Overhead garage door selectively inflatable seal apparatus and method of installation and use

Abstract

An inflatable seal apparatus for selectively sealing a garage door within an opening, the apparatus having a plurality of inflatable members arranged with a seal body configured for selectively sealing the garage door opening, each inflatable member having one or more of an inflatable member side wall and an inflatable member end wall and having an inflation valve operably installed within the inflatable member side wall or the inflatable member end wall so as to be accessible through the seal body.

Claims

1. An inflatable seal apparatus for selectively sealing a garage door within an opening, the apparatus comprising: a seal body formed as a U-shaped body configured for installation on a bottommost rail of the garage door so as to selectively seal between the garage door and a floor beneath the garage door; and two or more inflatable members positioned in an end-to-end widthwise arrangement within the U-shaped body between the U-shaped body and the bottommost rail, with the inflatable members not in fluid communication and each inflatable member having an inflation valve operably installed within a respective inflatable member side wall of each inflatable member so as to be accessible through the U-shaped body for selectively manually inflating each inflatable member independently.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped body has a U-shaped body end wall removably engaged with the end of the U-shaped body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped body has a U-shaped body end wall integrally engaged with the end of the U-shaped body.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inflation valves are positioned within and are substantially flush with the U-shaped body.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the inflatable member side wall of each end-to-end inflatable member is integral with the U-shaped body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a transverse intermediate wall is positioned within the U-shaped body between the end-to-end inflatable members so as to separate two adjacent end-to-end inflatable members.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each inflatable member further comprises opposite inflatable member end walls, and each transverse intermediate wall is between and adjacent to opposite inflatable member end walls.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each inflatable member further comprises opposite inflatable member end walls, and each inflatable member end wall is integral with the respective transverse intermediate wall.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each inflation valve is configured as a rubber check valve.

10. An inflatable seal apparatus for selectively sealing a garage door within an opening, the apparatus comprising: a seal body formed as a trim piece body configured for installation on a door frame header or jamb of the garage door opening adjacent to the garage door so as to selectively seal between the trim piece body and both the garage door and the door frame header or jamb; and at least one inflatable member spanning the length of the door frame header or jamb of the garage door and positioned in a parallel lengthwise arrangement within a lengthwise groove formed in an inner face of the trim piece body so as to seal between the trim piece body and the door frame header or jamb, each inflatable member having one or more of an inflatable member side wall and an inflatable member end wall and having an inflation valve operably installed within the inflatable member side wall or the inflatable member end wall so as to be accessible through the seal body.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each inflatable member has the inflation valve operably installed within the inflatable member end wall so as to be accessible from an end of the trim piece body.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each inflatable member has the inflation valve operably installed within the inflatable member side wall so as to be accessible through the trim piece body.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the inflation valves are positioned within and are substantially flush with an outer face of the trim piece body opposite of the inner face.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a hole is formed in the trim piece body so as to communicate between the outer face and the respective lengthwise groove, the respective inflation valve being positioned in the hole.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the inflatable member side wall and the inflatable member end wall of each inflatable member are integral with the trim piece body spanning the respective lengthwise groove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings illustrate aspects of the present invention. In such drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary prior art overhead garage door as installed and in a closed position within a garage door opening within a structure;

(3) FIG. 2A is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof showing a bottom corner of the overhead garage door as including a first exemplary prior art weather seal;

(4) FIG. 2B is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof showing a bottom corner of the overhead garage door as including a second exemplary prior art weather seal;

(5) FIG. 2C is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof showing a bottom corner of the overhead garage door as including a third exemplary prior art weather seal;

(6) FIG. 3 is a partial front view of an overhead garage door having a first exemplary inflatable seal apparatus, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(7) FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof showing an open end of the first exemplary inflatable seal apparatus, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(8) FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof showing an opposite closed end of the first exemplary inflatable seal apparatus, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(9) FIG. 6 is a partial front view of an overhead garage door having a second exemplary inflatable seal apparatus, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(10) FIG. 7A is an enlarged partial cut-away front view thereof taken from circle 7A in FIG. 6, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(11) FIG. 7B is an enlarged partial front view thereof taken from circle 7B in FIG. 6 and now showing an object beneath the inflatable seal apparatus, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(12) FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof showing a first closed end of the second exemplary inflatable seal apparatus, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(13) FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof showing an opposite second closed end of the second exemplary inflatable seal apparatus, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(14) FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of a prior art trim seal;

