Insulating Core Patents (Class 52/784.15)
  • Patent number: 6871600
    Abstract: Pultruded panels having a first longitudinal edge profile and a second longitudinal edge profile may be used to form a floor assembly mounted on a railway car underframe. The pultruded panels may also be used to form walkways, bridges, piers and other structures. A bead may be placed on at least one of the longitudinal edge profiles to form a gap between an adjacent pultruded panel. An adhesive may be placed within the gap to couple or bond adjacent pultruded panels with each other. Void spaces may be formed within the pultruded panel and filled with foam to provide improved resistance to heat transfer through the respective panel. Respective coverings may be placed on opposite ends of each panel to block access to the associated void spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: TRN Business Trust
    Inventors: Allen E. Norton, Stephen W. Smith, William A. Knapp, Alex K. Hoover, Dustin L. Troutman
  • Publication number: 20040231285
    Abstract: A door and a method for manufacturing a door are described. A door according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a split frame, or two frames. Each split frame is attached to an inner surface of a skin and a core material is poured onto the inner surface between the stiles and rails of the frame. The resulting door section is machined to a close tolerance and combined with a complementary section to form a complete composite door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: William P. Hunt, Brian D. Edstrom, Michael Charles Michie, George M. Clayton, Timothy Lee McCleery
  • Publication number: 20040177591
    Abstract: An in-turned annular flange of a refrigerator door panel is interconnected to an out-turned flange of a door liner through the use of individual seal and liner retainer elements which enable the liner to be snap connected to the door panel. More specifically, with one of the retainer elements initially attached to the door panel and the remaining elements are attached to respective side portion of the liner. One side of the liner is initially attached to the door panel and then the liner is pivoted until the remaining sides of the liner are snap-connected to the door panel. After the door panel, liner and retainer assembly are foamed during an insulation procedure, all the components are securely held in place. Finally, a door seal, which includes primary and secondary seal elements, is interengaged with first and second seal connecting structure defined by the retainer elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Jose G. Avendano, Larry Corbin, John P. Myers
  • Patent number: 6739104
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vacuum heat-insulating block including a honeycomb core, wherein the block structure prevents the honeycomb core having a low bulk specific gravity from collapsing by atmospheric pressure, the block attaining flexibility and sound absorption property. The vacuum heat-insulating block 100 according to the present invention is basically composed of a core utilizing a plurality of layered honeycomb members 50 (formed by bonding a honeycomb core member 51 to a support plate 55) and covering the core with a cover member 70. Moreover, a woven or non-woven fabric 60 having air permeability is disposed between the layers of honeycomb core members 51.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Jamco Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Tokonabe, Katsuhiko Umeda
  • Patent number: 6729095
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refined assembly structure of hubbed door leaf installed with glass, which comprises a first door skin with an opening, a second door skin with an opening, a top lacing material, a bottom lacing material, a left lacing material, a right lacing material, a handle reinforcement member and the ejected frame with multiplayer glass hold-down. The door skin with opening can be manufactured to be various shapes such as square, rectangular, circle, ellipse, and semicircle depending on different mold. When assembled, the lacing materials are mounted to the edges of the first door skin by the adhesive. The left and the right lacing materials are position-bonded, by ribs, to the flush-sided door skin. The top and the bottom lacing materials are positioned through the milled notches at the top and the bottom ends of the left and the right lacing materials. A reinforcement member is disposed at the handle position to enhance the mechanical strength of the handle while locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Nan Ya Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Kuei Yung Wang Chen
  • Patent number: 6725898
    Abstract: A door (10) made in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of panels (20) with opposed stiles (24, 25) being positioned at the longitudinal edges of a faceplate (21) of each panel (20) and with opposed rails (26, 27) being positioned at the lateral edges of the faceplate (21) of each panel (20). An insulation assembly (30) includes a sheet of insulation material (31) and a backing sheet (32) which has edges (33) which overhang the lateral edges of the sheet of insulation material (31). The insulation assembly (30) is installed in the door (10) by engaging the stiles (24, 25) with the longitudinal edges of the sheet of insulation material (31) to flex the same until the edges are received in notches (34) formed in the stiles (24, 25). Then the overhanging edges (33) of the backing sheet (32) engage the rails (26, 27) and deform to press the sheet of insulation material (31) against the faceplate (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Dewayne J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 6679019
    Abstract: A door assembly is disclosed that includes a latch-side stile with bores for accommodating one or more bolts that extend through the stile and into an adjacent doorjamb to secure door with respect to the doorjamb. A reinforcing plate is mounted on the inner edge of the latch-side stile with flared flanges extending into the stile bores to hold the plate in place and to make it more difficult to force the door open by kicking the door in the area of its latch and lock. A method of assembling a door including such a reinforcing plate is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Rochman Universal Doors, Inc.
    Inventor: Oded E. Rochman
  • Patent number: 6665997
    Abstract: In a synthetic door composed of two molded skins attached to a frame composed of stiles and rails of thin wooden strips to which the skins are adhered, with the core filled with a plastic foam, the improvement comprising a insert mechanically joined to each stile along their entire length, each insert having a channel device operable to interlock with its associated stile thereby providing the approximate strength of thicker wooden stiles conventionally used in constructing such doors, as well as providing finished vertical edges of the resulting door while significantly reducing the overall costs of such doors. In addition the insert can be employed to form an interlocking frame by extending the insert beyond the ends of the stiles and milling the ends of the rails so that they interlock with the channel means of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: Kuei Yung Wang Chen
  • Patent number: 6643991
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a fire door having a core, stiles, and rails formed of resin bonded exfoliated vermiculite, wherein the core has a density which exceeds that of the stiles and rails. The invention is also directed to such a fire door additionally having an intumescent material placed on some or all of the exposed edges of the stiles and rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Premdor International, Inc.
    Inventor: Hartley Moyes
  • Patent number: 6631603
    Abstract: A building structure offset uses hexagon structures assembled in an offset layering architecture to construct walls, floors and roofs. Hexagon building structures include interior panels adhered to both sides of a foam core. The structures also include radial cutouts the corners for offset layering assembly with another structure. Peg retainers selectively secure the hexagon building structures together. Fastening holes provide fastener locations for screwing or bolting through the layers of the hexagon structures. The holes align with an offset layer of hexagons when assembled in the axial direction. Conduit holes are selectively located depending on the fastening technique selected. The system includes five derivatives of hexagon building structures and a header, providing square, triangular, and curved geometries when assembled. Since hexagon buildings are built from hexagon building structures without customization, hexagon buildings can be rebuilt, modified, or recycled using the same materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Hexablock, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Zornes
  • Patent number: 6619005
    Abstract: An improved molded door having provisions for glass insert comprising at least 50% of said door's exterior surface includes a quadrilateral frame formed of a top rail, a bottom rail, a right stile and a left stile joined together, two sheets of molded door skins, each skin having a large central opening with an inwardly directed flange extending normal to its planer surface and around its respective opening, which flanges interlock when assembled on frame and form secondary frame for receiving a glass insert, means operable to join the skins to the quadrilateral frame, means operable to join the integral flanges of the skins in an interlocked relationship around their respective openings thereby forming an interlocked secondary frame for receiving a glass insert, a secondary left stile located between the joined flanges and the left stile with this stile joined to the skins and a secondary right stile located between the joined flanges and the right stile with this stile joined to said skins whereby the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Kuei Yung Wang Chen
  • Patent number: 6615544
    Abstract: A fire-resistant, aluminum, cementitious-material-free, insulation-free door adapted to prevent the spread of fire and heat passing therethrough, consists of: a door frame; a door hingedly mounted on the door frame, the door having a bottom wall, a top wall, and side walls, the bottom wall, top wall and side walls enclosing a hollow central core not containing substantial amounts of insulating material, the bottom wall having an outside surface, and the top wall having an outside surface; and a layer of intumescent material on the outside surface of the bottom wall. A heat-activated self-closing mechanism allows the weight of the door to close the door in the event of fire, by releasing gas from a supporting gas spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Nystrom, Inc.
    Inventors: Jalil Tlemcani, Michael J. Carroll, Patrick K. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20030150189
    Abstract: A laminated wood piece is disclosed comprising a solid hardwood component having an upper surface and a lower surface that are substantially parallel to each other and a wood composite component having layers oriented substantially parallel to the lower surface of the solid hardwood component. The ratio of a thickness of the solid hardwood component to a thickness of the wood composite component being from about 1:1 to about 1:10. The laminated wood piece is suitable for use a door stile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Nian hua Ou, David Russell Willis
  • Patent number: 6588162
    Abstract: A reverse molded fiberboard panel; a wainscot kit comprising a plurality of differently sized reverse molded panels, and a planar finishing or spacer panel, adapted to completely cover any size wall between a wall base board and a wall chair rail; and a method of reverse molding a loose cellulosic mat, in a single pressing step, to provide one or more relatively high density, raised panels without requiring preliminary pressing, or other pre-shaping step, such as scalping. The reverse-molded panels are molded in a conventional, multi-opening fiberboard press, in a single pressing step process, while achieving excellent transfer of mold detail (embossing fidelity) without visually noticeable fiber fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventors: Steven K. Lynch, Dale E. Schafernak, Karine Luetgert, Bei-Hong Liang, Lee Braddock
  • Publication number: 20030079438
    Abstract: A molded composite construction panel formed in a vertically oriented continuous molding procedure included a lightweight cellular core of rigid foam material and a relatively thin skin of fiber reinforced concrete encasing the core. The panel further including at least one integrally formed multi-faceted channel being substantially coextensive with at least one edge of the panel. A method of forming a building panel is also disclosed comprising the steps of providing a mold having a mold cavity, disposed vertically, that defines the mold surface for forming the exposed finish surfaces of a molded wall panel, where the mold cavity bottom and side edge walls define the edge walls of the molded wall panel. A foam insert is positioned and secured in the mold cavity. A slurry of concrete, sand, and fiber strands is formed to produce a homogeneous panel mixture. The mold cavity is filled with the panel mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Housing Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney O. Stephens, Harrel Dale Stocking
  • Publication number: 20030033786
    Abstract: A door assembly includes a plurality of spacers. The spacers have a first side and a second side. A first sheet of fire-resistant insulating material is coupled to the first side. A second sheet of fire-resistant insulating material is coupled to the second side. A first outer skin is coupled to the first sheet opposite said plurality of spacers. A second outer skin is coupled to the second sheet opposite the plurality of spacers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Leon Yulkowski
  • Publication number: 20020194805
    Abstract: A prefabricated sealed composite insulating panel for use in commercial and residential buildings. The panel has an insulating core sandwiched between an outer board layer and a skin material that is capable of radiating heat. The insulating core and the skin material are positioned so that they are offset with respect to the outer board layer such that the insulating core and the skin material extend beyond the outer board layer on one lateral side and on one transverse end. The insulating core and the skin material are recessed, with respect to the outer board by equivalent dimensions, on an opposite lateral side and on an opposite transverse end. The insulating core is completely surrounded and encapsulated by a plastic channel that protects the insulating core during transportation and installation. The composite panel, according to the present invention, provides a completely sealed panel that can be easily and efficiently installed on-site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Thermolock Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Cyrille Arseneau, Donald Fournier
  • Publication number: 20020189182
    Abstract: A structural building system including an improved, structural-load-bearing, building component, such as a building panel, having front and back sections, an insulating core, integral symmetrical joinery, a thermal break, and at least one shear resistance connector The panel is asymmetrical about one axis, and is designed to be directionally positioned with respect to the maximum anticipated force. A shear resistance connector array may be positioned between the front and back sections or may be integral to the front or back section. A face sheet may span one or more than one building panel, and provides structural support to the building system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Grant C. Record
  • Publication number: 20020184849
    Abstract: A press-molded door including a reinforcing structure having a plurality of hollow vertical stiffeners joined by a horizontal web, two of the stiffeners arranged on opposite edges of the reinforcing structure with a groove formed in an edge face thereof, a T-shaped stile arranged in each edge stiffener with a tongue that fits into the groove, and front and back panels arranged on opposite sides of the reinforcing structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Nan Ya Plastics Coporation
    Inventor: Kuei-Yung Wang Chen
  • Patent number: 6487824
    Abstract: A door member comprising a frame having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, a core positioned within the frame, and a molded skin attached to the first side of the frame. The skin is prepared from a molding compound which, when molded, has a shrinkage of between about −0.0003 to about +0.0015. The molding compound comprises a resin system comprising a curable polyester resin, a co-curable unsaturated monomer, and at least two low profile additives. The molding compound also comprises at least about 30 percent by weight, based on the weight of the molding compound, of filler material, and fibrous reinforcement in an amount of less than about 35 weight percent, based on the weight of the molding compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: TT Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. West, G. Daniel Templeton
  • Patent number: 6453638
    Abstract: A press-molded door including a reinforcing structure having a plurality of hollow vertical stiffeners joined by a horizontal web, two of the stiffeners arranged on opposite edges of the reinforcing structure with a groove formed in an edge face thereof, a T-shaped stile arranged in each edge stiffener with a tongue that fits into the groove, and front and back panels arranged on opposite sides of the reinforcing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Nan Ya Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Kuei-Yung Wang Chen
  • Patent number: 6412247
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a composite structural member comprising a body part and multiple rigid strips which are attached to and separated by the body part. The body part is formed by a core having substantially flat parallel sides and opposed edges, and the opposed edges are covered by the rigid strips. As an example, the core is made of gypsum, and the strips are made of sheet metal. The rigid strips enable screw fasteners to be secured to the structural member. The sides of the core are preferably covered by side sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: National Gypsum Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Menchetti, Matthew J. Kessler
  • Patent number: 6405509
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light weight structural element, in particular in the shape of a panel, especially for building construction, containing a support structure. The light weight structural element contains at least two supporting rods, which at their ends are interconnected by cross-bars. Between the supporting rods and the cross-bars may be a core; wherein the surfaces of the supporting rods are interconnected by an adhesive skin made from a material of a thickness between 0.5 and 5 mm. The invention also relates to the construction technique of constructing buildings using the light weight structural elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Ivan Razl
  • Patent number: 6401414
    Abstract: The use is described of rigid foam cores in panels, especially doors, of the kind comprising a foam core (22) between two molded skins (8,10). The weather-resistance, especially the resistance to thermally-induced bowing, of such panels is improved by forming the panel of at least one vacuum-formed thermoplastics skin (8,10) adhesively bonded to a substantially open-cell, rigid foam core (22). If the foam has frangible cell walls, it can be conformed to accommodate the depressed zones of a molded overlying door skin (8,10) by crumbling under compression, with fracture of the cell walls to accommodate the zones. A preferred open-cell rigid foam is a phenolic foam reinforced with finely divided particulate filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Acell Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Iain Steel, Aldino Albertelli
  • Publication number: 20020066258
    Abstract: A door for refrigerator which is sophisticated in design and provided at a lower production cost. The door for refrigerator is composed of a door panel made of metal and an inner plate combined with the door panel in a facing manner, a door cap which fits into the door panel and the inner panel in an upper portion, and a handle which fits into the door panel and the inner panel in a bottom portion. In addition to that, the door for refrigerator has a heat insulating form material injected inside. Then, the door for refrigerator is provided with draw forming at a position near to the edge of at least either side of the door panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Oishi, Shou Hanaoka
  • Publication number: 20020046544
    Abstract: It is possible to continuously obtain, through simple steps, a plate which can gain sufficient strength, which is very lightweight and easy to handle, and which has the optimal heat insulating effect. A plate 1 is manufactured by: guiding a glass fiber containing member 5 into a space formed by an outer mold 11 and a center mold 12; injecting a resin 4 into the space formed by the outer mold 11 and the center mold 12; integrating the resin 4 with the glass fiber containing member 5 to form a hollow panel 2; and injecting a foaming material into a hollow part formed in the hollow panel 2, and causing the foaming material to foam and integrate with the hollow panel 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventor: Yoshisada Inaba
  • Patent number: 6358614
    Abstract: A stain/topcoat system for non-porous thermoset and/or thermoplastic articles comprises a pigmented stain having substantially only a single binder resin which promotes adherence of a topcoat, and a topcoat which is an aqueous dispersion of a film forming polymer and a curable organopolysiloxane microemulsion. The topcoat displays exceptional adhesion and weatherability to pigmented stained surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Therma-Tru Corporation
    Inventor: Cem A. Porter
  • Patent number: 6311454
    Abstract: A door having a plurality of channel-shaped frame members encircling a core and being coupled to one another by interfitting dimples and projections at the confronting ends of adjacent frame members. On opposite sides of the core are panels having lips which are accommodated in grooves formed in the frame members. The components of the door may be assembled without the need for any tools and such components may be maintained in assembled condition without the use of separate fastening devices such as bolts, nails, screws, and the like, or any fixtures or measuring devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Globe Door, L.L.C.
    Inventor: John J. Kempel
  • Publication number: 20010029712
    Abstract: A wall panel including a rectangular frame, a pair of wall members and a thin decorative sheet covering the wall members. The frame includes two spaced apart, generally parallel vertical frame members and spaced apart, generally parallel horizontal lower and upper frame members. The horizontal frame members are connected to the vertical frame members at opposite ends thereof to form the rectangular frame. In one embodiment, each of the frame members includes a core member and a pair of sidewall members attached to opposite sides of the core member. The wall members are attached to the sidewalls on opposing sides of the frame members. In another embodiment, inner wall members are attached to the opposing sides of the frame members, and outer wall members are thereafter attached to the inner wall member. A decorative sheet covers the outer surface of each outer wall member. The wall panels are connected to each other with a connector member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Emaus, David B. Martin, Richard C. Weise
  • Patent number: 6301847
    Abstract: A wall panel including a rectangular frame, a pair of wall members and a thin decorative sheet covering the wall members. The frame includes two spaced apart, generally parallel vertical frame members and spaced apart, generally parallel horizontal lower and upper frame members. The horizontal frame members are connected to the vertical frame members at opposite ends thereof to form the rectangular frame. Each of the frame members includes a core member and a pair of sidewall members attached to opposite sides of the core member. The wall members are attached to the sidewalls on opposing sides of the frame members. A decorative sheet covers the outer surface of each wall member. A method for manufacturing the frame members includes providing a fixture with spaced apart first, second and third surfaces. A hanger bracket is mounted to the vertical frame core member and is positioned in the fixture such that the hanger bracket engages the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Beck, Paul Dame, Duane McClung, Thomas J. Newhouse, Ronald W. Norton, Jim Prisby, Gerald Schondelmayer, Sonia Nash, Richard Weise
  • Patent number: 6295787
    Abstract: An outer structure for a refrigerated food storage apparatus includes an outer shell forming a visible exterior of the apparatus; and an inner liner made of molded plastic and coupled to the outer shell, to form an inter-panel space to be filled with a body of foam insulation. The inner liner includes bosses of a predetermined length, integrally formed with the inner liner at regular intervals and extending toward the outer shell, to support and maintain a constant spacing between the outer shell and inner liner; a foam-injection inlet for injecting foam; and vents for exhausting air and gases generated during a foam injection process. A reactive foam completely fills the inter-panel space, to form a consistent body of insulation. The force of the reactive foam filling the inter-panel space closes a hinged first flap for covering the foam-injection inlet and a plurality of hinged second flaps for covering the vents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Mando Climate Control Corporation
    Inventor: Young-Kil Lee
  • Patent number: 6269608
    Abstract: Structural insulated panels having an inner insulating core and first and second outer facings disposed on opposed surfaces of the insulating core are securely attached to a structural member such as 2X stick structural members in a building structure. A strip of tape is wrapped around the structural member and opposed ends of the tape strip are adhesively bonded to the opposed outer facings of the panel. The tape strip may extend the full height or width of the panel to provide a secure, environmentally sealed connection between the panel and the structural member. An adhesive bonding agent may be inserted between an edge of the panel and the structural member to further increase the strength of the connection between the panel and structural member. The panel's edge may be provided with a C-shaped metal channel for more securely attaching the panel to the structural member by means of nails or screws driven through opposed ends of the tape strip and into the metal channel within the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: William H. Porter
  • Patent number: 6253527
    Abstract: Composite products comprising or incorporating compression moldings of waste or filler particles (16) encapsulated and bound together by a thermoplastic binder (15) into a compacted mass of a shape selected for its end use, the compression molding being prepared by intensely mixing together particles of thermoplastic and waste or filler material to raise their temperature to bring the thermoplastic particles to a molten state where they coat the waste or filler particles (16), then compression molding the hot coated waste or filler particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Royal Ecoproducts Limited
    Inventor: Vic De Zen
  • Patent number: 6240703
    Abstract: An enclosure door for an insulated space includes an insulated door member that is hingedly mountable to a door frame of an insulated enclosure. A release latch is attached to the door frame for opening the door member. Further, a protective member is affixed in covering relation to at least a portion of an inner face of the door member and is operable to open the door member upon experiencing an impact thereupon. In a particular embodiment, the protective member is affixed to each of a pair of facing door members, each operable to open both door members upon experiencing an impact thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: CNB Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Noel S. Brown
  • Patent number: 6226958
    Abstract: Compression molded pigmented door skins fabricated by compression molding a pigmented, curable, unsaturated polyester sheet molding compound containing a co-curable unsaturated monomer, a low profile additive, and a microvoid-reducing thermoplastic polymer, exhibit uniform stainability while maintaining a low linear thermal coefficient of expansion. Such door skins are suitable for preparing wood grain textured exterior insulated doors which exhibit minimal thermal deflection when exposed to interior/exterior temperature differentials, even at eight foot door heights. The doors may be stained without first applying a seal coat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Therma-Tru Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. West, Greg W. Scheffel, G. Daniel Templeton, Eugene R. Davis, III
  • Patent number: 6170224
    Abstract: A multi-panel hollow door has a core made of corrugated paperboard. The core is formed from a stack of plies in which adjacent plies are adhered to one another in accordance with a predetermined pattern of adherence (e.g., a gluing pattern). The stack is expanded in a direction perpendicular to the plies to form an elongated series of cells disposed longitudinally between transversely spaced panel indentations of a door skin, at a central region of the door. Each cell has a pair of transversely spaced vertices, and juxtaposed end portions of vertex-forming plies form tabs. Each tab is preferably oriented to overlap an adjacent portion of a vertex-forming ply, the desired orientation being obtained by partial slitting of a single vertex-forming ply. Unexpanded end portions of a stack of plies may be broken off to form pads between corresponding portions of the skins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Greif Bros. Corporation
    Inventors: George C. Boyse, Richard S. Colombero, David J. Wierzbicki