Accurately and easily adjustable mullion

A mullion assembly for a door unit is adjustably attachable to support structure via a connector part. The assembly includes: (a) an elongated upright million member having T-shape in horizontal cross section, and (b) a foot bracket at an end of the mullion member and being adjustable for connecting the bracket to support structure so that the bracket can be shifted horizontally relative to the connector part fixed to the support structure, and then attached to that part, (c) the foot bracket having T-shape in horizontal cross section to interfit the T-shape of the mullion for blocking sideward motion of the mullion relative to the bracket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to mullions used to support strikes for 
bolts carried by doors; more particularly, it concerns adjustability of 
such mullions during their installation to facilitate their precision 
location relative to door edges carrying the strike engaging bolts. 
There is need for simple, reliable, easily adjustable means facilitating 
mullion adjustability during installation. In the past, when the upper and 
lower ends of mullions were attached to supports or frames, they could not 
then be accurately adjusted sidewardly without considerable difficulty. 
This problem is exacerbated when the mullion is to be covered or enclosed 
by a decorative cover assembly, since it is then the cover assembly that 
fits to the door edges, and it as well as the mullion must then be 
adjusted to achieve precision interfit to the door and precision interfit 
to rotary or other type bolts to strikes carried by the mullion, or cover 
assembly. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a major object of the invention to provide an easily adjustable 
assembly meeting the above need and overcoming the described difficulties. 
Basically, the mullion assembly of the invention is attachable to support 
structure as by a connector part, and includes: 
(a) an elongated upright mullion member having T-shape in horizontal cross 
section, 
(b) a foot bracket at an end of the mullion member and having associated 
adjustable means for connecting the bracket to support structure s that 
the bracket can be shifted horizontally relative to said connector part 
fixed to the support structure, and then attached to that part, 
(c) the foot bracket having T-shape in horizontal cross section to interfit 
the T-shape of the mullion for blocking sideward motion of the mullion 
relative to the bracket. 
As will appear, the connector part typically comprises a vertical fastener 
such as a bolt having threaded connection to the horizontal support or 
frame; and the adjustable means on the foot bracket comprises a through 
slot receiving the fastener, the slot being elongated in the lateral 
direction of elongation of the cross piece defined by the T-shape of the 
bracket. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide the T-shape of the 
mullion with an upright stem which is hollow, with the stem of the T-shape 
of the bracket aligning with that hollow to block lateral displacement of 
the mullion relative to the bracket. 
A yet further object is to provide a decorative cover assembly having thin 
walls closely and protectively fitting about the mullion and quickly 
connected to same as during assembly. In this regard the hollow cover 
assembly also has T-shape, each of the T-shapes of the cover assembly and 
mullion having a stem, and there being flange means on and projecting 
parallel to the mullion T-shape stem; the cover assembly includes wall 
portions defining a space closely receiving said flange means, and door 
strike means on said wall portions, the said wall portions connected to 
said flange means. Also, two strikes are respectively located at opposite 
sides of the wall portions, the strikes attached to the wall portions and 
to the mullion flange means projecting therebetween, providing further 
attachment of the cover assembly to the mullion. 
An additional object is to provide a second foot bracket at and connected 
to the upper end of the mullion, the second foot bracket having the same 
construction a the first mentioned foot bracket and adjustably connected 
to second support structure above the upper end of the mullion. 
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the 
details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from 
the following specification and drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In the drawings, a vertically elongated mullion 10 has an upper end 10a, 
and a lower end 10b. It has the same construction throughout its length, 
and includes upright base plate 11, and a hollow box-like member 12 having 
vertical end walls 12a and 12b, and vertical side walls 13a and 13b. The 
base plate 11 is rigidly attached to end wall 12a, and in horizontal cross 
section the mullion has T-shape, with a stem formed by 12, and a cross 
piece formed by 11. See FIG. 4. Also, a flange means 15 is attached to end 
wall 12bto project in direction 45, normal to the plane of the base plate, 
and throughout the length of the mullion. The flange means has sub-flange 
15a attached to end wall 12b, so that flange means 15 is in a plane 
bisecting the end wall 12b. The structure of the mullion is typically 
metallic. 
A foot or mounting bracket 18 is provided at an end of the mullion, and 
typically at each (upper and lower) end 10a and 10b thereof. That bracket 
has associated adjustable means for connecting the bracket to support 
structure so that the bracket can be shifted horizontally relative to a 
connected part fixed to the support structure, and then attached to that 
part. For example, the connector part typically comprises a vertical 
fastener such as bolt 20 shown having threaded connection at 21 to the 
threshold plate 22, or other such support structure, the head 20a of the 
bolt tightened down on the upper surface 23 of the bracket 18. Upon 
loosening of the bolt, the bracket may be shifted in lateral direction 24 
or in lateral direction 25, and to limited extent, as accommodated by a 
laterally elongated through slot 26 extending vertically in the bracket, 
the bolt stem passing through that slot. The bracket is typically 
pivotally connected to the support 22, as by a vertical pin at 27, so that 
it is shiftable in direction 24 or 25 by pivoting about pin 27. Flat 
bottom 18a of the bracket slidably engages the upper surface of the 
support upon re-tightening of the bolt, the bracket is firmly assembled to 
the support, in adjusted position such that the mullion is precisely 
positioned in relation to doors 100 seen in FIG. 1. 
The on piece bracket also typically has T-shape, with a stem 18b, and a 
lateral cross piece 18c. It forms vertical integral lugs 28 which are 
laterally spaced apart to closely confine mullion walls 13a and 13b 
therebetween, as seen in FIG. 4. The lowermost end 10b' of the mullion 
seats on the bracket upper surface 18d, as seen in FIG. 3. Also, the 
bracket stem 18b projects at 18b' above the level of upper surface 18d, 
and is closely confined between mullion side walls 13a and 13b. See FIG. 
3. Thus, positive lateral confinement of the mullion by the anchored 
bracket is assured. 
The mullion and connector plate are typically connected by an upright 
connector plate 30, vertically and sidewardly overlapping the mullion base 
plate 11 and the cross piece 18c of the bracket. Fasteners 32 may provide 
such attachment. See FIGS. 2 and 4. 
As shown in FIG. 7, a second bracket 118 is shown at the upper end 10aof 
the mullion 10, and has the same construction as bracket 18. Bracket 118 
is also adjustably attached to header plate 122, as by a fastener bolt 120 
extending through laterally elongated slot 126, corresponding to slot 26. 
Accordingly, the mullion may be shifted laterally, toward or away from the 
edge 100a of either door 100. 
Also provided is a cover assembly 39 having upright walls 40a and 40b, 41a 
and 41b, 42a and 42b, and a base wall 43, such walls defining a T-shape in 
horizontal cross section, as seen in FIG. 2. The walls of the assembly 39 
fit about the mullion, and are connected to it, as will appear, whereby 
the cover assembly closely fits the door edge 100a, and provides a 
protected and decorative unit. It may consist of brushed or anodized 
aluminum, or other metal. 
The "stem" of the mullion cross section, i.e., formed by hollow box-like 
member 12, fits within the "stem" of the cover assembly 39. The cover 
assembly 39 has additional walls 44a and 44b closely spaced apart to 
fittingly receive the flange means 15 therebetween. Extending the 
description to FIGS. 9 and 10, door strikes 46 are fastened to the walls 
44a and 44b, as by fasteners 47 connecting the strikes to the flange means 
15. The strikes are adapted to receive rotary bolts 48 carried by the 
doors, as indicated in FIG. 2, in a known manner. The bolts may comprise 
star wheels, and latching push bars 49 are movable into and out of 
engagement with the star wheels to block and unblock their rotation 
relative to the strikes. Suitable panic bar mechanism activates the push 
bars 49, laterally. 
The cover assembly T-shape "base", or end wall 43, has snap-on connection 
at 50 to the edges of base walls 41a and 41b, whereby the cover assembly 
(without wall 43 attached) can be assembled onto the installed mullion in 
direction 51, after which the base wall 43 is snapped into place. Note 
flanges 52 on the wall 43, engageable with base plate 11 to position the 
cover assembly. The spaced flanges 52 engaging the mullion, and the 
fasteners 47 engaging the mullion, provide three-point centering support 
for the cove assembly relative to the mullion. 
As shown in FIG. 3 and 5, since the bottom and lower end 10b of the mullion 
(which has walls 12a, 12b, 13a, and 13b) fits against the top surface 18d 
of the bracket 18 (as referred to above); and since the top of the mullion 
extends below the surface of the bracket 118, the mullion may be shifted 
laterally, as referred to above. Therefore, the mullion 10 may be 
initially shifted laterally between lugs 28 of each bracket 18 and 118 
into the position seen in FIG. 4. Suitable vertical clearance, as for 
example as seen between the top of the mullion and the bracket 118 in FIG. 
7, allows relative vertical adjustment of the mullion so as to assume FIG. 
4 position. Other such clearance or cutaway of the mullion side of sides 
may be employed for this purpose. 
The mounting brackets 18' and 118' seen in FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are 
the same as brackets 18 and 118, except that through slot 126 that 
receives bolt or pin 27 is elongated in a lateral direction, i.e., 
parallel to through slot 26. Otherwise, the elements of the bracket 18' 
and bracket 118' are the same as those of bracket 18 (and 118), and are 
correspondingly numbered. Note that the upper surfaces 18d' and 18e' that 
seat the head 127 of bolt or pin 27, and the head 20a of bolt 20 are at a 
lower level than bracket surface 18d, as is clear from FIGS. 5, 11 and 12. 
Elongation of slot 126 allows lateral bodily adjustment shifting of each 
installed bracket 18' prior to tightening of the laterally immovable bolts 
20 and 27, and precisely relatively locating the two brackets vertically 
and laterally to correspondingly precisely locate the opposite ends of the 
mullion which is to be installed on the two brackets. Bracket 118' has the 
same construction as bracket 18'. 
In FIGS. 13 and 14, the upper and lower brackets 18' and 118' are shown 
installed in adjusted position, the bolts 20 and 27 being tightened to fit 
the brackets in position relative to header plate 122 and base plate 22. 
Note that the upper bracket 118' is attached via bolts 20 and 27 to a 
horizontal mounting plate 200, which is in turn attached to the header 
plate 122. See the threaded ends 20c and 27c of the bolts attached to 
threaded openings 201 and 202 in plate 200. Fasteners 203 and 204 in turn 
attach plate 200 to header 122. 
FIG. 14 shows the upright mullion 10 being installed, i.e. advanced 
leftwardly into assembled relation to the brackets 18' and 118', the 
completed assembly appearing, as in FIG. 2. Vertical flange means 15 then 
fits between the downward projections 118b' on bracket 118', and upward 
projections 18b' on bracket 18', as the mullion is leftwardly assembled 
between the brackets. Plate 11 is adapted to engage the U-shaped, upright 
side surfaces 206 and 207 of the two brackets, and to be attached to the 
brackets. See plates 30 in FIG. 16 having holes 212 for passing fasteners 
213 that attach the lower plate to the bracket cross pieces 18c and 118c, 
and also having holes 214 for passing fasteners 32 that attach the plate 
30 to mullion plate 11. A lateral dowel 216 may be employed to pass 
through lateral openings 217 in the bracket legs 28, and through 
corresponding openings 218 in mullion member 12 for additional locking 
together of the structure. Bracket legs 2 straddle mullion legs 13a and 
13b. 
The cover assembly 39 is then fitted about the mullion, as appears in FIG. 
10. 
FIG. 17 shows in horizontal section an application of the invention to 
nose-to-nose paired doors 300. Note that the cover assembly walls define a 
T-shape in horizontal cross section with a stem (formed by walls 44aand 
44b) in alignment with adjacent edges 301 of the paired doors. The massive 
structural steel mullion resists several hundred pounds size load without 
permanent deflection.