The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 29, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 02, 2000
Jonathon H. Balbaugh, Ottawa, OH (US);
Casey R. Gill, Clyde, OH (US);
Gregory J. Grudzinski, Perrysburg, OH (US);
Steven A. Ingraham, Bowling Green, OH (US);
Cooper Technology Services, LLC, Findlay, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for joining the ends of a weatherstrip from inside a channel section of the weatherstrip. A v-shaped fastening clip has a plurality of teeth extending therefrom and the orientation of the teeth can be altered to securely grip both ends of the weatherstrip. The v-shaped clip may also have a structural frame depending from it to define a w-shaped configuration. The w-shaped configuration provides flexural rigidity to the spliced section of the weatherstrip and additional strength and rigidity that is particularly useful for heavy components. The method comprises inserting the fastening clip (either the v-shaped or w-shaped configuration) into the first end of the weatherstrip and then inserting the fastening clip into the second end of the weatherstrip. The teeth of the fastening clip are then re-oriented to mechanically grip the weatherstrip.