GB2091340A

GB2091340A - Door fastening

Info

Publication number: GB2091340A
Application number: GB8135276A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Wardle & Matthwes Ltd
Current assignee: Wardle & Matthwes Ltd
Priority date: 1980-12-04
Filing date: 1981-11-23
Publication date: 1982-07-28

Abstract

A safety device comprising two parts for fitment to a door and door frame respectively for limiting the opening of the door. The two parts are constituted by a headed stem part (14) and a hinged plate member (20) having a slot (22) extending away from the hinge (24), the slot having a widened end at the hinge end of the plate member through which the head of the stem part (14) can be passed to engage the two parts, the stem then being able to slide along the slot (22) to allow limited opening of the door. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety device The invention relates to a safety device for limiting the opening of a door to a degree allowing a householder to look out but preventing a forced entry.

It is common for outer doors of houses and flats occupied by old people and those living alone to be fitted with safety chains for limiting the opening of the door to a degree allowing the householder to look out but to prevent a forced entry. However, such chains are generally of fairly light construction so that it is quite possible for the chain to be snapped by means of a cutter inserted through the limited opening or for its attachment means to be broken. The invention aims to provide a safety device of more robust construction so that it is unlikely to be capable of being forced quite so easily and so that consequently it can promote greater peace of mind for the householder concerned.

According to the invention, there is provided a safety device for limiting the opening of a door, the device comprising two parts capable of being secured to the door and to the door frame respectively, one of said two parts including a headed stem part and the other of said two parts including a hinged plate member having a slot extending away from the hinge, the slot having a widened end at the hinge end of the plate member, the arrangement being such that, in use of the device, when the hinged plate member has been brought to a position in which the stem part extends through the widened end of the slot, the door concerned can be opened to the extent allowed by the sliding of the stem part along the length of the slot in said plate member.The headed stem part will preferably be of slightly angled form to facilitate the engagement together of the two parts of the device, and the head of said stem part may be of part spherical form.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view drawn to a somewhat smaller scale than Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, which will presently be referred to.

Referring now to Fig. 1 , the device there illustrated for limiting the opening of a door comprises two parts 10 and 12.

The part 10 includes a headed stem portion 14 which projects outwards from an anchorage member 16, the latter being provided with countersunk holes 1 8 for the reception of respective screws (not shown) for securing the part in position on a door or door frame. The part 12 on the other hand includes a hinged plate member 20 having a slot 22 extending away from the hinge 24 by means of which said plate member is connected to an anchorage member 26. The anchorage member 26 is very similar to the anchorage member 16 and also has countersunk holes 1 8 for the reception of respective screws (not shown) by means of which it can be secured in position on a door or door frame. Both of the parts are very strongly made and the headed stem 14 and hinged plate member 20 are case hardened so that they cannot be sawn through.

It will be seen that the slot 22 has a widened end at the hinged end of the plate member 20, the arrangement being such that the part spherical head of the stem portion of the part 10 can be passed through the widened end of the slot but that when the stem is then moved along the slot it is captive therein until again brought back to the widened end.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the part 10 can be secured, as shown, on the face and at or near the free edge of the door. The part 12 will then be secured as shown, to the adjacent door frame. In use of the device, the hinged plate member can be pivoted so that the stem portion of the part 10 extends through the widened end of the slot in said hinged member. The door can then be opened to only a very limited extent, as shown, so that the householder concerned can check on the identity of a caller. The two parts can of course be very easily disengaged by closing the door and pivoting the hinged plate member away from the headed stem portion. The door can then be opened fully.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that alternatively, as shown, the part 10 can be secured to the door frame and the part 12 secured to the face of the door at or near its free edge. The device will of course be used in exactly the same way as before.

It will be understood that the device is very much more robust than the type of safety device including a fairly light chain. It is also found that the two parts of the device can be very easily connected or disconnected by feeble persons or those with arthritic fingers for example.

Various modifications may be made. For example, the anchorage members could be of a different form and the stem portion 14 need not necessarily be of round cross section. It could if preferred be made of square bar. The various sizes of the component parts can be determined by trial and experiment.

1. A safety device for limiting the opening of a door, the device comprising two parts capable of being secured to the door and to the door frame respectively, one of said two parts including a headed stem part and the other of said two parts including a hinged plate member having a slot extending away from the hinge, the slot having a widened end at the hinge end of the plate member, the arrangement being such that, in use of the device, when the hinged plate member has been brought to a position in which the stem part

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Safety device The invention relates to a safety device for limiting the opening of a door to a degree allowing a householder to look out but preventing a forced entry. It is common for outer doors of houses and flats occupied by old people and those living alone to be fitted with safety chains for limiting the opening of the door to a degree allowing the householder to look out but to prevent a forced entry. However, such chains are generally of fairly light construction so that it is quite possible for the chain to be snapped by means of a cutter inserted through the limited opening or for its attachment means to be broken. The invention aims to provide a safety device of more robust construction so that it is unlikely to be capable of being forced quite so easily and so that consequently it can promote greater peace of mind for the householder concerned. According to the invention, there is provided a safety device for limiting the opening of a door, the device comprising two parts capable of being secured to the door and to the door frame respectively, one of said two parts including a headed stem part and the other of said two parts including a hinged plate member having a slot extending away from the hinge, the slot having a widened end at the hinge end of the plate member, the arrangement being such that, in use of the device, when the hinged plate member has been brought to a position in which the stem part extends through the widened end of the slot, the door concerned can be opened to the extent allowed by the sliding of the stem part along the length of the slot in said plate member.The headed stem part will preferably be of slightly angled form to facilitate the engagement together of the two parts of the device, and the head of said stem part may be of part spherical form. In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view drawn to a somewhat smaller scale than Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, which will presently be referred to. Referring now to Fig. 1 , the device there illustrated for limiting the opening of a door comprises two parts 10 and 12. The part 10 includes a headed stem portion 14 which projects outwards from an anchorage member 16, the latter being provided with countersunk holes 1 8 for the reception of respective screws (not shown) for securing the part in position on a door or door frame. The part 12 on the other hand includes a hinged plate member 20 having a slot 22 extending away from the hinge 24 by means of which said plate member is connected to an anchorage member 26. The anchorage member 26 is very similar to the anchorage member 16 and also has countersunk holes 1 8 for the reception of respective screws (not shown) by means of which it can be secured in position on a door or door frame. Both of the parts are very strongly made and the headed stem 14 and hinged plate member 20 are case hardened so that they cannot be sawn through. It will be seen that the slot 22 has a widened end at the hinged end of the plate member 20, the arrangement being such that the part spherical head of the stem portion of the part 10 can be passed through the widened end of the slot but that when the stem is then moved along the slot it is captive therein until again brought back to the widened end. Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the part 10 can be secured, as shown, on the face and at or near the free edge of the door. The part 12 will then be secured as shown, to the adjacent door frame. In use of the device, the hinged plate member can be pivoted so that the stem portion of the part 10 extends through the widened end of the slot in said hinged member. The door can then be opened to only a very limited extent, as shown, so that the householder concerned can check on the identity of a caller. The two parts can of course be very easily disengaged by closing the door and pivoting the hinged plate member away from the headed stem portion. The door can then be opened fully. Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that alternatively, as shown, the part 10 can be secured to the door frame and the part 12 secured to the face of the door at or near its free edge. The device will of course be used in exactly the same way as before. It will be understood that the device is very much more robust than the type of safety device including a fairly light chain. It is also found that the two parts of the device can be very easily connected or disconnected by feeble persons or those with arthritic fingers for example. Various modifications may be made. For example, the anchorage members could be of a different form and the stem portion 14 need not necessarily be of round cross section. It could if preferred be made of square bar. The various sizes of the component parts can be determined by trial and experiment. CLAIMS

1. A safety device for limiting the opening of a door, the device comprising two parts capable of being secured to the door and to the door frame respectively, one of said two parts including a headed stem part and the other of said two parts including a hinged plate member having a slot extending away from the hinge, the slot having a widened end at the hinge end of the plate member, the arrangement being such that, in use of the device, when the hinged plate member has been brought to a position in which the stem part extends through the widened end of the slot, the door concerned can be opened to the extent allowed by the sliding of the stem part along the length of the slot in said plate member.

2. A safety device according to claim 1 , in which the headed stem part is of slightly angled form to facilitate the engagement together of the two parts of the device.

3. A safety device according to either one of the preceding claims, in which the head of the headed stem part is of part spherical shape.

4. A safety device for limiting the opening of a door, the device being constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.