Patent Publication Number: US-7213299-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for securing a door piston to a door jamb

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to coupling a door piston to a door jamb. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , heretofore, a hydraulic door piston  2  utilized to automatically close a door  4 , such as a screen door, was coupled to a door jamb  6  via a bracket  8 . Bracket  8  typically included a base  10  having a transverse support member  12  affixed to base  10 . Base  10  includes a plurality of holes  14  configured to receive suitably sized wood screws  16  which can be inserted through holes  14  and screwed into door jamb  6  when base  10  is positioned thereagainst. Support member  12  includes a pair of aligned pin receiving holes  18  spaced from base  10 . 
   A distal end of a connecting rod  20  of door piston  2  includes a pin receiving hole (not shown) defined therein. The distal end of connecting rod  20  is configured so that when it is received in a gap formed between the pair of pin receiving holes  18  of support member  12 , the pair of pin receiving holes  18  and the hole at the end of connecting rod  20  can be aligned whereupon a pin  24  can be inserted therethrough. Alternatively, an end of a housing  26  of door piston  2  opposite connecting rod  20  can include a hole (not shown) therein whereupon, when this end of housing  26  is positioned in the gap between the pair of pin receiving holes  18 , pin  24  can be inserted through the pair of pin receiving holes  18  and the hole at the end of housing  26 . 
   The end of door piston  2  not coupled to support member  12  can be coupled to door  4  in a manner known in the art. When coupled between door  4  and door jamb  6 , door piston  4  is operative in a manner known in the art to close door  4  in the absence of door  4  being subjected to an opening force greater than the closing force applied to door  4  by door piston  2 . 
   It is well known that when subjected to a higher than normal opening force, door  4  can deploy door piston  2  to its fully extended position whereafter said opening force can cause bracket  8  to pull away from door jamb  6  thereby stripping the screw threads formed in door jamb  6  by wood screws  16  during installation of bracket S. This stripping weakens or opens the connection between bracket  8  and door jamb  6  thereby adversely affecting the ability of door piston  2  to close door  4 . In addition, if bracket  8  is totally ripped off door jamb  6 , it may be difficult to re-attach bracket  8  to the shattered material of door jamb  6 . 
   It is, therefore, desirable to overcome the above problem and others by providing a door piston to door jamb interface apparatus that enables a greater opening force to be applied by a door piston to a door jamb without damaging the door jamb. It is also desirable to provide a method of securing a door piston to a door jamb in a manner that enables greater opening forces to be applied by the door piston to the door jamb than bracket  8  permits. Still other desirable features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is a door piston to door jamb interface apparatus that includes an elongated plate having a plurality of threaded holes therein and a bracket including a base and a transverse support member affixed to the base. The base includes a set of holes configured in the same pattern as a subset of the plurality of threaded holes of the plate whereupon, when the set of holes and the subset of threaded holes are aligned, a threaded bolt can pass through each of the set of holes and threadedly mate with one of the subset of threaded holes thereby securing the base to the plate. The support member defines a pin receiving hole spaced from the base that is configured to receive a pivot pin therethrough for pivotally securing a connecting rod or a housing of a door piston to the support member. 
   The subset of threaded holes can be positioned adjacent an end of the plate or intermediate the ends of the plate. 
   Each threaded hole is also configured to pass a thread wood screw therethrough in a non-threading relationship. When the plate is positioned against the door jamb, at least one threaded hole can have a wood screw passed in non-threading relationship therethrough whereafter said wood screw can be screwed into the door jamb thereby securing the plate to the door jamb. 
   The support member can define a gap having a pair of aligned pin receiving holes on opposite sides thereof. The end of the connecting rod or the housing defines a hole configured to be aligned with the pin receiving holes when said end is received in the gap. The pin is configured to be received through the pin receiving holes and the hole in the end of the connecting rod or the housing when said end is received in the gap. 
   The plate can have a rectangular shape. However, this is not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
   The plurality of threaded holes can include three subsets thereof having the same pattern as the pattern of the set of holes of the base. Each threaded bolt can include a machine screw thread. 
   The invention is also a method of securing a door piston to a door jamb that comprises the steps of: (a) providing an elongated plate having a plurality of threaded holes formed therein; (b) positioning the plate against a door jamb with the longitudinal axis of the plate positioned generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the door jamb; (c) inserting wood screws through a first subset of the threaded holes; (d) screwing the wood screws inserted in the first subset of threaded holes into the door jamb thereby securing the plate to the door jamb; (e) providing a bracket including a support member affixed to a base that defines a set of holes having the same pattern as a second subset of the plurality of threaded holes, with the support member defining therein a pin receiving hole that is spaced from the plate; (f) positioning the base of the bracket against the plate with the set of holes of the base aligned with the second subset of threaded holes; (g) inserting threaded bolts through the set of holes defined in the base of the bracket; and (h) rotating the threaded bolts inserted through the set of holes defined in the base whereupon threads of the threaded bolts threadedly engage the threads of the second subset of the plurality of threaded holes thereby securing the base to the plate. 
   The method can also include the steps of (i) aligning a hole at an end of a connecting rod or housing of a door piston with the hole in the support member of the bracket; and U) inserting a pin through the hole at an end of a connecting rod or housing and the hole in the support member whereupon the connecting rod or housing is pivotally coupled to the support member. 
   The second subset of threaded holes can be positioned at an end of the plate or intermediate at the ends of the plate. The first and second subsets of threaded holes can have the same pattern as the set of holes of the base. Moreover, the plate can include a third subset of threaded holes having the same pattern as the set of holes of the base. 
   The invention is also a door piston to door jamb interface apparatus comprising an elongated plate defining at least two sets of threaded holes configured in the same pattern and a support member configured to be affixed transverse to the plate via a set of threaded bolts threadedly mated with one of the set of threaded holes. The elongated plate is configured to be affixed to a door jamb via a set of screws which are screwed into the door jamb after insertion in non-threading relation through the other of the set of threaded holes. The support member defines a pin receiving hole that is spaced from the plate when the support member is affixed thereto. The pin receiving hole is configured to receive a pin therethrough for pivotally securing one end of a door piston to the support member. 
   The plate can include two sets of threaded holes adjacent the ends of the plate and a third set of threaded holes intermediate the ends of the plate. 
   The support member can define a gap having a pair of aligned pin receiving holes on opposite sides thereof. One end of the door piston can define a hole configured to be aligned with the pair of pin receiving holes when said end is received in the gap. The pin is configured to be received through the pin receiving holes and the hole in the end of the door piston when said end is received in the gap. 
   The apparatus can include a base having the support member affixed thereto. The base can define a set of holes having the same pattern as each set of threaded holes of the plate. The set of bolts can threadedly mate with one of the set of threaded holes after insertion through the set of holes defined by the base. 
   Lastly, the invention is a door piston a door jamb interface kit, comprising a set of threaded bolts, a set of threaded screws, an elongated plate having a plurality of threaded holes formed therein, and a bracket including a base and a transverse support member affixed to the base. A base includes a set of holes configured in the same pattern as a subset of the plurality of threaded holes of the plate. When the set of holes and the subset of threaded holes are aligned, one of the threaded bolts inserted through each of the set of holes can threadedly mate with one of the subset of threaded holes thereby securing the base to the plate. When the elongated plate is positioned against a door jamb, a threaded screw inserted in non-threading relation through each of the set of holes not receiving a threaded bolt can threadedly mate with said door jamb thereby securing said plate to said door jamb. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a door having a door piston coupled to a door jamb via a bracket in accordance with the prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a door having a door piston coupled to a door jamb via a combination plate and bracket in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a front view of the plate shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 3   b  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines IIIb—IIIb in  FIG. 3   a;    
       FIGS. 4   a – 4   c  are top, front and side of views of the bracket shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a close-up perspective view of the plate and bracket shown in  FIG. 2  including the end of the connecting rod of the door piston pivotally coupled to the bracket; 
       FIG. 6  is a section of the plate and door jamb taken along lines VI—VI in  FIG. 5  having the bracket coupled thereto; and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a door having a door piston coupled to the bottom of a door jamb via a combination plate and bracket in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures where like reference numbers correspond to like elements. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3   a  and  3   b , a door piston to door jamb interface apparatus  30  includes a flat, elongated plate  32  having a plurality of threaded holes  34  formed therein. The plurality of threaded holes  34  includes a first subset  36  of four threaded holes  34 , a second subset  38  of four threaded holes  34  and a third subset  40  of four threaded holes  34 , with each subset  36 ,  38  and  40  having the same pattern, e.g., a rectangular pattern. The pattern and the number of threaded holes of each subset  36 ,  38  and  40 , however, are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
   Each threaded hole  34  includes screw threads  42  configured to threadedly mate with screw threads (not shown) of a threaded bolt  44  when said bolt  44  is screwed into threaded hole  34 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 4   a – 4   c , and with continuing reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3   a  and  3   b , apparatus  30  also includes a bracket  50  having a base  52  and a transverse support member  54  affixed to base  52 . Support member  54  defines a gap  56  having a pair of aligned pin receiving holes  58  on opposite sides thereof. 
   Base  52  includes a plurality of holes  60  through which threaded bolts  44  can be inserted. The pattern of holes  60  is configured to match the pattern of threaded holes  34  of each subset  36 ,  38  and  40  of threaded holes  34  defined by plate  32 . Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of holes  60  and each subset  36 ,  38  and  40  of threaded holes  34  have the same rectangular pattern. However, this is not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , by positioning base  52  on plate  32  with the plurality of holes  60  aligned with threaded holes  34  of one of the subsets  36 ,  38  or  40  thereof, bracket  50  can be secured to plate  32  by simply inserting threaded bolts  44  through holes  60  and rotating the threaded bolts  44  whereupon the threads thereof threadedly engage threads  42  of said subset  36 ,  38  or  40  of threaded holes  34 . Desirably, when threaded bolts  44  are fully seated in threaded holes  34  of one of said subsets  36 ,  38  or  40  thereby securing base  52  to plate  32 , the threaded ends of threaded bolts  44  do not extend outside of threaded holes  34 . However, this is not to be construed as limiting invention. The pattern of holes  60  and the pattern of threaded holes  34  of each subset  36 ,  38  and  40  thereof can be configured so that base  52  can be secured to plate  32  in a plurality of different orientations. 
   In  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6 , bracket  50  is illustrated as being secured to plate  32  via second subset  38  of threaded holes  34 . However, this is not to be construed as limiting the invention since bracket  50  can be secured to plate  32  via the first subset  36  of threaded holes  34  or the third subset  40  of threaded holes  34  as desired or required by the application. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , if apparatus  30  is utilized with a door having a door piston adjacent a bottom end thereof, bracket  50  call be connected to plate  32  via subset  40  of threaded holes  34  closest adjacent a bottom of the door jamb. Similarly, if apparatus  30  is utilized with a door having a door piston adjacent a top end thereof, bracket  50  can be connected to plate  32  via subset  36  of threaded holes closest adjacent a top of the door jamb. 
   Before or after bracket  50  is secured to plate  32 , plate  32  can be positioned against a door jamb  70  with the longitudinal axis of plate  32  positioned generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of door jamb  70 . Thereafter, wood screws  72  can be inserted in non-threading relation through one or more threaded holes  34  not utilized for securing bracket  50  to plate  32 . Wood screws  72  inserted in threaded holes  34  can be screwed into door jamb  70  to secure plate  32  to door jamb  70 . 
   Once plate  32  having bracket  50  affixed thereto is secured to door jamb  70 , an end of a connecting rod  74  or a housing  76  of a door piston  78  can be pivotally secured to support member  54 . More specifically, the end of connecting rod  74  or housing  76  defines a hole  79  configured to be aligned with the pair of pin receiving holes  58  of support member  54  when said end is received in gap  56 . A pin  80  can then be inserted through the pair of pin receiving holes and the hole in the end of connecting rod  74  or housing  76 . Pin  80  enables the end of connecting rod  74  or the end of housing  76  coupled to bracket  50  to pivot with respect thereto. The end of the other of connecting rod  74  or housing  76  can be pivotally coupled to a door  82  in a manner known in the art. The pivotal connections of opposite ends of door piston  78  to bracket  50  and door  82  enable door piston  78  to apply to door  82  a closing force that closes door  82  or maintains door  82  closed. 
   As can be seen, apparatus  30  provides a robust interface between door piston  78  and door jamb  70  that overcomes the deficiencies of prior art brackets utilized to couple door jambs and door pistons. To this end, apparatus  30  protects a door jamb from being split and destroyed by the forceful removal of a prior art bracket therefrom absent the wood screws being removed from the door jamb. It can also be used to cover damage caused by the prior forceful removal of a prior art bracket while providing additional support to avoid subsequent forceful removal of bracket  50  and plate  32  from the door jamb absent the wood screws being removed from the door jamb. 
   In one exemplary embodiment, plate  32  is 3/16″ thick, 1¾″ wide and 5½″ Threaded holes  34  are configured to accommodate 10–32 machine thread screws, i.e., threaded bolts  44 , and #6 wood screws. 
   As can be seen, the present invention provides a door piston to door jamb interface apparatus that enables a greater opening force to be applied by the door piston to the door jamb and prevents damage to the door frame or to the door jamb. The present invention also provides a method of securing a door piston to a door jamb frame in a manner that enables greater opening forces to be applied by the door piston to the door jamb than prior art brackets and prevents damage to door frames by preventing the door bracket from being pulled from the door frame. The invention does so by reinforcing the area where the door bracket attaches to the door jamb, preventing splitting and cracking. The present invention replaces old hardware and extends the life of door frames that were damaged from door brackets previously ripped off. Thus, the present invention not only can be used to prevent damage to new doors, but can also reinforce old doors. 
   The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.