Patent Publication Number: US-2023151681-A1

Title: Sealing strip for furniture

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional application of non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 17/200,938 titled “Sealing Strip For Furniture”, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Mar. 15, 2021, which claims priority to and the benefit of the provisional patent application titled “Dust Proof Cabinets and Drawers”, application No. 63/007,202, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on April 8, 2020. The specifications of the above referenced patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     People who live in environments where excessive dust is generated, for example, desert-like areas, etc., often experience an excessive amount of dust penetration and deposition within the home where they reside or in an office area where they work due to lack of adequate sealing between a window sash and a window frame when the window is closed. Dust may also enter and circulate the home or office through Heating/Air conditioning vents. Dust and other fine particulate matter can also make their way into closed cabinets and drawers, and deposit on pots, pans, clothing, files, etc. In such areas, residents need to spend an excessive amount of time cleaning and disinfecting their home and cabinets due to the dust that infiltrates the house through the windows of the house, and cabinets, etc. 
     Hence there is a long felt but unresolved need for a sealing strip that can be affixed in a groove in the window sash, window frame, cabinet door, drawer, etc. to minimize ingress of air-borne fine particulate matter and dust through the windows of the house to areas within the house and to the interior of cabinets located within the house. There is also a long felt but unresolved need for a sealing strip that can be affixed to an engagement surface of the window sash, window frame, cabinet door, drawer, etc. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Various embodiments of the sealing strip disclosed herein address the above recited need for a sealing strip that can be affixed in a groove in a window sash, window frame, cabinet door, drawer, etc. Various embodiments of the sealing strip disclosed herein also address the need for a sealing strip that can be affixed to an engagement surface of the window sash, window frame, cabinet door, drawer, etc. 
     The sealing strip disclosed herein comprises a deformable sealing profile with a teardrop cross-section. The deformable sealing profile comprises a first outwardly curved side and a second outwardly curved side located opposite to the first outwardly curved side. The ends of the first outwardly curved side and the second outwardly curved side engage with each other to define a rounded leading edge, and a sharp trailing edge located opposite to the rounded leading edge. The sealing strip further comprises a channel running along a length of the sealing strip, multiple parallel aligned reinforcement ribs, and an adhesive layer on the first outwardly curved side on an outer surface of the deformable sealing profile. The parallel aligned reinforcement ribs are integrally defined on a sidewall of the hollow chamber proximal to the first outwardly curved side, and extend along the length of the sealing strip. 
     In an embodiment, the sealing strip disclosed herein comprises a sealing profile with a 270 degree rotated generally T-shaped cross-section. The sealing profile of the sealing strip comprises a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The horizontal portion extends from a first lateral side of the vertical portion at a position about midway on the vertical portion. 
     In another embodiment, the sealing strip disclosed herein comprises a sealing profile with a vertically aligned rectangular base portion and a dovetail portion. The dovetail portion extends from a first lateral side of the rectangular base portion at about midway on the rectangular base portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific structures disclosed herein. The description of a structure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that structure shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein. 
         FIG.  1 A  exemplarily illustrates a top front perspective view of a sealing strip. 
         FIG.  1 B  exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of the sealing strip shown in  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 C  exemplarily illustrates a top rear perspective view of the sealing strip shown in  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 D  exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a cabinet door comprising a groove for affixing the sealing strip shown in  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 E  exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a cabinet having a cabinet door comprising the sealing strip shown in  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  2 A  exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a sealing strip. 
         FIG.  2 B  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the second embodiment of the sealing strip shown in  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  2 C  exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of the second embodiment of the sealing strip shown in  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  2 D  exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a cabinet door comprising a groove for affixing the sealing strip shown in  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  3 A  exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a sealing strip. 
         FIG.  3 B  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the third embodiment of the sealing strip shown in  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  3 C  exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of the third embodiment of the sealing strip shown in FIG. 3 A. 
         FIG.  3 D  exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a cabinet door comprising a groove for affixing the sealing strip shown in  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  4 A  exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a sealing strip. 
         FIG.  4 B  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the sealing strip shown in  FIG.  4 A . 
         FIG.  5 A  exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of a sealing strip. 
