Patio door assembly with extruded plastics components

• US 6,318,036 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deceuninck Nv (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Dayton Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Cox, Dennis D., Schmidt, Donald F., Siudzinski, Paul A., Hauberg, Jonathan C., Stammen, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): A, PHI DIEU TRAN
• Application Number:
  US09/439,275
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 522/07, 522/045.1, 522/045.7, 522/045.8, 522/047, 165/54, 493/65, 493/66, 494/09, 495/04
• US Class Current: 52/207
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/28 Hollow frames E06B1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/524 Mullions; Transoms
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/22 Hollow frames E06B3/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/9636 for frame members having longitudinal screw receiving channels

Abstract

Sections of extruded rigid plastics material form a rectangular main frame including a pair of vertical jamb members, a top head member and a bottom sill member connected by welded mitered corners. An extruded plastic astragal member is spaced between the jamb members and has laterally projecting stop portions and internal walls which are rigidly connected by long screws to the head and sill members. A fixed door panel and a pivotal door panel have extruded plastic rectangular frames with welded mitered corner joints and which surround corresponding glazing panels. A continuous gear hinge has an inactive leaf secured to the astragal member and a slightly shorter active leaf which covers an edge portion of the pivotal door panel. The door panel frames have internal walls which cooperate with the welded corner joints to maintain each frame flat, and long screws positively connect the leaves of the gear hinge to the pivotal door panel frame and the astragal member.

Claims

1. A patio door assembly comprising a rectangular main frame including a pair of vertical jamb members rigidly connected by a top head member and a bottom sill member, said main frame further including a vertical astragal member spaced between said jamb members and rigidly connected to said head and sill members, a first door panel within said main frame and including a rectangular door panel frame supporting a glass panel, a second door panel within said main frame and including a rectangular door panel frame supporting a glass panel, said astragal member and each of said door panel frames and said members of said main frame comprising extrusions of rigid plastics material, said main frame and each of said door panel frames having welded mitered corner joints, a hinge having an inactive leaf secured to said main frame and an active leaf secured to said frame of said second door panel, said, first door panel frame having spaced inner walls defining a peripherally extending and laterally outwardly facing external groove, and a snap-in rigid spacer member retained within said groove.

2. A patio door assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said innerwalls of said first door panel frame includes opposing ribs projecting inwardly from said inner walls into said groove, and said spacer member comprises a spacer channel having U-shaped portions engaging said ribs with a snap-fit connection.

3. In a patio door assembly including a rectangular main frame having a pair of vertical jamb members rigidly connected by a top head member and a bottom sill member, a separate vertical astragal member spaced between said jamb members and rigidly connected to said head and sill members, a first door panel within said main frame and said first door panel including a rectangular door panel frame supporting a glass panel, a second door panel within said main frame and said second door panel including a rectangular door panel frame supporting a glass panel, said astragal member and each of said door panel frames and said members of said main frame comprising extrusions of rigid plastics material, and said main frame and each of said door panel frames having welded mitered corner joints the improvement wherein each of said door panel frames includes elongated frame members each having parallel spaced outer side walls and inner walls spaced substantially parallel to said side walls, a first plurality of spaced internal walls extending laterally between said side walls and said inner walls and integrally connecting said side walls to said inner walls, a second plurality of spaced internal walls extending laterally between said inner walls and integrally connecting said innerwalls, an elongated continuous gear hinge extending from said head member to said sill member, said gear hinge having an inactive leaf secured to said astragal member and an active leat secured by fasteners threaded into said internal walls of an adjacent said frame member of said second door panel, and said active leaf of said gear hinge covering an edge surface of said second door panel frame from said head member to said sill member.

4. A patio door assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said inactive leaf of said gear hinge is longer than said active leaf of said gear hinge and precisely positions said second door panel in spaced relation between said head and sill members.

5. A patio door assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said astragal member includes parallel spaced opposite side walls integrally connected by interior and exterior end walls, stop portions integral with said side walls and projecting laterally outwardly from said side walls adjacent said frames of said door panels, a plurality of spaced internal walls extending laterally of said side walls of said astragal member and integrally connecting said side walls, and said internal walls spaced adjacent said interior and exterior end walls of said astragal member having longitudinally extending portions defining holes receiving vertical threaded fasteners extending through said head and sill members.

6. A patio door assembly as defined in claim 3 and including a metal approach member mounted on said sill member, said approach member having an upwardly projecting horizontal track extending between said jamb members and adapted to support a sliding screen door, said approach member including an inner portion defining a groove, and a flexible door seal projecting into said groove.

7. A patio door assembly as defined in claim 3 and including an angular insert strip attached by a snap-tit to exterior portions of said head and jamb members to define a channel adapted to receive a sliding screen door.

8. A patio door assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said door panel frames defines a peripherally extending and laterally outwardly facing external groove, and a rigid spacer member extending within said groove.

9. A patio door assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said groove in each said door panel frame is defined by spaced inner walls having opposing ribs projecting into said groove, and said spacer member comprises a spacer channel having U-shaped portions engaging said ribs with a snap-fit connection.