Patent Publication Number: US-2013247471-A1

Title: Nosing cover for door sill assembly

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/009,449, filed Jan. 19, 2011, now pending, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to entry door sill constructions, and more particularly, to a door sill construction having a replaceable sill deck. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Door sills can be damaged during shipment from the manufacturer to the construction site, or more commonly during construction of a building. Common causes include objects dropped on the sill, excessive traffic within a relatively short time period, or accidental application of paint or stucco to the door sill. Left unrepaired, the door sill will not function as originally designed, i.e., the damaged door sill will not provide an effective seal between the frame and door, nor will the door sill manage water intrusion that minimizes moisture accumulation. Unrepaired door sills do not have the desirable aesthetics that newly manufactured and installed door sills have. 
     There are solutions available to a building owner or contractor who installs the door systems. The damaged door sill can be completely cut out and replaced. While a new door sill may be aesthetically pleasing, this particular type of repair can damage the surrounding mullions, doorjambs, astragals or other structures, compromising the entire stability or function of the entryway system. Replacing a door sill is also costly, and is rarely done. An alternative is to simply attach a metal cover patch to the exposed surface of the existing door sill. The metal patch is not aesthetically or functionally equivalent to the original, undamaged door sill. This repair can also be costly because it is cut and notched on-site in order to provide the proper fit to the door unit. 
     There is a need, therefore, for a door sill system that retains functionality, allows for easy replacement of door sill components, and can address any damage arising during shipping, installation, or construction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention and is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The purpose of this section is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     A door sill assembly for an entryway of a building can include a substrate having a nosing and a sill channel. A nosing cover can be attached to the substrate and extending over at least a portion of the nosing and over at least a portion of the sill channel. A sill deck can be on the substrate. The sill deck can include a deck and a clip. The deck can be engaged with a portion of the nosing cover. The clip can be operably engaged with the deck. The clip can be removably attachable to the substrate. The sill deck is capable of removable attachment from the door sill assembly before or after the door sill assembly is installed in the entryway. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a door sill assembly with a replaceable sill deck thereon according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a door sill assembly with a replaceable sill deck thereon according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  show front perspective and side views, respectively, of optional protective covers on a door sill assembly shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a door sill assembly with a replaceable sill deck thereon according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a door sill assembly with a replaceable sill deck thereon according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  show front perspective and side views, respectively, of optional protective covers on the door sill assembly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a door sill assembly with a replaceable sill deck thereon according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a door sill assembly with a replaceable sill deck thereon according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  show front perspective and side views, respectively, of optional protective covers on the door sill assembly shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  show side perspective and front perspective assembly views, respectively, of a door sill assembly installed in an entryway having a mull and a sidelight panel according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 10C and 10D  show a partial side assembly and partial front views, respectively, of a mull and mull riser used on a door sill assembly shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  show side perspective, and front perspective assembly views, respectively, of a door sill assembly installed in an entryway having a mull and a sidelight panel according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 11C and 11D  show a partial side assembly and partial front views, respectively, of a mull and mull riser used on the door sill assembly shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below and illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, which, of course, is limited only by the claims below. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, modifications, and improvements are within the scope of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 1 through 3B  show door sill assemblies  10  and  11 , and temporary protective covers  90  and  95 , according to a first embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the door sill assembly  10  includes a substrate  20  having an upwardly extending nosing  22  and substrate dam  24  defining a sill channel  23 . The assembly  10  also includes a nosing cover  60  on the substrate  20 , a sill cap  80  received by the sill channel  23 , and a removable sill deck  40  engaged with the nosing cover  60  and substrate  20 . The sill deck  40  includes a deck  42  connected to a clip  50 . The clip  50  is on the substrate  20 , and can pivot to allow removal of sill deck  40  from the door sill assembly  10  before or after installation of the door assembly in the building. 
     A conventional, e.g., 4 9/16 inch width, door sill assembly is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3B  that can be used with single in-swing doors typical of entryways in residential homes. The door sill assembly, however, may have any particular width as the need may arise.  FIGS. 4 through 9B  show embodiments of a 5⅝ inch wide door sill assembly with a replaceable sill deck and temporary protective covers. The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4 through 9B  can also be used with single in-swing doors. In other embodiments, the door sill assemblies as described herein may be used with double in-swing doors, sliding door constructions, or outswing doors.  FIGS. 10A through 11D  show yet another embodiment of the invention wherein the door sill assembly comprises one or more mullions and one or more sidelight panels. 
       FIG. 2  shows how the substrate  20  can engage the nosing cover  60  and sill deck  40 . The substrate  20  has a first end  21  near the inside of the building, the first end  21  including the nosing  22  and sill channel  23 . A nosing lip  28  is located at the underside of the nosing  22  near the undersurface of the substrate  20 . The nosing lip  28  receives a portion of the nosing cover  60 , as will be further detailed below. The substrate second end  31  is opposite the first end  21  and can include a ledge  32  configured to receive the clip  50 . In particular, the ledge  32  can have upper and lower surfaces  33  and  34 , respectively, and a lip  35  to engage the clip  50 . 
     The substrate  20  can be any material, including, but not limited to, wood, composite, polymeric or other rigid material. Additional fillers can be included in the substrates as needed, e.g., wood flour and/or materials other than the primacy material. In one embodiment, the substrate can be integrally formed. For example, the substrate can be integrally formed as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,358, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference. In another embodiment, the substrate can be integrally formed for the entirety of its length. In yet another embodiment, several substrate sections of the substrate can abut one another or connect together to form the support structure for the door sill. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the nosing cover  60  includes lower portion  61 , nosing portion  62  covering the upper surface of the nosing  22 , sill channel portion  64 , and a dam portion  66  having first and second projections  67  and  68 . The nosing cover lower portion  61  engages the nosing lip  28  on the undersides of the substrate  20  to secure the nosing cover  60  to the first end  21  of the substrate  20 . The nosing portion  62  extends over the nosing  22  and turns down toward the substrate  20  to cover at least a portion of the surface of the sill channel  23  forming the sill channel portion  64 . In the embodiment shown, sill channel portion  64  covers all of the surface of the sill channel  23 . 
     The dam portion  66  extends upwardly from the sill channel portion  64 . In a preferred embodiment, the dam portion  66  is adjacent to, and can extend vertically past the top of the substrate dam  24 . First and second projections  67  and  68  respectively can extend over the substrate dam  24  and engage the deck  42  and the substrate  20 , respectively. More specifically, the first projection  67  can be received by a deck channel  44 , and the second projection  68  can be received within an opening  26  on the substrate  20 . The second projection  68  is shown with multiple sealing fins that help form a water and vapor seal when second projection  68  is placed in the opening  26 . In another embodiment, the first projection  67  can have sealing fins also. The first projection  67  and second projection  68  can extend from dam portion  66  along the length (along the Z-axis as shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the nosing cover  60 . In alternate embodiments, however, the first and second projections  67  and  68  can be formed by several spaced-apart segments. Although two projections  67  and  68  are shown in  FIG. 2 , more than two projections can be used to engage with the sill deck  40  and substrate  20 . 
     In alternate embodiments, however, the nosing cover  60  can include a nosing portion  62  and sill channel portion  64  in the sill channel  23  (not shown). The nosing cover, nosing portion and sill channel portion  64  can extend the length of the sill. 
     Continuing with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the nosing cover  60  can extend down the length (Z-direction) of the door sill assembly. So configured, the nosing cover  60  helps form a water and vapor barrier and can help limit water seeping into the substrate  20 . The nosing cover  60  allows water to drain into and seep through drain channels (not shown) at opposing sides of the door sill. Further, if one or more substrate portions are combined to form the substrate, the nosing cover  60  spans across the seams formed between adjacent substrate segments. Having a barrier over such seams can also help limit water intrusion. 
       FIG. 2  shows an adjustable sill cap  80  disposed in the sill channel  23  and on the nosing cover  60 . The sill cap  80  includes an adjustable element  82  in the body  86 , cap plug  84  and a leg  87 . The leg  87  extends in the Y-direction and then down toward the sill deck  40 . A flexible fin  88  on the distal end of leg  87  can contact the nosing cover dam portion  66  and deck  42  to form a seal. The seal can be an additional barrier to water intruding through the door sill assembly  10 . In another embodiment for outswing type doors, the sill cap can have a leg extending in the Y-direction and then down toward the deck, and a bulb at the distal end of the leg to form a seal with the dam or the deck. 
     An installer, resident, or homeowner can remove cap plug  84  from the sill cap  80  and access the adjustment element  82 . The adjustment element  82  can be rotated to cause adjustment of the sill cap  80  between a raised position (not shown) elevated above the substrate  20  and a lowered position. In other alternate embodiments, non-adjustable sill caps can be used. 
     As stated, the sill deck  40  includes a deck  42  and a clip  50 , the clip being pivotally connected to the deck  42  in a preferred embodiment. The deck  42  and clip  50  together form the tread portion of door sill assembly  10 . The deck  42  and clip  50  typically are formed of aluminum, or other material that is durable for use in an entryway. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the deck  42  can include a channel  44 , support leg  46 , and a clip engaging end  45 . The channel  44  receives the first projection  67  extending from the nosing cover  60 . The support leg  46  can extend from the undersurface of the deck  42  to rest atop the substrate  20 . One or more support legs can be used to support the deck  42 , as needed. The clip engaging end  45  can include a knuckle joint  47  and a curvilinear slot  48  that engages the clip  50 , and a lower surface that can form-fit to the distal end of the substrate ledge  32 . The slot  48  can receive a curved clip leg  52  that is slideable in the Z direction therein. 
     The sill deck  40  removal is accomplished by taking advantage of the design of the deck  42  and clip  50 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the clip  50  can also include clip end  54  configured to engage a lip  35  on the undersurface on substrate ledge  32 . More specifically, the clip end  54  can have a first engagement point  55 , and a second engagement point  56  that releaseably extends over the lip  35 . The clip engaging end  45 , resting on ledge upper surface  33 , and the clip engagement points  55  and  56  engaged with the second end  31  of the substrate  20  limit vertical (Y-direction) and horizontal (X-direction) displacement of the clip  50 . Because the clip  50  is also connected to the deck  42  at the knuckle joint  47 , the deck  42  is pressed into engagement with the projection  67  of the nosing cover  60 , vertical and horizontal displacement of the sill deck  40  is minimized. To facilitate removal, a slot  58  can be positioned proximate to the clip end  54  and can be designed to receive a tool, e.g., a screw driver, flat edged tool or the like. A user inserts the tool into the slot  58  and can force the clip end  54  from beneath the substrate ledge  32  so that the clip leg  52  rotates about the knuckle joint  47 , thereby pivoting the clip  50  about the deck  42  in the direction of arrow A as shown. 
     Once the clip  50  is removed from the substrate  20 , the deck  42  can be disengaged from the projection  67  by sliding the deck  42  in the X-direction, thereby allowing the entire sill deck  40  to be completely removed from the door sill assembly  10  and frame structure. Sill deck  40  removal occurs without modification or damage to the frame structure, and without disassembly of the door sill  10 . A new sill deck with a deck and clip can then be removably attached onto the substrate  20  by reversing the above steps, thereby preserving the originally designed functionality and aesthetics of the installed door sill. 
     The scope of this invention also includes the use of optional temporary protective covers, which can later be removed and discarded, and replaced with a sill deck upon completion of the construction. Temporary protective covers can be placed on door sill assembly  10  during door assembly manufacture, or during installation of the door sill assembly in the building The temporary protective covers allow a pre-hung door to be assembled and shipped to the job site without the final sill deck and sill cap assembly attached, thus minimizing damage risk to these door sill components. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a door sill assembly  11  can include a temporary deck protective cover  90  and temporary sill cap protective cover  95 . The temporary deck protective cover  90  includes a deck surface  91  and a plurality of supports  92  extending therefrom to test on the substrate  20 . A channel  94  receives one of the projections extending from the nosing cover  60 . The protective sill cap cover  95  can be placed over the nosing cover  60  to protect the sill channel  23 . The sill cap protective cover  95  includes a first leg  96  and a second leg  97  that can provide support and contact the nosing  22  and sill channel  23 . An extension leg  98  engages a channel  93  in the deck surface  91 , securing the deck protective cover  90  in place. The temporary protective covers  90  and  95  can be removed once construction of the building is complete and discarded as waste. A replaceable sill deck as described above can then be installed. 
       FIGS. 4 through 6B  show another door sill assembly, according to a second embodiment. While the embodiment shown can be used with doors of various widths, in one embodiment the door sill assembly is a 5⅝ inch wide door sill. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the door sill assembly  110  includes a substrate  120 , nosing  122  and substrate dam  124 . Also shown is a sill channel  123 , nosing cover  160 , sill cap  180  in the channel  123 , and a replaceable sill deck  140 . The nosing cover  160 , sill channel  123 , sill cap  180 , and the first end  121  of the substrate  120  are constructed and function similar to the equivalent components of the embodiment described above and shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As shown best in  FIG. 5 , however, the second (or outside-facing) end  131  of the substrate  120  includes an indentation  133  near the ridge  134 , and a slot  135  positioned at the distal end of the substrate  120 . The indentation  133  can receive a first clip leg  159  while the slot  135  receives a second clip leg  153 . Details of the clip  150  are discussed below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the sill deck  140  includes a deck  142  and an interconnected clip  150 . The deck  142  includes a channel  144  for engaging the nosing cover  160 , at least one support leg  146 , and a clip engaging end  145  shown in this embodiment as pivotally connecting to the clip  150 . The channel  144  receives a first projection  167  extending from the nosing cover  160 . The support leg  146  extends from the undersurface of the deck  142  to rest atop the substrate  120 . One or more support legs can be used to support the deck  142 , as needed. The clip engaging end  145  includes a knuckle joint  147  and a curved slot  148  that receives a portion of the clip  150 . The lower surface of the clip engaging end  145  can rest on the upper surface  125  of the substrate  120 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the clip  150  includes a curved clip leg  152 , first and second clip legs  159  and  153 , and a slot  158  for receiving a tool. The curved clip leg  152  slideably (in the Z-direction) fits within the slot  148 , connecting the clip  150  to the deck  42 . The first clip leg  159  extends from the knuckle joint  147  into the indentation  133 , while the second leg  153  is received in the substrate slot  135 . The clip legs  153  and  159  when engaged with the second end  131  of the substrate  120  limit vertical (Y-direction) and horizontal (X-direction) displacement of the clip  150 . Because the clip  150  is also connected to the deck  142  at the knuckle joint  147 , the deck  142  is pressed into engagement with the projection  167  of the nosing cover  160 , vertical and horizontal displacement of the sill deck  140  is minimized. A tool can be inserted into the slot  158  and rotated to release the clip leg  153  out of the slot  135 . The clip  150  can pivot in the direction of arrow B to disengage from the substrate  120  and nosing cover  160 . This allows the sill deck  140  to be completely removable from the door sill assembly  110  without cutting, modifying, or damaging the surrounding frame structure of the door sill assembly, or disassembling the door sill. A new sill deck can be placed on the substrate and nosing cover as needed. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a door sill assembly  211  with optional temporary protective covers that fit the substrate described in  FIGS. 4 and 5  above. The covers  190  and  195  function similarly to the protective covers described above and shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . The deck protective cover  190  includes a deck surface  191  and a plurality of supports  192  extending therefrom to rest on the substrate  120 . A channel  194  receives one of the projections extending from the nosing cover  160 . The temporary protective sill cap cover  195  can be placed over the nosing cover  160  to protect the sill channel  123 . The sill cap protective cover  195  includes a first leg  196  and a second leg  197  that can be placed upon the nosing  122  and sill channel  123 . An extension leg  198  engages a channel  193  in the deck surface  191 , securing the deck protective cover  190  in place. In an embodiment, the temporary covers  190  and  195  can be installed on door sill assembly  111  and shipped to the construction site. The door sill assembly  111  can be installed in the building entryway. The protective covers  190  and  195  can be removed once construction of the building is complete and discarded. A replaceable sill deck as described above can be installed. 
