Flange engaging strip with a carrier for engaging a flange having a varying thickness along a longitudinal dimension
First Claim
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1. A flange engaging strip for operatively gripping a flange having a longitudinal length and a thickness that is variable along the longitudinal length of the flange, said flange engaging strip comprising:
- a body extending along a longitudinal axis for corresponding to the longitudinal length of the flange with said body including a closed end and a pair of limbs extending from said closed end; and
a carrier disposed in said body and extending along said longitudinal axis with said carrier having a base disposed in said closed end and a pair of legs with one of said legs disposed in one of said limbs and another one of said legs disposed in another one of said limbs for operatively gripping the flange;
said closed end and said base each presenting a cross-sectional length transverse to said longitudinal axis with said cross-sectional length of both of said closed end and said base correspondingly varying along said longitudinal axis in a predetermined manner for corresponding to the thickness of the flange varying along the longitudinal length of the flange;
wherein said closed end and said limbs have a constant combined cross-sectional length transverse to said longitudinal axis such that when said cross-sectional length of said closed end decreases, a cross-sectional length of at least one said limbs correspondingly increases and when said cross-sectional length of said closed end increases, the cross-sectional length of at least one said limbs correspondingly decreases, thereby maintaining said constant combined cross-sectional length.
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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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A flange engaging strip for operatively gripping a flange having a longitudinal length and a thickness that is variable along the longitudinal length of the flange, said flange engaging strip comprising:
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a body extending along a longitudinal axis for corresponding to the longitudinal length of the flange with said body including a closed end and a pair of limbs extending from said closed end; and a carrier disposed in said body and extending along said longitudinal axis with said carrier having a base disposed in said closed end and a pair of legs with one of said legs disposed in one of said limbs and another one of said legs disposed in another one of said limbs for operatively gripping the flange; said closed end and said base each presenting a cross-sectional length transverse to said longitudinal axis with said cross-sectional length of both of said closed end and said base correspondingly varying along said longitudinal axis in a predetermined manner for corresponding to the thickness of the flange varying along the longitudinal length of the flange; wherein said closed end and said limbs have a constant combined cross-sectional length transverse to said longitudinal axis such that when said cross-sectional length of said closed end decreases, a cross-sectional length of at least one said limbs correspondingly increases and when said cross-sectional length of said closed end increases, the cross-sectional length of at least one said limbs correspondingly decreases, thereby maintaining said constant combined cross-sectional length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A vehicle assembly comprising:
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a flange having a longitudinal length and a thickness that is variable along said longitudinal length of said flange; a body extending along a longitudinal axis and corresponding to said longitudinal length of said flange with said body including a closed end and a pair of limbs extending from said closed end; and a carrier disposed in said body and extending along said longitudinal axis with said carrier having a base disposed in said closed end and a pair of legs with one of said legs disposed in one of said limbs and another one of said legs disposed in another one of said limbs for operatively gripping said flange; said closed end and said base each presenting a cross-sectional length transverse to said longitudinal axis with said cross-sectional length of both of said closed end and said base correspondingly varying along said longitudinal axis in a predetermined manner corresponding to said thickness of said flange varying along said longitudinal length of said flange; wherein said closed end and said limbs have a constant combined cross-sectional length transverse to said longitudinal axis such that when said cross-sectional length of said closed end decreases, a cross-sectional length of at least one said limbs correspondingly increases and when said cross-sectional length of said closed end increases, the cross-sectional length of at least one said limbs correspondingly decreases, thereby maintaining said constant combined cross-sectional length. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification