US20160130826A1

US20160130826A1 - Method and apparatus for repairing and sealing door and window jambs, frames, thresholds, and exterior trim

Info

Publication number: US20160130826A1
Application number: US15/000,855
Authority: US
Inventors: Michel R. Larochelle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-11-30
Filing date: 2016-01-19
Publication date: 2016-05-12

Abstract

A protective cover for the repair of exterior surfaces of a building and more specifically to protective covers of a water and environmentally resistant material that are pre-dimensioned to be used in the repair of standard sized door or window jambs, frames, thresholds or exterior trim and that may have pre-formed grooves to provide for the repair of non-standard sized door or window jambs, frames, thresholds or exterior trim. The protective covers may further be included in a kit that provides for a homeowner to easily size the covers to the appropriate dimension and perform a repair.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/219,264 filed Mar. 19, 2014 and claims the benefit of pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/910,336 filed Nov. 30, 2013 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPAIRING AND SEALING WOODEN DOOR AND WINDOW JAMBS both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to protective covers for the repair of exterior surfaces of a building that are susceptible to environmental elements or pests. The present invention more specifically relates to protective covers and jamb shield guards made from water and environmentally resistant materials that are pre-dimensioned or that provide preformed grooves aligned along the length and or width of the cover to provide for a user to cut along the groove and snap off an excess portion of the cover to properly fit over and seal all or a portion of standard or non-standard sized door or window jambs, frames, thresholds, or exterior trim. The protective covers may further be included in a kit that provides for a homeowner to easily size the covers to the appropriate dimensions and perform the repair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In most homes wood is commonly used in the construction of door and window jambs, frames, thresholds and exterior trim. The door or window jamb surrounds a door or window and affixes the frame of the door or window to a building. A threshold is at the base of the entryway of a door. Stain or paint is used to seal the wood and over time the sealant may chip causing cracking and degradation of the wood. The degradation is unsightly and causes air gaps that allow cold air and rain from outside a building to enter, causing drafts and increasing heating costs. The degradation also may cause rot and deterioration of the wood and structural elements of the building. While environmentally resistant thermoplastic materials are now more often used for door and window jambs, frames, trim, thresholds, and other exterior surfaces on newly built homes and other buildings, what is not known is a method to easily repair and seal degraded jambs, frames, thresholds, or other exterior trim surfaces. Currently, a common method to repair a door jamb is to replace the entire door, jamb and casing at a high cost. A repair that may be even more costly is the repair of degradation around a garage door. To repair the frame of a garage door, the track railings or roller brackets that guide the garage door must be removed from the frame, the frame must then be replaced and then the track railings must be reinstalled, a process that requires a number of hours of a skilled installer's time for proper repair. The present invention allows a building owner to keep older doors or windows in order to maintain the history and integrity of the architectural aesthetic of older structures without significant expense. The present invention also provides a way to repair the frame around a garage door without removing the railings. Additionally, the present invention provides a barrier from outside elements by creating a seal around any gaps or openings in the degraded wooden jamb, frame, threshold, or trim.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Door and window jambs that surround and support the door or window frames, the frames around doors, windows or garage doors, thresholds, and exterior trim surfaces are commonly painted or stained wood that degrades over time as paint and sealants chip away exposing the untreated wood to environmental elements and pests. The current method to repair deteriorating wooden door and window jambs, frames, or other exterior trim surfaces is to remove and replace the entire door or window along with the wooden jamb or the entire frame or exterior trim. This process costs a considerable amount of money and takes a fairly significant amount of time to complete. Generally, this process is left to professionals in order to execute the construction and installation properly, particularly in the replacement of doors, garage doors or windows. Alternatively, a portion of the degraded wooden jamb of a door, or a portion of a frame, threshold or trim may be removed and be replaced with another piece of wood that is cut and inserted into the chiseled out portion of the jamb, frame, threshold possibly causing gaps or an unsightly mismatch of finish where the two pieces do not fit perfectly together. The removal of a portion of the wooden jamb, frame, threshold or trim may take a considerable amount of time and labor as the wood is chipped out piece by piece using a chisel. The present invention saves significant time and money and allows a homeowner or others having limited technical knowledge to easily repair and seal door or window jambs, frames, thresholds, or other exterior surfaces that have deteriorated over time.
The present invention is related to pre-fit protective covers that provide for a user to easily size and install the protective cover over a doorjamb, garage door frame, window jamb or frame, threshold or other exterior surface and seal the protective cover over the degraded surfaces. The protective covers are dimensioned to a standard size in width and length that is adequate for a large number of standard size door jambs, door frames, and garage door frames. In some embodiments, the protective covers may provide a series of partially cut grooves that are aligned at standard dimensions to provide for a user to cut along a selected groove and snap off an excess portion of the cover in order to have the cover be the proper dimension in either width or length to match the surface being covered. In preferred embodiments, the grooves are formed by routing and removing only a portion along the cover preferably without cutting all of the way through or forming holes or slots in the cover that may diminish the structural integrity of the cover. The grooves may be formed in various shapes such as in a V-shaped, rabbet, ogee shaped or more preferably in a round over shape that forms a decorative curved bead along each side and removes any sharp edges along the groove. The round over routing shape as well leaves substantial material in forming the bead to prevent fractures or unevenness along the material when cutting. The round over shape also forms a narrow channel for the user to easily insert the knife in and cut along to slice through the groove. Once cut, the user applies pressure to the unwanted portion that breaks off cleanly and evenly to remove the excess and properly dimension the cover for the jamb, frame, threshold, or trim that is smaller than the standard dimensioned cover. The protective covers of the present invention may also be used with weather stripping and trim pieces for jambs, frames and exterior trim sections that are larger than the protective cover. The present invention also provides pre-fit door jamb shield guards that may be installed to cover and seal only a portion of the door jamb that has deteriorated for example at the base of a door jamb which is a common area where the door jamb degrades over time.
The protective covers of the present invention may also in some embodiments be used to cover window jambs, frames, thresholds, and exterior trim. However, unlike the standard dimension of door jambs, window jambs and frames, thresholds, and exterior trim are frequently of varying lengths and widths instead of standard sizes. To address non-standard sizes, the protective covers which may also be referred to as protective restoration covers or RE-JAMB® protective covers are pre-dimensioned to available standard sizes in width and in length of windows, thresholds or trim and a number of partially cut grooves are aligned along the length of the protective cover and/or the width of the cover to provide for a portion of the cover that is closest to the nearest appropriate dimension to be removed to properly size the protective cover in length and width to an adequate dimension for a particular window jamb or frame to cover and seal the surface from the environment or to properly size the protective cover to seal a degraded threshold or piece of exterior trim. Any number of grooves may be provided along the exterior surface of the cover with any remaining grooves providing a decorative element to the exterior surfaces sealed by the protective cover. When the appropriate dimension is chosen, a utility knife is run along the groove and because the depth of the groove extends almost through the thickness of the protective cover, the excess piece is easily snapped off and removed from the cover exactly along the groove leaving a smooth uniform edge and a properly dimensioned cover. In other embodiments, the grooves may be provided along the interior surface of the cover that is affixed to the jamb, frame or trim surface.
The RE-JAMB® protective covers are secured in place using an adhesive sealant, nails and/or other fasteners. The adhesive that is used is a sealant of a high quality formulation that creates a water resistant secure seal for a variety of surfaces and applications. The adhesive sealant may resist yellowing, cracking, chalking, and UV degradation. In applying the adhesive sealant, the adhesive sealant is extruded onto the rear surface of the cover and may also be applied along the edges to prevent water and other environmental elements from seeping under the cover and destroying the wood or other material beneath. The covers may be wiped clean and be painted or stained to match the coloring of the jamb, frame or exterior trim.
The RE-JAMB® protective covers are made from a free foam cellular polyvinyl chloride (PVC) trim board or other simulated wood or composite that is of a water and environmentally resistant plastic material that is free of voids, holes, cracks, foreign inclusions and other defects. The grooves may be formed by routing along the length of the protective cover at the standard dimensions most commonly used for the width of door jambs, or by routing a number of grooves for example at every ¼ of an inch or every ½ inch to provide for the proper amount of cover to be removed to fit jambs, frames, thresholds, and trims of non-standard dimensions. Additional grooves may be formed at the top or bottom of the cover to provide for the cover to be dimensioned to the proper length for a particular door jamb or frame, window jamb or frame, threshold or trim piece.
The RE-JAMB® protective covers are formed in some embodiments with a 90° right angle extension along the length of the cover to align the cover and provide a perpendicular surface that abuts and seals along the face of the jamb, frame or exterior trim. In other embodiments, the cover may be formed with an angle extension that is greater than 90° and more particularly between 90° and 100° to accommodate a slope such as the slope of a threshold that extends down from the base of the door to provide drainage. Protective covers with extension pieces at different angles of more than or less than 90° to accommodate particular angles of door or window jambs, frames or trim are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. The restoration covers may be manufactured through an extrusion or molding process to form the covers with the grooves at appropriate dimensions to properly fit over standard and non-standard jambs, frames and exterior trim of a building. Other manufacturing processes to form the covers are within the scope of the present invention.
The present invention relates to protective cover comprising a rear edge, a flat surface extending from the rear edge and an extension extending from the flat surface; at least one groove within the flat surface; and wherein the protective cover is properly sized by cutting along the groove and removing material from the protective cover. The protective cover may be installed over and affixed to an exterior surface of a building. The protective cover may be dimensioned to a standard dimension of a jamb, frame, or trim. In some embodiments, the at least one groove extends along the entire length of the protective cover. In some embodiments, the at least one groove extends along the entire width of the protective cover. In some embodiments, the at least one groove has a round over shape. The round over shape forms a narrow channel and leaves substantial material along the groove to prevent fractures or unevenness along the material when cutting. The extension of the protective cover may extend at an angle of 90 degrees, at an angle greater than 90 degrees, or at an angle less than 90 degrees. The extension of the protective cover may extend at an angle of between 90 degrees and 100 degrees to cover a threshold. The extension of the protective cover may extend to the left from the flat surface to form a left vertical protective cover or to the right to form a right vertical protective cover. In some embodiments, the left vertical protective cover and the right vertical protective cover each have one end cut at an angle of between 5 and 10 degrees. In some embodiments, the left vertical protective cover and the right vertical protective cover have an upper edge formed at an angle of 45 degrees and an upper horizontal protective cover may be formed having both ends formed at an angle of 45 degrees; and the upper edge of the left and right vertical protective covers may mate with one of each end of the horizontal protective cover. The protective cover may be in a range of 6 inches to 30 inches in length to cover the lower surface of a degraded door jamb.
The present invention is related to a method of repairing a jamb of a door or window comprising cleaning a jamb; forming a protective cover having a rear edge, a flat surface extending from the rear edge, an extension extending from the flat surface and at least one groove; sizing the protective cover to a dimension matching the dimension of the jamb by cutting along the groove; snapping off excess material of the protective cover along the groove; and aligning the extension over a face of the jamb; and installing the protective cover over the jamb.
The present invention is related to a method of repairing a garage door frame comprising cleaning a garage door frame; applying adhesive to a protective cover; and installing the protective cover over the garage door frame. The method of repairing a garage door frame may comprise applying adhesive to a trim piece; installing the trim piece over the garage door frame adjacent the protective cover. The method of repairing a garage door frame may comprise applying adhesive to a piece of weather stripping; installing the piece of weather stripping over the garage door frame adjacent the protective cover.
These and other features, advantages and improvements according to this invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. While references may be made to upper, lower, vertical and horizontal, these terms are used merely to describe the relationship of covers to the surfaces being covered and not to limit the present invention to any one orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a degraded portion of a door jamb;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view an embodiment of the protective restoration cover of the present invention installed on the degraded door jamb of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a degraded door jamb and the vertical and horizontal protective covers of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the protective covers of the present invention installed to the degraded door jamb of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a door, door jamb, exterior trim and wall of a building;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a door, door jamb, exterior trim and wall of a building with the protective covers of the present invention installed over the doorjamb;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a portion of a vertical protective cover of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a horizontal protective cover of the present invention;

FIG. 6C is a perspective view of a portion of a degraded door jamb with adhesive;

FIG. 6D is a perspective view of the protective restoration covers of the present invention installed to the degraded door jamb of FIG. 6C;

FIG. 7A is an elevation view of an upper portion of an embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is an elevation view of a lower portion of the embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present invention of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C is a perspective end view of a portion of an embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present invention of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a door, door jamb, exterior trim and wall of a building with the protective restoration covers of the present invention installed;

FIG. 9A is an elevation view of an upper portion of an embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is an elevation view of a lower portion of the embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present invention of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 9C is a perspective end view of a portion of the embodiment of the vertical protective cover of the present invention of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A is an end view of a protective restoration cover of the present invention;

FIG. 10B is an end view of the protective restoration cover shown in FIG. 10A cut to a shorter width than shown in FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10C is an end view of the protective restoration cover shown in FIG. 10A cut to a shorter width than shown in FIG. 10B;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a door, exterior trim and wall of a building with a door jamb with a shorter width than the door jamb of FIG. 8 with the protective restoration covers of the present invention installed;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a door, exterior trim and wall of a building with a door jamb with a shorter width than the door jamb of FIG. 11 with the protective restoration covers of the present invention installed;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the protective restoration cover referred to herein as a jamb shield guard that covers only a portion of a door jamb;

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the embodiment of the jamb shield guards of FIG. 13 and a door with degraded door jambs;

FIG. 14B is a perspective view of the embodiment of the door with degraded door jambs with the jamb shield guards installed;

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the protective restoration covers referred to herein as a jamb shield guards that cover only a portion of a door jamb with grooves at different pre-dimensioned widths;

FIG. 15B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the protective restoration covers referred to herein as the jamb shield guards that cover only a portion of a door jamb with a groove cut at a pre-dimensioned width;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a window, window jamb, exterior trim and wall of a building;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a portion of a further embodiment of the protective restoration cover of the present invention having a number of grooves;

FIG. 18A is a perspective view of a portion of the further embodiment of a pre-dimensioned protective restoration cover of FIG. 17 having one or more grooves for various window jamb widths, window frames, and exterior trim;

FIG. 18B is a perspective view of a portion of the further embodiment of a pre-dimensioned protective restoration cover of FIG. 18A cut at one of the pre-dimensioned grooves for various window jamb widths, window frames, and exterior trim;

FIG. 19A is an end view of the further embodiment of the protective restoration cover of the present invention of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19B is an end view of the further embodiment of the protective restoration cover of the present invention cut to a shorter width than shown in FIG. 19A;

FIG. 19C is an end view of the further embodiment of the protective restoration cover of the present invention cut to a shorter width than shown in FIG. 19B; and

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a window, window jamb, exterior trim and wall of a building with the further embodiment of the protective restoration covers of the present invention installed;

FIG. 21A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the protective cover of the present invention sized to cover a threshold of a door;

FIG. 21B is a perspective view of the embodiment of the protective cover of the present invention of FIG. 21A installed on a threshold of a door;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of still further embodiment of a protective restoration cover with an extension that is at an angle that is greater than 90 degrees;

FIG. 23A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the protective cover of the present invention sized to cover the damaged frame of a garage door; and

FIG. 23B is a perspective view of the embodiment of the protective cover of the present invention of FIG. 23A installed on the frame of a garage door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Over time, paint 2 or sealant on the exterior surface of a door jamb 4 may chip and peel, as shown in FIG. 1, leaving the door jamb 4 susceptible to degradation by wind, rain, cold, and other environmental elements or pests. Particularly at the base of the door jamb 4 where the door 5 meets the threshold 3 and along the threshold 3 where rain and melted snow drain down along the slanted surface of the threshold, the paint 2 very often peels. The slant for drainage of the threshold may be at a minimal angle Ø_Tof only between 5° and 10° and most commonly at an angle of about 6° for most exterior doors. As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention is a pre-dimensioned RE-JAMB® protective cover 10 that may be installed over a door jamb 4 and be sealed along the slanted surface of the threshold 3 and along the weather stripping 11 that is aligned along the door 5 to protect and prevent further degradation of the exterior surface of the door jamb 4. In some embodiments, the pre-dimensioned protective covers of the present invention are cut or formed to standard door and window jamb lengths and widths to be aligned and affixed to the surface of a jamb, frame, threshold or portion of exterior trim. In other embodiments protective cover 10 may be easily modified to fit and cover smaller sized jambs, frames or exterior trim using unique preformed grooves 35 that make the cover easy to re-size so that a repair can be performed by any homeowner or individual of limited technical ability. The grooves are a distinctive feature of the RE-JAMB® protective cover because they are formed by routing along the material to cut out a portion of the material without effecting the structural integrity or resilience of the material. The groove of the protective cover is unlike a perforated line of punctures or slots that go completely through the material and weaken the material along the perforation. By routing and only partially cutting through the material, the groove forms a line of material that is thinner and easier to cut through, but that does not have any openings or weakened line of material that may easily break when transporting or installing the protective cover, particularly where the environmentally resistant composites may sometimes be brittle types of materials. The grooves may be formed in various shapes such as in a V-shape, rabbet or ogee shape or more preferably in a round over shape that forms a decorative curved bead along each side and removes any sharp edges along the groove. The round over routing also forms a narrow channel 34 for the user to provide for the user to easily cut along and slice through the groove. The round over routing also leaves a sufficient amount of material on each edge of the groove to produce a smooth and rigid edge when cut that will not fracture or break unevenly. Using the round over shape or other styles and shapes, the edges of the remaining grooves create a decorative element to the protective cover.
In a preferred embodiment the protective cover used on the sides of a door jamb 4 is pre-cut at one end at an angle Ø_Cof between 5° and 10° and more preferably at 6° to match the minimal angle Ø_Tof the slant of the threshold and to mate and maintain contact with the slanted surface of the threshold. This is an important feature that prevents gaps between the protective cover and the threshold 3 at a point prone to degradation. The angle Ø_Cof the cover assists in the application of an adhesive sealant 17 along the base of the cover 10 and threshold 3 to seal and prevent water from seeping behind the cover and damaging the wood underneath. This unique feature addresses and repairs a very common problem of leaking at the bottom of the door jamb and threshold that if left untreated can result in rot and mold effecting the structural integrity of a building.
For a door, the protective covers, as shown in FIG. 3A, are pre-dimensioned to a standard size as a left side vertical cover 10, a right side vertical cover 12 and a top horizontal cover 14. The pre-dimensioned protective covers 10, 12 and 14 are installed over each exterior surface of the left and right door jamb and the upper jamb using an adhesive, nails, brads, and/or other fasteners to completely seal the cover to the jamb 4. The protective door jamb covers are shown installed to the door jamb 4 in FIG. 3B. The cover 12 is of a minimal thickness that when installed provides adequate space and clearance for a lock 1 or door knob 7 to not interfere with the cover 12 when opening or closing the door 5. The covers may be painted or stained to match other exterior trim 6 or complement the exterior walls 9 of the building.
As shown in FIG. 4, a door jamb 4 abuts an exterior wall 9 of a building that surrounds an exterior door 5. On the face 31 of the door jamb 4, a casing 6 or exterior trim extends over the door jamb 4 and seals over the shell of the exterior wall 9. The exterior surfaces of the casing 6 and door jamb 4 are susceptible to wear and commonly as wood products, must be periodically repainted or stained to seal the door 5 and trim 6 from the elements. The door 5 may have a door frame 16 holding glass windows or door panels 8 with a hinge 15 adjacent an interior casing 13 affixing the door 5 to the door jamb 4. The interior casing 13 or trim is installed along the door jamb 4 and wall 9. A first embodiment of the pre-dimensioned protective restoration covers 10 and 12 are installed along each exterior surface of each door jamb 4 to the left and right of the door 5 using an adhesive, nails, brads, and/or other fasteners to completely seal the cover to the jamb 4 as shown in FIG. 5. A right angle extension 27 of the protective covers 10 and 12 extends over the face 31 of the door jamb 4 to abut along the exterior trim 6.
As shown in FIGS. 6A-6D, a horizontal protective cover 14 is installed to the upper surface of the door jamb 4 with the right angle extension 27 of the horizontal cover 14 aligning along the face 31 of the upper door jamb 4. In preferred embodiments, to install the protective cover 14, a suitable amount of the adhesive 17 is applied using a caulking gun or other tool along a portion of the upper door jamb 4. The adhesive 17 may be applied linearly along the length of the jamb 4 and then in a zigzag pattern. It is important that the application of adhesive 17 is adequate to prevent the protective cover from coming loose over time, although an excessive amount is not needed where the excess will spread out of the cover and may be unsightly when dried. The left vertical cover 10 is then aligned along the left door jamb 4. The base of the protective cover is pre-cut at the angle Ø_Cso that the base of the left vertical cover 10 mates with the angle Ø_Tof the slanted surface of the threshold 3 to minimize and prevent gaps between the cover 10 and the threshold 3. The top of the left vertical cover 10 mates with the horizontal protective cover 14. Adhesive 17 is applied to the left vertical surface of the door jamb 4 and the left vertical protective cover 10 is installed. Once the left vertical protective cover 10 is properly secured in place, adhesive 17 is applied along the base of the cover 10 as shown in FIG. 2 to seal the pre-cut angular base to the threshold 3 and prevent water from leaking behind the protective cover 10 and destroying the wood underneath. Each section of the jamb 4 may be done separately and the right vertical cover 12 may be installed by repeating the steps. Alternatively, the protective covers may be affixed to the surfaces of the door jamb 4 using brads, nails, and/or other fasteners which may then be sealed using adhesive sealant 17.
In some embodiments, the protective cover has a straight uniform rear edge 28 substantially perpendicular to the axis X, as shown in FIGS. 7A-7C. Each upper end surface 18 of the left and right vertical covers 10 and 12 may be formed at a 45° angle to mate with 45° angles formed on both end surfaces 19 of the upper horizontal protective cover 14 for easier alignment and installation. As described herein an important feature of the protective cover is forming the base of the left and right vertical covers 10 and 12 with the pre-cut angle Ø_Cto minimize or prevent any gaps between the cover and the door threshold 3 that could allow water to damage the wood behind the cover. The base of the door jamb 4 is a very vulnerable location for leaking and degradation of the door jamb 4. The present invention with this unique feature repairs this common problem. The base 21 of the cover is pre-cut at the angle Ø_Cthat is in a range of 5°-10° and more specifically at an angle of approximately 6° from the axis X which is perpendicular to the rounded edge 33 of the protective cover as shown in FIG. 7B. The angle provides for the base 21 to be fitted without gaps to the door threshold 3 and be sealed with adhesive to prevent precipitation from seeping behind the protective cover and damaging the wood below. In some embodiments, particularly for door jambs of non-standard lengths, the grooves 23 may be routed in parallel to the angled base 21 of the cover to provide for the removal of excess material for door jambs of smaller lengths, as shown in FIG. 7B. In other embodiments, particularly for window jambs, frames, thresholds or exterior trim that may be of non-standard lengths, the base of the cover may be formed along the X-axis so that the base is perpendicular to the length of the cover 10. The grooves in these embodiments are also formed perpendicularly to the length. Similarly, to the grooves that are cut and snapped off to adjust the width, the base grooves 23 may provide for material to be easily removed from the base in order to fit the cover properly over the jamb 4, frame, threshold 3, or trim. The grooves 23 may extend along the rounded edge 33 and right angled extension 27.
The protective covers have a flat exterior surface 25 that extends from the rear edge 28 to the rounded edge 33 that forms the 90° right angle extension 27 along the length of the cover. The right angle extension 27 provides a perpendicular interior surface 29 as shown in FIG. 7C, that abuts and seals along the face 31 of the jamb 4 or exterior facing surface of a frame, threshold or exterior trim to provide support for the cover to be easily aligned and secured in place using the adhesive 17 or other fastener. The edge 33 along the extension 27 is rounded and smooth to prevent sharp edges that may catch or be damaged. After installation, any gaps between the protective covers 10, 12, and 14 and the threshold 3 or casing 6 should be filled with the adhesive 17 to completely seal the door jamb 4. All excessive adhesive 17 should be removed and the protective cover surfaces 25 may be cleaned and painted or stained to match the exterior walls 9 or trim 6 of the building.
A further embodiment of the present invention allows the user to custom fit the present invention to non-standard or smaller standard sized door or window jamb widths or other exterior trim surfaces. In this embodiment, one or more grooves 35 are formed or routed along the width of the protective covers 20 and 22 at distances that correspond to one or more additional standard sizes for a door jamb 4, as shown in FIG. 8. The grooves 35 are formed in the cover with a round over shape or in other shapes that may provide an aesthetic design. The round over shape may provide additional material along the edges of the groove to prevent fractures and uneven shearing when a groove is cut through using a utility knife. The round over shape also provides a narrow channel 34 for the knife to be inserted into to easily cut along the groove 35. For a standard size door jamb 4 the grooves 35 provide an unobtrusive element along the length of the jamb as shown in FIGS. 9A-9C forming a first surface 37, a second surface 39 and a third surface 41 from the exterior surface 25 of the cover. The grooves and other features such as the right angle extension 27, the rounded edge 33, the surface end 18 formed as a 45° angle to mate with other restoration covers, and the base 21 formed at the angle Ø_Cwhich may be in a range of 5°-10° and may more specifically at an angle of approximately 6° to accommodate the angle Ø_Tof the threshold 3, are all important elements of this further embodiment of the protective covers.
As shown in FIGS. 10A-10C, the protective restoration cover is dimensioned at a largest standard size C and the grooves 35 are aligned at a smaller standard size B and an even smaller standard size A to provide for a single cover to be used to seal door jamb widths of three different standard sizes. Any number of grooves 35 can be routed into the cover to accommodate jambs and trim of various dimensions for doors and windows in both commercial and residential buildings. The thickness t required for the restoration cover does not need to be more than a minimal thickness to seal adequately and structurally support the protective cover against the door jamb 4. The thickness may be in a range from 1/16 inch to 7/16 inch taking into account the space required to accommodate a hand turning a doorknob 7 or turning a key in a lock 1. For smaller width jambs, the cover can be cut through the groove using a utility knife-like tool and then the excess material can be snapped off. The rigidity of the composite material that forms the protective cover provides for the excess material and the routing of the groove without fully cutting through cover which provides for the edge to cleanly break along a break point of the groove to form a uniform edge along the cover.
As shown in FIG. 11, to fit a smaller standard width degraded door jamb 4, the protective covers 20 and 22 are cut along the groove 35 at the standard size B using a utility knife. The excess material 41 is then snapped off and removed from the cover. The newly dimensioned piece is then installed to the door jamb 4 using adhesive 17 or another fastener. For an even smaller standard width door jamb 4 the protective covers 20 and 22 are cut along the second groove 35 at the standard size A and the excess material at 41 and 39 are snapped off to fit the smaller standard size as shown in FIG. 12. In this manner the same cover can be pre-dimensioned and grooved to fit door jambs of different standard sizes. The protective covers as shown wrap around the jamb 4 and extend to the exterior casing 6 to shield the wooden jamb from weather and pests.
In a further embodiment, the present invention allows for a user to use the protective restoration cover to cover a smaller portion of a door jamb 4 rather than the entire door jamb. The restoration cover sections or jamb shield guards 30 and 32 are in a range of 6 inches to 30 inches long and more preferably 12 inches in length as shown in FIG. 13. The base 21 of the shield guard is cut at angle Ø_Cwhich may be in a range of 5°-10° and may be more specifically at an angle of approximately 6° angle from the axis X or at any angle that is needed to accommodate the slant of a threshold, an angled frame or angled piece of exterior trim. As previously described, the angle Ø_Cprovides for the shield guard to securely fit to a threshold 3 and be sealed with adhesive 17 to prevent precipitation from seeping behind the restoration cover and damaging the wood below. The top edge 38 is rounded or angled and extends along the right angle extension 27 to deflect any precipitation away from the building. Similarly, to the full protective covers, the edge 33 from the front surface 25 is rounded to the extension 27 with the rear interior surface 29 of the extension 27 wrapping around the face 31 of the door jamb 4 providing for the alignment and sealing of the jamb shield guard to the base of the door jamb 4. As shown in FIG. 14A, a left jamb shield guard 30 and a right jamb shield guard 32 is provided for the lower portion 36 of each door jamb 4 where higher degradation and pealing of the paint or stain is common. The lower portion 36 of the door jamb 4 is cleaned and any loose paint chips are removed and adhesive 17 is applied to the lower portion 36. Each of the left and right jamb shield guards 30 and 32 are then aligned and installed to cover and seal the lower portion 36 of the door jamb 4 as shown in FIG. 14B. The exterior surface 25 of the shield guards 30 and 32 are primarily flat and can be of any color to match existing trim or be painted or stained.
In a further embodiment as shown in FIG. 15A, the jamb shield guards 30 and 32 may have grooves 35 to properly size the shields for door jambs 4 of smaller dimensions as described above. As described, the grooves 35 are formed along standard dimensions for door jamb widths, and the shield guards 30 and 32 are resized by cutting along the appropriate groove 35 using a utility knife. The round over routing shape of the grooves 35 leaves substantial material in forming a bead along the groove which helps to prevent fractures or unevenness of the material when cutting. The round over shape also forms a narrow channel 34 for the user to easily insert the knife in and cut along to slice through the groove. The excess material 41 is then snapped off of the shield guards 30 and 32 to produce a clean uniform edge 43, as shown in FIG. 15B.
The present invention further provides for protective covers to be used to cover window jambs, frames, and exterior trim. As shown in FIG. 16, a window jamb 54 similarly surrounds a window frame 55 and mounts the window to the wall of a building. Exterior casing 56 aligns along the window jamb 54 and exterior surface of the wall 59 and interior trim 53 is installed along the window jamb 54 and interior surface of the wall 59. The window frame 55 holds the glass window panes 58. However, unlike the width of door jambs 4, window jambs 54 and frames 55 as well as exterior trim 56 are of varying widths with very few standard sizes. For windows, the protective covers are cut, extruded or molded to standard window sizes in length and in width. A number of partially cut grooves 35 are aligned along the length of the protective cover, as shown in FIG. 17, and/or the width of the cover to provide for excess material at the nearest appropriate dimension to be removed to properly size the protective cover in length and width to an adequate dimension for a particular window jamb 54 or frame to cover and seal the jamb or frame from the environment. The top 68 of the protective cover 62 may be formed at a 45° angle as described previously to mate with the 45° angled ends of a horizontal cover installed along the top of the window jamb 54. The cover 62 is formed with a 90° right angle extension 67 along the length of the cover 62 to provide a perpendicular interior surface 69 that abuts and seals along the face 51 of the window jamb 54 to provide support for the cover 62 to be easily aligned and secured in place using the adhesive 17 or other fastener. The edge 63 along the extension 67 is rounded and smooth to prevent sharp edges that may catch or be damaged.
As shown in FIG. 18A, any number of grooves 35 may be provided along the exterior surface 65 of the cover 62 with any remaining grooves 35 providing a decorative element to the window cover. The grooves 35 may be of one or of various shapes to form particular decorative elements in the cover. When the appropriate dimension is chosen, a utility knife is run along the groove 35 and because the depth of the groove extends almost through the thickness of the pre-dimensioned cover 62 but not entirely through and there are no holes or slots the excess piece 71 is easily snapped off, as shown in FIG. 18B, and removed from the cover 62 exactly along the groove leaving a smooth uniform edge 73. As shown in FIG. 19A, the restoration cover 62 is dimensioned at a largest standard size F and the grooves 35 are aligned at smaller non-standard sizes A through E with the non-standard size A being the smallest size and non-standard size E being the second to largest size. Any pre-dimensioned size may be selected and with small distances of ⅛ inch to ½ inch between the grooves 35 provides for many options available to accommodate many sizes of window jambs 54, frames, thresholds, or exterior trim. As shown in FIG. 19B, any groove may be selected such as along the non-standard size E that with the small distances between the grooves will provide sufficient sealing of the jamb 54. The remaining grooves 35 provide an unobtrusive element along the length of the jamb 62 adding a pleasing design element. For smaller window jambs 54, the non-standard size C may be selected as an example. In this manner, the grooves 35 provide for a single cover to be used to seal door jambs of many different standard sizes. The protective covers 60 and 62 are installed to the window jamb 54 as shown in FIG. 20.
The door restoration covers may be made from a free foam cellular polyvinyl chloride (PVC) trim board or other simulated wood or composite that is of a water and environmentally resistant material that is free of voids, holes, cracks, foreign inclusions and other defects. The restoration covers may be cut and routed from the PVC trim board that is cut to a standard length for a door or window jamb. The PVC trim board may be of a thickness from ¼ inch to 1 inch of a width from 4 to 6 inches or of any dimension that is larger than standard door or window jamb sizes. The corners of the PVC trim board are square, and the top and bottom surfaces are flat with no convex or concave deviation. In manufacturing the restoration cover, the PVC trim board width is cut or ripped down to the largest of a standard door or window jamb size. The edges of the trim board are rounded and the grooves are routed along one surface of the cover. Alternatively, the protective covers may be manufactured through a molding process to form the covers with the grooves and rounded edges, or through an extrusion process to form the grooves and cut the covers to the proper length and width. The grooves are preferably formed using a round over shape and without completely cutting through the material in order to maintain the structural integrity of the cover, provide a narrow channel 34 that may be easily cut along and prevent fractures and uneven edges along the cut. In alternative embodiments within the scope of the present invention, the grooves may be formed in various other shapes and be formed as a series of holes or slots along the length or width of the cover.
The protective restoration covers may further be included in a kit that includes an adhesive 17 and provides for a homeowner to easily size the covers to the appropriate dimension using a utility knife and perform the repair. The present invention, however is not recommended for use where due to age and neglect a door jamb 4 or window jamb 54 is rotted underneath and extensive structural damage has occurred to the house or building. The present invention should only be used before any severe wood rot issues have affected the structural integrity. The restoration covers of the present invention will seal wood trim from any further degradation; however, the installation over rotted frames and trim may cause serious damage to the house or structure behind the trim that may worsen overtime. A careful check for rot such as by taking a screwdriver and pushing on the wood is required prior to installation of the protective restoration covers. If the screwdriver goes through the wood, that is an indication that the wood is rotted and replacement of the structural components of the building and frame must be completed with and/or in place of installing the protective restoration covers of the present invention.
In installing the protective restoration covers of the present invention, it is advisable that any surface debris such as dirt and paint chips remaining on the jamb, frame or trim be removed and cleaned. Any gaps in the wood should be caulked to prevent further degradation before installation of the restoration covers. The weather stripping 11 traditionally used between the jamb 4 and the door 5 or window 58, may be replaced prior to installation of the restoration covers or shield guards to assist with sealing the outdoor elements out and keeping heating or cooling within the building or structure. The protective restoration cover is then sized and positioned to be properly fitted over each section of the jamb, frame, or trim. The pre-fit pieces of the protective restoration covers are sized to fit most standard door or window jambs and for doors most are sized in one of the three standard dimensions. For larger standard door jambs, the cover pieces should fit without any modification to the pre-cut dimensions. For smaller or non-standard jambs, frames or trim, the restoration cover may be sized by cutting along the pre-formed grooves with a utility knife and breaking off the excess material. In this manner, a single cover may be used to seal and protect jambs, frames and trims of various sizes. Once installed, final caulking along the seams and corners of the cover seals and protects the jamb, frame, or trim underneath. The protective covers may then be painted or stained to match the exterior trim of the building.
The RE-JAMB® protective cover 70 of the present invention may also be installed on the threshold 3 of a door 5 to repair a degraded threshold 3, as shown in FIG. 21A. In some embodiments, a horizontal cover 14 is of the appropriate length for most thresholds and the grooves along the length of the cover 14 provide for the width of the cover to be sized appropriately to the width of the threshold 3. Using a utility knife, a groove of the proper dimension is removed from the cover. The cover is then installed to the threshold using adhesive 17 and is sealed to the base of the left and right door jamb 4 or to protective covers or jamb shields of the present invention if also installed to door jamb 4, as shown in FIG. 21B. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 22, the protective cover 72 may be formed with an extension 74 that extends from the flat exterior surface 76 at an angle Ø_Pthat is greater than 90° to accommodate for the slant of a threshold or for a frame or trim piece that has an extension that is at an angle that is greater than 90° in order to have the extension 74 of the cover 72 make contact and minimize or prevent gaps between the cover 72 and surface of the threshold, frame or trim. Preferably, the extension angle Ø_Pis between 90° and 100° and more particularly 96° to match the slope of a threshold that is commonly at an angle of 6° for drainage. Other embodiments of the protective cover may be formed with an extension that extends from the flat exterior surface at an angle that is less than 90° to similarly maintain contact and prevent gaps particularly for a frame piece such as a windowsill that extends out from the building and has a slanted front surface. The protective cover 72 may have a series of grooves 78 perpendicular to the length of the cover to properly size the cover to the length of a threshold, frame or piece of trim as shown, or along the length of the cover to size the cover 72 to the appropriate width.
The RE-JAMB® protective cover 70 of the present invention may also be installed to the frame 80 of a garage door 82 that supports the garage door 82 on a building 84. As shown in FIG. 23A, a garage door that has been damaged or that is degrade may be repaired by installing a properly sized protective cover 86 to the outer edge 88 of the frame 80. Garage door frames are very often standard sizes but in some instances the width of the frame 80 may be larger than the protective cover 86. In some embodiments, a second protective cover such as one having multiple grooves may be sized to cover any uncovered portions of the frame 80. Alternatively, a rectangular trim piece 90 may be installed with the cover 86 to fully cover and repair the frame 80. Replacement weather stripping 92 that is available in proper lengths for the frame 80 of the garage door 82 may also be installed in the repair as shown in FIG. 23B. By using the protective cover 84 of the present invention, the frame 80 of the garage door 82 may be repaired without replacing the frame 80 or requiring the removal of the garage door 82, the track railings or any other components from the garage door 82 thereby saving costs and not requiring a high level of skill to perform the repair.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A protective cover comprising:

a rear edge, a flat surface extending from the rear edge and an extension extending from the flat surface;

at least one groove within the flat surface; and

wherein the protective cover is properly sized by cutting along the groove and removing material from the protective cover.

2. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the protective cover is installed over and affixed to an exterior surface of a building.

3. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the protective cover is dimensioned to a standard dimension of a jamb, frame, or trim.

4. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the at least one groove extends along the entire length of the protective cover.

5. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the at least one groove extends along the entire width of the protective cover.

6. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the at least one groove having a round over shape.

7. The protective cover of claim 6 wherein the round over shape forms a narrow channel.

8. The protective cover of claim 6 wherein the round over shape leaves substantial material along the groove to prevent fractures or unevenness along the material when cutting.

9. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the extension extends at an angle of 90 degrees.

10. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the extension extends at an angle greater than 90 degrees.

11. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the extension extends at an angle less than 90 degrees.

12. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the extension extends at an angle of between 90 degrees and 100 degrees to cover a threshold.

13. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the extension extends to the left from the flat surface to form a left vertical protective cover or to the right to form a right vertical protective cover.

14. The protective cover of claim 13 wherein the left vertical protective cover and the right vertical protective cover each having one end cut at an angle of between 5 and 10 degrees.

15. The protective cover of claim 13 wherein the left vertical protective cover and the right vertical protective cover having an upper edge formed at an angle of 45 degrees and an upper horizontal protective cover is formed having both ends formed at an angle of 45 degrees; and

wherein the upper edge of the left and right vertical protective covers mate with one of each end of the horizontal protective cover.

16. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the protective cover is in a range of 6 inches to 30 inches in length to cover the lower surface of a degraded door jamb.

17. A method of repairing a jamb of a door or window comprising:

cleaning a jamb;

forming a protective cover having a rear edge, a flat surface extending from the rear edge, an extension extending from the flat surface and at least one groove;

sizing the protective cover to a dimension matching the dimension of the jamb by cutting along the groove;

snapping off excess material of the protective cover along the groove; and

aligning the extension over a face of the jamb; and.

installing the protective cover over the jamb.

18. A method of repairing a garage door frame comprising:

cleaning a garage door frame;

applying adhesive to a protective cover; and

installing the protective cover over the garage door frame.

19. The method of repairing a garage door frame of claim 18 comprising applying adhesive to a trim piece;

installing the trim piece over the garage door frame adjacent the protective cover.

20. The method of repairing a garage door frame of claim 18 comprising:

applying adhesive to a piece of weather stripping;

installing the piece of weather stripping over the garage door frame adjacent the protective cover.