Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Framing to receive door – doorjamb – or window sash
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-13
2001-09-11
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Framing to receive door, doorjamb, or window sash
C052S212000, C049S505000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286274
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coupling for mounting a door frame in a wall opening including anchoring clips mounted on one of the frame and wall and retaining clips mounted on the other of the frame and wall. The anchoring and retaining clips engage to secure the frame in the wall opening. More particularly, the present invention relates to a coupling wherein the anchoring clips are identical and have resilient cantilever portions and wherein the retaining clips are identical and have angled sections engaged by the cantilever portions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional building industry practice uses prefabricated door frame assemblies which are manufactured at a manufacturing facility and then transported to a remote location for installation. This assembly includes a frame as well as a pre-hung door. The door frame includes a header jamb assembly for the top of the doorway opening in a wall and latch and hinge jamb assemblies for the sides of the doorway opening in the wall. To accommodate for variations in the thickness of the wall in which a door is located, the frame is adjustable to accommodate these wall thicknesses. Additionally, the frame should be adaptable to wide variety of uses, including the addition of a screen or storm door and the addition or omission of exterior trim.
A typical frame of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,898 to McKann, entitled Adjustable Door Frame, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This frame is secured to the wall in the doorway opening by screws passing through the frame outside of and adjacent to the opening, as well as by screws passing through the portion of the frame inside the doorway opening and into the wall part defining the doorway opening. To provide a secure connection, the screws are within the normal field of vision and provide an unsightly appearance. Additionally, such screws require the use of considerable labor time by skilled installers.
Clip systems have been used for securing door frames in position. Typical clip systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,019 to Kiselewski, U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,135 to Lieber, U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,705 to Downing and U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,722 to van Wieringen.
However, these conventional clip mounting systems for door frames are not adequately simple and inexpensive to use and manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coupling for mounting a door frame in an opening and a door frame assembly including a mounting coupling which can be easily and economically manufactured and installed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a coupling for mounting a door frame in an opening in a wall and a door frame assembly which eliminates screws in the normal field of vision.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a coupling for mounting a door frame and a door frame assembly which is rugged and of sturdy construction, and facilitates rapid installation.
The foregoing objects are basically obtained by a coupling for mounting a door in an opening in a wall, comprising substantially identical first and second anchoring clips and substantially identical first and second retaining clips. Each anchoring clip includes a base mounting portion and a resilient cantilever portion extending at a non-perpendicular angle from the base mounting portion. The two anchoring clips are oriented opposite to one another. Each retaining clip has a base mounting section and an angled section extending in a cantilever manner from its base mounting section. The two retaining clips are oriented in mirror image to one another such that the cantilever portions respectively engage the angled portions of the first and second retaining clips.
By forming the coupling in this manner, the anchoring clips and retaining clips can be inexpensively and easily formed from sheet metal. The manufacturing costs are substantially reduced by the two anchoring clips being identical and the two retaining clips being identical. In this manner, only two, relatively simple parts need to be manufactured and supplied for forming the coupling. The simple forms and identical constructions of the two anchoring clips and of the two retaining clips also simplify and facilitate the installation.
With these clips, the door frame can be retained and located simply within the doorway opening by snapping it into place. Any additional screws which may be necessary would be located at the bottom and/or top ends of the hinge and latch jambs, well away from the normal field of vision. Further, the clips greatly simplify the installation by eliminating the number of screws that would otherwise be necessary for securing the door frame within the doorway opening in a wall.
Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1747415 (1930-02-01), Baum
patent: 1966666 (1934-07-01), Grimes
patent: 2742117 (1956-04-01), Tolman
patent: 3189137 (1965-06-01), Harris
patent: 3320705 (1967-05-01), Downing, Jr.
patent: 3401487 (1968-09-01), Brandt et al.
patent: 3420003 (1969-01-01), Cline
patent: 3545135 (1970-12-01), Lieber
patent: 3654734 (1972-04-01), Lehman
patent: 3788019 (1974-01-01), Kiselewski
patent: 3793788 (1974-02-01), Collins
patent: 3906671 (1975-09-01), Maldonado
patent: 3994243 (1976-11-01), Anders
patent: 4179849 (1979-12-01), Kuffner
patent: 4281480 (1981-08-01), Wendt
patent: 4510722 (1985-04-01), van Wieringen
patent: 4793109 (1988-12-01), Noach
patent: 4878325 (1989-11-01), Van Tuyl et al.
patent: 4894955 (1990-01-01), Metz
patent: 5187898 (1993-02-01), McKann
patent: 5233802 (1993-08-01), Rogers
patent: 5771644 (1998-06-01), Kidd
Haney Wendell
McKann H. Smith
Cohen Curtis A.
Roylance Abrams Berdo & Goodman L.L.P.
Stodola Daniel P.
Therma-Tru Virginia Company Incorporated LLC
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