Sensitive Edge For A Door

Abstract

A sensitive door edge comprising a channel for mounting on a door facing outwardly therefrom, and a pressure sensitive assembly removably inserted into the channel and projecting outwardly therefrom.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past, it has been essential to provide especially constructed doors adapted to include pressure sensitive edge structures, as for safety against accidental closing, and the like. Thus, the subsequent provision of existing doors with pressure sensitive edges was difficult and expensive, if possible, and the removal, repair and replacement of sensitive edge structures incorporated in prior art doors often involve considerable time, expense and reconstruction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a pressure sensitive edge structure for a door which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, being capable of utilization in combination with conventional doors and unconventional doors of many varied types.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a highly improved pressure sensitive edge structure having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is quickly and easily attached to a door, and capable of quick and easy removal, replacement and repair, as desired, to effect considerable savings in both initial and continuing costs.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a pressure sensitive edge structure for doors of the type disclosed which is extremely simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, capable of economic manufacture, installation and maintenance, and which otherwise fully accomplishes its intended objects.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a doorway including a door provided with an edge structure in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a door edge of the present invention apart from a door, and broken away for clarity of understanding.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a building is there generally designated 10, having a door opening 11 and provided with a door 12, which in the illustrated embodiment is an overhead door, but may be any suitable door construction, as desired.

Along the lower edge of door 12 is provided a pressure sensitive or safety edge structure generally designated 15. The edge structure 15 is best shown in FIGS. 2-4, and includes a retainer 16, which may be a generally U-shaped channel having a back wall or web 17 secured to the lower edge 18 of the door proper 19. The retainer or channel 16 may advantageously be fabricated of relatively stiff material, such as aluminum, or other, as by extrusion, or otherwise, and may include a pair of laterally spaced, parallel depending side walls or flanges 20, extending from opposite longitudinal sides or edges of the back wall or web 17. The side walls or flanges 20 may each be provided along its free, outer edge with a longitudinally extending inturned lip, rib or internal projection, as at 21. Thus, the projections 21 project inwardly toward each other, the space therebetween defining a longitudinally extending slot or opening communicating between the interior and exterior of the retainer or channel 16.

A resiliently compressible, pressure sensitive assembly is generally designated 25 and extends longitudinally along the retainer channel 16, being removably engaged therein and projecting therefrom. More specifically, the assembly 25 includes an elongate resiliently compressible member or foam pad 26, which defines a base portion, being of generally rectangular cross sectional configuration sized for snug conforming engagement interiorly of the retainer channel. Further, the resilient pad or base portion 26 substantially completely occupies the interior of the channel 16, and is formed along opposite side edges with a pair of longitudinally extending recesses or grooves 27 located to respectively receive inturned projections or lips 21. In addition to substantially completely occupying the space within retainer channel 16, the base portion 15 projects outwardly from the channel, as by exterior portion 28, outward of the grooves 27.

Carried by the base portion 26, outwardly thereof and exteriorly of the retainer channel 16, the assembly 25 includes an outer active portion 30. The active portion 30 may be constituted of a pair of inner and outer, longitudinally extending, generally parallel spaced conductive strips or contacts 31 and 32, the former being inward and the latter outward. For example, the inner contact strip 31 may extend along and in facing engagement with the outer surface 33 of base portion 26, say being laterally coextensive therewith; and, the outer strip 32 may extend in facing, parallel, outwardly spaced relation with respect to the inner strip 31, being maintained in the spaced relation by a plurality of separate, spaced apart members or spacers 34. The spaced apart spacers 34 maintain the contact strips 31 and 32 in their normally spaced apart relation, while permitting of flexure into contacting engagement at one or more locations between spacers 34. An outer cushioning layer 35, say of resiliently compressible foam, or the like, may be located exteriorly of and in facing engagement with the outer side of outer strip 32. Additionally, a flexible casing or covering 36 may encompass the assembly 25, being fabricated of suitable sheet material, such as vinyl, or the like, and may be suitably adherent to the resiliently compressible components 26, 34 and 35 so as to maintain the assembly 25 in its unitary, assembled relation while permitting of desirable flexure and resilient compressibility.

Suitable electrical conductors 37 and 38 may be connected, respectively, to contact strips 31 and 32, for extension to appropriate circuitry for effecting the desired door operating characteristics responsive to the application of pressure against the assembly 25 sufficient to compress the assembly and effect contact between strips 31 and 32. That is, the active portion 30 exteriorly of the retainer 16 is responsive to pressure causing engagement of the normally spaced contact strips 31 and 32, such as in the operation of my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,133,167.

Also, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the covering or casing 36 is sufficiently flexible to enter into the grooves or recesses 27 of the base portion 26, thereby enabling the projections 21 to enter into the grooves or recesses and releasably retain the assembly in position with respect to the retaining channel 16. Of course, the assembly 25 may be removed from the retainer channel 16 when desired, as by deliberate compression and withdrawal to effect release of the projections or ribs 21 from the recesses 27; and, the assembly or a replacement assembly may be reinserted by mere snap engagement of the base portion 20 into the channel.

From the foregoing it is seen that the present invention provides a pressure sensitive edge structure which is extremely simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, capable of quick and easy removal and replacement, as for effecting necessary maintenance and repairs.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes a and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electrically pressure sensitive edge structure adapted for a door, said structure comprising a channel extending along a door facing outwardly therefrom, internal projections in said channel, and an entirely resiliently compressible pressure sensitive assembly of foam material snugly engaged longitudinally in said channel, said assembly including a base portion substantially completely occupying said channel, said base portion being sufficiently laterally compressible for edgewise engagement into and withdrawal from said channel past said internal projections, and an active portion extending outwardly from said channel, said assembly being formed with recesses releasably receiving said projections.

2. A pressure sensitive edge structure according to claim 1, said internal projections comprising longitudinally extending ribs, said base portion comprising an elongate body of resiliently compressible foam material substantially completely occupying said channel compressible to pass transversely across and between said ribs, said recesses being defined by longitudinally extending grooves in opposite sides of said body, and said active portion comprising a pair of longitudinally extending flexible contact strips in facing spaced relation and depressible into contacting engagement.

3. A pressure sensitive edge structure according to claim 2, in combination with a cover of sheet material flexible to permit engagement of said projections in said grooves and depression of said strips into said contacting engagement.