GB2065209A

GB2065209A - Draught excluder

Info

Publication number: GB2065209A
Application number: GB8038692A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Allport B C
Current assignee: Allport B C
Priority date: 1979-12-04
Filing date: 1980-12-03
Publication date: 1981-06-24
Also published as: GB2065209B

Abstract

A draught or rain excluder for an external door comprises an elongate seal support member having a first plate-like part 32 for attachment to the frame 34 and a second part with a shield 37 and a resilient sealing strip 38 in the form of two limbs 42 and 43. The strip 38 is retained in position by an enlarged root 39 which engages in a channel-like recess 36. The shield 37 is laterally offset from the plate 32 so as to be spaced from the adjacent door frame surface. The free end 42 of the strip 38 projects beyond the end of the shield 37 when the door 50 is open but is compressed behind the shield 37 when the door is closed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A draught or rain excluder The present invention relates to draught and rain excluders, and is particularly concerned with excluding draughts and rain from the side and top of an external door.

One existing draught excluder, which comprises a resilient cylindrical strip projecting from a rigid holder, is fitted to the exterior door frame in such a position that the door, when closed, compresses the strip to form a seal against draughts and rain water. However, the sealing strip, even when the door is closed, is exposed to ultra violet light, and thus will deteriorate with time.

According to the present invention there is provided a draught or rain excluder comprising an elongate seal support member provided with means for attachment to an exterior door frame, and a resilient sealing strip carried by the seal support member, wherein the seal support member includes a shield behind which the sealing strip is compressed in use when the door is closed.In the preferred embodiment the invention provides a draught or rain excluder comprising an elongate seal support member having a first part for attachment of the support member to an external door frame, and an integral second part carrying a resilient sealing strip, the second part including a shield which when the first part is attached to the door frame is spaced from the adjacent door frame surface and projects towards the door frame opening, the sealing strip projecting beyond the end of the shield when the door is open but being compressed behind the shield when the door is closed for accommodation in the space between the shield and the adjacent door frame surface.

The shield not only has the advantage of protecting the strip from exposure to ultra violet light, but has the additional advantage of improving the appearance of the excluder as the sealing strip is not visible when the door is closed.

Advantageously the first part of the seal support member is provided with a spur which bites the door frame, in use, to prevent draughts from penetrating behind the excluder.

Preferably the sealing strip has one or two limbs which zig-zag or curve continuously away from a support position within the support member remote from the end of the shield, the region in which the limb or limbs change direction being adapted to engage and compress against the frame when the door is closed, such engagement preferably being assisted by a rearwardly directed blade in the said region.

The sealing strip can be bonded to the support member, or else retained by means of an enlarge root portion at its inner end which engages a recess or channel in the supporting member. The enlarged portion and the channel section are preferably of generally complementary shapes, but the precise shape may be selected as required.

The invention will be understood from the following description of embodiments thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a draught excluder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIGURE 2 is an illustration of how the excluder of Figure 1 is fitted to an external door frame, not to scale, and FIGURES 3 to 7 are cross-sectional views of further embodiments of draught excluders according to the invention.

The draught and rain excluder of Figures 1 and 2 comprises an extruded, elongate seal support member 11 having a channel portion defined by walls 12, 12' and 12", the channel portion constituting a first part of the support member for attachment to an external door frame. The wall 12' contains, at intervals, countersunk holes 13 for screws or nails 14 by means of which the excluder is fitted and retained on the exterior door frame 16 (as seen in Figure 2). At the front of the channel on the end of the wall 12 is a sharply pointed spur 15 which bites into the door frame 16 on fixing to ensure that draughts do not creep behind the member 11.

The support member also comprises an integral second part which includes a sealing strip shield 17 which extends the length of the member 11 parallel to the channel wall 12', but is disposed further away from the door frame surface than the back of the channel 12'. The shield is formed as a continuation of the back 12' of the channel. For use the excluder should be fitted so that the shield 17 touches a closed door 18, and creates a confined space 19 bounded by the door 18, the frame 16, the shield 17 and the wall 12 of the channel.

In this enclosed space is disposed a resilient sealing strip 20, bonded at one end to the inner face of the shield 17 at a position spaced inwardly of the end of the shield. The sealing strip has two limbs 21, 22 extending forwardly from the support position, the forward limb 22 projecting beyond the end of the shield 17 when the door is open and being angled away from the adjacent surface of the door frame 16. The intermediate limb 21 is angled in the opposite direction to the limb 22, so that when the door is closed the two limbs are folded or compressed rearwardly to produce forward resilient force to create a seal between the free end of the outer limb 22 and the door 18.

If the door is pushed inwardly by the pressure of wind outside the sealing strip expands or unfolds to move with the door to maintain the seal. Under normal conditions and with the door closed, the seal will remain enclosed in the space 19 protected by the shield from light and weather.

Figures 3 to 5 inclusive illustrate three further embodiments which operate and are fitted in a similar way as that of Figure 1. These embodiments may also be provided with a spur 15, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 3 illustrates a seal support member having a channel 12 and shield 17 as before.

However, in this case instead of being bonded to the shield, the sealing strip is retained by the supporting member by an enlarged retaining root 26 on the seal which co-operates with and is engaged in a channel-shaped recess 23 in the support member. The recess 23 is formed by the bottom end of the shield 17, a side wall 24 and a slotted top wall 25. The retaining root 26, which here is bucket shaped in cross section, slides into the recess 23 and the limb 21 projects through a restricted opening in the form of a slot in the wall 25 into the space behind the shield, the slot in the wall 25 retaining the strip in position.

The excluder of Figure 4 is identical to that of Figure 3 with the exception of the seal retaining arrangement. In this embodiment instead of the wall 25 being slotted, there is a restricted gap between the wall 25 and the shield 17 through which the sealing strip projects. The retaining root 26 is now shaped differently to co-operate with the different shaped recess 23. In each case the enlarged retaining end of the sealing strip 26 must include a portion which engages the upper wall 25 to ensure that the strip is firmly retained in the support member.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment similar to Figure 4, except that in this case the recess wall 24, instead of being a continuation of the channel wall 1 2r is now at the end of the wall 12 so creating a larger cross section recess area. The wall 24, in use, will bear against the door frame 16. The retaining end 26 is also enlarged so as to fill the recess and create a solid anchor for the sealing strip.

in the case of all the above embodiments the region at the junction of the two zig-zag limbs 21,22 is directed away from the shield so that, in use, as the door is closed, this region will engage the adjacent surface of the door frame 16 and create an extra seal, which seal will be compressed when the door is fully closed.

However, in order to assist in creating this extra seal in a more efficient manner it is preferred for the sealing strip to include a blade adjacent the region of the junction between the zig-zag limbs whose function is to provide an efficient seal between the door and the frame when the excluder is in use with the door closed.

A further embodiment of the invention will, therefore, now be described with reference to Figure 6 which illustrates a longitudinal cross section of a draught excluder incorporating such a blade.

The excluder of Figure 6 comprises an extruded elongate support member 31 having a retaining plate 32 with decorative grooves 33 and slots (not shown) by means of which the excluder is screwed or nailed for retention on the exterior door frame 34. The support member 31 has a body 35 which includes a channel-shaped recess 36 extending the length of the excluder and opening in a direction on the opposite side of the body from the retaining plate 32; and a plate-like shield 37 extends from the body in a direction opposite to and laterally offset from the retaining plate 32. The recess 36 is generally cylindrical and open along its length to allow a resilient sealing strip 38 to sit with its enlarged retaining root 39 in the recess 36 and its operative part in the space between the door frame and the shield 37.The body 35 includes an elongate foot 41 which rests against the door frame to ensure correct positioning of the excluder. The support member 31 is provided with decorative grooves 33 which enhance the overall appearance of the support member.

The enlarged root 39 of the sealing strip 38 is cylindrical and can be assembled with the support member by sliding the former into the recess of the latter. The recess 36 of the support member 31 and the complementary retaining root 39 of the sealing strip 38 may both of course have a shape other than cylindrical, i.e., oblong or triangular.

When the excluder is attached to the door frame, there is a space between the frame and the shield 37, in which space the operative part of the sealing strip is located. The operative part, which is connected to the retaining root 39, comprises as before two limbs 42, 43 which, when compressed towards the retaining root, produce a resilient force directed away from the retaining root 39 to create a seal between the surface of the forward limb 42 and the door. In this respect the operation of the excluder is identical to those already described. The forward limb 42 is chamfered at the free end to improve the seal between the strip 38 and the door.

The present embodiment differs in the provision of a short blade 44 which is integral with the intermediate limb 43 adjacent the region of the junction thereof with the forward projecting limb 42, and which itself projects rearwardly at an angle towards the door frame 34. The blade 44 extends the length of the sealing strip 38, and moves with the limbs on closing the door to engage the door frame to prevent draughts from passing the excluder around the frame.

It will be appreciated that this improvement can equally be made to the embodiments already described, similarly any suitable aspects of those embodiments can be incorporated in the present embodiment.

Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention similar to that of Figure 6, and the same reference numerals have been used where appropriate. Thus the excluder comprises a seal support member having a first part in the form of a plate 32 for attachment to a door frame 34, and a second part comprising a shield 37 in the form of a second plate disposed forwardly of and laterally offset from the plate 32, the sealing strip 38 being retained by engagement of its enlarged root 39 in a correspondingly shaped recess 36 formed at the junction of the two plates 32 and 37. Also, a short rearwardly angled blade 44 is provided in the region of the junction between the intermediate limb 43 and the projecting limb 42. The main difference lies, as shown, in the shape of the recess 36 and root 39 which are semi-circular.

It should be appreciated in relation to the foregoing embodiments that in the uncompressed state of the seal the outermost of the two limbs (limb 42 in Figure 7) should make a fairly small angle with the plane containing the front surface of the door. This angle is shown as in Figure 7, and is typically 30--400. If the limb 42 projects at too great an angle into the door frame opening when the door is open, there is a risk that as the door 50 closes it will catch the limb and fold it back rather than compress and seal in concertina fashion.

An advantage of the above embodiments, in addition to the protection provided by the shield, is that the angle of the outermost limb (47 in Figure 7) in relation to the door 50 will use wind pressure to help the limb to better seal against the door. Furthermore, a similar advantage applies in relation to the angle of the blade 44 located adjacent the junction between the two limbs, in that wind pressure coming behind the first (retaining) part of the support member will further help to seal the blade against the door frame surface.

It is to be understood that although the sealing strip in the preceding embodiments uses two integral limbs arranged in zig-zag fashion, a similar effect can be achieved by the use of an arcuate or curved limb, wherein taken along the direction from the enlarged root to the free end thereof the limb first approaches and then recedes from the adjacent door frame surface to finally project beyond the end of the shield at the correct angle.

In such case the region between the oppositely angled portions of the strip which respectively approach and recede from the door frame surface can be designed to compress against this surface when the door is closed and an additional rearwardly angled blade can also be provided adjacent this region if desired as in Figures 6 and 7.

It will be readily appreciated that the excluder support member may be moulded or extruded from any suitable metal or rigid plastics material, for example, aluminium or an alloy thereof.

Furthermore, the resilient sealing strip may be of any suitable sealing material, such as resilient moulded neoprene rubber.

Claims

1. A draught or rain excluder comprising an elongate seal support member provided with means for attachment to an exterior door frame, and a resilient sealing strip carried by the seal support member, wherein the seal support member includes a shield behind which the sealing strip is compressed in use when the door is closed.

2. A draught or rain excluder comprising an elongate seal support member having a first part for attachment of the support member to an external door frame, and an integral second part carrying a resilient sealing strip, the second part including a shield which when the first part is attached to the door frame is spaced from the adjacent door frame surface and projects towards the door frame opening, the sealing strip projecting beyond the end of the shield when the door is open but being compressed behind the shield when the door is closed for accommodation in the space between the shield and the adjacent door frame surface.

3. A draught or rain excluder as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the portion of the sealing strip which in the uncompressed state of the latter projects beyond the end of the shield is angled away from the adjacent door frame surface.

4. A draught or rain excluder as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the sealing strip is supported by the second part of the support member at a position spaced inwardly of the end of the shield, and comprises an intermediate portion between the projecting portion and the support position which is angled in the opposite direction to the projecting portion whereby the region of the sealing strip between the oppositely angled projecting and intermediate portions is compressed against the adjacent door frame surface when the door is closed.

5. A draught or rain excluder as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the oppositely angled projecting and intermediate portions respectively comprise two limbs which zig-zag from the support position to beyond the open end of the space between the shield and the adjacent door frame surface.

6. A draught or rain excluder as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the oppositely angled projecting and intermediate portions comprise portions of a curved or arcuate limb which extends from the support position to beyond the open end of the space between the shield and the adjacent door frame surface.

7. A draught or rain excluder as claimed in Claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the sealing strip further comprises a blade adjacent the region between the oppositely angled projecting and intermediate portions thereof, the blade being angled rearwardly towards the adjacent door frame surface for compression thereagainst when the door is closed.

8. A draught or rain excluder as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 7, wherein the sealing strip comprises an enlarged root portion which is accommodated in a recess of generally complementary shape in the second part of the support member at a position remote from the end of the shield, the recess having a restricted opening so as to retain the root portion of the sealing strip in position.

9. A draught or rain excluder as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the first part comprises a first plate adapted to be fixed directly against the external door frame surface, and the shield comprises a second plate laterally offset from and forwardly of the first plate, the recess being formed at the junction of the first and second plates.

10. A draught or rain excluder as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the recess is of generally semicircuiar shape.

11. A draught or rain excluder as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 10, wherein the first part further comprises a spur adapted to bite into the adjacent door frame surface in use.

12. A draught or rain excluder substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or to any one of Figures 3 to 7.