The invention relates to systems and techniques for manufacturing articles containing cellulosic material, a coupling agent, and a binder resin, and related processes of making and using the cellulosic articles. In particularly exemplary embodiments, the manufactured articles are door skins, sometimes known as door facings, and doors made from the door skins. The article contains a lipophilic cellulosic material, a coupling agent, and a binder. The coupling agent is believed to increase the hydrophilicity (wettability) of the lipophilic cellulosic material.

The invention relates to systems and techniques for manufacturing articles containing cellulosic material, a coupling agent, and a binder resin, and related processes of making and using the cellulosic articles. In particularly exemplary embodiments, the manufactured articles are door skins, sometimes known as door facings, and doors made from the door skins. The article contains a lipophilic cellulosic material, a coupling agent, and a binder. The coupling agent is believed to increase the hydrophilicity (wettability) of the lipophilic cellulosic material.

A door is provided that includes a door panel having a periphery and opposite first and second panel surfaces, stiles and rails collectively surrounding the panel, and sealant. The stiles have channeled stile surfaces extending across a thickness of the stiles and facing one another. The rails have channeled rail surfaces extending across a thickness of the rails and facing one another. The channeled stile surfaces and the channeled rail surfaces include channels with open ends that receive the periphery of the panel, first grooves positioned at first interfaces of the first panel surface and first edges of the open ends of the channels, and second grooves positioned at second interfaces of the second panel surface and second edges of the open ends of the channels. The sealant is received in the first and second grooves, preferably forming a water-proof seal.

A door is provided that includes a door panel having a periphery and opposite first and second panel surfaces, stiles and rails collectively surrounding the panel, and sealant. The stiles have channeled stile surfaces extending across a thickness of the stiles and facing one another. The rails have channeled rail surfaces extending across a thickness of the rails and facing one another. The channeled stile surfaces and the channeled rail surfaces include channels with open ends that receive the periphery of the panel, first grooves positioned at first interfaces of the first panel surface and first edges of the open ends of the channels, and second grooves positioned at second interfaces of the second panel surface and second edges of the open ends of the channels. The sealant is received in the first and second grooves, preferably forming a water-proof seal.

A manufactured door is disclosed having at least one mid panel having a plurality of openings formed therethrough. In an example, two mid panels are assembled back-to-back with one another. The example manufactured door also includes a front outer panel assembled over the at least one mid panel to form a front door side. A back outer panel is assembled over the at least one mid panel to form a back door side. A door skin is laminated on the front outer panel and the back outer panel for a finished appearance to the manufactured door.

A manufactured door is disclosed having at least one mid panel having a plurality of openings formed therethrough. In an example, two mid panels are assembled back-to-back with one another. The example manufactured door also includes a front outer panel assembled over the at least one mid panel to form a front door side. A back outer panel is assembled over the at least one mid panel to form a back door side. A door skin is laminated on the front outer panel and the back outer panel for a finished appearance to the manufactured door.

A door is provided that includes a door panel having a periphery and opposite first and second panel surfaces, stiles and rails collectively surrounding the panel, and sealant. The stiles have channeled stile surfaces extending across a thickness of the stiles and facing one another. The rails have channeled rail surfaces extending across a thickness of the rails and facing one another. The channeled stile surfaces and the channeled rail surfaces include channels with open ends that receive the periphery of the panel, first grooves positioned at first interfaces of the first panel surface and first edges of the open ends of the channels, and second grooves positioned at second interfaces of the second panel surface and second edges of the open ends of the channels. The sealant is received in the first and second grooves, preferably forming a water-proof seal.

A door is provided that includes a door panel having a periphery and opposite first and second panel surfaces, stiles and rails collectively surrounding the panel, and sealant. The stiles have channeled stile surfaces extending across a thickness of the stiles and facing one another. The rails have channeled rail surfaces extending across a thickness of the rails and facing one another. The channeled stile surfaces and the channeled rail surfaces include channels with open ends that receive the periphery of the panel, first grooves positioned at first interfaces of the first panel surface and first edges of the open ends of the channels, and second grooves positioned at second interfaces of the second panel surface and second edges of the open ends of the channels. The sealant is received in the first and second grooves, preferably forming a water-proof seal.

A method of making a door involves providing a first door facing including a first raised region and a first panel recessed from the first raised region by a first dimension, and securing a first core insert having a thickness equal to the first dimension to the first raised region. A second door facing including a second raised region and a second panel recessed from the second raised region by a second dimension is provided. A second core insert having a thickness equal to the second dimension is secured to the second raised region. A central core component is secured to the first panel and the first core insert after the first core insert has been secured to the first raised region. The second panel and the second core insert are secured to the central core component after the second core insert has been secured to the second raised region.

The present invention is directed to a door facing blank having a first major surface with a design element formed therein, and an opposite second major surface. At least three longitudinally extending spaced stile receiving areas are disposed on the second major surface. Two of the stile receiving areas define a first width, and three of the stile receiving areas define a second width greater than the first width. The door facing blank may be trimmed to form a door facing having a selected width. A method of forming a door facing blank, and a mold press for forming a door facing blank are also disclosed.