"Thermoacoustic insulation device for doors" DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for the thermoacoustic insulation of doors. [0002] Thermoacoustic insulation devices for doors to be applied to the base of the door so as to hermetically close the gap necessarily present between the door and the floor are afready known. An example of such device, generally called a draught excluder, is described in patent EP0844359A2, by the same Applicant. [0003] Such draught excluder device comprises a support channel-shaped bar, for example with a substantially U-shaped section, seals housed in support bar and able to make contact with the floor, and a system for moving such seals. Such movement system is associated with an actuating button which protrudes from the tip of the draught excluder device so as to be able to interact with a door jamb. In practice, when the door is closed the button is pressed against the door jamb so as to cause the lowering of the seal; when the door is opened, the button is released causing the return of the seal to a raised position detached from the floor. [0004] These known devices are attached by screws to the underside of the door. Some doors however, such as those made from aluminium or in PVC, have a central leaf to which the lateral section bars making up the frame of the door are joined. These section bars are screwed to their respective holes or threaded eyes made in a beading which extends along the surface of the underside of the leaf. [0005] The presence of such beading therefore presents an obstruction to the attachment of the draught excluder device, which must therefore be fixed in a position permitted by the beading above, which is often not the best position. The attachment screws are even often inserted in an inclined position and may limit or

constrain the very functioning of the device.

[0006] Another problem, with these types of doors particularly, consists of the fact that the section bars are box-like elements open at the bottom, thus enabling the air to bypass the draught excluder and thereby considerably reducing its efficacy. [0007] Lastly, the presence of such section bars requires additional processing for the milling required to hollow out a housing for the draught excluder device. [0008] The object of the present invention is to devise and make available a thermoacoustic insulation device for doors, particularly for aluminium doors, which makes it possible to obviate at least in part the problems complained of above with reference to the prior art.

[0009] In particular, a task of the present invention is to make available a device which can be mounted on the door in the most appropriate position, easily and rapidly and which at the same time permits an improvement of the thermoacoustic insulation of the door. [0010] Such object and such tasks are achieved by a device made according to claim 1.

[0011] Further features and advantages of the device according to the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, made by ,way of indicative and non-limiting examples with reference to the annexed figures, wherein:

[0012] - figure 1 shows an exploded view of part of the device according to the present invention, in a first embodiment;

[0013] - figure 2 shows a portion of the device of figure 1 assembled, with door open; [0014] - figure 3 shows a view similar to figure 2 but with the door closed;

[0015] - figure 4 shows a perspective view of a plug of the device according to the present invention and of the relative extremity of a draught excluder device;

[0016] - figure 5 shows the plug of figure 4 inserted with the draught excluder, in the respective section bar bar, seen from the side on which the section bar is attached to the leaf;

[0017] - figure 6 shows a perspective view of the other plug of the device;

[0018] - figure 7 shows the plug of figure 6 seen from another direction and with the draught excluder device inserted in it;

[0019] - figure 8 is a view of the plug in figures 6 and 7 inserted with the draught excluder device in the respective section bar, seen from the side on which the section bar is attached to the leaf;

[0020] - figure 9 shows an exploded view representing the mounting of the device to the door in a schematic manner;

[0021] - figure 10 shows one of the two plugs in an embodiment variation; [0022] - figure 11 shows the other plug in the embodiment variation;

[0023] - figure 12 shows the plug from figure 10 inserted in its respective section bar;

[0024] - figure 13 shows the plug from figure 11 inserted in its respective section bar; and [0025] - figure 14 is a similar view to the previous one but with the draught excluder device mounted on the door.

[0026] With reference to the aforesaid figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes the underneath part of a door. By underneath part of the door, the part facing the floor once the door has been mounted in place is meant. The door comprises a leaf 3, which constitutes the central part of the door and which may

terminate at the bottom with an applied element, known as a skirting, and a perimetral frame 5. This latter part is defined by at least two lateral elements 6A, 6B; 6OA, 6OB, one of which, for example that identified as 6A; 6OA is hinged to a jamb of the door. [0027] In each lateral element 6A, 6B; 6OA, 6OB of the frame there is at least one cavity or chamber 10 open underneath towards the floor. In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the door is in metal, such as aluminium, and the lateral elements 6A, 6B; 6OA, 6OB of the frame are composed of extruded section bars which define at least one cavity 10 open at the bottom. Hereinafter in the description for the sake of simplicity the lateral elements 6A, 6B; 6OA, 6OB will therefore be referred to as section bars.

[0028] The insulation device according to the present invention may in any case be applied to other types of doors, for example in PVC, wood or other materials, which comprise lateral elements with a box-like structure open on the underside. [0029] In the drawings, 12 is used moreover to indicate the" horizontal underside of the leaf 3 or of the skirting facing the floor.

