Core metal insert with mechanical strengthening and method of making same
AssigneeScovil Hanna Corporation
InventorRoy L. Bonds
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elongate core metal insert for reinforcing a resilient weatherseal includes a main body portion extending along a longitudinal axis, opposed first and second edges, and opposed first and second face surfaces extending between the first and second edges. A plurality of flutes are formed into the first and second face surfaces of the core metal insert in an undulating pattern, and extend between the first and second edges such the core metal insert is corrugated. The corrugation of the core metal insert separates the first and second face surfaces by a distance greater than the original thickness of the core metal insert. A method of providing such a core metal insert also is provided.
Claims14
An elongate core metal insert for reinforcing a resilient weatherseal, comprising:
- a main body portion extending along a longitudinal axis;
- opposed and longitudinally extending first and second edges, wherein the main body portion is located between the first and second edges;
- opposed first and second face surfaces extending between the first and second edges and separated by an original thickness of the core metal insert;
- a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart first slots transversely extending from the first edge arranged in a first pattern that define a plurality of first fingers between adjacent pairs of first slots;
- a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart second slots transversely extending from the second edge arranged in a second pattern that define a plurality of second fingers between adjacent pairs of second slots;
- and
- a plurality of flutes formed into both of the first and second face surfaces of the core metal insert in an undulating pattern, the plurality of flutes extending between the first and second edges and being aligned in a common direction such the core metal insert is corrugated,
- wherein the corrugation of the core metal insert separates the first and second face surfaces by a distance greater than the original thickness of the core metal insert,
- wherein the plurality of flutes are arranged in a third pattern that is independent and misaligned with the first pattern of the first slots,
- wherein the plurality of flutes are formed about the main body portion and are not formed about the first and second edges, or are formed about at least one of the first and second edges and are not formed about the main body portion.
A method for making an elongate core metal insert for reinforcing a resilient weatherseal, comprising the steps of:
- providing a sheet metal blank that comprises a main body portion extending along a longitudinal axis with opposed and longitudinally extending first and second edges and opposed first and second face surfaces extending between the first and second edges and separated by an original thickness of the core metal insert;
- providing a first pattern of longitudinally spaced apart first slots transversely extending from the first edge;
- providing a second pattern of longitudinally spaced apart second slots transversely extending from the second edge;
- lengthening said sheet metal blank to expand said first and second slots to define a plurality of first fingers between adjacent pairs of first slots and to define a plurality of second fingers between adjacent pairs of second slots;
- corrugating both of the first and second face surfaces of the core metal insert in an undulating pattern to form a plurality of flutes extending between the first and second edges,
- wherein the step of corrugation forms the plurality of flutes in a third pattern that is independent and misaligned with the first pattern of the first slots,
- wherein the step of corrugation forms the plurality of flutes about the main body portion and not about the first and second edges, or about at least one of the first and second edges and not about the main body portion, and
- extrusion-coating the core metal insert with a flexible material to provide a weatherseal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.