Door stabilizer for a building

Abstract

According to the invention, an apparatus for stabilizing a door is disclosed. The apparatus may be a U-shaped member in which the edge of a door is disposed. The member may have press-fit features to resist removal of the member from the edge of the door. The member may also consist of a gap cover to at least nominally seal the interface of the door and surrounding objects when closed. The member may further define water path features to guide fluids down the length of the member. In another embodiment of the invention, a stabilized door is provided that may consist of such a U-shaped member. In another embodiment of the invention, a building with a stabilized door is provided. The adjacent objects around a stabilized door, such as a door jam, may be fitted with a second U-shaped member that may have some features of the first U-shaped member.

1 . An apparatus for stabilizing a door, the apparatus comprising: 
 a U-shaped member constructed of a rigid material, wherein the U-shaped member has a pair of ends, a central section, a first side and a second side, and wherein for at least a portion of the length of the member, the member defines: 
 a channel that is configured to receive an edge of a door;  
 at least one press-fit feature that is configured to engage the door when the edge of the door is received into the channel so as to resist removal of the channel from the edge of the door once received;  
 a gap cover extending laterally away from the channel, wherein the gap cover is configured to cover the width of a gap between the door edge and an adjacent object, on one side of the door, when the door is closed; and  
 at least one water path feature on the central section, wherein the at least one water path feature defines a path for fluid to flow along the length of the member.  
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid material comprises at least one of: 
 aluminum;    steel;    aluminum alloy;    steel alloy;    polymer;    plastic; and    composite.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one press-fit feature comprises at least one of: 
 a barb;    a knurled surface;    a ridge;    a fin; and    a rib.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one water path feature comprises at least one of: 
 a U-shaped groove;    a V-shaped groove;    a groove between two fins; and    an elongated bead.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides are perpendicular to the central section and the gap cover is parallel to the first or second side.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein for at least a portion of the length of the member, the member further defines a second gap cover extending laterally away from the channel, wherein the second gap cover is configured to cover the width of the gap between the door edge and the adjacent object, on the second side of the door, when the door is closed.  
     
     
         7 . A stabilized door, the door comprising: 
 a door, wherein the door has two sides and at least one edge; and    a U-shaped member constructed of a rigid material, wherein the U-shaped member has a pair of ends, a central section, a first side and a second side, and wherein for at least a portion of the length of the member, the member defines: 
 a channel, wherein at least one edge of the door is disposed in the channel;  
 at least one press-fit feature engaging the door so as to resist removal of the channel from the edge of the door;  
 a gap cover extending laterally away from the channel, wherein the gap cover is configured to cover the width of a gap between the door edge and an adjacent object when the door is closed; and  
 at least one water path feature on the central section, wherein the at least one water path feature defines a path for fluid to flow along the length of the member.  
   
     
     
         8 . The stabilized door of  claim 7 , wherein the door comprises at least one of: 
 a sliding door;    a sliding door in a set of sliding doors    a hinged door; and    a single hinged door in a set of hinged doors.    
     
     
         9 . The stabilized door of  claim 7 , wherein the rigid material comprises at least one of: 
 aluminum;    steel;    aluminum alloy;    steel alloy;    polymer;    plastic; and    composite.    
     
     
         10 . The stabilized door of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one press-fit feature comprises at least one of: 
 a barb;    a knurled surface;    a ridge;    a fin; and    a rib.    
     
     
         11 . The stabilized door of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one water path feature comprises at least one of: 
 a U-shaped groove;    a V-shaped groove;    a groove between two fins; and    an elongated bead.    
     
     
         12 . The stabilized door of  claim 7 , wherein for at least a portion of the length of the member, the member further defines a second gap cover extending laterally away from the channel, wherein the second gap cover is configured to cover the width of the gap between the door edge and the adjacent object, on the second side of the door, when the door is closed.  
     
     
         13 . A building with a stabilized door, the building comprising: 
 a structure comprising a roof, at least two walls and a door frame;    a door coupled with the door frame, wherein the door is configured to provide entrance to the building, and wherein the door has two sides and at least one edge; and    a U-shaped member constructed of a rigid material, wherein the U-shaped member has a pair of ends, a central section, a first side and a second side, and wherein for at least a portion of the length of the member, the member defines: 
 a channel, wherein at least one edge of the door is disposed in the channel;  
 at least one press-fit feature engaging the door so as to resist removal of the channel from the edge of the door;  
 a gap cover extending laterally away from the channel, wherein the gap cover is configured to cover the width of a gap between the door edge and an adjacent object when the door is closed; and  
 at least one water path feature on the central section, wherein the at least one water path feature defines a path for fluid to flow along the length of the member.  
   
     
     
         14 . The building with a stabilized door of  claim 13 , wherein the structure comprises at least one of: 
 a residential building;    a commercial building;    an industrial building;    a storage building;    a temporary building;    a permanent building;    a site-built building;    a prefabricated building; and    a kit building.    
     
     
         15 . The building with a stabilized door of  claim 13 , wherein the door comprises at least one of: 
 a sliding door;    a sliding door in a set of sliding doors    a hinged door; and    a single hinged door in a set of hinged doors.    
     
     
         16 . The building with a stabilized door of  claim 13 , wherein the rigid material comprises at least one of: 
 aluminum;    steel;    aluminum alloy;    steel alloy;    polymer;    plastic; and    composite.    
     
     
         17 . The building with a stabilized door of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one press-fit feature comprises at least one of: 
 a barb;    a knurled surface;    a ridge;    a fin; and    a rib.    
     
     
         18 . The building with a stabilized door of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one water path feature comprises at least one of: 
 a U-shaped groove;    a V-shaped groove;    a groove between two fins; and    an elongated bead.    
     
     
         19 . The building with a stabilized door of  claim 13 , wherein for at least a portion of the length of the member, the member further defines a second gap cover extending laterally away from the channel, wherein the second gap cover is configured to cover the width of the gap between the door edge and the adjacent object, on the second side of the door, when the door is closed.  
     
     
         20 . The building with a stabilized door of  claim 13 , wherein the building further comprises a second U-shaped member constructed of a rigid material, wherein the second U-shaped member has a pair of ends, a central section, a first side and a second side, and wherein for at least a portion of the length of the second U-shaped member, the second U-shaped member defines: 
 a channel, wherein the adjacent object is disposed in the channel;    at least one press-fit feature engaging the adjacent object so as to resist removal of the channel from the adjacent object; and    at least one water path feature on the central section, wherein the at least one water path feature defines a path for fluid to flow along the length of the member.    
     
     
         21 . The building with a stabilized door of  claim 20 , wherein for at least a portion of the length of the second U-shaped member, the second U-shaped member further defines a gap cover extending laterally away from the channel, wherein the gap cover is configured to cover the width of a gap between the door edge and the adjacent object when the door is closed.