U.S. patent number 3,654,734 [Application Number 04/829,886] was granted by the patent office on 1972-04-11 for adjustable door or window frame.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Stratford Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Harry W. Lehman.
United States Patent |
3,654,734 |
Lehman |
April 11, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
ADJUSTABLE DOOR OR WINDOW FRAME
Abstract
For use in a door or window opening, an expansible, frame
element, frame and corner joint, in which the frame includes
pre-assembled U-shaped members which include assembly plates
forming sockets receiving a face panel for width adjustments; jamb
elements are secured over fastening elements securing the face
plates together; the face plates include notches and holes
accommodating fasteners after width adjustments have been made; and
a corner connector having transverse, triangular ribs extending
over mitered corners and into which flanges are deformed to stake
the elements and draw them together at the corners; and in which
the jamb element includes on one side a lateral undercut slot for
receiving a silencer strip therein. The era of "do it yourself"
prefabricated building structures has enabled relatively unskilled
labor to effect installations previously requiring skilled
carpenters, mechanics, etc. In recent years, many procedures in
erecting a residence or building have been improved, i.e., pouring
concrete floors; prefabricated stair wells; curtain walls, etc.
Many attempts have been made to provide adjustable window and door
frames; however, structure to achieve the wide range of adjustments
met in the field have not been readily afforded, and, specifically,
when means are provided for the width adjustment, the means to
effect this adjustment are generally perceptible. Primary objects
of the present invention are: to provide a novel, expansible frame
element; to provide a novel, expansible of width-adjustment frame;
to provide a novel, staked corner joint drawing mitered corners
together. It is also an object to provide a novel, expansible frame
element from which a novel frame is assembled in which one face
element forms a lateral socket with an assembly plate, and another
face element includes a portion adjustably plane in the lateral
socket and fasteners secure the face elements in adjusted relation,
and jamb elements are secured in laterally extending relation from
the inner surface of the face elements and overlying the fasteners.
It is another object of this invention to provide in the frame
elements as set forth above, hinge-plate recesses overlying the
assembly plate to permit flush mounting of hinge leafs. It is
another object of this invention to provide novel notches and holes
on respective face plates whereby width adjustments still provide a
through aperture at the intersection of the slots for receiving a
fastener therethrough. It is a general object of this invention to
provide an improved, prefabricated frame structure which is simple
in construction, adapted to be readily shipped in a pre-assembled
condition or in a knocked down version and which is adapted to be
quickly and readily installed and adjusted at a job to fit a wide
range of conditions and with a minimum amount of skill being
necessary on the part of the workmen involved.
Inventors: |
Lehman; Harry W. (Miami Beach,
FL) |
Assignee: |
Stratford Industries, Inc.
(Hialeah, FL)
|
Family
ID: |
25255823 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/829,886 |
Filed: |
June 3, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
49/505; 52/212;
52/213 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B
1/20 (20130101); E06B 3/9765 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E06B
1/12 (20060101); E06B 1/20 (20060101); E06B
3/976 (20060101); E06B 3/96 (20060101); E06b
001/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;49/501,504,505
;52/211,212,217,213 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Downey; Kenneth
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An adjustable frame for a doorway comprising a first face plate
element, a second face plate element, assembly plate means and
cap-jamb means, said first face plate element comprising a face
panel and a side panel extending laterally from one edge thereof,
said first face plate element further including assembly plate
mounting means on the inner surface thereof, said face panel
including plate means, cap-jamb mounting flange means extending
laterally out from said plate means, said assembly plate means
underlying the inner surface of said face panel element and being
mounted thereon, said assembly plate means including a plate
portion spaced from the inner surface of said plate means and
extending parallel thereto, thereby defining a laterally opening
socket with said plate means, said socket underlying said cap-jamb
mounting flange means, said second face plate element having a face
panel and a side panel extending laterally from one edge thereof,
said second face panel being slidably received in said socket,
fastening means extending through said first and second face panels
and said plate portion of said assembly plate means at said socket
for retaining said face panels and said side panels at an adjusted
width, said assembly plate mounting means comprising laterally
opening grooves beneath said first face panel, and opening in a
direction common to that of said socket, said assembly plate means
including spaced, laterally disposed ribs respectively engaged in
said laterally opening grooves, said cap-jamb means engaged on said
cap-jamb mounting flange means and overlying said fastening means,
said cap-jamb mounting flange means comprising flanges including
camming portions at the upper edges thereof facilitating mounting
of said cap-jamb means and lower lateral lip portions, and said
cap-jamb means comprising inwardly directed lock-lips engaged
beneath said lateral lip portions.
2. The frame of claim 1 in which said first face panel includes a
hinge-leaf recess extending therethrough, said assembly plate means
underlying and extending beyond opposite ends of said recess,
whereby a hinge-leaf can be installed on said assembly plate and
substantially flush with said face panel.
3. The frame of claim 2 in which said assembly plate means includes
groove portions exposed at said recess for orienting a drill bit to
form holes for fasteners for a hinge-leaf.
4. The frame of claim 1 in which said plate portion of said
assembly plate means and said second face panel include orienting
ribs engaged and maintaining the outer surface of said second face
panel substantially co-planar with the corresponding surface of
said first face panel.
5. The frame of claim 1 in which said cap-jamb means includes at
least one laterally opening, undercut groove removably receiving a
resilient weather strip element having a lock rib corresponding in
cross section to said undercut groove.
6. The frame of claim 1 in which said cap-jamb mounting flange
means comprises flanges at the terminal edge and an intermediate
portion of said first face panel.
7. The frame of claim 1 in which said first and second face panels
include overlying, reversely-angled slots which have a through
opening when the face panels are adjusted to width for receiving
said fastening means therethrough.
8. The frame of claim 1 in which the frame includes a pair of
vertical spaced parallel leg portions and a header in spanning
relation to the upper ends thereof, each of said leg portions and
said header including said first and second face plate elements and
said cap-jamb means, said assembly plate means comprising a
plurality of relatively short socket defining members in a spaced
relationship along said two legs.
Description
These, together with other objects and advantages which will become
apparent from a consideration of the following description of
exemplary embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings
forming a part thereof:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a door opening incorporating a
frame of the invention; directed foot
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view looking into
the upper right-hand corner of the frame of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a further enlarged, horizontal section taken on the plane
of line 3--3 of FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 is a further enlarged, fragmentary elevation view looking
generally at the area shown at line 4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a top, further enlarged fragmentary perspective view
looking down into the area shown at line 5--5 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and showing an alternate means
for assembling the adjustable frame; and
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on the plane of line 7--7 of
FIG. 6.
Referring to FIG. 1, a door opening in wall 10 has secured therein
a frame 12 in which a door 14 is hung. It will be understood that
the building opening, whether for a door or window, will be
final-finished, i.e., the walls will be plastered, dry-walled,
etc., and exposed portions at the building opening will be
generally wooden, masonry and, or metallic terminal elements 16,
see FIG. 3.
The frame 12 will be adjustable in width, and, accordingly, will
embrace exposed edges of the opening, at both sides, (see FIG. 3)
and preferably can be of prefinished, anodized aluminum, for
example, so that when the frames are installed, no further
finishing will be required. The frame 12 will generally be
described as an inverted, U-shaped member comprising a header and
jambs, that is, vertical legs 18 and 20 connected to a transverse
header 22. The door can be hung on either the right or left side of
the frame opening, i.e., on either of the jambs, leg members 18 or
20. The legs and header are constructed from frame elements most
clearly seen in FIG. 3, and this will be first described, next the
expansible frame elements 18 and 20 will be described, and then the
corner joint of FIG. 5 will be described.
Referring to FIG. 3, each of the legs 18 and 20 include a first
face-panel element 24 which includes a face panel portion 26 in the
opening, which includes at one marginal edge a side panel 28 in a
plane parallel to the plane of closure and having an inwardly
directed return or foot flange 30 abuttingly engageable with the
outer surface of the wall 10 at the margin of the opening. The face
plate 26 includes an inwardly directed, slightly offset plate 32
which includes spaced, parallel, slightly resilient or displacable
jamb-mounting flange means comprising flanges 34 and 36; the former
extending generally from the juncture of portion 26 and plate 32,
and the latter extending from the marginal edge of plate 32 (in the
exemplary embodiment). The flanges 34 and 36 respectively include
relieved outer edges 38 and 40 which function to assist in mounting
a jamb-cap or stop 42 thereon; as will be described. Flange 36 has
formed on the outer surface thereof hook or lips 44 and 46 and
flange 34 includes a lip 48. The jamb-cap includes a face 50 into
the building opening and generally mutually parallel flanges 52 and
54 having formed on the inner surfaces thereof lock lip portions
substantially permanently mounting the jamb-cap 42 illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 3.
The side panel 28 has extending inwardly in spaced, parallel
relation from the inner surface of face panel 26 a rib 56 defining
with panel 26 an inwardly directed groove 58, and in spaced,
parallel relation and depending from plate 26 is a T-shaped rib 60
forming an inwardly opening second groove 62.
Disposed in the inner surface of the face panel element 24 is a
plurality of assembly plates indicated generally at 64, one of
which will be disposed beneath each hinge as shown by dotted lines
in FIG. 2, and serve as mounting plates for said hinges on the
hinge side 20, as shown in FIG. 1, in a manner to be described
hereinafter. Two, three or more of the assembly plates 64 are also
spaced along the vertical leg 18 and one or more may also be spaced
along the transverse header 22 if necessary. Generally, however,
the assembly plates are not necessary along the header except
possibly to provide added rigidity for wide span door openings.
Each assembly plate 64 is preferably in the order of 3 in. to 6 in.
long and includes flanges 66 and 68 respectively received in the
grooves 58 and 62 and will be shimmed out by wedge-like shims 70,
72 from the frame elements 16. Each assembly plate 64 includes a
projecting plate portion 74 which is disposed in spaced, parallel
relation from plate 32 and forms an elongated, thin socket 76. The
plate portion has extending toward the plate 32 anti-rattle ribs 78
spaced inwardly from the edge. Each assembly plate 64 includes in
its outer face parallel grooves 80, preferably having a V-shaped
cross section and serving to accommodate a drill bit when drilling
holes 82 for the leaf of a hinge assembly when used on the hinge
side 20 of the door frame.
A second face panel element 84 includes a face panel 86 having at
its outer edge a side wall panel 88 (similar to side wall panel 28)
and having an inwardly directed foot flange 90. The face panel 86
is adjustably received in socket 76 and the outer surface will be
coplanar with the outer surface of face panel portion 26.
All that is required to adjustably install the elements of FIG. 3
on the wall 16 is a screwdriver, drill-and-bit and mallet.
Initially, a plurality of assembly plates 64 are mounted in a
spaced relationship in the grooves 58 and 62 of the first
face-panel elements 24 on both of the legs 18 and 20 as described.
On the hinge leg 20, the plates 64 are spaced to correspond to the
hinge locations as illustrated in FIG. 2 and two or more plates 64
are spaced along the leg 18, preferably in the same number and
general locations as on the hinge side. The portion of the frame 12
consisting of face panel elements 24 of the legs 26 and the header
22, in assembly with the door mounted thereon, are mounted in the
door opening and shimmed to a plumb condition as described and
installation screws 94 are driven loosely into the position
illustrated in FIG. 3 through pre-punched holes to hold said
portion of the frame and door in said plumb position in the door
opening. Next, the face panel portions 86 of the panel elements 84
of the legs 18 and 20 and the header 22, in assembly, are inserted
in the sockets 76 formed by the assembly plates 64 and the leg
portions 90 are snugged against the wall as shown in FIG. 3. The
installation screws 94 are then tightened to hold the entire
assembly in place. Suitable holes are then drilled through
overlying portions of plate 32, face panel 86 and plate portion 74
of each assembly plate 64 for the reception of screws 92.
As best illustrated in FIG. 4, a cutout portion 95 is provided in
the face panel portions 86 to correspond to the position of each
installation screw 94 to provide for a maximum amount of adjustment
of said face portions into the pockets 76 after the installation
screws 94 are driven loosely into position. The positions for the
reception of assembly screws 94 may be pre-marked in any convenient
manner to correspond to the positions of the cutout portions 95.
The screws 92 and 94 are located between the flanges 34, 36, and
after the parts are installed as described the jamb-caps 42 are
snapped onto flanges 34, 36 by using a mallet or the palm of one's
hand.
The jamb-cap 42 includes in one side thereof a laterally-opening,
undercut groove 96 which receives therein a correspondingly formed
portion of a sealing (weather seal) strip 98 which will engage at
the peripheral margin of the door 14.
As seen in FIGS. 2 AND 3, the face panel 26 of member 20 will have
a rectangular recess 100 cut therefrom and the hinge leaf of the
hinge assemblies 102 will be flush with the outer surface of panel
26. Note an assembly plate 64 will be disposed beneath each recess
100 and the holes 82 can be readily drilled in grooves 80, and
countersunk screws 104 can be readily installed.
The upper ends of the header 22 and legs 18 and 20 are mitered as
seen at 106 and are assembled by stabilizing brackets indicated
generally at 108 and 110. The brackets 108 comprise flat, angular
elements having legs received in opposed tracks formed by flanges
112 and 114 on the inner surface of side panels 28 and 88.
The bracket 110 is a right angular element having one edge disposed
beneath the flange 114 and the opposite edge beneath a deformable
rib or flange 116. The bracket 110 includes a generally flat base
118 having extending transversely thereacross triangular element or
ribs 120 which are spaced therealong. The bracket is installed with
the brackets 108 and, thereafter, the flanges 116 are deformed at
121 into the grooves 122 formed by adjacent ribs 120, deformation
starting at the groove most remote from the mitered corner. This
deforming or staking results in stretching or drawing the corner
into close assembled relation.
Before referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, it will be understood that the
frame 12 will be substantially pre-assembled, i.e., the U-shaped
frame as seen in FIG. 1 will have the legs and headers of one side
of the frame assembled at its corners by means of a bracket 108 and
the bracket 110. The other side of the frame which includes two leg
portions and a header will be assembled with a bracket 108 at its
corners. The side wall panels 86 will be loosely disposed in
sockets 76 of the co-operating frame. The cap-jambs 42 will not
have been installed and the screws 92 and 94 will not have been
installed; however, the assembly plates 64 will be mounted on the
one U-shaped frame to form the sockets 76.
The two U-shaped frame portions will be installed on opposite sides
of a building opening spanning the side and top edges. Convenient
foot brackets 124 (FIG. 2) are provided to assist in stabilizing
initial and final installation. Holes for screws 94 will be drilled
after the wedge shims 70 have been installed to properly orient the
legs of the frame. Thereafter, screws 92 are installed, and the
cap-jambs 42 are installed over the screws.
Prior to this complete frame installation, when convenient, the
hinge-leaf recesses 100 will have been cut, preferably at the
factory. The weather seals 96 are installed, the hinge assembles
102 are installed on the frame and doors, and the doors 14 are
hung.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the legs 18' and 20' of a frame
function in substantially the same manner as the previously
described adjustable frame 12 and only structural differences will
be described. In this embodiment, the retention screws 92 are
eliminated. The screws 94' are used in this embodiment; as in that
previously described, however, as seen in FIG. 7, the overlying
portions 86' and 32' at the socket 76 have angularly related slots
indicated generally at 95'. Extending substantially the width of
plate 32' is a through-slot 97' disposed at substantially 45
degrees to the longitudinal axis of face panel element 24' and
through-slot 99' is formed in plate portion 86' at 180 degrees with
respect to slot 97'; slots 97' and 99' intersect over substantially
the width of adjustment of the overlying members. When the members
24' and 28' are moved toward or away from each other, the
intersection between slots 97' and 99' continues to provide a
square, through-aperture and a hole is drilled in the plate portion
74' at the point of intersection through which the assembly screws
94 will project into the door frame side and top frame members to
maintain the frame 12 in adjusted and installed relation as has
been previously described in detail with respect to FIGS. 1-5.
* * * * *