GB2268533A

GB2268533A - Door with edge protecting element

Info

Publication number: GB2268533A
Application number: GB9311551A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David William Mcmorran
Original assignee: ACCENT GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: ACCENT GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 1992-06-04
Filing date: 1993-06-04
Publication date: 1994-01-12
Also published as: GB9211911D0; GB9311551D0

Abstract

A door (10) is provided with a profiled element (12) of channel configuration snugly fitted onto its free edge as well as the adjacent edge margins of both major surfaces of the door (10). The door (10) is suitably adapted to swing in both directions, and, in this way, the profiled element (12) can protect the free edge of the door from damage. A profiled element (32) may also be adapted to comprise limbs (36, 38) with bent over free end portions and a central web (34) connecting the limbs. The element (32) is suitably made of metal sheet and applied to a free edge of a door (30). The web (34) of the element (32) is recessed centrally to accommodate intumescent seals (40). In this way, the door is capable of swinging in both directions and is also adapted to provide an effective barrier to fire arising at one side. <IMAGE>

Description

A DOOR This invention concerns a door and has particular application to a door which is capable of swinging in both directions and is also adapted to provide an effective barrier to fire arising at one side. However, the invention is in no way limited to that type of door.

An object of the invention is to provide means for improving the strength, rigidity and impact resistance of a door, or at least the edges/margins thereof, and also to provide means for enhancing or modifying the appearance and customer appeal of the door compared to a door with a plain or uniform face of metal or wood or other material.

The invention, in one of its broadest aspects, proposes a door having an elongate profiled element of channel configuration snugly fitted onto at least its free edge so as to overlie the edge face as well as the adjacent edge margins of both major surfaces of the door. In another aspect the invention provides such profiled elements for a door.

In cross section the profiled element has a central web, for overlying the edge face of the door, connecting respective limbs for overlying the major surface edge margins. In preferred embodiments the limbs will be substantially equal and symmetrically formed.

In a particularly simple practical embodiment the limbs may extend substantially at right angles from respective ends of the webs. In other embodiments the limbs may extend substantially at right angles relative to a central section of the web with respective sections joining said central section to the limbs being bevelled or radiussed. In yet other embodiments the entire web may be of arcuate form. These latter embodiments with bevelled or radiussed corners or with the web of arcuate form are particularly suitable for use on the free edges of doors which are designed to DE uwingaDleR when mounted, in both directions.

The channel element, of whatever form, preferably extends the full length of at least the free side edge of the door. It strengthens the edge region and improves its resistance to impact damage. This is particularly desirable in the case of doors mounted in hospital corridors or at airports or stations or any other public concourse, for example, where the door edges are likely to be subject to frequent impact and it is desired to minimise damage, including to their appearance.

Advantageously, respective channel elements are mounted to the door to extend along the top and bottom edges as well as the free side edge, or to extend along all the edges, i.e. the top, the bottom, the free side edge and the side edge adapted for connection to the door opening, in the manner of a frame. In this way, the overall rigidity of the door, and its resistance to impact damage can be enhanced, and, in the case of a timber door, for example, if it is provided with channel elements of metal around three or four of its edges its resistance to forced entry by thieves may be significantly improved.

Of course, where such channel elements are provided around two, three or all four edges they do not necessarily have to be of the same form at each edge.

Frequently, the element at the free edge may differ in configuration from elements mounted around the other edges, for example because only the element at the free edge has to provide for mounting seals or has to be bevelled at the corners or have a convex web as mentioned above. In some cases, however, such provisions will be appropriate around the other edges too.

The profiled channel element or elements mounted on a door in accordance with the invention may be made of pressed metal, e.g. stainless steel or brass, or by extrusion from aluminium or plastics material. They may in themselves improve the appearance of the door to which they are mounted. More importantly, however, the free ends of the limbs of such profiled elements provide shoulders against which panels of facing material on one or both major surfaces of the door can abut with the surface of the facing substantially level (flush) with the outer surface of the respective channel limb. In this way, a decorative laminate panel, for example having the appearance of marble or slate or carrying an attractive pattern, can be mounted onto one or both faces of a hollow metal or timber door substantially flush with a channel element mounted at the free edge of the door.In this respect it is not desirable to have such a facing material extend to the free edge of the door where it would provide an unattractive edge finish and would be prone to impact damage, such as chipping.

In preferred embodiments, where such a facing panel is required the best overall appearance and finish of the door will be achieved by providing channel elements as a frame around all four edges of the door, thereby providing, in effect, a shallow central recess into which the decorative panel can be fitted, substantially flush with the surface of the respective channel limbs.

In order to provide a shoulder or recess of adequate thickness for abutment of many types of facing panel free end portions of the limbs of each channel element used may be bent over inwardly of the channel, through approximately 1800.

As has already been mentioned, certain practical embodiments of profiled channel elements may be adapted for the mounting of seals, such as brush seals, or intumescent seals for purposes of sealing the door in the event of a nearby fire. In this respect, the webs of the channel element may be recessed inwardly of the channel, the recesses in the outer surface of the element being dimensioned to accommodate the relevant seal or seals.

Obviously, apertures can be formed in the channel elements wherever required for the mounting of locks, latches, bolts or the like.

The channel elements of whatever form may be secured to the door in any convenient manner. Typically they will be welded to metal doors, or adhesively bonded, but mechanical fixing by screws or rivets (eg. into a recess in the web thereof so as not to spoil the external appearance of the door) or securement simply by interference fit onto the edge margin of the door are also possible.

For purposes of full disclosure of the invention a few specific examples will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings it being understood that these are illustrative and not limitative of the scope if the invention. In the drawings: Figures 1 to 4 are schematic sectional views of edge margins of four embodiments of door in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 is a cross section of an edge margin of a fifth embodiment; Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the fifth embodiment in use co-operating with a door jamb; and Figure 7 is a cross section of a lower edge margin of a sixth embodiment, shown in place at a threshold.

Fig. 1 shows the edge margin of a door 10 to the edge of which an elongate profiled element 12 of channel configuration is fitted in accordance with the invention. The door 10 may, for example, be a hollow steel door or a wooden door and the element 12 may be formed of stainless steel. Other materials are equally possible. The element 12 comprises, in section, a central web 14 and respective limbs 16, 18 which project substantially perpendicularly from the ends of the web 14 to define the channel. As shown, the element 12 is a snug fit over the edge of the door. The web 14 may be in contact with the edge face of the door which it overlies. The limbs 16, 18 are of equal length and symetrically formed, each having an end portion bent over inwardly of the channel through approximately 1800.

One major surface of the door 10 has a facing panel 20 applied thereto, the edge of which abuts the bent-over end of limb 16 so that the outer surface of the panel 20 is substantially flush with the outer surface of that limb 16.

The embodiments shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are very similar to Fig. 1 and the same reference numbers have been used for corresponding parts. In Fig. 2 the corner regions of the element 12 where the limbs 16, 18 connect to the web 14 are rounded while in Fig. 3 these regions are bevelled.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the web 14 of the element is arcuate so that when mounted as shown it provides a convex edge face to the door 10. In other respects this embodiment is also similar to Fig. 1 and again the same reference numbers have been used for corresponding parts.

Channel elements 12 as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are particularly suited for mounting onto the free edges of doors which are designed, when mounted, to be swingable or operable in both directions. In this respect the element shown in Fig. 4, which may be referred to as imparting a bull-nosed edge to the door is especially suitable for use in co-operating with a matching concavely formed door jamb element.

The various advantages accruing to use of such channel elements on one or more edges of the doors have been detailed in the preceding general part of the description.

The door 30 shown in Fig. 5 is a hollow metal door shown with edge portions 31, 37 of metal sheet bent over and interlocking at the edge margin of one major surface of the door. The profiled channel element 32 overlies and masks this joint and this gives some measure of security against forcible entry. The element 32, just as in the previous embodiments, has limbs 36, 38 with bent over free edge portions. A central web 34, connects to the limbs 36, 38 via bevelled corner sections 33 and is recessed centrally to accommodate a pair of intumescent seals 40, the outer of which is substantially flush with the outer surface of the web 34. Fig. 6 shows how, in use, the door 30, with such a channel element 32 at its free edge, co-operates with a door jamb profile 42 mounted onto the door opening.In this respect, the profile 42 is formed with a trough or depression 44 which matches the shape of the web 34 and bevelled corners 33 of the element 32, but is of larger dimensions so that a gap remains therebetween, which gap is bridged by a brush seal 46 affixed to the outermost of the tumescent seals 40. The door 30 is adapted to swing in both directions.

The door 50 shown in Fig. 7 is also a hollow door and the lower edge is shown to have an inverted channel section 52 mounted between and connecting the respective skins. Fitted below this is a further channel element 48 in accordance with the invention. This element 48 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but additionally its web 49 is recessed to accommodate the intumescent seals 40. Further, brush seals 54 are mounted to the respective limbs 56, 58 of the element 48 by connection profiles 59.

Numerous other variations are possible within the scope of the invention. It is worthwhile reiterating that channel elements (not necessarily of the same style) are advantageously fitted around all four (or at least three) side edges of a door to provide a recess for mounting of a facing panel substantially flush with the external surfaces of the respective channel element limbs.

Claims

1. A door having an elongate profiled element of channel configuration snugly fitted onto at least its free edge so as to overlie an edge face as well as adjacent edge margins of both major surfaces of the door, the profiled element comprising a central web for overlying the edge face of the door and respective limbs for overlying major surface edge margins.

2. A door according to Claim 1 wherein the limbs of the profiled element are substantially equal and symmetrically formed.

3. A door according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein a free end portion of one or more limbs of the profiled element is bent over inwardly of the channel.

4. A door according to any preceding claim wherein the limbs of the profiled element extend substantially at right angles from respective ends of the web.

5. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the limbs of the profiled element extend substantially at right angles relative to a central section of the web, with respective sections of the web joining the central section to the limbs being bevelled or radiussed.

6. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the web of the profiled element is of arcuate form.

7. A door according to any preceding claim wherein the web of the profiled element is recessed inwardly of the channel.

8. A door according to Claim 7 having a seal mounted in the recess in the web of the profiled element.

9. A door according to any preceding claim having a brush seal mounted thereon.

10. A door according to any preceding claim having an intumescent seal mounted thereon.

11. A door according to any preceding claim having a profiled element which extends substantially the full length of the free edge of the door.

12. A door according to any preceding claim having a profiled element mounted along its top and/or its bottom edges.

13. A door according to any preceding claim having a profiled element made of a different material to the door.

14. A door according to any preceding claim having a profiled element made of pressed metal.

15. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 13 having an extruded profiled element.

16. A door according to any one of the preceding claims having one or more panels of facing material on a major surface of the door and abutting a profiled element limb.

17. A door according to Claim 16 having profiled elements around all four of its edges to provide a recess for the facing material.

18. A door substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to any one of Figs. 1 to 7.

19. A profiled element for a door substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to any one of Figs. 1 to 7.