US3413762A - Edge adjustment device for doors - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1968 1.. L. BAUDE 3,413,762

EDGE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR DOORS Filed Jan. 11, 1967 IZ.':NvE1-o12, mmim 11-- ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,413,762 EDGE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR DOORS Lucien Louis Baud, St. Germain-en-Laye, France, assiguor to The Steelcraft Manufacturing Company, Rossmoyne, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 608,658 3 Claims. (Cl. 49-501) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure relates to prefabricated doors formed of sheet metal for installation in a casing or doorframe, also formed of sheet metal. In order to compensate for variations in the size of the prefabricated door and its casing or frame, the door includes at least one edge adjustment device arranged to be regulated after the door is installed in the casing. In the disclosure, the adjustment device is installed in the lower edge portion of the door which includes a fixed, downwardly facing reinforcement channel. The edge adjustment device is in the form of an upwardly facing, channel-shaped adjustment rail slidably fitted within the recess delineated by the reinforcement channel and biased downwardly by a series of spaced springs maintained under compression between the reinforcement channel and the adjustment rail. Adjustment screws pass through the adjustment rail and into threaded engagement with the fixed reinforcement channel, whereby adjustment of the screws in one direction forces the adjustment rail inwardly, counter to the biasing springs, while adjustment in the opposite direction permits the compression springs to force the adjustment rail outwardly.

This invention relates to doors, particularly to sheet metal doors which are prefabricated at the manufacturing plant, then installed within a sheet metal door casing, which is also prefabricated. The door casing or frame is assembled and installed in the field in the opening of a wall, then the door is hung Within the casing.

In installing the prefabricated casing and door in the field, it may be necessary to trim the jambs of the casing, in order to fit the door casing within the preformed opening in the building wall. In other instances, where the casing and door fit properly, it may be necessary to change the clearance between the lower edge of the door and the floor level because of rugs or other floor coverings or to prevent drafts due to excessive clearance.

It is not particularly difiicult to fit the casing to the opening, particularly with reference to the vertical dimension, in order to provide a fit with respect to the floor level. However, the fitting of a sheet metal door within the casing, presents a more complex problem since it is a great deal more difiicult to trim the lower (or upper) edge of the sheet metal door to fit the casing than it is to trim the jambs.

One of the primary objectives of the present invention has been to provide an edge adjustment device for sheet metal doors, which permits the dimension of the door to "be varied in the vertical direction simply and conveniently after the door has been hung within a door casing which is installed in the building wall.

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According to this aspect of the invention, a typical composite sheet metal door, for which the present edge adjustment device is particularly intended, includes spaced inner and outer panels, with an internal core or filler of honeycomb construction disposed between the spaced panels to impart stiffness to the door and to provide a sound deadening and heat insulating effect. The top and bottom marginal edge portions of the door each include a fixed, outwardly facing reinforcement channel having opposed, outwardly projecting limbs seated against and spot welded to the spaced panels of the door for reinforcement.

The edge adjustment device of the present invention is intended particularly for installation within the channel-shaped recess which is provided by the fixed reinforcement channel along the lower edge of the door, thus taking advantage of the fixed reinforcement channel to provide a recess for the adjustment device. The edge adjustment device may be installed along the upper edge portion of the door in the same manner if desired; however, in most cases, a closure cap is inserted along the upper edge portion of the door to close off the channelshaped recess delineated by the fixed, upwardly facing channel.

A further objective of the invention has been to provide an edge adjusting device which is of simple construction and which is inconspicuous so as not to detract from the appearance of the door after it is hung.

The adjustment device essentially comprises an upwardly facing channel-shaped rail which is installed in the downwardly facing fixed channel at the lower edge portion of the door. In other words, the channel-shaped adjustment rail, when installed in the lower edge of the door, faces upwardly and includes spaced limbs which interfit telescopically the downwardly projecting limbs of the fixed reinforcing channel. Suitable adjusting devices connect the adjustment channel rail with the fixed channel, providing relative adjustment.

A further objective of the invention has been to provide an edge adjustment rail particularly for providing adjustment between the lower edge of the door and the floor level in which the adjusting means are accessible for tool engagement in this restricted space after the door is hung, and in which the adjusting means are selflocking.

According to this concept, the channel-shaped adjustment rail, which fits within the downwardly facing lower reinforcement channel, is provided with a plurality of coil springs which urge the adjustment rail outwardly. Respective adjustment screws pass through the horizontal Web of the adjustment rail and through the coil springs, with upper end portions threaded into the web of the fixed reinforcement channel.

The heads of the adjusting screws, which are hexagonal in the present disclosure, are seated within cylindrical recesses which are formed in the web of the adjustment rail. The depth of the recesses is substantially equal to the thickness of the heads of the adjustment screws, such that the outer surface of the heads normally is flush with the outer surface of the horizontal Web of the adjustment rail.

Before the door is hung within the casing, the adjusting screws are threaded in sufficiently to provide a substantial amount of clearance relative to the floor level. Thereafter, the adjustment rail is levered upwardly with a suitable leverage tool against the compressive force of the coil springs to expose the heads of the adjustment screws for tool engagement. In this position, a tool, such as an open end wrench, is fitted upon the head of each adjustment screw and the screw is turned downwardly until the lower surface of the head is disposed at a predetermined distance above the floor level.

At this point the wrench is removed and the leverage tool is relaxed to permit the coil springs to force the adjustment rail downwardly into engagement with the adjusted heads of the screws. When the adjustment rail reaches this position, its lower surface will be located a distance above the fioor level corresponding to the predetermined clearance between the lower surface of the adjustment screw heads and floor level.

The pressure of the coil springs transmitted by the adjustment rail to the heads of the screws locks the screws functionally in adjusted position.

The various features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a general elevation illustrating a typical sheet metal door mounted in its casing and equipped with the edge adjustment rail of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, detailing the adjusting rail at the lower edge portion of the door and showing the manner of setting the position of the adjustment rail with reference to the floor surface or door sill.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the edge adjustment device after it has been set with reference to the floor.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower edge portion of the door, taken from FIGURE 1, further detailing the edge adjustment rail.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, further detailing the construction of the edge adjustment rail.

DOOR STRUCTURE The door, indicated generally at 1, which has been selected to illustrate the principles of this invention, is fabricated from sheet metal, comprising spaced panels 2 and 3 (FIGURES 2 and 5), with a core or filler 4 is interposed between the panels 2 and 3. The core is formed of stiff fibrous sheet material of honeycomb formation, suitable to stiffen the panels and to provide a sound deadening effect.

The sheet metal door 1 is of composite design, the panel 3 having flanges 5 forming the vertical edges of the door. The panel 2 has its opposite vertical edges configurated to interfit the edge of the panel 5 so as to form the seams 6-6.

Each seam 6 comprises a groove 7 formed in the edge of the flange 5 of panel 3. A narrow flange 8 is formed along the edge of the companion panel 2 and includes a lip 10 which interfits the groove 7. The seam may be completed by spot welding.

The upper and lower horizontal edges of the door each are closed off by an outwardly facing, fixed reinforcement channel which is spot welded between the panels 2 and 3. The edge adjustment device or rail of the invention is seated within the longitudinal recess which is delineated by the fixed reinforcement channel at the lower edge of the door (and if desired, along the upper edge of the door) as described later.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the door 1 is hung in the usual way within a casing 11 which may also be fabricated from sheet metal members, comprising vertical jambs 1212, with a horizontal header 13 extending across the upper end of the door opening between the jambs. The

casing is installed in the door opening within the wall 14. in the field (FIGURE 1), the door being hung in the casing 11 by means of hinges 15, shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1. The swinging edge of the door includes the usual lock which is operated by the knob 16.

As shown generally in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the lower reinforcement channel 20 faces downwardly and includes a cross web 21 having downwardly projecting limbs 2222. The door panels at 2 and 3 are spot welded as at 17 to the limbs 2222 of channel 20. The upper edge portion of the door includes a channel (not shown which is similar to the lower channel 20 except that its position is reversed, with the limbs 22 projecting upwardly.

As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the edge adjustment device or rail of the present invention, indicated generally at 23, is installed loosely between the limbs 2222 of the lower channel.

As noted, a similar adjusting rail 23 may be installed in the upper edge of the door as indicated generally at 23 (FIGURE 1). In this instance, the parts are reversed with reference to the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

In the present disclosure, the adjustment or compensating device 23 is disclosed in detail in relation to the floor 24 of the building. It will be understood that the adjustment device is also intended to be utilized in installations where the door casing 13 includes a raised threshold (not shown) extending across the floor at the lower end of the casing.

It will be understood at this point, that the adjustment device or rail 23 is installed initially within the lower edge portion of the door before the door is hung; thereafter, the adjustment rail is reset in the vertical plane to accommodate the clearance between the surface of the floor and lower edge of the door. Thus, the device 23 compensates for variations in the floor level which are met in the field and, thereby facilitates installation.

ADJUSTMENT RAIL STRUCTURE As noted earlier, the adjustment rail assembly is disclosed in relation to the lower edge of the door. Referring to FIGURES2-4, the adjusting device 23 essentially comprises an upwardly facing channel-shaped rail which telescopically interfits the downwardly facing channel 20 along the lower edge portion of the door. The rail 23 comprises a web 26 having a pair of upwardly projecting limbs 2727, which slidably interfit the downwardly projecting limbs 2222 of the channel 20. The adjustment rail 23 extends across the full width of the door, substantially coextensive with fixed channel 20, as shown in FIGURE 5.

As viewed from above (FIGURE 5) the opposite ends of the adjustment rail 23 are provided with closure flanges 28 which reside within the flanges 5 at the opposite edges of the door. The closure flanges 28 are generally channelshaped as viewed from above. One of the limbs 30 of the channel-shaped closure flange seats against one of the limbs 27 of the adjustment rail and is spot welded thereto. The other limb 31 of the end closure flange 28 is offset inwardly as at 32 with respect to the adjacent limb 27 ot' the adjustment rail 23. The offset 32 provides clearance for the seam 6. This construction is duplicated at opposite ends of the adjustment rail 23.

The adjustment rail, when mounted in the lower edge portion of the door, may be raised or lowered after the door is hung, as noted earlier. For this purpose, the channel 23 is retained in place along the lower edge of the door, by a series of adjustment screws 33, in the present instance two screws, as indicated in FIGURE 1. Each adjustment screw 33 includes a threaded shank 34 (FIGURES 24) which passes through a tapped hole 35 formed in the horizontal web 21 of the fixed channel 20. The lower end of each adjusting screw 33 includes a head 36 which, in the present example, is hexagonal in shape. It will be understood, that screws having standard heads of various designs may be utilized in place of the type illustrated herein.

In order to provide a flush surface across the Web 26 of the adjustment rail 23, which is contiguous to the surface of the floor 24, the Web is provided with respective dimples or circular depressed recesses 3737 to accommodate the head 36 of each screw (FIGURES 3 and 4). Each recess comprises a cylindrical wall which is tapered upwardly from the lower surface of web 26. The recess 37 terminates with a wall 38 adjoined to the cylindrical tapered wall and displaced upwardly with respect to the web 26 sufiiciently to seat the head 36 of screw 33.

Each adjustment screw 33 includes a coil spring 40 which is disposed in compression between the web 21 of the fixed channel and the inner wall 38 of the recess 37. The compression springs urge the adjustment rail 23 downwardly with respect to the fixed channel 20.

In adjusting the door after it is hung, a suitable lever age tool 41, having an angular foot 42 may be utilized. In making the adjustment, the foot 42 is inserted within the space between the floor 24 and web 26 of the adjustment rail, with the foot 42 in a generally horizontal position. The leverage tool or tools 41 are then swung downwardly, as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 2, causing the foot to force the adjustment rail 23 upwardly, as indicated by the arrow. It will be noted that this motion compresses the springs and exposes the heads 36 for engagement with a suitable tool 43 (FIGURE 2). The tool 43 may be an open end wrench of conventional design.

The thickness of the head 36 of the adjustment screw is substantially equal to the depth of the recess 37, as shown in FIGURE 3. Before the door initially is hung, the screws are threaded inwardly to clear the floor level substantially as indicated at A in FIGURE 2. With this arrangement, the adjustment may be made in a simple manner by prying the adjustment rail 23 upwardly then adjusting the screws downwardly until the clearance between the floor level 24 and lower surface of the head 36 is reduced approximately to that shown at B in FIGURE 3. As a consequence, when the leverage tool 41 and wrench 43 are removed, the web 26 of the adjustment rail 23 will drop downwardly with respect to the fioor level 24 approximately as indicated at B in FIGURE 3.

When the adjustment rail 23 is forced downwardly by the compression springs 40 the inner wall 38 of each recess 37 will be forced into engagement with the head 36 of the adjustment screw. This establishes a frictional engagement with the heads so as to lock the assembly permanently in its adjusted position.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An adjustment device for the edge portion of a door having an outwardly facing fixed reinforcing channel providing a recess extending along the edge portion of the door. said adjustment device comprising:

a shiftable adjustment rail telescopically interfitted within the fixed outwardly facing reinforcement channel and adapted to be set relative to a fixed surface;

a plurality of spring elements interposed between the fixed channel and adjustment rail and normally urging the adjustment rail outwardly relative to the fixed reinforcement channel and toward the said fixed surface;

a plurality of adjustment screws passing through the adjustment rail and having shank portions in threaded engagement with the fixed reinforcement channel;

said adjustment screws, which pass through the adjustment rail, being provided with heads having a substantial thickness for tool engagement;

the adjustment rail having recesses formed in its outer surface with the heads of the adjustment screws seated therein, said recesses having a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the heads of the adjustment screws, whereby the heads normally reside in substantially flush relationship with the outer sur face of the adjustment rail in its adjusted position with reference to the said fixed surface, adapting the adjustment screws to be adjusted to set the heads thereof relative to the fixed surface, with the adjustment rail shifted inwardly relative to the heads and biasing the spring elements.

2. An adjustmentdevice for the lower edge portion of a door having a downwardly facing fixed reinforcement channel disposed along the lower edge portion of the door adjacent the floor level of a building, said adjustment device comprising:

a shiftable adjustment rail telescopically interfitted within the downwardly facing fixed channel along the lower edge portion of the door and adapted to be set relative to the surface of the floor level of the building;

a plurality of spring elements interposed in compression between the fixed, downwardly facing channel and the adjustment rail and normally urging the adjustment rail downwardly relative to the fixed reinforcement channel and toward the floor level;

a plurality of adjustment screws passing through the adjustment rail and having shank portions in threaded engagement through the fixed reinforcement channel;

said adjustment screws being provided with heads having a substantial thickness for tool engagement;

the outer, downwardly facing surface of the adjustment rail having recesses seating said heads, said recesses having a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the heads, whereby the heads normally reside in substantially flush relationship with the outer surface of the adjustment rail in its adjusted position with reference to the floor level, adapting the adjustment screws to be adjusted to set the heads thereof relative to the floor level, with the adjustment rail shifted upwardly relative to the heads and counter to the bias etfect of the spring elements, whereby, upon release of the adjustment rail, the spring elements urge the adjustment rail downwardly to a plane above the floor level corresponding to the spacing of the heads above the fioor level.

3. An adjustment device for the lower edge portion of a door having a fixed reinforcement channel providing a downwardly facing recess extending along the lower edge portion of the door adjacent the floor level of a building, said fixed reinforcement channel having a web and a pair of limbs projecting downwardly from the web, said adjustment device comprising:

a shiftable adjustment rail telescopically interfitted within the downwardly facing fixed reinforcement channel and adapted to be set relative to a fixed surface;

said adjustment rail being channel shaped in cross section and having a web and a pair of upwardly projecting limbs shiftably interfitted between the downwardly projecting limbs of the fixed reinforcement channel;

a plurality of spring elements interposed in compression between the Web of the fixed reinforcing channel and the web of the shiftable adjustment rail and normally urging the adjustment rail downwardly relative to the floor level of the building;

a plurality of adjustment screws passing through the web of the adjustment rail and having shank portions in threaded engagement with the web of the fixed reinforcement channel;

said adjustment screws including heads having a substantial thickness for tool engagement;

the web of the adjustment rail having recesses formed therein, said recesses each having an inner surface parallel with the web of the rail and spaced inwardly a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the heads of the adjustment screws, with the heads normally residing in flush relationship with the Web of 7 8 the adjustment rail in its adjusted position with References Cited reference to the floor level; UNITED STATES PATENTS whereby, in setting the ad ustment rail with reference to the floor level, the adjustment rail may be forced 463,886 11/1891 m Q at 49-470 XR upwardly by operation of a suitable tool to expose 5 12831131 10/1918 Fltzpafinck 160 376 XR the adjustment screw heads for tool engagement, 1,973,210 9/1934 Hllfnall et a1 49-501 XR and whereby, upon release of the adjustment rail, the spring elements bias the adjustment rail down- FOREIGN PATENTS wardly and into frictional engagement with the heads 734,213 5/ 1966 C d of the adjustment screws, thereby to lock the ad- 10 justment screws in adjusted position. KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner.

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