[0030] According to an embodiment, each section bar 6A, 6B; 6OA, 6OB of the frame of the door has an first cavity 10 with a rectangular cross-section, the longest side of which extends perpendicularly to the underside 12 of the leaf and adjacent to an extremity of this, and a second cavity 14, also with a rectangular cross- section, but with the longest side perpendicular to the longest side of the first cavity 10. In other words, the two cavities 10, 14 are positioned in an "L" shape. " [0031] As can be seen, for example, from figure 1 , the,underside 12 of the leaf can be built in to the leaf itself, that is raised compared to its two edges 12' which extend downwards towards the floor in prosecution of the exterior surfaces of the

leaf 3. In other words, the underside of the door comprises an overturned U-section slot.

[0032] According to an embodiment, the section bars 6A, 6B; 6OA, 6OB are screwed onto the leaf 3. To such purpose, the section bars are ' perforated by respective holes 7 which intersect the first cavity 10 for the passage of attachment screws T which are screwed into threaded holes or eyes 16 made in the leaf 3. For example such threaded holes or eyes 16 are made at the extremity of a beading which runs along the inner surface of side 12. [0033] At the bottom of the door a draught excluder device such as that described in EP 0844359A2 may be applied. Such draught excluder 18 comprises a support channel-shaped bar 19, for example with a substantially U-shaped section, seals 20 able to make contact with the floor, and a system for moving such seals 20. Such movement system is associated with an actuator button 21 which protrudes from the extremity of the device 18 so as to be able to interact with the door jamb 8. In practice, when the door is closed the button 21 is pressed against the door jamb so as to cause the lowering of the seals 20; when the door is opened, the button 21 is released causing the return of the seals to a raised position detached from the floor. [0034] The draught excluder device 18 extends across the entire width of the door, passing below the underside 12 and the lateral section bars 6A, 6B; 6OA, 6OB. A feature of the lateral section bars is that the longest side of the first cavity 10 of the section bars is longer than the width of the support bar 19. As a result, such cavity 10 extends transversally and straddles the relative extremity of the draught excluder device 18, with the consequent negative effects of circulation of air and noise, as discussed with regard to the prior art. [0035] According to a general embodiment, for each cavity 10 intersecting the

draught excluder device 18 there is a respective seal plug 3OA, 3OB; 300A, 300B which also acts as a means of attachment of an extremity of the draught excluder device 18 to the relative section bar 6A, 6B; 6OA, 6OB, and therefore to the door. [0036] In other words, the draught excluder device 18 is not, as in the -prior art, fixed to the underside 12 of the leaf 3, but is fastened at the extremities by the plugs 3OA, 3OB; 300A, 300B which in turn are attached to the respective section bars. [0037] According to the embodiment illustrated in figures 1-9, the section bars 6A ₁ 6B of the frame are cut transversally at the level of the ' underside 12 of the leaf. Such section bars therefore form a step or dis-level with the edges 12' of such side 12.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, each plug 3OA, 3OB comprises a coupling portion 31A ₁ 31 B which couples onto its respective section bar 6A ₁ 6B, in such a way to occlude the aperture at least of the first cavity 10 and to fasten the plug to the section bar, and an emerging portion 32A, 32B, which extends from said coupling portion 31A ₁ 31 B so as to protrude from the cavity 10. In the emerging portion 32A, 32B a seat 33A, 33B is provided in such a way to accommodate and block an extremity 19A, 19B of the channel-shaped support bar 19 of the draught excluder device 18. [0039] Advantageously, the coupling portion 31A, 31 B is made, or in any case comprises, at least one insertion appendage 36 suitable for insertion with geometric coupling at least in the first cavity 10. Insertion with geometric coupling is taken to mean that the insertion appendages 36 have a form which is complementary to the cavity 10, so as to produce a male-female type coupling entailing closure of the cavity 10. [0040] According to one embodiment, such geometric coupling may be of the

forced type, that is with calibrated interference or press-fit coupling, so as to also fulfil the function in itself of fixing the plug to the respective section bar. [0041] Alternatively, or better still in addition, the insertion appendage 36 is crossed by a through hole 36' which, when the plug is fixed to the section bar, proves aligned to the hole 16 in the leaf and the hole 7 in the section 'bar, so. as to be engaged by the same attachment screw T which fixes the section bar to the leaf. [0042] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in figures- 1-9, each plug 30A ₁ 3OB includes two insertion appendages 36, 38, the second appendage 38, which extends orthogonally to the first, being suitable for insertion, for example it too with geometric coupling, in the second cavity 14 of the section bar 6A,,6B.

