AU2012201694B2

AU2012201694B2 - Door Accessory and Method of Use

Info

Publication number: AU2012201694B2
Application number: AU2012201694A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John David Saunders
Original assignee: JACOU IND ZHONGSHAN Ltd
Current assignee: JACOU INDUSTRY ZHONGSHAN Ltd
Priority date: 2011-03-25
Filing date: 2012-03-22
Publication date: 2016-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-22
Also published as: NZ598984A; AU2012201694A1; CN102704772A; CN102704772B

Abstract

An accessory for resisting door flexing, the accessory comprising: - a first plate and a second plate for attachment to a door or door frame respectively, - the first plate having at least one projection adapted to be received in a corresponding recess in the second plate and the door or door frame to which the second plate is attached. 13a 11b 11 a ----- 5a 7 13b 5b 7b

Description

DOOR ACCESSORY AND METHOD OF USE FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of door furniture or general hardware for doors.

[0002] In one form, the invention relates to a device and method for alleviating or avoiding problems caused by flexing of doors, particularly overheight doors.

[0003] It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to overheight doors, however it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to that application only and could be applied to a wide range of doors.

BACKGROUND ART

[0004] It is to be appreciated that any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the present invention. Further, the discussion throughout this specification comes about due to the realisation of the inventor and/or the identification of certain related art problems by the inventor. Moreover, any discussion of material such as documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention in terms of the inventor’s knowledge and experience and, accordingly, any such discussion should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia, or elsewhere, on or before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein.

[0005] A relatively simple building feature such as a door requires adjunct fitting such as hinges, handles, locks and soforth that are commonly referred to as ‘door furniture’ or ‘door accessories’.

[0006] Hinges are fundamental door accessories and most doors rely on hinges for movement. A hinge is a type of bearing that connects two solid objects and allows rotation of one relative to the other about an axis of rotation. Over the centuries myriad different hinges have been developed for the building and furniture industries, amongst others.

[0007] The choice of hinge(s) for a door is based on many factors such as the door weight, angle of opening/swing, degree of security required and door dimensions.

[0008] For example a 'pivot hinge’ is a hinge with a short fixed shaft or pin upon which a door panel rotates or swings. Pivot hinges are often used for Sight doors, such as furniture cabinet doors, and will close the door panel or hold it open 90 degrees in either direction. Other types of hinges are typically used for heavier doors and include doubleaction floor hinges (often used for swinging restaurant kitchen doors that need to swing open to either side of the door frame), butt/mortise hinges which are inset (mortised) into the door and frame, and barrel hinges which include a sectional barrel secured by a pivot which takes the rotational bearing force.

[0009] Security is also a consideration because outward opening doors hung on butt hinges can be forced open easily by removing the hinge pins and pushing out the door from the hinge side. This is typically prevented by one of two methods - (i) locking the hinge pin with a set screw that is accessible only when the door is open, or (ii) using a hinge that has a security stud that prevents the hinge leaves from separating when the door is closed, even with the pin removed.

[0010] Door dimensions are also important The number and load bearing capacity of the hinges should be sufficient to support the door panel for its lifetime. If the hinges are not properly matched to the door dimensions, the opening and closing movement of the door panel will eventually cause the hinges to come away from the frame so that the panel 'drops’ and does not fit properly within the door frame.

[0011] Another problem can arise with very tall, overheight doors. For aesthetic and other reasons, overheight doors are often hung at the top and bottom with pivot hinges, about which the door rotates. The large surface area of an overheight door and large height to width ratio causes them to flex or bow under the pressure of strong air flow or large air pressure differentials. This can occur for example, to exterior doors during a storm. Flexing of a door puts enormous strain on the top and bottom pivot hinges, potentially causing damage. IT also puts strain on the door latch or lock and if the strain pushes it out of alignment with the frame, the door becomes difficult to open and close. Furthermore, when a door flexes, it no longer provides an efficient seal against the weather and can allow ingress of moisture and dust.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a door accessory that resists door flexing.

[0013] A further object of the present invention is to alleviate at least one disadvantage associated with the related art, [0014] it is an object of the embodiments described herein to overcome or alleviate at least one of the above noted drawbacks of related art systems or to provide a useful alternative to related art systems.

[0015] In a first aspect of embodiments described herein there is provided an accessory for resisting door flexing, the accessory comprising, - a first plate and a second plate for attachment to a door or door frame respectively, - the first plate having at least one projection adapted to be received in a corresponding recess in the second plate and the door or door frame to which the second plate is attached.

[0016] In a second aspect of embodiments described herein there is provided an accessory for resisting door flexing, the accessory comprising, - a first plate and a second plate for attachment to a door or door frame respectively, - the first plate having at least one projection adapted to cooperate with a corresponding recess in the second plate and the door or door frame to which the second plate is attached.

[0017] In variations of this embodiment the first plate may have two or more projections adapted to be received in, or cooperate with, a corresponding recess in the second plate. In another variation the second plate also includes a projection that is received in, or cooperates with, a corresponding recess in the first plate.

