Abstract:
A method of installing a storm door is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: attaching a track to a door head; attaching one or more rollers to the track; and attaching the storm door to the one or more rollers. After the storm door is installed, the storm door can be slid along a length of the track between an open position and a closed position. While sliding the storm door between the open position and the dosed position, the storm door remains generally parallel to the door head.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    These teachings relate generally to a closure for a passage such as the entrance to a living space, and in particular to a storm door positioned in front of a main door. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A house or apartment generally includes a storm door having glass panels and window screen panels in front of an exterior door. The storm door provides visibility outside of the exterior door through the glass or screen panels, and allows ventilation through the window screen panels. Also, the storm door protects the exterior door from bad weather and thereby helps to prevent infiltration from a strong rush of wind or rain. 
         [0003]    Typically, a storm door has the general appearance of a swinging door; that is a door panel suspended on hinges within a door frame. When a person standing outside opens the storm door, the storm door swings on the hinges toward the person so that the person must back away from the opening. This outward swinging action of the typical storm door requires there to be a clear space in front of the doorway equal to about the width of the storm door. In areas where snow is prevalent, snow builds up in front of the door making it difficult or in extreme cases, impossible to open the door. For instance, a 36″ prior at storm door must displace 36″ distance of swing worth of snow. It is not unheard of where a person must use a different exit from their home and then must shovel clear their storm door so it will open. 
         [0004]    When a prior art storm door is located at the to of a set of stairs, a person opening the storm door must step backward, usually descending as step or two, in order to provide the needed swinging clearance for the storm door open. Stepping backward on a set of stairs can be awkward, especially for the elderly, the infirm and the very young. This difficulty is compounded if the person is carrying groceries or other objects. 
         [0005]    Another difficulty encountered with prior art storm doors is prompted by the common return spring system fitted to swinging storm doors. A person attempting to enter through a doorway closed by both s storm door and a main door must hold the storm door open against its return spring with their elbow, hand or body. This action can be especially cumbersome for a person with a physical handicap or carrying as load. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, a prior art storm door sometimes can be caught by gusts of wind, which may cause severe damage to the door and/or the door jamb to which it is hinged. 
         [0007]    There is therefore a need for an improved storm door that tat overcomes these shortcomings found in prior art storm door systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    A method of installing a store a door is disclosed. The method comprises one or more steps including: attaching a track to a door head; attaching one or more rollers to the track; and attaching the storm door to the one or more rollers. After the storm door is installed, the storm door can be slid along a length of the track between an open position and a closed position. While sliding the storm door between the open position and the closed position, the storm door remains generally parallel to the door head. 
         [0009]    A method is disclosed comprising the steps of retrofitting a swinging storm door into a storm door that slides comprising one or more steps of: attaching a wall bracket to a door bead; attaching a track to the wall bracket; attaching one or more rollers to the track; attaching a door bracket to the swinging storm door; and attaching the door bracket to the one or more rollers. After the door bracket is attached to the one or more rollers, the storm door can be slid along a length of the track between an open position and a closed position. After the door bracket is attached to the one or more rollers, the storm door is restricted from swinging. 
         [0010]    An assembly is disclosed, comprising: a wall bracket configured to attach to a door head; a track connected to the wall bracket; a roller fit within the track so that the roller is moveably connected to the track; a door bracket connected to the roller so that the door bracket moves with the roller during sliding; a lower guide attached to a bottom sill and slidably receiving at least a portion of a storm door; and a top guard attached to a portion of the storm door and the track so that a gap defined between the storm door and the track is closed out. The roller can be slid within the track so that the storm door can be slid along a path that is generally parallel to the door head and is restricted from swinging relative to the door head. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates the easy glide door assembly in front of a standard exterior entry door 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of the easy glide door assembly attached to the door head in front of the standard exterior door taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded partial perspective view of the attachment of the door and the roller track system via the door bracket. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a door bracket and the rollers. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the door, the door bracket, the rollers, and the track. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the track. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a partial side view of the track attached to the door head via the wall bracket. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of the door and the track system including a stopper. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of the door and the right side guard. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a partial perspective view of the door and the right side guard. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a partial perspective view of a pair of door brackets attached to the door. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective of the lower guide. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the door slid open to the left. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a front view of the door in a closed position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a from view of the door in a closed position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a partial front view of the door and the lower guide. 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is a front view of the door in a closed position. 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a partial front view of the door and the lower guide. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the teachings, its principles, and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the teachings in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present teachings as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference into this written description. 
         [0030]    This disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/059,312 filed on Oct. 3, 2014, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes. 
         [0031]    The present invention provides an improved storm door that overcomes the disadvantages present in prior art swinging storm doors. The improved storm door of this invention can be used without requiring a swing space. The improved storm door can be easily opened even by a person carrying groceries or who is physically handicapped. Furthermore, the improved storm door remains parallel to a wail of the dwelling, such that wind is less likely to catch and thrust open the storm door. The present invention can be installed as a retrofit item in an existing door opening with minimum modification. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an easy glide storm door assembly according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention is generally shown at  20  installed in front of a standard exterior entry door  22 . The door assembly  20  comprises as door  24 . One exemplary of the door  24  is shown having glass panels which are replaceable with screen panels. The shape and arrangement of the door  24  could, however, be of any suitable type and may or not may not correspond to the shape of the exterior door  22 . The door  22  is suspending from above by a roller track system, generally indicated at  26 . The door  24  is thus configured to slide to one side following in the roller track system  26  so that the user does not need to step back in order to open the door  24 . The door  24  can therefore slide easily to one side, and stay in the open condition without further restraint, thus permitting easy and total access to the exterior door  22 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken from lines  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  which shows how the door  24  is installed in front of (i.e., on the exterior side of) the exterior door  22 . The track system  26  is firmly attached to a door head  28  or exterior wall structure via as wall bracket  30 . The wall bracket  30  could be any appropriate shape to attach the track system  26  to the door head  28 . For example, an L-shaped bracket can he used to attach the track system  26  to a vertical wall, or a Z-shaped bracket to a horizontal ceiling. The door  24  is hung from a thrust bolt  32  in the track system  26  via a door bracket  34 .  FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of attachment of the door  24  and the roller track system  26  via the door bracket  34 . Typically at least two door brackets  34  are firmly disposed on a top surface of the door  24 . The door bracket  34  takes the form of a generally Z-shaped plate having a uglier portion and a lower portion. The lower portion of bracket  34  is firmly fixed through holes on the top surface of the door  24  by screwing, welding or other suitable means. The upper portion of bracket  34  includes a notch  36 . The notch  36  is configured to hook over the head of the thrust bolt  32 , and as nut  40  is generally designed to fasten the door bracket  34  and the thrust bolt  32  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0034]    Returning to again  FIG. 2 , a fixed bolt  42  is permanently attached to the track system  26 . The height of the door  24  can be adjusted by turning the thrust bolt  32  so that the door  24  can keep appropriate gap between the bottom surface of the door  24  and a sill  44 . A counter bolt  46  is located over the fixed bolt  42 , When the counter bolt  46  is tightened to the fixed bolt  42 , the counter bolt  46  can prevent the thrust bolt  32  from loosening and firmly maintain the height of the door  24 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 2-7  illustrate how the track system  26  is composed to permit sliding movement of the door  24 . The track system  26  generally comprises a pair of rollers  38  and a track  48 . The roller  38  generally includes two pair of wheels  50 , which can freely rotate on the both sides of the roller  38 . The track  48  takes the form of a generally a U-shaped strut channel as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The rollers  38  are configured to slide inside the track  48 . In both ends of channel of the track  48 , a stopper  52  is disposed to prevent the roller  38  from escaping the track  48  as shown in  FIG. 16 . One example of the stopper  52  could be a screw across the track  48 . However, any means of preventing the roller  38  from escaping could be the stopper  52 . (E.g. an end block or cap.) 
         [0036]    Returning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a flexible top guard  54  is firmly attached to the exterior face of the door  24  adjacent its top edge. The top guard  54  extends above the door  24  and partially overlays the tack  48  to keep bugs out of the gap between the track system  26  and the door  24 . Also, the top guard  54  prevents rain and dust from entering and can protect the track system  26  and the exterior door  22 . The top guard is designed to closely ride against the track  48 .  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  9  depict a right side guard  56 , which is firmly disposed along the right side edge of the door  24  to seal the gap between the door  24  and a wall.  FIG. 10  depicts a left side guard  60  attached to the door  24  to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0037]    The door assembly  20  may further include a lower guide  62  to help maintain the door  24  in a vertical orientation at all times, even when being slid open and closed.  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  12  show the guide  62 , which is firmly fixed in the sill  44 . In particular, the guide  62  includes a generally U-shape slot that confines a bottom portion of the door  24 . Furthermore, the guide  62  can prevent the door  24  from shaking by gusts of wind. 
         [0038]    The present invention also can conveniently replace with an existing prior art storm door because the door  24  can be configured to slide right or left corresponding to a pre-installed exterior door. In  FIG. 1 , the door  24  is configured to slide right, but,  FIG. 13  shows the door  24  configured to slide toward the left. Thus, the present invention can he easily adapted to both left and right knob door applications 
         [0039]    Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the contemplated invention. 
         [0040]    Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided, that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to he expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. As can be seen, the teaching of amounts expressed as “parts by weight” herein also contemplates the same ranges expressed in terms of percent by weight. Thus, an expression in the Detailed Description of the Teachings of a range in terms of at “‘x’ pans by weight of the resulting polymeric blend composition” also contemplates a teaching of ranges of same recited amount of “x” in percent by weight of the resulting polymeric blend composition.” 
         [0041]    Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least the specified endpoints. 
         [0042]    The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of the elements, ingredients, components or steps. 
         [0043]    Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps. 
         [0044]    It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter.