GB2320275A - Seals - Google Patents

Abstract

A seal comprises a mounting portion (31) and a rigid sealing member (321) which extends along the length of the mounting portion (31) and which projects therefrom. The sealing member (321) is resiliently coupled to the mounting portion (31) at 322. Such a seal is particularly applicable to doors and would then be attached to the frame or jamb by nails through the groove 314. The resilient coupling (322) enables an effective seal to be maintained.

Description

Seals The present invention relates to seals, and in particular, but not exclusively, to a seal for a door.

Conventional seals for doors include a foam, brush, pile or rubber strip which is attached to the door and is held against the door frame or jamb when the door is closed. Such seals suffer from the drawback that if paint is applied to the seal when the door is painted, the seal is stiffened or otherwise restrained from flexing by the paint, so that the ability of the seal to prevent drafts is impaired.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seal comprising: a mounting portion; and a rigid sealing member which extends along the length of the mounting portion and which projects therefrom, wherein the said sealing member is resiliently coupled to the mounting portion.

Preferably, the mounting portion is a substantially U-shaped channel comprising a web and two side flanges, the sealing member being coupled to the web, and the free ends of the flanges engaging a surface to which the seal is attached.

The end of a side flange may be provided with a resilient sealing pad.

The mounting portion may be provided with an intermediate flange which is disposed between the two side flanges and extends the length of the seal.

Alternatively, the mounting portion has a substantially L-shaped cross-section comprising a base member and an end member extending from one end of the base member, the sealing member being coupled to the free end of the end member.

The free end of the mounting portion may be provided with a resilient sealing pad.

The sealing member preferably comprises a bladelike member which is coupled to the mounting portion by means of a hinge formed of resilient material.

The sealing member may further comprise a second blade-like member resiliently coupled to a free end region of the main blade-like member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seal comprising: a mounting portion; and a sealing portion, the sealing portion comprising a first rigid member which is resiliently attached to, and extends from, the base portion, and a second rigid member which is resiliently attached to, and extends from, the first rigid member.

Preferably the mounting portion is elongate in form and the sealing portion extends along the length of the mounting portion.

The first and/or second rigid members may be blade-like in form.

For a better understanding of the 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 partial cross-sectional view of a door and a door frame having a seal embodying the present invention affixed thereto; Figure 2 shows an enlarged end view of the seal used in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a first modification of the seal shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a second modification of the seal shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 shows the modifications of Figures 3 and 4 both applied to the seal of Figure 2; Figure 6 is an end view of a second seal embodying the present invention; Figure 7 shows a first modification to the seal shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is an end view of third seal embodying the present invention; Figure 9 shows the modification of Figure 3 applied to the embodiment of Figure 8; Figure 10 shows the modification of Figure 4 applied to the embodiment of Figure 8; Figure 11 shows the modifications of Figures 9 and 10 applied to the embodiment of Figure 8; Figure 12 is an end view of a fourth seal embodying the present invention; and Figure 13 shows the modification of Figure 7 applied to the embodiment of Figure 12.

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention in use as a draught excluder for a door. A door 1 is in a closed position in a frame 2. The frame 2 includes a jamb 21, against which the door 1 is closed, and onto which a seal 3 embodying the present invention is attached, by means of fixing elements comprising nails or screws 315.

The seal 3 is shown in more detail in Figure 2, and comprises a mounting portion 31 and a sealing portion 32. The mounting portion 31 is in the form of an elongate U-shaped channel comprising a web 311 and two side flanges 312 and 313 which extend from respective ends of the web 311. The mounting portion 31 is affixed to the jamb 21 such that the free ends of the side flanges 312 and 313 are held in contact with the jamb 21. The seal 3 preferably extends the full length of the jamb 21 to ensure that a most effective seal is produced.

The sealing portion 32 is also elongate and is attached along one end region of the web 311. The sealing portion 32 comprises a rigid blade 321 and a resilient hinge 322. The blade 321 and the hinge 322 extend along the length of the body portion 31, thereby providing a sealing portion 32 along the complete length of the seal 3. When installed on a door jamb 21 the sealing portion 32 projects away from the body portion 31 towards the door 1 (Fig. 1).

As shown in Figure 1, the seal 3 is attached to the jamb 21 by means of nails, screws or other fixing means 315, which are spaced apart along the length of the seal 3. The mounting portion 31 has a groove 314 running along its length. The nails 315 are inserted through the mounting portion 31 at respective positions along the length of the groove 314. The groove 314 enables the heads of the nails 315 to be flush with the outer surface of the web 311.

Referring again to Figure 1, when the door 1 is shut against the jamb 21, the face of the door 1 abuts against the end of the blade 321, thereby deflecting the blade 321 towards the jamb 21. Since the blade 321 itself is rigid, the resilient hinge 322 deforms, allowing the blade to deflect towards the jamb 21. The resilience of the hinge 322 tends to urge the blade 321 against the door, and therefore serves to ensure that an efficient seal is produced along the edge of the blade 321.

This seal has the advantage that the part of the sealing portion which produces the seal, the blade 321, is a single rigid component and is therefore unaffected by any paint which may be applied to it when the door or frame is redecorated. Preferably the body portion 31 and the blade 321 are of a rigid PVC material, and the hinge 322 is of a thermoplastic rubber material, such as Hytrel (registered trade mark).

Figure 3 shows a modification to the seal 3 shown in Figure 2. A resilient foot or pad 316 is provided on the end of the side flange 313. The foot or pad 316 runs the length of the side flange 313 and enables a seal to be produced between the mounting portion 31 and the jamb 21. The resilient of the pad allows any differences between the side flange 313 and the door jamb 21 to be filled, in order to provide a complete seal. This is particularly useful when the surface of the door jamb is uneven.

Figure 4 shows a second modification to the seal shown in Figure 2. An additional strengthening flange 317 runs the length of the seal and extends from a central region of the web 311. The flange 317 effectively stiffens the whole seal assembly.

Figure 5 shows a seal as shown in Figure 2, with the modifications described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 shows an end view of a second embodiment of seal. In this second embodiment the mounting portion 33 has an L-shaped cross-section and has an elongate base member 331, with a groove 333 running therealong. An elongate end flange 332 is integrally formed with and projects from one edge of the base member 331. A sealing portion similar to that described with reference to Fig. 2 is carried on the free edge of the end flange 332.

The second embodiment of seal is affixed to a door jamb with its base member 331 lying flat on the jamb, and its sealing portion extending towards the door. The seal is affixed by means of fixing elements, as before, spaced apart along the length of the seal.

The operation of the second embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

Figure 7 shows a modification to the second embodiment shown in Figure 6. A resiliently deformable tip 334 is attached to the free end of the base member 331. This deformable tip performs the same sealing function as the pad or foot 316 described with reference to Figure 3.

Figure 8 shows a third embodiment of seal, which includes a U-shaped mounting portion 31, as described with reference to Figure 2.

The third embodiment includes an alternative sealing portion 34 which comprises a main blade 341 resiliently joined to the base portion by a hinge 342.

The main blade 341 is similar to the blade 321 described with reference to Figure 2. A secondary blade 343 is attached to the free end of the main blade 341 by means of a second resilient hinge 344. The main blade 341 extends in a direction away from the door jamb 21 and towards the door 1, while the secondary blade 343 extends back towards the door jamb and towards the door 1.

In this way, the sealing portion extends further towards the door from the mounting portion than in the first and second embodiments, without extending as far from the door jamb into the door opening. Such a sal is less conspicuous than a large one-piece blade seal 321.

The operation of the third embodiment is similar to that of the first two embodiments. However, in the third embodiment, the door 1 abuts against the free end region of the secondary blade 343. The main blade and the secondary blade are thereby concertinered towards the door jamb 21. The resilience of the hinges 342 and 344 ensures that the tip of the secondary blade 343 is held in contact with the door 1 so as to provide an effective seal.

Figure 9 shows the embodiment of Figure 8 with the modification described with reference to Figure 3. The two-part sealing portion 34 is mounted on a mounting portion including a resilient pad 316, as described with reference to Fig. 3.

Figure 10 shows the embodiment of Figure 8 with the modification shows in Figure 4. The mounting portion is provided with a stiffening member 317.

Figure 11 shows the embodiment of Figure 8 having both of the modifications shown in Figures 9 and 10.

Figure 12 shows an L-shaped mounting portion, described with reference to Figure 6, carrying a twopart blade member described with reference to Figure 8.

Figure 13 shows the seal of Figure 12 having the modification described with reference to Figure 7.

A seal according to the present invention may be formed as a one-piece strip of indeterminate length in an extrusion process. The strip is supplied to a customer in standard lengths, which the customer then cuts to length for a particular application.

As well as sealing a door jamb, the seal according to the present invention may be used to seal other gaps such as at the bottom of a door. As will be appreciated, the bottom of a door is subject to damage from floor cleaning equipment or debris such as small stones which may become jammed between the floor and the bottom of the door. Seals according to the present invention can be formed of tough rigid materials which will resist damage.

Claims (13)

1. A seal comprising: a mounting portion; and a rigid sealing member which extends along the length of the mounting portion and which projects therefrom, wherein the said sealing member is resiliently coupled to the mounting portion.

2. A seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is a substantially U-shaped channel comprising a web and two side flanges, the sealing member being coupled to the web, and the free ends of the flanges engaging a surface to which the seal is attached.

3. A seal as claimed in claim 2, wherein the free end of one of the said flanges is provided with a resilient sealing pad.

4. A seal as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the mounting portion is provided with an intermediate flange which is disposed between the two said flanges and extends the length of the seal.

5. A seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting portion has a substantially L-shaped crosssection comprising a base member and an end member extending from one end of the said base member, the sealing member being coupled to the free end of the end member.

6. A seal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the free end of the mounting portion is provided with a resilient sealing pad.

7. A seal as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sealing member comprises a blade-like member which is coupled to the mounting portion by means of a hinge formed of resilient material.

8. A seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein another rigid sealing member is resiliently attached to and extends from the rigid sealing member.

9. A seal as claimed in claim 8, wherein a first edge of the rigid sealing member is resiliently coupled to the mounting portion and an opposite edge region of the rigid sealing member is resiliently coupled to the other rigid sealing member.

10. A seal as claimed in claim 8 or 9 having a plurality of rigid sealing members which are resiliently interconnected to form a concertina-type sealing portion.

11. A seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting portion is elongate in form and the sealing portion extends along the length of the mounting portion.

12. A seal as claimed in any one of claim 8 to 11, wherein the each rigid member is blade-like in form.

13. A seal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.