GB2172640A

GB2172640A - Sealing strip

Info

Publication number: GB2172640A
Application number: GB08507432A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold William Edward Pike
Original assignee: Silent Channel Products Ltd
Current assignee: Silent Channel Products Ltd
Priority date: 1985-03-21
Filing date: 1985-03-21
Publication date: 1986-09-24
Also published as: GB8507432D0; FR2579153A3; ES293098U; ES293098Y; GB2172640B; FR2579153B3; DE8604761U1

Abstract

A sealing strip, in which each side wall (3,4) is provided with at least one projection (7,8,9,10) at least one of which has in cross-section a neck region (11, 12) and an enlarged head region (13, 14) having an arcuate surface (15, 16) to abut the flange on which it is mounted. The arrangement is such that, an attempt to remove the strip from the flange causes each rolling projection (7,8) to tend to roll into greater interference with the flange, thereby increasing resistance to the removal of the flange. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Strip structure This invention relates to a strip structure and, in particular, to a strip structure intended to be attached to a flange, for example a flange on a motor vehicle. Such strip structures are known as flange finishers and they may optionally be provided with a projecting sealing part intended to abut another component and to form a seal therewith.

Strip structures in the form of flange finishers are well known and normally they have a generally U-shaped body having a base region and two opposing side wall regions, with a reinforcing member embedded in the U-shaped body.

Often, but not always, it is desirable for the flange finisher to be able to be forced onto a flange reasonably easily, and for it to be considerably more difficult to remove the flange finisher from the flange; this is to facilitate the fitting of the flange finisher to, for example, motor vehicles on an assembly line and yet to minimise the risk of accidental displacement of the flange finisher from the flange.

With a view to increasing the resistance to removal of a flange finisher from a flange, whilst still permitting the flange finisher to be fitted to a flange without undue force, it is known to provide the opposing side wall regions of the body with projections which project into the channel between the side wall regions and which are inclined away from the open end of the channel and towards the base region of the channel. This disposition of the projections facilitates the fitting of the flange finisher to a flange and yet enhances the resistance to removal of the flange finisher from the flange.

The projections employed to date for this purpose generally have a cross-section, as taken at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the strip structure, which tapers towards the free end of the projections, although some projections, again as seen in cross-section, are approximately parallelsided on those surfaces leading to the free end.

Research continues to provide flange finishers which are relatively easy to fit to a flange and yet difficult to remove therefrom. In the very different field of sealing strips, where different considerations regarding fitting to a motor vehicle apply, an invention was covered in British Patent Application No. 3527/72 (British Patent No. 1400456), which invention related to a sealing strip comprising a sealing part and a supporting part; wherein the supporting part, as seen in cross-section at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the strip, has an elongate form with two major opposing sides intended for insertion in, and engagement with, the opposing walls of a channel member (e.g. a metal channel); wherein the supporting part as seen in said cross-section, has at least one flexible projection which extends from one of the two major opposing sides, terminates in an enlargement of that projection and terminates, when in the relaxed state, beyond the plane of that one opposing side; wherein either the projection extends from the base of a recess in that one opposing side of the supporting part, or the projection extends from that one opposing side of the supporting part and a portion of the projection defines part of a recess in that one opposing side of the supporting part, the recess being capable of accommodating the enlargement when, under force, the projection is bent towards the elongate form: and wherein there is located within the supporting part a longitudinally extending reinforcing core.

The projection shown in the drawings of British Patent No. 1400456 comprises a flexible stem and a circularly cylindrical enlargement constituting a termination of the projection: when the sealing strip of that earlier invention has its supporting part located in, say, a metal channel member and an attempt is made to remove the sealing strip from the channel member, the reaction between the projection and the channel member will cause the projection to flex and the enlargement to roll into greater interference with the channel member, thereby enhancing the resistance to removal of the sealing strip from the channel member. The projection employed in the sealing strip of Patent No.

1400456 can be regarded as a rolling projection which has a locking portion and the concept can be regarded as a rolling lock.

It will be appreciated that in the sealing strip covered by British Patent No. 1400456 the rolling projection is directed outwardly from the supporting part and is intended for engagement with one of the limbs of the channel member which is to hold the sealing strip. Thus the significant difference between the sealing strip of the earlier invention and flange finishers in general can readily be appreciated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a strip structure of the flange finisher type which is reasonably easy to fit onto a flange and yet which is relatively difficult to remove from the flange, thereby minimising the likelihood of accidental removal.

