US3362108A - Astragals - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1968 H. R. JONES 3,362,108

ASTRAGALS Filed Sept. 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 9, 1968 JONES 3,362,108

ASTRAGALS Filed Sept. 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Awa /w.

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United States Patent 3,362,108 ASTRAGALS Herbert R. Jones, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Michaels Art Bronze Company, Erlanger, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Filed Sept. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 487,470 5 Claims. (Cl. 49478) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An astragal to weather proof doors having a channel extending from top to bottom and a continuous bar residing within the channel. Means are associated with the channel to permit limited movement only of the bar in directions in and out of the channel. A continuous strip of magnetic rubber is carried by the bar at the outer side thereof. A series of non-continuous, comparatively short magnetic rubber strips is carried at the inner side of the bar. A matching series of non-continuous magnetic rubber strips is mounted within the base of the channel. The magnetic rubber of which the strips are made is of the same magnetic strength. The total lengths of the comparatively short strips of the series carried at the inner side of the bar, plus the total lengths of the matching series of strips Within the base of the channel are substantially less than the total length of the continuous strip carried by the bar at the outer side thereof.

This invention relates to astragals that are used to weatherproof large, heavy doors of the type found in commercial or public buildings. More specifically, the

invention is directed to an astragal construction in which strips of magnetic rubber are used to effect a seal.

An astragal usually is adjustable to provide for expansion and contraction of the door of other structural members associated therewith such that, upon closing of the door, the astragal creates a seal relationship between the door and the frame or, in the case of double doors, between the two doors.

Astragals may be used in many difierent ways. They may be placed on the frame of the door and the door closed against them. They may be mounted on the door and brought into contact with the frame upon the closing of the door. In a double swinging door installation, two such astragals may be used, one on the edge of each door where they join, so that the astragals contact each other when the doors are closed.

A typical adjustable astragal of the prior art has consisted of an astragal bar that is slidably engaged within a channel member. Means are provided to permit the bar to shift in and out, within limits, of the channel member to form a seal relationship with the door frame or opposing door when the door is closed. As heretofore known, these means included some form of spring members. The function of the spring members has been to urge, at all times, the bar toward its outer limit of movement relative to the channel member. Thus, when the bar is brought into contact with another surface, e.g., the frame upon closure of the door, the bar is depressed into the channel. The spring members, however, tend to force the bar outwardly and, thus a seal relationship is maintained between the bar and the other surface.

Additionally, the prior art has provided the side of the astragal bar that protrudes from the channel with means, e.g., fabric, rubber or pile buffer strips, such that when the astragal bar strikes the frame or opposing door on closing, the noise level of such closing is kept at a minimum. Of course, such buffer strips also enhance the seal relationship of the door with the frame or opposing door.

However, there are deficiencies in the construction of the prior art astragals that become apparent upon extended use. A spring member system is a source of trouble in the doors in which it is used. The continuous jarring of the door cause the spring members to shift position within the astragal, thus causing them to lose their ability to maintain a tight seal relationship with the frame or opposing door. Additionally, the astragal bar tends to forcefully strike the frame or opposing door upon closure of the door because of its continuously extended position, thus causing undue noise and undue door vibration, as Well as helping to cause the first problem mentioned. Also, when buffer strips, e.g., fabric, rubber or pile, are used on the astragal bar, the continuous striking of the bar tends to unduly wear these strips.

Therefore, the primary objective of this invention has been to provide a simplified astragal construction that has none of the above objections and deficiencies.

It has been a further objective of this invention to provide an astragal having a means for moving the astragal bar into a seal relationship with a door frame or opposing door that eliminates the need for spring members in the astragal.

It has been another objective of this invention to provide an astragal wherein the astragal bar magnetically attracted is from the channel member of the astragal, rather than being pushed from the channel member, to efI'ect a seal relationship with a door frame or opposing door.

It has been an additional object of this invention to provide an astragal wherein the astragal bar remains substantially in the retracted position, except when in juxtaposition with a door frame or opposing door, thus allowing substantial closure of the door to which the astragal is attached without the astragal bar striking the door frame or opposing door.

In the fulfillment of the above objectives, there is provided an astragal for a door that comprises a chan nel, a bar and strips of magnetic rubber. The channel extends from the top to the bottom of the door. The bar, that is the same length as the channel, resides within the channel in slip fit relation. Means are provided to permit limited retracting and extending movement only of the bar in directions toward and away from the base of the channel. The outer side of the bar carries a continuous strip of magnetic rubber. The inner side of the bar carries a series of comparatively short strips of magnetic rubber. A matching series of comparatively short strips of magnetic rubber is mounted on the base of the channel. The magnetic rubber of all strips is of the same magnetic strength and the total lengths of the strips of both series is substantially less than the total length of the continuous strip. Thus, with no force tending to extend the continuous strip and the bar upon which it is mounted, the series of strips retract the bar. Further, the retracting force of the series of strips may be overcome to extend the continuous strip when the continuous strip is brought into close proximity with external magnetically responsive means such as a similar continuous strip or a magnetically responsive door frame.

Other objectives and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view depicting the astragals of this invention in use on a pair of closed double doors.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing the astragal bars in extended position.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view, substantially the same as FIGURE 2, showing the astragal bars in the retracted positions they assume when one of the double doors is open.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and particularly showing the construction of the astragal bars adjacent their upper and lower ends.

FIGURE 5 is a cut away view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 5.

As is shown in FIGURE 1, one of the ways in which the astragals of this invention may be used is with double doors, there being an astragal 1%) on the leading edge of each door 11. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the astragal 10 comprises a channel 12 having parallel sides and a base, and an astragal bar 13 that is H-shaped in cross section. The astragal bar 13 is of a size such that slidable engagement within the channel 12 is possible.

The astragal bar 13 is limited in its outward movement from the channel 12 by means of U-shaped brackets 14 and stops 15 at the top 27 and bottom 28 thereof (see FIGURE 4). The brackets 14 are fixedly engaged with the channel 12 by means of screws 16. The stops 15 are fixedly engaged with the inner portion of the astragal bar 13 by means of spacers 17 and screws 18. The function of the spacers 17 is to allow a desired distance through which the astragal bar 13 may move in an out relative to the channel 12.

The channel 12 has integrally attached thereto a flange 19 which is coplanar with one side thereof. By means of the flange 19 and screws 26, the astragal 19 is fixedly held in operable position on the door 11.

For attracting and retracting the astragal bar 13 from and into the channel 12 there are provided strips of magnetic rubber 21, 22, and 23 in the leading edge 24 of the astragal bar 13, the rear portion 25 of the astragal bar 13, and the base portion 26 of the channel 12 respectively. The term magnetic rubber, as used herein, refers, by way of example only, to a type of material disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,999,275 to W. S. Blume Jr. and entitled ,Mechanical Orientation of Magnetically Anisotropic Particles. The types of material disclosed in the aforementioned patent include a composite of rubber having intimately associated therewith particles susceptible to magnetization, hence, the term magnetic rubber.

The strip 21 of magnetic rubber present in the leading portion 24 of the astragal bar is sized such that it intimately fits therein and is held by any conventional adhesive. The strip 21 is substantially continuous from the top 27 of the astragal bar 13 to the base 28 thereof.

The strips 22, 23 of magnetic rubber provided in the rear portion 25 of the astragal bar 13 and the base portion 26 of the channel 12, if of the same magnetic strength as the strip 21, are interspersed along the portions 25, 26 in a noncontinuous manner. Otherwise expressed, the primary magnetic means, or strip 21, comprises a continuous length of magnetic rubber whereas the secondary magnetic means or strips 22, 23 comprises a series of spaced magnetic rubber strips, the total lengths of the series of the spaced strips being substantially less than one-half the length of the continuous strip. FIGURE 1 of the drawings shows this relationship. Thus, since the magnetic rubber from which the respective strips are made is, as stated, of the same magnetic strength, it follows that each continuous strip 21 is equivalent in magnetic force to at least greater than one half the sum of the magnetic force generated by strips 22, 23. Of course, a strip 22 in the trailing portion 25 of the astragal bar i- 13 must have a strip 23 in the base 26 of the channel 12 in a substantially similar geometric position for cooperation during retraction of the astragal bar 13 into the channel 12.

When the doors 11 are in a closed position, as is shown in FIGURE 2, the strips 21 on the opposing astragal bars 13 are attracted one to the other due to the magnetic forces present in each of the strips. This attraction takes place because the sum of the attractive forces of the magnetic strips 21 is sutficient to overcome the sum of the attractive forces of the magnetic strips 22 and 23 for each other. Thus, a seal relationship between astragals 10 is formed, upon closure of the doors, by attracting the astragal bars 13 from their retracted position.

When the doors 11 are opened, as is shown in FIGURE 3, the attractive forces generated by the strips 22 and 23 for each other overcome the attraction of one strip 21 for the other. Thus, the astragal bars 13 are retracted or withdrawn into the channels 12 until the doors 11 are brought into juxtaposition once again.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. From FIGURE 6 it can be seen that, when viewed in cross section, the leading portion 24 of the astragal bar 13 is dovetailed in shape. Thus, the strip 21 of magnetic rubber may be held thereto by means of slots 29 in the strip 21 cooperating with the edges 30 of the dovetailed leading portion 24 of the astragal bar 13.

Having described my invention, what I desire to claim and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An astragal comprising:

a channel member,

an astragal bar slideably engageable with said channel member, secondary magnetic means for attracting said astragal bar into a fixed relationship with said channel,

primary magnetic means for attracting said astragal bar out of said fixed relationship with said channel,

said primary magnetic means comprising a continuous strip of magnetic rubber and said secondary magnetic means comprising a series of spaced magnetic rubber strips, the total lengths of the series of said spaced strips being substantially less than one-half the length of said continuous strip, and

mechanical means to limit the outward movement of said astragal bar upon attraction of said bar by said primary magnetic means.

2. An astragal comprising,

a channel member having spaced parallel side walls and a base,

first means for producing magnetic forces fixedly engaged within said channel member,

an astragal bar which is generally shaped as an H- beam in cross section and slideably engageable within said channel member,

second means for producing magnetic forces fixedly engaged within a first channel of said astragal bar, said second means being enclosed by said channel member when said bar is slideably engaged within said channel member,

third means for producing magnetic forces fixedly engaged within a second channel of said astragal bar, said bar, said third means being equivalent in magnetic force to at least greater than one-half the sum of the magnetic force generated by said first means fixedly engaged within said channel member plus said second means fixedly engaged within said first channel of said bar, and

means to limit the outward movement of said astragal bar upon movement of said bar away from said channel member.

3. An astragal as set forth in claim 2 in which said means for producing magnetic forces comprises strips of magnetic rubber.

4. An astragal as set forth in claim 3 in which said strips of magnetic rubber are generally rectangular in cross section.

5. An astragal as set forth in claim 3 in which said second channel in said astragal bar is substantially dovetailed in shape, and

said strip of magnetic rubber for said second channel being of a length substantially equivalent to the length of said bar and with grooves in the sides thereof such that said strip may be slideably engaged with and fixedly held by said dovetailed channel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Knight 49478 X Korodi 49478 Kesling 49-478 X Alderfer 49-478 Lewis et al 49-478 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. PHILLIP C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,362,108

January 9, 1968 Herbert R. Jones Column 4, line 63, strike out "said bar,"

Signed and sealed this 25th day of March 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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