Electrical mullion
AssigneeSpecial-Lite, Inc.
InventorsLeo Raymond Flory, Dewain D. Walz, James T. Clarke, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mullion arrangement for mounting within a door frame including a top fitting secured to an upper frame member or header of the door frame, a bottom fitting secured to the floor beneath the top fitting, and a mullion removably positioned between the top and bottom fittings. The mullion defines therein a cavity which carries cabling therein for supplying power to a component associated with the entryway, such as an electric strike for regulating opening of the door.
Claims30
A mullion arrangement for mounting within a door frame defined by a pair of generally horizontal and laterally spaced side frame members and a generally horizontal top frame member extending transversely between the side frame members, said arrangement comprising:
- a top fitting secured to a top frame member, said top fitting mounting thereon a power receptacle associated with a power source;
- a bottom fitting secured to a generally horizontal support surface, said bottom fitting being spaced downwardly from a top frame member;
- a mullion removably positioned within an opening defined by a door frame and having top and bottom end portions respectively engaged with said top and bottom fittings, said mullion defining a cavity therein;
- and
- a power cable disposed within said cavity and being connected to an electrical component mounted on said mullion, said power cable including a connector configured to mate with said power receptacle to provide electrical power to said component, said top fitting being configured to permit mounting thereof in substantially flush relation with a lower surface of a top frame member to allow unobstructed access to said power receptacle during installation of said mullion within a door frame.
A door arrangement defining an entryway of a building, said arrangement comprising:
- a door frame including a pair of generally upright and laterally spaced side frames and a generally horizontal header extending transversely between upper end portions of said side frames;
- an upper mounting member of a small vertical dimension fixed to said header at a generally central location therealong, and mounting therein a receptacle, wherein said upper mounting member is configured such that said upper mounting member does not project a significant distance downwardly from said header and such that said upper mounting member does not laterally obstruct said receptacle;
- a lower mounting member of a small vertical dimension fixed to a floor beneath said upper mounting member;
- a mullion removably mounted in said door frame, said mullion having upper and lower ends removably engaged with said upper and lower mounting members;
- and
- power cabling disposed within said mullion, said power cabling having a connector removably engaged with said receptacle and connected to a component associated with an entryway.
A removable post arrangement for mounting within a doorway including a pair of generally vertically oriented side frame members and a generally horizontally oriented top frame member interconnecting the side frame members, said arrangement comprising:
- an upper mounting element fixed to a top frame member inwardly of respective side frame members, said upper mounting element mounting therein a cabling receptacle adjacent a lower terminal surface thereof, said upper mounting element being flat and block-shaped and without downwardly extending protrusions thereon such that said receptacle is unobstructed laterally by said upper mounting element;
- a lower mounting element secured to a generally horizontal support surface, said lower mounting element being in vertical alignment with said upper mounting element;
- a rigid and hollow post removably disposed within a doorway and including upper and lower terminal end portions which are respectively engaged with said upper and lower mounting elements, said post having disposed therein cabling connected to a component associated with a doorway, said cabling having a connector configured to mate with said receptacle;
- and
- a locking arrangement disposed interiorly of said post and including a locking element disposed for cooperation with said lower mounting element and movable into a locked position wherein said locking element engages said lower mounting element to secure said post within a doorway and an unlocked position wherein said locking element is disengaged from said lower mounting element to allow removal of said post from a doorway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.