GB2321078A

GB2321078A - Protective cover device for covering the angle formed between the edge of a hinged door and the door frame.

Info

Publication number: GB2321078A
Application number: GB9700287A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phrixos Prodromou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-08
Filing date: 1997-01-08
Publication date: 1998-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-08
Also published as: GB2321078B; GB9700287D0

Abstract

A cover device for covering the angle formed between the edge of a hinged door and the door frame, comprises an elongate strip 1 having parallel sides, and divided by hinge lines 2-6 into a plurality of elongate panels 7-12. A first outer panel 7 is adapted to be fixed to the face of the door D, adjacent the door edge E, and a second outer panel 8 is adapted to be fixed to the door frame F. Panel 8 has a groove cut in it allowing it to fix to an uneven surface. Four further panels 9-12 can fold to form a hollow rectangular structure, in the corner between the door and the door frame, when the door is fully closed and which present a convex cover, over the angle between the door and the frame, when the door is open. At least the third and sixth panels 9, 12 are constructed with areas of reduced thickness which increase their flexibilty relative to stiffer panels 7, 8 and 11.

Description

DOOR COVER DEVICE The invention relates to a cover device for covering the angle formed between the edge of a hinged door and the door frame. The purpose of the device is to form a barrier which prevents access to the angle by fingers so as to avoid pinching or similar injury.

The aim of the invention is to provide such a device which prevents access and avoids injury at all times whilst blending in with the visual aspect of the door and frame in an inconspicuous but attractive manner.

Accordingly the invention provides a cover device for covering the angle formed between the edge of a hinged door and the door frame comprising: an elongate strip having parallel sides and divided by hinge lines parallel to the sides into a plurality of elongate panels; wherein the panels comprise: a first outer panel adapted to be fixed to the face of the door adjacent the door edge; a second outer panel adapted to be fixed to the door frame adjacent that part of the door frame which faces the door edge when the door is closed; and at least four further panels between the first and second panels which can fold to form a hollow polygonal structure in the corner between the door and the door frame when the door is fully closed and which present a convex cover over the angle between the door and the frame when the door is open.

Figure 1 is a partial perspective view showing a device fitted between a door and a door frame; Figure 2 is a section through the device with its underside uppermost; Figure 3 is an underside view of a length of the strip forming the device; Figure 4 is a horizontal section showing the device fitted between a door and a door frame with the door fully open; Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4 with the door half open; and Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 4 with the door closed.

As can be seen in Figures 1-3, the cover device is formed by an elongate strip 1 which is suitably formed as a substantially flat extrusion of polypropylene. The strip has parallel sides and is divided by parallel hinge lines 2-6 into a plurality of elongate panels 7-12. A first outer panel is adapted to be fixed to the face of the door D adjacent the door edge E and a second outer panel 8 is adapted to be fixed to the door frame F adjacent to that part of the door frame which faces the door edge E when the door is fully closed.

Third, fourth, fifth and sixth panels 9-12 are formed between the outer panels. The fourth panel 10 is formed of a first panel portion 101 and a second panel portion 102 separated by a hinge line 103 which is stiffer than the other hinge lines as discussed below.

The third and sixth panels 9 and 12 are formed with areas of reduced thickness 91, 121 which provide for increased flexibility of these panels relative to the fairly stiff panels 7, 8 and 11. The first panel portion 101 of panel 10 is also provided with an area of reduced thickness which makes it more flexible than the relatively stiff second panel portion 102. The second outer panel 8 is formed with an elongate groove 81 which enables it to flex to adapt to a non-planar configuration. This may be necessary where that part of the door frame to which it attaches is not flat.

The outer panels are provided on their undersides with a double sided adhesive tape or other adhesive means for attaching the device to a door and door frame.

The fitting and operation of the cover device is described below with particular reference to Figures 4-6.

The first outer panel 7 is fixed to the face of a door D adjacent to its edge E whilst the second outer panel 8 is fixed to door frame F adjacent that part of the door frame which faces the door edge E when the door is closed.

When the door is fully open as shown in Figure 4, the cover device forms a convex cover over the angle between the door and the frame. In this condition the cover bends substantially only about hinges 3, 5 and 6 and forms a fairly stiff substantially triangular hollow barrier preventing access to the angle between the door D and the frame F.

In the half open door position of Figure 5, the cover device forms a generally polygonal hollow shape with bending about hinges 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Again, the cover device forms a relatively stiff barrier preventing access to the angle between the door D and the frame F.

In the fully closed position of the door shown in Figure 6, the cover device folds to form a hollow polygonal structure. In the embodiment shown, this structure is substantially rectangular and thus blends in well with the door and door frame. In moving from the position shown in Figure 5 to that of Figure 6, there is a possibility of fingers being inserted in the angle between the first panel 7 and the third panel 9 a.d/or the angle between the second panel 8 and the sixth panel 12. For this reason, the third and sixth panels are made relatively flexible and will bend under a low pressure which would not be painful to any trapped fingers.

Further flexing is also available by virtue of the flexibility of panel portion 101 and the hinge 103, but since the hinge 103 is slightly stiffer than the other hinges, this does not occur in normal circumstances and the third panel 10 remains planar.

Thus it can be seen, that at all times the cover device forms a barrier to the angle between the door and the frame. This barrier assumes various polygonal shapes according to the opening state of the door which blend in well with the polygonal structures of the door and frame and are thus quite inconspicuous. Since the cover device extends substantially for the full height of the door it forms a fairly stiff barrier, particularly in the region of the third and fourth panels 10 and 11 The length of the cover device also assists local flexing in the more flexible panels, if necessary, as described above.

Claims

1. A cover device for covering the angle formed between the edge of a hinged door and the door frame comprising: an elongate strip having parallel sides and divided by hinge lines parallel to the sides into a plurality of elongate panels; wherein the panels comprise: a first outer panel adapted to be fixed to the face of the door adjacent the door edge; a second outer panel adapted to be fixed to the door frame adjacent that part of the door frame which faces the door edge when the door is closed; and at least four further panels between the first and second panels which can fold to form a hollow polygonal structure in the corner between the door and the door frame when the door is fully closed and which present a convex cover over the angle between the door and the frame when the door is open.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the further panels comprises third, fourth, fifth and sixth panels sequentially between the first and second panels and wherein at least the third and sixth panels are so constructed as to be more flexible than at least some of the remaining panels.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the fourth panel is formed by first and second panel portions separated by a hinge which is stiffer than the other hinges of the device.

4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein the first panel portion of th. fourth panel is constructed to be more flexible than the second panel portion.

5. A device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the more flexible panels or panel portions are formed with areas of reduced thickness to provide for the increase in flexibility.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the second outer panel is formed with an elongate groove so that the panel is able to adopt a non-planar configuration.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second outer panels are provided with adhesive for fixing them to the door and door frame respectively.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, formed of an extrusion of polypropylene.

9. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the polygonal structure which the device forms in the corner between the door and the door frame when the door is fully closed is generally rectangular in shape.

10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein the four sides of the rectangular structure are provided by the third, fourth, fifth and sixth panels of the device.

11. A device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.