Door seal attachable to a bottom portion of a door

Abstract

The present invention relates to a door seal attachable to a bottom portion of a door and adapted to seal a gap between the door and ground. The door seal extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end thereof. The door seal comprises a first magnetic foil arranged at a first longitudinal side of the door seal and extending along the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end; a second magnetic foil arranged at a second longitudinal side of the door seal and extending along the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end; a protective barrier layer extending along a transversal axis of the door seal in a gap between the first and the second magnetic foils and extending along the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, wherein the protective barrier layer comprises a flexible wire mesh; and a supporting layer supporting the first and second magnetic foils and the protective barrier layer, the supporting layer extending along the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end.

Description

[0001] DOOR SEAL ATTACHABLE TO A BOTTOM PORTION OF A DOOR

[0002] TECHN ICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates to a door seal attachable to a bottom portion of a door and adapted to seal a gap between the door and ground. Especially, the present invention relates a door seal adopted to prevent rodents and pests to penetrate the door seal.

[0004] BACKGROUND ART

[0005] Door seals are often used for sealing a gap between a door and ground. A door seal is specifically designed to prevent draft and to keep water, e.g. due to rain, from enter via the gap between a door and ground. Hence, the door seal contributes to energy savings by eliminating gaps where air from inside could escape or cold or hot outside air could enter the building. Effective sealing not only improves energy efficiency but also ensures compliance with safety and hygiene standards in e.g. food manufacturing and warehousing facilities. This due to that the door seal may keep rodents and pests out. However, rodents and pests may inflict damage to the door seal so that they in the end may penetrate the door seal. A today used solution to prevent rodents and pests to inflict damage to the door seal is to attach a curtain made of steel rings, just like a chain mail, as a shield protecting the door seal. Such solution is difficult to attach and may even reduce the door seals ability to prevent draft and to keep water from enter via the gap between a door and ground. There is thus a need for further improvements of door seals for sealing the gap between a door and ground so that rodents and pests are prevented to penetrate the door seal.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is set out in the appended set of claims.

[0008] According to a first aspect a door seal attachable to a bottom portion of a door and adapted to seal a gap between the door and ground is presented. The door seal extends along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end thereof. The door seal comprises: a first magnetic foil, a second magnetic foil, a protective barrier layer and a supporting layer. The first magnetic foil is arranged at a first longitudinal side of the door seal and extends along the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. The second magnetic foil is arranged at a second longitudinal side of the door seal and extends along the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. The protective barrier layer extends along a transversal axis of the door seal in a gap between the first and the second magnetic foils. Further, the protective barrier layer extends along the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. The protective barrier layer comprises a flexible wire mesh. The supporting layer is supporting the first and second magnetic foils and the protective barrier layer. The supporting layer extends along the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end.

[0009] An advantage may be that the protective barrier layer reinforces the door seal. A more efficient physical barrier for rodents and pests may thereby be provided while providing efficient sealing of a gap. A more resilient door seal may further be provided. The flexible wire mesh may allow for a physical barrier that is durable and resistant to chewing or gnawing by pests such as rodents. A non-toxic structure for pest control, avoiding the use of chemicals or pesticides may, moreover, be provided by the gap seal element.

[0010] Another advantage may be that the door seal is easy to attach to the door.

[0011] The door seal may be understood as being flexible. The door seal may be arranged to conform to irregularities in the surfaces that are to be sealed. The door seal may ensure a tight seal between the bottom portion of the door and ground. The door seal may comprise or be made of rubber, silicone, or other elastomeric materials. The door seal may be compressible.

[0012] The door seal may be a laminate. The laminate may comprise the supporting layer, the protective barrier layer and the first and second magnetic foils. A laminated structure facilitates handling of the door seal for a user attaching it to a bottom portion of a door. In order to form the laminate, the first and second magnetic foils may be attached to the supporting layer. The attachment may be made by glue. The protective barrier layer may be camped in interfaces between the supporting layer and the respective first and second magnetic foils. In other words, at an overlap between the protective barrier layer and the first magnetic foil the protective barrier layer may be arranged in between the supporting layer and the first magnetic foil. Further, at an overlap between the protective barrier layer and the second magnetic foil the protective barrier layer may be arranged in between the supporting layer and the second magnetic foil. Hence, the protective barrier layer may at least partly overlap with one or both of the first and second magnetic foils.

[0013] Alternatively, or in combination, the protective barrier layer may be attached to the supporting layer. Such attachment may be made by glue. The supporting layer may extend fully in a transversal extension of the door seal.

[0014] The supporting layer may be made from a plastic material.

[0015] The flexible wire mesh may comprise wires made of a material selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, para-aramid, glass fiber, basalt fiber, and carbon fiber. Such material is difficult for rodents and pests to penetrate, hence, improved protection against rodents and pests to enter the building at which the door is arranged is provided.

[0016] The door seal may be in the form of a rectangular sheet. Such form factor of the door seal facilitates mounting of the door seal to the bottom portion of the door.

[0017] The door seal may be rollable along the transversal axis. Providing an unmounted door seal as a roll facilitate transport of the door seal.

[0018] A further scope of applicability will become apparent from the detailed description given below. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are given by way of illustration only.

[0019] It is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a unit" or "the unit" may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" and similar wordings does not exclude other elements or steps.

[0020] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The above and other aspects will now be described in more detail, with reference to appended figures. The figures should not be considered limiting; instead, they are used for explaining and understanding.

[0022] As illustrated in the figures, the sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for illustrative purposes and, thus, are provided to illustrate the general structures. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0023] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a door seal attachable to a bottom portion of a door and adapted to seal a gap between the door and ground.

[0024] Fig. 2 is a view from a short side of the door seal of Fig. 1 showing the layer structure of the door seal. Fig. 3 illustrates the door seal 10 upon it has been attached to the bottom portion of a door.

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms.

[0027] The present invention is directed towards a door seal 10 attachable to a bottom portion 2 of a door 1 and adapted to seal a gap between the door and ground. The door 1 for which the door seal is to be used may be selected from an overhead sectional door, a folding door, a vertical-lifting door, a roll-up door, a garage door, a slider door, a hangar door, a sliding door and a swing door. The door seal 10 before it is attached to the bottom portion 2 of a door 1 is illustrated in connection with Figs 1 and 2. Fig. l is a perspective view of the door seal 10. Fig. 2 is a side view of the door seal 10 illustrating a layer structure of the door seal 10. In Fig. 3 the door seal 10 has been attached to the bottom portion 2 of a door 1.

[0028] The door seal 10 is adapted to seal a gap between the door and ground. The door seal 10 is typically rectangular having a first and second short ends 12, 14 and first and second longitudinal sides 16, 18. The door seal 10 extends along a longitudinal axis a between the first and second short ends 12, 14. The second short end 12 is opposite to the first short end 12. An extension between the first and second short ends 12, 14 is to correspond to a width of the door 1 onto which the door seal 10 is to be attached. Further, the door seal 10 extends along a transversal axis b between the first and second longitudinal sides 16, 18. The second longitudinal side 18 is opposite to the first longitudinal side 16. An extension between the first and second longitudinal sides 16, 18 is to correspond to a thickness of the door 1 onto which the door seal 10 is to be attached. Especially, the extension between the first and second longitudinal sides 16, 18 is to be designed so that the door seal 10 can be attached to both an inside 3 of the bottom portion 2 of the door 1 and an inside 4 of the bottom portion 2 of the door 1.

[0029] The door seal 10 comprises a supporting layer 20, a first magnetic foil 30, a second magnetic foil 32 and a protective barrier layer 40.

[0030] The supporting layer 20 extends along the longitudinal axis a between the first and second short ends 12, 14. Further, the supporting layer 20 typically extends fully along the transversal direction b of the door seal 10 between the first and second longitudinal sides 16, 18. However, according to some examples one or both of the first and second magnetic foils 30, 32 may extend further along the transversal direction b than the supporting layer 20.

[0031] The supporting layer 20 is supporting the first and second magnetic foils 30, 32 and the protective barrier layer 40. The supporting layer 20 is to be made from a flexible waterproof material than can be used as a seal. The supporting layer 20 is typically made from a plastic material. According to a non-limiting example the supporting layer 20 is made from one or more of Polyvinyl Chloride, PCV, Thermoplastic Polyurethane, TPU, Silicone Rubber, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, EVA, Polyethylene, PE, Neoprene, Polypropylene, PP, and Polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE.

[0032] Typically, the supporting layer 20, the first and second magnetic foils 30, 32 and the protective barrier layer 40 are arranged as a laminate. In order to form the laminate, the first and second magnetic foils 30, 32 are attached to the supporting layer 20. Such attachment of the first and second magnetic foils 30, 32 is typically made in an adhesive manner, preferably using a glue. Alternatively, the first and second magnetic foils 30, 32 may be attached to the stitching supporting layer 20. The protective barrier layer 40 may be clamped between the first and second magnetic foils 30, 32. Accordingly, the protective barrier layer 40 at least partly overlaps with the first and second magnetic foils 30, 32. At an overlap between the protective barrier layer 40 and the first magnetic foil 30 the protective barrier layer 40 is arranged in between the supporting layer 20 and the first magnetic foil 30. Further, at an overlap between the protective barrier layer 40 and the second magnetic foil 32 the protective barrier layer 40 is arranged in between the supporting layer 20 and the second magnetic foil 32. Alternatively, or in combination, the protective barrier layer 40 may be attached to the supporting layer 20 in an adhesive manner, preferably using a glue. Yet alternatively, the protective barrier layer 40 may be attached to the supporting layer 20 by stitching.

