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(11) | EP 3 404 185 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | DOOR FRAME STRUCTURE |
| (57) The present invention relates to a door frame structure comprising a door frame,
a door frame protective cover, the protective cover extending beyond the lower end
of the door frame so that when the door frame is installed in a door opening, room
is left between the door frame and the threshold in order to allow air to circulate
in the structures, and at least one molding, wherein room is left between the molding
and the door frame and/or the molding and the wall for air to circulate in the structures,
the molding being arranged to the door frame so that air circulates through the lower
end of the molding into the room between the molding and the door frame and/or the
molding and the wall, and wherein the air flows through the upper end of the molding
out of the structure.
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TECHNICAL FIELD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The use of frames and moldings in damp premises poses challenges. The frames and moldings, when made of wood, are often damaged in these damp premises. Water damages, such as the paint peeling and coming off, may start to occur very soon after the flat has been put to use. If the water damages become serious, the wood may, in some cases, swell, causing the door opening to suffer such damages that the door does not work normally any longer.
[0003] The current door frame structures are often closed designs not enabling air circulation. Typically, the door frames are made of wood and attached to a threshold at the bottom. As the wooden frame is attached to the threshold, which also is made of wood, mold is easily formed due to moisture.
[0004] Sometimes the frame is left slightly hanging in the air, with the result that room is left between the threshold and the frame, but moisture can still penetrate into the structures. In some solutions, the lower end of the frame is painted for moisture protection, but this solution has not proved to be fully working because the paint does not protect the structures in the long run.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention aims at alleviating the above-mentioned problems related to door frame structures. An objective thereof is to provide a solution enabling air circulation in structures in order to dry out the structures and to prevent moisture damages.
[0007] The door frame structure of the invention is characterized by the characterizing part of the independent claim 1.
[0009] According to an aspect of the invention, the door frame structure of the invention comprises
- a door frame,
- a door frame protective cover, the protective cover extending beyond the lower end of the door frame so that when the door frame is installed in a door opening, room is left between the door frame and the threshold in order to allow air to circulate in the structures, and
- at least one molding, wherein room is left between the molding and the door frame and/or the molding and the wall for air to circulate in the structures, the molding being arranged to the door frame so that air circulates through the lower end of the molding into the room between the molding and the door frame and/or the molding and the wall, and wherein the air flows through the upper end of the molding out of the structure.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the invention, the air flows out through the bottom of the molding. In some embodiments, the lower end of the molding may comprise an aperture/hole allowing the air to flow through. The lower end of the molding, allowing the air to flow through, is preferably below the center point of the molding. The upper end of the molding, allowing the air to flow out of the structure, is preferably above the center point of the molding.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises two moldings, the moldings being arranged on both sides of the frame.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the invention, a thinner middle portion of the molding forms an air channel when the molding is arranged to the door frame and against the wall.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the invention, the molding is arranged to the door frame so that room is left between the lower end of the molding and the floor so that air circulates in the structures.
[0014] According to an embodiment of the invention, the molding is arranged to the door frame so that the upper end of the molding is open so that the air flows out of the structure.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the invention, the structure further comprising an upper molding attached to the upper end of the molding so that the upper molding covers the upper end of the molding, the upper molding comprising an aperture for air to flow out of the structure.
[0016] According to an embodiment of the invention, the molding is an L-shaped molding, and a molding installation groove is arranged on at least one side of the door frame allowing the L-shaped molding to be arranged into the installation groove of the door frame.
[0017] According to an embodiment of the invention, the protective cover is arranged to the front face of the door frame.
[0018] According to an embodiment of the invention, the protective cover attaches to the molding installation grooves on both sides of the door frame.
[0021] The utility of the door frame structure of the invention arises from a number of facts. Normally, a negative pressure prevails in damp premises, allowing air to circulate, through any available inlets, towards the damp premises. If there is no negative pressure, the so-called stack effect may provide the air circulation in the structures, moving the air upwards in the ducts. The door frame structure according to an embodiment may enable air circulation in structures, which, in turn, may keep the structures dry. This may provide a longer life-span for the structures.
[0022] In this application, the term "a number of" refers to any positive integer starting from one (1), such as one, two or three.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0024] In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures wherein
Figure 1 is an axonometric projection of a door frame and a protective cover according to an embodiment of the invention,
Figure 2 is a bottom view of a door frame and a protective cover according to an embodiment of the invention,
Figures 3 and 4 show the door frame structure according to an embodiment of the invention, viewed from two different angles,
Figure 5 is a rear view of a door frame structure according to an embodiment of the invention, and
Figures 6a and 6b show two different embodiments of molding structures in a door frame structure according the present invention.
MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0025] Referring to Figure 1, the door frame structure 100 comprises a door frame 102 and a door frame protective cover 104. The protective cover 104 extends beyond the lower end 106 of the door frame, the protective cover thus forming a skirt 107 at the lower end of the door frame. The skirt 107 results in that, as the door frame and the protective cover are installed on the threshold, room is left between the door frame and the threshold (not shown in the figure). Preferably, the door frame and the protective cover are fitted on the threshold in such a way that the protective cover is in contact with the threshold. Preferably, the skirt 107 of the protective cover extends beyond the lower end of the door frame by approximately 5 mm. Alternatively, the skirt extends beyond the lower end of the door frame by over 5 mm, such as 10, 20 or 30 mm. Alternatively, the skirt 107 is less than 5 mm.
[0026] Referring to Figure 2, installation grooves 108a, 108b for moldings are made in the frame 102. An L-shaped molding 110 is fitted into the installation groove 108a. A second L-shaped molding (not shown in the figure) is fitted into the installation groove 108b. Preferably, the installation grooves are provided at a distance of 6 mm or 7 mm from the rear face 111 of the frame. The width of the installation grooves is approximately 3 mm, for example. The depth of the installation grooves is approximately 20 mm, for example.
[0027] The protective cover 104 is provided on the front face of the frame 102. The protective cover is a plastic surface, for example. The plastic surface is made of PVC, for example. The plastic surface can be fitted on the front face by inserting fastening projections 112a, 112b of the plastic surface into the installation grooves 108a, 108b. The length of the fastening projections can be 5 mm, for example. The installation grooves can be slightly widened at the fastening projections 112a, 112b. The width of the installation grooves at the fastening projections can be 4 mm, 4.5 mm or 5 mm, for example. The plastic surface is, for instance, a 1 mm or 1.5 mm thick plastic profile that is fitted on the frame.
[0028] The width of the door frame 102 is 68 mm, 92 mm or 120 mm, for example. The height of the frame is 42 mm, for example. The rebate 114 is 29 mm wide, for example, and has a depth of 12 mm from the front face of the frame. The height between the rear face 111 and the rebate 114 is approximately 30 mm, for example. The distance between the installation groove 108a and the rebate is approximately 20 mm or 21 mm, for example.
[0029] The molding 110 comprises a projection 115 insertable into the installation groove 108a (or 108b) and having a length of approximately 20 mm, for example. The thickness of the projection of the molding is 3 mm, for example. The projection and the molding have a total length of approximately 28 mm, for example. The thickness of the molding, at the middle portion 116 of the molding, is approximately 8 mm, for example. The thickness of the molding, at an elevation 118 to be fitted against a wall, is approximately 12 mm, for example. The width of the molding is approximately 42 mm, for example. The molding can be made of plastic or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, the material can be wood. As the molding is attached to the door frame and against the wall, the thinner middle portion 116 of the molding forms an air channel.
[0030] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the door frame 102 is fitted on a threshold 120. The door frame 102 comprises a protective cover 104 brought into contact with the threshold 120. The molding 110 is attached to the door frame 102 in such a way that room is left between the lower end of the molding 110 and the floor, in order to allow air to circulate into the molding and the other structures. The molding is spaced from the floor by approximately 2 or 3 mm, for example.
[0031] Figure 5 is a rear view of the door frame 102. The skirt 107 of the protective cover 104 is in contact with the threshold 120 in such a way that room is left between the door frame 102 and the threshold 120 in order to allow air to circulate in the structures.
[0032] Referring to Figure 6a, an upper molding 122a is butt-jointed at the upper end of the molding 110a. Thus, the air channel formed by the thinner portion 118 of the molding 110 is left open at the top, enabling air circulation in the air channel. The ventilation channel/air channel is left open, both at the top and at the bottom. This enables air circulation without any separate apertures/holes.
[0033] Referring to Figure 6b, an upper molding 122b is attached, at the upper end of the molding 110b, to the molding 110b in such a way that the air channel/ventilation channel is closed. In this case, an aperture 126 is made in the upper edge of the upper molding 122b, preferably on the side facing the wall, enabling air circulation. The aperture is approximately 3 to 4 mm over a distance of approximately 4 cm.
1. A door frame structure enabling air circulation in structures, characterized in that the structure comprises
- a door frame,
- a door frame protective cover, the protective cover extending beyond the lower end of the door frame so that when the door frame is installed in a door opening, room is left between the door frame and the threshold in order to allow air to circulate in the structures, and
- at least one molding, wherein room is left between the molding and the door frame and/or the molding and the wall for air to circulate in the structures, the molding being arranged to the door frame so that air circulates through the lower end of the molding into the room between the molding and the door frame and/or the molding and the wall, and wherein the air flows through the upper end of the molding out of the structure.
2. The structure of claim 1, characterized in that a thinner middle portion of the molding forms an air channel when the molding is
arranged to the door frame and against the wall.
3. The structure of any preceding claim, characterized in that the molding is arranged to the door frame so that room is left between the lower
end of the molding and the floor so that air circulates in the structures.
4. The structure of any preceding claim, characterized in that the molding is arranged to the door frame so that the upper end of the molding is
open so that the air flows out of the structure.
5. The structure of any preceding claim, characterized in that the structure further comprising an upper molding attached to the upper end of the
molding so that the upper molding covers the upper end of the molding, the upper molding
comprising an aperture for air to flow out of the structure.
6. The structure of any preceding claim, characterized in that the molding is an L-shaped molding, and a molding installation groove is arranged
on at least one side of the door frame allowing the L-shaped molding to be arranged
into the installation groove of the door frame.
7. The structure of any preceding claim, characterized in that the protective cover is arranged on the front face of the door frame.
8. The structure of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that the protective cover attaches to the molding installation grooves on both sides of
the door frame.
9. The structure of any preceding claim, characterized in that the protective cover is a plastic surface.
10. The structure of any preceding claim, characterized in that the molding is made of plastic.