         FIG.  5 B  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the sealing strip shown in  FIG.  5 A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG.  1 A  exemplarily illustrates a top front perspective view of the sealing strip  100 . The sealing strip  100  disclosed herein comprises a sealing strip with a deformable sealing profile  102  comprising a teardrop cross-section, a channel  112  running along a length of the sealing strip  100 , multiple parallel aligned reinforcement ribs  114  integral with the sealing strip  100  on a first sidewall  116   a  of the channel  112 , and an adhesive layer  118  shown in  FIG.  1 C  on a first outwardly curved side  104  on an outer surface  120  of the deformable sealing profile  102 .  FIG.  1 B  exemplarily illustrates the teardrop cross-section of the sealing strip  100 . The deformable sealing profile  102  comprises the first outwardly curved side  104 , and a second outwardly curved side  106  located opposite to the first outwardly curved side  104 . The ends of the first outwardly curved side  104  and the second outwardly curved side  106  engage with each other to define a substantially rounded leading edge  110 , and a sharp trailing edge  108  opposite to the rounded leading edge  110 . The channel  112  of the sealing strip  100  also has a teardrop cross-section. Furthermore, the sealing profile  102  is concentric with the channel  112 . Accordingly, the sealing profile  102  has a uniform thickness between the first outwardly curved side  104  and the channel  112 , and between the second outwardly curved side  106  and the channel  112 . 
       FIG.  1 C  exemplarily illustrates a top rear perspective view of the sealing strip  100 . As illustrated in  FIG.  1 C , an adhesive layer  118  is applied on the first outwardly curved side  104  on an outer surface  120  of the deformable sealing profile  102 . 
       FIG.  1 D  exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a cabinet door  122  comprising a groove  124  for affixing the sealing strip  100  shown in  FIG.  1 A . In an embodiment, the groove  124  is configured to accommodate the first outwardly curved side  104  of the sealing profile  102 . The adhesive layer  118  is used to affix the first outwardly curved side  104  of the sealing strip  100  in the groove  124  of the cabinet door  122 . In an embodiment, the sealing strip  100  is cut in the sharp trailing edge  108  to form a notch (not shown) to facilitate the inward bending of the sealing strip  100  and to thereafter affix the first outwardly curved side  104  sealing strip  100  inside the bends  126  in the groove  124 . In an embodiment, the adhesive layer  118  is used to affix the first outwardly curved side  104  of the sealing strip  100  to a plane surface of the cabinet door  122  in the absence of a suitable groove  124  in the cabinet door  122 . 
     In an embodiment, the groove  124  configured to accommodate the first outwardly curved side  104  of the sealing profile  102  is about ⅛ th  inch wide and about ½ inch deep. In an embodiment, the cross-section of the groove  124  matches the shape of the first outwardly curved side  104  of the sealing profile  102 . In another embodiment, the groove  124  has a rectangular cross-section and the sharp trailing edge  108  is inserted into the groove  124  to affix the sealing strip  100  to the groove  124  of the cabinet door  122 . 
     In an embodiment, the width of the sealing profile  102  between the substantially rounded leading edge  110  and the sharp trailing edge  108  is about ½ inch. In an embodiment, the thickness of the sealing profile  102  between the first outwardly curved side  104  and the second outwardly curved side  106  is about ⅜ inch. In an embodiment, the width of the channel  112  between the first sidewall  116   a  and the second sidewall  116   b  is about ¼ inch, and the width of the channel is between 10 mm to 8 mm. In an embodiment, the reinforcement ribs  114  extend by about 1 mm to about 2 mm from the first sidewall  116   a  of the channel  112 . In an embodiment, the width of the reinforcement ribs  114  is about 1 mm to about 2 mm. In an embodiment, the reinforcement ribs  114  are located proximal to a mid-section of the sidewall  116  of the channel  112 , as shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C . The channel  116  further comprises a second sidewall  116   b,  as shown in  FIG.  1 B . In another embodiment, the width of the sealing profile  102  between the substantially rounded leading edge  110  and the sharp trailing edge  108  is about ⅜ inch, and the thickness of the sealing profile  102  between the first outwardly curved side  104  and the second outwardly curved side  106  is about ⅛ inch. 
