Patent ID: 12234684

While the invention as claimed can be modified into alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this specification and in the appended claims and drawings, words and phrases have the meanings commonly attributed to them in the relevant art except as otherwise specified herein. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The present invention may address one or more of the problems and deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. However, it is contemplated that the invention may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claimed invention should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed herein. While certain aspects of conventional technologies and methods in the relevant art have been discussed to facilitate disclosure of the invention, Applicant in no way disclaims these technical aspects or methods, and it is contemplated that the claimed invention may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects or methods discussed herein.

Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein. Specifically, component names, types, and values, as depicted in the exemplary schematic diagrams, are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention and are presented only as possible embodiments.

We disclose an inventive rain deflector that is an improvement over the prior art. The inventive rain deflector may be used singly, or in combination with multiple panels as needed to correspond to the number of glass panels in the sliding glass door, window, or other structure. Throughout this disclosure, we also refer to the inventive rain deflector as a static deflector or a mobile deflector. This nomenclature corresponds with multi-panel sliding glass doors where, for example, one door slides (mobile) while the other door is stationary (static). In other sliding glass door systems there may be multiple “mobile” doors and this disclosure contemplates all of those varied combinations.

Also, throughout the present disclosure, the word “seal,” and grammatical equivalents thereof, is used to express the mating of a non-rigid, or semi-rigid, structure to a rigid structure. The object of the current invention is to deflect as much water as possible from the track of the sliding glass door, but, especially in storms with high winds, it may not be possible to create a perfect seal to keep all of the water out.

Referring now to the figures, we disclose a preferred embodiment of a rain deflector100, according to the invention. Rain deflector100is comprised of a substantially flat main body3, having a front, back, and four edges. On each of the four edges is attached a compliant seal. Bottom seal1is configured to be sealably engaged within, or adjacent to, a sliding glass door track once installed on a sliding glass door that rides in the track. The side seals10and the top seal5are configured to be sealably engaged with the surface (glass and/or frame) of the sliding glass door. In some embodiments, the side seals10are omitted to better suit the sliding door geometry, but still remains within the scope of the present invention.

The main body3of the rain deflector100is preferably made of water- and weather-proof material that can withstand the harsh outdoor environments within which the invention is disclosed to operate. Materials, such as polypropylene, are preferred for their material properties including high impact resistance and high strength to weight ratio. Preferably, the material for the main body3should present enough rigidity in height so as to not buckle under its own weight, but also offer flexibility along its length (especially in the mobile panel version as described below).

The rain deflector100is removeably attachable to a sliding glass door via a plurality of suction cups8that are disposed on the main body3. These suction cups8are preferably disposed near the top edge of the main body3, distal from the bottom seal10. Each of the suction cups8may be mounted to the main body3at a fixed angle. In this way a fixed separation may be maintained between the sliding door glass surface and the bottom seal1. In other embodiments, each of the plurality of suction cups8may be mounted to the main body3via a mount2that is configurable with an adjustable or hinged angle. As shown inFIG.1, the suction cup mount is comprised of a hinged component with one portion fixedly attached to the main body3and a hinged portion with a suction cup8fixedly attached thereto. In this way, the angle between the apparatus100and the sliding glass door is selectable by the user at the time of installation.

Another embodiment of the “static” panel1100is shown inFIGS.15and17. A simplified depiction of static panel1100is shown inFIG.16. In this embodiment, the top row of suction cups8is fixed to the outside of the sliding glass door and the lower row of suction cups8is attached to the main body panel via flexible straps. These straps are adjustable in length in order to control the angle of the panel1100and consequently the compression of the bottom seal1to the floor.

As described, above, rain deflector100or panel1100would be used as a “static” panel. Once installed on a static door, the suction cups8are not “accessible” from the inside and, therefore, this static panel1100would not move. In the case of installation on a mobile door that is configured to slide back and forth relative to the static door, a static panel1100could be installed—and work just as well—however, once installed, the mobile door would not be able to be opened due to the presence of the static panel1100. In this case a mobile panel embodiment is preferred.

Referring now toFIG.18, the mobile panel1200embodiment is similar in construction to the static panel1100and rain deflector100. However, in addition to the upper suction cup attach components, the mobile panel1200utilizes one or more magnetic attach components1250(seeFIGS.18and23). Paired with a matching removable magnet holder sub-assembly1260, the user can engage or disengage the magnetic attach component1250by “sandwiching” the sliding door's glass between the magnet pairs (seeFIG.19).

The magnet1250on the mobile panel1200, acts in a similar manner to the suction cups8in that it affixes the mobile panel1200to the sliding door surface to create a seal. Unlike a suction cup which requires external pressure to re-engage, a magnet allows the user to close the door, and as soon as the magnets align, it will automatically create a seal without the user interacting with it. Therefore, this adds the functionality that no one needs to be outside to install the last rain deflector.

Embodiments of the present invention include a system1000comprising multiple rain deflectors as shown inFIGS.9-14. For example, in an installation having a two-panel sliding glass door, one glass panel is static and the other is mobile (in sliding relation to the static panel). A system according to the present invention comprises a static panel (such as rain deflector100or panel1100) that is attachable via the suction cups8to the glass of the static glass door panel. Additionally, a mobile panel1200is attached to the mobile, or sliding, glass door panel. In this case, the mobile panel1200is installed on the sliding glass door panel such that the one or more suction cup attach points are disposed towards the handle side (opening side) of the sliding glass door, and the one or more magnet attach points are disposed towards the junction of the sliding and static glass doors. A matching magnet pair is included respective to each of the one or more magnet attach points. Additionally, an optional wind strap is attached between the static panel and the mobile panel.

Use of the system1000is as follows. With the sliding glass door closed, a user attaches the static panel1100to the stationary glass door panel by positioning the static panel and pressing the suction cups8against the glass to secure the static panel1100securely. The user then attaches the mobile panel1200to the sliding glass door panel by positioning the mobile panel1200and pressing the suction cups8against the glass. The end of the mobile panel1200towards the static (the end with the one or more magnet attach points) panel1100is not fixed. An adjustable strap is connected between the two panels and its length is adjusted to remove excessive slack.

The sliding glass door is then opened to the point where the suction cup(s) of the mobile panel1200reaches the stationary door and impedes the sliding door from opening further. Since the main body of the mobile panel1200is flexible in its length, the mobile panel1200deflects upon contact with the frame of the stationary door and overlaps the static panel1100as the sliding door is open. At this point, the adjustable strap may be adjusted for length as desired.

FIGS.11and14show detailed views of the sliding door open and the mobile panel1200in a deflected state over the next adjacent static panel1100. The user can now enter through the sliding glass door and close it. Once closed, the mobile panel1200has once again slid past the stationary door frame and is now completely over the sliding glass door, however, the magnet attach points are still “free-floating.” The user positions the matched-pair magnet onto the glass (on the inside) and slides it until it is in the vicinity of the magnet attach point. The magnetic force between the magnets draws the magnet attach point towards the glass and a secure attachment is achieved. In embodiments with multiple magnet attach points, this step is repeated for each one.

Releasing the mobile panel1200for egress through the sliding glass door is a simple matter of pulling off the one or more matched pair magnets from the interior surface of the sliding glass door, and sliding open the door.

Further embodiments of the system may also include an unattached magnet pair. This magnet pair can be attached to sandwich the sliding glass door panel, as with the magnet attach points, but, in the case of this component, the magnet pair that is on the exterior of the glass is configured to be used to push the top seal into position in the event that it was not in an optimal position upon closing the sliding glass door.

The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In particular, features from one embodiment can be used with another embodiment. The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.