US2083421A - Threshold weather strip - Google Patents

Description

June 8, 1937. w. B. BAILEY THRESHOLD WEATHER STRIP Filed Nov, 11. 1935 s sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

MEF/fm 5%. @a BY j ATTORNEY June 8, 1937. w. B. BAILEY 2,083,421

THRESHOLD WEATHER STRIP Filed Nov. 11, 1935 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ln i *127.17 y' Tg-rm;

Vl@ El@ BY ATTORNEY INVENToR.

Fatented dune .1937

. y sesam .'rnansnonn wanna saam 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in threshold weather strips for use in preventing drafts beneath a door bottom and threshold and excluding clust, rain, snow, light.vetc., and particularly to a vertically movable strip which is projected downward to an operative position for contact with the threshold when the door is closed and raised to an inoperative position when the door is opened.

1o One object of the invention is to provide a neat and attractive ccnstructionof automatically operating strip which is applicable to either the inner or outer face of the door or to bottom grooves of doors, which is so mounted as to be i5 raised quickly at the moment of opening of the door and lowered at the moment of closing of the door so as to avoid rubbing friction between the strip and door surface at all other times in the opening and closing movements of the door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip which will automatically accommodate itself to unevenness of surfaces of threshold strips and variations in the distance between a threshold strip and bottom edge of the door, and which may additionally be manually adjusted to compensate for any extraordinary variations of such character which may occur in making an installation.'

A still further object of the invention is to provide a strip which is applicable with equal faciiity to right or left hand outwardlyy or inwardly swinging hinged house and doors of other buildings, including ordinary swinging doors, double action doors, wood vor metal and metal frame doors, and doors of the accordion type such as used on garages, lubricatingrooms of automobile service stations, store fronts, etc.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic threshold strip for doors which 49 is simple of construction, reliable and efficient in use, not liable to easily get out of order, and which may be installed and kept in proper service condition at acomparatively-low cost'.

With these and other objects in view, the in- '45 vention consists of the features of construction,

combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

whichz- 50 Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the application of the invention upon the inner side of a door.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

`-55 Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the ap- (Cl. 20u63) plication -of'the invention to the outer side of a door.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line ell-i of Fig. 3. l

Fig. 5 is a detail view looking toward the hing- 5 ing jamb of the door frame and the hinging edge of the door structure illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, showing parts of the invention mounted thereon.

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal-section through the strip holder and parts of the door, showing 10 the strip in its inoperative or retracted position.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the strip in itsl projected position.

Fig. B is a cross-section on line oi Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the strip actuis ating contact or device employed in the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 10 to 12., inclusive, are sections illustrating the movements of the strip actuating contact shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 9 in the movements 20 of the door.

Fig. 13 is aview showing the application of the invention to a door having a bottom groove in which the threshold strip is mounted.

Fig. 14 is a cross-section on line i-lli of 25 Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a view'of one of the strip retainers used therein.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view showing a contact for use on a door section Aof an accordion or 30 multiple section door' for actuating the strip on another door section.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view showing the use of an adjustable contact for use particularly on doors hung on metal frames. 35

Fig. 18 is a view of the contact shown in Fig. 17. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3 to 12, inclusive, l designates av door frame having a threshold 2 and on which is mounted a hinged door 3. 4@

On the innerside of this door, adjacent to the bottom edge thereof, is mounted a channeled sheet metal casing f, preferably formed of va folded piece of sheet metal, said casing being open at its bottom and ends and closed at its top and secured to the door by fastening screws 5. Disposed within this casing is a similarly formed sheet metal strip holder 6, in which is fitted the threshold strip 'i of felt, rubber or a combinationof these materials, or other suitable flexible or .resilient material. This strip 'E projects at its lower edge below the holder 5 and, as shown in the present instance, is removably and adjustably secured within the holder by providing the walls of the latter with indented projections entering the body of the` strip. These indented projections serve tohold the strip securely in place, but allow the walls of the holder to be bent outward to wlth'draw the indentations 5 from engagement with the strip when desired,

so that an old and worn out strip may be removed and another substituted in its place or so that the strip may be adjusted in the holder and secured so as to be positioned to suit variations l0 in the distance between the threshold and bottom edge of the door, whereby the strip may be arranged to make a' proper sealing contact when projected between the threshold' and door regardless of variations in distance betweenthe bottom edge of the door and portions of the threshold throughout the length of the latter.

