Closure fasteners – Bolts – Sliding
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-03
2002-12-10
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3677)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Sliding
C292S042000, C292S341190, C292SDIG002, C292SDIG005
Reexamination Certificate
active
06491326
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to double door entryways and more particularly to astragal assemblies mounted along the vertical inside edge of the normally inactive door of such entryways, against which the active door closes.
BACKGROUND
To seal the space between the opposed vertical edges of the active and normally inactive doors of a double door entryway and to provide a stop against which the active door closes, it is common that a generally T-shaped astragal be mounted along the vertical inside edge of the normally inactive door. Such astragals provide the desired stop and usually include a weather strip that engages and seals along the edge of the active door when closed to prevent leakage and drafts. For many years, astragals have been made of milled wood and are generally simple in construction and operation. Some applications still call for wooden astragals. However, many modern astragals are formed with elongated extruded aluminum bodies, which are generally stronger, more durable, and more adaptable than wooden astragals.
To secure the normally inactive door of a double door entryway in its closed position, modern astragals usually are provided with flush bolt assemblies mounted in the astragal at the top and bottom ends thereof. A typical flush bolt assembly includes a metal bolt slidably mounted in the astragal near one of its ends. A mechanism is mounted in the astragal and coupled to the bolt for moving the bolt selectively between a secured position, wherein the bolt projects from the end of the astragal into an opening in the door frame to secure the door, and an unsecured position wherein the bolt is retracted into the astragal for releasing the door. In some cases, locking devices are provided to lock the bolts of a flush bolt assembly in their secured positions so that they can not easily be jimmied or otherwise defeated by a would-be thief with a screwdriver or knife blade.
Some modern astragals also have provisions for securing strike plates and deadbolt strikes to the astragal for receiving the latches and deadbolts of the active door when the active door is closed against the astragal. In some cases, the strike plates and deadbolt strikes are simply positioned at the proper location by an installer, whereupon holes are drilled in the astragal and the strikes are secured with screws. Clearly, this approach has disadvantages in that it is subject to human error and the location of the plates cannot easily be adjusted after they are installed. In other astragals, adjustable strike plate and deadbolt strike mounting means are provided in an effort to overcome such shortcomings.
One example of a relatively modern astragal assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,217 of Sanders. Sanders teaches an astragal with an elongated extruded aluminum body that defines a channel extending therealong. Slidably mounted within the channel are a number of components including top and bottom flush bolt assemblies and screw bosses for receiving screws to mount a strike plate to the astragal. A weather strip is carried by the astragal for sealing against the active door of the entryway when it is closed against the astragal.
The astragal assembly disclosed in Sanders shares a number of problems and shortcomings with other modern astragals. One such problem is that the flush bolt assemblies of these astragals tend to be complex multi-component devices that require relatively complicated production and assembly techniques. Furthermore, because of their multiple component construction, these flush bolt assemblies are highly subject to wear and tear and to consequent failure over time. Probably more significant, however, is that because of the construction and mounting of the bolts, prior art flush bolt assemblies are not as secure against an attempted forced entry as are, for example, a typical dead bolt. In general, this is because when subjected to an abrupt or relatively large lateral force during an attempted forced entry, the moments of inertia generated on the bolts are relatively close to the ends of the astragal and to the ends of the bolts. Accordingly, all of the force is concentrated in relatively small regions of the astragal near its ends. The result in many cases is that the astragal body will simply bend, the bolt assembly break, or both. In any case, the locked inactive door is relatively easily defeated. The same thing can happen under the influence of high winds, which can generate forces similar to those generated during an attempted forced entry.
Other problems with prior art astragal assemblies are that their components generally are not reversible. As a consequence, right hand and left hand swing astragal assemblies and astragal components must be manufactured and stocked to accommodate normally inactive doors that are hinged from either side of the entryway. Also, while modern weather stripping seals well along the edges of the active door, adequate sealing in the regions where the top and bottom of the astragal meet the head jamb and threshold respectively remains a problem.
Thus, a need exists for an improved astragal assembly that successfully addresses the above mentioned and other problems and shortcomings of prior art astragals. It is to the provision of such an astragal assembly that the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, the present invention, in a preferred embodiment thereof, comprises an improved astragal assembly for mounting to the vertical inside edge of the inactive door of a double door entryway. The astragal assembly includes an elongated extruded aluminum frame having a top end and a bottom end and defining channels extending the length of the frame. Upper and lower flush bolt assemblies are slidably disposed in the channels in the top and bottom portions respectively of the astragal. Each flush bolt assembly is a single piece unit that includes an elongated hardened steel bolt having a first end and a second end and a set of retainer guides unitarily injection overmolded onto the bolt at selected positions therealong, preferably one adjacent each end and one intermediate the ends of the bolt. The bolt and its unitary retainer guides slide as a unit within the frame of the astragal between a secured position wherein the first end of the bolt protrudes from the respective end of the astragal for extension into the casing of an entryway to secure the inactive door, and an unsecured position wherein the first end of the bolt is retracted into the astragal frame channel to free the inactive door.
Preferably, a guide plate is integrally molded with the retainer guide and overmolded onto the bolt adjacent the first end thereof and the bolt protrudes from the end of the guide plate to its free end. A locking mechanism is integrally molded with the retainer guide and overmolded onto the bolt at the second end thereof for selectively locking the flush bolt assembly in its secured position. The locking mechanism includes a locking plug retainer that carries a rotatable locking plug, the locking plug being rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A strike retainer plate is mounted adjacent the locking mechanism and includes an inwardly projecting rib. The locking plug and locking plug retainer are formed with respective central grooves. These grooves are aligned with each other and with the inwardly projecting rib when the locking plug is in its unlocked position to allow the flush bolt assembly to be moved to its unsecured position. When the locking plug is in its locked position, the grooves are misaligned, which blocks movement of the rib through the grooves and locks the flush bolt assembly in its secured position.
A reversible top end plug is insertable in the upper end of the astragal frame to extend the top end slightly to the level of the top edge of the inactive door. The end plug is symmetric and insertable in either end of the astragal frame so that a single end plug configuration is usable in either a left hand or a right hand swing astragal asse
Massey Victor T.
Procton Brad I.
Endura Products, Inc.
Luu Teri Pham
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC
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