Illuminating weatherseal
OwnerWilliam Whiteheadinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An illuminating weatherseal for sealing an interface between confronting surfaces and illuminating the adjacent environment is disclosed. The illuminating weatherseal includes light line extending along a longitudinal dimension of the weatherseal, wherein the light is emitted along a path defining a non zero angle with the longitudinal dimension. A switch can be incorporated into the illuminating weatherseal for selectively actuating the light line.
Claims41
An illuminating weatherseal for sealing a gap intermediate two confronting surfaces, the confronting surfaces moveable between a spaced apart open position and an adjacent closed position, the weatherseal, comprising:
- (a) an elongate elastomeric body selected to attach to one of the confronting surfaces, the elastomeric body including a sealing portion being spaced from a remaining contacting surface in the open position of the confronting surfaces and contacting the remaining confronting surface in the closed position of the confronting surfaces, the elastomeric body including a seating channel extending along a longitudinal dimension of the elastomeric body;
- and
- (b) a light line disposed in the seating channel.
A weatherseal assembly comprising:
- (a) a weatherseal body having longitudinal dimension;
- and
- (b) a fiber optic light line connected to the body, the fiber optic light line selected to emit light along a path non parallel to the longitudinal dimension.
An illuminating weatherseal assembly having a weatherseal body having a cross sectional dimension and a light line extending along a longitudinal dimension of the weatherseal, the light line having a cross sectional area less that the cross sectional area of the weatherseal body and selected to emit light along a path defining a non zero angle with the longitudinal dimension.
An elongate trim piece, comprising:
- (a) elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a U shaped cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- (b) a reinforcing member having a corresponding U shaped cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- (c) a light line connected to the body to emit light along a path non parallel to the longitudinal axis.
An illuminating assembly, comprising
- (a) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis;
- (b) a light line connected to the body along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- (c) a switch integral with the elastomeric body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.