[0018] Typically the projection or projections are elongate, pin-like structures. However it will be readily apparent to the skilled person that the projections may be of any convenient shape or cross section and could be generally square, triangle or circular boss shaped. The corresponding recess in the second plate must be of appropriate size and shape to receive at least part of the projection and allow sufficient latitude for horizontal and vertical adjustment of the plates during installation. This is necessary because door frames/door jambs and doors are never perfectly vertical, particularly with respect to bifold doors. Doors must be adjusted relative to the door frame/jamb to allow for misalignments and ensure optimal operation of the door. For example, when the projections comprise pins, preferably they will be up to 10mm in length, thus allowing about 6mm of sideways adjustment.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the first plate or the second plate of the accessory may include another structure such as a hinge barrel, even though the accessory does not function as a hinge. This makes the accessory look consistent and uniform with the other hinges installed on the door. Optimally the first plate and second plate will be affixed to the door or door frame by screws. The plates may be provided with the same hole patterns as the hinges on the door thus allowing the installer to use the same hinge jig to set up a new door, or retrofit the accessory to an existing door. Alternatively, if the hinge jig cannot be used, the accessory can be installed and the door closed slowly to allow the projections to score the frame slightly to indicate where the second plate should be located.

[0020] One or more of the accessories according to the present invention can be installed at any convenient position along the edge of a door.

[0021] Because the accessory can be quickly and easily installed, there is greater accuracy and efficiency of installation. The first plate and second plate may be attached to the door or door frame by any convenient means - typically metal screws.

[0022] In yet a further aspect of embodiments described herein there is provided a method of installing the accessory comprising the steps of, - attaching the first plate to a door or door frame, - attaching the second plate to a corresponding door frame or door, such that at least one projection on the first plate cooperates with, or is received in a corresponding recess in the second plate and the door frame or door to which the second plate is attached.

[0023] The present invention further provides a system for resisting door flexing, the system comprising - a first plate for attachment to a door or door frame, - a second plate for attachment to a corresponding door frame or door, wherein the first plate has at least one projection adapted to cooperate with, or be received in a corresponding recess in the second plate and the door or door frame to which the second plate is attached.

[0024] Other aspects and preferred forms are disclosed in the specification and/or defined in the appended claims, forming a part of the description of the invention.

[0025] In essence, embodiments of the present invention stem from the realization that the use of projections will counter flexing or bowing of the door by restricting its forward movement once the pins hit the second plate.

[0026] Advantages provided by the present invention comprise the following: • Minimising or eliminating bowing or flexing of a door in response to air flow or pressure differential, • Reduced mechanical stress on the hinges and other door accessories and the door system as a whole, • Improves or maintains weather sealing by resisting door flexing and therefore minimising weather ingress, • suitable for fitting to new doors or retrofitting to existing doors, • can be applied to many different types of doors.

[0027] Further scope of applicability of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Further disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of preferred and other embodiments of the present application may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosure herein, and in which: [0029] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the accessory of the present invention; [0030] Figure 2 illustrates a front view (Figure 2a) and an end view (Figure 2b) of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; and [0031] Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a further embodiment of the accessory of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] in a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 1 the accessory for resisting door flexing comprises a first plate (1) and a second plate (3) for attachment to a door or door frame respectively. The first plate (1) having two projections (5a,5b) adapted to be received in or cooperate with corresponding recesses (7a, 7b) in the second plate (3) and the door or door frame to which the second plate is attached. In this embodiment the recesses (7a,7b) comprise elongate U-shaped sections cut out of the second plate (3) however it will be apparent to the skilled person that the recesses could have other conformations such as channels or gutters.

[0033] The working relationship between the projections and the recesses is better depicted in the embodiment of Figure 3, in which the first plate (1) forms part of a bracket. In these embodiment the first plate (1) supports a hinge barret (9) having three sections or 'knuckles’. The conformation or appearance of the hinge barrel would be chosen to match the conformation or appearance of the other hinges on the door for uniformity of appearance.

[0034] In this embodiment the first plate (1) and second plate (3) are intended to be affixed to the door or door frame by screws. The plates (1,3) are provided with screw holes (11a,b,c,d and 13a,b,c) having the same hole patterns as the hinges on the door (not shown) thus allowing the installer to use the same hinge jig to set up a new door, or retrofit the accessory to an existing door.

[0035] While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

[0036] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive.

[0037] Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

[0038] “Comprises/comprising” and “includes/including” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, ‘includes’, ‘including’ and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”,

Claims

1. An accessory for resisting door flexing, the accessory comprising: - a first plate and a second plate for independent attachment to a door or door frame respectively, - the first plate having at least one projection adapted to be received in a corresponding recess in the second plate and the door or door frame to which the second plate is attached, wherein - in a first mode the first and second plates are separated, and - in a second mode the first and second plates are positioned such that the at least one projection is received in a corresponding recess in the second plate.

2. An accessory for resisting door flexing, the accessory comprising: - a first plate and a second plate for independent attachment to a door or door frame respectively, - the first plate having at least one projection adapted to cooperate with a corresponding recess in the second plate and the door or door frame to which the second plate is attached, wherein - in a first mode the first and second plates are separated, and - in a second mode the first and second plates are positioned such that the at least one projection cooperates with a corresponding recess in the second plate.

3. A method of installing the accessory of claim 1 or claim 2 comprising the steps of: - attaching the first plate to a door or door frame, - attaching the second plate to a door frame or door, such that at least one projection on the first plate cooperates with, or is received in a corresponding recess in the second plate and the door frame or door to which the second plate is attached.

4. A system for resisting door flexing, the system comprising an accessory according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. A door assembly comprising: - a door and corresponding door jamb, - hinges for operatively connecting the door and door jamb, - an accessory according to claim 1 or claim 2 for resisting flexing of a door relative to the doorjamb, and - a latch for attachment to a door and cooperation with a corresponding strike plate.