The present invention is directed to a hollow core door having a perimeter frame and a pair of reverse molded wood composite door skins having an exterior surface and an interior surface secured to opposing sides of the frame. At least one of the skins has an outer planar area, an inner planar area, and an asymmetric profile surrounding the inner planar area, and interconnecting and integral with the outer planar area and the inner planar area. The asymmetric profile area has a convex portion extending outwardly from and relative to the plane of the outer planar area.
Man-made boards, such as fiberboard, e.g., medium density fiberboard; hardboard; chipboard; oriented strand board-fiberboard composites; particle board; oriented strand board-particle board composites; and the like, may be formed into articles having contoured portions simulating stiles, rails, panels, or other desired features. Such articles may be formed to include one or more interior depressions or raised contours simulating panels or other decorative features. Such formed depressions and contoured portions may replicate a natural wood paneled door.
With respect to conventional doors, molded door skins may be adhesively secured to a wood frame support structure to produce a finished door. Rails and stiles may also be used to provide additional structural support for the door. Such doors are well known in the art, and provide consumers with an aesthetically appealing, yet cost efficient alternative to traditional, solid wood doors.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,055 to Crittenden discloses an asymmetrically formed door and a method of making the door. The asymmetry allows the door portion inwardly from its perimeter frame to warp in response to temperature and humidity conditions without warping the perimeter frame. Accordingly, the door perimeter frame remains in its original planar configuration. The disclosed door comprises a pair of asymmetrically configured skins secured to a perimeter frame, with a foam disposed between the skins. Generally, the door is used as an exterior door. U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,087 to Green discloses a door having a composite construction with a conventional perimeter frame and a pair of molded fiberglass skins secured to the perimeter frame. Within the skins and the perimeter frame is a plastic foam core. U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,808 to Costello discloses a door having a perimeter frame, which is sandwiched between formed metal stampings or body panels. Wood panels or veneers may then be adhesively secured to the metal stampings to provide a wood appearance. Several different exterior configurations are disclosed.
The present invention provides a door comprising a conventional perimeter frame and a pair of reverse molded wood composite skins. The molded skins include asymmetrical configurations and fill elements between selected portions of the skins. The fill portions are disposed adjacent to the asymmetrical elements so as not to interfere with any warping of the asymmetrical elements due to temperature or humidity conditions.
The present invention relates to a hollow core door comprising a perimeter frame, and first and second reverse molded door skins. Each of the skins has an exterior surface and an interior surface secured to opposing sides of the frame. At least one of the skins has an outer planar area, an inner planar area, and an asymmetric profile surrounding the inner planar area and interconnecting and integral with the outer planar area and the inner planar area. The asymmetric profile area has a convex portion extending outwardly from and relative to the plane of the outer planar area.
The present invention is also directed to a molded door skin comprising an outer planar area, an inner planar area, and an asymmetric profile area surrounding the inner planar area and interconnecting and integral with the outer planar area and the inner planar area. The asymmetric profile area has a convex portion extending outwardly from and relative to the plane of the outer planar area.
A double skin door apparatus is provided, comprising a door frame having opposing sides. A first door skin is secured to one side of the frame. The first door skin has a first asymmetrical profile including a convex portion and a concave portion. A second door skin is secured to an opposing side of the frame, and is spaced from the first door skin. The second door skin has a second asymmetrical profile including a convex portion and a concave portion. The convex portions of the first and second door skins define a first distance, and the concave portions of the first and second door skins define a second distance, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. A plate is disposed between the first and second door skins.
A door comprises a perimeter frame having a first face and a second face. The frame has a first width. A first skin having a perimeter planar portion is secured to the first face of the frame. The first skin has an upper convex portion and an upper inner planar portion, a lower convex portion and a lower inner planar portion spaced from the upper convex portion and the upper inner planar portion. A second skin has a perimeter planar portion secured to the second face of the frame. The second skin has an upper convex portion and an upper inner planar portion, a lower convex portion and a lower inner planar portion spaced from the upper convex portion and the upper inner planar portion on the second skin. The upper convex portions of the first and second skins and the inner planar portions of the first and second skins are aligned with each other. Preferably the door skins are molded from a wood composite, such as medium density fiberboard, chip board, flake board, oriented strand board, and the like.
Objects of the present invention include the following: to provide a new and useful door apparatus; to provide a new and useful interior door apparatus; to provide a new and useful door apparatus having a pair of exterior skins secured to a perimeter frame; to provide a new and useful door having a pair of asymmetrically configured outer skins secured to a frame; to provide a new and useful door apparatus including a pair of asymmetrically configured outer skins secured to a perimeter frame in a mirror image orientation; and to provide a new and useful door apparatus having a pair of outer skins having asymmetrical elements secured to a perimeter frame and plates secured to the skins and disposed inwardly adjacent to the asymmetrical elements.
As best shown in
Preferably, stiles 14, 16, rails 18, 20, and intermediate rail 22 are made of wood or wood product. Door 10 is particularly well suited as an interior door, and may be referred to as a hollow core door. Door 10 further comprises two skins 30, 50. Each of skins 30, 50 has an exterior visible surface 31, 51 and an interior surface 33, 53 for securing to opposite sides of frame 12, as best shown in
Skin 30 includes an outer planar area 32. Inwardly from outer planar area 32 is an asymmetrical profile P formed in skin 30. Asymmetrical profile P includes a convex portion 34 and a concave portion 36. The particular configuration of convex portion 34 and concave portion 36 may vary depending on consumer preference. Inwardly from concave portion 36 is an inner planar area 38. It can be seen from
Door 10 may include more than one asymmetrical profile portion P. For example, door 10 shown in
The particular configuration of asymmetric profiles P, P2, or their connecting elements, may vary from that illustrated in
Skin 50 is substantially identical to skin 30, as best shown in
Skins 30, 50 are secured to opposing sides of frame 12 at the interior surface 33, 53 of outer planar areas 32, 52, respectively, and to the interior surface 33, 53 corresponding to an intermediate rail (or lock rail) 22. Skins 30 and 50 are preferably molded from a wood composite, such as medium density fiberboard. The skins 30 and 50 preferably are identical. In one embodiment of the present invention, a plate element 70 is disposed between and secured to interior surface 33 of inner planar portions 38, 58 of skins 30, 50, respectively, as best shown in
As best shown in
In addition, the caliper of skin 30 at convex portion 34 is less than the caliper of skin 30 at outer planar area 32 or inner planar area 38. Convex portion 34 extends outwardly beyond the plane of outer planar area 32 relative to exterior surface 31. Concave portion 36 extends inwardly from the plane of outer planar area 32 relative to exterior surface 31. Inner planar area 38 lies on a plane spaced from the plane of outer planar area 32, and is preferably recessed from outer planar area 32, as shown in
Similarly, the caliper of skin 50 at convex portion 54 is less than the caliper of skin 50 at outer planar area 52 or inner planar area 58. Convex portion 54 extends outwardly beyond the plane of outer planar area 52 relative to exterior surface 51. Concave portion 56 extends inwardly from the plane of outer planar area 52 relative to exterior surface 51. Inner planar area 58 lies on a plane spaced from the plane of outer planar area 52, and is preferably recessed from outer planar area 52. Concave portion 56 may also extend inwardly from the plane of inner planar area 58, as with concave portion 36 and thereby defining distance d3.
The configuration and alignment of the lower asymmetric profile P2, with respect to the convex and concave portions, is substantially the same as that discussed above for the upper asymmetric profile P with respective convex and concave portions, and the inner planar portion with its plate, aligned accordingly. It should be understood that the configuration of lower asymmetric profile P2 may vary depending on consumer preference.
As best shown in
Each of skins 130 includes a perimeter planar area 132, which may be secured to perimeter frame 112. Skin 130 includes a pair of upper asymmetric profiles 134, 144, a pair of intermediate asymmetric profiles 154, 164, and a pair of lower asymmetric profiles 174, 184. Note that asymmetric profiles 134, 144, 154, 164, 174 and 184 may differ in size and shape. For example, as shown in
As described above for door 10, each asymmetric profile on door 110 includes a closed loop convex portion integral with and connected to a closed loop concave portion. Each concave portion is disposed about an inner planar portion. For example, profile 134 includes a closed loop convex portion 136 connected to a closed loop concave portion 138, and an enclosed inner planar portion 140. Profile 144 includes a closed loop convex portion 146 connected to a closed loop concave portion 148, and an enclosed inner planar portion 150.
Intermediate asymmetric profiles 154, 164 include, respectively, closed loop convex portions 156, 166, integral with and connected to closed loop concave portions 158, 168, and enclosed inner planar portions 160, 170. Lower asymmetric profiles 174, 184 include closed loop convex portions 176, 186, integral with and connected to closed loop concave portions 178, 188, and disposed about or enclosing inner planar portions 180, 190, respectively.
As shown in
Preferably, the opposing skins 130 are secured to frame 112 so that skins 130 have a mirror image when viewed in cross-section (as shown in
As best shown in
Therefore, door 210 includes a full perimeter frame 212, which includes stile 214 to which block 222 is secured. A pair of outer skins 230, 250 are secured to opposing sides of frame 212. For purposes of discussion, skin 230 is a “front” skin, and skin 250 is a “rear” skin. Skins 230, 250 are mirror images of each other, as discussed for doors 10 and 110. Skin 230 includes an outer perimeter planar area or portion 232, and skin 250 includes an outer perimeter planar area or portion 252. Outer perimeter portions 232, 252 are appropriately secured to frame 212 and to the lock block 222, as well as a lock block opposite lock block 222 on the opposing stile (not shown).
The asymmetrical design or portion for skin 230 includes a convex portion 234 and a concave portion 236, as described above. The asymmetrical design or profile for skin 250 includes a convex portion 254 and a concave portion 256. The respective convex and concave portions of the skins are aligned with each other, as discussed above and as illustrated for the door 10 in
The convex and concave portions extend continuously, without a break, for the full length of skins 230, 250, and are disposed inwardly from outer perimeter portions 232, 252, respectively. The convex and concave elements therefore provide relatively long closed loops compared to the shorter closed loops of doors 10 and 10. Without a transversely extending intermediate or lock rail, door 210 may have such full-length asymmetric portions in skins 230, 250.
Each skin 230, 250 includes an inner planar area adjacent to concave portions of the skins, as described above. For example, skin 230 includes an inner planar portion 238 and skin 250 includes an inner planar portion 258. A plate 270 may be secured between inner planar portions 238, 258. Plate 270 provides stability for door 210, as explained above. Plate 270 may extend fully within the asymmetrical profile of door 210, adjacent concave portions 236, 256, without restricting warping of the aligned asymmetrical portions in response to temperature and humidity conditions.
Certain aspects of the present invention have been explained with respect to specific embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in construction or configuration of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention cover all such modifications and variations, provided they come within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/308,263, filed Nov. 27, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,308 for the invention entitled Double Skin Apparatus, which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/223,744, filed Aug. 20, 2002, now abandoned titled Double Skin Door Apparatus, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference and priority to all of which is claimed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 120.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4265067 | Palmer | May 1981 | A |
4811538 | Lehnert et al. | Mar 1989 | A |
5074087 | Green | Dec 1991 | A |
5293726 | Schick | Mar 1994 | A |
5438808 | Costello | Aug 1995 | A |
5782055 | Crittenden | Jul 1998 | A |
6161363 | Herbst | Dec 2000 | A |
6619010 | Wang Chen | Sep 2003 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
0 688 639 | Dec 1995 | EP |
1 190 825 | Feb 2002 | EP |
1 223 289 | Jul 2002 | EP |
2 332 142 | Feb 1997 | FR |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20040035085 A1 | Feb 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10308263 | Nov 2002 | US |
Child | 10456915 | US | |
Parent | 10223744 | Aug 2002 | US |
Child | 10308263 | US |