Movable or removable closures – Closure seal; e.g. – striker gasket or weatherstrip – Spaced or superposed flange cantilevered from edge of base...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-08
2001-07-17
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Closure seal; e.g., striker gasket or weatherstrip
Spaced or superposed flange cantilevered from edge of base...
C049S489100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260305
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to horizontal hinged door assemblies such as sidewalk access doors and, in particular, to a gasket system for such door assemblies which comprise a door, a frame surrounding the door, preferably a peripheral channel frame to prevent water and dirt from falling through to the area below covered by the door, and a hinge connecting the door to the frame for rotation about an axis, the gasket system restricting water and dirt from entering a gap between the frame and the edge of the door.
2. Description of Related Art
Horizontal hinged (covers) doors are commonly used for access doors, roof scuttles, automatic fire vents, ceiling access doors, basement doors and for pit, floor and sidewalk doors for access to subterranean locations. While the present description will be directed to pit, floor and sidewalk doors, it will be appreciated that the invention can be used for any such horizontal doors, such as angled bulkhead doors for entering or leaving a basement, where there is a gap between the frame of the door and the edge of the door through which gap water or dirt may enter.
Pit, floor and sidewalk doors are used in a variety of applications for providing access through openings in a concrete slab, wood floor or ceiling, and the like into a pump pit, utility vault, pipe trench, basement, building, etc. Most of the designs for these type doors utilize a channel frame surrounding the door which frame may be connected to a drain. The typical door assembly necessarily has a small gap between the frame and the edge of the door through which water and dirt enters and the drain directs rain water away and the channel restricts dirt from falling through to the covered area below.
The channel frame is usually made of ¼ metal such as extruded aluminum and is generally a U-shape. The thickness of the frame is usually up to about ½ inch, typically ¼ inch. The dimensions of the U-shape channel may vary widely up to, for example, 5 inch high by 5 inch wide or larger. A typical U-frame is made of ¼ inch thick extruded aluminum with the frame being about 3.5 inch high by 3 inch wide. The channel frame is made as a continuous extrusion and is cut to the proper length and the four sides of the assembly connected together to form the frame. The frame is positioned at the periphery of the hole opening to which the frame is secured. The top of the outer wall of the channel frame typically has an inward flange extending around the periphery of the channel for strength and to facilitate hinge connection to the door. The height of the inner wall of the frame is generally slightly lower than the outer wall to accommodate the thickness of the door when the door is closed. The door is generally up to about ⅜ inch thick, typically ¼ inch. When the door is in the closed position, the door rests on the inner wall and the door is flush with the inward flange of the channel frame.
The door covers an opening and there is necessarily a gap due to manufacturing tolerances and operational clearances between the edges of the door and the frame of the door assembly. It is important to keep rain water, dirt and other debris from entering the gap and falling into the frame and/or opening covered by the door assembly. Additionally, dirt and debris can accumulate in the frame or on the frame walls lifting the door above the sidewalk or floor level causing a tripping hazard and possible hinge and door damage.
In a prior art horizontal door assembly shown in
FIG. 3
, a gasket
43
is used between two confronting surfaces comprising the door
14
and flange
42
of the channel frame
40
. The top portion
44
of gasket
43
is compressed between the door
14
and channel flange
42
. This type design has certain drawbacks such as a need for continual maintenance of the gasket, the buildup of dirt on the gasket surface and the need for a confronting flange to support the gasket.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is one object of the present invention to provide a bendable gasket structure for use with a horizontal door to restrict water, dirt and debris from entering a gap between the door frame and edges of the door.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a horizontal hinged door assembly having a bendable gasket structure as part of the assembly which gasket restricts water, dirt and debris from entering a gap between the door frame and edges of the door.
It is another object of the invention to provide a horizontal hinged door assembly and/or a frame member used to make horizontal door assemblies which are adapted to utilize a bendable gasket structure of the invention which gasket extends across a gap between the door frame and edges of the door to restrict water, dirt and debris from entering the gap.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a horizontal hinged door assembly for enclosing an opening, the door assembly comprising:
a plurality of elongate frame members, preferably comprising a channel frame and is generally U-shaped, which frame members are connected together to form a frame for the door assembly, the frame members preferably having opposed outer and inner walls and a connecting lower wall and at least one opening or recess in the inner surface of the outer wall of at least one of the frame members and preferably in all of the frame members with the opening opposed to the edge of the door when closed;
a hinge;
a door hingedly mounted to a frame member for motion between an open and closed position wherein when the door is in the closed position there is a gap between the outer wall of the frame and the edge of the door; and
an elongate bendable gasket preferably comprising a leg portion which is inserted into any of the frame openings to secure the gasket to the frame and a body portion which extends outwardly from the wall of the frame member and which body portion of the gasket extends across the gap and is bent downwardly by the door when the door is in the closed position.
The frame member is preferably a channel frame and is generally U-shaped and preferably has a transverse inwardly extending flange at the upper end of the outer wall which extends partially into the channel opening formed by the channel frame and which flange contains the recess to hold the gasket. The frame member may comprise other shapes as is well known in the art. The height of the inner wall of the channel frame is slightly lower than the height of the outer wall to accommodate the door when closed so that the closed door is flush with the upper end and flange of the outer wall of the channel frame.
The gasket device is of a material and thickness sufficient to provide the necessary strength for sealing the door over a long period of use. The gasket devices are preferably a resilient material such as an elastomer, rubber, polymer, etc. The shape of the gasket will vary depending on the desired configuration and generally comprises a leg portion which is inserted into an opening of the frame member to secure the gasket to the frame and a body portion which extends outward from the frame member and preferably downward from the plane of the closed door so that dirt or other debris will not settle and remain on the gasket surface when the door is open. The gasket device and especially the body portion is bendable by the door and covers a gap between the door frame and edge of the door and the gasket is preferably secured to the frame member by inserting the leg portion of the gasket device into the frame member of the door assembly.
In a further aspect of the invention, a bendable gasket device is provided for use to cover a gap in a horizontal door between the door frame and door edge wherein preferably a leg portion of the gasket device is inserted into an opening in the frame member and a body portion of the device extends outward from the wall and is bendable by the
Cohen Curtis
DeLio & Peterson LLC
Stodola Daniel P.
The Bilco Company
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