Illuminating weatherseal

Abstract

An illuminating weatherseal for sealing an interface between confronting surfaces and illuminating the adjacent environment is disclosed. The illuminating weatherseal includes light line extending along a longitudinal dimension of the weatherseal, wherein the light is emitted along a path defining a non zero angle with the longitudinal dimension. A switch can be incorporated into the illuminating weatherseal for selectively actuating the light line.

1 . An illuminating weatherseal for sealing a gap intermediate two confronting surfaces, the confronting surfaces moveable between a spaced apart open position and an adjacent closed position, the weatherseal, comprising: 
 (a) an elongate elastomeric body selected to attach to one of the confronting surfaces, the elastomeric body including a sealing portion being spaced from a remaining contacting surface in the open position of the confronting surfaces and contacting the remaining confronting surface in the closed position of the confronting surfaces, the elastomeric body including a seating channel extending along a longitudinal dimension of the elastomeric body; and    (b) a light line disposed in the seating channel.    
     
     
         2 . The weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the light line emits light along a path defining a non zero angle with the longitudinal dimension.  
     
     
         3 . The weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric body includes a carrier portion.  
     
     
         4 . The weatherseal of  claim 3 , wherein the carrier portion includes a reinforcing member.  
     
     
         5 . The weatherseal of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing member is a metal or a thermoplastic.  
     
     
         6 . The weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the light line includes one of a fiber optic, an LED, a fluorescent or an incandescent element.  
     
     
         7 . The weatherseal of  claim 6 , wherein the fiber optic is one of a glass or a plastic.  
     
     
         8 . The weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the light line is a side-emitting fiber optic.  
     
     
         9 . The weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric body includes a trim portion.  
     
     
         10 . The illuminating weatherseal of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch integral with the elastomeric body.  
     
     
         11 . The illuminating weatherseal of  claim 10 , wherein the switch is one of a pressure sensitive switch, a capacitive switch or a touch sensitive switch.  
     
     
         12 . The illuminating weatherseal of  claim 10 , wherein the switch creates a switching signal to control illumination of the light line.  
     
     
         13 . A weatherseal assembly comprising: 
 (a) a weatherseal body having longitudinal dimension; and    (b) a fiber optic light line connected to the body, the fiber optic light line selected to emit light along a path non parallel to the longitudinal dimension.    
     
     
         14 . The weatherseal assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the body is elastomeric and includes a carrier portion and a sealing portion.  
     
     
         15 . The weatherseal assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the carrier portion includes a seating channel sized to receive the light line.  
     
     
         16 . The weatherseal assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the light line includes a pair of fiber optics.  
     
     
         17 . The weatherseal assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the light line includes a side emitting fiber optic.  
     
     
         18 . The weatherseal assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a switch integral with the body.  
     
     
         19 . The weatherseal assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the switch is one of a capacitive switch, a pressure switch or a touch sensitive switch.  
     
     
         20 . An illuminating weatherseal assembly having a weatherseal body having a cross sectional dimension and a light line extending along a longitudinal dimension of the weatherseal, the light line having a cross sectional area less that the cross sectional area of the weatherseal body and selected to emit light along a path defining a non zero angle with the longitudinal dimension.  
     
     
         21 . The illuminating weatherseal of  claim 20  wherein the weatherseal body includes an elastomeric body connected to the light line.  
     
     
         22 . The illuminating weatherseal of  claim 21 , wherein the elastomeric body includes a seating channel sized to receive the light line.  
     
     
         23 . The illuminating weatherseal of  claim 20  wherein the light line includes one of a fiber optic, an LED, a fluorescent or an incandescent element.  
     
     
         24 . The illuminating weatherseal of  claim 20  further comprising a switch integral with the weatherseal.  
     
     
         25 . The illuminating weatherseal of  claim 24 , wherein the switch is one of a capacitive switch, a pressure sensitive switch or a touch sensitive switch.  
     
     
         26 . An elongate trim piece, comprising: 
 (a) elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a U shaped cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis;    (b) a reinforcing member having a corresponding U shaped cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis; and    (c) a light line connected to the body to emit light along a path non parallel to the longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         27 . The trim piece of  claim 26 , further comprising a gripping fin extending into the U shaped cross section.  
     
     
         28 . The trim piece of  claim 26 , wherein the reinforcing member is embedded in the body.  
     
     
         29 . The trim piece of  claim 26 , wherein the reinforcing member is a metal or a thermoplastic.  
     
     
         30 . The trim piece of  claim 26 , wherein the light line includes one of a fiber optic, an LED, a fluorescent or an incandescent element.  
     
     
         31 . The trim piece of  claim 30 , wherein the fiber optic is one of a glass or a plastic.  
     
     
         32 . The trim piece of  claim 26 , wherein the light line is a side-emitting fiber optic.  
     
     
         33 . The elongate trim piece of  claim 26 , further comprising a switch integral with the body.  
     
     
         34 . The elongate trim piece of  claim 33 , wherein the switch is one of a pressure sensitive switch, a capacitive switch or a touch sensitive switch.  
     
     
         35 . An illuminating assembly, comprising 
 (a) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis;    (b) a light line connected to the body along the longitudinal axis; and    (c) a switch integral with the elastomeric body.    
     
     
         36 . The illuminating assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the body is elastomeric and includes a sealing portion.  
     
     
         37 . The illuminating assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the switch is one of a pressure sensitive switch, a capacitive switch or a touch sensitive switch.  
     
     
         38 . The illuminating assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the body includes a carrier portion, a trim portion and a sealing portion.  
     
     
         39 . The illuminating assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the switch extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body.  
     
     
         40 . The illuminating assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the switch includes a field effect transistor.  
     
     
         41 . The illuminating assembly of  claim 35 , further comprising a sensing electrode embedded in the body.