GB2378975A

GB2378975A - Threshold and door frame connection bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2378975A
Application number: GB0215486A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Lee Hughes
Original assignee: Epwin Group PLC
Current assignee: Epwin Group PLC
Priority date: 2001-07-17
Filing date: 2002-07-04
Publication date: 2003-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-04
Also published as: GB0117408D0; GB2378975B; GB0215486D0

Abstract

A jointing bracket 2 connects the end of a threshold 3 to a door frame 1. A first surface 8 of the bracket abuts the end of the threshold and a second surface (30, figure 4) aligned with and shaped to match the door frame profile. A drainage channel 80 may also be provided.

Description

A jointing bracket The present invention relates to a jointing bracket for joining a door threshold to a door frame.

Doorways typically comprise a door frame consisting of two vertical beams bridged by an upper horizontal beam and a threshold beam extending across the base of the doorway from the base of one vertical beam to the base of the other. It is often the case that the outward visible faces of doorframe beams and threshold beams are moulded or contoured to avoid"hard"right-angular edges. This is often done to enhance the eye-appeal and general aesthetic qualities of the doorframe or threshold.

Furthermore, doorframes and thresholds are often required to provide means against which a door will close to prevent ingress of rain and wind or the like by forming a weather-proof join with the door when the door is closed within the doorway. To this extent, the rim or edge of both the doorframe beams and the threshold beam are often provided with outwardly extending abutment rails which may project up to or across the perimeter of the external face of the closed door (within the doorway) for abutment therewith. The abutment rails either seal/cover any gap that may be present between the closed door and the

frame/threshold assembly, or house additional means (e. g. resilient elastomeric sealing strips) for the same purpose. In order to allow removal of any water that has leaked past the abutment rail, the threshold beam often has a number of holes drilled through the abutment rail to provide a drainage passage. However this requires extra drilling or machining of the threshold beam.

The cross-sectional profile or shape of the outer surface of the doorframe and threshold beams is often convoluted, particularly near the rims/edges thereof. Since threshold beams are typically required to be joined to and extend from the convoluted surface of the vertical door frame beams, they are preferably similarly convoluted in a reciprocal manner if a visually closely fitting join is to be formed between the vertical beams of the doorframe and the threshold beam.

It is a highly complex and generally costly exercise to cut or otherwise shape the ends of threshold beams in such a manner that they reciprocally match the convolutions of the doorframe surfaces to which they should be joined. Thus, it is often the case that threshold beams are joined to doorframe beams without having been suitably shaped to provide a closely fitting join thereby producing an ill-fitting join which is not

only aesthetically displeasing but may also be more susceptible to weathering and wear and tear than would be the case where the join better fitted. This is particularly the case in respect of the outwardly facing portions ('faces') of the frame and threshold. These faces are visible in the assembled doorway structure and so are often shaped or moulded so as to present aesthetically pleasing contours or surface features.

The present invention aims to overcome at least some of the aforementioned deficiencies in the prior art.

A first aspect of the present invention proposes to provide a jointing bracket for joining a door threshold to a door frame, the jointing bracket being shaped to provide substantial visual continuity between at least an outward facing portion of the door threshold and an adjacent outward facing portion of the door frame across the join between the two.

Thus, by employing an intermediate jointing bracket to render substantially visually continuous otherwise discontinuous joins, the invention may overcome the aforementioned disadvantages associated with discontinuous joins between door frames and thresholds, and with having to cut or otherwise shape threshold beams

so as to form visually continuous joins between the two.

Visual continuity of the outward-facing shape and/or surface decorative mouldings between door frame and adjacent door threshold may also be provided in this way.

In a first aspect of the invention there may be provided the combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket joining the door threshold beam to the door frame, the jointing bracket having: a first surface which terminates an outward face of said bracket and is abutted with an end of said door threshold beam such that said outward face of said bracket aligns with an adjacent outward face of the threshold beam, and; a second surface which terminates said outward face of said bracket and is aligned with said door frame so as to extend across a part of an adjacent face of said door frame, the second surface being shaped to substantially reciprocally match the profile of said adjacent face of the door frame at those parts of the adjacent face of the door fame across which it extends and to intimately correspond with the surface of said adjacent face of the door frame.

Thus, by appropriately shaping the jointing bracket at the surface of the bracket which aligns with the face of

the door frame beam, the bracket is able to provide a face which gives a visually substantially continuous interface between the bracket face and adjacent door frame face.

It is preferable that the second surface of the jointing bracket is in intimate engagement with the adjacent face of the door frame beam, forming a substantially flush fit therewith. However, the two need not be in direct contact, and may be merely in intimate (closely-spaced) alignment. Similarly, the first surface of the jointing bracket preferably forms a flush fit with the abutting end of the threshold beam.

Preferably the outward face of the jointing bracket, bounded by the first and second surfaces thereof, has an external shape and profile which substantially matches that of the adjacent outward face of the threshold beam.

This enables the jointing bracket to continue the external shape and profile of the outward face of the door threshold beam beyond the end of the threshold beam and up to the adjacent outward face of the door frame aligned with the jointing bracket.

The outward face of the threshold beam may be formed at least partly by an upstanding portion projecting from the

beam and extending along the length of the beam, so as to define an abutment rail. In such cases, the outward face of the jointing bracket preferably includes an upstanding portion which projects from the jointing bracket and extends from the first surface of the bracket to the second surface thereof, the upstanding portion defining an abutment rail being shaped substantially to match the shape and configuration of, and to align with, the abutment rail of the threshold beam terminating at the end of the threshold beam against which the jointing bracket is abutted. This permits not only visual continuity of the abutment rail of the threshold beam from the end of the threshold beam up the door frame beam, but also permits functional continuity of the abutment rail by the aligned jointing bracket.

The inward face of the threshold beam (that which faces generally away from the outward face of the threshold beam from the opposite side of the threshold beam) may be provided with an abutment surface against which the depending leaf at the base of a rebated door may abut when such a door is closed in the doorway. Sealing elements located in the depending leaf of the rebated door may thereby be urged against the abutment surface of the threshold beam so as to form a sealing interface therebetween.

In such cases, the inward face of the jointing bracket preferably possesses an abutment surface which is shaped to match the shape and configuration of, and to align with, the abutment surface of the threshold beam against which the jointing bracket is abutted. The depending leaf of a rebated door, and any sealing elements located thereon, may be urged against the abutment surface of the jointing bracket when a rebated door is closed against it is use.

The jointing bracket is preferably shaped or configured to include grooves, channels or slots which align with corresponding grooves, channels or slots terminating at the end of the threshold beam against which the jointing bracket is abutted, the grooves, channels or slots being shaped to e. g. receive and house sealing elements. The grooves, channels or slots are preferably shaped to retain e. g. elastomeric seals which provide sealing engagement with a door when closed in the doorway.

Such grooves, channels or slots may be formed within the shape and configuration of the abutment rail of the jointing bracket, and may also be formed on other parts of the bracket.

Preferably, the visible outer surface of the jointing bracket immediately adjacent the first surface thereof is shaped to substantially match the shape of the visible outer surface and profile of the threshold beam such that the jointing bracket substantially continues the shape of the latter when joined thereto. Thus, the jointing bracket may extend the external threshold profile up to (or at least further towards) the those parts of the door frame across which the end of the door threshold beam otherwise projects.

This continuity of shape not only provides an aesthetically pleasing effect, it also permits functional structures of the profile/surface of the threshold beam to be continued on the jointing bracket. For example sealing flanges (e. g. elastomeric seals), or grooves for housing such sealing flanges, that extend along the threshold beam may be continued on the jointing bracket thereby permitting the advantages thereof to be continued up to the door frame abutted by the jointing bracket.

The jointing bracket preferably abuts the full width of the threshold beam such that the entire end of the threshold beam adjacent the door frame abuts the jointing bracket forming a flush fit with the first surface of the jointing bracket.

It is preferable that the first surface is substantially flat or planar, which enables it to be abutted to a correspondingly flat/planar the surface of the threshold beam. In this way, a threshold beam can be easily prepared for joining to a jointing bracket, the threshold beam could simply be straight-cut across its length, the cut providing a plane surface for abutting the first surface of the jointing bracket. This obviates the need to perform complex and costly cutting of the end of a threshold beam to follow/match the profile of the door frame to which it is to be attached.

The first aspect of the present invention may also provide method of joining a door threshold beam to a door frame so as to provide substantial visual continuity of shape at the joint between at least an outward face of the door threshold beam and a corresponding face of the door frame, the method comprising the steps of: joining to an end of the door threshold beam a jointing bracket having an outward face shaped to substantially match and continue the shape of said outward face of the door threshold beam when so joined; joining to the door frame said jointing bracket which is shaped to intimately correspond with said corresponding face of the door frame over which the

outward face of the jointing bracket extends when so joined.

The jointing bracket may be sold separately of the threshold beam and door frame beam. The jointing bracket alone forms a third aspect of the present invention.

A kit of parts may be provided comprising a door frame component part, a door threshold part, and a jointing bracket for joining the door threshold part to the door frame part, the bracket being such that, when joined the bracket has a first surface which terminates an outward face of said bracket and is abutted with an end of said door threshold beam such that said outward face of said bracket aligns with an adjacent outward face of the threshold beam, and ; a second surface which terminates said outward face of said bracket and is aligned with said door frame so as to extend across a part of an adjacent face of said door frame, the second surface being shaped to substantially reciprocally match the profile of said adjacent face of the door frame at those parts of the adjacent face of the door fame across which it extends and to intimately correspond with the surface of said adjacent face of the door frame.

In a second aspect the present invention proposes to provide a jointing bracket for joining a door threshold to a door frame, the jointing bracket having channel therein defining a drainage path from one side of the abutment rail to the other. The channel provides a route by which water that has leaked past a seal housed in the abutment rail, or other seal, can drain away. Whilst this second aspect may form a preferred feature of the first aspect, it may also be used in arrangements in which there is not substantial visual continuity between at least an outward facing portion of the door threshold and an adjacent outward facing portion of the door frame between the two, and thus represents an independent aspect of the present invention.

By providing a drainage path in association with the jointing bracket, a drainage route is provided at each corner of the assembly. Providing a drainage channel in the jointing bracket, obviates the need to drill holes through the threshold beam so as to provide such channels. Of course, the threshold beam could possess such drainage channels to assist drainage, preferably at least one drainage channel positioned in the central region of the abutment rail of the threshold beam.

Thus, the second aspect may provide a jointing bracket for joining a door threshold beam to a door frame, having; a first surface which terminates an outward face of the bracket and is adapted for abutment with an end of a threshold beam, a second surface which terminates said outwards face of the bracket and is adapted so as to allow it to be aligned with a corresponding surface of a door frame in use,

an abutment rail, forming part of the outwards face -L-L-L-L L--L L-11 of the bracket, defined by an upstanding portion projecting from the rest of the jointing bracket and extending from the first surface of the bracket to the second surface thereof, the abutment rail having a channel therein defining a drainage path from one side of the abutment rail to the other.

The drainage channel may be formed by an aperture extending generally transversely through the abutment rail of the bracket, but is preferably formed by an open mouthed groove formed within the first surface of the bracket such that, in use, the mouth of the groove is closed by end of the threshold beam which abuts the first surface, forming a conduit passing from one side of the abutment rail of the jointing bracket to the other.. It

is generally simpler to provide a drainage channel by way of the aforementioned open channel or groove since drilling/machining of the jointing bracket, so as to form the drainage channel, is rendered simpler.

Preferably, the drainage channel declines to the outward face of the abutment rail of the jointing bracket.

The jointing bracket may have a collection gutter communicating with the channel for collecting the water that has leaked past a seal housed within the abutment rail, or other seal. The collection gutter being defined by a groove extending along at least part of the bracket adjacent the abutment rail in a direction from said first to said second surface.

The threshold beam may also possess a collection gutter provided by a groove formed in its upper surface. Thus the jointing bracket may possess a collection gutter defined by a groove formed in the upper surface of the jointing bracket, which groove is aligned with a corresponding groove formed in the upper surface of the threshold beam which terminates at the end of the threshold beam against which the jointing bracket is abutted, the groove of the jointing bracket extending along the upper surface of the bracket from said first

surface thereof towards a drainage channel extending from a wall of the groove to the outward face of the abutment rail of the jointing bracket.

Preferably, the floor of the collection gutter of the jointing bracket, and preferably also of the threshold beam, is inclined to cause collected water to gather at the drainage channel.

The jointing bracket may have one or more lugs extending from the first surface for press-fitting into corresponding apertures or recesses in an abutting surface of a threshold beam to inhibit sliding movement of the jointing bracket across the abutting face of the threshold beam. Alternatively, the lugs and apertures could be dimensioned to provide a friction/interference fit. Adhesives may be used to join the bracket to the threshold beam as may screws or bolts or the like.

It is preferable that the second surface of the jointing bracket is shaped to substantially reciprocally match the entire cross-sectional profile of the door frame beam to which it is aligned or abutted. For example, where the jointing bracket is to extend across the full depth of a door frame, it is preferable that the shape and profile of the second surface of the jointing bracket

reciprocally matches the abutted surface of the door frame across that full depth. Preferably, a substantially flush fit is provided in this way, alternatively, a closely-spaced correspondence may be provided where intimate engagement is not possible or is undesirable.

It is to be appreciated that this is a preferable feature but not essential one since, in some instances, the door frame may possess a labyrinthine profile in crosssection, including partially covered recess against which the second surface of the jointing bracket cannot be fully abutted.

The jointing bracket preferably has a fixing flange upstanding from the main body of the jointing bracket which forms a part of the second surface of the latter.

The fixing flange serves to provide a means by which the jointing bracket may be fixed to a door frame and preferably has one or more apertures extending therethrough from the second surface portion provided by the fixing flange to the reverse surface of the flange.

The aperture (s) are preferably shaped to accept screws, nails, bolts or the like for the purposes of fixing the jointing bracket to the door frame which the fixing flange is abutted.

Alternatively or additionally adhesives may be applied to the second surface to fix the jointing bracket to the door frame. Lugs may be provided which extend from the second surface for press-fitting into corresponding apertures or recesses in an abutting surface of a door frame beam. The jointing bracket may be formed from a single plastics or nylon moulding, or may be formed from an Aluminium or Zinc casting or the like. Other materials may be used. The threshold beam is preferably formed from aluminium, but may be PVCu or other material.

The door frame beam is preferably formed from extruded PVCu.

There now follows a non-limiting example of the present invention with reference to the following figures in which: Fig. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a doorframe beam, a jointing bracket and a threshold beam; Fig. 2 illustrates a view of a doorframe beam and a door threshold beam joined together by a jointing bracket according to the present invention; Fig. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the jointing bracket of the present invention joined to a surface of a doorframe beam;

Fig. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the jointing bracket and doorframe beam along the axis A-A' of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a doorframe beam in use relative to a closed door; Fig. 6a illustrates a cross-sectional view of a door threshold beam in use relative to a closed door.

Fig. 6b illustrated a cross-sectioned view of a rebated door in a closed position over a door threshold beam in use.

Fig. 7 illustrates a view of a jointing bracket having a drainage channel passing through the abutment rail thereof; Figure 8 illustrates a view of a jointing bracket having a drainage channel formed by a transverse groove across the abutment rail thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is illustrated a portion of a doorframe beam 1, a jointing bracket 2 according to the present invention, and a portion of a door threshold beam 3. The jointing bracket 2 is generally L-shaped and has a lower limb provided with an external surface 13' constructed to match the external shape and pattern 13 of the threshold beam 3. Furthermore, the lower limb of the jointing bracket also possesses an outward face on an abutment rail 7 which is also shaped to substantially

match the shape, configuration and profile of a protruding portion 12 of the threshold beam 3 which also forms an abutment rail and provides the outward face of the threshold beam.

The jointing bracket 2 has a first surface 8 in the form of a straight-cut and planer surface to which a correspondingly straight-cut and planer surface of the threshold beam 3 is to be abutted in use.

Frustoconical lugs 9 extend outwardly of the surface 8 of the jointing bracket and are generally positioned so as to locate within corresponding apertures 35 which extend through the threshold beam along the length thereof. In being frustoconical in formation, the protruding lugs 9 of the jointing bracket are dimensioned so as to engage against the internal surfaces of the apertures 35 of the threshold beam and thereby substantially hold the jointing bracket in place relative to the threshold beam so as to constrain lateral movement of the jointing bracket relative to the threshold beam abutting surface 8.

The upper limb of the jointing bracket 2 consists of a fixing flange 10 through which pass two apertures 11 dimensioned to accept screws with which the jointing

bracket may be fixed to the surface 4 of the doorframe beam 1. A second surface 30 of the jointing bracket, which is reverse facing relative to the first surface 8 thereof, is shaped to substantially reciprocally match the profile of the surface 4 of the frame beam 1 against which it is to be aligned in use. Thus, the second surface 8 may intimately correspond, or directly abut with that profile.

Fig. 2 illustrates the jointing bracket in use wherein the door threshold beam 3 is abutted against the first surface 8 of the jointing bracket and the second surface 30 of the bracket is similarly abutted against the convoluted surface 4 of the doorframe beam 1 to which it is joined. Furthermore, the abutment rail 7 located at the periphery of the lower limb 13'of the jointing bracket, is enabled to contiguously abut a surface of the outwardly protruding edge portion 6 forming an abutment rail of the doorframe 1 and the outward face thereof. In so doing the abutment rail 7 of the jointing bracket is able to provide continuity of shape between the outward face presented by the abutment rail 12 of the threshold beam 3 and the outward face presented by the abutment rail 6 of the doorframe beam.

It is to be noted that, in being so joined, the external structure, shape and profile 13 of the door threshold beam 3 is rendered substantially continuous with corresponding structure, shape and profile 13'of the lower limb of the jointing bracket 2.

This continuity of form not only provides an aesthetically pleasing join between the threshold frame 3 and the jointing bracket 2 but also permits those functional aspects of shape and configuration of the threshold beam to be continued on to the lower limb of the jointing bracket 13'.

For example, the housing channels 37 and 38 that are formed in the upper surface 13 of the threshold beam 3 are able to align with the ends of substantially identically shaped housing channels 37'and 38'formed in the surface of the lower limb 13'of the jointing bracket. The housing channels 37 (37') and 38 (38') are provided for housing sealing beads 14 and 15 respectively which engage with a door closed over the threshold beam 3 and form a sealing interface therewith. Similarly, a collection gutter 36'is formed within the surface 13'of the jointing bracket 2 so as to align with the end of a corresponding collection gutter 36 formed in the upper surface 13 of threshold beam 3. The collection gutter 36

(36') is arranged at the base of the abutment rail of the threshold beam (jointing bracket) so as to collect water that leaks past any incompletely sealing interface between a closed door and an elastomeric seal located in channel 38 (38') of the abutment rail 12 (7).

Referring to Fig. 3, there is illustrated a crosssectional view of the jointing bracket abutting a surface 4 of the doorframe beam 1. Figure 4 illustrates a second cross-sectional view of these joined components along the axis A-A'. As can be seen in the view of Fig. 4, the first surface 8 of the jointing bracket is substantially straight-cut and planer, whilst the second surface 30 thereof is considerably more labyrinthine in form and is shaped to reciprocally match (and at least intimately correspond with) the contours of the surface 4 of the doorframe beam 1 in such a way as to abut that surface across the majority of its extent. In this way the second surface 30 of the jointing bracket permits substantial continuity in the joint formed between the threshold beam 3 and the doorframe beam 4.

Fig. 5 illustrates a horizontal cross-sectional view of the vertical beam of a doorframe relative to a closed door 60. The beam 1 has an abutment rail 6 extending outwardly of the beam in such a manner as to project

across the periphery of a door 60 located within the frame of which beam 1 forms a part. The abutment rail possesses a recess 61 which extends along the length of the abutment rail 6 and is dimensioned to receive and house an elastomeric sealing beads (not shown) which, when housed therein, protrudes from the abutment rail 6 so as to urge against the closed door 60 and provide a weather-proof seal therewith. A recess 62 is also provided to receive a glazing bead if the same configuration of outer frame is used as a fixed light.

The dotted line 4 indicates the surface (excluding the internal surfaces of the recesses 61 and 62) with which the second surface 30 of the jointing bracket 2 aligns.

Figure 6a illustrates a cross-sectional view of the threshold beam 3 relative to the closed door 60. A first elastomeric sealing beads 14 and 15 are located in the housing channels 37 and 38 respectively formed in the upward-facing surface 13 and abutment rail 12 of the threshold bar respectively. The sealing bead 14 urges against the base of the closed door 60 and the bead 15 urges against the perimeter of the closed door, and each thereby forms a sealing fit therewith.

Figure 6b illustrates a cross-sectional view of a threshold beam 3'in use relative to a closed rebated door 60'. The rebated door has depending from its lower peripheral edge a leaf 61 within which is housed electrometric sealing bead 62. The sealing bead 62 protrudes from the depending leaf 61 of the rebated door such that, in the closed position, the bead urges against an abutment surface 63 of the threshold beam thereby forming a substantially sealing interface therebetween.

The shapes and configuration of the housing channels of the abutment rails of figure 6a and 6b, and of the abutment surface of figure 6b are matched in shape by the aligning surface of the abutted jointing bracket (not shown). Thus, the sealing beads, 14 and 15, (and the sealing bead 62) may be housed (or urge against) the jointing bracket in use.

Figure 7 illustrates in more detail the collection gutter 36'in the upper surface 13'of the jointing bracket 2.

The collection gutter has extending from it an declined drainage channel 70 in the form of a channel which extends from an inlet aperture (not shown) formed within a wall of the collection gutter 36'adjacent the abutment rail 7 of the jointing bracket, and extends (declining) transversely through the abutment rail 7 terminating at

an outlet aperture located on the outward face of the jointing bracket on abutment rail 7. The floor of the collection groove 36'is inclined so as to cause collected water to gather at the inlet aperture of the drainage channel.

Figure 8 illustrates an alternative construction of drainage channel which is formed by an open, declining groove 80 cut into the first surface 8 of the jointing bracket. The channel 80 extends from the collection gutter 36'Lo the outward face of the jointing bracket on the abutment rail 7 of the jointing bracket passing downwardly across the first surface 8 of the jointing bracket such that when the first surface 8 is abutted to, and aligned with, an end of the threshold beam 3, a conduit is formed by the groove 80 and the abutted surface of the threshold beam.

It is intended that modifications and variations to the embodiments herein described may be made, as would be readily apparent to the skilled person, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. In combination a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket joining the door threshold beam to the door frame, the jointing bracket having; a first surface which terminates an outward face of said bracket and is abutted with an end of said door threshold beam such that said outward face of said bracket aligns with an adjacent outward face of the threshold beam, and; a second surface which terminates said outward face of said bracket and is aligned with said door frame so as to extend across a part of an adjacent face of said door frame, the second surface being shaped to substantially reciprocally match the profile of said adjacent face of the door frame at those parts of the adjacent face of the door fame across which it extends and to intimately correspond with the surface of said adjacent face of the door frame.
2. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to claim 1, wherein the second surface of the jointing bracket forms a substantially flush fit with the adjacent face of the door frame beam.

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3. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first surface of the jointing bracket forms a substantially flush fit with an abutting end of the threshold beam.
4. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to claim 3, wherein jointing bracket abuts the full width of the threshold beam such that the entire end of the threshold beam adjacent the door frame abuts the jointing bracket forming a flush fit with the first surface of the jointing bracket.
5. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the visible outer surface of the jointing bracket immediately adjacent the first surface thereof is shaped to substantially match the shape of the visible outer surface and profile of the threshold beam such that the jointing bracket substantially continues the shape of the latter when joined thereto.

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6. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein; the outward face of the threshold beam is formed at least partly by an abutment rail defined by an upstanding portion projecting from the rest of the beam and extending along the length of the beam, and the outward face of the jointing bracket includes an abutment rail defined by an upstanding portion projecting from the rest of the jointing bracket and extending from the first surface of the bracket to the second surface thereof, the abutment rail being shaped substantially to match the shape and configuration of, and to align with, the abutment rail of the threshold beam.
7. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inward face of the jointing bracket is provided with an abutment surface.
8. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to claim 7, wherein the abutment surface of the jointing bracket is shaped to substantially match the shape of, and to align with, an abutment surface provided on the inward face of

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the threshold beam against which the jointing bracket is abutted.
9. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the jointing bracket has a collection gutter defined by a groove formed in the upper surface of the jointing bracket.
10. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to claim 9, wherein the collection gutter groove formed in the upper surface of the jointing bracket is aligned with a corresponding groove formed in the upper surface of the threshold beam which terminates at the end of the threshold beam against which the jointing bracket is abutted.
11. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the jointing bracket includes a drainage channel extending from a wall of the groove to the outward face of the abutment rail of the jointing bracket.
12. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to claim 11,

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wherein the drainage channel is provided by an aperture extending generally transversely through the abutment rail of the jointing bracket.
13. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to claim 11, wherein the drainage channel is provided by an open channel or groove formed within the first surface of the bracket which, when abutted against the end of the threshold beam, forms a conduit having openings only at the collection gutter and at the outward face of the abutment rail of the jointing bracket.
14. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to any one of claims 11,12 or 13, wherein the drainage channel declines from the collection gutter to the outward face of the abutment rail of the jointing bracket.
15. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the floor of the collection gutter of the jointing bracket, and the floor of the collection gutter of the threshold beam, are inclined towards the drainage channel.

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16. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first surface of the jointing bracket is substantially planar.
17. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to any one of the above claims, wherein the jointing bracket has one or more lugs extending from the first surface for pressfitting into corresponding apertures or recesses provided in an abutting surface of the threshold beam.
18. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein part of the second surface of the jointing bracket is provided by a fixing flange upstanding from the main body of the jointing bracket.
19. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to claim 18, wherein the fixing flange has one or more apertures extending therethrough from the second surface to the rear of the flange.
20. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket according to claim 18,

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wherein the fixing flange has one or more lugs extending from the second surface for press-fitting into corresponding apertures or recesses in an abutting surface of a door frame beam.
21. A method of joining a door threshold beam to a door frame so as to provide substantial visual continuity of shape at the joint between at least an outward face of the door threshold beam and a corresponding face of the door frame, the method comprising the steps of: abutting to an end of the door threshold beam a first surface of a jointing bracket which terminates an outward face of said jointing bracket, said outward face being shaped to substantially match and continue the shape of said outward face of the door threshold beam when so abutted; aligning with the door frame a second surface of said jointing bracket which terminates said outward face of the joining bracket in such a manner that the second surface of the bracket extends across a part of an adjacent face of the door frame, the second surface being shaped to intimately correspond with said corresponding face of the door frame over which the outward face of the jointing bracket extends when so aligned.

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22. A kit of parts comprising a door frame component part, a door threshold part, and a jointing bracket for joining the door threshold part to the door frame part; said bracket having a first surface which terminates an outward face of said bracket and is adapted to abut with an end of said door threshold beam, said outward face of the jointing bracket being shaped such that it is capable of aligning with an outward face of the threshold beam when so abutted, and; a second surface which terminates said outward face

4 of said bracket and is adapted so as to allow it to be aligned with said door frame in use so as to extend across a part of an adjacent face of the door frame, the second surface being shaped to substantially reciprocally match the profile of a face of the door frame at those parts of the adjacent face of the door fame across which it will extend when so aligned and to be capable of intimately corresponding with the surface of said adjacent face of the door frame.
23. A jointing bracket for joining a door threshold beam to a door frame, having; a first surface which terminates an outward face of the bracket and is adapted for abutment with an end of a threshold beam,

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a second surface which terminates said outwards face of the bracket and is adapted so as to allow it to be aligned with a corresponding surface of a door frame in use, an abutment rail, forming part of the outwards face of the bracket, defined by an upstanding portion projecting from the rest of the jointing bracket and extending from the first surface of the bracket to the second surface thereof, the abutment rail having a channel therein defining a drainage path from one side of the abutment rail to the other.
24. A jointing bracket according to claim 23, wherein the channel is an aperture extending through the abutment rail of the jointing bracket.
25. A jointing bracket according to claim 23, wherein the channel is formed by an open mouthed groove in the first surface of the bracket, such that, in use, the mouth of the groove is closed by the end of the threshold beam which abuts the first surface.
26. A jointing bracket according to any one of the preceding claims 23 to 26, wherein the channel declines to the outward face of the abutment rail of the jointing bracket.

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27. A jointing bracket according to any one of the preceding claims, having a collection gutter communicating with the channel 23 to 26, the collection gutter being defined by a groove extending along at least part of the bracket adjacent the abutment rail in a direction from said first to said second surface.
28. A jointing bracket according to claim 27, wherein the floor of the collection gutter is inclined towards the drainage channel.
29. In combination a door frame, a door threshold beam and a jointing bracket according to any one of claims 23 to 28, the first surface of the bracket abutting an end of the threshold beam and the second surface of the bracket abutting the door frame.
30. A combination according to claim 29, as dependent on claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the collection gutter is aligned with a corresponding groove in an upper surface of the threshold beam.
31. A combination of a door frame, a door threshold beam, and a jointing bracket substantially as in any one

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of the embodiments described herein with reference to the figures.