Low friction weather seal
AssigneeProfile Extrusions Company
InventorAlan C. Colliander
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An extruded, low friction weather seal is disclosed which in transverse cross section consists of a semirigid base member of polypropylene, a tubular sealing member of thermoplastic elastomer, and a thin film of polypropylene or a blend of polypropylene and thermoplastic elastomer capping all or part of the tubular sealing member. The thermoplastic elastomer enables the tubular sealing member to be resilient and compliant over a wide range of temperatures, including extremely cold conditions, but has a high friction surface which is subject to wear particularly where there is relative sliding movement between the weather seal and surface to be sealed. The polypropylene thin film cap provides a low friction contact surface without adversely affecting the resilience and compliance of the tubular sealing member.
Claims21
A weather seal for windows, doors and the like, comprising:
- an elongated base member the dimensions and material of which cause it to be at least semirigid;
- a sealing member carried by the base member and extending over its length, the sealing member being formed from material that is resilient and compliant over a wide range of outside temperatures and having a predetermined coefficient of friction;
- and a thin continuous film capping at least a part of the sealing member and extending over its length, the thin film being formed with a substantially uniform thickness from a material having a coefficient of friction which is less than that of the sealing member, and being sufficiently thin to permit resilient and compliant flexure with said sealing member.
A weather seal for windows, doors and the like, comprising:
- a base member of extrudable polyolefin homopolymer or copolymer having a laterally projecting leg extending over its length of sufficient rigidity as to permit insertion into a mounting groove;
- a tubular sealing member carried by the base member and formed from an extrudable thermoplastic elastomer that is resilient and compliant over a wide range of outside temperatures and having a predetermined coefficient of friction;
- and a thin continuous film formed at least in part of an extrudable polyolefin homopolymer or copolymer having a coefficient of friction which is less that that of the thermoplastic elastomer, the thin film being of substantially uniform thickness but sufficiently thin to permit resilient and compliant flexure with said sealing member;
- said base member, sealing member and thin film being integrally formed in a single extrusion.
A weather seal for windows, doors and the like, comprising:
- an elongated base member the dimensions and material of which cause it to be at least semirigid;
- a sealing member carried by the base member and extending over its length, the sealing member being formed from material that is resilient and compliant over a wide range of outside temperatures and having a predetermined coefficient of friction;
- and a thin continuous film coextruded with the ceiling member and capping at least a part thereof, the thin film being formed from a material having a coefficient of friction which is less than that of the sealing member, and being sufficiently thin to permit resilient and compliant flexure with said sealing member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.