Sealing assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sealing assembly comprising:
- a door including a flexible body that is movable between an open position and a closed position; and
a seal movable between an engaged position in which the seal is positioned in engagement with a portion of the flexible body when the flexible body is in the closed position and a disengaged position in which the seal moves away from the portion of the flexible body as the flexible body moves from the closed position to the open position such that the flexible body is spaced from the seal to minimize frictional engagement with the seal;
wherein the seal includes a first body and a second body;
wherein the seal includes a plurality of legs disposed between the first and second bodies;
wherein each of the legs includes at least one hinge which assists in allowing movement of the legs relative to the first body;
wherein the at least one hinge defines a groove regardless of the position of the seal relative to the door, and wherein the groove is defined into each of the legs;
each of the legs includes a first end and a second end spaced from each other; and
each of the legs is linear between the first and second ends regardless of the position of the seal relative to the door.
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Abstract
A sealing assembly includes a door and a seal. The door includes a flexible body that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The seal is movable between an engaged position in which the seal is positioned in engagement with a portion of the flexible body when the flexible body is in the closed position and a disengaged position in which the seal moves away from the portion of the flexible body as the flexible body moves from the closed position to the open position such that the flexible body is spaced from the seal to minimize frictional engagement with the seal.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sealing assembly comprising:
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a door including a flexible body that is movable between an open position and a closed position; and a seal movable between an engaged position in which the seal is positioned in engagement with a portion of the flexible body when the flexible body is in the closed position and a disengaged position in which the seal moves away from the portion of the flexible body as the flexible body moves from the closed position to the open position such that the flexible body is spaced from the seal to minimize frictional engagement with the seal; wherein the seal includes a first body and a second body; wherein the seal includes a plurality of legs disposed between the first and second bodies; wherein each of the legs includes at least one hinge which assists in allowing movement of the legs relative to the first body; wherein the at least one hinge defines a groove regardless of the position of the seal relative to the door, and wherein the groove is defined into each of the legs;
each of the legs includes a first end and a second end spaced from each other; and
each of the legs is linear between the first and second ends regardless of the position of the seal relative to the door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A sealing assembly comprising:
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a support structure defining an opening; a door including a flexible body that is movable between an open position and a closed position, with the door covering the opening when in the closed position and at least partially uncovering the opening when in the open position; and a seal including a first body fixed to the support structure and a second body spaced from the first body, with at least the second body movable between an engaged position in which the second body is positioned in engagement with a portion of the flexible body when the flexible body is in the closed position and a disengaged position in which the second body moves away from the portion of the flexible body as the flexible body moves from the closed position to the open position such that the flexible body is spaced from the seal to minimize frictional engagement with the seal; wherein the seal includes a plurality of legs disposed between the first and second bodies; wherein each of the legs includes a plurality of hinges spaced from each other; wherein the hinges of each of the legs assist in allowing movement of the legs relative to the first body; wherein each of the legs includes a first end and a second end spaced from each other; wherein each of the legs is linear between the first and second ends regardless of the position of the seal relative to the door; wherein one of the hinges is disposed at the first end of the respective one of the legs and another one of the hinges is disposed at the second end of the respective one of the legs such that each of the legs is linear between respective hinges.
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19. A sealing assembly comprising:
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a door including a flexible body that is movable between an open position and a closed position; and a seal movable between an engaged position in which the seal is positioned in engagement with a portion of the flexible body when the flexible body is in the closed position and a disengaged position in which the seal moves away from the portion of the flexible body as the flexible body moves from the closed position to the open position such that the flexible body is spaced from the seal to minimize frictional engagement with the seal; wherein the seal includes a first body fixed to a support structure and a second body spaced from the first body, with the second body engaging the portion of the flexible body when in the engaged position; wherein the second body includes a bulb that engages the portion of the flexible body when in the engaged position; wherein the bulb includes an outer surface and an inner surface, with the inner surface defining an aperture along a longitudinal axis, and the inner surface is circumferentially closed relative to the longitudinal axis; wherein the seal includes a plurality of legs disposed between the first and second bodies, and wherein each of the legs includes at least one hinge which assists in allowing movement of the legs relative to the first body; wherein the at least one hinge is further defined as a plurality of hinges, with each of the legs including a first end and a second end spaced from each other, and a respective one of the hinges connected to the first and second ends of the legs such that respective hinges connects the first end of respective legs to the first body and other respective hinges connects the second end of respective legs to the second body; wherein the legs are split into a first row of legs and a second row of legs that are spaced side-by-side each other, with the first row of legs substantially aligning with each other and spaced from each other substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and with the second row of legs substantially aligning with each other and spaced from each other substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.
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Specification