US4020607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sealing device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-10-29
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Granted: 1977-05-03
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Expires: 1995-10-29
Abstract
Abstract The sealing device disclosed herein is designed for providing an air tight seal between a door casing and the sides of a vehicle positioned adjacent the casing. It comprises an elongated rigid angular profile having flanges which define a channel-shaped space therebetween and a resilient and collapsible pad structure fastened in the channel-shaped space between the flanges of the angular profile. The pad structure includes a collapsible spongy material enclosed in an air tight envelope, and the interior of the pad communicates with a vacuum source. In its distended position, the material inside the pad structure will cause the pad to expand a considerable distance beyond the flanges of the angular profile so as to abut the sides of the vehicle thereby providing an air tight seal. When a vacuum is applied to the collapsible material, the pad structure will collapse and be retracted almost completely into the channel-shaped space between the flanges of the profile. The sealing device is then in its inoperative position leaving a free space between the profile and the walls of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Leon Hans-Hother Bjervig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G69/00; B65G69/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
A closure assembly for sealing the space between a door opening and the open rear end of a vehicle positioned adjacent the door opening and comprising a frame structure intermediate the vehicle and the door opening and a sealing device mounted on the frame structure adjacent the rear end of the vehicle and comprising: a. a rigid, elongated fastening member constituted by an angular profile having flanges defining an open channel-shaped space therebetween; b. a collapsible, elongated sealing member constituted by an elongated pad structure having an air-tight, flexible wall defining a casing and a collapsible resilient material enclosed therein to hold the pad structure distended, the sealing member being mounted within the channel-shaped space in the fastening member and extending outwardly therefrom beyond said channel-shaped space; c. vacuum means connected to the channel-shaped space in the fastening member and communicating with the interior of the pad structure, the vacuum means being operable to apply vacuum to the pad structure to collapse the pad structure and cause the same to be wholly retracted into the channel-shaped space in the fastening member; d. clamping bolts connecting the fastening member with the frame structure and each formed with a channel communicating with the interior of the pad structure and with at least one side opening adapted to connect the channel with the vacuum means for collapsing the pad structure; and e. a perforated plate member disposed within the channel-shaped space defined by the fastening member and intermediate the clamping bolts and the interior of the collapsible pad structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
A closure assembly for sealing the space between a door opening and the open rear end of a vehicle positioned adjacent the door opening and comprising a frame structure intermediate the vehicle and the door opening and a sealing device mounted on the frame structure adjacent the rear end of the vehicle and comprising: a. a rigid, elongated fastening member constituted by an angular profile having flanges defining an open channel-shaped space therebetween; b. a collapsible, elongated sealing member constituted by an elongated pad structure having an air-tight, flexible wall defining a casing and a collapsible resilient material enclosed therein to hold the pad structure distended, the sealing member being mounted within the channel-shaped space in the fastening member and extending outwardly therefrom beyond said channel-shaped space; c. vacuum means connected to the channel-shaped space in the fastening member and communicating with the interior of the pad structure, the vacuum means being operable to apply vacuum to the pad structure to collapse the pad structure and cause the same to be wholly retracted into the channel-shaped space in the fastening member; d. clamping bolts connecting the fastening member with the frame structure and each formed with a channel communicating with the interior of the pad structure and with at least one side opening adapted to connect the channel with the vacuum means for collapsing the pad structure; and e. a perforated plate member disposed within the channel-shaped space defined by the fastening member and intermediate the clamping bolts and the interior of the collapsible pad structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
171 words
A sealing device comprising: an elongated rigid profile having a pair of flanges defining an elongated channel-shaped cavity therebetween; a collapsible pad structure within said cavity, said pad structure comprising a. a collapsible and compressible open-celled spongy material, and b. a cover enclosing said material and comprising a flexible air-tight skin attached to said flanges and extending across the cavity therebetween, so as to cover said material along the upper face and side faces of the pad structure, but leaving the bottom face thereof open; and vacuum means communicating with the bottom face of said pad structure, the arrangement of said cover and the resiliency of said material being such that when no vacuum is applied to said material and said material is therefore distended, the pad structure extends outwardly beyond the flanges by a distance which is at least equal to the height of the flanges, whereas when vacuum is applied and said material is therefore collapsed, the pad structure is substantially completely retracted into the cavity between the flanges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
171 words
A sealing device comprising: an elongated rigid profile having a pair of flanges defining an elongated channel-shaped cavity therebetween; a collapsible pad structure within said cavity, said pad structure comprising a. a collapsible and compressible open-celled spongy material, and b. a cover enclosing said material and comprising a flexible air-tight skin attached to said flanges and extending across the cavity therebetween, so as to cover said material along the upper face and side faces of the pad structure, but leaving the bottom face thereof open; and vacuum means communicating with the bottom face of said pad structure, the arrangement of said cover and the resiliency of said material being such that when no vacuum is applied to said material and said material is therefore distended, the pad structure extends outwardly beyond the flanges by a distance which is at least equal to the height of the flanges, whereas when vacuum is applied and said material is therefore collapsed, the pad structure is substantially completely retracted into the cavity between the flanges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
A sealing device comprising: an elongated rigid profile having a pair of flanges defining an elongated channel-shaped cavity therebetween, an air-tight flexible wall attached to said flanges and extending across said cavity, so as to form an air-tight cover, the width of said cover being substantially greater than the width of the cavity, so as to enable the cover to be raised above the edges of the flanges, a resilient, open-celled, spongy material enclosed in the cavity between the flanges and filling the interior of the air-tight cover, so as to constitute a pad structure extending above the flanges by a distance which is at least equal to the height of the flanges, and vacuum means communicating with the interior of the pad structure and adapted to collapse said material, so as to cause the pad structure to be completely retracted into the cavity between the flanges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
A sealing device comprising: an elongated rigid profile having a pair of flanges defining an elongated channel-shaped cavity therebetween, an air-tight flexible wall attached to said flanges and extending across said cavity, so as to form an air-tight cover, the width of said cover being substantially greater than the width of the cavity, so as to enable the cover to be raised above the edges of the flanges, a resilient, open-celled, spongy material enclosed in the cavity between the flanges and filling the interior of the air-tight cover, so as to constitute a pad structure extending above the flanges by a distance which is at least equal to the height of the flanges, and vacuum means communicating with the interior of the pad structure and adapted to collapse said material, so as to cause the pad structure to be completely retracted into the cavity between the flanges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
228 words
A closure assembly for sealing the space between a door opening and the open rear end of a vehicle positioned adjacent the door opening and comprising a frame structure intermediate the vehicle and the door opening and a sealing device mounted on the frame structure adjacent the rear end of the vehicle and comprising: a. a rigid, elongated fastening member constituted by an angular profile having flanges defining an open channel-shaped space therebetween; b. a collapsible, elongated sealing member constituted by an elongated pad structure having an air-tight, flexible wall defining a casing and a collapsible resilient material enclosed therein to hold the pad structure distended, the sealing member being mounted within the channel-shaped space in the fastening member and extending outwardly therefrom beyond said channel-shaped space; c. vacuum means connected to the channel-shaped space in the fastening member and communicating with the interior of the pad structure, the vacuum means being operable to apply vacuum to the pad structure to collapse the pad structure and cause the same to be wholly retracted into the channel-shaped space in the fastening member; and d. clamping bolts connecting the fastening member with the frame structure and each formed with a channel communicating with the interior of the pad structure and with at least one side opening adapted to connect the channel with the vacuum means for collapsing the pad structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
228 words
A closure assembly for sealing the space between a door opening and the open rear end of a vehicle positioned adjacent the door opening and comprising a frame structure intermediate the vehicle and the door opening and a sealing device mounted on the frame structure adjacent the rear end of the vehicle and comprising: a. a rigid, elongated fastening member constituted by an angular profile having flanges defining an open channel-shaped space therebetween; b. a collapsible, elongated sealing member constituted by an elongated pad structure having an air-tight, flexible wall defining a casing and a collapsible resilient material enclosed therein to hold the pad structure distended, the sealing member being mounted within the channel-shaped space in the fastening member and extending outwardly therefrom beyond said channel-shaped space; c. vacuum means connected to the channel-shaped space in the fastening member and communicating with the interior of the pad structure, the vacuum means being operable to apply vacuum to the pad structure to collapse the pad structure and cause the same to be wholly retracted into the channel-shaped space in the fastening member; and d. clamping bolts connecting the fastening member with the frame structure and each formed with a channel communicating with the interior of the pad structure and with at least one side opening adapted to connect the channel with the vacuum means for collapsing the pad structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sealing device as claimed in claim 1 in which the elongated fastening member comprises an angular profile of substantially L-shaped cross-section.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-02 | 1980-11-01 | 1981-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-02 | 1984-11-01 | 1985-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-11-01 | 1989-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |