Patent Application
20250154778
The present disclosure relates to a door installation apparatus, and more specifically to a door installation apparatus for aligning and leveling of door jambs.
To fit a doorjamb properly, it is important that vertical jamb supports are parallel to each other to enable secure attachment of a door with the door jamb. Stated another way, to properly fit the door jamb, the opposing vertical jamb supports should be separated by predetermined equal distances throughout the length of the vertical jamb supports. In a scenario where a distance between the opposing vertical jamb supports at a base side is greater than a distance between the opposing vertical jamb supports at a top side, the door may not fix properly in the door jamb.
In addition, it is imperative that the vertical jamb supports and horizontal jamb supports should be in a single plane to securely attach the door to the door jamb. Further, it is important that each jamb support should be leveled relative to ground. Generally, fitting a door jamb requires a plurality of tools for precise doorjamb alignment and leveling. In addition, fitting the door jamb may require a lot of time and effort.
Thus, there is a need for a device/apparatus that may assist a user to precisely align and level the door jamb.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.
The present disclosure is directed towards an apparatus for installing a door jamb. Specifically, the present disclosure is directed towards an apparatus that may facilitate in leveling and squaring of the door jamb. The apparatus may include a body portion, a first extendable arm and a second extendable arm. The first extendable arm may be disposed at a body portion distal part and the second extendable arm may be disposed at a body portion proximal part. The first extendable arm and the second extendable arm may be configured to slide between a retracted position and an extended position to adjust an apparatus length. The apparatus may further include a first fastening component (e.g., a first thumb screw) and a second fastening component (e.g., a second thumb screw). A user may use the first thumb screw and the second thumb screw to secure the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm on the body portion at the retracted position, the extended position or any location between the retracted position and the extended position.
In some aspects, the apparatus may further include a first clamp and a second clamp configured to attach the apparatus to the doorjamb. The first clamp may be attached to a first extendable arm distal end and the second clamp may be attached to a second extendable arm proximal end. In some aspects, the first clamp and the second clamp may be attached to a first extendable arm back surface and a second extendable arm back surface, respectively. Further, in an exemplary aspect, the first clamp and the second clamp may be C-shaped clamps or U-shaped clamps.
In further aspects, the apparatus may include a first angle finding device and a second angle finding device configured to determine an angle of the apparatus relative to the ground. The first angle finding device and the second angle finding device may be a digital angle finding device having an in-built display screen and a power source. The display screen may be configured to display an angle of the first angle finding device (or the second angle finding device) with respect to the ground. A user may view the readings from display screens associated with the first angle finding device and the second angle finding device to determine an angle of the apparatus with respect to the ground. Based on the readings, the user may adjust apparatus position such that the apparatus may be parallel to the ground, and the apparatus may be levelled.
In some aspects, the first angle finding device may be attached to the first extendable arm distal end and the second angle finding device may be attached to the second extendable arm proximal end. In further aspects, the first angle finding device and the second angle finding device may be attached to a first extendable arm front surface and a second extendable arm front surface, respectively. The first angle finding device may be disposed opposite to the first clamp and the second angle finding device may be disposed opposite to the second clamp.
In additional aspects, the first angle finding device and the second angle finding device may include a plurality of laser light sources. For example, the first angle finding device and the second angle finding device may include a first laser light source configured to output a laser light in a first direction (e.g., vertically upwards when the apparatus may be disposed parallel to the ground) perpendicular to a body portion longitudinal axis. In addition, the first angle finding device and the second angle finding device may include a second laser light source configured to output a laser light in a second direction (e.g., vertically downwards when the apparatus may be disposed parallel to the ground) perpendicular to the body portion longitudinal axis. The first and second light sources facilitate in squaring and aligning the door jamb.
The present disclosure discloses a door installation apparatus that facilitates in leveling and squaring a doorjamb. The apparatus may be used to install door jambs of any size (e.g., due to extendable arms). A user may perform leveling and squaring of the door jamb without requiring any additional equipment. Further, the apparatus saves user's time and effort in properly fixing the door jamb, and also prevents wastage of door making materials.
These and other advantages of the present disclosure are provided in detail herein.
The disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the disclosure are shown, and not intended to be limiting.
The door installation apparatus 100 may include an elongated body portion 102. The elongated body portion 102 may be of any size and may be made of any material. For example, the elongated body portion 102 may be shaped as a hollow cuboid. Further, the elongated body portion 102 may be made of materials such as wood, steel, plastic, aluminum, a combination thereof, and/or the like. Elongated body portion dimensions may be based on user requirements and/or door jamb dimensions on which the door installation apparatus 100 may be required to be used.
The door installation apparatus 100 may further include a first extendable arm 104a and a second extendable arm 104b. The first extendable arm 104a may be disposed (and slidably connected) at an elongated body portion distal part and the second extendable arm 104b may be disposed (and slidably connected) at an elongated body portion proximal part. In some aspects, the body portion 102 may include a channel 106 (or a guiding path or recess) in an interior portion of the body portion 102. The channel 106 may be configured to receive the first extendable arm 104a and the second extendable arm 104b inside the body portion 102, when the first extendable arm 104a and the second extendable arm 104b may be slid into the interior portion of the body portion 102.
The first extendable arm 104a and the second extendable arm 104b may be configured to slide between a retracted position and an extended position (e.g., via the channel 106) relative to the elongated body portion 102. Specifically, the first extendable arm 104a and the second extendable arm 104b may be slidable arms that may be configured to slide between the retracted position and the extended position. In the retracted position, the first extendable arm 104a and the second extendable arm 104b may be inside (e.g., completely inside) the interior portion of the body portion 102. In the extended position, the first extendable arm 104a and the second extendable arm 104b may be outside the body portion 102 (e.g., outside the interior portion of the body portion 102), as depicted in
In some aspects, the door installation apparatus 100 may include a first fastening component 108a configured to secure/lock the first extendable arm 104a in the elongated body portion 102 in either the retracted position or the extended position (or any intermediate position between the retracted position and the extended position). In addition, the door installation apparatus 100 may include a second fastening component 108b configured to secure/lock the second extendable arm 104b in the elongated body portion 102 in either the retracted position or the extended position (or any intermediate position between the retracted position and the extended position). In an exemplary aspect, the first and second fastening components 108a, 108b may be thumb screws, or any other similar fastening components that may be attached to respective first and second extendable arms 104a, 104b.
In some aspects, a user 202 (as shown in
In some aspects, the door installation apparatus 100 may further include a first angle finding device 110a and a second angle finding device 110b. The first angle finding device 110a and the second angle finding device 110b may be digital angle finding devices that may include respective display screens 112a and 112b, power source (not shown), inertial measurement units (IMUs, not shown), and/or the like. The first angle finding device 110a and the second angle finding device 110b may be configured to determine angle of the door installation apparatus 100 with respect to ground/floor. Stated another way, the first angle finding device 110a and the second angle finding device 110b may be configured to detect if the door installation apparatus 100 may be leveled/parallel with respect to the ground, or inclined relative to the ground.
In some aspects, the first angle finding device 110a may be attached to a first extendable arm distal end, and the second angle finding device 110b may be attached to a second extendable arm proximal end. In some aspects, the first angle finding device 110a may be attached to a front surface of a distal end of the first extendable arm 104a and the second angle finding device 110b may be attached to a front surface of a proximal end of the second extendable arm 104b.
In some aspects, the first angle finding device 110a and the second angle finding device 110b may be integrated to (or permanently attached with) the first extendable arm 104a and the second extendable arm 104b, respectively. Stated another way, the first angle finding device 110a and the second angle finding device 110b may be a built-in unit. In other aspects, the first angle finding device 110a and the second angle finding device 110b may be removably attached to the first extendable arm 104a and the second extendable arm 104b, respectively. In some aspects, the first angle finding device 110a and the second angle finding device 110b may include batteries that may be rechargeable.
The door installation apparatus 100 may further include an attachment mechanism that may enable the door installation apparatus 100 to removably attach with the doorjamb 302 (e.g., from a door jamb front/back surface, as shown in
In some aspects, the first clamp 114a and the second clamp 114b may be integrated to the first extendable arm 104a and the second extendable arm 104b, respectively. In further aspects, the first clamp 114a and the second clamp 114b may be removably attached to the first extendable arm 104a and the second extendable arm 104b, respectively.
In some aspects, the user 202 may be engage the first clamp 114a (and/or the second clamp 114b) with the door jamb 302 and lock the first clamp 114a (and/or the second clamp 114b) on the door jamb 302 using another thumb screw 306 (to attach the door installing apparatus 100 to the doorjamb 302, as shown in
In further aspects, each of the first angle finding device 110a and the second angle finding device 110b may include a first laser light source 402a and a second laser light source 402b (as shown in
In further aspects, the elongated body portion 102 may include a plurality of laser light sources (not shown) that may be disposed along an elongated body portion length. The plurality of laser light sources may facilitate in squaring the door jamb 302 or to ensure that the doorjamb 302 is in plane.
The method 700 starts at step 702. At step 704, the method 700 may include providing the door installation apparatus 100 for installing the doorjamb 302. As described above, the door installation apparatus 100 may facilitate in leveling and squaring the doorjamb 302.
At step 706, the method 700 may include attaching the door installation apparatus 100 between opposite edges (e.g., opposing vertical jamb supports) of the door jamb 302. In some aspects, the user 202 may attach the first extendable arm distal end (as an example) to the doorjamb 302 via the first clamp 114a. The user 202 may then slide the second extendable arm 104b to move the second extendable arm proximal end from the retracted position to the extended/intermediate position (e.g., by unlocking and locking respective thumb screw), such that the distance between the two opposing vertical support jambs at the door jamb top side/portion may be equal to the distance between the two opposing vertical support jambs at the door jamb bottom side/portion to make a square door jamb. The user 202 may then attach the second extendable arm proximal end to the door jamb 302 via the second clamp 114b.
At step 708, the method 700 may include leveling the door installation apparatus 100 with respect to the ground. In some aspects, when the door installation apparatus 100 may be attached to the doorjamb 302 (via the first clamp 114a and the second clamp 114b), the user 202 may turn-on or activate the first angle finding device 110a and the second angle finding device 110b. The user 202 may then view the readings on the display screens 112a and 112b associated with the first angle finding device 110a and the second angle finding device 110b to determine whether the first angle finding device 110a and/or the second angle finding device 110b may be disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the ground.
When the readings of both the first angle finding device 110a and the second angle finding device 110b may be zero, the door installation apparatus 100 may be parallel to the ground. Stated another way, when the readings displayed on both the display screens 112a and 112b may be zero, the door installation apparatus 100 may be leveled. In another scenario, when the readings displayed on the display screen 112a and/or the display screen 112b may be non-zero, the door installation apparatus 100 may be not parallel/leveled with respect to the ground. In such scenarios, the user 202 may detach one end of the door installation apparatus 100 (such as the second extendable arm proximal end) by unlocking associated clamp, and move the detached end up or down to position the door installation apparatus 100 parallel to the ground and lock the detached end again with the door jamb 302 via the associated clamp. The user 202 may then check the readings on the display screens 112a, 112b again to ensure that the door installation apparatus 100 is parallel to the ground. In some aspects, the user 202 may also use the first laser light source 402a and the second laser light source 402b to ensure that the door jamb 302 is square.
At step 710, the method 700 may include installing the doorjamb 302 (e.g., affixing to the ground) when the door installation apparatus 100 may be parallel to the ground. The door jamb 302 may be installed such that the door installation apparatus 100 may remain parallel to the ground even after the door jamb 302 may be installed. At step 712, the method 700 may include removing the door installation apparatus 100 after the door jamb 302 is installed. For example, the user 202 may remove the door installation apparatus 100 when the doorjamb 302 may be securely installed in the ground.
At step 714, the method 700 ends.
In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, which illustrate specific implementations in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
It should also be understood that the word “example” as used herein is intended to be non-exclusionary and non-limiting in nature. More particularly, the word “example” as used herein indicates one among several examples, and it should be understood that no undue emphasis or preference is being directed to the particular example being described.
With regard to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claims.
Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent upon reading the above description. The scope should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the technologies discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the application is capable of modification and variation.
All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their ordinary meanings as understood by those knowledgeable in the technologies described herein unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “said,” etc., should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.
