GB2152566A

GB2152566A - Door panel with peep-holes

Info

Publication number: GB2152566A
Application number: GB08400256A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shu-Lien Liou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-01-06
Filing date: 1984-01-06
Publication date: 1985-08-07
Also published as: GB2152566B; GB8400256D0; HK33990A; MY103608A

Abstract

A door with shutter device comprises a door panel provided with a plurality of through holes, and a shutter panel having a plurality of through holes of the same size, configuration and arrangement as the through holes of the door panel. The shutter panel is urged by a spring to remain at a closed position and operating means is provided to selectively move the shutter panel from the closed position to an open position where the through holes of the shutter panel are aligned with the through holes of the door panel so that one can see the object or person at the other side of the door without opening the door. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Door with a shutter device BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various means of precaution against strangers are available for those who are hesitant to allow entry to a person at the entrance before knowing the identity of the person or the intent of the visitor. Among these means of precaution against strangers are door chains, fish eye lenses and TV monitors. However, door chains and fish eye lenses require one's presence at the door, and TV monitors require a relatively sophisticated and costly set up.

In view of the aforesaid problems with conventional devices for precaution against strangers, this invention offers a door with a shutter device that can be operated either directly by hand, or electrically from a distance, to allow one to see the visitor without opening the door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention offers a door with a shutter device, which compirses a door having two door panels provided with a plurality of through holes; a shutter panel movably disposed between the two door panels, the shutter panel being provided with a plurality of through holes to correspond with the through holes of the two door panels; and an operating device adapted to selectively move the shutter panel from one position where the through holes of the shutter panel are out of alignment with the through holes of the two door panels, to another position where the through holes of the shutter panel are aligned with the through holes of the two door panels, thus enabling one to see through the door the object or person on the opposite side of the door. The shutter panel is normally urged by a spring member to remain in a "CLOSED" position.The operating device includes a pullrod operatively arranged for manually moving the shutter panel, and an electric circuit having solenodis and switches for moving the shutter panel electrically from a distance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional top view of a door with a shutter device of this invention, showing the arrangement of the door panels and the shutter panel.

Figure 2 is a front view of the door with a shutter device of this invention, with the front door panel partially in section, and the operating device omitted from the drain.

Figure 3 is a schematic drawing showing the arrangement of the through holes when the shutter panel is in the "CLOSED" position.

Figure 4 is a schematic drawing showing the arrangement of the through holes when the shutter panel is in the "OPEN" position.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the shutter panel showing the arrangement of the operating device.

Figures 6-12 are examples of alternate shapes of the through holes that might be employed in the door panels and shutter panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVEN TION As shown in Fig. 1, the door with shutter device of this invention comprises a door 1 having a front door panel 1A and rear door panel 1 B, and a shutter panel 2 movably disposed between front and rear door panels 1 A and 1 B. Front door panel 1 A is provided with a plurality of through holes H1A, and rear door panel 1 B is also provided with a plurality of through holes H 1 B identical in shape and corresponding in size and configuration with through holes HiA of front door panel 1A. Shutter panel 2 is provided with a plurality of through holes H2 identical in shape and corresponding in size and configuration with through holes H1A and HiB of front and rear door panels 1 A and 1 B.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, shutter panel 2 is movably suspended to an upper part 1C of door 1 with links 21, and urged from one side by spring member 22 disposed between a side edge 2A of shutter panel 2 and a side part 1 D of door 1.

A stopper 23 is provided within door 1 at the opposite side of shutter panel 2 so as to stop shutter panel 2 at a "CLOSED" position where through holes H2 of shutter panel 2 are out of alignment with through holes H1A and H 1 B of front and rear door panel 1 A and 1 B, as shown in Fig. 3. Through holes H1A, H 1 B and H2 are so arranged that there is a sufficient space between each two neighboring through holes H 1 A and H 1 B of a door panel 1 A or 1 B to cover a through holes H2 of the shutter panel 2 when shutter panel 2 is at the "CLOSED" position, so that each through hole is "CLOSED" at this position.

Shutter panel 2 can be moved in direction X as shown in Fig. 2 to an "OPEN" position where through holes H2 of shutter panel 2 are moved to come into alignment with through holes H 1 A, H 1 B of front and rear door panel 1A and 1 B, as shown in Fig. 4. A stopper 24 (Fig. 2) is provided to stop shutter panel 2 at the "OPEN" position. With shutter panel 2 at this "OPEN" position one can see the object or person on the opposite side of door 1 through the aligned through holes H2, H1Aand H1B.

The door with shutter device of this invention is further provided with an operating device, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 5.

The operating device includes a pull rod 42 to be pulled by hand to move shutter panel 2 manually, and an electric circuit operable by switches 51, 53 and 54, to move shutter panel 2 electrically, to be described below.

As shown in Fig. 5, shutter panel is provided with spring 22 which urges shutter panel 2 against stoppers 23, so as to keep shutter panel 2 in the "CLOSED" position. An operating lever 36 is provided to cooperate with pull rod 42. Operating lever 36 has one end pivotally connected to side part 2A of shutter panel 2 with hinge 2B, and another end extending in the same direction in which shutter panel 2 is moved to the "OPEN" position and resilient suspended to a structural part of the door with spring 38.Operating lever 36 is provided with a step, or shoulder 36A to engage with a dog member 39, which is fixedly provided onto the structural part of the door to block the movement of operating lever 36 towards the left, in direction along which shutter panel 2 is moved to the "OPEN" position; a projection 36B to correspond with switch 37; and a stud 36C.A bell crank 41 having a hook 41A on one end and an arm 41 B on another end is pivotally disposed between operating lever 36 and pull rod 42, with arm 41 B pivotally connected to pull rod 42 and with hook 41A engaged stud 36C, in such a manner that when pull rod 42 is pulled in Y direction, hook 41A is rotated to first depress stud 36C downwards causing operating lever 36 to pivot downwards with respect to hinge 2B; and second push stud 36C toward the left, or in X direction as pull rod 42 is pulled further in Y direction, so as to pull shutter panel 2 to move in X direction.

The downwards pivotting movement of operating lever 36 causes shoulder 36A to disengage from dog member 39 thus realeasing the "blocking" of the movement of operating lever 36, and at the same time causes projection 36B to engage with switch 37 to be explained later.

The electric circuit includes a first solenoid 31 having a plunger 31A connected to side part 2A of shutter panel 2, a second solenoid 32 having a plunger 32A with one end connected to tongue member 35 which extends through the body of dog member 39 and abuts the upper side of operating lever 36, and another end operatively connected to switch 33. First solenoid 31 is electrically connected to a power source S, through switch 33 which is normally open. When switch 33 is closed to energize first solenoid 31, plunger 31A is actuated to pull shutter panel 2 in X direction. Second solenoid 32 is electrically connected to the power source S through parallel switches 52. 53 and 54.

When one of switches 52, 53 and 54 is closed, second solenoid 32 is energized to activate plunger 32A in such a manner that tongue member 35 extends to push operating lever 36 to pivote downwards. Shoulder 36A of operating lever 36 is thus caused to disengage from tongue member 35, and as soon as shoulder 36A is disengaged from dog member 39, switch 33 is closed to energize first solenoid 31. A spring 34 is provided to urge plunger 32A to return when solenoid 32A is de-energized, so as to keep switch 33 open and tongue member 35 at a retracted position.

Switch 37, which is normally open, is closed when operating lever 36 is caused to pivot downwards, so as to light a lamp 51 for lighting the object at the entrance. In Fig. 5, 57 is an electric door lock which can be opened by turning on switch 55 or 56.

By releasing pull rod 42 after pull rod 42 has been pulled to move shutter panel 2 in X direction, shutter panel 2 is moved back to the original position by the pressure of spring member 22, and operating lever 36 is also moved back to the original position, with its free end pulled upwards to cause shoulder 36A to engage with dog member 39.

By releasing the switch 52, 53 or 54 after it has been depressed to close and to move shutter panel 2 in X direction, shutter panel 2 and operting lever 36 return in the same way as operated with pull rod 42 manually.

Switch 52 may be conveniently mounted at the door side while switches 53 and 54 may be installed at other places to facilitate a remote operation. Switches 55 and 56 for electric door lock 57 may be installed at the same place as switches 53 and 54.

While round holes have been illustrated for through holes H 1 A, H1B and H2 of the front and rear door panels 1 A and 1 B and shutter panel 2, holes or slots of other shapes such as diamond shaped holes as shown in Fig. 6; flower shaped holes as shown in Fig. 7; square holes as shown in Fig. 8; vertical rectangular holes as shown in Fig. 9; slanted rectangular holes as shown in Fig. 10; straight vertical slots as shown in Fig. 11; and wavy vertical slots as shown in Fig. 12, are equally applicable to a door with the shutter device of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the shutter panel as described above can also be installed onto a door having one door panel instead of two.

Other modifications can also be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A door construction, comprising: a first door panel having a plurality of openings; a shutter panel moveably disposed to overlap said door panel, said shutter panel having a plurality of openings of the same size and configuration as the openings of said door panel; and operating means for selectively moving said shutter panel from a first position where said openings of said shutter are out of alignment with said openings of said door panel, to a second position where said openings of shut ter panel are aligned with said openings of said door panel.

2. A door construction as recited in claim 1, which further comprises a second door panel having a plurality of openings identical and corresponding with said openings of first door panel, and said shutter panel being disposed between said first and second door panels.

3. A door construction as recited in claim 2, wherein said shutter panel is provided with a spring member which urges said shutter panel to remain at said first position, and said operating means compirses: an operating rod having a first end connected to said shutter panel and a second end resiliently retained with respect to said door panels, said operating rod having a shoulder; a dog member with which said shoulder of said operating rod engages when said shutter door is in said first position; a pull rod operatively connected to said operating rod by a bell crank which, when said pull rod is pulled, first causes said shoulder to disengage from said dog member and second causes said shutter panel to move from said first position to said second position; and an electric circuit for causing said shutter panel to move from said first position to said second position.

4. A door construction as recited in claim 3, wherein said electric circuit comprises: a first solenoid adapted to cause said shoulder to disengage from said dog member when said solenoid is energized; a first switch adapted to be closed when said shoulder is disengaged from said dog member; a second solenoid adapted to cause said shutter panel to move from said first position to said second position when said second solenoid is energized, said second solenoid being electrically connected to a power source through said first switch; and a plurality of switches in parallel connection for electrically connecting said first solenoid to the power source.