Abstract:
A threshold protector to be used during the construction of a house or building is an apparatus made of durable material covering the threshold, contacting the back and front of the threshold and removably attached to the threshold.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed, in general, to a protective covering for the thresholds of doorways in houses or buildings under construction. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During the construction of houses and buildings doorframes are installed in the building at an early stage. After installation, workers tread upon the threshold in shoes or boots, that carry mortar, dirt and rocks on the soles, Workers wheel or drag equipment into the house or building subjecting the threshold to scraping and impact. Bricks may be placed on the threshold or fall onto the threshold by workmen installing the exterior brick. Mortar, paint and chemicals, such as lacquer or thinner, can drip onto the threshold during varying phases of construction resulting in discoloration or damage. During the acid wash of the exterior brick, hydrochloric acid can fall onto the threshold causing additional discoloration or damage. 
     Removing dirt, rocks, mortar, paint, thinner, lacquer or acid discoloration from the threshold of a doorway takes one worker from fifteen to thirty minutes per doorway. In a typical residential construction with three doorways, three quarters of one man hour to one and one-half man hours of labor are required for the clean-up. Moreover, the clean-up work cannot remove scratches or dents. If a drop cloth is thrown over the threshold, it may not stay in place, or it will wear out before the construction is completed. More importantly, a drop cloth will be a hazard for workers who may trip over the loose material thereby causing increased expenses through on the job injuries and lost time. Putting tape on the threshold requires a good deal of time and will not survive the entire construction cycle due to the traffic and loads to be borne. Therefore, a need exists for an inexpensive disposable threshold protector that will have sufficient durability to last the entire construction period of the house or building. 
     Additionally, protection of thresholds is beneficial during moving of furniture, installation of new doors and during remodeling of existing buildings. 
     The prior art does not disclose such a protector. There are many examples of thresholds; however, no device has been patented to provide for the protection of the threshold during the construction of the house or building. U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,062 to Levenez discloses a window sill assembly for protecting and covering an existing window sill at the base of the window. The device is meant for permanent installation and is not adaptable to door thresholds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A threshold protector to be used during the construction of a house or building is an apparatus made of durable material covering the threshold, contacting the back and front of the threshold and removably attached to the threshold. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The apparatus of the invention is further described and explained in relation to the following figures of the drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the apparatus, the two side adhesive tape, and the doorway threshold. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the doorway threshold with the apparatus in position on the threshold. 
     FIG. 3 is a side perspective of a second embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side perspective the second embodiment of the invention with a recess cavity for advertising. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view along line  80  of the apparatus of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the discussion of the figures, the same numbers will be used to refer to the same or similar components throughout. The term threshold as used herein is defined as the plank, timber, metal piece or stone lying under the door of a building and as used herein has the same meaning as the term doorsill which is defined as the horizontal lower member of a door casing. Adhesive tape is defined as a piece or strip of paper, fabric, vinyl, or metal coated with an adhesive substance such as a glue or paste capable of adhering to a range of surfaces such as wood, metal, plastic, vinyl or stone. By double sided adhesive tape is meant tape with adhesive on a side that can be affixed to one surface and another side that can be affixed to a second surface. By adhering is meant the ability to stick fast or together while allowing removal without damage to the surface to which the adhesive is applied. By covering is meant placing something over or upon the threshold for the purpose of protecting the threshold. By doorway is meant a passage for entrance and exit into and out of a house, building or room wherein the doorway contains a door and door frame used for closing or opening the passage. 
     According to the present invention, FIG. 1 depicts threshold  10 . Threshold  10  has front edge  11  and rear edge  12 . Left side  20  and right side  21  are fixedly engaged with left door frame  23  and right door frame  24 . Threshold  10  has main step  16 , first minor step  17 , door step  18  and second minor step  19 . Threshold  10  further has first face  13 , second face  14  and third face  15 . First minor step  17 , door step  18 , second minor step  19  first face  13 , second face  14  and third face  15  define the area of threshold  10  which is aligned underneath the door to be rotatably engaged with either left door frame  23  or right door frame  22 . 
     FIG.  1 . further depicts first cover  30 . First cover  30  has front flange  31 , first top section  34 , vertical section  32 , second top section  35  and rear flange  33 . First cover  30  has first side  36  and second side  37 . First cover  30  has bottom surface  38 . 
     First cover  30  is made of molded plastic, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, rubber, wood, cardboard or any suitable commercially available material capable of being molded into a single unitary piece. First cover  30  can be made from any material which has the characteristics of durability and resiliency to dirt, water, chemicals, abrasion and impact. In the preferred embodiment, first cover  30  is manufactured in a mold so that there are no seams or breaks between the various sections. Alternatively, first cover  30  could be heat pressed from a single sheet of plastic or synthetic material. First cover  30  could also be stamped or pressed from a single piece of metal. As a further alternative first cover  30  could be assembled by spot welding, gluing or taping. 
     First cover  30  is of uniform thickness of 0.094 inches throughout. The thickness of first cover  30  can be from {fraction (1/16)} inch to ¼ inch. Front flange  31  extends 0.233 inches from first sheet end  48  to the curve where front flange  31  becomes first top section  34 . The radius of curvature between front flange  31  and first top section  34  is 0.125 inches. The angle between front flange  31  and first top section  34  is 96.5 degrees. First top section  34  rises at an angle of 6.5 degrees for a distance of 4.00 inches until it becomes vertical section  32 . The angle between first top section  34  and vertical section  32  is 96.5 degrees. Vertical section  32  extends for 0.25 inch until it becomes second top section  35 . The angle between first vertical section  35  and second top section  35  is 90 degrees. Second top section  35  extends for 2.188 inches until it becomes rear flange  33 . The radius of curvature between rear flange  33  and second top section  35  is 0.125 inches. The angle between second top section  35  and rear flange  33  is 90 degrees. Rear flange  33  extends for 0.719 inches until first cover  30  terminates in second sheet end  49 . The overall width of first cover  30  from front flange  31  to rear flange  33  is 6.188 inches. The length of first cover  30  measured from first side  36  to second side  37  is 35 inches for first cover  30 &#39;s manufactured for front door thresholds and 31 inches for first cover  30 &#39;s manufactured for garage door, rear door and utility door thresholds. However, the length of first cover  30  can be up to 48 inches for custom doors. For front door threshold&#39;s the width of first cover  30  measured from front flange  31  to rear flange  33  can vary from 3 inches to 10 inches. For garage door, rear door and utility door thresholds, the width of first cover  30  measured from front flange  31  to rear flange  33  can vary from 2 inches to 6 inches. The height of front flange  31  can vary from ⅛ inch to ½ inch. The height of rear flange  33  can vary from ¼ inch to 1 inch. 
     First cover  30  can function to protect the threshold by aligning first cover  30  above threshold  10  and lowering first cover  30  onto threshold  10  so that front flange  31  contacts front edge  11  of threshold  10  and rear flange  33  contacts rear edge  12  of threshold  10 . First cover  30  will be held in place by gravity. 
     First cover  30  can be made more secure by means of adhesive. First tape  40  is affixed to bottom surface  38  beneath first top section  34 . Second tape  44  is affixed to bottom surface  38  beneath second top section  35 . First tape  40  is a double sided tape with adhesive on both sides so that first adhesive surface  41  of first tape  40  is covered with an adhesive compound such as glue, paste or rubber cement so that when pressed against bottom surface  38  of first cover  30  first tape  40  will be fixedly attached to first cover  30 . Second adhesive side  42  of first tape  40  also has adhesive covering second adhesive side  42 . Adhesive on second adhesive side  42  can be covered with removable foil or paper which can be peeled off prior to installation of first cover  30  to threshold  10 . Likewise, second tape  44  is double sided tape with adhesive on both sides so that third adhesive side  45  of second tape  44  is covered with an adhesive compound such as glue, paste or rubber cement so that when pressed against bottom surface  38  of first cover  30  second tape  44  will be attached to first cover  30 . Fourth adhesive side  46  of second tape  44  also has adhesive covering fourth adhesive side  46 . Adhesive on fourth adhesive side  46  can be covered with removable foil or paper which can be peeled off prior to installation of first cover  30  to threshold  10 . 
     First tape  40  and second tape  44  can be any width or length. Standard double sided adhesive tape of ½ inch width can be used. Second tape  44  is optional and is not necessary to secure first cover  30 . 
     First cover  30  is installed on threshold  10  by removing any paper or foil to expose adhesive on second adhesive side  42  of first tape  40  and fourth adhesive side  46  of second tape  44 , aligning cover  30  with threshold  10  and lowering cover  30  onto threshold  10  so that front flange  31  contacts front edge  11  of threshold  10  and rear flange  33  contacts rear edge  12  of threshold  10 . Pressing down manually on first top section  34  will engage adhesive from second adhesive side  42  to main step  16  of threshold  10 . Pressing down manually on top section  35  will engage adhesive from fourth adhesive side  46  to door step  18  of threshold  10 . 
     First cover  30  can be manufactured economically in varying widths and lengths by using removable die sections. In the preferred embodiment, first cover  30  is manufactured using injection molding. However, first cover  30  may also be manufactured by heat molding from a single sheet of plastic or by stamping a single sheet of metal. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of first cover  30  installed on threshold  10  showing the contact between first tape  40 , second tape  44  and main step  16  and door step  18  of threshold  10 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of the apparatus in second cover  50  with surface  52  and third tape  60 . Second cover  50  is meant for use on doorsills which do not have a multi-layered section beneath the door as shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 2 for threshold  10 . Second cover  50  can be used on doorsills that vary in construction or design from threshold  10 . Second cover  50  has front section  51 , rear section  53 , top  52  and undersurface  54 . Third tape  60  is affixed to second cover  50  by adhesive and is attached to undersurface  54  beneath top  52 . Second cover  50  is of uniform thickness of 0.094 inches throughout. Second cover  50  can be of thickness between {fraction (1/16)} inch to ¼ inch. Front section  51  extends 0.233 inches from second cover first end  58  until it becomes top  52 . The radius of curvature between front section  51  and top  52  is 0.125 inches. The angle between front section  51  and top  52  is 14 degrees. Top  52  extends for 6 inches until it becomes rear section  53 . Rear section  53  extends for 0.75 inch until it terminates in second cover second end  59 . The radius of curvature between rear section  53  and top  52  is 0.125 inches. The angle between rear section  53  and top  52  is 104 degrees. The overall width of second cover  50  from front  51  to rear  53  is 6.188 inches. The length of second cover  50  measured from second cover left edge  56  to second cover right edge  55  is 35 inches for second cover  50 &#39;s manufactured for front door thresholds and 31 inches for second cover  50 &#39;s manufactured for garage door, rear door and utility door thresholds. However, the length of second cover  50  can be as much as 48 inches for custom doors. The width of second cover  50  measured from front section  51  to rear section  53  can vary. For front door threshold&#39;s the width of second cover  50  can vary from 3 inches to 10 inches. For garage door, rear door and utility door thresholds, the width of second cover  50  can vary from 2 inches to 6 inches. The height of front section  51  can vary from ⅛ inch to ½ inch. The height of rear section  53  can vary from ¼ inch to 2 inches. 
     Second cover  50  can function to protect the threshold by aligning second cover  50  above threshold  10  and lowering second cover  50  onto threshold  10  so that front flange  31  contacts front edge  11  of threshold  10  and rear flange  33  contacts rear edge  12  of threshold  10 . Second cover  50  will be held in place by gravity. 
     Second cover  50  can be made more secure by means of adhesive. Third tape  60  is affixed to undersurface  48  beneath top  52 . Third tape  60  is double sided tape with adhesive on both sides so that cover side  61  of third tape  60  and threshold side  63  of tape  60  are covered with an adhesive compound such as glue, paste or rubber cement so that when cover side  61  of third tape  60  is pressed against bottom surface  54  of second cover  50  third tape  60  will be fixedly attached to undersurface  54  of second cover  50 . Threshold side  63  of second tape  60  also has adhesive covering threshold side  63 . Adhesive on threshold side  63  can be covered with removable foil or paper which can be peeled off prior to installation of second cover  50  to threshold  10  or to any threshold. 
     Second cover  50  can be used in place of first cover  30  for application to threshold  10  or to a threshold  10  without first minor step  17 , door step  18 , second minor step  19  first face  13 , second face  14  and third face  15 . In such a threshold  10  main step  16  will continue to meet rear edge  12 . Second cover  50  is installed by exposing adhesive on threshold side  63  of third tape  60 , aligning second cover  50  above threshold  10  and lowering second cover  50  onto threshold  10  so that front section  51  contacts front edge  11  and rear section  53  contacts rear edge  12 . By pressing down on top  53 , adhesive on threshold side  63  of third tape  60  will contact main step  16 . Cover  50  is flexible and so can conform to variations in threshold  10 . If door step  18  is present in threshold  10  then pressing down on top  53  will also bring adhesive on threshold side  63  of third tape  60  in contact with door step  18 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts second cover  50  with recessed space  72 . Recessed space  72  functions to allow advertising such as the builders name to be inserted in recessed space  72  by means of single side adhesive tape with advertising printed on the non-adhesive side. The recess protects the advertising from some abrasion. Recessed space has a maximum depth equal to ½ the thickness of second cover  50 , a maximum width of ⅓ the width of second cover  50  and a maximum length of ⅓ the length of second cover  50 . In place of recess space  72 , raised lettering may be printed during the manufacture in order to provide identifying and instructional information. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view along line  80  showing third tape  60  and recessed space  72 . 
     Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Other alternatives and modifications of the invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventor is legally entitled.