GB2142070A - Lockable pet door - Google Patents

Abstract

A pet door has a frame (11) defining an access aperture (14) in which a top-hung flap (12) is mounted for swinging in two opposite directions. A locking unit (16) is rotatably mounted in the frame (11), being rendered captive thereto by an integral fastening element (27) which snaps into place in a frame recess (25) of non-circular shape; the element (27) and recess (25) coact with a detent action to locate the locking unit (16) in any one of four rotary settings, The unit (16) has flange formations (34, 49) spaced apart by at least the thickness of the flap (12), the flange formations providing peripheral projections to control opening of the flap depending on the rotary setting of the locking unit (16). By manipulating the locking unit (16), the flap can be allowed to swing open in both directions, only in one direction, only in the other direction or not at all, in dependence on the positioning of the peripheral projections of the flange formations (34, 49) with respect to the edge of the flap (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lockable pet door The present invention relates to an improved lockable pet door.

Most commonly available pet doors permit pets to pass through the doors without let, in either direction. This can be a nuisance. The owner of the pet may wish to keep his pet indoors e.g. at night or when the pet comes in to season.

U.S. Patent No. 3,184,803 provides a pet door having a simple lock. This lock is settable so as to bar opening of the pet door in either direction, or to permit unhindered opening in either direction.

As long ago as 1966 we recognised that such two-mode locking (fully closed or fully open) left something to be desired. We felt that pet owners might well wish to have the ability to lock the door against egress while permitting ingress. Thus, if the pet is out doors as night approaches, it may enter but is then unable to go outdoors again. Also, on occasions, pet owners might wish to let their pets have the freedom to go outdoors but to prevent them entering temporarily. Accordingly, in 1966 we devised and marketed a simple accessory for owners of existing pet doors which provided selective lockability in four modes. These modes were: fully closed, fully open, closed to engress only, and closed to ingress only. The accessory consisted of a mounting (for attachment to a wall or door housing the pet door) and two brackets each with an upstanding tang.The brackets are detachably securable on the mounting, the brackets being of different length. When properly secured to the mounting, one bracket has its tang located to one side of the door flap. The tang of the other bracket locates to the opposite side of the flap. With neither bracket in place, the pet door can open in either direction. With both in place, the two upstanding tangs trap the door flap therebetween and lock the flap against opening in both directions. When one or other bracket is in place, the flap is openable in one respective direction only.

Although our prior accessory was entirely functional, and its installation suited existing pet doors insofar as no modification of the latter was necessary on site, it is not as neat as we would wish, We have therefore sought to design a pet door having an integral four-mode locking unit. Moreover, we have sought a design which needs no assembly tooling during manufacture and no metal fasteners susceptible of corroding. Ourfour-mode locking unit features an optional detent, the provision of which facilitates setting of the lock by the user.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pet door having a frame providing an access aperture, a flap hingedly movable therein and a rotational flap-locking unit cantilevered from a mounting on the frame, the unit being adapted to snap fit captively to the mounting for rotation in turn between a plurality of flap-controlling settings for which the unit has (1) two projecting peripheral portions confronting one another and projectible into the aperture to either side of the flap for preventing the flap opening in either opening direction, (2) at least one other projecting peripheral portion projectible into the aperture to one side of the flap for preventing opening in one direction, and (3) two confronting non-projecting peripheral portions which offer no obstruction to the flap in either opening direction when presented to the aperture.

Advantageously, there is a fastening element of the locking unit which coacts with the mounting to form a captive snap fit and a detent action which positively locates the unit in each of its flapcontrolling settings. The fastening element can be a bifurcated post having opposed enlargements at its free end, and the mounting has a bore to receive the post rotationally and an enlarged non-circularlyshaped recess to receive the opposed enlargements, the recess coacting with the enlargements in providing the detent action and in captively securing the post in the bore.

The locking unit preferably is a two-part plastics moulding, the parts having a snap-fit connection. In this locking unit assembly, each part provides one of the two confronting, proiecting peripheral portions for preventing flap opening in either direction, and one part has a second projecting peripheral portion angularly spaced from the other projection thereof, for preventing flap opening in one direction.

The other part provides a further projecting peripheral portion, angularly spaced from the other projecting peripheral portions for preventing flap opening in the direction opposite said one direction.

In the preferred embodiment one part has two projecting peripheral portions angularly spaced by 180 and similarly spaced non-projecting portions, the other part has two adjoining projecting peripheral portions constituted by a quadrant-shaped flange and two adjoining non-projecting portions, and the assembled parts upon rotation providing for (1) unobstructed flap opening in both directions, (2) locking against flap opening in both directions, (3) locking against flap opening in one direction only, and (4) locking against flap opening in the opposite direction only.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an exemplary pet door embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross section on the line Il-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows one part of the locking unit from the front and from the rear; Figure 4 shows a second part of the locking unit from the front and from the rear; Figure 5 shows the optional detent mechanism, which also serves to hold the present locking unit to the pet door; and Figures 6 to 9 are simplified views of the pet door showing the locking unit in each of its four locking modes.

The illustrated pet door 10 comprises a frame 11 and pivoted flap 12. The frame is for securing in an opening in a door, wall or window of a building, and provides an aperture 14through which a pet may pass into or out of the building. The flap 12 closely fits the aperture 14. In the pet door shown, the flap 12 is top-hung as is commonplace, for opening swinging movements about its hinge axis 15. A locking unit 16 embodying the invention is mounted in or on the frame 11, to coact with the flap at a point remote from the hinge axis 15. The unit 16 has four operational settings controlling the openability of the flap 12. In the first setting, the unit 16 may permit the flap 12 to swing open in one direction only. In the second setting, the flap 12 may swing open only in the opposite direction.In the third and fourth settings, the flap cannot be opened at all, and is openable in either direction, respectively.

As shown, the locking unit 16 is located in the bottom edge or sill of the door frame 11. The frame is provided with a recess 18 in the sill. This recess provides access to the locking unit 16, so that the pet owner can manipulate the unit 16 and select a chosen setting thereof. When placed in any of its three locking settings, appropriate protrusions of the locking unit project into the opening 14 to interfere with opening movements of the flap 12.

The pet door 10 is shown for ease of illustration as being of square or rectangular shape. Other shapes are permissible, however.

The frame 11 is made from a pair of companion plastics moulding 20, 21 which are fastened together during manufacture in any convenient way. The exact cross-sectional configurations of the mouldings 20,21 are immaterial to this invention, and the configurations shown have been chosen merely for ease of illustration. All that matters is that one moulding should provide a mounting for the locking unit 16. Given a frame moulding 21 having a suitable mounting, the companion moulding mightwell be omitted. The use of two moulding 20, 21 is preferred, however. This is because moulding 20 can assist the said mounting in properly supporting the locking unit 16.

The locking unit 16 is captively supported on the frame mounting for rotation between its four set tings. 900 rotations change the functional settings from one to another. The mounting comprises a hollow cylindrical boss 22 projecting from the frame moulding 21. The boss 22 has a free end, facing moulding 20. A frusto-conical bore 24 tapers inwardly from the free end of the boss. At its smaller, inner end the bore 24 meets a square recess 25, leading inwardly from the opposite end of the boss 22. A shoulder 26 is formed at the junction of bore 24 with square recess 25. In conjunction with a fastening element 27 of the locking unit 16, the shoulder 26 renders the unit 16 captive to the frame 11 and the recess 25 provides a detent action for the unit 16, as will be described.

The locking unit 16 is a plastics moulding. Its shape being relatively complex, the unit 16 is made in two parts 28, 30 which interfit. The interfitted parts 28,30 rotate as a unit on the boss 22, i.e. the parts 28, 30 cannot be rotated relative to one another. Part 28 has a four-lobed, or cruciform finger grip 31 for manipulating the unit 16, the finger grip 31 being accessible thanks to the frame recess 18. The lobes of the grip 31 project from the face of a cylindrical portion 32 of the part 28. The cylindrical portion 32 seats in an arcuate cradle portion 34 of the frame moulding 20. The cradle portion 34 assists boss 22 in supporting the unit 16 for rotation, and is centred on the axis of rotation of the locking unit 16.

On the opposite side of cylindrical portion 32 from the finger grip 31, the part 28 has an eccentric flange element 34. The flange element has two diametrically-opposed eccentric portions 35 of arcuate, partcircular shape. The eccentric portions 35 project radially by the same distance from the axis 36, i.e.

said portions 35 are parts of a common circle. The eccentric portions 35 are dimensioned to project into the frame opening 14, and into the path of movement of the door flap 12, when the locking unit is in two of its settings, said settings being 1800 apart.

Then, opening of the flap in direction A (Figure 2) is barred. When the unit 16 is in the other two rotational settings, part 28 places no obstructions in the way of the flap which can therefore swing open in direction A. The portions 35 are then positioned out of the path of movement of the flap.

On the opposite side of the flange element 34, from cylindrical portion 32, the part 28 has the fastening element 27. The fastening element 27 has a cylindrical base 40 and a cylindrical post 41, both coaxial with the axis 36 and cylindrical portion 32.

The base 40 has a flat 43 and a notch 44 opposed diametrically to one another. The post 41 is slit lengthwise and hence is bifurcated. The post has a hooked free end having oppositely, radiallyprojecting ears 45. Thanks to its bifurcated configuration, the post 41 is radially contractible and can be forced into and along the tapering bore 24 of the boss 22. When the ears 45 pass the inner end of bore 24, they snap into place engaging the shoulder 26, the post 41 then expanding radially.

The part 30 of the locking unit has a sleeve portion 48 projecting from a flange portion 49. The interior of sleeve portion 48 is a rotational fit on the boss 22. It also snugly fits around the base 40 of the fastening element 27. At the end of the sleeve 48 which receives the base 40, there is a flat 50 and rib 51.

These coact respectively with the flap 43 and notch 44 in securing parts 28 and 30 together and in preventing relative rotation therebetween.

The flange portion 49, like that of part 28, provides part 29 with an eccentric portion 54. This eccentric portion is substantially quadrant shaped. The quadrant is centred on axis 36 and its radius is the same as the radius of each eccentric portion 35. For two adjacent rotational settings of the unit 16, the quadrant-shaped eccentric portion will be projected into the frame opening and the path of movement of the flap 12. When the unit 16 is turned to either of its other two settings, part 30 places no obstructions in the way of the flap.

Assembly of the unit 16 and its mounting to frame moulding 21 should be self-evident. Part 30 may be slipped onto the boss 22 and then part 28 is pushed into place, making a snap fit with both the part 30 and the boss 22. That is the part 28 snap fits with the part 30 as the notch 44 and rib 51 are registered. The part 28 snap fits with the boss as the ears 45 pass the inner end of bore 24 and enter the recess 25, engaging the shoulder 26. Of course, parts 28 and 30 could be snap fitted together before snap fitting to the boss 22. It will be appreciated that the assembly and mounting operations avoid all need for metallic fasteners and no tooling whatever is necessary for performing the operations.

It will be observed that the ears 45 have rounded free ends. These ends are normally spaced apart by a distance greater than the transverse dimensions of the square recess 25. When the unit 16 is rotated, therefore, the bifurcated post 41 contracts as the ends of the ears engage the sides of the recess. The post expands - to a relaxed state - when the ears point towards the corners of the recess 25. See Figure 5. The ears and square recess coact to detent the unit 16 to its four rotational settings and prevent accidental mis-positioning of the unit by the user.

The resulting four-position click-stop action facilitates positive setting of the locking unit 16.

The assembled parts 28 and 30 havetheirflange portions 34,49 spaced apart by a distance somewhat greater than the bottom of the flap 12.

The specific forms of the flange portions 34, 49 and in particular the eccentric portions 35 spaced 180 on flange portion 34 and the quadrant shaped eccentric of portion 49 - result in the following consequence. Thus, along one quarter of its circumference, the unit 16 will have two eccentric parts 60, 61 confronting one another and in registry. Along a second quarter of the circumference, and one eccentric part 62 (of flange portion 34) is matched with a non-projecting part 63 of flange portion 49. Along a third quarter of the circumference, an accentric part 64 (of flange portion 49) is matched with a non projecting part 65 of flange portion 34. Along the fourth quarter of the circumference, two non projecting parts 66,68 of the flange portions 34,49 are confronting. See Figures 3,4 nd Figures 6 to 9.

Referring finally to Figures 6 to 9, the four locking modes of the locking unit 16 will be readily appreci ated. In Figure 6, eccentric part 62 only is projected into the frame opening 14, so the flap 12 cannot open in one direction, A. By turning the unit 900, eccentric part 64 only is projected into the frame opening, see Figure 7. The flap therefore cannot open in one direction, this time direction B. Turning the unit a further 900 results in the two registered eccentric parts 60, 61 being projected into the frame opening, one to each side of the flap. The flap cannot then be opened in either direction, see Figure 8. By turning the unit once more through 90 , the non projecting parts 66, 68 are brought to face the frame opening. No obstruction to flap movement is presented in the opening and hence the flap is openable in both directions A and B, see Figure 9.

The locking unit could be readily modified if only three locking modes were required, i.e. fully open, fully closed and openable in one direction but not the other. For example, part 30 could be unchanged, when its quadrant-shaped eccentric would coact with a modified part 28 having one, not two, eccentric portions 35. Alternatively, part 28 would be unchanged and would coact with a modified part 30.

The latter would have a flange portion resembling that of part 28 but would have one eccentric portion 35 omitted.

Claims (11)

1. A pet door having a frame providing an access aperture, a flap hingedly movable therein and a rotational flap-locking unit cantilevered from a mounting on the frame, the unit being adapted to snap fit captively to the mounting for rotation in turn between a plurality of flap-controlling settings for which the unit has (1) two projecting peripheral portions confronting one another and projectible into the aperture to either side of the flap for preventing the flap opening in either opening direction, (2) at least one other projecting peripheral portion projectible into the aperture to one side of the flap for preventing opening in one direction, and (3) two confronting non-projecting peripheral portions which offer no obstruction to the flap in either opening direction when presented to the aperture.

2. A pet door according to claim 1, which has two non-confronting projecting peripheral portions in turn projectible into the aperture, respectively to one side or the other of the flap, to prevent the flap opening in one direction or the other.

3. A pet door according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a fastening element of the locking unit coacts with the mounting to form a captive snap fit and a detent action which positively locates the unit in each of its flap-controlling settings.

4. A pet door according to claim 3, wherein the fastening element is a bifurcated post having opposed enlargements at its free end, and the mounting has a bore to receive the post rotationally and an enlarged non-circularly-shaped recess to receive the opposed enlargements, the recess coacting with the enlargements in providing the detent action and in captively securing the post in the bore.

5. A pet door according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mounting comprises a cylindrical boss and the locking unit has a cylindrical passage rotationally fitting on the boss.

6. A pet door according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the locking unit is a two-part plastics moulding, the parts having a snap-fit connection.

7. A pet door according to claim 6, wherein each part provides one of the two confronting, projecting peripheral portions for preventing flap opening in either direction, and one part has a second projecting peripheral portion angularly spaced from the other projection thereof, for preventing flap opening in one direction.

8. A pet door according to claim 7, wherein the other part provides a further projecting peripheral portion, angularly spaced from the other projecting peripheral portions, for preventing flap opening in the direction opposite said one direction.

9. A pet door according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein flanges of the two parts have eccentric portions constituting the projecting peripheral portions.

10. A pet door according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein one part has two projecting peripheral portions angularly spaced by 1800 and similarly spaced non-projecting portions, the other part has two adjoining projecting peripheral portions constituted by a quadrant-shaped flange and two adjoining non-projecting portions, and the assembled parts upon rotation providing for (1) unobstructed flap opening in both directions, (2) locking against flap opening in both directions, (3) locking against flap opening in one direction only, and (4) locking against flap opening in the opposite direction only.

11. A pet door substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.