Patent ID: 8205390
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: B60J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An elongated carrier for reinforcing a resilient weatherseal, said carrier comprising: a base portion extending along a longitudinal axis; a first side portion extending outward from said base portion to a distal first edge and defining a plurality of first slots extending transverse to said longitudinal axis with each adjacent pair of said plurality of first slots cooperating to define a first finger therebetween with said first finger further defined as a plurality of first fingers disposed between respective pairs of first slots; a second side portion spaced from said first side portion and extending outward from said base portion to a distal second edge and defining a plurality of second slots extending transverse to said longitudinal axis with each adjacent pair of said plurality of second slots cooperating to define a second finger therebetween with said second finger further defined as a plurality of second fingers disposed between respective pairs of second slots; said base portion, said first side portion and said second side portion cooperating to define a generally U-shaped channel extending along said longitudinal axis; said base portion defines a plurality of base slots extending transverse to said longitudinal axis with each adjacent pair of base slots cooperating to define a web therebetween with said web further defined as a plurality of webs disposed between respective pairs of base slots; said first side portion includes a first connecting portion disposed between adjacent webs and adjacent first fingers for connecting said first fingers to said webs with said first connecting portion further disposed between adjacent base slots and adjacent first slots along said longitudinal axis with said first connecting portion further defined as a plurality of first connecting portions disposed between respective webs and first fingers; said second side portion includes a second connecting portion disposed between adjacent webs and adjacent second fingers for connecting said second fingers to said webs with said second connecting portion further disposed between adjacent base slots and adjacent second slots along said longitudinal axis with said second connecting portion further defined as a plurality of second connecting portions disposed between respective webs and second fingers; and each of said first fingers, each of said second fingers, each of said webs, each of said first connecting portions, and each of said second connecting portions include a non-planar cross sectional shape along said longitudinal axis; each of said first fingers, each of said second fingers, each of said first connecting portions, each of said second connecting portions, and each of said webs include a deformation extending transverse to said longitudinal axis such that said deformation of said first fingers and said first connecting portions extend away from a plane parallel to said first side portion, said deformation of said second fingers and said second connecting portions extend away from a plane parallel to said second side portion, and said deformation of said webs extend away from a plane parallel to said base portion to define said non-planar shape of each of said first fingers, each of said second fingers, each of said first connecting portions, each of said second connecting portions, and each of said webs; said deformation of said first fingers, said second fingers, said first connecting portions, said second connecting portions, and said webs are interconnected and continuous with each other.