Abstract:
An expandable frame for a storm door mounted onto the header and door jamb in an entrance, a frame kit, and method of installation. The expandable frame includes an expandable header assembly, an expandable lock-side assembly and a hinge-side piece. The header assembly includes a frame mount and a header stop mounted onto the underside of the header, the hinge-side piece is mounted vertically against the door jamb on one side of the entry, and the lock-side assembly includes a lock-side stop and a frame mount mounted vertically onto the door jamb opposite the hinge section. A user can adjust the position of the header assembly and lock-side assembly to accommodate a door having smaller dimensions than the height and width of the entrance.

Description:
PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 12/235,480 filed Sep. 22, 2008 which claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application 60/974,348 filed Sep. 21, 2007. Both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of door frames. More specifically the present invention relates to a frame, its kit, and a method for installing an expandable door frame for conventional storm doors within the opening bounded by a door jamb and a header. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an expandable frame for a storm door. The frame is mounted onto the header and door jamb in an entrance. The expandable feature of the frame eliminates the need to affix U-shaped brackets along the sides of a storm door when the storm door is smaller than the height or width of the entry. The frame includes an expandable header assembly, an expandable lock-side assembly and a hinge-side piece. The header assembly includes a frame mount and a header stop. The frame mount is mounted onto the underside of an entry-way header and the header stop is then attached to the frame mount. The separation between the frame mount and the header stop is adjustable. The hinge-side piece is mounted vertically along a door jamb on one side of the entrance. The lock-side assembly includes a lock-side stop and a frame mount. The frame mount for the lock-side assembly is mounted vertically onto a door jamb generally parallel to the hinge-side piece. The lock-side stop is then attached to the frame mount. The lock-side assembly, like the header assembly, is adjustable. 
     It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an expandable frame and its kit that is easily installed in an entrance and adjusted, so that the dimensions of the entry will accommodate a storm door. 
     It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method of installing an expandable frame assembly that will allow the user to adjust the dimensions of the opening in an entry to accommodate a storm door having smaller dimensions than the height and width of the opening. 
     It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide an expandable door frame having the advantageous characteristics mentioned above, which is simple in structure and economical in manufacture, and staunch, durable and reliable to effectively provide an adequate frame around the entry of a storm door. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a left-side elevational view of the header assembly of the expandable frame of the present invention as viewed along line I-I in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a left-side elevational view of the header assembly of the expandable frame of the present invention as viewed along line II-II in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a view from above the lock-side assembly of the expandable frame of the present invention as viewed along line III-III in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view from above the lock-side assembly of the expandable frame of the present invention as viewed along line IV-IV in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view from above the hinge-side piece of the expandable frame of the present invention as viewed along line V-V in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view of the expandable frame of the present invention showing the hinge-side piece; 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary perspective view of the expandable frame of the present invention showing the lock-side assembly in the closed position. 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmentary perspective view of the expandable frame of the present invention showing the lock-side assembly in the open position. 
         FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  are fragmentary top perspective views of the expandable frame of the present invention showing the header assembly in the closed position. 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary top perspective view of the expandable frame of the present invention showing the header assembly in the open position. 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmentary bottom perspective view of the expandable frame of the present invention showing the header assembly in the closed position. 
         FIG. 12  is a fragmentary bottom perspective view of the expandable frame of the present invention showing the header assembly in the open position. 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of a prior art U-bracket system 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the header-stop, lock-side stop, and hinge-side piece of the present invention as seen from the outside of a house 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the header-stop, lock-side stop, and hinge-side piece of the present invention as seen from the inside of a house 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals. 
     The expandable door frame of the present invention includes a header assembly  20 , a hinge-side piece  45 , and a lock-side assembly  60 . The expandable door frame may be made of any material suitable to support a door within an entrance, depending on the location, weight, and type of door. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a header assembly  20 . The header assembly  20  comprises a frame mount  21  and a header stop  22 . The frame mount  21  has a bottom surface  23  integrally connected to two generally parallel side walls  24  that are generally perpendicular to the bottom surface  23 . The frame mount  21  is mounted onto the header of an entrance, such that the bottom surface  23  is generally flush with the underside of the header. The frame mount  21  preferably has at least one mounting hole  25  in which a mounting screw  26  is inserted to attach the frame mount  21  to the underside of the header. The bottom surface  23  of the frame mount  21  is optionally shaped to include at least one groove  27 . The grooved bottom surface reduces the amount of material needed to construct the frame mount without depriving the frame mount of the strength and rigidity needed to support the header stop. The frame mount  21  also includes additional holes to receive an adjustment screw  28  and a locking screw  29 . 
     Upon mounting the frame mount  21  onto the underside of the header, an adjustment screw  28  is inserted through the adjustment screw hole  30  in the frame mount  21  and into the header. The header stop  22  is then mounted onto the frame mount  21 . The header stop  22  includes a top surface  31  integrally connected to two generally parallel expander walls  32 , a door stop  33 , and a lip  34 . When the header stop  22  is mounted onto the frame mount  21 , the two parallel side walls  24  of the frame mount  21  are in sliding contact with the two parallel expander walls  32  of the header stop  22 , the lip  34  extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the expander walls  32 , and the top surface  31  of the header stop  22  rests against the head of the adjustment screw  28 . The header stop  22  includes an adjustment screw hole  35  in registry with the adjustment screw  28  and a locking screw hole  36  in registry with the locking screw hole  37  in the frame mount  21 . The head of the adjustment screw  28  is larger than the diameter of the adjustment screw hole  35  which enables the header stop  22  to rest on the head of the adjustment screw  28 . 
     The header assembly  20  expands between a closed position depicted in  FIG. 1  and an open position depicted in  FIG. 2 . The distance between the top surface  31  of the header stop  22  and the bottom surface  23  of the frame mount  21  depends on the depth in which the adjustment screw  28  is inserted into the header. In  FIG. 1 , the adjustment screw  28  is inserted into the header to a depth that allows the top surface  31  of the header stop  22  to contact the two parallel side walls  24  of the frame mount  21 . In  FIG. 2 , the adjustment screw  28  has not penetrated the header as deep as the adjustment screw depicted in  FIG. 1 , thus the header assembly  20  is expanded to the open position because the top surface  31  of the header stop  22  rests on the head of the adjustment screw  28 . The adjustment screw hole  35  in the header stop  22  provides access to the adjustment screw  28  to vary the depth of the adjustment screw  28  in the header. When a user has selected the appropriate depth for the adjustment screw, the header stop  22  is locked in place by inserting a locking screw  29  through the locking screw holes  36 ,  37  in the header stop  22  and the frame mount  21 . 
     The door stop  33  of the header stop  22  optionally includes a weather stripping groove  38 . The header stop  22  also includes a lip  34  that shields water or other elements from entering the top of a storm door. The depth of the adjustment screw  28  should be set so that the header assembly  20  has expanded to a position that allows a storm door to pass under the lip  34  and contact the door stop  33  when closed. The header stop  22  optionally includes a clearance hole  39  in registry with the mounting screws  26  for the frame mount  21  to provide quick access to the mounting screws  26  without having to remove the header stop  22 . The header stop  22  also optionally includes a cover groove  40  in which the adjustment screw holes  35 , locking screw holes  37 , and clearance holes  39  reside. The cover groove  40  accepts a cover  43 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , in order to conceal the various screws inserted in each hole and provide a more aesthetically pleasing look for the header assembly  20  when installed. The header assembly  20  may optionally include a notch  41  created by removing a section of the door stop  33 , so that the bottom surface  42  of the header stop  22  can rest on the hinge-side piece  45 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the hinge-side piece  45  comprises a mounting surface  46 , a hinge section  47 , and a door stop  48 . The hinge-side piece  45  is mounted vertically onto a door jamb of an entrance on the side of the entrance that coincides with the hinge on a door that is mounted on the door frame. The hinge-side piece  45  is mounted so that the mounting surface  46  is generally flush with the door jamb and preferably has at least one mounting hole  49  in which a mounting screw  51  is inserted to attach the hinge-side piece  45  to the door jamb. The mounting surface  46  of the hinge-side piece  45  is optionally shaped to include at least one groove  50 . The grooved surface reduces the amount of material needed to construct the hinge-side piece without depriving the hinge-side piece of the strength and rigidity needed to support a door. 
     Unlike the header assembly  20  and the lock-side assembly  60 , the hinge-side piece  45  is not adjustable. The hinge-side piece  45  includes a hinge section  47  that can receive a pin, such as a pin inserted into a piano hinge, which are typically used to mount storm doors. The door stop  48  for the hinge-side piece  45  also optionally includes a weather stripping groove  52 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  demonstrate a sectional view of the lock-side assembly  60 . The lock-side assembly  60  comprises a frame mount  21 , similar to the header assembly  20 , and a lock-side stop  61 . The frame mount  21  is similar to the frame mount  21  for the header assembly  20 , except that the lock-side assembly  60  is mounted vertically on the door jamb, generally parallel to the hinge-side piece  45  on the opposite side of the entrance. This side of the entrance coincides with the lock-side of a door that is mounted on the door frame. The bottom surface  23  of the frame mount  21  for the lock-side assembly  60  is mounted generally flush with the surface of the door jamb. The frame mount  21  preferably has at least one mounting hole  25  in which a mounting screw  26  is inserted to attach the frame mount  21  to the door jamb. 
     Similar to the header assembly, upon mounting the frame mount  21  onto the door jamb, an adjustment screw  62  is inserted through an adjustment screw hole  30  in the frame mount  21  and into the door jamb. The lock-side stop  61  is then mounted onto the frame mount  21 . The lock-side stop  61  includes a top surface  63  integrally connected to two expander walls  64 , and a door stop  65 . One of the expander walls  64  can be optionally curved to resemble the hinge section  47  of the hinge-side piece  45  to provide a more symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing look to the door frame when installed. 
     When the lock-side stop  61  is mounted onto the frame mount  21 , the two side walls  24  of the frame mount  21  are in sliding contact with the two expander walls  64  of the lock-side stop  61 , and the top surface  63  of the lock-side stop  61  rests against the head of the adjustment screw  62 . The lock-side stop  61  includes an adjustment screw hole  66  in registry with the adjustment screw  62  and a locking screw hole  67  in registry with the locking screw hole  37  in the frame mount  21 . The head of the adjustment screw  62  is larger than the diameter of the adjustment screw hole  66  which enables the lock-side stop  61  to rest on the head of the adjustment screw  62 . 
     The lock-side assembly  60  expands between a closed position depicted in  FIG. 3  and an open position depicted in  FIG. 4 . The distance between the top surface  63  of the lock-side stop  61  and the bottom surface  23  of the frame mount  21  depends on the depth in which the adjustment screw  62  is inserted into the door jamb. In  FIG. 3 , the adjustment screw is inserted into the door jamb, such that the top surface  63  of the lock-side stop  61  is in contact with the two parallel side walls  24  of the frame mount  21 . In  FIG. 4 , the adjustment screw  62  has not penetrated the door jamb as deeply as the adjustment screw depicted in  FIG. 3 , thus the lock-side assembly  60  has expanded to the open position because the top surface  63  of the lock-side stop  61  rests on the head of the adjustment screw  62 . The adjustment screw hole  66  in the lock-side stop  61  provides access to the adjustment screw  62  to vary the depth of the adjustment screw  62  in the door jamb. When a user has selected the appropriate depth for the adjustment screw  62 , the lock-side stop  61  is locked in place by inserting a locking screw through the locking screw holes  67 ,  37  in the lock-side stop  61  and the frame mount  21 . 
     The door stop  65  of the lock-side stop  61  optionally includes a weather stripping groove  72 . The lock-side stop  61  optionally includes a clearance hole  68  in registry with the mounting screws  69  for the frame mount  21  to provide quick access to the mounting screws  69  without having to remove the lock-side stop  61 . The lock-side stop  61  also optionally includes a cover groove  70  in which the adjustment holes  66 , locking holes  67 , and clearance holes  68  reside. The cover groove  70  accepts a cover in order to conceal the various screws and provide a more aesthetically pleasing look for the lock-side assembly  60  when installed. The lock-side assembly  60  optionally includes a notch  71  created by removing a section of the door stop  65 , so that the lip  34  and door stop  33  of the header stop  22  can rest on the lock-side assembly  60 . 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited, but rather it is intended to include all embodiments which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.