Method for joining end portions of weatherstrip and apparatus for forming joining member therefor

A method of joining end members of a weatherstrip having a welt portion for facilitating installation of said weatherstrip and a sealing portion Including a seal lip, a support lip opposed to said seal lip and an elongate hollow defined between said seal lip and said support lip, said sealing portion being projected from said welt portion for effecting sealing of an opening on which said weatherstrip is installed, comprising:

• inserting said end members to an open mold in a spaced apart relationship such that a gap is present between said end members;
• closing said mold so as to apply pressure to said end members such that said support lip is curved inwardly against an inner surface of said seal lip so as to collapse said hollow in the vicinity of said end members, said support lip and said seal lip being compressed to substantially assume the shape of said seal lip portion thereof, a cavity having said shape of said seal lip portion and said welt being formed across said gap to closure of said mold;
• injecting a resilient material into said gap for forming a joining member, having an upper sealing connection portion and a lower welt connection portion, connecting said end members, a shape of said upper sealing connection portion of said joining member between sealing portions of each of said end members being substantially that of said seal lip portion of said sealing portion.