Patent Publication Number: US-2020284086-A1

Title: Door frame guard

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosed subject matter relates to the field of manually operated, door frame protection devices and, in particular, to door frame guards for protecting doorway frames or door jambs while moving or construction of building interiors. 
     COPYRIGHT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the disclosure provided herein and to the drawings that form a part of this document: Copyright 2018-2019, Bruce Volpe; All Rights Reserved. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Furniture or construction materials and equipment may be passed through the door openings defined by doorway frames or door jambs. In many cases, while moving furniture or construction materials through doorways, the door jambs and/or door trim of the finished door frame are struck and damaged by the materials and equipment passing through the door openings. The damaged door jambs and door trim must be repaired with considerable time and expense. The edges of the door jambs and door trim are particularly vulnerable to damage when struck by materials or equipment. In order to protect these edges, some type of guard may be placed over the finished door frame until the moving or construction has been completed. However, conventional protective devices do not lend themselves to temporary installation on a door frame during moving or the construction phase of a building. 
     SUMMARY 
     A door frame guard for protecting doorway frames or door jambs while moving or construction of building interiors is disclosed. It is desirable to provide a door frame guard, which has sufficient stiffness to withstand severe impacts, yet has a capability to resist transmitting the force of these impacts to the edges of door jambs and trim. Additionally, it is desirable to provide a door frame guard, which is inexpensive, may be installed over a door frame easily, can grip the door frame without requiring external fastening devices, may be removed from a door frame easily, and may be reused. An example embodiment as disclosed herein includes: an adjustable door frame guard comprising: a first portion having a shell with a front panel integrated with a first side panel, the first side panel being configured with an inward inflection angle; a second portion having a shell with a front panel integrated with a second side panel, the second side panel being configured with an inward inflection angle, the second side panel including at least one notched portion, the first portion and the second portion including interior cushioning attached to the shell; and an adjustment slide adjustably and removably connecting the first portion to the second portion at the front panel with tensioning screws. The various example embodiments are described in more detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the shell portion of a door frame guard of an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the shell portion of a door frame guard of an example embodiment; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate top and bottom views of the shell portion of a door frame guard of example embodiments; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate top and bottom views of a door frame guard of example embodiments showing the shell portion with interior cushioning; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a door frame guard of an example embodiment showing the shell portion with interior cushioning; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate perspective views of the interior of a door frame guard of an example embodiment showing the shell portion with interior cushioning; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a view of a door frame guard of an example embodiment as attached to a door frame at the hinged side of the doorway from the perspective inside of the doorway; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a view of a door frame guard of an example embodiment as attached to a door frame at the hinged side of the doorway from the perspective outside of the doorway; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a view of three door frame guards of an example embodiment as attached to a door frame of a doorway from the perspective outside of the doorway; and 
         FIGS. 13 through 15  illustrate views of an adjustable door frame guard of an example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the disclosed subject matter can be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed subject matter. 
     In various example embodiments disclosed herein, a door frame guard is described. In the described example embodiments, the door frame guard provides sufficient stiffness to withstand severe impacts, yet has a cushioning capability to resist transmitting the force of these impacts to the edges of door jambs and trim. Additionally, the door frame guard of the various example embodiments can be inexpensively manufactured. The example door frame guard may be easily installed over a door frame, can grip the door frame without requiring external fastening devices, may be removed from a door frame easily, and may be reused. Additional details of various example embodiments are provided below. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the shell portion of a door frame guard  100  of an example embodiment. The shell portion is comprised of a front panel  110  with integrated and angled side panels  120 . One or both of the side panels  120  may include one or more notched portions  122  to provide spacing for hinges, latches, or other protruding structures on the door or doorway frame. The side panels  120  are configured with an inward inflection at a pre-defined inflection angle to enable the side panels  120  to apply a force to the sides of the door jamb or doorway trim to removably hold the door frame guard  100  in place. Once in place on a door jamb or doorway trim, the front panel  110  and the side panels  120  of the door frame guard  100  protect the door jamb or doorway trim from impacts from objects moved through the doorway. 
     In various example embodiments, the shell portion of the door frame guard  100  can be fabricated from a variety of materials including plastic, fiberglass, rubber, metal, or wood. The material used provides a rigid front panel  110 , which can withstand forceful impacts as objects are moved through the doorway. However, the material used also provides a level of flex so the door frame side panels  120  can be spread outwardly reducing the inward inflection to enable the side panels  120  to fit over the door jamb or doorway trim. Once the door frame guard  100  is removably installed on the door jamb or doorway trim, the flexible nature of the material used for the door frame guard  100  applies a force to the door jamb or doorway trim to keep the door frame guard  100  in place. As a result, the front panel  110  and side panels  120  of the door frame guard  100  protect the door jamb and doorway trim from impact damage. The length and width of the shell portion of the door frame guard  100  can be varied to accommodate a variety of sizes of doorways, door jambs, trim surfaces, and the like. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the shell portion of a door frame guard  100  of an example embodiment. As shown, the shell portion of the door frame guard  100  of an example embodiment includes the front panel  110  with integrated and angled side panels  120 . One or both of the side panels  120  may include one or a plurality of notched portions  122 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate top and bottom views of the shell portion of an alternative door frame guard  200  and another alternative door frame guard  300  of example embodiments. As shown, the front panel  110  of alternative door frame guard  300  is slightly larger (longer) than the front panel  110  of alternative door frame guard  200  to accommodate a wider door jamb or doorway trim area.  FIGS. 3 and 4  also illustrate the inward inflection angle  125  of the side panels  120 . The pre-defined inflection angle  125  of the side panels  120  enable the side panels  120  to apply a force to the sides of the door jamb or doorway trim to removably hold the door frame guard  200 / 300  in place. When the door frame guard  200 / 300  is to be removably installed onto a door jamb or doorway trim, the door frame side panels  120  can be spread outwardly reducing the inward inflection angle  125  to enable the side panels  120  to fit over the door jamb or doorway trim. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate top and bottom views of door frame guard  200  and door frame guard  300  of example embodiments showing the shell portion with interior cushioning  130 . The interior cushioning  130  is provided to further protect the surfaces of the door jamb or doorway trim from damage. The interior cushioning  130  can be fabricated from standard plastic or rubber foam material, fabric, or other soft material, which can be attached to the inner surfaces of the front panel  110  and side panels  120  with an adhesive. The thickness of the interior cushioning  130  can be chosen to provide more or less protection for the surfaces of the door jamb or doorway trim. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a door frame guard  100  of an example embodiment showing the shell portion  110 / 120  with interior cushioning  130  attached thereto. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate perspective views of the interior of a door frame guard  100  of an example embodiment showing the shell portion  110 / 120  with interior cushioning  130  attached thereto.  FIGS. 7 through 9  also show the notched portions  122  of the side panels  120 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a view of a door frame guard  100  of an example embodiment as removably attached to a door frame  510  at the hinged side of the doorway from the perspective inside of the doorway. The door frame guard  100  is shown removably attached to the door frame  510  with the side panels  120  applying a force to the door frame  510  as described above. Because of the notched portions  122  of the side panel  120 , the door hinges  512  do not interfere with the ability of the side panels  120  to attach to the door frame  510 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a view of the door frame guard  100  shown in  FIG. 10  as removably attached to the door frame  510  at the hinged side of the doorway from the perspective outside of the doorway. The front panel  110  and the side panels  120  of the door frame guard  100  serve to protect the door frame  510  from impacts as objects are moved through the doorway. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a view of three door frame guards  100  of an example embodiment as removably attached to a door frame  510  of a doorway from the perspective outside of the doorway. As described above, the door frame guards  100  are shown removably attached to the door frame  510  with the side panels  120  applying a force to the door frame  510 . The front panel  110  and the side panels  120  of the door frame guards  100  serve to protect the door frame  510  from impacts as objects are moved through the doorway. 
       FIGS. 13 through 15  illustrate views of an adjustable door frame guard  400  of an example embodiment. Because the width or thickness of door frames, doorjambs, or doorway trim can substantially vary, the adjustable door frame guard  400  is provided to accommodate a wide variety of door frame sizes. In an example embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , the adjustable door frame guard  400  includes a two-piece or two-portion door frame guard, wherein each of the two pieces includes a shell portion with a front panel  110  integrated with a side panel  120 . Each piece also includes the interior cushioning  130  to protect the surfaces of the door frame from damage. One or both of the side panels  120  can include one or more notched portions. The two pieces or portions of the adjustable door frame guard  400  are adjustably and removably connected with an adjustment slide  410 . The adjustment slide  410  can be attached to the front panel  110  of each piece of the adjustable door frame guard  400  with tensioning screws  412 . In one embodiment, the tensioning screws  412  can be tightened into a threaded hole in the front panel  110  of each piece of the adjustable door frame guard  400 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , the adjustment slide  410  includes an opening  414  along the length of the adjustment slide  410  into which the tensioning screws  412  can be inserted at variable positions to capture the adjustment slide  410  between heads of the tensioning screws  412  and the surface of the front panels  110 . As a result, the two pieces or portions of the adjustable door frame guard  400  can be separated by an adjustable amount based on the position of the tensioning screws  412  as they are tightened into the adjustment slide  410 . 
     The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of components and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the description provided herein. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The figures herein are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 
     The description herein may include terms, such as “up”, “down”, “upper”, “lower”, “first”, “second”, etc. that are used only for descriptive purposes and not to be construed as limiting. The elements, materials, geometries, dimensions, and sequence of operations may all be varied for particular applications. Parts of some embodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments. While the foregoing examples of dimensions and ranges are considered typical, the various embodiments are not limited to such dimensions or ranges. 
     The Abstract is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments have more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. 
     As described herein, a door frame guard for protecting doorway frames or door jambs while moving or construction of building interiors is disclosed. Although the disclosed subject matter has been described with reference to several example embodiments, it may be understood that the words that have been used are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed subject matter in all its aspects. Although the disclosed subject matter has been described with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the disclosed subject matter is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed; rather, the subject matter extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims.