GB2268562A

GB2268562A - A safety blind for a door hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2268562A
Application number: GB9210790A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Harrison; Paul Stephen White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-05-20
Filing date: 1992-05-20
Publication date: 1994-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2012-05-20
Also published as: GB2268562B; GB9210790D0

Abstract

A simplified resilient safety blind 13 to prevent entry of objects between the edges of two surfaces which can open and close relative to each other, for example a door and frame is formed so that at rest it adopts the form of a closely wound, spirally constructed tube 2, and is restrained behind behind the edge of a strip 4 which is secured to one surface edge. The free edge 3 of the blind 1 is secured to the other surface edge so that when the surface edges move apart, the blind is unrolled across the gap, and re-rolls itself by virtue of its inherent resilience without rollers, springs, spindles or the like. The blind may have a reinforcing strip 6 for its free edge 3 and a side cover 9, and also incorporate a check step 7 to retard or hold the surfaces apart at any predetermined distance. <IMAGE>

Description

SIMPLIFIED SAFETY BLIND This invention refers to-a simplified safety blind arranged SQ as to cover the gap between two surfaces moving relative to each other.

The need for safety devices to prevent entry of parts of the body or other objects into gaps opened up when the edges of two surfaces move apart, whether sliding apart in a parallel motion, or about a pivot, to avoid crushing or jamming of the entered object, when the edges move back together, is well known in industrial situations.

However, the safety devices used in industry are in general too heavy, complex and costly to be used in situations outside the factory, for instance in the home, and it is the object of the present invention to provide a safety device of thks kind in a simplified form which may be used more universally, for example on domestic doors where the gap opened up between the door and frame in the vicinity of the hinges when the door is opened is very dangerous for children's fingers.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a simplified safety blind comprising a resilient sheet to cover the gap between the edges of two surfaces, one or both of which are capable of motion relative to the other so as to prevent entry between the surface edges of parts of the body or other objects, the sheet being resilently biased towards the configuration of a roll, that is,a spirally constnicedtube, by virtue othe Aproperties of the material of which it is constructed, without the need for secondary means such as rollers, axles springs or spindles, and capable of being unrolled so as to effectively cover the said gap as it opens, and re-rolling itself by virtue of its own resilience when the said gap closes, the device being adapted to be fixed in the vicinity of, and parallel to, the edges of the two surfaces.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1. is a schematic diagram showing the relationship of the parts which make up the device proper.

Figure 2. is an end view of the assembly with the resilient blind fully extended or unrolled.

Figure 3. is an end view of the assembly with the resilient blind partly retracted or rolled.

Figure 4. is an end view of the assembly with the resilient blind fully retracted or rolled.

Figure 5. shows an alternative method of constructing the blind from a lamination of fabric or plastic with steel or plastic Figure 6. shows an optional end cover or cap which may be employed to improve appearance and ease of cleaning.

The object of the invention is to provide a means of covering the gap between the edges of two surfaces, one or both of which is capable of movement relative to the other and which is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the changes in angle between the two surfaces which may occur when they are joined, for example, in a pivoted configuration, as in a door and its frame, but is sufficiently stiff to resist entry of fingers or other objects between the edges, and is self retracting when the surface edges move towards each other.

The drawings illustrate a preferred form of such a device which may be simplified and easily fitted in place.

The device comprises a blind, 1, which is a sheet of material resiliently biased towards the form of a roll or tube, which may be of plastic, metal, or a lamination or combination of resilient plastics or metal with a second material such as fabric.

Figure 5 shows one such alternative method of construction, being ad-aminat#on-.of a less resilient material such as fabric with strips of metal or plastic 11 which provide the necessary resilience to the laminated blind.

In a preferred form, the blind 1 is made from a sheet of material which is formed under heat, pressure, or a combination of both so that at rest itis rolled up, in the form of a spirally constructedtube 2 with a free edge 3, which tube resists being unrolled by virtue entirely of the properties of the material of which it is made, and without any additional or secondary means such as springs, rollers or spindles. The force inherent in the material which resists unrolling or extension of the sheet may be accurately predetermined by correct choice of thickness and type of material.

