U.S. patent number 3,798,863 [Application Number 05/321,665] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-26 for frame corner construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Metal Climax, Inc.. Invention is credited to Harold A. Latson.
United States Patent |
3,798,863 |
Latson |
March 26, 1974 |
FRAME CORNER CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
There is provided an improved corner construction for
interconnecting construction or frame members of a wall system. The
corner construction is particularly useful with, but not limited
to, a door structure of the type wherein a frame supports a panel
of glass or other suitable material. The frame is formed of
vertical frame members each having face portions connected by a
transverse web and defining confronting glazing pockets. Spaced
upper and lower rail members interconnect the vertical members and
are each provided with longitudinally extending screw splines. The
ends of the upper and lower rail members are coped to define tenons
so that the screw splines fit within the confronting glazing
pockets. Fastener means extending through the transverse webs into
the screw splines expand the tenons to provide a tight fit with the
glazing pockets of the vertical members.
Inventors: |
Latson; Harold A. (Niles,
MI) |
Assignee: |
American Metal Climax, Inc.
(New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23251497 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/321,665 |
Filed: |
January 8, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/204.597;
52/800.15; 52/656.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B
3/9636 (20130101); F16B 12/02 (20130101); E04B
2/766 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
2/76 (20060101); E06B 3/96 (20060101); F16B
12/00 (20060101); F16B 12/02 (20060101); F16b
007/18 (); E04c 002/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/400,475,476,501,627,656,628 ;287/189.36H |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Perham; Alfred C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Mason, Kolehmainen, Rathburn &
Wyss
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. A corner construction of the type wherein a frame supports a
panel such as of glass comprising:
spaced vertical members, each having face portions connected by a
transverse web defining confronting glazing pockets:
at least one horizontal assembly interconnecting said members, each
of said assemblies including;
a horizontal member having parts thereon defining longitudinally
extending screw splines, and including at least one face
portion;
the ends of said horizontal assemblies being coped to define tenons
with the tenons fitted within the confronting glazing pockets of
the vertical members,
said tenons being split vertically through the screw splines,
and
fastener means extending through the transverse webs into said
screw splines expanding said tenons to provide a tight fit with
said glazing pockets and securing said rail assemblies and said
vertical member together.
2. A corner construction of the type wherein a frame supports a
panel such as of glass comprising:
spaced vertical members, each having face portions connected by a
transverse web defining confronting glazing pockets;
spaced rail assemblies interconnecting said vertical members, each
of said rail assemblies having a generally tubular portion with
parts thereon defining longitudinally extending screw splines;
the ends of said rail assemblies being coped to provide tenons with
the ends of the screw splines fitted within the confronting glazing
pockets of the vertical members,
said tenons being split vertically through the screw splines,
and
fastener means extending through the transverse webs into said
screw splines expanding said tenons to provide a tight fit with
said glazing pocket and securing said rail assemblies and said
vertical members together whereby torsion loads transmitted between
said rail assemblies and said vertical members are reacted through
said tenons and against the walls of said glazing pockets.
3. A door structure of the type having a frame supporting a panel
such as of glass comprising:
spaced vertical door stiles, each having face portions connected by
a transverse web defining confronting glazing pockets;
spaced upper and lower rail assemblies interconnecting said stiles,
each of said rail assemblies having a rail member having a
generally tubular center portion having parts thereon defining
longitudinally extending screw splines, and including a face
portion;
at least one of said rail members including a face member defining
a glass stop and forming a glazing pocket with its face
portion;
said one of said rail members and said face member having
interlocking parts;
the ends of said rail assemblies being coped to define tenons with
the ends of the screw splines fitted within the confronting glazing
pockets of the door stiles, and
fastener means extending through the transverse webs into said
screw splines expanding said tenons to provide a tight fit with
said glazing pocket securing said rail assemblies and said vertical
stiles together whereby torsion loads transmitted between said
rails and said stiles are reacted through said tongues and against
the walls of said glazing pockets.
4. A corner construction of the type wherein a frame supports a
panel such as of glass comprising:
a first frame member having face portions connected by a transverse
web defining a glazing pocket;
a second frame member connected to said first frame member, and
having parts thereon defining longitudinally extending screw
splines, and including at least one face portion;
one end of said second frame member being coped to define a tenon
with the tenon fitted within the glazing pocket of the first frame
member,
said tenon being split longitudinally of said glazing pocket
through the screw splines, and
fastener means extending through the transverse webs into said
screw splines expanding said tenon to provide a tight fit with said
glazing pockets and securing said second frame member and said
first frame member together.
Description
The present invention relates to a new and improved frame corner
construction, and particularly to a corner construction useful in
joining frame members of a building wall. The invention is
particularly adaptable to, but not limited to, a door structure of
the type having extruded frame members supporting a panel such as
of glass. Accordingly the invention is herein described in
connection with a door frame.
Heretofore difficulty has been experienced in obtaining corner
constructions of framing members having a maximum glass or panel
size to frame width. Some of the difficulty arises from the
requirement that in order to glaze a completed frame assembly,
conventional commercial practice requires a shallow and deep
glazing pocket to confront each other to provide for installation
clearance of the glass. Moreover with reference to doors it is
necessary that the door frame members have sufficient strength to
withstand the loads imposed upon them. Door frames are particularly
critical with regard to the strength of the joints between the
stiles and upper and lower rail members. One improved corner joint
assembly which overcomes some of the above mentioned difficulties
is disclosed and claimed in the copending application filed by
Lawrence F. Biebuyck on Dec. 1, 1971, Ser. No. 203,814, and
assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. The
structure therein disclosed provides for the transfer of torsional
loads between the rail assemblies and the vertical stiles without
the addition of shear blocks and the like, and further provides for
maximum utilization of the stile material so that a door with
minimum width stiles may be provided. Although the corner joint
therein disclosed is quite satisfactory, close maching and
extrusion tolerances are required. Accordingly it would be
advantageous to provide a corner joint of the type described above
wherein a looser standard of machining and extrusion tolerances
would be practical.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a
new and improved corner construction for a frame member which
overcomes the above mentioned difficulties.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new
and improved door structure.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a
new and improved corner structure for a door wherein a tight fit is
achieved without requiring close machining and extrusion
tolerances.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent as the following description precedes and the features of
novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
specification.
In accordance with these and other objects, there is provided an
improved corner structure of the type having a frame supporting a
panel such as of glass. Each of the vertical frame members has face
portions connected by a transverse web and defining confronting
shallow and deep glazing pockets. Upper and lower rail assemblies
interconnect the vertical frame members and are provided with coped
ends defining tenons having screw splines fitting into the
confronting glazing pockets. The tenons are split longitudinally of
the glazing pockets through the screw splines, and fastener means
extending through the transverse webs of the vertical members and
into the screw splines expand the tenons to provide a tight fit
with the glazing pockets and secure the rail assemblies and the
vertical members together. Torsion load between the rail assemblies
and the vertical members are reacted through the tenons and against
the walls of the glazing pockets.
For a better understanding of the present invention reference may
be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a door incorporating the improved
frame corner construction according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the door of
FIG. 1, taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view of the door of FIG. 1,
taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of the door of
FIG. 1, illustrating the connection of the rail assemblies with the
door stiles.
Refering now to the drawings, there is illustrated a door 10
incorporating the present invention, and illustrated as of the
center pivoted, double acting type. The door 10 is formed of spaced
vertical stile members 12 and 13 interconnected by upper and lower
rail assemblies 15 and 16. The stile members and rail assemblies
define a door frame supporting a panel 18 of glass or other
suitable material. In the illustrated embodiment the stile member
12 may be referred to as the lock stile, while the stile member 13
may be referred to as the pivot stile.
Refering first to the lock stile member 12, best illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4, it is formed by an extruded element, such as of
aluminum, and provided with relatively heavy face portions 12A, 12B
interconnected by a transverse web 12C. The face portions and webs
12A, 12B, 12C together define a shallow glazing pocket 12D and an
opposed edge channel 12E. The confronting edges of the glazing
pocket 12D include parts defining gasket channel 12F for retaining
suitable glazing gaskets 19. In the illustrated embodiment the edge
channel 12E is of somewhat T-shape, having undercut portions 12G.
In addition the edge channel 12E has confronting grooves 12H for
slidably receiving a stile cap 20.
The pivot stile member 13 is similar to the lock stile member 12,
having the same narrow width if desired, and includes relatively
heavy face portions 13A, 13B interconnected by a transverse web
13C. The face portions and webs 13A, 13B, 13C together define a
deep glazing pocket 13D and an edge channel 13E. The confronting
edges of the glazing pocket 13D are provided with gasket channels
13F supporting suitable glazing gaskets 19. Moreover the
confronting edges of the edge channel 13E are provided with
confronting grooves 13H slidably receiving a pivot stile cap 21. If
desired studs 23 of nylon or other suitable material may be
threaded through the web 13C against the glazing 18 to prevent
creeping of the glazing into the deep glazing pocket.
It will be appreciated that in a conventional glazing situation the
lock stile member 12 is formed with the shallow glazing pocket 12D
and has a relatively deep edge channel 12E, while the pivot stile
member 13 is formed with a deep glazing pocket 13D and has a
shallow edge channel 13E, thus permitting maximum utilization or
material and minimum width to the stile members.
The upper rail assembly 15 is formed of a rail member 25 and a face
member 26, both of extruded aluminum or other suitable material,
and each having parts interfitting to lock the face member 26 to
the rail member 25. More specifically, and as best illustrated in
FIG. 2, the rail member 25 includes a generally tubular center
portion having transverse webs 25A, 25B, and outer face portion
25C, and an inner web 25D. Formed integrally with the inner web is
a toe portion 25E and hook portion 25F forming parts interlocking
with corresponding parts of the face member. Screw splines 25G are
formed with the transverse webs 25A and 25B defining relatively
heavy metal portions at the center of the webs. The face member 26
includes a toe portion 26A and a hook portion 26B for camming and
interlocking relation with the respective toe and hook portions
25E, 25F of the rail member 25. When assembled the upper rail
assembly 15 defines a glazing pocket 27 and an upper open pocket 28
for receiving door closures, operators, and the like.
The lower rail assembly 16 is similar to the upper rail assembly
15, but may differ primarily dimensionally. More specifically the
lower rail member 16 includes a rail member 30, FIG. 2, having a
generally tubular center portion formed of transverse webs 30A,
30B, a face portion 30C and an inner web 30D. A toe portion 30E and
a hook portion 30F are provided along the inner web 25D for
interlocking relationship with a face member 31. Suitable screw
splines 30G are provided generally centrally of the rail assembly
16 and define relatively heavy central portions of the transverse
webs 30A, 30B. The face member 31 also includes a toe portion 31A
and a hook portion 31B for interlocking relationship with the toe
and hook portions 30E, 30F of the rail member 30. The lower rail
assembly 16 also defines a glazing pocket 32 at its upper end, and
a downwardly opening pocket 33 at its lower end.
The joint or corner connection of the stile members and rail
assemblies are best illustrated in FIG. 4. Refering first to the
lock stile and of FIG. 4, the end of the rail assemblies 15 and 16
are coped back so that the relatively heavy portions of the
transverse webs defined by the screw splines project in tongue-like
manner to form tenons 25H, 30H closely fit and confined within the
glazing pocket 12D of the lock stile member 12. Suitable screw
fasteners, such as screws 35 are driven into the respective screw
splines 25G, 30G through apertures 36 in the stile member 12. The
tenons 25H, 30H are each provided with a slit 34 extendong
longitudinally relative to the glazing pocket 12D, and extending
through the screw splines 25G, 30G. The screws 35 are effective to
spread the tenons 25H, 30H so as to eliminate any play in the door
joints and to expand the tenons to provide a tight fit with the
sides of the respective glazing channels. The stile cap 20 covers
the exposed heads of the screws 35.
The connection between the rail assemblies 15 and 16 to the pivot
stile member 13 is similar, with the lock ends of the upper and
lower rail assemblies 15 and 16 being coped back so that the
material in the area of the screw splines 25G, 30G projects in
tongue-like manner to form tenons 25H, 30H inserted into the deep
glazing pocket 13D of the pivot stile member 13. Suitable screw
fasteners, such as screws 37, FIG. 3 are secured within the screw
splines 25G, 30G through apertures 38 in the transverse web 13C of
the pivot stile member 13. The tenons 25H, 30H on the lock stile
end are also provided with slits 34 extending longitudinally of the
glazing channel 13D. Thus the screws 37 expand the tenons 25H, 30H
at the lock stile end to provide a tight fit between the tenons
25H, 30H and the side walls of the glazing pocket 13D, eliminating
play between the members.
The stile cap 21 covers the exposed head of the fasteners 37.
Advantageously the projecting tongue-like portions or tenons of the
upper and lower rail assemblies with the vertical slits 34 running
through the screw splines 25G, 30G are effective to spread the
tenons to provide a tight fit with the side walls of the glazing
pockets 12D, 13D. Play in the corner joints is eliminated and
looser machining and extrusion tolerances can be tolerated.
Although such play had been found not to be structurally
significant, better appearance and alignment of the door and door
hardware is maintained with tight corner joints. Moreover a frame
or door structure in accordance with the described invention
provides for maximum utilization of the frame material so that a
door with minimum width stiles is provided. Advantageously the
frame or door structure provides pleasing lines and appearance for
the architect. Moreover the corner joint of the frame is strong and
sturdy, accomplishing transfer of torsional loads between the
members directly from the tenons into the side walls of the glazing
channels without the addition of shear blocks and the like.
Although the invention has been described by reference to a single
embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that numerous other
modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in
the art which will fall within the true spirit and scope of the
present invention.
* * * * *