Flexible seal for a section joint of a movable barrier

A movable barrier system for sealing a gap between adjacent frames, the system comprising:

• a first frame comprising a slot having an opening, the slot comprising a slot surface extending from the slot opening;
• a second frame comprising a compressing surface;
• a flexible seal comprising:
• an outer surface including a sealable surface configured to selectively press against the compressing surface of the second frame, and a retaining surface configured to be retained within the slot of the first frame and extend out of the slot when in an uncompressed condition;
• a first leg and a second leg each extending between the sealable surface and the retaining surface, the first leg being substantially opposite the second leg and cooperatively defining a neck between the sealable surface and the retaining surface;
• and
• a cavity comprising a first portion on a first side of the neck and a second portion on an opposing second side of the neck, the first leg and the second leg being configured to collapse into the cavity in a manner that a distance between the first leg and the second leg decreases when the flexible seal is compressed between the first frame and the second frame,
• wherein the flexible seal is configured in a manner that when the flexible seal is uncompressed, at least a portion of the flexible seal on both sides of the neck is positioned within the slot, and
• wherein the flexible seal is configured in a manner that when the flexible seal is compressed between the first frame and the second frame, at least a portion of the outer surface an at least partially vertical portion of the slot surface.

A method for sealing a gap between adjacent frames of a movable barrier, the method comprising:

• providing a flexible seal, a first frame, and a second frame, the flexible seal comprising:
• a first end comprising a sealable surface;
• a second end comprising a retaining surface;
• and
• a central region disposed between the first end and the second end, the central region comprising a neck defined by a first leg and a second leg, the neck being more narrow than the first end and the second end, the first leg and the second leg each comprising an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface, the central region also comprising a cavity positioned between the first end and the second end;
• positioning the flexible seal in a slot of the first frame, the slot comprising a slot opening and a slot surface extending from the slot opening;
• and
• displacing the second frame in a manner that a compressing surface of the second frame compresses the flexible seal, so that the sealable surface presses against the compressing surface and so that at least a portion of the retaining surface and at least a portion of the outwardly facing surfaces of both the first leg and the second leg press against the slot surface and a distance between the inwardly facing surfaces decreases,
• wherein when the flexible seal is compressed between the first frame and the second frame, at least a portion of the outwardly facing surfaces between the compressing surface and the neck contacts an at least partially vertical portion of the slot surface.