Patent Publication Number: US-2010107497-A1

Title: Full view storm door

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/111,402, filed Nov. 5, 2008, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to glass paneled doors, such as storm doors for houses or buildings. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Storm doors typically include a frame that supports the glass panel and that encompasses the perimeter edge and overlaps both the interior and exterior surfaces of the door panel around the perimeter edge. The hinge or hinges and any closure bracket or device are attached to or incorporated in or at the frame. Likewise, the door handle assembly is partially received in the frame and the shaft of the door handle assembly extends through the frame outboard of the perimeter edge of the glass panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a door assembly that includes a glass panel and at least one metallic hardware element single-sided bonded to the glass panel so that the hardware element is not exposed on an opposite surface of the glass panel. A perimeter frame may also be single-sided bonded to the glass panel so that the frame is not exposed on an opposite surface of the glass panel. For example, the hardware element and/or the frame may be bonded to an interior surface of the glass panel so as to not be exposed at the exterior surface of the glass panel when the door assembly is normally mounted at a house or building. The door assembly may include a door handle and latch mechanism at the frame, and the mechanism may extend through the glass panel, such as through a hole or aperture formed in the glass panel. The hardware element or elements of the door assembly may include one or more hinge elements or closure brackets or mounting brackets, such as metallic mounting brackets, bonded to the glass panel (such as at or in or partially in the perimeter frame) for structural rigidity of the door assembly, such as at locations where door closers or the like are mounted or attached to the door assembly. The glass panel may include an opaque layer around its perimeter (such as a frit layer or the like) and along the bonded region of the hardware elements and/or perimeter frame to provide an enhanced appearance to the door assembly. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a door assembly for use in a building includes a door panel comprising a glass material, and a perimeter frame portion. The door panel has an outer surface and an inner surface and a perimeter region. The perimeter frame portion is bonded via a layer of cured adhesive to the inner surface of the door panel and along the perimeter region of the door panel. The layer of cured adhesive bonds the perimeter frame portion to the inner surface of the glass door panel without exposure of the bonded perimeter frame portion on the outer surface of the glass door panel. 
     The door assembly may include at least one metallic hardware mounting element adhesively bonded to the glass panel via another layer of adhesive. The perimeter frame portion may substantially or at least partially encompass or encase or surround the hardware mounting element. A hardware element, such as a hinge element or closure bracket or the like, may attach to the perimeter frame portion and the hardware mounting element for mounting the door assembly at the building or door frame or the like. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a door assembly for use in a building includes a door panel comprising a glass material and having an outer surface and an inner surface and a perimeter region. At least one metallic hardware element is bonded to the inner surface of the glass door panel via a layer of cured adhesive. The hardware element is disposed at or near the perimeter region of the door panel and is configured for mounting to a support element at the building. For example, the hardware element or elements may include a hinge attachment element for attaching to a hinge element at the support element at the building and/or a closure bracket for a door closing device (such as a conventional door closing device, such as a spring or biased chain or a pneumatic or gas device or spring or the like) to attach to the door so as to bias or urge the door towards a closed position or orientation relative to the building. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides a substantially transparent glass door panel that has a metallic hardware element and/or a perimeter frame adhesively bonded along its perimeter regions so as to avoid exposure of the perimeter frame at an outer or opposite surface of the glass panel. The door assembly may include metallic or structural brackets or elements adhesively bonded to the surface of the glass panel and at the perimeter frame. The door panel may have an opaque coating or layer, such as a ceramic frit layer or the like, along its perimeter region and in the bonding area along the perimeter region or perimeter frame to conceal the perimeter frame and/or hardware element so that it is not readily discernible and viewable through the substantially transparent glass door panel. 
     These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a door assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the door assembly of  FIG. 1 , as viewed from outside the structure at which the door assembly is mounted; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the door assembly of  FIG. 1 , as viewed from inside the structure at which the door assembly is mounted; 
         FIG. 4A  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4B  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4C  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4D  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line D-D in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4E  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line E-E in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the glass panel of the door assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the perimeter frame of the door assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7A  is a sectional view of the perimeter frame taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7B  is a sectional view of the perimeter frame taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7C  is a sectional view of the perimeter frame taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7D  is a sectional view of the perimeter frame taken along the line D-D in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8A  is a plan view of a hinge bracket of the door assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8B  is an end elevation of the hinge bracket of  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8C  is a side elevation of the hinge bracket of  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8D  is a sectional view of the hinge bracket taken along the line D=D in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 9A  is a plan view of a closure bracket of the door assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9B  is an end elevation of the closure bracket of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9C  is a sectional view of the closure bracket taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of another door assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 10A  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 10B  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 10C  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 10D  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line D-D in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 10E  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line E-E in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of another door assembly in accordance with the present invention, with hardware elements bonded to the glass door panel and without a perimeter frame; 
         FIG. 11A  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 11B  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 11C  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 11D  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line D-D in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 11E  is a sectional view of the door assembly taken along the line E-E in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 12A  is an enlarged plan view of a plate attachment bracket of the door assembly of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 12B  is a side elevation of the plate attachment bracket of  FIG. 12A ; 
         FIG. 12C  is a sectional view of the plate attachment bracket taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 12A ; 
         FIG. 13A  is an enlarged plan view of a closure bracket of the door assembly of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13B  is a side elevation of the closure bracket of  FIG. 13A ; and 
         FIG. 13C  is a sectional view of the closure bracket taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 13A . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a door assembly  10  for a building or house or structure includes a substantially transparent door panel  12  that has a perimeter frame portion  14  bonded at least partially along the perimeter regions or edges  12   a  of door panel  12  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). The perimeter frame  14  is bonded or adhered to a surface of the door panel  12  (such as to an interior surface  12   b  of the door panel when the door assembly is normally mounted to a structure or building) so that the frame does not extend around the perimeter edge of the door panel to encompass or cover a portion of the opposite surface of the door panel (such as an exterior surface  12   c  of the door panel when the door assembly is normally mounted to a structure or building). The perimeter frame  14  thus may be single-sided bonded to the interior or inner surface  12   b  of the door panel  12  without exposure of the bonded perimeter frame on the opposite or exterior or outer surface of the door panel. The mounting hardware of the door assembly may be bonded to the door panel and substantially contained within and concealed by the frame portion, as discussed below. Thus, when viewed from the outside of the door, the only material visible other than door panel is a door handle  16  and the bonded surface of the frame  14  that extends around the entire perimeter of the door panel. The mounting hardware may be bonded to the door panel and the frame portion may be assembled to the hardware bonded glass door panel to create the finished product. 
     Door panel  12  may comprise a glass panel, and preferably a substantially transparent strengthened glass panel, such as a tempered or toughened glass panel, suitable for use as a door for a house or building or other structure or environment. The glass panel may be cut to the desired size and shape for the door. As shown in  FIG. 5 , glass door panel  12  may include an aperture or hole  12   d  formed therethrough for receiving a shaft of a door handle assembly  16 , and may include a second aperture or hole  12   e  for receiving a lock cylinder or other latch mechanism of the door handle assembly, as discussed below. 
     Optionally, and as can be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 , the perimeter regions of the interior surface of the door panel  12  may have a non-transparent or opaque coating or frit layer  18  or paint or ink or the like disposed thereon, so as to substantially conceal the perimeter frame  14  and limit viewing of the perimeter frame and adhesive through the door panel from the exterior side of the door panel. Optionally, the frit or paint or ink layer or coating may be disposed or screened onto the surface  12   b  of the door panel after forming the glass door panel. In applications where an opaque or non-transparent frit layer or other pattern or the like may be disposed at the surface of the door panel, the adhesive may comprise a substantially non-transparent adhesive. 
     Optionally, the frit layer may comprise a ceramic fit layer and may function to facilitate adhering or bonding of the perimeter frame to the door panel. The fit layer may be substantially opaque, and thus may improve the overall appearance of the door assembly, since the bonding surfaces are not readily discernible or viewable through the door panel and the frit layer. Examples of such fit layers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,360,338; 7,332,225; 6,871,450; 6,846,039; 6,319,344; 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 6,068,719; 5,966,874; 5,853,8954; 5,704,173; and 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The fit layer may comprise a black or substantially opaque layer, or may comprise a white layer or other color as desired, such as to match a color scheme of the perimeter frame or door frame or building at which the door assembly is mounted. The frit layer may be disposed onto the surface of the door panel in any desired pattern, such as stripes, dots, wave pattern or the like, to provide the desired appearance to the door, depending on the particular application of the door assembly. 
     Optionally, the fit layer  18  may be disposed or deposited on and bonded to the surface of door panel  12  as an opaque frit layer or coating covering and concealing a region of the surface from a peripheral edge region  12   a  of the door panel inward a desired or appropriate amount, so as to establish a border coating around the perimeter of the door panel. Door panel  12 , which may be initially in an unstrengthened or untempered condition after cutting and sizing to its desired shape, can be painted, such as by screen coating or other techniques, with a coating of ceramic paint on its inner surface and along the perimeter regions thereof. Thereafter, door panel  12  may be heated, followed by strengthening, such as tempering, to strengthen the glass. Such heating and tempering operations cause the ceramic paint to become fused to the surface of the door panel. Thus, although starting as a layer of paint containing ceramic particles and pigment, the coating ends up as a thin frit layer of ceramic material, which is fused to the surface of the glass door panel. Since the ceramic frit coating includes a pigment of a desired color, the layer results in a permanent surface coloration of the glass door panel. However, the perimeter frame may optionally be bonded to the surface of the door panel without any frit layer on the door surface, depending on the particular application and desired appearance of the door assembly. 
     Perimeter frame  14  comprises elongated side portions  14   a ,  14   b  and an upper portion  14   c  and a lower portion  14   d  joined together or abutting one another at the corners of the door panel and adhered or bonded to the interior surface of the door panel  12  via a suitable adhesive. In the illustrated embodiment, perimeter frame portions  14   a - d  comprise extruded frame portions, such as plastic or polymeric frame portions formed by extruding the polymeric material to form elongated portions that are cut to the desired or appropriate length and formed to have their ends abut the respective ends of the adjacent frame portions (such as by mitering the ends to a 45 degree angle or the like). The mitered corners may be welded or heat staked together to join the frame portions at the corners. Optionally, the frame portion may comprise any suitable material, such as a metallic material (such as aluminum or other suitable material) or a plastic or polymeric material, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, each frame portion  14   a - d  of perimeter frame  14  may comprise a bonding surface or wall  20   a  and an opposite surface or wall  20   b  with one or more ribs or structural webs or elements  20   c  disposed between the surfaces or walls  20   a ,  20   b . Perimeter frame  14  includes side walls  20   d ,  20   e  at opposite sides of the frame portion, with the outer side wall  20   e  having a trim element or strip  20   f  that is disposed along the perimeter edge  12   f  of door panel  12  to provide a finished perimeter trim element around the perimeter edge of the door panel. Trim element  20   f  supports a flexible sealing element or bead or strip  20   g  for engaging the door frame of the building to which the door assembly is mounted so as to seal the door around its perimeter edges relative to the building. In the illustrated embodiment, bonding wall  20   a  includes a channel  20   g  that is spaced from the surface  12   b  to which the frame portion is bonded by a pair of legs or extensions  20   h  of bonding wall  20   a , so as to provide a channel in which the adhesive layer is disposed, as discussed below. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the frame portions are formed as described above and as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 7A  along a substantial portion of their lengths. Other forms may be established, such as cutaways and apertures formed through the frame portions at particular locations along the frame portions to provide clearance for or mounting of various closure mounting brackets and/or door handles and/or hinge mounting brackets or the like. For example, and as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , perimeter frame  14  may include a closure bracket mounting area  22  at the upper frame portion  14   c  and/or lower frame portion  14   d , and one or more hinge mounting areas  24  at the side frame portion  14   b , as discussed below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4B ,  7 B and  7 C, closure bracket mounting area  22  of frame portion  14   c  includes an opening or aperture  22   a  formed through the bonding wall  20   a  and an opening or aperture  22   b  (or apertures) formed through opposite or outer wall  20   b  (with the webs  20   c  removed or partially removed at and along the openings) to receive a closure bracket  26  thereat. 
     The closure bracket  26  may be bonded to the door panel via a suitable adhesive, and may be received in frame portion  14   c  at apertures  22   a ,  22   b . Closure bracket  26  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 B,  4 C and  9 A-C) may comprise a metallic bracket or structure (such as steel, such as 1008/1010 cold rolled steel, and optionally such as E-coated steel that is E-coated with a cathodic electro deposition epoxy resin zinc phosphate or the like), and provides a mounting location or attachment location for a door closing device&#39;(such as a conventional door closing device, such as a spring or biased chain or a pneumatic or gas device or spring or the like) to attach to the door (and to attach at its other end to the building or structure) to limit opening of the door and/or to bias or urge the door towards its closed position or orientation. In the illustrated embodiment, closure bracket  26  comprises a metallic bracket having an attaching portion or flange  26   a  and a pair of mounting flanges  26   b . The mounting flanges  26   b  are adhered to the glass panel surface  12   b  and optionally may have a plurality of projections or protrusions or standoffs  26   c  (such as three or more non-linearly arranged standoffs or embossments disposed inboard of the perimeter edges of the mounting flanges) protruding therefrom for spacing the bonding surface  26   d  of the mounting flanges  26   b  for establishing the desired or appropriate bond line thickness of the layer of adhesive that bonds the closure bracket to the door panel  12 . The attaching flange  26   a  of closure bracket  26  is spaced outwardly from mounting flanges  26   b  by a pair of legs or stanchions  26   e  of closure bracket  26  so that the attaching flange  26   a  is generally flush with the outer wall  20   b  of frame portion  14   c , Attaching flange  26   a  includes one or more apertures  26   f  established therethrough for receiving respective fasteners (such as screws or the like) to mount or attach or fasten a door closing device to the door assembly. 
     The closure bracket  26  thus is received in frame portion  14   c  with its attaching flange  26   a  exposed for attaching the closing device to the door. The mounting flanges  26   b  are bonded to the glass door panel within frame portion  14   c  and at a closure bracket mounting area of frame portion  14   c . The webs  20   c  of frame portion  14   c  may be fully removed at a central region of the closure bracket mounting area  22  of frame portion  14   c , and may be partially removed at the side regions of the closure bracket mounting area. For example, and as can be seen with reference to  FIGS. 4C ,  6 ,  7 B and  7 C, the aperture  22   a  may be larger than aperture  22   b  and the webs may be removed at the outer regions of the larger aperture to provide space for the mounting flanges of the closure bracket  26  when the closure bracket is received within frame portion  14   c . Optionally, and as shown in  FIG. 3 , both the upper and lower frame portions  14   c ,  14   d  may include closure bracket mounting areas for mounting upper and/or lower door closing devices to the door. Optionally, the frame portions may be formed with their outer surfaces  20   b  continuous (i.e., without aperture  22   b  formed therethrough), whereby a user may cut the desired aperture  22   b  to expose the closure bracket mounting area  22  and closure bracket  26  at the desired one or both of the frame portions  14   c ,  14   d , depending on the particular application of the door assembly. 
     Also, frame portion  14   b  may include one or more hinge mounting areas  24  that have hinge brackets  28  mounted thereat. For example, the hinge mounting area  24  of frame portion  14   b  may have an aperture  24   a  established through bonding wall  20   a  of frame portion  14   b . As shown in  FIG. 4D , a hinge bracket  28  is disposed within frame portion  14   b  and is bonded to glass door panel  12  at aperture  24   a . Hinge bracket  28  (FIGS.  4 D and  8 A-D) may comprise a generally L-shaped metallic bracket (such as steel, such as 1008/1010 cold rolled steel, and optionally such as E-coated steel that is E-coated with a cathodic electro deposition epoxy resin zinc phosphate or the like), that includes a mounting flange  28   a  bonded to the door panel  12  and a hinge attaching flange  28   b  extending along outer side wall  20   e  of frame portion  14   b . Mounting flange  28   a  may be adhered to the glass panel surface  12   b  and may have a plurality of projections or protrusions or standoffs  28   c  (such as three or more non-linearly arranged standoffs or embossments disposed inboard of the perimeter edges of the mounting flanges) protruding therefrom for spacing the bonding surface  28   d  of the mounting flange  28   a  for establishing the desired or appropriate bond line thickness of the layer of adhesive that bonds the hinge bracket to the door panel  12 . Hinge attaching flange  28   b  may include one or more apertures  28   e  for receiving a fastener, such as a screw or the like, for attaching a hinge element to the hinge attaching flange. The fastener may be threaded or screwed through the outer side wall  20   e  of frame portion  14   b  or an aperture or hole (or holes) may be established through the outer side wall  20   e  that generally aligns with the aperture or apertures of the hinge bracket  28  or a hole or aperture (or apertures) may be established through the outer side wall  20   e  and through the hinge bracket  28  at the mounting location or building or structure to provide generally aligned holes for aligning with and attaching to the hinge or hinge element at the mounting location or installation site of the door assembly. 
     Door assembly  10  also includes handle assembly  16 , which includes handle portions  16   a ,  16   b  and a shaft  16   c  connecting handle portions  16   a ,  16   b . As can be seen in  FIG. 4E , shaft  16   c  extends through frame portion  14   a  and through aperture  12   d  of door panel  12 . As also shown in  FIG. 4E , a mounting element or trim element  30   a  may be disposed at outer surface  12   c  of door panel  12 , while an inner mounting element or trim element  30   b  may be disposed at opposite or inner wall  20   b  of frame portion  14   a , with shaft  16   c  being rotatably or pivotally mounted to or received through trim elements  30   a ,  30   b , and with handle portions  16   a ,  16   b  being attached to shaft  16   c  outboard of trim elements  30   a ,  30   b . Handle portion  16  also includes a latch mechanism  16   d  that is actuatable via rotation of shaft  16   c  to engage and release a corresponding latch element at the door frame of the building or structure, such as in a manner known in the art. As shown in  FIG. 4E , frame portion  14   a  may be modified at the door handle mounting area to accommodate the shaft  16   c  and latch mechanism  16   d  within frame portion  14   a  (such as by removing the outer web  20   c  at the area that corresponds to aperture  12   d  to provide clearance for shaft  16   c  and by providing an aperture through outer side wall  20   e  of frame portion  14   a  for latch mechanism  16   d ). Optionally, a locking device (such as a dead-bolt type locking device or the like) may be provided, with the shaft of the locking device extending through a second aperture or hole  12   e  of door panel  12 . 
     Optionally, the aperture  12   d  through door panel  12  may be generally centered vertically along the side perimeter region  12   a , whereby the door assembly may be reversible or universal, and may be readily flipped over to accommodate either a right hinge configuration or a left hinge configuration, depending on the particular application of the door assembly. The door handles  16   a ,  16   b  and shaft  16   c  may then be installed in accordance with the desired or appropriate right or left hinge configuration. Optionally, the aperture through the door panel may be established at the installation of the door assembly and after it is determined which hinge configuration is appropriate for the particular application of the door assembly. 
     Thus, door assembly  10  may include metallic hinge brackets  28  and metallic closure brackets  26  bonded to the glass surface  12   b  of glass door panel  12  and plastic or polymeric frame portions  14   a - d  bonded to the glass surface  12   b  of glass door panel  12 . The metallic hardware may be bonded to the glass surface via any suitable adhesive or bonding means, such as via curing of a bonding or adhesive material and utilizing bonding processes of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,360,338; 7,332,225; 6,871,450; 6,846,039; 6,319,344; 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 6,068,719; 5,966,874; 5,853,895; 5,704,173; and/or 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the metallic hardware may be bonded to the glass surface via a two component urethane adhesive, such as by utilizing aspects of the bonding processes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,332,225; 6,846,039; 6,319,344; 6,068,719; and 5,853,895, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties (such as a two component urethane adhesive having an isocyanate component and a polyol component with the polyol component including at least one plural amine compound). Optionally, an adhesion promoting primer may be disposed at the metallic hardware and/or the glass surface prior to joining the hardware to the glass surface, such as by utilizing aspects of the bonding processes described in the above incorporated U.S. patents. 
     Likewise, the plastic or polymeric perimeter frame  14  may be single-sided bonded to the glass surface  12   b  of door panel  12  via any suitable adhesive, such as via curing of a bonding or adhesive material and utilizing bonding processes of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,360,338; 7,332,225; 6,871,450; 6,846,039; 6,319,344; 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 6,068,719; 5,966,874; 5,853,895; 5,704,173; and/or 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the plastic frame may be bonded to the glass surface via a one component urethane adhesive, such as by utilizing aspects of the bonding processes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,360,338; 6,871,450; 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 5,966,874; 5,704,173; and/or 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, an adhesion promoting primer may be disposed at the frame portion and/or the glass surface prior to joining the frame portion to the glass surface, such as by utilizing aspects of the bonding processes described in the above incorporated U.S. patents. 
     Optionally, and such as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the door panel may include a fit layer  18  along the inner surface and along the perimeter regions of the door panel to substantially conceal the bonded hardware and frame portions along the perimeter regions so that the hardware and frame portions are not readily viewable through the door panel from outside the door. Optionally, however, the door panel may not include a fit layer, and the hardware and frame portion may be bonded directly to the inner surface of the door panel. Optionally, the hardware and frame portion may be bonded to the door panel via other suitable adhesives, such as via a UV cured adhesive or the other type of cured adhesive or bonding adhesive or the like, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Optionally, the bonding adhesive may be selected from a number of adhesive types or classes including moisture-activated urethanes, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,521, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, moisture-activated silicones, moisture-curable activated urethanes, chemically-activated adhesives, and thermally-activated adhesives, and/or the like. Other adhesives, such as aerobically-cured, anaerobically-cured, and radiation-cured adhesives can also be used, without affecting the scope of the present invention. When cured, the bond-line thickness may be in the range of about 1 micron to 10 mm, preferably about 5 microns to 5 mm, and most preferably about 25 microns to 1 mm (with the preferred bond-line thickness for the bonded hardware and adhesive used thereat being established by the projections or standoffs of the mounting flanges). The adhesive may be a moisture-activated adhesive, a chemically activated adhesive, a heat or radiation or ultraviolet or microwave radiation activated adhesive or the like, and the door panel and hardware or frame portions may be exposed to the appropriate conditions or elements or radiation to cure the adhesive and bond the hardware and frame portions to the door panel, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 5,966,874; 5,704,173; and 5,551,197; and 5,331,784, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Optionally, a temporary fixturing adhesive may also be provided, such as a hot-melt thermoplastic, which temporarily locates or fixtures the hardware and/or frame portion against the door panel or frit layer, while the bonding adhesive cures and forms the permanent primary bond. The temporary fixturing adhesive may secure or hold the hardware and/or frame portion to the door panel until the bonding process is complete and the bonding adhesive has cured and formed the permanent bond. Optionally, to improve and promote the bonding characteristics of the bonding adhesive, the glass surface (or frit layer if applicable), and/or the hardware and/or the frame portions, may be coated with an adhesion-promoting compound or primer, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,360,338; 7,332,225; 6,871,450; 6,846,039; 6,319,344; 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 6,068,719; 5,966,874; 5,853,895; 5,704,173; and/or 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     The frame portions and hardware thus may be readily adhered to or bonded to the glass door panel, such as via a bead of adhesive or the like. Desirably, the adhesive may comprise a transparent adhesive, such as a transparent or substantially transparent epoxy or acrylate or the like. Optionally, the adhesive may comprise a UV curable adhesive, such as a UV curable acrylate or epoxy or a UV curable optically matching adhesive, such as the optical adhesives of the types commercially available from Norland Products of Cranbury, N.J., or other suitable transparent or substantially transparent adhesive. Such UV curable adhesives provide rapid curing or bonding of the glass panel to the hardware element and/or perimeter frame after the element/frame is pressed against the attachment region or area or portion of the panel with the adhesive therebetween. Optionally, and desirably, the adhesive may be selected to be at least partially to substantially space filling so that any tolerances or gaps between the mounting flanges and the door panel are filled in or taken up by the adhesive. Optionally, beads, such as index matching beads, such as glass beads or fibers or polymeric beads or fibers or the like, may be provided so that the adhesive has an enhanced space filling function between the hardware and/or frame portions and the glass door panel. 
     Optionally, and with reference to FIGS.  10  and  10 A-B, a door assembly  10 ′ for a building or house or structure includes a substantially transparent door panel  12 ′ that has a perimeter frame portion  14 ′ bonded at least partially along the perimeter regions or edges  12   a ′ of door panel  12 ′, such as in a similar manner as described above. The perimeter frame  14 ′ is bonded or adhered to a surface of the door panel  12 ′ (such as to an interior surface  12   b ′ of the door panel when the door assembly is normally mounted to a structure or building) so that the frame does not extend around the perimeter edge of the door panel to encompass or cover a portion of the opposite surface of the door panel (such as an outer or exterior surface  12   c ′ of the door panel). Door assembly  10 ′ may be substantially similar to door assembly  10 , discussed above, such that a detailed discussion of the door assemblies need not be repeated herein. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS.  10  and  10 A-E, perimeter frame  14 ′ comprises a plastic or metallic outer frame member that extends along and around the perimeter of the door panel  12 ′ and includes elongated side portions  14   a ′,  14   b ′ and an upper portion  14   c ′ and a lower portion  14   d ′ joined together or abutting one another at the corners of the door panel and adhered or bonded to the interior surface of the door panel  12 ′ via a suitable adhesive, such as in a similar manner as described above. Each frame portion  14   a ′-d′ of perimeter frame  14 ′ may comprise a bonding surface or wall  20   a ′ ( FIGS. 10A and 10E ) and an opposite surface or wall  20   b ′ and side walls  20   d ′,  20   e ′ at opposite sides of the frame portion, with the outer side wall  20   e ′ having a trim element or strip  20   f ′ that is disposed along the perimeter edge  12   f ′ of door panel  12 ′ to provide a finished perimeter trim element around the perimeter edge of the door panel. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10B-D , the perimeter frame  14 ′ encompasses or encases an inner hollow metallic or plastic member or element  15 ′ that is disposed within and at least partially along perimeter frame portions  14   b ′ and  14   c ′. Inner member  15 ′ includes an attachment surface  15   a ′ with sidewardly or laterally disposed protrusions or legs  15   b ′ at or along the side regions of the inner member  15 ′ to space the attachment surface  15   a ′ from the door panel surface  12   b ′ a desired or appropriate amount for the adhesive to bond the inner member to the door panel surface. The inner members may comprise any suitable material, such as metal, such as aluminum or other suitable metal, and may be extruded or otherwise formed to the desired shape and length. The inner members  15 ′ extend partially along the respective perimeter regions and frame portions and are disposed at locations where a hardware element is attached to the door. 
     For example, an inner member  15 ′ ( FIGS. 10B and 10C ) may be disposed at an upper region of the door panel to provide support for attachment of a closure bracket  26 ′ at outer frame portion  14   c ′. The closure bracket  26 ′ may comprise any suitable bracket, such as a conventional bracket for attaching an end of a pneumatic or gas spring or cylinder to the door to control and dampen opening and closing of the door. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure bracket  26 ′ comprises a typical or conventional bracket that may be fastened (such as via a threaded fastener  27 ′ or the like) to the frame member  14   c ′ and inner member  15 ′ at a desired location along the upper frame member  14   c ′. For example, a self-tapping screw or the like may be used to screw through the outer wall  20   b ′ of frame member  14   c ′ and into the outer or closure bracket mounting wall  15   c ′ of the inner member  15 ′ or optionally a hole may be drilled through the frame member and inner member at the desired or appropriate locations for mounting the closure bracket. The end of the pneumatic or gas spring device or closure device may be attached at one of two locations at the bracket via a pin (not shown) extending through a selected set of apertures  26   a ′ of closure bracket  26 ′. The length of the inner member  15 ′ may be selected to be long enough to allow for a desired amount of flexibility in the mounting location of the closure bracket, depending on the type of closure device and/or door application. Optionally, and desirably, an inner mounting member  15 ′ may also be disposed within and partially along lower member  14   d ′ to provide a mounting location for a lower closure bracket for applications where a closure bracket may also or otherwise be disposed along the lower frame member of the door assembly (or to provide a mounting location for an upper closure bracket in applications where the door assembly is switched to have the hinges along the opposite side and the door panel is flipped over or rotated 180 degrees, such as a left hand opening door versus aright hand opening door or the like). 
     Likewise, a plurality of inner members  15 ′ may be disposed in spaced apart locations along the hinge side of the door panel and along or within the hinge side frame member  14   b ′ of perimeter frame  14 ′. The door assembly  10 ′ includes a plurality of hinge elements  32 ′ along the hinge side or perimeter edge region of the door panel. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge elements  32 ′ comprise a cylindrical pin receiving portion  32   a ′ for pivotally attaching to a corresponding hinge element  34 ′ attached to the building or structure or door frame, such as via a pin or the like extending through aligned passageways of the respective pin receiving portions. The hinge elements  32 ′ may be mounted to the outer frame member  14   b ′ and the inner mounting members  15 ′, such as via a fastener or screw extending through the side wall  20   d ′ of the outer frame member  14   b ′ and into and through a side or hinge mounting wall  15   d ′ of the respective inner mounting member  15 ′. As shown in  FIG. 10D , the building or structure or door frame may include a sealing element  36 ′ (such as a felt or rubber type seal or the like) that engages the outer side corner region along the outer frame member  14   b ′ when the door is closed (as shown in  FIG. 10D ) to limit air flow between the door and the door frame when the door is closed. Optionally, and desirably, a plurality of inner mounting members may also be disposed within and partially along the opposite side frame member  14   a ′ to provide mounting locations for hinge elements for applications where the door assembly is switched to have the hinges along the opposite side and the door panel is flipped over or rotated 180 degrees, such as a left hand opening door versus a right hand opening door or the like. 
     Door assembly  10 ′ also includes handle assembly  16 ′, which may be similar to handle assembly  16 , described above. As can be seen in  FIG. 10E , the handle assembly  16 ′ is established at perimeter frame member  14   a ′, and the frame member  14   a ′ may be adapted or configured to receive and/or support the handle assembly thereat. As also shown in  FIG. 10E , a mounting element or trim element  30   a ′ may be disposed at outer surface  12   c ′ of door panel  12 ′, while an inner mounting element or trim element  30   b ′ may be disposed at the opposite or inner wall (not shown in  FIG. 10E  because it is cut away at the location of the cross section) of frame portion  14   a ′, with the handle portion  16   a ′ ( FIG. 10 ) mounted at the cover or mounting element  30   b ′ and with the latch element or mechanism  16   d ′ extending through an opening or cutaway in the frame member  14   a ′. The shaft of the handle assembly (and optionally one or more fasteners securing the outer cover portion to the inner cover portion of the handle assembly) may extend through one or more apertures established through the door panel. The handle assembly  16 ′ may be similar to handle assembly  16 , discussed above, such that a detailed discussion of the handle assemblies need not be repeated herein. 
     Thus, the full view storm door assembly of the present invention may consist of two sub-assemblies that may be assembled together to create the finished product. The first assembly may consist of a plastic co-extruded frame that is mitered in the corners and welded together to create the perimeter door frame. The co-extrusion may consist of a substantially rigid material that creates the structure of the door and that may have a flexible portion that serves as the seal for the door to the door frame of the building. The second assembly may consist of a piece of glass or glass door panel that has a ceramic paint applied around its perimeter regions. The glass door panel may also have one or more holes for the handle and latching mechanism. The glass door panel may also have two closure mounting brackets and two or more (such as four) hinge brackets mounted to or bonded to the inner surface of the glass door panel. These components may be mounted to the glass utilizing a two component urethane adhesive and associated primers, as discussed above. The plastic frame may be bonded to the glass door panel (and over and/or around the already bonded hardware or brackets). The combination of the two sub-assemblies may be made by bonding the glass panel sub-assembly to the frame sub-assembly by utilizing a one component urethane adhesive and associated primers. 
     Optionally, the door assembly may be constructed without a perimeter frame portion about its perimeter edge regions to provide a full glass or frameless door panel, with the hardware elements (such as hinge elements and door closure brackets or elements and door handle elements and/or the like) adhesively bonded to a surface of the glass door panel. For example, and with reference to FIGS.  11  and  11 A-E, a door assembly  110  for a building or house or structure includes a substantially transparent door panel  112  that has a closure bracket  126  and a plurality of hinge elements  132  adhesively bonded to the interior glass surface  112   b  of the door panel  112 , which may have a darkened hiding coating or ceramic frit layer  118  (or other darkened or opaque hiding layer or coating) established or disposed along the perimeter regions  112   a  of the door panel to hide or conceal or render covert the presence of the bonded hardware elements  126 ,  132 . 
     A handle assembly (not shown in FIGS.  11  and  11 A-E) may be attached to the door panel  112 , such as via adhesive bonding and/or portions of the handle assembly passing through apertures  112   d  established through the door panel (such as for securing an exterior portion of the door handle assembly relative to an interior portion of the door handle assembly with the door panel sandwiched therebetween) and at or near one of the side perimeter regions  112   g  of the door panel  112 . The handle assembly of the door assembly may be similar to the handle assemblies of door assemblies  10 ,  10 ′, discussed above, such that a detailed discussion of the handle assemblies need not be repeated herein. For door assembly  110 , the handle assembly may be a self-contained assembly with inner and outer portions that attach at the respective inner and outer surfaces of the door panel, such as via fasteners extending through respective ones of the apertures  112   d  of door panel  112 , but may otherwise be similar in construction and/or operation as handle assemblies  16 ,  16 ′, discussed above. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of hinge elements  132  are adhesively bonded along a side perimeter region  112   h  of door panel  112 . As shown in  FIG. 11A , hinge element  132  includes an attachment portion or flange  132   a  and a hinge pin receiving portion  132   b . Attachment flange  132   a  comprises a generally planar portion with a plurality of projections or embossments  132   e  protruding therefrom to contact the inner glass surface  112   b  of door panel  112  and establish the desired or appropriate bondline thickness at the attachment or adhesive joint of the hinge element and door panel. The hinge element  132  may include at least three non-linearly aligned projections established inboard of the perimeter edges of the attachment flange  132   a  to provide a substantially uniform adhesive bondline thickness (such as, for example, a bondline thickness between 0.1 mm to 3 mm or on the order of 1 mm or thereabouts, depending on the adhesive selected) along and across the attachment flange and adhesive joint. As can be seen in  FIG. 11 , the hinge elements are distributed along the side perimeter region  112   h  of door panel  112  and are uniformly distributed relative to the upper end or region  112   i  and lower end or region  112   j  of door panel  112  to allow for flipping or rotating the door 180 degrees to adapt the door assembly for left or right opening doors. When the door panel is mounted to the building or door frame, one or more hinge pins or the like may be inserted through the passageways of hinge receiving portions  132   b  of hinge elements  132  and through corresponding and aligned passageways of hinge elements attached or mounted to the door frame, to pivotally or hingedly mount the door panel to the door frame. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a closure bracket  126  is provided at both the upper end or region  112   i  and the lower end or region  112   j  of door panel  112  (and may be generally centrally located along the respective end region) to also facilitate flipping or rotating the door 180 degrees to adapt the door assembly for left or right opening doors. As shown in  FIGS. 11 ,  11 B,  11 C and  14 A-C, closure bracket  126  comprises a pair of mounting flanges  126   a  and a center portion  126   b . Mounting flanges  126   a  include at least three projections or embossments  126   c  non-linearly arranged and disposed inboard of a perimeter edge of the flange to provide the desired or appropriate bondline thickness or thickness of the adhesive joint between the mounting flanges and the inner surface  112   b  of the door panel  112 , such as in a similar manner as discussed above. The center portion  126   b  is raised or spaced from the door panel when the closure bracket  126  is bonded to the door panel  112  and includes a pair of slots  126   d  established partially across the center portion  126   b . The slots  126   d  are configured to receive pins or fasteners (not shown) to attach the appropriate closure attachment or bracket (for the particular closure mechanism implemented with the door assembly) to the closure bracket  126 . The closure attachment thus may be attached to the closure bracket (such as the upper closure bracket) when the door is installed at the building or door frame (and the closure attachment may provide for side-to-side or lateral positioning or adjustment to adapt the closure attachment for the particular application of the door assembly). In applications where only one closure bracket is needed, the other closure bracket (such as the lower closure bracket) is hidden from view by the opaque perimeter coating or layer  118  established around the perimeter region of the door panel and is left in its unused state. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, door assembly  110  also includes a pair of mounting brackets or expander bracket  138  adhesively bonded at or near the sides of the door panel  112  and at the lower and upper perimeter regions of the door panel  112 . Mounting brackets  138  are provided for attaching a trim plate or lower plate or extension (such as an extruded aluminum panel with a felt or rubber seal element or sweep element along its lower edge) at the lower end or region  112   j  of door panel  112 , so as to adjust the overall height or size of the door panel to the size of the door opening and to provide a lower seal that abuts against the lower portion of the door frame or opening to limit airflow under the door panel when the door panel is closed. The mounting brackets are provided at both the upper and lower regions  112   i ,  112   j  so that the door may be flipped or rotated to accommodate different types of openings, such as a left hand opening door or a right hand opening door. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 ,  11 B,  11 C and  12 A-C, mounting brackets  138  include a pair of attachment or bonding flanges  138   a  and a center portion  138   b . Mounting flanges  138   a  include at least three projections or embossments  138   c  non-linearly arranged and disposed inboard of a perimeter edge of the flange to provide the desired or appropriate bondline thickness or thickness of the adhesive joint between the mounting flanges and the inner surface  112   b  of the door panel  112 , such as in a similar manner as discussed above. The center portion  138   b  is raised or spaced from the door panel when the mounting bracket  138  is bonded to the door panel  112  and includes a slot  138   d  established partially across the center portion  138   b . The slot  138   d  is configured to receive a pin or fastener  140  to attach the trim plate to each of the mounting brackets  138  (as can be seen in  FIG. 12A , the pin  140  may include a non-circular base portion  140   a  to non-rotatably receive or hold the pin within the slot  138   d  to assist in fastening or securing the trim plate to the mounting brackets). The trim plate thus may be attached to the mounting brackets along the lower perimeter region of the door panel and may be adjusted to the appropriate degree of extension below the lower perimeter edge of the door panel when the door is installed at the building or door frame. The mounting brackets at the upper perimeter region of the door panel may not be used and remain hidden from view by the opaque perimeter coating or layer  118  established around the perimeter region of the door panel when left in their unused state. 
     Therefore, the full view storm door assembly of the present invention may consist of a glass door panel with hardware elements bonded thereto to provide a single product or assembled panel for mounting to a building or door frame. The glass door panel has a ceramic paint or opaque coating applied around its perimeter regions and may have one or more holes established therethrough for the handle and latching mechanism. The glass door panel may also have two closure mounting brackets and two or more (such as four or six) hinge brackets adhesively bonded to the inner surface of the glass door panel. A lower trim panel may be mounted to the glass door panel at one or more mounting brackets that are adhesively bonded to the glass door panel, and the height of the lower trim panel may be adjusted to adapt the overall height of the door assembly for the door frame or door opening at which the door assembly is installed. The bonded hardware components may be mounted to or adhered to the glass utilizing a two component urethane adhesive and associated primers, such as discussed above. The glass panel thus may have the brackets and hinge elements bonded thereto and may be shipped to the installation site as a single unit, whereby the trim panel and/or door closure element or device or bracket may be attached to the bonded brackets at the door installation site or building and after the door panel is hingedly mounted at the door frame. 
     Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.