Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02294407 2000-O1-07
DOOR FRAME JAMB FORMED OF WOOD AND VINYL
The present application claims the enefit cf U.S.
~rovisionai Application ~eriai No. 50/1,y5,J98, fi:Led ~anuary
~5, x.999.
BACIZGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Door frame structures typically are formed as
separate structures and then installed at the construction
site. The frame structure typically includes a three sided
niece ;top and two sidesi, =rom which a door is hung. The
structure is inserted into an appropriate doorway opening
formed in the home or building under construction.-
Door frame structures typically comprise a jamb
portion onto which the door hinges are attached. The jamb
must be of sufficient strength to hold the heavy door and
withstand the punishment typically endured throughout its
life. The frame and jamb portion are typically constructed
of wood.
Unfortunately, wood and wood-treated structures
have a tendency to degrade and warp or rot under outside
weather conditions. Thus, efforts have been made to attach
vinyl or other types of structures or coatings to the
outside of the wood surface to provide protection from the
environment.
One example of such an effort is shown in U.S.
Patent No. 5,758,458 to Ridge. The Ridge patent discloses a
door frame assembly that is attachable to a stud or post
adjacent a door frame opening. The assembly includes a wood
support panel that is attachable to the stud or post. A
base strip formed of extruded polymer is attached to and
covers the exterior end of the support panel. The base
CA 02294407 2000-O1-07
strip is attached tc the stud by nails driven through a fin
that extends outwardly from the base strip.
A stop strip of extruded polymer is mounted
adjacent to the inner face of the support panel and attached
to the support panel. The base strip and the stop strip are
separately formed as distinct pieces. The hollcw centers
and thin panels of the extruded strips in the Ridge patent
indicate the use of rigid polymer, such as rigid polyvinyl
chloride.
The present invention involves the use of vinyl
attachments to the wood jamb that are formed of cellular or
foamed polymer to provide an attractive, yet environmentally
protected door frame and jamb.
SUI~HARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, a door frame jamb assembly is
provided for holding a door. The frame jamb assembly is
constructed as an integral unit for transport to the
construction site and attachment to a door frame opening.
The frame assembly is constructed of several
pieces. One piece is the jamb portion, which is formed of
wood and is the portion attachable to the door frame
opening. The jamb portion has an interior end and an
exterior end, which face the interior and exterior of the
door opening, respectively.
A second portion of the frame assembly is a rigid
vinyl extender portion. The extender portion is formed of
cellular resin into a solid (not hollow) piece. The vinyl
extender portion has a first end with a notch formed therein
for receiving the exterior end of the jamb portion. The
exterior end of the jamb portion is firmly attached to the
notch of the vinyl extender portion.
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A third piece or portion of the frame assembly is
a rigid brick molding portion, which is also formed of
cellular resin. The brick molding portion has a notch
formed therein so that the second end of the vinyl extender
S portion is received in and firmly attached to the notch.
Tre door frame jamb assembly also includes a
flexible foam weatherstrip, which is firmly secured between
the jamb portion and the vinyl extender portion. In one
embodiment, the second end of the vinyl extender portion is
formed in a tongue configuration. The notch formed in the
brick molding portion is formed in a groove configuration to
match the tongue configuration.
In one embodiment, the wood jamb portion has a
notch formed along its interior end. The vinyl attachment
piece is attached to the jamb portion along the notch. The
foam weatherstrip is attached between the jamb portion and
the vinyl extender portion in the notch. The foam
weatherstrip also acts to cover the attachment between the
jamb portion and the door frame opening.
The brick molding portion is also positioned
adjacent the exterior end of the jamb portion. Its exterior
surface faces the exterior of the door frame assembly and
provides a smooth surface for ornamental purposes. The
brick molding portion also includes a slot that holds a
plastic fin for insulation purposes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THS DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the integral
door frame jamb of the present invention from the interior
side of the jamb.
Figure 2 is a top view of the door frame jamb of
Figure 1.
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Figure 3 is a perspective view of the door frame
jamb of Figurel from the exterior side cf the jamb.
Figure 4 is a plan view of a doorway illustrating
the environment of the present invention.
S
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention provides a door frame and,
in particular, a door frame jamb made of wood and cellular
or foamed vinyl plastic. The plastic portions are attached
to the wood jamb along the outside of the frame.
A door and frame, such as used in the present
invention, is shown in Figure 4. The door 10 is held onto
frame 12 by a pair of hinges 14, 16. The frame 12 includes
a horizontal portion 18 and two vertical or jamb portions
20, 22. The horizontal and vertical portions are preferably
preformed to include the present invention. The door l0 is
then hung onto the frame and the entire structure inserted
and fixed within an appropriate opening at a residential or
commercial construction site.
The details of the portions of the door frame jamb
of the present invention are shown in Figures 1-3. Figure 1
provides a perspective view of the frame members from the
interior of the jamb. Figure 3 provides a perspective view
of the frame members from the exterior of the jamb. Figure
2 provides a plan view of the section shown in Figures 1 and
3.
As shown in Figures 1-3, the door frame 12
includes wood jamb portion 24, which is attached to the wood
structure of the door opening. Hinges 14, shown in Figure
4, are attached to jamb portion 24. A vinyl extender
portion 26 is attached to the end of jamb portion 24. vinyl
extender 26 may be formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or any
of a number of suitable plastics that can be extruded or
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injection molded. preferably, vinyl extender 25 is formed
'rom cellular or foamed plastic, which includes a blowing
agent to cause expansion of the piece upon leaving the
extruder. cellular plastic permits formation of a solid
(non-hollow) vinyl extender piece of appropriate
configuration.
The vinyl extender 26 is preferably formed with a
series of notches or steps 28, 29, which allow attachment of
the extender 26 to the wood jamb 24. A vinyl extension
piece 30 may also be used to hold the end 32 of the wood
jamb 24. The wood jamb is preferably cut with a notch 34 to
provide a flush mounting for the extension piece 30. The
extension piece 30 may be formed of rigid (non-cellular) or
cellular plastic on account of its limited width. The
extension piece is attached to the vinyl extender by glue,
nails, screws or other attachment mechanisms known in the
art.
A flexible foam weatherstrip 38 is preferably
placed between the wood jamb 24 and the extender 26. The
weatherstrip forms a seal between the edge of the door (not
shown in Figures 1-3) and the wood jamb 24. The side panels
40, 42 of the extender 26 and extension piece 30,
respectively, have a smooth surface to provide an attractive
ornamental look to the extender.
The vinyl extender 26 is attached to a vinyl brick
molding piece 44 at the end opposite of the wood jamb. The
brick molding piece is also preferably formed of cellular or
foamed plastic in order to provide a material of the proper
thickness and necessary configuration. The extender may
include a tongue piece 46 that fits within a matching groove
48 of the brick molding piece 44. Other types of connecting
joints between the extender 26 and brick molding 44 are
possible. The connection between the pieces may be made by
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glue or staple or ot:~er appropriate connection means.
~he brick molding provides the piece of the door
frame that faces the exterior of she door cr building and is
exposed to the environment. the brick molding 44 preferably
includes a smooth surface 50 to provide an attractive
ornamental piece. The brick molding may be formed of
polyvinyl chloride or any other plastic suitable for
extrusion cr injection molding, but is preferably formed of
cellular plastic.
The brick molding 44 may include a notch or slot
52 for including a plastic fin 54. The fin 54 can be
attached to siding or other portions of the door opening.
The wood jamb portion 24 is attached to the
opening by nailing through piece 24. The nails may be
placed near the weatherstrip piece so that the weatherstrip
acts to cover the nails and shield them from view.
The door frame of the present invention therefore
provides a wood jamb 24 with a vinyl plastic extender 26 and
a brick molding piece 44. The frame provides an attractive
exterior molding of vinyl plastic attached to a conventional
wood jamb piece. The vinyl plastic protects the wood jamb
from weather elements. The wood piece jamb may be nailed to
the door opening in the conventional manner. The extruded
or molded frame pieces provide a strong frame product that
avoids the difficulties involved in attachment of vinyl
strips or frames to a wood frame during the installation of
the door and frame.
What is claimed is:
