US3616838A

US3616838A - Weather shield means for sliding doors

Info

Publication number: US3616838A
Application number: US875736A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel J Barr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-11-12
Filing date: 1969-11-12
Publication date: 1971-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-02

Abstract

A weather guard of sheet form plastic in a shield assembly adapted to be detachably secured over a building opening, such as that for patio-type sliding doors, and to be supported in draped relation along the margin to shield against wind driven water so that it does not gain entrance around the edges of a door or a window assembly in the opening. The shield assembly includes a main drape section which is adapted to closely cover the outer side of the sliding door structure and, along the lower edge, a skirt is provided which flares outwardly away from the plane of closure to divert the water away from the threshold of the opening.

Description

United States Patent Primary Examine -David J. Williamowslky Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-John Cyril Malloy ABSTRACT: A weather guard of sheet form plastic in a shield assembly adapted to be detachably secured over a building opening, such as that for patio-type sliding doors, and to be supported in draped relation along the margin to shield against wind driven water so that it does not gain entrance around the ledges of a door or a window assembly in the opening. The

shield assembly includes a main drape section which is adapted to closely cover the outer side of the sliding door 1 structure and, along the lower edge, a skirt is provided which flares outwardly away from the plane of closure to divert the water away from the threshold of the opening.

[72] lnventor Samuel]. Barr 1001 N. Washington Ave.,Titusvl1le, Fla. 32780 [21] AppLNo. 875,736 r [22] Filed Nov. 12,1969 Patented Nov. 2, 1971 [54] WEATHER SHIELD MEANS FOR SLIDING DOORS 13 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.C1 160/90, 160/368R [51] lnt.Cl. E0611 3/30 Fieldoisearch. 49/57,61, 62; /368, 368 S, 369, 353, 89, 90, 91; 52/202, 203

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,585 6/1910 Rosenberg 160/369 UX 1,705,132 3/1929 Norquist etal.. 160/369 UX 1,977,165 10/1934 Williams 160/369 UX 2,067,639 1/1937 Lett V 160/89 PATENTEDNUV 2 IHYI SHEET 30F 3 SAMUEL J. BARR INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

WEATHER SIIIELD MEANS FOR SLIDING DOORS This invention relates to an auxiliary panel weather seal means for covering doors and windows in building openings, it particularly pertains to a flexible sheet plastic auxiliary panel means for use in weatherproofing existing sliding door and window installations during inclement weather, such as hurricanes.

In different geographical locations, inclement weather conditions may present a problem in sealing the marginal edges of sliding door structures against wind and water leakage. This problem is particularly significant in such areas experiencing hurricane weather or frequent strong winds and blowing, driving rain. The typical sliding patio-type door installation includes one or more sliding door unit adapted for horizontal bypassing movement to and from overlapping relation when the door units are operated. Track means at the top and bot tom of the sliding door units are provided for guiding the bidirectional movement of the door units and for maintaining the door units in correct alignment. The lower guide track member of a typical sliding door installation includes holes formed in the door guide channels for draining the rain water; however, in a hurricane or other such weather disturbance, the water impinges in torrents against the sliding door structure in such quantity that it is not drained away through the openings. The excess rain water which is not drained away, is wind driven between the door edge portion and the lower guide track structure and passes into the interior of the building where it damages the wall and floor structure and the furnishings of the building.

In the past, various storm panel structures or auxiliary panel means have been designed for temporary use in spanning a window or door opening of a building, particularly during inclement weather. This is because, as may well be appreciated, a snug weathertight seal may not readily be obtained along the upper and lower trackways of a sliding door unit without resulting in undue frictional resistance along the trackway structures as the door unit is slidably manipulated. Such prior art structures have been of rigid members which present a problem of design to facilitate ready passage through the opening when the shield structure is applied over a sliding door installation. Because of this rigid panels are somewhat awkward and cumbersome to handle, install, and to prepare for storage which requires considerable space. Also, certain prior art storm guard structures are of complicated or intricate design and fabrication and require considerably manual dexterity and manual skill for layout of the constituent elements and assembly of them for installation.

A primary object of the instant invention is to provide a weather shield assembly which may be readily applied on or removed from existing sliding door structure and to provide door shield structure adapted for temporary use in inclement weather conditions and for use in preventing the passage of wind and rain water through sliding door structure and into the interior of a building.

A further object is to provide a weather shield assembly constructed in such a manner as to be readily rolled into a compact form for handling and storage purposes.

A further object is to provide weather shield means including passageway means for permitting a user of the invention to gain access to the interior or exterior of a building when the weather shield assembly is in an installed disposition over the sliding door structure of the building without much difficulty.

A further object is to provide weather shield means of mechanically simple design and construction, which does not include complicated or intricate parts difficult to manipulate during the installation or removal of the shield assembly from a building.

A further object is to provide a shield assembly of strong and durable construction and of design and fabrication permitting economical manufacturing and marketing.

A further object is to improve the design and construction of auxiliary weather guard means for sliding door structures in buildings.

In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an environmental side elevational view of the weather shield means of the instant invention illustrated in conjunction with the sliding door structure in a building;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal plane sectional] view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal plane sectional view taken along the plane 3-3 in -,FIG. I and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a vertical plane sectional view as viewed along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view as viewed along the line 5'-'-5 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. I and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating a modified embodiment of the vertical stanchion elements of the weather shield assembly;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating a modification of the longitudinal, i.e. the horizontal, stringer elements of the weather shield assembly;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating a modification of the lower base portion of the weather shield apparatus in that the skirt and panel are coupled together along a flexible zone;

FIG. 11 is another modification of the base portion of the weather shield apparatus;

FIG. 12 is still another modification of the base portion of the weather shield apparatus;

FIG. 13 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the shield assembly illustrating a vertical stanchion element detachably fastened to the vertical glass casing side member of a sliding door unit in a building;

FIG. 14 is a view further illustrating the shield attachment means of FIG. 13, but showing the stanchion element removed from the glass casing side member of the sliding door unit;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. I3, but illustrating an alternate embodiment of the means attaching the weather shield assembly to the sliding door structure;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a weathertight plug unit and itsuse in plugging a latch aperture in the glass casing side member of the door unit when the shield assembly is removed from the door unit;

FIG. 17 is a front face view of the weathertight plug unit in an installed disposition on the glass casing side member of the sliding door unit.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings in which like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout the various views, the weather shield means is designated generally by reference character 11 and is shown and described in conjunction with sliding door structure I3, see FIG. 2, operably supported in a rectangular opening in the wall structure 15 of a building. The sliding door structure illustrated includes glass

panel door units

17, 19, 21 guidingly constrained in upper and

lower trackways

23, 25 in parallel relation by the wall and

floor structure

15, 27 of the building. The rectangular opening of the building may be framed on opposite sides with frame structure 29. Although the weather shieldl means of the instant invention is described in conjunction with sliding door structure including three

door units

17, 19, 21, it will, of course, be appreciated that the weather shield mean-s may be designed or fabricated as weather guard means or sliding door installations including two, four or more glass panel door units or in window installations.

The preferred embodiment of the weather shield assembly is indicated by numeral 31 and basically includes a drape'portion or main section 33 and a lower skirt portion or base portion 41. The main section 33 is a generally planar main frame of horizontal stringer elements 35, vertical stanchion elements 37, spanned by a flexible plastic sheet structure 39 overlaying the stringers and stanchions. The base section 41 or skirt includes a plastic sheeting 43 and horizontal and

vertical stay elements

45, 47 supporting the flexible sheeting 43 in generally planar configuration. Means are provided permanently connecting the main and

base sections

33, 41 together, i.e. the drape portion and the skirt portion, and includes joint structure 49 rigidly interconnecting each stay element 47 of base section 41 to a respective stanchion element 37 of main section 33 of the weather shield assembly. The flexible

plastic sheet structure

39, 43 respectively of the main and

base sections

33, 41 preferably is of one-piece form and preferably is integrally connected at a longitudinally horizontally extending zone of juncture indicated by numeral 51 (See FIGS. and 6).

The horizontally extending stringer elements 35 of main section 33 and the horizontal stay elements 45 of weather shield assembly 31 preferably are configured riblike and substantially integrally formed with the flexible

plastic sheet structure

39, 43 respectively of the main and

base sections

33, 41. Each of the riblike longitudinally extending stringer and stay

elements

35, 45 preferably is formed by tightly rolling the sheet plastic material and heat sealing or fusing the laminatingly arranged roll portions of the sheet plastic material together to form the longitudinally extending reinforcing riblike support structure of the main and base sections of the shield assembly. The horizontally extending stringer and stay

elements

35, 45 are suitably secured in the weather shield assembly as by

screw fasteners

53, 55 threadedly engaging respectively the vertically extending stanchion and stay elements 37, (See FIG. 6).

Each stanchion element 37 of the shield assembly main section 33 preferably is tubular and rectangular in cross section and preferably is provided with a parallel pair on longitudinally extending spline receiving channels 57 adapted to receive respectively a pair of companionate members 59 formed of semiresilient material. The plastic sheet structure 39 of main section 33 is fastened against the outward surfaces 61 respectively of the stanchion elements 37 by portions of the plastic sheet material 39 being frictionally, interposedly anchored between the spline and spline channel structures 59, 57 (See FIG. 3). The spline channel and

spline member structures

57, 59 preferably extend the full longitudinal extension of each stanchion 37 and support the plastic sheet structure 39 in a rectangular expanded disposition.

Each stanchion element 37 is adapted to be arranged in registry over or outwardly of one of the respective glass panel

casing side members

63, 63 of the sliding

door units

17, 19, 21 (See FIGS. 1-3 and 5). The stanchions 37 are adapted to lie in face-to-face relation of the

side members

63, 63 of the glass

panel door units

17, 19 when the doors are closed.

The means for detachably attaching the weather shield assembly 31 over the sliding

door units

17, 19, 21 preferably includes a vertically aligned series of apertures 65 formed respectively in the leftward and rightward glass casing side members 63, 63' of the respective sliding

door units

17, 19, 21. A series of vertically aligned latch mechanisms 67 are supported in intermittently spaced vertical alignment on each stanchion 37, and each includes catch means adapted to detachably engage the latch aperture structure 65 of the slid ing door casing side members 63, 63'. Each latch mechanism 67 preferably includes a right angular bolt member 69 having a shank portion 71 and cam portion 73. The shank portion 71 freely turnably extends through aperture structure 75 formed in the respective stanchion elements 37 and with the cam portion 73 being adapted to extend through a respective latch aperture 65 and engage the interior wall surface 77 of a respective tubular door casing 63, 63 (See FIGS. 3 and 4).

A knob portion 81 formed on the outward end of bolt member 69 provides finger grip means for bidirectionally turnably manipulating the bolt member 90 degrees leftward and rightward respectively for arranging each latch mechanism in an operative or inoperative configuration and for attaching or detaching the shield assembly from over the sliding door structure. A helical compression spring 83 preferably is convolutely fitted around the shank portion 71 of each bolt member and interposedly tensioned between knob portion 81 and the outer surface 61 of a respective stanchion 37. The spring 83 urges cam portion 73 of the angular bolt member 69 against the interior wall surface 77 and clampingly secures a stanchion element 37 against the outer surface 85 of a respective sliding door glass casing side member 63.

The vertically planar main section 33 of the weather shield assembly 31 is substantially demarcated into three

sections

33a, 33b, 330 by the vertical stanchion elements 37. The planar rectangular areas 33a, 33b, 33c correspond with and are adapted to overlie respectively the glass panel areas of the sliding

door units

17, 19, 21 when the door units are in a closed, divergingly expanded configuration. The flexible plastic sheet structure 39 of the main section 33a preferably is provided with vertically extending slit structure providing a zipper or sliding closure structure 87 for permitting a user of the weather shield apparatus to gain access to the interior or exterior of the building when the weather shield is in an installed disposition. By vertical bidirectional manipulation of the finger grip tab 89 of the sliding closure 87, a user may form a slit opening of sufficient size to permit the user to pass through and gain access to the interior or exterior of the weather shield structure. In certain embodiments of the invention, it may be desirably to utilize a zipper-type closure or a series of snap-acting buttons (not shown) in lieu of the sliding closure structure illustrated.

Although the vertically planar main section 33 of the weather shield assembly 31 is shown and described as extending the full height of the sliding door structure and as being configured to fully cover the

door units

17, 19, 21, it is contemplated that, because the rain slants in from above, the full height may not be required, so in certain embodiments of the invention, the weather shield assembly may be configured to extend upwardly less than the full height of the door structure.

To install the weather shield assembly 31 over the sliding

door units

17, 19, 21, the user has only to position the main section 33 of the weather shield structure over the sliding glass door units and latch the assembly in place by turnably manipulating the latch mechanisms 67. The cam portion 73 of each latch bolt 69 is inserted through a respective elongated latch aperture 65 and is turned transversely of the aperture to latch the cam portion and secure the latch mechanism in an operative configuration. The weather shield assembly may be removed from the door structure by turnably manipulating each latch assembly 67 to an unlatched disposition. By virtue of the flexibility of horizontal stringer and stay

elements

35, 47, the weather shield assembly 31 may be rolled up along its longitudinal extension for storage purposes.

The modification of the vertical stanchion shown in H0. 7 is indicated by character 37a, and includes primary and secondary stanchion sections 37a, 37a" arranged on opposite sides of plastic sheeting 39a and clampingly secured together by screw fasteners 40a. The matingly arranged configuration of the primary and secondary stanchion sections 37a, 37a" provide duel function in providing substantially rigid vertical support structure for the main section of the weather shield means and also provides means for fastening the plastic sheet means 390 to the vertical stanchion structure. The shank portion 710 of latch mechanism 67a extends through aligned apertures 75a, 75a" formed respectively in the primary and secondary sections 37a, 37a" and turnably support bolt member 69a for engagement and disengagement of cam portion 730 with the outer sidewall structure of a glass casing side member 63a.

A modification of the longitudinally extending stay elements 45 of the base section of the weather shield assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 and designated by character 45b. A fastening tongue portion 55b, preferably struck from the upper wall portion of vertical stay element 47b defines the fastening means for securing the horizontal stay elements 45b on vertical stays 47b; tongue 55!) is bent over stay element 45b to clampingly secure the stay element on vertical stay 47b. Each horizontally extending stay element 45b includes a longitudinally extending helical tension spring 46b coaxially fitted in the interior of a tubular casing 48b preferably integrally formed with the base section plastic sheet structure 43b. If desired, the horizontally extending stringer elements (35) of each main section 33 may likewise be formed with helical tension spring reinforcing means and may be attached to the vertical stanchion elements by tongue fastening means corresponding with the fastening means of base section 41b, of the shield assembly.

The modification of the shield assembly illustrated in FIG. it) is indicated by character 31c and includes a main section including horizontally extending stringer elements 350, vertical stanchion elements 370, plastic sheet means 39c, lathlike strip elements 570 and fastening screw means 590 clampingly securing sheet structure 390 along the vertical stanchions 370. The base section of shield assembly 310 includes plastic sheet structure Me, horizontal and vertical stay elements 45c, 47c, lathlike strip elements 540 and threaded fasteners 56c simultaneously clampingly securing the plastic sheet structure 430 on vertical stay elements 47c and securing the horizontal and vertical stay elements 45c, 47c together in perpendicular relation. The plastic sheet structure 390, 43c, respectively of the main and base sections of shieldassembly 31c preferably is of integral form and defines flexible hinge joint means hingedly connecting the main and base sections together along a longitudinally extending zone of juncture 51c. A plurality of finger-operative latch units 67c, supported on stringer elements 37c coactingly engage latch aperture structure 65c of the sliding doorcasing 63c and provide means for detachably securing shield assembly 310 to the sliding door structure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a modified shield assembly 31d having a main section including stringer and

stanchion elements

35d, 37d, lath strip and screw fasteners 57d, 59d; a base section including horizontal and

vertical stay elements

45d, 45d; 47d, lath strip and screw fastener means 54d, 56d; and includes pin means 49d pivotally connecting the vertical stanchion and stay

elements

37d, 47d and hingedly connecting the main and base sections together along a longitudinally extending line of juncture indicated 51d. The plastic sheet structure 39d, 43d respectively of the main and base sections of shield assembly 51:! preferably is of one-piece form and defines fluid impervious sheet plastic structure extending along the hinge axis of pin means 49d. The horizontally extending stay element 450" of shield assembly 31d preferably is integrally formed with the base section plastic sheet structure 43d and is in the form of a beadlike enlargement extending along the lower marginal edge of the shield assembly base section. Finger operative latch means, 67d clampingly secure each stanchion element 37d on a respective side casing member 63d of the sliding door structure.

FIG. 12 illustrates a shield assembly 312 including a main section including stringer and stanchion elements 352, 37c and sheet plastic structure 43e and longitudinally extending stay elements 45c. The embodiment includes latch means 67a detachably securing stanchion elements 37c on the sliding door casing structure 632. The plastic sheet means 39c, 43e preferably of integral form and defines a fluid impervious line of juncture Sle extending longitudinally of the shield assembly. The base section of shield assembly 31:: preferably is provided only with longitudinally extending horizontal stay elements 452 and is in the form of flexible flap means adapted to closely overlie the lower trackway and floor structure 25c, 27c. The longitudinally extending stay elements 45a each are preferably integrally formed with the base section plastic sheet structure tl3e; the lowermost one of stay elements 45c defines substantially a beadlike margin extending longitudinally along the n edge of the shield assembly sheet structure 43c.

The embodiments of the shield assembly illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 each is preferably provided with brace means for maintaining the base and main sections substantially in fixed relative relation when the respective shield assembly is in an installed disposition over the sliding door structure of a building. FIG. 10 illustrates a brace member 910 obliquely arranged between the main and base sections of the shield assembly. The lower end portion of brace member 91c abuttingly engages horizontal stay element 45c; the upper end portion of brace member 910 engages an angle member 93c supported by screw means 950 on the lower portion of vertical stanchion 37c. Brace members 910 maintain the lower edge portion of base section Me in snug engagement with floor 27c and provides means for preventing the passage of wind and water under the base section of the shield assembly. The broken line showing of the base section did in FIG. 11 illustrates the base section in an outwardly pivoted disposition; the base section of each embodiment illustrated respectively in FIGS. 10, Ill and 12 may be tumed outwardly in coplanar relation with the main section for permitting a respective shield assembly to be rolled up to a compact configuration for storage purposes.

An alternate manner for attaching the weather shield assembly over the sliding door structure is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, and illustrates a shield assembly 31f detachably secured to a door casing side member 63 of sliding door structure 13]. Each stanchion 37] of shield assembly 31f is provided with a vertical series of tonguelike catch elements 73f, cantilever supported on the inward! side of stanchion 37f and disposed substantially in a plane lying contiguous to and parallel with the inward side surface 77) of the stanchion. The vertically arranged series of catch element 73f of each stanchion 37 is adapted to engage a corresponding coacting vertically arranged series of latch apertures 65] formed in the outer wall structure of a respective glass casing side member 63f. Each catch element 73f may be struck form the stanchion wall structure 78] and includes a horizontal proximal portion 72f and a downwardly projecting distal portion 74f. The weather shield assembly 31f is adapted to be attached to the sliding door structure by detachably securing each stanchion 37f to a respective door casing 63f: The stanchion is first aligned with the casing member and the series of catch elements 73f of the stanchion are simultaneously inserted in the series of latch apertures 65f of the door casing and then the stanchion is pressed downwardly to latch the distal portions 74f of the vertical series of catch elements with the vertical series of latch aperture structures 65f. When the weather shield assembly 31f is in an installed disposition, the distal edge portion 44f of the base section 41 f engages the floor surface 28f and prevents passage of wind and rain water under the sliding door structure.

FIG. 15 illustrates another manner of attaching a weather shield assembly over sliding door structure. A shield assembly 31g is adapted to be detachably secured to the door structure by a plurality of catch members 73g inserted through respective stanchions 37g and frictionally anchored in respective door casing structure 63g. Each catch member 73g includes a shank portion 72g adapted to extend through a respective stanchion 37g. Each catch member 73g includes a flat head portion 743 and a pointed anchor portion 763 arranged respectively on the opposite end portions of the shank 72g. Each catch member 73g is adapted to be inserted through an aperture 75g formed in a stanchion 37g and to secure the stanchion to a respective door casing element 63g with the head portion 74g engaging the outside of the stanchion and with the anchor portion 763 of the catch member being frictionally anchored in a respective catch aperture 65g formed in door casing 633. Each catch member 73g preferably is formed of semiresilient plastic material so that anchor portion 763 of each catch member firmly frictionally engages respective catch apertures 653. In the installing of shield assembly 313 over the sliding door structure, the installer inserts the plurality of catch members 73 g through the respective stanchion openings 75g and presses or drives each catch member inwardly and into a respective catch aperture 653. The weather shield assembly may be'removed from over the door structure by prying or pulling each member from a respective aperture 65g and removing the plurality of catch members from the stanchions.

The weather shield means of the instant invention also preferably includes a plurality of plug members 97 adapted to be removably received respectively in the plurality of latch apertures 65 formed in the sliding door casing structure 63 and when a respective weather shield assembly is removed from over the sliding door structure. (See FIGS. 16 and 17.) Each plug member 67 preferably is formed of semiresilient material and includes a flattened head portion 99 and an anchor portion 101. Each plug member 97 is adapted to be inserted in a respective aperture 65. The anchor portion 101 is adapted to be inserted through a respective aperture 65 and with the head portion sealingly engaging the outside surface of the door casing structure. Inserting the plug members 97 into the apertures 65 enhances the appearance of the door casing and prevents entry of wind and water into the interior of the sliding door structure.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in combination with a building construction having sliding door structure slidably operably supported in a rectangular opening in the building and including at least two glass panel door units with at least one of said door units being bidirectionally, horizontally slidable to and from overlapping relation with the other of said door units and with each door unit including casing structure including a vertical leftward and rightward arranged side glass casing member embracing opposite side edges of a glass panel;

weather shield means adapted for use with the sliding door structure in the building comprising,

a weather shield assembly, and

means to attach said shield assembly over the outer side of the sliding door structure and respectively to the leftward and rightward arranged side frame members of said glass panel door units,

said shield assembly including a main drape section including generally planar openwork support structure including a plurality of vertical stanchion elements, a plurality of horizontal stringer elements, and fastening means substantially permanently fastening said stanchion and stringer elements together in generally coplanar frame relation and with said vertical stanchion elements being substantially in spacial disposition corresponding with the spacial disposition of said leftward and rightward arranged vertical side casing members when said sliding door units are in a normal closed relation, and wherein said main section includes flexible sheet plastic means, and fastening means fastening said sheet means to said main support structure spanning the area enclosed by the periphery of said main support structure;

said shield assembly also including a base skirt section including thin flexible sheet means configured generally long narrow rectangular and disposed longitudinally horizontal and transversely oblique, and including stay means engaging the thin flexible sheet means of said base section and reinforcing and maintaining said base section sheet means generally in expanded configuration; and

including means connecting said base skirt section to said main drape section along a zone of juncture..at the lower margin of said main section and along the upper margin of said base section and with said zone being fluid impervious.

2. Weather shield means as set forthin claim 1 wherein said means to attach said weather shield assembly over the outer side of said sliding door structure includes means to secure said shield assembly support structure to the casing structure of each sliding door unit.

3. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means to attach said shield assembly over the outer side of said sliding door structure wherein said casing structure has a plurality of latch apertures arranged on the outer side of the casing vertical side members of the sliding door units, and I said shield assembly includes a plurality of latch means arranged respectively on the vertical stanchion elements of the main section support structure of said weather shield assembly; said plurality of latch apertures and latch means being in relative arrangement and adapted for coacting disengagement engagement respectively for detaching or attaching said shield assembly over the sliding door structure.

4. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of latch means each includes a generally right angular latch bolt member having a shank portion and a cam portion and including means defining a through aperture in a respective stanchion element of said weather shield assembly and turnably supporting the shank portion of said bolt member on an axis lying generally horizontal and perpendicular to the inward side of said stanchion element and with said cam portion being in a plane lying contiguous to and parallel with the inward side of said stanchion element, spring means urging said cam portion toward the inward side of said stanchion element and finger grip leverage means arranged on the outward side of said stanchion member for turnably manipulating said bolt member. r

5. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 3 wherein each latch catch means includes a tonguelike catch element cantilever supported on the inward side of a respective vertical stanchion element and disposed generally in a plane lying contiguous to and parallel with the inward side surface of said stanchion element, said plurality of latch catch means being intermittently disposed in vertical alignment along a respective stanchion element and being adapted to simultaneously engage a plurality of latch apertures formed in a respective sliding door casing vertical side member.

6. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 3 wherein each latch catch means of said plurality of latch catch means includes means defining a horizontal catch aperture in a respective stanchion element in corresponding horizontal alignment with a respective latch aperture formed in a door casing vertical side member, and includes a detachable catch member including a substantially slender shank portion and head and anchor portions integrally supported on opposite end portions of said shank portion, said anchor portion being sized to snugly frictionally engage said latch aperture, said weather shield assembly being adapted to be attached over said sliding door structure by each catch member being inserted through a respective catch aperture with the head portion thereof engaging the outerside of a respective stanchion member and with the anchor portion being frictionally detachably fitted in a respective latch aperture of a respective door casing vertical side member.

7. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet means includes at least one thin flexible plastic sheet panel and wherein each vertical stanchion element of said weather shield assembly main section is hollow, tubular and rectangular in cross section, having parallel-arranged inward and outward surfaces and wherein said means fastening said main section plastic sheet means to each said vertical stanchion includes at least one long slender spline member and structure in said vertical stanchion element defining a long slender spline channel extending longitudinally along the outward side surface of said vertical stanchion and adapted to coactingly receive said spline member, a portion of said sheet plastic panel being interposedly frictionally anchored between said spline channel structure and said spline member thereby defining means firmly fastening said sheet plastic panel on said stanchion element.

8. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet means of the main section of said shield assembly includes at least one thin flexible sheet panel and wherein the means fastening said main section sheet panel to each vertical stanchion element includes means extending out of the surface of the panel and captivated in said main section, primary and secondary lathlike stanchion sections arranged vertically on opposite sides of said thin flexible sheet panel and includes threaded fastener means interengaging said primary and secondary stanchion sections and clampingly securing said plastic sheet structure between said primary and secondary stanchion sections.

9. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said horizontal stringer elements of the main section support structure of said shield assembly is generally of riblike configuration and is substantially integrally formed with the flexible sheet means of said main section.

10. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stay means of said base section includes generally rigid vertical stay elements extending transversely of said base section and wherein said means connecting said base and main sections includes joint means hingedly connecting each base section vertical stay element at its upper portion with the lower terminal portion of a respective stanchion element, and with the hinge axis extending parallel with and generally along the lower edge of said main section.

11. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 10 wherein said flexible sheet means of said main and base sections of said weather shield assembly are of integrall form and wherein part of said flexible sheet means extending longitudinally and interposedly between said base and main sections defines flexible joint means hingedly connecting the base and main sections together.

12. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 10 which additionally includes brace means for maintaining said main and base sections in substantially fixed relative relation.

13. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet means of said main. and base sections are substantially of integral form and wherein said stay means of said base section generally is in the form only of a plurality of longitudinally extending horizontal stay elements.

Claims

1. For use in combination with a building construction having sliding door structure slidably operably supported in a rectangular opening in the building and including at least two glass panel door units with at least one of said door units being bidirectionally, horizontally slidable to and from overlapping relation with the other of said door units and with each door unit including casing structure including a vertical leftward and rightward arranged side glass casing member embracing opposite side edges of a glass panel; weather shield means adapted for use with the sliding door structure in the building comprising, a weather shield assembly, and means to attach said shield assembly over the outer side of the sliding door structure and respectively to the leftward and rightward arranged side frame members of said glass panel door units, said shield assembly including a main drape section including generally planar openwork support structure including a plurality of vertical stanchion elements, a plurality of horizontal stringer elements, and fastening means substantially permanently fastening said stanchion and stringer elements together in generally coplanar frame relation and with said vertical stanchion elements being substantially in spacial disposition corresponding with the spacial disposition of said leftward and rightward arranged vertical side casing members when said sliding door units are in a normal closed relation, and wherein said main section includes flexible sheet plastic means, and fastening means fastening said sheet means to said main support structure spanning the area enclosed by the periphery of said main support structure; said shield assembly also including a base skirt section including thin flexible sheet means configured generally long narrow rectangular and disposed longitudinally horizontal and transversely oblique, and including stay means engaging the thin flexible sheet means of said base section and reinforcing and maintaining said base section sheet means generally in expanded configuration; and including means connecting said base skirt section to said main drape section along a zone of juncture at the lower margin of said main section and along the upper margin of said base section and with said zone being fluid impervious.

2. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means to attach said weather shield assembly over the outer side of said sliding door structurE includes means to secure said shield assembly support structure to the casing structure of each sliding door unit.

3. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means to attach said shield assembly over the outer side of said sliding door structure wherein said casing structure has a plurality of latch apertures arranged on the outer side of the casing vertical side members of the sliding door units, and said shield assembly includes a plurality of latch means arranged respectively on the vertical stanchion elements of the main section support structure of said weather shield assembly; said plurality of latch apertures and latch means being in relative arrangement and adapted for coacting disengagement engagement respectively for detaching or attaching said shield assembly over the sliding door structure.

4. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of latch means each includes a generally right angular latch bolt member having a shank portion and a cam portion and including means defining a through aperture in a respective stanchion element of said weather shield assembly and turnably supporting the shank portion of said bolt member on an axis lying generally horizontal and perpendicular to the inward side of said stanchion element and with said cam portion being in a plane lying contiguous to and parallel with the inward side of said stanchion element, spring means urging said cam portion toward the inward side of said stanchion element and finger grip leverage means arranged on the outward side of said stanchion member for turnably manipulating said bolt member.

11. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 10 wherein said flexible sheet means of said main and base sections of said weather shield assembly are of integral form and wherein part of said flexible sheet means extending longitudinally and interposedly between said base and main sections defines flexible joint means hingedly connecting the base and main sections together.

13. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet means of said main and base sections are substantially of integral form and wherein said stay means of said base section generally is in the form only of a plurality of longitudinally extending horizontal stay elements.