GB2123068A - Smoke and draught seal - Google Patents

Abstract

A seal for a door or window comprises a groove (3) and a resilient blade (11) for sealingly engaging with one side (4) of the groove. The groove may be in the main frame and the blade on the door leaf or vice versa. The groove (3) may be defined by an elongate member (1) secured to a stile (13) of one door (14) of double doors (14, 15) and the resilient blade (11) may be part of a resilient member (9) retained by a holder (2) secured to a stile of the other door (15). An intumescent strip (39, Fig. 2) may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Smoke and draught seal The present invention relates to a seal for sealing doors and windows against hot and cold smoke and draughts.

By "cold or hot smoke" we mean smoke and other gaseous combustion products of a temperature insufficiently high to adversely affect the functioning of the seal.

By "doors and windows" we mean closure members in general whether pivotally or slidably mounted. Hereinafter such closure members are referred to as doors.

We have considered providing a resilient sealing element such as a blade, tube or brush on a stile or the head of a door or on the opposed face of the door frame, the seal acting both as a draught seal and as a smoke seal. Because the gaps around doors inevitably are of different widths, it is usually necessary to select a seal of appropriate width for the gap to be sealed. This is both timeconsuming and requires a stock of seals of various widths to be maintained since the excessive volume of the sealing element may otherwise cause difficulty in opening and closing the door.

The invention aims to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide a seal which can seal against cold and hot smoke and draughts in a reliable and effective manner.

The terms "cold and hot smoke" and "door" are defined above. It is convenient now to define some further terms.

By an "edge face" of a door, we mean either stile of a door or the top horizontal surface of the door or the bottom horizontal surface of the door.

By a "door surround" we mean a structure within which the door is mounted, e.g. a door frame and we include within the term "door surround" the threshold of the door and any stops forming part of the structure.

By an "edge face" of a door surround, we mean a face of the door surround which is opposed to an edge face of a door mounted in the surround, when the door is closed.

By "inclined" we mean inclined or intended to be inclined in use relative to the general plane of the door.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a seal for a door, comprising first means defining a groove and second means having a resilient blade for sealingly engaging at one side of a free edge portion thereof with one side of the groove.

The seal is suitable for use with a single door or a pair of double doors or any other type of door (which term is defined above as including windows).

The first means may be an integral part of a door or door surround or may be a member to be attached in use to the door or door surround. Such member may be secured to the door or door surround by one or more screws or nails or by adhesive.

The second means may comprise a holder for attachment, conveniently in a rebate, to the door or door surround, the resilient blade being held by the holder.

In one mode of use of the seal according to the invention, the seal acts between an edge face of a door and its surround. In another mode of use of the seal, the seal acts between the meeting stiles of a pair of double doors. In either mode of use, one of the first and second means is provided on an edge face of the door and the other means is provided on an edge face of the door surround or the other door.

When the door or doors provided with the seal is or are closed, it is intended that the resilient blade engages at one side of its free edge portion with the side of the groove.

Assuming such engagement occurs, the width of the gap, if any, between the doors or between the door and its surround is immaterial. Thus a stock of blades of different widths does not have to be available when fitting a seal according to the invention to a door or doors.

It will be appreciated that to achieve the aforementioned engagement of the blade with the side of the groove, the blade needs to be offset from the centre line of the base of the groove when the door or doors is or are closed.

The shape of the groove may vary but should be such that it does not cause damage to the sealing element and when the door is worked (i.e. opened and closed) the sealing blade returns to the sealing position.

Preferably the side of the groove with which the blade engages is inclined (as defined above). The groove may have two opposite inclined sides, the sides of the free edge portion of the blade being engageable with either side of the groove, depending on the relative positions of the first and second means.

The invention is particularly applicable to double action doors, where its design allows whipped action of the sealing blade. In such å case, it is particularly preferred that the blade is mounted on and normal to an edge face of the door and that the groove has two inclined sides.

The inclined side or sides of the groove are preferably convex to assist in satisfactory engagement of the side of the edge portion of the blade therewith.

According to one aspect of the present invention preferably the second means comprise a holder and a resilient member having a portion held captive in the holder, the blade disposed externally of the holder and at least one rib also disposed externally of the holder and bearing on a surface thereof to inhibit lateral movement or rocking of the resilient element relative to the holder. The holder may be an integral part of a door or door surround or may be a member for securing to the door or door surround e.g. in a rebate in the door or door surround.

It is to be emphasized that where the seal according to the invention is used for providing sealing between a door and a door surround, either the first means may be carried by the door and the second means by the door surround or vice versa.

In one preferred aspect of the invention, where the seal is to be used to provide sealing between a door and a door stop therefor, the groove to the first means has a side for engagement with the resilient blade of the second means and intended to be disposed at an inclination to a surface of the door or door stop carrying the second means and at which the groove is situated and a plane side intended to be disposed substantially normal to said surface of the door or door stop.

In another preferred aspect of the invention, the blade may be formed with longitudinal lines of weakness so that strips may be torn from the blade so as to allow for greater variations in the gaps between the parts between which sealing is to be effected by enabling the width of the blade to be varied.

In another preferred aspect of the invention, where the seal is intended for use at the meeting stiles of double doors, the first means has two grooves providing respective adjacent mutually inclined sides so that the resilient blade can engage with said side of either groove depending on which door is closed subsequent to the other door. The adjacent sides of the grooves are preferably convex.

The invention is further described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a horizontal section through parts of two double doors (or a door and a door frame) fitted with a seal according to the invention; Figure 2 is a horizontal section through parts of a door and a door frame at the hinged edge of the door; Figure 3 is a horizontal section through part of a pair of double doors and a door frame fitted with smoke and draught seals; Figure 4(a) is a vertical section through part of a door and a threshold fitted with a seal according to the invention; Figure 4(b) is a vertical section through an alternative form of threshold seal; Figure 5 is a single door and door frame fitted with smoke and draught seals;; Figure 6 is a section through part of a pair of double doors having rebated stiles fitted with a smoke and draught seal; Figure 7 are cross-sectional views through seals according to the invention showing various shapes of groove; Figure 8A shows, in section, a seal according to the invention; Figure 8B shows, in section, a holder and a resilient element of the seal of Fig. 8A; Figure 9 shows, in section, a seal according to the invention fitted to a door and associated door stop; Figure 10 show, in section, an alternative arrangement of the seal of Fig. 9; Figure ii shows, in section, a resilient blade of a seal according to the invention; and Figure 12 shows, in section, a seal according to the invention, particularly for double doors.

Referring to Fig. 1, a seal according to the invention, comprises a first elongate member 1 and a second elongate member 2.

The first elongate member 1 defines a groove 3 having convex inclined sides 4 and a wide flat base 5.

Within the holder 2 is a channel 6, inturned lips 7 of the defining a mouth 8 of the channel. An elongate resilient member 9 has a foot portion 10 located in the channel and a resilient blade 11 extending through the mouth of the channel.

The seal is used to effect sealing between the meeting stiles 12 and 13 of a pair of double doors 14 and 15 respectively when the doors are closed. To this end the first member 1 is secured by screws 16 in a rebate 17 along the stile 12 and the holder 2 is secured by screws 15 in a rebate (not numbered) along the stile 13.

The blade 11 when undeformed is normal to the stile 13.

When the doors are closed as shown in Fig.

1 it will be seen that the base 5 of the groove 3 is offset relative to the blade 11 and consequently one side of the free edge portion of the blade sealingly engages against one side 4 of the groove.

If either or both doors are opened the blade 11 is withdrawn from the groove 3 but it reenters the groove when both doors are closed.

In an alternative mode of use of the seal (as indicated by the use of reference numerals in brackets in Fig. 1) the seal may be used along a stile of a single door. Thus the holder 1 may be attached to a door frame 20 and the holder 2 may be attached to a single door 21.

Alternatively the holder 1 may be attached to the stile of the door and the holder 2 attached to the door frame.

Seals as described ?%#ov'2 acsor~i. it invention may also be used along the top and bottom horizontal surfaces (rails) of doors.

The seal descrioed above may not, however, be suitable for use along the stile of a door at the hinged edge of the door. In such cases, when the door is a single action door the use of a seal such as shown in Fig. 2 is envisaged.

Referring to Fig. 2, a single action door 3n is hinged at 31 to a door frame 32. The direction of closing movement of the door is indicated by arrow 33, the door when closed abutting on stops 34.

Rebated into the stile 35 of the door at the hinged edge of the door is a holder 36 retaining a resilient member having a blade 37. The blade 37 when undeformed is angled relative to the stile 35 and away from the hinge axis of the door. When the door is closed the blade 37 sealingly engages against edge face 38 of the door frame 32.

The seals described above may further comprise intumescent material. E.g. referring to Fig. 1, the holder 2 may have one or more channels containing intumescent material at either or both sides of the resilient member 9 and the member 1 may similarly have one or more channels containing intumescent material. When the seal is exposed to elevated temperature, as under fire conditions, the intumescent material intumesces (i.e. expands forming a voluminous coherent fire-resistant barrier) and seals any adjoining gap between the doors or between the door and its frame.

The seal of Fig. 2 may also comprise one or more channels containing intumescent material. As shown in Fig. 2, a channel 39 containing intumescent material is provided in or adjacent the holder 36. When the seal is exposed to elevated temperature as under fire conditions the intumescent material intumesces and, assuming the door is closed, seals any gap between the stile 35 and the frame 38.

Alternatively or additionally to the provision of intumescent material as described above, separate intumescent seals may be applied to the margins of the front and rear faces of the doors or to the edge faces of the doors or to the door frames.

Fig. 3 shows a pair of double doors having rebated meeting stiles and fitted with a seal as shown in Fig. 1 at their meeting stiles and a seal as shown in Fig. 2 along their hinged edge faces.

Fig. 4(a) shows the use of a seal as shown in Fig. 1 as a threshold seal. Referring to Fig.

4(a), the member 1 is inset in a groove 40 in a floor 41 and has flanges 42 which overlap the floor 41 either side of the groove 40.

Fig. 4(b) shows the use of a seal as shown in Fig. 2 as a threshold seal. Referring to Fig.

4(b), a sealing strip 43 is fastened to the floor 41 at the threshold of the door and the blade 37 engages with the sealing strip when the door is closed.

Referring to Fig. 5, a single action single door is shown fitted with a seal as shown in Fig. 1 on the lock side of the door and a seal shown in Fig. 2 on the hinge side of the door.

Fig. 6 shows a seal as shown in Fig. 1 fitted to the rebated meeting stiles of a pair of double doors.

Fig. 7(a) to 7(e) shows various alternative shapes for the groove 3. In Fig. 7(a) the groove is rectangular in section with sides at right angles to the edge face 12 or 13 of the door or door frame. In Fig. 7(b), the groove is approximately semi-circular with concave sides. In Fig. 7(c) the groove has flat inclined sides. In Fig. 7(d) the groove has convex inclined sides similarly to the groove in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 7(e) the groove has flat inclined sides, one inclined more than the other.

Referring to Fig. 8A a seal according to the invention comprises a first elongate member 1 and a second elongate member 3 of resilient material.

The first elongate member 1 defines a groove 4 having convex inclined sides 5 and a flat base 6.

The holder 2 is generally square, in section in one wall 2' a slot 7 being present.

The member 3 is formed with a circular section portion 8, a rectangular section portion 9, a connecting portion 10 and a resilient blade 11.

The portion 8 of the member 3 is slid into the holder 2 from one end with the connecting portion 10 of the member 3 extending through the slot 7. The portion 8 is thus held captive in the holder and the portion 9 bears against the outside face of the wall 2' of the holder 2.

The seal is used to effect sealing between two members 12 and 13. To this end the member 1 is secured by screws 16 in a rebate corresponding in the member 13 and the holder 2 is secured in a rebate in the member 12. The members 12 and 13 may be a pair of double doors, the member 1 and the holder 2 being mounted in the respective meeting stiles of the doors.

Alternatively, one of the members 12 and 13 may be part of a door surround and the other of the members 13 a door, the member 1 and the holder 2 being mounted respectively on edge faces of the members 12 and 13 which are opposed when the door is closed. Thus the member 1 may be mounted on the door and the member 2 on the door surround or vice versa.

As shown in Fig. 8B, the blade 11, when undeformed, is normal to the face 12' of the member 12, the rectangular portion 9 of the resilient element 3 and the wall 2' of the holder 2.

When the parts 12 and 13 are in a closed condition as shown in Fig. 8 (i.e. double doors 12 and 13 are closed or door 12 or 13 is closed in door surround 13 or 12), the base 6 of the groove 4 is offset relative to the blade 11 and consequently one side of the free edge portion of the blade sealingly engages against one side of the groove.

If a door, is opened the blade 11 is with drawn from the groove 4 but it re-enters the groove when the door is closed and one side of its free edge portion sealingly engages against one side of the groove.

It will be seen that the rectangular portion 9 of the resilient element 3 effectively forms two ribs 9' either side of the blade 11. These ribs bear on the outer surface of the wall 2' of the holder 2 and the rounded portion 8 of the resilient element bears against the inner surface of the wall 2'. Thus the resilient element 3 is held firmly in position and rocking movement of the element 3 is prevented even if the rounded portion 8 by itself would be a loose fit in the holder.

The holder 2 is rebated into the member 12 so that the ribs 9' are substantially flush with the surface 12'.

Referring to Fig. 9, there is shown a seal suitable for sealing between-a single door 14 and its frame 1 5. The seal has a holder and a resilient element similar to those shown in Fig. 8. The holder is mounted in a front or rear face of the door and adjacent the stile of the door remote from its hinges, this face of the door facing or abutting against a stop 23 of the door frame 15 when the door is closed.

The seal comprises a member 1 defining a groove 4 and having a convex inclined side 21 and a flat side 22. The member 1 is fastened in a rebate in the stop 23 with the flat side normal to the surface of the stop which faces or abuts against the front or rear face of the door when closed. One side of the free edge of the blade then engages against the convex side of the groove.

As shown in Fig. 10, it is alternatively possible to fit the member 1 to the door and the member 2, together with the resilient member 3, to the door stop.

In the arrangement of both Figs. 9 and 10, the ribs 9' of the portion 9 are preferably substantially flush with the respective surface of the door or door stop.

The seals described above can seal gaps of widely varying widths between members.

In order to enable the seals to effect sealing in gaps having even larger variations in widths, the blade 11 of the resilient element may have the form shown in Fig. 11.

Referring to Fig. 11, the blade 11 is formed with longitudinal nicks or grooves 24, which are preferably arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the blade. The nicks or grooves provide lines of weakness along the blade.

Thus a portion of the blade can be torn off along a selected one of the lines of weakness to leave the blade of a desired width well suited for a gap of a particular width. If the gap varies in width along its length, portions of the blade of different widths can be torn off the blade along different parts of its length.

Fig. 12 shows a seal particularly suitable for double doors.

Referring to Fig. 12, a pair of double doors have meeting stiles 30 and 31 and when closed abut against stop 32.

A holder 1, together with a sealing element 3, is fitted to the stile 30. The holder and the sealing element are similar to those shown in Fig. 8.

To the stile 31 is fitted a member 33 having two grooves 34a and 34b each with a pair of convex inclined sides.

The blade of the sealing element 3 can bear against side 35 of the groove 34a or side 36 of the groove 34b when the doors are closed.

When the door B remains closed and the door A is opened in the direction of arrow A and then closed, the blade seals on the side 35 of the groove 34a as indicated in Fig. 12 in sealing position A.

When the door A remains closed and door B is opened in the direction of arrow B and closed, the blade seals on the side 36 of the groove 34b.

The use of the member 33 with the double grooves 34a and 34b provides better sealing than if only one groove were present. In particular, there is no need to dimension the width of the blade relative to the gap between the doors so that the blade can fold on itself to enter the groove.

It will be understood from the foregoing description, that a door might be provided with a groove seal according to the invention at least on its lock stile and its top rail. On the hinge stile of the door, a seal such as shown in Fig. 2 may be used. At the threshold of the door, a seal such as shown in Fig. 4(a) or (b) may be provided. Thus effective smoke sealing can be provided around the entire periphery of the door.

The sealing elements referred to above (e.g.

the member 9 of Fig. 1) and the resilient member with the blade 37 of Fig. 2) may be of Neoprene, natural rubber or polypropylene or any other material resistant to the strains imposed on it in use of sealing element and also resistant to heat.

The grooves of the groove seals may be a simple groove routed into the door frame or door surround or may be lined e.g. with metal. The groove should be so shaped as to not cause undue wear and tear on the cooperating sealing blade.

It is envisaged that the depth of the groove may be up to 8mm so that a blade of up to 8mm width might be accomodated in it and a gap of up to 8mm width might be sealed.

It is understood that at high temperature the sealing elements may be adversely affected by heat and lose their sealing ability at least partially.

The seals according to the invention, such as shown in Fig. 1, having a resilient blade cooperating with a groove, are hereinafter referred to as groove seals in order to distinguish them from seals of the type shown in ,Fig. 2.

It is to understood that the greater the volume of the sealing element (i.e. the resili ent blade) in relation to its length, the greater the wear and tear on the sealing element. For instance an excess volume of seal can cause much trouble by doubling over on itself and causes the seal to wear out after a relatively small number of openings and closings. The groove seals of the invention allow for opening and closing the door up to a million or more times without apparent damage to the sealing element.

As mentioned above, the tops of doors may be provided with groove seals as shown in Fig. 1. The top rail (i.e. top horizontal surface) of the door may be grooved in the same manner as the lock stile (i.e. the stile of the door remote from the hinges) of the door or the lock side of the frame. The provision of the seal provides effective sealing against smoke at the top rail of the door.

The groove seal according to the invention, when on the lock stile of the door, may run through the lock, i.e. either the groove or the sealing element, whichever is fitted to the door, may run through the lock. Alternatively, the lock may be fitted to the outside face of the door.

Claims (19)

1. A seal for a door (as herein defined), comprising first defining a groove and second means having a resilient blade for sealingly engaging at one side of a free edge portion thereof with one side of the groove.

2. A seal according to claim 1, wherein the first means is an integral part of the door or a door surround.

3. A seal according to claim 1, wherein the first means is constituted by a member to be attached in use to an edge face of the door or a door surround.

4. A seal according to any preceding claim, wherein the second means comprise a holder for attachment to an edge face of the door or a door surround, the resilient blade being held by the holder.

5. A seal according to any preceding claim, wherein the side of the groove with which the blade is engagable is inclined (as herein defined).

6. A seal according to claim 5, wherein the groove has two opposite inclined sides, the blade being engagable with either side depending on the relative positions of the first and second means.

7. A seal according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the inclined side or sides of the groove are convex.

8. A seal according to claim 4 or any of claims 5 to 7 as apendent thereto, wherein the resilient member has a portion held captive in the holder, the blade disposed externally of the holder and at least one rib also disposed externally of the holder and bearing on a surface thereof.

9. A seal for use provide sealing between the door and a door stop therefor and according to any preceding claim except claim 6, the groove of the first means having a side for engagement with the resilient blade of the second means and intended to be disposed at an inclination to a surface of the door or door stop carrying the second means and at which the groove is situated and a plane side intended to be disposed substantially normal to such surface of the door or door stop.

10. A seal according to any preceding claim, wherein the blade is formed with longitudinal lines of weakness so that strips may be torn from the blade.

11. A seal according to any preceding claim, the seal being intended for use at the meeting stiles of double doors, wherein the first means has two grooves (i.e. said groove and another such groove), the two grooves providing respective adjacent mutually inclined sides so that the blade can engage with said side of either groove.

12. A seal according to the claim 11, wherein the adjacent sides of the grooves are convex.

13. A seal according to claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1,3,4(a),5,7,8A and 8B,9,10,1 1 or 12 of the accompanying drawings.

14. An arrangement comprising a door (as herein defined) and an associated surround (as herein defined), the door and its surround being provided with a.seal according to any preceding claim, one of the first means and the second means being provided on the door and the other means being provided on the door surround, the free edge portion of the resilient blade engaging at one side with said one side of the groove when the door is in a closed position relative to the surround.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said one means is provided on an edge face of the door and the other means is provided on the door surround.

16. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said one means is provided on a stop of the door surround and said other means is provided on a front or rear face of the door, which face faces or abuts the stop when the door is closed, the free edge portion of the resilient blade engaging at one side with the said one side of the groove when the door is in a closed position relative to the surround.

17. An arrangement comprising a pair of double doors provided with a seal according to any of claims 1 to 13, the first means being provided on the meeting stile of one said door and the second means being pro vided on the meeting stile of the other said door, the free edge portion of the resilient blade engaging at one side with said one side of the groove when both the doors are in a closed position.

18. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the seal is according to claim 11, which of said adjacent sides of the two grooves the blade engages with when the doors are closed depending on which door is closed subsequent to the other door.

19. An arrangement according to any of claims 14 to 17, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.