Slide seal for corners
A slide seal for an RV to seal the space in between the corner of a slide-out room of the RV and a wall of the RV, the slide seal having a base to fasten to the wall, a flap seal extending from the base at one end, a bulb seal extending perpendicular to the base at an opposite end, a horn extending from the bulb seal, curving upwardly from the bulb seal and away from the flap seal, and a notch created through the flap seal and the base to create two sections of the base and flap seal so that the first section of the flap seal and base can be bent at approximately a 90 degree angle relative to the second section of the flap seal and base to fit into the corner space in between the slide-out room and the RV wall.
1 . A seal for sealing a space between a corner of slide-out room and a wall of a recreational vehicle, the seal comprising:
a) a base having a front end, a back end opposite the front end, a first lateral side adjacent to the front end and the back end, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side and adjacent to the front end and the back end, a first surface adjacent to the first lateral side, the second lateral side, the front end, and the back end, and a second surface opposite the first surface and adjacent to the first lateral side, the second lateral side, the front end, and the back end;
b) a bulb seal attached to the base at the back end adjacent to the first surface;
c) a flap seal attached to the base at the front end, the flap seal comprising a proximal end attached to the base, a free end opposite the proximal end, a first lateral end adjacent to the proximal end and the free end, and a second lateral end opposite the first lateral end and adjacent to the proximal end and the free end, wherein the flap seal and the base are coplanar, wherein the base defines a notch in between the first lateral side and the second lateral side that extends from the front end of the base substantially to the back end of the base, wherein the notch has a width of about 0.75 inch to about 2.5 inch, and wherein the flap seal defines a slit in between the first lateral end of the flap seal and the second lateral end of the flap seal, the slit extending from the notch through the free end of the flap seal, wherein the notch is configured to allow the base to bend 90 degrees at the notch, wherein the slit has a width of 0.50 inch or less; and
d) a gap in between the bulb seal and the base, wherein the gap is configured to receive the flap seal without lifting up the bulb seal.
2 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein the notch is triangular in shape.
3 . A seal for sealing a space between a corner of slide-out room and a wall of a recreational vehicle, the seal comprising:
a) a base having a front end, a back end opposite the front end, a first lateral side adjacent to the front end and the back end, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side and adjacent to the front end and the back end, a first surface adjacent to the first lateral side, the second lateral side, the front end, and the back end, and a second surface opposite the first surface and adjacent to the first lateral side, the second lateral side, the front end, and the back end;
b) a bulb seal attached to the base at the back end adjacent to the first surface;
c) a flap seal attached to the base at the front end, the flap seal comprising a proximal end attached to the base, a free end opposite the proximal end, a first lateral end adjacent to the proximal end and the free end, and a second lateral end opposite the first lateral end and adjacent to the proximal end and the free end, wherein the base defines a notch in between the first lateral side of the base and the second lateral side of the base that extends from the front end towards the back end, and wherein the flap seal defines a slit in between the first lateral end of the flap seal and the second lateral end of the flap seal, leading to the notch, the slit extending from the notch through the free end, wherein the notch is configured to allow the base to bend 90 degrees at the notch, wherein the notch has a width at the front end of the base and the slit has a width extending along the flap seal, wherein the width of the notch is greater than the width of the slit; and
d) a gap in between the bulb seal and the base, wherein the gap is configured to receive the flap seal without lifting up the bulb seal when the base is bent at 90 degrees.
4 . The seal of claim 3 , wherein the notch is defined by a pair of medial sides formed in the base in between the first lateral side and second lateral side.
5 . The seal of claim 4 , wherein the medial sides taper toward each other moving from the front end to the back end of the base to form a triangular shape.
6 . The seal of claim 5 , wherein the pair of medial sides form an apex at the back end of the base, wherein the apex defines an angle of about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees.
7 . The seal of claim 6 , wherein the width of the notch at the front end of the base opposite the apex is about 1.5 inch to about 2.5 inches.
8 . The seal of claim 7 , wherein the width of the slit in the flap seal is about 0.50 inch or less.
