US3760543A

US3760543A - Door light unit

Info

Publication number: US3760543A
Application number: US00199623A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allister O Mc
Original assignee: Morgan Co
Current assignee: Morgan Co
Priority date: 1971-11-17
Filing date: 1971-11-17
Publication date: 1973-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-25

Abstract

A light unit frame assembly for installing a glass or other type glazing member in an opening in a door, or other wall structure, which is characterized by a pair of identical mounting frame members for receivint the glazing member which frame members are shaped of rigid plastic material and constructed for insertion in the opening in the door from opposite sides thereof with fastener elements for locking the frame members together so as to support the glass when they are in proper position. Several basic configurations of the frame members may be provided which may be cut and pieced for different size openings and combinations of configurations, with the help of a special connector clip arrangement for joining the cut sections.

Description

United States Patent [191 McAllister Sept. 25, 1973 DOOR LIGHT UNIT [75] Inventor: Owen E. McAllister, Oshkosh, Wis. Primary Exammer pnce Att0rneyGuy A. Greenawalt [73] Assignee: Morgan Company, Oshkosh, Wis.

[22] Filed: NOV. 17, 1971 57 ABSTRACT [211 App]' 199,623 A light unit frame assembly for installing a glass or other type glazing member in an opening in a door, or 52 us. 01 52/397, 52/455, 52/476, other wall structure, which is characterized y a p of 52/623 identical mounting frame members for receivint the 51 Int. Cl E04f 19/06, E06b 3/62 glazing member which frame members are shaped cf [58 Field of Search 52/457, 458, 455, rigid Plastic material and constructed for insertion in 52/397, 400, 208, 476, 474, 498, 628, 716, 718 the opening in the door from opposite sides thereof with fastener elements for locking the frame members 5 References Cited together so as to support the glass when they are in UNITED STATES PATENTS proper position. Several basic configurations of the frame members may be provided which may be cut and y sfi pieced for different size openings and combinations of 3Ol9'867 H1962 g i g I I I 52/458 configurations, with the help ofa special connector clip 3,152,672 10/1964 Oppenhuizen et al.... 52/476 x arangemem for 101mg the cut Sectlons- Hammltt 52/400 X 14 Claims 19 Drawing Figures DiCesarr et al 52/397 DOOR LIGHT UNIT This invention relates to the design and construction of doors and like structures and is more particularly concerned with improvements in light supporting units which are adapted for mounting in an opening in a door or other wall structure.

In the design and manufacture of paneled door structures, many different panel sizes and configurations have been employed. In many designs, one or more panels have been provided which are in the form of light units, generally located in the upper portion of the door and most often including a glass pane mounted in some manner in an opening cut in the door. A typical configuration employed has been a square or rectangular panel generally mounted by providing a rabbetted edge about the periphery of the opening in which the marginal edge of the glass is seated and held by a molding strip secured by nails or brads. A number of frame arrangements have been suggested for providing light panels for this purpose but none have been found very satisfactory, generally because of the increase in cost or lack of architectural suitability. It is a general object of the present invention to provide a light unit arrangement suitable for doors or similar structures which enables the manufacturer to supply a small number of basic frame designs which may be readily modified to enable a retailer to supply with a high degree of economy a large variety of door designs which are accepable from an architectural standpoint.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a low maintenance, door light unit employing modern materials which may beeconomically produced and which has a high degree of versatility in use.

A still more specific object ofthe invention is to provide a light unit or glazing assembly for insertion in an opening in a door or other wall structure which employs a plastic frame constructed so as to be installed without the need for accessory fasteners and not requiring any auxiliary finishing or cladding when employed for exterior use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly for installing a glazing panel in an opening in a door or other wall structure wherein the frame is formed with exterior and interior halves of identical construction and with built-in, self-fastening connecting elements arranged to permit the installation of panel members of substantially different thicknesses without modification of the frame or panel members.

It is another object of the invention to provide a light unit assembly which comprises a two part plastic frame employing exterior and interior halves of identical construction with built-in connecting fasteners so that the frame members may be mated by merely rotating one frame relative to the other for installation in the opening in the door with the fasteners beingconstructed so that the frame members may be mated and secured in place in doors of varying thickness and with provision for supporting panels of different thickness.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a panel mounting unit or assembly wherein a small number of basic frame configurations may be provided which may be cut and parts interchanged to provide a variety of designs or configurations and to vary the size so as to accommodate different panel sizes and shapes.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the light unit structures which are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a light unit of rectangular shape which embodies the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a light unit of square shape which embodies the invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a light unit embodying the invention which is of generally rectangular shape and which has a modified corner configuration;

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are elevational views showing door structures with typical light unit and panel arrangements which incorporate the several different forms of the light units illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 and combinations thereof;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 4, to an enlarged scale;

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are cross sectional views taken on the same plane as FIG. 9, to a smaller scale, the views illustrating different glazing arrangements;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the manner in which light unit frame members are mounted in an opening in a door;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 1414 of FIG. 7, to an. enlarged scale, illustrating a light unit frame connector clip assembly in operative position;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 1515 of FIG. 14, to a smaller scale and with the glass pane or panel omitted;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on the line l616 of FIG. 15; i

FIG. 17 is a view taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 15, with parts omitted, which shows one of a pair of frame connector clip members; I 7

FIG. 18 is a view taken on the line l8l8 of FIG. 16, showing the connector clip member only; and

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing the manner of assembling a pair of co-operating frame connector clip members so as to join the ends of the frame sections which are combined to form a composite light unit.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a light unit assembly 10 of rectangular configuration, an assembly 11 of square configuration, and an assembly 12 of rectangular configuration with a curved corner configuration. These are typical basic design forms or configurations for the panel frame structure which are suitable for installation in openings of the proper size and shape in door or wall structures as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. In addition, the three frame configurations 10, l1 and 12 may be cut into sections and connected to provide the same configurations of reduced size or, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, parts may be interchanged to provide composite or combination arrangements.

In FIG. 4 the panel or light unit arrangement 10 is mounted in an opening provided in the upper portion of a door structure 14 which may have a pair of conventional solidor opaque panel arrangements 15 in the lower portion thereof so as to supply a door structure of a commonly accepted panel design or arrangement.-

In FIG. 5 the door structure 16 is provided, in the upper portion thereof, with an opening in which a light unit or frame assembly 12 of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 is mounted. A solid panel 17 is provided in the bottom portion of the door structure 16 resulting in a design arrangement which is frequently found in an outside door.

In FIG. 6 the door structure 18 is provided with an openig in the top portion thereof in which a square shaped panel assembly 11, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is mounted. Two solid panels 20 of the same size and shape are provided in the bottom portion of the door to complete the design which is also one very frequently employed in conventional door constructions.

In FIG. 7 the door structure 21 has an opening in the upper portion thereof in which a light assembly 22 is mounted which comprises a combination of the two frame assemblies and 12 which are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The lower half of assembly 22 is indicated by 10 and the upper half thereof is indicated by 12, with the frame sections being joined at adjacent ends by connector elements or assemblies 24 of special construction. The door 21 is otherwise in accordance with the design shown in FIG. 4 with solid panels being provided in the lower half of the door.

In FIG. 8 there is illustrated a door structure 25 having three light panels 26 which are obtained by cutting out portions of the horizontal frame members of the assembly 11 as shown in FIG. 2 and connecting the sections with connector members 24. The arrangement illustrated in this Figure embodies an architectural design commonly employed in exterior or entrance doors.

The three basic frame designs l0, l1 and 12 are fabricated of the same material and in the same manner. Referring particularly to FIG. 9, the frame assembly 10 comprises two frame members 30 ofidentical construction, one of which is designed to be positioned on one side of the opening 31 in the door 14 in which the frame is to be installed and the other of which is adapted to be positioned on the opposite side of the opening so that the two frame members fill the opening 31 and provide between their confronting faces a glazing channel 32. Each of the frame members is shaped or molded of a relatively rigid plastic material so as to provide inner and

outer plate sections

34 and 35 which are disposed in parallel, horizontal planes, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 9. These plate sections extend inwardly of an outer vertically disposed plate section 36 which is of a width or depth, as viewed in FIG. 9, sufiicient to provide an inwardly and downwardly curved marginal extension or flange 37, the edge 37' of which is adapted to abut against the one face 38 of the door 14. The space between the

horizontal plates

34 and 35, which is indicated at 40, is of a width or depth sufficient to receive fastening studs or pins 41. The pins 41 may be conveniently set in suitable apertures 42 in reinforcing webs 43 which are spaced along the length of the frame members 30 so that alternate webs 43 may receive the studs 41 leaving apertures 42 in the intervening webs 43 for receiving the studs 41 on a companion or mating frame member 30. With this arrangement of the connecting pins 41 and co-operating apertures 42 two frames 30 may be employed which are identical and one of the frames rotated 180 relative to the other frame so as to effect a mating connection. A slanted wall portion 45 extends upwardly and inwardly from the top face of the upper plate member 34 and from a point spaced inwardly of the outer face of the vertical plate or wall member 36, leaving a relatively narrow shelf portion 46 along the outer margin of the upper or inner plate 34. The upwardly slanted wall 45 extends to an inner member 47 forming half of the glazing channel 32 for receiving the glass pane 48. Member 47 has a narrow vertical outer face 49, a horizontal top face 50 and a vertical inner face having a V-shaped cross section and forming an inwardly opening, glazing groove or receiving area 51 for a glazing compound 51' (FIG. 11). A series of reinforcing webs 52 are provided in the space between the top face of the plate member 34, the inside face of the slanted wall member 45 and the bottom face 53 of the glazing channel member 47. The reinforcing webs 52 may be spaced along the length of the frame section as required to give the necessary rigidity to the frame construction.

The manner of installing the two frame members 30 in the opening 31 to form the frame assembly 10 is illustrated in FIG. 13. The one frame 30 is rotated in its plane through to bring it upside down relative to the other frame 30 so that the connecting pins 41 on the one frame 30 will align with apertures 42 on the other frame 30. The two frames 30 are inserted or positioned in the opening 31 from opposite sides of the door structure 14 and clamp between them the glass panel or pane 48 with a suitable sealant material being supplied in the grooves 51 so as to seal between the glass 48 and the frame members 30 and prevent the entrance of moisture into the glazing area 32.

In FIG. 10 a door 14' of lesser thickness than the door shown in FIG. 9 is provided with a light unit 10 which includes a glazing strip 55 extending about the periphery of a relatively thin, single thickness glass pane 48'. The glazing strip 55 which may be of rubber or rubber compound or a plastic such as Neoprene is seated in the glazing grooves 51. The light unit 10 comprises mating frame members 30 as described herewith.

In FIG. 11 a glass panel 48 of the same size as illustrated in FIG. 10 is mounted between two plastic frame members 30 in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 9 with the glass panel 48' and the door 14' being of lesser thickness than illustrated in FIG. 9. The two frame members 30 telescope to accommodate the reduced thickness of the door and the glass.

In FIG. 12 there is illustrated a light unit 10 which includes an insulating type glass pane 48 as shown in FIG. 9, which unit 10 is mounted in an opening 31 in a door 14' of lesser thickness wherein the door 14' is provided with a filler frame 52 extending about the opening 31 on one face of the door. The glass 48 is installed with the employment of two frame members 30 in the same manner as shown in FIGS. 9 and 13.

When it is desired to provide an architectural design differing from the basic designs illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the basic design frames may be cut or seetioned and parts interchanged to provide a combination such as shown in FIGS. 7 or 8. The cut ends of the frame sections are connected by use of the specially designed frame connector 24 which is illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 19.

The connector 24 for securing the ends of the inner and outer frame forming members together comprises two co-operating members 60 which are in the form of clips of identical construction, with the same cross sectional shape as the frame members 30 and dimensioned so as to telescope or encompass the marginal end portions of adjoining frame sections as illustrated in FIG. 14. The clip members 60 which have a relatively small dimension in the lengthwise direction and which may be injection molded of the same material as the frame members 30, each have a generally rectangular fastener supporting block portion 61 which, in the operative position as shown in FIGS. 14 and 19, is positioned between the cut ends of the frame sections which are to be joined. The block member 61 extends inwardly from an outer side wall forming member 62 in a plane normal to the latter with the side wall forming member 62 having a somewhat greater lengthwise dimension than the block 61 so as to extend beyond the ends of the block and overlie the ends of the frame members 30. The outer side wall member 62 is dimensioned to fit over the

side wall portions

36, 37 of the frame member 30 and the fastener supporting block 61 has top, bottom and end faces which are adapted to align with the corresponding faces of the portion of the frame 30 formed by

frame plate members

34 and 35. The fastener carrying block member 61 has a connecting pin member 64 projecting from its innermost or free edge 63 which is disposed in spaced relation to a socket 65 for receiving a connecting pin member 64 on a cooperating clip member 60. The outer side wall member 62 terminates at an outer or top shelf portion 66 which corresponds to the shelf portion 46 and from which there is upstanding an inwardly slanted wall portion 67 adapted to lie on the wall portion 45 of the frame 30. The wall portion 67 extends to a portion of angular cross section having a wall 68 extending vertically, as viewed in FIG. 14, and a top horizontal wall portion 70 dimensioned to fit over the

wall portions

49 and 50 of the frame 30. In the use of the clip member 60 the sections of the frame members 30 which are to be connected are cut so as to provide space for accommodating the fastener block 61 between the cut ends of the frames with the wall forming portions of the clips 60 extending in overlapping relation on the end margins of the corresponding wall portions of the frames 30. The dimensions of the pins 64 and socket 65 may be such that there is frictional engagement sufficient to hold the members in assembled relation. However, it may be desirable to use a suitable adhesive for insuring that the pins 64 do not accidentally come out of the sockets 65 once they are assembled.

The illustrated frame members and connecting clip members are formed of a thermosetting plastic material which may be molded so as to provide the required shape and rigidity for these members. Suitable plastic materials include P.V.C. compounds, Styrene, Plexiglass and similar materials.

I claim:

1. A frame assembly for installing a glass panel member or the like in an opening in a door or other wall structure which frame assembly comprises a pair of identical frame members each having a peripheral flange formation for engaging portions of the wall surface about the periphery of the opening, a connector carrying portion extending generally normal to the plane ofthe peripheral flange formation and adapted to be positioned in the opening when the frame is installed therein, a glazing channel forming member extending from the connector carrying portion inwardly in the plane of the frame member, and interengaging connector means on each said connector carrying portion whereby said frame members may be positioned in the opening from opposite sides of the wall structure with said connector means interengaged so as to connect the frame members with the peripheral flange formations disposed against opposite faces of the wall structure and also provide between said glazing channel forming members a glazing channel for receiving marginal portions of said panel members.

2. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises male and female members which are disposed in alternate spaced relation on said connector carrying portions so that the one frame member may be positioned to align the male connector members on one frame with female connector members on the other frame and permit interengaging relation as the frame members are moved into the opening so as to connect the frame members.

3. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said male and female connector members are alternately spaced pin members and apertures for receiving said pin members which are arranged so as to mate and interengage when the frame members are positioned in said opening.

4. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises male and female members disposed in alternate spaced relation on said connector carrying frame portion of each of said frame members which are adapted to be mated so as to permit interengagement for connecting said frame members when they are positioned in said opening.

5. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises a series of pin forming members spaced along said connector carrying portion of each frame member and a series of apertures positioned on said connector carrying frame portion for receiving pin forming members on the cooperating frame member when the frame members are positioned in said opening.

6. A frame assembly for installing a glass panel member or the like in an opening in a door or other wall structure which frame assembly comprises a pair of frame members of relatively rigid plastic material, at least one of said frame members having a peripheral flange formation dimensioned for engaging portions of I the wall surface about the periphery of the opening, a connector mounting portion extending generally normal to the plane of the peripheral flange formation so as to be positioned in the opening when said frame member is installed therein and a member extending from the connector mounting portion inwardly in the plane of said frame member for cooperation with a like member on the other one of said pair of frame members in forming a glazing channel in which marginal portions of said panel member may be seated, connector means carried on said connector mounting portion for cooperation with like means on said other one of said pair of frame members whereby said frame members may be positioned in the opening and said connector means interengaged so as to form said glazing channel for receiving said panel member and said other one of said pair of frame members having means for engaging portions of the wall surface around said opening on the opposite face of said wall so as to secure said frame assembly in clamped relation in said opening.

7. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said frame member has a glazing channel forming portion extending inwardly of said connector mounting portion which provides a surface of substantial width disposed in confronting relation with a face of the panel member when the panel member is seated in the glazing channel, and wherein said surface has a groove for receiving a glazing material or a glazing strip member.

8. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said connector mounting portion comprises inner and outer members having the form of plates with confronting faces which are spaced and which are connected at intervals by web portions spaced along the length thereof in which the connector means is incorporated.

9. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said glazing channel forming portion comprises a wall member slanted inwardly of the frame with reinforcing web members at spaced intervals along the length thereof connecting said wall member to the innermost plate member of said connector mounting portion.

10. A frame assembly for installing a glass panel member or the like-in an opening in a door or other wall structure which includes a pair of frame members each having a peripheral flange formation for engaging portions of the wall surface about the periphery of the opening, a frame portion extending generally normal to the plane of the peripheral flange formation and adapted to be positioned in the opening when the frame is installed therein, a glazing channel forming member extending from said frame portion inwardly in the plane of the frame member, and connecting means carried on each said frame portion for connection to a cooperating means on the other one of said frame members whereby said frame member may be seated in the opening so that said connecting means is engaged to draw the peripheral flange formation against the face of the wall structure and also position said glazing channel forming member for receiving said panel memher, said frame members being adapted to be cut into sections which may be assembled with other sections of like cross section to provide a frame assembly having different overall dimensions.

11. A frame assembly as set forth in claim 10 and a two piece connector member for said frame sections when said frame member is made up of more than one section, which connector member is constructed with one of said pieces having a portion adapted to be positioned exteriorly of said frame sections and with opposite ends overlapping the ends of adjoining sections and said connector member having the other one of said pieces constructed with a portion forming a connecting means adapted to be positioned in said opening for mating engagement with a cooperating connecting means on said first mentioned one of said pieces.

12. A system for installing glass panel members or the like in an opening in a door or other wall structure which comprises providing a number of frame members of different architectural configuration, each of said frame members being formed of relatively rigid plastic material and each including a peripheral flange formation for engaging portions of the wall surface about the periphery of the opening, a frame portion carrying a connecting means extending generally normal to the plane of the peripheral flange formation so as to be positioned in the opening when the frame is installed therein and a member extending inwardly in the plane of the frame member for cooperation with a like member on a cooperating frame member in forming a glazing channel in which marginal portions of said panel member may be seated, said frame members having portions of like cross section which are adapted to be cut into sections and said sections interchanged and joined by connecting clip members to form different architectural configurations.

13. A system for installing glass panel members or the like in a door or other wall structure as set out in claim 12 wherein connecting clip members for joining the frame member sections each have a cross sectional configuration conforming at least in part to the common cross sectional configuration of said frame members whereby said connector members are adapted to be positioned at the juncture of aligned frame sections which have been cut and interchanged, with opposite ends of said clip members overlapping the ends of said frame sections so as to secure said'frame sections in connected relation in said opening.

14. A sytem for installing glass panel members or the like in a door or other wall structure as set out in claim 13 wherein said clip members have a portion carrying a connecting means which is arranged so that a pair thereof having identical construction may be positioned in the opening from opposite sides thereof and interconnected to secure said sectionalized frames to each other in connected relation in said opening.

Claims

1. A frame assembly for installing a glass panel member or the like in an opening in a door or other wall structure which frame assembly comprises a pair of identical frame members each having a peripheral flange formation for engaging portions of the wall surface about the periphery of the opening, a connector carrying portion extending generally normal to the plane of the peripheral flange formation and adapted to be positioned in the opening when the frame is installed therein, a glazing channel forming member extending from the connector carrying portion inwardly in the plane of the frame member, and interengaging connector means on each said connector carrying portion whereby said frame members may be positioned in the opening from opposite sides of the wall structure with said connector means interengaged so as to connect the frame members with the peripheral flange formations disposed against opposite faces of the wall structure and also provide between said glazing channel forming members a glazing channel for receiving marginal portions of said panel members.

6. A frame assembly for installing a glass panel member or the like in an opening in a door or other wall structure which frame assembly comprises a pair of frame members of relatively rigid plastic material, at least one of said frame members having a peripheral flange formation dimensioned for engaging portions of the wall surface about the periphery of the opening, a connector mounting portion extending generally normal to the plane of the peripheral flange formation so as to be positioned in the opening when said frame member is installed therein and a member extending from the connector mounting portion inwardly in the plane of said frame member for cooperation with a like member on the other one of said pair of frame members in forming a glazing channel in which marginal portions of said panel member may be seated, connector means carried on said connector mounting portion for cooperation with like means on said other one of said pair of frame members whereby said frame members may be positioned in the opening and said connector means interengaged so as to form said glazing channel for receiving said panel member and said other one of said pair of frame members having means for engaging portions of the wall surface around said opening on the opposite face of said wall so as to secure said frame assembly in clamped relation in said opening.

10. A frame assembly for installing a glass panel member or the like in an opening in a door or other wall structure which includes a pair of frame members each having a peripheral flange formation for engaging portions of the wall surface about the periphery of the opening, a frame portion extending generally normal to the plane of the peripheral flange formation and adapted to be positioned in the opening when the frame is installed therein, a glazing channel forming member extending from said frame portion inwardly in the plane of the frame member, and connecting means carried on each said frame portion for connection to a cooperating means on the other one of said frame members whereby said frame member may be seated in the opening so that said connecting means is engaged to draw the peripheral flange formation against the face of the wall structure and also position said glazing channel forming member for receiving said panel member, said frame members being adapted to be cut into sections which may be assembled with other sections of like cross section to provide a frame assembly having different overall dimensions.

13. A system for installing glass panel members or the like in a door or other wall structure as set out in claim 12 wherein connecting clip members for joining the frame member sections each have a cross sectional configuration conforming at least in part to the common cross sectional configuration of said frame members whereby said connector members are adapted to be positioned at the juncture of aligned frame sections which have been cut and interchanged, with opposite ends of said clip members overlapping the ends of said frame sections so as to secure said frame sections in connected relation in said opening.