Weatherstrip assembly for sealing between a frame and a closure member and a method for producing the same

A weatherstrip assembly for sealing between a frame and a closure member of a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

• a body extending along an axis to first and second opposing ends, said body having;
• a base;
• a first leg extending from said base;
• a second leg extending from said base with said first and second legs spaced from and extending substantially parallel to each other, and said base and said legs defining a channel for receiving the closure member;
• an exterior surface disposed outside of said channel;
• an interior base surface disposed within said channel along said base;
• a first interior leg surface disposed within said channel along said first leg;
• and
• a second interior leg surface disposed within said channel along said second leg;
• at least one sealing lip having an abutment surface with said sealing lip extending from at least one of said first and second legs for selectively engaging the closure member;
• and
• a wearstrip disposed along and extending from at least one of said interior base surface, said first interior leg surface, said second interior leg surface, and said abutment surface with said wearstrip formed of a thermoplastic polyethylene material for reducing friction as the closure member moves relative to said weatherstrip assembly;
• wherein said wearstrip has a plurality of alternating wear sections and gaps that define a series of alternating semi-rigid and flexible sections, respectively, with each wear section having first and second surfaces and an engagement surface extending between said first and second surfaces, with said first surface of one of said wear sections and said second surface of an adjacent wear section facing each other to define said gap with said gaps promoting flexing at said flexible sections for facilitating mounting of said weatherstrip assembly to the frame.