| US 7,578,097 B2 | ||
| Inflatable door seal | ||
| Jason Dondlinger, Bellevue, Iowa (US); Tom Jansen, Dubuque, Iowa (US); Frank Heim, Platteville, Wis. (US); and Kevin J. Gebke, Dubuque, Iowa (US) | ||
| Assigned to Rite-Hite Holding Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis. (US) | ||
| Filed on Sep. 19, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/667,259. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0060937 A1, Mar. 24, 2005 | ||
| Int. Cl. E06B 7/18 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 49—477.1 [49/118] | 30 Claims |
| 1. A door adapted to provide a barrier between a first area of colder air and a second area of warmer air, comprising:
a door member;
a door panel that is movable relative to the door member;
an inflatable seal between the door member and the door panel, wherein the inflatable seal defines an air inlet and an air
outlet and includes an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface defines an elongate air passageway between
the air inlet and the air outlet and the outer surface is in contact with the door member, the door panel, the first area
of colder air, and the second area of warmer air, wherein the inflatable seal has a first thickness adjacent the first area
of colder air and a second thickness adjacent the second area of warmer air, the first thickness being larger than the second
thickness; and
a blower connected in fluid communication with the inflatable seal, wherein the blower forces the air in series flow from
the area of warmer air, through the air inlet, through the elongate air passageway and in direct contact with the inner surface,
through the air outlet, and back to the area of warmer air.
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