GB2158118A

GB2158118A - Door canopies

Info

Publication number: GB2158118A
Application number: GB08410464A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maurice Hinde
Original assignee: ARMADILLO PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: ARMADILLO PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1984-04-24
Filing date: 1984-04-24
Publication date: 1985-11-06
Also published as: GB8410464D0

Abstract

A door canopy assembly 1 comprises two identical end supports 2 which are secured to a wall, and a canopy 3 which is supported on the end supports 2. The canopy 3 is formed as a self-supporting one-piece moulding of glass reinforced plastics. A frame 8 is formed integrally in the canopy 3, and comprises two parallel transom rails 9 and two parallel side rails 10. The canopy 3 has at its top an upright portion 6 which is formed with a series of holes 11, for the passage therethrough of securing screws or bolts. During erection, the canopy 3 may be firstly secured to the wall by means of bolts passing through the holes 11, at the end supports 2 thereafter secured in place. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Door canopies This invention relates to door canopies.

Door canopies are a popular and relatively inexpensive alternative to porches, for providing some degree of shelter to unprotected exterior doors.

The conventional way of erecting a door canopy is to build a supporting framework into the brickwork around a door opening, construct a canopy on the supporting framework, and provide some means (e.g. lead flashing or the like) which is also built into the brickwork at the top of the door canopy, to provide a water stop.

Although door canopies are naturally less expensive than porches, in general, they nevertheless tend to require at least some degree of skill in their erection. Preferred embodiments of the invention aim to provide door canopies which may be improved in this respect.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door canopy assembly comprising two end supports adapted to be secured to a wall and a canopy adapted to be supported on said end supports above a door, said canopy comprising a self-supporting one-piece moulding of plastics material.

Preferably, at least the upper surface of said canopy is contoured to simulate tiles, shingles or the like.

Said canopy preferably includes an upright portion which is adapted to be secured to a respective wall. Said upright portion preferably simulates a lead flashing. The end supports may be of timber, or may be of plastics material.

Means may be provided for locating and/or securing said end supports with respect to said canopy. Alternatively, said end supports may be formed intgrally with said canopy.

Said plastics material may comprise glass reinforced plastics material. It may alternatively or additionally comprises a high-density polyurethene foam (preferably rigid or at least semi-rigid and of closed cell construction).

Said canopy preferably includes at least part of a support frame which is formed as an integral part of the canopy. Such a support frame may assist in making the canopy self-supporting. In such an arrangement, the canopy may be of said glass reinforced plastics material, apart from said support frame, which may be of said high-density polyurethane foam.

Preferably, said end supports are formed as separate parts which may be laid substantially flat, for ease of transportation and storage. This is especially advantageous where the canopy itself is also substantially flat.

Preferably, there is provided sealing means 'which is adapted to be secured between said canopy and a respective wall, in use, to form a water resistant barrier.

The canopy may be formed with an integral gutter.

In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of erecting a door canopy assembly in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, including the steps of securing said canopy to a respective wall by means of fastening devices which co-operate with a part of the canopy, and subsequently securing said end supports to a wall in such a position that they support said canopy.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a door canopy assembly embodying the present invention; and Figure 2 is a detail view of part of the assembly of Figure 1.

The illustrated door canopy assembly 1 comprises two identical end supports 2 which are adapted to be secured to a wall (not shown), and a canopy 3 which is supported on the end supports 2. Each of the end supports 2 comprises an upright 3 and a horizontal 4, which are joined together in a suitable manner. The upright 3 is formed with a hole 7 for the passage therethrough of a securing screw or bolt.

The canopy 3 is formed as a self-supporting onepiece moulding of g.r.p. (glass reinforced plastics) material. The upper surface 5 of the canopy is contoured to simulate two rows of tiles (which may be, for example, coloured red) and a lead-flashing which extends along the top of the tiled upper surface 5 (and which may, for example, be coloured black). The canopy 3 has at its top an upright portion 6, which forms part of the simulated leadflashing.

Also formed integrally in the canopy 3 is a frame 8 which comprises two parallel transom rails 9 and two parallel side rails 10. In Figure 1, only the lower transom rail 9 and the left-hand (as seen) side rail 10 may be seen. There is a corresponding parallel side rail 10 at the right-hand side of the canopy 3, and a corresponding upper transom rail 9 at the top of the canopy 3.

The upright portion 6 of the canopy 3, which forms part of the simulated lead-flashing is formed with a series of holes 11, for the passage therethrough of securing screws or bolts. The top of each upright 3 is formed or provided with a dowel 10, which is arranged to engage in a corresponding aperture formed in the respective side rail 10. The free end of each horizontal 4 is formed with an aperture through which there passes a respective screw or bolt 14, which is adapted to engage in a corresponding portion of the respective side rail 10.

It will be seen that each side rail 10 is formed at each of its ends with a right-angled rebate to receive the respective end of the upright 3 or horizontal 4.

Figure 2 shows the upright portion 6 of the canopy 5 which simulates part of the lead-flashing. It may be seen that this upright portion 6 is formed with an upper lip 12 and, in use, there is provided a sealant 13 against the upright portion 6. This sealant 13 may comprise, for example, a strip of plasics foam, which may contain mastic.

The illustrated door canopy assembly 1 is erected as follows.

Firstly, the desired position of the assembly 1 is marked around the top of a door opening. Four holes are drilled in the brickwork above the door, in locations coresponding to the desired locations of the holes 11 in the upright portion 6 of the canopy 3. The holes are plugged, and then the canopy 3 is hung on the wall by means of screws which pass through the apertures 11 and engage in the plugged holies. As the canopy 3 is self-supporting, it may safely remain hung in this way, for a temporary period.

The sealant strip 13 is secured to the respective face of the upright portion 6, prior to securing the canopy 3 to the wall. Then, as the screws passing through the holes 11 are tightened up, the sealant 13 is compressed, until the upper lip 12 of the portion 6 abuts against the brickwork. The sealant 13 then serves as a water-top.

Each end support 2 is then placed in position below the canopy 3, with the respective dowel 15 engaged in the corresponding aperture provided in the side rail 10. The free end of each horizontal 4 is then secured to the support frame 9, by means of the respective screw or bolt 15. For example, there may be used as the item 14 a self-tapping screw, or a bolt which engages in a captive nut moulded into the side rail 10. Each upright 3 is then secured to the surrounding brickwork by means of a screw which passes through the respective hoie 7 and into a plugged hole which is drilied in the brickwork. The end supports 2 then serve to support the canopy 3, in addition to the securing screws which pass through the holes 11.

It will be appreciated that the door canopy assembly may thus be erected in a particularly simple manner, without the need for skilled labour.

The only tools required are a drill for making the holes in the masonry around the door, and a screwdriver. The end supports 2 may be of timber, and are preferably preassembled. It will be appreciated that, like the canopy 3, they may be layed substantially flat, for ease of packing and transport.

It is particularly useful that the support frame 9 is formed as an integral part of the canopy 3. Apart from the advantage of simplifying assembly, as only the two end supports 2 need to be added to complete the supporting framework, the support frame 9 affords the advantage of providing good structural ridigity of the canopy 3, whilst it is supported solely by the fixing screws passing through the apertures 11.

The canopy 3 may have any desired thickness, to impart a sufficient degree of structural rigidity.

As the plastics material of the canopy 3 may be self-coloured, the assembly 1 may be substantially maintenance free. As an alternative to timber, the end supports 2 may also be made of self-coloured plastics material.

Claims

1. A door canopy assembly comprising two end supports adapted to be secured to a wall and a canopy adapted to be supported on said end supports above a door, said canopy comprising a selfsupporting one-piece moulding of plastics material.

2. A door canopy assembly according to Claim 1, wherein at least the upper surface of said canopy is contoured to simulate tiles, shingles or the like.

3. A door canopy assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said canopy includes anupright portion adapted to be secured to a respective wall.

4. A door canopy assembly according to Claim 3, wherein said upright portion simulates a lead flashing.

5. A door canopy assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said end supports are of timber.

6. A door canopy assembly according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said end supports are also of plastics material.

7. A door canopy assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein means are provided for locating andlor securing said end supports with respect to said canopy.

8. A door canopy assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said end supports are formed integrally with said canopy.

9. A door canopy assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said plastics material comprises glass reinforced plastics material.

10. A door canopy assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said said plastics material comprises high-density polyurethane foam.

11. A door canopy assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said canopy includes at least part of a support frame formed as an integral part of the canopy.

12. A door canopy assembly according to Claim 9, 10 and 11, wherein the canopy is of said glass reinforced plastics material, apart from said support frame, which is of high-density polyurethane foam.

13. A door canopy assembly according to any preceding claim, apart from Claim 8, wherein said end supports are formed as separate parts whichmay be laid substantially flat, for ease of transportation and storage.

14. A door canopy assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said canopy is substantially flat.

15. A door canopy assembly according to any preceding claim, including sealing means adapted to be secured between said canopy and a respective wall, in use, to form a water-resistant barrier.

16. A door canopy assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said canopy is formed with an integral gutter.

17. A method of erecting a door canopy assembly according to any preceding claim, including the steps of securing said canopy to a respective wall by means of fastening devices which co-operate with a part of the canopy, and subsequently secur ing said end supports to the wall in such a position that they support said canopy.

18. A door canopy assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of erecting a door canopy assembly, in acordance with Claim 17 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.