US3079652A

US3079652A - Tread assembly

Info

Publication number: US3079652A
Application number: US1500A
Authority: US
Inventors: James A Wahlfeld
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-01-11
Filing date: 1960-01-11
Publication date: 1963-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1980-03-05

Description

March 5, 1963 J. A. WAHLFELD TREAD ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. l1, 1960 Zfe March 5, 1963 J. A. WAHLFELD 3,079,652

TREAD ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 11, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .INV EN TOR.

dee

3,079,652 TREAD ASSEMBLY James A. Wahifeid, 216 W. Stratford Drive, Peoria, 1li. Filed Jan. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 1,560 Claims. (Cl. Zit-64) The present invention relates to a tread assembly for use in connection with doorways. More particularly, it has to do with a treadway platform especially suited for use with outer doors of a kind providing a weather barrier at the sill. The present application is a continuation-inpart of my co-pending application, Ser. No. 801,102, filed March 23, 1959.

It is well known that air leakage and consequent heat loss are particularly troublesome in the case of doors at the entrance between the exterior and interior of a house or other enclosure. The lack of an eective seal betwen the door and underlying floor not only permits the escape of Warm air to the outside and, conversely, the entrance of cold exterior air but the metal thresholds often used at the present also serve to conduct heat past the door resulting in heat loss and interior frosting of the threshold.

The aforementioned co-pending application discloses a threshold assembly having most effective sealing capabilities. Described and claimed in that application are several embodiments all of which feature a fiexble sealing element forming the actual threshold against which the bottom of the door is engaged when closed. One feature of the assemblies disclosed in the aforesaid co-pending application is the wide flexibility of their adaption to many different door sills contours, and variation of interior floor levels. However, certain advantages of that application have been supplemented and further advantages attained with the present invention for certain installations and improved modes of attachment as where stone, or different pitches or levels, or an unfinished threshold might be present.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide a combination door frame, door sill or threshold assembly which is simple and readily installed and eliminates the special preparations required to install other door sills.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tread assembly which may be affixed in place with a minimum of securing means such as wood screws.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sill and threshold assembly which is capable of accommodating various fioor constructions and various interior finished oors.

A door sill and threshold assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a treadway defining a platform mountable to project away from the sealer which engages the door in its closed position. The platform projects beyond the fioor construction, whether wood or concrete, and is turned downwardly to form a front edge plate. A joint member is presented inwardly from the front edge plate to face the edge of the floor construction. On the under side of the platform is a coupling member facing downwardly. Cooperating with the platform is an anchor afiixable over the front edge of the iioor construction and having a joint element projecting outwardly and lockingly engageable with the joint member together with a coupling element projecting upwardly and engageable with the coupling member.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a doorway frame having a door sill and threshold assembly of the present invention installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2 2 in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing installation of what is commonly called slab construction; and

FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c show adaptability to various interior finish floor coverings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 3 and 4 for purposes of illustrating the present invention, a conventionally formed doorway includes a fioor construction composed of sub-floor or sub-sill 11 and a box framing member 12 or of a concrete slab 11 (FIG. 3). At one side of the doorway is the usual upright jamb 13, the front edge of which is partially covered by trim 14. A recess 15 is cutout in jamb 13 in the usual manner to accommodate a door (not shown) suitably hinged to the door frame and closable against jamb 13. For weather protection along the vertical margins of the door, Weather stripping 16 runs vertically along the surface of recess 15 facing the door edge.

The entire sill and threshold assembly 20 includes a pair of

channel sections

21 and 22, preferably of extruded aluminum, and a sealing strip or sealer 23 interlockingly secured between

channel sections

21 and 22. The inward terminus of channel section 21 includes a downwardly propecting leg 24 having its lower end turned outwardly to define a footing restable upon sub-floor 11. Leg 24 and the inward edge of channel section 21 define a recess 26 running horizontally along the length of channel section 21. In addition, an upturned lip projecting inwardly from leg 24 is formed into an arcuate shoulder 27, the latter also running horizontally the width of the doorway. Shoulder 27 together with leg 24 defines an arcuate hinge seat 28 also running horizontally the width of the assembly. The upper surface of channel section 21 defines a platform projecting slightly downwardly and outwardly away from sealer 23. The upper surface of the platformA is formed to define a plurality of ribs whichl afford a roughened non-skid surface as well as contributing to added rigidity. In addition, a suitable plastic embedded with minute cinder particles or the like is preferably secured in strips longitudinally in the recesses between the ribs to even further contribute to safe traction on the platform surface.

Channel section 22 has an inwardly and downwardly depending leg 30. Leg 39 is preferably tapered downwardly to define a knife edge embeddable in the top surface of the interior floor covering 31. Adjacent sealer 23, member 22 terminates with a shape defining recess 33 running across the width of the doorway. The lower wall 34 of recess 33 has a downwardly recessed intermediate section 35- and projects away from leg 3i) with its free end shaped to define an arcuate hinge 36 receivable over shoulder 27 and into the hinge seat. In order to provide a heat barrier between treadway section 21 and interior section 22, a semi-cylindrical jointelement 33 is disposed over shoulder 27 between the latter and hinge 36. Ioint element 3S may consist of a plurality of short sections for easier installation and isv o a heat insulative material.

Channel sections

21 and 22 are held rigidly in position on sub-floor 11 by a plurality of -wood screws 4t) which project through recessed portion 35 of member 22. In the case of slab 11', screws 40 are secured with conventional masonry anchors 40 (FIG. 3). It will be noted that hinge seat 28 and hinge 36 have sufficient play to permit section 22 to articulate appreciably with respect to section 21. Consequently, differences in height between fioor surface 31 and sub-floor 11 are easily accommodated. When screws 40 are tightened, interior channel section 22 is drawn toward fioor surface 31, bringing leg Sti into sealingly tight frictional engage- Patented Mar. 5, 195,3",

ment therewith. Similarly, leg 24 is also pulled tightly against sub-floor 11;

Sealer 23 preferably is formed of a material such as extruded-grey vinyl; `it has the characteristics ofbeing both resilient and -compressible asthe result of which its.

convexA top Wall 4.?.V iscompressible downwardly upon closure of a door thereagainst, while at the same time itrengages the bottom surface of the door toprovide a weather-tight barrier. Suitable materials include natural. or-syntheticrubber, as welly as- Variousplastic-S. Sealer 23include's oppositely projectingv iianges 43 and 44 respcctiyelyengageable in.- recesses 33 and-26. For added strength and durability, anges.43 and ,44 are interconnectedby a web 45.

Itwill be observed, that-treadway platform 21 serves to replace the wooden sill heretofore normally furnished with, door frames. The platformprojects beyond suboor llf'and is then turneddownwardly todeiine a frontV edge plate 47.` In accordance with `the ,present inventionth`e facility and ,varied .adaptability ofmounting the tread-assembly is enhanced. by a unique intercorrelation of .the,elements. To this-end, a. joint. member 48 projectsinwardly from .the ylower marginal edge of plate 47.` In this specific embodiment it preferably is formed to define an` elongated socket running. alongy the length oiplatey 47. Alsoincluded .are a pair of rails projecting downwardly from platform v2,1 to deiine a recess 49 extendingthe length of the platform underside and forming acoupling member.

Cooperating. with. they treadway` assembly is. anchor.V

strip 50. v Strip 50 is generally L-shaped, having a shorter leglorlip 51 projecting over the front edge of sub-y iioorll and alonger leg 52 disposedalong the front edge surface of sub-oor 11 and down over box'12. Anchor Silissecured to lioor construction by-wood screws 53 sunk,into.box.12.or'concrete nails 53 driven into slab 11'.. Projecting outwardlyfrom'legV 52 is a strut 54 terminatingin a. joint element lockingly engageable with joint member 48; accordingly, the freejend of strut 54- forms `an elongated ball joint receivable inthe socket defined'byrjoint member 48; Projecting-upwardly from anchor 59 is astud 55 the free end of which defines a coupling element receivable in recess 49;

VMountingV offtheentire assembly'is simple and easy. First, treadway section 21v is trimmed to fit snugly withntheWidth of a doorway in abutting nrelationship with the Vjamb .and trim elements. Similarly, interior section 22 is cut tolitwithin thedoorframe. Anchor 5t), cut toproperlengthiscoupled to platform section 21 merely byinserting the elongated ball joint end of strut 54 within the socket of joint member 43. As the two pieces slide into` matching position, the free end of stud 55 is inserted between the rails of coupling recess 49. Upon placing platform section 21, anchor 50 comes into position-over the upper-corner of iioor construction.

The two

principal sections

21 and 22 are then tightened into position byY screws 40 after which sealer 23 is slipped into

recesses

43 and 44, having first been trimmed to properlength; With sealer 23 in place, its arcuate top wallV 42 may be pinched anda slight downward force appliedgythishasthe effect of deforming web 45 to insure that it nests properly within recess 35. Thereupon the web is momentarily pressed downwardly from the top toforce the'lower wall into a downwardly arched configuration if desired and then released to permit the upper-wall to resume its upwardly arched position. Thereafter, web 45 ,tends to maintain an arched configuration underV a stressV which acts-to resist inadvertent displacement ofthe sealing strip from its interlock with the two rigid sections. Finally, screw 53 is sunk and tightened down.

FIGS. 2, 34a, 4b and 4c serves to exemplify the wide versatility of adaptationto various flooring arrangements. FIG. 2 Vdepicts the combination of sub-floor, carpeting andV underlayments. As indicatedl previously, FIG. 3.

pertains to concrete slab construction with the interior covered with tile or the like; in this instance, leg 3G may be formed slightly diiferent 'than as shown in FIG. 2 in order to accommodate the diierence in interior surface heighth. FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate the flexibility as between partial and full thickness ooring 31a and Sib respectively, utilizingra spacer et] on top of sub-floor ll when accommodating the full thickness. FiG. 4c illustrates use of the apparatus in connection with the combination of tile or the like. and an underlayment as indicated at Sic. As shown in FIGS..3 andA, nails 6i may be driven upwardly through the end margins of. platform 2.1Y and into the lower end portion of jamb 13for added rigidity.

It will be observed -that all rigid portions are easily manufactured with conventional techniques. Moreover, they are shaped to permit ready packaging for shipment; Yet they assemble interlockingly to form an: extremely rigid treadway assembly which may be quickly assembled` and affixed into place. The inventive assembly completely eliminates Vany necessity Vfor cutting away the sub-licor, cutting down the boxmember, chamfering the joist orcrippling the sub-floor., All of such operations are required in the installation of the ordinary door frame having a wooden sill.`

While a particular embodiment` of the present invention has been-shownand described, it will beobvious to those-skilled inthe .art thatch-anges and modifications may be .made without departing from-the invention in its` broader aspects. Accordingly, the aim-in the appended claims istocover all such changes and modifications as followin .the true Vspirit andseope ofthe invention@ Whatis .claimed is:

l. Atreadassernbly secured over a door sill in locking engagement with a threshold sealer toprovide a weather barrier witha door comprising a treadway, a sealer secured in the treadway, said treadway extending outwardlyv from the sealer beyond the door sill, a front edge plate integrally formed with and extending downwardly from the treadway beyond said sill, a joint member facingf inwardly from and running the width of the front edge plate, -said joint member'integrally formed on the lower edge-ot the front edge vand an anchoring strip secured-on the frontedge surface'ofjthe sill having lan outwardly extending lstrut interlocking with said joint mem-herto retain said treadway to said sill whereby thesealer is in alignment with the door to etfect a weather-tight barrier when the door is in closed-position.

2. A tread assembly secured over a door sill in locke ing engagement with a threshold seaier to provide a Weather ybarrier with a door comprising atreadway, a sealer secured in the treadway, said treadway extending outwardly from the sealer beyond the door sill, a front; edge plate integrally` formed with and'extending downwardly from the treadway beyond said sill, a iirst joint memberintegrally formed with and running the width along the under side of said treadway, a second Vjoint*y memberl integrally formed on the inner surface ofthe front edge plate and running the width thereof, and an anchoringestrip secured on the front edge of the sill hav-V ing anYup-wardly extending stub received in said rst joint member and an outwardly extending strut interlocking' with said second joint member to retain the tread assem-l bly to the sill whereby the sealer is retained in alignment with the door to effect a weathertight barrier when, the door is in the closed position;

3. A tread assembly secured over ardoor sillin locking engagement with a thresholdV sealer to provide a weather barrier with a door comprising an outer treadway section, a sealer having one edge secured in the outer treadway section, said outer treadway section extending outwardly from the sealer beyond the door sill, a front edge plate integrally formed with the outwardly extending edge of said outer section and extending downwardly therefrom, a hinge member formed on the inner edge of said outerv treadway'section extending the width thereof,

a joint member facing inwardly from and running the width of the front edge plate, said joint member integrally formed on the lower edge of the front edge plate, an inner treadway section, said inner treadway section interlocking with said hinge member and securing the other edge of said sealer and an .anchoring strip secured on the front edge of the sill having an outwardly extending strut interlocking with said joint member to retain said inner and outer treadway to said sill whereby the sealer is retained in alignment with the door to etect a weathertight barrier when the door is in the closed position.

4. A treadway assembly secured over a door sill in locking engagement with a threshold sealer to provide a weather barrier with a door comprising an outer treadF Way section, a sealer having one edge secured in the outer treadway section, said outer treadway section extending outwardly from the sealer beyond the door sill, a front edge plate integral With the outwardly extending edge of said outer section and extending downwardly therefrom, a hinge member formed on the inner edge of said outer treadway section extending the width thereof, a first joint member integrally formed with and running the width along the underside of said outer treadway section, a. second joint member integrally formed on the inner surface of the front edge plate and running the width thereof, an inner treadway section, said inner treadway section interlocking with said hinge member and securing the other edge of said sealer and an anchoring strip secured on the front edge of the sill having an upwardly extending stub received in said iirst joint member and an outwardly extending strut interlocking with said second joint member to secure the tread assembly to the sill whereby the sealer is retained in alignment with the door to etect a weathertight barrier when the door is in the closed position.

5. A tread assembly secured over a door sill in locking engagement with a threshold sealer to provide a weather barrier with a door comprising an outer treadway section, an inner treadway section, a hinge mem-ber on said outer treadway lsection interlocking said ou-ter treadway section with said inner treadway section, -a sealer releasably retained between and by said outer and inner treadway sections, said outer treadway section extending outwardly from the sealer, a front edge plate extending downwardly from the treadway Abeyond said sill, land an anchoring strip secured on the front edge of the sill interlocking with said treadway and said front edge plate to retain said inner and outer treadway sections to said sill, posi- :tioning said sealer in alignment with a door to eiect a weather `barrier when the door is in the closed position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,089,380 Kammerer Aug. 10, 1937 2,731,117 Abelson Jan. 17, 1956 2,804,954 Gillespie Sept. 3, 1957 2,843,233 Walsh July l5, 1958 2,872,714 Odegaarde et al Feb. l0, 1959 2,916,112 Kiehl Dec. 8, 1959

Claims

2. A TREAD ASSEMBLY SECURED OVER A DOOR SILL IN LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH A THRESHOLD SEALER TO PROVIDE A WEATHER BARRIER WITH A DOOR COMPRISING A TREADWAY, A SEALER SECURED IN THE TREADWAY, SAID TREADWAY EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE SEALER BEYOND THE DOOR SILL, A FRONT EDGE PLATE INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE TREADWAY BEYOND SAID SILL, A FIRST JOINT MEMBER INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH AND RUNNING THE WIDTH ALONG THE UNDER SIDE OF SAID TREADWAY, A SECOND JOINT MEMBER INTEGRALLY FORMED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF THE FRONT EDGE PLATE AND RUNNING THE WIDTH THEREOF, AND AN ANCHORING STRIP SECURED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SILL HAVING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING STUB RECEIVED IN SAID FIRST JOINT MEMBER AND AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING STRUT INTERLOCKING WITH SAID SECOND JOINT MEMBER TO RETAIN THE TREAD ASSEMBLY TO THE SILL WHEREBY THE SEALER IS RETAINED IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE DOOR TO EFFECT A WEATHERTIGHT BARRIER WHEN THE DOOR IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION.