Granted Patent B2

US 7,784,852 · App. 12/145,654 · Granted Aug 31, 2010

Abstract

Claims (37)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a door movable between a closed and an opened position, said door defining a fishmouth aperture configured to receive a striker pin;

a striker pin configured to enter said fishmouth aperture when said door closes and exit said fishmouth aperture when said door opens; and

a sealing device configured to at least partially seal said fishmouth aperture while allowing said striker pin to enter and exit said fishmouth aperture;

the sealing device including an integrated bracket operatively connected to said striker pin;

a compressible sleeve engaged with said integrated bracket, the sleeve being configured to compress when force is applied; and

wherein said sleeve has a sealing side that seals to a surface of the door around a perimeter of said fishmouth aperture when said door is closed.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein

said striker pin is operatively connected to a frame of said vehicle; and

said door includes a latch that engages with said striker pin when said door closes, said latch disengaging with said striker pin when said door opens.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has a generally cylindrical hollow shape with a generally circular first and second opening in the absence of said applied force.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is formed from a sufficiently resilient material that allows said sleeve to return to said generally cylindrical hollow shape when said applied force is removed.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is made of rubber.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:

said integrated bracket includes a base and a protruding first section operatively connected to the base;

said sleeve has an outer side; and

said sleeve is fitted onto said first section of said integrated bracket through respective slots formed on said sealing and said outer sides of said sleeve.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein said first section of said integrated bracket has an extremity slightly larger than said respective slots on said sleeve to prevent said sleeve from slipping off said integrated bracket.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein a first and a second end of said striker pin are operatively connected to said base at respective first and second holes in said base.

9. A vehicle comprising:

a door movable between a closed and an opened position, said door defining a fishmouth aperture configured to receive a striker pin;

a striker pin configured to enter said fishmouth aperture when said door closes and exit said fishmouth aperture when said door opens;

a sealing device configured to at least partially seal said fishmouth aperture while allowing said striker pin to enter and exit said fishmouth aperture;

wherein the sealing device includes a first portion and a second portion attached to the door at a perimeter of said fishmouth aperture, the first portion and the second portion being configured to at least partially seal said fishmouth aperture when said door is open and when said door is closed;

a first slit between said first portion and said second portion of said sealing device;

a second slit oriented approximately perpendicularly to said first slit, and

wherein said first slit and second slit are configured to allow said striker pin to enter said fishmouth aperture such that said sealing device seals around outer surfaces of said striker pin.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein said sealing device is made of rubber.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a door movable between a closed and an opened position, said door defining a fishmouth aperture configured to receive a striker pin;

a striker pin configured to enter said fishmouth aperture when said door closes and exit said fishmouth aperture when said door opens; and

a sealing device configured to at least partially seal said fishmouth aperture while allowing said striker pin to enter and exit said fishmouth aperture;

wherein the sealing device includes a first portion and a second portion attached to the door at a perimeter of said fishmouth aperture, the first portion and the second portion being configured to at least partially seal said fishmouth aperture when said door is open and when said door is closed;

wherein said first portion of said sealing device includes a first set of bristles attached to a first bristle holder; and

wherein said second portion of said sealing device includes a second set of bristles attached to a second bristle holder.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein said first and second set of bristles are composed of fiber.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein said first and second set of bristles are composed of plastic.

Assignments (12)