According to the present invention there is provided a strip structure intended for attachment to a flange, which strip structure comprises a generally U-shaped body in which is embedded a reinforcing member, the body having a base region and two opposed side wall regions, which between them define a channel intended for accommodating a flange, each side wall region being provided with at least one projection which projects into the channel and is inclined towards the base region, wherein at least one of the projections present in the strip structure is a rolling projection having, as seen in a cross-section through the strip structure, a free head region and a neck region, the head region being enlarged relative to the neck region and the head region having an arcuate surface in that portion intended to abut said flange when the latter is accommodated within the channel, the arrangement being such that, when a flange is accommodated in the channel with the projections abutting the flange, an attempt to remove the strip structure from the flange causes each rolling pro jection to tend to roll into greater interference with the flange, thereby increasing resistance to the removal of the flange.

It can thus be appreciated that the present invention resides in the realisation that the rolling lock concept present in the sealing strip of the invention of 1400456 is applicable in the totally different field of flange finishers.

The mode of operation is similar in that there is the desired interference between the rolling projection and, in the case of the present invention, the flange whereas in the earlier invention there was the comparable interference between the rolling projection and the metal channel member; however, the significant difference with the present invention is that the or each rolling projection is located in an internal region of what can be regarded as the supporting part of the strip structure in the form of the flange finisher.

Preferably, but not necessarily, each side wall region of the body of the strip structure of the present invention is provided with a plurality of projections, generally two or three projections. By having a plurality of projections the flange finisher can be secured on a flange in a stable manner without any lateral wobbling.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the or each projection from one side wall region is a rolling projection of the type referred to above whereas the or each projection from the other side wall region is of a different configuration, for example one which tapers towards its free end or is generally parallel on those sides leading to the free end.

Although it is possible for rolling projections to be provided on both side wall regions of the body, it is preferred for there to be two or three rolling projections on one side wall region of the body and reasonably rigid projections of a different configuration on the other side wall region of the body. This has the advantage that the non-rolling projections serve as reasonably firm points which bear on one face of the flange, whereas the rolling projections, with their interference action, are then free to act on the other face of the flange.

When there is a plurality of projections on each of the side wall regions of the body, the projections on one side wall region may be offset with respect to, or directly opposite, the projections on the other side wall region of the body.

The strip structure of the invention may include a sealing part which projects from the body, but the sealing part is optional.

The exterior of the strip structure may be decorated for aesthetic purposes, or may be covered, at least in certain regions, with flock to reduce resistance or for aesthetic purposes.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-section through an embodiment of a strip structure in accordance with the present invention, ready for use; and Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the same strip structure as in Figure 1 but in the form immediately after extrusion, before the widened channel defined by splayed-out side wall regions is reduced to provide the configuration of Figure 1.

In the drawings the strip structure has a body generally indicated by the reference numeral 1, the body 1 having a base portion 2, and two opposed side wall regions 3 and 4 projecting in the same direction from the opposite ends of the base region 2. Embedded in the body 1 is a reinforcing member 5, which is sometimes known as a reinforcing core and which can be traditional in construction.

Projecting from the corner region between the base region 2 and the side wall region 4 is a sealing portion 6 but, as mentioned above, this is an optional feature.

The side wall region 3 is provided with two rolling projections 7 and 8, and the side wall region 4 is provided with two non-rolling projections 9 and 10. The projections 9 and 10 on side wall region 4 face towards the side wall region 3, and the rolling projections 7 and 8 on side wall region 3 face towards the side wall region 4. In the illustrated embodiment the projections 7 and 8 are offset from the projections 9 and 10.

The projections 7 and 8 have respective neck regions 11 and 12 which lead to enlarged head regions 13 and 14, respectively. The head regions 13 and 14 have respective arcuate surfaces 15 and 16 which can be, but need not be, involute in configuration. It is these arcuate surfaces 15 and 16 which, in use of the strip structure, are to abut one face of a flange (not shown) which is inserted into the channel defined by the base region and side wall regions 3 and 4.Other surface regions 17 and 18 of the head portions 13 and 14 are generally rectilinear but, as these surfaces will not abut the flange, their configuration is not of significance, except that these surface regions 17 and 18 of the head portions 13 and 14 need to be of such a configuration as to allow the projections 7 and 8 to pivot clockwise (in Figure 1) about the neck portions 11 and 12 when a flange is being introduced into the aforementioned channel.

The outer face of the side wall region 4 is provided, after extrusion of the strip structure, with an additional layer 19 which can be a layer provided for aesthetic purposes or a layer having a sealing or low resistance effect, and suitable portons of the strip structure, especially the sealing portion 6, can be provided with a layer of flock 20, only part of the layer of flock being shown (for the sake of clarity).

