1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to an astragal assembly for disposition on a free end of a semi-active door in a double-door set. Specifically, the invention relates to an astragal assembly including an astragal and a slide bolt assembly for sliding between a retracted position and an extended position within the astragal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various astragal assemblies are known in the art to include an astragal and a slide bolt assembly for sliding between a retracted position and an extended position within the astragal. The astragal assembly is disposed between an active door and a semi-active door of a double-door set. The double-door set is disposed over a threshold in a door opening of a building. Typically, the astragal is mounted onto a free end of a semi-active door such that the astragal moves with the free end as the semi-active door swings between an open position and a closed position. When the semi-active door is in the closed position, the slide bolt assembly slides within the astragal to the extended position to engage the threshold to lock the semi-active door in the closed position.
Typically, the slide bolt assembly includes an elongated base slideably engaged within the astragal. A bolt generally extends from the elongated base and the bolt engages the threshold when the slide bolt assembly is in the extended position. Specifically, when the slide bolt assembly is in the retracted position, the bolt is retracted within the astragal and the semi-active door is swingable between an open position and a closed position. When the semi-active door is in the closed position, the slide bolt assembly is slid within the astragal to the extended position such that the bolt extends from the astragal and engages the threshold to lock the semi-active door in the closed position.
Typically, the slide bolt assembly includes a lock to lock the slide bolt assembly within the astragal. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,751 to Hartman (the '751 patent) discloses a slide bolt assembly including a cylindrical lock rotatable to a locked position to lock the slide bolt assembly in the extended position whereby a length of a bolt engages a keeper in an underlying threshold. The '751 patent is deficient because if the height of the astragal is raised, or if dirt and/or debris becomes lodged in the keeper, the slide bolt assembly is prevented from fully extending to the extended position thereby preventing the cylindrical lock from being rotated to a locked position. Specifically, the slide bolt assembly defines a hole and the cylindrical lock is rotatably disposed in the hole for rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position. Specifically, the lock defines a channel and the astragal assembly presents a post. The post is stationary along the astragal so that the slide bolt assembly is slideable relative to the post. In the unlocked position, the channel is aligned with the post such that the post travels through the channel thereby allowing the slide bolt assembly to slide between the retracted and extended positions. In the locked position, the channel is misaligned with the post such that the post may not travel through the channel. When the slide bolt assembly is in the extended position, the cylindrical lock is rotatable to the locked position to locking the slide bolt assembly in the extended position. Because the post is stationary, the slide bolt assembly is only lockable in one extended position. In other words, the length of the bolt extending from the astragal when the screw lock is in the locked position is not adjustable. Therefore, if the height of the threshold is varied, or if dirt and/or debris become lodged in the keeper of the threshold, the slide bolt assembly cannot fully extend to the extended position. In other words, dirt and/or debris will prevent the bolt from fully extending from the astragal thereby preventing the post from sliding completely through the channel. The lock will thereby be blocked by the post and will not be rotatable to the locked position.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,266 to Weaver (the '266 patent) also discloses a slide bolt assembly for a sliding door. A U-shaped channel is attached to the sliding door and the slide bolt assembly is slideably engaged in the U-shaped channel for sliding between a retracted position and an extended position. The slide bolt assembly includes a bolt that engages a door frame when the slide bolt assembly is in the extended position. The slide bolt assembly includes an elongated base slideably engaged in the U-shaped channel. The elongated base defines a threaded hole. A screw lock is threadingly engaged with the threaded hole. The screw lock rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The screw lock has a flat end and in the locked position, the flat end frictionally engages the door to prevent the slide bolt assembly from sliding within the U-shaped channel. The screw lock of the '266 patent is deficient because, in the locked position, if a force is applied to the screw lock, the flat end of the screw lock slips along the door thereby allowing the slide bolt assembly to slide relative to the door.
Therefore, in view of the deficiencies associated with the prior art outlined above, it is desirable to manufacture an astragal assembly including a slide bolt assembly that may rotated to the locked position at any point along the astragal that the slide bolt assembly is slid to accommodate for variation in the height of the underlying threshold or dirt and/or debris that may become lodged in the keeper of the threshold. In addition, it is desirable to manufacture an adjustable slide bolt assembly that does not slip relative to the astragal when the screw lock is in the locked position.
The present invention is a slide bolt assembly for sliding between a retracted position and an extended position within an astragal disposed at a free end of a semi-active door in a double-door set to releasably lock the semi-active door in a closed position. The slide bolt assembly includes an elongated base extending along an axis for slideably engaging the astragal generally parallel with the axis between the retracted position and the extended position. The elongated base defines a threaded hole extending generally perpendicular to the axis. A screw lock presents a central portion and a rim portion peripherally surrounding the central portion. The screw lock threadingly engages the threaded hole of the elongated base for rotation between an unlocked position and a locked position to lock the elongated base within the astragal. A nipple protrudes from the central portion of the screw lock and extends further from the screw lock than the rim portion for piercing a wall of the astragal when the screw lock is rotated to the locked position.
Accordingly, the screw lock may be rotated to the locked position at any point along the astragal that the slide bolt assembly is slid. Thus, the astragal assembly is more versatile because the screw lock may be locked in any position along the astragal to accommodate for variation in the height of an underlying threshold or to accommodate for dirt and/or debris that becomes lodged in a keeper of the astragal. Additionally, because the nipple extends further from the central portion than does the rim portion, when in the locked position, the nipple pierces the wall of the astragal to prevent the sliding of the slide bolt assembly within the astragal. The rim portion of the screw lock also provides frictional engagement with the wall of the astragal to prevent the sliding of the slide bolt assembly within the astragal when the screw lock is in the locked position. Thus, the astragal assembly is more versatile because the slide bolt assembly is securely lockable in the extended position. The slide bolt assembly is also easy to manufacture and cost effective.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, an astragal assembly is generally shown at 20. As shown in
As shown in
The astragal 44 defines a wall 50. The astragal 44 is attached to the semi-active door 36 such that the astragal 44 moves with the free end 42 of the semi-active door 36 when the semi-active door 36 is swung between the open position and the closed position.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The slide bolt assembly 66 includes an elongated base 68. The elongated base 68 may be formed from any rigid material or combination of rigid materials and is preferably formed from plastic. The elongated base 68 extends along an axis A-A and slideably engages the astragal 44 generally parallel with the axis A-A between a retracted position and an extended position. The axis A-A is shown in
As shown in
The slide bolt assembly 66 is slideable along the astragal 44 to the extended position to engage the underlying threshold 40. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Because the screw lock 80 engages the wall 50 of the astragal 44, the screw lock 80 may be rotated to the locked position at any point along the astragal 44 that the slide bolt assembly 66 is slid. Therefore, the slide bolt assembly 66 accommodates for variation in the height of the underlying threshold 40 or dirt and/or debris that may become lodged in the keeper of the threshold 40. In other words, if dirt and/or debris in the keeper prevents the bolt 72 from extending fully to the extended position, the bolt 72 may be extended as far as possible into the keeper and the screw lock 80 may be rotated to the locked position. Likewise, if the height of the threshold 40 is changed, the bolt 72 may be extended as far as possible into the keeper and the screw lock 80 may be rotated to the locked position.
As shown in
The screw lock 80 is rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position to lock the elongated base 68 within the astragal 44. In the locked position, the screw lock 80 is engaged with the wall 50 of the astragal 44 to lock the elongated base 68 within the astragal 44 such that the slide bolt assembly 66 may not slide within the astragal 44. In the unlocked position, the screw lock 80 is disengaged with the wall 50 of the astragal 44 such that the elongated base 68 may slide within the astragal 44. For example, with the slide bolt assembly 66 in the retracted position, the screw lock 80 may be rotated to the locked position to prevent the slide bolt assembly 66 from sliding within the astragal 44, or in other words, to lock the slide bolt assembly 66 in the retracted position. In such a configuration, the semi-active door 36 is rotatable relative to the threshold 40. With the slide bolt assembly 66 in the retracted position and the screw lock 80 in the locked position, the semi-active door 36 may be rotated to the closed position. To prevent rotation of the semi-active door 36 relative to the threshold 40, the screw lock 80 may be unlocked and the slide bolt assembly 66 may be slid to the extended position to engage the bolt 72 with the underlying threshold 40. In such a configuration, the screw lock 80 may be rotated to the locked position such that the slide bolt assembly 66 may not slide within the astragal 44, or in other words, such that the slide bolt assembly 66 is locked in the extended position.
In the first embodiment of the screw lock 80, as shown in
A nipple 92 protrudes from the central portion 88 of the screw lock 80. Preferably, the nipple 92 presents a tip 94 and the nipple 92 tapers inwardly from the central portion 88 to the tip 94. Preferably the nipple 92 is concentric with the central portion 88 of the screw lock 80. As shown in
Because the nipple 92 extends further from the central portion 88 than does the rim portion 90, when the screw lock 80 is rotated to the locked position the nipple 92 pierces the wall 50 of the astragal 44. The contact surface 91 of the rim portion 90 frictionally engages the wall 50 of the astragal 44 when the screw lock 80 is rotated to the locked position and the nipple 92 pierces the wall 50 of the astragal 44. For example,
In the first and second embodiments, the screw lock 80 is formed from a first material having a first hardness and the astragal 44 is formed from a second material having a second hardness. Because the nipple 92 pierces the wall 50 of the astragal 44 in the locked position, preferably first hardness is greater than the second hardness. In other words, the screw lock 80 has a greater resistance to surface deformation than does the wall 50. Specifically, the first material is rigid and is preferably metal and more preferably steel. The second material is rigid and is preferably metal and more preferably aluminum. More specifically, for example, the first hardness of the steel is greater than 100 HB and less than 500 HB and the second hardness of the aluminum is greater than 15 HB and less than 100 HB
The third embodiment of the screw lock 80, as shown in
Specifically, the third embodiment of the screw lock 80 also includes the rim portion 90 and the friction pad 96 is disposed on the rim portion 90. Alternatively, the third embodiment of the screw lock 80 does not include the friction pad 96 but instead the rim portion 90 defines serrations or other textures that enhance the friction between the screw lock 80 and the wall 50.
Specifically, in the fourth embodiment of the screw lock 80, the screw lock 80 does not include the rim portion 90, but rather presents a flat surface 98 and the friction pad 96 is disposed on the flat surface 98. Alternatively, the fourth embodiment of the screw lock 80 does not include the friction pad 96 but instead the flat surface 98 defines serrations or other textures that enhance the friction between the screw lock 80 and the wall 50.
The screw lock 80 presents a handle 100 extending from the screw lock 80 for manipulating the screw lock 80 in the threaded hole 78 between the unlocked position and the locked position. The handle 100 may be integral with or an attachment to the screw lock 80.
The screw lock 80 is disposed within the threaded hole 78 such that when the slide bolt assembly 66 is disposed in the astragal 44, the central portion 88 and the rim portion 90 of the first and second embodiments of the screw lock 80, and the friction pad 96 of the third and fourth embodiments of the screw lock 80, are unilateral with the back 76 of the elongated base 68. The handle 100 of the screw lock 80 is unilateral with the face 74 of the elongated base 68. In other words, the central portion 88 and the rim portion 90 of the first and second embodiments of the screw lock 80, and the friction pad 96 of the third and fourth embodiments of the screw lock 80 face the same direction as the back 76 of the elongated base 68. Therefore, the central portion 88 and the rim portion 90 of the first and second embodiments of the screw lock 80, and the friction pad 96 of the third and fourth embodiments of the screw lock 80 face the wall 50 of the astragal 44 when the slide bolt assembly 66 is disposed within the astragal 44. Likewise, the handle 100 faces 74 the same direction as the front of the elongated base 68. Therefore, the handle 100 faces 74 the opening of the astragal 44 such that the handle 100 may be manipulated through the opening of the astragal 44.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings, and the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/642,447 filed Jan. 7, 2005.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
137211 | Jones | Mar 1873 | A |
3378290 | Sekulich | Apr 1968 | A |
3649060 | Ruff | Mar 1972 | A |
3806175 | Van Herpen | Apr 1974 | A |
3888046 | Meisterheim | Jun 1975 | A |
3944266 | Weaver | Mar 1976 | A |
4052819 | Beischel et al. | Oct 1977 | A |
4058332 | DiFazio | Nov 1977 | A |
4429493 | St. Aubin | Feb 1984 | A |
4625457 | Avery | Dec 1986 | A |
5328217 | Sanders | Jul 1994 | A |
5350207 | Sanders | Sep 1994 | A |
5590919 | Germano | Jan 1997 | A |
5857291 | Headrick | Jan 1999 | A |
6457751 | Hartman | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6491326 | Massey et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6666486 | Fleming | Dec 2003 | B1 |
6905152 | Hudson | Jun 2005 | B1 |
7213299 | Grande | May 2007 | B2 |
20030052492 | Massey et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
20040256858 | Governale et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20050116424 | Sanders | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050120630 | Sanders | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050120631 | Sanders | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050193784 | Sanders | Sep 2005 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20060150517 A1 | Jul 2006 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60642447 | Jan 2005 | US |