Weatherstrip seal, metal insert therefor and method for manufacturing the same

A weatherstrip seal comprising:

• a metal insert comprising:
• an elongate central portion having a pair of spaced-apart lateral edges and a central longitudinal axis;
• at least one flap extending from one of the spaced-apart lateral edges, the at least one flap being folded at an angle relative to the elongate central portion about a folding axis generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis, the at least one flap comprising a plurality of fins spaced apart to define interstitial spaces between adjacent fins, each interstitial space comprising an inner end portion located near the central longitudinal portion and a notch extending from the inner end portion towards the central longitudinal axis and beyond the folding axis;
• and
• a layer of elastomeric material covering the metal insert.

A method for manufacturing a metal insert for a weatherstrip seal, the method comprising:

• providing an elongate blank piece of sheet metal having a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge and a central longitudinal axis;
• cutting a plurality of spaced-apart interstitial spaces in the blank piece of sheet metal, the interstitial spaces extending from at least one of the lateral edges towards the central longitudinal axis, each interstitial space comprising an inner end portion located near the central longitudinal portion and a notch extending from the inner end portion towards the central longitudinal axis, the interstitial spaces being spaced apart to define a plurality of fins between adjacent interstitial spaces;
• defining at least one folding axis extending parallel to the central longitudinal axis, each folding axis delimiting a flap including the fins from an elongate central portion, said folding axis intersecting said notch such that the notch extends beyond the folding axis;
• folding the fins about the at least one folding axis at an angle relative to the elongate central portion.