GB2169653A

GB2169653A - Door stop arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2169653A
Application number: GB08501102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Reginald Steele
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-01-16
Filing date: 1985-01-16
Publication date: 1986-07-16
Also published as: GB8501102D0

Abstract

A door control apparatus comprises a pair of cylinders (10, 12) embedded in a floor (14), each cylinder (10, 12) locating a respective piston (22, 24) and the cylinders (10, 12) being interconnected by a fluid line (18). The cylinder (10) is positioned within the path of opening of a door so that when the piston (22) is extended opening of the door is restricted. When retracted, the piston (22) does not obstruct opening of the door. The apparatus is commissioned so that when the piston (22) is extended, the piston (24) is retracted and vice versa. The cylinder (12) is positioned out of the path of opening of the door whereby, with the piston (24) normally extended to enable opening of the door, foot pressure on the piston (24) will extend the piston (22) to obstruct opening of the door and prevent unauthorised entry of any person. Such an apparatus is extremely useful, particularly as far as aged and infirm people are concerned. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Door opening control This invention-relates to apparatus for use in controlling the opening of a door and is particularly but not exclusively designed for use by the aged and infirm.

At the present time there is concern at the increase in burglary and theft of the type where the criminal gains entry to premises by persuading the occupant to open the door, the criminal then forcing an entry through the open door. This type of crime is particularly prevalent where aged and infirm people are the occupants, and although various types of equipment have been designed whereby the door can be opened to a limited extent to allow the occupant to view the person at the door, such types of equipment have often proved difficult for the aged and infirm to operate where chains and the like have to be manipulated.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in controlling the opening of a door, the apparatus comprising stop means movable between a first position removed from the path of opening of the door and a second position in the path of opening of the door, and manually operable means for controlling movement of the stop means between said first and second positions.

Preferably the stop means is mounted in a fixture adjacent to the door and may comprise a housing secured to the fixture at or below the surface thereof, and a piston movably mounted in the housing, whereby, in said first position, the piston is substantially within the housing at or below the fixture surface, and, in said second position, the piston extends from the housing to be proud of the fixture surface.

Preferably also the manually operable means comprises a housing secured to a fixture at or below the level of the surface thereof, and a manually operable piston movably mounted in the latter housing whereby, in one position, the manually operable piston is substantially within the housing at or below the fixture surface, and in another position, the manually operable piston extends from its housing to be proud of the fixture surface.

The housing of the stop means is preferably in communication with the housing of the manually operable means whereby fluid may pass therebetween in a substantially closed circuit, so that, when the apparatus is in a non-operative condition, the manually operable piston is in said other or extended position, and the stop piston is in its second or retracted position, and movement of the manually operable piston to said one or retracted position correspondingly will move the apparatus to an operative condition with the stop piston moved to said second or extended position. The stop piston may be manually operated to return the apparatus to the non-operative condition.

The manually operable means is preferably provided in a fixture at a location remote from the path of opening of the door, and advantageously both the stop means and the manually operable means are mounted in the floor whereby the apparatus can be controlled by the foot.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus according to the invention in a first condition; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in a second condition; and Figure 3 is an enlarged schematic view in section showing a detail of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, a door control apparatus comprises two housings each in the form of an open-ended cylinder 10, 12 embedded in a floor 14, with the open ends of the cylinders 10, 12 substantially flush with the surface 16 of the floor 14. The cylinders 10, 12 are interconnected by a fluid line 18 for a purpose hereinafter described. Each of the cylinders 10, 12 is also provided with an internal collar 20 spaced above the base of the cylinder and above the location of the inlet for the fluid line 18.

Within each cylinder 10, 12 there is slidably located a respective piston 22, 24. Each of the latter has an open ended form, with the open end lowermost, and at the open end there is provided an external collar 26 to guide the movement of the piston and also engage with the collar 20 to define the lowermost position of the piston in the respective cylinder. Each of the cylinders 10, 12 is closed at its upper end by a flange 28 having a central aperture 30 through which can pass the respective piston 22, 24. An annular collar 32 is provided on the lower face of each of the flanges 28 around the edge of the aperture 30 whereby to provide a further guide for movement of the respective piston and also engage with the collar 2w6 to limit upward movement of the piston in the cylinder.

The cylinder 10 is positioned in the floor 14 close to a door (not shown) and within the path of opening of the door, whereby when the piston 22 is in an extended position (Fig.

2) the door will contact the piston 22 and the latter will therefore restrict opening of the door. The cylinder 12 is positioned in the floor 14 at a location remote from the cylinder 10 and away from the path of opening of the door. The apparatus is commissioned so that, when one of the pistons 22, 24 is in its extended position, the other is- in a retracted position and air is trapped between the pistons within the cylinders and the line 18.

In use, the piston 22 is normally retracted within the cylinder 10 so as not to obstruct opening of the door, and consequently the piston 24 normally extends to its outermost position as shown in Fig. 1, and is retained in that position by the pneumatic system. When it is desired to open the door but not to allow the door to open to such an extent as to enable unauthorised entry of any person, it is only necessary first of all to move the piston 24 within its cylinder 12, for example by pressing on the piston 24 with the foot. The pneumatic system will then move the piston 22 to its outermost position as shown in Fig.

2, such that the door cannot then be opened beyond a limited position. If it is then desired to open the door completely, it is only necessary to depress the piston 22 with the foot which will then move the piston 24 back to its outermost position as shown in Fig. 1 and the apparatus is then ready for re-use.

It will be appreciated that such an apparatus is extremely useful as far as aged and infirm people are concerned, as no manipulation of any components are required by the hand which is often difficult. An effective control of door opening is provided which is not so susceptible to the application of pressure from externally as might be other equipment such as chains. It is envisaged that it may be necessary to replenish the air on occasions and accordingly provision can be made for this by means of a refill connection 34 connected with the air line 18 and accesible from the floor surface.

The apparatus can of course be designed to provide an aesthetic appearance. For example, the pistons and the flanges may be chromium plated as can be any capping for channels in the floor which may be utilised for providing the air line. It will be appreciated that the apparatus can operate other than pneumatically, for example hydraulically.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the apparatus may be siutably wall mounted as opposed to floor mounted and the design of the individual components may be other than as described and shown.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in controlling the opening of a door, the apparatus comprising stop means movable between a first position removed from the path of opening of the door and a second position in the path of opening of the door, and manually operable means for controlling movement of the stop means between said first and second positions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the stop means are mounted in a fixture adjacent to the door.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the stop means comprise a housing adapted to be secured to the fixture at or below the surface thereof, and a piston movably mounted in the housing, whereby, in said first position, the piston is substantially within the housing at or below the fixture surface, and, in said second position, the piston extends from the housing to be proud of the fixture surface.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the manually operable means comprises a housing adapted to be se.

cured to a fixture at or below the level of the surface thereof, and a manually operable piston movably mounted in the latter housing whereby, in one position, the manuably operable piston is substantially within the housing at or below the fixture surface, and in another position, the manually operable piston extends from its housing to be proud of the fixture surface.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, when dependent on claim 3, in which the housing of the stop means is in communication with the housing of the manually operable -means whereby fluid may pass therebetween in a substantially closed circuit, so that, when the apparatus is in a non-operative condition, the manually operable piston is in said other or extended position, and the stop piston is in its second or retracted position, and movement of the manually operable piston to said one or retracted position correspondingly will move the apparatus to an operative condition with the stop piston moved to said second or extended position.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which means are provided for replenishing the fluid in the apparatus.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the manually operable piston and the stop piston are pneumatically operated.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the manually operable piston and the stop piston are hydraulically operated.

9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the manually operable means is adapted to be provided in a fixture at a location remote from the path of opening of the door.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which both the stop means and the manually operable means are adapted to be mounted in a floor whereby the apparatus can be controlled by the foot.

11. Apparatus for use in controlling the opening of a door, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

12. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.