U.S. patent application number 15/000855 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-12 for method and apparatus for repairing and sealing door and window jambs, frames, thresholds, and exterior trim.
The applicant listed for this patent is Michel R. Larochelle. Invention is credited to Michel R. Larochelle.
Application Number | 20160130826 15/000855 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55911804 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160130826 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Larochelle; Michel R. |
May 12, 2016 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPAIRING AND SEALING DOOR AND WINDOW
JAMBS, FRAMES, THRESHOLDS, AND EXTERIOR TRIM
Abstract
A protective cover for the repair of exterior surfaces of a
building and more specifically to protective covers of a water and
environmentally resistant material that are pre-dimensioned to be
used in the repair of standard sized door or window jambs, frames,
thresholds or exterior trim and that may have pre-formed grooves to
provide for the repair of non-standard sized door or window jambs,
frames, thresholds or exterior trim. The protective covers may
further be included in a kit that provides for a homeowner to
easily size the covers to the appropriate dimension and perform a
repair.
Inventors: |
Larochelle; Michel R.;
(Bedford, NH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Larochelle; Michel R. |
Bedford |
NH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55911804 |
Appl. No.: |
15/000855 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14219264 |
Mar 19, 2014 |
9273480 |
|
|
15000855 |
|
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|
61910336 |
Nov 30, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/514 ;
52/741.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 1/34 20130101; E04B
1/64 20130101; E04G 23/0277 20130101; E06B 1/347 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04G 23/02 20060101
E04G023/02; E04B 1/64 20060101 E04B001/64 |
Claims
1. A protective cover comprising: a rear edge, a flat surface
extending from the rear edge and an extension extending from the
flat surface; at least one groove within the flat surface; and
wherein the protective cover is properly sized by cutting along the
groove and removing material from the protective cover.
2. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the protective cover is
installed over and affixed to an exterior surface of a
building.
3. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the protective cover is
dimensioned to a standard dimension of a jamb, frame, or trim.
4. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the at least one groove
extends along the entire length of the protective cover.
5. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the at least one groove
extends along the entire width of the protective cover.
6. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the at least one groove
having a round over shape.
7. The protective cover of claim 6 wherein the round over shape
forms a narrow channel.
8. The protective cover of claim 6 wherein the round over shape
leaves substantial material along the groove to prevent fractures
or unevenness along the material when cutting.
9. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the extension extends at
an angle of 90 degrees.
10. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the extension extends
at an angle greater than 90 degrees.
11. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the extension extends
at an angle less than 90 degrees.
12. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the extension extends
at an angle of between 90 degrees and 100 degrees to cover a
threshold.
13. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the extension extends
to the left from the flat surface to form a left vertical
protective cover or to the right to form a right vertical
protective cover.
14. The protective cover of claim 13 wherein the left vertical
protective cover and the right vertical protective cover each
having one end cut at an angle of between 5 and 10 degrees.
15. The protective cover of claim 13 wherein the left vertical
protective cover and the right vertical protective cover having an
upper edge formed at an angle of 45 degrees and an upper horizontal
protective cover is formed having both ends formed at an angle of
45 degrees; and wherein the upper edge of the left and right
vertical protective covers mate with one of each end of the
horizontal protective cover.
16. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the protective cover is
in a range of 6 inches to 30 inches in length to cover the lower
surface of a degraded door jamb.
17. A method of repairing a jamb of a door or window comprising:
cleaning a jamb; forming a protective cover having a rear edge, a
flat surface extending from the rear edge, an extension extending
from the flat surface and at least one groove; sizing the
protective cover to a dimension matching the dimension of the jamb
by cutting along the groove; snapping off excess material of the
protective cover along the groove; and aligning the extension over
a face of the jamb; and. installing the protective cover over the
jamb.
18. A method of repairing a garage door frame comprising: cleaning
a garage door frame; applying adhesive to a protective cover; and
installing the protective cover over the garage door frame.
19. The method of repairing a garage door frame of claim 18
comprising applying adhesive to a trim piece; installing the trim
piece over the garage door frame adjacent the protective cover.
20. The method of repairing a garage door frame of claim 18
comprising: applying adhesive to a piece of weather stripping;
installing the piece of weather stripping over the garage door
frame adjacent the protective cover.
Description
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/219,264 filed Mar. 19, 2014 and claims the
benefit of pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
61/910,336 filed Nov. 30, 2013 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
REPAIRING AND SEALING WOODEN DOOR AND WINDOW JAMBS both of which
are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is related to protective covers for
the repair of exterior surfaces of a building that are susceptible
to environmental elements or pests. The present invention more
specifically relates to protective covers and jamb shield guards
made from water and environmentally resistant materials that are
pre-dimensioned or that provide preformed grooves aligned along the
length and or width of the cover to provide for a user to cut along
the groove and snap off an excess portion of the cover to properly
fit over and seal all or a portion of standard or non-standard
sized door or window jambs, frames, thresholds, or exterior trim.
The protective covers may further be included in a kit that
provides for a homeowner to easily size the covers to the
appropriate dimensions and perform the repair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In most homes wood is commonly used in the construction of
door and window jambs, frames, thresholds and exterior trim. The
door or window jamb surrounds a door or window and affixes the
frame of the door or window to a building. A threshold is at the
base of the entryway of a door. Stain or paint is used to seal the
wood and over time the sealant may chip causing cracking and
degradation of the wood. The degradation is unsightly and causes
air gaps that allow cold air and rain from outside a building to
enter, causing drafts and increasing heating costs. The degradation
also may cause rot and deterioration of the wood and structural
elements of the building. While environmentally resistant
thermoplastic materials are now more often used for door and window
jambs, frames, trim, thresholds, and other exterior surfaces on
newly built homes and other buildings, what is not known is a
method to easily repair and seal degraded jambs, frames,
thresholds, or other exterior trim surfaces. Currently, a common
method to repair a door jamb is to replace the entire door, jamb
and casing at a high cost. A repair that may be even more costly is
the repair of degradation around a garage door. To repair the frame
of a garage door, the track railings or roller brackets that guide
the garage door must be removed from the frame, the frame must then
be replaced and then the track railings must be reinstalled, a
process that requires a number of hours of a skilled installer's
time for proper repair. The present invention allows a building
owner to keep older doors or windows in order to maintain the
history and integrity of the architectural aesthetic of older
structures without significant expense. The present invention also
provides a way to repair the frame around a garage door without
removing the railings. Additionally, the present invention provides
a barrier from outside elements by creating a seal around any gaps
or openings in the degraded wooden jamb, frame, threshold, or
trim.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Door and window jambs that surround and support the door or
window frames, the frames around doors, windows or garage doors,
thresholds, and exterior trim surfaces are commonly painted or
stained wood that degrades over time as paint and sealants chip
away exposing the untreated wood to environmental elements and
pests. The current method to repair deteriorating wooden door and
window jambs, frames, or other exterior trim surfaces is to remove
and replace the entire door or window along with the wooden jamb or
the entire frame or exterior trim. This process costs a
considerable amount of money and takes a fairly significant amount
of time to complete. Generally, this process is left to
professionals in order to execute the construction and installation
properly, particularly in the replacement of doors, garage doors or
windows. Alternatively, a portion of the degraded wooden jamb of a
door, or a portion of a frame, threshold or trim may be removed and
be replaced with another piece of wood that is cut and inserted
into the chiseled out portion of the jamb, frame, threshold
possibly causing gaps or an unsightly mismatch of finish where the
two pieces do not fit perfectly together. The removal of a portion
of the wooden jamb, frame, threshold or trim may take a
considerable amount of time and labor as the wood is chipped out
piece by piece using a chisel. The present invention saves
significant time and money and allows a homeowner or others having
limited technical knowledge to easily repair and seal door or
window jambs, frames, thresholds, or other exterior surfaces that
have deteriorated over time.
[0005] The present invention is related to pre-fit protective
covers that provide for a user to easily size and install the
protective cover over a doorjamb, garage door frame, window jamb or
frame, threshold or other exterior surface and seal the protective
cover over the degraded surfaces. The protective covers are
dimensioned to a standard size in width and length that is adequate
for a large number of standard size door jambs, door frames, and
garage door frames. In some embodiments, the protective covers may
provide a series of partially cut grooves that are aligned at
standard dimensions to provide for a user to cut along a selected
groove and snap off an excess portion of the cover in order to have
the cover be the proper dimension in either width or length to
match the surface being covered. In preferred embodiments, the
grooves are formed by routing and removing only a portion along the
cover preferably without cutting all of the way through or forming
holes or slots in the cover that may diminish the structural
integrity of the cover. The grooves may be formed in various shapes
such as in a V-shaped, rabbet, ogee shaped or more preferably in a
round over shape that forms a decorative curved bead along each
side and removes any sharp edges along the groove. The round over
routing shape as well leaves substantial material in forming the
bead to prevent fractures or unevenness along the material when
cutting. The round over shape also forms a narrow channel for the
user to easily insert the knife in and cut along to slice through
the groove. Once cut, the user applies pressure to the unwanted
portion that breaks off cleanly and evenly to remove the excess and
properly dimension the cover for the jamb, frame, threshold, or
trim that is smaller than the standard dimensioned cover. The
protective covers of the present invention may also be used with
weather stripping and trim pieces for jambs, frames and exterior
trim sections that are larger than the protective cover. The
present invention also provides pre-fit door jamb shield guards
that may be installed to cover and seal only a portion of the door
jamb that has deteriorated for example at the base of a door jamb
which is a common area where the door jamb degrades over time.
[0006] The protective covers of the present invention may also in
some embodiments be used to cover window jambs, frames, thresholds,
and exterior trim. However, unlike the standard dimension of door
jambs, window jambs and frames, thresholds, and exterior trim are
frequently of varying lengths and widths instead of standard sizes.
To address non-standard sizes, the protective covers which may also
be referred to as protective restoration covers or RE-JAMB.RTM.
protective covers are pre-dimensioned to available standard sizes
in width and in length of windows, thresholds or trim and a number
of partially cut grooves are aligned along the length of the
protective cover and/or the width of the cover to provide for a
portion of the cover that is closest to the nearest appropriate
dimension to be removed to properly size the protective cover in
length and width to an adequate dimension for a particular window
jamb or frame to cover and seal the surface from the environment or
to properly size the protective cover to seal a degraded threshold
or piece of exterior trim. Any number of grooves may be provided
along the exterior surface of the cover with any remaining grooves
providing a decorative element to the exterior surfaces sealed by
the protective cover. When the appropriate dimension is chosen, a
utility knife is run along the groove and because the depth of the
groove extends almost through the thickness of the protective
cover, the excess piece is easily snapped off and removed from the
cover exactly along the groove leaving a smooth uniform edge and a
properly dimensioned cover. In other embodiments, the grooves may
be provided along the interior surface of the cover that is affixed
to the jamb, frame or trim surface.
[0007] The RE-JAMB.RTM. protective covers are secured in place
using an adhesive sealant, nails and/or other fasteners. The
adhesive that is used is a sealant of a high quality formulation
that creates a water resistant secure seal for a variety of
surfaces and applications. The adhesive sealant may resist
yellowing, cracking, chalking, and UV degradation. In applying the
adhesive sealant, the adhesive sealant is extruded onto the rear
surface of the cover and may also be applied along the edges to
prevent water and other environmental elements from seeping under
the cover and destroying the wood or other material beneath. The
covers may be wiped clean and be painted or stained to match the
coloring of the jamb, frame or exterior trim.
[0008] The RE-JAMB.RTM. protective covers are made from a free foam
cellular polyvinyl chloride (PVC) trim board or other simulated
wood or composite that is of a water and environmentally resistant
plastic material that is free of voids, holes, cracks, foreign
inclusions and other defects. The grooves may be formed by routing
along the length of the protective cover at the standard dimensions
most commonly used for the width of door jambs, or by routing a
number of grooves for example at every 1/4 of an inch or every 1/2
inch to provide for the proper amount of cover to be removed to fit
jambs, frames, thresholds, and trims of non-standard dimensions.
Additional grooves may be formed at the top or bottom of the cover
to provide for the cover to be dimensioned to the proper length for
a particular door jamb or frame, window jamb or frame, threshold or
trim piece.
[0009] The RE-JAMB.RTM. protective covers are formed in some
embodiments with a 90.degree. right angle extension along the
length of the cover to align the cover and provide a perpendicular
surface that abuts and seals along the face of the jamb, frame or
exterior trim. In other embodiments, the cover may be formed with
an angle extension that is greater than 90.degree. and more
particularly between 90.degree. and 100.degree. to accommodate a
slope such as the slope of a threshold that extends down from the
base of the door to provide drainage. Protective covers with
extension pieces at different angles of more than or less than
90.degree. to accommodate particular angles of door or window
jambs, frames or trim are contemplated within the scope of the
present invention. The restoration covers may be manufactured
through an extrusion or molding process to form the covers with the
grooves at appropriate dimensions to properly fit over standard and
non-standard jambs, frames and exterior trim of a building. Other
manufacturing processes to form the covers are within the scope of
the present invention.
[0010] The present invention relates to protective cover comprising
a rear edge, a flat surface extending from the rear edge and an
extension extending from the flat surface; at least one groove
within the flat surface; and wherein the protective cover is
properly sized by cutting along the groove and removing material
from the protective cover. The protective cover may be installed
over and affixed to an exterior surface of a building. The
protective cover may be dimensioned to a standard dimension of a
jamb, frame, or trim. In some embodiments, the at least one groove
extends along the entire length of the protective cover. In some
embodiments, the at least one groove extends along the entire width
of the protective cover. In some embodiments, the at least one
groove has a round over shape. The round over shape forms a narrow
channel and leaves substantial material along the groove to prevent
fractures or unevenness along the material when cutting. The
extension of the protective cover may extend at an angle of 90
degrees, at an angle greater than 90 degrees, or at an angle less
than 90 degrees. The extension of the protective cover may extend
at an angle of between 90 degrees and 100 degrees to cover a
threshold. The extension of the protective cover may extend to the
left from the flat surface to form a left vertical protective cover
or to the right to form a right vertical protective cover. In some
embodiments, the left vertical protective cover and the right
vertical protective cover each have one end cut at an angle of
between 5 and 10 degrees. In some embodiments, the left vertical
protective cover and the right vertical protective cover have an
upper edge formed at an angle of 45 degrees and an upper horizontal
protective cover may be formed having both ends formed at an angle
of 45 degrees; and the upper edge of the left and right vertical
protective covers may mate with one of each end of the horizontal
protective cover. The protective cover may be in a range of 6
inches to 30 inches in length to cover the lower surface of a
degraded door jamb.
[0011] The present invention is related to a method of repairing a
jamb of a door or window comprising cleaning a jamb; forming a
protective cover having a rear edge, a flat surface extending from
the rear edge, an extension extending from the flat surface and at
least one groove; sizing the protective cover to a dimension
matching the dimension of the jamb by cutting along the groove;
snapping off excess material of the protective cover along the
groove; and aligning the extension over a face of the jamb; and
installing the protective cover over the jamb.
[0012] The present invention is related to a method of repairing a
garage door frame comprising cleaning a garage door frame; applying
adhesive to a protective cover; and installing the protective cover
over the garage door frame. The method of repairing a garage door
frame may comprise applying adhesive to a trim piece; installing
the trim piece over the garage door frame adjacent the protective
cover. The method of repairing a garage door frame may comprise
applying adhesive to a piece of weather stripping; installing the
piece of weather stripping over the garage door frame adjacent the
protective cover.
[0013] These and other features, advantages and improvements
according to this invention will be better understood by reference
to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
While references may be made to upper, lower, vertical and
horizontal, these terms are used merely to describe the
relationship of covers to the surfaces being covered and not to
limit the present invention to any one orientation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Several embodiments of the present invention will now be
described by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a degraded portion of a door
jamb;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view an embodiment of the protective
restoration cover of the present invention installed on the
degraded door jamb of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a degraded door jamb and
the vertical and horizontal protective covers of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the protective covers of
the present invention installed to the degraded door jamb of FIG.
3A;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a door, door jamb,
exterior trim and wall of a building;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a door, door jamb,
exterior trim and wall of a building with the protective covers of
the present invention installed over the doorjamb;
[0021] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a portion of a vertical
protective cover of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a horizontal protective
cover of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 6C is a perspective view of a portion of a degraded
door jamb with adhesive;
[0024] FIG. 6D is a perspective view of the protective restoration
covers of the present invention installed to the degraded door jamb
of FIG. 6C;
[0025] FIG. 7A is an elevation view of an upper portion of an
embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 7B is an elevation view of a lower portion of the
embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present
invention of FIG. 7A;
[0027] FIG. 7C is a perspective end view of a portion of an
embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present
invention of FIG. 7A;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a door, door jamb,
exterior trim and wall of a building with the protective
restoration covers of the present invention installed;
[0029] FIG. 9A is an elevation view of an upper portion of an
embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 9B is an elevation view of a lower portion of the
embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present
invention of FIG. 9A;
[0031] FIG. 9C is a perspective end view of a portion of the
embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present
invention of FIG. 9A;
[0032] FIG. 10A is an end view of a protective restoration cover of
the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 10B is an end view of the protective restoration cover
shown in FIG. 10A cut to a shorter width than shown in FIG.
10A;
[0034] FIG. 10C is an end view of the protective restoration cover
shown in FIG. 10A cut to a shorter width than shown in FIG.
10B;
[0035] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a door, exterior trim
and wall of a building with a door jamb with a shorter width than
the door jamb of FIG. 8 with the protective restoration covers of
the present invention installed;
[0036] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a door, exterior trim
and wall of a building with a door jamb with a shorter width than
the door jamb of FIG. 11 with the protective restoration covers of
the present invention installed;
[0037] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
protective restoration cover referred to herein as a jamb shield
guard that covers only a portion of a door jamb;
[0038] FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the embodiment of the jamb
shield guards of FIG. 13 and a door with degraded door jambs;
[0039] FIG. 14B is a perspective view of the embodiment of the door
with degraded door jambs with the jamb shield guards installed;
[0040] FIG. 15A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
protective restoration covers referred to herein as a jamb shield
guards that cover only a portion of a door jamb with grooves at
different pre-dimensioned widths;
[0041] FIG. 15B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
protective restoration covers referred to herein as the jamb shield
guards that cover only a portion of a door jamb with a groove cut
at a pre-dimensioned width;
[0042] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a window, window jamb,
exterior trim and wall of a building;
[0043] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a portion of a further
embodiment of the protective restoration cover of the present
invention having a number of grooves;
[0044] FIG. 18A is a perspective view of a portion of the further
embodiment of a pre-dimensioned protective restoration cover of
FIG. 17 having one or more grooves for various window jamb widths,
window frames, and exterior trim;
[0045] FIG. 18B is a perspective view of a portion of the further
embodiment of a pre-dimensioned protective restoration cover of
FIG. 18A cut at one of the pre-dimensioned grooves for various
window jamb widths, window frames, and exterior trim;
[0046] FIG. 19A is an end view of the further embodiment of the
protective restoration cover of the present invention of FIG.
17;
[0047] FIG. 19B is an end view of the further embodiment of the
protective restoration cover of the present invention cut to a
shorter width than shown in FIG. 19A;
[0048] FIG. 19C is an end view of the further embodiment of the
protective restoration cover of the present invention cut to a
shorter width than shown in FIG. 19B; and
[0049] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a window, window jamb,
exterior trim and wall of a building with the further embodiment of
the protective restoration covers of the present invention
installed;
[0050] FIG. 21A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
protective cover of the present invention sized to cover a
threshold of a door;
[0051] FIG. 21B is a perspective view of the embodiment of the
protective cover of the present invention of FIG. 21A installed on
a threshold of a door;
[0052] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of still further embodiment of
a protective restoration cover with an extension that is at an
angle that is greater than 90 degrees;
[0053] FIG. 23A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
protective cover of the present invention sized to cover the
damaged frame of a garage door; and
[0054] FIG. 23B is a perspective view of the embodiment of the
protective cover of the present invention of FIG. 23A installed on
the frame of a garage door.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0055] Over time, paint 2 or sealant on the exterior surface of a
door jamb 4 may chip and peel, as shown in FIG. 1, leaving the door
jamb 4 susceptible to degradation by wind, rain, cold, and other
environmental elements or pests. Particularly at the base of the
door jamb 4 where the door 5 meets the threshold 3 and along the
threshold 3 where rain and melted snow drain down along the slanted
surface of the threshold, the paint 2 very often peels. The slant
for drainage of the threshold may be at a minimal angle O.sub.T of
only between 5.degree. and 10.degree. and most commonly at an angle
of about 6.degree. for most exterior doors. As shown in FIG. 2, the
present invention is a pre-dimensioned RE-JAMB.RTM. protective
cover 10 that may be installed over a door jamb 4 and be sealed
along the slanted surface of the threshold 3 and along the weather
stripping 11 that is aligned along the door 5 to protect and
prevent further degradation of the exterior surface of the door
jamb 4. In some embodiments, the pre-dimensioned protective covers
of the present invention are cut or formed to standard door and
window jamb lengths and widths to be aligned and affixed to the
surface of a jamb, frame, threshold or portion of exterior trim. In
other embodiments protective cover 10 may be easily modified to fit
and cover smaller sized jambs, frames or exterior trim using unique
preformed grooves 35 that make the cover easy to re-size so that a
repair can be performed by any homeowner or individual of limited
technical ability. The grooves are a distinctive feature of the
RE-JAMB.RTM. protective cover because they are formed by routing
along the material to cut out a portion of the material without
effecting the structural integrity or resilience of the material.
The groove of the protective cover is unlike a perforated line of
punctures or slots that go completely through the material and
weaken the material along the perforation. By routing and only
partially cutting through the material, the groove forms a line of
material that is thinner and easier to cut through, but that does
not have any openings or weakened line of material that may easily
break when transporting or installing the protective cover,
particularly where the environmentally resistant composites may
sometimes be brittle types of materials. The grooves may be formed
in various shapes such as in a V-shape, rabbet or ogee shape or
more preferably in a round over shape that forms a decorative
curved bead along each side and removes any sharp edges along the
groove. The round over routing also forms a narrow channel 34 for
the user to provide for the user to easily cut along and slice
through the groove. The round over routing also leaves a sufficient
amount of material on each edge of the groove to produce a smooth
and rigid edge when cut that will not fracture or break unevenly.
Using the round over shape or other styles and shapes, the edges of
the remaining grooves create a decorative element to the protective
cover.
[0056] In a preferred embodiment the protective cover used on the
sides of a door jamb 4 is pre-cut at one end at an angle O.sub.C of
between 5.degree. and 10.degree. and more preferably at 6.degree.
to match the minimal angle O.sub.T of the slant of the threshold
and to mate and maintain contact with the slanted surface of the
threshold. This is an important feature that prevents gaps between
the protective cover and the threshold 3 at a point prone to
degradation. The angle O.sub.C of the cover assists in the
application of an adhesive sealant 17 along the base of the cover
10 and threshold 3 to seal and prevent water from seeping behind
the cover and damaging the wood underneath. This unique feature
addresses and repairs a very common problem of leaking at the
bottom of the door jamb and threshold that if left untreated can
result in rot and mold effecting the structural integrity of a
building.
[0057] For a door, the protective covers, as shown in FIG. 3A, are
pre-dimensioned to a standard size as a left side vertical cover
10, a right side vertical cover 12 and a top horizontal cover 14.
The pre-dimensioned protective covers 10, 12 and 14 are installed
over each exterior surface of the left and right door jamb and the
upper jamb using an adhesive, nails, brads, and/or other fasteners
to completely seal the cover to the jamb 4. The protective door
jamb covers are shown installed to the door jamb 4 in FIG. 3B. The
cover 12 is of a minimal thickness that when installed provides
adequate space and clearance for a lock 1 or door knob 7 to not
interfere with the cover 12 when opening or closing the door 5. The
covers may be painted or stained to match other exterior trim 6 or
complement the exterior walls 9 of the building.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 4, a door jamb 4 abuts an exterior wall 9
of a building that surrounds an exterior door 5. On the face 31 of
the door jamb 4, a casing 6 or exterior trim extends over the door
jamb 4 and seals over the shell of the exterior wall 9. The
exterior surfaces of the casing 6 and door jamb 4 are susceptible
to wear and commonly as wood products, must be periodically
repainted or stained to seal the door 5 and trim 6 from the
elements. The door 5 may have a door frame 16 holding glass windows
or door panels 8 with a hinge 15 adjacent an interior casing 13
affixing the door 5 to the door jamb 4. The interior casing 13 or
trim is installed along the door jamb 4 and wall 9. A first
embodiment of the pre-dimensioned protective restoration covers 10
and 12 are installed along each exterior surface of each door jamb
4 to the left and right of the door 5 using an adhesive, nails,
brads, and/or other fasteners to completely seal the cover to the
jamb 4 as shown in FIG. 5. A right angle extension 27 of the
protective covers 10 and 12 extends over the face 31 of the door
jamb 4 to abut along the exterior trim 6.
[0059] As shown in FIGS. 6A-6D, a horizontal protective cover 14 is
installed to the upper surface of the door jamb 4 with the right
angle extension 27 of the horizontal cover 14 aligning along the
face 31 of the upper door jamb 4. In preferred embodiments, to
install the protective cover 14, a suitable amount of the adhesive
17 is applied using a caulking gun or other tool along a portion of
the upper door jamb 4. The adhesive 17 may be applied linearly
along the length of the jamb 4 and then in a zigzag pattern. It is
important that the application of adhesive 17 is adequate to
prevent the protective cover from coming loose over time, although
an excessive amount is not needed where the excess will spread out
of the cover and may be unsightly when dried. The left vertical
cover 10 is then aligned along the left door jamb 4. The base of
the protective cover is pre-cut at the angle O.sub.C so that the
base of the left vertical cover 10 mates with the angle O.sub.T of
the slanted surface of the threshold 3 to minimize and prevent gaps
between the cover 10 and the threshold 3. The top of the left
vertical cover 10 mates with the horizontal protective cover 14.
Adhesive 17 is applied to the left vertical surface of the door
jamb 4 and the left vertical protective cover 10 is installed. Once
the left vertical protective cover 10 is properly secured in place,
adhesive 17 is applied along the base of the cover 10 as shown in
FIG. 2 to seal the pre-cut angular base to the threshold 3 and
prevent water from leaking behind the protective cover 10 and
destroying the wood underneath. Each section of the jamb 4 may be
done separately and the right vertical cover 12 may be installed by
repeating the steps. Alternatively, the protective covers may be
affixed to the surfaces of the door jamb 4 using brads, nails,
and/or other fasteners which may then be sealed using adhesive
sealant 17.
[0060] In some embodiments, the protective cover has a straight
uniform rear edge 28 substantially perpendicular to the axis X, as
shown in FIGS. 7A-7C. Each upper end surface 18 of the left and
right vertical covers 10 and 12 may be formed at a 45.degree. angle
to mate with 45.degree. angles formed on both end surfaces 19 of
the upper horizontal protective cover 14 for easier alignment and
installation. As described herein an important feature of the
protective cover is forming the base of the left and right vertical
covers 10 and 12 with the pre-cut angle O.sub.C to minimize or
prevent any gaps between the cover and the door threshold 3 that
could allow water to damage the wood behind the cover. The base of
the door jamb 4 is a very vulnerable location for leaking and
degradation of the door jamb 4. The present invention with this
unique feature repairs this common problem. The base 21 of the
cover is pre-cut at the angle O.sub.C that is in a range of
5.degree.-10.degree. and more specifically at an angle of
approximately 6.degree. from the axis X which is perpendicular to
the rounded edge 33 of the protective cover as shown in FIG. 7B.
The angle provides for the base 21 to be fitted without gaps to the
door threshold 3 and be sealed with adhesive to prevent
precipitation from seeping behind the protective cover and damaging
the wood below. In some embodiments, particularly for door jambs of
non-standard lengths, the grooves 23 may be routed in parallel to
the angled base 21 of the cover to provide for the removal of
excess material for door jambs of smaller lengths, as shown in FIG.
7B. In other embodiments, particularly for window jambs, frames,
thresholds or exterior trim that may be of non-standard lengths,
the base of the cover may be formed along the X-axis so that the
base is perpendicular to the length of the cover 10. The grooves in
these embodiments are also formed perpendicularly to the length.
Similarly, to the grooves that are cut and snapped off to adjust
the width, the base grooves 23 may provide for material to be
easily removed from the base in order to fit the cover properly
over the jamb 4, frame, threshold 3, or trim. The grooves 23 may
extend along the rounded edge 33 and right angled extension 27.
[0061] The protective covers have a flat exterior surface 25 that
extends from the rear edge 28 to the rounded edge 33 that forms the
90.degree. right angle extension 27 along the length of the cover.
The right angle extension 27 provides a perpendicular interior
surface 29 as shown in FIG. 7C, that abuts and seals along the face
31 of the jamb 4 or exterior facing surface of a frame, threshold
or exterior trim to provide support for the cover to be easily
aligned and secured in place using the adhesive 17 or other
fastener. The edge 33 along the extension 27 is rounded and smooth
to prevent sharp edges that may catch or be damaged. After
installation, any gaps between the protective covers 10, 12, and 14
and the threshold 3 or casing 6 should be filled with the adhesive
17 to completely seal the door jamb 4. All excessive adhesive 17
should be removed and the protective cover surfaces 25 may be
cleaned and painted or stained to match the exterior walls 9 or
trim 6 of the building.
[0062] A further embodiment of the present invention allows the
user to custom fit the present invention to non-standard or smaller
standard sized door or window jamb widths or other exterior trim
surfaces. In this embodiment, one or more grooves 35 are formed or
routed along the width of the protective covers 20 and 22 at
distances that correspond to one or more additional standard sizes
for a door jamb 4, as shown in FIG. 8. The grooves 35 are formed in
the cover with a round over shape or in other shapes that may
provide an aesthetic design. The round over shape may provide
additional material along the edges of the groove to prevent
fractures and uneven shearing when a groove is cut through using a
utility knife. The round over shape also provides a narrow channel
34 for the knife to be inserted into to easily cut along the groove
35. For a standard size door jamb 4 the grooves 35 provide an
unobtrusive element along the length of the jamb as shown in FIGS.
9A-9C forming a first surface 37, a second surface 39 and a third
surface 41 from the exterior surface 25 of the cover. The grooves
and other features such as the right angle extension 27, the
rounded edge 33, the surface end 18 formed as a 45.degree. angle to
mate with other restoration covers, and the base 21 formed at the
angle O.sub.C which may be in a range of 5.degree.-10.degree. and
may more specifically at an angle of approximately 6.degree. to
accommodate the angle O.sub.T of the threshold 3, are all important
elements of this further embodiment of the protective covers.
[0063] As shown in FIGS. 10A-10C, the protective restoration cover
is dimensioned at a largest standard size C and the grooves 35 are
aligned at a smaller standard size B and an even smaller standard
size A to provide for a single cover to be used to seal door jamb
widths of three different standard sizes. Any number of grooves 35
can be routed into the cover to accommodate jambs and trim of
various dimensions for doors and windows in both commercial and
residential buildings. The thickness t required for the restoration
cover does not need to be more than a minimal thickness to seal
adequately and structurally support the protective cover against
the door jamb 4. The thickness may be in a range from 1/16 inch to
7/16 inch taking into account the space required to accommodate a
hand turning a doorknob 7 or turning a key in a lock 1. For smaller
width jambs, the cover can be cut through the groove using a
utility knife-like tool and then the excess material can be snapped
off. The rigidity of the composite material that forms the
protective cover provides for the excess material and the routing
of the groove without fully cutting through cover which provides
for the edge to cleanly break along a break point of the groove to
form a uniform edge along the cover.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 11, to fit a smaller standard width
degraded door jamb 4, the protective covers 20 and 22 are cut along
the groove 35 at the standard size B using a utility knife. The
excess material 41 is then snapped off and removed from the cover.
The newly dimensioned piece is then installed to the door jamb 4
using adhesive 17 or another fastener. For an even smaller standard
width door jamb 4 the protective covers 20 and 22 are cut along the
second groove 35 at the standard size A and the excess material at
41 and 39 are snapped off to fit the smaller standard size as shown
in FIG. 12. In this manner the same cover can be pre-dimensioned
and grooved to fit door jambs of different standard sizes. The
protective covers as shown wrap around the jamb 4 and extend to the
exterior casing 6 to shield the wooden jamb from weather and
pests.
[0065] In a further embodiment, the present invention allows for a
user to use the protective restoration cover to cover a smaller
portion of a door jamb 4 rather than the entire door jamb. The
restoration cover sections or jamb shield guards 30 and 32 are in a
range of 6 inches to 30 inches long and more preferably 12 inches
in length as shown in FIG. 13. The base 21 of the shield guard is
cut at angle O.sub.C which may be in a range of
5.degree.-10.degree. and may be more specifically at an angle of
approximately 6.degree. angle from the axis X or at any angle that
is needed to accommodate the slant of a threshold, an angled frame
or angled piece of exterior trim. As previously described, the
angle O.sub.C provides for the shield guard to securely fit to a
threshold 3 and be sealed with adhesive 17 to prevent precipitation
from seeping behind the restoration cover and damaging the wood
below. The top edge 38 is rounded or angled and extends along the
right angle extension 27 to deflect any precipitation away from the
building. Similarly, to the full protective covers, the edge 33
from the front surface 25 is rounded to the extension 27 with the
rear interior surface 29 of the extension 27 wrapping around the
face 31 of the door jamb 4 providing for the alignment and sealing
of the jamb shield guard to the base of the door jamb 4. As shown
in FIG. 14A, a left jamb shield guard 30 and a right jamb shield
guard 32 is provided for the lower portion 36 of each door jamb 4
where higher degradation and pealing of the paint or stain is
common. The lower portion 36 of the door jamb 4 is cleaned and any
loose paint chips are removed and adhesive 17 is applied to the
lower portion 36. Each of the left and right jamb shield guards 30
and 32 are then aligned and installed to cover and seal the lower
portion 36 of the door jamb 4 as shown in FIG. 14B. The exterior
surface 25 of the shield guards 30 and 32 are primarily flat and
can be of any color to match existing trim or be painted or
stained.
[0066] In a further embodiment as shown in FIG. 15A, the jamb
shield guards 30 and 32 may have grooves 35 to properly size the
shields for door jambs 4 of smaller dimensions as described above.
As described, the grooves 35 are formed along standard dimensions
for door jamb widths, and the shield guards 30 and 32 are resized
by cutting along the appropriate groove 35 using a utility knife.
The round over routing shape of the grooves 35 leaves substantial
material in forming a bead along the groove which helps to prevent
fractures or unevenness of the material when cutting. The round
over shape also forms a narrow channel 34 for the user to easily
insert the knife in and cut along to slice through the groove. The
excess material 41 is then snapped off of the shield guards 30 and
32 to produce a clean uniform edge 43, as shown in FIG. 15B.
[0067] The present invention further provides for protective covers
to be used to cover window jambs, frames, and exterior trim. As
shown in FIG. 16, a window jamb 54 similarly surrounds a window
frame 55 and mounts the window to the wall of a building. Exterior
casing 56 aligns along the window jamb 54 and exterior surface of
the wall 59 and interior trim 53 is installed along the window jamb
54 and interior surface of the wall 59. The window frame 55 holds
the glass window panes 58. However, unlike the width of door jambs
4, window jambs 54 and frames 55 as well as exterior trim 56 are of
varying widths with very few standard sizes. For windows, the
protective covers are cut, extruded or molded to standard window
sizes in length and in width. A number of partially cut grooves 35
are aligned along the length of the protective cover, as shown in
FIG. 17, and/or the width of the cover to provide for excess
material at the nearest appropriate dimension to be removed to
properly size the protective cover in length and width to an
adequate dimension for a particular window jamb 54 or frame to
cover and seal the jamb or frame from the environment. The top 68
of the protective cover 62 may be formed at a 45.degree. angle as
described previously to mate with the 45.degree. angled ends of a
horizontal cover installed along the top of the window jamb 54. The
cover 62 is formed with a 90.degree. right angle extension 67 along
the length of the cover 62 to provide a perpendicular interior
surface 69 that abuts and seals along the face 51 of the window
jamb 54 to provide support for the cover 62 to be easily aligned
and secured in place using the adhesive 17 or other fastener. The
edge 63 along the extension 67 is rounded and smooth to prevent
sharp edges that may catch or be damaged.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 18A, any number of grooves 35 may be
provided along the exterior surface 65 of the cover 62 with any
remaining grooves 35 providing a decorative element to the window
cover. The grooves 35 may be of one or of various shapes to form
particular decorative elements in the cover. When the appropriate
dimension is chosen, a utility knife is run along the groove 35 and
because the depth of the groove extends almost through the
thickness of the pre-dimensioned cover 62 but not entirely through
and there are no holes or slots the excess piece 71 is easily
snapped off, as shown in FIG. 18B, and removed from the cover 62
exactly along the groove leaving a smooth uniform edge 73. As shown
in FIG. 19A, the restoration cover 62 is dimensioned at a largest
standard size F and the grooves 35 are aligned at smaller
non-standard sizes A through E with the non-standard size A being
the smallest size and non-standard size E being the second to
largest size. Any pre-dimensioned size may be selected and with
small distances of 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch between the grooves 35
provides for many options available to accommodate many sizes of
window jambs 54, frames, thresholds, or exterior trim. As shown in
FIG. 19B, any groove may be selected such as along the non-standard
size E that with the small distances between the grooves will
provide sufficient sealing of the jamb 54. The remaining grooves 35
provide an unobtrusive element along the length of the jamb 62
adding a pleasing design element. For smaller window jambs 54, the
non-standard size C may be selected as an example. In this manner,
the grooves 35 provide for a single cover to be used to seal door
jambs of many different standard sizes. The protective covers 60
and 62 are installed to the window jamb 54 as shown in FIG. 20.
[0069] The door restoration covers may be made from a free foam
cellular polyvinyl chloride (PVC) trim board or other simulated
wood or composite that is of a water and environmentally resistant
material that is free of voids, holes, cracks, foreign inclusions
and other defects. The restoration covers may be cut and routed
from the PVC trim board that is cut to a standard length for a door
or window jamb. The PVC trim board may be of a thickness from 1/4
inch to 1 inch of a width from 4 to 6 inches or of any dimension
that is larger than standard door or window jamb sizes. The corners
of the PVC trim board are square, and the top and bottom surfaces
are flat with no convex or concave deviation. In manufacturing the
restoration cover, the PVC trim board width is cut or ripped down
to the largest of a standard door or window jamb size. The edges of
the trim board are rounded and the grooves are routed along one
surface of the cover. Alternatively, the protective covers may be
manufactured through a molding process to form the covers with the
grooves and rounded edges, or through an extrusion process to form
the grooves and cut the covers to the proper length and width. The
grooves are preferably formed using a round over shape and without
completely cutting through the material in order to maintain the
structural integrity of the cover, provide a narrow channel 34 that
may be easily cut along and prevent fractures and uneven edges
along the cut. In alternative embodiments within the scope of the
present invention, the grooves may be formed in various other
shapes and be formed as a series of holes or slots along the length
or width of the cover.
[0070] The protective restoration covers may further be included in
a kit that includes an adhesive 17 and provides for a homeowner to
easily size the covers to the appropriate dimension using a utility
knife and perform the repair. The present invention, however is not
recommended for use where due to age and neglect a door jamb 4 or
window jamb 54 is rotted underneath and extensive structural damage
has occurred to the house or building. The present invention should
only be used before any severe wood rot issues have affected the
structural integrity. The restoration covers of the present
invention will seal wood trim from any further degradation;
however, the installation over rotted frames and trim may cause
serious damage to the house or structure behind the trim that may
worsen overtime. A careful check for rot such as by taking a
screwdriver and pushing on the wood is required prior to
installation of the protective restoration covers. If the
screwdriver goes through the wood, that is an indication that the
wood is rotted and replacement of the structural components of the
building and frame must be completed with and/or in place of
installing the protective restoration covers of the present
invention.
[0071] In installing the protective restoration covers of the
present invention, it is advisable that any surface debris such as
dirt and paint chips remaining on the jamb, frame or trim be
removed and cleaned. Any gaps in the wood should be caulked to
prevent further degradation before installation of the restoration
covers. The weather stripping 11 traditionally used between the
jamb 4 and the door 5 or window 58, may be replaced prior to
installation of the restoration covers or shield guards to assist
with sealing the outdoor elements out and keeping heating or
cooling within the building or structure. The protective
restoration cover is then sized and positioned to be properly
fitted over each section of the jamb, frame, or trim. The pre-fit
pieces of the protective restoration covers are sized to fit most
standard door or window jambs and for doors most are sized in one
of the three standard dimensions. For larger standard door jambs,
the cover pieces should fit without any modification to the pre-cut
dimensions. For smaller or non-standard jambs, frames or trim, the
restoration cover may be sized by cutting along the pre-formed
grooves with a utility knife and breaking off the excess material.
In this manner, a single cover may be used to seal and protect
jambs, frames and trims of various sizes. Once installed, final
caulking along the seams and corners of the cover seals and
protects the jamb, frame, or trim underneath. The protective covers
may then be painted or stained to match the exterior trim of the
building.
[0072] The RE-JAMB.RTM. protective cover 70 of the present
invention may also be installed on the threshold 3 of a door 5 to
repair a degraded threshold 3, as shown in FIG. 21A. In some
embodiments, a horizontal cover 14 is of the appropriate length for
most thresholds and the grooves along the length of the cover 14
provide for the width of the cover to be sized appropriately to the
width of the threshold 3. Using a utility knife, a groove of the
proper dimension is removed from the cover. The cover is then
installed to the threshold using adhesive 17 and is sealed to the
base of the left and right door jamb 4 or to protective covers or
jamb shields of the present invention if also installed to door
jamb 4, as shown in FIG. 21B. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG.
22, the protective cover 72 may be formed with an extension 74 that
extends from the flat exterior surface 76 at an angle O.sub.P that
is greater than 90.degree. to accommodate for the slant of a
threshold or for a frame or trim piece that has an extension that
is at an angle that is greater than 90.degree. in order to have the
extension 74 of the cover 72 make contact and minimize or prevent
gaps between the cover 72 and surface of the threshold, frame or
trim. Preferably, the extension angle O.sub.P is between 90.degree.
and 100.degree. and more particularly 96.degree. to match the slope
of a threshold that is commonly at an angle of 6.degree. for
drainage. Other embodiments of the protective cover may be formed
with an extension that extends from the flat exterior surface at an
angle that is less than 90.degree. to similarly maintain contact
and prevent gaps particularly for a frame piece such as a
windowsill that extends out from the building and has a slanted
front surface. The protective cover 72 may have a series of grooves
78 perpendicular to the length of the cover to properly size the
cover to the length of a threshold, frame or piece of trim as
shown, or along the length of the cover to size the cover 72 to the
appropriate width.
[0073] The RE-JAMB.RTM. protective cover 70 of the present
invention may also be installed to the frame 80 of a garage door 82
that supports the garage door 82 on a building 84. As shown in FIG.
23A, a garage door that has been damaged or that is degrade may be
repaired by installing a properly sized protective cover 86 to the
outer edge 88 of the frame 80. Garage door frames are very often
standard sizes but in some instances the width of the frame 80 may
be larger than the protective cover 86. In some embodiments, a
second protective cover such as one having multiple grooves may be
sized to cover any uncovered portions of the frame 80.
Alternatively, a rectangular trim piece 90 may be installed with
the cover 86 to fully cover and repair the frame 80. Replacement
weather stripping 92 that is available in proper lengths for the
frame 80 of the garage door 82 may also be installed in the repair
as shown in FIG. 23B. By using the protective cover 84 of the
present invention, the frame 80 of the garage door 82 may be
repaired without replacing the frame 80 or requiring the removal of
the garage door 82, the track railings or any other components from
the garage door 82 thereby saving costs and not requiring a high
level of skill to perform the repair.
[0074] The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modifications can be effected within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *