US3654731A

US3654731A - Metal door frames

Info

Publication number: US3654731A
Application number: US86746A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank J Jellinek
Original assignee: JELLCO Mfg CO
Current assignee: JELLCO Mfg CO
Priority date: 1970-11-04
Filing date: 1970-11-04
Publication date: 1972-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-11

Abstract

A metal door frame having two vertical jamb members and an overhead cross-member is improved by providing means to reduce or eliminate door jamb vibration and looseness, and by providing an improved dustbox and strike plate assembly which is easier to install than conventional dustbox and strike plate assemblies and is not as subject as prior constructions to looseness and yet is fully adjustable.

Description

United States Patent Jellinek [45] Apr. 11, 1972 [54] METAL DOOR FRAMES 2,925,894 2/1960 Lee, Jr. et al. ..49/504 x 3,265,427 8/1966 Williams ..49/504 X [72] Frank Jeumek 3mm", 2,660,272 11/1953 Walterman et al. ..49/504 [73] Assignee: Jellco Mfg. Co., Bismarck, Mo.

Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey [22] Flled: 1970 Att0rneyCharles B. Haverstock 21 A LN 86 746 1 pp 57 ABSTRACT 52 us. 01 ..49/504 52/213 A metal frame having vemcaliamb members and 51 1111.0 ..E66b 1/04 ahead ems-member is imPm"ed by Pmviding means 58 1 Field S 49/504 52/213 reduce or eliminate door jamb vibration and looseness, and by providing an improved dustbox and strike plate assembly 56] References Cited which is easier to install than conventional dustbox and strike plate assemblies and is not as subject as prior constructions to UNITED STATES TS looseness and yet is fully adjustable.

3,385,004 5/1968 Oehler et al. ..49/504 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 I I972 FIGS TAO 0072 5mm PATENTEDAPR 1 1 I972 SHEET 2 [IF 2 METAL DOOR FRAMES This invention relates generally to a metal door frame assembly and more particularly to improvements therein which simplify the construction, reduce the number of parts required, simplify the installation, and prevent vibration and looseness in the various portions thereof.

The subject metal door frame assembly includes two vertical member or jambs for mounting on opposite sides of a door opening and an overhead cross-member which extends across the top of the opening to complete the frame construction. The two jamb members are mitered at their upper ends and the cross-member is mitered at both ends so that the members meet in such a way as to provide a continuous finished appearing frame structure. The door for the opening is hingedly attached to one side of the opening by hinges that are positioned in recessed portions formed in one of the vertical frame members. The hinges are attached by screws or other fasteners which extend through holes provided therefor in the recesses portions. These recessed portions but against the adjacent studding leaving the non-recessed portions of the vertical member spaced a distance from the studding an amount equal to the depth of the recessed portions. This space in known constructions has enabled undesirable looseness and vibration to develop particularly at the upper part of the frame. Various means such as pads glued to the jamb member, separate firring strips, threaded pressure members, and resilient spring members have been used heretofore to take up and to occupy this space and to prevent looseness and vibration from developing. All such means are expensive and time consuming to make and install and for these and other reasons have complicated the known structures and increased their cost.

The subject frame assembly also includes improved means for anchoring the lower ends of the vertical frame members or jambs to the studding to prevent looseness an vibration thereat. In the past, the lower ends of the jamb members have been attached to the adjacent studding by U-shaped members, the leg portions of which extend from opposite sides of the metal jamb members and embrace and engage the opposite sides of the studding. The leg portions of the U-shaped members have holes through which nails or screws are driven for attaching them to the studs after the jambs are located in plumb positions. In the past, the U-shaped members used for this purpose have been attached to the jambs either by spot welding them thereto or in such a way that they have been able to move or creep relative to the jambs and because of this the jambs have been able to develop undesirable looseness. Also, when they are welded in place some damage to the finish of the jambs has occurred, and if the welding is done at the factory, portions of the U-shaped members project from the associated jambs creating problems in handling, finishing, packaging and shipping the jamb members. The present construction includes improved means for attaching the U-shaped members to the jambs which require no welding and which at the same time prevent movement or creeping of the U-shaped members relative to the jambs on which they are installed thereby preventing looseness from developing and overcoming the principal disadvantages of the prior art constructions.

Still another improvement of the present structure is in the novel construction of the dustbox and strike plate assembly which is installed on one of the vertical frame members in position to cooperate with the latch bolt on the door. It has been the practice in the past to construct the dustbox and strike plate assembly of a plurality of parts which are assembled and attached together and to the door frame or jamb by threaded fastener members. The known assemblies have also included separate members for the strike plate, the dustbox members, and separate threaded and other means for mounting and adjusting them. Such multipiece constructions are difficult, expensive and time consuming to manufacture, install and adjust, and they have a high potential for developing looseness and require frequent and often time consuming adjustment. These and other disadvantages are overcome by the present relatively simple, one piece dustbox-strike plate assembly which can be easily and quickly installed without requiring any tools and can be adjusted simply and quickly even by persons having little or no special skill.

The present improved door frame construction therefore overcomes many of the principal disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art constructions and results in a construction that is relatively resistant to looseness and vibration, relatively simple and economical to make, simple to install, and is easily and quickly adjustable.

A principal object of the present invention therefore is to provide an improved metal door frame assembly which is relatively inexpensive to construct, assemble, package and install and which greatly reduces or eliminates undesirable jamb looseness and vibration when in service.

Another object is to simplify the manufacture of the pans used in metal door frame assemblies.

Another object is to substantially reduce the number of parts required in metal door frames and the like.

Another object is to provide a metal door frame assembly which can be assembled and installed even by persons having relatively little skill and training and using the simplest of tools.

Another object is to provide improved means for securing the necessary parts to metal door frame members.

Another object is to provide an improved one-piece dustbox and strike plate assembly including improved means for installing the same on a metal door jamb member.

Still another object is to provide a dustbox or latch receptacle formed in part from parts of the door jamb member on which it is installed.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent after considering the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the subject improvements in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a metal door frame embodying the present improvements, said view showing portions of the frame in dotted outline to illustrate how the frame is installed in an opening therefor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 33 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

F Ig. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the details of the strike plate and dustbox assembly, and of the adjacent portion of the vertical jamb on which the assembly is mounted;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view partly in section showing more of the details of the means used to anchor the lower ends of the vertical jamb members.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numbers, number 10 refers to a metal door frame assembly formed by two spaced

vertical jambs

11 and 12 located on opposite sides of a door opening 13, and an overhead crossmember 14 which extends across the top of the opening 13 between the

upper ends

15 and 16, respectively, of the jambs l l and 12 to complete the frame assembly.

The

jambs

11 and 12 as well as the overhead cross-member 14 are all similar in cross-sectional size and shape over most of their lengths. Each of the

members

11, 12 and 14 are formed of sheet metal such as sheet steel or the like and each has two spaced web portions 18 and 20 (FIG. 4) positioned on opposite sides of a central door stop portion 21 which is shown as being square or rectangular in shape. The

web portions

18 and 20 are also shown being in the same plane and when installed they lie adjacent to but not necessarily in abutment with faces 23 of stud members 22 which-form the rough opening 13 in which the subject frame assembly is installed. The door stop portions 21 on the

members

11, 12 and 14 therefore extend a predetermined distance from the

webs

18 and 20 into the opening 13 and in the usual way control the positions of the door 47 when closed.

Each of the

frame members

11, 12 and 14 has similarly shaped side trim portions which are shown as including rounded portions 24 and side wall portions 26 connected thereto to define the exposed opposite surfaces of the frame structure 10. The side trim portions 24 extend around the corners 27 of the rough studding 22 and are outwardly of the opposite surfaces 280 and 28b of the studding 22. The decorative side portions 26 including the portions 24 can have many different sizes and shapes depending upon the appearance or decor that is desired. The portions 26 are in turn connected to similar inwardly extending flanges 29 formed on each opposite side of the structure. The flanges 29 are usually made wide enough to abut adjacent edge surfaces of wall board panels such as panels of sheet rock or other wall covering material 30 to give a smooth and continuous connection between the

subject frame members

11, 12 and 14 and the adjacent walls. The flanges 29 are also connected to similar inner flanges 32 at right angles thereto that abut the opposite faces 28a and 28b of the studding 22 and properly locate and center the frame members thereon as shown. The inner flanges 32 are usually spaced apart a distance that is just enough to receive the stud members 22 therebetween as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, but it is also contemplated to reduce the distance between the flanges 32 somewhat so that the

jambs

11 and 12, which are usually somewhat resilient members, must be spread apart to some extent to receive the studding 22.

The upper ends and 16 of the two

vertical jamb members

11 and 12 are mitered across their decorative side wall portions 26 including the flanges 29 and inner flanges 32, and are shown provided with V-shaped cutouts 33 (FIG. 3) which means that the web portions 18 and on the

side frames

11 and 12 extend upwardly somewhat beyond the low point of the cutouts 33. The cross-member 14 is also mitered at both of its

ends

38 and 39 on all portions thereof except for the stop portion 21, and the ends of the stop portion 21 on the overhead member 14 are shortened somewhat to abut against the stop portions 21 on the

vertical jambs

11 and 12. The ends of the web portions on the cross-member 14 also abut the surfaces of the

respective webs

18 and 20 on the jamb members 1 l and 12 to give the frame 10 a continuous structure when installed. Each of the

webs

18 and 20 on the

vertical jambs

11 and 12 is also provided near its upper end with a semi-circular knockout protrusion 46 which protrusions engage and cooperate with the ends of the

webs

18 and 20 on the crossmembers 14 to lock the members together when installed and to prevent them from moving or shifting relative to each other.

The subject structure 10 is mounted as shown in FIG. 1 with the rough studding 22 extending into the

frame members

11, 12 and 14 between the inner flanges 32. It should be recognized also that the

frame members

11 and 12 are different from one another in some respects, the member 12 being constructed to receive and cooperate with hinges 48 that are used for mounting door 47, and the member 11 being constructed to receive a dustbox and striker plate assembly 49 which cooperates with the latch bolt 50 on the door 47 to hold the door 47 closed and to permit it to be opened in the usual way. Frame structures of the general type described above have been known and used for some time, and the present invention relates to certain improvements in such structures as will be described.

The door 47 which may be of a conventional construction is hingedly attached to one side of the door opening 13 and to one of the frame members, namely the frame member 12, by two or more hinges 48 which are positioned in similar recessed portions 51 (FIGS. 2 and 3) formed in the jamb member 12. The hinges 48 are attached to the adjacent studding 22 by screws or other fasteners which extend through holes 53 provided therefor in the recessed portions 51. It is contemplated to provide as many recessed portions and associated hinges as required to support the door. The recessed portions 51 abut against the adjacent studding 22 which define the unfinished door opening 13 leaving the rest of the

web portions

18 and 20 on the frame member 12 spaced from the studding 22 by the depth of the recesses 51. The portions of the

webbing

18 and 20 which are spaced from the studding 22, if unsupported or unbacked by some means, are relatively susceptible to developing looseness and vibration and this is especially true of the

webbing

18 and 20 at the upper end of the frame 12.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, one of the improvements to the subject door frame construction is obtained by forming integral outwardly extending right angle tabs 60 on the upper ends of the two spaced

web portions

18 and 20 of the jamb member 12. The tabs 60 extend from the web portions 18 and 20 a distance approximately equal to the depth of the recessed portions 51 so that when the member 12 is installed the tabs 60 will engage the adjacent studding 22 and provide backing support for the upper ends thereof. The tabs 60 therefore take up the spaces between the upper ends of the webbing l8 and 20 and the adjacent studding 22, and the support or backing provided by the tabs 60 substantially reduces or eliminates the possibility of vibration and looseness developing and at the same time provides support for the upper end of the jamb 12. It is also contemplated in the subject construction to make the tabs 60 somewhat deeper than the hinge recesses 51 so that during installation they will be pressed or driven against and indent the adjacent studding 22 and make an even more firm backing support. The tabs 60 are formed as integral parts of the webbing l8 and 20 during fabrication of the jamb 12 by a simple bending step which is relatively easy to accomplish and does not require that any additional parts or components be added to the construction. In the form of the invention shown in the drawing, similar tabs are formed on the upper end of two spaced

web portions

18 and 20. It is contemplated, however, in some constructions having other than the channel shape shown to use a tab 60 only at the top of the web portion 20 in which the recessed portions 51 are formed. It is also contemplated to provide similar tabs on other portions of the

subject frame members

11 and 12 such as on the door stop portion 21 thereof although this is usually not necessary. If no space is formed between the upper end of the webbing 18 and/or 20 and the studding 22 as might be the case if the studding were irregular or uneven for some reason, the tabs 60 can simply be cutoff or filed down as required. It is thus apparent that by the simple expediency of providing integral tabs 60 at the upper ends of the vertical frames 12 and possibly 11 as well, that vibration and looseness can be substantially reduced or eliminated, and the structure 10 when installed is more rigid and more firmly engaged with the adjacent studding. Tabs such as tabs 60 are not usually required on the jamb member 11 which is the jamb on which the strike plate and dustbox assembly 49 is installed as already indicated. This is because the jamb 11 does not have any recesses such as those provided in the jamb 12 for the hinges 48. Tabs 60 could be formed on the jamb 1 1, however, to compensate for uneveness of the studding 22 and so forth and can be removed if they are not needed. This gives the installer more options to make a good and secure installation.

At the opposite or lower ends of the

jamb members

11 and 12, a similar space may also exist to the adjacent studding 22 from the

jamb webbing

18 and 20. Other means, as will be explained, are provided for attaching the lower ends thereof to the studding 22 to provide rigidity and to establish a plumb condition, and it is usually not necessary to have tabs similar to the tabs 60 at the lower ends.

The lower ends of the

jambs

11 and 12 are anchored to the adjacent studs 22 by means of U-shaped members 66, one of which is attached near the lower end of each of the

vertical jamb members

11 and 12. The U-shaped members 66 include two spaced leg portions 68 and 70 (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) and a connected cross-portion 72. The

leg portions

68 and 70 extend from opposite sides of the associated

jamb members

11 and 12 and are positioned so as to embrace and engage the opposite surfaces 280 and 28b of the studding 22 against which and around which the lower ends of the

jambs

11 and 12 are positioned. Each of the

leg portions

68 and 70 has one or more holes 74 receiving nails 76, screws and other fasteners which are used to attach them to the studding 22.

Each of the

leg portions

68 and 70 of the U-shaped members 66 also has an integral L-shaped tab or tongue 78 formed as shown in FIGS. 79 of the drawing. The two tabs 78 on each U-shaped member cooperate with notches or cutouts 80 formed on the inner flanges 32 of the frame members at desired positions usually near the lower ends thereof, and the cooperation between the tabs 78 and the notches 80 prevents the U-shaped members 66 from sliding or moving vertically therealong again to prevent looseness from developing when the frame is installed. In order to install the U-shaped members 66 on the

frame members

11 and 12 it is usually necessary to bend the center or cross-portions 72 thereof to some extend to reduce the distance between the attached ends of the

leg portions

68 and 70. This enables the U-shaped members 66 to be positioned between the spaced inner flanges 32 so that thereafter the tabs 78 on the U-shaped members 66, which now have W-shaped configurations 81 (see dotted outline in FIG. 7), can be moved into engagement with the cutouts or notches 80 simply by pressing on and straightening out the cross-portions 72. This is accomplished by pushing outwardly on the portions 72 to restore the members 66 from their W to their U-shape. When this is done the engagement between the tabs 78 and the cutouts 80 prevents relative sliding movement of the U-shaped members 66 along the associated frames on which they are installed. It should be noted that the U-shaped members 66 are relatively easy and quick to install and can be installed at the work site without requiring any special tools.

The main advantages obtained by the use of the subject U shaped members 66 as explained is that the cooperation between the tabs 78 and the cutouts or notches 80 prevents the U-shaped members 66 from moving or creeping relative to the

frame members

11 and 12 due to settling and vibration which occurs after installation and this is highly desirable as a means to prevent looseness from developing and also to prevent shifting of the frame members after installation.

Another improvement in the subject door frame assembly resides in the novel construction of the dustbox and strike plate assembly 49 which is installed on vertical frame member 11 in position as aforesaid to cooperate with the latch bolt 50 located on the door 47. The assembly 49 includes a dustbox 90 and a strike plate 92 and in the subject construction these are formed in part by the frame member 11 and in part by a single member 93 which is mounted in an opening 94 provided therefor in the web portion of the frame member 11. It should also be noted that a part of studding 22 directly behind the opening 94 must be removed to provide a cavity 95 to receive the assembly 49. When mounted, the member 93 and the adjacent portions of the frame member 11 form the complete assembly 49 and this installation can be accomplished without requiring any special fastener means such as screws or the like an without requiring any tools to make the installation. This is possible as will be explained because the improved construction as shown in FIG. 6 can simply be snapped into place in the opening 94.

The opening 94 in the jamb 11 is formed by cutting an H- shape opening in the webbing 20, which opening is formed by two spaced vertical cuts and one cross cut at a center location therebetween. When this is done, two tabs or

flanges

96 and 98 are formed and these are bent outwardly at right angles to the webbing 20 along the upper and lower edges I00 and 102 of opening 94. The

flanges

96 and 98 therefore remain integral with the jamb 11 and form the upper and lower walls of the dustbox 90. The outer three walls of the dustbox 90 and the strike plate 92 are formed by the member 93 which is preferably of a heavier gage metal than the frames l1, l2 and 14, and is defined by

opposite walls

106 and 108 and a connecting wall therebetween (FIG. 6). The spaced

walls

106 and 108 are just far enough apart so that they can just move into the opening 94. The strike plate 92 is formed as an integral flange on the member 93 and is attached to the side edge of the wall 108 opposite from the wall 110 and extends therefrom outwardly at a right angle. Another narrower right angle flange 112 is formed on the opposite edge of the wall 106. The strike plate 92 and the flange 112 operate to limit and control how far the member 93 can be pushed into the opening 94. The web 20 can also be recessed outwardly, if desired, so that the exposed surfaces of the strike plate 92 and flange 112 will be in the plane of the web when installed. When the member 93 is installed in the jamb opening 94, the

opposite web flanges

96 and 98 and the

walls

106, 108 and 110 cooperate to define the dustbox 90, and the strike plate 92 extends in a proper direction and is properly curved to cooperate with the latch bolt 50 on the door 47. The integral strike plate 92 on the side of the U-shaped member 93 and the flange 112 on the opposite side thereof not only limit how far the member 93 can be moved into the opening 94 but they also engage the jamb webbing 20 in surface-to-surface contact, and as will be explained, help to lock the member 93 in its installed position.

The end edges 118 of the

opposite walls

106 and 108 adjacent to the strike plate 92 and the flange 112 are notched at 120 and are provided with outwardly extending cam or beveled portions 122, as clearly shown in FIG. 6. Four such beveled cam portions 122 are shown on the member 93. These beveled or cam portions 122 cooperate with the side edges 124 ofthe web opening 94 adjacent to the corners 126 thereof when the U-shaped member 93 is pushed into the opening 94, and this cooperation causes the

walls

106 and 108 to be cammed inwardly toward each other to some extent during installation until the cammed portions 122 have moved past the edges 124 where they spring apart with the edges 124 moving into the notches 120 to complete the installation. This can be done, as aforesaid, without requiring any tools or special fastener means.

The side wall 108 to which the strike plate 92 is attached is also provided with an integral L-shaped tongue 130 which extends partly across the space formed by the dustbox 90 between the

opposed walls

106 and 108. The tongue 130 has its free end portion 132 extending towards the connecting wall 110 substantially parallel to the

side walls

106 and 108. The tongue 130 is engageable by the door latch member 50 when the door is closed and its position controls the amount of play that the latch bolt will have. By using a screw driver or like too] it is an easy matter to bend and thereby adjust the position of the tongue 130 in order to change the amount of the latch bolt play.

It is also anticipated to construct the upper and lower dustbox walls as integral parts of the member 93 instead of as parts of the webbing 20. If this were done, the assembly 49 would be formed by a more closed box shaped member and might eliminate the need for the

flanges

96 and 98 that are formed in the webbing 20. Such a modified construction could still be made to be installed without requiring special tools or fasteners and might even have more cammed portions similar to the portions 122 which cooperate with the edges of the opening formed in the webbing 20 to lock the assembly in position.

Thus there has been shown and described a novel metal door frame having greater resistance to developing looseness and vibration and simplicity of dustbox and strike plate construction, which frame fulfills all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications and variations of the subject frame, in addition to those specifically described will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the subject specification and the accompanying drawing. All such changes, modifications, and variations which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a metal door frame assembly which includes two spaced vertical jamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door opening, an overhead cross-member which extends across the top face of the opening to complete the frame construction, a door with a latch bolt on one side and means hingedly attaching the door to one vertical jamb member on the opposite side, the said jamb members and cross-member having similar cross-sectional shapes, mating end portions which cooperate when installed to form a finished door frame assembly, and web portions that face into the opening, the improvement comprising modifying the web portion on one of the said jamb members by forming spaced outwardly extending recessed portions for receiving the hinge means for mounting the door in the frame assembly, said recessed web portions having openings therein registrable with said openings in the hinge means for receiving fasteners used to attach the hinge means in the recessed portions to the associated face of the door opening with the said recessed portions abutting the associated face of the rough door opening, said web portion except for the recessed portions thereof being spaced from the face of the rough opening a distance determined approximately by the depth of the recessed portions, and means including an outwardly extending projection formed integrally adjacent to one end of said one web portion, said projection being formed at an angle extending outwardly from the web portion a distance sufficient to engage the face of the rough opening when the recessed portions are engaged therewith to provide support for the web portion against the opening face at the said one end thereof.

2. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 1 an opening formed in the web portion of the jamb member opposite from the jamb member having the recessed portions, said web opening being located at a height to cooperate with the latch bolt on the door, and means positioned in said web opening forming a dustbox and a latch bolt strike plate assembly, said assembly being formed of a single member positioned in the said web opening, said single member having spaced opposed walls, a wall connected between corresponding side edges of said spaced opposed walls, and a flange formed on each of the side edges of said spaced opposed walls opposite from said connecting wall, one of said flanges forming the strike plate portion of the assembly, and other means on said spaced opposed walls for cooperating with the said opposite jamb web portion adjacent to the opening therein to lock the assembly in position in said opening.

3. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 2 wherein the rough door opening is formed of wooden studding members, the further improvement of means for attaching and anchoring the lower ends of the jamb members to the wooden studding members, said means including a U-shaped member attached to each of said vertical jamb members, said U-shaped members having spaced leg portions that extend outwardly from the jamb members for engaging opposite sides of the studding members, each of said leg portions having holes for receiving means to fasten the U-shaped members to the studding and each of said U-shaped members having a crossportion which extends between and connects corresponding ends of the leg portions, and other means on the leg portions of said U-shaped members and on the respective jamb members for cooperatively engaging each other to retain the U- shaped members on the jamb members and to prevent relative movement therebetween.

4. In a metal door frame assembly which includes two spaced vertical jamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door opening, an overhead cross-member which extends across the top of the opening to complete the frame construction, a door including a latch bolt and means hingedly attaching the door to one of said vertical jamb members, each of the jamb and cross-members having similar cross-sectional shapes, mating end portions which cooperate to form a finished door frame assembly, and web portions that face into the opening, the improvement comprising an opening formed in the web portion of the jamb member opposite from the jamb member to which the door is hingedly attached, said jamb opening being located at a height to cooperate with the latch bolt on the door, and means positioned in said opening forming a combined dustbox and latch bolt strike plate assembly, said assembly being formed of a single member positioned in the said web opening, said single member having spaced opposed walls, another wall connected between corresponding side edges of said spaced opposed walls and a flange formed on the side edges of each of said spaced opposed walls opposite from said other connecting wall, one of said flanges forming the strike plate portion of the assembly, and means formed on said spaced opposed side walls for cooperating with the opposite web portion adjacent to the opening therein to lock the assembly in position in said openmg.

5. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4, said means formed on said spaced opposed walls for cooperating with the other web portion include cam means formed on at least one edge of each of said spaced opposed walls, and notches formed adjacent to said cam means and adjacent to the said associated flanges formed thereon.

6. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4 including spaced flange portions formed integral with said opposite web portion, said spaced web flanges being attached to the said opposite web portion at opposite ends of the opening formed therein and extending outwardly from the said opposite web portion to form opposite side walls for the dustbox when the dustbox and strike plate assembly is installed in said opening.

7. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4 the one of said opposed walls of said assembly attached to the strike plate forming flange includes an integral tab for cooperating with the latch bolt when the door is closed,

8, In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4 wherein the rough door opening is formed of wooden studdin g members, the further improvement of means for attaching the lower ends of the jamb members to the wooden studding members, said means including a U-shaped member attached to at least one of said vertical jamb members adjacent to the lower end thereof, said U-shaped member having spaced leg portions that extend outwardly from the jamb member for engagement with opposite sides of the studding member adjacent thereto, each of said leg portions having holes for receiving nails used to fasten the U-shaped member to the studding, said U-shaped member also having a cross-portion which extends between and connects corresponding ends of the leg portions, and cooperative means on the leg portions of said U-shaped member and on the said one jamb member to retain the U-shaped member engaged therewith and to prevent relative movement therebetween.

9. In a metal door frame assembly which includes two spaced vertical jamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door opening formed of wooden studding, an overhead cross-member which extends across the top of the opening to complete the frame assembly, a door and means hingedly attaching the door to one of said vertical jamb members, and to the adjacent studding, the jamb and cross-members having similar cross-sectional shapes with mating end portions which cooperate when installed to form a finished door frame assembly, and each of said jamb and cross-members having a web portion that faces into the opening, the improvement comprising means for attaching and anchoring the lower end of each of said jamb members to the wooden studding, said means including a U-shaped member associated with each of said vertical jamb members having spaced leg portions that extend outwardly from the said associated jamb members for engagement with opposite wall surfaces around the rough door opening, each of said leg portions having holes for receiving means to fasten the U-shaped member to the studding, each of said U-shaped members having a cross-portion which extends between and connects corresponding ends of the leg portions, an integral outwardly extending L-shaped tongue formed on each of the leg portions of said U-shaped members, and a notch formed in the edge of each of said jamb members in position to be cooperatively engageable with an associated one of the L-shaped tongues to retain the U-shaped member on the jamb member and to prevent relative movement therebetween.

10. In a metal door frame assembly which includes two spaced vertical jamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door opening formed of wooden studding, an overhead cross-member which extends across the top of the opening to complete the frame assembly, a door and means hingedly attaching the door to one of said vertical jamb members and to the adjacent studding, the jamb and cross-members having similar cross-sectional shapes with mating end portions which cooperate when installed to form a finished door frame assembly, and each of said jamb and cross-members having a web portion that faces into the opening, the improvement comprising means for attaching and anchoring the lower end of each of said jamb members to the wooden studding, said means including a U-shaped member having spaced leg portions that extend outwardly from the said jamb member for engagement with opposite wall surfaces around the opening, each of said leg portions having holes for receiving means to fasten the U-shaped members to the studding, each U-shaped member having a cross-portion which extends between and connects corresponding ends of the leg portions, and means formed on each of the leg portions of said U-shaped member cooperatively engageable with means formed on the associated jamb member adjacent to the lower end thereof to retain the U-shaped member on the jamb member and to prevent relative movement therebetween, the web portion on one of said jamb members having spaced outwardly extending recessed portions for receiving the hinge means for mounting the door in the frame assembly, said recessed portions having openings registrable with openings in the hinge means for receiving fasteners used to attach the hinge means to the associated face of the opening with the said recessed web portions abutting the associated opening face, said web except for the recessed portions thereof being spaced from the face of the opening a distance determined approximately by the depth of the said recessed portions, and means including at least one integral projection formed extending outwardly from adjacent to one end of the web a distance sufficient to engage the face of the opening when the recessed web portions are engaged therewith to support the web portion against the opening face at the said one end thereof.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTlFlCATE OF CORRECilON Patent NO. 3,654,731 Dated April 11, 1972 Inventor(s) I Frank ink It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 17, "recesses" should be "recessed"; line 18, "but" should be "butt"; line 33 "an" should be "and".

Column 2, line 46, "Fig. should be "FIG Column 3, line 50, "members" (first occurrence) should be "member".

Column 5, line 5, after "74" insert "for"; line 19, "tend" should be "tent"; line 58, "an" should be "and"; line 70, "outer" should be "other'H.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK EDWARD MQFLETCHERJR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer FORM PC4050 (TO-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 LLS. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-335

Claims

3. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 2 wherein the rough door opening is formed of wooden studding members, the further improvement of means for attaching and anchoring the lower ends of the jamb members to the wooden studding members, said means including a U-shaped member attached to each of said vertical jamb members, said U-shaped members having spaced leg portions that extend outwardly from the jamb members for engaging opposite sides of the studding members, each of said leg portions having holes for receiving means to fasten the U-shaped members to the studding and each of said U-shaped members having a cross-portion which extends between and connects corresponding ends of the leg portions, and other means on the leg portions of said U-shaped members and on the respective jamb members for cooperatively engaging each other to retain the U-shaped members on the jamb members and to prevent relative movement therebetween.

4. In a metal door frame assembly which includes two spaced vertical jamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door opening, an overhead cross-member which extends across the top of the opening to complete the frame construction, a door including a latch bolt and means hingedly attaching the door to one of said vertical jamb members, each of the jamb and cross-members having similar cross-sectional shapes, mating end portions which cooperate to form a finished door frame assembly, and web portions that face into the opening, the improvement comprising an opening formed in the web portion of the jamb member opposite from the jamb member to which the door is hingedly attached, said jamb opening being located at a height to cooperate with the latch bolt on the door, and means positioned in said opening forming a combined dustbox and latch bolt strike plate assembly, said assembly being formed of a single member positioned in the said web opening, said single member having spaced opposed walls, another wall connected between corresponding side edges of said spaced opposed walls and a flange formed on the side edges of each of said spaced opposed walls opposite from said other connecting wall, one of said flanges forming the strike plate portion of the assembly, and means formed on said spaced opposed side walls for cooperating with the opposite web portion adjacent to the opening therein to lock the assembly in position in said opening.

7. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4 the one of said opposed walls of said assembly attached to the strike plate forming flange includes an integral tab for cooperating with the latch bolt when the door is closed.

8. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4 wherein the rough door opening is formed of wooden studding members, the further improvement of means for attaching the lower ends of the jamb members to the wooden studding members, said means including a U-shaped member attached to at least one of said vertical jamb members adjacent to the lower end thereof, said U-shaped member having spaced leg portions that extend outwardly from the jamb member for engagement with opposite sides of the studding member adjacent thereto, each of said leg portions having holes for receiving nails used to fasten the U-shaped member to the studding, said U-shaped member also having a cross-portion which extends between and connects corresponding ends of the leg portions, and cooperative means on the leg portions of said U-shaped member and on the said one jamb member to retain the U-shaped member engaged therewith and to prevent relative movement therebetween.