US2257603A - Sealing element - Google Patents

Description

C. C. HARRAH SEALNG ELEMENT Filed Deo.

sept. 3o, 1941.

INVENTOR.

CMYmNG/ARRAH BY M wm 4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 3A0, 1941 OFFICE SEALING ELEMENT Clayton C. Harrah, Niles, v tional Standard poration of Michigan mlllllnol'toNa- Niles, Mich., a cor- Applloation December C, 1939, Serial No. #07,799 v (Cl. 2li-69) tclaima.

This invention relates to weatherstrlp and more particularly to weatherstrlp ior sealing around doors in vehicles and the like. y

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a weatherstrip which is relatively inexpensive to make, easy to install and which forms a tight seal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a weatherstrip which is ilexlble in all directions.

This enables the strip to be bent around door openings without the necessity oi any cutting so that a continuous strip of good appearance is formed.

Still another object oi the invention is to provide a weatherstrip having a reinforcing fastening flange which may be secured by tacks, staples, or the like, at substantially any point in its area. This greatly facilitates installation and insures proper fastening ci the strip.

The above and other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a piece of weatherstrip embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the various elements progressively stripped away; and

Figure 3 is a transverse section.

'I'he illustrated weatherstrip comprises generally an elongated body ll of yielding material and a dat reinforcing tape l2 having one edge portion imbedded in the body. The body is covered with a fabric sheet Il whose edge portions loosely overlie the opposite sides. of the tape il where it extends from the body in the form of anges I8.

The body III is preferably substantially cylindrical and may be formeel ot a molded plastic material. One very satisfalbtory material is sponge rubber which may be molded with the tape l2 and the cover Il in place so that the tape is imbedded in the body and the cover Il adheres to it. According to another method of manufacture the body lo may be formed iirst and slit lengthwise and the tape l! may be inserted in the slit and cemented in place. The cover Il may thereafter be cemented to the body.

According to the present invention the tape i2 is formed by a ilat braid of metal wires, pref- A erably steel, crossing alternately over and under each other diagonally of the braid and permanently set at the edges of the braid in relatively sharp bends. The wires may be bent at the edges of the braid by expanding it widthwlse. this operation also opening up the interstices of the braid between the wires. A braid of this type is highly flexible in both tension and compression and thus may be bent in the plane of its width while remaining in the same plane.

When the tape is imbedded in the rubber body lo. either by molding in-place or by cementing, the material oir the body adheres to itself through the interstices oi the braid around and between the wires and locks the braid securely in place. If desired the wires may be plated or coated with bonding lacquer so that the wires themselves will adhere to the rubber.

In using the weatherstrip it may be fastened by tacks, or staples, or other suitable fastening means engaging the tape lI2 around a door opening, or to a door with the body portion in a position to engage and seal against the door or door frame. Due to the flexibility of the tape,

vthe weatherstrip may be bent around the door or the opening without the necessity for any cutting. As the strip is bent the body I0 may stretch or compress slightly as needed and the tape may move between the flanges I6 so that when the strip is installed it presents a smooth pleasant appearance of unbroken continuity.

Since the wires of the tape are evenly and relatively closely spaced, it is practically impossible to place a fastening at any point in the tape without engaging at least one wire. Thus the fastenings may be placed quickly and with a minimum of effort. Also since the wires oi the tape cross over and under each other they serve to brace and strengthen each other so that periodically spaced fastenlngs at different points in the tape will create a relatively even yielding pressure holding the body portion Ill in sealing position.

While one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail it will be understood that this is for the purpose of illustration only and is not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A weatherstrip comprising an elongated body of yielding material and a flat tape formed of at least three braided metal wires crossing over and under each other .diagonally back and forth across the tape and formed with relatively sharp bends at the edges of the tape, one edge of said tape being imbedded in said bod;r and the material of the `body being secured to itself throughfthefinterstices o! the tape around and between the wires, and a sheet of nbr-ous material covering and secured to said body and having flange portions loosely overlying the opposite sides of the tape where it extends from the body.

2. A weatherstrip comprising an elongated cylindrical body formed of sponge rubber and a. at tape formed of at least three braided metal wires crossing-'overland under each other diagonally back and forth across the tape' and formed with relatively sharp bends at the edges offene; vI

me body and the rubber of the body being' bonded to itself through the interstices of the tape around and between the wires, and a. sheet of cloth fabric covering and secured to said rubber body and having flange portions loosely overlying the opposite sides o! the tape where it extends !rom the body.

- r CLAYTON C. HARRAH.

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