GB2253647A

GB2253647A - Door frame kit

Info

Publication number: GB2253647A
Application number: GB9105510A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cyril Anthony Walters
Original assignee: CROSBY SAREK Ltd
Current assignee: CROSBY SAREK Ltd
Priority date: 1991-03-15
Filing date: 1991-03-15
Publication date: 1992-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 2011-03-15
Also published as: GB9105510D0; GB2253647B

Abstract

A door frame kit comprises a pair of door jambs (1, 2), a head (5), door stop strips (3, 4, 10) for the head and the door jambs, and dowels (15) for locating and securing the head to the jambs, the head and the upper ends of the jambs being provided with corresponding dowel holes (11 to 14) for receiving the dowels in directions substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the jambs. The dowel holes (13, 14) of the head (5) extend completely through the head, and the dowels (15) are of a length which is greater than the combined axial length of corresponding dowel holes (11, 13 or 12, 14) of a jamb and the head so that a portion of each dowel (15) will project above the head (5) when the frame is formed. If only a door height frame is required, the projecting portions of the dowels (15) may be cut off, but if a storey height frame is required, the projecting portions of the dowels will serve to locate and secure the jambs of the fan light frame (Figure 2). <IMAGE>

Description

DOOR FRAME KITS Traditionally the internal and external door frames of a building are constructed and erected on site by carpenters using lengths of wood of appropriate dimensions, the carpenter cutting and joining the lengths of woods as required.

As an alternative, however, it is now becoming common to erect door frames on site using factory prepared frame kits, which may also include a door for subsequent installation in the frame when the main building work has been completed. The frame elements are accurately dimensioned and finished to a high standard in advance in the factory, and in this way a consistently high quality frame can be constructed both easily and quickly.

The present invention relates to such door frame kits, and according to the invention such a kit comprises a pair of door jambs, a head, door stop strips for the head and the door jambs, and dowels for locating and securing the head to the jambs, the head and the upper ends of the jambs being provided with corresponding dowel holes for receiving the dowels in directions substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the jambs.

The use of dowels in this way greatly improves the ease and accuracy of assembly of the frame, and also its strength and rigidity, prior to incorporation of the frame into the building.

Preferably the dowel holes of the head extend completely through the head, and the dowels are of a length which is greater than the combined axial length of corresponding dowel holes of a jamb and the head so that a portion of each dowel will project above the head when the frame is formed. If only a door height frame is requ red, the projecting portions of the dowels may be cut off, but if a storey height frame is required, the projecting portions of the dowels will serve to locate and secure the additional fanlight frame on top of the door frame.

In this case a door frame kit in accordance with the invention may further comprise a pair of short jambs, a second head, and dowels for locating and securing the second head to the short jambs to form a fanlight frame above the door frame, the short jambs being provided with longitudinally extending dowel holes at each end, the holes at one end, in use, receiving the dowels for attaching the second head to the short jambs, and the holes at the other end, in use, receiving the portions of the dowels projecting through the head of the door frame to locate and secure the fanlight frame on the door frame. Such a kit may also include beading strips for retaining a fanlight panel which is subsequently fitted within the fanlight frame.

Usually, the door frame kit in accordance with the invention will be supplied including a threshold member and means for securing it to the lower ends of the door jambs. However, if not required by the customer these components may be omitted.

There are of course a variety of different wall thicknesses and door sizes (height, width and thickness) commonly used in the building trade in the U.K. and other countries, and kits in accordance with the invention may be supplied with the jambs and head(s) dimensioned to suit any particular wall thickness and door size as required. However, in order to reduce the number of different components which will need to be made and stocked in order to be able to do this, the head, jambs and door stop strips may be constructed as described in U.K. Patent No. 2166181.

Accordingly, the head and jambs may each have a longitudinally extending groove in at least one of its faces for receiving a longitudinally extending locating rib of the corresponding door stop strip. By forming the door stop strip so that the longitudinal centre line of the rib is offset laterally from the longitudinal centre line of the strip itself, the strip can be fitted to the jamb or head in either of two different ways so as to accommodate one or other of two different door thicknesses.

Preferably the door frame kit in accordance with the invention will be supplied with the door stop strips already fitted to the head and the jambs in accordance with the dimensional requirements of the customer.

Usually the kit will be supplied together with a door for subsequent mounting in the assembled and installed frame, and in this case the kit is preferably supplied with one of the door jambs already fitted with hinge members for cooperating with complementary hinge members fitted to the door, the other door jamb being fitted with a latch or lock keep. Ideally the hinge members will be fitted to the door jamb at equal distances from the opposite ends of the jamb so that by using hinges can be used either right or left handed, the kit can be assembled to form a frame for either a right hand or a left hand opening door as desired. Obviously, in this case dowel holes will need to be provided at each end of the door jambs, and the latch or lock keep will need to be located midway between the ends of the respective door jamb.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows components of a first embodiment in the form of a kit for forming a frame of door height; Figure 2 shows components of a second embodiment in the form of a kit for forming a frame of storey height; Figure 3 is a scrap perspective view illustrating how the joint will be formed between the head and one of the jambs of the door frame kit shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a scrap elevational view showing the joint of Figure 3 when formed; and, Figure 5 is a scrap perspective view showing how the joint will be formed between the threshold member and one of the jambs of the door frame kit shown in Figure 1.

The door frame kit of Figure 1 comprises a pair of door jambs 1,2 each having a door stop strip 3,4 fitted to its face which, in use, is directed inwardly with respect to the assembled frame, each strip 3,4 extending along substantially the whole length of the respective jamb 1,2 and terminating just short of each end. The kit also comprises a head 5 having a rebate 6,7 at each end of its underside designed to seat onto the upper end of the respective door jamb 1,2 so that the shoulders 8,9 of the rebates 6,7 abut the inner faces of the jambs 1,2 above the upper ends of the door stop strips 3,4, and the extreme outer ends of the head 5 lie substantially flush with the outer faces of the jambs 1,2 as shown in Figure 4. The underside of the head 5 is fitted with a door stop strip 10 which extends along the head, stopping short of the rebates 6,7 so that the strip 10 will fit closely between the strips 3,4 when the head is seated on the upper ends of the jambs 1,2.

As will be noted from Figures 3 and 5, the jambs 1,2 are each formed with a groove extending along the length of each of its inner and outer faces, and the corresponding door stop strip 3,4 is located in position on the inner face of the respective jamb 1,2 by means of a longitudinal rib of the door stop strip which fits into the respective groove. The head 5 is also provided with a groove extending along each of its upper and lower faces, and the door stop strip 10 is fitted to the lower face by means of a longitudinally extending rib which fits into the groove in the lower face. The door stop strips 3,4 and 10 will generally be made secure in position by means of nailing and/or gluing.

Each end of each door jamb 1,2 has dowel holes 11,12 (two in this example) drilled longitudinally into the jamb parallel to its longitudinal axis and positioned substantially symmetrically about the said longitudinal axis. The rebated ends 6,7 of the head 5 are also provided with drilled dowel holes 13,14, these holes extending perpendicularly through the head 5 in positions corresponding to the holes 11,12 of the jambs 1,2 such that when the head is seated on the upper ends of the jambs, the dowel holes 13,14 of the head will be substantially co-axially aligned with respective dowel holes 11,12 of the jambs.

Also included in the door frame kit are a set of dowels 15 (four in this example) designed to be received as a tight fit in the aligned holes 11,13 and 12,14 to locate and secure the head 5 to each of the door jambs 1,2.

When assembling the frame, the dowels 15 will be inserted into the dowel holes 11,12 at the upper ends of the jambs 1,2, and the head positioned so that the upper ends of the dowels 15 are located in the dowel holes 13,14 at opposite ends of the head. The head 5 is then knocked firmly and evenly downwards until seated correctly on the upper ends of the jambs, thereby forcing the upper ends of the dowels 15 into and through the holes 13,14 of the head.

Each dowel 15 is of a length greater than the combined axial length of the holes 11,13 or 12,14 in which it is received, and therefore the upper ends of the dowels 15 will project above the upper surface of the head 5 as shown in Figure 4 when the frame has been assembled.

These projecting portions of the dowels 15 may be cut off flush with the upper surface of the head 5 if the frame is to be terminated at door height, but will be left if a fanlight frame is to be erected on top of the door frame.

The dowels may be glued into the dowel holes, but preferably they will be inserted dry, for which purpose the dowels preferably have a diameter which is very slightly over size with respect to the diameter of the dowel holes so that the dowels will be received as tight interference fits within the holes. For example, the dowels may have a diameter of 10 mm whereas the dowel holes may have diameters of 9.5 mm.

The door frame kit illustrated also includes a threshold member 16 and means for fixing it at each end to the respective door jamb 1,2, the threshold member 16 being designed to fit between the jambs 1,2 below the door stop strips 3,4. Any suitable means for fixing the threshold member 16 in position at each end may be used, and in this example the means comprises a wood screw 17 and a plastics insert (not shown) which is arranged to be received in a recess formed in the underside of the threshold member 16. In use, the screw 17 is screwed through aligned pre-drilled pilot holes 18 and 19 in the jamb 1,2 and the end of the threshold member 16 respectively and into the plastics insert in a known manner.

As indicated in Figure 1, the door edge of one of the door jambs 1 is fitted with identical hinge members 20 at positions such that each is spaced the same distance as the other from the nearest end of the jamb. The door edge of the opposite jamb 2 is fitted with a latch or lock keep plate 21 at a position midway between the ends of the jamb.

The frame kit illustrated in Figure 2 is designed to form a storey height frame. It comprises door frame kit components identical to those described with reference to Figures 1,3,4 and 5, and in addition it comprises further components for the assembly of a fanlight frame on top of the head 5 of the door frame. The fanlight frame components comprise a pair of short jambs 22,23 of similar cross-section to the door jambs 1,2 and also having a pair of longitudinally directed dowel holes drilled in each end. The dowel holes at the lower ends of the short jambs 22,23 are designed to receive the upper ends of the dowels 15 which project through the head 5 of the assembled door frame so as to locate and secure the short jambs, and hence the fanlight frame, on top of the door frame. The dowel holes at the upper ends of the short jambs 22,23 receive further dowels 24 for locating and securing in position a fanlight head 25 which is similar to the door frame head 5.

The fanlight frame kit is completed by beading strips 26 for attachment to the inner faces of the short jambs 22,23 and the heads 5,25 of the assembled fanlight frame to retain the fanlight panel when this has been placed in position.

As will be appreciated, the lengths of the short jambs and the corresponding beads may be cut, if necessary, to the required length on site.

Claims

1. A door frame kit comprising a pair of door jambs, a head, door stop strips for the head and the door jambs, and dowels for locating and securing the head to the jambs, the head and the upper ends of the jambs being provided with corresponding dowel holes for receiving the dowels in directions substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the jambs.

2. A door frame kit according to claim 1, in which the dowel holes of the head extend completely through the head, and the dowels are of a length which is greater than the combined axial length of corresponding dowel holes of a jamb and the head so that a portion of each dowel will project above the head when the frame is formed.

3. A door frame kit according to claim 2, in which the kit further comprises a pair of short jambs, a second head, and dowels for locating and securing the second head to the short jambs to form a fanlight frame above the door frame, the short jambs being provided with longitudinally extending dowel holes at each end, the holes at one end, in use, receiving the dowels for attaching the second head to the short jambs, and the holes at the other end, in use, receiving the portions of the dowels projecting through the head of the door frame to locate and secure the fanlight frame on the door frame.

4. A door frame kit according to claim 3, in which the kit includes beading strips for retaining a fanlight panel which, in use, is fitted within the fanlight frame.

5. A door frame kit according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising a threshold member and means for securing the lower ends of the door jambs to the threshold member.

6. A door frame kit according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the door jambs and the first head each has a longitudinally extending groove in at least one face for receiving a longitudinally extending locating rib of the corresponding door stop strip.

7. A door frame kit according to claim 6, in which the longitudinal centre line of the locating rib of each door stop strip is laterally offset from the longitudinal centre line of the strip.

8. A door frame kit according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the door stop strips are already fitted to the door jambs and the first head.

9. A door frame kit according to any one of the preceding claims, in which one of the door jambs is fitted with hinge members for cooperating with complementary hinge members fitted to a door which is to be installed in the frame, and the other door jamb is fitted with a latch or lock keep.

10. A door frame kit according to claim 9, in which the hinge members are fitted at equal distances from the opposite ends of the respective door jamb, and the latch or lock keep is fitted substantially midway between the ends of the respective door jamb.

11. A frame assembled from a kit according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. A door frame kit according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A frame assembled from a kit according to any one of the preceding claims.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A door frame kit comprising a pair of door jambs, a head, door stop strips for the head and the door jambs, and dowels for locating and securing the head to the jambs, the head and the upper ends of the jambs being provided with corresponding dowel holes for receiving the dowels in directions substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the jambs, the dowel holes of the head extending completely through the head, and the dowels being of a length which is greater than the combined axial length of corresponding dowel holes of a jamb and the head so that a portion of each dowel will project above the head when the frame is formed.

2. A door frame kit according to claim 1, in which the kit further comprises a pair of short jambs, a second head, and dowels for locating and securing the second head to the short jambs to form a fanlight frame above the door frame, the short jambs being provided with longitudinally extending dowel holes at each end, the holes at one end, in use, receiving the dowels for attaching the second head to the short jambs, and the holes at the other end, in use, receiving the portions of the dowels projecting through the head of the door frame to locate and secure the fanlight frame on the door frame.

3. A door frame kit according to claim 2, in which the kit includes beading strips for retaining a fanlight panel which, in use, is fitted within the fanlight frame.

4. A door frame kit according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising a threshold member and means for securing the lower ends of the door jambs to the threshold member.

5. A door frame kit according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the door jambs and the first head each has a longitudinally extending groove in at least one face for receiving a longitudinally extending locating rib of the corresponding door stop strip.

6. A door frame kit according to claim 5, in which the longitudinal centre line of the locating rib of each door stop strip is laterally offset from the longitudinal centre line of the strip.

7. A door frame kit according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the door stop strips are already fitted to the door jambs and the first head.

8. A door frame kit according to any one of the preceding claims, in which one of the door jambs is fitted with hinge members for cooperating with complementary hinge members fitted to a door which is to be installed in the frame, and the other door jamb is fitted with a latch or lock keep.

9. A door frame kit according to claim 8, in which the hinge members are fitted at equal distances from the opposite ends of the respective door jamb, and the latch or lock keep is fitted substantially midway between the ends of the respective door jamb.

10. A door frame kit according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.