Jamb and threshold assembly with watertight seals

• US 6,219,971 B1
• Filed: 07/13/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Endura Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Endura Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Headrick, J. Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US09/351,476
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 494/67, 494/68, 494/69, 494/71, 494/751, 495/04
• US Class Current: 49/469
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/70 Sills; Thresholds

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a watertight seal at the bottom corners of an entryway is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible pad at each of the bottom corners of the opening where the side jambs meet the threshold cap. The pads extend partially behind the weather strip and are formed with a projection that extends between the legs of the weather strip. The weather strip is thus reinforced and held firmly against the bottom corners of a closed door, the front of the threshold cap beneath the door, and the space therebetween. A secure watertight seal is thus created.

Claims

1. In an entryway having a hinged door with a free edge, a hinged edge, and an outside face;

a pair of spaced jambs having a longitudinal stop formed therealong and being spanned at their bottom ends by a threshold assembly having a sill and a threshold cap; and

a weather strip having a fixed leg and a flexible leg and being mounted to the spaced jambs extending along the stop, the flexible leg of the weather strip being compressed between the stop and the outside face of the door to form a seal when the door is closed;

a sealing pad for mounting to the bottom end of at least one of the jambs adjacent the threshold assembly, said sealing pad being formed of compressible material and comprising;

a main body having an exposed surface positioned to engage and be compressed and seal between the jamb and one of the edges of the door when the door is closed;

an extension projecting from said main body toward said stop to a position beneath the weather strip; and

a projection on said extension configured and positioned to project between the fixed leg and the flexible leg of the weather strip to reinforce and stiffen the weather strip at a lower corner of the entryway for enhancing the seal between the outside face of the door and the weather strip.

2. A sealing pad as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising an ear extending downwardly from said extension adjacent the threshold cap, said projection extending along said ear and projecting between the fixed and flexible legs of the weather strip in front of the threshold cap to compress the weather strip against and conform it to the threshold cap.

3. A sealing pad as claimed in claim 2 and wherein said main body is tapered.

4. A sealing pad as claimed in claim 3 and wherein said projection is bulbuous in shape.

5. A sealing pad as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising a second ear projecting upwardly from said extension such that said sealing pad is symmetrical for attachment to the bottom corner of either of the jambs.

6. An entryway comprising:

a pair of spaced vertical jambs having bottom ends and raised stops extending therealong;

a threshold extending between said bottom ends of said vertical jambs;

a door hingendly mounted to one of said vertical jambs, said door having vertical edges and a face, said face of said door abutting said stops when said door is closed;

a weather strip extending along each of said stops, said weather strip having a flexible leg that is captured and compressed between said face of said door and said stop when said door is closed to seal against said face of said door; and

a sealing pad attached to said bottom end of at least one of said vertical jambs adjacent said threshold, said sealing pad having a first portion positioned to seal against said vertical edge of said door and a second portion projecting behind said flexible leg of said weather strip to reinforce said weather strip for an enhanced seal against said face of said door when said door is closed.

7. An entryway as claimed in claim 6 and wherein said threshold includes a threshold cap positioned to underlie said door when closed, said threshold cap having an upper surface and a forward edge substantially aligned with said stops, the bottom end of said weather strip being disposed between said forward edge of said threshold cap and said stops, said sealing pad including a third portion projecting behind said flexible leg of said weather strip at said bottom end thereof to reinforce the seal between said bottom end of said weather strip and said forward edge of said threshold cap.

8. A corner seal for sealing a bottom corner of an entryway where a vertical jamb, a threshold assembly, and a closed door having a face and vertical edges, and where the vertical jamb is formed with a longitudinally extending stop along which a weather strip having a flexible leg is disposed for engaging and sealing against the face of the door when the door is closed, said corner seal comprising a generally flat body portion formed of compressible material and having an exposed face and an outside edge, said body portion being attachable to a bottom end of the vertical jamb adjacent the threshold assembly for sealing against a vertical edge of the closed door and a compressible lobe projecting from said exposed face along said outside edge of said body portion, said projection being sized and shaped to extend behind the flexible leg of the weather strip to reinforce the weather strip and enhance the seal between the weather strip and the face of the closed door at a bottom corner thereof.