Weather sealing strip for doors

March 26, 1968

3,374,580

R. O. RUFF

WEATHER SEALING STRIP FOR DOORS

Filed April 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet

<img file="US3374580A_D0001.tif" />

March 26, 1968

3,374,580

R. O. RUFF

WEATHER SEALING STRIP FOR DOORS

Filed April 22, 1965

Sheets-Sheet Z

<img file="US3374580A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US3374580A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US3374580A_D0004.tif" />

March 26, 1968

R. O. RUFF

3,374,580

WEATHER SEALING'STRIP FOR DOORS

<img file="US3374580A_D0005.tif" />

3,374,580

Patented Mar. 26, 1968

United States Patent Office

3,374,580

WEATHER SEALING STRIP FOR DOORS Robert O. Ruff, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Steelcraft Manufacturing Company, Rossmoyne, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio

Filed Apr. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 449,975

Claims. (CI. 49—482)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention essentially comprises an adjustable sealing strip mounted within a channel-shaped recess formed in the lower edge portion of a sheet metal door, the sealing strip being formed of resilient material and arranged to provide one or a plurality of line seals with reference to the surface of the threshold or sill of the door frame. In order to impart adjustability, the sealing strip, which is generally channel-shaped in cross section and of resilient or deformable material, includes mounting flanges along its free edges engaged in pairs of opposed slots formed in the opposite side portions of a rigid mounting rail secured in the downwardly facing channel-shaped recess of the sheet metal door. The channel-shaped sealing strip is deformable upwardly under pressure and includes flexible fins which extend outwardly a sufficient distance to engage the sill of the door frame. The combination of the mounting rail, the resilient sealing strip and its fins, permits the sealing strip to be selectively mounted in any one of the pairs of slots to compensate for variations in the distance between the lower edge portion of the door and the top surface of the sill, thereby to provide one or more line seals between the surface of the sill and the free end portions of the flexible fins.

This invention relates to doors, particularly exterior doors or storm doors which are exposed to the weather and which require a weather seal. The invention is more particularly directed to a weather seal for composite doors formed of sheet metal which are interfitted within metai door frames.

A typical composite metal door, for which the present sealing strip is particularly intended, includes spaced inner and outer panels, with an internal core or filler of honeycomb construction, preferably formed of an organic material to impart stiffness to the door and also to provide a sound deadening and heat insulating effect. The inner and outer panels, which may be formed of sheet metal, such as aluminum, include marginal edge flanges extending transversely between the spaced inner and outer panels. The arrangement is such that the top and bottom marginal edges of the door include an outwardly facing channel-shaped recess, each having a channel-shaped reinforcing member, the cross web of each reinforcing member being located in a plane spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the door panels.

The opposed vertical edges of the door may include the same channel-shaped construction; however, in the example disclosed herein, which illustrates the principles of the invention, only the horizontal upper and lower edge portions are provided with the channel construction, while the vertical edges of the door are not so provided.

It will be understood, at this point, that the side and top marginal edges of the door seat against door stops formed in the door frame; hence, there is no need ordinarily for sealing strips except along the lower edge of the door. However, if desired, the sealing strip of the present invention may be mounted within the four sides of the door to provide a complete weather seal.

In the present disclosure therefore, the sealing strip is disclosed in relation to the lower edge portion of the door so as to provide a weather seal with reference to the threshold or sill of the door frame. The top marginal edge of the door frame may be sealed off by means of a top cap, as disclosed in the co-pending application of Donald L. King (the present applicant), entitled, “Closure Caps For Composite Doors,” Ser. No. 396,110, filed on Sept. 14, 5 1964, to which attention is invited.

As explained in detail later, in fabricating a composite metal door for which the present sealing strip is intended, a conventional door latch is mounted between the inner and outer panels, with the filler or core disposed between 10 the panels. The outwardly facing channel members are disposed in the upper and lower marginal edge portions of the door. The assembly is completed preferably by a spot welding operation. The door is then ready to be installed in a metal door frame which is mounted in the ⁵ rough door opening of the wall.

In order to provide a seal with reference to the door sill, the sealing strip of the present invention is installed within the downwardly facing channel member located in the lower edge of the door, while the closure cap of the copending application may be installed in the upwardly facing channel member along the upper marginal edge of the door.

One of the primary objectives of the present invention has been to provide a sealing strip assembly which is particularly adapted to establish a weather seal along space existing between the lower edge of the door and the sill of the door frame (and if necessary, other edges of the door) and also to provide a sealing engagement _3Q to prevent water from seeping through the seal during rainy and stormy weather.

According to this aspect of the invention, the present sealing strip is formed of resilient material, such as rubber or a pliable plastic, and includes a plurality of spaced _3g flexible fins extending longitudinally along the strip and arranged to provide one or a plurality of line seals with respect to the door sill when the door is in its closed position.

A further objective has been to provide a combined ₄₀ sealing strip and mounting rail adapted to be installed within the lower, downwardly facing portion of the door in a simple reliable manner, and in which the sealing strip may be adjusted in the vertical plane in the field with reference to the mounting rail (and with reference to the lower edge of the door) to accommodate for variations ⁰ in the clearance space existing between the lower edge of the door and the upper surface of the door sill or threshold.

According to this aspect of the invention, the sealing _5Q strip may be adjusted vertically with reference to its mounting rail (and lower edge of the door) before the mounting rail is mounted within the lower edge of the door. The mounting rail and sealing strip thereby are adapted to accommodate the variations which usually exist in the vertical dimension of the door frame, that is, the distance between the header and sill, due to irregularities existing in the rough door opening of the building.

Described generally, the adjustable mounting means ₆₀ for the sealing strip comprises a mounting rail adapted to be mounted within the downwardly facing channel member along the lower margin of the door. The mounting rail is provided with two or more pairs of longitudinal slots adapted to mount the sealing strip at selected elegg vations with respect to the lower edge of the door so as to provide a slidable sealing engagement with the top surface of the door sill. The sealing strip (which is formed of resilient material) is generally U-shaped in cross section, the upper edges of the U-shaped strip being ₇₀ adapted to interfit a selected pair of slots formed' in the mounting rail. The arrangement is such that the mounting rail and sealing strip may be assembled conveniently

3.374.580 ⁴ sealing strip proper, in addition to the flexible fins is flattened slightly to compensate for a somewhat decreased clearance between the sill and lower edge of the door.

³ Door structure

The door 1 (FIGURES 1-3), which has been selected to illustrate the principles of the adjustable bottom seal, is fabricated of sheet metal, comprising spaced panels 10 2 and 3, with a filler or core 4 interposed between the panels. The filler 4 may be of honeycomb construction formed of suitable material to stiffen the door structure and to provide a sound deadening effect. The sheet metal door is of composite design, the panel 3 having flanges 15 5—5 (FIGURE 2), which delineate the vertical edges of the door. The panel 2 includes narrow flanges 6—6, each flange having an intumed lip 7 which interfits a groove 8 formed along the inner edges of the flanges 5 to form a seam. The two panels may be permanently joined in ²⁰ assembly by spot welding.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the door 1 is hingedly mounted in the usual way within a frame 9 which may also be constructed of sheet metal members, comprising vertical jambs 10—10 with a horizontal header 11 ex²³ tending across the upper ends of the jambs 10. The jambs 10 and header 11 are mounted in an opening formed in a wall 12, as indicated in FIGURE 1.

The lower end portion of the door frame 9 includes a * sill or threshold, indicated generally at 13 (FIGURE 1), ’° which coacts with the sealing strip, indicated generally at 14 in FIGURE 1, which is mounted in the lower edge of the door. The door is mounted within its frame 9 in the usual way by means of hinges 15 secured to one of _r the jambs 10. The swinging end of the door includes ³⁵ the usual lock which is operated by the knob 16.

As shown generally in FIGURE 3, the upper edge of the door is closed off by a reinforcing channel 17. The channel includes upstanding limbs 18—18 seated against the door panels 2 and 3 and preferably welded thereto. A closure cap 20, formed of resilient material, such as plastic, is seated between the limbs 18—18 of channel 17 to provide a weather seal along the top edge of the door. The top cap 20 is disclosed in the copending ap_ plication of Donald L. King, Ser. No. 296,110, as noted ^4o earlier. As disclosed in the copending application, the closure cap 20 includes spaced downwardly depending limbs 21—21 which snugly interfit the inner surfaces of limbs 18—18 of the top channel for convenience in application and are arranged to aid in weather sealing the upper edge portion of the door.

The lower edge portion of the door (FIGURE 3) is closed off by a downwardly facing reinforcing channel 22 having downwardly depending limbs 23—23 which interfit the door panels 2 and 3 and provide a support for the honeycomb filler 4. The limbs 23 may be spot welded to the panels 2 and 3. The bottom sealing strip 14 of the present invention is adjustably mounted within the channel 22 and depends downwardly between the limbs 23 into engagement with the top surface of the door sill 13, as explained below.

As explained later, the flexible sealing strip 14 is adjustably mounted within the rigid metallic mounting rail, indicated at 24 and described later. The flanges 5—5, which delineate the vertical edges of the door, extend below the downwardly facing channel 22, as indicated at 19 (FIGURES 3, 6 and 7). The channel 22 and the edge flanges 5—5, thus provide a recess to receive the mounting rail 24 and sealing strip 14.

„ It will be understood at this point, that the rigid ^z mounting rail 24 and the flexible sealing strip 14 are installed in the lower portion of the door in the field, in order that the sealing strip may be adjusted in the vertical plane to accommodate the spacing between the top surface of the door sill and lower edge of the door.

⁷ The mounting rail and sealing strip, if desired, may be ³ in the field and, as a unit, mounted within the downwardly facing channel member, thus making it possible to fit and seal the door within its frame rapidly and conveniently and without the necessity of trimming or otherwise changing the dimensions of the door.

Still another objective of the invention has been to provide a sealing strip which is formed of resilient material and which is adapted to accommodate for local variations in the plane of the sill surface and which also provides a self-adjusting action to compensate for the stepwise adjustment provided by the horizontally spaced slots of the mounting rail.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the Ushaped sealing strip proper is compressible within limits. The downwardly projecting longitudinal fins, which provide the line seals mentioned above, project downwardly from the lower surface of the U-shaped sealing strip for a substantial distance. The fins are highly flexible and, in combination with the inherent flexibility of the sealing strip proper, compensate for the stepwise adjustment provided by the slots of the mounting rail.

The various features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a geenral elevation illustrating a typical sheet metal door equipped with the present bottom seal.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 2—2 of FIGURE 1, detailing the internal construction of the sheet metal door which has been selected to illustrate the utility of the bottom seal of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 3—3 of FIGURE 1, further illustrating the internal construction of the sheet metal door, including the bottom seal of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, illustrating the flexible bottom door seal of the present invention prior to installation in the door.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the mounting rail in which the bottom sealing strip is adapted to be adjustably mounted.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower portion of the door, illustrating the mounting rail and bottom sealing strip mounted in the door in relation to the threshold or sill of the door opening. In this view, the bottom sealing strip is shown in its lower adjustment in relation to its mounting rail in order to compensate for the space existing between the lower edge of the door and the threshold.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 6, showing the sealing strip in a second adjusted position with respect to its mounting rail.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the preferred manner in which the bottom sealing strip is telescopically engaged within its mounting rail before being installed in the door, the position of the sealing strip with reference to its mounting rail corresponding to the adjustment shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of the sheet metal door, showing the manner in which the metal mounting rail and flexible sealing strip, as an assembled unit, is attached to the lower edge portion of the door.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view similai to FIGURE 7, showing a modified door structure, utilizing the sealing strip of the present invention.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged diagrammatic view detailing the action of the flexible fins with reference to the top surface of a door sill, wherein the flexible fins compensate for the stepwise adjustment provided by the mounting rail.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged diagrammatic view similar to FIGURE 11 but showing a condition in which the

3,374,580 b

trimmed to length at installation in order to fit lengthwise between the lower portions 19—19 of the edge flanges 5—5.

Rigid mounting rail

As noted above, the flexible sealing strip 14 is mounted for adjustment vertically with reference to the lower edge of the door in order to provide a weather seal between the threshold or sill 13 and the lower edge of the door. The sealing strip may also be utilized to accommodate different door styles to a given door frame, as explained later with reference to FIGURE 10.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the sealing strip 14 is mounted in selective positions, in the present instance, two in number, with respect to a mounting rail 24, which is secured to the lower channel 22.

The mounting rail 24 and the sealing strip 14 are designed to be mounted in the field in a rapid convenient manner to provide the desired weather seal even though the vertical dimensions of the door opening may vary slightly from standard. In assembling and installing the sealing unit, the sealing strip 14 is first inserted telescopically in a selected groove of the mounting rail 24 (FIGURE 8), then the assembled unit is secured in place in the bottom portion of the door by screws. This procedure is carried out with the door demounted from its hinges 15.

Described in detail (FIGURES 3 and 5), the mounting rail 24 is in the form of a solid bar fabricated from metal, for example, an aluminum extrusion. In order to provide selective engagement with the edges of the sealing strip 14, as explained below, the opposite sides of the mounting rail are provided with opposed pairs of upper slots 25—25, and lower slots 26—26. The slots 25 and 26 are generally T-shaped in cross section and are arranged to slidably engage the opposed mounting flanges 27—27 of the sealing strip 14 (FIGURE 4).

The T-shaped slots 25 and 26 are delineated by respective pairs of outwardly projecting ribs 28, 30 and 31 (FIGURE 5). Each top rib 28 includes a downwardly depending lip 32, and each rib 36 and 31 includes a flanged head portion 33. Thus, the depending lip 32, combined with the flanged head 33 of the intermediate rib 3C delineates the upper T-shaped slot 25. The flanged head portions 33 of the intermediate and lower ribs 30 and 31 delineate the lower T-shaped slot .26.

Sealing strip

As best shown in FIGURE 4, the sealing strip 14 is formed from a resilient material, such as rubber or one of the soft or pliable plastics and is generally U-shaped in cross section. Described in detail (FIGURE 4) the sealing strip 14 includes a pair of spaced limbs 34—34 extending parallel with one another, the lower portion of the limbs being joined by a curved connecting portion or bight 35. The upper or free edges of the limbs 34—3'4 include inturned curved edges 36—36 leading to the mounting flanges, previously indicated at 27. The curved edges 36 and flanges 27 are generally T-shaped in cross section to selectively interfit the pairs of T-shaped slots 25 and 26 of the mounting rail 24 (FIGURE 5).

The curved 'bight 35 includes a series of flexible sealing fins 37 projecting outwardly in radial directions with respect to the radius of the curved bight 35, as indicated by the broken lines 38 in FIGURE 4. The free edge of each flexible fin includes a circular bead 40. The circular beads are adapted to provide one or a plurality of line seals with reference to the top surface of the sill, previously indicated at 13.

It will be noted at this point, that the sill 13, in the present example, is in the form of an extrusion having a horizontal top wall 41 (FIGURE 6) reinforced by downwardly depending limbs 42 which are seated against the top surface 43 of the floor, which, in the present disclosure, is formed of wood. The sill 13 (FIGURE 6) is secured in place by a series of flathead wood screws

44, the heads being countersunk with respect to the top wall 41 to provide a smooth flush surface for engagement by the flexible fins 37 of the sealing strip 14. The sill further includes sloping marginal portions 45—45 (FIGURE 6) joined along the opposite side edges of the top wall 41, each sloping marginal portion 45 including a vertical flange 46 which seats upon the surface 43 of the floor.

Installation

In installing the door, utilizing the adjustable sealing strip 14 of the present invention, the door frame 9 is first mounted within the door opening of the wall and secured permanently in place. The threshold or sill 13 is then secured to the floor of the building in a position extending between the lower ends of the jambs 10. The door 1 is then hung temporarily within the frame, with the mounting rail 24 and sealing strip 16 separated from the lower edge of the door.

After the door is hung temporarily, the space existing between the top surface 47 of the sill and the lower edge 48 of the door is checked, as indicated at A or B in FIGURES 6 and 7. If the clearance is in the range indicated by the arrow A (FIGURE 6), then the sealing strip is applied to the lower slot 26 of the mounting rail 24, thereby to close and seal the space A. On the other hand, if the clearance is in the range indicated by the arrow B, then the sealing strip is mounted in the upper slot 25 to accommodate the smaller clearance B.

It will be understood at this point, that the upper and lower slots 25 and 26 limit the adjustment of the sealing strip to two horizontal planes. However, by virtue of the inherent flexibility of the sealing strip proper, plus the flexibility of the fins 37, the sealing strip accommodates itself to the variations in the indicated ranges A and B. Upon being installed, the fins 37 provide a wiping action with respect to the top surface 47 of the sill (with deflection of the fins 37 and partial deflection of the body of the sealing strip 14 in some instances), preferably to present several of the fins 37 to the top surface 47 of the sill. The arrangement provides a plurality of line seals to prevent the passage of air and also to seal the door against water which may be driven against the door during rain storms.

By way of example, the sealing strip i!4 is mounted in a selected pair of T-shaped slots 25 and 26 which provide the proper adjustment between the lower edge of the door in the field and the surface of the sill. The vertical adjustment distances provided by the slots is less than the total extent of the deformation of the face portion of the sealing strip 14 and its fins 37 (FIGURES 11 and 12), whereby the fins provide one or more line seals with respect to the surface in any adjustment provided by the slots.

As shown in detail in FIGURE 11, with the sealing strip 14 in its lower adjustment, corresponding to FIGURE 6 but with a clearance E, slightly less than that shown at A in FIGURE 6, three of the flexible fins 37, indicated at F, G and H are in pressure engagement with the top surface 47 of the sill. The flexible fins thus compensate for a slight decrease in the clearance A of FIGURE 6 to provide the desired sealing action.

In the condition shown in FIGURE 12, the clearance J is less than that shown at E in FIGURE 11. In this condition, the fins K and L contact the top surface 47 of the sill; in addition, the curved portion 35 of the sealing strip is deflected upwardly as indicated at M due to the reduced clearance J.

It will be observed therefore, that the variations in the clearance A (FIGURE 6), E (FIGURE 11) and J (FIGURE 12) represent three conditions in which the sealing strip compensates for clearance variations, with the strip in its lower, stepwise adjustment (FIGURE 6). It will be understood that similar variations may occur in the second adjustment of the sealing strip as shown in FIGURE 7. In either event, the sealing strip compensates for the step3,374,580 wise adjustment of the strip to accommodate variations which are encountered in the field with reference to the door and its frame.

In installing the seal, the temporarily hung door is demounted from its hinges after the measurement A or B 5 has been made. The seal 14 is then slipped telescopically upon the mounting rail 24 with its head flanges 27 interfitted within the selected slot 25 or 26, as indicated in FIGURE 8. The sealing strip is shown being inserted into the lower slot 26 in FIGURE 8 to accommodate ₁₀the dimension A of FIGURE 6.

After the sealing strip is slipped into engagement with the rail (with the door demounted), the unit is slipped in position within the lower channel member 22 (FIGURE 9), with its opposite ends disposed between the 15 lower end portions 19—19 of the flanges 5—5 which form the edges of the door 1. The rail (and sealing strip as a unit) is then secured in place by a series of screws 50, preferably of the self-tapping type, passing upwardly through the channel 22 and through the lower portion 20 of the filler 4.

In order to accommodate the screws 50, the sealing strip 14 is provided with mounting holes 51 (FIGURES 4 and 9) and the mounting rail 24 is provided with mating holes 52 (FIGURE 5). As shown in FIGURE 9, 25 the holes 51 of the sealing strip admit the head of the screws 50 and also accommodate a screw driver 53 for installing and tightening the screws. After installation of the sealing strip and its mounting rail, the door is permanently hung upon its hinges 15 to complete the in- 30 stallation within frame 9.

The present sealing strip and mounting rail may also be utilized in closing and sealing the lower edges of doors of a modified style 54, as shown in FIGURE 10. It will be understood that the downwardly facing channel 35 55 of the modified door 54 is shallower than the channel 22. By way of example, the depth of the channel 55 is indicated at C (FIGURE 10), and the depth of the channel 22 is indicated at D (FIGURE 9). In providing a seal for the modified door 54, the same sealing strip 14 and 40 mounting rail 24 may be utilized. Due to the reduction in the depth C of the shallower channel 55, the sealing strip is usually mounted in the upper slot 25 as shown.