Abstract:
An adjustable panel door comprises a panel door frame having a top cross piece and a bottom cross piece. A portal assembly provides access through the panel door. The portal assembly is positioned between the top cross piece and the bottom top piece. At least one spacer panel is adjustably positioned on the panel door frame adjacent to the portal assembly. The position of the portal assembly is adjustable by altering a position of the at least one spacer panel along the panel door frame.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/781,267 filed Feb. 17, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/177,920, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,483, filed Jun. 21, 2002, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to panel doors, and more particularly to panel pet doors for insertion into sliding glass doors. 
   Panel pet doors for sliding glass doors are pet doors designed to fit in the space that results when a sliding glass door is partially opened (or, also, the resulting space when a stationary panel is moved to one side). The advantage to this type of pet door is that it does not require cutting a hole through, and thereby ruining, a door. 
   There are three dimensions that are critical to accommodating the animal(s) that will be using a panel pet door: width of a flap opening, height of the flap opening and, just as important, rise. The rise is defined as the height of a bottom edge of the flap above a base of the panel door. For a most comfortable fit, the top edge of the flap should be about the same height as the pet at the top of the withers (top of the shoulder). Customarily, panel pet door flaps have not been designed to be that height. Rather, the flap is raised up off the ground (the rise) so as to get the flap opening about even with the trunk of the pet&#39;s body. Short dogs would prefer a shorter rise and taller dogs need a higher rise. For example, currently a pet door company manufactures a “large” pet door with a flap that measures 10×15 inches with a 5 inch rise. They also offer a “large/tall” pet door using the same flap, but with a 9 inch rise. 
   It would be beneficial to a consumer to offer the largest sizes in at least three or four different rises and for medium and small/medium sizes to be offered in at least two rises. It would also be beneficial to offer customers ways to change the size of the flap door and/or rise, such as when a dog changes size over time, e.g., grows from a puppy into a mature dog. Heretofore, the only way a manufacturer could offer multiple rise options was by building and maintaining an inventory of separate panel pet door sizes for each rise option. 
   It would also be beneficial to offer customers ways to change the size of the flap door in addition to adjusting the height of the rise, all without replacing the entire panel pet door. Common circumstances which would make this desirable occur when, for example, the owner of a taller dog acquires a short dog (desiring to preserve the height of the present flap, but shorten the rise.), or vice versa. Also, if an owner&#39;s dog becomes injured the dog may benefit from a lower rise and/or a taller flap. 
   There is thus a need in the art for a panel pet door that provides a way to offer customers different height and rise combinations of the pet door flap without having to manufacture a separate panel pet door for each combination, and provides a way for customers to adjust the rise and height of the pet door flap without having to replace an entire panel pet door. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention advantageously addresses the needs above as well as other needs by providing a panel door and method of adjusting the panel door. 
   In one embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a panel door assembly comprising a panel door frame, an entrance portal assembly mounted on the panel door frame that is vertically slidable on the panel door frame and a spacer panel mounted on the panel door frame that is vertically slidable on the frame. 
   In another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a the panel door assembly described above further comprising at least one additional spacer panel mounted on the panel door frame that is vertically slidable on the panel door frame, a total number of spacer panels mounted on the panel door frame comprising a plurality of vertically slidable spacer panels. 
   In another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a method of adjusting an entrance of a panel door assembly comprising the steps of sliding vertically at least one spacer panel and an entrance portal assembly out of a panel door frame of the panel door assembly and sliding vertically at least one spacer panel and the entrance portal assembly into the panel door frame in a configuration such that the entrance portal is at a different height from a bottom of the panel door frame. 
   In another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a method of adjusting an entrance of a panel door assembly comprising the steps of sliding vertically at least one spacer panel and a first entrance portal assembly out of a panel door frame of the panel door assembly and sliding vertically a second entrance portal assembly of a different height than the first into the panel door frame. 
   In yet another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a method of adjusting an entrance of a panel door assembly comprising the steps of sliding vertically a first entrance portal assembly out of a panel door frame of the panel door assembly and sliding vertically a second entrance portal assembly of a different height than the first and at least one spacer panel into the panel door frame. 
   A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the invention and accompanying drawings which set forth an illustrative embodiment in which the principles of the invention are utilized. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a fixed rise/height panel pet door; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of another fixed rise/height panel pet door; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a panel pet door according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial top cross sectional view of the panel pet door of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial top cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the panel pet door of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial top cross sectional view of a further alternative embodiment of the panel pet door of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the entrance portal assembly according the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a stepwise assembly of an alternative embodiment of an entrance portal assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a side cross sectional view of a spacer panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a side cross sectional view of taller spacer panel than that of  FIG. 9  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a side cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a spacer panel according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the panel pet door of  FIG. 3  according to the present invention, using a different number, size and configuration of spacer panels; 
       FIG. 13  is a partial side cross sectional view of the panel pet door of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a close-up partial side cross sectional view of the panel pet door of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a front elevation view of the panel pet door of  FIG. 3  installed in a sliding glass door frame; 
       FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of the-panel pet door of  FIG. 15  installed in a sliding glass door frame; and 
       FIG. 17  is a side cross sectional view of the panel pet door in a sliding door of  FIG. 16 . 
   

   Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the presently contemplated best mode of practicing the invention is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , shown are front elevation views of examples of panel pet doors with fixed, i.e., single, rise and height dimensions. In  FIG. 1 , a fixed door flap  100  has a rise equal to the height of a cross member  105 . To make the rise higher, a separate panel door ( FIG. 2 ) is built with the door flap  200  raised higher and a first additional fixed cross piece  210  attached permanently below a second additional cross piece  215  below the door flap  200  and above cross member  205 . One difficulty with this approach is that it results in a great many stocking units (SKU&#39;s), i.e., a great deal of panel pet door inventory, and an increase in raw materials inventory to support manufacturing. Also, production efficiency is decreased as there are many small production runs for each of a large number of rise options for each flap size. For example, in the event a panel pet door is available in four standard height adjustment ranges, three frame colors and, counting each size/rise combination as separate, 16 size/rise combinations, a total of 192 SKU&#39;s are required, i.e., a total of 192 different panel pet door models must be maintained in inventory. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , shown in  FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a panel pet door  300  according to an embodiment of the present invention and in  FIG. 4  shown is a partial top cross sectional view of the panel pet door of  FIG. 3 . Shown in  FIG. 3  are the panel door frame  301  having two vertical stiles  302 ,  303 , and a top horizontal frame cross piece  304 . Also shown are a glass pane  305 , a top fixed cross piece  310  a movable top spacer panel  315 , a movable entrance portal assembly  316  (having a movable frame  320  and a door flap  325 ), two movable riser spacer panels  330 ,  335 , and a bottom fixed cross piece  340 . In  FIG. 4  shown is the movable top spacer panel  315  and stile  302  of  FIG. 3  along with a vertical track  400  in the stile  302 . 
   The panel door frame  301  is a solid frame of wood, metal, plastic or vinyl (preferably metal). The two stiles  302 ,  303  are fixedly attached to the top horizontal frame cross piece  304  and may be formed integral with the two vertical stiles  302 ,  303 . A pane  305  (preferably of glass) is attached in the interior of the top portion of the frame  301  above the top fixed cross piece  310  that extends horizontally between the two stiles  302 ,  303 . 
   Directly below the top fixed cross piece  310  is the movable top spacer panel  315 . This panel  315  fits into and is movable vertically along a vertical track  400  in each stile  302 ,  303  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) located on the interior of the two stiles  302 ,  303 . The top spacer panel  315  is located above and rests on the movable entrance portal assembly  316  (preferably a movable door flap assembly  316 ). The movable door flap assembly  315  is also movable along vertical tracks  400  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) located on the interior of the two stiles  302 ,  303 . 
   The door flap assembly  316  has a movable frame  320  that fits into the tracks  400  of the stiles  302 ,  303  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) like the movable top spacer panel  315 . 
   Preferably, two vertical frame members  321 ,  322  of the movable frame  320  fit into the tracks  400  of the stiles  302 ,  303  (as in  FIG. 4 ). The door flap  325  is preferably flexible and is hingedly attached to the movable frame  320  to allow the passage of pets through the flap  325 . 
   Located below the door flap assembly  316  in the panel door frame  301  are two movable riser spacer panels  330 ,  335  that are also movable along the tracks  400  of the two stiles  302 ,  303  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). Located below the two riser spacer panels is the bottom fixed cross piece  340 . The bottom fixed cross piece is fixedly attached between the bottom of the two stiles  302 ,  303 , and is preferably removable and thus not formed integral with the panel door frame  303 . 
   The spacer panels  315 ,  330 ,  335  and the door flap assembly  316  can be slid out of the panel door frame  301  through an opening in the bottom of the frame  301  by removal of the bottom fixed cross piece  340  from the panel door frame  301 . This is to allow removal and replacement of the spacer panels  315 ,  330 ,  335  and the door flap assembly  316 . Replacement of the spacer panels  315 ,  330 ,  335  into the panel door frame  301  in a different configuration and/or with spacer panels of a different size effects a change in the rise (the distance between the bottom of the door flap  325  and bottom of the panel door  300 ). For example, to increase the rise to a degree equal to the height of the top spacer panel  315 , first remove the bottom cross piece  340  and then remove spacer panels  315 ,  330 ,  335  and the door flap assembly  316  by sliding them out through the bottom of the panel door frame  301 . Next, slide in the door flap assembly  316  into the panel door frame and then slide the same spacer panels  315 ,  330 ,  335  below the door flap assembly  316  into the panel door frame  301 . Finally, replace the bottom fixed cross piece by reattaching it between the bottom of the two stiles  302 ,  303 . Now all the spacer panels  315 ,  330 ,  335  are located below the door flap assembly  316 , thus increasing the rise of the door flap  325 . 
   A removable bottom crosspiece  340  may be attached to the stiles  302 ,  303  by reusable means such as screws or a locking mechanism (preferably screws). Also, replacement of the spacer panels  315 ,  330 ,  335  with a spacer panel (or panels) of a different height or heights can also effect a change in the rise. The height of the door flap assembly  316  in the panel door  300  may also be changed by sliding out the door flap assembly  316  in the manner previously described and replacing it with a door flap assembly of a different height. Optionally, this may be done in combination with changing the rise as described above. 
   It is important to note that the area between the top fixed cross piece  310  and the bottom fixed cross piece  340  may be filled with a door flap assembly  316  of any selected height and any combination of spacer panels of various optional heights, either above or below the door flap assembly  316 . 
   Referring next to  FIG. 5 , shown is a partial top cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the panel pet door of  FIG. 3 . Shown is the stile  302  of  FIG. 4  having a vertical track  400  and an alternative embodiment of the movable top spacer panel  315  having a vertical track  500  in the spacer  315 . 
   The vertical track  500  is located on each side of the spacer  315  (one side shown in  FIG. 5 ) and is representative of an alternative way for spacers and door flap assemblies to fit in the panel door frame  301 . The track  500  is slightly wider than the depth of the stile  302  such that the stile  302  fits into the vertical track  500  and allows the spacer  315  to slide vertically along the stile  302 . 
   Referring next to  FIG. 6 , shown is a partial top cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the panel pet door of  FIG. 3 . Shown is the stile  302  of  FIG. 4  having a vertical track  4 . 00  and an alternative embodiment of the movable top spacer panel  315  having a vertical tracks  610 ,  615  in the spacer  315 . 
   The vertical tracks  600 ,  605  are located on each side of the spacer  315  (one side shown in  FIG. 6 ) and is representative of an alternative way for spacers and door flap assemblies to fit in the panel door frame  301 . The tracks  600 ,  605  are slightly wider than the depth of walls  610 ,  615  of the track  400  in the stile  302 . Thus, the track walls  610 ,  615  fit respectively into the vertical tracks  600 ,  605  of the spacer  315  and allow the spacer  315  to slide vertically along the stile  302 . 
   Referring next to  FIG. 7 , shown is a front perspective view of the entrance portal assembly  316  (a door flap assembly in this case) according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 3 . Shown are the door flap frame  320 , the two vertical frame members  321 ,  322  of the door flap frame  320  and the door flap  325 . 
   The door flap assembly frame  320  has guides  323 ,  324  on the exterior of the vertical frame members that fit into the vertical stiles  302 ,  303  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the panel door frame  302  that allow the door flap assembly  316  to slide vertically along the panel door frame  301  as a single unit. Located on the top and bottom of the door flap frame are projections  326 ,  327  that allow the door flap assembly  316  to nest into the bottom and top of spacer panels  315 ,  330 , respectively (shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
   Referring next to  FIG. 8 , shown is a front perspective view of a stepwise assembly of an alternative embodiment of an entrance portal assembly  1000  according to the present invention. Shown is a door flap frame  1002  and a standard (wall or door mounted) pet door  1005  with a flap  1010 . The flap frame  1002  is a carrier onto which the pet door  1005  is mounted. The perimeter of the completed door flap assembly  1000  fits into the panel door frame  301  and spacer panels  315 ,  330  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) in the same manner as the door flap assembly  316  of  FIG. 7   
   Referring next to  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11 , shown are side cross sectional views of a spacer panel, a taller spacer panel and an alternative embodiment of a spacer panel according to the present invention, respectively. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  show spacer panels  916 ,  920  having vertical protrusions  930  at the top and bottom of the panels  916 ,  920  that allow nesting of the panels  916 ,  920 . The protrusions  930  at the bottom of the panels  916 ,  920  fit over the protrusions  930  at the top of the panels below them. The protrusions  930  are sufficiently long to allow clearance  940  for screw heads, other fastening means, and weather stripping to fit between the panels  916 ,  920 . The spacer  920  of  FIG. 10  is taller to replace two or more “single size” spacers. The spacer  925  of  FIG. 11  has a protrusion  935  on top of the spacer with a cross member to shed water more efficiently, but leaves no gap for screw heads. 
   Referring next to  FIG. 12 , shown is a front perspective view of the panel pet door  300  of  FIG. 3  according to the present invention, using a different number, size and configuration of spacer panels. 
   Shown in  FIG. 12  is the panel door frame  301  having two vertical stiles  302 ,  303 , and a top horizontal frame cross piece  304 . Also shown are a glass pane  305 , a top fixed cross piece  310  nested movable spacer panels  945 , a movable entrance portal assembly  316 , and a bottom fixed cross piece  340 . Note in  FIG. 12  that in this configuration the spacer panels  945  are all above the entrance portal assembly  316 , thus lowering the rise of the entrance portal assembly. 
   Referring next to  FIG. 13 , shown is a partial side cross sectional view of the panel pet door  300  of  FIG. 12 . Shown in  FIG. 13  is the top fixed cross piece  310  nested movable spacer panels  945 , the movable entrance portal assembly  316  (showing the door flap assembly frame  320  and flap  325 ), and a bottom fixed cross piece  340 . 
   Note how the spacers  945  nest together, one on top of the other, and also into the bottom of the top fixed cross piece  310 . Also, the door flap assembly frame  320  nests into the spacers panels  945  above it and into the bottom fixed cross piece below it. 
   Referring next to  FIG. 14 , shown is a close-up partial side cross sectional view of the panel pet door  300  of  FIG. 12 . Shown in  FIG. 13  is the top fixed cross piece  310 , nested movable spacer panels  945  and the top part of the movable entrance portal assembly  316  (showing the top of the door flap assembly frame  320  and flap  325 ). Shown in detail are the protrusions  930  on the top and bottom of the spacers  945  that nest together  950 . Also note the clearance  940  between the spacer panels  945  for weather stripping, screws and other hardware. 
   Referring next to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , shown are front elevation and front perspective views, respectively, of the panel pet door  300  of  FIG. 3  installed in a sliding glass door  700 . Shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16  are the panel door  300  and sliding glass door  700 , a sliding glass door frame  705 , a top horizontal frame member  715 , a bottom horizontal frame member  710  and a glass door  720 . Shown in  FIG. 16  are horizontal tracks  800 ,  805  of the sliding glass door frame  705 . 
   The panel pet door  300  fits as an insert into the frame  705  of the sliding glass door  700 . The panel door frame  301  is of sufficient height to fit inside the sliding glass door frame  705  onto the respective tracks  800 ,  805  of the top and bottom frame members  715 ,  710 , of the sliding glass door frame  705  (as shown in detail in  FIG. 17 ). 
   Referring next to  FIG. 17 , is a side cross sectional view of the panel pet door  300  in the sliding door  700  of  FIG. 16 . Shown is the vertical stile  302  and top and bottom cross pieces  304 ,  340  of the panel door frame  301  of the panel door  300 . Also shown are the top and bottom tracks  800 ,  805  of the sliding glass door frame  705 , a spring mechanism  900  having a spring  905  and a rail  901 , and a thumb screw  910 . 
   The spring mechanism  900  is located on the top of the top horizontal frame cross piece  304  of the panel door frame  301 . The spring  905  supports the rail  901  which is inserted into top track  800  of the sliding glass door  700 . The thumb screw is located on the interior side of the panel door frame  301  and is operably connected to the spring mechanism such that the spring mechanism is locked in place when the thumb screw is tightened and unlocked when loosened. The bottom cross piece  340  of the panel door frame  301  has a horizontal channel  915  that allows the bottom cross piece  340  to fit into the bottom outside track  805  of the sliding glass door frame  705 . 
   The panel pet door frame  301  is inserted into the sliding glass door frame  705  by first loosening the thumb screw  910 , then inserting the spring mechanism  900  into the top track  800 . Then, while pushing up against the spring mechanism  900 , the bottom of the panel door frame  301  is swung onto the bottom rail  805 . The thumb screw  910  is then tightened to lock the spring mechanism  900  and thus the panel door frame  301  in place. 
   While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.