US2434042A - Threshold seal and locking device - Google Patents

Description

' Jail. 6, 1948.

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c. R. HUNTER THRESHOLD SEAL AND LOCKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor C. R. HUNTER I THRESHOLD SE AL AND LOCKING DEVICE Jan. 6, 1948.

Filed Feb. 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet .2

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Jan. 6, 1948. 4 'c. R. HUNTER THRESHOLD SEAL AND LOCKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 13, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 V Inventor Cbarfes 4Q. Huvfer:

Patented Jan. 6, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i THRESHOLD SEAL AND LOCKING DEVICE Charles R. Hunter, Camden, N. J

Application February 13, 1946, Serial No. 647,341

This invention comprises a novel and useful carpet strip, seal and locking device and more specifically resides in a threshold for doors" and the like, of novel construction.

The primary object of my invention resides in providing a novel and extremelyeflicient air sealing means for doors and the like, positioned between a door and its frame,and which maybe embodied in a threshold. I

A second object of my invention is the provision of a novel-retaining means for preventing opening of the door and capable of being embodied in a threshold. i

A third object of my invention is the provision of a novel, eificient and convenient foot actuated mechanism for operating a door sealing and retaining means.- V V A fourth object of the invention is the development of a novel, compact, eflicient, foot operated locking means, for securing a sealing means'and a door retaining means in operative position.

A fifth object of the invention is the construction of a device in accordance with the foregoing o-bjects,which shall be sufficiently fiat and compact as to be embodied in the conventional size of threshold. v v

A sixth object of the invention is the development of a device in accordance with the aforesaid objects which is adapted to fit any door or type of doorway and floor. i

A seventh object of the invention is the provision ofan apparatus, in accordance with the aforementioned objects which shall be composed of few'members, neat and unobtrusive in appearance, sturdy and reliable .in operation and withal shall be economical and inexpensive to manufacture- V I V An eighth object of the inventionis the construction of a device in accordance with the foregoing objects, which shall have .its' operating mechanism fully enclosed and protected from the detrimental effects, of weather, dirt and tamp s. 5. Y

These and numerous other important objects of theinvention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds are achieved by my invention one 'embodiment of whiohhas been illustrated, "by way of example only, in the attached drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view'ofthe base plate, certain parts being shown in their assembled position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one ofthe end supports for the cover; p Y i Figure 3 isa perspective viewfof the center cover support?" I i l V V Figure-4 is a perspective view; of an element;

Figure 5 is apers peq' ivevview ofthe oscillating bar; V r 1 respectively, of an operating bar;

Claims. ((31. 20-.64)

2 Figures 8 and 9 are top plan and side elevations respectively, of another operating bar;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the cam wedges;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic sketch of a part of the cam; V a, Figure 12 is avertical section "transversethe sealing bar; I I

Figure 13 is a'transverse section on the line Sal-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 14 is an exploded'perspective'view of the locking mechanism; and; v

-Figure 15 is a fragmentary top plan showing the locking bolt inlocked position. i I,

In the accompanying drawings the character A designates generally -thecover housing of my'in vention, B indicates the seal actuating means, (J-identifies the foot operated'mechanism and D defines the lockin device.

' Specific reference is made first to Figure 1 wherein a base plate lt constructedof any advantageous material, including metal; and of any suitable shape and size, but in the embodiment illustrated is of the dimensions conventionalwith a'door threshold, is secured to the floor or any satisfactory portion ofa, door frame as by screws or equivalent anchoring devices extending through the bores 12. The cover B of any contour adapted to the situation in which'it is employed and, in this instance, conforming to the conventional shape and proportions of a threshold, is secured by means of a peripheral flange l4, gasket I6, and screws 18 to the base-plate. I

Mounted centrally of the base plate is a vertical pivot 20, extending through a central aperture 22 of an actuating bar 24, see Figure 5, oscillatable thereon in a manner to be set forth hereinafter. Adjacent one end of the base plate are sets of vertical pins 26 constituting guide means for the foot operated mechanism C, the latter comprising a pair of parallel bars 28, 3'8 slidable transversely of said base between said guide pins, each bar carrying a pair of appropriately spaced pins 32 for retaining the ends of a transversely swinging lever 34, see Figure 4, journaled upon the verti cal axle 3B. The adjacent end of the bar 24 is received between the pins 32 and beneath the end of lever34 on the bar 28in a manner tobe subsequently made clear, whereby transverse move ment of one bar 28, 30 will cause an oscillation of bar 24 about its central fulcrum 20 and also cause retrograde movement, bymeans of link 34, of the other lever 30, 28, v a r As shown more clearly upon Figure 5, the oscillating;bar 24 is formed of a fiatstrip of material with a central transversely extending portionit carryingthe apertureZZ; and thence extendingin longitudinally disposed arms- 40. Adjacent one extremity, an arm has'a longitudinal offset extension 42, elevated above the base ID a suflicient distance to snugly overlie the bar 28 between the two pins 32. At appropriate distances from the aperture 22, each arm is formed with transverse eXtensions 44 each having a central vertical fulcrum pin '46 and a plurality of spaced, vertical, guide pins 48.

Referring now to Figures 13 and 14, an edge portion of a door is longitudinally recessed to receive the channel member 52 while the corresponding portion of the cover A is similarly recessed to provide a mating channel .54. .A bar :55 loosely disposed in the full length of said slot 54 is adapted to be elevated by "the oscillating bar into seating, sealing and locking engagement in channel 52 as shown by the dotted line portion of Figure 13. It will be clear that the depth of channel "52 is less than that of channel 54 and the height of bar 56, whereby the elevated bar is seated securely in both channels throughout its length.

A pair of identical cam wedges 58, shown in perspective inFigure 10, are mounted inrev-ersed positions upon the enlarged portions 44, being loosely retained by pins 48 and by the vertical axle 4'6, engageable in an aperture in the base i of the .cam. The camconsists of a base or idle portion "62, an inclined operating portion 64, a locking portion 66 and a rear inclined shoulder portion 6'8. In .thetransverse planesofthe cams, the cover -A has .the channel member .54 transversely slotted Jfrombeneath to permit transverse travel of the wedges thereacross, the slotted parts of the channel being turned'back to form lateral guide surfaces") and adependingguide surface l2 .ateach side of eachcarn wedge. The sealing bar is bevelled on each lower edge at 14, see Figure 12, to conform-to the inclined operating surfaces .64 of the .reversely positioned cams 58.

In this fully retracted position, wedges 58 abut the inner side surface of the cover A with their shoulders .68, the base portions 62 being disposed in the-transverse channel slots and beneath the bar 156 ininoperative position. At this time, the barl28 is fully extended from the cover, as shown inFiguresM and 1, whi1ebar'3f! is fully retracted. Asbarlfi isnow pushedin, as by actuation from the operators foot, the pins 32 engaging the terminal '42 oscillatebar24 about its pivot 20 in a counter-clockwise direction causing the two Wedges .58 .toride through the transverse slots in the cover ,plate. Theoperating surfaces 64 now engage shoulders'l4.on-opposite sides and evenly and uniformly elevate .the sealing bar from recess 54 .into sealing engagement with. recess 52. The-cam lockingsurfaces .516 are now disposed fully beneath the-bar'56, and-the latter is fully seatedin the door channeliZ and thethreshold channel :54 as clearlyshown by-the dotted line construction in Figure 13. It will be understood that .the pins 46 travel in i an arcuate path whose center is the fulcrum pin 20, while the wedges are restrained to rectilinear transverse reciprocation by the .guide slot surfaces l0, [2. Suitable lost motion is therefore providedbetween the pins 46 and the cam bores Bil by forming the latter as elongated slots positioned to accommodate the arc of thepin travel,.as shown-diagrammatically in Figure 11, wherein '16 indicates the pathof movement ofpin 46.

It will be apparent that when fully elevated, the bar .56 effects the .dual .functions of completely sealing thespace between the door and its frame and also fastens thedoorinclosed position. .If desired, thelockingmeansD may .be now-activated, in a .:manner .to be .later described, as .by

4 pressure from the toe of the operator, to lock the bar 28 from return movement, whereby pressure upon the protruded bar 30 is ineffective to oscillate the bar 24 and retract the wedges.

Attention is now directed :more articularly to Figures 6-9, illustrating the construction of the operating bars. Bars 28, 30 comprise narrow flat strips having an upturned end flange portion #8 for actuation by the foot of the operator and are slidably disposed through front and rear slots of the cover :plate A. This flange has plane surfaces in bar 30, but in bar 28 is provided with a transverse groove Elllupon its inner surface.

Spaced from the flange 18, bar 28 is provided with an upwardly disposed, rearwardly slanting flange 82, whichis adapted toabut the outer, inclined, surface Lof the cover A in the extreme .inward position of the'bar, thus acting as a stop means for the bar and as asealing means for the bar slotlinthe .cover. A flange 84 is similarly dispcseduponlbar'iifl but is continued down the sides of the 'bar lto form .ribs. Adjacent .the rear .toe plate 132 .o'feadh bar, ananalogous flange 86 .is provided, cooperating withttherear surf aceof the cover toiorma sea-ling .meansand a stop limiting the.extremeoutwardmovement of both bars. Ad.- ditionalidentical, inclined flanges 88are provided intermediate each bar to form supplemental stops and sealing means-cooperating with the interior surfaces of the cover. LThus,,in the forward-position of 'bar Z8,,forwar'dffiange.88 abuts the cover on its front inner wall while flange .85 .is-engaged with .the rear outer wall. When the barisinthe rear position, the flange .82 .abuts the front outer wall and .rear flange .88 engages the inner rear wall. TBytl'iismeansboth the slots of the cover are scaledateachposition of the bar28. The operation.ofharjiillissimilar to the foregoing. Bar 23 is provided withanintermediate boss having a vertical-surface S0,.suitably spaced frompin 32 to constitute therewith an actuating means for the end 42 .of .Joarl4. .Upon the bossis disposed a horizontal surface '92, in .the same-plane with the upper surface .o'fv member 42, the surface 92 and thetop of member 42 supporting,:and.the spaced pins 32 guiding the end 42 of the lever 24. The bar 30 is provided .witha centrally disposed lug 94 having .a horizontalsurface 96 in the same horizontal plane with surface 92, which receives theother end of lever 34 between the two pins .32. As shown .in perspective in Figure 4, lever 34 is provided with a centrally depressed portion 98 and. horizontal arms .lllU which are flatly disposed upon the surfaces.92,.96.between pins 32. As will be evident,.the pins '32-and the shoulder are suitablygpos'itioned to. allow for the angular. oscillation-o'f .the members 42 and I00. As will be further evident, the ends I00 of the member34 have :a greater movement than-that of member 24and the spacing provided between the pins 32 is therefore greaterthan that between a pin and the shoulder .90.

As .s'hown in plan in Figure .1 and'in perspective inFigures-2and'3, the vcover plate A is provided with end supports and a center support. Each end ,supporttcomprises a U-shaped member I02 havings'idearms I06 snugly embracing the channel '54 and with topsurf'aces 108 supporting the top surface of the cover. The center support N14 has a pair of parallel, oppositely ,and longitudinally disposed. side members I In whichsnugly embracerthe channelmember 54 and whosetop surfaces H2 support the center of the cover. A transverse web I I4 connects the members-l-llland has a top surface I ifiaunderlying andsupportingaisaoaa the under surface of channel 54 while a lower surface II8 overlies the oscillatingbar 24 and is apertured to receive the pin 20. Additional pins and apertures I20 are provided to accurately position the supporting means I02 and I04 upon the base I0. The inward lower edges of member I I are recessed at I22 to accommodate the angular movements of bar 24 thereunder. It will now be seen that the members I02 not only reinforce the upper surface of the cover member from collapse, as when a load is placed thereon, but also embrace and reinforce against distortion the-lower and side walls of the channel member 54 and in the case of member I04 also serve to retain member 24 upon its pivot 20.

Attention is now specifically directed to Figures 14 and 15 illustrating the construction of the locking means. The rim or flange I4 of the cover A is enlarged upon both sides of bar 28 to form a bolt housing I24 and a bolt keeper housing I26. Each housing has a hollow axial, aligned, passageway which is open at the top and is of cruciform cross section. This passageway extends completely through housing I24, terminates adjacent the wall I28 of housing I26, and defines four parallel, longitudinal guiding grooves, slidably receiving the four corresponding longitudinal ribs I30 of the lock bolt I32. An upper surface I34 of the top rib is flush with the upper surface of housings I24, I26, and is provided with upstanding lugs I38 comprising finger or toe actuating means for sliding the bolt in the passageway. At its outward end, housing I24 is cut away vertically, and horizontally in the same plane as the lower surface of the lateral guide grooves, whereby the lock bolt may be placed upon the cut away portion with its lower rib' I30 in the lower guide groove and its lateral ribs resting upon the shoulders I38 forming continuations of the lateral guide grooves. may now be slid axially into the housing which is of such length as to exactly receive the lock bolt, and the lock bolt retainer I40 may now be secured in position as shown in the dotted line phantom construction I40. This retainer consists of a plug, T-shaped in cross section, the lower rib I42 filling the lower groove I44 of the housing I24 and the upper and side surfacesfill ing up the cut away portion to the same width and height as the rest of housing I24. A screw I46 extending through a bore I48 in member I40 and into a screw threaded aperture I50 in the flange I4 secures the retainer in position.

The operation of thelock means will now be apparent. With'the parts assembled, the bolt I32 is recessed into housing I24 and the space between housings I24 and I26 is therefore entirely unobstructed. Bar '28 and, of course, bar 30 may therefore be operated at will, elevating and lowering the sealing bar 56. When, however, the bar 28 has been pressed'fully'inward, and its flange 82 is abutting the cover A, the bolt I32 may be slid through the passageway so that it extends across the bar '28, with its two ends engaged in the corresponding guide grooves-in housings I24 and I 26, as shown in Figure 15, and will be apparent from Figure 14. In this position, the lower rib I30 of the bolt is disposed between the flange 82 and the end plate. 18 of bar 28, looking the bar 28 from outward movement and hence preventing the associated mechanism from releasing the scaling bar 56 from its elevated position.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the sealing means 56 may be actuated either from The lock bolt be disposed within the door but it will be under-.

stood that in certain uses its location upon the outside will be considered preferable.

It will be evident that in the foregoing embodiment, I rely upon gravity to cause retraction of the sealing bar when the actuating wedges are retracted, but it is within the purview of my invention to provide auxiliary withdrawing means such as suitable spring means or a positive connection between the actuating means and the sealing means to compel withdrawal of the latter when the bar 30 is operated.

While obviously various dimensions and proportions of parts may b resorted to in practicing the invention, I find that a very satisfactory compact and inexpensively manufactured product may be employed by forming the base, cover, flanges, channel members, actuating bar, foot operated bars and lever 34 from sheet metal, this dimension of material having satisfactory strength and being readily workable in my device.

Moreover, while I have shown the lock housings as being integral with the rim I4, it will be under-- stood that in the interests of inexpensiveness and the advantages of mass production, I may form them as separate members, assembled later as by welding and the like.

t will thus be seen that m invention provides a compact, sturdy and highly efiicacious device, operable either as an air sealing means, a locking means or both, and which is easily installed, dif, ficult to tamper with and has all its parts inclosed and protected from dirt, weather or moisture.

In assembling my device, the base plate It is first secured to the door frame, as to the floor. Then the oscillating bar and the bars 28, 30 are placed in position. The wedges, lever 34 and supports -Hi2, I04 are now installed. The cover is next installed and the sealing bar 56 placed in the threshold channel 54. The door channel 52 is now mounted. The lock bolt M2 is next inserted in the housing I24 and the retainer plug M0 secured by screw I48.

Anyend space between the ends of the cover and base plate and the frame is now filled by driving in shims of appropriate cross section.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sealing device for a frame having an opening and a movable closure therefor, com-..

prising registering channels in said frame and closure, a sealing element received in one of said channels and elevatable into sealing engagement with both said channels, oscillatory actuating. means engaging the underside of the element for,

element, connecting means operatively attachingsaid bar to said operating means and lifting means connected to said bar and said sealing element for actuating the latter upon oscillation of said bar.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said lifting means comprises cams on said bar, said cams engaging said sealing element at spaced points to uniformly elevate the same.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said camsare pivotally mounted on said bar and guide means for causing transverse rectilinear reciprocation of said ,cams relative to said sealing element.

'5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said operating means includes a slide having actuating extremities extending beyond each side of said channel receiving said sealing element, said actuating means including a pivoted bar, a 21301- tion .of said .bar being .operatively connected to said slide.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said slide is coplanar with said bar, portion of said bar being offset and resting uponsaid slide.

7. The combination .of claim 1 wherein said operating means includes. .a mechanism having parallel operating slides, opposite extremities of said slides extending from opposite sides of said frame and a centrally pivoted lever terminally connected to each of said slides for si ..uitane0.us reciprocation in opposite directions, said actuating means being operatively connected to one of said slides.

8. Atl-ireshold comprising a housing receivable in a door frame, a sealing strip receivable in said housing and slidably extensible therefrom into sealing engagement with a door, oscillatory actuating means in said housing engaging the underside of the sealing strip for elevating the same, operating means housed within and extending externally of said housing and movable transversely of said sealing strip for controlling said actuating means.

9. The combination of claim ,8 wherein said housing includes a hollow body, a channel member in the top surface of said body slidably receiving said sealing strip, a, plurality of supports in said body, each of said supports having a recess for receiving said channel member, one of said supports having a notch upon its lower surface, said actuating means including an oscillating bar extending through said notch.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said,

actuating means includes a bar pivotally mounted for oscillation beneath said channel member, actuators connected to said bar and sealing strip, and extending into said channel member, guides for restraining said actuators to straight line motion transverse said channel member, said guides comprising depending portions of said. channel members.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said bar is pivotall mounted intermediate its ends, said cams being on opposite sides of the bar pivot.

12. The combination of claim ll wherein said bar includes oppositely disposed parallel arms having a transverse connecting portion. said connecting portion forming the pivot of said bar.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said arms have lateral projections on each side, said cams being pivoted upon said bar and rest upon such projection.

14. The combination of claim 8 wherein said operating means comprises a slide connected to said actuating means and slidable transversely through apertures in opposite sides of said housing, said slide having sealing flanges for closing said apertures and constituting stop means at each end of the travel of said slide.

15. The-combination of claim 8 wherein said operating means includes a pair of slides extending transversely through said housing, a lever sliding ly engaging said slides for causing simultaneous and opposite reciprocation thereof, said actuating means slidingly engaging one of said slides for actuation by either of said slides, guides for confining each slide to straight line :motion, said lever having a pivot between said slides.

16. The combination fOf' claim 15 wherein said actuating means has a portion resting on one of said slides, one end of said lever resting on said actuating means, said lever having its intermediate portion offset downwardly between said slides.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said slides are provided with steps to receive the ends of said lever, said one slide receiving said portion of said actuating means in a notch :in one of said steps.

.18. The combination of claim 8 wherein said operating means comprises a slide connected to said actuating means and slid-able transversely through apertures in opposite sides of said housing, said slide having sealing flanges for closing said apertures and constituting stop means at each end of the. travel of said slide, said sealing flanges including spaced flanges alternately engaging vopposite sides of the housing at each aperture, said-slide having n end flange, abolt mounted in guide ways on the exterior of said housing, said bolt being movable across said slide between said end flange and an adjacent sealing flange to prevent complete movement of said slide inwardly Of-Said housing.

1.9. The combination of claim 18 wherein said end flange is provided with a recess. there beinga lateral projection on said bolt, said projection being receivable in said recess.

20. A threshold comprising a'housing receivable in a door frame, .a sealing strip receivable in said housing and slidably extensibletherefrom into sealing, engagement with a door, oscillatory actuating means in said housingengaging the underside of the sealing strip .for elevating the same, operating means. housed with-in and extending externally of said housing and movable transversely of said sealing strip for controlling said actuating meanasaid' housing including a ho low body, a channel member in the top surface of said body slidably receiving said sealing strip, a plu rality of supports in said :body, each of said supports having a :recess for receiving said channel member, one ofwsaid supports having a notch upon its lower surface, said actuating means including an oscillating bar extending through said notch, said bar having a pivot'pin; said one support overly n d bar and pivot pin and retaining the bar on said pin while permitting oscillation of said bar in said notch.

CHARLES" R. HUNTER.

: file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 350,102 .Be'a'ms Oct 5, 1886 615,189 Kroencke Nov. 29, 1898 704,395 Sowden July 8, 1-902

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