The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 05, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 02, 1996
John M Antos, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
John R Selina, Brighton, MI (US);
David B Cameron, Brighton, MI (US);
James M Byrne, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Gerard Cornelis Rijn, Etten-Leur, NL;
Marinus Antonius Ros, Etten-Leur, NL;
Thetford Corporation, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A door assembly to be attached to a cutout in the side wall of a recreational vehicle for alternatively closing off and providing access to an internal compartment. A body frame is attached to the cut out in the side wall. A door panel is attached by a hinge to the body frame. A pair of push button latch mechanisms, one of which contains an integrated lock, retains the door panel in the closed position. The locking latch may be switched to the locked position when the door is open, automatically locking the door when it is closed. A flexible seal, incorporating a double sealing surface feature, is attached to the perimeter of the door and seats against the frame when the door is closed. The door panel includes a separate door wall and inner and outer door frames which are joined by a retaining clip. The metal retaining clip has a return bent upon itself shape and pointed wedge shaped upset portions for joining the outer and inner door frames. The hinge is formed by portions of the frame and door panel that are flush with or recessed from the maximum protrusion distance of the door panel from the side wall, joined by a hinge pin that is not accessible when the door is closed and which is designed to break away if destructive forces are place on the door assembly.