Adjustable Split Door Frame

Abstract

A frame for erecting around a door which is split to accommodate different wall thicknesses. A pair of opposed brackets are slidably mounted to a plate positioned adjacent the end of the wall. A pair of door jamb channels have outer ends sandwiched between the wall and the outer ends of the brackets. The inner ends of the brackets are forced and locked together to secure the channels to the wall. The inner ends of the channels project into a rail which is secured to a member located between the channels and brackets.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is in the field of adjustable door frames.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Door frames are typically extruded to fit a predetermined thickness of wall. Since walls vary considerably in thickness, a variety of different sized and configured door frames must be produced and stocked. It can therefore be appreciated that there is a need for a door frame which will quickly and easily fit a variety of walls having different thicknesses. In addition, the adjustable door frame should be easily erectable. A representative sample of the prior art is disclosed in the following U. S. Pat. Nos.

3,224,533 issued to A. F. Nystrom;

3,250,049 issued to S. Sklar;

3,436,884 issued to J. H. Bell et al.; and

3,537,222 issued to R. P. Lickliter et al.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is an adjustable split door frame mountable to a first wall comprising a pair of opposed brackets having inner adjacent flanges connected and movable together and outer flanges positionable on opposite sides and adjacent the wall, first means connecting the inner flanges together and operable to vary the distance between the inner flanges and between the outer flanges, a pair of channels having a pair of mutually opposed inner ends and having outer ends positionable on opposite sides of the wall each sandwiched between one of the outer flanges and the wall, a member mounted between the channels and the brackets, a rail adjacent the channels with the inner ends of the channels projecting into the rail, and second means connecting the rail and the member together to prevent relative motion between the rail and the channels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved door frame.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable door frame which will fit walls having a variety of different thicknesses.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable door frame which is easily and quickly erectable.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a door frame incorporating the present invention shown mounted to a wall.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMODIMENT

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an adjustable split door frame 10 mounted to wall 11 which includes a pair of opposed brackets 12 and 13 which are slidably mounted to a wall 14 positioned against the edge 15 of wall 11. Wall 14 includes a pair of rivets 16 and 17 which project freely through slots respectively in brackets 12 and 13. Brackets 12 and 13 have respectively inner adjacent flanges 18 and 19 which are connected and movable together by clamp 20. Brackets 12 and 13 also have respectively a pair of outer flanges 21 and 22 positionable on opposite sides of and adjacent wall 11.

A pair of channels 23 and 24 have a pair of mutually opposed inner ends 25 and 26 and a pair of outer ends 27 and 28 which are positionable on opposite sides of the wall 11. Outer ends 27 and 28 are respectively sandwiched between flanges 21 and 22 and wall 11.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. The inner flanges 18 and 19 of brackets 12 and 13 diverge from the top edge of the brackets towards the bottom edge of the brackets as viewed in FIG. 2. Flanges 18 and 19 are turned outwardly forming a pair of diverging channels 29 and 30 (FIG. 1). Clamp 20 is wedge-shaped and has a pair of inwardly turned edge portions 31 and 32 which are respectively slidingly received by channels 29 and 30. Thus, by forcing clamp 29 in the direction of arrow 33 (FIG. 2), flanges 18 and 19 are caused to move closer together and in addition the outer flanges 21 and 22 are caused to move closer together thereby sandwiching the outer ends of channels 23 and 24 between the brackets and wall. A fastener 34' is threadedly mounted to clamp 20 and is movable against wall 14 so as to prevent relative motion between clamp 20 and wall 14 and thereby secure brackets 12 and 13 to wall 11. Clamp 20 is operable to vary the distance between the inner flanges and between the outer flanges of brackets 12 and 13.

A pin 34 is secured to end 26 of channel 24 by suitable fastening means such as by a weld. A rigid member 35 is mounted between channels 23 and 24 and brackets 12 and 13. The mounting of member 35 is accomplished by extending pin 34 through the member and into a spring fastener 36 on the reverse side of member 35. Therefore, member 35 is prevented from moving in the direction of arrow 37.

Element 38 is fixedly secured to end 25 of flange 23 by means such as by a weld. Bracket 38 includes a recess 39 (FIG. 3) through which member 35 is positioned. Member 38 prevents member 35 from moving. Ends 25 and 26 extend into a rail 40 which is positioned against and adjacent channels 23 and 24. Rail 40 includes a back up plate 41 through which threaded fastener 42 projects. Fastener 42 extends through the rail and is threadedly received by member 35 so as to connect the rail and member together and to prevent relative motion between the rail and channels 23 and 24.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be noted that wall 14 has a lower edge portion 43 which extends against the lower edge of brackets 12 and 13 thereby preventing pivotal motion of the brackets with respect to rivets 16 and 17. Referring to FIG. 1, channel 24 and rail 40 provide surfaces 44 and 45 for receiving the door.

Many variations of the present invention are contemplated and included herein. For example, in lieu of a wedge-shaped clamp, a threaded bolt may be utilized to secure the inner ends of brackets 12 and 13. In addition, member 35 may be fastened directly to channel 24 by welds in lieu of utilizing pin 34. Likewise, the channels may be secured to the brackets by means such as welding. It is anticipated that best results will be obtained by making the frame disclosed herein from material such as steel. Likewise, it is anticipated that a plurality of brackets 12 and 13 and clamps 20 will be utilized along the length of the frame. For example, on a typical door frame, three clamps may be utilized on the vertical edge of each side of the door with two of the clamps being utilized on the horizontal top edge of the door. An obvious advantage of the subject invention is that the frame will fit on a variety of different sized walls. Therefore, the frame can be produced in a large quantity at low cost since the frame will fit a variety of walls having different thicknesses.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjustable split door frame mountable to a first wall comprising:

a pair of opposed brackets having inner adjacent flanges connected and movable together and outer flanges positionable on opposite sides and adjacent said wall;

first means connecting said inner flanges together and operable to vary the distance between said inner flanges and between said outer flanges;

a pair of channels having a pair of mutually opposed inner ends and having outer ends positionable on opposite sides of said wall each sandwiched between one of said outer flanges and said wall;

a member mounted between said channels and said brackets;

a rail adjacent said channels with said inner ends of said channels projecting into said rail; and,

second means connecting said rail and said member together to prevent relative motion between said rail and said channels;

a pin fixedly mounted to one of said channels and extending through and secured to said member;

an element fixedly secured on the other of said channels and having a recess in which said member is positioned;

a threaded fastener extending through said rail and threadedly received by said member preventing relative motion between said member and said rail;

said inner adjacent flanges diverge and are turned outwardly forming a pair of diverging channels; and,

said first means includes a wedge-shaped clamp with inwardly turned edge portions slidingly received by said channels;

a second wall having said brackets slidably mounted thereon; and,

a fastener threadedly mounted to said clamp and movable against said second wall preventing relative motion between said clamp and said second wall; and wherein:

said second wall includes a pair of rivets mounted thereon which project freely through slots on said brackets.

2. An adjustable split door frame mountable to a first wall comprising:

a pair of opposed brackets having inner adjacent flanges connected and movable together and outer flanges positionable on opposite sides and adjacent said wall;

first means connecting said inner flanges together and operable to vary the distance between said inner flanges and between said outer flanges;

a pair of channels having a pair of mutually opposed inner ends and having outer ends positionable on opposite sides of said wall each sandwiched between one of said outer flanges and said wall;

a member mounted between said channels and said brackets;

a rail adjacent said channels with said inner ends of said channels projecting into said rail; and,

second means connecting said rail and said member together to prevent relative motion between said rail and said channels;

a pin fixedly mounted to one of said channels and extending through and secured to said member; and,

an element fixedly secured on the other of said channels and having a recess in which said member is positioned;

a threaded fastener extending through said rail and threadedly received by said member preventing relative motion between said member and said rail;

said inner adjacent flanges diverge and are turned outwardly forming a pair of diverging channels; and,

said first means includes a wedge-shaped clamp with inwardly turned edge portions slidingly received by said channels;

a second wall having said brackets slidably mounted thereon; and,

means mounted to said clamp and movable against said wall operable to prevent relative motion between said clamp and said second wall; and wherein:

said second wall includes further means thereon which projects freely through slots on said brackets.