US2660766A

US2660766A - Door construction

Info

Publication number: US2660766A
Application number: US94780A
Authority: US
Inventors: John C Petterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-05-23
Filing date: 1949-05-23
Publication date: 1953-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1970-12-01

Description

Dec. 1, 1953 J. c. PETTERSON DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 25, 1949 v INVEHTOQ, JOHN G DETTEIQSON ATTOQNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to doors and more specifically to that type of construction ordinarily known as a flush door. Flush doors contemplate the use of plywood panels for both sides of the door with rails and stiles interposed between the said panels. The panels usually are secured. to the rails and stiles by gluing. As a rule, the average hollow core flush door construction does not permit the uninhibited use of hardware, such as locks, catches and the like, and the flush doors often sag or warp.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a door of the flush type which permits the hanging of the door from either side.

A further object is the provision of a door of the character stated wherein strength is combined with lightness of weight.

A further object is a door which may be easily fabricated, thus effecting a saving in cost of manufacture.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in one embodiment in the accompanying drawing, described generally and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a door incorporating the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the truss ribs for the door of the invention.

Referring now with particularity to the drawing, I have shown a door of the flush type which includes a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel stiles i and 2 secured to top and bottom rails 3. The stiles and rails may be held together in any suitable manner, such as by the sinuous nails 4, or by other means. While the stiles and rails may be formed of single pieces of wood or other material, I have found it expedient in certain constructions to form a built up structure of blocks laid in break-joint or other relationship and secured together by water-proof glue, as indicated for the stile 2 at 5. Such a construction for the stiles and rails effectively prevents warpage.

Assuming that the stiles and rails are interconnected, as illustrated in Figure 1, I then provide a core for the door comprising a truss structure designated generally as 6. The truss structure is adapted to prevent door sag, while providing a light, strong construction having a smooth face on the finished door. In order to fabricate the truss structure, one of the facing panels, such as the panel 8, is secured by glue to the stiles and rails after which the truss struc ture is placed in position. The truss structure illustrated is of the lattice type.

In Figure 3, one of the ribs 9 of the truss structure is shown and the edges thereof are notched, as shown at H) and II. The notches are staggered, and in the present instance, only two notches are provided, although any multiplenumber thereof may be provided in a rib. The ribs are laid on edge between the stiles and against the inner surface of the panel 8. The arrangement is such that ribs intersect at the notched zones so that the edges of the ribs lie in single planes. In other words, each notch is substantially one-half the depth or width of a rib. The edges of the ribs are water-proof glued to the inner surface of the panel 8. Preferably, I do not glue ends of the ribs to the stiles nor to the rails.

To obtain maximum strength combined with lightness of construction, the ribs intersect or cross at thirds or quarter points of their length, and in the drawing, the ribs are shown intersecting or crossing at third points. I prefer this construction over a construction wherein the ribs intersect at center points, as I obtain greater flexibility, and the ribs remain in place during fabrication of the core.

After the ribs have been assembled for the complete door length, the stiles and rails, together with the opposite edges of the ribs, are covered with water proof glue, followed by placing a panel 12 thereover, and the completed door is then placed in a press and held therein for a sufficient length of time to assure proper securing of the parts in working relationship. The particular type of glue used, the character of the press, and whether it is either a cold or a radiant heat operation, forms no part of the invention.

Preferably, the stiles are of considerable width as are likewise, the rails, and not less than four and one-half inches in width. This permits hardware to be secured to the door, a factor of importance. I also provide full length edging strips It on both vertical edges of the stiles to give finish to the door.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are, as follows:

It will be observed upon reference to Figure 1 that each rib forms a side for at least two quadrihave face panels of any wood desired, that is, a

hard wood or a soft wood, depending upon use for the door. I claim:

1. A hollow core flush door of the type having two opposite sides of plywood panels, a frame formed of parallel stiles connected by a top rail and a bottom rail, with a multicellular construction between the panels inside of the frame; in which the multicellular construction forms a lattice-truss core and is composed of identical ribs each a straight strip of uniform width and thickness with one notch in one edge and a similar laterally spaced notch in the opposite edge, the width of each notch being sufdciently great in proportion to the thickness of the strip to permit each of the strips when assembled as a truss to make a chosen angle with horizontal down to as little as fifteen degrees, thus forming horizontally positioned lozenge-shaped quadrilateral cells about four times as wide as high, the notch intersections providing free access of air to all of the cells, thus avoiding the necessity for perforations in the strips between the intersections, while presenting all edges of the strips in planes corresponding to the inside surfaces of the two panels.

2. The door of claim 1 in which the strips terminate short of contact with the frame, are firmly secured to the panels at opposite edges of the strips, the two notches of each strip are at equal distance from the respective proximate end of the strip, the intersections are offset from the vertical centerline of the door and are nearer said centerline than to the inner side of the proximate stile, whereby to give strength and rigidity to the door about equal to that of a solid door but having only about half the weight of such send door.

JOHN C. PETTERSQN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS