Door Hinging Assembly for Sliding Glass Door Structure

This invention relates to an assembly for mounting of a screen door in a sliding glass door structure and more particularly to the hinged mounting of such screen door.

Shortly after the sliding glass door structure was invented the sliding screen door for use with the sliding glass door structure was invented. The purpose of the screen door is to keep insects, animals and the like from traversing the void left by the open glass door. Shortly after the first screen door was installed the first child to use the door must have decided that it was more fun to open the screen door than to close it. At about the same time the first adult to use the door must have discovered that a sliding screen door seems to spend more time off the track of the sliding glass door stucture than on it. Although quality sliding glass door structures, not possessing the last mentioned deficiency, are available the average builder installed sliding glass door screen slides only with difficulty on its track leading to the abovementioned problems. The past solution has been to keep the glass door closed thereby defeating the purpose of the door.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention an apparatus for adapting a screen door for hinged mounting to a sliding glass door structure wherein the structure comprises a frame including at least one guide track and first and second glass door panels. The first panel is slidable in the track. The second panel is fixed relative to the frame and parallel to the track when operative. The apparatus comprises, in combination, means adapted for attachment to the screen door and second door panel for permitting the screen door to pivot relative to the second door panel between a first position abutting the frame and a second position removed therefrom. The combination further includes means for substantially sealing any gap between the second door panel and the screen door when the screen door is in the first position.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a sliding glass door structure including a hinged screen door in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section plan view along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section elevation view along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1 with some components left out for drawing clarity;

FIG. 4 is a cross section view along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1 illustrating to enlarged scale a portion of the screen door hinging mechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a cross section view along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1 illustrating an enlarged version of an alternative embodiment of a hinging mechanism.

In the various figures like reference numerals refer to like elements. Where a particular element is best illustrated or only illustrated in a particular figure of several being described that figure will be given in perenthesis. With reference to the elevation view of FIG. 1 and cross section plan view of FIG. 2 a sliding glass door structure 10 includes a frame 12 and first and second sliding door panels 14 and 16 (FIG. 2). Structure 10 is also known as a patio door. Panel 14, as illustrated, is directly behind panel 16 and therefore not visible in FIG. 1. Sliding glass door structure 10 also includes a screen door 18 which, in a conventional structure, is mounted in a different manner than that illustrated in the various figures.

Typically door panel 16 comprises a door frame 22 surrounding a single or double glass panel 24. Door panel 14 is similarly constructed. Door frame 22 is usually constructed of aluminum or wood. The sliding glass door structure frame 12 is usually comprised of four sections, top section 12a, left and right sections 12b and 12c respectively and bottom section 12d (FIG. 1). The frame is usually constructed of extruded aluminum or a combination of some metal and wood for use with aluminum and wood framed doors respectively. Typically frame sections 12a, 12b and 12c are of the same cross section as illustrated for frame sections 12b and 12c (FIG. 2). Each of the three sections includes a major wall 26 to which are connected at right angles walls 28, 30, 32 and 34 (FIG. 2). In frame section 12a, walls 28 and 30 form a track in which door panel 14 slides. Walls 30 and 32 form a track in which door panel 16 slides. Walls 32 and 34 form a track in which screen door 18 slides in the conventional mounting of the screen door, though not as arranged in connection with the present invention.

Frame section 12d (FIG. 3) is usually different than the other frame sections 12a, 12b and 12c. FIG. 3 is a cross section view along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1 but with screen door 18 and hinges 40 and members 48 (to be hereinafter described) removed for drawing clarity. Frame section 12d typically includes raised rails formed as part of or secured to a base plate on which rollers, (not shown) attached to the door panels 14 and 16 and screen door 18, roll. In the sliding glass door structure in some geographic regions both panels 14 and 16 are adapted to slide as indicated by arrows 36 (FIG. 2) between left frame section 12b and right frame section 12c. In other geographic regions door panel 16 is permanently positioned as illustrated in FIG. 2 and only door panel 14 slides. However, when the door structure is operative, door panel 16 is fixed against frame section 12b, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, or against frame section 12c (for a left opening door) by means of a locking mechanism (not shown). The disclosure thus far is of a common sliding glass door structure.

In accordance with the invention screen door 18 is positioned, not between track walls 32 and 34 but rather outside wall 34 away from wall 32 (FIG. 2). With reference now to FIG. 4, enlarged in scale relative to FIG. 2, a pair of hinges 40 (one shown in FIG. 4) each comprising a section 42 and a section 44 pivotable relative to one another about hinge pin 46 are attached respectively to frame portion surface 20a of screen door frame 20 and leg 48a of L shaped member 48. The other leg 48b of L shaped member 48 for each hinge is in turn attached to face 22a of door 16 frame 22 on the side thereof nearest to frame section 12c. Hinge section 42 is attached to frame surface 20a and leg 48b is attached to frame surface 22a by suitable securing means such as self tapping screws for an aluminum door or wood screws for a wooden door. One of hinge section 44 or leg 48a of member 48 contains one or more elongated slots and the other contains circular openings permitting member 48 and hinge section 44 to be secured together by conventional means in such orientation that surface 20b of screen door 20 is positioned just outside a plane passing through walls 34 of frame members 12b and 12c (FIG. 2).

In some screen door hinging assemblies the exact distance between surface 20a of screen door panel 20 and surface 22a of sliding door panel 16 is known in which case the alternative hinging arrangement of FIG. 5 may be utilized. In FIG. 5 a hinge section 44' is similar to hinge section 44 in FIG. 4 except that the hinge section 44' corresponds to the combination of hinge section 44 and angle 48 in FIG. 4. Hinge section 44' is sized to space a screen door assembly 20 the proper distance from surface 22a of door 16 as described in connection with FIG. 4. With hinges 40 secured to door 20 and door 16, door 18 can be pivoted about the axis of pin 46 to open away from or close against wall 34 by a person engaging handle 50 which is suitably secured to screen door frame 20.

Some form of spring is used to resiliently urge door 18 against wall 34. The spring may be a conventional screen door spring 52 which is attached to screen frame 20 and door 16 or frame 12a near door 16. Alternatively the spring can be built into each hinge 40. Such spring hinges are sold by Stanley Hardware, New Britain, Conn., 06050 as model SP158.

When the screen door is installed as described above, there is a gap between frame surface 22a and frame surface 20b of door 20. Therefore in accordance with the invention a filler piece such as an elongated substantially L shaped filler piece 54 (FIGS. 2 and 4) or U shaped filler piece 56 (FIG. 5) is provided. The filler piece 54 or 56 extends from frame section 12a to frame section 12d. Filler piece 54 may be made of vinyl, by way of example, and may have a cross section shape slightly less than 90 degrees such as about 80 or 85 degrees so that, when installed, the side 54a thereof touches the screen frame 20 to provide an insect free seal. To provide ease in installation, filler piece 54 may be in two sections, an upper half 54' (FIG. 3) extending to frame section 12a and a lower half 54" (FIG. 3) extending to frame section 12d. To provide ease in installation the side 54b of filler piece 54 which is to be installed adjacent surface 22a of frame 22 may preferably have a pressure sensitive adhesive to be covered by a protective material (not shown). Preparatory to installation, the protective material is stripped away. Then side 54b is properly aligned relative to surface 22a and pressure is applied to side 54b to cause adherence to frame 22 oriented such that side 54a touches surface 20c of screen frame 20 when screen door 18 is closed. To provide clearance for angle 48 two slots 60 (FIG. 3) are formed at appropriate places in wall 54b of filler piece 54.

With reference now to FIG. 5, U shaped filler piece 56 may for example be made of aluminum with leg 56a thereof secured to surface 22a by a suitable adhesive or threaded fasteners or rivets as appropriate. Leg 56b is sized such that leg 56c makes an insect tight seal with surface 20b of screen frame 20. That is, leg 56b is typically the same width as the distance between door 16 surface 22a and a line parallel thereto through wall 34.

On site installation of the hingable screen door assembly is as follows. First screen door 18 is installed in its conventional location, that is between walls 32 and 34 and positioned all the way to the right as illustrated in FIG. 2 such that the door frame 20 touches wall 26 of frame section 12c. Then the door is moved to the left about 0.6 centimeters to provide for clearance in the final assembly and a line is scribed on surface 22a along the left edge of the screen door frame. The line is not illustrated in any of the figures as it is a covered by filler piece 54 as described below. Next the screen door is removed and its rollers (not shown) are removed therefrom and discarded.

Then the upper filler piece 54' (FIG. 3) is marked and cut to fit around walls 32 and 34 of frame section 12a and the upper filler piece 54' is secured to surface 22a with the left edge of side 54b thereof along the scribed line. Lower filler piece 54" is similarly marked, cut and installed with the left edge of side 54b also along the scribed line. Next the members 48 are positioned through openings 60 (FIG. 3) such that leg 48a thereof is to the left of (as illustrated in FIG. 4) and touching filler piece 54 and leg 48b is touching surface 22a. Then markings are made through existing holes in leg 48b onto surface 22a and the holes are drilled. Next members 48 are secured to frame 22 by suitable fasteners. Hinge sections 44 are next loosely secured to legs 48a of members 48. Then screen door 18 is temporarily positioned in its closed position clear of wall 26 of frame sections 12a and 12c and clear of frame section 12d while touching the outside of frame walls 34 of frame sections 12a and 12c and also touching side 54a of filler piece 54. Next marks are made on screen frame 20 in line with holes in hinge section 42. Frame 20 is drilled and hinge section 42 is attached thereto and the hinge sections 44 are tightly secured to legs 48a.

Notches 66 (FIG. 3) may have to be cut in material 54 to permit clearance for hinge piece 42 if the installation requires that screen door 18 be positioned closer to door 16 than the width of the filler piece. If a separate spring 52 (FIG. 2) is used it is attached to the screen frame 20 and the sliding glass door frame 22. If the screen door tends to sag after installation, a commercially available anti-sag mechanism 70 is installed (FIG. 1).

Any gap between the bottom of door frame 20 and frame section 12d is eliminated by the addition of a gap filling material 72 (FIG. 1) to the bottom of door frame 20.

It will be understood that the screen door hinging assembly comprises hinges 40, L shaped members 48 (if used), filler piece 54 or 56 and the necessary hardware to install hinges 40 and member 54 or 56. The hinging assembly may also comprise any or all of spring 52, anti-sag mechanism 70 and filler piece 72.

It will be further understood that although fixed door panel 16 is illustrated against frame section 12b, it also may be positioned against frame section 12c with screen door 18 then positioned between door 16 and frame section 12b.

Installation of the hinges and filler piece in FIG. 5 is similar to that of FIG. 4 except that at least part of the installation would likely be performed at a door structure factory. In particular filler piece 56 will typically be cut to fit between frame sections 12a and 12d and the holes would be predrilled in door 16 surface 22a and screen door frame surface 20a.