US3064319A - Weatherproofing bottom member for doors and windows - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 20, 1962 w. w. MILLER 3,064,319

WEATHERPROOFING BOTTOM MEMBER FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS Filed Oct. 2, 1959 INVENTOR. WALLACE W. MILLER United States Patent Ofifice 3,954,319 Patented Nov. 20, 1962 3,064,319 VEATEHSRPROOFEJG BiETIUM. ltfEMidER FQR D9825 ANB VHNDGWS Vail-ace W. lvfiller, 265 N. 3rd St, El Cajon, Calif. Fiied Get. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 844,010

4 Ciaims. (Cl. 20-35) The present invention relates generally to weatherproofing of building structures and more particularly to a weather-proofing bottom member for doors and windows.

The primary object of this invention is to provide in combination with a door having face panels, a bottom member which fits over the lower edge of a door or window and has resilient wall portions with localized grip edges which grip both sides of the lower edge portions of the face panels to ensure a close, sealing fit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bottom member having integral drip edges on whichever side is exposed externally of the threshold to shed moisture outside the threshold and prevent leakage underneath the door.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bottom member having a channeled retaining portion to hold a resilient sealing strip for draft exclusion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bottom member in which the seal strip retaining portion is off center so that, by reversing the member, the position of the seal strip can be changed to suit different sill structures.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bottom member which is particularly suitable for doors having veneer finish or of laminated or plywood construction, since the edge is completely enclosed and protected against splitting or splintering.

Finally, it is an object to provide a bottom member of the aforementioned character which is simple, convenient to make and use and which will give generally efiicient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

Fl-(EUR l is a perspective view of one end of the bottom member; and

FlGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1, a door being indicated fragmentarily to illustrate the attachment.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing.

The bottom member 1% is basically a wide U-shaped channel having a fiat bottom panel 12 and parallel side walls 14. Projecting downwardly below the bottom panel 12 and coextensive with the side walls 14 are drip edges 16, the outer face of each side wall and drip edge being continuous and fiat to present a smooth, unbroken appearance. The drip edges 16 are substantially rectangular in cross section and have flat lower faces 18, which prevent origination of a high pitched whistling sound of wind striking the outer lower edge of the door. The side walls 14 have a limited resiliency and the upper longitudinal edges thereof have inwardly turned, smoot y radiused grip edges 20.

On the underside of the bottom panel 12 are two spaced, para lel, longitudinally extending ribs 22 projecting downwardly and having opposed, inwardly extending tongues 24 coextensive with the lower edges thereof, defining a generally T-shaped channel 26 therebetween. The lower faces 18 of drip edges 16 and the lower faces of tongues 24 are substantially coplanar to minimize the necessary clearance under a door. The ribs 22 are disposed to one side of the longitudinal center line of the member 10 for reasons explained hereafter. The channel 26 is shaped and dimensioned to receive a resilient sealing strip 28, such as that shown and described in my patent application for a sealing means for swinging doors and windows, filed on substantially even date herewith. However, the member 10 is not limited to use with a specific sealing strip and the structure around the channel 26 may be varied to hold other types of seals.

The member 10 is fitted over the lower edge of a closure member 30, as in FIGURE 2 or a window (not shown), contacting the lower edge portions of the face panels 38, the resiliency of the side walls 14 causing the grip edges 20 to bear tightly against the opposite faces of said lower edge portions of the face panels with the localized pressure at the lines of contact of said grip edges holding the member in place. To ensure further against displacement of the member "10, the side walls 14 are provided with longitudinally spaced attachment holes 32 through which nails 34, or the like, are driven into the door. For appearance, the nails may be of the escutcheon pin type or have decorative heads, or suitable screws may be used.

The resilient sided member is particularly suitable for use with the type of door illustrated in which a frame or core 36 is covered on both sides by face panels 38 of plywood or hardboard, as in conventional flush door construction. Such doors are subject to splitting and scaling of the face panels along the lower edges, and the hereindisclosed bottom member is a virtual necessity for use with such cheaper grades of doors. The term face panels is employed in this disclosure as including all such plywood and veneer construction and the member 10 encloses the lower portions of such face panels to prevent the above mentioned damage. Since doors are normally made in standard thicknesses, the member can be made in the required widths to ensure a tight fit on various doors, and is easily formed by extrusion from aluminum or similar material, cut to length as needed.

The off center positioning of the channel 26 provides a means for changing the disposition of the sealing strip 28 relative to the faces of the door 30 by merely reversing the member 19, which is otherwise symmetrical. With certain types of sill structures it may be necessary to have the sealing strip closer to one face of the door for proper closure and the reversability is a useful feature. In either position, one drip edge 16 is always on the outside.

The member 16 is simple and economical to manufacture, easy to install and provides protection for the lower edge of the door or window, in addition to the weatherproofing qualities. In addition to preventing splitting of the lower edge of a door, the member it prevents the stile and cross-member joints of a frame type door from separating and holds the door against warping, since the member is nailed or screwed to the door along its entire length.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without eparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A door having a frame and face panels extending r to the lower edge of the door; an elongated bottom member, generally U-shaped in cross-section, with a door edge-engaging bottom panel and a pair of confronting, upwardly extending side walls spaced apart to span the lower edge of the door and extending upwardly over lower edge portions of said face panels; means to secure said bottom member on the door; a drip edge having a substantially fiat, horizontal lower face, whereby the function of a drip edge is obtained while preventing origination of a high pitched whistling sound of wind striking the outer lower edge of the door; said drip edge extending below said bottom panel; and sealing strip retaining means under said bottom panel, spaced from said drip edge, to hold a sealing strip extending below said drip edge.

2. A door having a frame and face panels extending to the lower edge of the door; an elongated bottom member, generally U-shaped in cross-section, with a door edge-engaging bottom panel and a pair of confronting, upwardly extending side walls spaced apart to span the lower edge of the door and extending upwardly over lower edge portions of said face panels; and means to secure said bottom member on the door, said side walls being resilient and having inwardly turned, confronting grip edges engaging said face panels and exerting linearly localized pressure thereon; a pair of drip edges substantially coplanar With said side walls and extending below said bottom panel; said drip edges having substantially flat, horizontal, coplanar lower faces; and a longitudinally extending sealing strip retaining member on the underside of said bottom panel; said retaining member being between said drip edges and ofiset from the longitudinal center line of said bottom panel, whereby the bottom member is made reversible, end to end to preserve the drip edge function while permitting location of the sealing strip selectively at two locations to adapt the same to dilferent thresholds.

3. A bottom member for securement on the bottom of a door, said bottom member being elongated and generally U-shaped in cross-section, with a door edge-engaging bottom panel and a pair of confronting upwardly extending side walls spaced apart to span the lower edge 4. A bottom member according to claim 3 wherein said sealing strip retaining means is offset only slightly from the longitudinal center line of the bottom panel; and including a second drip edge similar to the first mentioned drip edge; said drip edges being disposed in opposing relationship close to the longitudinal edges of said bottom panel, whereby the bottom member is adapted for end to end reversal to adjust said sealing strip retaining means to accommodate to dif erent thresholds.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 712,240 Barnes et al. Oct. 28, 1902 945,225 Forsyth Jan. 4, 1910 2,399,666 Een May 7, 1946 2,739,357 Seabrook Mar. 27, 1956 2,908,947 Meacham' Oct. 20, 1959 2,934,802 Shekter Mar. 3, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 735,493 France Aug. 20, 1932

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