GB2345936A - Reinforcing carrier - Google Patents

Reinforcing carrier Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2345936A
GB2345936A GB9901168A GB9901168A GB2345936A GB 2345936 A GB2345936 A GB 2345936A GB 9901168 A GB9901168 A GB 9901168A GB 9901168 A GB9901168 A GB 9901168A GB 2345936 A GB2345936 A GB 2345936A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
carrier
channel
blank
pair
slits
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9901168A
Other versions
GB9901168D0 (en
GB2345936B (en
Inventor
Herve Gommier
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Laird Holdings Ltd
Original Assignee
Draftex Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Draftex Industries Ltd filed Critical Draftex Industries Ltd
Priority to GB9901168A priority Critical patent/GB2345936B/en
Publication of GB9901168D0 publication Critical patent/GB9901168D0/en
Publication of GB2345936A publication Critical patent/GB2345936A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2345936B publication Critical patent/GB2345936B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60JWINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
    • B60J10/00Sealing arrangements
    • B60J10/15Sealing arrangements characterised by the material
    • B60J10/18Sealing arrangements characterised by the material provided with reinforcements or inserts

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Seal Device For Vehicle (AREA)

Abstract

A channel shaped reinforcing carrier for a flexible channel shaped strip comprises a plurality of U-shaped elements 12A arranged side-by-side along the length of the channel to define a channel shape. Each carrier element 12A comprises a base part 22 lying in the base of the channel shape of the carrier, the base part 22 being integrally connected to a first pair of leg parts 24A,26A lying in one side wall of the channel shape of the carrier and a second pair of leg parts 26A,26B lying in the opposite side wall of the channel shape of the carrier. One leg part 24A of each pair has an integral connection 28A with the adjacent leg part 26A of the next carrier element 12A in one longitudinal direction along the channel shape and the other leg part 26A of that pair has an integral connection 28A with the adjacent leg part 24A of the next carrier 12A in the opposite longitudinal direction along the channel shape. There are gaps 30 between adjacent carrier elements except at the integral connections 28A,28B, and these gaps 30 enable the carrier to be bent along its longitudinal axis to an extent limited by consequent closure of the gaps 30. The carrier is formed by cutting slits into a metal blank and then thinning the blank at the edges to widen the slits into slots 30.

