GB2198184A

GB2198184A - Letter flap

Info

Publication number: GB2198184A
Application number: GB08725405A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helen Aitchison; William Kenneth Donaldson; Peter Robin Seviour
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-10-29
Filing date: 1987-10-29
Publication date: 1988-06-08
Also published as: GB8626029D0; GB8725405D0

Abstract

An device for locking shut a letter flap (15), comprises bracket means (10) for attachment to a door and a captive locking member (12) pivoted thereon movable to an operative position (Fig. 1) in which it prevents opening of the letter flap. In an alternative embodiment, Fig 3, a rod captive in slots 103c of spaced brackets 103 drops to a lower position in which it impedes opening of supplementary flap 100. The rod can be raised to an inoperative position 13d. <IMAGE>

Description

DOOR FURNITURE AND LETTER FLAP INSTALLATIONS INCLUDING SUCH FURNITURE This invention relates to door furniture, with particular reference to an article of door furniture intended to be used in conjunction with a letter flap.

The invention also relates to a letter flap installation incorporating such an article of door furniture.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a letter flap installation, which includes a simple and convenient means for preventing opening of the letter flap when required, so as to prevent the insertion of undesirable, offensive, noxious or even dangerous items.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a letter flap installation including a letter flap which is pivotally mounted on a door or other panel, so as to be displaceable in the normal direction of insertion of letters through a passageway in the door or other panel, in combination with an article of door furniture mounted on said door or other panel and including bracket means attached to the door or other panel and a captive stop member movably mounted on said bracket means and movable between an operative position in which it is abutted by the letter flap and prevents opening thereof, and an inoperative position in which it is clear of the letter flap.

The invention also resides in an article of door furniture suitable for use in conjunction with a letter flap, said article comprising bracket means for mounting on a door or panel, and a stop member mounted on said bracket means so as to be captive thereon, said stop member being movable between operative and inoperative positions relative to the bracket means, such that, in use, the stop member when in its operative position can abut a coacting letter flap and prevent opening thereof.

The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, two different embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the article of door furniture incorporated in the first embodiment; Figure 3 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment, and Figure 4 is an elevation of the second embodiment.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 the article of door furniture shown therein comprises bracket means 10 comprising a backplate 10a and a front plate 10b. The plate 10b is shaped as a flanged channel such that when it is mounted over the backplate 10a on a door 11 or other panel, a passageway is provided, through which a captive stop member 12 extends. The stop member 12 has a shank 12a which extends through the passageway, a stop portion 12C at one end and a handle portion 12b at the other end. The shank 12a is longer than the passageway referred to, so that the stop member can be displaced both pivotally about the axis of the shank and axially. A knob 13 is provided on the handle portion 12b and a stop element 14 is engaged with a screw thread on the stop portion.

As shown in Figure 1, the bracket means 12 is mounted on the door (or other panel) below the slot 11a formed in the door to accept letters. It is arranged with the axis of the shank 12a vertical, so that the stop portion 12C can take up the position shown, in which it projects horizontally into the slot 11 towards the hinged letter flap 15. The effective length of the stop can be adjusted by turning the stop element 14 on its screw-thread so that, in the position shown, any attempt to open the flap 15 will be foiled by the stop element 14, against which the flap 15 will abut.

A user can, however, move the stop member to an inoperative position by turning it through 900 and then pulling it downwardly clear of the slot 11. In this position, letters etc. can be inserted through the letter flap in the normal way.

In the example of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, the article of door furniture coacts not with an external letter flap (which in this case may be of either the inward or outward opening type), but with a supplementary flap 100 of conventional form mounted on the inside face of the door 101 or other panel.

The bracket means in this case comprises two separate end brackets 102, 103 mounted on the door at opposite ends of the flap 100. Each bracket 102, 103 is of L-shaped section, one flange having mounting holes 102a, 103a for securing it to the door, and the other flange 102b, 103b having a shaped slot 103C formed therein. As shown in Figure 3, this slot has an inclined lower portion which is closer to the firstmentioned flange at its in situ lower end than at its upper end. At the in situ top end of the slot, there is an inverted U-shaped portion 13d.

The two brackets 102, 103 are mounted with the two flanges 102b, 102C in spaced parallel relationship and a captive locking member1 in the form of a rod 104 extends between the brackets. Reduced ends of the rod extend through the slots in the respective brackets, and fasteners 105 on these reduced ends keep the rod 104 captive. A pair of simple rollers 106 are mounted on the rod 104.

In the position shown, the ends of the rod 104 are engaged in the inclined lower portions of the slots, so that the rod drops under the influence of gravity to a position (dependent on the thickness of the flap 100) with the rollers 106 contacting the flap and preventing opening thereof. When letter access is required the user can lift the rod 14 and drop its ends into the U-shaped portions 13d, where the rod will rest and provide no obstruction to the opening of the flap or t:o the insertion of letters.

In both of the above described examples, the flap can be locked and released very simply and without any intricate movements which may prove difficult for a person whose fingers have impaired mobility. Morover, in each case, it is readily ascertainable visually whether the flap is locked or not.

Claims

1. A letter flap installation including a letter flap which is pivotally mounted on a door or other panel, so as to be displaceable in the normal direction of insertion of letters through a passageway in the door or other panel, in combination with an article of door furniture mounted on said door or other panel and including bracket means attached to the door or other panel and a captive stop member movably mounted on said bracket means and movable between an operative position in which it is abutted by the letter flap and prevents opening thereof, and an inoperative position in which it is clear of the letter flap.

2. An installation as claimed in claim 1 in which said stop member includes a shank portion, by means of which said stop member is pivotally mounted on said bracket means, and a stop portion at right angles to said shank portion, said stop portion extending through said slot towards said flap when the stop member is in its operative position.

3. An installation as claimed in claim 2 in which said stop portion is of adjustable length.

4. An installation as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which said stop member is also displaceable axially relative to the bracket means.

5. An installation as claimed in claim 1 in which said bracket means comprises a pair of spaced end brackets and said stop member comprises a rod extending between said end brackets and engaged at its ends with guide means on said end brackets.

6. An installation as claimed in claim 5 in which each of said guide means includes a lower portion inclined downwardly towards the door, whereby the rod is urged downwardly and towards the door under the influence of gravity.

7. An installation as claimed in claim 6 in which each guide means also has an upper portion of inverted U-shaped configuration.

8. An installation as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7 in which said rod has a plurality of rollers on it for contacting the flap.

9. An article of door furniture suitable for use in conjunction with a letter flap, said article comprising bracket means for mounting on a door or panel, and a stop member mounted on said bracket means so as to be captive thereon, said stop member being movable between operative and inoperative positions relative to the bracket means, such that, in use, the stop member, when in its operative position can abut a coacting letter flap and prevent opening thereof.

10. An article of door furniture as claimed in claim 9 in which said stop element has a shank portion by means of which it is pivotally mounted on the bracket means and a stop portion at right angles to said shank portion.

11. An article of door furniture as claimed in claim 10 in which said stop portion is of adjustable length.

12. An article of door furniture as claimed in claim 11 in which said stop member is also displaceable axially relative to the bracket means.

13. An article of door furniture as claimed in claim 9 in which said bracket means comprises a pair of end brackets and said stop member comprises a rod extending between said end brackets and engaged at its ends with guide means on said end brackets.

14. An article of door furniture as claimed in claim 13 in which each end bracket is of L-shaped cross-sectional configuration, one flange of said L being adapted for attachment to the door and the other flange being formed with a guide slot forming said guide means.

15. An article of door furniture as claimed in claim 14 in which each said guide slot has one end portion inclined to said one flange.

16. An article of door furniture as claimed in claim 15 in which each said guide slot has an opposite end portion of U-shaped configuration.

17. An article of door furniture as claimed in any of claims 9 to 16 in which said rod has a plurality of rollers on it for contacting a coacting flap.

18. A letter flap installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A letter flap installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

20. An article of door furniture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

21. An article of door furniture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.