Amesbury Group, Inc.

John E Huntress

Peter E Mertinooke

John St John

A weatherseal has a stiffener and a foam profile. A first portion of the foam profile is connected to the stiffener. A second portion of the foam profile is joined to the first portion at a hinge. The first and second foam profile portions have inner surfaces facing substantially towards each other and outer surfaces facing substantially away from each other. The foam profile defines at least one continuous elongate lumen. A portion of the foam profile has a resin coating.

Low compression-force TPE weatherseals

Methods for manufacturing fabric-reinforced weatherstrip include incorporating a fabric application step into a process for making coated substrates. In one embodiment, a strip of the fabric from a roll of material may be applied directly onto a coating after it has been applied in a coat die to a foam profile, while the coating is still in the molten state. Alternatively, a fabric application plate may be attached to an upstream side of coating die with a fabric feed channel cut into the plate. The fabric follows the channel to contact and mate with the foam profile. The fabric applicator plate may be configured so as to exert pressure on only the part of the product where the fabric is being applied. Ultrasonic welding techniques may also be employed.

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Brentwood, NH, United States of America

John E Huntress