Door frame guard

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a removable and reusable door frame guard for a door frame comprising a door jamb, door stop and trim molding attached to a plaster wall. The guard comprises an elongated member having a substantially planar web with depending parallel side panels normal to the planar web. One or both of the side panels terminate with two right angled flanges adaptable for a gripping action with the trim molding and plaster wall. For the hinge side, one side panel has a width about equal to the width of the door stop and about terminates at the jamb, and this narrow panel is adaptable to abut the side of the door stop, as well as the jamb along the marginal edge, thereby providing a gripping action at this side of the guard. Thus, when the guard component is installed over the door frame, the elongated member is adaptable to at least partially engage the door jamb and abut the door stop, and at least one side of the guard is adaptable to grip the trim molding.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings wherein the same reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a conventional doorway including a door frame, indicated generally by the numeral , and a hung door . The door frame is comprised of a jamb , door stop , and trim molding , affixed to the plaster wall or dry wall supported by a wood framing such as 2″×4″ lumber , and the door frame is typically on both sides and on the top of the doorway. The door stop and trim molding have substantially flat surfaces, and each has opposed marginal edges. One marginal edge for the trim molding is about flush with the doorjamb (see FIGS. 8 and 9) and the opposed marginal edge is outwardly disposed. It should be understood that the doorjamb and stop are typically provided as two separate pieces, but where desired, the two components can be provided as a single unit. The door is hung to the jamb by hinges , which is known as the hinge side and the opposite side is known as the strike side. For purposes of my invention, the number of hinges is immaterial, which will be more apparent from the description below.

There is shown in FIGS. 2, , and A one embodiment of the invention depicting a door frame guard, indicated generally by the numeral , for use on the strike side or the top of the doorway. The guard for the strike side of the frame and the top of the frame are the same, except for length, and therefore the description of one is applicable to both. The guard comprises an elongated channel-like member for installation on the door frame , and when installed on the strike side of the doorway, the elongated member is in a vertical position, but when above the door way, the guard is in a horizontal position. The elongated member, preferably formed of a plastic, includes a planar web or wall which, upon installation, runs parallel with the door jamb . The planar web has parallel side panels and extending normal to the web at the longitudinal edges of the web, thereby defining a channel-like configuration (see FIGS. 4 and 4A) for enclosing the door jamb, stop and trim when the guard is installed. Each panel terminates with two right angled flanges and forming an inwardly directed shoulder having an extension or rib outwardly directed relative to the channel . It will be observed that the flange (i.e., the extension) is substantially parallel with the face of the plaster wall and therefore the two right angled flanges and are adaptable for seating on the marginal edge of the trim molding when the guard is installed.

It is preferable to provide the guard with an inner lining , which protects the door frame from any abrasion that might be caused by the guard when installed. (See FIGS. 4A and 7A.) This lining may be a compressible polymer, such as an elastomeric or rubberized foam, or a closed cell cellular polymer which is substantially moisture resistant, and may be applied to the inside of the guard with a suitable adhesive, which are commercially available. The polymer lining may be, for example, sponge rubber, polyethylene foam, or silicone rubber sponge. Also, the lining is compressible, and enhances the gripping action of the guard to the door frame, as explained in more detail below.

There is shown in FIGS. 5, , , and A a modified form of the door frame guard for the hinge side of the door. As described above for the other embodiment of the invention showing a guard for the strike side, the guard is symmetrical when viewed in longitudinal cross-section. However, a symmetrical form for the guard is not feasible for the hinge side because the hinges would prevent the side panels from extending over the trim molding. In accordance with this modified form of the guard, one side panel A terminates at about the doorjamb , and panel A, which is about the width of a typical door stop, is adjacent to and abuts the marginal edge of the door stop . It thus will be observed that the door frame guard for this modified embodiment is asymmetrical as viewed in longitudinal cross-section in that panel A is substantially narrower than panel . When installed, the terminal edge of panel A abuts the doorjamb, and the panel A engages the door stop, thereby providing a gripping action. This gripping action, in combination with the gripping action established on the opposite side, provides a film grip or hold of the guard on the door frame.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the door frame guard installed on the door frame. In FIG. 8, the door frame guard is for the strike side, which embodiment is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It will be observed that when the guard is installed, the planar web abuts the door stop , the side panels and abut the trim molding, and the right angled flanges and seat on the marginal edge of the trim molding and abut the dry wall . As explained above, the griping action of the guard is the same on both sides, and because the panel is formed of a flexible material, the guard remains in place. When the task at hand is finished (e.g., furniture moving, construction, painting), the guard can be removed easily and reused.

In FIG. 9, the guard is for the hinge side, which differs from the other embodiment only in that one side panel A is narrow, as explained above. Thus, when the guard is installed, one side of the guard is gripped in place by panel and the right angled flanges and , and the front web overlies the facing of the stop. The opposite side of the guard is gripped in place by the narrow panel A abutting the door stop. Thus, the elongated door guard partially enclosed the doorjamb . The panel A does not extend to the trim molding because of the hinges . As a consequence, the number of hinges, the size of the hinges, or the placement of the hinges are no obstacle in installing the door frame guard on the hinge side.

By reason of the invention, numerous advantages are achieved. The door frame guard of my invention is versatile in that it can fit the strike side, the top, and the hinge side of the door frame. Further, the size or number of hinges are irrelevant. In addition, the door frame guard is relatively inexpensive, easy to install and remove, and is reusable. In addition, it should be understood that the foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understand only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its advantages will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description and exemplary embodiments when read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional door frame with a hung door in a partial open position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the front side of the door frame guard embodying the features of the invention

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but viewing the door frame guard from the back

FIG. 4 is a top view of the door frame guard of FIG. and FIG. 3

FIG. 4A is similar to FIG. 4, but showing a rubberized lining for the door frame guard.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the front side of a modified door frame guard falling within the scope of the invention for the hinge side of the door.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but viewing the door frame guard from the opposite side.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the embodiment of the door frame guard shown in FIG. .

FIG. 7A is similar to FIG. 7, but showing a rubberized lining for the door frame guard.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the door frame guard of FIG. 2 showing the installed guard on the strike side of a door frame attached to a wall.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the door frame guard of FIG. 5 showing the installed guard on the hinge side of a door frame attached to a wail.

CLAIMS

1. In combination with a door frame having a door jamb, a door stop protruding from the doorjamb and having opposed marginal edges, and trim molding attached to the exposed face of a wall, a removable and reusable guard for providing temporary protection to the door frame comprising: (a) an elongated member having a substantially planar web with substantially parallel side panels normal to said planar web and depending from the opposed longitudinal edges of said planar web thereby defining a channel adaptable to receive at least a portion of the door frame, said planar web extending generally parallel to the door jamb and adjacent to the door stop, and said parallel side panels extending generally parallel to and engaging the trim molding; said side panels being flexible with respect to each other, such that said channel may be spread to install said door frame guard, and said side panels flexing toward each other to engage the trim molding; (b) at least one of said side panels having an inwardly directed shoulder terminating with a transverse flange and adaptable for seating on the marginal edge of the trim molding and abutting the face of the wall, said side panels flexing toward each other to provide a gripping action with the trim molding and wall, whereby said elongated member is adaptable to enclose at least partially the door jamb and abut the door stop.

2. In combination with a door frame having a door jamb, door stop, and trim molding attached to the exposed faces of opposed walls, a removable and reusable door frame guard for providing temporary protection to the door frame comprising: (a) an elongated member having a substantially planar web with parallel side panels normal to said planar web and depending from the opposed longitudinal edges of said planar web, thereby defining a channel said side panels being flexible with respect to each other; (b) each of said side panels extending over the trim molding and having an inwardly directed shoulder terminating with a transverse flange and adaptable for seating on the marginal edge of said trim molding and abutting the face of the wall, said side panels flexing toward each other to provide a gripping action with the trim molding and wall, whereby said elongated member being adaptable to enclose the door frame and abut the door stop.

3. In combination with a door frame having a door jamb, a door stop protruding from the doorjamb and having opposed marginal edges, and trim molding attached to a wall, a removable and reusable door frame guard comprising: (a) an elongated member having a substantially planar web with substantially parallel side panels normal to said planar web and depending from the opposed longitudinal edges of said planar web thereby defining a channel, said side panels being flexible with respect to each other; (b) one of said side panels having an inwardly directed shoulder terminating with a transverse flange; (c) said shoulder and said flange adaptable for gripping action with the trim molding and wall as said side panels are flexed toward each other; (d) the other of said side panels adaptable to terminate at about the door jamb and engage a marginal edge of the door stop for providing a gripping action with the door stop as said side panels are flexed toward each other; whereby said elongated member is adaptable to at least partially enclose the doorjamb and abut the door stop.

4. The combination according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein said guard is made of plastic.

5. The combination according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein said guard includes a compressible polymer lining.

6. The combination according to claims 5 wherein said lining is a closed cell polymer.

7. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said lining is an open cell polymer.

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