US2859491A

US2859491A - Adjustable jamb

Info

Publication number: US2859491A
Application number: US564019A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Louis Morris
Original assignee: JOHN F PENKALA
Current assignee: JOHN F PENKALA
Priority date: 1956-02-07
Filing date: 1956-02-07
Publication date: 1958-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1975-11-11

Description

L. MORRIS, JR

ADJUSTABLE JAMB Filed Feb. 7, 1956 Nov. 11, 1958 United States Patent C) ADJUSTABLE JAMB Louis Morris, ,.lr., Rehoboth, Mass., assigner of fifteen percent to .lohn F. Penkala, Warren, and fifteen percent to Arthur Tavares, Bristol, R. I.

AApplication February -7,.1956,Serial No. 564,019

6 Claims. (CL' Ztl-12) The: presentginventionrelates generally todo'or frames andthe like and moreparticularly-to, an adjustablezjamb therefon A primary object; ofthe; instant `invention is ,the;provision off an improved adjustable: door jamb for the. purpose of readily enabling a propertt'tobemade with the4 striking edgeofthe door in cases -where the door has eitherfshrunk or swollen beyond its original size when vfirst t-tedand hungy within the door frame.

Another object of theinstant invention is the pro-vision of'an 'adjustable jamb which may be readily adjusted by an ordinary screw driver or the like without the necessity .ofgdisassembling any of :the door frame structure.

Another objectris3the provision of an improved adjust? able vjamby so constructed andl arranged as to. provide maximum resistanceagainstsurreptitious and'unauthorized breaking open of the door, Affurtherobjectfof the instant invention is theprovision-of an adjustable jamb having novel' and-'improved weatherstrippin-g characteristics.

Still another object of the` instant invention is-vthe prod vision Aof Van adjustable door jamb so, constructed: and arranged as tornake it possible to mount and remove the trim overlying said jamb from the outside without the necessity offanydisassembling.

Affurther object is fthezprovision of'an adjustablejamb that-.will'not deter from.the-attractiveness of the door frame in; which it is mounted, no matter what its position of adjustment may be.

Anothervobject is the-provision ofan adjustablefjamb thatis both simple andV eiiicientV in operationthrough a relatively ywide range of adjustment but which neverthe- 1Vess-is -commercially feasible to manufacture.

Otherobjects, features and advantages of the invention willzbecomeapparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in-connectionwith the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Infthedrawings which illustrate the'best mode 'presently contemplated byme for carryingiout myfinvention:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a door and-frame assembly.

embodying-the instant invention;

VFig-2 isan elevational/section,v on an enlarged scale,V

taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is .a fragmentary front elevation,.on an enlarged scale,with1portions broken away to more clearly show'the adjustable jamb structure;

Fig. 4 isan enlarged fragmentary section taken on .line 4-.-4 of Fig. l, with the door per se removed .in ordery toVY more clearly showthe parts;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged. fragmentary section taken online 5?.-5 of;Fig. 2; and

Fig.. 6. is. an. enlarged fragmentary section takenfonf door itself. This problem has become particularly troublesome in `recents/earsy in view of .the greatv demand for new homes and 4the like thereby necessitating the :use of streamlined building, procedures inorder: to keep-up with this increasing demand for-production. As. afresult of thesestreamlined-procedures, itsis often necessary to utilize :woodwhich: is not-i properly .aged .and which,- due to this fact', is very susceptible to shrinkage andexp'ansion when com-ing inxcontaict with varying :atmospheric.condi` tions.` As,I ayr'esult tof-the; foregoing. it has. becomedesirable .to provide' a .door frame. structure .comprisingl a movable -jamb which :may :be readily adjusted. to` cornpensate for such shrinkage and swelling subsequentttoi the mounting of the doorn.

Movable.z andl adjustable; jambshave been utilized -heretofore,but in the past certain; disadvantages have .been in.- herent in-their construction; wliichidisadvantagesy rendered said priorartadjustable-jambs .unfeasible from: a com;- mercialgstandp'oint; More specically,1 since. an :adjustable jamb usually carries-thereonhe keeper plate which cooperates ;withthe door; la-tchi and lock,;it isjmperative that said jamby have sufficient strength lwhen mounted .to resist an outwardthrust orpullon the'door when .thezlatter'is in lockedcondtion. It,v is yfurther imperative that the, movable jamb beyreadly'` adjustable afrom an accessiblefposition; Another:-disadvantagewf prior art movable jambsY has been the problem of providingadequateweatherstripping between--sai'dwjamb :and itsassociated- ,door structure, while. still another problem hastbeenthe lack of Sa structural de sign .which-would enable the" trim strip -whi'chcovers the: adjustable? jam-b to, be easilyLrnounted.inpositiom and. disassembled when-,desired,. without the `necessity' of vdisassemblinggtheyentire structure.

A'ccordinglj/,there' is providedby'the invention nowftobe described an adjustablejamb structurewhiehovercomes these, aforediscussed disadvantages. Itwill be-understood. that while the adjustable'jamb is preferably.- -mountedf adjacenty to, the striking: edgefofY its assoc-:iated' doorfsait. structure could well be--mountedonthehinge edg'e frameL of' the door. In the, latter design; the hinges, would be: mounted directly to ltheiadjtlstable jamb.v 'lfheztinvention'A is not affected by `theI specific locationwof thek adjustable: jamb, andy hence for 4purposes of illustration, my` inven# tion has. been-.illustratedzand will be described with'rea spect to an adjustable jamblOCated. adjacent the; striking edge of its associated door;

Since the problem toward iwhichfzthis invention is. directed is most'prevalent in connection with outside doors, where atmospheric'conditions are most likely to have Va; pronounced effect, thy-invention now torbev describedis directed to-theconstruction--of suchan outside door., It`= will be understood,'however, that the'principlesfof invention are equally applicable to inside doors aswell.V

Referring now tothe drawings, and more particularlyto Fig.-l thereof, there is shown a door frame structure comprising a door l0 hingedly` mounted as at-l2.in aV manner well=known in the art and having af-handle le. which has associatedj therewith conventional latching meansw(not shown). Trim strips 16, 18j and' 202 and threshold 22 "surround the ldoorway kin a well-known manner.

The-'adjustable jamb structure constructed inV accordancey with the instant invention is shown most clearlyv in Figs.. 2 through 6 andrcomprises a stationary `jamb 24E/and a movable jamb 262 As will` be seen most clearly from: Figs. 5 and v6, the inner edge of the stationary jamb 242is; offset with respect to the movable jamb Z6 whereby to -profI vide a stop means Zi for limiting inward movement. of-the'. door. It will further be noted'. that jambs Zi'and- 26flarea in sidebysidelrelationwithrespect toy each'zother', and at their-`contactingfedges are provided with-finterengaging offset portions 30a-whereby to f provide-1weatherstripping means therebetween.

Iambs

24 and 26 comprise elongated beams, preferably of wood, and are mounted between the outer house wall 32 and trim strip 20, which forms a part of inner house wall 34, the latter having mounted thereon the trim strip 20 in a manner hereinafter to be described in detail. As will be seen most clearly fromvFigs. 2 and 5, stationary jamb 24 has secured to the `back surface thereof lby any desirable means, such as screws or the like, a plurality of elongated brackets 36, preferably metallic, which are mounted thereto in longitudinally spaced relation. The brackets 36 are provided with an offset portion 38 which extends behind the rear surface of the movable jamb 26 in spaced relation thereto, said oiset portion terminating in an inwardly extending tlange 40. The flanges 40 extend into grooves 42 provided in the rear surface of the jamb 26.

Extending through jamb 26 from its front surface are a plurality of elongated studs 44. The studs 44 are threaded as at 46, their threaded ends extending through tapped holes 48 provided in the otr'set portion 38 of brackets 36. It will be understood that the holes 48 are in substantial alignment with the studs 44 whereby to threadedly receive the same. In order that studs 44 and movable jamb 26 may move as a unit, said studs are provided With slotted heads 50 which set in appropriate counterbores S2 provided in the jamb 26. Adjacent the rear surface of the jamb 26, stud 44 has extending therethrough a small pin 54 whereby it will be seen that jamb 26 is iixed to the stud 44 for inward and outward motion although said stud is freely rotatable. Washers 56 may be provided to aid in the secure gripping of jamb 26 by the head 50 and pin 54 of the stud.

Thus it will be seen that rotation of slotted head 50 by a screw driver or the like will result in sliding movement of the jamb 26 with respect to fixed bracket 36. The inwardly extending bracket ange 40 cooperates with the grooves 42 to act as guiding means for the movable jamb 26 and at the same time strengthens said jamb against an outward pull or thrust that may be imparted thereto should someone pull outwardly on the door when the latter is in its locked position. The fact that the grooves 42 are located intermediate the edges of jamb 26 is important and advantageous in that they are hidden from View, no matter what the position of jamb 26.

Intermediate the brackets 36, stationary jamb 24 and movable jamb 26 are provided with aligned, transversely extending slots 58 formed in the rear surface of the respective jambs. Seated within said slots 58 are elongated dowel members 60, preferably of square cross section, As will be seen most clearly in Fig. 6, slot 58 extends deeper in the movable jamb 26 to provide an excess portion 62 whereby said movable jamb may be adjusted in the manner aforedescribed until the edge 64 of opening 62 comes into engagement with the fixed dowel 60. The dowel 60 may be secured to stationary jamb 24 in any suitable manner, such as by nailing, or said dowels may be secured directly to the outer house wall 32, if desired. The outer edges 68 of the dowels 60 provide means to which trim strip 20 may be mounted, and said outer edges extend slightly beyond the adjacent edge of jamb 26 whereby to provide a very small clearance Ibetween trim strip 20 and jamb 26, thus reducing bearing friction therebetween during movement of the latter, note Figs. and 6. The dowels 60 are preferably of Wood or the like whereby they are adapted to receive fastening elements, such as nails 70, which extend through trim strip 20. It will thus be seen that trim strip 20 is easily mounted in overlying relation with respect to the movable jamb 26 since iixed dowels 60 extend through said movable jamb to provide suitable anchoring means. If desired, trim strip 20 may also be fastened to inner house wall 34 by nailing or the like, such as shown at 72.

As will be seen most clearly from Fig. 3, threshold 22 abuts trim strip 20 whereby there is never any undesirable open space adjacent to the movable jamb no matter what position the latter is in. In order to afford better weathersealing characteristics, a brous pad 74 is secured to the bottom edge of movable jamb 26 to bridge the space between said jamb and threshold 22. v

If desirable, metal bands or sleeves (not shown) may be used to encompass the dowels 60 in order to prevent spreading of said dowels when the fastening elements 70 are inserted therein. Also, to facilitate the entry of nails 70 into the end portion of the dowels 68, apertures 76 may be provided therein.

Thus it will be seen that there is provided in accordance with the invention an extremely simple yet eiiicient means for providing an adjustable jamb in a door frame structure. The instant invention does away with the laborious and time-consuming task of iitting doors within their frames when irst hung, since by use of the instant construction, the door may be quickly mounted and then the adjustable jamb moved into its proper position. The instant invention is further characterized by the particular construction which atfords maximum strength to the movable jamb and which prevents outward pulling of said jamb from its mounting. My construction also provides extremely elective guide means forthe movement of the adjustable jamb in that the elongated dowels 60 will cooperate with slots 58 to always maintain said movable jamb in its proper vertical position while the inwardly extending flanges serve to maintain the jamb 26 in proper alignment during the latters in-and-out movement. The dowels 60 also provide effective means for receiving fastening elements whereby for the first time a trimstrip covering the movable jamb may be mounted from the outside. In addition, the design of the instant construction provides maximum weathersealing characteristics.

While there is shown and described herein certain specic structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without y departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a door frame, a stationary jamb, a movable jamb adjacent thereto having a front face normally disposed in closely spaced relation with respect to the striking edge of a door, means for adjusting said movable jamb for varying the size of the door receiving opening dened thereby, said adjusting means comprising a xed bracket extending from said stationary jamb in spaced relation to the rear face of said movable jamb, a longitudinally extending groove in said rear face spaced from the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, a iiange carried by said bracket extending into said groove, an elongated stud extending through said movable jamb, said stud being freely rotatable with respect to said jamb but xed thereto for longitudinal movement, said stud adjacent its inner end being threadedly received by said bracket whereby manipulation of the stud causes said movable jamb to move relative to said bracket, and a trim strip ixedly mounted in overlying relation with respect to the free outer side of said movable jamb. f

2. In a door frame, a stationary jamb, a movable jamb adjacent thereto having a front face normally disposed `in closely spaced relation within respect to the striking edge of a door, means for adjusting said movable jamb for varying the size of the door receiving opening defined thereby, said adjusting means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced brackets secured to and extending from said stationary jamb in spaced relation to the rear face of said movable jamb, said brackets each being provided with an inwardly extending flange, groove means in the rear face of said movable jamb spaced fromthe opposite longitudinal edges thereof for receiving said flanges, a plurality of elongated studs extending through said movable jamb, said studs being freely rotatable with respect to said jamb but xed thereto for longitudinal movement, said studs adjacent their inner ends each being threadedly received by one of said brackets whereby manipulation of the studs causes movement of said movable jamb relative to said bracket, said movable jamb further having a plurality of spaced transversely extending slots longitudinally staggered with respect to Said brackets, and a plurality of xed mounting elements each extending from said stationary jamb through a respective slot and terminating adjacent the outer edge of said movable jamb, said fixed elements and said slots cooperating to provide supporting means for said movable jamb throughout its normal range of adjustment, the outer edges of said iixed elements providing spaced supports of substantial depth for receiving fastening means to iixedly mount a trim strip over the outer edge of said movable jamb.

3. A door frame as set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that said Xed mounting element comprises an elongated dowel of square cross section.

4. A door frame as set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that said stationary jamb and said movable jamb have cooperating interengaging surfaces for providing a weatherseal therebetween.

5. A door frame as set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that there is provided a threshold which underlies said movable jamb, said movable jamb having secured to its lower edge a fibrous strip for providing weatherseal means between said movable jamb and said threshold.

6. In a door frame, a stationary jamb, a movable jamb adjacent thereto having a front face normally disposed in closely spaced relation with respect to the striking edge of a door, means for adjusting said movable jamb for varying the size of the door receiving opening defined thereby, said adjusting means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced brackets secured to and extending from said stationary jamb in spaced relation to therear face of said movable jamb, said brackets each being provided with an inwardly extending ange, groove means in the rear face of said movable jamb spaced from the opposite longitudinal edges thereof for receiving said anges, a plurality of elongated studs extending through said movable jamb, said studs being freely rotatable with respect to said jamb but fixed thereto for longitudinal movement, said studs adjacent their inner ends each being threadedly received by one of said brackets whereby manipulation of the studs causes movement of said movable jamb relative to said bracket, said movable jamb further having a plurality of spaced transversely extending slots longitudinally staggered with respect to said brackets, a plurality of xed mounting elements each extending from said stationary jamb through a respective slot and terminating slightly beyond the outer edge of said movable jamb, said xed elements and said slots cooperating to provide supporting means for said movable jamb throughout its normal range of adjustment, and a trim strip fixedly mounted in overlying relation with respect to the outer edge of said movable jamb, said trim strip having means for securing it to the outer ends of said mounting elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 851,300 Moen Apr. 23, 1907 1,879,005 Andersen Sept. 27, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 349,408 Great Britain May 28, 1931