GB2304776A

GB2304776A - Retractable door seal

Info

Publication number: GB2304776A
Application number: GB9618523A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roland Riese
Original assignee: Raven Products Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Raven Products Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1995-09-06
Filing date: 1996-09-05
Publication date: 1997-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-05
Also published as: AUPN527795A0; GB9618523D0; GB2304776B

Abstract

In one form two pair of scissor linkages connect a housing with the seal which is mounted in a carrier 3. One arm of each linkage is connected to a rod 5 that extends from the side of a door for bearing against a door frame. The rod is slidable between two positions in response to the action of a door frame bearing against it. In the first the seal extends below the door to seal against a floor, in the second it is retracted into the housing. Spring 42 biases the seal in the retracted position. The arms of the scissor linkages are of equal length and pivotally joined mid way along the length. For each linkage pair, one end of a first arm is pivotally and slidably mounted to the housing and to the rod. The other end of the first arm is pivotally fixed to the seal. The other arm has a first end pivotally fixed to the housing and the other end pivotally and slidably mounted to the seal. In this manner effectively two opposed parallelograms are formed which provide for vertical movement of the seal relative to the housing without horizontal movement as the rod is moved from the first to the second position. In another form each scissor linkage is as described excepting the second arm extends between the other arm and the housing only and is a spring which biases the seal in the retracted position. In operation this latter form is the same as the first and again two opposed parallelograms are effectively formed.

Description

Door Dropseal The present invention relates to a door seal, which is automatically extended to seal the gap between an edge of the closure and a surround on closing of the door.

When doors are fitted to door frames, there arc necessanly gaps between the door and the door frame to allow for frce opening and closing of the door. Generally the sides and uppermost part are made for relatively ctose fit, however the lowermost part of a door and the floor often have quite large gaps.

The often quite large gaps have an important impact on a great number of aspccts of the use of doors to close doorways. Movement of air, either hot or cold can greatly effect the hcating or cooling of a room or a building. This can result in greet inefficicncics in the heating or cooling of a building with a much greater encrgy consumotion required, or can result in greater discomfort to the occupants. Additionally such gaps also suffcr the disadvantage of facilitating the spread of smoke. or heat during fircs, and where it is desired to insulate a room, for example for sound, gaps can profoundly affect the capacity to sound proof a room.Much smaller gaps affect these latter aspects in a more substantial way than temperatllre variation It is possible to provide for a stationary seal for the sides, and the uppermost part of a door, against the door frame, so that once the door is closed the elastomeric material dcforms against corresponding surfaces of the door. For the lowermost part of the door however the is a problem in that there is often no surface abutting against a side of the door, and the seal provided must aecordihgly be between a lowermost surface of the door and a floor surface.One difficulty with providing such a seal is that the door moves over the floor and any seal that is provided will be moved across the floor surface causing wearing of the seal and the floor, and furthermore because floors are often somewhat uneven, the level of the floor directly beneath the door in the closed position may be lower than that at other parts of the arcuate swing of the door and an adequatc seal can be difficult to achieve.

Some known seals include, for example, hinged seals that permit sideways fiexure during opening or closing of the door. These may include a strip of elastomeric material mounted on a hinged elongate: profiled frame, or alternatively may include a plurality of flexible bnsties attached to the side of the door to sweep across the surface of the floor. Such scals arc useful for minimizing drafts, however they are prone to wcar and breakdown, and furthermore do not provide the required quality of seal for particular applications.

Several proposals have been made to provide a drop seal for the bottom of doors which drop seals comprise a seal supported by an elongate frame such that the seal is raised whcn the door is open and lowered when the door is closed and the seai is in use. Many of the proposals include provision for the drup seal to be automatically actuated and drop upon the door being closed.These drop seals comprise an elastomeric or other deform able strip extending along the bottom of the door, which are held in a raised position within a lower part of door, and on closing an actuation rod or other actuation device, its presscd against the door frame so as to cause the sealing strip to drop into a lowered position whereby to seal the gap bctween the floor and the door.

A number of different types of suggestions have been made to translate the sideways movement of the actuation rod into downwards movement of the seal and one type includes the usc of a deform able member big down on the seal on being pushed by the elongate actuation rod. This has limitations in terms of the degree of movement that the seal can travel, and also introduces a mechanism that is subject to considerable fatigue and wear. Several examples of this type of action include German patent speeitication DE 3526720 by Athmer, European patent 0037131 by Alhmcr Sophienhammer, US patent 4283884 by Dumeil et al and US patent 4479330 by Miller.

An alternate action is where at least one pivotal arm is pushed or pulled by the actuation rod to swing downwardly, which mechanism has the general limitalion of inducing a sideways component to the movement of the seal. Examples of documenls disclosing mechanism that work according to this action include US patent 480345 by Ohi, US patent 2171070 by Raible, US patent 2848767 by Thompson, US 3418753 by Hanson, US patent 4406088 by Bent, and Australian patent application 752528P95 94 by Adler.

With mechanisms that have a sideways component there is always a difficulty in that a portion relative to the gap beneath the door will not be sealcd to the extent that the seal moves sideways. This is important for example where it is desired to cxclude noise. A further difficulty associated with such mcchanisms is that the seal can jam' against the door frame which may lead to damage either to the door frame and door or at least to the drop seal. A yet further difficulty associated with such mechanism is that in order to allow for the maximum possible downwards extension of the seal, no end plates to protcct ends of the drop seal mechanism are provided. The lack of end plates is aesthetically displeasing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic door seal that provides for a directly downwardly moving seal with limited sideways component, in a simple yct effective manner.

In one broad form, and not necessarily the broadest or only form the invention could be said to reside in an automatic door sealing aiangement including a seal supported within an elongate housing having an open lowennost side, a scissor action link including a pair of crossed connection arms positioned bi=twccn the seal and the housing said crossed connection arms each being pivotably linked with the housing and the seal, actuation means that on contact with a door frame causes extension of the scissor action link to thereby drop the seal on closure of said door against the action of a biasing means, and including vertical alignment means to maintain movement of the seal substantially vertically.

Preferably one pair of pivoting links on separate arms and being on one side of the crossover of the scissor action link are fixed in position horizontally, and the other pair are fixed moveable horizontally to extend the scissor action link, so as to maintain movement of the seal substantially vertically.

In an alternate form the invention could be said to reside in an arrangement for automatic door sealing including: an elongate housing for substantially extending along a side or an edge of a door, and the housing having an open aperture substantially parallel with said side or edge of the door; a carrier extending within the housing and the carder having a major axis which is substantially parallel with the aperture; an elongate resiliently deformable door seal integrally formed with or integral with or supported by the writer; an elongate actuation rod supported for sliding movement within the housing; actuation means extending outside of the housing, for contact with a door frame to slide the rod from a first position to a second position;; a connecting arm, connected to the carrier at a first end of the connecting arm, and the connecting arm being connected to said rod at a second end of the connecting arm; biasing means to bias the canier to a retracted position; vcrtical alignment means to maintain movement of the canier substantially normal to the aperture; and, the connecting arm, carrier, housing and rod being of configuration and adaptation so that when the rod is in the first position the carrier is in the retracted position substantially within the housing and when the rod is in the second position the seal is extended beyond the housing for sealing against a floor.

In one form the connccting arm is pivotally connected at the first end about a first pivot axis and is pivotally connected as the second end about a second pivot axis. In some preferred forms the connections are not pivotally and the arm is a spring and acts as part of the bias means. In other forms the other bias means are used and the aim is substantially rigid.

In a further preferred fonn the vertical alignment means includes a second arm angled towards the connecting arm, and the configuration and conncction of the contacting arm, the second ann, the housing and the carrier forming a linkage between housing and carrier which permits the retraction and extension movement of the carrier substantially normal to the aperture.

In another prefencd form there are at least two connccting anns and at least two second arms, the second arms being angled towards the connecting arms, and the configuration of the connecting aims, second arms, housing and carrier forming two opposed substantially parallelogram linkages between housing and carrier which permits the retraction and extension movement of the carrier substantially normal to the aperture.

In both the last mentioned forms and also throughout this document the term "second arm angled being towards the connecting arm" will be understood to mean as follows. It will be appreciated that the reference to vertical, upper and the like are for descriptive purposes and not to be taken as limiting the following meaning to specific orientation. Given, for example, a housing fixed to a hung door along the lowermost door edge and a seal connected to the housing by a connecting arm and a second arm then the second arm is angled towards the connecting arm when an angle between vertical passing through a connection and one arm is positive (ic from the vertical in a first direction). and a similar angle for the other arm is negative (ie from the vertical in a second and opposite direction) for the upper connections and likewise for the lower connections. This is illustrated in the Figure 8 (a), (b) and (c) with an example in Figure 8 (d) of what is not considered to be "a second arm is angled towards a connecting arm". The example in Figure 8 (b) the shoter arm is connected to the longer and this will be appreciated as being cffectively the same in cffect as the arms illustrated in Figure 8 (a) and (c).

It will be appreciated that where two opposcd linkages cxist as in the last mentioned prefcrred form then opposed parallelogram linkages are fonncd. The operation of the linkages is to permit vertical movement substandally without horizontal movement; each linkage resisting horizontal urging of the other. It will also be appreciated that these opposed parallelogram linkages effectively occur even if an aim or arms in each linkage connects from the housing to the other arm in the pair rather than to the seal and vice vcrsL Such linkages as is illustrated in a latter preferred embodjinent effectively have mentioned opposed parallelogram linkages.

Preferably the arrangement includes a stop, fixed relative to the housing, to limit the extent of retraction of the carrier within the housing.

In one form the vertical alignment means is rigid and takes the form of a second arm such that the upper portion of both arms and the housing describe an isosceles triangle the upper portions of the arms being of equal length.

In a second fonn the second arm is a leaf spring, the first end being fixed to the housing, so that tension is imparted on the second arm when the first arm is extended and a second end being pivotably connected to the first arm. Preferably some tension being provided in the spring when the carrier and seal are in a fully retracted position. The leaf spring may lake the form of a wire, the initial tension being imparted by a kink in the wire, which kink results in bending the wire in an upwardly direction.

Preferably at least two connecting arms are provided spaced apart within the housing, each with vertical alignment means Preferably the connecting arms as being angled downwardly in the direction of movemcnt of the elongate rod Preferably the seal is fitted to an elongate carder vertically slidable within the housing and said connection arms are pivotably connected with said carrier.

In another prcfered form there is provided an arrangement for automatic door sealing including: an elongate housing for substantially extending along a side or an edge of a door, and the housing having an open aperture substantially parallel with said side or edge of the door; a carrier extending within the housing; an elongate resiliently defonnable door seal integrally formed with or integral with or supported by the carrier; an elongate actuation rod supported for sliding movement within the housing actuation means extending outside of the housing, for contact with a door frame to slide the rod from a first position to a second position;; at least two second anns each connected to the carrier at a first end of the second arm, and the second ann being connected to the housing at a second end of the second ann; at least two connecting arms; the second arms being angled towards the connecting arms, each connecting arm being pivotally connected to a different one of the second arms at a first end of the connecting ann about a first pivot axis, and the connecting arm being pivotally connected to said rod at a second end of the connecting ann about a second pivot axis; biasing means to bias the carrier to a retracted position; vertical alignment means to maintain movement of the carrier substantially normal to the aperture; and, the connecting arm, carrier, housing and rod being of configuration and adaptation so that when the rod is in the first position the carrier is in the retracted position substantially within the housing and when the rod is in the second position the seal is extcndcd beyond the housing for sealing against a floor.

In a further preferred form there is provided an arrangement for automatic door scaling including: an elongate housing having a generally inverted U shaped cross section, open at a lowermost part for extending along the base of a door, the housing including a pair of ridges positioned on opposite legs of the U shaped housing being spaced from an uppermost lateral web of the housing and forming a first guide channel there between an elongate resilientiy deformable seal within the housing extending along the length of the housing, fitted to an elongate carrier vertically slidable within the housing, the carrier have an open topped U shaped cross section and including a pair of ridges positioned on opposite legs of the U shaped carrier being spaced from the cross wall of the housing; and, an operating mechanism for actuation on closing of said door, and for cxlcndinl: the carrier and seal into a sealing position on actuation and for retraction of the carricr and seal on opening the door. said operating mechanism being held in place by rcason of fittings slidable within the first guide channel or said second guide channel, and finagle in position by bracing the fitting against the respective ridges of the respective channel, no connection means being required to be fixed to said housing before assembly of said operating mcchatusm onto either the carriage or the housing.

The connection means that might be provided includes a hole to be drilled, a lug to be fitted, or the like. This further alternative embodiment of the invention therefor minimiscs the requirement for high accuracy placement or machining of the carrier or housing, and thus simplifies the manufacture of the drop seal.

It will be appreciated that in preferred forms, the seal may be held so that its elongate axis is at an angle relative to the horizontal either by its mount to the carrier or the support of the carrier and seal relative to the housing. The movement of the seal though held at the angle is substantially vertical, the angle not substantially changing during the movement of the seal. In this manner an unlevel floor beneath a door can to some extent be accommodated.

That is, where the gap between the lower edge of a door at the hinge side of the door differs from the gap at the lock side of the door the seal can be angled to suit and so make an effective seal under these circumstances. It will be further appreciated that the angle is not great and the seal and the aperture, whilst not parallcl, are substantially so. Typically the angle is only a few degrees in magnitude and often less than 2 degrces.

In another preferred form, there are mcans to adjust an angle between the axis of the major aperture and the major axis of the seal. In preference the location of a fixed pivot connection of a second ann to the housing is adjustable and thereby an angle between the axis of the major aperture and the major axis of the seal can be adjusted.

In a further preferred form, the arrangement includes means to adjust the extent of seal movement actuated by the actuation means.

It is to be understood that the operating mechanism of the above further alternative form of tile invention may be any one of a number of mechanisms, however preferably thc operating mechanism includes an elongate actuation rod supported for sliding movement within the first guide channel of the housing, actuation means extending outside of at least on end of the housing, for contact with a door frame to slide the actuation rod from a first position to a second position, at least one pivotal connecting ann, pivotably connectcd to the carrier about a first pivoting axis at a first end of the arm, and pivotably connected to the slidable actuation rod about a second pivoting axis at a second end of the arm, the operating mechanism being of configuration so that when the slidable rod is in tle first position the seal is retracted into the housing. and when the slidable rod is in the second position the seal is extended beyond the housing to seal against a floor, a biasing means provided to bias the seal to the retracted position.

Preferably the door sealing arrangement includes a vertical alignment means to maintain movement of the seal substantially vertically.

Altenaalively the further altemalive form of the invention includes any one of the mechanisms as defined or described herein.

In an alternatively broad form the invention could be said to reside in a closure comprising at its lowermost edge a door sealing altangement as defined or described herein.

To assist with the understanding of the invention embodiments are illustrated. It is to be understood from the foregoing that the illustrated embodiment of the invention is mercly illustrative and in no way restricts the scope of the invention.

Xn the illustrations: Figure 1 is part cross c sectional view of the drop seal arrangement for attachment for the bottom of a door; and Figure 2 is a part cross sectional view through II-I1 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of the layout of a second cmbodiment; Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of the layout of a third embodiment; Figure 5 is a schematic drawing of a fourth embodiment; Figure 6 is a schematic drawing of a fifth embodiment in a first position; Figure 7 is a schematic drawing of the fUlh embodiment in a second position; Figure 8 is a schematic drawing illustrating the term "second arm being angled towards the connecting arm"; ; Figure 9 is a sketch showing a door fitted with the first embodiment, a door frame and the operation of the actuation means; and, Figure 10 is a schematic sketch of an embodiment including a further scal about a carrier and a housing.

Similar reference charactcrs Indicate cotresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Dimensions of certain of the parts as shown in the drawings may have been modified andlor exaggerated for the purposes of clarity of illustration.

The first illustrated embodiment comprises an elongate housing (1) with an open lowermost part, being generally U shaped in cross section. Hcld within the housing and extending along the length of the elongate housing is a resiliently defonnable sealing mcmber (2). The scaling member is held within an elongate carrier (3) which carrier is vertically slidable within the elongate housing (1), to extend through the open end (4) of the housing and retract back into the housing.

An elongate actuation rod (5) is supported for sliding movement within the elongate housing. An actuation button (6) extends outwardly from one end of the elongate housing so that on contact with a door frame it is forced to retract into the elongate housing, to bear against the elongate action rod so as to cause the elongate rod to slide from a first resting position to a second, laterally shifted, position.

Two pivotal connecting arms (7) are spaced apart along the housing. Each connecting arm (7) is pivotably connected to the carrier (3) at a first end (8) about a first pivoting axis (9), and pivotably connected to the elongate rod at a second end (10) about a second pivoting axis (11), so that when the elongate rod is in the first position the carrier (3) and seal (2) are retracted. and when the elongate rod is in the second position the carrier and the seal are extended beyond the lowermost portion of the housing (1) whereby the seal can contact a floor beneath the door to seal a gap between the door and the floor.

The arrangement also includes a means to maintain movement of the seal sübstantially vertical. This is in the form of a second arm (12) which is in the form of a spring, connected to an upper part of the housing by rigid connection with a future (13) at a first end and pivotably connected with the connecting arm at a connecting point (14) of the connecting arm, being equidistant between the first pivotal axis and the second pivotal axis (11) in the illustrated embodiment The spring is of configuration and positioned that it acts to restrain the extent to which the connecting arm is moved horizontally and as a corollary the seal also. The first pivoting axis moves downwardly in a substantially vertical plane axis.It can be seen that the connection of the spring with the connecting ane is very simple yet effective. The wire forming the spring has a first bend to form a very short lateral section which passes through an aperture in the connecting arm, and a second bend to end the ]ateral section and extcnd generally parallel with the remainder of the wire.

The lateral section of the wire acts as a pivot pin through the aperture in the connecting ann.

The seal member (2) and carrier (3) are biased into the retracted position. and the elongate rod is biased to the first position, actuation button (6) is biased to the extended position.

Spring (12) acts as the biasing means. The spring does so by acting on the connection point, when the connccting arm is lowered thereby extending the sealing member (4). The spring is kinkcd at (15) so as to place the spring under tension even when the carrier and seal are in the retracted positiorL lMis ensures that the action of the spring is relatively uniform. Furthermore it ensures that the virtual pivot point of the spring does not change radically during extension of the spring.When the seal is lowered the spring is placed under more tension and the connection ann is thereby biased to a raised position, the connection anns bear against the elongate rod to push the rod to the first position, and an end of the rod pushes against the actuation button to push the button into the extended position. The spring thus has the function of biasing three separate parts of the illustrated embodiment into their rcspective resting position.

The connecting point (14) is spaced below a virtual line connecting the first pivoting axis and the second pivoting axis. This minimises the initial force required to be exerted by the elongate actuation rod (5) because it provides some moment to the downward extension of the pivotal connecting arms. As a result the gauge of wire used for the actuation rod can be kept lower and the construction of the operating mechanism can generally be made with materials of less weight.

The extent to which the actuation button (6) is extended out of the one side of the elongate housing is limited by a return spring (16). The button is fixed to a screw threaded shaft (17) with an adjusting bolt head (18) at a free end of the shaft. A washer (19) is positioned at a button-proximal paint of the shaft, and the spring is fitted between the compression washer and the nut. A stop (20) is fixed relative to the elongate rod by attachment of the retaining wire (21) to the elongate rod between the button and the washer. The retaining wire is coupled to a slidable first end piece (22) couplcd to the slidable elongate rod (5).

The adjusting bolt head (18) can screwed into the button by a desired amount. The greater it protrudes the button towards the rod then when the button in forced into the housing upon closing of the door the greater the movement of the rod and the greater the fall of the scal. This is due to the linkage. By corollary the less it protrudes the less the fall of the seal.

Tuming now in some detail to the construction of aspects of the fust cmbodimcnL mc cross sectional detail of the elongate housing (1) is best seen in Figure 1, and as stated previously is generally of an inverted U shape. The elongate housing is made of aluminium extrusion of suitable strength. Two internally extending ridges (23, 24) arc positioned at an upper portion of the housing, to facilitate placernent of a variety of fixtures associated with the elongate slidable rod (5).

The carrier (3) is also made of extruded aluminium sccLion, and takers otl a generally H shaped cross sectional profile. The carrier is of equal length to the housing and Co- terminus with the housing. The widtb of the carrier is such that is fits within the lower part of the housing (1) and can be slid vertically within the housing, an the outer sides or the carrier provide a close fit with the inner sides of the lower part of the housing. The extent to which the canier can be retracted is physically limited by ridges (23, 24) which act as stops.

The lowermost open portion of the carrier also has seal retaining ledges (25, 26), which ledges are spaced apart from a bridge (27) connecting two side walls of the carrier along their full length. The upper portion of the canier includes upper ridges (28,29). The seal (2) is made of an elastomeric material, and comprises a T shaped attachment position (30) which can be attached to fit within the gap between the retaining ledges (25, 26) and the bridge(27). A lower part of the seal includes a tubular section (31), with three strips (32) extending downwardly from the tubular section. The seal is most conveniently formed by extrusion.

The elongate actuation rod (5) is secured for sliding movement along the length of the elongate housing by a sliding support fixture. The sliding support fixtux being generally U shaped the actuation rod being supported with the central channel of the sliding support fixture. The actuation rod is bent over at approximately right angles at both ends to extend through an aperture within and engage plastics end pieces (33, 34). These end pieces are accordingly slidable with the actuation rod in the longitudinal direction of the housing, and are held in place within the housing between ridges (23, 24) and an uppermost lateral web (35) of the elongate housing.

Not only do the bent over, end portions of the actuation rod engage with apertures in the slidable plastics end pieces (33, 34), they also engage with a second end of the connecting arm, connecting between the actuation rod (5) and the carrier (3). The provision of the bent over rod, permits pivoting of the connection arrns (7) relative to the actuation rod.

The first end of the connection arms (7) are similarly connected by a pin (36) to a plastics fixture (37) which is fastened within the upper channel formed with the carrier (3) to thereby be connected with the sealing member (2). Thus the second end of the connection arms (7) are pivotably connected with the carrier, 'lhe construction of the presently illustrated embodiment is particularly advantageous in that it requires no drilling through either the carrier or the housing. The operating mechanism of the drop-seal is entirely fixed in position by the use of plastics fixtures (13, 33, 3A, 37).The plastics fixtures when unattached are slidable between either ridges (70, 21) of the housing and the lateral web (35) of the housing defining a first guide channel therebetween, or between ridges (28, 29) of the carrier and the lateral bridge (27) of thc carrier defining a second guide channel therebetween. Fixing of the p]astics fixtures can be achieved by screwing through them with a screw (38, 40) which bears against either the lateral bridge (27) of the carrier or lateral web (35) of the housing, as the case may be, and forces the plastics fixtures to bear against the respect pair of lateral ridges.This then provides a particularly simple way of fixing pivoting arms, stops or other pw parls reuiring to be fixed to the housing or carrier. Similar plastics fixtures may be used as slidable connection between parts, in that the plastics fixtures are not fastened to the housing or carrier.

The latcral movement of each of the connecting arms (7) is restricted by the provision of a simple spring, constructed of a resilient metal wire (12). A first end of the wire is fastened to the housing by plastics fixture (13). The second end of the wire, as described above is fixed to the equidistant point (14) of the connecting arm.

The spring allows for limited lateral movement of the equidistance point (14) in the direction of movement of the actuation rod (5), and is generally allowed to move approximately half the distance that the first pivoting axis (11) is moved. Therefore the second pivoting axis is maintained in one substantially vertical axis, permitting minimal horizontal shift in the position of the second pivoting axis and therefore the seal.

As well as maintaining the substantially vertical movement of the seal the spring also acts to bias the seal and carrier in the retracted position within the housing; the actuation rod in its first position, which in turn, in its first position beers against the actuation button to urge the actuation button in its fully extended positiorL The assembly of the seal has considerable advantages over the construction of prior mechanisms. There is no requirement for accurate placement of pivoting pins passing though a housing. The plastics fitting are used to position any pivot points. The assembly of the illustrated embodiment is as follows.The operating assembly including plastics fitting providing support for both the springs and both connecting arms, as well as the actuation rod and associated parts are slide through the first guide channel. The lcading end stop (39), being a plastics fitting of the type described above, is slid through the first guide channel in the housing, and fixed in position by screw (40), at a distance where the actuation button extends out of the door to a desired amounL The plastics fixtures (37) connected to the first end of the arm can then be slid through the second guide channel of the carner, until the carrier aligns with the elongate housing. and two further screw can be fastencd. It can be seen that adjustment of the movement is provided for by adjustment screw (41). It will be understood that a number of sub-asscmblics are assembled before the main assembly descnbed above.

Another effect of the adjustment screw is to effect the location of the fixed pivot point of the second arm of the left hand scissor linkage illustrated in Figure 1. It acts as a stop and typically the spring (15) pushes the second arm plastic fitting across to bear against this stop. Where a large variation is desired the spring and second arm configuration may not result in the beaiing of the second arm against the stop when the seal is in the retracted position. However. the action of the rod urges the plastic fitting to slide against the adjustment screw and thus the operation is as previously mcntioned. Use of the adjustment screw permits allowance for unlevel floors.When the plastic fitting is bearing against the adjustment screw the angle of the major axis of the seal with respect to the horizontal can be adjusted. This is due to causing a difference in the extent the scissor linkages, for example, are cxpanded. When the plastic fitting must be sUd across to bear against the screw the seal is rotatcd from the horizontal by extension of the other linkage witil the fitting bears against the screw and then both linkages operate to lower flc seal substantially vertically though at an angle to the horizontal as mentioned.

It may also be desired, as illustrated in Figure 10, to provide a funher deformable seal (73) on the outside of a side (74) of the carrier (75), that is positioned away from the door frame of the door (76) to be closed. This affords a measure of sealing between the carrier (75) and the housing (77). Generally when the door closes, there is a very minor amount of contact between the seal (78) and the floor (79) so that the canier is tilted away from the direction of movement of the door: in Figure 10 from left to right. This can result in a gap between the carrier and the housing.With the further seal the extended carrier tilts to a lessen extcnt and the further seal and the lagging side makes contact with the lowermost edge of the corresponding side of the housing to provide a seal. This further scaling can be important where it is desired to seal against smoke, other fumes, firc, or sound.

It can be seen that in addition to maintaining the direction of movement of the carrier and the seal relative to the housing, the illustrated asrangement shows a simplified construction with the spring also acting to bias the moving parts in their respective resting position.

It is to be appreciated however that other constructions can also be contemplated by the prcsent invention to provide a substantially vertical direction of movement of the carrier and seal.

One example can be seen in the second embodiment shown in Figure 3, which is a schematic sketch of the arrangemcnt. Detailed constructional details are not shown but many of the component parts could be the same or similar to those shown in the first illustrated embodiment The basic differences are in the. connection arms, and biasing means. The biasing mcans in the second embodiment is in the form of a compression spring (42) connected between an upper part of the housing, and the carrier. Instead of a single connecting arm the second embodiment shows a pair of two crossed connecting arms (43, 44) one end of each of the arms (45, 46) are supported so as to slide relative to the housing.A first of the two slidable arrns is urged to slide by the action of the actuation rod (5) and the second of the ends of the arms (45) of the pair is supported on a sliding support (47). The two connecting anne are pivotably joincd at a medial axis (48) being medial between rcsptctive pivoting axes of respective ends, so that on lateral movement of the actuation rod a scissor action is provided to force the seal and carrier downwardly or upwardly into an extended or retracted position as is desired.Ends (45,46) move to the same extent, and therefore a pivoting point (49) connecting the first arms to the carrier (3) and a pivot ann connection (50) is maintained in a single vertical axis.

A second such example can be seen in the third embodiment showm in Figure 4, which is a schematic sketch of the arrangement Detailed constructional details are not shown, but many of the component parts could be same or similar to those shown in the first illustrated embodiment The basic differences are in the connection arans, and biasing mcans. The biasing means in the third cmbodiment is in the form of a compression spring (51) connected between an upper part of the housing, and the carrier. Instead of a single connecting arm the second embodiment shows two crossed connecting arms (52, 53) both ends of each of the arms are supported so as to slide relative to the housing. The two connecting arms are pivotably joined at a medial axis (54) being medial between respective pivoting axes of respective ends.The medial axis, is constrained to move within a channel (55) fastened to one or prefcrably opposing sides of the housing by a pin passing through the medial axis. An upper end of the first of the connecting arms is pivotably connected with the actuation rod, so that on lateral movement of the connecting rod a scissor action is provided to force the seal and carrier downwardly or upwardly into an extended or retracted position as is desired.

In Figurc 5 a fourth embodiment is illustrated in schematic form. Here the housing (l) has connected slidably connected a connecting arm (56) at one end (57). The other end (58) the connecting arm (56) is slidably connected to the carrier (3). The rod (5) is connected to the coiulccung arm (56). A second arm (59) connected to the connecting arm (56) at a mount (60) and slidably connected to the carrier (3). The mount (60) is slidable within guide channel (61) in the housing (3).

In Figure 6 and Figure 7 a fifth embodiment is illustrated in schematic forum. Two arms (62, 63) link the housing (1) and the carrier (3). Arm end (64) is fixed respectively to the housing and arm end (65) is slidably fixed to the carrier. The arms (62, 63) are joined together (66). Arm end (67) is slidably connected to the housing and the rod (5) and the arm end (68) is slidably connected to the carrier and to a further rod (69). Both rods (5, 69) are linked together such that movement of one effects a corrcsponding movement in the other. Am (63) is a spring which at rest is straight as illustrated in Figure 7. When the rods are moved into the housing by a door frame the spring arm (63) is deformed and put under tension as illustrated in Figure 6.This tensioning of the spring arm (63) biases the carrier to being within the housing unless forced out by action of the rods.

Illustrated in Figure 9 is a door (70) fitted with the first embodiment The button (6) protrudes from thc door and is shaped to co-operate with a door frame (71) to effect insertion of the button within the housing. End plate (72) is provided to provide a pleasing appearance and to substantially prevent horizontal movement on the carder within the housing; a further end plate is fitted to the other side of the door.

It may be desired to lengthen the seal of the door and whilst two connecting arms may suffice, several connecting arms may be connected to the one actuation button and elongate actuation rod. It is envisaged that a second actuation rod would connect between the second connecting arm and the third, and respective further actuation rods would be provided between further connecting anns.

Alternatively it may be desired to increase the extent to which the seal will drop. The present mechanism can be adapted for a greater drop with the same extent of movement of the actuation button and rod. The connection point (14) of the connection ann is varied so that the distance between the connection point and the first pivoting a:is (9) is increased relative to the distance between the connection point and the second pivoting axis (11) on the housing.The length and configuration of the spring may need to be varied to accommodate the increase in downward movement, the length may need to be varied, or the gauge of wire used may need to be increase. This variation can give a far greater dcpth increase, whilst still maintaining the generally substantially vertical movement of the carrier. The increase in depth of seal is particularly important where a door opens onto a sloping surface, such as may be required where access by wheelchair is required.

It will be appreciated that for a door the actuation means projecting from the housing for co-operation with a door frame can be at either the hinge or the lock side of the door. It will further be apprecialed that there could be two such actuation means one at each side of due door each activating a rod and one or a more scissor or like linkages to effect the transition of the door seal in the manner generally as described herein.

Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the exemplified embodiment of the invention, however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate and that the invention is not limited thereto and can include various modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An automatic door sealing arrangement including a seal suppohcd within an elongate housing having an open lowermost side, a scissor action link including a pair of crossed connection arms positioned between the seal and the housing, said crossed connection arms each being pivotably linked with the housing and the seal, actuation means that on contact with a door frame causes extension of the scissor action link to thereby drop the sea1 on closure of said door against the action of biasing means, and vertical alignment means to maintain movement of the seal substantially vertically.
2. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in claim 1 wherein one pair of the pivoting links on separate arms and being on one side of the crossover of the scissor action link are fixed in position horizontally, and the other pair are fixed moveable horizontally to extend the scissor action link, so as to maintain movement of the seal substantially vertically.
3. An automatic door sealing arrangement including: an elongate housing open at a lowermost part for extending along the base of a door; an elongate resiliently deformable door seal extending within the housing and along length of the housing; an elongate actuation rod is supported for sliding movement within the housing; actuation means extending outside of at least one end of the housing, for contact with the door frame to slide the rod from a first position to a second position;; at least one pivotable connecting arm, pivotably connected to the seal about a first pivoting zeis at a first end of the arm, and pivotably connected to said slidable rod about a second pivoting axis at a second end of the arm, configured so that when the slidablc rod is in the first position the seal is retracted into the housing and when the slidable rod is in the second position the seal is extended beyond the housing to seal against a floor; vertical alignment means to maintain movement of the seal substantially vertical; and, biasing means to bias the seal to the retracted position
4.An arrangement for automatic door sealing including: an elongate housing for substantially extending along a side or an edge of a door, and the housing having an open aperture substantially parallel with said side or edge of the door; a carrier extending within the housing; an clongate resiliently deformable door seal integrally formed with or integral with or supported by the carrier; an elongate actuation iod supported for sliding movement within the housing; actuation means extending outside of the housing, for contact with a door frame to slide the rod from a first position to a second position;; a connecting arm, connected to the cashier at a first end of the connecting arm, and the connecting ann being coneected to said rod at a second end of the connccting ann; biasing means to bias the carrier to a retracted position; vertical alignment means to maintain movement of the carrier substantially normal to the aperture; and, the connecting arm, carrier. housing and rod being of configuration and adaptation so that when the rod is in the first position the carrier is in the retracted position substantially within the housing and when the rod is in the second posidon the seal is extended beyond the housing for sealing against a floor.
5. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in claim 4 wherein the connecting arm is pivotally connected at the first end about a first pivot axis and is pivotally connocted as the second end about a second pivot axis.
6. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in either claim 3 or 5 wherein thc vertical alignment means includes a second arm angled towards the connccting arm.
7. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in either claim 3 or 5 including at least two connecting arms and the vertical alignment means includes at last two second arms, the second arms being anglcd towards the connecting arms, and the configuration of the connecting arms, second arms, housing and carrier forming two opposed substantially parallelogram linkages between housing and carrier.
8. An anngemcnt for automatic door sealing as in any one of the preceding cairns whore in the connecting arm or arms are resilient and are or are part of the biasing means.
9. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in either claims 6 or 7 wherein the second ann includes: a first end of the second arm being pivotally fixed with a portion relative to the housing at a pivot, the portion being spaced from the second pivot axis of the connecting arm or of one of the connecting arms, and the portion and the second pivot axis being substantially on a line substantially parallel with the aperture; and, a second'end of the second arm being pivotally and slidably connecal to the carrier and movable substantially parallel to the aperture along a vrrtual line upon which lics the first pivot axis of the connecting arm or the one of the connecting arms.
10. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in either claim 6 or wherein the second arm includes: a first end of the second arm being slidably and pivotally connected with a portion relative to the housing at a first pivot point, the portion being spaced from tbc second pivot axis of the connecting arm or of one of the connecting arms; a second end of the second arm being slidably and pivotally connected with the carrier at a location, the location being spaced Irom the first pivot axis of the connecting arm or of the one of the connecting arms; a mount; and, the second arm and the connecting arm or the one of the connecting arms being coaxially and pivotally connected to the mount at a second pivot point; and, the mount being retained within a guide supported by the housing, the guide providing for sliding movement of the mount substantially normal to the aperture and thereby restricts movement of the carrier.
11. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in eithcr claim 6 or 7 wherein the second arm includes: a first end of the second arm being slidably and pivotally connected with a potion relative to the housing at a first pivot point, the portion being spaced from the second pivot axis of the connecting arm or of one of the connecting arms; a mount: a second end of the second ann and the connecting arm or the one of the connecting arms being coaxially and pivotally connected to the mount at a second pivot point; and, the mount being retained within a guide supported by the housing, the guide providing for sliding movement of the mount substantially normal to thc aperture and thereby restrict movement of the carrier.
12. An altangement for automatic door sealing as in either claim 6 or 7 wherein the second arm includes: a first end of the second arm being slidably and pivotally connected with a portion relative to the carrier at a first pivot point, the portion being spaced from the first pivot axis of the connecting arm or of one of the connecting arms; a mount; a second end of the second arm and the connecting ann or the one of the connecting arms being coaxidlly and pivotally connected to the mount at a second pivot point; and, the mount being retained within a guide supported by the housing, the guide providing for sliding movement of the mount substantially norrnal to the aperture and thereby rcstrict movement of the carrier.
13. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in either claim 10 or 11 wherein the length of the second arm between the first pivot point and the second pivot point being the same as the length between the second pivot point and the second pivot axis of the connecting arm or of the one of the connecting arms.
14. An arrangement for automatic door scaling as in claim 12 wherein the length of the second arm between the first pivot point and the second pivot point being the same as the length between the second pivot point and the first pivot axis of the connecting arm or of the one of the connecting arms.
15. An arrangemcnt for automatic door sealing as in any one of claims 10, 11 or 13 whcrein the portion and the second pivot axis are on a virtual line parallel with the aperture.
16. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in claim 10 wherein the location and the first pivot axis are on a line substantially parallel with the aperture.
17. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in either claim 12 or 14 wherein the portion and the fuss pivot axis are on a line substantially parallel with the aperture.
18. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in either claim 6 or? wherein the second arm includes: a ftrst end of the second ann being connected with a portion relative to the housing, the portion being spaced from the second pivot axis of the connecting arm or of one of the connecting arms; and, a second end being connected to the connecting arm or the one of the connecting arms; and, the second arm being at least part of the bias means.
19. An arrangement for automatic door as in either claim 6 or 7 wherein the second ann includes: a first end of the second arm being connected with a portion relative to the housing, the portion being spaced from the second pivot axis of the connecting arm or of one of the connecting arms; and, a second end of the second arm being fixed to the carrier at a location, the location being spaced from the first pivot axis of the connecting arm or the one of the connecting arms; and, the second arm being at least part of the bias means.
20. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in claim 19 when ihe second arm is connected with the connecting arm or the one of the connecting arms.
21. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in either claim 6 or 7 whercin thc second arm includes: a first end of the second arm being connected with a portion relative to the carrier, the portion being spaced from the first pivot axis of the connecting arm or of one of the connecting arms; and, a second end being connected to the connecting arm or the one of the connecting arms; and; the second arm being at least part of the bias means.
22. An arrangcment for automatic door sealing as in any one of claims 11, 18, 19, 20 or 21 wherein the second arm is a leaf spring.
23. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in claim 22 wherein the spring is a wire kinked part way along its length to effect the resilient action of the spring.
24. An arrangement for automatic door scaling as in claims 18 to 23 wherein one or more of the connections of the second arm are pivotal.
25. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in either claim 6 or 7 wherein the second arm: is pivotally fixed at a pivot point with the connecting ann or the one of the connecting arms to provide a scissor action link together with that connecting arm, and the second arm being of the same length between pivot axes as that connecting arm, and the pivot point being equidistant from the second pivot axis of that connecting arm and from the pivot of the first end of the second arm; and, restrains movement of said first pivot axis of the connecting arm substantially parallel to the aperture along the carrier.
26. An arrangement for automatic door sealing including: an elongate housing for substantially extending along a side or an edge of a door, and the housing having an open aperture substantially parallel with said side or edge of the door, a carrier extending within the housing and the carrier having a major axis which is substanflally parallel with the aperture; an elongate rcsiliently deformable door seal integrally formed with or integral with or supported by the canier; an elongate actuation rod supported for sliding movement within the housing; actuation means extending outside of the housing, for contact with a door frame to slide the rod fiom a first position to a second position;; at least two second anns each connected to the carrier at a first end of the second arm, and the second ann being connected to the housing at a second end of the second arm; at least two connecting arms; the second anns being angled towards the connecting arms, each connecting arm being pivotally connected to a differcnt one of the sccond arms at a first end of the connccting am about a first pivot axis, and the connecting arm being pivotally connected to said rod at a second end of the connecting arm about a second pivot axis: biasing means to bias the carrier to a retracted position; vertical alignment means to maintain movement of the carrier substantially normal to the aperture: and, the connecting arm, carrier, housing and rod being of configuration and adaptation so that when the rod is in the first position the carrier is in X the retracted position substantially within the housing and when the rod is in the second position the seal is extended beyond the housing for sealing against a floor.
27. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in claim 26 wherein tlle connections of each second arm are pivotal.
28. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in either claim 26 or 27 wherein at least one of the second arms is resilient and constitute at least part of the biasing means.
29. An aarangement for automatic door sealing as in any one of claims 26, 27 or 28 wherein for each second arm the connection at either the first or second end of the second arm is slidable parallel to the aperture.
30. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the vertical alignment means includes an end side to the housing to substantially prevent movement of the carrier or carriers parallel to the apertun: during rod transition from the first position to the second position.
31. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in any one of claims 6 to 26 wherein the vertical alignment means includes two of the said second anns each with different connecting arms.
32. An anangemcnt for automatic door sealing as in any one of the preceding claims including a stop, fixed relative to the housing, to limit the extent of retraction of the cruricr within the housing.
33. An arrangement for automatic door scaling as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the connecting arm or anus are angled between the rod and the carrier in the direction of movement of the rod.
34. An arrangemcnt for automatic door sealing as in any one of the preceding claims whcrcin there are at least two carriers and the seal has a substantially rigid elongate support portion for affixing to the carriers.
35. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in any one of the preceding claims adapted for use with a hung door and to be affixed to the lowelmost edge of the door.
36. An arrangement for automatic door scaling as in any one of the preceding claims adapted for use with a hung door and to be affixed to a side of the door along the lowermost edge of the door.
37. An arrangement for automatic door sealing including: an elongate housing having a generally inverted U shaped cross section, open at a lowermost part for extending along the base of a door, the housing including a pair of ridges positioned on opposite legs of the U shaped housing being spaced from an uppermost lateral web of the housing and fonning a first guide channel therebetween; an elongate resilicntly deformable seal within the housing extending along the length of the housing, fitted to an elongate carrier vertically slidable within the housing, the carrier have an open topped U shaped cross section and including a pair of ridges positioned on opposite legs of the U shaped carrier being spaced from the cross wall of the housing; and, an operating mechanism for actuation on closing of said door, and for extending the carrier and seal into a scaling position on actuation, and for retraction of the carrier and seal on opening the door, said operating mechanism being held in place by reason of fittings slidable within the first guide channel or said second guide channel, and fable in position by bracing the fitting against the respective ridges of the respective channel, no connection means being required to be fixed to said housing before assembly of said operating mechanism onto either the carriage or the housing.
38. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in claim 38 wherein the operating mechanism includes: an elongate actuation rod supported for sliding movement within the first guide channel of the housing, the rod being moveable between a first and a second position; actuation means extending outside of at least one end of the housing, for contact with a door frame to slide the actuation rod from a first position to a second position; at least one connecting arm, pivotally connected to the carrier about a first pivot axis at a first end of the arm, and pivotally connected to the actuation rod about a second pivot axis at a second end of the arm; biasing means provided to bias the seal to a retracted position; and, the operating mechanism being of configuration and adaptation so that when the rod is in the first position the seal is retracted into the housing, and when the rod is in the second position the seal is extended beyond the housing to seal against a floor.
39. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in either claim 38 or 39 including a vertical alignment means to maintain movement of the seal substantially vertically.
40. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in any one of the preceding claims including a further deformable seal on the outside of a side of the carrier or the seal, that is positioned away from the door frame of the door to be closed, and is adapted to seal against a corresponding internal side of the housing when the door is closed and the courier or seal is tilted within the housing.
41. An arrangement for automatic door scaling as ia claim 18 wherein the connection between the second arm and the connecting arm is spaced below a virtual line connecting the first pivoting axis and the second pivoting axis.
42. An anangemcnt for automatic door scaling as in any one of the preceding claims including means to adjust an angle between the axis of the major aperture and the major axis of the seal.
43. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in any one of the preceding claims including means to adjust the extent of seal movement actuated by the actuation means.
44. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in claim 44 wherein the actuation means includes a door frame contacting portion and a rod bearing portion, the rod bearing portion being adapted to transfer a force applied to the door frame contacting portion to tbe rod and thereby to slide the rod from the first position to the second posilion, and a distance between the door frame contacting portion and the rod bearing portion being adjustable in length thereby adjusting the length of travel of the rod and so the length of fail of the seal.
45. An arrangement for automatic door sealing as in claim 7 wherein: a first of the second arms includes: a first end of the first of the second arm being pivotally fixed with a portion relative to the housing at a pivot, the portion being spaced from the second pivot axis of the respective connecting arm, and the portion and the second pivot axis being substantially on a line substantially parallel with the aperture; and, a second of the second arms includes: a first end of the second of the second arm being pivotally connected, at a pivot. with a portion which by action of the rod is slidably to bear against an adjustable stop and then the portion is fixed relative to the housing, the portion bearing against the stop being spaced from the second pivot axis of the respective connecting arm, and the portion and the second pivot axis being substantially on a line substantially parallel with the aperture; and, second ends of the second arms being pivotally and slidably connected to the canier and movable substantially parallel to the aperture along a virtual line upon which lics the first pivot axis of the connecting arm or the one of the connecting arians; and, the stop being adapted adjust the angle between the major axis of the seal and the major axis of the aperture thereby providing means to allow for unlevel floors.
46. A closure including a door scaling arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims.
47. An arrangement for automatic door sealing substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
48. A closure including an automatic sealing arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.