(15) FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the prior art trim seal of FIG. 10 having installed therewith a third exemplary inflatable seal apparatus, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(16) FIG. 12 is an end view thereof, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(17) FIG. 13 is a reduced-scale cross-sectional end view thereof as installed on a door frame adjacent to an overhead garage door, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(18) FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of a trim seal having installed therewith a fourth exemplary inflatable seal apparatus, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

(19) FIG. 15 is an end view thereof, in accordance with at least one embodiment; and

(20) FIG. 16 is a reduced-scale cross-sectional end view thereof as installed on a door frame adjacent to an overhead garage door, in accordance with at least one embodiment.

(21) The above described drawing figures illustrate aspects of the invention in at least one of its exemplary embodiments, which are further defined in detail in the following description. Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects, in accordance with one or more embodiments. More generally, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the drawings are schematic in nature and are not to be taken literally or to scale in terms of material configurations, sizes, thicknesses, and other attributes of an apparatus according to aspects of the present invention unless specifically set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(22) The following discussion provides many exemplary embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus, if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.

(23) While the inventive subject matter is susceptible of various modifications and alternative embodiments, certain illustrated embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to any specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the inventive subject matter is to cover all modifications, alternative embodiments, and equivalents falling within the scope of the claims.

(24) Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, there is shown a first exemplary inflatable seal apparatus 20 according to aspects of the present invention configured as a bundle or plurality of substantially parallel lengthwise inflatable members 40 positioned within an otherwise conventional bottom seal W installed along the bottom of a typical garage door G again having a bottom section rail R with spaced-apart downwardly-opening channels C in which the flanges V of the U-shaped body U of the bottom seal W slidably engage to secure the bottom seal W along the bottom of the door G. Each such inflatable member 40 is configured having an elongate somewhat annular side wall 42 and a corresponding somewhat flat or semi-spherical circular-profile end wall 44 in which is operably installed a valve 46 for selective inflation or deflation of each inflatable member 40, here preferably and advantageously configured as a rubber check valve that allows for inflation and deflation as with sports balls and the like using a hollow needle and pump, insertion of the needle opening the valve 46 and allowing air flow, which it will be appreciated is a known and effective and inexpensive seal and unlike bicycle tube-type valves has a low profile and so is substantially flush with the end wall 44 of each inflatable member 40 and thereby does not extend beyond the lateral margins of the bottom seal body U to thus prevent unwanted contact or damage to the valve 46 from the garage door mechanism, such as the adjacent tracks (not shown), or other objects. Even so, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other valves now known or later developed may be employed in an inflatable seal apparatus 20 and specifically any such inflatable member 40 thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. While a generally conventional bottom seal W with U-shaped body U is thus shown as employed in connection with the first exemplary embodiment of the inflatable seal apparatus 20, it will be appreciated that other configurations of the bottom seal W now known or later developed may be employed in combination with the inflatable seal apparatus 20 without departing from its spirit and scope. Relatedly, and by way of further illustration and not limitation, the otherwise conventional bottom seal U-shaped body U may be formed with one end open as typically as shown in FIG. 4 but with the other opposite end closed as by having an end wall 34 formed thereon, therein, or thereover as shown in FIG. 5, which end wall 34 it will be appreciated may perform or provide a sealing function, whether primarily or secondarily, but in the exemplary embodiment it is expected that each of the lengthwise inflatable members will be self-contained inflatable bodies such that the end wall 34 simply encloses that end of the bottom seal body U to secure the lengthwise inflatable members 40 therein and protect them from outside objects or other exposure. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the opposite end of the body U shown as open in FIG. 4 such as for access to the inflation valves 46 of each inflatable member 40 may also be closed as with an end wall 34, it being further appreciated that any such end wall 34 may be integral with the bottom seal U-shaped body U or may be selectively removable as by being pressor interference-fitted, snap-fitted, or frictionally or otherwise removably engaged with the bottom seal body U, either way such wall 34 being formed of any appropriate resilient material so as to selectively cap the end of the body U and still flex with the body U as it itself flexes as it comes into contact with the floor L (FIG. 1) when the garage door G is in the closed position. Preferably, any such end wall 34 adjacent to the valved end of the inflatable members 40 will be removable for selective access to the valves 46 in order to inflate or deflate or adjust the pressure of the inflatable seal apparatus 20 during use, such as to account for a bigger or smaller gap between the garage door G and the floor L, a sloped or irregular floor L, or seasonal or specifically temperature effects on the inflatable members 40 of the apparatus 20. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that by having a plurality of inflatable members 40 the combined effect operating within the U-shaped body U is a more adaptive and dynamic inflatable seal apparatus 20 as the inflatable members cushion against themselves and against the inside perimeter of the bottom seal W defined by the U-shaped body U and the bottom door section rail R. It will also be appreciated that by having a plurality of inflatable members 40 within the inflatable seal apparatus 20 even if one failed as by having its side wall 42 or end wall 44 punctured somehow or its valve 46 leaking or failing, there would remain other operable inflatable members 40 to still provide the cushioning and sealing effect within the bottom seal W even if not as optimally. Once again, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other numbers and configurations of such inflatable members 40 beyond the three elongated annular inflatable members 40 shown are possible according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope.

(25) Turning next to FIGS. 6-9, there is shown a second exemplary inflatable seal apparatus 20 according to aspects of the present invention here configured as multiple widthwise end-to-end inflatable members 40 within the garage door bottom seal U-shaped body 30, with the inflation valve 46 for each inflatable member 40 then positioned within the side wall 42 rather than the end wall 44 of each inflatable member 40 so as to also then intersect and be positioned at least partially within the U-shaped body 30 for access to each valve 46 for inflation and deflation as again by a pump needle, with each such valve 46 thus being flush with or recessed relative to the bottom seal body 30 so as to again minimize any risk of being struck or damaged. It is noted that both for aesthetic reasons and to reduce exposure of the valves 46 to the elements outside the garage or at the exterior of the garage door G, the valves 46 are positioned on the side of the body 30 oriented interiorly or toward the garage structure S (FIG. 1), such that in the front view of FIG. 6, the backs of the valves 46 are visible in the cut-away region and the other valves 46 are shown in dashed lines as not being visible from the front, while in the enlarged partial perspective views of FIGS. 8 and 9 the inflatable seal apparatus 20 and body 30 is viewed from the back side where the valves 46 are positioned. It will also be appreciated that with the valves 46 advantageously positioned on the interior side of the bottom seal body 30, when the garage door G is in the fully up or overhead position, the valves 46 would be oriented somewhat downwardly and so still be accessible. As best seen in FIG. 7A, each inflatable member 40 positioned within the bottom seal body 30 is again in a widthwise or end-to-end arrangement relative to the body 30 and any adjacent inflatable member(s) 40, and in the exemplary embodiment a lateral or cross-wise intermediate wall 36 of the body 30 separates the inflatable members 40. While each such intermediate wall 36 is shown as being integral with the bottom seal body 30, such may instead be formed separately and installed within the body 30 employing any appropriate technique now known or later developed, including but not limited to bonding and ultrasonic welding. In any case, it will be appreciated that such spaced-apart intermediate walls 36 in cooperation with opposite end walls 34 of the body 30 (FIGS. 8 and 9) not only physically contain and isolate each inflatable member 40 within the bottom seal body 30 but also provide a further sealing effect for each inflatable member 40. When each inflatable member 40 has its own side and end walls 42, 44 and so is a self-contained inflationary device, it will be appreciated that the body 30 and its end and intermediate walls 34, 36 again serve a physical containment and protection function and effectively a secondary sealing function. But it will also be appreciated that in such configuration of the self-contained inflatable members 40 particularly the intermediate walls 36 of the body 30 may not be employed and the members 40 just contained within the bottom seal body 30 in an end-to-end arrangement but not otherwise isolated from each other. Conversely, the side and end walls 42, 44 of the inflatable members 40 may not be separately formed but may instead be common or integral with the bottom seal body 30 and its end and intermediate walls 34, 36, or some combination thereof. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that while a particular configuration of the alternate inflatable seal apparatus 20 according to aspects of the present invention is shown and described, other such configurations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Similarly, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, while the end walls 34 are here shown as being integral with the bottom seal body 30, it will be appreciated that such end walls 34 may again be formed separately and installed within the body 30 in a secondary operation or may even be removably installed as described above in connection with the first exemplary embodiment of an inflatable seal apparatus 20 according to aspects of the present invention of FIGS. 3-5. In any case, beneficially, with such inflatable members 40 again oriented widthwise along the width of the garage door G or end-to-end along the length of the bottom seal body 30, each such inflatable member 40 can thus be separately inflated or deflated via its own valve 46 as appropriate such as to account for high or low spots along the floor L and thus inconsistent spacing or gap between the garage door G and its bottom section rail R specifically and the floor L when the door G is fully lowered. And as shown in FIG. 7B, even were there some foreign object or debris D on the floor L immediately beneath the garage door G and thus the inflatable seal apparatus 20, the particular inflatable member 40 adjacent to or over the object D would be able to compress or flex about the object D while all other separate and isolated inflatable members 40 would be unaffected in still themselves contributing to a complete seal against the floor L adjacent their respective locations, thereby minimizing any compromise of the bottom seal along the entire width of the garage door G.

