GB2406358A - Door knocker with separate fixing plate to be attached to a plastics or composite door - Google Patents

Abstract

A door knocker comprises a door fixture (14) and a knocker arm (16) which is movable, in use, into and out of contact with a knocker plate (18). The door fixture is adapted to be fasted to the surface of a door (12) and the door fixture and knocker plate are attached to each other by mutually engaging elements, preferably in the form of pins (48) extending from the rear of the knocker plate, each of which fit in a spring steel resilient clip (26) located in an aperture (24, Figure 4) in the door fixture. This design means the fixing means are not visible when the door knocker is attached to the door.

Description

Title: Door Knocker The present invention relates to a door knocker,

andmoreparticularlybutnot exclusivelyto a door knocker for attachment to a plastics or composite door.

A door knocker typicallycomprises a knocker arm pivotallymounted relative to a face or knocker plate, which is usually attached to the outside of a door by screws or bolts. The heads of the screws orbolts areusuallyvisible, and if bolts are used, then the ends ofthe bolts are usuallyvisible and accessible from the other side ofthe door. Neither the screws nor the bolts are aesthetically pleasing, and detract from the design shape of the door knocker.

Typicallytwo fixing points are provided at upper and lower ends of a door knocker, which may not be sufficient for fixing with screws to a plastics or composite door because ofthe thin nature ofthe material to which the door knocker is attached. Therefore, when fitting a door knocker to plastics or composite doors in particular, it is usual to use bolts rather than screws, thus adding to the aesthetic problems.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved door knocker, which overcomes or substantially reduces the above mentioned problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a door knocker comprising a door fixture, a knocker arm and a knocker plate, the knocker arm being movable, in use, into and out of contact with the knocker plate, the door fixture being adapted to be fastened to the surface of a door, and the door fixture and knocker plate have mutually engaging elements by which the knocker plate can be attached to the door fixture.

It is an advantage of the invention that the door fixture can be attached to a door independently of the knocker plate and arm, and the fastening of the knocker plate is blind.

Preferably a plurality of apertures are provided through the door fixture, enabling attachment ofthe door fixture to the surface of the door using screw fixings.

It is a further advantage ofthe invention that three or more screw fixings can be used to attach the door fixture to a door, thus ensuring a firm fixing, even to a plastics or composite door.

The mutually engaging elements may be a pair of pins and a pair of resilient clips.

Preferablythepins extend perpendicularly, or substantiallyso, from the rearoftheknockerplate.

Each resilient clip is preferably received in a recess in the rear surface of the door fixture.

Preferably each resi liens clip has an aperture therethrough and resilient tines extending from the periphery of the resilient clip towards the aperture, which are adapted to engage one of the pins.

The resilient tines maybe angled towards the rear surface ofthe door fixture, which in use is adapted to rest against the face of the door, thus resisting withdrawal of a pin, once engaged.

The resilient clips may be manufactured from spring steel.

Preferably the knocker arm includes an axle, attached at either end to a substantially C-shaped knocking portion.

Preferably the knockerplate has recesses on either side in which the axle ofthe knocker arm is rotatablymounted, and ahollow inferior therebetween, through which the axle ofthe knocker arm passes.

The invention will now tee describedbywayofexample onlywith reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Fig I shows a door knocker in accordance with the invention attached to the face of a composite door; Fig 2 shows a front view of the knocker plate of the door knocker of Fig 1; Fig 3 shows a side view of the knocker plate of Fig 2; Fig 4 shows the door fixture of the door knocker of Fig 1; Fig 5 shows aside view ofthe assembled doorknockerofFig I with the door fixture shown in dotted outline; Fig 6 shows a rear view of the assembled door knocker of Fig 5; and Fig 7 shows a resilient clip.

Referring firstly to Fig 1, a door knocker assembly generally indi cased at l O is shown attached to the face of a composite door 12. The door knocker assembly 10 includes a door fixture 14, a knocker arm 1 6 and a knocker plate 18. The door fixture 1 4, also shown in Fig 4, is a substantially flat plate having three spaced countersunk bores 20, enabling attachment ofthe door fixture to the surface ofthe door 12, bymeans of screw fixings 22, shown in Fig 1. Apairofcircularrecesses 24 are provided in the rear of the door fixture 14, one at either end, each of which receives a resilient clip 26, shown in Fig 7. The resilient clips are made from spring steel. Apertures 28 are also provided through the door fixture 14, which communicate with each ofthe circular recesses 24.

Referring now to Figs 2 and 3, the knocker plate 18 is manufactured as a substantially hollow casting, having a central portion 30 and decorative end portions 32, 34 extending from either side ofthe central portion. An area 36 ofthe lower decorative portion 34, as viewed, acts as a striker plate against which the knocker arm 16 sounds, when the knocker is in use. Referring also to Figs S and 6, the knocker arm 16 includes an axle 38 attached at either end to a substantially C-shaped knocking portion 40. A raised hp 42 is provided on the C-shaped knocking portion 40, which contacts the striker area 36.

Recesses 44, best seen in Fig 3, are provided on either side ofthe knockerplate 18 in which the axle 38 ofthe knocker arm 16 isrotatablymounted as showninFig6. Supportingportions 46 are integrally cast into the hollow interior ofthe knocker plate 18 adjacent the recesses 44. These supporting portions 46 further support the axle 38 ofthe knocker arm 16.

Apairofpins 48 extend substantiallyperpendicularlyfrom the rearoftheknockerplate 18, and are spaced to pass through the apertures 28 in the door fixture 14. Each resilient clip 26 has an l O aperture 50 therethrough and apluralityofresilient tines 52 which extend from the periphery ofthe resilient clip 26 towards the aperture 50, and which are adapted to engage one ofthe pins 48. The resilient tines 52 are angled towards the rear surface ofthe door fixture 14, as shown in Fig 1, which assists in resisting withdrawal of a pin 48 from the resilient clips 26, once engaged.

When assembling the door knocker assembly 10, firstly clearance holes must be drilled in the front ofthe door 12 through which the pins 48 are able to pass. The door fixture 14 is then attached to the surface ofthe door 12 bymeans ofthe screw fixings 22. The door fixture 14 is supplied with the resilient clips 26 alreadypressed into the circularrecesses 24. The axle 38 ofthe knocker arm 16 is then placed in the recesses 44 oftheknockerplate 18, with the C- shapedknockingportion lying in front of the knocker plate 18. The knocker plate 18 can then be pushed onto the door fixture 14 so thatthepins48 pass through the apertures 28, into the resilient tines 52 ofthe resilient clips 26, to hold the knocker plate l 8 firmly engaged with the surface of the door 12.

The door knocker assembly 10 has the advantage that the fixings are all blind, from the front and rearofthe door 12. It is possibleto use up to three screw fixings to attach the door fixture 14 to the door 12 in the arrangement as shown, but should further screw fixings be required, then further countersunk holes can be drilled in the door fixture 14.

Should the door knocker assembly 10 have to be removed, then it can simplybe prised offthe door surface using a lever. If the spring clips 26 are damaged, then they can be replaced for refitting of the door knocker.

Claims (10)

1. A door knocker comprising a door fixture, a knocker arm and a knocker plate, the knocker arm being movable, in use, into and out of contact with the knocker plate, the door fixture being adapted to be fastened to the surface of a door, and the door fixture and knocker plate have mutually engaging elements by which the knocker plate can be attached to the door fixture.

2. A door knocker as claimedin claim 1 inwhichapluralityofapertures are provided through the door fixture, enabling attachment ofthe door fixture to the surface ofthe door using screw fixings.

3. A door knocker as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the mutually engaging elements are a pair of pins and a pair of resilient clips.

4. A door knocker as claimed in claim 3 in which the pins extend perpendicularly, or substantially so, from the rear of the knocker plate.

5. A door knocker as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which each resilient clip is received in a recess in the rear surface of the door fixture.

6. Adoorknockeras claimed in anyone of claims 3 to 5 in which each resilient clip has an aperture therethrough and resilient tines extending from the periphery ofthe resilient clip towards the aperture, which are adapted to engage one of the pins.

7. A door knocker as claimed In claim 6 in which the resilient tines are angled towards the rear surface ofthe door fixture, which in use is adapted to rest against the face ofthe door, thus resisting withdrawal of a pin, once engaged.

8. A door knocker as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7 in which the resilient clips are manufactured from spring steel.

9. A door knocker as claimed in any preceding claim in which the knocker arm includes an axle, attached at either end to a substantially C-shaped knocking portion.

10. A door knocker as claimed in claim 9 in which the knocker plate has recesses on either side in which the axle of the knocker arm is rotatably mounted, and a hollow interior therebetween, through which the axle of the knocker arm passes.

1 1. A door knocker substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in figs 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.