The present invention relates to mounting thresholds or the like as described in Skubic U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,235,917 and 3,449,883, and the present invention is an improvement thereover.
Prior to the present invention and the prior Skubic patents thresholds were mounted by drilling holes in concrete and inserting lead plugs and expansion type nuts but it was extremely difficult to get the lead plugs and the expansion type nuts in accurate position and accordingly the thresholds were seldom located in the best position for weather tightness and smooth operation of the doors and for aesthetic appearance and the present invention provides an improved way of obtaining this advantageous mounting of thresholds and other structural elements in accurate positions.
An object of the present invention is to provide a simple structure making use of readily available elements for mounting parts of buildings or other structures in their correct positions.
Another object is to provide a mounting means for accurately centering a long strip with many screws receiving openings such as a threshold in correct position even though the supporting structure therefor is inaccurately located.
Other and further objects will be apparent as the description proceeds and upon reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fragment of a threshold and an upwardly opening mounting channel of trapezoidal section having inturned margins with a plurality of channel shape spanner bars of a length greater than the spacing between the flanges of the mounting channel with a screw receiving slot extending lengthwise of each spanner bar with a square lock nut in each spanner bar and a machine screw passing through the mounting opening of the threshold and showing one spanner bar in operative position and the other spanner bar in initial position ready for turning into clamping relation.
FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing the clamping spanner bar in its operative position.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1 showing the spanner bar just prior to engagement with the flanges and the inturned margins of the mounting channel.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a spanner bar showing the square lock nut with the nylon insert in a keyway therein projecting into the space occupied by the machine screw.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a threshold in phantom lines and the mounting channel and spanner bars in full lines and in longitudinal alignment and suspended from the machine screws just prior to the insertion of the spanner bars in the channel.
FIG. 6 is an end view of the threshold of FIG. 5 on a reduced scale with the spanner bars shown in end elevation and ready to be inserted into the mounting channel.
FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, are plan views on the same reduced scale similar to FIG. 5 but showing the spanner bars in clamped relation with the threshold shown in phantom connected by clockwise and lateral displacement in FIG. 7, in parallel relation in FIG. 8 and in counterclockwise and lateral displacement in FIG. 9.
Referring more specifically to the drawings, a mounting channel C of steel or the like has a web 10 with flanges 11, 11 extending at an acute angle and having inturned margins 12, 12 projecting from the free edges of the flanges with the channel imbedded in a concrete slab 13 by placement in the plastic concrete positioned in the approximately correct location for the threshold of the doorway. A conventional threshold 14 is provided with countersunk apertures substantially centrally thereof which receive slotted head machine screws 15 of a length to pass through the mounting aperture of the threshold and into the mounting channel but terminating short of web 10.
Spanner bars 16 of open channel shape include a web 16 having an elongated slot 16B of a length to extend to and preferably past the free edges of the inturned margins 12. The side flanges 16C are spaced apart a sufficient distance to a snuggly and slideably receive a square lock nut 17 such as the type having a nylon strip 17a provided in a keyway formed in the nut so that substantial resistance is involved to turn the cooperating screw 15 so the nut will normally rotate with the screw 15 and cause rotation of the channel-shaped spanner bar to move from a position longitudinally of the threshold as shown to the left in FIG. 1 to the locking position shown at the right in FIG. 1 and the positions of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 where the ends of the spanner bar engage the sloping flanges of the mounting channel.
Each spanner bar is of greater length than the distance between the flanges 11,11 so the spanner bar cannot rotate through 360.degree. and the spanner bar acts as a wrench holding the square lock nut against turning. The initial turning of the screw 15 causes the ends of the spanner bar 16 to pass under the inturned margins 12, 12 of the mounting channel to the position shown at the right in FIG. 1 and shown in end elevation in FIG. 2 and further tightening of the screw causes the spanner bar 16 to be drawn into tight contact with the under surfaces of the inturned margins 12, 12 thereby clamping the threshold 14 securely onto the concrete support 13 by the reaction of the screw and nut on the channel and the retaining action of the dovetail connection between the mounting channel and the concrete 13. However, other appendages can be applied in a manner similar to that shown in the above mentioned Skubic patents to additionally secure the mounting channel and the mounting channel may be secured to wood floors or the like by screws passing through apertures in the web of the mounting channel.
It will be apparent that applicant has provided an effective positive, simple adjustable mounting structure to secure thresholds or the like to a support and that various changes may be made within the spirit of the invention as defined by the valid scope of the claims.