Modular composite sill for threshold

Abstract

An adjustable sill assembly includes a substrate base; a sill plate connected with the substrate base; a riser having a top and two downwardly-extending legs defining an interior of the riser, said interior of the riser having a first flange and a second flange angling downward and toward one another; and means for supporting the riser on the substrate base including an adjusting screw and a corresponding T-nut, said adjusting screw having a head adjacent the substrate base and said T-nut slideably supported by the first and second flanges and wherein the riser is supported by the substrate base by threading the adjusting screw into the T-nut. In another embodiment, the adjusting screw is provided with a head that extends beyond at least one of the downwardly-extending legs of the riser to allow engagement and turning of the adjusting screw from the side of the riser.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An adjustable sill assembly, comprising: 
 an elongated substrate base;    a sill plate connected with the substrate base;    a riser having a top and two downwardly-extending legs defining an interior of the riser, said interior of the riser having a first flange and a second flange angling downward and toward one another; and    means for supporting the riser on the substrate base including an adjusting screw and a corresponding T-nut, said adjusting screw having a head adjacent the substrate base and said T-nut slideably supported by the first and second flanges and wherein the riser is supported by the substrate base by threading the adjusting screw into the T-nut.    
     
     
         2 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the riser is composed of a plastic material and further comprising: 
 an extension connected to each of the first and second flanges, said extension composed of a plastic material having a softer durometer than the plastic material of the riser.    
     
     
         3 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a trim piece having first and second connecting extensions and wherein the substrate base defines a first trim groove in the top surface of the substrate base and a second trim groove in a bottom surface of the substrate base, said first and second connecting extensions engaging with the first and second trim grooves to attach the trim piece to the substrate base.  
     
     
         4 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated substrate base is composed of a molded composite material.  
     
     
         5 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said substrate base defines a T-shaped slot extending along the length of the substrate base and open to a top surface of the substrate base.  
     
     
         6 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the head of said adjusting screw is slideably supported within the T-shaped slot.  
     
     
         7 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said sill plate includes a generally vertical sealing lip and said riser includes a third leg extending over the sealing lip.  
     
     
         8 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the third leg of the riser includes a sealing extension that engages the sealing lip.  
     
     
         9 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the sealing lip includes a ridge that engages the third leg of the riser.  
     
     
         10 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the head of said adjusting screw has a diameter that is wider than a distance between the two downwardly-extending legs of the riser.  
     
     
         11 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said substrate defines at least one hole having an axis that is parallel to an axis of and alignable with the adjusting screw to permit access to the adjustment screw through the hole.  
     
     
         12 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the downwardly-extending legs of the riser defines at least one slot and wherein the head of the adjusting screw partially extends through said slot.  
     
     
         13 . An adjustable sill assembly, comprising: 
 an elongated substrate base;    a sill plate connected with the substrate base;    a riser having a top and first and second downwardly-extending legs defining an interior of the riser, said interior of the riser having a first flange and a second flange angling downward and toward one another, said first downwardly-extending leg being adjacent the sill plate; and    means for supporting the riser on the substrate base including an adjusting screw and a corresponding T-nut, said adjusting screw having a head adjacent the substrate base and said T-nut slideably supported by the first and second flanges and wherein the riser is supported by the substrate base by threading the adjusting screw into the T-nut; and    said head of said adjusting screw extending beyond the second downwardly-extending leg of the riser.    
     
     
         14 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the second downwardly-extending leg of the riser defines at least one slot and wherein the head of the adjusting screw partially extends through said slot.  
     
     
         15 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said sill plate includes a generally vertical sealing lip and said riser includes a third leg extending over the sealing lip.  
     
     
         16 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the third leg of the riser includes a sealing extension that engages the sealing lip.  
     
     
         17 . An adjustable sill assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the sealing lip includes a ridge that engages the third leg of the riser.  
     
     
         18 . A method of preparing a sill assembly for installation into a door frame having first and second door jambs, comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a substrate base composed of molded composite;    selecting a riser having a top and two downwardly-extending legs defining an interior of the riser, said interior of the riser having a pair of flanges angling downward and toward one another;    selecting a sill member and a trim piece;    attaching said sill member and trim piece to the substrate base;    sliding a plurality of corresponding T-nuts between the flanges of the riser;    threading a plurality of corresponding adjusting screws into the T-nuts; and    placing the riser on the substrate base between the sill member and the trim piece with the heads of the adjusting screws adjacent the substrate base.    
     
     
         19 . The method of preparing a sill assembly for installation into a door frame as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of adjusting the height of the riser by engaging a head of at least one adjusting screw, said head extending beyond the downwardly-extending leg of the riser adjacent the trim piece, to turn the adjusting screw.  
     
     
         20 . The method of preparing a sill assembly for installation into a door frame as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of adjusting the height of the riser by engaging and turning at least one adjusting screw through a hole defined by said substrate.  
     
     
         21 . The method of preparing a sill assembly for installation into a door frame as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of adjusting the height of the riser by engaging and turning at least one adjusting screw through a hole defined by the top of said riser.