     During use, when the cabinet door  122  is shut, the deformable sealing profile  102  of the sealing strip  100  contacts a frontal frame  128   a  of a cabinet  128 . The deformable sealing profile  102  deforms or compresses at the points of contact with the frontal frame  128   a  of the cabinet  128  to create a seal between the cabinet door  122  and the cabinet frame  128  as illustrated in  FIG.  1 E . The parallel aligned reinforcement ribs  114  shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C  ensure that the first outwardly curved side  104  and the second outwardly curved side  106  do not contact each other when the deformable sealing profile  102  deforms or compresses when the cabinet door  122  is shut. Furthermore, the parallel aligned reinforcement ribs  114  increase the buckling strength of the sealing strip  100  along the X-X′ axis illustrated in  FIG.  1 B . 
       FIG.  2 A  exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the sealing strip  200 . This embodiment of the sealing strip  200  is used for sealing a gap between a first surface, for example, the surface of the frontal frame  128   a,  and a second surface, for example, a surface  122   a  of the cabinet door  122  that engages with the first surface, as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG.  1 E . This embodiment of the sealing strip  200  comprises a sealing profile  202  having about a 270 degree rotated generally T-shaped cross-section. The sealing profile  202  comprises a vertical portion  204  and a horizontal portion  206 . The horizontal portion  206  extends from a first lateral side  208  of the vertical portion  204  at near about midway  212  on the vertical portion  204 . The second lateral side  210  of the sealing strip  200  is a plain surface. 
       FIG.  2 B  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the second embodiment of the sealing strip  200 . 
       FIG.  2 C  exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of the second embodiment of the sealing strip  200 . 
       FIG.  2 D  exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a cabinet door  214  comprising a groove  216  for affixing the sealing strip  200 . In an embodiment, the second lateral side  210  of the sealing strip  200  comprises an adhesive layer to affix the sealing strip  200  to the cabinet door  214  in the absence of the groove  216 . In an embodiment, the adhesive layer is protected by an adhesive protection film. The adhesive protection film is peeled off to reveal the adhesive layer. The sealing strip  200  is attached to the cabinet door  214  by affixing the second lateral side  210  comprising the adhesive layer. 
     In an embodiment, the sealing strip  200  is about ⅜ inch wide and about ⅛ inch thick. The horizontal portion  206  is about half the width of the sealing strip  200 . Furthermore, the horizontal portion  206  and the vertical portion  204  have an equal thickness of about 1/16 inch each. 
       FIG.  3 A  exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the sealing strip  300 . The cross-section of the third embodiment of the sealing strip  300  disclosed herein is similar to the cross-section of the second embodiment of the sealing strip  200  illustrated in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 D , except that the third embodiment comprises the first and second wall portions  302  and  306 . The vertical portion  204  of the sealing profile  202  comprises the first wall portion  302  extending from a first end  208   a  of the first lateral side  208 . The first wall portion  302  is substantially parallel to the horizontal portion  206 . The vertical portion  204  of the sealing profile  202  further comprises the second wall portion  304 . The second wall portion  304  extends from a second end  208   b  of the first lateral side  208 , parallel to the horizontal portion  206 . The sealing profile  302  of the third embodiment comprises a generally E-shaped cross-section, as illustrated in  FIG.  3 A . 
       FIG.  3 B  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the third embodiment of the sealing strip  300 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the sealing profile  202  further comprises a first trough portion  306  between the first wall portion  302  and the horizontal portion  206 . The sealing profile  202  further comprises a second trough portion  308  between the second wall portion  304  and the horizontal portion  206 . 
       FIG.  3 C  exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of the third embodiment of the sealing strip  300 . 
       FIG.  3 D  exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a cabinet door  310  comprising a groove  312  for affixing the sealing strip  300 . In an embodiment, the second lateral side  210  of the sealing strip  300  comprises an adhesive layer to affix the sealing strip  300  to the cabinet door  310  in the absence of the groove  312 . In an embodiment, the adhesive layer is protected by an adhesive protection film. The adhesive protection film is peeled off to reveal the adhesive layer. The sealing strip  300  is attached to the cabinet door  310  by affixing the second lateral side  210  comprising the adhesive layer. 
     In an embodiment, the sealing strip  300  is about ⅜ inch wide and about ⅛ inch thick. The horizontal portion  206  of the sealing strip  300  is about half the width of the sealing strip  300 . The vertical portion  204  is about ⅛ inch thick. Furthermore, the horizontal portion  206 , the first wall portion  302 , and the second wall portion  304  have an equal thickness of about ¼ inch each. 
