Air duct assembly with a secured seal
AssigneeSteere Enterprises, Inc.
InventorDouglas French
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air duct assembly attachable to a receiving port includes an air duct with an inner surface and an exterior surface connected to one another at a coupling fixture. A seal is connected and bonded to the coupling fixture. The seal extends axially from the coupling fixture and has a tip with an inner diameter smaller than the coupling fixture's inner diameter. A shell is connected to the coupling fixture and the seal. The shell extends axially from the seal and is connectable to the receiving port.
Claims18
An air duct assembly attachable to a receiving port, comprising:
- an air duct having an inner surface and an exterior surface connected to one another at a coupling fixture;
- a seal connected and bonded to said coupling fixture, said seal extending axially from said coupling fixture, said seal having a tip with an inner diameter smaller than said coupling fixture's inner diameter;
- and
- a shell connected to said coupling fixture and said seal, said shell extending axially from said seal, said shell connectable to the receiving port.
An air duct assembly for transferring air or the like from one component to another, comprising:
- a receiving port having an exterior surface which has a port seal surface and a latch groove, said receiving port having a port opening;
- a duct having a coupling fixture at an end thereof, said duct having a duct opening alignable with said port opening;
- a seal bonded to said coupling fixture and extending axially therefrom, said seal having a tip with an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of said port seal surface;
- a shell connected to said coupling fixture and said seal, said shell extending axially from said seal and having lateral openings therethrough;
- and
- a latch receivable in said lateral openings which are alignable with said latch groove when said duct is positioned on to said receiving port and wherein said tip seals around said port seal surface.
A method of forming an air duct connector with a secured seal, comprising:
- forming an air duct with an exterior and an interior surface connected to one another at a coupling fixture;
- bonding a seal to said coupling fixture so that said seal extends axially from said coupling fixture, wherein said seal has a tip with an inner diameter smaller than a selected interior of said coupling fixture's inner diameter;
- and
- attaching a shell to said coupling fixture and said seal, said shell extending axially from said seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.