Apparatus to aid in the installation of doors

Abstract: A pair of supports (10) to aid in the installation of door jambs, each support (10) includes a base (11) to rest upon and to be secured to a support surface. Extending upwardly from the base is a brace member (13) which has at its upper end a securing bracket (17) to engage the door jamb. Adjacent the base is a second securing bracket (17) which also engages the door jamb. Both brackets (17) are adjustably moveable horizontally to adjust the door jamb engaged thereby.

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus to aid in the installation of door jambs. The installation of doors jambs, both in new buildings and by way of replacement of old door jambs to meet fire resistant ratings, is generally time consuming and can take up to two hours per door. In the construction of new buildings, particularly brick buildings, a door jamb is frequently supported by timber braces which are pinned or otherwise secured to a concrete floor. This known method of supporting a door jamb during construction is again very time consuming and therefore expensive. A still further disadvantage, is that material, namely timber, is required and often is not reusable. US-A-4829727 discloses apparatus and a method of installing a door frame wherein the frame becomes an integral part of its own setting jig until installation, after which the setting jig is removed. According to the invention we provide a support to aid in the installation of door jambs, said support comprising: a base to rest upon and to be secured to a floor surface; a brace member attached to, and extending upwardly from said base; a first securing bracket attached to an upper portion of said brace member and adapted to engage a door jamb; and a second securing bracket attached to said base or a lower portion of said brace member and adapted to also engage the door jamb so that in use the brackets are aligned vertically to retain the door jamb in a generally vertical orientation. A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a support to aid in the installation of door jambs; Figure 2 is a schematic front elevation of the support of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the support of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a bracket employed in the support of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a mounting plate for the bracket of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic top plan view of a bracket to aid in the securing of door jambs within a door opening of an existing wall; Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the bracket of Figure 1; and Figure 8 is a schematic end elevation of the bracket of Figure 8. The matter shown in Figures 6 to 8 is outside the scope of this invention. In Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a support 10 to aid in the installation of door jambs, and preferably having vertical members and a top member formed from metal channel of "C-shaped" transverse cross section. In use, two of the supports 10 would be used with each door jamb, with one support 10 being operatively associated with one of the vertical members of the door jamb. The support 10 includes a base 11 which would preferably be secured to a floor surface by fasteners of some sort. Alternatively, weights may be provided and stacked on the base 11 to secure the support 10 in position. For example, the base 11 may have one or more passages 12 through which the fasteners may pass to engage the floor surface. Fixed to the base plate 11, is a mounting plate 23 which has a slot 24 and performs the same basic functions as the mounting plate 16. Secured to the mounting plate 23 is a further one of the brackets 17. Again a pair of fasteners secure the bracket 17 to the mounting plate 23 via the slot 24. The bracket 17 secured to the mounting plate 23 is adjustable in the same manner as the bracket 17 associated with the mounting plate 16. In Figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a bracket 30 to aid in fixing a door jamb within a door opening in a wall. The bracket 30 is adapted to be used with a door jamb consisting of a pair of vertical members and a top member. The vertical members would preferably be formed of metal channel of a generally "C-shaped" configuration. In the accompanying drawings the vertical member 31 is a metal channel having a pair of opposing flanges 32. Extending between the flanges 32 is one or more of the brackets 30. The bracket 30 includes a generally planar body 33 formed from stripped metal. Each end of the body 33 is punched so as to have cooperating lugs 34 and 35 which engage the flanges 32 to secure the bracket 30 in position. The body 30 is provided with a pair of passages 36 through which threaded fasteners 37 pass, which fasteners are movable in a direction generally normal to the surfaces of the wall door opening. The member 31 is provided with a pair of apertures 38 through which a screwdriver may pass to engage the threaded fasteners 37. In use of the above described bracket 30, the member 31 is secured to the wall by suitable threaded fasteners. Thereafter, the fasteners 37 are adjusted to engage the wall opening and move the member 31 to its correct position and orientation.

Claims: A support (10) to aid in the installation of door jambs, said support comprising: a base (11) to rest upon and to be secured to a floor surface; a brace member (13) attached to, and extending upwardly from, said base; a first securing bracket (17) attached to an upper portion of said brace member and adapted to engage a door jamb; and a second securing bracket (17) attached to said base or a lower portion of said brace member and adapted to also engage the door jamb so that in use the brackets are aligned vertically to retain the door jamb in a generally vertical orientation. The support of claim 1, wherein each bracket (17) is adjustably attached to said brace member (13) for movement horizontally relative thereto, said brackets being movable in directions which are co-planar. The support of claim 2, wherein each bracket (17) is generally U-shaped so as to have a base portion attached to the brace member, and a pair of co-extensive parallel legs between which the door jamb is attached. The support of claim 3, further including threaded fasteners engaging said arms and adjustable to engage the door jamb.

Inventors: GREEN WILLIAM ALLEN DAVID, TREGARTHEN DAVID NEIL, GREEN, WILLIAM ALLEN DAVID, TREGARTHEN, DAVID NEIL
Applicants: GREEN WILLIAM ALLEN DAVID, TREGARTHEN DAVID NEIL, GREEN, WILLIAM ALLEN DAVID, TREGARTHEN, DAVID NEIL
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E04F21
IPC codes: E04F21