Quick installation door frame and method

Claim 3

A method as in claim 1 for mounting said frame sides in vertical alignment with respect to adjacent cripples which may be out of vertical alignment, wherein the hinge or strike frame sides are positioned in vertical alignment in spaced apart relationship from respective cripples, said first fastener means are caused to extend through said recessed openings into the cripples, and said hinges or strike plate are mounted into said depressions to trap said fastener means and preclude displacement thereof with respect to the frame sides.

Claim 4

A method as in claim 1 in which the depressions are formed with recessed annular portions around said openings and the first fastener means includes fasteners each having a head adapted to seat into the recessed portions, the method including the steps of inserting the fasteners through the openings with the outer surface of the heads seated in the recessed portion flush with the depression, and the hinges or strike plates are mounted in the depressions against the heads to trap the latter within the recessed portions.

Claim 5

A method as in Claim 1 in which the hinge and strike frame sides and header are provided with an outer, protective layer, the method including the step of stripping said layer from said frame sides and header following assembly thereof.

Claim 6

A door frame assembly for mounting a door between upright cripples of a wall structure, including the combination of a horizontal header extending between said cripples, at least a hinge or strike frame side extending below the header in association with a respective cripple, the hinge or strike frame side being formed with one or more depressions to receive respective hinges for mounting the door, or to receive a strike plate for operation with a door latch, means joining the header ends with the corresponding upper ends of the hinge or strike frame sides, said depressions being formed with recesses to receive first fastener means extending through said hinge or strike frame sides into the associated cripple for fastening the frame sides thereto, and hinges or a strike plate mounted in the depressions of respective hinge or strike frame sides to trap said first fastener means within the recesses and concEal the first fastener means from view, the lowermost ends of the hinge or strike frame sides being formed with top and bottom superposed pairs of opposed bendable tabs, said top pair of tabs being formed with openings to receive, when bent into alignment with an adjacent wall, second fastener means to secure the hinge or strike frame sides to said wall, said bottom pair of tabs being formed with openings to receive, when bent into alignment with an adjacent wall, second fastener means to secure the hinge or strike frame sides to said wall, said top and bottom tabs and second fastener means being positioned with respect to an associated wall base member or rug for concealment from view.

Claim 7

A door frame assembly for mounting a door between upright cripples of a wall structure, including the combination of a horizontal header extending between said cripples, at least a hinge or strike frame side extending below the header in association with a respective cripple, the hinge or strike frame side being formed with one or more depressions to receive respective hinges for mounting the door, or to receive a strike plate for operation with a door latch, means joining the header ends with the corresponding upper ends of the hinge or strike frame sides, said depressions being formed with recesses to receive first fastener means extending through said hinge or strike frame sides into the associated cripple for fastening the frame sides thereto, and hinges or a strike plate mounted in the depressions of respective hinge or strike frame sides to trap said first fastener means within the recesses and concEal the first fastener means from view, the lowermost ends of the hinge or strike frame sides being formed with top and bottom superposed pairs of opposed bendable tabs, said top pair of tabs being formed with openings to receive, when bent into alignment with an adjacent wall, second fastener means to secure the hinge or strike frame sides to said wall, said bottom pair of tabs being formed with openings to receive, when bent into alignment with an adjacent wall, second fastener means to secure the hinge or strike frame sides to said wall, said top and bottom tabs and second fastener means being positioned with respect to an associated wall base member or rug for concealment from view.

Claim 8

A door frame as in claim 5 in which the hinge and strike frame sides are of sheet metal construction formed to extend along and straddle the associated cripple, and the depressions comprise segments of the frame sides extending inwardly toward the associated cripple whereby a hinge or strike plate seated therein is substantially flush with the outward frame surface.

Claim 9

A door frame as in claim 5 in which the hinge or strike frame sides are positioned in spaced apart relationship with respect to the associated cripple, and said first fastener means is trapped to preclude displacement of the frame sides to accommodate any out-of-plumb condition of the cripples.

Claim 10

A door frame as in claim 7 in which said fastener means comprises a fastener having a head, and said depression is formed with an annular recess portion associated with said hole for seating said first fastener head therein with the head outer surface substantially flush with the base of the depression.

Claim 11

A door frame as in claim 8 and including in the combination said first fastener means comprising a nail extending through said hole into the cripple, with the nail having a head seated in said annular recess.

Claim 12

A door frame as in claim 5 in which a removable protective layer is formed on the outer surface of the header, hinge or strike frame sides whereby following assembly thereof said layer is removed exposing the underlying frame surfaces.

Claim 13

A door frame as in claim 5 in which the openings in either of the top or bottom pair of tabs comprise vertically elongate slots adapted to receive said second fastener means affording a range of vertical adjustment of said frame sides with respect to the wall without requiring removal of said fastener means.

Claim 14

A door frame as in claim 5 in which the hinge or strike frame sides include side casings formed with outwardly flared apart upper edges, and said header is formed with beveled end edges nesting between and in overlapping engagement with said upper edges of the frame sides to define a miter joint therewith.

Claim 17

A door frame assembly for mounting a door between upright cripples of a wall structure, including the combination of a horizontal header extending between said cripples, at least a hinge or strike frame side extending below the header in association with a respective cripple, the lowermost ends of the hinge or strike frame sides being formed with at least one pair of opposed bendable tabs, said tabs being formed with vertically elongate slots for receiving fastener means, said tabs being adapted for alignment with rEspect to the adjacent wall structure for receiving said fastener means and securing said hinge or strike frame sides thereto, the tabs and fastener means being positioned with respect to an associated wall base member or rug for concealment from view.

Claim 18

A door frame assembly for mounting a door between upright cripples of a wall structure, including the combination of a horizontal header extending between said cripples, at least a hinge or strike frame side extending below the header in association with a respective cripple, the lowermost ends of the hinge or strike frame sides being formed with at least one pair of opposed bendable tabs, said tabs being formed with vertically elongate slots for receiving fastener means, said tabs being adapted for alignment with rEspect to the adjacent wall structure for receiving said fastener means and securing said hinge or strike frame sides thereto, the tabs and fastener means being positioned with respect to an associated wall base member or rug for concealment from view.