Door assembly for buildings with high liquid-tight properties,

The present patent application relates to a door assembly for buildings with high liquid-tight properties.

As it is known, a door assembly for buildings comprises a frame mounted on the floor and fixed to a wall wherein an opening is defined, as well as a door panel connected to the frame in such manner to open and close the wall opening. The door panel can be hinged to the frame in case of hinged doors, or it can be slidingly connected to the frame in case of sliding doors.

The frame generally comprises two uprights that rise vertically from the floor and one crosspiece that connects the two uprights on top. However, the frame may also comprise only one upright or only two uprights.

Two tabs, which are shaped as opposite plates and are intended to be anchored to the wall, are generally fixed to each upright.

The uprights, the tabs and the door panels are generally made of wood or of materials derived from wood, such as MDF (Medium-density fiberboard). Multi-layer wood (generally made of three layers) is normally used. Multi-layer wood consists in multiple wood sheets glued together with fibers in alternate direction.

This type of door assemblies, made of wood or of materials derived from wood, is impaired by some drawbacks caused by liquid- tightness. As a matter of fact, when a liquid is poured onto the floor, such as for example the water used to wash the floor, such a liquid comes in contact with the lower edge of the uprights, of the tabs and of the door panel. Consequently, the liquid tends to be absorbed by the base of the uprights, the tabs and the door panel, causing the warping of the wood or wood by-product, thus rapidly damaging said material. Such an inconvenience mostly affects the uprights and the tabs. In fact, not being in direct contact with the floor, the door panel is less affected by this problem. Moreover, the door panel is sometimes completely painted or lacquered. Therefore, the paint on the lower edge of the door panel provides some water tightness. Instead, after they are painted, being long sections, the uprights and the tabs are cut to size in the lower edge and therefore the lower edge of the uprights and of the tabs is unfinished and tends to absorb a large amount of liquid, thus warping and getting damaged.

A process is known in order to provide at least a partial solution to such a drawback, said process consisting in applying waterproofing wax in the lower edge of the tabs and of the uprights of the frame. However, such a wax application process is complicated and expensive, and it does not always guarantee good waterproofing properties.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by disclosing a door assembly for buildings with high liquid-tight properties.

Another purpose of the present invention is to disclose such a door assembly that is provided with a liquid-tight system that is inexpensive, versatile and simple to apply.

These purposes are achieved according to the invention with the characteristics of the independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments appear from the dependent claims.

The door assembly according to the innovation comprises:

- a frame intended to be disposed on a floor and fixed to a frame wherein an opening is defined; and

a door panel connected to the frame and intended to open and close the wall opening.

The frame comprises at least one upright intended to be disposed vertically on the floor. The upright has a lower edge intended to be disposed on the floor.

The door assembly comprises at least one strip of adhesive material provided with liquid-tight properties and intended to be applied on the lower edge of the upright.

Not only such a strip of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties is easy to be applied on the lower edge of the upright, but it also ensures the sealing and water-tightness of the lower edge of the upright, preventing the lower edge of the upright from absorbing liquids, warping and getting damaged.

Additional features of the innovation will appear clearer from the detailed description below, which refers to merely illustrative, not limiting embodiments, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view that diagrammatically shows a door assembly assembled according to the innovation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an upright of the door assembly of Fig. 1 and an exploded view of a strip of adhesive film;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the adhesive film applied to the lower edge of the upright of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 3, after cutting and folding the adhesive film;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a tab of the door assembly of Fig. 1 and an exploded view of a strip of adhesive film;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the adhesive film applied to the lower edge of the tab of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is the same view as Fig. 6, after cutting and folding the adhesive film;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a door panel of the door assembly of

Fig. 1 and an exploded view of a strip of adhesive film;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the adhesive film applied to the lower edge of the door panel of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a roll of the adhesive film applied to the door panel, to the upright and to the tab of the door assembly according to the innovation. With reference to the figures, the door assembly according to the innovation is disclosed, which is generally indicated with reference numeral 1.

Now with reference to Fig. 1 , the door assembly (1 ) comprises: - a frame (2) intended to be disposed on a floor and fixed to a frame wherein an opening is defined; and

- a door panel (3) connected to the frame (2) and intended to open and close the wall opening.

The door panel (3) can be hinged to the frame (2) in the case of hinged doors or the door panel (3) can be slidingly connected to the frame (2) in the case of sliding doors.

The frame (2) comprises at least one upright (4) intended to be disposed vertically on the floor and fixed to the wall.

Optionally, the frame (2) comprises at least one tab (5) fixed to the upright. Fig. 1 shows two tabs (5).

The door panel (3), the upright (4) and the tab (5) are made of wood or materials derived from wood. MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) is preferably used among materials derived from wood. Multilayer wood (generally made of three layers) is preferably used among wood materials.

With reference to Fig. 2, the upright (4) is a strip that extends for the height of the wall opening. The upright has a lower edge intended to be disposed on the floor. The lower edge (40) of the upright is generally unfinished, that is to say not painted.

The upright (4) has a substantially rectangular section. For illustrative purposes, the upright (4) shown in the figures comprises a protruding portion (41 ) with width equal to approximately half of the width of the upright. The protruding portion (41 ) extends for the entire length of the upright, forming a step (42).

The upright (4) has a first longitudinal groove (43) and a second longitudinal groove (44) disposed on the opposite lateral edges of the upright. The second longitudinal groove (44) is disposed in correspondence of the protruding portion (41 ) of the upright.

The door assembly (1 ) according to the innovation comprises a strip (60) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties, which is intended to be applied on the lower edge (40) of the upright. To that end, the strip (60) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties has a rectangular shape, with slightly larger dimensions that the lower edge (40) of the upright.

With reference to Fig. 10, the strip (60) of the adhesive material with liquid-tight properties is obtained from cutting a multi-layer film (6) wound in a roll (R).

The multi-layer film (6) comprises:

- an adhesive layer (65) of acrylic material with a thickness comprised between 0.9-1.9 mm;

- a coating layer (66) composed of an ionomer of an acrylic and ethylene copolymer, with a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm; and

- a removable layer (67) composed of a polyester film with a thickness of approximately 0.05 mm.

With reference to Fig. 2 the strip (60) is applied on the lower edge (40) of the upright in such manner that the adhesive layer (65) comes in contact with the lower edge of the upright and the removable layer (67) is disposed outwards.

With reference to Fig. 3, the removable layer (67) is then removed and pressure is applied on the strip (60) in such manner that it adheres to the lower edge (40) of the upright.

Advantageously, the strip (60) has a slightly larger width than the thickness of the upright (4). Therefore the strip (60) is applied on the lower edge (40) of the upright in such manner that a border (60') of the strip protrudes from the upright in the direction of the side of the upright that is intended to be hidden. In the example of the figure, the side of the upright provided with the projection (41 ) is visible and directed towards the door panel (3); instead, the side of the upright in opposite position to the projection (41 ) is hidden towards the wall.

With reference to Fig. 4, the border (60') of the strip (60) is then folded in such manner to adhere on the side of the upright that is intended not to be visible. Moreover, the strip (60) is cut with scissors or with a cutter along part of its perimeter in such manner that the perimeter of the strip follows the perimeter of the lower edge of the upright along the side of the upright intended to be visible. In other words, the strip (60) is cut along the step (42) of the upright. The grooves (43, 44) of the upright are closed by the strip (60) in such manner to avoid infiltration. In any case, the strip (60) is perfectly hidden and not visible.

With reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the tab (5) consists in a plate that extends along the entire length of the upright (4). The tab has a lower edge (50) intended to be disposed on the floor.

The tab (5) is cut to size during installation; therefore the lower edge (50) of the tab is generally unfinished, that is to say not painted.

The tab has a substantially "C"-shaped section and comprises a central portion (51 ) from which a first rib (52) and a second rib (53) extend.

As shown in Fig. 1 , the first rib of each tab (5) is intended to be engaged inside the grooves (43, 44) of the upright.

The door assembly (1 ) according to the innovation may comprise a strip (61 ) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties, which is intended to be applied on the lower edge (50) of the tab. To that end, the strip (61 ) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties has a rectangular shape, with slightly larger dimensions that the lower edge (50) of the tab. The strip (61 ) of the tab is obtained by cutting the multilayer film (6).

Advantageously, the strip (61 ) has a slightly larger width than the thickness of the tab (5). Therefore the strip (61 ) is applied on the lower edge (50) of the tab in such manner that a border (61 ') of the strip protrudes from the lower edge of the tab in the direction of the side of the tab that is intended to be hidden. In the example of the figure, the side of the tab provided with the two ribs (52, 53) is hidden; instead, the side of the tab in opposite position to the two ribs (52, 53) is visible.

With reference to Fig. 7, the border (6V) of the strip (61 ) is then folded in such manner to adhere on the side of the tab that is intended not to be visible. Moreover, after being applied on the lower edge (50) of the tab, the strip (61 ) of the tab is cut along part of its perimeter, in such manner to follow the perimeter of the lower edge (50) of the tab on the side of the tab that is intended to be visible. In this way, the strip (61 ) is perfectly hidden and is not visible.

With reference to Figs. 8 and 9, the door panel (3) is composed of a generally rectangular panel. The door panel (3) has a lower edge (20) intended to be faced towards the floor in order to slide on the floor. In this case, the lower edge (20) of the door panel can be either painted or unfinished. In spite of the above, the door assembly (1 ) according to the innovation optionally comprises a strip (62) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties, which is intended to be applied on the lower edge (20) of the door panel. The strip (62) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties has a rectangular shape, with slightly larger dimensions that the lower edge (20) of the door panel. In this case it is necessary to cut the strip (62) along its profile so that the strip is not visible on the front and/or on the back side of the door panel.

It must be considered that the door assembly (1 ) according to the innovation is extended to a kit comprising:

- at least one upright (4);

- a door panel (3)

- at least one strip (60) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties, which is intended to be applied on the lower edge (40) of the upright.

Such a kit optionally comprises:

- at least one tab (5) intended to be fixed to the upright (4); and - at least one strip (61 ) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties, which is intended to be applied on the lower edge (50) of the tab.

Moreover, such a kit optionally comprises also a strip (62) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties, which is intended to be applied on the lower edge (50) of the door panel.

The innovation is also extended to an assembled door assembly that comprises said strip (60) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties applied on the lower edge (40) of the upright.

Optionally, such an assembled door assembly also comprises a strip (61 ) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties applied on the lower edge of each tab (5) and/or a strip (62) of adhesive material with liquid-tight properties applied on the lower edge of the door panel (3).

COMPARATIVE TESTS

Comparative tests were carried out by the applicant between samples of door assemblies according to the prior art and samples of door assemblies according to the innovation in order to measure water absorption.

Said tests were made on six samples (T1 , T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) composed of lower portions of uprights according to the innovation and according to the prior art, as well as on four samples (M1 , M2, M3, M4) composed of lower portions of tabs according to the innovation and according to the prior art. The tested samples are indicated in Table 1 below.

Table 1

The tests were carried out as follows:

Section of the Sower edge of the upright: 105 x 40 mm

Section of the lower edge of the tab: 88 x 32 mm

Length of the samples: 150 mm:

The Initial thickness: of the samples was. measured on the lower edge. The lower edge of the . samples was put in contact with a sponge soaked with ^: /water Jor a contact period of 4 hours and of 24 hours. At : the end of each contact period, the tower edge of the samples was measured again and the results are Indicated in Table 2 below.

Table 2

As shown in Table 2, after being in

hours and for 24 hours, the samples of the innovation (T1 72, M1 , M2) showed practically either no warping or minimum warping when compared with the warping shown by the samples of the prior art.

Said comparative exam pies cl ea rly show that the door assembly of the invention has higher liquid-tight properties compared to the door assemblies according to the prior art.