Low compression-force tpe weatherseals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018328103-A1
Application number	US-201816042030-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 23, 2018
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	Nov 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A weatherseal has a stiffener and a foam profile. A first portion of the foam profile is connected to the stiffener. A second portion of the foam profile is joined to the first portion at a hinge. The first and second foam profile portions have inner surfaces facing substantially towards each other and outer surfaces facing substantially away from each other. The foam profile defines at least one continuous elongate lumen. A portion of the foam profile has a resin coating.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A weatherseal comprising:
a stiffener configured to be inserted into a kerf of a doorframe; and a foam profile comprising:
a first profile portion connected to the stiffener;
a second profile portion comprising a tip; and
an elongate section extending between the first profile portion and the second profile portion, wherein a first hinge is formed between the first profile portion and the elongate section and an opposite second hinge is formed between the second profile portion and the elongate section, and wherein the first hinge and the second hinge each define a portion of the foam profile that bends when the tip of the second profile portion is acted upon by an external force.

22 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein when the foam profile is in an uncompressed position, the second profile portion is disposed at an acute angle to the first profile portion.

23 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein upon application of the external force to the tip of the second profile portion, the second hinge bends prior to the first hinge.

24 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein the stiffener comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg is connected to the first profile portion.

25 . The weatherseal of claim 24 , wherein the elongate section defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis is substantially orthogonal to the first leg of the stiffener.

26 . The weatherseal of claim 24 , wherein the first profile portion is connected to the first leg along substantially all of a width of the first leg.

27 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein the foam profile comprises an outer surface, and wherein the weatherseal further comprises a resin coating at least a portion of the outer surface.

28 . The weatherseal of claim 27 , wherein the resin coating on the first profile portion is reinforced.

29 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein the first profile portion has a cross-sectional shape different than a cross-sectional shape of the second profile portion.

30 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first profile portion and the second profile portion defines a lumen.

31 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein the first profile portion defines a first lumen, and wherein the second profile portion defines at least one second lumen.

32 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein the foam profile comprises a closed-cell foam.

33 . The weatherseal of claim 32 , wherein the closed-cell foam is thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

34 . The weatherseal of claim 32 , wherein the closed-cell foam is ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM).

35 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein the foam profile comprises a compression load deflection of less than about 1.25 pounds per foot, when compressed to a thickness of about ⅜ inch at a rate of about 1 inch/minute.

36 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein the stiffener is substantially rigid.

37 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein when the foam profile is in a compressed position, an overcompression volume is defined between the first profile portion and the second profile portion.

38 . The weatherseal of claim 37 , wherein when the foam profile is in an overcompressed position, the second profile portion is disposed at least partially within the overcompression volume.

39 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein a lumen is defined within the elongate section.

40 . The weatherseal of claim 21 , wherein the weatherseal is configured to resist water penetration.

Assignees

• Amesbury Group Inc

Inventors

• Mertinooke Peter
• Huntress John

Classifications

• E06B7/2309 Primary

  with a hollow sealing part · CPC title

• E06B7/2314 Primary

  characterised by the material · CPC title

• B29C47/0042

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B29C47/0066

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B29C47/003

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic