Ready to install door system
AssigneeLarson Manufacturing Company of South Dakota, Inc.
InventorsAlan M. Dixon, Lucas M. Hemmen, Michael W. Kondratuk, Kelly D. Nordgaard, Jammey A. Rawden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ready-to-install door systems comprising, prior to installation, a door, a hinge-side z-bar, a drip cap, and a latch-side z-bar, all connected. In addition, the system may comprise door closer hardware attached to the door and either the drip cap or the hinge-side z-bar; an installation notch; or screw holders. Screw holders are also provided. Methods of installing the present door systems are also provided.
Claims22
A ready-to-install door system comprising, prior to installation:
- a door rotatably attached on a hinge-side edge to a hinge-side z-bar that comprises a top end attached to a drip cap, wherein the drip cap is further attached to a top end of a latch-side z-bar;
- wherein at least one of the hinge-side z-bar and the latch-side z-bar comprises at least one preloaded screw, a mounting hole, and at least one screw holder mounted in the mounting hole to hold the at least one preloaded screw.
A screw holder adapted to hold a screw in a stable position relative to a mounting hole in a first substrate, prior to driving the screw to attach the first substrate to a second substrate, comprising:
- a) a screw holder body having a screw-point end, a screw-head end, and a hollow interior open at the screw-head end for receiving a screw, wherein the screw holder body has an outer perimeter adapted to fit into the mounting hole in the first substrate;
- b) a collar portion at the screw-point end of the screw holder body adapted to prevent the screw holder from passing entirely through the mounting hole in a screw-head direction;
- and
- c) one or more locking extensions extending from the screw holder body, wherein the one or more locking extensions are compressible against or into the screw holder body to allow the screw holder to be inserted into the mounting hole in the screw-head direction, and wherein the one or more locking extensions rebound after insertion to prevent the screw holder from passing out of the mounting hole in a screw-point direction.
A method of installing a ready-to-install door system comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a ready-to-install door system comprising:
- a door rotatably attached on a hinge-side edge to a hinge-side z-bar that comprises a top end attached to a drip cap, wherein the drip cap is further attached to a top end of a latch-side z-bar;
- wherein at least one of the hinge-side z-bar and the latch-side z-bar comprises at least one preloaded screw, a mounting hole, and at least one screw holder mounted in the mounting hole to hold the at least one preloaded screw;
- b) positioning the ready-to-install door system within or adjacent to a frame of a door opening;
- and
- c) attaching the ready-to-install door system to the frame of the door opening with the at least one preloaded screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.