When a sufficient force F is applied to free edge 3 in a direction generally away from the tube 2, whilst the tube 2 is restrained, the tube unrolls. The inherent resistance to extension, that isaunrollingof the sheet provides a tension in the extended sheet so as to provide it with sufficient stiffness to resist a pressure P upon it, generally perpendicular to its surface, such as would be the result of attempted entry of an object into the space between the two surfaces across which the sheet is extended.

The sheet will re-roll itself back into its tubular form when the force F applied to the free edge 3 is relaxed.

The tube 2 may be confined and restrained so that the force F applied to the free edge 3 may be opposed resulting in an unrolling of the blind without the need for any rollers, spindles or axles to guide it. To this end, the tube 2 is placed behind the edge 5 of an open hollow longitudinal strip 4, fixed in the vicinity of, and parallel to, the edge of one of the aforementioned surfaces. A preferred form of this strip 4 is shown in figures 1 to 4, where the edge of the strip is formed approximately into a quarter circle, sized substantially similar to the outer radius of the fully rolled up blind.

The edge 5 of this longitudinal strip 4 faces away from the free edge 3 of the blind 1 as shown. The longitudinal strip 4 may be constructed from any suitably stiff material.

Thus, when a force F is applied to the free edge 3 of the blind in a direction away from the edge 5 of the longitudinal strip 4 as shown in Fig. 1., the tube 2 is constrained by the longitudinal strip 4 to unroll or extend providing a tensioned blind.

The force F may be provided by attaching the free edge 3 of the blind 1 in the vicinity of and parallel to the edge of the other aforementioned surface, such that when the edges of the surfaces move apart, a pulling force is applied to the free edge 3.

The free edge 3 may be reinforced by attaching it to or enclosing it within a second longitudinal strip 6, which may be fixed, together with the free edge 3, in the vicinity of and parallel to, the edge of the second surface.

Thus, when the edges of the surfaces move apart, the tube 2 is urged to unroll or extend so that the blind 1 may effectively cover the opening between the edges with sufficient stiffness to resist pressure resulting from attempts to insert objects between the surface edges. When the surfaces move back towards each other, the resilient material or materials of which the blind is made cause it to roll up upon itself in the form of a tube 2 behind the edge 5 of the first longitudinal strip 4, maintaining tension on the blind 1 at all times.

This self-rolling action is shown in figures 2 to 4.

Figure 3 also illustrates the action of a check-step or joggle 7 which may be simply formed into or attached to the material of the blind 1, so that as the blind 1 is in process of re-rolling itself into the tube 2 behind the edge 5 of the longitudinal strip 4, the check step 7 is prevented from passing over the edge 5 by a raised lip 8 formed on the edge 5. This check-step performs the function of stopping or retarding the closing together of the two edges across which the the whole device is fixed at a predetermined point before the two edges meet. This is especially valuable where the device is fitted across two surfaces which are pivotally attached to each other, as, for instance, in a hinged door.

The check action of the device can then prevent the edges of the door and frame opposite to the edges at which the hinges and the safety blind are fitted from fully closing together, in order to hold the door open at any predetermined position, protecting parts of the body or other objects being injured or trapped between these opposite edges. Full closure of the door would then require an increase of the closing force sufficient to cause the check step 7 to over-ride the lip 8 due to resilient deformation in the material of the blind 1, allowing the blind to fully re-roll itself behind the edge 5.

One or more of these check steps may be incorporated in the blind 1 to check the closing action of the edges at one or more positions and, if suitably configured, may in addition assist to hold the edges in the fully closed position, or provide a fricti#onal braking action to retard the rate of closure of the edges.

The longitudinal strip 4 may be additionally provided with a side cover 9 to conceal the - tube 2 in order to prevent interference with it and to improve the appearance and ease of cleaning of the device.

The side cover 9 may be attached to the longitudinal strip 4 by suitable means which may include screws, bolts or catches which may be spring loaded, or, if the side cover 9 or longitudinal strip 4 are constructed of a fairly resilient material such as plastics or spring steel, may.

form an integral part of the longitudinal strip 4 or side cover 9.

To further improve the appearance and ease of cleaning, an end cap or caps may be attached to one or both ends of the longitudinal strip 4, adapted to be retained by screws, bolts, clips, frictional fit or other suitable method.

To fit the device in place across the edges of two surfaces, the free edge 3 of the blind 1 is first fixed in the vicinity of and parallel to the edge of one of the surfaces, with or without the reinforcing longitudinal strip 6, using screws, bolts or other suitable method.

The hollow longitudinal strip 4 is then fixed by similar means in the vicinity of and parallel to the edge of the second surface, oriented to the longitudinal strip 6 as shown in figure 1.

The tube is then partly extended or unrolled and placed behind the edge 5 of the longitudinal strip 4, where it is retained by its own resilient pressure.

The side cover 9 may now be attached to longitudinal strip 4.

Lastly, the end cap or caps 12 may now be attached to the longitudinal strip 4.

Claims

1. A simplified safety blind comprising a resilient sheet to protect the gap between the edges of two surfaces, one or both of welch are capable of movement relative to the other so as to prevent entry between the edges of parts of the body or other objects, the sheet being resiliently biased towards the configuration of a roll, that is)a spirally constructed tube, by virtue of the properties of the material of which it is constructed, without the need of secondary means such as rollers, spindles, springs or axles and capable of being unrolled so as to effectively cover the said gap as it opens, and re-rolling itself when the said gap closes, the device being adapted to be fixed in the vicinity of and parallel to the edges of the two surfaces.

2. A simplified safety blind according to claim 1 in which the resiliently rolled up tube is restrained by being positioned behind the projecting edge of a first longitudinal strip, which causes the tube to be unrolled when a force is applied to the free edge. of the blind, drawing it away from the rolled up tube.

3. A simplified safety blind according to claims 1 and 2 in which the first longitudinal strip is adapted to be fixed in the vicinity of and parallel to the edge of one surface.

4. A simplified safety blind according to claims 1,2 and 3 in which the free edge of the blind is adapted to be fixed in the vicinity of and parallel to the edge of a second surface which moves relative to the first surface, or relative to which the first surface moves.

5. A simplified safety blind according to claims 1,2,3 and 4 in which the free edge of the blind is adapted to be reinforced by a second longitudinal strip at the line along which it is fixed in the vicinity of and parallel to the edge of a second moving surface.

6. A simplified safety blind according to claims 1,2,3,4 and 5, incorporating a check step or steps to arrest or retard the movement towards each other of the edges of the two surfaces across which the device is adapted to be fixed.

7. A simplified safety blind according to claims 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 which incorporates a check step to assist in holding the surfaces together in a closed position.

8. A simplified safety blind according to claims 1,2,3,4 and 5 having a side cover adapted to be attached to the first longitudinal strip so as to guard and cover the resiliently rolled up hollow tube restrained within it.

9. A simplified safety blind according to claims 1,2,3,4,5 and 8 having an end cap or caps adapted to be attached to the first longitudinal strip so as to guard and cover the ends of the resiliently rolled up hollow tube restrained within it.

10. A simplified safety blind substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A simplified safety blind sunstantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A simplified safety blind comprising a resilient sheet to protect the gap between the edges of two surfaces, one or both of which are capable of movement relative to the other so as to prevent entry between the edges of parts of the body or other objects, the sheet being resiliently biased towards the configuration of a roll, that is a spirally constructed tube, by virtue of the properties of the mater ial of which it is constructed, without the need of second ary means such as rollers, spindles, springs or axles, and capable of being unrolled so as to effectively cover the said gap as it opens, and re-rolling itself when the said gap closes, the device being adapted to be fixed in the vicinity of and parallel to the edges of the two surfaces.

2. A simplified safety blind according to claim 1 'in which the resiliently rolled up tube is restrained by being positioned behind the projecting edge of a first longitudinal strip, which causes the tube to be unrolled when a force is applied to the free edge of the blind, drawing it away from the rolled up tube.

4. A simplified safety blind according to claims 1, 2 and 3 in which the free edge of the blind is adapted to be fixed in the vicinity of and parallel to the edge of a second surface which moves relative to the first surface, or relative to which the first surface moves.

6. A simplified safety blind according to claims 1,2,3,4 and 5, incorporating one or more check steps or stop devices to arrest or retard the movement towards each other of the edges of the two surfaces across which the device is adapted to be fixed.

7. A simplified safety blind according to claims 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 which incorporates a check step or stop device to assist in holding the surfaces together in a closed position.

8. A simplified safety blind according to claims 1,2,3,4 and 5 having a side cover adapted to be attached to, or made integral with, the first longitudinal strip so as to guard and cover the resiliently rolled up hollow tube restrained within it.