Modularized safety door

Abstract

A modular safety door system includes a hollow door and a reinforcement member. The hollow door has an interior space and an opening to the interior space. A housing is positioned in the interior space for receiving the reinforcement member. The opening is aligned with the housing so as to insert the reinforcing member into the housing. In another embodiment, the reinforcing member is plate-shaped. A bracket having a channel sized and shaped to receive an edge of the plate-like reinforcement member is positioned outside the facade. In another embodiment, the plate-like reinforcement member has a laminated structure having at least two layers made of different materials. These layers may be laminated together to form a reinforcement member prior to installation to the door, or may be assembled to the door.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 481,424, filed on January 25, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0002] The present invention relates to a safety door, and in particular to a modular safety door system.

[0003] Every year, residential and non-residential burglaries result in billions of dollars in property losses. Most burglaries involve forced entry or attempted forced entry. Standard metal security doors are widely used nationwide as an inexpensive way to protect building entrance and emergency exit doors. These standard doors are typically hollow, consisting of inner and outer layers of thin-gauge metal that are bent, welded, and sewn together using a variety of techniques. The interior space within the hollow door is often filled with cardboard, foam, or other standard filler. This filler typically provides some thermal insulation (for example, for cold weather) and improves fire ratings, but it provides minimal structural support for the door.

[0004] Standard hollow metal doors are susceptible to damage from modern powered cutting tools, which can easily compromise a building's security. Portable, battery-powered grinders, reciprocating saws, and circular saws are inexpensive and readily available, capable of cutting through any material, including metal and concrete. These tools can quickly cut through traditional security doors, providing easy access to a building. While security doors may include sensors to detect vibration or damage, these sensors are expensive, unstable, and uncommon.

[0005] Security doors are often located at the rear of buildings, in alleys, or other inconspicuous locations, making them concealed and potentially vulnerable to forced entry. For example, retail businesses such as liquor stores and electronics stores often store their inventory in storage rooms located at the rear of buildings or near alleys to facilitate the distribution and storage of large quantities of product. Standard metal security doors are often insufficient to prevent forced entry into these storage rooms, making them easy targets for theft of readily accessible and easily moved valuable inventory.

[0006] Security doors can be manufactured with integrated features to increase resistance to power tools and other forced entry methods, such as reinforcing steel bars and steel plates. These features are either located within the interior space of the hollow door for immediate engagement by tools or applied to the surface of the door. However, these integrated security features increase the manufacturing difficulty, add time and cost to the manufacturing process, and make it expensive to maintain an inventory of security door products. Security features also increase the weight of the door, which increases the likelihood and cost of damage during shipping and increases the difficulty of installing the security door. As a result, manufacturers and dealers may be unable to respond to customer needs, which are often unplanned (e.g., commercial burglary) and require an immediate response to protect property and valuable product inventory.

[0007] Ideally, a modular security door system would be available in which security features can be added to the door after manufacture, such as by a third party before or during installation. This modular system would also allow users to customize the door's security features during manufacturing / supply chain or installation, and to upgrade security features in the future. A modular system also offers a cost-effective alternative to maintaining an inventory of "blank" doors without security features, ready to install, and allows manufacturers and dealers to respond quickly to customer needs. For example, a dealer could quickly install blank doors from existing inventory to protect a customer's property after a burglary without the delays associated with manufacturing and shipping a traditional door system with integrated security features. Installed blank doors can then be modified and upgraded to add customized security features. Summary of the Invention

[0008] An embodiment of a safety door system includes a reinforcement member, a hollow door, and a housing. The hollow door has a first and a second opposing face, first and second opposing vertical edges, a top and a bottom opposing end, an interior space between the first and second faces, and an opening located in at least one of the first and second vertical edges. The opening is sized and shaped to receive the reinforcement member. The housing is positioned within the interior space and is sized and shaped to receive the reinforcement member. The housing is further aligned with the opening to removably receive the reinforcement member therethrough.

[0009] Another embodiment of a safety door system includes a reinforcement member, a door, and a bracket. The door has opposing first and second door faces, opposing first and second vertical door edges, and opposing top and bottom door ends. The bracket is positioned on the first face and includes a spacer and a first arm. The spacer has a first spacer end and a second spacer end, the first spacer end being coupled to the first door face. The first arm extends from the second spacer end and is parallel to the first door face. The first door face, the spacer, and the first arm form a first bracket channel, the first bracket channel being sized and shaped to receive the reinforcement member.

[0010] Another embodiment of a safety door system includes a door, a plate-like reinforcement member, and a first bracket and a second bracket. The door has opposing first and second door faces, opposing first and second door vertical edges, and opposing top and bottom door ends. The plate-like reinforcement member has opposing top and bottom panel ends, opposing first and second panel vertical edges, and a vertical height between the top and bottom panel ends. The first bracket is coupled to the first door face and forms a first bracket channel sized and shaped to receive the top panel end. The second bracket is coupled to the first door face and forms a second bracket channel sized and shaped to receive the bottom panel end.

[0011] Another embodiment of a safety door system includes a door and a plate-shaped reinforcement member. The door has first and second opposing door faces, first and second opposing door vertical edges, and top and bottom opposing door ends. The plate-shaped reinforcement member is coupled to the first door face and includes a first layer and a second layer laminated together, each made of different materials. The first layer is coupled to the first door face, and the second layer is coupled to the first layer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 is a front cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a modular door.

[0013] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Side view of a modular door.

[0014] Figure 3 is a front cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a modular door.

[0015] Figure 4 is used for Figure 3 A side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a modular door bracket.

[0016] Figure 5 is a rear view of another embodiment of a modular safety door showing the installation of a reinforcement plate.

[0017] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Side view of the modular safety door and reinforcement panels.

[0018] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Detailed view of the modular safety door.

[0019] Figure 8A is a partial side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a modular safety door showing the initial steps in installing a reinforcement plate.

[0020] Figure 8B yes Figure 8A A partial side cutaway view of a modular safety door showing a partially installed reinforcement plate.

[0021] Figure 8C yes Figure 8A A partial side cutaway view of a modular safety door showing the installed reinforcement plate.

[0022] Figure 9A is a front view of an embodiment of a reinforcement plate for a modular safety door.

[0023] Figure 9B It is used to accept Figure 9A Rear view of an embodiment of a modular safety door with reinforcement panels.

[0024] Figure 10 yes Figure 9A The reinforcement plate is installed on Figure 9B Side view of a modular safety door.

[0025] Figure 11 yes Figure 10 Exploded side cutaway view of a modular safety door and reinforcement plate.

[0026] Figure 12 is a front cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a modular safety door showing the installation of a reinforcement plate.

[0027] Figure 13 for Figure 12 Side cutaway view of a modular safety door and reinforcement panel.

[0028] Figure 14 yes Figure 13 Detailed view of the modular safety door.

[0029] Figure 15 is used for Figure 13 A side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a modular door bracket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] See also Figure 1-Figure 4, an embodiment of a modular door system is shown, which includes a hollow door 10 and a reinforcement member. The door 10 has a relative front (outer) 12a and a back (inner) 12b, relative vertical edges 14a and 14b and relative top ends 16a and bottom ends 16b. An enclosed interior space 18 is defined between the front 12a and the back 12b. One or more openings 20 are formed in the vertical edges 14a and / or 14b. In one embodiment, the door 10 is a conventional hollow metal security door. The interior space 18 of the door 10 can be filled with various materials known in the art, such as honeycomb cardboard, polymer foam (e.g., polystyrene or polyurethane foam), metal vertical reinforcements and / or fiberboard.

[0031] The reinforcement member is positioned in the interior space 18 and preferably extends across the horizontal width of the door 10 between the vertical edges 14a and 14b. In one embodiment, one or more housings are positioned in the interior space 18, extending horizontally across the width of the door 10. These housings are configured to receive the reinforcement member and are aligned with the opening 20 so that the reinforcement member is inserted into the housing through the opening. The reinforcement member can be received in a single housing. Alternatively, multiple housings can be aligned horizontally across the door 10 to support the reinforcement member. The modular door system can include one or more plugs or covers that are configured to cover and conceal the opening 20 and prevent the reinforcement member from being removed from the housing.

[0032] The reinforcement members can have different configurations and can be made of different materials that are resistant to forced entry, such as cut-resistant materials, drill-resistant materials, and / or impact-resistant materials. In one embodiment, the reinforcement members are reinforcement bars or rods made of hardened steel or other metals or metal alloys known in the art. Suitable non-metallic materials include ceramics, carbon fiber materials, and polymer fiber materials (e.g., aramid fibers), which can be used alone, in combination with each other, or in combination with metals or metal alloys to provide resistance to various forced entry methods.