Description

REINFORCEMENTS FOR FLEXIBLE CHANNEL-SHAPED STRIPS OR CARTERS The invention relates to reinforcements or carriers for flexible channel-shaped strips. Embodiments of the invention to be described in more detail below, by way of example only, are for reinforcing strips for use for draught-excluding or sealing purposes and/or for attachment to edge flanges around door or other openings, all for use in motor vehicle body construction for example. However reinforcements or carriers embodying the invention may be used in other applications.
According to the invention, there is provided a channel-shaped reinforcing carrier for a flexible channel-shaped strip, comprising a plurality of U-shaped elements arranged side-by-side along the length of the channel to define a channel-shape, each carrier element comprising a base part lying in the base of the channel shape of the carrier, the base part being integrally connected to a first pair of leg parts lying in one side wall of the channel shape of the carrier and a second pair of leg parts lying in the opposite side wall of the channel shape of the carrier, one leg part of each pair having an integral connection with the adjacent leg part of the next carrier element in one longitudinal direction along the channel shape and the other leg part of that pair having an integral connection with the adjacent leg part of the next carrier element in the opposite longitudinal direction along the channel shape, there being gaps between adjacent carrier elements except at the integral connections which enable the carrier to be bent along its longitudinal axis to an extent limited by consequent closure of the gaps.
According to the invention, there is further provided a method of making a reinforcing carrier for a flexible, channel-shaped strip, comprising the steps of forming a metal blank with a first plurality of transversely extending through slits each of which extends symmetrically across the width of the blank but stops short of each longitudinal edge of the blank, forming a second plurality of through slits in the blank, the second plurality of slits each extending from a respective longitudinal edge of the blank towards but stopping short of the midpoint of the blank, thinning down the metal of the blank so as to expand the slits into slots, and bending the blank into channel shape.
Carriers for reinforcing flexible channel-shaped sealing strips and embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the strips incorporating one of the carriers; Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the carriers; Figures 3,4 and 5 show stages in the construction of the carrier of Figure 2; and Figure 6 shows the carrier of Figure 2 bent to follow a curve.
The strip 5 shown in Figure 1 has a channel-shaped gripping portion 6 and a tubular sealing portion 8. The sealing portion 8 is attached to one outside side wall of the gripping portion 6. A lip 10 runs along the opposite side wall of the gripping portion 6.
The gripping portion 6 comprises a channel-shaped reinforcing core or carrier 12 shown in dotted form which is of channel form and extends along the length of the strip. The form of the carrier will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 2 to 6.
As shown in Figure 1, the carrier 12 is embedded in flexible and resilient covering material 14 such as plastics or rubber material. The material 14 is preferably extruded over the carrier 12, such as by means of a cross-head extrusion process.
The material 14 provides integral gripping lips 16 and 18 running along the length of the strip on the opposite inside facing walls of the channel of the gripping portion 6.
In addition, the material 14 integrally provides the external lip 10.
The sealing portion 8 is in this example of hollow tubular form.
It may be integral with the material 14 of the gripping portion.
Instead, however, the sealing portion 8 may be formed separately and secured to the outside of the gripping portion 6 by means of adhesive or otherwise.
In operation, the strip 5 may be secured around the frame of a door or other opening closable by a closure member, the gripping portion 6 being placed over a flange 20 which runs around the frame as shown in Figure 1. For example, in a motor vehicle, the flange 20 may be formed where inner and outer body panels are welded together around a door opening. The lips 16,18 resiliently flex and frictionally grip the sides of the flange 20, and thereby act, in combination with the resilience of the carrier 12, to hold the strip securely on the flange. In this way, the gripping portion 6 supports the sealing portion 8 so that it runs around the frame of the opening and is partially compressed by the closing door so as to produce a weather-proof seal.
The material 14 is advantageously arranged so that different parts of it have different hardnesses. For example, the lips 16,18 are advantageously softer than the channel-shaped material 14, because this improves their frictional grip on the flange 20.
When mounted in this way, the strip 5 ensures that the lip 10 runs around the inside of the frame. The lip 10 may therefore act as a so-called"cosmetic lip", and grip and cover the edge of trimming material on the inside of the vehicle.
Figure 2 shows the carrier removed from the strip. As shown, the carrier comprises inverted U-shaped elements 12A, 12A.. positioned alongside each other. Each such carrier element comprises a base portion 22 from which extend two legs 24A, 26, on one side of the channel and corresponding legs 24B, 26B on the opposite side. The distal end of each leg 24A of each carrier element 12A is joined to the distal end of the leg 26A of the next carrier element 12A by an integral link 28A. On the opposite side of the channel, the distal end of the leg 24B of each carrier element is joined to the distal end of the leg 26B of the adjacent carrier element 12A by an integral link 28B.
Figure 3,4 and 5 show how the carrier shown in Figure 2 may be constructed. As shown in Figure 3, a thin longitudinally extending metal blank is provided with through slits, there being large slits 30 extending across the width of the blank but stopping short of the edges of the blank to provide edge regions 32A and 32B, these edge regions being intersected by shorter slits 34A, 34B which each extend from a respective edge of the blank and inwardly thereof but stop short of a central region 3 which is intersected only by the large slits 30.
The slit blank is then subjected to a thinning-down operation as shown in Figure 4, which is carried out along the edge regions 32A and 32B only. This thinning-down operation may be carried out by passing the blank through the bight of two rollers which engage only the edge regions. The effect of the thinning-down operation is to increase the width of the large slits 30 and to convert them into slots.
The blank is then subjected to a stretching operation as shown in Figure 5. This increases the width of the slots 30 and also extends the short slits 34A, 34B into enlarged slots, the open ends of which are separated by intermediate portions of the metal blank. The thus-formed blank is then bent into channel-shape to produce the carrier shown in Figure 2. The intermediate portions of the blank between the open ends of the slots 34A, 34B form the links 28A, 28B of Figure 2.
The construction of the carrier shown in Figure 2 is advantageous because the gaps formed by the enlarged slots 30 between the carrier elements 12A are of substantial size. Figure 6 shows how this facilitates bending of the carrier around a small radius.
The gaps formed by the slots 30 become fully closed when the carrier is bent to its fullest extent. Because these gaps are relatively wide initially, the carrier can be bent to follow a very small radius. The use of such a carrier in the strip shown in Figure 1 increases the ability of the strip to bend around small radiusses.

Claims (8)

