The present invention relates generally to door framing systems, and more particularly, to an integrated door framing system comprising two L-shaped pieces assembled together and configured to provide a completed integrated door framing system.
Doors are generally framed by a door framing and molding assembly placed in a doorway. The door being framed may be located in an interior doorway, such as a doorway between bedrooms or a doorway to a bathroom. The door being framed may also be an exterior door, such as in a front door, back door, or a patio door. These doors may be found in commercial and residential structures.
Typically, a door framing and molding assembly may include ornate detail or patterns which are hand carved or molded. These decorative framing and molding assemblies may also include a contoured top surface to form raised decorative portions. These assemblies may also include other intricacies and finishes which provide for aesthetic appeal. Because of the addition of these supplementary decorations, these assemblies require more than a multiple number of structural and decorative pieces for the door framing and molding assemblies to function as an integral whole.
It is common construction practice to use extensive amount of trim molding in conjunction with door framing and molding assemblies. Trim molding is a general term used to describe all types of molding used to provide for an ornamental outline. Trim molding used to trim the perimeter of a door or window is referred to as a casing. Most casings are usually elongated thin flat pieces with linear side edges. Decorative profiles are often cut into the linear side edges of the casings. Cutting decorative profiles into the linear side edges is known as milling. Casing pieces with aesthetically pleasing milled decorative profiles increase the complexity of the door framing and molding assemblies, because of the labor required to perform the milling. The additional milling of the casings necessitates an increase in cost and in the potential number of structural and decorative pieces needed to form a completed door frame assembly.
The construction industry, in responding to the market demands for further sophistication in home designs, has developed complex and intricate door framing systems. These door framing systems are more expensive than traditional door framing systems because of the additional structural and ornamental detail. Another factor contributing to the increased complexity of door framing systems is the variability of front door designs. Architects, when designing homes for distinction, focus on the front door as a signature mark for the home. Quite often, the uniqueness of the front door necessitates a complex door framing system to conform to variations in wall depth, the number of door perimeter sides, and door perimeter contours which are non-traditional but inherent in the front door design.
Existing door framing systems typically include several separate structural pieces. These separate pieces include pieces such as the door frame, a casing trim for one side of the door, a casing trim for the other side of the door, additional telescopic bridging planks for doors with thicker walls, molding trim for one side of the door frame, and molding trim for the other side of the door frame. Further, as more decorative details are added to a door framing design, additional decorative elements may be needed.
Because of the incorporation of different structural and decorative elements within current door framing systems, these door framing systems require more than a multiple number of separate structural and decorative pieces to construct a door frame. Further, current door framing systems costs increase with an increase in the complexity of decorative intricacies. Additionally, current door framing systems costs increase as the number of sides of the door perimeter increases. Traditional door perimeters have four sides. However, many current door designs incorporate doors with additional perimeter sides, for example, hexagonal or octagonal shapes. Also, current door framing system costs increase as the complexity of the contour of the door perimeter changes. For example, when a contour of the door perimeter includes an arch. Further still, as the structural complexity and decorative elements are increased, the number of pieces required to form a completed integrated door frame increase.
Accordingly, there is an established need for a door framing system which solves at least one of the aforementioned problems. For example, there is an established need for an integrated door framing system which can provide a door frame and molding without requiring a multiple number of separate pieces.
The present invention is directed to integrated door framing systems, which can be utilized in commercial and residential structures. The integrated door framing system provides for a door frame for doors of varying complexities with less cost and with fewer pieces than conventional systems. Further, the integrated door framing system in accordance with the present disclosure is scalable and can be used in residential, commercial, and/or institutional structures of all sizes.
In a first implementation of the invention, an integrated door framing system comprises an elongated, first L-shaped piece and an elongated, second. L-shaped piece. The first and second L-shaped pieces assemble to form a U-shaped body configured to fit on an area of a wall facing a wall opening and having a door-frame surface delimiting wall opening. The U-shaped body formed by the assembled first and second L-shaped pieces fits over an outer first surface, an opposed, inner second surface and the door-frame surface of the wall.
In a second aspect, the first and second L-shaped pieces can include a male portion and a female, socket portion, respectively. The male portion and female, socket portion are configured to connect with one another to interlock the first and second L-shaped pieces to one another.
In another aspect, an outer, end surface of the male portion can be configured to rest on an inner, end surface of a socket gap of the female, socket portion when the first and second L-shaped pieces are assembled to form the U-shaped body.
In another aspect, an inner wall of the U-shaped body can include a protruding strip extending along the integrated door framing system, the protruding strip providing at least one side surface for the resting thereon of a door arranged in the wall opening.
In another aspect, each one of the first and second L-shaped pieces can include a first body portion and a second body portion arranged in an L-shaped configuration relative to one another. The first body portion comprises an inner surface configured to face the door-frame surface of the wall and an outer surface configured to face outward of the wall. In turn, the second body portion comprises an inner surface configured to face the wall and an outer surface configured to face outward of the wall.
In yet another aspect, the inner surface of the first body portion and the inner surface of the second body portion may form an angle of 90 degrees relative to one another.
In another aspect, the inner surface of the first body portion and the inner surface of the second body portion may form an angle less than 90 degrees relative to one another.
In another aspect, at least one of the first and second L-shaped pieces can be deformable, such that the angle formed by inner surface of the first body portion and the inner surface of the second body portion is adjustable.
In another aspect, the outer surface of the second body portion can include at least one decorative element or molding intricacy.
In yet another aspect, the first body portion of the first U-shaped piece can include a male portion and the first body portion of the second L-shaped piece can include a female, socket portion. The male portion and female, socket portion can be configured to couple with one another to interlock the first and second L-shaped pieces to one another.
In another aspect, an inner wall of the socket portion can provide a protruding strip extending along the integrated door framing system, the protruding strip featuring at least one side surface for the resting thereon of a door arranged in the wall opening.
In another aspect, the protruding strip can provide two opposite side surfaces for the resting thereon of a door arranged in the wall opening.
In yet another aspect, the first body portion of the first L-shaped piece and the first body portion of the second L-shaped piece can include respective transverse, end seating surfaces configured to rest on one another when the first and second L-shaped pieces are assembled to form the U-shaped body.
In another aspect, at least one of the first L-shaped piece and second L-shaped piece can be formed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam extrusion.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.
The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward an integrated door framing system which can include two pieces such that when they are connected they form an integrated door frame and molding.
Referring initially to
The first L-shaped piece 102 can include a frame or first body portion 106 and a molding or second body portion 108 arranged at an angle with one another forming an L-shape or first L-shaped piece 102. The first body portion 106 can include an inside surface 110 and an outside surface 112. A transverse seating surface 113 can extend from an outer end of the inside surface 110. The first body portion 106 can include a male end portion 114 on an outer end and an inner end connecting to the second body portion 108. The second body portion 108 can include an inside surface 116 and an outside surface 118. The inside surfaces 110 and 116 can be arranged forming an angle equal to 90 degrees with one another, to rest flatly against perpendicular outer surfaces of a wall. In other embodiments, such as in the present embodiment, the inside surfaces 110 and 116 can be arranged forming an angle less than 90 degrees for purposes that will be hereinafter described. The second body portion 108 can include a foot 120 on an outer end, and an inner end connecting to the first body portion 106. The second body portion 108 and the first body portion 106 are joined at a corner or connecting portion of the first L-shaped piece 102 where an outside corner 122 and an inside corner 124 are formed.
As shown in
The female end portion 129 of the second L-shaped piece 104 can further include a first seating surface 137a extending preferably from the outside surface 136 of the outside socket wall 132 to the outside surface 140 of the adjacent reminder of the first body portion 126. On the outer end of the female end portion 129, in turn, a second seating surface 137h and a third seating surface 137c are provided on opposite sides of the socket gap 134. The first and second seating surfaces 137a and 137b can be perpendicular to the inside surfaces 110 and 138, such that either one of the first and second seating surfaces 137a and 137b allows for the resting thereon of a door 300 (FIG. T when the door 300 is in a closed position. In turn, the third seating surface 137c can be configured to contact the seating surface 113 of the first body portion 106 as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
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The illustrations of
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As seen in a cross-sectional view in
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With reference to
In some embodiments, not shown, one or more decorative elements with raised contours, of various dimensions, can be included in the second body portion 108 of the first L-shaped piece 102 and/or the second body portion 128 of the second L-shaped piece 104. Thus, a further advantage of the present invention is that one or more intricate and detailed ornamental designs may be included and be integral to the second body portion 108 of the first L-shaped piece 102 and/or to the second body portion 128 of the second L-shaped piece 104. Thus, other than the first L-shaped piece 102 and the second L-shaped piece 104, no additional pieces are required to provide a completed integrated door framing system 100 which can replace a conventional door framing and molding including a door frame, a casing, and a molding, regardless of the desired ornamental or structural detail of the door framing.
Further embodiments are contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For instance, in some embodiments, the integrated door framing system can further include pieces having multiple male end portion and multiple socket components. Alternatively or additionally, the first and second L-shaped pieces can be configured to conform to non-perpendicular wall shapes. Alternatively or additionally, the integrated door framing system can include pieces with a plurality of male and female connectors.
In summary, an integrated door framing system is provided including a first L-shaped piece and a second L-shaped piece which can be assembled to form a U-shaped body that fits over a wall edge facing a wall opening formed for installing a door or window therewithin. The U-shaped body provides a complete, integrated door frame, casing, and molding assembly using a reduced and easy-to-assemble set of parts. More specifically, the integrated door framing system may require no more than two pieces to provide a completed integrated door frame, casing, and molding assembly.
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it is understood that any of the features presented in the embodiments may be integrated into any of the other embodiments unless explicitly stated otherwise. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/595,179, filed on Dec. 6, 2017, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62595179 | Dec 2017 | US |