US3019493A - Weatherseal for doors - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 6, 1962 v. L. WALENGA WEATHERSEAL FOR DOORS Filed Feb. 23, 1960 BY aZezga/ 3,019,493 WEATHERSEAL FOR DGORS Victor L. Walenga, 149% Vine Ava, Harvey, Ill. Filed Feb. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 10,505 7 Claims. (Cl. 20-457) The present invention relates to a novel Weatherstripping or sealing structure, and more particularly to a novel Weatherstripping or sealing structure especially suitable for sealing the gap between a closure, such as a door or window, and an associated frame.

Many Weatherstripping devices now in general use in association with hinged closures such as doors and windows are frequently only partially effective for their intended purpose. This is particularly true in the event that there is a relatively wide gap between an edge of the closure and the associated frame, which gap might occur as a result of various causes such as poor workmanship or warpage or wear.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel sealing or Weatherstripping structure which is particularly suitable for providing an improved seal between hinged closures such as doors and windows and an associated frame.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel sealing or Weatherstripping structure which may be effectively used in instances where there is a varying and/or relatively wide gap between an edge of the closure and the associated frame when the closure is in the closed position.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel sealing or Weatherstripping structure which is adapted to provide an effective seal without causing binding between the door and the door frame so as to facilitate opening and closing of the door or closure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel sealing or Weatherstripping structure which may be used around the entire peripheral edge of the closure or door.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a door hingedly mounted in association with a door frame and disposed in an open position, said door including a sealing or Weatherstripping structure constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2. is an enlarged perspective view showing an edge portion of a door having a sealing structure can ructed in accordance with the present invention applied thereto;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing elements of the sealing structure of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the door in a closed position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a door installation it} incorporating features of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. This installation comprises a door frame 12 having the usual opposite side and top and bottom members 1d, 16, 18 and 20. A door 22 for substantially closing the rectangular opening defined by the frame members is pivotally connected to the side frame memher 16 by upper and lower hinges 24 and 26. Identical, V

except as to length, sealing or Weatherstripping structures 28 constructed in accordance with the present invention are mounted along the opposite side and top and bottom edges of the door in a manner described in detail below. As indicated best in FIG. 2, the sealing structure 28 comprises an elongated strip or member 30 having a length substantially the same as its associated edge of the door. The strip 30 is pivotally or hingedly connected to the edge of the door by means of a plurality of small hinges 32 spaced at desired intervals along the edge as indicated best in FIGS. 2-7. Each of the hinges 32 includes a first leaf 34 having apertures therethrough so that it is adapted to be secured to the door by means of a plurality of screws 36, or the like. In addition, each hinge 32 comprises a second leaf 33 pivotally connected to the first leaf by a pintle 40 extending through the complementary knuckles 42 and 44 formed integrally with the leaves.

As shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, a space 46 is provided between adjacent knuckles of the leaves for accommodating the body portion of a torsion spring 48 which encircles the pintle all. The spring is provided with opposite end portions 56 and 52 which embrace the leaves 34 and 38 and normally bias the leaf 38 toward the leaf 3d and to the closed position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 for the reasons discussed below.

The elongated member or strip 34 maybe formed of any suitable material such, for example, as aluminum. The member 3% is secured to and carried on outer surfaces of the outer leaves 33 of a plurality of the hinges and is located so that one longitudinal margin 54 which faces forwardly with respect to the closing movement of the door is located slightly forwardly of the pivotal connections or pivot pins of the hinges. Any suitable means such as spot welds, screws and the like, may be used for securing the elongated member to the hinges.

As shown best in FIGS. 3 and 5-7, a sealing element 56 of resilient rubber, plastic or other suitable material extends along the forwardly facing edge of the margin 54 of the elongated member 3% and is secured thereto. In the embodiment shown, the connection between the sealing element and the elongated member is provided by forming the elongated member with a slot 58 along the forward edge thereof and having a restricted throat and by wedging a portion of the sealing element into the slot. Another sealing elemen 6i extends along trailing margin 62 of the elongated member. Preferably this element is disposed along the outer side face or surface of the trailing margin for promoting sealing engagement thereof with the door frame in the manner described more in detail below. The sealing element may also be connected with the elongated member by providing a slot 64 in the outer side of the trailing marginal portion of the elongated member which slot has a restricted throat and receives a portion of the sealing element. If desired adhexive or other suitable means may be utilized for securing the sealing elements to the elongated member.

The manner in which each of the sealing or weatherstripping structures 28 is assembled with the door is indicated best in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. More specifically, it is seen that the edge of the door is formed with a groove or channel 66 having a forward or front side wall 68 spaced from the outer front or forward surface of the door and a rear or trailing side wall 74 It is to be understood, of course, that the groove or channel 66 is provided around the entire periphery of the door for accommodating all of the weather sealing structures 18. The depth of the channel 65 is preferably at least slightly greater than the combined thickness of the leaves 34 and 38 of the hinges.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the leaves 34 of the hinges are secured against the bottom of the channel 66 by the screws 36 so that the common axis of the pivot pins or pintles 4% extends longitudinally of the edge of the door and is spaced rearwardly with respect to the direction of closing movement of the door from the side Wall d8 of the channel. However, it will be noted that the hinges are arranged so that the pivotal conections between the leaves face in the direction of the closing movement of the door. It will be observed that the arrangement is also such that the forwardly facing sealing element 56 carried by the elongated member 3h is adapted sealingly to engage the door and more especially the rearwardly facing side wall or surface 68 of the channel 66.

As indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the door 22 is in an open position, the outer leaves 38 of the hinges 32 and the strip 30 carried thereby are held in an open position such that the trailing margin 62 of the elongated member or strip 30 is spaced substantially laterally from the edge of the door. This is accomplished by mounting a plurality of spring biased plungers 72 in suitable recesses spaced along the edge of the door, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 6, so that the plungers engage the inner side of the elongated member 30 and resiliently bias it to the open position shown. As shown in FIG. 6 each of the plungers 72 is preferably provided with a rounded tip for engaging the elongated member and includes a stem 74 slidably extending through an aperture in an otherwise closed outer end member 76 of a housing or shell 78. A compression spring 80 is disposed between the inner end of the shell and a flange portion $2 provided at the inner end of the stem 74 for biasing the plunger to an outermost position limited by engagement of the flange 82 with the end element 76.

While the spring biased plungers 72 serve to urge the strip 36 to the outwardly pivoted or open position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is to be noted that the spring elements 48 associated with the hinges 32 bias the leaves 38 and thus the elongated member 30 toward a closed position. However, the strength of the springs 48 is less than the strength of the spring 80 associated with the plungers so that the springs 48 do not overpower the action of the plungers but serve to hold the elongated member 30 in a yieldable and controlled manner against the plungers.

When the door 22 is closed, the sealing element 60 is aggressively and resiliently urged into sealing contact with an adjacent portion of the door frame, as shown in FIG. 7. In other words, the elongated member 30 and the sealing element 60 combine together to fill completely the gap 84 located between the edge of the door and the door frame. When the element 60 engages the door frame the member 36 is pivoted inwardly towards the closed position shown in FIG. 7 and the forwardly disposed sealing element 56 is aggressively urged into more secure sealing engagement with the side wall 68 of the channel in the door. It will be appreciated that the width of the gap 34 may vary to a considerable degree at different locations around the periphery of the door, and where the gap is wider the plungers 72 will hold the elongated member 34 outwardly from the fully closed position shown in FIG. 7 and so that the sealing element 6% is aggressively pressed against the adjacent door frame. It will be appreciated that while the elongated member 30 may be relatively rigid in a transverse direction it is provided with sutficient longitudinal flexibility to enable the spring biased plungers to bend or deflect the elongated member when necessary, to urge all portions of the strip or element 6t? into sealing engagement with the door frame.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A weather sealing structure for doors and the like comprising hinge means including first leaf means mountable on a narrow peripheral edge of a door supported within a door frame and the like and second leaf means pivotally connected to and overlying said first leaf means and said narrow peripheral edge with the pivotal axis of the connection between said leaf means being disposed for extending longitudinally of said edge of the door for entry into a space between confronting portions of said edge and the door frame when the door is closed, elongated means mounted on said second leaf means for extending longitudinally of said edge of the door and for entry into said space when the door is closed, said elongated means including a relatively rigid member, a first resilient sealing element along a first margin thereof disposed adjacent an outer margin of said second leaf means for sealingly engaging the door frame and the like when the door is closed, and a second resilient sealing element disposed along a second margin of said relatively rigid member adjacent the pivotal connection between said first and second leaf means for sealingly engaging said edge of the door.

2. A weather sealing structure, as defined in claim 1, which includes resilient means for yieldably holding said second leaf means and the elongated means carried there by in an open position pivoted outwardly from said first leaf means for promoting engagement of said sealing element with the door frame and the like when said door is closed.

3. A weather sealing structure for doors and the like comprising hinge means including first leaf means mountable on an edge of a door supported within a door frame and the like and second leaf means pivotally connected to and overlying said first leaf means with the pivotal axis of the connection between said leaf means being disposed for extending longitudinally of said edge of the door, elongated means mounted on said second leaf means for extending longitudinally of said edge of the door, said elongated means including a first resilient sealing element along a first margin thereof disposed adjacent margin of said second leaf means for sealingly engaging the door frame and like when the door is closed, and resilient means for yieldably holding said second leaf means and the elongated means carried thereby in an open position pivoted outwardly from said first leaf means for promoting engagement of said sealing element with the door frame and the like when the door is closed, said resilient means comprising spring means mountable on said door for resiliently biasing said elongated means and said second leaf means outwardly a predetermined distance, and weaker spring means between said first and second leaf means for resiliently biasing said elongated means toward said first mentioned spring means.

4. A weather sealing structure for closures such as doors and the like, comprising hinge means including first leaf means mountable on an edge of a closure supported within a closure frame and second leaf means pivotally connected to and overlying said first leaf means with the pivotal connection between said leaf means being disposed for extending longitudinally of said edge of the closure, an elongated relatively rigid strip-like member mounted on said second leaf means for extending longitudinally of said edge of the closure and having a first margin disposed adjacent an outer margin of said second leaf means and a second margin disposed adjacent the pivotal connection between said first and second leaf means, a first resilient sealing element extending along and secured to said first margin of said elongated member for sealing engagement with a closure frame and the like when the closure is closed, a second resilient sealing element disposed along and connected to said 5 second margin of said elongated member for sealing engagement with said edge of the closure, and resilient means for holding said second leaf means and the elongated member carried thereby in an open position pivoted outwardly from said first leaf means.

5. The combination comprising a door and the like mounted within a door frame for opening and closing movement, there being a narrow space between an edge of said door and the door frame when the door is closed, and elongated means extending along said edge of the door and mounted on said door for pivotal movement about an axis extending along said edge for enabling one longitudinal margin of said elongated means to move toward and away from said edge, an elongated resilient sealing element connected with an extending along said margin of said elongated means for sealingly engaging said door frame when the door is in the closed position, resilient means for resiliently holding said elongated means in an open position with said one longitudinal margin pivoted outwardly from said door edge for yieldably positioning said resilient element for engagement with the door frame, said door being mounted for pivotal movement to and from open and closed positions, said elongated means being mounted so that said longitudinal margin faces toward said open position a second longitudinal margin of said elongated means opposite from said first mentioned longitudinal margin being disposed closer to said door edge than said first mentioned mar gin and facing in the direction of closing movement of the door for facilitating entry of said elongated means within said space between the door edge and the door frame, a second resilient sealing element extending along and connected to said second margin of said elongated means for sealingly engaging said edge of the door, and elongated channel means in said edge of the door and partially defined by a side wall facing oppositely from the direction of closing movement of the door, said elongated means being pivot-ally disposed for locating said second sealing element at least partially within said channel means and in engagement with said side surface.

6. A combination, as defined in claim 5, wherein said elongated means and said elements are disposed along opposite side and top edges of the door.

7. A combination, as defined in claim 5, wherein said elongated means and sealing elements are disposed along substantially the entire peripheral edge of said door,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 186,079 Chandler Jan. 9, 1877 479,973 Chase Aug. 2, 1892 1,052,728 Knott Feb. 11, 1913 2,310,433 I -I ester Feb. 9, 1943 FQ E P TE S 632,759 France Oct. 10, 1927 445,093 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1936 828,661 France Feb. 2. 1, 1938 62,293 Denmark May 30, 1944

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