(26) Referring next to FIGS. 10-16 there are shown further alternative embodiments of an inflatable seal apparatus 20 according to aspects of the present invention here incorporated into or used in connection with the trim seal T that is installed on the door frame header H and jamb J of the garage opening O adjacent to the top and sides of the garage door G, rather than as or part of the bottom seal W of the garage door G along the floor L (FIG. 1) as in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3-9. While the exemplary inflatable seal apparatuses 20 in such alternative trim seal T context are shown and described as being continuous along the length of the trim seal T, it will be appreciated that multi-chamber apparatuses 20 as by having multiple inflatable members 40 or having multiple isolated inflatable regions or chambers within a single inflatable member 40 are also possible according to aspects of the present invention as being incorporated into or used in connection with the trim seal T. First, as shown in FIGS. 10-13, an otherwise conventional trim piece T may be employed as having a body B with a front edge E and a rear flexible flap F, the body B having an outer face I and an opposite inner surface with grooves K, with there essentially being a variety of configurations relating to how and from where the flap F extends from the back area of the body B. Each such prior art trim seal T is effectively dual durometer material, meaning that the body B and the flexible flap F are of two different durometers commonly extruded out of a single production line or die in a manner known and practiced in the art. While such a conventional trim piece T may thus seal against the garage door G when closed via the rearwardly-extending flexible flap F, the front edge E and thus the region between the body B and the door frame is susceptible to being not completely sealed or there being a gap for air, water, light, debris, etc. to get past the trim piece body B and behind the rear flap F and thus around the garage door G through the opening O, which is typically mitigated against by caulking the trim piece front edge E but which in turn has other downsides in terms of labor and material costs and appearance. It is thus proposed as shown that an inflatable seal apparatus 20 employed such as in the most forward groove K or the groove K closest to the trim piece front edge E so as to seal between the trim piece body B and the door frame such as the door jamb J illustrated in FIG. 13. And as shown, the inflatable seal apparatus 20 may again comprise an elongate annular inflatable member 40 having a side wall 42 and an end wall 44 in which is operably positioned the inflation valve 46. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that by accessing the valve 46 from the end of the trim piece T the inflatable member 40 can thus be inflated or deflated as needed for setting and sealing the trim piece body B against the door frame. However, it will be further appreciated that in this configuration, while relatively simple, pressurization or inflation or deflation of the inflatable seal apparatus 20 via the valve 46 of the inflatable member 40 must typically be done prior to then installing the apparatus 20 and trim piece T on the door frame, as once the trim piece T is installed the inflatable member 40 and its valve 46 typically would not be accessible. Relatedly, as also noted with reference to FIG. 13, the fastener A used to install the trim piece T on the door frame or jamb J should pass through the trim piece body B at a location other than opposite the groove K in which the inflatable member 40 is positioned so as to not puncture or otherwise damage the inflatable member 40. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that in installing any such trim seal T it is typically cut to the desired length in the field corresponding to the dimensions of the opening O, in which case the inflatable member 40 may also be cut to the appropriate length opposite the end wall 44 with valve 46 and resealed in the field using heat, an adhesive, a crimp, or any other device or technique now known or later developed for selectively closing such a flexible tube-like component. As shown in FIG. 13, then, when the trim seal T is installed on a door frame such as in a vertical orientation on an exemplary jamb J as through positioning the selectively pressurized inflatable seal apparatus 20 in one of the inwardly-facing grooves K such as again closest to the front edge E and then inserting one or more fastener A from the outwardly-oriented face surface I through the body B and into the adjacent jamb J, the rear flap F is oriented toward and configured to make sealing contact with the perimeter face of the garage door G when closed in a manner known in the art and the inflatable member 40 is thus oriented toward and configured to make sealing contact with the door frame or jamb J as shown when the trim seal T is installed vertically or with the header H (FIG. 1) if the trim seal T were installed horizontally.

(27) Finally, turning to FIGS. 14-16, there is shown an alternative exemplary purpose-built trim piece-type inflatable seal apparatus 20 as again having a body 50 with an outer face 52, an opposite inner surface 54 with grooves 56, a front edge 58, and a rearwardly-oriented flexible flap 60, with there again being a variety of configurations relating to how and from where the flap 60 extends from the back area of the body 50. Notably, a seal element or inflatable member 40 is incorporated within or otherwise operably configured along the back or grooved surface 54 of the trim seal body 50, here once again within the most forward groove 56 so as to seal between the body 50 and the door frame jamb J or header H (FIG. 1), rather than separately inserting an inflatable member 40 within such groove K as in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 11-13. In such alternative embodiment, the inflatable member 40 thus is formed as a wall 42 spanning and sealing the groove 56 so as to enclose a volume or space between the groove 56 of the body 50 and the wall 42 of the inflatable member 40. And thus to pressurize or inflate or deflate the inflatable member 40, here an inflation valve 46 is operably installed in a hole 62 formed within the trim piece body 50 intersecting or communicating between the outer face 52 and the groove 56, the valve 46 being substantially flush with the outer face 52 or recessed beneath the outer face 52 so as to again be low-profile and less susceptible to damage. It will be appreciated that in such alternative trim piece-type inflatable seal apparatus 20 the inflatable member 40 may thus be conveniently pressurized via the valve 46 that is accessible even after the trim piece apparatus 20 is installed. And as noted previously related to cutting the trim piece-type inflatable seal apparatus 20 to length during installation, the inflatable member 40 thereof may also be cut to the appropriate length at either or both ends and resealed in the field using heat, an adhesive, a crimp, or any other device or technique now known or later developed for selectively closing such a flexible tube-like component. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the lengthwise inflatable member 40 and specifically its side wall 42 may be positioned in and along one of the grooves 56 of the bottom face 54, again, in the illustrated embodiment the last such groove 56, so as to arcuately span the groove 56 and in its at rest state bow or extend away from and at its apex beyond the bottom surface 54 as best seen in FIG. 15 and thus naturally flex and flatten and seal between the trim piece body 50 and the door frame jamb J or header H when such inflatable seal apparatus 20 is installed as seen in FIG. 16. And once again, even after so installed, the inflatable member 40 can be selectively inflated or deflated via the exposed valve 46 and an appropriate pump with needle. It will be appreciated that the side wall 42 forming the inflatable member 40 may be co-extruded with the trim seal body 50 even of a different durometer material just as the rear flap 60, though such is not necessarily the case and the inflatable member 40 and its side wall 42 may be formed or assembled onto or formed integrally with the trim piece body 50 employing any appropriate manufacturing or assembly technique and any appropriate materials now known or later developed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is further again noted that while the inflatable member 40 is shown as being installed in the last groove 56 in the grooved inner surface 54 or the groove 56 closest to the front edge 58, such is not necessarily the case. Moreover, more than one inflatable member 40 whether or not of the same type or configuration can be employed in multiple grooves 56 in the grooved surface 54 for further sealing effects, and that in accordance with either exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 11-16 or any other such configuration consistent with aspects of the present invention. Such combinations of sealing features are within the scope of the present invention and aspects of the disclosed inflatable seal apparatus 20.

(28) Any such inflatable seal apparatus 20 according to aspects of the present invention may be of unitary construction as a single extrusion or the like, and that even if in conjunction with other structure such as a bottom seal W or trim seal T as shown and described herein and thus potentially a dual durometer vinyl or other such material as is known in the art such that particularly any wall 42, 44 of such an inflatable member 40 of any such inflatable seal apparatus 20 may be sufficiently thin and flexible and elastic to allow for the desired pressurization or inflation and deflation of the one or more inflatable member 40. Alternatively, such inflatable member 40 and any wall 42, 44 thereof may be formed separately and as appropriate installed or assembled in or on other related components such as a bottom seal W or trim seal T. In any event, once more, a resulting single inflatable seal apparatus 20 as shown and described may be formed, cut to length, and installed on the bottom of a garage door G or on the frame of a garage door opening O so as to seal about the perimeter of the garage door G within the opening O when closed, providing a relatively simple and inexpensive and improved solution to effectively sealing the gap between the garage door G and the floor L or frame jamb J or header H about the garage door opening O. Dimensionally, the typical gap between the bottom of the garage door G and the floor L and the typical thickness of the trim seal body T being approximately one-half inch (0.5 in.), it follows that the inflatable member 40 would have a nominal transverse dimension also of on the order of one-quarter inch to three-quarter inch (0.25-0.75 in.) depending on a number of factors, though it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a variety of other geometrical configurations or sizes and shapes of the inflatable member 40 may be employed according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Fundamentally, in forming the inflatable seal 20) apparatus 20 and its inflatable member 40 according to aspects of the present invention, it will be appreciated that any appropriate materials and methods of construction now known or later developed may be employed, including but not limited to vinyl and other rubbers in a variety of durometers, any such components being fabricated or formed as through injection molding, extrusion, forming, or any other such technique now known or later developed. Relatedly, such components may be formed integrally such as through co-extrusion or may be formed separately and then assembled in any appropriate secondary operation employing any assembly technique now known or later developed, including but not limited to fastening, bonding, welding, over-molding or coining, press-fitting, snapping, or any other such technique now known or later developed. Those skilled in the art will fundamentally appreciate that any such materials and methods of construction are encompassed within the scope of the invention, any exemplary materials and methods in connection with any and all embodiments thus being illustrative and non-limiting.

(29) Aspects of the present specification may also be described as the following numbered embodiments:

(30) 1. An inflatable seal apparatus for selectively sealing a garage door within an opening, the apparatus comprising a plurality of inflatable members arranged with a seal body configured for selectively sealing the garage door opening, each inflatable member having one or more of an inflatable member side wall and an inflatable member end wall and having an inflation valve operably installed within the inflatable member side wall or the inflatable member end wall so as to be accessible through the seal body.

(31) 2. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein: the seal body is a U-shaped body configured for installation on a bottommost rail of the garage door so as to selectively seal between the garage door and a floor beneath the garage door; and the plurality of inflatable members comprises two or more elongate inflatable members spanning the width of the garage door and positioned in a parallel lengthwise arrangement within the U-shaped body between the U-shaped body and the bottommost rail, with each elongate inflatable member having the inflation valve operably installed within the inflatable member end wall so as to be accessible from an end of the U-shaped body.

(32) 3. The apparatus of embodiment 2, wherein the U-shaped body has a U-shaped body end wall removably engaged with the end of the U-shaped body for selective access to the inflation valves of the elongate inflatable members.

(33) 4. The apparatus of embodiment 2, wherein the U-shaped body has a U-shaped body end wall integrally engaged with the end of the U-shaped body, and the inflation valves of the elongate inflatable members are accessible through the U-shaped body end wall.

(34) 5. The apparatus of embodiment 4, wherein the inflation valves are positioned within and are substantially flush with the U-shaped body end wall.

(35) 6. The apparatus of any of embodiments 2-5, wherein the U-shaped body has a U-shaped body end wall integrally engaged with the U-shaped body opposite the end allowing access to the inflation valves, the U-shaped body and the U-shaped body end wall configured to cooperate in protecting the elongate inflatable members.

(36) 7. The apparatus of any of embodiments 2-6, wherein the plurality of inflatable members comprises three annular elongate inflatable members spanning the width of the garage door and positioned in a parallel lengthwise arrangement within the U-shaped body between the U-shaped body and the bottommost rail.

(37) 8. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein: the seal body is a U-shaped body configured for installation on a bottommost rail of the garage door so as to selectively seal between the garage door and a floor beneath the garage door; and the plurality of inflatable members comprises two or more inflatable members positioned in an end-to-end widthwise arrangement within the U-shaped body between the U-shaped body and the bottommost rail, with each inflatable member having the inflation valve operably installed within the inflatable member side wall so as to be accessible through the U-shaped body.

(38) 9. The apparatus of embodiment 8, wherein the inflation valves are positioned within and are substantially flush with the U-shaped body.

(39) 10. The apparatus of embodiment 8 or embodiment 9, wherein the inflatable member side wall of each end-to-end inflatable member is integral with the U-shaped body.

(40) 11. The apparatus of any of embodiments 8-10, wherein a transverse intermediate wall is positioned within the U-shaped body between the end-to-end inflatable members so as to separate two adjacent end-to-end inflatable members.

(41) 12. The apparatus of embodiment 11, wherein each inflatable member comprises an inflatable member side wall and opposite inflatable member end walls, and each transverse intermediate wall is between and adjacent to opposite inflatable member end walls.

(42) 13. The apparatus of embodiment 11 or embodiment 12, wherein each inflatable member comprises an inflatable member side wall and opposite inflatable member end walls, and each inflatable member end wall is integral with the respective transverse intermediate wall.

(43) 14. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein: the seal body is a trim piece body configured for installation on a door frame header or jamb of the garage door opening adjacent to the garage door so as to selectively seal between the trim piece body and both the garage door and the door frame header or jamb; and the plurality of inflatable members comprises two or more elongate inflatable members spanning the length of the door frame header or jamb of the garage door and positioned in a parallel lengthwise arrangement within a lengthwise groove formed in an inner face of the trim piece body so as to seal between the trim piece body and the door frame header or jamb.

(44) 15. The apparatus of embodiment 14, wherein each elongate inflatable member has the inflation valve operably installed within the inflatable member end wall so as to be accessible from an end of the trim piece body.

(45) 16. The apparatus of embodiment 14, wherein each inflatable member has the inflation valve operably installed within the inflatable member side wall so as to be accessible through the trim piece body.

(46) 17. The apparatus of embodiment 16, wherein the inflation valves are positioned within and are substantially flush with an outer face of the trim piece body opposite of the inner face.

(47) 18. The apparatus of embodiment 17, wherein a hole is formed in the trim piece body so as to communicate between the outer face and the respective lengthwise groove, the respective inflation valve being positioned in the hole.

(48) 19. The apparatus of embodiment 17 or embodiment 18, wherein the inflatable member side wall and the inflatable member end wall of each elongate inflatable member are integral with the trim piece body spanning the respective lengthwise groove.

(49) 20. A method of employing an inflatable seal apparatus as defined in any one of embodiments 1-19, the method comprising the steps of: installing the seal body having at least one of the plurality of inflatable members on one of the bottommost rail of the garage door or the door frame header or jamb of the garage door opening adjacent to the garage door; and selectively inflating or deflating each inflatable member so as to selectively seal between the seal body and the floor beneath the garage door or between the seal body and the door frame header or jamb of the garage door opening.

(50) 21. The method of embodiment 20, wherein the step of installing the seal body having at least one of the plurality of inflatable members comprises positioning at least two of the plurality of inflatable members lengthwise in a parallel arrangement within the seal body.

(51) 22. The method of embodiment 21, wherein the step of positioning at least two of the plurality of inflatable members lengthwise in a parallel arrangement within the seal body is performed after the seal body configured as a U-shaped body is installed on the bottommost rail of the garage door.

(52) 23. The method of embodiment 21 or embodiment 22, wherein the step of positioning at least two of the plurality of inflatable members lengthwise in a parallel arrangement within the seal body comprises enclosing the inflatable members within the seal body via the at least one selectively removably U-shaped body end wall.

(53) 24. The method of embodiment 20, wherein the step of installing the seal body having at least one of the plurality of inflatable members comprises positioning at least one of the plurality of inflatable members in a lengthwise groove formed within an inner face of the seal body configured as a trim seal body.

(54) 25. The method of embodiment 24, wherein a first inflatable member of the plurality of inflatable members is installed in a lengthwise groove of a trim seal body installed on one of the door frame jambs and a second inflatable member of the plurality of inflatable members is installed in a lengthwise groove of a trim seal body installed on the door frame header.

(55) 26. The method of any of embodiments 20-25, wherein the step of installing the seal body having at least one of the plurality of inflatable members comprises cutting the seal body configured as a trim seal body to a desired length.

(56) 27. The method of embodiment 26, wherein the step of installing the trim seal body comprises positioning the trim seal body directly onto the door frame defining the garage door opening such that the inner face and the at least one of the plurality of inflatable members are directly against the door frame so as to seal the garage door opening between the trim seal body and the door frame.

(57) 28. The method of embodiment 26 or embodiment 27, wherein the step of installing the cut trim seal body comprises passing fasteners through the trim seal body into the door frame without the fasteners passing through the at least one of the plurality of inflatable members.

(58) 29. The method of any of embodiments 20-28, comprising, prior to the step of installing the seal body having at least one of the plurality of inflatable members, cutting each inflatable member to a desired length and sealing the inflatable member where cut.

(59) 30. A kit comprising multiple inflatable seal apparatuses as defined in any one of embodiments 1-19.

(60) 31. The kit of embodiment 30, further comprising instructional material.

(61) 32. The kit of embodiment 31, wherein the instructional material provides instructions on how to perform the method as defined in any one of embodiments 20-29.

(62) 33. Use of an inflatable seal apparatus as defined in any one of embodiments 1-19 to seal between one or more of the garage door and the floor and the apparatus and the door frame defining the opening for the garage door.

(63) 34. The use of embodiment 33, wherein the use comprises a method as defined in any one of embodiments 20-29.

(64) In closing, regarding the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as shown and described herein, it will be appreciated that an inflatable seal apparatus is disclosed and configured for effectively and relatively inexpensively and easily sealing against the floor and/or the door frame defining the overhead garage door opening. Because the principles of the invention may be practiced in a number of configurations beyond those shown and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not in any way limited by the exemplary embodiments, but is generally able to take numerous forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the particular geometries and materials of construction disclosed, but may instead entail other functionally comparable structures or materials, now known or later developed, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

(65) Certain embodiments of the present invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor(s) for carrying out the invention. Of course, variations on these described embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor(s) expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor(s) intend for the present invention to be practiced otherwise than specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described embodiments in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

(66) Groupings of alternative embodiments, elements, or steps of the present invention are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member may be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other group members disclosed herein. It is anticipated that one or more members of a group may be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

(67) In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of components or ingredients, properties such as dimensions, weight, concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the inventive subject matter are to be understood as being modified in some instances by terms such as about, approximately, or roughly. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the inventive subject matter are approximations, the numerical values set forth in any specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the inventive subject matter may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

(68) Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. The recitation of numerical ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value of a numerical range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.

(69) Use of the terms may or can in reference to an embodiment or aspect of an embodiment also carries with it the alternative meaning of may not or cannot. As such, if the present specification discloses that an embodiment or an aspect of an embodiment may be or can be included as part of the inventive subject matter, then the negative limitation or exclusionary proviso is also explicitly meant, meaning that an embodiment or an aspect of an embodiment may not be or cannot be included as part of the inventive subject matter. In a similar manner, use of the term optionally in reference to an embodiment or aspect of an embodiment means that such embodiment or aspect of the embodiment may be included as part of the inventive subject matter or may not be included as part of the inventive subject matter. Whether such a negative limitation or exclusionary proviso applies will be based on whether the negative limitation or exclusionary proviso is recited in the claimed subject matter.

(70) The terms a, an, the and similar references used in the context of describing the present invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, ordinal indicators-such as first, second, third, etc.for identified elements are used to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate or imply a required or limited number of such elements, and do not indicate a particular position or order of such elements unless otherwise specifically stated.

(71) All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., such as) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the inventive subject matter and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the inventive subject matter otherwise claimed. No language in the application should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

(72) It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms comprises and comprising should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.

(73) While aspects of the invention have been described with reference to at least one exemplary embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that the inventor(s) believe that the claimed subject matter is the invention.