To facilitate manufacture of the strip structure by extrusion, the strip structure is extruded with the side wall regions 3 and 4 slightly splayed apart, because of the positioning of those portions of the extrusion orifice which are to be responsible for creating the projections 7, 8, 9 and 10. After extrusion and curing, the strip structure can be moved through a forming machine which acts on the outside of the side wall regions 3 and 4 to bring them together so as to adopt the configuration shown in Figure 1.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, all of the body and sealing portion (but obviously ex cluding the metal reinforcing member 5) are formed of the same material, but clearly it will be possible to form different parts of the strip structure from materials having different degrees of hardness, which is a well-established practice in this art. Clearly, however, it is easier to form the strip structure from a single extrudable material which may be a rubber or a rubber-like synthetic material. Good results have been achieved by employing a rubber having a 65 Shore A hardness i 5 , but any alternative material capable of being extruded satisfactorily may be employed, although the material should not be too hard thus, generally the material should not have a hardness above 80 Shore A.

It has been found, in tests conducted with a strip structure like that shown in Figure 1, that the strip structure can easily be applied to a flange but only removed therefrom with considerable difficulty.

With further regard to the arcuate faces 15 and 16, these are preferably involute or of a nature which is similar to involute, in that the projections 7 and 8 will be caused to maintain the same contact with the flange when the strip structure is fitted to the flange.

Claims

1. A strip structure intended for attachment to a flange, which strip structure comprises a generally U-shaped body in which is embedded a reinforcing member, the body having a base region and two opposed side wall regions, which between them define a channel intended for accommodating a flange, each side wall region being provided with at least one projection which projects into the channel and is inclined towards the base region, wherein at least one of the projections present in the strip structure is a rolling projection having, as seen in a cross-section through the strip structure, a free head region and a neck region, the head region being enlarged relative to the neck region and the head region having an arcuate surface in that portion intended to abut said flange when the latter is accommodated within the channel, the arrangement being such that, when a flange is accommodated in the channel with the projections abutting the flange, an attempt to remove the strip structure from the flange causes each rolling projection to tend to roll into greater interference with the flange, thereby increasing resistance to the removal of the flange.

2. A strip structure according to Claim 1, wherein each side wall region of the body of the strip structure of the present invention is provided with a plurality of projections.

3. A strip structure according to Claim 2, wherein each projection from one side wall region of the body is a rolling projection, whereas each projection from the other side wall region of the body is of a configuration different to that of a rolling projection.

4. A strip structure according to Claim 3, wherein there are at least two rolling projections on one side wall region of the body and reasonably rigid projections of a different configuration on the other side wall region of the body.

5. A strip structure according to Claim 1,2,3 or 4, wherein the arcuate surface of the head region of each rolling projection is involute.

6. A strip structure according to Claim 1,2,3,4 or 5, which optionally includes a sealing part projecting from the body.

7. A strip structure intended for attachment to a flange, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A strip structure according to Claim 1,2,3,4,5 or 6, wherein at least part of the external surface of the strip structrue is covered with a flock.

8. A strip structure intended for attachment to a flange, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1-8 above have been deleted or textually amended.

(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows: CLAIMS

1. A strip structure intended for attachment to a flange, which strip structure comprises a generally U-shaped body in which is embedded a reinforcing member, the body having a base region and two opposed side walll regions, which between them define a channel intended for accommodating a flange, one side wall region being provided with at least one first projection which projects into the channel and is inclined towards the base region, wherein the other side wall region is provided with two or more second projections each of which is a rolling projection having, as seen in a cross-section through the strip structure, a free head region and a neck region, the head region being enlarged relative to the neck region and the head region having a arcuate surface in that portion intended to abut said flange when the latter is accommodated in the channel, the arrangement being such that, when a flange is accommodated in the channel with the first and second projections abutting the flange, an attempt to remove the strip structure from the flange causes each rolling second projection to tend to roll into greater interference with the flange, thereby increasing resistance to the removal of the flange.

2. A strip structure according to Claim 1, wherein the said one side wall region of the body of the strip structure is provided with a plurality of first projections.

3. A strip structure according to Claim 2, wherein there are at least two rolling second projections on said other side wall region of the body and reasonably rigid projections of a different configuration on said one side wall region of the body.

4. A strip structure according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the arcuate surface of the head region of each rolling second projection is involute.

5. A strip structure according to any preceding claim which also includes a sealing part projecting from the body.

6. A strip structure according to any preceding claim, wherein at least part of the external surface of the strip structure is covered with a flock.