[0033] Figure 1 and Figure 2 An embodiment of a modular safety door system 100 is shown, wherein the housing includes a hollow tube 102 with an internal passage 104 that is sized and shaped to removably receive a reinforcement member (not shown). The tube 102 is preferably a cylindrical tube with a circular cross-section of its passage 104 that is sized and shaped to receive a reinforcement member. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the tube 102 and passage 104 may have other shapes, such as a polygonal or leaf-shaped cross-section. The tube 102 is preferably made of metal (e.g., steel) and may be secured to the door face 12a and / or 12a by welding, using fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets), or other methods known in the art.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the tube 102 spans the entire horizontal width of the door 10 between vertical edges 14a and 14b and has opposing ends 102a and 102b positioned at edges 14a and 14b, respectively. One or more openings 20 are formed in the door edges 14a and / or 14b that align with the tube ends 102a and / or 102b to provide access to the passage 104. The openings 20 are sized and shaped to receive the reinforcement member so that the reinforcement member is slidably inserted through the opening and into the passage 104. The modular door system 100 may include one or more covers (not shown) configured to cover the openings 20 to prevent the reinforcement member 22 from being removed from the tube 102. In one embodiment, the covers may snap fit into the openings 20 or may be decorative or designed to blend in with the door 10.

[0035] Figure 3 and Figure 4 An alternative embodiment of a modular door system 200 is shown in which the housing includes a bracket 202 configured to receive and support a reinforcement member 22 within the door interior 18. The bracket 202 includes a base 204 and an arm 206. The base 204 can be coupled to the front face 12a or back face 12b of the door to position and secure the bracket 202 within the door interior 18. The relatively large surface area of ​​the base 204 increases the contact area with the door surface and facilitates a secure connection of the bracket 202. The arm 206 extends between the front face 12a and back face 12b of the door to form a support for removably receiving the reinforcement member 22 thereon, thereby positioning the reinforcement member within the door interior 18. The arm 206 aligns with the opening 20 in the door edge 14a and / or 14b so that the reinforcement member 22 can be slidably inserted onto the arm. The reinforcement member 22 may be supported by a single bracket 202 that spans the horizontal width of the door 10 or by a plurality of brackets 202 having horizontally aligned arms 206 that combine to support the member 22 ( Figure 3 ).

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the bracket 202 is C-shaped and has a base 204 and upper and lower arms 208 and 206 that define a channel 210 within the bracket. The base 204 is coupled to the front face 12a or back face 12b of the door and has opposing upper and lower base ends 204a and 204b. The upper and lower arms 208 and 206 extend from the base ends 204a and 204b, respectively, and are positioned between the door faces 12b and 12a. An inner channel 210 is formed between the base 204 and the arms 206 and 208 and is sized and shaped to removably receive the reinforcement member 22. The inner channel 210 aligns with the opening 20 in the door edge 14a and / or 14b so that the reinforcement member 22 can be slidably inserted through the opening into the channel 210.

[0037] In one embodiment, bracket 202 is connected to both the front face 12a and the back face 12b of the door. For example, when base 204 is coupled to the back face 12b of the door, arms 206 and 208 have ends 206a and 208a, respectively, that extend toward and are positioned adjacent to the door face 12a for coupling thereto. In a preferred embodiment, flanges 212 and 214 extend from arm ends 206a and 208a, respectively, and extend generally parallel to the door face 12a. Flanges 212 and 214 increase the contact area between bracket 202 and the door face 12a, facilitating a secure coupling thereto.

[0038] In one embodiment, the bracket 202 has a generally rectangular cross-section with arms 206 and 208 extending at right angles from the base 204 and flanges 210 and 212 extending at right angles from the arms 206 and 208. The internal passage 210 preferably has a square cross-section and is sized to receive the cylindrical rod-shaped reinforcement member 22, such as Figure 4 . The box-shaped (right-angled) configuration of bracket 202, and the relatively large contact area of ​​base 204 (and flanges 212 and 214) for coupling to door panels 12a and 12b, provides added structural support to hollow door 10, eliminating the need for traditional core support materials (e.g., metal reinforcements, fiberboard). Bracket 202 can be made of metal (e.g., bent steel plate) or other materials known in the art, and can be secured to door panels 12a and / or 12b by welding, fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets), adhesives, or other methods known in the art.

[0039] The reinforcement member 22 typically comprises a relatively large and heavy element (e.g., a steel rod). The modular safety door systems 100 and 200 allow the reinforcement member 22 to be inserted into the housing (e.g., tube 102, bracket 202) after the door 10 is installed, thereby reducing manufacturing and shipping costs and facilitating installation of the door 10 and the modular safety door system. The reinforcement member 22 is easily installed by sliding it through the opening 20 and into the receptacle of the tube 102 or bracket 202. In a preferred embodiment, the safety door can be provided as a "blank" without the reinforcement member 22, but with multiple housings positioned within the door interior space 18, allowing customization of the number and location of the reinforcement members 22 in the door 10. For example, a dealer can install custom-configured reinforcement members 22 into the door 10 before, during, or after installation at the job site. The modular door systems 100 and 200 also allow for the installation of additional reinforcement members 22 at a later time for additional protection.

[0040] Figure 5-7Another embodiment of a modular door system 300 is shown having one or more housings including brackets 302 positioned on the exterior surface of the door face 12a and / or 12b (i.e., opposite the interior space 18) for receiving a reinforcement member 24. In one embodiment, the reinforcement member 24 is in the form of a plate having opposing top and bottom ends 24a, 24b, a vertical height A therebetween, a horizontal width B, and a thickness. The width B of the reinforcement plate is preferably approximately the width of the door 10 to provide protection across the horizontal span of the door. The reinforcement plate 24 provides enhanced resistance to penetration (e.g., by drilling and / or cutting) and can be made of metal, ceramic, and / or other materials known in the art.

[0041] The reinforcement plate 24 is preferably mounted on the back side 12b of the door, facing the interior of the building or other structure, so that it is inaccessible from the outside. A bracket 302 extends horizontally across the door 10 and contains a channel for receiving and retaining the reinforcement plate 24 on the door 10. In one embodiment, the bracket 302 has a generally L-shaped cross-section and includes a spacer 304 and an arm 306 extending from one side of the spacer. The spacer 304 extends from the door face 12b, generally perpendicular to the plane of the door face, and has opposing ends 304a and 304b. End 304a is coupled to the door face 12b, and a bracket arm 306 extends from end 304b and extends generally parallel to the plane of the door face (perpendicular to the spacer 304). The spacer 304, arm 306, and the door face 12b define a longitudinal, U-shaped channel 308 that extends horizontally across the door 10 and is sized and shaped to receive the reinforcement member 24. In one embodiment, the length between the spacer ends 304a and 304b is approximately equal to the thickness of the reinforcement panel 24 such that the channel 308 is sized and shaped to receive either reinforcement panel end 24a or 24b.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, bracket 302 has a T-shaped cross-section, with arms 306 and 307 extending on opposite sides of spacer 304. Arm 307 similarly extends from spacer end 304b in a direction opposite to arm 306 and extends generally parallel to the plane of the door face. Spacer 304, arm 307, and door face 12b define a longitudinal U-shaped channel 309 that extends horizontally across door 10 and is similar in size and shape to channel 308 and is designed to receive reinforcement member 24. Figure 7 An embodiment of a continuous pair of brackets 302 and 302' positioned outside the door face 12b is shown. The spacers 304 and 304' of the brackets 302 and 302' and the door face 12b form a C-shaped receptacle 26 sized and shaped to receive the reinforcement panel 24. Channels 308 and 309' of the brackets 302 and 302' are positioned at opposite ends of the receptacle 26, with the openings of the U-shaped channels 308 and 309' facing each other to receive the ends 24a and 24b of the reinforcement panel 24, respectively.

[0043] The reinforcement plate 24 can be installed by longitudinally sliding it into the receptacle 26, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 In one embodiment, the distance between the spacers 304 and 304' is designed to accommodate the reinforcement plate 24 (e.g., a distance of at least the reinforcement plate vertical height A) to allow the reinforcement plate to be slidably inserted into the receptacle 26. The distance between the arms 306 and 307' of the consecutive brackets 302 and 302' is less than the reinforcement plate vertical height A, so that the reinforcement plate 24 is retained in the receptacle 26 by the arms 306 and 307'.

[0044] Figures 8A-8C An alternative embodiment of brackets 302 and 302' is shown, which is configured to install reinforcement plate 24 by sequentially inserting end 24a into channel 308 of bracket 302 and end 24b into channel 309' of bracket 302'. Reinforcement plate end 24a is inserted laterally into channel 308 of bracket 302, and end 24b is then rotated toward door 10 and inserted into receptacle 26 to position reinforcement plate 24 adjacent to or flush against door face 12b ( Figure 8A and 8B ). The distance C between the spacer 304 of the bracket 302 and the arm 307' of the bracket 302' is greater than the vertical height A of the reinforcement plate to allow the reinforcement plate to be inserted into the receptacle 26. The reinforcement plate 24 is placed laterally into the receptacle 26 so that the end 24b is positioned in the channel 309' of the bracket 302' and can be fixed to the spacer 304' ( Figure 8C The distance D between the spacer 304 ′ of the bracket 302 ′ and the arm 306 of the bracket 302 is less than the height A of the reinforcement plate 24 , so that the reinforcement plate is retained in the receptacle 26 by the arms 306 and 307 ′.

[0045] The brackets 302 are T-shaped to facilitate mounting multiple reinforcement panels 24 on the door 10. Each bracket 302 forms channels 308 and 309 on opposite sides of the spacer 304, so that the bracket can receive the end 24a of the first reinforcement panel in the channel 308 and the end 24b of the second reinforcement panel in the channel 309. The spacing between the brackets 302 on the door 10 can be varied to form receptacles 26 of different sizes for receiving reinforcement panels of different heights A, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 The receptacles 26 and 26' are shown in FIG.

[0046] The width B of the reinforcement plate is preferably about the width of the door 10 to provide protection over the horizontal span of the door. In one embodiment, multiple reinforcement plates 24 are installed on the door 10 to roughly cover the entire door face 12b. Alternatively, the reinforcement plates 24 are positioned to cover selected portions of the door 10. The areas of the door 10 that are most vulnerable to forced entry (e.g., drilling or cutting) are typically areas adjacent to emergency escape bars, security alarm lines, or other door safety devices. The reinforcement plates 24 can be positioned in one or more of these vulnerable areas of the door 10 to customize the protective measures according to different application requirements or other possible expectations. Additional reinforcement plates 24 can be easily installed at a later time in response to changes in the required level of protection.

[0047] Similar to the reinforcement member 22, the reinforcement plate 24 is typically bulky and made of a relatively heavy material (e.g., steel). The modular safety door systems 300 and 400 allow the reinforcement plate 24 to be inserted into the bracket 302 after the door 10 is installed, thereby reducing manufacturing and shipping costs and facilitating installation of the door 10 and the modular safety door system. In one embodiment, a safety door "blank" is provided without the reinforcement plate 24 and with the bracket 302 (or 502 discussed below) to allow customization of the number and location of the reinforcement plates. For example, a dealer can install a custom-constructed reinforcement plate 24 into the door 10 before, during, or after the door is installed at the job site. The modular door system 300 (or 400, 500 discussed below) also allows additional reinforcement plates 24 to be installed at a later time for additional protection.

[0048] 9-11 illustrate another embodiment of a modular door system 400 in which a reinforcement member 402 comprises different materials. In one embodiment, the reinforcement member 402 is generally plate-shaped and has a size and shape similar to the reinforcement plate 24. The reinforcement plate 402 has a laminated structure comprising at least two layers 402a and 402b made of different materials, preferably having different physical properties. For example, the inner layer 402a positioned adjacent the door 10 can be made of a material that provides drill resistance (e.g., ceramic), while the outer layer 402b can be made of a material that provides impact resistance (e.g., a metal such as steel). Other metals and metal alloys can be used, as well as other non-metallic materials such as carbon fibers, polymer fibers (e.g., aramid fibers), and other materials known in the art.

[0049] The individual layers 402a and 402b can be laminated together to form the reinforcement panel 402 before being installed on the door 10, or the reinforcement panel 402 can be formed by assembling the layers onto the door 10. The layers 402a and 402b can be laminated together, and the reinforcement panel 402 can be coupled to the door 10 using various methods known in the art, such as adhesives, welding, and / or fasteners, as appropriate for the materials. The preassembled reinforcement panel 402 can also be installed on the door 10 using guides or brackets (e.g., brackets 302). The door 10 (e.g., door face 12b) can also be modified to accommodate the reinforcement panel 402.

[0050] In one embodiment, the reinforcement plate 402 is coupled to the door 10 by fasteners 404 such as screws, bolts, rivets, or other fasteners known in the art. One or more openings 406 may be formed in the reinforcement plate 402 and sized and shaped to receive the fasteners 404 ( Figure 9A A similar opening 408 may be formed in the door 10 (eg, the door face 12b) and positioned to correspond to the opening 406 ( Figure 9B ). Alternatively, as Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown in FIG, the individual layers 402a and 402b may have openings 406 and be assembled to form the reinforcement panel 402 and coupled to the door face 12b via fasteners 404.

[0051] In one embodiment, reinforcement plate 402 includes a first ceramic layer (inner) 402a positioned adjacent to door 10. Ceramic layer 402a is preferably coupled to door back surface 12b via an adhesive, and / or a subsequent layer (outer) 402b is coupled to ceramic layer 402a via an adhesive to improve the impact resistance of reinforcement plate 402. If the ceramic layer breaks or cracks, the fragments of the ceramic layer will be held in place by the adhesive and continue to function. The ceramic layer is also preferably bonded to a metal layer (e.g., ceramic inner layer 402a and metal outer layer 402b) to improve the impact resistance and resilience of reinforcement plate 402.

[0052] Modular door systems 300 and 400 include reinforcement panels 24 and 402, respectively, that are positioned on the exterior of door 10—eg, coupled to the exterior surface of door back face 12b. Alternatively, the reinforcement panels may be mounted to the interior of the door. Figure 12-15An embodiment of a modular door system 500 is shown having one or more housings that include a bracket 502 configured to receive and support a reinforcement panel 24 in a door interior space 18. The bracket 502 is positioned in the door interior space 18 and is coupled to one or both of the front face 12a and the back face 12b of the door. The bracket 502 extends horizontally across the door 10 between the vertical edges 14a and 14b and preferably extends to the entire horizontal width of the door. The bracket 502 includes an arm 508 extending between the front face and the back face of the door. The reinforcement panel 24 is removably received on the arm 508, which supports and positions the reinforcement panel in the door interior space 18. The arm 508 is alignable with an opening (not shown) on the door edge 14a and / or 14b that is sized and shaped to slide the reinforcement panel 24 into the door interior space 18 and onto the arm 508.

[0053] like Figure 13 As shown in FIG, two brackets 502 are vertically spaced apart within the door interior 18 by a distance E that is at least the vertical height A of the reinforcement panel 24. A channel 28 is formed within the door interior 18 between the two brackets 502, and the channel is sized to receive the reinforcement panel 24. The door channel 28 limits the vertical movement of the reinforcement panel 24 within the door interior 18 to hold the reinforcement panel in place on the door 10. The channel 28 can be aligned with an opening (not shown) in the door edge 14a and / or 14b that is sized and shaped to allow the reinforcement panel 24 to be slidably inserted into the door interior 18 and the channel 28, similar to the channel 104 and the opening 20.

[0054] The bracket 502 can also be configured to form a channel for receiving the end 24a or 24b of the reinforcement panel 24 to further restrict movement of the reinforcement panel within the door interior space 18. In one embodiment, the bracket 502 includes a flange 516 positioned on the arm 508 between the door front face 12a and the door back face 12b. The flange 516 extends from the arm 508 and is generally parallel to the door front face 12a and the door back face 12b. A bracket channel 518 is formed between the flange 516, the arm 508, and the door back face 12b to receive the reinforcement panel 24. In a preferred embodiment, the flange 516 and the door back face 12b are spaced apart by a distance at least equal to the thickness of the reinforcement panel 24, such that the bracket channel 518 is sized to receive the end 24a or 24b of the reinforcement panel. In one embodiment, the bottom end 24b of the reinforcement panel is received in the bracket channel 518 to position the reinforcement panel 24 adjacent to the door back face 12b and restrict lateral movement of the reinforcement panel away from the door back face.

[0055] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the bracket 502 can be oriented within the door interior space 18 to receive the reinforcement panel top end 24a, and / or can have a mirrored configuration to position the reinforcement panel 24 adjacent the door front face 12a. In a preferred embodiment, two brackets 502 are positioned and oriented within the door interior space 18 to form a door channel 28 therebetween for receiving the reinforcement panel 24, with the top end 24a and the bottom end 24b being received within the bracket channel 518.

[0056] In one embodiment, the bracket 502 may have a C-shaped configuration similar to the bracket 202, having a base 504 and arms 506 and 508. The base 504 is coupled to the back face 12b of the door, and the arms 506 and 508 are positioned at opposite ends of the base 504 and extend between the front face 12a or the back face 12b of the door. Flanges 512 and 514 may extend from the ends of the arms 506 and 508, respectively, opposite the base 504 and extend generally parallel to the door face 12a to couple the arms 506 and 508 to the door face.

[0057] In addition, the bracket 502 has flanges 516 and 517 that extend from the arms 508 and 506, respectively, to form a channel for receiving the end 24a or 24b of the reinforcement plate 24. The flanges 516 and 517 extend away from the bracket 502 in opposite directions, generally parallel to the door front face 12a and door back face 12b. Figure 14 As shown in FIG, a bracket channel 518 is formed between flange 516, arm 508, and door back surface 12b for receiving reinforcement panel end 24b. Similarly, a bracket channel 519 is formed between flange 517, arm 506, and door back surface 12b for receiving reinforcement panel end 24a. Flanges 516 and 517 are preferably spaced apart from door back surface 12b by a distance at least the thickness of reinforcement panel 24, such that bracket channels 518 and 519 are sized to receive reinforcement panel ends 24b and 24a, respectively.

[0058] Brackets 502 and 502' are positioned so that a channel is formed between them in door interior space 18 for receiving reinforcement panel 24. Arm 508 of bracket 502 and arm 506' of bracket 502' are spaced apart in door interior space 18 by at least the vertical height A of reinforcement panel 24 (not shown). Door channel 28 is formed between arms 508 and 506' and is sized to receive the reinforcement panel, with bottom end 24b of the panel received in bracket channel 518 and top end 24a received in bracket channel 519. In a preferred embodiment, positioning reinforcement panel ends 24a and 24b in bracket channels 518 and 519 positions reinforcement panel 24 adjacent to door rear face 12b. A distance F between flanges 516 and 517' of brackets 502 and 502' is less than the vertical height of reinforcement panel 24 to limit lateral movement of the reinforcement panel in door channel 28 and maintain its position adjacent to door rear face 12b.

[0059] The modular door system 500 may also incorporate the reinforcement plate 24 and the reinforcement member 22. In one embodiment, the bracket 502 has a similar configuration to the bracket 202, being generally rectangular in cross-section and defining an internal channel 510 between the base 504 and the arms 506 and 508. The bracket internal channel 510 is sized and shaped to removably receive the reinforcement member 22.

[0060] The bracket 502 preferably extends horizontally across the door 10 and spans the entire width of the door. Alternatively, multiple brackets 502 may be used to span the width of the door 10, similar to the bracket 202, i.e., the bracket arms 508 and 506 and / or bracket channels 510 are horizontally aligned to receive the reinforcement plates 24 and / or reinforcement members 22. Multiple brackets 502 may also be positioned or arranged vertically in the door interior space 18 to receive multiple reinforcement plates 24 and reinforcement members 22 extending vertically on the door 10. Figure 13 , a modular door system 500 may include a plurality of brackets 502 arranged in the door interior space 18 to receive a series of alternating reinforcement panels 24 and reinforcement members 22 that extend substantially across the height and width of the door 10. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other combinations and configurations of reinforcement panels 24 and reinforcement members 22 may be used.

[0061] Bracket 502 may be made of similar materials as bracket 202, such as metal (e.g., bent steel plate) or other materials known in the art, and may also provide structural support for hollow door 10. Bracket 502 is also secured to door face 12a and / or 12b by welding, fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets), adhesives, or other methods known in the art.

[0062] While specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It is therefore intended that all such changes and modifications within the scope of the present disclosure be covered in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A safety door system comprising: strengthening members; a hollow door having opposing first and second sides, opposing first and second vertical edges, opposing top and bottom ends, an interior space between the first and second sides, and an opening in at least one of the first and second vertical edges, the opening being sized and shaped to receive the reinforcement member; as well as a housing positioned within the interior space and sized and shaped to receive the reinforcement member; The housing is aligned with the opening to detachably receive the reinforcement member through the opening.

2. The safety door system according to claim 1, characterized in that The housing includes a tube having an interior passage sized and shaped to receive the reinforcement member; and The internal passage is aligned with the opening to detachably receive the reinforcement member through the opening.

3. The safety door system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The reinforcement member is a rod extending between the first vertical edge and the second vertical edge.

4. The safety door system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing is a bracket comprising: a base coupled to the first face; and an arm positioned on the base, the arm extending between the first face and the second face and sized and shaped to support the reinforcement member within the interior space; wherein the arm is aligned with the opening to removably receive the reinforcement member through the opening.

5. The safety door system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing is a C-shaped bracket comprising: a base coupled to the first face and having a first base end and a second base end; first and second arms positioned at the first and second base ends, respectively, and extending between the first and second faces; and a bracket channel formed between the base and the first and second arms, the bracket channel sized and shaped to receive the reinforcement member; The support channel is aligned with the opening to detachably receive the reinforcement member through the opening.

