GB2216163A

GB2216163A - Resilient weather seal

Info

Publication number: GB2216163A
Application number: GB8902161A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Christopher Allport; Mark Charles Allport; Hannah Susan Allport
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-24
Filing date: 1989-02-01
Publication date: 1989-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-01
Also published as: IE880510L; GB8902161D0; GB2216163B

Abstract

An elongate tubular compression seal comprises a support member 11 which carries an integral tubular sealing member 14, the tubular sealing member having one or more limited regions 22a to 22d of reduced wall thickness defining articulation points during compressions of the member. <IMAGE>

Description

RESILIENT WEATHER SEAL The present invention relates to a resilient weather seal, and in particular to a resilient weather seal of the type known as a tubular compression seal.

A tubular compression seal is known which comprises an elongate support member having generally transversely extending retaining flanges which frictionally retain the support member in a slot in a door or window frame, the slot being located adjacent to the door or window jamb. Further, the end of the support member which in use is located adjacent the opening of the slot has an integrally formed tubular sealing member which is compressed by the door or window in the closed position of the door or window to provide a weather seal between the door or window jamb and the corresponding edge of the door or window. The tubular sealing member of the known type of tubular compression seal has a constant wall thickness.

A disadvantage with the known type of tubular compression seal is that after a period of use it has the tendency to take on a particular 'set' or shape corresponding to the shape when in the compressed condition. This results in a compression seal which is much less effective then desired.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved tubular compression seal in which the above disadvantage is avoided or reduced.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an elongate tubular compression seal comprising a support member which carries an integral tubular sealing member, the tubular sealing member having one or more limited regions of reduced wall thickness defining articulation points during compression of the member.

The portions of reduced wall thickness are preferable generally 'V' shaped, and the sealing member is preferably generally pentagonal. The support member is preferably elongated in cross-section and includes at least one laterally extending integral retaining flange, the sealing member preferably being offset laterally of the support member on the same side as the retaining flange(s).

As will be described, the invention provides a prompt recovery of the tubular sealing member to its original shape once a compression force has been removed.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an extruded tubular compression seal according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the seal of Figure 1 in use in a door jamb with the sealing member partly compressed; and Figure 3 is a cross-section of a tubular compression seal according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, wherein similar numerals have been used to indicate like parts, there is shown in cross-section an extruded elongate tubular compression seal 10 of any suitable resilient material. In cross-section the seal 10 comprises an elongate support member 11 having at one end 13 a tubular sealing member 14. The sealing member 14 comprises a hollow irregular pentagon integrally formed with the support member 11, the member 14 having side members 15, 16, 17, 18 and a base part 19. The base part 19 forms a continuation of the support member 11.

As shown, the inner surface 20 of the member 14 is formed having a number of discontinuities 21a to 21d each of which defines a limited region 22a to 22d of reduced wall thickness of the member 14. The discontinuities are generally 'V' shaped with the apex 23 of each discontinuity extending towards the outer surface 24 of the member 14.

The support member 11 has integrally formed thereon two laterally extending resilient retaining flanges 25, and as shown the tubular sealing member 14 is offset laterally relative to the support member 11 on the same side as the retaining flanges 25.

In use, the support member 11 is pushed into an elongate slot 26 located in a door or window frame 27 and the retaining flanges 25 frictionally engage against the surfaces of the door or window frame 27 defining the slot 26. As the retaining flanges 25 extend slightly in a forward direction relative to the support member 11, they are readily received into the slot 26 and act to prevent the member 11 from being removed from the slot 26.

As shown, a door or window 28 cooperating with the frame 27 deflects the sealing member 14 in the closed position of the door or window to provide a seal between the frame 27 and the door or window 28 to prevent draughts around the door or window 28. In Figure 1, the position of the sealing member 14 is shown in dotted outline corresponding to the closed position of the door or window 28. Thus, the door 28 has compressed the sealing member in the direction of arrow A causing the members 15, 16 and 17, 18 to articulate away from one another about the regions 22b and 22d respectively, and the members 15, 19 and 16, 17 to articulate towards one another about the regions 22a and 22c respectively.

The regions of reduced wall thickness enable the tubular sealing member to deform in a predictable manner, and also readily return the member to its initial position by release of the energy stored in the opposite surfaces of the V-shaped discontinuities 21a and 21c during compression.

The sealing member 14 may also be readily compressed in the direction of arrow B causing the members 16, 17 and 15, 19 to articulate away from one another about the regions 22c, 22a respectively. Thus, the members 15, 16 and 17, 18 articulate towards one another about the regions 22b and 22d respectively. The sealing member 14 thus has at least three and more preferably at least four regions of reduced wall thickness of the member 14, to effect efficient compression of the sealing member and also efficient return of the sealing member to its original shape.

Figure 3, which is thought to be self-explanatory, shows a second embodiment of tubular compression seal in which the tubular sealing member 14 is generally hexagonal.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An elongate tubular compression seal comprising a support member which carries an integral tubular sealing member, the tubular sealing member having one or more limited regions of reduced wall thickness defining articulation points during compression of the member.

2. A seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limited regions of reduced wall thickness are formed on the inner surface of the tubular sealing member and are generally V-shaped with their apexes extending towards the outer surface.

3. A seal as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the support member is elongated in cross-section with the tubular sealing member carried at one end thereof, the support member including at least one integral lateral flange and the tubular sealing member being offset laterally of the support member on the same side as the flange.

4. A seal as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tubular sealing member has at least five sides.

5. An elongate tubular compression seal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3.