Abstract:
A method and apparatus providing a multi-functional, integrated security storm door. The multi-functional door includes a door member, an insert frame member, a window member and a security grill. The door member includes an outside surface and an inside surface and a window opening defining a periphery extending between the outside surface and the inside surface. The insert frame member includes an inner surface configured to be positioned at least partially along the periphery of the window opening. The window member includes a window periphery configured to be positioned within the insert frame member. The security grill includes a portion configured to be coupled to the insert frame member. With the arrangement, the security grill and the window member are configured to be commonly supported by the inner surface of the insert frame member.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/507,228 filed on Sep. 26, 2003. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to main doors for homes or businesses. More particularly, the present invention relates to a door that combines the functions of a security door and a storm door in a single structure.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Security doors have been used for a number of years to provide enhanced protection for homes and businesses, beyond that provided by a conventional main door. These doors are positioned in front of the main door and typically comprise a cage-like structure of wrought iron or other suitable metal. Security doors are often affixed to the outside surface of the main door or to the doorway to swing open and closed as an additional and separate door structure.  
         [0004]     Another door complementary to the main door is a storm door. Storm doors are typically used to provide an extra measure of thermal and moisture insulation and often include a removable window pane that is replaced with a screen insert to provide ventilation. As an alternative, storm doors may have a slidable window pane that can be displaced to expose variable amounts of a fixed screen for appropriate ventilation.  
         [0005]     Unfortunately, both security doors and storm doors are expensive additions to the main door. Further, the appearance of these doors can also be aesthetically unappealing when affixed to one&#39;s home or business. Despite this cost and appearance, governmental agencies, such as the “Housing Authority”, have strong concerns relating to security issues for the people living in the low-income housing and will often specify security doors as required construction. It will be apparent that the cost of security doors and/or storm doors for such projects including thousands of homes governed by the governmental agencies can be of serious concern.  
         [0006]     Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop a door system that provides security features and includes some of the functions of a storm door that is cost efficient and aesthetically appealing as well.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention relates to a multi-functional security storm door. The multi-functional door includes a door member, an insert frame member, a window member and a security grill integrated into a single structure. The door member includes an outside surface and an inside surface and a window opening defining a periphery extending between the outside surface and the inside surface. The insert frame member includes an inner surface configured to be positioned at least partially along the periphery of the window opening. The window member includes a window periphery configured to be positioned within the insert frame member. The security grill includes a portion configured to be coupled to the insert frame member. With the arrangement, the security grill and the window member are configured to be commonly supported by the inner surface of the insert frame member.  
         [0008]     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a multi-functional door, depicting the door having an insert assembly positioned in an opening in the door, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the multi-functional door, depicting a profile of the insert assembly with respect to the door.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line  3  of  FIG. 1  of the multi-functional door, depicting components of the insert assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view taken from line  4  in  FIG. 1  of the multi-functional door, depicting a lower portion of the insert assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the insert assembly, depicting an embodiment for assembling the insert assembly into the door. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a multi-functional door  10  configured to serve as a main or primary door of a home, business or any suitable type of dwelling. Such a multi-functional door  10  can function as a security door and a storm door within the same primary door of the dwelling. Specifically, the multi-functional door  10  includes a door member  12  with an opening  14  sized and configured to receive an insert assembly  30 . The insert assembly  30  can be secured to the door member  12  and includes various components that function as a storm door as well as provide security and privacy. Such an insert assembly  30  can be compactly designed with a low profile ( FIG. 2 ) with respect to outside  16  and inside  18  surfaces of the door member  12 .  
         [0016]     The opening  14  in the door member  12  defines a periphery  20  extending between the outside and inside surfaces  16  and  18  of the door member  12 . The opening  14  can be centered between first and second sides  22  and  24  of the door member  12  and is preferably formed and positioned within an upper two/thirds of the door member  12 . However, the opening  14  can be of any suitable size and may be positioned at any suitable location within the door member  12 , including a full length if desired. Such a door member  12  can be a hollow door made from wood or metal or any other suitable materials, composites and/or combination of materials. In addition, the door member  12  can be a solid wood or metal door.  
         [0017]     With respect to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the insert assembly  30  can include an insert frame member  40 , a security grill  60 , a privacy screen  66  and a window member  70 . The insert frame member  40  can be sized and configured to be positioned within the opening  14  of the door member  12 . As depicted, the insert frame member  40  can be generally square or rectangular in shape to correspond with the opening  14  in the door member  12  for facilitating insertion and positioning therein. However, as desired, the opening  14  and insert frame member  40  can include other shapes and configurations that may be round or oval. Such an insert frame member  40  can be configured to house and support the security grill  60 , privacy screen  66  and the window member  70 .  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the insert frame member  40  can include a housing portion  42  and a hanger extension  44 . The hanger extension  44  can be an L-shaped extension or any other suitable shaped extension configured to hang over and be positioned against the outside surface  16  of the door member  12 . The hanger extension  44  can be configured to act as a blocking member to properly position the insert assembly  30 . The housing portion  42  can be configured to house the components in the insert assembly  30  and can be positioned against the periphery  20  of the opening  14  in the door member  12 . The housing portion  42  can include an inner surface  50  configured to support the security grill  60  and the window member  70 .  
         [0019]     The housing portion  42  can include, but is not limited to, a width  52  slightly larger than a door thickness  26  so as to compactly support each of the security grill  60 , privacy screen  66  and window member  70 . The housing portion  42  can include openings  54  extending therethrough and defined at a front end portion  56  of the hanger extension  44  to receive grill end portions  62  of the security grill  60 . The grill end portions  62  can be welded or fastened by any suitable means to a back surface  46  of the hanger extension  44  while being supported by the inner surface  50  of the housing portion  42 . With this arrangement, the welds and/or fasteners fastening the grill end portions  62  to the back surface  46  of the hanger extension are unexposed to minimize unlawful attempts to remove the security grill  60  and to provide a sense of security and a clean finish to the product.  
         [0020]     The security grill  60  can include metal elongated bars that include a cross configuration or any suitable design that is aesthetically appealing and provides a security aspect component to the multi-functional door  10 . The security grill  60  can be formed of wrought iron or metal and can be powder coated to any desired color. As previously described, the security grill  60  can be positioned and supported on the inner surface  50  of the insert frame member  40  with grill end portions  62  welded to the back surface  46  of the hanger extension  44  of the insert member  40  so that the welds are unexposed.  
         [0021]     The privacy screen  66  can be expanded metal screen material or perforated sheet metal with any suitable design configuration and  66  can be sized and configured to be positioned against an inner side  64  of the security grill within the insert assembly  30 . As such, peripheral portions  68  of the privacy screen  66  can be welded or fastened to the security grill and/or the inner surface  50  of the housing portion  42 . Such a privacy screen  66  can be an optional component in the insert assembly  30  and can serve to minimize visibility through the window member so as to provide privacy as well as security to minimize breaking of glass in the window member  70 .  
         [0022]     The window member  70  can be a double or single paned insulated window or any other suitable window known in the art positioned and supported within and on the inner surface  50  of the housing portion  42 . Typically, the window member  70  is adhesively bonded, fastened and/or welded at various points about a window periphery  72  of the window member  70  to the inner surface  50  of the housing portion  42 . Once the window member  70  is positioned and/or secured within the insert frame member  40 , an insulative material, such as caulking, can be disposed between any gap between the window member  70  and the housing portion  42  of the insert frame member  40 . The window member  70  can also include a screen  74  and an upper window portion  76  and lower window portion  78 . The lower window portion  78  can be a fixed window, with the upper window being configured to slide to various open positions toward the lower window portion  78 , as indicated by arrow  80 , to expose the screen portion  74 . In this manner, the multi-functional door  10  can function as a screen door, or storm door to allow the free-flow of air through the window member  70  in the various open positions as desired. Likewise, the upper window portion  76  can be placed in an upward, closed position to insulate and block the free-flow of air through the window member  70 . Further, the window member  70  can include a locking mechanism  82  to maintain the upper window portion  76  in the closed and locked position.  
         [0023]     A significant advantage of the present invention is the ease of assembly of the integrated door structure. For example, the insert assembly  30  with combined window and security components can be positioned in the opening  14  and secured to the door member  12  as a single step using one or more retainers  90 . The retainers  90  can include a Z-shaped cross-sectional configuration with a middle portion  92 , a first extension  94  and a second extension  96 . The middle portion  92  is sized and configured to be secured to an outer surface  58  of the housing portion  42  that extends beyond the inside surface  18  of the door member  12 . The first extension  94  can be configured to extend transverse from the middle portion  92  to be positioned against the inside surface  18  of the door member  12 .  
         [0024]     The second extension  96  can be configured to extend transverse to the middle portion  92  to extend over a back portion  84  of the window member  70  to block, stabilize and/or retain the window member  70  within the insert assembly  30 . The middle portion  92  can include one or more middle portion openings  93  extending therethrough to enable fastening to the housing portion  42 . Likewise, the first extension  94  can include one or more first extension openings  95  for fastening the retainers  90  to the inside surface  18  of the door member  12 . Such fastening can be accomplished with any suitable fastener such as screws, nuts and bolts.  
         [0025]     The retainer  90  can be sized with any suitable dimensions so as to correspond with the dimensions applicable to retain the insert assembly  30  within the door member  12 . For example, the retainers  90  can be elongated so that only one retainer is needed per side of the insert assembly  30  to provide sufficient securing strength. On the other hand, multiple retainers can be positioned on each side of the insert assembly  30  to provide the securing strength necessary for maintaining the insert assembly  30  to the door member  12 . It is also contemplated the retainers  90  can be limited to two opposing sides of the insert assembly  30 , such as the upper and lower sides of the insert assembly  30 . With this arrangement, the components of the insert assembly  30  can be pre-assembled with each of the security grill  60 , privacy screen  66  and window member  70  secured to the insert frame member  40 . As such, the pre-assembled insert assembly  30  functions as a single, integrated insert that can be easily positioned within the opening  14  and then secured to the door member  12  with the retainers  90 .  
         [0026]     With respect to  FIG. 5 , in another embodiment, assembly of the insert assembly  30  can be employed without the window member  70  pre-positioned within the insert frame member  40 . In particular, the insert assembly  30  can include the security grill  60  and privacy portion  66  mounted to the insert frame member  40  and positioned within the opening  14  from the outside surface  16  of the door member  12 . The window member  70  can then be positioned within a rear portion  58  of the housing portion  42  of the insert frame member  40  from the inside surface  18  of the door member  12 . If needed, an insulative material, such as caulking, can then be disposed within any air gap between the inner surface  50  of the insert frame member  40  and the window member  70 . The retainers  90  can then be secured to the door member  12  and insert frame member  40  to secure the insert assembly  30  within the opening  14  of the door member  12 . Such a configuration may be suitable for shipping, wherein the glass portion can be inserted on site to protect it from breakage.  
         [0027]     In another embodiment, the insert frame member can include separate and discreet components including a grill support portion and a window support portion each with an inner surface configured to support the security grill and the window support portion. The grill support portion can be configured similar to the hanger extension and serve a similar function as previously described. Likewise, the window support portion can be configured similar to the housing portion of the previous embodiment.  
         [0028]     It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are only illustrative of the application for the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the examples.