What is claimed is:
1. A method of manufacturing a weather strip including (a) a trim body having a generally U-shaped cross section, the trim body being adapted to be held by a flange provided at a periphery of an opening formed in a motor vehicle, (b) a hollow seal portion that protrudes from an outside surface of the trim body, the seal portion being adapted to come in contact with a closure member that closes the opening, and (c) a holding lip formed on the trim body so as to extend from an inside surface of the trim body toward the inside of the trim body, the method comprising the step of:
forming the weather strip by extrusion molding such that a length of the holding lip is changed in a plurality of steps in accordance with a thickness of the flange.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
the thickness of the flange, which varies in a longitudinal direction of the weather strip, is classified into a plurality of thickness levels each corresponding to a predetermined thickness range, and the flange is divided into a plurality of sections arranged in the longitudinal direction, based on the thickness levels; and
during the extrusion molding of the weather strip, the length of the holding lip is changed in the plurality of steps with respect to the plurality of sections of the flange.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
a target length of the holding lip, which is selected from a plurality of target values, is determined along the longitudinal direction of the weather strip, in accordance with the thickness of the flange that varies in the longitudinal direction of the weather strip; and
the length of the holding lip is controlled to the target length during the extrusion molding of the weather strip, such that the length of the holding lip is changed substantially at the same time that the target length is changed.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the number of the plurality of steps in which the length of the holding lip is changed is set based on a difference between the maximum number and the minimum number of panels that constitute the flange.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the holding lip has a distal end portion having a constant shape.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the holding lip includes at least one varying-length section in which the length of the holding lip is changed from one of the plurality of steps to another, and a length of the at least one varying-length section as measured in the longitudinal direction of the weather strip is equal to or smaller than a predetermined length that is set based on variations in a longitudinal position of the weather strip relative to the flange during manufacturing and mounting of the weather strip on the flange.
7. A method of manufacturing a weather strip including (a) a trim body having a generally U-shaped cross section and including an inner sidewall that faces an inside of the vehicle, an outer sidewall that faces an outside of the vehicle, and a connecting portion that connects the inner and outer sidewalls, the trim body being adapted to be held by a flange provided at a periphery of an opening formed in a motor vehicle, (b) a hollow seal portion that protrudes from an outside surface of the trim body, the seal portion being adapted to come in contact with a closure member that closes the opening, and (c) a plurality of holding lips formed on the trim body so as to extend from inside surfaces of the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall toward the inside of the trim body, the method comprising the step of:
classifying a thickness of the flange, which varies in a longitudinal direction of the weather strip, into a plurality of thickness levels each corresponding to a predetermined thickness range, and dividing the flange into a plurality of sections arranged in the longitudinal direction, based on the thickness levels; and
forming the weather strip by extrusion molding such that at least one of the holding lips that extend from one of the inner and outer sidewalls has a constant length, and at least one of the holding lips that extend from the other of the inner and outer sidewalls has a variable length, which is changed in the plurality of steps with respect to the plurality of sections of the flange.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the number of the plurality of steps in which the length of the at least one holding lip is changed is set based on a difference between the maximum number and the minimum number of panels that constitute the flange.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one holding lip having a variable length has a distal end portion having a constant shape.
10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one holding lip having a variable length includes at least one varying-length section in which the length of the at least one holding lip is changed from one of the plurality of steps to another, and a length of the at least one varying-length section as measured in the longitudinal direction of the weather strip is equal to or smaller than a predetermined length that is set based on variations in a longitudinal position of the weather strip relative to the flange during manufacturing and mounting of the weather strip on the flange.
11. A method of manufacturing a weather strip including (a) a trim body having a generally U-shaped cross section, the trim body being adapted to be held by a flange provided at a periphery of an opening formed in a motor vehicle, (b) a hollow seal portion that protrudes from an outside surface of the trim body, the seal portion being adapted to come in contact with a closure member that closes the opening, and (c) a holding lip formed on the trim body so as to extend from an inside surface of the trim body toward the inside of the trim body, the method comprising the step of:
forming the weather strip by extrusion molding such that a first length of the holding lip corresponding to at least a large-thickness section of the flange having a large thickness is made smaller than a second length of the holding lip corresponding to a small-thickness section of the flange having a small thickness, and such that a section of the weather strip in which the holding lip has the first length is made longer by a predetermined length than the large-thickness section of the flange as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the weather strip.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined length is set based on variations in a longitudinal position of the weather strip relative to the flange during manufacturing and mounting of the weather strip on the flange.
13. A method of manufacturing a weather strip including (a) a trim body having a generally U-shaped cross section, the trim body being adapted to be held by a flange provided at a periphery of an opening formed in a motor vehicle, (b) a hollow seal portion that protrudes from an outside surface of the trim body, the seal portion being adapted to come in contact with a closure member that closes the opening, and (c) a holding lip formed on the trim body so as to extend from an inside surface of the trim body toward the inside of the trim body, the method comprising the step of:
forming the weather strip by extrusion molding such that a length of the holding lip is changed along a longitudinal direction of the weather strip in accordance with a thickness of the flange so that the length of the holding lip decreases with an increase in the thickness of the flange, and such that the holding lip includes longitudinally opposite end portions having substantially the same length.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein:
the length of the holding lips is changed in a plurality of steps in accordance with the thickness of the flange so that the length of the holding lip decreases with an increase in the thickness of the flange; and
at least the longitudinally opposite end portions of the holding lip have substantially the same length that is determined based on the larger one of thickness values of corresponding portions of the flange.
15. A weather strip comprising:
a trim body having a generally U-shaped cross section, the trim body being adapted to be held by a flange provided at a periphery of an opening formed in a motor vehicle;
a hollow seal portion that protrudes from an outside surface of the trim body, the seal portion being adapted to come in contact with a closure member that closes the opening; and
a holding lip formed on the trim body so as to extend from an inside surface of the trim body toward the inside of the trim body,
wherein the holding lip includes a plurality of constant-length sections having respective predetermined lengths that are set in accordance with a thickness of the flange, and at least one varying-length section located between the constant-length sections, and wherein the length of the holding lip varies from one of the respective predetermined lengths to another in each of the at least one varying-length section.
16. The weather strip according to claim 15, wherein a first length of the holding lip corresponding to at least a large-thickness section of the flange having a large thickness is made smaller than a second length of the holding lip corresponding to a small-thickness section of the flange having a small thickness, and each section of the weather strip in which the holding lip has the first length is made longer by a predetermined length than the large-thickness section of the flange as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the weather strip.
17. The weather strip according to claim 15, wherein each section of the holding lip corresponding to at least a largest-thickness section of the flange having the largest thickness has the smallest length, and each section of the weather strip in which the holding lip has the smallest length is made longer by a predetermined length than the largest-thickness section of the flange as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the weather strip.
18. The weather strip according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined length is set based on variations in a longitudinal position of the weather strip relative to the flange during manufacturing and mounting of the weather strip on the flange.
19. The weather strip according to claim 15, wherein the length of the holding lip varies in accordance with the thickness of the flange, and wherein each section of the holding lip corresponding to at least a largest-thickness section of the flange having the largest thickness has the smallest length, even in the presence of variations in a longitudinal position of the weather strip relative to the flange during manufacturing and mounting of the weather strip on the flange.
20. The weather strip according to claim 15, wherein:
the flange includes at least one large-thickness portion, at least one small-thickness portion, and at least one stepped portion between the at least one large-thickness portion and the at least one small-thickness portion; and
the constant-length sections of the holding lip include at least one long-length section and at least one short-length section which are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the weather strip and have different lengths depending upon the thickness of the flange, each of the at least one short-length section of the holding lip corresponding to one of the at least one large-thickness portion of the flange and extending into a corresponding one of the at least one small-thickness portion beyond a corresponding one of the at least one stepped portion in the longitudinal direction of the weather strip.
21. The weather strip according to claim 15, wherein the length of the holding lip is changed in a plurality of steps in accordance with the thickness of the flange.
22. The weather strip according to claim 16, wherein the length of the holding lip is changed in a plurality of steps in accordance with the thickness of the flange.
23. The weather strip according to claim 15, wherein the holding lip has a distal end portion having a constant shape.
24. The weather strip according to claim 16, wherein the holding lip has a distal end portion having a constant shape.
25. The weather strip according to claim 15, wherein:
the length of the holding lip is changed along the longitudinal direction of the weather strip in accordance with the thickness of the flange so that the length of the holding lip decreases with an increase in the thickness of the flange; and
the holding lip includes longitudinally opposite end portions having substantially the same length.
26. The weather strip according to claim 25, wherein:
the length of the holding lip is changed in a plurality of steps in accordance with the thickness of the flange so that the length of the holding lip decreases with an increase in the thickness of the flange; and
the longitudinally opposite end portions of the holding lip have substantially the same length that is determined based on the larger one of thickness values of corresponding portions of the flange.
27. A weather strip comprising:
a trim body having a generally U-shaped cross section and including an inner sidewall that faces an inside of the vehicle, an outer sidewall that faces an outside of the vehicle, and a connecting portion that connects the inner and outer sidewalls, the trim body being adapted to be held by a flange provided at a periphery of an opening formed in a motor vehicle;
a hollow seal portion that protrudes from an outside surface of the trim body, the seal portion being adapted to come in contact with a closure member that closes the opening; and
a plurality of holding lips formed on the trim body so as to extend from inside surfaces of the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall toward the inside of the trim body,
wherein at least one of the holding lips that extends from one of the inner and outer sidewalls has a constant length, and at least one of the holding lips that extends from the other of the inner and outer sidewalls has a variable length, and
wherein each section of the at least one holding lip having a variable length which corresponds to at least a largest-thickness section of the flange having the largest thickness has the smallest length, and each section of the weather strip in which the at least one holding lip has the smallest length is made longer by a predetermined length than the largest-thickness section of the flange as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the weather strip.
28. A weather strip comprising:
a trim body having a generally U-shaped cross section and including an inner sidewall that faces an inside of the vehicle, an outer sidewall that faces an outside of the vehicle, and a connecting portion that connects the inner and outer sidewalls, the trim body being adapted to be held by a flange provided at a periphery of an opening formed in a motor vehicle;
a hollow seal portion that protrudes from an outside surface of the trim body, the seal portion being adapted to come in contact with a closure member that closes the opening; and
a plurality of holding lips formed on the trim body so as to extend from inside surfaces of the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall toward the inside of the trim body,
wherein at least one of the holding lips that extends from one of the inner and outer sidewalls has a constant length, and at least one of the holding lips that extends from the other of the inner and outer sidewalls has a variable length which is changed in a plurality of steps in accordance with a thickness of the flange so that the length of the at least one holding lip decreases with an increase in the thickness of the flange, and
wherein the at least one holding lip having a variable length includes longitudinally opposite end portions having substantially the same length, which is determined based on the larger one of thickness values of corresponding portions of the flange.
29. A structure comprising:
a weather strip including (a) a trim body having a generally U-shaped cross section, the trim body being adapted to be fitted on a first predetermined portion of a flange provided at a periphery of an opening formed in a motor vehicle, (b) a hollow seal portion that protrudes from an outside surface of the trim body, the seal portion being adapted to come in contact with a closure member that closes the opening, and (c) a holding lip formed on the trim body so as to extend from an inside surface of the trim body toward the inside of the trim body; and
a covering member that is mounted on the vehicle so as to cover a second predetermined portion of the flange other than the first predetermined portion, and longitudinally opposite end portions of the weather strip,
wherein a length of the holding lip is changed along a longitudinal direction of the weather strip in accordance with a thickness of the flange so that the length of the holding lip decreases with an increase in the thickness of the flange, and
wherein the holding lip includes longitudinally opposite end portions having substantially the same length, which is determined based on the larger one of thickness values of corresponding portions of the flange.
30. The structure according to claim 29, wherein the length of the holding lip is changed in a plurality of steps in accordance with the thickness of the flange so that the length of the holding lip decreases with an increase in the thickness of the flange.
31. The structure according to claim 29, wherein the second predetermined portion of the flange is located in a lower end portion of the opening, and the covering member comprises a scuff plate fitted on at least the second predetermined portion of the flange.
32. The structure according to claim 31, wherein the scuff plate is provided with an engaging member with which the scuff plate is fitted on the flange, the engaging member being attached to the flange at least in the vicinity of each of the longitudinally opposite end portions of the weather strip.
33. A method of manufacturing a weather strip, comprising the steps of:
providing an insert with a plurality of marks that are spaced at regular intervals of a predetermined length;
continuously extruding a covering material together with the insert provided with the marks, so as to provide an elongated work having a predetermined cross-sectional shape; and
cutting the work at predetermined positions after the extrusion step, based on detection of a detector capable of detecting the marks through the covering material.
34. The method according to claim 33, wherein a cutter is used for cutting the work, and wherein the marks comprise a plurality of notches formed in the insert.
35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the detector is disposed at a position associated with the cutter or in the vicinity of the cutter.
36. The method according to claim 33, wherein the insert hardly expands or shrinks.
37. The method according to claim 33, wherein:
the insert comprises a plurality of wings and a connecting portion that connects the wings together, the wings extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the work such that a predetermined spacing is provided between adjacent ones of the wings; and
each of the marks has a width that is larger than the predetermined spacing of the wings.
38. The method according to claim 33, wherein the work includes a lip for sealing or holding, and the lip has a variable length that varies along a longitudinal direction of the work.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A pet chew device, comprising:
a main body having a longitudinal inner bore and first and second opposite ends;
an actuator rotatably coupled to said first end of said main body; and
a pusher assembly received within said inner bore of said main body that is movable between a first position near said first end of said main body and a second position near said second end of said main body by rotating said actuator.
2. A pet chew device according to claim 1, wherein
said pusher assembly engages threads of said inner bore of said main body.
3. A pet chew device according to claim 1, wherein
said pusher assembly includes a pusher member received within a collet member.
4. A pet chew device according to claim 3, wherein
said pusher member is resilient.
5. A pet chew device according to claim 3, wherein
said pusher member is slidable within said collet member.
6. A pet chew device according to claim 5, wherein
said pusher member includes at least one lug slidable within at least one slot of said collet member.
7. A pet chew device according to claim 6, wherein
said lug engages threads of said inner bore of said main body to move said pusher assembly between said first and second positions.
8. A pet chew device according to claim 3, wherein
said collet member includes a plurality of resilient fingers extending from an end thereof for holding a food product.
9. A pet chew device according to claim 1, wherein
said actuator forms a first knob at said first end of said main body, and said second end of said main body forms a second knob.
10. A pet chew device, comprising:
a main body having a longitudinal inner bore and first and second opposite ends, said inner bore including threads extending between said first and second ends;
an actuator rotatably coupled to said first end of said main body; and
a pusher assembly received within said inner bore of said main body that is movable between a first position near said first end of said main body and a second position near said second end of said main body by rotating said actuator, said pusher assembly including a pusher member received within a collet member, said pusher member engaging said threads of said inner bore of said main body.
11. A pet chew device according to claim 10, wherein
said pusher member including at least one radial lug that engages said threads of said inner bore.
12. A pet chew device according to claim 10, wherein
said pusher member including at least radial lug that engages at least one slot disposed in said collet member.
13. A pet chew device according to claim 10, further comprising:
a rotatable sleeve connected to said actuator and received in said inner bore, said sleeve engaging said pusher member to rotate said pusher member when said actuator is rotated.
14. A pet chew device according to claim 13, wherein
at least one radial lug of said pusher member engages a longitudinal slot of said rotatable sleeve.
15. A pet chew device according to claim 14, wherein
Said at least one radial lug includes a sloped outer surface.
16. A pet chew device according to claim 10, wherein
said pusher member is resilient and includes a slot for receiving a ridge of said collet member when said pusher assembly is in said first position.
17. A pet chew device according to claim 10, wherein
said pusher member is resilient and includes a slot for receiving a portion of a plug member slidably coupled to said pusher member when said pusher assembly is in said first position.
18. A pet chew device according to claim 10, wherein
said collet member includes a plurality of resilient fingers extending from an end thereof for holding a food product.
19. A pet chew device according to claim 10, wherein
said threads of said inner bore are disposed on a stationary sleeve disposed in said inner bore.
said pusher member being slidable with respect to said collet member.
20. A pet chew device, comprising:
a main body having a longitudinal inner bore and first and second opposite ends;
an actuator rotatably coupled to said first end of said main body;
a pusher assembly received within said inner bore of said main body that is movable between a first position near said first end of said main body and a second position near said second end of said main body by rotating said actuator, said pusher assembly including a pusher member received within a collet member, said pusher member having at least one lug that is slidable within a complementary slot of said collet member; and
a food product received within said inner bore of said main body, said pusher assembly moving said food product with respect to said inner bore as the actuator is rotated.
21. A pet chew device according to claim 20, wherein
said food product includes a tapered end that facilitates engagement with said pusher assembly and an annular groove for engaging said pusher assembly.
22. A pet chew device according to claim 20, wherein
said collet member includes a plurality of fingers having angled pads that engage said food product to securely hold said food product.
23. A pet A pet chew device, comprising:
a main body having a longitudinal inner bore and first and second opposite ends;
an actuator rotatably coupled to said first end of said main body;
a pusher assembly received within said inner bore of said main body that is movable between a first position near said first end of said main body and a second position near said second end of said main body by rotating said actuator; and
a food product received within said inner bore of said main body, said food product including a tapered end and an annular groove for engaging the pusher assembly, said pusher assembly moving said food product with respect to said inner bore as the actuator is rotated.
24. A pet chew device according to claim 23, wherein
said pusher assembly includes resilient fingers that engage said annular groove of said food product, said resilient fingers and annular groove having complementary shapes.
25. A pet chew device according to claim 24, wherein
said resilient fingers include an acutely angled surface that engages said annular groove of said food product, thereby substantially preventing removal of said food product.