US-12618284-B2 - Door seal

Abstract

A door seal for attaching to a door includes an elongated body that has a first arm for attaching to the door and a second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm. The first arm has a first connection feature, and the second arm has a second connection feature that is configured to connect to the first connection feature of the first arm. The first arm is movable relative to the second arm to a folded configuration that allows the door seal to be rolled to a coiled configuration. The second arm is movable relative to the first arm to allow the second connection feature to connect to the first connection feature such that the door seal is in an installed configuration.

Inventors

• Kevin Wright

Assignees

• TORSION GROUP CORP.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231206

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A method of packaging a single-piece door seal, the method comprising: providing the single-piece door seal, the single-piece door seal comprising: an elongated body that can be coiled into a coiled condition from an uncoiled condition; a first arm for directly attaching the elongated body to a door or other surface when the elongated body is in the uncoiled condition; a protruding element of the first arm extending from the first arm a first distance; a first connection feature of the first arm: and a second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm, wherein the second arm has a second connection feature for removably connecting to the first connection feature of the first arm; positioning the first arm of the door seal relative to the second arm such that the door seal is in a folded configuration; coiling the door seal when the door seal is in the folded configuration such that the door seal is in a coiled configuration; and placing the door seal in a packaging material when the door seal is in the coiled configuration.
2. 2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding element that extends from the first arm engages the second arm when the door seal is in the folded configuration.
3. 3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first arm is substantially parallel to the second arm when the door seal is in the folded configuration.
4. 4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first arm has a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the second arm.
5. 5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first arm comprises PVC and the second arm comprises FPVC.
6. 6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first arm has a Shore D hardness of between 60 and 100.
7. 7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second arm has a Shore A hardness of between 40 and 80.
8. 8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second arm comprises one or more ribs that are configured to engage a ground surface when the door seal is in an installed condition.
9. 9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding element of the first arm engages the second arm when the door seal is in an installed configuration to cause the second arm to have a desired shape.
10. 10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first connection feature comprises a female connection component, and wherein the second connection feature comprises a male connection component.
11. 11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the second connection feature is configured to connect to the first connection feature to connect the second arm to the first arm such to place the door seal in an installed condition.
12. 12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second connection feature is configured to connect to the first connection feature to connect the second arm to the first arm such to place the door seal in an installed condition.
13. 13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first connection feature extends from the first arm the first distance.
14. 14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second connection feature is configured to connect to the first connection feature to connect the second arm to the first arm such to place the door seal in an installed condition.
15. 15 . A method of packaging a single-piece door seal, the method comprising: providing an elongated body configured to be rolled into a storage condition from a flat condition, wherein the elongated body comprises: a first arm for directly attaching the elongated body to a door or other surface when the elongated body is in the uncoiled condition, wherein the first arm has a first end and a second end; a protruding element of the first arm extending from the first arm a first distance; a first connection feature of the first arm, wherein the first connection feature is disposed at the second end of the first arm; and a second arm that has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second arm is pivotably coupled to the first end of the first arm, and wherein the second arm has a second connection feature that is disposed at the second end of the second arm and is for removably connecting to the first connection feature of the first arm; folding the first arm relative to the second arm to place the elongated body in a folded condition; manipulating the door seal into the storage condition so that the second arm is on an outer surface of the door seal; and inserting the door seal in the storage condition into a package.
16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first connection feature extends from the first arm the first distance.
17. 17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of manipulating the door seal into the storage condition comprises rolling the door seal.
18. 18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the first connection feature comprises a female connection component, and wherein the second connection feature comprises a male connection component.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 17/960,989, filed Oct. 6, 2022, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/253,325, riled Oct. 7, 2021, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties and for all purposes. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to a door seal and, more specifically, a door seal for attaching to a door, such as a garage door. BACKGROUND Door seals are typically attached to a door (e.g., a garage door) to seal an interior area from the space on the other side of the door, such as an outside environment. For example, garage door or other door seals prevent outside elements (e.g., air, water, etc.) from entering the garage or other interior area enclosed by the door when the door is in a closed position. Door seals also prevent air from entering or leaving the garage or other interior space enclosed by the door when the door is in the closed position, which helps maintain a desired temperature within the garage or other interior space and saves energy on any heating or air conditioning of the garage or other interior space. Typical seals for a door, such as a garage door, include a flexible portion that contacts the ground or other surface located below the door. The flexible portion deforms when in contact with the ground or other surface located below the door to create a seal against the surface. This deformation of the flexible portion also allows the flexible surface to accommodate some irregularities in the ground or other surface and maintain a better seal between the garage or other interior space and the outside elements. SUMMARY An exemplary embodiment of a door seal for attaching to a door includes an elongated body that has a first arm or member for attaching to the door and a second arm or member pivotably coupled to the first arm. In the exemplary embodiment, the first arm has a first connection feature, and the second arm has a second connection feature that is configured to connect to the first connection feature of the first arm. In the exemplary embodiment, the first arm and second arm are movable relative to one another to allow the second arm to be moved to a folded configuration that allows the door seal to be folded into a folded configuration or rolled into a coiled configuration. In the exemplary embodiment, the first arm and second arm are movable relative to one another to allow the second connection feature to connect to the first connection feature such that the door seal can be configured in an installed configuration for installing onto a door or other surface. Another exemplary embodiment of a door seal for attaching to a door includes an elongated body that has a first arm or member for attaching to the door and a second arm or member pivotably coupled to the first arm. In the exemplary embodiment, the first arm has a first connection feature, and the second arm has a second connection feature that is configured to connect to the first connection feature of the first arm. In the exemplary embodiment, the first arm and second arm are movable relative to one another to allow the second connection feature to connect to the first connection feature such that the door seal can be configured in an installed configuration for installing onto a door or other surface. Another exemplary embodiment of a door seal for attaching to a door includes an elongated body that has a first arm or member for attaching to the door and a second arm or member. A first end of the second arm is pivotably coupled to a first end of the first arm. The first arm and second arm are movable relative to one another to allow the second arm to be moved to a folded configuration that allows the door seal to be folded into a folded configuration or rolled into a coiled configuration. The second arm is movable relative to the first arm to allow a second end of the second arm to be connected to a second end of the first arm such that the door seal is in an installed configuration. An exemplary method of packaging a door seal includes providing a single-piece door seal, where the door seal has a first arm for attaching to a door and a second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm. The method further includes positioning the first arm of the door seal relative to the second arm such that the door seal is in a folded configuration, and coiling the door seal when the door seal is in the folded configuration such that the door seal is in a coiled configuration. An exemplary method of installing a door seal to a door includes connecting a first arm of the door seal to the door. The method further includes connecting a connection feature of a second arm of the door seal to a connection feature of the first arm such that the door seal is moved from a normal configuration to an installed configuration. The second arm of the door seal can be flexible such that the second arm takes a de