GB2213519A

GB2213519A - Improved door or window safety device

Info

Publication number: GB2213519A
Application number: GB8900650A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Roger Wakefield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-01-13
Filing date: 1989-01-12
Publication date: 1989-08-16
Also published as: GB8900650D0; GB8800661D0

Abstract

A safety device preventing inadvertent closure of a door or window 4 against a frame member (5 Fig1) includes a J-shaped arm 1 pivotally supported in a base 3 mounted on a face 4b of the door so that it can be moved to overlie an edge 4a of the door and become traced between the door 4 and frame member (5 Fig 1). In an inoperative position the arm (1) is spaced from the edge (4a) and lies against the face (4b) of the door. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED SAFETY DEVICE This invention relates to a safety device in the form of a stop to prevent inadvertent closing of an edge of a dodr or window (sliding or pivoted) - but hereafter referred to as a "door" against a member (another door or window or a frame of the door or window - but hereafter described as a "frame member") defining one part of an opening controlled by the "door".

In one aspect the invention comprises a "door" (as hereinbefore defined) having a buffer member turnably supported on a base fixed to the "door" adjacent an edge thereof which moves away from a "frame member" of the "door", which buffer member is turnable between a first rest position in which it overlies the edge and a second rest position in which it is displaced from the edge.

Preferably, the buffer member is pivotally mounted on the base in such a way that it is harder to turn the member out of either rest position than it is to turn it relative to the base when it is between said rest positions. Suitably this resistance to turning out of a rest position is caused by a shaping of the end of the buffer member which is closest to the base so that it temporarily fouls with the base. A generally J-shaped arm of rubber-elastic material is particularly preferred for the buffer member.

As an alternative to providing enhanced resistance to turning of the buffer member out of each rest position, it is possible to ensure there is frictional resistance to any turning of the buffer member relative to the base and this can be achieved by ensuring that the buffer member is compressed to some extent by the base member (e.g. in the vicinity of a pivot pin securing the buffer member to the base).

The base can be a cut length of extruded plastics material and could be adhesively secured in place on the "door" (e.g. by providing a surface of the base with a release-paper protected self-adhesive layer).

Suitably the width of the buffer member is sufficient to ensure the gap defined by closest approach of the edge of the "door" to the said "frame member" is insufficient to trap a finger in the gap. Conveniently the surface of the buffer member contacting the said "frame member" is of arcuate form. Desirably the part of the buffer member which contacts the "door" adjacent to the said edge defines a recess of slightly more than eoo and includes a cavity at the apex of the recess to encourage a square fitting of the buffer member on the said edge of the door. A barb can be provided on the buffer member to ensure that when used on a sliding "door", impact with the said "frame member" will generate a turning force in a direction to retain the buffer member in the first rest position rather than move it towards the second rest position.

In a further aspect of the invention a safety device preventing inadvertent closing of an edge of a "door" (as hereinbefore defined) against a "frame member" (as hereinbefore defined), comprises a generally J-shaped arm of rubber-elastic material pivotally mounted on a base to be turnable, relative to the base, between first and second rest positions in one, but only one, of which rest positions the arm can overlie said edge of the "door" to prevent said inadvertent closing, the arm being mounted on the base in such a way that it is harder to turn the arm out of either rest position than it is to turn it relative to the base when it is between said rest positions.

One embodiment of safety device in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows the buffer member of the device in its operative, or first rest, position on a hinged door, Figure 2 shows the buffer member of Figure 1 in a reduced scale view and in its inoperative, or second rest, position relative to the base of the device which is also shown, and Figure 3 is an end view of the device in the direction of the arrow X in Figure 2, Figure 2 shows the complete device as a generally Jshaped arm 1 of hard rubber which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 2 in the bifurcation 3a, 3b of a base 3. The base is shown sectioned in Figure 2 but in full in Figure 3.A region of a hinged door 4 is shown in chain lines in Figure 2, this region including a non-hinged edge 4a and a face 4b of the door 4.

The underside of the base 3 is secured to the face 4b (e.g. by an adhesive) close to the edge 4a, the positioning being chosen so that by turning the arm 1 in the direction of the arrow Y it can adopt the position shown in Figure 1 where the arm partially overlaps the edge 4a so that it will prevent the door closing by fouling with the frame member (shown in chain lines at 5 in Figure 1) of the door.

Figure 1 thus shows an operative, or first rest, position of the arm 1 and Figure 2 an inoperative, or second rest, position.

The design of the arm 1 and base 3 is such that the diagonals H in Figure 2 are slightly larger than the dimension I, so that a slight deformation of the rubber is required to turn the arm out of either rest position.

The arm 1 can assume many different shapes but there are certain advantages in the shape shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. Among these advantages may be mentioned: 1. The arcuate back 6 provides a range of different impact locations at which a door frame member 5 can strike the arm 1 without generating a lifting force on the base 3.

2. The cavity 7 allows the arm to fit square on the face/edge angle of a door and assists in absorbing the impact forces when a door moves rapidly towards its closed position with the arm in its operative position.

3. The surface 8 spreads the impact load on the face of a door without generating a force to dislodge the base 3 from the door.

4. The width 9 of the arm 1 is chosen to ensure the minimum gap between the door 4 and the frame member 5 is sufficient to avoid fingers being pinched in the gap.

5. A barb 10 ensures that when used on a sliding door (when the impact in use will be in the direction of the arrow J in Figure 1), the impact will generate a component tending to keep the arm in the operative position (partially over the edge 4a) and not turn it towards the second rest or inoperative, position.

6. The recess which includes the cavity 7 at its apex defines an opening having an included angle slightly greater than SOo.

Clearly even using the shape of the arm shown in Figure 1 the arm could be fabricated to a range of different sizes all of which could be useful. Present experience suggests that the dimensions A to G could be as set out in the following Table A 3 mm B 20 mm C 15 mm D 15 mm E 2 mm F 8 mm G 480 Figure 3 shows a layer 11 of adhesive on the base 3 and a release paper 12 protecting the layer 11. Other fixing means can be used (e.g. by providing screw holes in the base 3).

The arm 1 could be of laminated construction (notably with the laminae lying in the plane of the paper in the Figures 1 and 2 representations) and rubber layers flanking a central sheet (e.g. of leather) have advantages.

The gap between the bifurcation 3a, 3b can be slightly less than the thickness of the arm 1 at the location of the pivot pin 2 so that there is a frictional resistance to turning of the arm relative to the base 3 whether or not the arm is being moved out of one of its two rest positions, and the arm will remain in any set position.

Claims

1. A "door" (as hereinbefore defined) having a buffer member turnably supported on a base fixed to the "door" adjacent an edge thereof which moves away from a "frame member" (as hereinbefore defined) of the "door", which buffer member is turnable between a first rest position in which it overlies the edge and a second rest position in which it is displaced from the edge.

2. A "door" as claimed in claim 1, in which the buffer member is pivotally mounted on the base in such a way that it is harder to turn the member out of either rest position than it is to turn it relative to the base when it is between said rest positions.

3. A "door" as claimed in claim 2, in which the resistance to turning out of a rest position is caused by a shaping of the end of the buffer member which is closest to the base so that it temporarily fouls with the base.

4. A "door" as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the base is a cut length of extruded plastics material adhesively secured in place on the "door".

5. A "door" as claimed in claim 4, in which a surface of the base is. provided with a release-paper protected self-adhesive layer.

6. A "door" as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the width of the buffer member is sufficient to ensure the gap defined by closest approach of the edge of the "door" to the said "frame member" is insufficient to trap a finger in the gap.

7. A "door" as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the surface of the buffer member contacting the said "frame member" is of arcuate form.

8. A "door" as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the part of the buffer member which contacts the "door" adjacent to the said edge defines a recess of slightly more than 900 and includes a cavity at the apex of the recess to encourage a square fitting of the buffer member on the said edge of the door.

9. A "door" as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which a barb is provided on the buffer member to ensure that when used on a sliding "door", impact with the said "frame member" will generate a turning force in a direction to retain the buffer member in the first rest position rather than move it towards the second rest position.

10. A safety device preventing inadvertent closing of an edge of a "door" (as hereinbefore defined) against a "frame member" (as hereinbefore defined), comprising a generally J-shaped arm of rubber-elastic material pivotally mounted on a base to be turnable, relative to the base, between first and second rest positions in one, but only one, of which rest positions the arm can overlie said edge of the "door" to prevent said inadvertent closing, the arm being mounted on the base in such a way that it is harder to turn the arm out of either rest position than it is to turn it relative to the base when it is between said rest positions.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, in which the resistance to turning out of a rest position is caused by a shaping of the end of the arm which is closest to the base so that it temporarily fouls with the base.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, in which the base is a cut length of extruded plastics material adhesively secured in place on the "door".

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, in which the base is provided with a release-paper protected selfadhesive layer.

14. A device as claimed in claim 10, in which the mounting of the arm on the base provides a frictional resistance to turning of the arm which is sufficient to hold the arm in any set position relative to the base.

15. A safety device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.