       FIGS. 7 through 9B  show a door sill assembly  210  according to a third embodiment of the invention. Turning to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the door sill assembly  210  includes a substrate  220  having an upwardly extending nosing  222  and dam  224 , a nosing cover  260  attached to the substrate  220 , and a sill cap  280  in the sill channel  223 . 
       FIG. 8  shows how the substrate  220  engages the nosing cover  260  and sill deck  240 . The substrate  220  includes a first end (or inside facing end)  221 , and an opposite second end  231 . The first end  221  includes an upwardly extending nosing  222  and a dam  224  forming a sill channel  223  therebetween that is sized to receive the sill cap  280  as shown. A projection  227  extends in the X-direction from the dam  224  to receive the deck  242 . While one projection is shown, one or more projections can be used. Further, other configurations could be employed for securing the deck  242  to the substrate  220 , preferably in the X-and Y-directions. 
     The second end  231  of the substrate  220  includes a ledge  232 , an indentation  233 , and an undersurface  234  that represents in this embodiment a cutaway or relief in this portion of the substrate  220 . The ledge  232  is configured to receive the clip  250 , as described below. 
     The substrate  220  shown in  FIG. 8  can be integrally formed to include the nosing, dam, and projections. Further, the substrate  220  can be formed similarly to the substrates as described in the embodiments above and shown in  FIGS. 1 through 6B . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the nosing cover  260  includes a lower ledge  261  secured to a lower lip  228  of the substrate  220 . The nosing cover  260  extends just over the top of nosing  222  and extending but not reaching the top of the substrate  220  in the sill channel  223 . In other embodiments, however, a nosing cover  260  can include a nosing portion, sill channel cover portion, and an upwardly extending darn, as described above and shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show an adjustable sill cap  280  disposed on the sill channel  223 . The sill cap  280  includes a body  286  having an adjustment element  282  disposed thereon and resting atop substrate  220 . A leg  287  extends downwardly toward the sill deck  250  from the body  286  and spaced therefrom to receive the dam  224 . The sill cap  280  function similar to embodiments described above. For outswing doors, however, the sill cap leg  287  can include a bulb (not shown) at its distal end to seal with deck  242 . Further, other features typical of outswing sill caps can be used with replaceable sill decks and nosing covers as described herein. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the sill deck  240  includes a deck  242  and movable clip  250 . The deck  242  engages both the substrate  220  and clip  250 , while the clip  250  engages the second end  231  of the substrate  220 . The deck  242  includes a channel  244 , a support leg  246 , and a deck platform  247  for positioning with the clip  250 . The channel  244  is sized to receive the projection  227  extending from the dam  224 . A support leg  246  extends from the deck  242  and rests atop the substrate  220  to support the deck  242 . More than one support leg can be used as needed. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 8 , the clip  250  has a top  252 , bottom  255 , and inner surface  256  that fits around the substrate ledge  232 . A plurality of legs  253  and  254  extended from the inner surface  256  to removably engage the substrate ledge  232 . The first leg  253 , as described above, is received within the indentation  233 . The second leg  254  extends inwardly in the X-direction to contact the distal end of the substrate ledge  231  The top  252  rests upon a deck platform  247  and the bottom  255  is received on the undersurface  234  of the ledge  232 . 
     When the clip  250  engages the deck  242 , the clip top  252  rests on the deck platform  247 . The legs  253  and  254  limit horizontal (X-direction) displacement of the clip  250  about the substrate  220  while the top  252  and bottom  255  limit vertical (Y-direction) displacement of the clip  250  about the substrate. Because vertical and horizontal displacement of the clip  250  is minimized, the deck  240  is pressed into engagement with the dam projection  227 , vertical and horizontal displacement of the sill deck  240  about the door sill assembly  210  is minimized. 
     A tool can be used to separate the clip  250  from the deck  242  and substrate  220 . A tool (not shown) can be inserted (see arrow marked TOOL) proximate the clip top  252  and rotated to move the clip top  252  away from the deck ledge  247 . This movement will raise the leg  253  out of the indentation  233 . This can then allow the clip  250  to slide in the X-direction of arrow C away from the deck  242 . With the clip  250  removed from the substrate  220 , the deck  242  can be removed from engagement with the dam projection  227  by moving the deck  242  in the same X-direction of arrow C. A new sill deck including a new deck and clip can be replaced on the door sill assembly by reversing these steps. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  show a door sill assembly  211  with optional temporary protective sill deck covers, suitable for use with the substrate  220  described above. A deck protective cover  290  includes a deck surface  291  and a plurality of supports  292  extending therefrom to rest on the substrate  220 . A channel  294  receives one of the projections extending from the dam  224 . A protective sill cap cover  295  can be placed over the nosing cover  260  to protect the sill channel  223  (not numbered in  FIGS. 9A and 9B ). The sill cap protective cover  295  includes a first leg  296  and a second leg  297  that can contact the nosing  222  and sill channel  223 . An extension leg  298  engages a channel  293  in the deck surface  291 , securing the deck protective cover  290  in place. The protective covets  290  and  295  can be removed once construction of building is complete and the replaceable sill deck as described above can be installed. 
       FIGS. 10A through 10D  show yet another embodiment of a door sill assembly  310  with a replaceable sill deck  340  for installation in an entryway with a side light  500 . Sidelight-type entryways include mullion or mull  315  engaged with the door sill assembly  310 . As shown in  FIG. 10A , the door sill assembly  310  includes a substrate  320 , a nosing cover  360 , sill channel  323  and a replaceable sill deck  340 . A sill cap  380  can be used in the door sill assembly on one side of mull  315  (the sill deck  340  is removed from  FIG. 10B  for illustrative purposes). A sidelight cap  510  is disposed on the other side of the mull  315  in sill channel  323  (not shown). The replaceable sill deck  340  can engage the nosing cover  360  and substrate  320  as described in the embodiments above and shown in  FIGS. 1 through 9B , although  FIG. 10  shows the embodiment of  FIGS. 4-5 . 
       FIGS. 10B ,  10 C and  10 D illustrate how the mull  315 , mull boot  370  and mull riser  375  cooperate to allow the mull  315  to engage the door sill assembly  310 , yet permit sill deck  340  replacement when needed. In particular, the mull boot  370  includes a sill channel engaging end  373 , and a sill deck engaging end  374 , each having a bottom that fits the profile of the nosing cover  360  and sill deck  340 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10B ,  10 C and  10 D, a mull riser  375  can be placed on (and optionally secured) to the bottom surface of the mull boot  370 . The mull riser  375  elevates the mull boot  370  above the substrate  320  so that the sill deck  342  can slide partially between the mull  315  and substrate  320  and engage the nosing cover  360  and substrate  320 . The mull riser  375  includes an opening (not shown) for a mechanical fastener to be placed therethrough to secure the substrate  320 , mull boot  370  and mull  315  together. As shown in  FIG. 10C , the lower surface  377  of the mull riser  375  has a cut out  376  for engaging to nosing cover  360 . The mull riser can be separate from the mull boot as shown. In other embodiments, the mull riser can be formed directly onto the bottom surface of the mull boot. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10B , the deck  342  can have a notch  341  to receive the mull riser  375  as the deck  242  is placed on the substrate  320  and nosing cover  360 . The notch  341  allows the deck  342  to engage the substrate  320  while allowing mull boot  370  to rest on the sill deck  340  and nosing cover  360 . The door sill remains stable and the frame structure remains unaffected by removal of the sill deck  340 . The installer or user may form the notch  341  on the deck  342  prior to installation. In other embodiments, the notch  341  may be formed in the deck  342  during manufacture of the sill deck  340 . Further, the deck  342  can include a longitudinal score line (not shown) that provides visual indication of where the terminal end of the notch  341  should be. This score-line allows for easy construction-site modification of the deck  342  during installation of the door sill assembly. 
       FIGS. 11A through 11C  show another embodiment of a mull riser  475  for use with a mull  415  and a door sill assembly  410  installed an entryway having a sidelight  600  and sidelight cap  610 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 11A through 11C , the mull riser  475  is secured to the bottom surface of the mull  415  and does not include a mull boot. The mull riser  475 , as described above, elevates the mull  415  above the substrate  420  so that the sill deck  442  can slide between the mull  415  and the substrate  420  to engage the nosing cover  460  and sidelight cap  610 . As shown in  FIG. 11  C, the mull riser lower surface  477  has a cut out  476  for engaging the nosing cover  460 . 
     As described above, a notch  441  in the deck  442  receives the mull riser  475 . While the mull riser  475  is shown as a separate component from the mull, in an alternate embodiment, the mull riser can be integrally formed onto the bottom surface of the mull. In addition, any of the temporary sill deck protective covers described above may include a suitable notch for receiving the mull risers. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is a method of using a replaceable sill deck. A door sill assembly can be provided that includes a substrate having a nosing and a sill channel. A nosing cover can be attached to the substrate and extending over at least a portion of the nosing and over at least a portion of the sill channel. A sill deck having a deck and a clip can be provided for removable attachment to the substrate and nosing cover. The deck can be placed onto and receive a portion of the nosing cover. The clip can be removably engaged with the substrate. To remove the sill deck, a tool can be used to position the clip out of engagement with the substrate and/or deck. 
     The deck can then be removed from engagement with the nosing cover. Another sill deck can be replaced by reversing the above steps. 
     In another embodiment, the door sill assembly can include one or more temporary protective covers placed over a portion of the substrate engaged with the nosing cover. A first temporary protective cover can be placed on the sill channel and nosing cover. A second temporary protective cover can be placed on the substrate and engage the nosing cover or a substrate dam. The door sill assembly with one or more temporary protective covers can be installed in an entryway. When construction of the building is complete, the temporary protective covers can be removed from the door sill assembly. The replaceable sill deck having a deck and clip connected to the deck can be removably attached to the substrate as discussed above. 
     The replaceable sill deck and temporary protective covers as described herein can be used with selectively positionable sill and panel caps in entryways having one or more fixed sidelight panels (not shown). Selectively positionable sill and panel caps are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,894, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference. Entryways with fixed sidelight panels can have a continuous sidelight threshold and door sill assembly. A channel (similar to  23 ,  123  or  223  shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  5 , and  8 , respectively), nosing cover (similar to  60 ,  160  or  260  in  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  8 , respectively), can extend the length of the continuous threshold. The sill and panel caps can have a length (in the Z-direction as shown in the Figures) that is smaller than the length of the channel. A panel cap can be selectively positioned in the channel to underlie the fixed sidelight panel. The sill cap can also be selectively positionable in a sill channel to underlie the hinged door. Both the sill cap and panel cap can engage the replaceable sill deck as described in the embodiments above and shown in  FIGS. 1 through 11D . 
     The replaceable sill deck and temporary protective covers as described herein can be used with substrates formed of two or more substrate sections attached and interlocked together end-to-end (not shown). Such interlocking substrates are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,336, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference. In an embodiment, the substrate can be comprised of at least first and second substrate sections. The first substrate section can have dovetail tongues on one end thereof, and dovetail grooves on the other end thereof. The dovetail tongue of the first substrate section can be received with an interlocked with the dovetail groove of second substrate section. In another embodiment, the substrate can have first substrate section having at least one protruding element along one end of the substrate section. A second substrate section can have at least one slot at one end of the second substrate section. The protruding elements of the first substrate section can slidingly engage in an end-to-end relationship with the slot of the second substrate section. The interlocking substrates can engage a nosing cover and replaceable sill deck as described in the embodiments above and shown in  FIGS. 1 through 11D . 
     Although the present invention has been described with exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.