US5207027A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Belt weatherstrip with expandable width and method
Assignee: Cooper Standard Automotive Inc
•
Filing: 1991-09-09
•
Granted: 1993-05-04
•
Expires: 2011-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A belt weatherstrip which is adapted for engagement over an end flange of a vehicle. The belt weatherstrip includes a one-piece core member which has a backing leg, an intermediate leg and a show surface leg which generally form a U-shaped member having a width which fits over the end flange of a vehicle. An elastomeric coating is extruded onto portions of the core member for providing at least one sealing lip extending from the core member. A plurality of perforations formed in the intermediate leg allow expansion in the width of the perforated leg such that the width of the weatherstrip may be varied along the length of the weatherstrip during forming of the weatherstrip. In accordance with the method steps of the present invention a weatherstrip core blank is first provided and thereafter a plurality of perforations are formed in the blank along a longitudinal portion of the blank. A core shape is formed from the blank by stretch bending the blank along the central longitudinal portion having the plurality of perforations for varying the cross-sectional dimension at the plurality of perforations thereby facilitating formation of a weatherstrip having a varying width and cross-section dimension.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas C. Larsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J10/00; B60J10/70; B60J10/74; B60J10/75; B60J10/20; B60J10/26; B60J10/265; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/15; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/2419; Y10T428/24198
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of forming a one-piece weatherstrip into varying cross-sectional dimensions for varying the width of the weatherstrip to provide proper contour with respect to a final application comprising the steps of: a) providing a weatherstrip core blank; b) forming a plurality of perforations in said blank along a central longitudinal portion of the blank; c) forming a core shape of said weatherstrip from said blank and stretch bending the blank along the central longitudinal portion having said plurality of perforations for varying the cross-sectional dimension and thereby the width of said weatherstrip, said plurality of perforations facilitating formation of said varying cross-sectional dimension.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of forming a one-piece weatherstrip into varying cross-sectional dimensions for varying the width of the weatherstrip to provide proper contour with respect to a final application comprising the steps of: a) providing a weatherstrip core blank; b) forming a plurality of perforations in said blank along a central longitudinal portion of the blank; c) forming a core shape of said weatherstrip from said blank and stretch bending the blank along the central longitudinal portion having said plurality of perforations for varying the cross-sectional dimension and thereby the width of said weatherstrip, said plurality of perforations facilitating formation of said varying cross-sectional dimension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of perforations further comprise a plurality of parallel cuts in said core blank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said cuts are angled to a longitudinal axis of said core blank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the cuts are sized such that said cuts extend substantially across the entire width of an intermediate leg of said weatherstrip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A belt weatherstrip adapted for engagement over and end flange of a vehicle, said belt weatherstrip comprising: a one-piece core member including a backing leg, an intermediate leg and a show surface leg generally forming a U-shaped member having a width for fitting over the end flange; an elastomeric coating extruded onto at least portions of the core member for providing at least one sealing lip extending from said core member; a plurality of perforations formed in said intermediate leg whereby said perforations allow expansion in said width of said perforated leg such that said width may be varied during forming of the weatherstrip to provide a better final fit with respect to the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
115 words
A belt weatherstrip adapted for engagement over and end flange of a vehicle, said belt weatherstrip comprising: a one-piece core member including a backing leg, an intermediate leg and a show surface leg generally forming a U-shaped member having a width for fitting over the end flange; an elastomeric coating extruded onto at least portions of the core member for providing at least one sealing lip extending from said core member; a plurality of perforations formed in said intermediate leg whereby said perforations allow expansion in said width of said perforated leg such that said width may be varied during forming of the weatherstrip to provide a better final fit with respect to the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The belt weatherstrip of claim 5 wherein said plurality of perforations further comprise elongated cuts in said intermediate leg.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The belt weatherstrip of claim 6 wherein the elongated cuts are parallel to one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The belt weatherstrip of claim 7 wherein the cuts are angled with respect to the longitudinal direction of said belt weatherstrip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The belt weatherstrip of claim 8 wherein said cuts are sized such that they extend substantially across the entire width of said intermediate leg.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
131 words
A belt weatherstrip adapted for engagement over an end flange of a vehicle, said belt weatherstrip comprising: a one-piece core member including a backing leg, an intermediate leg and a show surface leg generally forming a U-shaped member having a width for fitting over the end flange; an elastomeric coating extruding onto at least portion of the core member for providing at least one sealing lip extending from said core member; a plurality of slits formed in said intermediate leg at an angle slanted with respect to a longitudinal axis of the leg whereby said slits allow expansion in said width of said intermediate leg such that said width may be varied during forming of the weatherstrip to provide a better final fit with respect to final contours of the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
A belt weatherstrip adapted for engagement over an end flange of a vehicle, said belt weatherstrip comprising: a one-piece core member including a backing leg, an intermediate leg and a show surface leg generally forming a U-shaped member having a width for fitting over the end flange; an elastomeric coating extruding onto at least portion of the core member for providing at least one sealing lip extending from said core member; a plurality of slits formed in said intermediate leg at an angle slanted with respect to a longitudinal axis of the leg whereby said slits allow expansion in said width of said intermediate leg such that said width may be varied during forming of the weatherstrip to provide a better final fit with respect to final contours of the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The belt weatherstrip of claim 10 wherein said plurality of slits further comprised elongated cuts in said intermediate leg.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The belt weatherstrip of claim 11 wherein the elongated cuts are parallel to one another.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The belt weatherstrip of claim 12 wherein said cuts are sized such that they extend substantially across the entire width of said intermediate leg.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2899238A
Cited
US1837775A
Cited
US2443959A
Cited
US2613408A
Cited
US3256577A
Cited
US3706173A
Cited
US4188424A
Cited
US4310164A
Cited
US4379376A
Cited
US4399644A
Cited
US4530192A
Cited
US4489519A
Cited
US4749203A
Cited
US4745665A
Cited
US5038521A
Cited
US4949507A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-03 | 1996-11-02 | 1997-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-03 | 2000-11-02 | 2001-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-03 | 2004-11-02 | 2005-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |