Patent Application
20170218682
The present disclosure generally relates to an astragal for closing a space between two double doors, and more particularly relates to an astragal having a slidable lock block for securing the inactive door to the door sill or frame.
The present disclosure generally relates to an astragal for closing a space between two double doors, and more particularly relates to an astragal having a slidable lock block for securing the inactive door to the door sill or frame. Double doors are common in homes and buildings. Typically, a set of double doors includes an inactive door and an active door, which are positioned adjacent to each other with a common door frame. While both doors are capable of opening, the active door is generally used for routine ingress and egress, while the inactive door is generally kept closed and is only opened in special cases, such as when a wider opening is desired. Double doors are particularly common on the exterior walls of homes and buildings, where they may be mounted either as outswing doors, which open toward the exterior of the home or building, or inswing doors, which open toward the interior of the home or building.
In such double doors, the inactive door is usually associated with an astragal, which is a jamb-like structure extending along a vertical inside edge of the inactive door, opposite from a hinged edge. Embodiments of astragals are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,207 to Sanders, U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2005/0116424 by Sanders, and U.S. pat. Pub. No. 2010/0107503 to Chapman, each of which is incorporated by reference. The astragal may facilitate locking the inactive door in a closed position. For example, the astragal may house upper and/or lower locking bolts that are operatively connected to a slidable lock block, lever, or other actuator. When the slideable lock block is moved into a locked position, the bolts may extend into corresponding wells in the door frame to lock the inactive door against the door frame. When the slidable lock block is moved into an unlocked position, the bolts may retract from the wells to unlock the inactive door.
The astragal may also facilitate locking the active door against the inactive door. For example, the astragal may have a flange that forms a door stop for capturing the active door as it closes. The astragal may also have an opening surrounded by a strike plate, and the active door may have a door knob with a bolt. When the active door is closed, the bolt of the active door may enter the opening in the astragal to hold the active door closed against the astragal.
The astragal may also form a seal between the two doors when the active door is closed, to reduce the passage of air, light, water, debris, and pests into the home or building. For example, the astragal may provide a mounting surface for a sealing member such as weather stripping.
One common problem is that, even if the astragal provides a sealing member such as weather stripping, there is still a potential security problem presented by double doors, particularly outswing double doors on the exterior wall of a home or building. Specifically, on outswing double doors, a small gap may be accessible between the astragal and the active door from the exterior of the home or building. On traditional astragal assemblies, such a gap could provide access from the exterior of the home to actuate a slidable lock block, moving it from a locked to an unlocked position, and thereby gaining illicit access to the home or building.
One solution to this problem is to use an astragal which houses a lever which can be used to actuate the locking bolt or bolts. Such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,494,163 to Montes de Oca. The length of such a lever requires several inches of space between the vertical inside edge of the active door and the astragal to rotate the lever and actuate the locking bolt or bolts between the locked and unlocked positions, and thus prevents actuation of the locking bolt or bolts from the exterior of a home or building when the double doors are closed. One issue with the lever-actuated locking bolt is that these bolts can only be extended a limited distance into the door frame, typically only about three-quarters of an inch, as compared to locking bolts which are actuated by slidable locks, which can extend up to about one and one half inches into the door frame. Because the lever-actuated locking bolts do not extend as far as locking bolts actuated by slidable locks, astragals with lever-actuated locking bolts can withstand less force than astragals with slidable locks. Another issue with the lever-actuated locking bolt is that it is significantly (potentially more than 50%) more expensive than a slidable lock.
Another solution to this problem is to use a slidable lock, but to add an additional security cover to cover the gap between the astragal and the active door on the exterior of the home or building. One issue with the separate security cover is the significant added cost, which is often even more expensive than a lever-actuated locking bolt. Another issue with the separate security cover is that it prevents additional aesthetic challenges. For example, such security covers must be manufactured to match the textures and color of the double doors, be paintable, and have a generally pleasing shape.
From the above, it is apparent that a need exists for an astragal assembly which utilizes a slidable lock mechanism, yet which prevents actuation of the slidable lock mechanism when the double doors are closed. This need is particularly apparent on outswing double doors, where the astragal assembly may use a slidable lock mechanism, yet prevent actuation of the slidable lock mechanism from the exterior of a home or building.
Thus, there is provided an astragal assembly for use with a double door installation that includes an active door and an inactive door having substantially abutting generally vertical inside edge portions when the doors are closed, said astragal assembly comprising:
Described below is an improved astragal assembly which uses a slidable lock block, yet prevents actuation of the locking bolts when the double doors are closed. The astragal assembly is intended for use with a double door installation that includes an active door and an inactive door having substantially abutting generally vertical inside edge portions when the doors are closed, and comprises: an astragal strip extending along the vertical inside edge portion of the inactive door, a door stop on said astragal strip for engaging the active door when closed, a slidable lock block mounted in the astragal strip which comprises a projecting locking bolt capable of immobilizing the astragal strip and the inactive door, and a slidable lock block with a lock block cover which inhibits actuation of the slidable lock. The slidable lock block cover is selectively movable between an open position, wherein the slidable lock and projecting locking bolt may be moved between a locked and an unlocked position, and alternatively, a closed position, wherein the slidable lock block and projecting locking bolt immobilized such that they cannot be moved between the unlocked and locked positions.
Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosed astragal with covered sliding lock will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. All such additional systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages are intended to be included within the description and are intended to be protected by the accompanying claims.
The present disclosure may be better understood with reference to the following figures. Matching reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the figures, and components in the figures are not necessarily to scale.
Described below are embodiments of an astragal assembly with a covered slidable lock block and like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawing figures. The astragal assembly may be associated with an inactive door of a double door set. The covered slidable lock block may be positioned on a lower or upper end of the astragal assembly adjacent to a sill and/or the door frame. The slidable lock block may be actuated between an unlocked position, wherein a locking bolt is contained within the astragal assembly, and a locked position, wherein a locking bolt extends into the door frame and/or door sill. The slidable lock block has a cover which may be moved between an open position, wherein the slidable lock block can be actuated between the locked and unlocked positions, and a closed position, wherein the slidable lock is immobilized and cannot be actuated between the locked and unlocked positions.
In certain embodiments, the slidable lock block cover has a hinge such that the lock block cover can be rotated on the hinge between the open and closed positions. In certain embodiments, the hinged slide lock block cover opens towards the active door, such that closing the active door can move the hinged slidable lock block cover into the closed position.
The astragal assembly 2 extends along the inside free edge 20A of the inactive door 4A. The astragal assembly 2 may include an elongated astragal jamb 22, which may be, for example, an extruded rigid member formed from aluminum, vinyl, fiberglass, plastic or wood, among others or combinations thereof. The astragal jamb 22 may be coupled to the inside free edge 20A of the inactive door 4A and may move with inactive door 4A. The inactive door 4A may be immobilized against the door frame 6 through the use of a slide lock mechanism 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the slide lock mechanism 24 is positioned on a lower end of the astragal assembly 2, although it will be understood that in other embodiments, slide lock mechanisms 24 could be placed on the upper end of astragal assembly 2, or on both the upper and lower ends of the astragal assembly 2.
With reference to
In this embodiment, the slidable lock block cover 46 comprises two portions; a frame portion 48, which may be connected to the astragal assembly 2A, and a cover portion 50, which is connected to the frame portion 48 through a hinge 52. The frame portion 48 may at least partially or completely surround the cover portion 50. Furthermore, according to some embodiments, the cover portion 50 of the lock block cover 46 may be substantially planar and rectangular or oval in shape, and comprise an outer surface which faces the vertical inside edge portion 20A of the closed active door 4A, and an inner surface which faces the slidable lock block 38. The cover portion 50 may selectively rotate on the hinge 52 between a closed position, wherein the cover portion 50 is substantially flush with the astragal strip 28 and the cover portion 50 blocks access to the slide lock block 38 and inhibits actuation of the projecting locking bolt 40 with the actuator 42 between the locked and unlocked positions, and, alternatively, an open position, wherein the slidable lock block 38 is accessible for movement of the projecting locking bolt 40 with the actuator 42 between the locked and unlocked positions. While this embodiment depicts a pin and barrel hinge 52, it should be understood that various means could be used to effect a moveable cover portion 50, such as a living hinge or a sliding mechanism.
The cover portion 50 may also comprise a finger pull mechanism 54 to enable a user to move the cover portion 50 between the open and closed positions. The cover portion 50 may also comprise at least one actuator stop 56 on its face which protrudes from the cover portion 50 and is configured such that, when the cover portion 50 is closed the actuator stop 56 protrudes toward the actuator 42, and inhibits actuation of the projecting locking bolt 40 by the actuator between the locked and unlocked positions. According to an embodiment, the lock block cover 46 has an inner surface and the at least one actuator stop 56 protrudes from a center portion of the hinged lock block cover 46 inner surface and is configured such that, when the lock block cover 46 is in the closed position, the at least one actuator stop 56 inhibits actuation of the projecting locking bolt 40 between the locked and unlocked positions.
In the illustrated embodiment, the projecting locking bolt 40 is positioned on a lower end of the astragal assembly 2A, and the receiving well 44 is formed in the lower sill 14. In other embodiments, projecting locking bolts 40 may be positioned on lower and upper ends of the astragal assembly 2A, and corresponding receiving wells 44 may be formed in both the lower sill 14 and upper jamb head 10. In such embodiments, the projecting locking bolts 40 may employ a shared actuator or independent actuators. In still other embodiments, projecting locking bolt 40 may be positioned on the upper end of the astragal assembly 2A but not on the lower end of the astragal assembly 2A, in which case the actuator 42 may extend or retract the locking bolt 40 from a receiving well 44 in the upper jamb head 10 alone.
With reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the projecting locking bolt 40 is positioned on a lower end of the astragal assembly 2A, and the receiving well 44 is formed in the lower sill 14. In other embodiments, projecting locking bolts 40 may be positioned on lower and upper ends of the astragal assembly 2A, and corresponding receiving wells 44 may be formed in both the lower sill 14 and upper jamb head 10. In such embodiments, the projecting locking bolts 40 may employ a shared actuator or independent actuators. In still other embodiments, projecting locking bolt 40 may be positioned on the upper end of the astragal assembly 2A but not on the lower end of the astragal assembly 2A, in which case the actuator 42 may extend or retract the locking bolt 40 from a receiving well 44 in the upper jamb head 10 alone.
With reference to
Therefore according to an embodiment, the slidable lock block 38 can be vertically mounted in a bottom end of the astragal strip 28, and the slidable lock block 38 can comprise the downwardly projecting locking bolt 40 configured such that, when the lock block is in the locked position, the projecting locking bolt 40 immobilizes the astragal strip 28 and inactive door 4A by extending downwardly from a bottom edge of the inactive door 4A, and, when the slidable lock block 38 is in the unlocked position, the projecting locking bolt 40 is contained within the astragal strip 28. Alternatively, in an embodiment not shown, the slidable lock block 38 is vertically mounted in a top end of the astragal strip 28, and the lock block 38 comprises an upwardly projecting locking bolt 40 configured such that, when the slidable lock block 38 is in the locked position, the projecting locking bolt 40 immobilizes the astragal strip 28 and inactive door 4A by extending upwardly from an upper edge of the inactive door 4A, and, when the slidable lock block 38 is in the unlocked position, the projecting locking bolt 40 is contained within the astragal strip 28. In accordance with yet another embodiment not shown, the astragal assembly 2 may comprise both such an upper and lower slide lock mechanism 24.
With reference to
In this embodiment, no slidable lock block cover 46 is pictured, although it would be understood from the disclosures above that a slidable lock block cover 46 could be inserted into the longitudinal channels 58A and 58B on either side of the slidable lock block.
In the illustrated embodiment, the projecting locking bolt 40 is positioned on a lower end of the astragal assembly 2B, and the receiving well 44 is formed in the lower sill 14. In other embodiments, projecting locking bolts 40 may be positioned on lower and upper ends of the astragal assembly 2B, and corresponding receiving wells 44 may be formed in both the lower sill 14 and upper jamb head 10. In such embodiments, the projecting locking bolts 40 may employ a shared actuator or independent actuators. In still other embodiments, projecting locking bolt 40 may be positioned on the upper end of the astragal assembly 2B but not on the lower end of the astragal assembly 2B, in which case the actuator 42 may extend or retract the locking bolt 40 from a receiving well 44 in the upper jamb head 10 alone.
With reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the projecting locking bolt 40 is positioned on a lower end of the astragal assembly 2B, and the receiving well 44 is formed in the lower sill 14. In other embodiments, projecting locking bolts 40 may be positioned on lower and upper ends of the astragal assembly 2B, and corresponding receiving wells 44 may be formed in both the lower sill 14 and upper jamb head 10. In such embodiments, the projecting locking bolts 40 may employ a shared actuator or independent actuators. In still other embodiments, projecting locking bolt 40 may be positioned on the upper end of the astragal assembly 2B but not on the lower end of the astragal assembly 2B, in which case the actuator 42 may extend or retract the locking bolt 40 from a receiving well 44 in the upper jamb head 10 alone.
With reference to
While the invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.
