GB2452146A

GB2452146A - Magnetic door stop

Info

Publication number: GB2452146A
Application number: GB0815032A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Lewis; Jacqueline Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-22
Filing date: 2008-08-18
Publication date: 2009-02-25
Also published as: GB0815032D0; GB0716440D0

Abstract

A magnetic door stop, positioned between a door and a door frame on the hinge-side, comprises a block of resilient material. The door stop is preferably made of rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic rubber and comprises a magnet (b), magnetic tape (c) or a magnetic compound. The stop may be positioned either directly on the hinge or on adhesive steel or metallic tape on the door frame. The stop may be moulded or cut to shape. It is preferably a cuboid having a bevelled edge (g), but may otherwise be a cube, conventional cuboid or cylinder. In use, the device prevents the complete closure of a door so as provide a finger guard.

Description

1 2452146

Maintain Gap Device Statement of invention

This device is designed to prevent the trauma associated with finger and hand trapping incidents. The device provides a solution to this problem by curbing the movement of a door in a closing direction sufficiently so as to maintain a safe gap clearance between the door edge and the side of the door frame on which the door is attached.

The maintain gap device when placed upon the door frame in the vicinity of the door hinge or upon the side of the door hinge attached to the door frame itself between the door and the door frame on which the door is mounted will curb the movement of the door towards a closing position sufficiently to maintain a gap clearance between the door and the door frame large enough to prevent hand or finger trauma. The device can be held in place by the magnetic attraction between itself and the door hinge, should the door hinge have no magnetic properties adhesive steel or metallic tape may be adhered to the door frame to create a magnetic attraction. The device should ideally be placed above child height.

The maintain gap device encompasses a shaped block made of rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic rubber or any other robust material with the durability and flexibility properties of the aforementioned capable of absorbing the energy concentrated within the area between the door and the side of the door frame on which it is attached. The device may be moulded or cut during manufacture and its dimensions may be altered to fit variations in the sizes of doors, door frames and hinges.

Advantages The invention is a portable, quick and simple device, which requires no permanent installation and is suitable for conventional household doors. Its design enables it to be moved and utilised effortlessly between doors and be engaged into position within seconds. Tools are not required for installation.

Placing the maintain gap device upon the door frame on or in the vicinity of the open door hinge between the door and the door frame will curb the movement of the door towards a closing position sufficiently to maintain a gap clearance between the door and the door frame large enough to prevent hand or finger trauma. The device can be utilised above child height and is fully portable.

INTRODUCTION TO DRAWINGS

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 Shows the gap created by an open door.

Figure 2 Shows hand resting within the gap created by the open door.

Figure 3 Shows door now moved towards a closed position thereby reducing the gap and squeezing the hand.

Figure 4 Shows an open door with the device positioned in place.

Figure 5 Shows the device in the engaged' position preventing any further reduction of the gap.

Figure 6 Shows a vertical view of the device with its narrowest angled side facing the opposite side of the hinge on which it is attached.

Figure 7, 8, 9 & 10 Shows an example of the design and simplicity of the device.

Figure 11 Shows an example of the device containing two magnets Figure 12 Shows an example of the device using magnetic tape

Detailed Description

The device is designed for the purpose of preventing injuries to fingers trapped within the gap between the door frame and the side of the door attached to the door frame (Figure 1 a), shows the gap created by an open door (Figure 3 a) illustrates what happens when conventional household doors are closed whilst an object or limb is within the gap area (a). The Maintain Gap device consists of a shaped rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic rubber or any other robust material block with the durability and flexibility properties of the aforementioned, capable of absorbing the energy concentrated within the area between the door and the side of the door frame on which it is attached (Figure 1 a). The maintain gap device may be moulded or cut during manufacture and its shape and dimensions may be altered to fit variations in the sizes of doors, door frames and hinges. (Figures 7,8,9,10,11 &12) The maintain gap device contains at least one magnet (Figure 11 b), magnetic tape (Figure 11 C) upon one side or magnetic compound in whole or in part in order to facilitate magnetic adherence to a door hinge (Figure 4 d). The device is fitted by placing it on the side of the open hinge attached to the door frame (Figure 4 e), or upon the door frame itself in the vicinity of the open hinge (Figure 4 f).

In situations where the hinge does not have magnetic properties adhesive steel tape or, metallic tape may be adhered to the door frame (Figure 4 f) or the open hinge of the door frame (Figure 4 e) to create a magnetic attraction to the device (Figure 10).

When in place the maintain gap device will restrict the closing of a door (Figure 5 i) and consequently the reduction of the door gap (Figure 5 a).

The device may be of an irregular heptagon, square, rectangular, cylindrical or other shaped form. In order to facilitate the understanding of this invention the invention will be described by way of the rectangular irregular heptagon shaped design described in the accompanying drawings.

The device is fitted by placing the exposed magnets of the device (Figure 11 b & Figure 12 c) upon the side of the door hinge attached to the door frame (Figure 4 e), with the bevelled side (Figure 7 g) facing the opposite side of the door hinge which is attached to the door. The angle of this bevelled side is designed to alleviate the stress upon the hinge mechanism should the door come to rest on the device as a result of moving towards a closed position (Figure 5).

The device is a portable, quick and simple device, which requires no permanent installation and is suitable for conventional household doors. Its design enables it to be moved and utilised effortlessly between doors and be engaged into position within seconds. Placing the device upon the door frame in the vicinity of the door hinge between the door and the door frame (Figure 4 e & f) will curb the movement of the door towards a closing position sufficiently to maintain a gap clearance between the door and the door frame large enough to prevent hand or finger trauma. Installation and removal can be completed in seconds and the device can be utilised above child height.

Claims

The maintain gap device provides a method to prevent the closing of a door 1. The maintain gap device encompasses a rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic rubber or any other robust rubber compound material block with the durability and flexibility properties of the aforementioned, the device uses magnetism as a means of attachment.
2. The maintain gap device according to claim 1, in which the block contains at least one magnet.
3. The maintain gap device according to claim 1, in which the block contains magnetic compound in whole or in part.
4. The maintain gap device according to claim 1, in which the block contains magnetic tape.
5. The maintain gap device according to claims 1,2,3 and 4, in which the device may be moulded or cut during manufacture.
6. The maintain gap device according to claim 5 in which the shape is a rectangular irregular heptagon.
7. The maintain gap device according to claim 5 in which the shape may be square, rectangular, cylindncal or of any other shaped form.
8. The maintain gap device according to any of the preceding claims, in which its dimensions may be altered to fit variations in the sizes of doors, door frames and hinges.
9. The maintain gap device according to claim 8, further comprising a step of attaching adhesive steel tape to the door frame or hinge in order to create a magnetic attraction.
10. The maintain gap device does not form part of either the door or the door frame.