Reversible door frame threshold

• US 5,283,977 A
• Filed: 10/21/1992
• Issued: 02/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CastleGate, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CastleGate, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAYNE, DARNELL M
• Application Number:
  US07/964,302
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 49/380, 49/467, 49/468, 49/469, 49/470, 49/471, 49/382, 52/738, 52/730.2, 403/4, 403/363
• US Class Current: 49/380
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/70 Sills; Thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/2316 used as a seal between the floor and the wing

Abstract

A reversible threshold is provided for positioning beneath a door mounted in a door frame. The threshold includes a base and a riser which is removably connected to the base and provides a sealing surface for the bottom edge of the door. The riser has a sloped upper surface to carry water away from the door. The base can be placed in one orientation for an in-swing door mounting and another position for an out-swing door mounting. The riser is also reversible so that it can be placed with the top surface sloping away from the door when the base is in either orientation.

Claims

1. A threshold comprising:

a base;

a riser coupled with the base and having a top surface which extends in a plane at an angle to a horizontal plane; and

interlocking members carried by the base and the riser for allowing the riser to be removably connected to the base in a first position with the top surface of the riser tilted in one direction in relation to a reference orientation of the base, said riser and interlocking members being constructed in a manner to permit the riser to be detached from the base and then reconnected to the base in a second position rotated from the first position with the top surface tilted in an opposite direction in relation to the reference orientation of the base.

2. The threshold as set forth in claim 1, wherein said interlocking members comprise a first channel and a first member releasably insertable within the channel.

3. The threshold as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first member comprises a spline having outwardly and upwardly extending flanges.

4. The threshold as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first channel is formed in said base and said first member is integral with the riser.

5. The threshold as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first channel extends substantially the length of the threshold.

6. The threshold as set forth in claim 5, wherein said interlocking members include a second channel and a second member spaced from said first channel and said first member.

7. The threshold as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first and second member each comprises a spline having outwardly extending flanges.

8. The threshold as set forth in claim 7, wherein said base includes means mounted on opposite ends of the base for coupling the base with a door hinge jamb and a door strike jamb.

9. The threshold as set forth in claim 7, wherein said base includes a first portion underlying said riser and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion.

10. A door and frame assembly comprising:

a hinge jamb;

a strike jamb spaced from the hinge jamb to provide a doorway opening;

a head connecting upper portions of the hinge jamb and the strike jamb;

a door mounted to the hinge jamb for swinging movement between an open position and a closed position;

a threshold extending between lower portions of the hinge jamb and the strike jamb, said threshold comprising a base, a riser coupled with the base and having a top surface which extends in a plane at an angle to a horizontal plane, and interlocking members carried by the base and the riser for allowing the riser to be removably connected to the base in a first position with the top surface of the riser tilted in one direction in relation to a reference orientation of the base, said riser and interlocking members being constructed in a manner to permit the riser to be detached from the base and then reconnected to the base in a second position rotated from the first position with the top surface tilted in an opposite direction in relation to the reference orientation of the base, said top surface of the riser being positioned to underlie and sealingly engage a bottom portion of the door when the door is in the closed position.

11. The door and frame assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said interlocking members comprise a first channel and a first member releasably insertable within the channel.

12. The door and frame assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first member comprises a spline having outwardly extending flanges.

13. The door and frame assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first channel is formed in said base and said first member is integral with the riser.

14. The door and frame assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first channel extends substantially the length of the threshold.

15. The door and frame assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said interlocking members include a second channel and a second member spaced from said first channel and said first member.

16. The door and frame assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein said first and second members each comprises a spline having outwardly and upwardly extending flanges.

17. The door and frame assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein said base includes means mounted on opposite ends of the base for coupling the base with a door hinge jamb and a door strike jamb.

18. The door and frame assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein said base includes a first portion underlying said riser and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion.

19. The door and frame assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein said base is constructed to be reversibly positioned with the second portion of the base extending away from the direction of opening of a door when it is mounted on the door frame in a configuration for opening inwardly and when it is mounted on the door frame in a configuration for opening outwardly.

20. A threshold comprising:

a base having a first portion and a second portion, said second portion extending outwardly from the first portion, said base being constructed to be reversibly positioned in a door frame with the second portion of the base extending away from the direction of opening of a door when the door is mounted on the frame for inward opening and when the door is mounted on the frame for outward opening;

a riser coupled with the base in a position overlying the first portion of the base and having a top surface which extends in a plane at an angle to a horizontal plane; and

interlocking members carried by the base and the riser for allowing the riser to be removably connected to the base in a first position with the top surface of the riser tilted in one direction in relation to a reference orientation of the base, said riser and interlocking members being constructed in a manner to permit the riser to be detached from the base and then reconnected to the base in a second position rotated from the first position with the top surface tilted in an opposite direction in relation to the reference orientation of the base, said interlocking members comprising spaced apart channels and spaced apart splines constructed for removable insertion within the channels, said splines having outwardly and upwardly extending flanges positioned for contacting portions of the channels for resisting removal of the splines after insertion into the channels.