Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WEATHERTIGHT STORM DOOR HAVING PRY GUARD
BACKGROUND OF THE lNV~NlION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to outwardly opening doors,
and more particularly to a storm door or the like having
permanent weatherstripping, and guards to prevent use of a pry
bar to open the door when locked.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Exterior doors that open outwardly, such as storm doors,
generally must have narrow gaps between the door jamb and the
edges of the door to enable the door to be opened. Thus, such
doors are vulnerable to forced entry by use of a pry bar or the
like which can be inserted into such gap, and the lock broken by
prying. Also, the narrow gaps at the door hinge, lock edges, and
top header can permit entry of moisture due to rain and snow.
There is a need for a storm door having integral weatherstripping
and attractive means for preventing the insertion of a pry bar in
the gap between the jamb and any of the edges of the door.
The prior art has offered solutions to the forced entry
problems by adding short metal plates and the like over the gap
adjacent the door lock to prevent jimmying of the lock. Known
gap covers of this type detract from the appearance of the door,
and do not prevent jimmying above or below the lock area. The
following patents relate attempts to prevent jimmying of a door:
Garret, US 3,271,063 (vertical strips);
Thompson, US 3,377,094 (reversible lock guard);
Bennett et al., US 3,761,119 (overlapping metal plates);
Rosenberg, US 3,963,269 (prevents lateral door motion);
Charron, US 4,178,027 (two cooperating guards);
Dabrowski, US 4,345,787 (Z-shaped plates);
Hennessy, US 4,484,463 (plate over door-jamb gap)
Bouchard, US 4,720,129 (guard with curved edge);
Beck, US 4,751,834 (guard with lock cylinder); and
Mascotte, US 5,131,189 (flap and anti-prying member).
None of the known guards close the entire gaps between the
door edges and the jambs for both the hinge and lock edges,
Additionally, known add-on guards are generally unattractive.
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The present invention provides an attractive pry guard for both
both of the side jamb gaps and the head jamb gap in combination
with permanent weatherstripping integral with the pry guards.
Additionally, the head jamb pry guard also will compensate for
any deviation in the gap due to sagging.
SUMMARY OF THE lNV~N'l'ION
The present invention is an outwardly-opening door, such as
a storm door, having extruded metal strips integral with the
outer vertical and the top edges of the door. The strips include
concave curved female portions that project beyond such vertical
and top edges, and that mate with male convex shaped strips
attached to the side jambs and head jamb. Outer edges of the
curved portions of the strips include integral weatherstrip type
material that makes contact with surfaces of the side jamb strips
and the head jamb strips.
The curved portions of the strips completely cover the
vertical spaces that could otherwise be used for prying a locked
door open, and the weathersrips provide positive seals for
prevention of water intrusion. Additionally, the strip designs
present an attractive and finished appearance to the door and
frame assembly.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to
provide a modern, outwardly-opening door having resistance to
water intrusion, an attractive appearance, and means for
preventing forced entry through the door.
It is another object of the invention to provide an
outwardly-opening door in which vertical and top edges thereof
include vertical concave strips integral therewith for mating
with complementary strips along the door jambs to thereby guard
against jimmying of the door.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a storm
door having extruded vertical stiles and a top rail cooperating
with side and head jamb elements of the door to prevent jimmying
of the door.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a
weatherproofed, outwardly-opening storm door installation having
means for prevention of forcible entry by prying.
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These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description when read
in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial front view of a typical outwardly-
opening door installed in a wall in accordance with the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lock-side edge of
the door of FIG. 1 in the closed position, shown in perspective
view;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge-side edge of
the door of FIG. 1 in the closed position, shown in perspective
view;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge-side edge of
the door in which the door is in an open position;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of the invention showing the lock-side edge of a wood
door and jamb incorporating the pry guard of the invention; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the hinge-side
edge of the wood door and jamb of the alternative embodiment of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A typical outwardly-opening door 8 and jambs 10 in
accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 1 in partial view.
The door 8 has a left stile 17 hingedly attached to the left side
jamb 41, and a door knob and lock assembly 14 in right stile 15.
The lock assembly 14 engages a latch plate (not shown) in right
side jamb 40. A glass panel 12 is shown although the door is not
limited to this exemplary design as wood, laminate and other type
panels may be used. A top rail of door 8 is adjacent top jamb
30.
A cross section 1-1 of the right side of door 8 and jamb 10
is provided in FIG. 2. Lock-side stile 15 is preferably an
extrusion of aluminum or the like, and may be filled with foam 28
if desired. It is to be understood that other materials, such as
wood, plastic or other suitable materials may be used. Slot 31
accepts glass pane 12. A male pry guard element 22, which may be
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an aluminum extrusion, is attached by screws 27 along the entire
length of side jamb 40, and includes a semicircular rib 19
projecting above the face of side jamb 40. A decorative cap
strip 20 snaps into the front edge of male pry guard element 22.
A weatherstrip 25 is disposed along an inner edge of male pry
guard element 22, and which bears against an edge of stile 15.
In accordance with the invention, female pry guard element
16, integral with stile 15, covers male pry guard element 19 when
door 8 is closed such that no gap exists between the distal edge
thereof and pry guard element 22, thereby preventing a pry bar
from being used to force door 8 open.
As shown in FIG. 1, th~ top rail element 11 of door 8
includes an integral female pry guard 13 thereacross, and is
identical in construction and cross section as female pry guard
16 shown in FIG. 2. Female pry guard 13 mates with a male pry
guard element 19 (not shown in FIG. l) of male pry guard 22 in
the manner as shown in FIG. 2. Decorative cap strip 20 snaps
into the outer edge of pry guard 22.
Turning now to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view 2-2 of hinge-
side stile 17 and side jamb 41 is shown with door 8 in the closedposition. Stile 17 may be filled with foam 42 if desired. A
hinge 39 comprises stile hinge leaf 37, jamb hinge leaf 38,
hinge pin 46 and butt 43. As will be understood, hinge 39
extends along the full length of stile 17, with leaf 37 attached
therealong, and leaf 38 attached along jamb 41. Female pry guard
18 extends along and engages butt 43 of hinge 39.
Weatherstripping 47 along the distal edge of pry guard 18
contacts hinge butt 43 along its entire length. Stile 17
includes slot 35 which accepts glass pane 12. Leaf 38 of hinge
39 includes weatherstripping 45 along its length that contacts an
edge of stile 17 when door 8 is closed, thus water is prevented
from entering. A decorative cover element 20 clips onto pry
guard strip 44 secured along jamb 41 by screws 27. As may be
noted, a portion of strip 44 is in contact with hinge butt 43,
thereby preventing prying at the hinge. FIG. 4 shows the stile
17 portion of FIG. 3 with door 8 open. Weatherstripping 47
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continues to contact hinge butt 43 along its length as the door
8 is moved from closed to open position.
Turning now to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment
of the invention as applied to other types of doors, such as wood
door 52. Although this embodiment will be described with respect~
to a wood door 52, it is to be understood that other stock doors
such as aluminum, steel, reinforced plastic and the like can
utilize the decorative pry guards 48, 51 as will be described
with reference to the figures.
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a lock-side portion of
wood door 52, and a lock-side side jamb 53. FIG. 6 is a cross
sectional view of a portion of the hing~ side of wood door 52 and
hinge-side side jamb 54. A pair of adapters 50 is provided, each
having a length corresponding to the height of door 52, with an
adapter 50 installed along each of the door vertical edges.
Adapter 50 is preferably an aluminum extrusion, although other
materials may also be satisfactory.
As shown in FIG. 5, a female pry guard element 48 is
installed along the vertical outer lock-side edge of adapter 50
by means of screws 55 therealong. As may be notedr screws 55
also serve to secure adapter 50 to door 52. A male pry guard
element 49 is attached to lock-side jamb 53 by screws 56. As
will be clear from the figure, female pry guard 48 engages male
pry guard 49 when door 52 is closed, thereby preventing insertion
of a jimmy or the like in the gap between door 5Z and jamb 53.
Similarly, FIG. 6 shows a pry guard strip 51 installed along
the hinge side edge of door 52 and which is secured to the door
edge by screw 55 that also seaures an adapter 50. Pry guard 51
covers hinge elements 38, 60, and includes weatherstripping 47
that bears on the butt 43 of hinge 49 as door 52 opens and
closes. Strip 57 extends along the vertical edge of jamb 54 and
contacts butt 43 of hinge 49 to prevent jimmying at that point.
As may now be recognized, the curved female elements 18 and
20 provide an attractive framing of door 8, along with the
adjacent curved cap strips 22 around the door frame that provide
parallel framing elements when door 8 when closed, present a
modern, clean, decorative, and finished appearance to the door
.
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A novel, useful, and attractive outwardly-opening door has
been disclosed having means for covering and protecting the
entire lengths of the gaps, normally found between the side jambs
and head jamb, and the door side rails and the head rail in prior
art installations, from forced entry by use of a pry bar inserted
into the such gaps. Additionally, means for prevention of water
intrusion into such gaps is combined with the covering and
protecting means. Further, such covering means is aesthetically
compatible with the door trim and adds a decorative appearance to
the door installation. Although a particular embodiment has been
disclosed, various modifications to fit particular installations
may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the claims.
