Sectionalized door for a barn or similar structure

A sectionalized door for a barn or similar structure including a plurality of separable panels positioned side by side and fitted together by tongue and groove connections. Top and bottom rails extend across the upper and lower marginal edges respectively of the connected panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a sectionalized door and will have particular but 
not limited application to sliding doors for a barn or similar structure. 
The door of this invention includes a plurality of separable panel parts, 
each of selected width and height. Each panel part includes two vertical 
frame supports between which girders extend and are preferably overlayed 
with siding. One frame support of each panel part is formed into a tongue 
connection, while the other frame support of the panel part is formed into 
a groove connection. 
A plurality of panel parts having specific height and width are selected to 
accommodate the desired size of the door. The panel parts are joined in a 
side by side relationship with the tongue connection of one panel part 
fitting into the groove connection of an adjacent panel part. A 
channel-shaped top rail is applied over the upper marginal edges of the 
joined panel parts and a channel-shaped bottom rail is applied over the 
bottom marginal edges of the panel parts, with both rails extending from 
one end panel part to the other end panel part. Fastener means, such as 
screws, are then utilized to connect the top and bottom rails to the panel 
parts. If the door is to be utilized as a sliding door, hangers carrying 
rollers or similar apparatus are then connected to the top rail for 
connection to the guide and support rail which is connected to the barn or 
other building structure. 
By providing a sectionalized door consisting of multiple panel parts, the 
door user may select the number and size of panel parts to accommodate his 
needs, and then simply assemble the door at the building structure site. 
Special skills and tooling are not required to assemble the door of this 
invention. Additionally, the supplier or distributor of the door need only 
keep a minimum inventory of parts since the variation in door size is 
determined by the particular size of the panel parts utilized in the door. 
Also, since the door is in disassembled stored form, the distributor or 
supplier need only utilize a minimum of storage space for his inventory. 
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a door which is 
for a barn or similar structure and which is in sectionalized, easily 
assembled form. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a door for mounting to a 
barn or similar structure in which a plurality of connectable panel parts 
are provided from which the user of the door can choose to size his door 
depending upon the number and size of panel parts utilized. 
And still another object of this invention is to provide a method of sizing 
and assembling a door for a barn or similar structure in a simplified 
manner with only the use of ordinary hand tools. 
And still another object of this invention is to provide a sliding door 
having a hinged access door. 
Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the 
invention's description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The preferred embodiments illustrated are not intended to be exhaustive or 
to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen and 
described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its 
application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art 
to best utilize the invention. 
Door 10 of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as being connected to a 
barn 12 for sliding movement to expose the door opening into the barn. 
Hangers 14 which include rollers (not shown) are connected to door 10 and 
a roller guide and support rail 16 is attached to barn 12 above the door 
opening. Hangers 14 and rail 16 are of standard construction and serve to 
support door 10 for its shiftable movement in a manner well known in the 
art. 
Door 10 is shown in disassembled form in FIG. 3 and includes panel parts 
18, a top rail 20 and a bottom rail 22 as its sectionalized component 
parts. Each panel part 18 includes vertical frame supports 24 and 26, a 
horizontal top girt 28, a horizontal bottom girt 30, siding 32 and also 
preferably one or more center girts 34. 
In each panel part 18, frame support 24 is of a channel-shaped form having 
spaced legs 36 and a connecting web 38. Web 38 is provided with a groove 
40. Each frame support 26 is also of a channel-shaped form having spaced 
legs 42 and a connecting web 44 which is provided with a projecting 
longitudinally extending tongue 46. Center girts 34, extend from frame 
support 24 to frame support 26 in each panel part 18 with the ends of each 
center girt fitting between legs 36 and 42 of the frame supports. One leg 
36 and one leg 42 of each frame support 24 and 26 is provided with a 
groove 48 to accommodate screw fasteners 50 which extend through the frame 
supports into center girts 34. The other legs 36 and 42 of frame supports 
24 and 26 are each provided with a channel part 49. If a single center 
girt 34 is utilized for a particular embodiment of door 10, this girt will 
preferably be centered between and parallel top girt 28 and bottom girt 
30. In the illustrated embodiment of door 10, three center girts 34 are 
utilized with girts 28, 30 and 34 being equally spaced apart and 
paralleling each other. 
In each panel part 18 top girt 28 and bottom girt 30 extend from frame 
support 24 to frame support 26 with the ends of the girts fitting between 
legs 36 and 42 of frame supports 24 and 26. Screw fasteners 50 extend 
through frame supports 24 and 26 and girts 28 and 30 to connect the girts 
to the frame supports. Siding 32 is applied over girts 28, 30 and 34 of 
each panel part 18. The marginal edges of siding 32 extend into channel 
parts 49 of legs 36 and 42 of frame supports 24 and 36 as best shown in 
FIGS. 6 and 7. Screw fasteners 52 extend through siding 32 into girts 28, 
30 and 34. 
Top rail 20 and bottom rail 22 of door 10 are each channel-shaped having 
spaced legs 54 and a connecting web 56. Panel parts 18 of the door are 
positioned side by side in the same general plane with frame support 
tongue 46 of one panel part fitting into frame support groove 40 of the 
adjacent panel part. In this manner panel parts 18 of the door are 
connected together. The fit of each tongue 46 into the adjacent groove 40 
of the panel part frame supports is preferably sufficiently close to 
prevent any substantial lateral movement or play between the connected 
panel parts. With panel parts 18 so connected together, top rail 20 is 
placed over the upper edges of the panel parts with legs 54 of the rail 
straddling the upper ends of frame supports 24 and 26 and top girt 28 of 
each panel part. Top rail 20 includes a projecting lip 21 which overlies 
the upper edge of siding 32 of each panel part 18. Bottom rail 22 is 
placed over the lower edges of the connected panel parts 18 with its legs 
54 stradding the lower ends of frame supports 24 and 26 and bottom girt 30 
of each of the panel parts. Rails 20 and 22 extend the length of connected 
panel parts 18. Screw fasteners 58 are inserted through legs 54 of top and 
bottom rails 20 and 22 and into frame supports 24 and 26 of the two end 
panel parts 18 and also preferably the remaining panel parts and girts 28 
and 30 of the panel parts. 
With panel parts 18 connected together and top rail 20 and bottom rail 22 
secured to the panel parts along their respective upper and lower edges, 
door 10 is in its assembled form. Door 10 may now be hung upon barn 12 by 
attaching roller carrying hangers 14 to top rail 20 and thereafter 
positioning the hanger rollers upon guide rail 16. 
In FIGS. 8-14, door 10 is shown with an individual door panel 70 
incorporated into a panel part 18. Door panel 70 includes vertical channel 
sections 72, girt parts 74 which are connected by screw fasteners 76 to 
channel section 72, and siding 78 which is applied over one side of the 
panel. Girt parts 74' and 74" are C-shaped and serve respectively as the 
upper and lower transverse frame supports for the door panel. Siding 78 is 
attached to the channel section and girts by screw fasteners. 
Panel part 18 is modified to accommodate door panel 70 by utilizing girts 
80 and 82 as the header and threshold respectively for the door panel. 
Girts 80,82 extend into frame supports 24 and, like girts 28 and 34 are 
connected to the frame support by screw fasteners. Siding 32 extends from 
girt 28 to girt 80 and is secured to the panel part by screw fasteners. 
Panel part 18 with its door panel 70 is secured by tongue and groove 
connections to the adjacent panel parts by top rail 20 and bottom rail 22 
of the door. 
A channeled jamb 84 is fitted into and connected to each frame support 24, 
extending between girts 74' and 74". Hinges 86 are connected between one 
channel section 72 of the door panel and one jamb 84 to allow the door 
panel to pivot between open and closed positions relative to the 
accommodating panel part. Each jamb 84 and girts 74' and 74" includes a 
weather seal 87. A handle and latch 88 is carried at the opposite side 
edge of door panel 70 from hinges 86. A latch plate 90 is attached to the 
opposite jamb 84 from hinges 86 to accommodate latch 88. Door panel 70 
allows access into the barn without opening door 10. 
Suppliers and distributors of door 10 will sell the door in disassembled 
form with their inventory including a plurality of panel parts 18 and top 
rails 20 and bottom rails 22. Panel parts 18 will be of various widths, 
such as in one, two or three foot sizes and heights, such as in eight, 
ten, twelve, thirteen, fourteen and sixteen foot sizes. Additionally, the 
length of rails 20 and 22 will vary. The door buyer or user will order 
through the distributor or supplier a selected number and particular sized 
panel parts 18 which when assembled will form a door of desired size. 
Additionally, a top rail 20 and a bottom rail 22 of selected length will 
be provided or cut for the buyer or user. The door in its disassembled, 
sectionalized form will be transported to the building or barn site where 
the user or buyer by the use of ordinary hand tools will assemble the door 
by connecting the panel parts 18 in a side by side relationship, with the 
frame support tongue 46 of one panel part fitting into the frame support 
groove 48 of an adjacent panel part and thereafter using overlying top 
rail 20 and underlying bottom rail 22. Screw fasteners 50, 52, 58 and 76 
may be of the self-tapping type to further facilitate assembly of the 
door. 
It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the 
details above given but may be modified within the scope of the appended 
claims.