Patent Application
20180371826
This invention relates to steel door frames and insulated door panels, and in particular, to frames having a thermal break to reduce conductive heat losses from one side of the frame to the other, and door panels having a cured-in-place internal structure for improving rigidity, thermal efficiency, aesthetics, and manufacturability.
Common commercial door openings are subject to thermal and air leakage, which results in higher energy costs for building owners. These door openings are also vulnerable to condensation and frost buildup, which may cause permanent damage and/or deformation of the door frames and panels under extreme circumstances. Furthermore, extreme difference of temperature and thermal forces between the building exterior and interior may result in deformation due to thermal bow.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a door with a thermal break between the inner and outer frame segments.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a door frame resistant to air infiltration.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a thermally resistant, reinforced door panel.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an insulated door panel resistant to thermal bow.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed in one aspect to a metal door frame for a door opening. The metal door frame comprises at least one first door frame segment for upper or side portions of the door opening, the at least one first door frame segment having a first molding flange, a first jamb face adjacent to the molding flange, and a first stop flange adjacent to the jamb face. The metal door frame includes at least one second door frame segment for upper and side portions of the door opening, the at least one second door frame segment having a second molding flange, a second jamb face adjacent to the molding flange, a second stop flange adjacent to the jamb face, a second stop face adjacent to the stop flange, and a third stop flange adjacent to the stop face. The metal door frame includes a thermally insulative layer between the at least one first door frame segment and the at least one second door frame segment. The third stop flange is disposed over the first stop flange. The thermally insulative layer is disposed between the third stop flange and the first stop flange. The at least one first door frame segment may include a first stop face adjacent to the first stop flange, wherein the second stop face is disposed over the first stop face and wherein the thermally insulative layer is disposed between the second stop face and the first stop face. In the at least one first door frame segment the first jamb face may be perpendicular to the molding flange and the first stop flange may be perpendicular to the jamb face, and in the at least one second door frame segment the second jamb face may be perpendicular to the molding flange, the second stop flange may be perpendicular to the jamb face, the second stop face may be perpendicular to the stop flange, and the third stop flange may be perpendicular to the stop face. The at least one first door frame segment may include a first stop face perpendicular to the first stop flange, wherein the second stop face is disposed over the first stop face and wherein the thermally insulative layer is disposed between the second stop face and the first stop face. The metal door frame may include first door frame segments for each of the upper and side portions of the door opening and a second door frame segments for each of the upper and side portions of the door opening. The first and second door frame segments may be made of steel. The thermally insulative layer may include an adhesive for securing the at least one first door frame segment to the at least one second door frame segment. The thermally insulative layer may be a double sided adhesive tape. The metal door frame may include a door secured by hinges within the door frame. The door may comprise a shell having spaced first and second exterior panels and frame members adjacent edges of the panels; a plurality of stiffeners in a shell interior portion extending along a length or width of the panels, ends of the stiffeners being received in frame members at opposite ends of the door shell; and a hardenable insulation material between adjacent exterior panels, stiffeners and frame members in the shell interior portion, the hardenable insulation providing both thermal insulation and an adhesive to bond the exterior panels, frame members and stiffeners. The door may comprise a shell having spaced first and second exterior panels and frame members adjacent edges of the panels; a plurality of stiffeners in a shell interior portion extending along a length or width of the panels, the stiffeners having a rectangular cross-section with sides and corners, the stiffener sides being oriented non-parallel with respect to the exterior panels; and a hardenable insulation material between adjacent stiffeners and frame members in the shell interior portion, the hardenable insulation providing both thermal insulation and an adhesive to bond the exterior panels, frame members and stiffeners.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of assembling and installing a metal door frame in a door opening. The method comprises providing for upper and side portions of the door opening first door frame segments, the first door frame segments having a first molding flange, a first jamb face adjacent to the molding flange, and a first stop flange adjacent to the jamb face. The method includes providing for upper and side portions of the door opening second door frame segments, the second door frame segments having a second molding flange, a second jamb face adjacent to the molding flange, a second stop flange adjacent to the jamb face, a second stop face adjacent to the stop flange, and a third stop flange adjacent to the stop face. The method includes providing a thermally insulative layer for thermal insulation between the first door frame segments and the second door frame segments and installing the first door frame segments to the upper and side portions of the door opening. The method includes placing the thermally insulative layer between an inside surface of the third stop flange, and an outside surface of the first stop flange and installing the second door frame segments to the upper and side portions of the door opening. The third stop flange is disposed over the first stop flange. The thermally insulative layer reduces thermal conductivity between the first and second door frame segments. The first door frame segments may include a first stop face adjacent to the first stop flange and the method may include installing the second stop face over the first stop face and the thermally insulative layer between the second stop face and the first stop face. The thermally insulative layer may include an adhesive for securing the first door frame segments to the second door frame segments and the method may include applying the thermally insulative adhesive to either or both of the inside surface of the third stop flange and the outside surface of the first stop flange, and adhering the third stop flange over the first stop flange. The method may include securing a door by hinges within the door frame.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to an insulated panel which may be used as a door. The insulated panel comprises a shell having spaced first and second exterior panels and frame members adjacent edges of the panels. The insulated panel includes a plurality of stiffeners in a shell interior portion extending along a length or width of the panels, ends of the stiffeners being received in frame members at opposite ends of the door shell. The insulated panel includes a hardenable insulation material between adjacent exterior panels, stiffeners and frame members in the shell interior portion, the hardenable insulation providing both thermal insulation and an adhesive to bond the exterior panels, frame members and stiffeners. The frame members may have openings corresponding to a cross section of the ends of the stiffeners, the ends of the stiffeners being received within the frame member openings at opposite ends of the door shell. The stiffeners may have a rectangular cross-section with sides and corners, and wherein the stiffener sides are non-parallel with respect to the exterior panels. The stiffeners may be tubular and have a square cross-section, the diagonal dimension of the stiffener being at least half of the distance between the inside surfaces of the exterior panels. The insulation material may fill substantially all of the space between the adjacent exterior panels, stiffeners and frame members in the shell interior portion. The stiffeners and the liner panel may be made of steel.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of making an insulated panel which may be used as a door. The method includes providing first and second exterior panels for a door shell, frame members for the door shell and a plurality of stiffeners. The method includes assembling the first and second exterior panels, frame members and stiffeners to make a shell having spaced first and second exterior panels and frame members adjacent edges of the panels. The plurality of stiffeners are disposed in the shell interior portion extending along a length or width of the panels, with ends of the stiffeners being received in frame members at opposite ends of the door shell. The method includes injecting a curable and hardenable insulation material between adjacent exterior panels, stiffeners and frame members in the shell interior portion. The insulation when cured provides both thermal insulation and an adhesive to bond the exterior panels, frame members and stiffeners. The frame members may have openings corresponding to a cross section of the ends of the stiffeners, and the method may include placing the ends of the stiffeners being within the frame member openings at opposite ends of the door shell. The stiffeners may have a rectangular cross-section with sides and corners, and the method may include placing the ends of the stiffeners within the frame member such that the stiffener sides are non-parallel with respect to the exterior panels. The stiffeners may be tubular and have a square cross-section, and the diagonal dimension of the stiffener may be at least half of the distance between the inside surfaces of the exterior panels. The method may include filling the insulation material into substantially all of the space between the adjacent exterior panels, stiffeners and frame members in the shell interior portion.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to an insulated panel which may be used as a door. The insulated panel comprises a shell having spaced first and second exterior panels and frame members adjacent edges of the panels. The insulated panel includes a plurality of stiffeners in a shell interior portion extending along a length or width of the panels, the stiffeners having a rectangular cross-section with sides and corners, the stiffener sides being oriented non-parallel with respect to the exterior panels. The insulated panel includes a hardenable insulation material between adjacent stiffeners and frame members in the shell interior portion, the hardenable insulation providing both thermal insulation and an adhesive to bond the exterior panels, frame members and stiffeners. The stiffeners may be tubular and have a square cross-section, the diagonal dimension of the stiffeners being at least half of the distance between inside surfaces of the exterior panels. The frame members may have openings corresponding to a cross section of the ends of the stiffeners, the ends of the stiffeners being received within the frame member openings at opposite ends of the door shell. The insulation material may fill substantially all of the space between the adjacent exterior panels, stiffeners and frame members in the shell interior portion. The stiffeners and the liner panel may be made of steel.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of making an insulated panel which may be used as a door. The method comprises providing first and second exterior panels for a door shell, frame members for the door shell and a plurality of stiffeners having a rectangular cross-section with sides and corners. The method includes assembling the first and second exterior panels, frame members and stiffeners to make a shell having spaced first and second exterior panels and frame members adjacent edges of the panels, the a plurality of stiffeners being disposed in the shell interior portion extending along a length or width of the panels, with the stiffeners sides being oriented non-parallel with respect to the exterior panels. The method includes injecting a curable and hardenable insulation material between adjacent exterior panels, stiffeners and frame members in the shell interior portion, the insulation when cured providing both thermal insulation and an adhesive to bond the exterior panels, frame members and stiffeners. The stiffeners may be tubular and have a square cross-section, and the diagonal dimension of the stiffeners is at least half of the distance between inside surfaces of the exterior panels. The frame members may have openings corresponding to a cross section of the ends of the stiffeners, and the method may include placing the ends of the stiffeners within the frame member openings at opposite ends of the door shell. The method may include filling the insulation material into substantially all of the space between the adjacent exterior panels, stiffeners and frame members in the shell interior portion.
The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
In describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, reference will be made herein to
The present invention is directed in part to door frames made of a metal or alloy, such as 16 gauge galvanized stamped steel sheet. An exemplary door frame 120 may comprise three (3) portions, an upper portion 24 disposed above the door opening, and two side portions 26, 28 disposed along either edge of the door opening, with one side portion 26 being on the hinge side of the door, and the opposite side portion 28 being on the latch side of the door. Each portion 24, 26, 28 may be made up of a pair of elongated frame segments 30, 140 of sufficient length to fit the door opening and door. The frame segments 30, 140 are assembled around the opening edges 22a of wall 22 (
As shown best in
When assembled (
Between the corresponding faces and flanges of the inner and outer frame segments is a thermally insulative layer or strip 150, which may have a layer of adhesive on one or both opposite sides. A double sided adhesive tape may be used made from a strip of plastic or other polymeric material, such as a compression-type closed cell polyurethane foam or other weather stripping, which has applied on both surfaces a pressure-sensitive adhesive. An example is Norton V2845 double-sided tape. The thermally insulative adhesive is applied in an “L” shape as segments 152, 151 between the lengths of facing surfaces of outer frame segment face 144 and flange 145, and inner frame segment face 34 and flange 33. Alternatively, a single strip bent into an “L” shape may be employed. The thermally insulative and adhesive material 150 provides structural connection between the inner and outer frame segments, forming a bonded thermal break that minimizes thermal conduction between the inner and outer frame segments. No screws, rivets or other metal fasteners are present or needed to connect the inner and outer frame segments, so that there is no bridge of metal to conduct heat from a warmer frame segment on one side of the door opening to a colder frame segment on the other side of the door opening.
In the method of assembling the door frame of the present invention, the inner and outer door frame segments are sized to fit the upper and side door opening dimensions. The inner door frame segments 30 are installed on the upper and side portions of the door opening using corner tabs and hanger tabs to secure to the wall around the door opening and adjacent segments. The thermally insulative layer 150 is then placed between the inner and outer door frame segments. This may be done by applying the adhesive on the layer to either or both of the inside surfaces of stop face 144 and stop flange 145 of the outer door frame segments 140, and the outside surfaces of the stop face 34 and the stop flange 33 of the inner door frame segments 30. The outer door frame segments 140 are then installed on the upper and side portions of the door opening, so that the stop faces 144 of outer door frame segments 140 are adhered over the stop faces 34 of the inner door frame segments 30, and the stop flanges 145 of the outer door frame segments 140 are adhered over the stop flanges 33 of the inner door frame segments 30.
The thermally insulative adhesive between the inner and outer door frame segments reduces thermal conductivity between the door frame segments. The door frame of the present invention is most advantageously used on an exterior wall of a building, where there are extremes in temperature between the building exterior and interior. Alternatively, it may also be used on interior walls where the door encloses a room from a hallway.
In the interior portion between the inner and outer exterior panels a plurality of spaced-apart elongated structural stiffeners or spindles 50 extend substantially between the door edges. Although stiffeners 50 are shown extending vertically from the top to the bottom edges of the door, they may extend horizontally from one side to the other, or in any other direction The stiffeners may be made of any suitable structural material, for example a metal or alloy such as hollow steel tube of 0.40 in (10 mm) thickness. The tube may be of any cross-section desired, such as rectangular or circular. A square cross-section may be used for stiffener 50 with sides 56 of a width of about 0.590 in. (15 mm) extending between four corners 54 (
Optionally, the stiffeners may be oriented within the door so that their corners 54 contact the inner surfaces of the inner and outer panels 40, 42 in essentially line contact to minimize the conduction of heat through the door thickness.
To hold the stiffeners 50 in place within the door interior, the ends 52 are secured to positioning members shown as spindle end channels 80, formed from a metal or alloy such as about 18 gauge steel, which are themselves secured to frame members 90 at the top and bottom door edges 48. Stiffeners 50 may be secured to frame members directly. In the embodiment shown the stiffeners 50 are mechanically locked in position by providing openings 82 in the positioning members 80 that correspond in shape and size to the stiffener ends 52 (
A curable and hardenable insulation material 60 is disposed between adjacent stiffeners and fills the interior cavity between the inner and outer panels 40, 42. The insulation material may be expanded foam such as BASF 21B density polyurethane expanding foam, using P50341 resin and Honeywell HFO blowing agent. The foam when cured acts to provide thermal insulation through the thickness of the panel. Additionally, the cured foam adheres to and acts to lock the mid-sections of stiffeners 50 in place, between the ends 52, to prevent movement of the stiffeners from side-to-side, in the directions of the panel side frame members 94. No additional liners or other structural members are required between the ends of the stiffeners. The cured-in-place structural combination of the foam and stiffeners eliminates the need to have the stiffeners, in the mid-portions between the ends 52, welded or otherwise separately adhered to the door skins to prevent such side-to-side movement.
In a method for making the insulated reinforced door panel of the invention, the ends 52 of a plurality of the stiffeners 50 are slid tightly into openings 82 of positioning members 80 to lock them in place mechanically. The stiffener sides 56 are oriented non-parallel with respect to the exterior panels 40, 42. The stiffeners may alternatively be welded or otherwise bonded at their ends 52 to positioning members 80. The positioning members 80 are secured to the upper and lower frame members 90. Optionally, the stiffeners are secured to frame members 90 directly. The opposite ends of upper and lower frame members 90 are attached to side frame members 94 formed by folding side edges of outer panel 42, and inner panel 40 is secured over and covering the frame members 90, 94 and internal spindles 50. The structural members and door skins may be assembled in any desired sequence.
Flowable foam may then be injected into the cavity of the door between the frame members, stiffeners and outer door skins. The injection may be made through foam slot(s) 96 at end of the door shell. Where the stiffeners contact the inside surfaces of panels 40, 42, a foam inlet will be provided between each pair of stiffeners, or between a stiffener and the door side frame member. The flowable foam may be a foam material that expands upon contact with the atmospheric air or alternately a two-part foam that expands upon mixing the two parts together. The stiffeners 50 may include openings or slots along the stiffener length which allow the expanding foam to flow from one cavity to an adjacent cavity. The flowable foam then hardens and is bonded to the inside surfaces of panels 40, 42, frame members 90, 94, and stiffeners 50. The foam acts both insulation material and bonds to the door skin and stiffeners as an adhesive.
Thus, the present invention provides an insulated door panel which structural framework may be made of steel and improves the structural integrity, is thermally efficient and provides an outer appearance free of weld marks.
While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62370976 | Aug 2016 | US | |
| 62370970 | Aug 2016 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15662936 | Jul 2017 | US |
| Child | 16117004 | US |