`'I'he strip and its holder are vertically movable in the casing so as to be projected downwardly to an operative position and moved upwardly or withdrawn to an inoperative position. To this end, the holder 5 is pivotally connected, as at 5, to the free ends of a pair ot swinging links or levers I0, the opposite ends of which levers are pivotally mounted by pivot members II on the casing. The latter-named ends of the levers are also pivotally connected above and in line with the pivots II, as at I2, to an actuating plunger rod. bar or strip I3 which is movable in opposite directions to transmit motionto the links to project and retract the strip. The links or levers Il are so mounted and proportioned that a comparatively small range of movement ofY the plunger I3 will result in a relatively greater range of movement of the free ends of the links or levers, so that on an opening movement oi.' the door the threshold strip will be quickly retracted from an operative to an inoperative position, while upon a closing movement of the door, and upon actuating motion being applied to the plunger, a quick projection of the strip will be eilected at-the moment of closing oi' the door, but not before, by which means projection of the strip in extremes of movement oi the door will be prevented and the contact oi the strip with-the floor surface avoided so as to prevent undue wear thereon. In order to adapt the strip to be moved upwardly without interference to a fully retracted position, the upper edge of the holder' is provided with notches or recesses Il to receive and engage the pivot vmembers II, whereby' a locking connection is also formed to preventl longitudinal shifting of the parts when in retracted position. It will be noted that the pivotal connections 8 between the strip holder and the links I0l are arranged on one side of the transverse center of said holder and strip, whereby the strip is adapted to independently tilt vertically on said pivotal connections as a fulcrum to adapt the strip to adjust itself into equal sealing engagement at allpoints with the threshold when projected downwardly into contact therewith, whereby when the door is moved to closed position undue frictional engagementbetween the strip and threshold will be avoided and the strip 05 accurately and uniformly brought intosealing relation with the threshold.

The casing. strip and plunger extend across the door approximately the i'ull width thereof, and the plunger is connected at its end adjacent the hinge edge of the door with an actuating arm I 5 resting on and movable in guiding engagement with a guide member I5, which may comprise one of the fastening screws 5. Carried by this arm I5 is a guide pin or spindle I'I slidably engaging a 75 gulde'member I5 on the casing, and disposed a contact member adapted to be engaged by the arm I5 when the door is closed to transmit strip projecting motion tothe plunger at the moment of closing movement oi' the door. contact member comprises a plate 25 mounted intermediate of its ends upon a pivot member 2| which may be in the form of a staple securing This a bracket plate 22 to saidhinging lamb. ThisA construction of the contact member or plate 25 provides a plate having oppositely extending arms 23 and 25, providing a contact member capable of application to either jamb of the' door frame for use as a contact member whether the door is hinged either to the right hand or left hand jamb of the door, in which uses the arms 23 and 2l may serve alternately as contact arms engaged respectively by the strip plunger I 5 and the door or by inverting the contact member the arm 23 may be arranged to engage the plunger contact 4I5 and arm 24 the hinged edge ot the door in the mounting ot .the door on `either door jamb, Il' desired, a contact screw 24a may be applied to the hinged edge of the door to provide an adjustable contact member for engagement with arm 24, said screw being adjustable to take up any slack in loose installations between the arm 24 and hinged edge of the door. The bracket plate 22 is provided with a laterally projecting and angularly disposed stop and wear projection 25 and is likewise reversible so that said projection 25 may cooperate either with the arm 23 or the arm 25 in the use of one or the other as a plunger contact arm. In the example shown yin Figs. 1, 2, and 9 to l2,

inclusive, in which the arm 23 is-the plungerengaged arm and the arm 25 is adapted to be engaged by the hinged edge oi' the door, the

' projection 25 is disposed in the path oi' outward hinging jamb of the door frame. 'Ihe object inV this action of part 25 is`to properlydispose the contact member 20, during a door opening movement, for action on the plunger arm I5 on a door closing movement. The projection 25 preferably seats within a beveled recess 25 formed in the hinging jamb, so as to adapt the contact 20 to be4 brought to the proper angular position. By reference to Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive, the action of the contact 2li will be readily understood. When the door is closed, as shown in Hg. l2, the contact 2li, which is at this time in strip projecting position, 4lies parallel with the hinged edge of the door. When the door is swung open, at which time plunger I5 is in en gagement with arm 23, the pressure oi' the plunger on said arm causes the contact 2l to swing freely on its pivot 2|, in which action arm 23 moves away from the plunger arm` I5 and-comes in contact with stop 25, whereby the contact member is releasedquickly from ening, engages the contact arm 2t, as a. result of which, in the nal closing movement of the door,

the contact member 2@ is swung to the position lo shown in Fig. 12 from that shown in Fig. 11, thus bringing contact arm 28 into engagement with the plunger arm i5, whereby the threshold strip is projected at the moment of closing of the door.

From the foregoing description of the construction and operation of the strip, it will be seen that as long as the door is open and the arm it is out of engagement with the contact member 2d, the threshold strip will be held raised 20 or withdrawn to an inoperative position by the reaction of the spring l, but that in the swinging movement of the door to closed position, and at the time when the free edge of the door moves into engagement with the threshold, the outer 25 end of the plunger arm i5 will be brought into engagement with arm 23 of the contact member 2t, with the result that in the ilnal closing movement of the door the plunger rod will be actuated to quickly project the strip into engagement with 30 the threshold. In its projecting movement, it will be understood, the strip is forced downward in a substantially straight vertical path by the action of the plunger and motion transmitting links, but it is permitted by reason of the ar- 35 rangement of its pivotal connections with the links, to tilt vertically on said pivotal connections and link as -a fulcrum,V so as to automatically adjust itself to irregularities in the level of diierent portions of the threshold, if such be present, eo that undue wear of the `strip will be avoided and the strip will automatically seat itself into snug sealing engagement with the threshold. The strip when in operative position will efectualiy close the joint or space between the lower edge of the door and the threshold against passage of drafts of air or dust and entrance of rain, snow, or foreign elements of any kind between ythe door and threshold. ln the mounting 'of the door on the door frame to swing outwardly instead of inwardly, a contact plate 2l may be employed in place of the contact member, said plate being secured to the hinging jamb of the door frame adjacent its outer 'face by means of a fastening screw 253 and a combined fastening and contact screw 2Q, the latter serving to engage the outer end of the arm it to actuate the plunger IS when the door is closed and being adjusted so that a nicety of contact action can be obtained.

Fig. 1 particularly shows the application of the invention to the inner side or face of the door 3 but, if desired, and as shown in Fig. 3, the strip may be applied to the outer side or face of the door, which variations in arrangement may be made without alteration of the structure in any particular, and in either of these applications the contact 2@ or contact 21 may be employed accordingly as the door is mounted on the doorframe to swing inwardly or outwardly. 'I'hese parts are also interchangeable in arrangement and for use whether the door is hinged to the ri-ght hand or left hand jamb of the door frame. The movements of' the strip between inoperative and operative positions is shown in Fig. 7, from which an understanding of the capability of the lstead of upon the door fram'e.

strip to tilt to adjust itself to the threshold will be readily understood.

'I'he threshold strip, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, is also applicable to a door having a bottom groove or slot 30 to receive it and in which it is movably mounted. This groove or slot extends the full width of the door and is of equal depth and width throughout its length. At the end of the groove or slot opening through the hinged edge oi the door the end ofthe plunger arm is exposed for engagement with the closing contact on the hinging jamb of the door frame. The strip holder or casing is retained in position within the groove or slot by retaining elements 3| secured to the hinging and swinging edges of the door. Each of these retaining elewith spaced projections v35 extending into the y ends of the door groove or slot and above the upper and lower surfaces of the top wall of the casing t to support said casing and the strip in said door groove or slot.

The threshold strip is also applicable for use on revolving doors or multiple doors, that is, doors of the accordion type composed of sections hinged to each other and to a j'amb of the door frame, in which case a threshold strip is applied to the bottom of each door section. With such an arrangement, a strip closing contact for actuating the strip on the door section hinged to the jamb of the doorframe will be actuated bya contact member on the hinging jamb. as previously described, whilea special contact member will be provided upon the free edge of each door section for actuating the strip upon another door section hinged thereto. This special form of contact member may be of the type shown in Fig. 16, in which thefree edge of a door section 3a is shown as provided with a contact member 3 for actuating the plunger of the threshold stripupon another door section 3b hinged to said free edge of said section 3a. This contact memher 36 may be of suitable structure and mounted within the casing of the threshold strip on the door section 3a. As shown in the present instance, the contact 3d may be adjustable so that it may be properly positioned for use, being provided for this'purpose with a slot @l receiving a fastening screw or other element 38 securing it in place. By such arrangement of threshold strips upon the door sections and the provision of actuating contacts as described, the threshold strips upon all the door sections may be simultaneously operated, as will be readily understood.

The threshold strip may be applied to metallic doors and door frames in any of the ways described. It may be found desirable, however, where the door frame is made of metal and the door of either wood or metal, to provide a special type of contact to be mounted on the door in- A contact member 39 of this type yis shown in Figs. 17 and 18, which contact member is of bell crank form vand comprises a contact arm 40 and a pivot arm di, the latter having perforated ears d2 bent outwardiy therefrom to receive an adjusting and fastening screw 43 whereby said contact memv ber is pivotally mounted on the door or the strip casing to swing upward and toward and from the free end of the plunger arm il. This contact member is arranged so that as the door closes arm l0 will be swung toward the plungeriarm to force the same inwardly and thereby communicate'motion to the threshold' strip to project the same. Preferably arm 40 is U-shaped to form a body portion a integral with the arm `'Il and a contact portion or limb b integral at its lower end with the lower end of the portion 4| and'forming an adjustable contact plate.-

This plate is adjustable with relation to portion 40a by means of a wedge piece c slidably held between parts 40a. I Ilb so that the contact plate maybe adjusted to compensate for varying disf tances between the door frame and door due to warpingof the door or other causes. Such a type of contact may in some cases be used on the door frame instead of on the door as will be readily understood. Any other suitable type of contact for this purpose may be employed according to conditions of use, so that by the provision of special contacts and retainers, some of which are particularly disclosed, the threshold strip,

without change in the construction of the strip itself, may be applied to all types of doors made of wood, metal or composite materials.

If desired, a supplemental spring means may be provided to" act onthe end of the plunger Il at `the swinging edge of the door to assist1 the spring I! in retracting the strip holder 6 and strip 1. This comprises a-stem i1' slidable at one end in a guide member i8' fastened in place as by'one or more of the screws i, said stem bearing at its .Opposite end against the adjacent end of the plunger I3. A coiled spring i9 disposed about the stembetween the member Il and plunger I3 .acts thereon to assist spring Il in raising the strip bottom edge-of thefdoor against passage of drafts of air, rain, snow, and other material. While the structural organization shown is preferred, it will, of course, be understood that this is merely exempliflcative and that changes in the form, construction, andarrangement of the parts-within the scope of the appended -claims may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the, invention.

-What I claim iszb 1. In a threshold strip for'doors a casing on the door, a strip vertically movable in said casing, a plunger mounted for longitudinal movement in the* casing to project the strip for use, spring actuated means connecting the plunger with the casing for normally maintaining the strip and plunger in retracted position, pivotal connections between the strip and plunger for transmitting motion to the former from the latter, and a pivoted contact on the door frame having a door engaging portion on,l one side of its pivot and a plunger engaging portion on the other side of its pivot for successive engagement with the door and plunger on a closing movement of the door.

2. The combination with a door frame and door, of a threshold strip mounted for vertical movement on the door, a plunger mounted on the door, connecting means between the strip and plunger for actuating the. former from the latter, spring means for normally maintaining the strip and plunger in retracted position, and a pivotally mounted contact member on the door frame adapted to be engaged'by the door on its closing movement and to be thereby moved into the path ofthe plunger for actuating the plunger at the final point of the door closing movement. 3. Thev combination with a door frame and a door, of a threshold strip 'mounted for vertical movement on the door,'a plunger mounted on the door, connecting means between the plunger and strip for operating the latter from the former,l

spring means for normally maintaining the plunger and strip in retracted position, and la swinging contact element on the door frame en gageablelsuccessively 'by the door and plunger for actuating the plunger.

4. A threshold strip for doors comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the door, a strip member movable vertically in the casing, a plunger adapted to be actuated by contact `with a portion of the door frame for projecting thestrip member into engagement with the threshold of the door, and pivotal connections between the strip member and plunger for actuating the former from the latter, said pivotal connections being pivotally coupled at one end to the casing and to the plunger and at their opposite ends to the strip member, the latter-named ends of the pivotal connections being'pivoted to the strip on one side oi' the transverse center'of said strip.

5. A threshold strip for doors comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the door, a strip .member movable vertically in the casing, a

plunger adapted to be actuated by contact with a portion of the door frame for projectingv the strip member into engagement with the threshold of the door, and angularly arranged links pivotally connecting the strip member with the plunger for actuating the former from the latter,

vsaid links being pivotally connected at one end with the casingiand plunger and at their opposite ends to the strip member, the pivotal connections between the links and strip members being arranged at one side `of the transverse center of the latter to forml fulcrums on which the strip member may tilt vertically on said pivotal connections to accommodate itself to variations from the horizontal of the threshold of the door.

6. A threshold strip for doors comprising a casing, a strip vertically movable in said casing, a plunger mounted for longitudinal movement in the casing and adapted to be actuated by contact with a part of the door frame to projectthe strip into engagement with the threshold of the door, and links of triangular form pivoted at the corners of their basal edges to the casing and to the plunger respectively -and at their vertices to the strip for transmitting motion to the former from the latter, the latter-named ends of the links being pivoted to the strip on one side of the transverse center of the .strip to adapt the strip to tilt vertically on said pivots to accommodate itself to variations from the horizontal of the threshold of the door. WILLIAM B. BAILEY.

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