CA1073748A - Weatherseal manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A weatherseal is made by preparing a long, thin strip of pile material and cross-head extruding a resin base having a relatively thick, generally flat support portion formed on the back of the pile strip and a relatively thin portion U-shaped in cross section and joined to opposite side edge regions of one face surface of the support portion while arching over the pile strip.
While the resin material is still plastic, a substantially lower pressure is produced outside the U-shaped portion than inside this portion to expand this portion away from the support portion and reduce the thickness of the wall of the U-shaped portion. The resin material is set with the U-shaped portion expanded over the pile strip. Finally each side of the U-shaped portion is cut to leave a pair of thin, spaced-apart resilient fins extending away from the support portion on opposite sides of the pile strip.

Description

`~ 10'73746~

This appli~ation is a division of ~pplication Serial ~o. 2B7,102 file~ Septem~er 20, 1977 whicll in turn is a division of application Serial l~o. 217,Gll fil'e~
January 9, 1975.
~ ile wcathcrseals l~avin~ associate~ sealing fins runnincJ longitudinally witll tl~e pile ~a~erial have ~ellerally ~own a~vantages. ~uch sealin~ fins have becn applie~l to pile weatherseals in various ways, and thcy have been located in the center of the pile, and alon~ both side ed~Jes of the pile. The invention involves recognition of a simpler and more economical way of Ma];ing a finncd pile weatherseal having fins e~ten~linc3 alon~3 both side edcle~s of the pil~. The invention aims a~ economy, faster and simpler production m~tllo~s, and ~uality construction of the resultin~ weatherseal. -.
~ SU~ Y OF Tll~ IllV~l~TIO~1:
To this end, the invention consists of a weatherseal making method comprising: (a) preparing a long, thin strip of pile material; (b) extruding a resin material base having a relatively thick,-generally flat support portion fon~ on the back of said pile strip anda relatively thin portion U-shaped in cross-section and joined to opposite side edge regions of one face surface of said support portion and arching over said pile strip; (c) while said resin material is still plastic, producing a substantially lower pressure ii outside said U-shaped portion than inside said U-shaped portion to expand said U-shaped portion away from said support portion and reduce the thickness of the wall of said U-shaped portion; (d) setting said resin material with said U-shaped portion expanded over said pile strip; and (e) cutting each side of said U-shaped portion at a predetermined distance rom said support portion to leave a pair of thin, spaced-apart, resilient fins extending away from . ~.

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said one face surface of said support portion on opposite sides of said pile strip.
In a product aspect, the invention consists of a weatherseal comprising: (a) a re]atively thick, flat resin base formed as a long narrow strip; (b) a long, narrow strip of pile material secured to one face surface of said resin base and - extending along a longitudinal central region of said base; and (c) a pair of relatively thin, spaced-apart resilient fins extend-ing away from said one face surface of said base on opposite sides of said strip of pile material.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred process for practicing the invention, also showing cross-sectional views of the product at each stage of the process; and ~ ig. 2 is an end elevational view of products.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Flg. 1 shows a process for producing doubl~-fin, pile weatherseals such as shown in Fig. 2. The weatherseal includes a fibrous pile material, a fin on each side of the pile, and a resin base, and is made in indefinite lengths that can be cut and fitted in place to meet many weatherseal requirements. Such weatherseals are commonly used around doors and windows, and the pile material provides resilience and a low-friction, long-wear-life sealing surface. The fins on opposite sides of the piles wipe against the surface to be sealed and make the seal more , ~ ' ~

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airtiyht and waterti~ht than pile alone could accomplish.
In the method of Fig. 1, a strip of pile material 19 having a base 20 is pre-prepared in device 21 i~ supply lengths available for feeding to cross-head extruder 22 which cross-head extrudes a base over pile 19. The base includes relatively thick, flat support portion 11 and U-shaped portion 12 secured to side edge regions 13 of support 11 and arching over pile 19. Then a pressure differential device 14 expands the U-shaped portion 12 to arch it higher over pile 19 and reduce the thickness of the walls of the U-shaped portion12. Then cutting device lS cuts U-shaped portion 12 as illustrated, to leave thin, resilient fins 16 on opposite sides of pile material 19. ~he expansion of the U-shaped portion 12 stretches the fins 16 to a resilient, thin sheet form that is optimum for these fins 16 and is thinner than could be practically extruded as an original shape. `
Separate pile strips 24 with associated bases 25 as shown in Fig. 2 secured between fins 16 can be fed to a cross-head extruder for practicing the method of Fig. 1.

~0 Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling wlthin the spirit of the invention.
For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate the many variations in materials, structures, and method steps that can be made in putting the inventive method into practice.

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Claims (4)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A weatherseal making method comprising:
(a) preparing a long, thin strip of pile material;
(b) extruding a resin material base having a relatively thick, generally flat support portion formed on the back of said pile strip and a relatively thin portion U-shaped in cross-section and joined to opposite side edge regions of one face surface of said support portion and arching over said pile strip;
(c) while said resin material is still plastic, producing a substantially lower pressure outside said U-shaped portion than inside said U-shaped portion to expand said U-shaped portion away from said support portion and reduce the thickness of the wall of said U-shaped portion;
(d) setting said resin material with said U-shaped portion expanded over said pile strip; and (e) cutting each side of said U-shaped portion at a predetermined distance from said support portion to leave a pair of thin, spaced-apart, resilient fins extending away from said one face surface of said support portion on opposite sides of said pile strip.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined distance approximately coincides with the height of said pile above said one face surface.

3. A weatherseal comprising:
(a) a relatively thick, flat resin base formed as a long narrow strip;
(b) a long, narrow strip of pile material secured to one face surface of said resin base and extending along a longitudinal central region of said base; and (c) a pair of relatively thin, spaced-apart resilient fins extending away from said one face surface of said base on opposite sides of said strip of pile material.

4. The weatherseal of claim 3 wherein said fins are sub-stantially the same height as said pile above said one face surface.