Swinging screen door for sliding glass doors

• US 4,838,332 A
• Filed: 04/27/1987
• Issued: 06/13/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mlenek & Reaves Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mlenek & Reaves Incorporated
• Inventors: Mlenek, Patrick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PUROL, DAVID M
• Application Number:
  US07/043,170
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 160/89, 160/90, 160/91, 160/40, 160/43, 160/369, 160/371, 160/372, 160/374, 160/375, 160/381, 160/87, 160/117, 160/179, 160/113, 49/168, 49/177
• US Class Current: 160/90
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/9682 Mitre joints
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/52 Devices affording protection against insects, e.g. fly screens; Mesh windows for other purposes screens A47G5/00

Abstract

A pivotally mounted secondary door, such as a screen door, for sliding doors, such as sliding glass "patio" doors. The secondary door swings inwardly and outwardly and preferably is provided with an automatic return. A system of seals is provided for preventing insects and such from entering around the edges of the secondary door and along the sides of the assembly. The assembly can be adjusted to accommodate sliding door frames of different internal vertical dimensions.

Claims

1. A secondary door assembly for a primary doorway which connects an inside and an outside and which is defined by a primary frame having two primary uprights, a primary header and a primary threshold and which has at least one primary door which is slidably mounted within the primary frame so that when the sliding door is retracted a portion of the primary doorway is opened forming a primary opening, comprising:

a secondary frame receivable within the primary frame, the secondary frame having a secondary header and two secondary uprights, the secondary header being receivable within a portion of the primary header and each secondary upright being receivable adjacent a primary upright and also being adapted for free standing within the primary frame, and wherein the secondary frame defines a secondary doorway substantially coextensive with the primary opening of the primary doorway;

means for securing the secondary frame within the primary frame so that the secondary doorway is parallel to the plane of the primary opening;

a secondary door receivable within the secondary frame; and

means for mounting the secondary door within the secondary frame so that the secondary door is supported for pivotation about a vertical axis from a closed position parallel to the primary opening.

2. The secondary door assembly of claim 1 in which the outside of the primary frame is characterized by a lip portion and in which the secondary frame is receivable within such lip portion.

3. The secondary door assembly of claim 2 in which the pivotal mounting means is characterized by supporting the secondary door for pivotation in an inward and outward direction from the closed position, in which the secondary door is characterized by dimensions which permit the secondary door to move through the primary opening, and in which the secondary frame is characterized by internal dimensions which permit the secondary door to move therethrough.

4. The secondary door assembly of claim 3 further comprising:

means for providing a seal between the inside and the outside when the secondary door is in closed position.

5. The secondary door assembly of claim 4 which the seal means comprises:

door seals extending around the edges of the secondary door.

6. The secondary door assembly of claim 5 in which at least one of the secondary uprights is disposed in a free standing position within the primary frame and in which the seal means further comprises:

side seals extending longitudinally between each free standing secondary upright and a primary door.

7. The secondary door assembly of claims 5 or 6 in which the secondary door comprises first and second juxtaposed panels having inner vertical edges which are adjacent in the closed position, and in which the seal means further comprises:

interlocking seals comprising;

a flanged seal disposed along the inner vertical edge of the first panel wherein the flange extends toward the inner vertical edge of the second panel when the panels are in closed position; and

a channeled seal extending along the inner vertical edge of the second panel adapted for receiving the flanged seal when the panels are in closed position.

8. The secondary door assembly of claim 2 further comprising:

means for adjusting the height of the secondary frame.

9. The secondary door assembly of claim 8 in which the pivotal mounting means is characterized by supporting the secondary door for pivotation in an inward and outward direction from the closed position, in which the secondary door is characterized by dimensions which permit the secondary door to move through the primary opening, and in which the secondary frame is characterized by internal dimensions which permit the secondary door to move therethrough.

10. The secondary door assembly of claim 9 further comprising:

means for providing a seal between the inside and the outside when the secondary door is in closed position.

11. The secondary door assembly of claim 10 in which the seal means comprises:

a door seal extending around the edge of the secondary door.

12. The secondary door assembly of claim 11 in which at least one of the secondary uprights is disposed in a free standing position within the primary frame and in which the seal means further comprises:

a side seal extending longitudinallly between each free standing secondary upright and a primary door.

13. The secondary door assembly of claims 11 or 12 in which the secondary door comprises first and second juxtaposed panels having inner vertical edges which are adjacent in the closed position, and in which the seal means further comprises:

an interlocking seal assembly comprising;

a flanged seal disposed along the inner vertical edge of the first panel wherein the flange extends toward the inner vertical edge of the seond panel when the panels are in closed position; and

a channeled seal extending along the inner vertical edge of the second panel adapted for receiving the flanged seal when the panels are in closed position.

14. The secondary door assembly of claim 1 in which the pivotal mounting means is characterized by supporting the secondary door for pivotation in an inward and outward direction from the closed position, in which the secondary door is characterized by dimensions which permit the secondary door to move through the primary opening, and in which the secondary frame is characterized by internal dimensions which permit the secondary door to move therethrough.

15. The secondary door assembly of claim 14 further comprising:

means for providing a seal between the inside and the outside when the secondary door is in closed position.

16. The secondary door assembly of claim 15 in which the seal means comprises:

a door seal extending around the edge of the secondary door.

17. The secondary door assembly of claim 16 in which at least one of the secondary uprights is disposed in a free standing position within the primary frame and in which the seal means further comprises:

a side seal extending longitudinally between each free standing secondary upright and a primary door.

18. The secondary door assembly of claims 16 or 17 in which the secondary door comprises first and second juxtaposed panels having inner vertical edges which are adjacent in the closed position, and in which the seal means further comprises:

an interlocking seal assembly comprising;

a flanged seal disposed along the inner vertical edge of the first panel wherein the flange extends toward the inner vertical edge of the second panel when the panels are in closed position; and

a channeled seal extending along the inner vertical edge of the second panel adapted for receiving the flanged seal when the panels are in closed position.

19. The secondary door assembly of claim 14 further comprising:

means for adjusting the height of the secondary frame.

24. The secondary door assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

means for adjusting the height of the secondary frame.

25. The secondary door assembly of claim 24 in which the height adjusting means is characterized by extending the length of the secondary uprights.

20. The secondary door assembly of claim further comprising:

means for providing a seal between the inside and the outside when the secondary door is in closed position.

21. The secondary door assembly of claim 20 in which the seal means comprises:

a door seal extending around the edge of the secondary door.

22. The secondary door assembly of claim 21 in which at least one of the secondary uprights is disposed in a free standing position within the primary frame and in which the seal means further comprises:

a side extending longitudinally between each free standing secondary upright and a primary door.

23. The secondary door assembly of claims 21 or 22 in which the secondary door comprises first and second juxtaposed panels having inner vertical edges which are adjacent in the closed position, and in which the seal means further comprises:

an interlocking seal assembly comprising;

a flanged seal disposed along the inner vertical edge of the first panel wherein the flange extends toward the inner vertical edge of the second panel when the panels are in closed position; and

a channeled seal extending along the inner vertical edge of the second panel adapted for receiving the flanged seal when the panels are in closed position.

26. A screen door replacement kit for a sliding glass doorway which connects an inside and an outside which comprises a primary frame having two uprights, a primary header and a primary threshold, and at least two glass doors which are mounted on parallel planes within the primary frame at Least one of such glass doors being slidably mounted so that when the sliding glass door is retracted, a portion of the primary doorway is opened to form a primary opening, wherein the kit comprises:

a secondary frame receivable within the primary frame, the secondary frame having a secondary header and two secondary uprights, the secondary header being receivable within a portion of the primary header and each secondary upright being receivable adjacent a primary upright and also being adapted for free standing within the primary frame, and wherein the secondary frame defines a secondary doorway substantially coextensive with the primary opening of the primary doorway;

means for securing the secondary frame within the primary frame so that the secondary doorway is parallel to the plane of the primary opening;

a screen door receivable within the secondary frame; and

means for mounting the screen door within the secondary frame so that the screen door is supported for pivotation about a vertical axis from a closed position being parallel to the primary opening.

27. The kit of claim 26 in which the outside of the primary frame is characterized by a lip portion and in which the secondary frame is receivable within the lip portion.

28. The kit of claim 27 in which the pivotal mounting means is characterized by supporting the screen door for pivotation in an inward and outward direction from the closed position, in which the screen door is characterized by dimensions which permit the screen door to move through the primary opening, and in which the screen door frame is characterized by internal dimensions which permit the screen door to move therethrough.

29. The kit of claim 28 further comprising:

means for providing a seal between the inside and the outside when the screen door is in closed position.

30. The kit of claim 29 in which at least one of the secondary uprights is disposed in a free standing position within the primary frame and in which the seal means comprises:

a door seal extending around the edge of the screen door; and

a side seal extending longitidunally between each free standing secondary upright and a primary door.

31. The kit of claim 30 in which the screen door comprises first and second juxtaposed panels having inner vertical edges which are adjacent in the closed position, and in which the seal means further comprises:

an interlocking seal assembly comprising;

a flanged seal disposed along the inner vertical edge of the first panel wherein the flange extends toward the inner vertical edge of the second panel when the panels are in closed position; and

a channeled seal extending along the inner vertical edge of the second panel adapted for receiving the flanged seal when the panels are in closed position.

32. The kit of claim 27 further comprising:

means for adjusting the height of the secondary frame.

33. The kit claim 32 in which the pivotal mounting means is characterized by supporting the screen door for pivotation in an inward and outward direction from the closed position, in which the screen door is characterized by dimensions which permit the screen door to move through the primary opening, and in which the screen door frame is characterized by internal dimensions which permit the screen door to move therethrough.

34. The kit of claim 33 further comprising:

means for providing a seal between the inside and the outside when the screen door is in closed position.

35. The kit of claim 34 in which at least one of the secondary uprights is disposed in a free standing position within the primary frame and in which the seal means comprises:

a door seal extending around the edge of the screen door; and

a side seal extending longitudinally between each free standing secondary upright and a primary door.

36. The kit of claim 35 in which the screen door comprises first and second juxtaposed panels having inner vertical edges which are adjacent in the closed position, and in which the seal means further comprises:

an interlocking seal assembly comprising;

a flanged seal disposed along the inner vertical edge of the first panel wherein the flange extends toward the inner vertical edge of the second panel when the panels are in closed position; and

a channeled seal extending along the inner vertical edge of the second panel adapted for receiving the flanged seal when the panels are in closed position.

37. The kit claim 26 in which the pivotal mounting means is characterized by supporting the screen door for pivotation in an inward and outward direction from the closed position, in which the screen door is characterized by dimensions which permit the screen door to move through the primary opening, and in which the screen door frame is characterized by internal dimensions which permit the screen door to move therethrough.

38. The kit of claim 37 further comprising:

means for providing a seal between the inside and the outside when the screen door is in closed position.

39. The kit of claim 38 in which at least one of the secondary uprights is disposed in a free standing position within the primary frame and in which the seal means comprises:

a door seal extending around the edge of the screen door; and

a side seal extending longitudinally between each free standing secondary upright and a primary door.

40. The kit of claim 39 in which the screen door comprises first and second juxtaposed panels having inner vertical edges which are adjacent in the closed position, and in which the seal means further comprises:

an interlocking seal assembly comprising;

a flanged seal disposed along the inner vertical edge of the first panel wherein the flange extends toward the inner vertical edge of the second panel when the panels are in closed position; and

a channeled seal extending along the inner vertical edge of the second panel adapted for receiving the flanged seal when the panels are in closed position.

41. The kit of claim 37 further comprising:

means for adjusting the height of the secondary frame.

42. The kit of claim 41 further comprising:

means for providing a seal between the inside and the outside when the screen door is in closed position.

43. The kit of claim 42 in which at least one of the secondary uprights is disposed in a free standing position within the primary frame and in which the seal means comprises:

a door seal extending around the edge of the screen door; and

a side seal extending longitudinally between each free standing secondary upright and a primary door.

44. The kit of claim 43 in which the screen door comprises first and second juxtaposed panels having inner vertical edges which are adjacent in the closed position, and in which the seal means further comprises:

an interlocking seal assembly comprising;

a flanged seal disposed along the inner vertical edge of the first panel wherein the flange extends toward the inner vertical edge of the second panel when the panels are in closed position; and

a channeled seal extending along the inner vertical edge of the second panel adapted for receiving the flanged seal when the panels are in closed position.

45. The kit of claim 26 further comprising:

means for adjusting the height of the secondary frame.

46. A sliding glass door assembly for a doorway connecting an inside and an outside, comprising:

a frame receivable within the doorway, the frame comprising a header, a threshold and two uprights;

at least two solid doors mounted on parallel planes within the frame, at least one of the solid doors being slidably mounted so that upon retraction the doorway is partially opened to form a primary opening;

a screen door comprising at least one panel supported within the frame in a closed position parallel to the primary opening and having dimensions which are substantially coextensive with the primary opening and which permit the screen door to move through and primary opening;

means for mounting the screen door for pivotation about a vertical axis for movement in an inward and an outward direction from the closed position; and

means for providing a seal between the inside and outside when the screen door is in a closed position.

47. The sliding glass door assembly of claim 46 further comprising:

at least one center post positioned within the frame parallel to the uprights and against one side of the screen door when the screen door is in closed position; and

in which the seal means comprises;

a side seal extending longitudinally along each center post between the center post and the solid doors.

48. The sliding glass door assembly of claims 46 or 47 in which the seal means comprises:

a door seal extending around the edges of the screen door.

49. The sliding glass door assembly of claim 47 in which the screen door is characterized by first and second juxtaposed panels having inner unmounted vertical edges which are adjacent each other when the panels are in closed position, and at least one of such panels being mounted for pivotation about the axis of a center post, and in which the seal means comprises:

a door seal extending around the edges of the screen door;

a side seal extending longitudinally along each center post between the center post and the solid doors;

an interlocking seal assembly comprising;

a flanged seal disposed along the inner vertical edge of the first panel wherein the flange extends toward the inner vertical edge of the second panel when the panels are in closed position; and

a channeled seal extending along the inner vertical edge of the second panel adapted for receiving the flanged seal when the panels are in closed position.