6. The safety door system according to claim 5, characterized in that: At least one of the first arm and the second arm is coupled to the second face.

7. The safety door system according to claim 5, characterized in that: At least one of the first arm and the second arm has a flange extending parallel to and coupled to the second face.

8. The safety door system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The reinforcement member is a rod extending between the first vertical edge and the second vertical edge.

9. A safety door system comprising: strengthening members; a door having opposing first and second door faces, opposing first and second vertical door edges, and opposing top and bottom door ends; as well as A bracket, positioned on the first door surface, comprising: a spacer having a first spacer end and a second spacer end, the first spacer end being coupled to the first door face; and a first arm extending from an end of the second spacer and generally parallel to the first door surface; The first door surface, the spacer, and the first arm form a first bracket channel, and the size and shape of the first bracket channel are designed to receive the reinforcement member.

10. The safety door system according to claim 9, characterized in that: The reinforcing member is in a plate shape, having opposite first and second plate surfaces, opposite top and bottom plate ends, and opposite first and second plate vertical edges; and Wherein, the first bracket channel is sized and shaped to receive one of the top panel end and the bottom panel end.

11. The safety door system according to claim 9, characterized in that: The bracket further includes a second arm, the spacer having opposing first and second spacer sides, and the first arm extends from the first spacer side and the second arm extends from the second spacer side; wherein the first door face, the first spacer side, and the first arm form a first bracket channel, and the first door face, the second spacer side, and the second arm form a second bracket channel; and Wherein, the first bracket channel and the second bracket channel are sized and shaped to receive one of the top panel end and the bottom panel end.

12. A safety door system comprising: a door having opposing first and second door faces, opposing first and second vertical door edges, and opposing top and bottom door ends; a plate-like reinforcement member having opposing first and second panel faces, opposing top and bottom panel ends, and opposing first and second vertical panel edges, the reinforcement member having a vertical height between the top and bottom panel ends; a first bracket coupled to the first door panel, the first bracket forming a first bracket channel sized and shaped to receive the top panel end; as well as A second bracket is coupled to the first door face, the second bracket forming a second bracket channel sized and shaped to receive the bottom panel end.

13. The safety door system according to claim 12, characterized in that: The first bracket includes a first spacer and a first arm, the spacer extends from the first door surface, the first arm extends from the first spacer parallel to the first door surface and has a first arm end opposite to the first spacer, and the first bracket channel is formed by the first door surface, the first spacer and the first arm; The second bracket includes a second spacer and a second arm, the second spacer extends from the first door surface, the second arm extends from the second spacer parallel to the first door surface and has a second arm end opposite to the second spacer, and the second bracket channel is formed by the first door surface, the second spacer and the second arm; and The distance between the first spacer and the second spacer is at least the vertical height of the reinforcing member, and the distance between the first arm end and the second arm end is less than the vertical height of the reinforcing member.

14. The safety door system according to claim 13, characterized in that A distance between the first spacer and the second arm end is greater than a vertical height of the reinforcement member, and a distance between the second spacer and the first arm end is less than a vertical height of the reinforcement member.

15. The safety door system according to claim 12, characterized in that The door is hollow, having an interior space between the first door surface and the second door surface; wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are positioned in the door interior space, the first bracket comprises a first arm, the second bracket comprises a second arm, and the first arm and the second arm extend between the first door surface and the second door surface; and The first arm and the second arm are spaced apart in the door interior space by a distance at least equal to a vertical height of the reinforcing member, so as to form a door channel for receiving the reinforcing member.

16. A safety door system comprising: a door having opposing first and second door faces, opposing first and second vertical door edges, and opposing top and bottom door ends; and A plate-shaped reinforcement member is coupled to the first door surface, the reinforcement member including a first layer and a second layer made of different materials laminated together, the first layer being coupled to the first door surface and the second layer being coupled to the first layer.

17. The safety door system according to claim 16, characterized in that The first and second layers of the reinforcement member are coupled together by an adhesive.

18. The safety door system according to claim 17, characterized in that The first layer of the reinforcement member is coupled to the first door face by an adhesive.

19. The safety door system according to claim 16, characterized in that The first and second layers of the reinforcement member are coupled together and secured to the first door panel by fasteners.

20. The safety door system according to claim 16, wherein: The first layer is ceramic, and the second layer is metal.

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