Collapse-controlled, rotation-resisting bulb seal

Abstract

The present invention provides a bulb seal capable of navigating both interior corners and exterior corners of an opening while maintaining consistent and adequate sealing capacity, the invention comprising a tubular member having internal strain-controlling cavities, vent holes, and a pair of external collapse-controlling protrusions, and an attachment member for receiving a component to be sealed.

1 . A seal comprising: 
 a tubular member having a length and a cross section that comprises: 
 a top portion, a bottom portion, and opposing side portions;  
 an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein a sealing first contact surface comprises at least a portion of the top portion of the exterior surface; and,  
 a first plurality of shape-maintaining cavities located along one side portion of the interior surface and a second portion of shape-maintaining cavities located along the opposing side portion of the interior surface, wherein the first and second pluralities are asymmetrically located about a vertical axis, the vertical axis extending between the bottom and top portions and through a center of the tubular member; and,  
   means for attaching the seal to a desired object, wherein the means is operably attached to the tubular member along the member's length at the bottom portion of the member.    
   
   
       2 . The seal as recited in  claim 1 , the tubular member further comprising: 
 a pair of collapse-controlling protrusions located on the exterior surface    
   
   
       3 . The seal as recited in  claim 2 , each of the protrusions being located between the contact surface and one of the side portions such that the contact surface is located between the pair of protrusions.  
   
   
       4 . The seal as recited in  claim 1 , the tubular member further comprising: 
 a rotation-resisting extension, the extending from the tubular member and operably connecting to the means for attaching.    
   
   
       5 . The seal as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for attachment comprises a U-shaped attachment member having an open end, a closed end, and a pair of legs extending between the closed end and the open end.  
   
   
       6 . The seal as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the tubular member also includes a rotation-resisting extension, the extension extending from the tubular member, around a leg of the U-shaped attachment member, and into the open end of the attachment member.  
   
   
       7 . The seal as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shape-maintaining cavities are also collapse-controlling cavities.  
   
   
       8 . The seal as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the pair of protrusions are asymmetrically located about a vertical axis extending between the bottom portion and the top portion of the tubular member and a center of the tubular member.  
   
   
       9 . A seal comprising: 
 a tubular member having a length and a cross section that comprises: 
 a top portion, a bottom portion, and opposing side portions;  
 an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein a sealing first contact surface comprises at least a portion of the top portion of the exterior surface; and,  
 a first plurality of strain-controlling cavities located along one side portion of the interior surface and a second portion of strain controlling cavities located along the opposing side portion of the interior surface; and,  
   an attachment member operably attached to the tubular member along the member's length.    
   
   
       10 . The seal as recited in  claim 9 , the tubular member further comprising: 
 a pair of collapse-controlling protrusions located on the exterior surface, each of the protrusions being located between the contact surface and one of the side portions such that the contact surface is located between the pair of protrusions    
   
   
       11 . The seal as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the pair of protrusions are asymmetrically located about a vertical axis, the axis extending between the bottom and top portions and through a center of the tubular member.  
   
   
       12 . The seal as recited in  claim 9 , the tubular member further comprising: 
 a rotation-resisting extension, the extending from the tubular member and operably connecting to the means for attaching.    
   
   
       13 . The seal as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first and second pluralities are asymmetrically located about a vertical axis, the axis extending between the bottom and top portions of the tubular member and through a center of the tubular member.  
   
   
       14 . The seal as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the attachment member comprises a U-shaped attachment member having an open end, a closed end, and a pair of legs extending between the closed end and the open end.  
   
   
       15 . A method of sealing an edge, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an edge and an edge-interfacing member, the member having a size and shape sufficient to provide a sealing interface between the edge and the member; and,    attaching a seal to the edge, the seal extending along a length of edge, the seal comprising: 
 a tubular member having a length and a cross section that comprises: 
 a top portion, a bottom portion, and opposing side portions;  
 an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein a sealing first contact surface comprises at least a portion of the top portion of the exterior surface; and,  
 a first plurality of shape-maintaining cavities located along one side portion of the interior surface and a second portion of shape-maintaining cavities located along the opposing side portion of the interior surface, wherein the first and second pluralities are asymmetrically located about a vertical axis, the vertical axis extending between the bottom and top portions and through a center of the tubular member; and,  
 
 means for attaching the seal to a desired object, wherein the means is operably attached to the tubular member along the member's length at the bottom portion of the member.  
   
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , where the length of the edge forms a perimeter of an opening, the perimeter having at least an exterior corner and an interior corner.  
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , the tubular member further comprising: 
 a pair of collapse-controlling protrusions located on the exterior surface    
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , each of the protrusions being located between the contact surface and one of the side portions such that the contact surface is located between the pair of protrusions.  
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , the tubular member further comprising: 
 a rotation-resisting extension, the extending from the tubular member and operably connecting to the means for attaching.    
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the pair of protrusions are asymmetrically located about a vertical axis extending between the bottom portion and the top portion of the tubular member and a center of the tubular member.