GB1587827A

GB1587827A - Channel-shaped strip structures

Info

Publication number: GB1587827A
Application number: GB99/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Draftex Development AG
Current assignee: Draftex Development AG
Priority date: 1977-12-21
Filing date: 1977-12-21
Publication date: 1981-04-08

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CHANNEL-SHAPED STRIP STRUCTURES (71) We, DRAFTEX DEVELOP MENT A.G., a joint stock company organised under the laws of Switzerland, of Schönbühl 3, 6300 Zug, Switzerland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to reinforcing cores or carriers made of metal for reinforcing flexible channel-shaped strip structures such as for draught-excluding or sealing purposes and/or for attachment to edge flanges around doors or other openings or the like.

Such strip structures may be used in vehicle body construction, for example.

According to the invention, there is provided a metal carrier for reinforcing a channel-shaped strip structure, comprising a series of side-by-side U-shaped elements arranged to define a channel shape and which are connected to each other by flexible connecting links, each element being connected to the adjacent element by one link which is relatively wide and by another link which is relatively narrow.

According to the invention, there is also provided a method of making a channelshaped strip structure having a relatively flexible metal carrier encased in plastics or rubber material, comprising the steps of forming a metal blank so as to produce a series of elements arranged side-by-side and parallel to each other and each connected to the adjacent element by one relatively wide connecting link and by one relatively narrow and frangible connecting link, encasing the elements and links in plastics or rubber material and, either before or after the latter step, bending each element into Ushape so as to form the channel-shape structure, and, either during one or more of the preceding steps or thereafter, causing the or the majority of the relatively narrow links to break.

Reinforcing cores or carriers embodying the invention for channel-shaped strip structures, and channel-shaped strip structures embodying the invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective sectional view of one form of the channel-shaped strip structure; Figure 2 is a perspective view of one form of the metal carrier in the strip structure of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a metal blank which has been partly processed to form the carrier of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of another form of metal carrier which may be used in the strip structure of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of a metal blank which has been partly processed to form the carrier of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 5 but showing a modified form of the carrier of Figures 4 and 5.

As shown in Figure 1, the strip structure comprises a metal carrier 5 (to be described in more detail below) which is embedded in plastics or rubber material. The latter may be formed over the metal carrier 5 by an extrusion or similar process, and is advantageously formed so as to provide a sealing section 16 and/or gripping ribs 18.

In use, the strip structure is-placed over an edge flange such as surrounding a door opening in a vehicle body, and the sides of the channel grip the flange and hold the structure in place. The ribs 18 help to increase this gripping function and also provide a sealing function in that they resist the ingress of moisture which may tend to run around the flange, inside the channel.

When held in position in this way, the channel-shaped strip structure presents the sealing section 16 towards the door for the opening, and is so positioned that the door closes onto it, compressing it to provide a draught and weatherproof seal. To facilitate this, the section 16 may be made of softer material than the material 14. A known duplex type of extrusion process may be used to extrude the materials 14 and .16 to have different hardnesses, or the sealing section 16 may be formed separately and then adhesively or otherwise secured to the material 14.

The structure shown in Figure 1 is particularly suitable for the luggage boot or trunk opening of a vehicle body where the flange may be directed approximately perpendicular to the plane of the opening. In other applications, the flange may be directed generally parallel to the plane of the opening, and in such a case the sealing section 16 could be arranged to run along the side, instead of the base, of the outside of the channel.

Figures 2 and 3 show one form which the metal carrier 5 may take. As shown in these Figures, it comprises a series of U-shaped metal elements 6 which are connected together by short connecting links 8A and 8B. The connecting links run along both sides of the channel and are arranged at approximately the mid points of the legs of the elements 6, but it will be noted that the width of each element 8A is considerably greater than that of each element 8B.

The links 8A and 8B hold the elements 6 together but nevertheless provide the carrier with good flexibility in the horizontal plane. In particular, the links 8B may be so designed as to fracture, so that the elements then are only interconnected by the relatively wide links 8A, thus enhancing the flexibility of the resultant strip structure. The breakage of the narrow links 8B may be arranged to take place during production, preferably after the carrier has been encased in the plastics or rubber material 14, or, instead, the structure may be arranged so that the thin links 8B merely break, or tend to break, when the structure is bent to match a particular radius. The wide and narrow links 8A and 8B alternate with each other both along the length of the channel and across its width, as shown in Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 correspond to Figures 2 and 3 but show an alternative arrangement in which the relatively wide links 8A are arranged all along one side of the channel while the relatively narrow links 8B are all arranged along the other side of the channel. Again, the relatively narrow links 8B can be arranged to break in the same manner as described in connection with Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 5 and shows a further modification in which the relatively narrow links 8B are positioned to run along the distal edges of the elements 6 on one side of the channel. Again they may be arranged to break in the same manner as previously described.

The metal carriers shown are particularly advantageous for use with the strip structure shown in Figure l where the sealing section 16 runs along the outside of the base of the channel making the strip structure suitable for fitting to a luggage or trunk opening. In such an application, the corners or bends in the flange will require good flexibility of the carrier about the horizontal plane, and this is achieved by positioning the relatively wide links 8A as shown in the Figures and arranging for the relatively narrow links 8B to break.

It will be appreciated that the strip structures may be manufactured by first processing a thin flat rectangular blank to produce the structures shown in Figures 2, 4 or 6 and then covering it with the plastics or rubber material 14 (such as by using a cross-head extruder), either before or after bending the formed blank into channel-shape.

The blanks shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6 may be formed by appropriately slotting the original metal sheet. Instead, however, they may be formed by appropriately cutting thin slits through the original sheet and then stretching it lengthwise so as to open out the slits into appropriately positioned slots.

The carriers illustrated are advantageous in that the provision of the narrow links 8B (together with the wide links 8A) gives the carrier considerably more strength and shape-stability during the extrusion process - where lack of shape-stability can cause the carrier to become distorted - than would be the case if only the relatively wide links 8A were provided. On the other hand, however, the fact that the relatively narrow links 8B are arranged to fracture ensures that, in the final structure, the carrier elements 6 are only interconnected (at least at the bends in the carrier) by the relatively wide links 8A, thus giving enhanced flexibility.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A metal carrier for reinforcing a channel-shaped strip structure, comprising a series of side-by-side U-shaped metal elements arranged to define a channel shape and which are connected to each other by flexible connecting links, each element being connected to the adjacent element by one link which is relatively wide and by another link which is relatively narrow.

2. A carrier according to claim 1, in which the relatively wide links are all positioned on one side of the channel and the relatively narrow links are all positioned on the other side of the channel.

3. A carrier according to claim 1, in which the relatively wide and the relatively

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. sealing section 16 towards the door for the opening, and is so positioned that the door closes onto it, compressing it to provide a draught and weatherproof seal. To facilitate this, the section 16 may be made of softer material than the material 14. A known duplex type of extrusion process may be used to extrude the materials 14 and .16 to have different hardnesses, or the sealing section 16 may be formed separately and then adhesively or otherwise secured to the material 14. The structure shown in Figure 1 is particularly suitable for the luggage boot or trunk opening of a vehicle body where the flange may be directed approximately perpendicular to the plane of the opening. In other applications, the flange may be directed generally parallel to the plane of the opening, and in such a case the sealing section 16 could be arranged to run along the side, instead of the base, of the outside of the channel. Figures 2 and 3 show one form which the metal carrier 5 may take. As shown in these Figures, it comprises a series of U-shaped metal elements 6 which are connected together by short connecting links 8A and 8B. The connecting links run along both sides of the channel and are arranged at approximately the mid points of the legs of the elements 6, but it will be noted that the width of each element 8A is considerably greater than that of each element 8B. The links 8A and 8B hold the elements 6 together but nevertheless provide the carrier with good flexibility in the horizontal plane. In particular, the links 8B may be so designed as to fracture, so that the elements then are only interconnected by the relatively wide links 8A, thus enhancing the flexibility of the resultant strip structure. The breakage of the narrow links 8B may be arranged to take place during production, preferably after the carrier has been encased in the plastics or rubber material 14, or, instead, the structure may be arranged so that the thin links 8B merely break, or tend to break, when the structure is bent to match a particular radius. The wide and narrow links 8A and 8B alternate with each other both along the length of the channel and across its width, as shown in Figure 2. Figures 4 and 5 correspond to Figures 2 and 3 but show an alternative arrangement in which the relatively wide links 8A are arranged all along one side of the channel while the relatively narrow links 8B are all arranged along the other side of the channel. Again, the relatively narrow links 8B can be arranged to break in the same manner as described in connection with Figures 2 and 3. Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 5 and shows a further modification in which the relatively narrow links 8B are positioned to run along the distal edges of the elements 6 on one side of the channel. Again they may be arranged to break in the same manner as previously described. The metal carriers shown are particularly advantageous for use with the strip structure shown in Figure l where the sealing section 16 runs along the outside of the base of the channel making the strip structure suitable for fitting to a luggage or trunk opening. In such an application, the corners or bends in the flange will require good flexibility of the carrier about the horizontal plane, and this is achieved by positioning the relatively wide links 8A as shown in the Figures and arranging for the relatively narrow links 8B to break. It will be appreciated that the strip structures may be manufactured by first processing a thin flat rectangular blank to produce the structures shown in Figures 2, 4 or 6 and then covering it with the plastics or rubber material 14 (such as by using a cross-head extruder), either before or after bending the formed blank into channel-shape. The blanks shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6 may be formed by appropriately slotting the original metal sheet. Instead, however, they may be formed by appropriately cutting thin slits through the original sheet and then stretching it lengthwise so as to open out the slits into appropriately positioned slots. The carriers illustrated are advantageous in that the provision of the narrow links 8B (together with the wide links 8A) gives the carrier considerably more strength and shape-stability during the extrusion process - where lack of shape-stability can cause the carrier to become distorted - than would be the case if only the relatively wide links 8A were provided. On the other hand, however, the fact that the relatively narrow links 8B are arranged to fracture ensures that, in the final structure, the carrier elements 6 are only interconnected (at least at the bends in the carrier) by the relatively wide links 8A, thus giving enhanced flexibility. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A metal carrier for reinforcing a channel-shaped strip structure, comprising a series of side-by-side U-shaped metal elements arranged to define a channel shape and which are connected to each other by flexible connecting links, each element being connected to the adjacent element by one link which is relatively wide and by another link which is relatively narrow.

narrow links alternate with each other along the length of each side of the channel.

4. A carrier according to any preceding claim, in which the relatively narrow links are arranged so that each interconnects the distal ends of adjacent elements.

5. A carrier according to any preceding claim, in which the relatively narrow links are frangible.

6. A channel-shaped strip structure, comprising a metal carrier according to any preceding claim, embedded in flexible covering material.

7. A method of making a channelshaped strip structure having a relatively flexible metal carrier encased in plastics or rubber material, comprising the steps of forming a metal blank so as to produce a series of elements arranged side-by-side and parallel to each other and each connected to the adjacent element by one relatively wide connecting link and by one relatively narrow and frangible connecting link, encasing the elements and links in plastics or rubber material and, either before or after the latter step, bending each element into Ushape so as to form the channel-shape structure, and, either during one or more of the preceding steps or thereafter, causing the or the majority of the relatively narrow links to break.

8. A metal carrier substantially as described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A metal carrier substantially as described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A metal carrier substantially as described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A channel-shaped strip structure substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A channel-shaped strip structure substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A channel-shaped strip structure substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of making a channel shaped strip structure, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.