Abstract:
A transport carriage for the installation and removal of doors, allows the door to be raised or lowered and aligned before removal from the device. The device is capable of installing standard and pre-hung doors at both the finish and sub-floor stage of construction.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a device and method that assist in the safe and accurate mounting of doors in door frames. 
         [0003]    While others have recognized the need for improvements in the methods of transporting and mounting doors in door frames during construction, the prior art devices have not gained wide commercial application. 
         [0004]    Carpenters still mount doors by hand, in part because of the need to properly align and level the door during installation. Carpenters and other workers are thus as risk to hand and back injury when installing heavy doors. 
         [0005]    Further, as pre-hung doors become more common, such prior art devices are unsuitable for this purposes. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to fulfill the on-going need for an improved door mounting device and method capable of rapid door installation, notably the ability to align and level the door, as well as the combination of a door and frame in a pre-hung door. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the invention to provide a safer means for door installation, removal and replacement to minimize the risk of back and hand injuries. 
         [0008]    It is still another object of the invention to provide a device with the aforementioned benefits that is suitable for situations with and without final floor in place, i.e. installation occurs on a sub flooring. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0009]    In the present invention, the first object is achieved by providing a door carrier and mounting device that comprises a support frame having a vertically extending lower portion and an upward extending portion central disposed and connected to the vertical portion to form an inverted T-shape, wherein the vertical and horizontal portions extend orthogonally from the inverted T-form, to a symmetrical three dimensional frame, wherein the vertical portion comprises a pair of upright members that are spaced apart to support a door there between, a plurality of three or more wheels, wherein at least two wheel of said plurality are disposed to extend downward on opposite sides of the horizontal portion of the frame, said wheels being spaced apart along the orthogonally extending portions thereof to define at least three points that support the frame in rolling engagement with a floor, an L shaped lift member attached to the frame and disposed to support a door disposed within the pair of upright members, said L-shaft lift member being capable of being raised or lower independent of the said wheels, in which one or more clamps attached to the frame stabilize the door resting on the horizontal portion of said L-shaped lift member. 
         [0010]    A second aspect of the invention is characterized by a frame for transport and installing of doors and pre-hung doors that comprises a first L-shaped frame disposed in a first vertical reference plane, a second inverted L-shaped frame, wherein each L-shape frame extends in a second vertical reference plane that is orthogonal to the first vertical reference plane, a pair of wheel descending from horizontally extending portion of each of the first and second L-shaped frame portions, each pair of wheel being horizontally spaced in the direction of the second vertical reference plane, a U -shaped door supporting base having an upper portion joining the bottom of each of the first and second L-shaped frame, the door support base having a central and horizontally extending plate disposed below the top of the wheels, wherein a door resting on the horizontally extending plate is vertically supported by the upright portions of the first and second L-shaped frames disposed on opposite sides thereof. 
         [0011]    The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a first cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is another cross-sectional view of the device, but orthogonal to the view shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of the device, shown in the same orthogonal view as  FIG. 2  with the door positioned higher relative to the device in  FIG. 1-2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the device, shown in the same orthogonal view as  FIG. 2  with a pre-framed door positioned higher relative to the device in  FIG. 1-2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates another configuration of the device of  FIG. 3  wherein the doors is positioned lower. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the door being installed in a doorway using the device of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of a more preferred embodiment of the device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a full perspective view of the device of  FIG. 7   
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a full perspective view of a door being transported in the device of  FIG. 7 and 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 9 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved door carrier and mounting device generally denominated  100  herein. 
         [0022]    In accordance with the present invention,  FIG. 1  illustrates a partial view of a first embodiment of device  100  for transport and installing of door  10 . Device  100  includes a first portion  110  that is generally L-shaped in this isometric view, and a second frame potion  110 ′ that has an inverted L-shape disposed laterally off set from the first L-shaped portion  110 ′. Each L shaped portion of the frame of device  100  has a vertically extending member  111  and a horizontally extending member  112 . Preferably, two or more wheels  120  descend from horizontally extending member  112 . The two wheels  120  and  120 ′ associated with each L shaped member are horizontally spaced apart, as shown in the orthogonal view in  FIG. 2 . The door  10  is disposed within the U-shaped door supporting base  130 , which has the upper vertical portions  131  and  131 ′ joining the bottom of each of the first and second L-shaped frame  110  and  110 ′ respectively. The door support base  130  also has a central and horizontally extending plate  132  disposed below the top of the wheels  120 , connecting the lower vertical portions  131  and  131 ′. The position of horizontally extending plate  132  below the wheel supporting horizontally extending member  112 , and more significantly so that it is central of the wheels  120  permits the bottom of door  10  to be brought to its final position just clearing the bottom of the finish flooring. 
         [0023]    It should be understood that the frame may be solid or merely a combination of elongated members connected together, as well as combination thereof to obtain the desired combination of weight and stiffness suitable for doors of particular size and weight. It should be noted that  FIG. 2  illustrates one non-limiting embodiment of how the frame members may extend in the orthogonal direction, as it shows the L shaped frame  110  as a rectangular frame  110 , while U shaped door supporting base is the shaped of an inverted “T”. 
         [0024]    The horizontal portion of the L-shaped frames  110  and  110 ′ position each of the wheel pairs  120  and  120 ′ away from the door to provide stability, but at a narrower spacing that the door so that the entire apparatus can be rolled into a door frame, as shown in the plan view in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0025]    It should be noted that the door  10 , having its bottom side resting on the horizontally extending plate  130  can be vertically supported by the upright portions of the first and second L-shaped frames  110  and  110 ′ disposed on opposite sides thereof, as will be explained further with respect to the embodiments of  FIG. 5  et seq. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment where a lift  140  is disposed between the forward and rear U-shaped supporting bases shown in  FIG. 1-3 . The L-shaped lift  140 . 
         [0027]    The generally L-shaped lift  140  has a pair of horizontal feet  142  disposed between the horizontally extending plate  132  of the door support base  130 . 
         [0028]    The horizontal feet  142  support the bottom edge of door  10  so that it can be lifted higher than the position shown in  FIG. 1 and 2  where it rests on the horizontally extending plate  132 . A pair of vertical posts  141  are connected to the side of each of the horizontal feet  142 . The vertical posts  141  extended through the frame 
         [0029]    Extend through the upper and lower vertical portions  114  of frame  110 , being in thread engagement therewith so that rotation of the terminal nut  145  on each post  141  raises or lower the horizontal foot  142   
         [0030]    Further, via terminal nut  145  the user can independently adjustment of right and left portions of the L-shaped lift  140  to level the door, as may be require when the subfloor is uneven, rough or when the bottom of the door is not square with respect to the sides. 
         [0031]    In addition, it is also preferable that lift  140  also include lift handles  144  /which extend laterally from vertical posts  141  so that the door  10  can be rapidly moved upward. 
         [0032]    It should be appreciated that the adjustable height of the pair of horizontal feet  142  above the horizontally extending plate  132  permits the bottom of door  10  to be brought to its final position with respect to not yet installed finish flooring, when the device  100  is resting on a sub-floor. However, the presence of lift  140  by no means diminishes the ability to install a door  10  over finish flooring, but rather provides an additional range of height adjustment and control. 
         [0033]    In the alternative configuration of the device of  FIG. 3 , now shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0034]    A pre-framed door  10 , with exterior frame  12  attached is installed. In this instance, the door portion  10  rests on horizontal feet  142  so that so that the bottom of door frame  12  can be lowered so that it is eventually supported by the floor. It should be noted that it is preferable that the horizontally extending plate  132  be close to the floor so that the frame  12  can reach the floor without interference there from. 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 5 , the door  10  shown in  FIG. 3  has been lowered to the correct height for installation, as well as leveled by lift  140 . In the preferred embodiments shown in  FIG. 7-9 , further detail of lift  140 , clamps  160  and wheel  120  are illustrated. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  also shows device  100  in a plan view as used to install door  10  into an open doorway  113 , surrounded by frame  612  It should be noted that the device  100  allowed the door  10  to be aligned from the side at an oblique angle with respect to the door frame to align and attach hinge  117  to the door  10  and frame  112 . Further, once the door  10  is installed, the clamps  160  are loosened and the device  100  is removed in the direction shown by arrow  60 . It should be appreciated that the width of the device  100 , in the direction of the elevation in  FIG. 1 , should be narrower than the typical doorway opening so that the door can be transported through opening  113  from either side. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of another embodiment showing more preferred aspects and features of the invention, of which the entire device is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 7 and 8  in which a door is being transported for installation. These figures further illustrates a preferred application of a clamp mechanism  160  in which pairs of opposing clamp tips  164  are brought into contact with opposite sides of the door by turning clamp handles  161 . As the clamp tips  164  and clamp handles  161  are at opposite ends of each of the clamp shafts  162  that are in threaded engagement with a portion of the frame, the handles are rotated to clamp and unclamp door  10  for transport and after installation respectively. To the extent that the bottom edge of the door  10  is uneven, rough or not square with the vertical sides of door  10  this can be corrected by the adjustment of the clamps  160 . 
         [0039]    Further, each of the rollers  120  is preferably independently raised or lower by rotating handle  121 , which rotates the shaft  122  connected to the wheel which is in threaded engagement with the horizontally extending member  112 . In addition, it is preferable that each of the wheels  120  is set in a castor that allows 360 degrees of rotation to facilitate transport and removal of the device  100  after the door  10  is installed. 
         [0040]    Further, it should be apparent that alternative embodiment of the invention may deploy as few as three wheels or castors. However in such case it is preferable that the wheels be spaced apart in a stable configuration. While this can be accomplished by placing one wheel between the L-shaped members, this is less desirable as it may limit the lowest position of horizontally extending plate  132  for supporting door  10 . However, it may also be possible to utilize one or more wheel close to or just straddling the horizontally extending plate  132  at one end, with the other two wheels spaced further apart at the other end to create essentially three or four stable points for resting the device  100  in rolling engagement with the floor. It is also preferable that at least one or more of the plurality of wheels be lockable. 
         [0041]    While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.