IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,560,948
Granted Patent B2
US 11,560,948 · App. 16/894,333 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

Seal system

Inventors: Andrew Mathias (Upper Sandusky, OH); Kip Alspach (Upper Sandusky, OH); Doug Parsell (Upper Sandusky, OH); John Newman (Upper Sandusky, OH); Creston Kinley (Upper Sandusky, OH); Gary Steinmetz (Upper Sandusky, OH); Josh Weatherholtz (Upper Sandusky, OH); Charles Billeg (Upper Sandusky, OH); Christopher Vent (Upper Sandusky, OH)
Assignee: Uni-Grip, Inc.
F16J15/027B60P3/34F16J15/025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,560,948
App. No.
16/894,333
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A seal device for sealing slide-out room opening in recreational vehicles. The seal including a base; a bulb; an alignment aid member; and a positional member. The base having a proximal end, a distal end, an inside portion, an outside portion, and a perpendicular member. The bulb having an arcuate portion, a sidewall portion and a curled end portion. The positional member extending perpendicularly to the base distal end in opposite direction of the alignment aid member. The seal device may further include a flap extending co-linearly from the base distal end and a fastening system.

Claims (20)

1. A seal device comprising: a base; a bulb; an alignment aid member; and a positional member, the base comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an inside portion, an outside portion, and a perpendicular member, said perpendicular member extending perpendicularly to the base proximal end towards the bulb, the bulb comprising an arcuate portion, a sidewall portion and a curled end portion, wherein the arcuate portion is integrally joined to the sidewall portion on one side and to the curled end portion on the other side, wherein a free end of the curled end portion defines an opening connecting an interior of the bulb to an exterior environment when the bulb is in an undeformed state, wherein the curled end portion extends towards the sidewall portion, the free end of the curled end portion not directly attached to the sidewall portion, and the positional member extending perpendicularly to the base distal end in opposite direction of the alignment aid member.

2. The seal device as claimed in claim 1 , the seal device further comprising a flap extending co-linearly from the base distal end.

3. The seal device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the flap comprises a material of lower density than the base.

4. The seal device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sidewall portion of the bulb is joined to the base perpendicular member and the curled end portion of the bulb is unattached.

5. The seal device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bulb comprises a material of lower density than the base.

6. The seal device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a fastening system.

7. The seal device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the base fastening system is located on the outside portion of the base, the fastening system comprising adhesive tape.

8. The seal device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the base fastening system is located on the inside portion of the base, the fastening system comprising at least one fastener.

9. The seal device as claimed in claim 1 , the base further comprising a recess.

10. The seal device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bulb has a width between from 0.85 and 1.05 inches.

11. The seal device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bulb has a height between from 0.75 and 0.95 inches.

12. The seal device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the bulb comprises a material which provides a seal height compression between from 45% to 65%.

13. A sealing system comprising: a seal capable of sealing slide-out room opening in a recreational vehicle, the seal comprising: a base, a bulb, an alignment aid member, a positional member, and a fastening system, the fastening system comprising adhesive tape, the base comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an inside portion, an outside portion, a recess, and a perpendicular member, said perpendicular member extending perpendicularly to the base proximal end towards the bulb, the bulb comprising an arcuate portion, a sidewall portion and a curled end portion, the arcuate portion is integrally joined to the sidewall portion on one side and to the curled end portion on the other side, the sidewall portion integrally joined to the perpendicular member of the base, a free end of the curled end portion defines an opening connecting an interior of the bulb to an exterior environment when the bulb is in an undeformed state, the curled end portion extends towards the sidewall portion, the free end of the curled end portion not directly attached to the sidewall portion, and the positional member extending perpendicularly to the base distal end in opposite direction of the alignment aid member, wherein the alignment aid member is adapted to guide placement of the seal on a wall of the slide-out room opening on the recreational vehicle, wherein the fastening system is adapted to guide placement of the seal along an edge of the wall of the slide-out room opening on the recreational vehicle, wherein the bulb is adapted to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the open position allowing access to the inside portion of the base, wherein the positional member is adapted to prevent the bulb from completely flattening out against the base when the bulb is pressed.

14. The sealing system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the fastening system further comprises at least one fastener, the recess adapted to allow placement of said at least one fastener on the base to secure the seal to the wall of the slide-out room opening on the recreational vehicle.

15. The sealing system as claimed in claim 13 , the seal further comprising a flap extending co-linearly from the base distal end, the flap adapted to divert water away from the base and bulb.

16. The seal system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the flap comprises a material of lower density than the base.

17. The seal system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the bulb comprises a material of lower density than the base.

18. The seal system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the bulb has a width between from 0.85 and 1.05 inches.

19. The seal system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the bulb has a height between from 0.75 and 0.95 inches.

20. The seal system as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the bulb comprises a material providing a seal height compression between from 45% to 65%.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2020
From: MATHIAS, ANDREW; ALSPACH, KIP; PARSELL, DOUG; NEWMAN, JOHN; KINLEY, CRESTON; STEINMETZ, GARY; WEATHERHOLTZ, JOSH; BILLEG, CHARLES; VENT, CHRISTOPHER
To: UNI-GRIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 052894/0876 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62857645 · Jun 5, 2019
Related Publication 20200386311A1 · Dec 10, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,241,550