Structural unit, specifically a door including an injected molded frame

• US 20040163322A1
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bob Herrmann, Howard Daley
• Original Assignee: Bob Herrmann, Howard Daley
• Inventors: Herrmann, Bob, Daley, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 6,952,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/501
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042

Abstract

A door includes a U-shaped frame having opposing side channels. The channels include peripheral, inner and outer walls with the inner wall being of a larger size and configuration than the outer wall. A glass insert slightly smaller than the size of the inner wall is inserted therethrough and is guided to a centered position seated upon the outer wall. An open frame insert is slid into the two side channels, and a plurality of opposing pairs of walls deflect the open frame insert into bearing engagement with the glass insert. A peripheral edge of the open frame insert defines a peripheral channel with a terminal edge of the door frame inner wall for receipt therein of a peripheral securing boss of an elastomeric peripheral seal.

Claims

1. A structural unit comprising a frame formed of molded synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic material, said frame being defined by a peripheral wall and relatively spaced inwardly projecting inner and outer walls terminating in respective terminal edges, said inner and outer wall terminal edges defining respective inner and outer openings, said inner opening being larger than said outer opening, an insert, said insert having a peripheral edge of a size to pass through said inner opening along a path substantially parallel to an axis of said inner opening but of a size too large to pass through said outer opening, said insert being located in a plane between said inner and outer walls, means for holding said insert in said frame, an access area through which said holding means is slid along a path of travel substantially normal to said inner opening axis into sandwiched relationship between said insert and said inwardly projecting inner wall, and means for retaining said holding means in the sandwich relationship thereof.

2. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame includes opposite frame sides each defining a side channel, and said side channels open in opposing relationship to each other.

3. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame includes opposite frame sides and opposite frame ends collectively defining said frame, said opposite frame sides each define a side channel, said side channels open in opposing relationship to each other, and one of said frame ends defines said access area.

4. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame includes opposite frame sides and opposite frame ends collectively defining said frame, said opposite frame sides and one of said opposite frame ends each define a channel, said opposite frame side channels open in opposing relationship to each other, said one frame end channel opens toward another of said frame ends, and said another frame end defines said access area.

5. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 including means for closing said access area.

6. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 including means for guiding said insert to a centered position relative to said frame upon the movement of said insert along said inner opening axis through said inner opening and toward said outer opening.

7. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said holding means is a second insert in the form of an open frame having a peripheral configuration corresponding to and a size greater than the size of said inner opening.

8. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame includes opposite frame sides each defining a channel, said channels open in opposing relationship to each other, said holding means is a second insert in the form of an open frame having a peripheral configuration corresponding to and a size greater than the size of said inner opening, said open frame having opposite sides, and said open frame opposite sides being received each in one of said first-mentioned frame side channels.

9. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 including a peripheral seal, and said peripheral seal includes a peripheral edge located between said frame inner wall and said holding means.

10. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said holding means is a second insert in the form of an open frame having a peripheral configuration corresponding to and a size greater than the size of said inner opening, and said first-mentioned frame includes means for locating said open frame between said inner wall and said first-mentioned insert.

11. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said holding means is a second insert in the form of an open frame having a peripheral configuration corresponding to and a size greater than the size of said inner opening, and said first-mentioned frame includes means for urging said open frame against said first-mentioned insert adjacent said insert peripheral edge.

12. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 including means for closing said access area.

13. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 including means for closing said access area, said structural unit is a closure, and said access area closing means includes gripping means for manipulating said closure.

14. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 including means for closing said access area, said structural unit is a door, and said access area closing means includes handle means for manipulating said door.

15. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining means are fastening means for securing said holding means to said frame.

16. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 including means for locating said holding means between said inner wall and said insert.

17. The structural unit as defined in claim 1 including means for urging said holding means against said insert.

18. The structural unit as defined in claim 2 including means for guiding said insert to a centered position relative to said frame upon the movement of said insert along said inner opening axis through said inner opening and toward said outer opening.

19. The structural unit as defined in claim 2 including means for locating said holding means between said inner wall and said insert.

20. The structural unit as defined in claim 2 including means for urging said holding means against said insert.

21. The structural unit as defined in claim 2 including means for guiding said insert to a centered position relative to said frame upon the movement of said insert along said inner opening axis through said inner opening and toward said outer opening, and said guiding means are guiding surfaces located in said frame side channels.

22. The structural unit as defined in claim 2 including means for locating said holding means between said inner wall and said insert, and said holding means are surfaces located in said frame side channels.

23. The structural unit as defined in claim 2 including means for urging said holding means against said insert, and said urging means are surfaces located in said frame side channels.

24. The structural unit as defined in claim 2 including means for guiding said insert to a centered position relative to said frame upon the movement of said insert along said inner opening axis through said inner opening and toward said outer opening, and said guiding means are guiding surfaces located in and spaced along said frame side channels.

25. The structural unit as defined in claim 2 including means for locating said holding means between said inner wall and said insert, and said holding means are surfaces located in and spaced along said frame side channels.

26. The structural unit as defined in claim 2 including means for urging said holding means against said insert, and said urging means are surfaces located in and spaced along said frame side channels.

27. The structural unit as defined in claim 4 wherein said holding means is a second insert in the form of an open frame having a peripheral configuration corresponding to and a size greater than the size of said inner opening.

28. The structural unit as defined in claim 4 wherein said holding means is a second insert in the form of an open frame having a peripheral configuration corresponding to and a size greater than the size of said inner opening, said open frame having side edges, and each open frame side edge being housed in an associated frame side channel.

29. The structural unit as defined in claim 28 including means in said frame side channels for guiding said insert to a centered position relative to said frame upon the movement of said insert along said axis through said inner opening and toward said outer opening.

30. The structural unit as defined in claim 28 including means in said frame side channels for locating said open frame side edges between said inner wall and said first-mentioned insert.

31. The structural unit as defined in claim 28 including means in said frame side channels for urging said open frame side edges against said insert.

32. The structural unit as defined in claim 28 including means in said frame side channels for urging said open frame side edges against said insert, and said open frame side edges urging means are a plurality of surfaces located between said inner and outer walls.

33. The structural unit as defined in claim 28 including means in said frame side channels for guiding said insert to a centered position relative to said frame upon the movement of said insert along said axis through said inner opening and toward said outer opening, and said insert guiding means are a plurality of surfaces located between said inner and outer walls in converging relationship from said inner wall toward said outer wall.

34. The structural unit as defined in claim 28 including means in said frame side channels for guiding said insert to a centered position relative to said frame upon the movement of said insert along said axis through said inner opening and toward said outer opening, and said insert guiding means are a plurality of surfaces located in spaced relationship to each other and between said inner and outer walls in converging relationship from said inner wall toward said outer wall.

35. The structural unit as defined in claim 30 wherein said open frame side edges locating means are a plurality of surfaces heated in a plane spaced from said open frame side edges a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of said open frame side edge whereby the open frame side edges are located substantially confined between said last-mentioned plurality of surfaces and an opposing surface of said insert.

36. The structural unit as defined in claim 9 wherein said holding means includes a peripheral edge, said holding means peripheral edge and said frame inner wall terminal edge define a channel, and said peripheral seal includes a portion confined in said last-mentioned channel.

37. The structural unit as defined in claim 9 wherein said holding means includes a peripheral edge, said holding means peripheral edge and said frame inner wall terminal edge define a channel, and said peripheral seal includes a portion confined in said last-mentioned peripheral channel.

38. The structural unit as defined in claim 15 including means for closing said access area, and said retaining means additionally retain said closing means secured to said frame.

39. The structural unit as defined in claim 15 including means for closing said access area, said retaining means additionally retain said closing means secured to said frame, and said retaining means are fastening means.

40. A structural unit comprising a frame formed of molded synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic material, said frame being defined by a peripheral wall and relatively spaced inwardly projecting inner and outer walls terminating in respective terminal edges, said inner and outer wall terminal edges defining respective inner and outer openings, said inner opening being larger than said outer opening, an insert, said insert having a peripheral edge of a size to pass through said inner opening along a path substantially parallel to an axis of said inner opening but of a size too large to pass through said outer opening, said insert being located in a plane between said inner and outer walls, means for holding said insert in said frame, an access area through which said holding means is slid along a path of travel substantially normal to said inner opening axis into sandwiched relationship between said insert and said inwardly projecting inner wall, and means for closing said access area.