[0043] Advantageously, the emerging portion 32A, 32B of the plug has the same cross-section bar as the respective section bar 6A, 6B, in such a way as to be configured as a continuation of the same section bar. Such emerging portion 32A, 32B has moreover such an extension as to be aligned with the edges 12' of the underside 12 of the leaf (figures 2 and 3) when the plug is fixed to the section bar. In practice, therefore, in this embodiment the plugs 3OA, 3OB Occupy the space defined by the step or dis-level between the edges 12' of the underside 12 of the leaf or skirting 3 and the section bars 6A, 6B. In other terms again, the plugs 3OA and 3OB substitute the missing portion of extremity of the section bars 6A, 6B. [0044] The advantage of this form of embodiment consists mainly in the fact that the section bars 6A, 6B are easy to produce, in that they need only be cut transversally to the desired size.

[0045] According to an embodiment variation illustrated in figures 10-14, the section bars 6OA, 6OB extend downwards so as to be aligned with the lower extremity of the leaf, edges 12' included, but present a slot or milling 60' essentially aligned and

continuing the underside 12 of the leaf, as will be illustrated further below. [0046] In such embodiment, the plugs 300A, 300B comprise a single insertion appendage 36 suitable for inserting in the first cavity 10 of the section bars 6OA, 6OB. In this case, the emerging portion 320A, 320B serves merely-to define the seat 330A, 330B for blocking of the extremity 19A, 19B of the support bar 19 of the draught excluder 18. Such emerging portion 320A, 320B is suitable for hpusing in the slot or milling 60' made in the section bars 6OA, 6OB.

[0047] The advantage of this embodiment consists mainly in the fact that the external surfaces, exposed to view, of the section bars 6OA, 6OB are continuous surfaces, as in the case of traditional section bars. In effect, in this case, the plugs 300A, 300B are completely hidden from view.

[0048] Furthermore the plugs 300A, 300B may be applied to a wide range of section bars, given that their only requirement is a cavity 10 which is always present and has standard dimensions. [0049] However the fabrication of the section bars 6OA, 6OB is a little more complex in that it requires the additional processing to produce the slot 60'. [0050] In both embodiments, the seats 33A; 330A are geometrically press-fitted, that is with calibrated interference, or in a forced manner, with the extremity 19A of the support bar from which the button 21 extends. For example such seats have lateral walls 40 with a lower shaped area 40' able to receive ^" a portion of counter- shaped extremity 19A of the support bar 19. ^'

[0051] In both embodiments, in the seats 33B ₁ - 330B, that is where the button 21 is not present, there is a pin 42 facing downwards and able to engage the extremity 19B of the support bar to fix it to the plug. [0052] In an example, the jamb 8 of the door is fitted with a longitudinal gasket 81

suitable for producing a seal all along the line of contact with the section bar 6A, 6OA when the door is closed. Advantageously, the seats 33A, 33B; 330A, 330B extend in such a positron that the draught excluder device 18 can be mounted, with respect to the underside 12 of the leaf, close to one of the edges 12', the one closest to the gasket 81. The seats 33A, 33B; 330A, 330B also have a lateral window 82 through which the gasket 81 can make contact with the seals of the draught excluder device 18. In this manner a continuous seal between the door and floor and the door and jamb 8 is created with drastic reduction of the transit of air and noise through the closed door. [0053] It should be noted that the plugs 3OA, 3OB, 300A, 300B may advantageously be made from plastic material by means of moulding. Furthermore, they may be made, especially in the embodiments shown in figures 1 - 9 in the same colour as the section bars to which they are applied, so as not to be visible to the eye. [0054] The device according to the present invention, comprising the draught excluder device and the plugs for the section bars, is even easier to apply to a door than a traditional draught excluder which must be attached to the underside of the door using a considerable number of screws. In this case in fact it is sufficient to insert the extremities of the draught excluder in the respective seats of the plugs, without the use of any special means of attachment and relative tools, and apply the plugs to the section bars, for example using the same attachment screws as fix them to the leaf of the door.

[0055] Furthermore the draught excluder device may be mounted in the ideal position, independently of the presence of beading on the inside of the underside of the leaf constituting an obstacle to traditional screw attachment. ^' [0056] As well as the advantages mentioned above of a structural type, the device

according to the present invention offers the chance of significantly improving thermoacoustic insulation of the door thanks to the possibility of sealing the apertures in the lateral section bars, especially the cavity which, straddling the draught excluder device, constituted a passage for the transit of air thereby reducing the efficacy of the device.

[0057] To the embodiments of the device as described above, a man skilled in the art may make adjustments, modifications and replacement of elements with others having an equivalent function in order to satisfy contingent requirements, without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the appended claims. [0058] For example in the case of two-leaf door, the plugs may be traversed by a seat for the locking pin of the door to the floor.

[0059] Each of the features described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be made independently of the other embodiments described.