[0033] The first magnetic foil 30 is arranged at the first longitudinal side 16 of the door seal 10. The first magnetic foil 30 extends along the longitudinal axis a between the first and second short ends 12, 14. The second magnetic foil 32 is arranged at the second longitudinal side 18 of the door seal 10. The second magnetic foil 32 extends along the longitudinal axis a between the first and second short ends 12, 14. Further, the first and the second magnetic foils 30, 32 are arranged such that there is a gap 34 between the first and the second magnetic foils 30, 32. The gap 34 extends between the first and second short ends 12, 14.

[0034] As best being illustrated in connection with Fig. 3, the first magnetic foil 30 is configured to be attached to the inside 3 of the bottom portion 2 of the door 1 and the second magnetic foil 32 is configured to be attached to the outside 4 of the bottom portion 2 of the door 1. Typically, the panels of the door 1 comprises magnetic material. Alternatively, a magnetic material is arranged at the bottom portion 2 of the door 1. Accordingly, the first and second magnetic foils 30, 32 may be attached to the door 1 at the bottom portion 2 thereof at opposite sides of the door 1.

[0035] The protective barrier layer 40 extends along the transversal axis b of the door seal 10 in the gap 34 between the first and the second magnetic foils 30, 32. The protective barrier layer 40 further extends along the longitudinal axis a between the first and second short ends 12, 14. The protective barrier layer 40 comprises a flexible wire mesh. The protective barrier layer 40 may be solely formed by the flexible wire mesh. The flexible wire mesh may be understood to be bent, twisted, and / or deformed without breaking. Put differently, the flexible wire mesh may retain its structural integrity while offering adaptability to different shapes and contours. The flexible wire meshes may comprise various weave patterns. The flexible wire mesh may be formed by a plurality of wires. The wire mesh may have different geometries. The wire mesh may, by way of example, be a plain weave wire mesh, a crimped woven wire mesh, a hexagonal wire mesh, a welded wire mesh. The flexible wire mesh comprises wires made of a material selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, paraaramid, glass fiber, basalt fiber, and carbon fiber. The flexible wire mesh prevents rodents and pests from penetrating the door seal 10.

[0036] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to what is explicitly described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

[0037] For example, the door seal 10 may be rollable along the transversal axis b. Accordingly, before being attached to the bottom portion 2 of a door 1, the door seal 10 may be transported as a roll making it less bulky and easier to transport.

[0038] Additionally, variations can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A door seal (10) attachable to a bottom portion (2) of a door (1) and adapted to seal a gap between the door and ground, the door seal (10) extending along a longitudinal axis (a) between a first end (12) and a second end (14) thereof, the door seal (10) comprising: a first magnetic foil (30) arranged at a first longitudinal side (16) of the door seal (10) and extending along the longitudinal axis (a) between the first end (12) and the second end (14); a second magnetic foil (32) arranged at a second longitudinal side (18) of the door seal (10) and extending along the longitudinal axis (a) between the first end (12) and the second end (14); a protective barrier layer (40) extending along a transversal axis (b) of the door seal (10) in a gap (34) between the first and the second magnetic foils (30, 32) and extending along the longitudinal axis (a) between the first end (12) and the second end (14), wherein the protective barrier layer (40) comprises a flexible wire mesh; a supporting layer (20) supporting the first and second magnetic foils (30, 32) and the protective barrier layer (40), the supporting layer (20) extending along the longitudinal axis (a) between the first end (12) and the second end (14).

2. The door seal (10) according to claim 1, wherein the door seal (10) is a laminate comprising the supporting layer (20), the protective barrier layer (40) and the first and second magnetic foils (30, 32).

3. The door seal (10) according to claim 2, wherein the protective barrier layer (40) and the first and second magnetic foils (30, 32) are attached to the supporting layer (20).

4. The door seal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protective barrier layer (40) at least partly overlaps with one or both of the first and second magnetic foils (30, 32).

5. The door seal (10) according to claim 4, wherein at an overlap between the protective barrier layer (40) and the first magnetic foil (30) the protective barrier layer (40) is arranged inbetween the supporting layer (20) and the first magnetic foil (30), and / or at an overlap between the protective barrier layer (40) and the second magnetic foil (32) the protective barrier layer (40) is arranged in between the supporting layer (20) and the second magnetic foil (32).

6. The door seal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the supporting layer (20) extends fully in a transversal extension of the door seal (10).

7. The door seal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the supporting layer (20) is made from a plastic material.

8. The door seal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the flexible wire mesh comprises wires made of a material selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, paraaramid, glass fiber, basalt fiber, and carbon fiber.

9. The door seal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the door seal (10) is in the form of a rectangular sheet.

10. The door seal (10) according to claim 9, wherein the door seal (10) is rollable along the transversal axis (b).

11. The door seal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first magnetic foil (30) is configured to be attached to an inside (3) of the bottom portion (2) of the door (1) and the second magnetic foil (32) is configured to be attached to an outside (4) of the bottom portion (2) of the door (1).

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