US4531339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Channel end cap
Assignee: FIRSTONE TIRE & RUBBER Co AKRON OH A OH CORP
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Filing: 1984-04-23
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Granted: 1985-07-30
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Expires: 2004-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A channel end cap for use, in a mechanical fastening system for mechanically securing a flexible sheet, with a channel member of generally rectangular form, in transverse cross section, wherein the end cap is comprised of a flexible resilient material of a shape generally corresponding to that of the channel member and having first bottom, side and top wall portions separated by an intermediate abutment means from second bottom, side and top wall portions, extending from their corresponding first wall portions, axially outwardly of the channel member axial outer end surface, with the abutment means acting as stop means and abutting the channel member axial outer end surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Tomaszewski
- 👤 James H. C. Yang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:59
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04D; E04D5/00; E04D5/14; E04D5/144; E04D5/146; B; B44; B44C; B44C7/00; B44C7/02; B44C7/022; E04D5/147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
The combination of an end cap physically secured to an end portion of a channel member and covering the axial outer end surface thereof, said channel member being of generally rectangular form, in transverse cross section, having a substantially flat bottom wall, similarly projecting side walls, and top walls parallel to said bottom wall, said top walls having contoured inner edges separated by a continuous central longitudinal slot, said end cap being comprised of a flexible resilient material of a generally rectangular form, in transverse cross section, and of a predetermined axial extent having: (a) first bottom and side wall portions enveloping the corresponding adjacent walls of said channel member, said end cap also having first top wall portions enveloping at least the transverse outermost portions of said channel member top walls; (b) second bottom, side and top wall portions extending respectively, from said corresponding first wall portions, axially outwardly of said channel member axial outer end surface; and (c) abutment means intermediate said first and second wall portions acting as stop means and abutting said channel member axial outer end surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
The combination of an end cap physically secured to an end portion of a channel member and covering the axial outer end surface thereof, said channel member being of generally rectangular form, in transverse cross section, having a substantially flat bottom wall, similarly projecting side walls, and top walls parallel to said bottom wall, said top walls having contoured inner edges separated by a continuous central longitudinal slot, said end cap being comprised of a flexible resilient material of a generally rectangular form, in transverse cross section, and of a predetermined axial extent having: (a) first bottom and side wall portions enveloping the corresponding adjacent walls of said channel member, said end cap also having first top wall portions enveloping at least the transverse outermost portions of said channel member top walls; (b) second bottom, side and top wall portions extending respectively, from said corresponding first wall portions, axially outwardly of said channel member axial outer end surface; and (c) abutment means intermediate said first and second wall portions acting as stop means and abutting said channel member axial outer end surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the outer axial surfaces of said first and second portions of said end cap bottom, side and top walls lie in the same respective planes and wherein the inner axial surfaces of said first and second portions of said end cap bottom, side and top walls lie in the same respective planes as the inner axial surfaces of the corresponding walls of said channel member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said channel member bottom wall further includes an outwardly directed protrusion centered a first distance from said channel member axial outer end surface and having a first dimension, said end cap first bottom wall portion having an aperture centered a second distance from said abutment means and having a second dimension, said second dimension being such so as to permit the physical retention of said channel member protrusion while said second distance is preferably slightly less than said first distance so as to physically bias said channel member axial outer end surface against said abutment means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said end cap second top wall portions includes a transversely extending flat inner end surface coplanar with and abutting the adjacent axial outer end surface of said channel member top wall, and a radiused outer end wall surface diverging outwardly from said flat inner end surface to the axial outer end surface of said end cap side wall second portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said end cap second top wall flat inner end surface forms a portion of said abutment means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said abutment means takes the form of step areas intermediate and perpendicular to said first and second portions of at least said end cap bottom and side walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein the walls of said channel members are of a thickness substantially similar to the perpendicular extent of said step areas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said end cap step areas all lie in a common place.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
An end cap comprised of a flexible resilient material, of a generally rectangular form in transverse cross section, of a predetermined axial extent having: (a) a substantially flat first bottom wall portion, similarly projecting first side wall portions, and first top wall portions parallel to said first bottom wall portion, said first top wall portions being separated by a continuous central longitudinal slot of a first width, (b) second bottom, side and top wall portions extending respectively from said corresponding first wall portions, (c) abutment means intermediate said first and second wall portions, (d) said second top wall portions being separated by a second longitudinal slot of a second width.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
An end cap comprised of a flexible resilient material, of a generally rectangular form in transverse cross section, of a predetermined axial extent having: (a) a substantially flat first bottom wall portion, similarly projecting first side wall portions, and first top wall portions parallel to said first bottom wall portion, said first top wall portions being separated by a continuous central longitudinal slot of a first width, (b) second bottom, side and top wall portions extending respectively from said corresponding first wall portions, (c) abutment means intermediate said first and second wall portions, (d) said second top wall portions being separated by a second longitudinal slot of a second width.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The end cap of claim 9 wherein each of said second top wall portions includes a transversely extending flat inner end surface, perpendicular to said first top wall portions, and a radiused outer end wall surface diverging outwardly from said flat inner end surface to the axial outer end surface of said sidewall second portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The end cap of claim 9 wherein said first bottom wall portion is provided with an aperture of a predetermined dimension centered a predetermined distance from said abutment means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The end cap of claim 9 wherein the outer axial surfaces of said first and second portions of said bottom, side and top walls lie in the same respective planes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The end cap of claim 9 wherein the inner axial surfaces of said first and second portions of said bottom and side walls lie in separate but parallel planes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The end cap of claim 9 wherein said abutment means takes the form of step areas intermediate and perpendicular to said first and second portions of at least said bottom and side walls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The end cap of claim 9 wherein said first width is a fixed width and said second width is a variable width.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The end cap of claim 15 wherein said step areas all lie in a common plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1988-07-29 | 1989-01-28 | 1989-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-29 | 1993-01-28 | 1993-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-29 | 1997-01-28 | 1997-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |