Patent ID: 8745924
Filing Date: 2014-06-10
Classification: E06B

Abstract:
1. An automatic door bottom for use with a door having a bottom edge and adapted to be pivotally mounted on a door jamb for movement between a closed position wherein the door is positioned over a sill and an open position wherein the bottom edge of the door is not over said sill, said automatic door bottom comprising: a sealing member having a length corresponding to a width of said door; means for mounting said sealing member on said door for movement with the door between said closed position and said open position; a sealing member displacement device responsive to said movement of the door from the open position toward the closed position to move said sealing member from a first, retracted, position downwardly to a second, extended sealing position relative to the sill when the door is in the closed position, the downward movement of the sealing member beginning at an end of the sealing member adjacent a side of the door which is mounted on said door jamb; said sealing member displacement device including at least one elongated resilient member engaging said sealing member, said resilient member applying a force downwardly on the sealing member to urge the sealing member toward the second sealing position when the door is in the closed position; release means for releasing the sealing member displacement device when the door is in the closed position which allows the resilient member to move said sealing member from said second sealing position vertically upward into the first retracted position relative to the sill; said release means including a latching means for selectively latching the displacement device in a first condition which allows the displacement device to move the sealing member between said first retracted and second extended positions during the movement of the door between the open and closed positions and for releasing the displacement device which allows the displacement device to assume a second condition which allows the resilient member to move the sealing member from said second sealing position to said first retracted position while the door is in the closed position without need for opening the door; said sealing member displacement device also including a) a rigid member having opposed ends, one of which is positioned to engage the door jamb and is on the side of the door which is mounted on said jamb and the other end having a groove therein and b) a housing having a bore hole formed therein slidably receiving said other end of the rigid member and an opening formed in the housing communicating with said bore hole to allow engagement of said groove of rigid member and said latching means; means disposed between said rigid member and said housing for urging said rigid member toward an extended position, said latching means is engaged in the groove of the rigid member when said latching means latches said displacement device in said first condition; said housing being engaged with said at least one elongated resilient member to deform the at least one elongated resilient member when the door is in the closed position and the displacement device is in said first condition, the deformation of the elongated resilient member causes the elongated resilient member to apply the downward force on the sealing member to urge the sealing member toward the second extended sealing position; said release means releasing the displacement device when the door is in the closed position and the latching means latches the displacement device in said first condition by disengaging the latching means from the groove of the rigid member.