Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
M & G 8 3 . 5 3 - U S - 01 3 Lo
SEGMENTED) DOUR OPENER
Technical Field
The invention of the present patent application is
broadly concerned with the field of door closure structures.
More narrowly, however, it is directed to a door closure
assembly with emphasis upon its disassembled nature allowing
it to be more readily packaged for shipping to the destine-
lion at which it will be ultimately installed. Specific
embodiments and structures of the invention deal with a
feature whereby a knob element, separate from the door
closure panel itself, is securely mated to the door panel
for subsequent operation as if the knob had been formed
integrally with the panel.
Background of the Invention
Door closure panels ore used in all kinds of buildings
including, specifically, residential dwellings. Such panels
may be of a number of types. In many applications, such as
patio and deck doors, the panels are slid ably mounted
wherein a movable panel can be slid in a plane, parallel to
the wall of the building in which it is mounted, for opening
and closing. A track on which the panel can slide between
opened and closed positions is provided.
nether manner in which door closure panels are mounted
is one wherein the panel is hingedly mounted at one edge
thereof to a side of the opening in which it is to be
installed. In most residential dwellings, this type of
structure is utilized for doors adjoining adjacent rooms and
main entryway doors.
In most homes, the main doors affording ingress to and
egress from the building are provided with a second door
known as a storm door. Such doors are typically of metal
construction, frequently being manufactured from aluminum.
Glass panels frequently unbreakable glass, as now required
by statute in many states) are held within the metal frame
in order not to obstruct the view of a person inside the
house.
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Storm doors serve a number of purposes. Yost signify-
gently, they serve an insulative function. During the
winter, an insulative air pocket is developed between the
main door closure and the storm door. While main entry
doors frequently do not have particularly close tolerances
relative to the frame in which they are mounted, storm doors
are mounted with close tolerances in order to facilitate the
development of the air pocket and to preclude drafts which
might arise because of air flow outside the house or because
of pressure differentials between the air inside and outside
the house.
As can be seen, therefore, storm doors serve an ox-
Tramiel important function, particularly in geographic
locations subject to severe winters. Such doors are menu-
lectured by a number of concerns and are, typically, con-
strutted as an integral unit for shipment to locations at
which they are sold on a retail level.
By so manufacturing such doors, certain problems are
presented with respect to shipment of the units for duster-
button and sale As is apparent, manufacturers of storm
doors are required to devise packaging for relatively large
components. The protrusion of the knob for the door,
however, presents problems of an even more aggravating
nature. Not only does its protrusion require unique and
distinctive packaging, but it also allows the possibility of
damage to or breakage of the knob.
The invention ox the present application provides a
structure which solves the problems in the prior art. The
invention of this patent application is a door assembly
which minimizes the chances of damage or breakage occurring
to the knob.
Summary of the Invention
The invention of this application is a door assembly
which is specifically configured with the goal of preventing
breakage or damage to the knob. Additionally, it facile-
tales the easy formation of packaging in which the storm
door can be shipped during distribution. The assembly
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includes a closure panel As with other doors/ the panel
includes a bolt which is housed within the panel and disk
posed for sliding reciprocal movement into and out of an
aperture formed in the edge of the panel. Such a bolt
cooperates with the frame in which the door is mounted to
hold the door in a closed position or, when desired, to
release the door to allow opening. The bolt is typically
(as in this case) operated by a spindle extending generally
transversely to the direction in which the bolt reciprocates
and through a second aperture formed in a face or opposite
faces of the panel Means are included for converting
rotational motion imparted to the spindle into the linear
reciprocating movement of the bolt. A knob, separate from
the door panel, is also provided. During shipping, the knob
is detached from the panel and can be mated with the spindle
after the door is installed at its ultimate location at
which it is to be used. When the door is installed, the
knob can be attached thereto and mated with the spindle in
order to effect rotation thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, means for securing the knob
in a configuration mated to the spindle can include a
locking element held to the door panel by an escutcheon and
extending through an aperture in the escutcheon, as does the
spindle. The locking element can include a plurality of
prongs spaced at equal angular distances from one another.
Each prong can be provided, at an end remote from the
escutcheon, with a barb extending generally radially out-
warmly to define a shoulder facing the escutcheon. The knob
element can be provided with an annular lip defining a
shoulder engage able with the shoulders of each of the
prongs.
The prongs can define a diameter slightly larger
than the inside diameter of the annular lip of the knob.
Outer surfaces of the prongs can be provided with ramp
surfaces so that, as the element enters the knob within the
lip, the prongs will be urged inwardly. As the barbs pass
the annular lip of the knob, the prongs will be allowed to
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snap outwardly in order to permit the bard shoulders to
enqa~ the annular shoulder of the knob to preclude with-
Rowley of the knob.
cause of the conspicuous location at which many storm
doors are mounted, many owners wish that they, in some
wanner, be decorative. To this end, the knob can be pro-
voided with a removable face plate which can be replaced with
a plate to the liking of the owner. A custom designed face
plate might even ye attached to the knob.
Thus, in one embodiment the present inventiorl provides
a door assembly configured for shipping prior to its being
installed at an ultimate location, comprising:
(a) a closure panel having a panel aperture formed
in a face thereof;
(b) a latching apparatus carried by said panel
comprising a smooth spindle extending through said panel
aperture and disposed for rotation about a spindle axis
thereof along which said spindle is aligned in the direction
along which it extends through said panel aperture;
c) an escutcheon, having an escutcheon aperture
formed therein, applied to said face with said escutcheon
aperture overlying said panel aperture;
(d) a locking element having a locking element axis
and held to said panel by said escutcheon wherein said
locking element is substantially coccal aligned with
said spindle, said locking element including a plurality
of resilient prongs extending through said escutcheon
aperture and away from said escutcheon, each of said prongs
having an end remote from said escutcheon carrying a prong
i; shoulder facing toward said escutcheon; and
; (e) a knob, separate from said panel, having a
knob shoulder, wherein said resilient prongs of said
locking element deflect radially inward to engage said
knob shoulder, said knob held in fixedly secured position
against said escutcheon thereby holding said knob against
displacement in both axial directions relative to said
escutcheon; wherein said spindle extends through said
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locking element to prevent further radial deflection of
said resilient prongs when said assembly is completely
assembled to thereby preclude removal of said knob from
said locking element; wherein said escutcheon holds said
locking element which in turn holds said knob so that said
escutcheon bears any axial loads on said knob and so that
the spindle need only transmit a torque load from the
knob to the remainder of the latching apparatus; and
wherein said locking element is inaccessible when said
door assembly is completely assembled.
In another aspect, the invention provides a door
latch operating mechanism for use with a dour, comprising: -
(a) a smooth spindle;
(by an escutcheon overlying a portion of the dehorned having an aperture formed there through, through which
aperture said spindle passes;
(c) a locking element held to the door by said
escutcheon and extending through said aperture, said
element including a plurality of equi-angularly spaced,
resilient prongs, each having a barb extending radially
outwardly from an end of said each prong remote from
said escutcheon to define a shoulder facing said escutcheon;
(d) a knob having a base, a hole formed in said
base, and an annular shoulder facing, when the knob is
attached to the door, away from said escutcheon, wherein
said shoulders of said prongs can engage said annular
shoulder of said knob to irremovably secure said knob
to the door; and
(e) means for translating rotation of said knob
into rotation of said spindle, wherein said resilient
prongs of said locking element deflect radially inward
to engage said knob shoulder, said knob held in fixedly
secured position against said escutcheon thereby holding
said knob against displacement in both axial directions
relative to said escutcheon; wherein said spindle extends
through said locking element to prevent further radial
deflection of said resilient prongs when said assembly
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is completely assembled to thereby preclude removal of
said knob from said locking element; wherein said escutcheon
holds said locking element which in turn holds said knob
so that said escutcheon bears any axial loads on said knob
and so that the spindle need only transmit a torque load
from the knob to the remainder of the latching apparatus;
and wherein said locking element is inaccessible when
said door assembly is completely assembled.
The invention of the present application is, thus, a
door assembly which is designed not only to solve many of
the problems in the prior art with regard to packaging and
shipping, but itch also includes structure whereby a knob
member of the assembly can be selectively configurable in
accordance with the aesthetic tastes of the owner. More
specific structural features, and advantages obtained in
view of those features, will become apparent with reference
to the detailed description of the invention, appended
claims, and drawing figures.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion ox a storm
door including the inventive features of the present apply-
cation.
FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken along the line
2-2 of Fig. 1.
FIGURE 3 is a view taken generally along the line 3-3
of Fig. 2.
FIGURE 4 is a view taken generally along the line 4-4
of Fig. 2.
FIGURE 5 is a view taken generally along the line 5-5
of Fig. 2.
FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the locking element
whereby the knob is secured to the door panel.
FIGURE 7 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2,
but of an alternative embodiment to that shown in Figure
2.
FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of an alternative
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embodiment of the locking element whereby the knob is
secured to the door panel.
FIGURE 9 is a view taken generally along line 9-9
of Figure 7.
FIGURE 10 is a view taken generally along line 10-10
of Figure 7.
FIGURE 11 is an enlarged view of an area shown on
Figure 7, showing a protruding member and the adjacent
area.
FIGURE 12 is a view taken generally along line 12-12
of Figure 9.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Referring no to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals denote like elements throughout the several views,
and particularly to Fig. 1, a door assembly 10 which would
be typically mounted to effect selective closure of an
aperture fort Ned in the wall of a building is illustrated.
The assembly 10 incorporates the invention of the present
application, and Fig. 1 might, therefore, illustrate a
portion of a door known as a storm door. It will be under-
stood, however, that the present invention is not for use
exclusively in storm doors.
The door assembly 10 includes a closure panel 12 which
can be mounted for pivoting into and out of the aperture in
the wall about a generally vertically extending axis.
Appropriate means such as hinges, not shown, can be utilized
in order to accomplish this mounting.
At an edge 14 of the door 12 opposite the edge by which
it it pivotal mounted, such a door 12 typically has means
for latching the door in a closed position. Such latching
means usually includes a bolt 16 slid ably disposed for
lateral movement into and out of the edge 14 of the door 12
opposite that edge by which it is pivotal mounted. When
the bolt 16 is extending out of the edge 14, it can be
received into an aperture formed in a receiving member (not
shown) mounted to the door jamb. A plate 18 can be affixed
to the edge 14 of the door 12 surrounding and/or defining
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the aperture through which the bolt 16 moves in order to
strengthen the bolt 16 in its relationship relative to the
closure panel 12. The plate 18 can be affixed to the edge
14 of the panel 12 by appropriate means such as screws
20.
An escutcheon 22 is shown as mounted on one face 24 of
the door 12 closely proximate the edge 14 from which the
bolt 16 exits. As best seen in Fig. 2, the escutcheon 22
can be secured to the panel 12 and maintained in a fixed
orientation by means of a plurality of bosses 26 received,
when the escutcheon 22 is attached to the face 24 of the
door 12, in holes 28 drilled in the panel 12. Screws or
bolts 30 can be inserted through the holes 28 through an
opposite face of the panel 12 and into internally threaded
bores 32 formed in the bosses 26~
Fig. 1 illustrates a knob stem portion 34 integrally
formed with the escutcheon 22 and extending from a platen 36
portion of the escutcheon 22 in a direction away from the
closure panel 12. A knob 38, separate from the escutcheon
panel 36 is shown with a narrowed neck portion 40 thereof
abutting the stem portion 34 along a line of engagement 42.
The knob 38, during shipment of the door assembly 10, is
segregated from the rest of the assembly and is affixed
thereto only when the door is to be installed in the aver-
lure in the wall of a building.
When the knob 38 is mated to the rest of the door
assembly, it cooperates with a smooth spindle44,mounted so that
it extends through the stem portion 34 of the escutcheon 22
and an aperture in the face of the door 12 which the stem
portion 34 overlies, in order to effect lateral movement of
the bolt 16 when such movement is desired in order to open
the door. Turning of the knob 38 can be translated into
rotation of the spindle 44 by providing the spindle 44 with
an externally faceted surface receivable in a similarly
internally faceted socket 46 carried within the knob 38.
The socket 46 can be held in position to Russ the spindle
by a plurality of radially extending struts 48 engaging the
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inner wall 50 of the knob 38. Rotation of the spindle do
can, in turn, effect lateral movement of the bolt 16 by use
of mechanical linkages known in the art.
The knob 38 can be provided, at its end, remote from
the closure panel, with a disc 52 seated and held within a
recess 54. The disc 52, normally provided with the door
assembly, can be plain and non-ornamentai. It can be held
within the recess 54 in any appropriate manner. It will be
understood, however, that, should the purchaser of the
assembly so wish, the disc 52 can be removed, prior to the
mating of the knob 38 to the door assembly 10 in a manner
hereinafter defined, by inserting any narrow, elongated tool
through a hole 56 formed in the base 58 of the knob 38, into
the socket 46, and through a small orifice 60 in the base of
the socket 46 into engagement with the disc 52. By applying
sufficient pressure, the disc 52 can be popped out of the
recess 54 and replaced with an ornamental designed disc
having similar dimensions.
The invention includes means for securing the knob
38 to the closure panel with the neck 40 of the knob 38 in
engagement with the knob stem portion 34 of the escutcheon
22. Such mating can be effected by means of a locking
element 62 held to the closure panel 12 by the escutcheon
22. The locking element 62 is best illustrated in Fig. 6.
It includes a base portion 64 having, as illustrated in that
figure, a pair of diametrically opposed extension members 66
extending radially therefrom.
A plurality of equi-angularly spaced prongs 68 extend
axially from one face 70 of the base portion 64. Fig. 6
illustrates four such prongs 68, each being spaced 90 from
adjacent of the prongs 68.
The prongs 68 are resilient in nature allowing them to
deform radially for a purpose discussed hereinafter.
Radially inwardly facing surfaces 72 of the prongs 68 can be
faceted in a manner similar to the faceting of the knob
socket 46 in order to allow the spindle 44 to pass there
between with the faceted surface of the spindle in engage-
-- Monet with faceted surfaces OX the prongs 68.
The radially outwardly surface of each prong can
include, at an end remote, when the locking element 62 is
held by the escutcheon 22, from the escutcheon 22, a ray
dually outwardly extending barb 74. The barb 74 can define
a shoulder 76 facing axially toward the escutcheon 22. A
surface 78 of the barb 74 facing obliquely in a direction
away from the direction in which the shoulder 76 faces can
be ramped so that, when the knob 38 is inserted onto the
locking element 62 as hereinafter discussed, the prongs 68
will deform radially inwardly until the barbs 74 pass the
base 58 of the knob 38.
: Spaced axially on each prong 68 from the barb 74 in a
direction toward the base 64 of the element 62 is a locking
nub 80. The nub 80 is configured similarly to the barb 74,
but is somewhat smaller in dimensions. An axially facing
surface 82 of the nub 80 is generally parallel to a surface
of the base 64 of the locking element 62, and the nub 80 is
spaced from the base 64 so that, when the locking element 62
is inserted through the aperture in the escutcheon 22 from a
back side thereof, the surfaces 82 of the nubs 80 will
engage an outwardly facing surface 84 of the knob stem
portion 34 of the escutcheon 22 while the base 64 of the
locking element 62 engages an inner surface 86 of the platen
portion 36 of the escutcheon 22. The base portion 64 of the
locking element 62 and the nubs 80 can, thereby, cooperate
to secure the locking element 62 to the escutcheon 22.
Each prong 68 can be provided with a tab 88 radially
intermediate the base 64 of the locking element 62 and the
nub 80, by the assistance of which the element 62 can be
secured to the escutcheon 22. Each tab 88 can have a
contoured surface 90 facing in an axially direction away
from the base 64 of the locking element 64~ These contoured
surfaces 90 can, together, support a pair of springs 92
between the surfaces 90 and an axially lacing surface 94 of
the knob stem portion 34 of the escutcheon 22. Two opposite
tabs 88 can be provided with radial extensions 96 received
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between ends of the springs 92. As the knob 38, and, in
turn, the locking element 62, is turned, the radial extent
Sons 96 will compress the sprints 92. As the knob 38 is
released, the compressed springs 92 will urge the locking
element 62, therefore, back to a centered position. As seen
in Fig. I, the springs So are held in circumferential
locations by radially inwardly extending tabs 98 carried
within the knob stem portion 34 of the escutcheon 22.
For various reasons, it is desirable to limit the
degree to which the knob 38 can be rotated. Since rotation
of the knob 38 through approximately 45 to 60~ Will be
sufficient to retract the bolt 16 into the aperture formed
in the edge 14 of the closure panel 12, means can be pro-
voided for limiting the degree to which the knob 38 can be
turned to an angular measure of a lesser degree. As seen in
Fig. 3, arcuate stops l00 can be provided on the back 86 of
the platen portion 36 of the escutcheon 22. These stops 100
are positioned with respect to the base 64 of the locking
element 62 so that, as the locking element 62 and knob 38
are rotated, the extensions 66 from the base 64 of the
locking element 62 will engage these stops 1~0.
When the door assembly 10 described herein is at a
location at which it is desired to mate the snob 38 to the
rest of the assembly, the knob 38 can merely be urged so
that the neck portion 40 thereof is moved into engagement
with the knob stem portion 34 of the escutcheon 22. When
such action is taken, the locking element 62 will be pro-
truing somewhat through the aperture formed in the stem
portion 34. Because of the ramp surfaces 78 provided on the
barbs 74 and a similarly angled bevel formed in the base 58
of the knob 38 at the extremity of the hole 56, as the knob
38 is moved into position, the prongs 68 will be urged
radially inwardly until the knob 38 is in engagement with
the knob stem portion I At that positioning, the prongs
68 will be allowed to snap radially outwardly since the
barbs 74 will have passed the base 58 of the knob 38. The
axially facing shoulders 76 of the barbs I will then be in
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engagement with an annular, axially facing shoulder defined
by the base 58 of the knob 38, preventing displacement of
the knob in both axial directions relative to the escutcheon.
Since diameter defined by the outermost extremities of
the barbs 74 is larger than an inner diameter of the hole
56 defined by the base 58 of the knob 38, retraction of
the knob 38 will be precluded.
The base can be provided with a radially inwardly
extending wall portion 102 having a plurality of Casey
formed therein. The Casey can correspond in number, shape,
and location to the prongs 68 of the locking element 62.
When the knob 38 has been mated with the knob stem portion
34 of the escutcheon 22, the prongs 68 can be seated,
circumferential, within these Casey so that, as the knob
38 is rotated, the locking element 62 will be rotated core-
spondingly. By limiting the degree of rotatability of the
locking element 62, therefore, the degree of rotatability of
the knob 33 can also be limited.
An alternative embodiment of the segmented coon
opener, particularly the locking element, is shown in
Figures 7-12. In this embodiment, the locking element 62
having base portion 64 with extension members 66, has a
plurality of L-shaped protruding members 104. Preferably,
the locking element has two pairs of protruding members,
each member spaced radially 90 from another member.
Each protruding member 104 has a shaft 106 and a
head 108, the head being directed outwardly at approximately
90 from the shaft. The surface of the head which generally
faces base 64 of locking element 62, includes an angled or
; 30 sloped surface 110, as seen in Figure 8.
The base 58 of knob 38 is provided with L-shaped
openings 112. The openings 112 include both a larger
portion aye which is of a size to receive head 108, and a
smaller portion 112b which is of a size to receive shaft
35 106. To connect knob 38 to-locking element 62, the heads
108 of the protruding members 104 are passed into the larger
portion aye of the opening 112. Then the locking element
62 is rotated with respect to knob 38 such that the shafts
pass into the smaller portions 112b of the L-shaped openings
I
112, and the heads are spaced laterally from the portion of
the openings through which they entered
A ridge 114 is provided on the interior surface 116
or knob 38, that surface which faces the sloping surface 11~
of the head 108 of each protruding member 1~4. When locking
element 62 is rotated as previously described to engage the
knob 38, the wider end Lola of the sloping surface 110
contacts and remains in contact with the ridge 11~, for more
advantageous holding between the looking element and the
knob.
As seen in Figure 8, extending from base 64 of locking
element 62 is a neck portion 118. The neck portion includes
a pair of circumferential extending recesses 120 and 122.
The recesses are separated from each other by two barriers
124 (one not shown), located opposite each other. As
similarly described for the first embodiment, a pair of
springs 126 are supported by recesses 120 and 122 and by
axially facing surface 94 of knob stem portion 34 of en-
cushion 22. Carried within knob stem portion I of en-
cushion 22 are radially extending tabs 98 which are located
between the ends of the springs, as are barriers 12~. us
knob 38, carrying locking element 62, is turned, for
f example, to open the door, the barriers 124 will compress
the springs 126. As knob 38 is released, the compressed
springs will urge the locking element and knob back to the
original position.
: Numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention
have been set forth in the foregoing description. It will be
understood that this disclosure is, in many respects, only
illustrative. Changes may be made in details particularly
in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts without
exceeding the scope of the invention. The invention's scope
is defined in the language in which the appended claims are
expressed.
