric material being a closed cell sponge material;
the elongated member defining first and second lumens passing through at least a first length of the elongated member;
the elongated member having a first undeformed configuration in which a first cross-section of the elongated member, perpendicular to the first length, has two portions, a first triangular portion shaped generally like a triangle having two converging sides of generally equal length and a second semi-circular portion shaped generally like a semi-circle, which combine to form a generally teardrop-shaped cross-sectional shape;
the first lumen having a generally rounded cross-sectional shape when the elongated member is in the first undeformed configuration and the second lumen having a generally triangular cross-sectional shape when the elongated member is in the first undeformed configuration, except that a first side of the generally triangular cross-sectional shape of the second lumen, proximate an internal wall separating the first lumen from the second lumen, is generally rounded so as to conform generally to the rounded shape of the first lumen, which shape is generally partially reciprocated by the first side.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sealing gasket for sealing gaps adjacent to a pickup truck is provided. In alternate embodiments a combination pickup truck and sealing gasket is also provided. The sealing gasket of the present invention comprises an elongated member made of a deformable and a somewhat resilient polymeric material. The polymeric material is preferably a closed cell sponge material made of one of a number of polymeric materials which are the somewhat flexible, resilient, water resistant and the like. The cross-section of the elongated member, if divided into two parts, includes a generally triangular portion and a generally semi-circular portion which come together to form a teardrop-like shape. The elongated member preferably has a first lumen which is generally circular in shape when the sealing gasket is undeformed, and preferably a second lumen which has two converging tear surfaces which converge to join at one end and join to an arcuate inner surface at the other end. This sealing gasket is uniquely designed to be both resilient and deformable in a manner which enables the sealing gasket to be used in a variety of different orientations and positions to seal gaps between a pickup truck tailgate and other portions of the pickup truck through which dust and moisture may pass if the gaps are not filled.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A sealing gasket for sealing gaps;
- the sealing gasket comprising;
an elongated member made of a deformable and at least somewhat resilient polymeric material, the polymeric material being a closed cell sponge material;
the elongated member defining first and second lumens passing through at least a first length of the elongated member;
the elongated member having a first undeformed configuration in which a first cross-section of the elongated member, perpendicular to the first length, has two portions, a first triangular portion shaped generally like a triangle having two converging sides of generally equal length and a second semi-circular portion shaped generally like a semi-circle, which combine to form a generally teardrop-shaped cross-sectional shape;
the first lumen having a generally rounded cross-sectional shape when the elongated member is in the first undeformed configuration and the second lumen having a generally triangular cross-sectional shape when the elongated member is in the first undeformed configuration, except that a first side of the generally triangular cross-sectional shape of the second lumen, proximate an internal wall separating the first lumen from the second lumen, is generally rounded so as to conform generally to the rounded shape of the first lumen, which shape is generally partially reciprocated by the first side.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- the sealing gasket comprising;
-
8. A combination pickup truck and sealing gasket comprising:
- a pickup truck having a cargo box including a truck bed, a pair of side panels and a tailgate, the tailgate having an opened and a closed position with respect to a truck bed and the respective side panels; and
a sealing gasket secured to the pickup truck to fill gaps existing between the tailgate and at least one of the group consisting of an end of the truck bed and one of the respective side panels;
the sealing gasket including an elongated member made of a deformable and at least somewhat resilient polymeric material, the polymeric material being a closed cell sponge material;
the elongated member defining first and second lumens passing through at least a first length of the elongated member;
the elongated member having a first undeformed configuration in which a first cross-section of the elongated member, perpendicular to the first length, has two portions, a first triangular portion shaped generally like a triangle having two converging sides of generally equal length and a second semi-circular portion shaped generally like a semi-circle, which combine to form a generally teardrop-shaped cross-sectional shape;
the first lumen having a generally rounded cross-sectional shape when the elongated member is in the first undeformed configuration and the second lumen having a generally triangular cross-sectional shape when the elongated member is in the first undeformed configuration, except that a first side of the generally triangular cross-sectional shape of the second lumen, proximate an internal wall separating the first lumen from the second lumen, is generally rounded so as to conform generally to the rounded shape of the first lumen, which shape is generally partially reciprocated by the first side. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- a pickup truck having a cargo box including a truck bed, a pair of side panels and a tailgate, the tailgate having an opened and a closed position with respect to a truck bed and the respective side panels; and
Specification