Threshold construction

Sept. 6, 1938.

M. S. OFTEDAL ET AL

THRESHOLD CONSTRUCTION

Filed Aug. 17, 1935

2,129,381

Sheets-Sheet 1

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Sept. 6, 1938.

M. S. OFTEDAL ET AL

THRESHOLD CONSTRUCTION

Filed Aug. 17. 1935

2,129,381

Sheets-Sheet 2

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Patented Sept 6, 1938

2,129,381

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,129,381 THRESHOLD CONSTRUCTION Maurice S. Oftedal and Wilber Stanley Dykeman, Chicago, Ill.; said Dykeman assignor to said Oftedal

Application August 17, 1935, Serial No. 36,608 2 Claims. (CL 20—64)

This invention relates to weather-proof threshold construction. More particularly, it relates to, a threshold construction comprising a metal threshold member having a metal base 5 plate underneath.

In such threshold construction, it has heretofore been customary to secure the threshold member to the sill or flooring by means of screws which passed through the base plate. This con10 struction has certain objectionable features, since the holes in the base plate through which the securing screws pass permit moisture to pass through these holes around the screws and into the sill or flooring underneath. If the sill or 15 flooring underneath the base plate is of wood, the entrance of moisture through the base plate down into the sill or flooring causes the wood to rot where the screws enter the wood, so that the screws soon lose their holding power.

£0 One of the objects of this invention is to provide a threshold construction comprising a metal threshold member with a metal base plate or drainage plate underneath in which the above objectionable feature is overcome.

Further objects will appear from the description and claims.

' In the drawings, in which several embodiments of the invention are shown—

Figure 1 is a disassembled view of a threshold 30 construction and an associated sealing or spring hook member for the bottom of the door.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the threshold construction and associated sill or flooring and door;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section showing another form of threshold construction with its associated sill or flooring and door construction; and

Fig. 4 shows still another form of threshold ₄₀ construction with associated parts.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first to Figs. 1 and 2, the construction shown therein comprises a threshold member 10 of substantially uniform cross-section and having a sub45 stantially T-shaped central portion which may be of any suitable material, such as extruded brass, a base plate or drainage plate 11 forming a water-shed member underneath said threshold member, which may be of any suitable material, 50 as rolled brass, means for securing said threshold member to the flooring 12 comprising a plurality of screws 13 extending through suitable openings in a central web or leg 14 in the threshold member and screwed into the wooden flooring _e6 12 underneath without passing through th? base plate Ί I, and a door 15, here shown as an inwardly opening door, having a hook-like sealing strip 16 attached to the rabbeted bottom edge of the door in any desired manner, as by suitable nails or screws, which may be of any suitable 5 material, as brass or spring bronze, for snugly engaging over a lip or flange Π extending inwardly from the upper portion of the threshold member 10.

This threshold member is provided with a gut- 10 ter or channel portion 18 on its inner side and with a series of drainage openings 19 leading from this gutter or channel portion through the central web or leg 14 to the space above the drainage plate 11. The drainage plate may be pro- 15 vided with an upturned flange 20 Atting in a channel or groove 21 in the bottom of the central web or leg 14 to prevent moisture from draining inwardly and also to position said plate and hold it in position. The threshold member is 20 shown as provided with an additional supporting web or leg 22 resting on the base plate 11. This intermediate supporting web or leg and the outer edge of the downwardly and outwardly sloping portion of the threshold member are provided 25 with a series of openings 23 and 24 at suitable intervals at their lower edges to facilitate the drainage from the drainage plate to the outside of the threshold. The drainage openings of the three series 19, 23, and 24 are staggered with 30 respect to each other to provide a tortuous path to retard the passage of air therethrough and which will also prevent the wind from blowing moisture inwardly to the inside of the threshold construction. 35

The threshold member 10 is also provided with an outwardly extending lip or flange 25 which co-operates with the door and sealing strip 16 and gutter 18 to prevent moisture from getting to the inside of the threshold construction. It ₄₀will be seen that any moisture which finds its way past the outside flange or lip 25 and the sealing strip 16 will be caught in the inner gutter 18 and drained through the openings 19 into the space above the drainage plate, from whence it 45 will be drained off through the drainage openings 23 and 24 to the outer edge of the drainage plate.

The screws 13, of course, when driven home, prevent moisture from passing through their holes, and, with this construction and arrange- 50 ment of the threshold and associated parts, as will be seen, the objectionable features referred to above in prior types of construction are overcome, since the securing members do not pass through the base plate, and, hence, no moisture 55

2,129,381 can leak through the base plate to cause the wood underneath tc rot around the ends of the screws.

The construction of Fig. 3 is quite similar to that just described, except that here the intermediate supporting web and the outwardly extending lip or flange are omitted and a gutter or channel construction 30 is provided underneath the lower edge of the door 31, from which a series of drainage openings 32 lead to the space above the drainage plate fl. Also, a somewhat different form of seal is provided between the lower edge of the door and the threshold member comprising a spring bronze or other metal sealing strip 33 secured, as by nails, to the lower edge of the door and having its free edge bearing resiliently on the top of the threshold member. A second hook-like sealing strip 34, preferably of spring bronze, is provided, having a flange or hook portion extenEng underneath the inwardly extending flange of the threshold member and making surface contact therewith.

In this construction, water flowing or dripping under the door will be largely caught in the channel 30 and drip and run down through the holes 32 onto the base plate II. If any water passes inwardly beyond spring strip 33, it is caught by hook strip 34 and guided into the gutter 18 and passes thence through the holes 19 in leg 14 onto plate 11 and out through the series of holes 24 in the front edge of the threshold. As before, these holes are preferably staggered and those in the leg 14 are between the securing screw holes. Here again the securing screws 13 for the threshold pass down through the leg 14 to the rear or inwardly of the inner upturned edge of the drainage base plate II, and not through it, so that water on the plate will not get down into the wood sill or flooring through the holes through which the securing screws 13 pass.

The construction of Fig. 4 is quite similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2, except that here two spaced supporting ribs or legs are provided between which the securing screws pass, and drainage tubes 37, which may be of any smtable material, as brass, are provided leaEng from the inner gutter 18 to the space above the drainage plate 11. Here, also, the base or drainage plate is not punctured by or for the passage of the securing screws 13, and moisture is prevented from getting into and rotting the wood sill or flooring.

The threshold members are, of course, of sufficient length to extend and fit between the side members of the door frame, and to prevent the escape of moisture at the ends of the base plate the plate itself may be turned up as shown at 20» at the ends, and the space between the threshold member and the base plate at their ends may also be filled with a suitable waterproof calking compound to close and seal such space ends against leakage. The thresholds are longitudinally grooved on top beneath the door to provide a somewhat roughened or more or less corru gated surface to afford a good foothold and prevent slippage, and the larger groove 30 of the form of Fig. 3 also takes care of any water or moisture running down the sides of the door frame onto the threshold. While an in-swinging 5 door has been shown in Figs. 2 and 4, it will be understood that the thresholds provided with the lip or flange 25 are equally adapted and intended for use with out-swinging doors, which in such case may be rabbeted from the opposite edge at 10 the bottom and a spring hook member 16 reversed in position from that shown and secured to the bottom of the door, with its hook co-operating with the lip 25 of the threshold instead of the lip 17. Such thresholds are, of course, capa- 15 ble of being made in different sizes, and they usually are made in sizes varying % inch in width from 2 inches for the narrowest to 6 inches for the widest.

While several forms of the invention have been 20 shown in the drawings and described in the foregoing, it will be understood that other forms may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth or intended to be set forth in the appended claims. 25