Reinforcement for sealing, guiding and trimming strips

US5651218A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Draftex Industries Limited · GB

Inventors

• Robert G. Bright · Viersen, DE
• Norbert Heller · Grefrath, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 18, 1995
• Grant date: Jul 29, 1997
• Expiry date: Sep 18, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/24198
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A reinforcing channel-shaped carrier for a sealing, trimming or guiding strip is made of metal and provided with slots of several different types. Slots of a first type extend across the base of the carrier and for short distances into the side walls and facilitate bending about an axis parallel to the base and perpendicular to the length of the channel. Slots of a second type are positioned in the side walls and facilitate bending about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the base. The latter slots are of two different forms. Slots of one form are shorter than those of the other form. This increases the stiffness of the carrier. The carrier is produced by slitting a flat metal blank and then rolling it along stretch paths to cause it to be thinned-down and expanded lengthwise to convert the slits into slots. The carrier is advantageously used in a sealing, trimming or guiding strip in closed loop form ready for fitting to a vehicle door opening.