Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Framing to receive door – doorjamb – or window sash – Architrave; i.e. – finish strip on floor – ceiling – or wall...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-20
2001-07-03
Kent, Christopher T. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Framing to receive door, doorjamb, or window sash
Architrave; i.e., finish strip on floor, ceiling, or wall...
C052S204100, C052S213000, C052S204550, C052S656400, C052S656100, C052S656900, C049S504000, C403S404000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253507
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clip for a door frame system, a door frame system, and a method of interconnecting elements of the door frame system using a clip.
Some doors are commercially available with an assembled door frame. During installation, the door frame is inserted into an opening in a wall or other structure. The door frame then is nailed or otherwise secured to the surrounding structure. Such pre-assembled door frames can occupy a considerable amount of space, and therefore may be bulky and expensive to transport. Many such door frames also include miter cuts at their comers (e.g., at 45 degree angles) or other features which make it difficult to convert the pre-assembled door frame from a left-hand opening configuration to a right-hand opening configuration and vice versa.
It therefore is often desirable to sell, distribute and/or transport door frames in an unassembled state, rather than in the assembled state. Unassembled door frames, however, require assembly when they arrive at an installation site. Until the individual parts of the door frame (e.g., the header and the leg member) are assembled or secured in place, they are awkward to handle. It also it not unusual for the individual parts of the unassembled door frame to become misaligned with respect to one another while they are being secured in place.
There is consequently a need in the art for a convenient and reliable way of securing individual elements of a door frame to one another before and/or after being transported to an installation site, and before insertion into the opening where the door frame will be mounted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing problems and/or satisfy the aforementioned need by providing a clip for a door frame system, a door frame system, and a method of interconnecting elements of the door frame system using a clip.
To achieve this and other objects, the present invention provides a door frame clip for interconnecting first and second door frame members when a longitudinal end of the first door frame member bears against a surface of the second door frame member at a portion of the surface which is adjacent to a longitudinal end of the second door frame member. The door frame clip comprises an apex, a first arm extending from the apex, and a second arm extending from the apex in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to the first arm. The second arm is significantly longer than the first arm to enable the second arm to reach the first door frame member when the apex engages an outside edge of the longitudinal end of the second door frame member.
The present invention also provides a door frame system. The door frame system comprises a first leg member, a second leg member, a header, a first clip, and a second clip. The second leg member is substantially parallel to the first leg member. The header has opposite longitudinal ends which bear against respective surfaces of each of the leg members near a first edge of each of the respective surfaces. The first clip is for interconnecting the first leg member and the header. The first clip includes an apex, a first arm extending from the apex, and a second arm extending from the apex in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to the first arm. The second arm is significantly longer than the first arm to enable the second arm to reach the header when the apex engages an outside edge of the first leg member. The second clip is for interconnecting the second leg member and the header. The second clip includes an apex, a first arm extending from the apex of the second clip, and a second arm extending from the apex of the second clip in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to the first arm of the second clip. The second arm of the second clip is significantly longer than the first arm of the second clip to enable the second arm of the second clip to reach the header when the apex of the second clip engages an outside edge of the second leg member.
Also provided by the present invention is a method of securing a header of a door frame to a first leg member and a second leg member of the door frame. The method comprises the steps of: locating the header between the first and second leg members so that the first and second leg members are substantially parallel to one another and so that opposite longitudinal ends of the header bear against respective surfaces of each of the first and second leg members near a first edge of each of the respective surfaces; connecting the first leg member to the header using a first clip, the first clip including an apex, a first arm extending from the apex, and a second arm extending from the apex in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to the first arm, the second arm being significantly longer than the first arm to enable the second arm to reach the header when the apex engages an outside edge of the first leg member; and connecting the second leg member to the header using a second clip, the second clip including an apex, a first arm extending from the apex of the second clip, and a second arm extending from the apex of the second clip in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to the first arm of the second clip, the second arm of the second clip being significantly longer than the first arm of the second clip to enable the second arm of the second clip to reach the header when the apex of the second clip engages an outside edge of the second leg member.
The above and other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3200447 (1965-08-01), Parker
patent: 3239978 (1966-03-01), Parker
patent: 3243245 (1966-03-01), Kewley
patent: 3345715 (1967-10-01), Lambert
patent: 3430385 (1969-03-01), Biro
patent: 3729870 (1973-05-01), Kvalheim et al.
patent: 4283900 (1981-08-01), Schubert
patent: 4509294 (1985-04-01), Boilard
patent: 4676686 (1987-06-01), Eisenloffel
patent: 5671580 (1997-09-01), Chou
patent: 5974745 (1999-11-01), Barr
patent: 2400736 (1975-07-01), None
Kent Christopher T.
Liniak, Berenato, Longacre & White LLC
MDF Inc.
Thissell Jennifer I.
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