9 . The seal of claim 8 , wherein the bulb seal extends from a back wall extending from the base at the back end to create a gap between the bulb seal and the base, wherein the gap is configured to receive a portion of the flap seal.
10 . The seal of claim 9 , wherein the bulb seal comprises a floor extending perpendicularly from the back wall of the base; a first wall extending from and parallel to the back wall, and perpendicular to the floor; a second wall opposite the first wall, the second wall connected to the floor; an arch connecting the first wall to the second wall opposite the floor; and a lip adjacent to the second wall and the floor, the lip protruding towards the base to narrow a portion of the gap.
11 . The seal of claim 10 , wherein the bulb seal further comprises a horn extending above the first wall, and curving towards a plane defined by the back wall.
12 . The seal of claim 4 , wherein the medial sides are parallel to each other moving from the front end to the back end of the base to form a rectangular shape.
13 . The seal of claim 4 , wherein the width of the notch at the front end of the base opposite the apex is about 1.5 inches to about 2.5 inches.
14 . The seal of claim 4 , wherein the width of the slit in the flap seal is less than about 0.50 inch.
15 . The seal of claim 4 , wherein the bulb seal extends from a back wall opposite the base to create a gap between the bulb seal and the base, wherein the gap is configured to receive a portion of the flap seal.
16 . The seal of claim 15 , wherein the bulb seal comprises a floor extending perpendicularly from the back wall of the base; a first wall extending from and parallel to the back wall, and perpendicular to the floor; a second wall opposite the first wall, the second wall connected to the floor; an arch connecting the first wall to the second wall opposite the floor; and a lip adjacent to the second wall and the floor, the lip protruding towards the base to narrow a portion of the gap.
17 . The seal of claim 16 , wherein the bulb seal further comprises a horn extending above the first wall, and curving towards a plane defined by the back wall.
18 . A method of sealing a corner space between a slide-out room and a wall of a recreational vehicle, comprising:
a) providing a seal comprising a base, a bulb seal attached to the base, a flap seal attached to the base opposite the bulb seal, a gap in between the bulb seal and the base, a notch defined in the base dividing the base into a first base portion and a second base portion, and a slit defined in the flap seal dividing the flap seal into a first flap seal portion, and a second flap seal portion, wherein each base portion comprises a front end, a back end opposite the front end, a lateral side adjacent to the front end and the back end, a medial side opposite the lateral side and adjacent to the front end and the back end, a first surface adjacent to the lateral side, the medial side, the front end, and the back end, and a second surface opposite the first surface and adjacent to the lateral side, the medial side, the front end, and the back end, wherein the bulb seal is attached to each base portion at the respective back ends adjacent to the first surfaces, wherein each flap seal portion is attached to the base at the front end, the flap seal comprising a proximal end attached to the base, a free end opposite the proximal end, a lateral end adjacent to the proximal end and the free end, and a medial end opposite the lateral end and adjacent to the proximal end and the free end, wherein the notch extends substantially from the front end towards the back end of each base portion, wherein the slit extends substantially from the notch through the free end of each flap seal portion, and wherein the notch has a width at the front end that is greater than a width of the slit;
b) fastening the first base portion onto a first portion of a corner of a wall with a first fastener;
c) bending the seal at the notch so that the second base portion is perpendicular to the first base portion;
d) sliding one of the first flap seal portion or the second flap seal portion under the bulb seal into the gap defined by the bulb seal and the base without lifting the bulb seal;
e) aligning the second base portion with a second portion of the corner of the wall; and
f) fastening the second base portion to the second portion of the corner of the wall with a second fastener.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein aligning the first base portion with the first portion of the corner of the wall comprises abutting a first stop, projecting from the second surface of the first base portion at the front end, against a first edge of the first portion of the corner of the wall.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein aligning the second base portion with the second portion of the corner of the wall comprises abutting a second stop, projecting from the second surface of the second base portion at the front end, against a second edge of the second portion of the corner of the wall.