41. The structural unit as defined in claim 40 wherein said structural unit is a closure, and said access area closing means includes gripping means for manipulating said closure.

42. The structural unit as defined in claim 40 wherein said structural unit is a door, and said access area closing means includes handle means for manipulating said door.

43. The structural unit as defined in claim 40 wherein said access area closing means includes means for pivotally mounting said frame to an associated structure.

44. The structural unit as defined in claim 41 wherein said frame includes opposite frame sides and opposite frame ends collectively defining said frame, said opposite frame sides each define a side channel, said side channels open in opposing relationship to each other, and one of said frame ends defines said access area.

45. The structural unit as defined in claim 42 wherein said frame includes opposite frame sides and opposite frame ends collectively defining said frame, said opposite frame sides each define a side channel, said side channels open in opposing relationship to each other, and one of said frame ends defines said access area.

46. The structural unit as defined in claim 43 wherein said frame includes opposite frame sides and opposite frame ends collectively defining said frame, said opposite frame sides each define a side channel, said side channels open in opposing relationship to each other, and one of said frame ends defines said access area.

47. The structural unit as defined in claim 41 wherein said frame includes opposite frame sides and opposite frame ends collectively defining said frame, said opposite frame sides and one of said opposite frame ends each define a channel, said opposite frame side channels open in opposing relationship to each other, said one frame end channel opens toward another of said frame ends, and said another frame end defines said access area.

48. The structural unit as defined in claim 42 wherein said frame includes opposite frame sides and opposite frame ends collectively defining said frame, said opposite frame sides and one of said opposite frame ends each define a channel, said opposite frame side channels open in opposing relationship to each other, said one frame end channel opens toward another of said frame ends, and said another frame end defines said access area.

49. The structural unit as defined in claim 43 wherein said frame includes opposite frame sides and opposite frame ends collectively defining said frame, said opposite frame sides and one of said opposite frame ends each define a channel, said opposite frame side channels open in opposing relationship to each other, said one frame end channel opens toward another of said frame ends, and said another frame end defines said access area.

50. A structural unit comprising a frame formed of molded synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic material, said frame being defined by a peripheral wall and relatively spaced inwardly projecting inner and outer walls terminating in respective terminal edges, said inner and outer wall terminal edges defining respective inner and outer openings, said inner opening being larger than said outer opening, an insert, said insert having a peripheral edge of a size to pass through said inner opening along a path substantially parallel to an axis of said inner opening but of a size too large to pass through said outer opening, said insert being located in a plane between said inner and outer walls, means for holding said insert in said frame, an access area through which said holding means is slid along a path of travel substantially normal to said inner opening axis into sandwiched relationship between said insert and said inwardly projecting inner wall, a peripheral seal, and means for retaining said peripheral seal in peripheral bounding relationship to said frame.

51. The structural unit as defined in claim 50 wherein said peripheral seal retaining means is a channel defined between said frame inner wall and a peripheral surface of said holding means.

52. The structural unit as defined in claim 51 wherein said holding means is a second insert in the form of an open frame having a peripheral configuration corresponding to and a size greater than the size of said inner opening.

53. The structural unit as defined in claim 51 wherein said frame includes opposite frame sides each defining a channel, said channels open in opposing relationship to each other, said holding means is a second insert in the form of an open frame having a peripheral configuration corresponding to and a size greater than the size of said inner opening, said open frame having opposite sides, and said open frame opposite sides being received each in one of said first-mentioned frame side channels.

54. The structural unit as defined in claim 52 wherein said open frame includes first and second peripheral edges, said first peripheral edge being said greater size, said second peripheral edge having a peripheral configuration corresponding to and of a size substantially less than the side of said inner opening and defining therewith said channel, and a peripheral portion of said peripheral seal is confined in said channel.

55. The structural unit as defined in claim 53 wherein said open frame includes first and second peripheral edges, said first peripheral edge being said greater size, said second peripheral edge having a peripheral configuration corresponding to and of a size substantially less than the side of said inner opening and defining therewith said channel, and a peripheral portion of said peripheral seal is confined in said channel.

56. A structural unit comprising a frame formed of molded synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic material, said frame including a pair of spaced corners each having a wall portion, at least one opening in each wall portion for receiving a fastener therethrough and at least an additional opening in each wall portion for receiving a pivot pin, said one and additional openings being substantially identically located at their respective corners, a cooperative fastener having an opening for receiving the first-mentioned fastener incident to securing a pivot plate selectively to one of said corners for selective right-hand/left-hand opening movement of the structural unit relative to an access opening of an associated structure, and means for locating the cooperative fastener relative to either of the at least one openings.

57. The structural unit as defined in claim 56 wherein said locating means is a housing in each corner.

58. The structural unit as defined in claim 56 wherein said frame is defined by a peripheral wall and inner and outer relatively spaced walls projecting in the same direction from said peripheral wall, and said wall portions are each defined by said peripheral wall.

59. The structural unit as defined in claim 58 wherein said inner wall at each corner defines a void for accessing said locating means through said inner wall void at each corner.

60. The structural unit as defined in claim 58 wherein said inner wall at each corner defines a void for accessing said locating means through said inner wall void at each corner, and means for closing said void.

61. The structural unit as defined in claim 59 wherein said locating means is a housing in each corner opening in a direction toward its associated void.

62. The structural unit as defined in claim 59 wherein said void is of a 90°

configuration.

63. The structural unit as defined in claim 62 including a 90°

wall portion for closing said 90°

void.

64. A structural unit comprising a frame formed of molded synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic material, said frame being defined by a peripheral wall and relatively spaced inwardly projecting inner and outer walls terminating in respective terminal edges, said inner and outer wall terminal edges defining respective inner and outer openings, said inner opening being larger than said outer opening, an insert, said insert having a peripheral edge of a size to pass through said inner opening along a path substantially parallel to an axis of said inner opening but of a size too large to pass through said outer opening, said insert being located in a plane between said inner and outer walls, means for holding said insert in said frame, an access area through which said holding means is slid along a path of travel substantially normal to said inner opening axis into sandwiched relationship between said insert and said inwardly projecting inner wall, means for closing said access area, and means for pivotally mounting said frame relative to an opening of an associated structure.

66. The structural unit as defined in claim 64 wherein said closing means includes said frame pivotally mounting means.

67. The structural unit as defined in claim 64 wherein said closing means includes handle means for gripping said frame incident to effecting pivotal movement thereof.

68. The structural unit as defined in claim 64 wherein said frame includes a pair of spaced corners each defined by wall portions of said peripheral, inner and outer walls;

at least one opening in each peripheral wall portion for receiving a fastener therethrough and at least an additional opening in each peripheral wall portion for receiving a pivot pin;

said one and additional openings being substantially identically located at their respective corners, a cooperative fastener having an opening for receiving the first-mentioned fastener incident to securing a pivot plate of said pivotally mounting means selectively to one of said corners for selective right-hand/left-hand opening movement of the structural unit relative to an access opening of an associated structure, and means for locating the cooperative fastener relative to either of the at least one openings.

69. The structural unit as defined in claim 68 wherein said locating means is a housing in each corner.

70. The structural unit as defined in claim 68 wherein said inner wall at each corner defines a void for accessing said locating means through said inner wall void at each corner.

71. The structural unit as defined in claim 68 wherein said inner wall at each corner defines a void for accessing said locating means through said inner wall void at each corner, and means for closing said void.

72. The structural unit as defined in claim 68 wherein said locating means is a housing in each corner opening in a direction toward its associated void.

73. The structural unit as defined in claim 71 wherein said void closing means is a detachable wall.

74. The structural unit as defined in claim 71 wherein said void is of a 90°

configuration.

75. The structural unit as defined in claim 74 wherein said void closing means is a detachable 90°

wall.

76. The structural unit as defined in claim 74 including a wall for closing said 90°

void.

65. The structural unit as defined in claim 65 wherein said frame is of a substantially polygonal configuration, and said frame pivotally mounting means are disposed in two pairs for effecting selective pivoting movement of said frame about either one of two substantially parallel pivot axes.