US2294856A - Door - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1942. W 2,294,856

DOOR

Filed June 26, '1940 2 sheets-sham 1 43 9 L 6 I u ZZ/fl INVENTOR GEORGE L. WEST a ewcffim HTTOE/VE' K Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UNHTED STATES T OFFICE DOOR Application June 26, 1940, Serial No. 342,476

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to door constructions and it has particular relation to a construction involving a single monolithic panel of tempered glass as a closure element.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple convenient and attractive method of securing the hinges to a door panel of the foregoing type with a minimum modification of the panel.

This and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and the appended claims.

The mounting of doors, such as those employed in shower stalls, public buildings and other places, from monolithic panels of tempered glass presents certain problems not encountered in connection with doors of conventional material. In particular it is highly desirable that the mountings for the hinges and other hardware accompanying the door be as inconspicuous as possible, in order to preserve the appearance of the door as consisting of a single monolithic panel of crystal-like material. This precludes the use of a conventional glass door construction in which a glass panel is simply set in a rabbeted opening in a door of wood, metal or the like. Furthermore, because of the hardness and brittleness of the material, it is relatively difficult or impossible to provide openings and mortises in the panel, such as are commonly employed in connection with doors of conventional materials. In some instances, for example, in doors employed in shower stalls it is, also, desirable to provide certain of the edges of the door with flexible flashings of rubber or other suitable water-resistant material designed to provide a seal about the edge of the door. This, of course, introduces additional problems in connection with tempered lass doors.

The present invention involves as one feature the provision of a hinge mounting involving a pair of channel elements disposed in angular relation to grip a vertical edge and the bottom edge of a panel in such manner as to hold the panel securely in position while at the same time being relatively inconspicuous and requiring but little modification of the simple panel structure.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may now be made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a fragmentary elevational view showing a door panel embodying the invention and portions of the wall contiguous thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken substantially upon the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the bottom of the door structure constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing certain of the parts in cross section.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational View of a detail of a flashing for the bottom portion of the door.

In the drawings like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

The construction shown includes walls 6 which may be those of a shower stall or any other convenient construction and which define. an opening I in which is disposed a door, the closure element of which consists of a single monolithic plate or panel 8 of glass so tempered that upon breakage or rupture of the surface thereof it will automatically shatter completely into small dice or cube-like fragments which are harmless in character.

The door panel is mounted to swing upon a hinge structure 9 of bronze, stainless steel, aluminum, or the like, which as shown in Figure 2 is channel-like in cross-section and includes side plates I!) interconnected by an intermediate portion I I. This channel includes an upper or vertical branch or leg l2 embracing a vertical edge of the glass and a rigidly attached horizontal leg or branch l3 which engages and supports the bottom hinge of the panel. The spaces between the sides of the channel and the faces of the glass preferably are packed with oakum, gum or other suitable packing material designed to seal the space within the channel and also to provide a more secure grip upon the glass.

In order positively to secure the panel from displacement, vertical element 12 is provided with lugs l4 disposed near the top of the panel, that are bored to receive a bolt l5, also, extending through a suitable rounded opening in the panel. The lower outer or swinging corner of the panel diagonally opposite bolt I5 .is formed with a semicircular notch l5a. cut from face to face of the glass and receiving a boss l6 of corresponding section, which is detachably secured by screw I! to a lug l8, closing the forward extremity of the channel of branch I3. In securing the panel in place, the boss is is first disposed in notch 15a, after which the panel is slid into the channel, bolt l5 and screw I! are then inserted rigidly to secure the parts together.

A molding 19 of stainless steel, aluminum, brass, or other material is secured to the face of the vertical side or iamb 20 of the door opening 1 by means of bolts or any other convenient fastening and provides a connection for a conventional hinge which preferably is of the continuous or piano-lid type and includes leaves 2| and 22 which extend the length or a substantial portion of the length of the leg or branch l2 of the channel. These leaves are hinged together by a pin 24 and are respectively secured to the intermediate portion H and to the adjacent face of the molding I9 by means of screws 26.

If desired, molding 19 may be provided with a shoulder or lip 21 extending longitudinally thereof and assisting in providing a seal in the joint between the back of the channel and the molding l9. However, this lip is not an essential feature and may be eliminated if so desired.

A stop or bumper element 30, shown in Fig. 2, including a strap or bar 3|, is secured to the opposite jamb of the door opening and includesa shoulder portion 32 having a channel formed in one face thereof for the reception of a-lcushion 33, of rubber or other resilient material, which is designed to reduce impact of the glass when the door closes and also to deaden possible noises.

A handle structure for the door includes knobs 34' and 38 of glass or of a clear or colored artificial resin or any other convenient material. These knobs are bored as indicated at 31 to receive a through bolt 38 extending through a sleeve 39, disposed in a suitable opening in the door panel. Washers M, of a resilient material such as rubber or the like, are disposed between the faces of theglass panel and the contiguous faces of the glass knobs. The knobs are held from displacement upon the bolt by means of nuts 42 which may have their top surfaces of spherical contour corresponding to that of the knobs themselves and may include a cylindrical portion 43 fitting within bores 31.

The bottom leg or branch I3 of the channel supports a flashing strip of rubber, artificial resin or other suitable material which is secured thereto by means of a clamping plate 52, having screws 53 threaded therethrough and into the sides of the channel. This strip is of sufiicient width approximately to touch the floor or the sill portion of the opening of the doorway, thus providing a seal along the lower edge of the panel. It is to be understood that this sea-ling strip or flashing may not always be necessary, and it is within the provision of the invention to dispense with it.

The forms of the invention herein disclosed are to be considered merely as exemplary, and it is apparent that numerous modifications may be made therein without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A door construction comprising a monolithic panel of glass having a vertical and the bottom edge thereof disposed in channels which are connected together to form a member of L- shape, the vertical channel having hinged elements secured thereto, the channel at the bottom edge of the door .being closed at its forward end and having a lug extending into a notch formed in the forward edge of the door panel, said lug \being secured to the flange by screw means so that the panel can be slipped into position or withdrawn when the screw is not in position, but the panel being positively locked from displacement when the screw is threaded into the lug.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1 in which a bolt is further passed through the channel and the panel along the vertical edge to secure the topportion of the panel.

3. A door construction comprising a single massive panel or glass having top, bottom and two vertical edges, a single hinge comprising a vertical channel gripping a vertical edge of the :panel throughout the major portion of its length, said channel having a single rigidly attached channel-like arm projecting at right angles, gripping and supporting the bottom edge. of the panel along substantially its entire width, the channel and the arm together providing a member of L-shape, the vertical channel further being provided with a hinge connection securing the panel [for swinging movement about a vertical axis in a door opening in a building, the top edge and the remaining vertical edge of the panel being free so that the panel is supported entirely by the vertical channel and the channel-like arm thereof.

4. A door construction comprising a single massive panel of glass, a single hinge comprising a vertical channel gripping one vertical edge of the panel, said channel having a rigidly attached channel-like arm projecting at right angles and gripping and supporting the bottom edge of the panel, said arm being provided with a downwardly-projecting flashing strip, the vertical channe1. further being provided with a hinge connection securing the panel for swinging movement about a vertical axis in a door opening in a building, the top edge and the remaining vertical edge being free so that the panel is supported entirely by the vertical channel and its channel-like arm.

GEORGE L. WEST.

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