Abstract A metal carrier for a channel-shaped sealing strip is disclosed. The carrier is of continuous construction but is formed with assymetrically arranged slots. The slots are of a first type and a second type, each slot of the first type extending from a particular one of the distal edges of the channel, through the entire corresponding side of the channel, through the entire base of the channel and through part of the opposite side of the channel but stopping short of the distal edge of the opposite side. Each slot of the second type extends from the distal edge of the said opposite side, entirely through that side and through part only of the base. The slots of the first and second types alternate along the length of the carrier. The slots permit the carrier to be easily curved about an axis or axes extending vertically. This makes the carrier particularly suitable for use in a sealing strip for an engine compartment or luggage trunk opening in a motor vehicle body. The slots also permit the carrier to be compressed slightly lengthwise, thus enabling its overall length to be adjusted to suit the length of the mounting flange to which it is to be fitted. The assymmetric arrangement of the slots results in one side of the carrier being relatively more stretchable and compressible than the other.
A sealing strip for bendably mounting on a flange about an axis, comprising a channel-shaped flexible material and a reinforcing carrier embedded within the flexible material, the carrier comprising reinforcing material extending continuously along the sealing strip but provided with a plurality of slots, the reinforcing material being in the form of a channel of generally U-shaped cross section having a base integrally connected to a first and second side wall, each slot running transversely to the direction of extension of the channel and extending from a distal edge of a side wall into the base of the reinforcing material but stopping short of the distal edge of the other side wall, the slots being of a first type and of a second type, each slot of the first type extending from the distal edge of the first side wall across the base of the channel to the second side wall and each slot of the second type extending from the distal edge of the second side wall only part way across the base so that the reinforcing carrier is less elastically compressible in a longitudinal direction along said second side wall than along said first side wall to minimize puckering of the flexible material adjacent the second side wall when the sealing strip is bent about the axis with the second side wall closest to the axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A sealing strip for bendably mounting on a flange about an axis, comprising a channel-shaped flexible material and a reinforcing carrier embedded within the flexible material, the carrier comprising reinforcing material extending continuously along the sealing strip but provided with a plurality of slots, the reinforcing material being in the form of a channel of generally U-shaped cross section having a base integrally connected to a first and second side wall, each slot running transversely to the direction of extension of the channel and extending from a distal edge of a side wall into the base of the reinforcing material but stopping short of the distal edge of the other side wall, the slots being of a first type and of a second type, each slot of the first type extending from the distal edge of the first side wall across the base of the channel to the second side wall and each slot of the second type extending from the distal edge of the second side wall only part way across the base so that the reinforcing carrier is less elastically compressible in a longitudinal direction along said second side wall than along said first side wall to minimize puckering of the flexible material adjacent the second side wall when the sealing strip is bent about the axis with the second side wall closest to the axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sealing strip according to claim 1, in which the slots of the first and second types alternate along the length of the carrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sealing strip according to claim 1 in which each slot of the second type is narrower than each slot of the first type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sealing strip according to claim 1 including a sealing part of soft flexible material running along and secured to the channel-shaped flexible material on the outside of the base of the channel adjacent the second side wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sealing strip according to claim 1 wherein said first type slots extend partially into said second side wall.