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(11) | EP 0 674 083 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Threshold for doorways Türschwelle Seuil de porte |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0002] Thresholds are known which comprise strips of aluminium alloy which are profiled to include channels for receiving and retaining domed neoprene inserts or the like. Such a threshold is disclosed in US-A-3003203. The aluminium strips are conventionally secured across a doorway by screws with the domed neoprene inserts centred to lie below the respective door when closed.
[0003] In use the domed neoprene inserts tend to age rapidly and harden with variations in temperature. In time the inserts fracture thereby creating potential hazards particularly to the elderly and infirm. Also, movement of such items as wheelchairs or the like across other than relatively new domed inserts can prove to be difficult. Further, when used in industrial premises, frequent movement of lorries, fork lift trucks and the like can cause rapid deterioration of the domed inserts thereby adversely affecting their weather sealing properties.
[0004] The present invention sets out to overcome or at least alleviate these disadvantages by providing a threshold having a seal insert which comprises a suitably contoured strip of carpet material secured by hot melting onto a plastics backing strip.
[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a threshold which comprises a threshold strip whose profile includes along each of its lengthwise extending sides inwardly facing channels, the threshold being characterised in that the threshold strip is extruded from a plastics material and in that a strip of carpet material mounted onto a plastics backing strip is retained between the inwardly facing channels of the threshold strip, the strip of carpet material being secured to the plastics backing strip by hot melting.
[0007] Each side edge of the threshold strip may be downwardly inclined for ease of movement thereover or may be downwardly inclined along only one of its side edges, the other side edge defining a riser for abutment against, for example, a floor covering.
[0008] The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a cross section taken through a threshold in accordance with the invention; and
Figure 2 is a cross section taken through an alternative threshold in accordance with the invention.
[0009] The threshold illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a profiled threshold strip 1 extruded from a high tensile plastics material and including a base 2 and inclined side pieces 3. The underside of the base is formed with lengthwise extending feet 4 which protrude downwardly below the central part of the base to provide good ground contact. The side pieces 3 are each inclined downwardly from the top of the threshold and include inwardly projecting lips 6 which together with the upper surface of the base 1 define inwardly projecting channels 7. A groove 8 is set in the upper surface of the base along its centre line to assist location of screws or nails employed to attach the threshold to a floor or ground surface.
[0010] Retained within the channel 7 are the side edges of a strip of carpet material 9, the tufts 10 of which extend upwardly beyond the upper surface of the strip to seal against the bottom of a door when closed over a threshold. The carpet strip 9 comprises a water repellent polypropylene backing strip secured by stitching to a strip of nylon webbing which in turn is secured by hot melting to a strip of plastics. The specially treated carpet strip has sufficient lateral rigidity to enable it readily to slide into the channels 7 of the threshold and to be retained therein when the threshold is secured across a doorway. The carpet strip also provides an effective under-door weather seal against for example rain or draughts.
[0011] The threshold illustrated in Figure 2 is more suitable for indoor use and includes a profiled threshold strip of high tensile plastics including a base 15 having feet 16 and inwardly extending channels 17 which receive and retain a carpet strip 18 as described above.
[0012] In this embodiment one edge 19 of the threshold defines a riser against which a floor covering can abut, a curvilinear side piece 20 being provided for ease of movement of, for example, wheelchairs over the threshold. Where a riser is not required, a second extruded threshold strip 21 is provided, its side edge 23 abutting against the riser edge 19 of the threshold.
[0013] The use of a carpet strip to provide a seal between the threshold and the lower rim of a door negates the previously discussed problems which arise when domed neoprene inserts are employed essentially because the carpet strip does not readily deteriorate when subjected to wear, variations in temperature or excessive use.
1. A threshold which comprises a threshold strip (1) whose profile includes along each
of its lengthwise extending sides inwardly facing channels (7), the threshold being
characterised in that the threshold strip is extruded from a plastics material and
in that a strip of carpet material (9) mounted onto a plastics backing strip is retained
between the inwardly facing channels of the threshold strip, the strip of carpet material
being secured to the plastics backing strip by hot melting.
2. A threshold as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the plastics material is a high tensile
plastics material.
3. A threshold as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each side edge (3) of the threshold
strip is downwardly inclined for ease of movement thereover.
4. A threshold as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein one side edge (2) of the
threshold strip is downwardly inclined, the other side edge (23) defining a riser.
1. Eine Türschwelle, welche aus einem Schwellenstreifen (1) besteht, dessen Profile entlang
jeder ihrer längsgerichteten Seiten nach innen gerichtete Kanäle (7) einschließen;
die Schwelle ist dadurch charakterisiert, daß der Schwellenstreifen aus einem Kunststoffmaterial
extrudiert ist und daß ein Streifen Teppichmaterial (9) auf eine Kunststoffrückenstreifen,
der zwischen den inneren Profilen des Schwellenstreifens gehalten wird, befestigt
ist; der Teppichstreifen ist auf dem Kunststoffrückenstreifen durch Heißschmelzen
aufgebracht.
2. Eine Türschwelle entsprechend Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Kunststoff
aus einem sehr festen Material hinsichtlich seine Zähigkeit besteht.
3. Eine Türschwelle entsprechend Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jeder
Seitenrand (3) des Schwellenstreifens für jedes Überrollen, -fahren, - gehen angeschrägt
ist.
4. Eine Türschwelle entsprechend irgendeinem vorgenannter Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch
gekennzeichnet, daß ein Rand (2) der Türschwelle angeschrägt ist und der andere Rand
(23) einen Absatz bildet.
1. Un seuil formé d'une bande (1) dont le profil comprend le long de chacun de ses bords
des rainures dirigées vers l'intérieur (7) le seuil étant caractérisé par le fait
que la bande est extrudée dans un matériau plastique et que la bande de tapis (9)
montée sur une bande de support plastique est retenue entre les rainures dirigées
vers l'intérieur de la bande de seuil, la bande de tapis étant fixée à la bande de
support plastique par collage à chaud.
2. Un seuil selon la revendication 1 dont le matériau plastique est un matériau plastique
à haute résistance à la traction.
3. Un seuil selon les revendications 1 ou 2 dont chacun des bords des côtés (3) de la
bande de seuil est incliné vers le bas facilitant son franchissement.
4. Un seuil selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3 dont un bord (2) de la bande
de seuil est incliné vers le bas, l'autre côté (23) formant une contremarche.