Sigma bulb for use with RV slide out rooms and windows
A seal assembly ( 400 ) is used with a slide-out room in a mobile living quarters. The seal assembly ( 400 ) includes three sealing lips ( 402 ) which are adapted to abut a top phalange ( 406 ) of a slide-out room when the room is a retracted position. The sigma seal ( 400 ) includes a pair of opposing concave walls 404 which are adapted to collapse when the slide-out room is in a retracted position. The sigma seal ( 400 ) is further adapted to be secured to a wall or a static surface ( 410 ) of a mobile living quarters.
1. A seal assembly adapted for use in combination with a mobile living quarters, said mobile living quarters comprises:
a slide-out room having a room interior and movable between a retracted, closed position and an extended, open position;
at least one first side wall formed in an exterior wall of said mobile living quarters, said first side wall having a room opening form therein;
said first side wall further comprises an exterior surface facing outwardly from an interior, an interior surface facing inwardly, and an end section;
characterized in that said seal assembly comprises a seal component and a jacket, said seal component comprises:
at least three sealing lips which abut said sidewall of said slide-out room when said slide-out room is moved to its closed or retracted position;
means for securing said seal to a stationary surface of said mobile living quarters; and
contoured sides positioned on opposing sides of said seal.
2. A seal assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that said contoured sides are configured so as to act as a gutter to divert water away from sealing points formed by each of said sealing lips.
3. A seal assembly in accordance with claim 2 , characterized in that said contoured sides further act as a pneumatic seal, when installed between two mating parts.
4. A seal assembly in accordance with claim 3 , characterized in that as wind or water pressure increases, the contoured sides are positively actuated and sealing lips are energized, in that the seal pressure increases as said wind or water pressure increases.
5. A seal assembly in accordance with claim 2 , characterized in that said contoured sides allow a sealing edge to collapse straight down without rocking from side to side or causing distortion in a sealing area.
6. A seal assembly in accordance with claim 5 , characterized in that said seal comprises legs and the inside of each of said legs of said seal will have a wedge shape removed, so as to increase compression on said legs.
7. A seal assembly in accordance with claim 6 , characterized in that said legs include striations which function so as to facilitate compression on said legs.
8. A seal assembly in accordance with claim 6 , characterized in that the configuration of said legs allows for a higher durometer of material to be used, in view of said seal assembly allowing for lower compression forces.
9. A seal assembly in accordance with claim 7 , characterized in that said seal comprises substrates and even when said positive seal is not under full compression, said contoured sides positively force said sealing lips against said substrates in a spring-like configuration, so that when air or water pressure is added to said seal, said seal positively actuates with additional energy against said substrates.
10. A seal assembly in accordance with claim 2 , characterized in that said contoured sides of said seal act as a gutter when installed in a vertical configuration.
11. A seal assembly in accordance with claim 2 , characterized in that:
said seal comprises legs and said contoured sides act as a gutter when in a horizontal application, so that said seal will allow the contoured sides to remove water and debris away from said sealing lips;
said assembly provides for positively actuating said sealing lips along both surfaces, when wind or water pressure is increased; and
said configuration of said contoured sides facilitates compression, with the use of ridges or removal of a pie-shaped wedge from inside of said legs.