U.S. patent number 3,591,985 [Application Number 04/862,168] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-13 for plastic-sheathed door frame.
Invention is credited to Cray J. Coppins.
United States Patent |
3,591,985 |
Coppins |
July 13, 1971 |
PLASTIC-SHEATHED DOOR FRAME
Abstract
Plastic covering protects the normally exposed inner surface of
a door frame from the weather and provides a decorative coating
therefor which never needs painting. An additional plastic covering
in the form of an elongated plastic extrusion member is attached to
the back side of the door frame adjacent the exterior wall and has
a rigid plastic strip or fin projecting therefrom covering the
joint between the door frame and exterior wood sheeting to provide
a drip cap along the top of the door frame and water seal around
the entire periphery of the door frame. The plastic fin is offset
with respect to its base portion to accommodate the difference in
thickness between dry wall and plaster wall for use with either by
proper positioning of the fin.
Inventors: |
Coppins; Cray J. (Cleveland,
OH) |
Family
ID: |
25337844 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/862,168 |
Filed: |
September 30, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
49/504;
52/204.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B
1/64 (20130101); E06B 1/34 (20130101); E06B
2001/622 (20130101); E06B 2001/628 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E06B
1/34 (20060101); E06B 1/62 (20060101); E06B
1/04 (20060101); E06B 1/64 (20060101); E06b
001/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;49/501,504,505
;52/204,211,212,213,716 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Downey; Kenneth
Claims
I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my
invention:
1. A member for attachment to a door frame to provide a weather
seal around the door frame comprising an elongated generally
channel-shaped portion for attachment to the back side of such door
frame along the full length thereof adjacent the exterior side, and
an elongated fin projecting outwardly from said channel-shaped
portion adapted to cover the joint between the door frame and
exterior sheathing around such door frame, said fin being offset
with respect to the center of said channel-shaped portion to permit
use with different wall thicknesses by turning said member
180.degree. from end to end.
2. The member of claim 8 wherein said fin has elongated spaced
apart slots therein for receipt of fasteners to facilitate
attachment of said member to the exterior sheeting.
3. A plastic-sheathed door frame comprising a door jamb, a door
stop on said door jamb, and a plastic covering including a first
member covering said door jamb and door stop, said first member
having a shape conforming to the normally exposed inner surface of
said door jamb and door stop, and a projection extending from said
first member into a groove in said door frame for securing said
member to said frame, and a second member having a channel-shaped
portion attached to the back side of said door frame adjacent the
exterior side and an elongated fin projecting outwardly from said
channel-shaped portion adapted to cover the joint between the door
frame and exterior sheathing around such frame, said fin being
offset with respect to the center of said channel-shaped portion to
permit use with different wall thicknesses by turning the second
member 180.degree. from end to end.
4. The frame of claim 3 wherein the back side of said door jamb has
a kerf for receipt of one of the sides of said channel-shaped
portion.
5. The member of claim 1 wherein said member is made of a plastic
material, and said channel-shaped portion has a slightly concave
base portion and inturned sides prior to attachment to said door
frame, said base portion and sides being flexible to permit
straightening during attachment to provide a positive grip with the
door frame.
6. A door frame comprising a door jamb having a door stop on the
normally exposed inner surface of said door jamb, and a member
providing a weather seal around said door frame, said member
comprising an elongated generally channel-shaped portion attached
to the back side of said door jamb along the full length thereof
adjacent the exterior side, and an elongated fin projecting
outwardly from said channel-shaped portion which covers the joint
between said door jamb and the exterior sheathing around said door
frame, said fin being offset with respect to the center of said
channel-shaped portion to permit use with different wall
thicknesses by turning said member 180.degree. from end to end.
7. The frame of claim 6 wherein said member is made of a plastic
material, and said channel-shaped portion has a slightly concave
base portion and inturned sides prior to attachment to said door
jamb, said base portion and sides being flexible to permit
straightening during attachment to provide a positive grip with
said door jamb.
8. The frame of claim 6 wherein the back side of said door jamb has
a kerf for receipt of one of the sides of said channel-shaped
portion, and the other side of said channel-shaped portion engages
the exterior side of said door jamb.
9. A plastic-sheathed door frame comprising a door jamb, a door
stop on said door jamb, and a plastic covering providing a weather
seal around said door frame including a first member covering said
door jamb and door stop, said first member having a shape
conforming to the normally exposed inner surface of said door jamb
and door stop, and a second member comprising an elongated
generally channel-shaped portion attached to the back side of said
door frame along the full length thereof adjacent the exterior side
and an elongated fin projecting outwardly from said channel-shaped
portion which covers the joint between said door frame and the
exterior sheathing around said door frame, said fin being offset
with respect to the center of said channel-shaped portion to permit
use with different wall thicknesses by turning said second member
180.degree. from end to end.
10. The frame of claim 9 further comprising a door sill including a
base member of insulating material secured to the bottom of said
door frame, said base member having an exterior portion projecting
outwardly beyond the door when closed and a threshold portion
directly beneath the door when closed, a metal still cover secured
to said exterior portion and terminating adjacent said threshold
portion, and a rigid thermal barrier member of insulating material
secured to said threshold portion of said base member and providing
with said plastic covering a thermal barrier completely around said
door frame preventing transfer of heat between the exterior and
interior.
11. The frame of claim 9 wherein said door stop has a shoulder with
a groove extending the length thereof, and said plastic covering is
shaped to conform to the walls of said groove and stop shoulder,
said plastic covering interiorly of said groove having ribs for
engagement with a barbed projection on a weather strip inserted
into said groove.
12. The frame of claim 9 wherein said plastic covering has sides
extending around to the back side of said door jamb.
13. The frame of claim 9 wherein said plastic covering has a
projection extending into a groove in said door frame for securing
said plastic covering to said frame.
Description
This invention relates generally as indicated to a plastic sheathed
door frame, and more particularly, to a plastic covering for a door
frame which acts as a drip cap and water seal around the door frame
and cooperates with the door sill of my copending U.S. Pat.
application Ser. No. 834,674, filed June 19, 1969, to provide a
thermal barrier preventing transfer of heat between the exterior
and interior around the entire periphery of the door frame and
thereby preclude the buildup of frost and condensation.
Door frames or jambs are ordinarily constructed from carefully
selected and properly dried lumber to reduce to a minimum the
amount of warpage and expansion and contraction of the frames,
which adds materially to the cost of the frames, and yet cracks and
gaps often develop around the frames when subjected to severe
weather conditions over an extended period of time.
Such drawbacks have been substantially eliminated with the present
invention by placing a plastic covering over the entire inner
periphery of the door frame, which protects the door frame from the
weather and also permits the use of less expensive lumber for
making the door frame.
An additional plastic covering is also desirably attached to the
back side of the door frame adjacent the exterior wall of the
structure. The latter covering has a rigid plastic strip or fin
overlying the joint between the door frame and exterior wood
sheeting to provide a drip cap and water seal around the entire
periphery of the door frame. The plastic fin is offset with respect
to its base portion to accommodate the normal difference in
thickness between dry wall and plaster wall by reversing the
position of the fin so that it is closer to or farther away from
the inner edge of the door frame.
A thermal barrier is also established by the plastic covering which
cooperates with the door sill of my aforementioned copending U.S.
Pat. application Ser. No. 834,674, to provide an effective means
for preventing the transfer of heat between the exterior and
interior around the entire periphery of the door frame, whereby a
buildup of frost and condensation is precluded.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the
invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described
and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following
description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail a
certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being
indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the
principles of the invention may be employed.
In the annexed drawings:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of a preferred form of
plastic sheathed door frame in accordance with this invention shown
in conjunction with a door sill of the type disclosed in my
aforementioned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.
834,674;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the door frame and sill of
FIG. 1, showing the plastic fin in proper position for
accommodating the thickness of a plaster wall;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to FIG. 2, but
showing the plastic fin in reverse position for accommodating the
thickness of dry wall;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation view of the upper left-hand
corner of a plastic-sheathed door frame constructed in accordance
with this invention; and
FIG. 5 is a transverse section through the plastic fin and
associated base portion of the supplemental plastic covering
showing the undistorted configuration of the base portion prior to
attachment to the door frame.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now in detail to the drawings, a plastic-sheathed door
frame constructed in accordance with this invention is generally
indicated by the reference numeral 1 and includes a door jamb or
frame member 2 having a plastic covering 3 including a first member
4 completely covering the normally exposed inner surface of the
door jamb to protect the same from the weather and provide a
decorative coating which has a relatively long, maintenance-free
life.
Preferably, the member 4 is a one-piece extrusion made from a
suitable vinyl or other plastic material and shaped to conform to
the configuration of the door frame 2 and door stop 5. While the
wall 6 thickness of the member 4 may be varied within limits, a
thickness of approximately 0.045 inch has been found to be
satisfactory.
The member may be of any desired length and cut to fit the sides
and top of the door frame, with some clearance desirably being
provided to permit limited expansion and contraction of the plastic
covering. The sides 7 of the member 4 desirably extend at least a
short distance around the back surface 8 of the door frame 2 to
assist in retaining the member 4 in place on the door frame, and a
channel-shaped portion 9 is also provided centrally of such member
for receipt of the door stop 5. A projection 10 may also be
provided on the member 4 which extends into a vertical groove 11 in
the door stop 5. Barbs 12 on the projection 10 resist pullout of
the projection from the groove. Of course, the member 4 must be
sufficiently flexible to permit assembly onto the door frame and
door stop, and once in place, staples or the like may be used to
positively secure the member to the door frame 2.
If desired, a vertical groove 13 may be provided along the inner
edge of the stop shoulder 14 to facilitate attachment of a weather
strip 15 to the door frame. The member 4 is shaped to conform to
the walls of the vertical groove 13, and ribs 16 on the member 4
interiorly of the vertical groove 13 prevent withdrawal of the
barbed projection 17 on the weather strip.
Attached to the back side 8 of the door jamb 2 adjacent the
exterior wall 18 is a second member of the plastic covering 3 in
the form of a generally channel-shaped elongated plastic extrusion
member 19 having a generally rigid plastic strip or fin 20
projecting outwardly therefrom in overlying relation to the joint
21 between the door jamb 2 and exterior sheathing 22. The plastic
extrusion member 19 is attached to the back of the door frame along
both sides and top, and the ends of both members 4 and 19 of the
plastic covering 3 are desirably cut at 45.degree. adjacent the
upper corners of the door frame as shown in FIG. 4 so that they
abut to provide an effective drip cap along the top of the door
frame and water seal around the entire exterior periphery of the
door frame.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the base 25 of the channel-shaped portion
26 of member 19 may be slightly concave and the sides 27 may be
turned in slightly prior to attachment of the member 19 to the door
jamb 2, thereby necessitating some deformation of the
channel-shaped portion 26 during insertion of one of the sides 27
into a kerf 28 on the back of the door jamb and the other side over
the exterior edge 29 of the door jamb for enhanced grip. Elongated
slots 30 (see FIG. 4) may also be provided in the fin 20 through
which nails 31 may be driven into the exterior sheathing 22 for
securing the extrusion member 19 in place, but the nails are
desirably not driven completely home to give some room for
expansion and contraction of the member 19. As clearly shown in
FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the fin 20 is offset with respect to the center
of the channel-shaped portion 26 by a distance sufficient to
accommodate the difference in thickness between a plaster wall 32
and dry wall 33 by a mere turning or rotating of the plastic
extrusion 180.degree. between the FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 positions. A
plaster wall is ordinarily approximately 51/4 inches thick, whereas
dry wall is only about 45/8 inches thick, a difference in thickness
of approximately five-eighths inch. Accordingly, if the base
portion 34 from one side of the fin 20 is made five-eights inch
longer than the base portion 35 from the other side of the fin, the
plastic extrusion member 19 when positioned as shown in FIG. 2 with
the shorter base portion 35 located outwardly of the exterior
sheathing 22 will accommodate plaster wall and when positioned as
shown in FIG. 3 with the longer base portion 34 located outwardly
of the exterior sheeting will accommodate dry wall.
The distance between the fin 20 when brought into engagement with
the exterior sheathing 22 in both the FIGS. 2 and 3 positions and
the inner edge 36 of the door jamb fixes the relative location of
such inner edge with respect to the interior surface 37 or 38 of
the wall 32 or 33, respectively, and it is preferred that such
distance be such that the inner edge of the door jamb is flush with
the interior wall surface.
After the plastic members 4 and 19 have been properly assembled
onto the door jamb 2 and the door jamb has been oriented with
respect to the exterior sheathing 22 as previously described, the
door jamb is secured to the framing members 40 surrounding the door
opening using suitable fasteners. The door frame 2 illustrated is
for mounting of an interior swinging door 41, but it will be
apparent that the same frame may be used for mounting of exterior
doors, it only being necessary to reverse the position of the door
jamb and mount the member 19 along the other edge of the door jamb,
a second kerf 42 being provided in the back side of the door jamb
for that purpose. After installation of the door frame, exterior
siding 43 may be put in place, covering the fin 20.
Although the dimensions of the member 19 may vary somewhat, a
preferred typical wall thickness for the plastic extrusion may be
0.070 inch, the length of the fin 20 may be approximately 1.75
inches, the length of the sides 27 of the channel member 26 may be
approximately 0.438 inch, and the width of the channel member may
be approximately 2 inches.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the plastic covering 3
extends completely around the sides and top of the door frame, thus
protecting the same from the weather, and also providing an
insulation or thermal barrier which when used in conjunction with a
door sill 45 of the type disclosed in my copending U.S. Pat.
application Ser. No. 834,674, effectively prevents the transfer of
heat between the interior and exterior both underneath and around
the sides and top of the door. As shown, the door sill 45 consists
of a wood or like substrate 46 having an exterior projection 47 to
which is secured a metal sill cover 48 (preferably aluminum) that
terminates adjacent the threshold portion or exterior side of the
door 41 when in the closed position. Directly beneath the door when
closed there is provided a rigid vinyl or other thermal insulating
member 49 which has downwardly projecting ribs 50 that extend into
grooves or notches 51 in the wood substrate 46 for securing the
member 49 in place.
The slight clearance between the bottom of the door and member 49
is taken up by a resilient positive vinyl door seal 52 on the
bottom of the door.
The door sill 45 effectively prevents a buildup of frost and
condensation on either side of the door when closed since the metal
sill cover 48 terminates short of the interior side of the door
when closed as aforesaid, and the rigid vinyl member 49 provides a
thermal barrier preventing transfer of heat from one side of the
door to the other. The plastic cover member 4 provides an extension
of the thermal barrier along the sides and across the top of the
door. For a more complete disclosure of the details of the door
sill 45, reference may be had to my aforementioned copending U.S.
Pat. application Ser. No. 834,674, which is incorporated herein by
way of reference.
The door 41 may be made of wood or metal, but if metal is used, a
thermal break or gap 53 is desirably provided between the metal
door facings 54 as shown in FIG. 2 to preclude transfer of heat
from one side of the door to the other. With a metal door, the
weather strip 15 may be of the well-known magnetic type to provide
a positive magnetic seal around the metal door when closed.
* * * * *