US3788019A

US3788019A - Adjustable metal door frame construction

Info

Publication number: US3788019A
Application number: US00201125A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Kiselewski
Original assignee: BINKLEY Co
Current assignee: BINKLEY Co
Priority date: 1971-11-22
Filing date: 1971-11-22
Publication date: 1974-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-29

Abstract

There is disclosed a novel adjustable metal door frame construction incorporating opposed telescoping frame and trim units which are mounted and retained in a door opening by retainer clips which are secured in predetermined positions. Each of the frame and trim units is independently snapped onto a set of clips and is maintained thereby against removal. The door may be pre-hung in the frame unit, if desired. The telescoping relationship of the frame and trim units permits use of the construction with a predetermined range of wall widths.

Description

I United States Patent 1191 1111 Kiselewski Jan. 29, 1974 [54] ADJUSTABLE METAL DOOR FRAME 1,321,610 11/1919 Emrich 52 212 CONSTRUCTION 3,363,392 1/1968 Boughner 1 52/217 2,742,! 17 4/1956 Tolman 4 1 1 52/213 Inventor: Donald Klselewski, Palm Beach 1,878,807 9/1932 Baum 52/213 Gardens, Fla. 1,867,230 7/1932 Osinga 52/211 Assignee: The Binkley p y, Warrenton, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS M 1,509,914 /1969 Germany 49/505 22 Filed; 22 1971 1,805,629 9/1969 Germany 52/217 [21] Appl' zollzs Primary Examiner1-1enry C. Sutherland Assistant ExaminerLeslie A. Braun [52] US. Cl 52/212, 49/505, 52/214, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Rogers, Ezell & Eilers 52/217 [51] lnt. C1 E06b 1/20 [58] Field ofSearch..... 51/211, 213, 214, 215, 217; [57] ABSTRACT 49/505 There is disclosed a novel adjustable metal door frame construction incorporating opposed telescoping frame [56] References Cited and trim units which are mounted and retained in a UNITED STATES PATENTS door opening by retainer clips which are secured in 3,648,424 3/1972 Winyard 52 213 pre.de.ter.mined positions Each of the frame i mm 3 654 731 4/1972 Jellinek 52/213 x mdependemly snapped onto a set of and 313521074 11/1967 Schwartzberg v 52/211 is maintained thereby against removal- The door may 1,068,656 7/1913 P16111165 52 217 be P g in the frame unit, if desired- The telescop- 2,582,765 1/1952 Brew 52/212 ing relationship of the frame and trim units permits 3,1 19,1 15 1/1964 Schlegel 49/505 use of the construction with a predetermined range of 1,048,988 12/1912 Mayo, Sr. 49/505 w ll width 3,654,734 4/1972 Lehman 52/212 3,860,744 11/1958 Mascari 52/212 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures l I 28 w 36 ADJUSTABLE METAL DOOR FRAME CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the building industry and more particularly to a novel adjustable metal frame construction for door and other openings in a wall or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art Numerous constructions have been developed and used over the past years and into the present for hanging doors and finishing the openings, guiding windows and finishing the openings, etc. However, there has long existed a need, particularly in low-cost housing, for frame constructions of the concerned type which accomplishes a neat, satisfactory job, yet is inexpensive in respect to materials, and which can be applied in the field with minimum labor costs, the latter today being a major factor in building construction. The present construction is an answer to the long-existing need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, the present novel adjustable metal door frame construction comprises opposed telescoping frame and trim units, each of which includes spaced jamb members connected at'the top bya head member. The frame unit supports a door for the usual pivotal movement. Two sets of retainer clips are mounted on each side and at the top of the opening receiving and supporting the door frame construction, there being an independent set for each frame jamb, each trim jamb, the frame head and the trim head. The cooperative relationship of the cross sections of the clips with the jambs and heads is such that the jambs and heads may be snapped onto the clips in mounting the former and are thereby firmly maintained in operative positions. The telescoping relationship of the frame and trim units permits installation of the present construction in openings of walls of a predetermined thickness range.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a novel adjustable metal frame construction which can be installed in door, window, and the like openings in walls of a predetermined range of thicknesses; which completely conceals the supporting fasteners; which incorporates exposed portions of the construction that are prefinished, thereby eliminating job finishing or touching up; which mechanically easily snaps into secured position in field installation, thereby reducing overall in-place cost in field labor; which permits job assembly of door frame components or prehanging of door in the frame and snapping into the opening provided at the job; which is of sturdy long-lasting construction; which is economical in materials required and in labor needed for assembly and installation, thereby being particularly adapted for low-cost housing; which can be readily and economically installed in the field with minimum instruction; which is precision factory built; and which otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages therefor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front elevational view of an adjustable metal door frame construction incorporating the principles of the present invention, parts being broken away for illustration of detail;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, assuming a wall thickness substantially maximum for the disclosed adjustable construction; and,

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, assuming a wall thickness substantially minimum for the disclosed adjustable Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 10 indicates generally an adjustable metal door frame construction incorporating the teach- 1 ings of the present invention. The adjustable metal door frame construction 10 preferably is of resilient steel and includes a frame unit 12, a trim unit 14, frame jamb and

head retainer clips

16 and 18, and trim jamb and head retainer clips 20.

The frame unit 12 comprises two opposed frame jambs 22 and a connecting interfitting frame head 24, which are of the same cross section, a preferred operative cross section being clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each frame jamb 22 and the frame head 24 includes a clip flange 26 along one side and aclip flange 28 along the other side. The upper ends of the frame jambs 22 and the ends of the frame head 24 are cut to provide miters and tabs as required for firm right angular interfitting. In FIG. 3 is shown an offset tab 27 at the end of one frame jamb 22 and a tab 29 at the end of the frame head 24.

The trim unit 14 comprises two opposed trim jambs 30 and a connecting trim head 32, which are of the same cross section, a preferred operative cross section being clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each trim jamb 30 and the trim head 32 includes a clip flange 34 along one side and a clip flange 36 along the other side. The upper ends of the trim jambs 30 and the ends of the trim head 32 are cut to provide miters and tabs as required for firm right angular interfitting. In FIG. 3 is shown a right angle tab 38 at the end of the trim jamb 30.

Each frame jamb 22, frame head 24, trim jamb 30, and trim head 32, preferably is formed and cut from one piece of metal. A suitable gage metal is employed fitted-to the particular adaptation of the invention, as 20 gage for the frame and

trim units

12 and 14 and the

retainer clip

16, and 26 gage for the

clips

18 and 20 in the present door frame construction 10. The frame unit 12 may be factory or job assembled. Two opposed frame jambs 22 and a frame head 24 are interfitted. A door 42 is mounted on hinges 44, which may be countersunk in the frame jamb 22 or flat as shown and are mounted thereto by bolt assemblies 46. Screws 48 secure the door 42. Similarly the trim unit 14 is assembled.

The retainer clips l6, l8 and 20 are of the cross section illustrated and preferably about one and a half inches in depth. The relationship of the clips l6, l8 and 20 is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The

clips

16, 18 and 20 are spaced a predetermined distance apart, depending in the main upon size and weight of the construction 10.

FIG. 2 is a cross section on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1, assuming an overall wall thickness between the parallel legs of the

clips

16 and 20 which requires substantially the maximum extension of the adjustable metal door frame construction 10 for mounting in the rough doorway opening. FIG. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of FIG. 1, assuming a narrower wall thickness which requires telescoping of the frame unit 12 and trim unit 14 from their positions of FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the clip flange 28 is almost adjacent the clip flange 36, whereas in FIG. 3 they are spaced well apart. The relationship of the several retainer clips l6, l8 and 20, which mount the frame unit 12 and trim unit 14, changes, of course, depending upon the wall thickness, as is obvious from FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, the novel construction possesses adjustability permitting mounting in rough openings of overall wall thicknesses between predetermined maximum and minimum limits.

In installing the present novel adjustable metal door frame construction 10, it will be understood that the clips l6, l8 and are installed in the rough opening employing the usual techniques of carpentry, i.e., nailing into place, as with nails 40 through provided holes, while plumbing and shimming, as required. The bottom of the frame unit 12, with the door 42 mounted, is placed in the bottom of the provided opening and pivoted or rotated upwardly about the lower edge until the clip flanges 28 of the frame jambs 22 and then of the frame head 24 snap over and under the free ends of the retainer clips 18 and the clip flanges 26 of the frame jambs 22 and then of the frame head 24 snap over and engage the upturned outer ends of the clips 16. Similarly, the bottom of the trim unit 14 is placed in the bottom of the opening from the other side and pivoted into telescoping relation with the frame unit 12 with the

clip flanges

34 and 36 of the trim jambs 30 and trim head 32 snapped behind the upturned ends of the clips 20, all as illustrated. The resilience of the

clips

16, 18 and 20 and of the jambs and heads permits the aforesaid assembly.

It is manifest there has been provided a novel adjustable metal door frame construction which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are comtemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. A metal frame construction for mounting in the rough opening of a wall comprising clip means, said clip means including a first clip section having a first portion extending against an outer surface of the wall adjacent the opening and a second portion extending part way across the end of the wall at the opening, first snap engaging means on said first portion of said first clip section and second snap engaging means on said second portion of said first clip section, a second clip section having a first portion extending against the other outer surface of the wall and a second portion extending part way across the end of the wall and telescopingly under the second portion of the first clip section, a third snap engaging means on the first portion of the second clip section, and a third clip section having a first portion extending between the second portions of the first and second sections, the third clip section further having a second portion folded back and extending in the same direction as its first portion outside the first clip section, fourth snap engaging means on said second portion of said third clip section, said metal frame construction further comprising a trim unit having a first portion covering the edge of one of the outside surfaces of the wall adjacent the opening and a second portion extending therefrom part way across the end of the wall, snap engaging means associated with the first and second portions of the trim unit for snappingly engaging said first and second snap engaging means of the first clip section, and a frame unit having a first portion covering the edge of the other outside surface of the wall adjacent the opening and a second portion extending therefrom part way across the end of the wall toward the trim unit, snap engaging means associated with the first and second portions of the frame unit for snappingly engaging said third snap engaging means of said second clip section and said fourth snap engaging means of said third clip section, the frame and trim units being formed of metal.

2. The metal frame construction of claim 1 wherein the snap engaging means of the frame and trim unit are formed at their edges, the first snap engaging means is located at the edge of said first portion of said first clip section, the second snap engaging means is located at the edge of said second portion of said first clip section, the third snap engaging means is located at the edge of said first portion of said clip section, and the fourth snap engaging means is located at the edge of said second portion of said third clip section.

3. The metal frame construction of claim 2 wherein the snap engaging means of the clip means and frame and trim units are flanges that mate in snapping engagement.

4. The metal frame construction of claim 1 wherein the snap engaging means of the clip means and frame and trim units are flanges that mate in snapping engagement.

5. The metal frame construction of claim 1 including a plurality of spaced clip means mounted around the wall opening.

6. The metal frame construction of claim 1 wherein the location of the third clip section remains fixed relative to the second clip section regardless of wall thickness.

7. The metal frame construction of claim 1 wherein a portion of the frame unit at the end of the wall is formed in a doorstop.

Claims

1. A metal frame construction for mounting in the rough opening of a wall comprising clip means, said clip means including a first clip section having a first portion extending against an outer surface of the wall adjacent the opening and a second portion extending part way across the end of the wall at the opening, first snap engaging means on said first portion of said first clip section and second snap engaging means on said second portion of said first clip section, a second clip section having a first portion extending against the other outer surface of the wall and a second portion extending part way across the end of the wall and telescopingly under the second portion of the first clip section, a third snap engaging means on the first portion of the second clip section, and a third clip section having a first portion extending between the second portions of the first and second sections, the third clip section further having a second portion folded back and extending in the same direction as its first portion outside the first clip section, fourth snap engaging means on said second portion of said third clip section, said metal frame construction further comprising a trim unit having a first portion covering the edge of one of the outside surfaces of the wall adjacent the opening and a second portion extending therefrom part way across the end of the wall, snap engaging means associated with the first and second portions of the trim unit for snappingly engaging said first and second snap engaging means of the first clip section, and a frame unit having a first portion covering the edge of the Other outside surface of the wall adjacent the opening and a second portion extending therefrom part way across the end of the wall toward the trim unit, snap engaging means associated with the first and second portions of the frame unit for snappingly engaging said third snap engaging means of said second clip section and said fourth snap engaging means of said third clip section, the frame and trim units being formed of metal.