1. A channel-shaped reinforcing carrier for a flexible channelshaped strip, comprising a plurality of U-shaped elements arranged side-by-side along the length of the channel to define a channel-shape, each carrier element comprising a base part lying in the base of the channel shape of the carrier, the base part being integrally connected to a first pair of leg parts lying in one side wall of the channel shape of the carrier and a second pair of leg parts lying in the opposite side wall of the channel shape of the carrier, one leg part of each pair having an integral connection with the adjacent leg part of the next carrier element in one longitudinal direction along the channel shape and the other leg part of that pair having an integral connection with the adjacent leg part of the next carrier element in the opposite longitudinal direction along the channel shape, there being gaps between adjacent carrier elements except at the integral connections which enable the carrier to be bent along its longitudinal axis to an extent limited by consequent closure of the gaps.
2. A carrier according to claim 1, in which the integral connections comprise integral connections at the distal ends of the respective legs, the integral connections together defining the mouth of the channel shape of the carrier.
3. A method of making a reinforcing carrier for a flexible, channel-shaped strip, comprising the steps of forming a metal blank with a first plurality of transversely extending through slits each of which extends symmetrically across the width of the blank but stops short of each longitudinal edge of the blank, forming a second plurality of through slits in the blank, the second plurality of slits each extending from a respective longitudinal edge of the blank towards but stopping short of the midpoint of the blank, thinning down the metal of the blank so as to expand the slits into slots, and bending the blank into channel shape.
4. A method according to claim 3, in which the slits of the second plurality are arranged in pairs with each pair of such slits being positioned between a respective pair of the slits of the first plurality, each slit of each pair of the second plurality extending from a respective one of the two longitudinal edges of the blank.
5. A method according to claim 4, in which the thinning down step is carried out along the two marginal regions of the blank respectively including its two longitudinal edges.
6. A reinforcing carrier for a flexible channel-shaped strip substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
7. A method of making a reinforcing carrier for a flexible channel-shaped strip substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
8. A method of making a reinforcing carrier for a flexible channel-shaped strip, substantially as described with reference to all the accompanying drawings.
GB9901168A 1999-01-19 1999-01-19 Reinforcements or carriers for flexible channel-shaped strips Expired - Fee Related GB2345936B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9901168A GB2345936B (en) 1999-01-19 1999-01-19 Reinforcements or carriers for flexible channel-shaped strips

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9901168A GB2345936B (en) 1999-01-19 1999-01-19 Reinforcements or carriers for flexible channel-shaped strips

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9901168D0 GB9901168D0 (en) 1999-03-10
GB2345936A true GB2345936A (en) 2000-07-26
GB2345936B GB2345936B (en) 2003-07-02

Family

ID=10846146

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9901168A Expired - Fee Related GB2345936B (en) 1999-01-19 1999-01-19 Reinforcements or carriers for flexible channel-shaped strips

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GB (1) GB2345936B (en)

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1182244A (en) * 1966-04-20 1970-02-25 Draftex Ltd Improvements in Sealing Strips.
GB1417633A (en) * 1972-01-28 1975-12-10 Draftex Flexible strips with an incorporated reinforcement and to the manufacture of same
GB1598683A (en) * 1977-04-28 1981-09-23 Draftex Dev Ag Channel-shaped sealing guiding or finishing strips
US4333221A (en) * 1979-05-31 1982-06-08 Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Method for producing a channel shaped trim
US4610907A (en) * 1983-05-05 1986-09-09 Elastomeros Riojanos S.A. Metal core of sections for automobile and similar vehicles
EP0252659A1 (en) * 1986-06-26 1988-01-13 Silent Channel Products Limited A core for a strip structure
EP0277425A1 (en) * 1986-12-16 1988-08-10 Silent Channel Products Limited Elongate carrier strip
GB2209045A (en) * 1987-08-25 1989-04-26 Silent Channel Prod Ltd A core for a strip structure
EP0531115A1 (en) * 1991-09-04 1993-03-10 The Gem City Engineering Co. Production of expanded metal strip for reinforcing a rubber-like product
GB2294284A (en) * 1994-10-20 1996-04-24 Draftex Ind Ltd Reinforcing carrier for a door seal
GB2319279A (en) * 1996-11-15 1998-05-20 Advanced Carrier Products A carrier strip for a sealing profile, having a plurality of indentations causing predetermined fracture points for severing individual lengths of seal.

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1182244A (en) * 1966-04-20 1970-02-25 Draftex Ltd Improvements in Sealing Strips.
GB1417633A (en) * 1972-01-28 1975-12-10 Draftex Flexible strips with an incorporated reinforcement and to the manufacture of same
GB1598683A (en) * 1977-04-28 1981-09-23 Draftex Dev Ag Channel-shaped sealing guiding or finishing strips
US4333221A (en) * 1979-05-31 1982-06-08 Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Method for producing a channel shaped trim
US4610907A (en) * 1983-05-05 1986-09-09 Elastomeros Riojanos S.A. Metal core of sections for automobile and similar vehicles
EP0252659A1 (en) * 1986-06-26 1988-01-13 Silent Channel Products Limited A core for a strip structure
EP0277425A1 (en) * 1986-12-16 1988-08-10 Silent Channel Products Limited Elongate carrier strip
GB2209045A (en) * 1987-08-25 1989-04-26 Silent Channel Prod Ltd A core for a strip structure
EP0531115A1 (en) * 1991-09-04 1993-03-10 The Gem City Engineering Co. Production of expanded metal strip for reinforcing a rubber-like product
GB2294284A (en) * 1994-10-20 1996-04-24 Draftex Ind Ltd Reinforcing carrier for a door seal
GB2319279A (en) * 1996-11-15 1998-05-20 Advanced Carrier Products A carrier strip for a sealing profile, having a plurality of indentations causing predetermined fracture points for severing individual lengths of seal.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9901168D0 (en) 1999-03-10
GB2345936B (en) 2003-07-02

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20040119