       FIG.  4 A  exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a sealing strip  400 . The fourth embodiment of the sealing strip  400  is used for sealing a gap between a first surface, for example, the surface of the frontal frame  128   a,  and a second surface, for example, a surface  122   a  of the cabinet door  122  that engages with the first surface, as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG.  1 E . The fourth embodiment of the sealing strip  400  disclosed herein comprises a sealing profile  402  having a cross-section, wherein the cross-section of the sealing profile  402  comprises a vertically aligned rectangular base portion  404 . The cross-section of the sealing profile  402  further comprises a dovetail portion  406  extending from a first lateral side  408  of the rectangular base portion  404  at a position near midway  410  on the rectangular base portion  404 . 
       FIG.  4 B  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the sealing strip  400 . The dovetail portion  406  of the sealing profile  402  is configured to slide into a slot, for example a dovetail slot in a cabinet door. In an embodiment, the second lateral side  412  of the sealing strip  400  comprises an adhesive layer to affix the sealing strip  400  to the cabinet door in the absence of a groove in the cabinet door. In an embodiment, the adhesive layer is protected by an adhesive protection film. The adhesive protection film is peeled off to reveal the adhesive layer. The sealing strip  400  is attached to the cabinet door by affixing the second lateral side  412  comprising the adhesive layer. 
     In an embodiment, the sealing strip  400  is about ⅜ inch wide and about ⅛ inch thick. The vertically aligned rectangular base portion  404  and the dovetail portion  406  are each about half the thickness of the sealing strip  400 . 
       FIG.  5 A  exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the sealing strip  500 . The cross-section of the fifth embodiment of the sealing strip  500  disclosed herein is similar to the cross-section of the fourth embodiment of the sealing strip  400  illustrated in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B , except the fifth embodiment comprises the first and second wall portions  502  and  504 . The rectangular base portion  404  of the sealing profile  402  comprises a first wall portion  502  extending from a first end  408   a  of the first lateral side  408  of the rectangular base portion  404 . The first wall portion  502  is perpendicular to the first lateral side  408  of the rectangular base portion  404 . The second wall portion  504  extends from a second end  408   b  of the first lateral side  408  of the rectangular base portion  404 . The second wall portion  504  is perpendicular to the first lateral side  408  of the rectangular base portion  404 .  FIG.  5 B  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the sealing strip  500 . 
     In an embodiment, the sealing strip  500  is about ⅜ inch wide and about ⅛ inch thick. The vertically aligned rectangular base portion  404 , the dovetail portion  406 , the first wall portion  502 , and the second wall portion  504  are each about half the thickness of the sealing strip  500 . The vertically aligned rectangular base portion  404  is about ⅛ inch thick. Furthermore, the dovetail portion  406 , the first wall portion  502 , and the second wall portion  504 , and the horizontal portion  206  have an equal thickness of about ¼ inch each. 
     The embodiments of the sealing strip  100 - 500  disclosed herein provide users with a seal that can be applied to furniture, for example, cabinets, drawers, doors, etc., to prevent fine particulate matter from building up within an interior space enclosed by the embodiments of the sealing strip  100 - 500 . The sealing profiles  102 - 402  are configured to firmly secure the embodiments of the sealing strip  100 - 500  to a groove  126 ,  216  and  312 , for example a pre-integrated or preformed groove, in the furniture  122 ,  214  and  310 . Alternatively, the adhesive layer is configured to firmly affix the embodiments of the sealing strip  100 - 500  to a surface of the furniture  122 ,  214  and  310 . The embodiments of the sealing strip  100 - 500  are configured to be installed along a perimeter of the furniture. In an embodiment, a length of the sealing strip  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  or  500  overlaps with another length of the sealing strip  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  or  500  near a corner of the furniture. In another embodiment, the sealing strip  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  or  500  is cut along its sides to form a notch (not shown) to facilitate inward bending of the sealing strip  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  or  500 . The embodiments of the sealing strip  100 - 500  disclosed herein provide a complete seal, and ensure items stored inside cabinets, drawers, etc., do not accumulate dust and require additional cleaning. The embodiments of the sealing strip  100 - 500  further function as seals for doors, windows, cabinets, drawers and other furniture in kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms, office, etc. 
     The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the portable snowboard disclosed herein. While the portable snowboard has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Furthermore, although the portable snowboard has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the portable snowboard is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the portable snowboard extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the portable snowboard disclosed herein in its aspects.