GB2462580A

GB2462580A - Draught excluder for a pet flap

Info

Publication number: GB2462580A
Application number: GB0810776A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Peter Kirk
Original assignee: Pet Mate Ltd
Current assignee: Pet Mate Ltd
Priority date: 2008-06-12
Filing date: 2008-06-12
Publication date: 2010-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-12
Also published as: GB2462580B; GB0810776D0

Abstract

A draught strip mounted to a pet door, the door comprising a panel mounted within a frame to swing about an axis, the frame mounted within an opening in a lower portion of a door or wall to allow access for a pet therethrough. The draught strip 105 is mounted in a groove having a generally inverted "T"-shaped profile in section. The draught strip has flexible draught excluding material 106 mounted along a centreline of the strip which extends through a slot 127 defined by the stem of the inverted "T" and flanges 108 that are retained in undercut side slots 123 126 defined by the crossbar of the "T". The panel is formed from an injection moulded main panel 112 that provides one side of such a "T" shaped groove along at least one peripheral edge of the panel member. At least one auxiliary plastics member 114 is joined to the main panel member 112 along the at least one edge by ultrasonic welding to complete the groove and to trap at least one length of draught strip in the completed groove, optionally using adhesive. A magnet and ferromagnetic member attached to the frame and panel may be used to centre the panel in position. There is a second independent claim for a method of mounting the pet flap.

Description

PET DOOR

This disclosure relates to pet doors.

Pet doors are mounted in a lower region of a door or of a wall to allow a pet access therepast. Most such doors comprise a panel, usually formed from transparent plastics such as acrylic plastics, that is mounted to swing about a horizontal axis within a plastics frame. When provided for cats, such doors are commonly termed cat-flaps. Other embodiments of pet door comprise a panel mounted to swing about a vertical axis within a frame. These are generally more expensive as they require a mechanism to centre the panel within the frame to keep the pet door closed except when being used by a pet, whereas gravity may be sufficient to centre a horizontally mounted panel.

Whether the panel swings about a horizontal or vertical axis, provision is desirably made to reduce or prevent draughts passing the pet door when closed.

Commercially available draught strip of the kind comprising a strip of brush pile woven to a base strip along a centre line therof, the base strip itself being of woven construction, and the base strip being laminated to a smooth polypropylene backing strip has long been used for draught exclusion between windows and their frames, since a length of such strip may readily be inserted into an extruded section defining an undercut groove, as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the base strip and backing strip together defining a flange along each edge of the draught strip, which flange slides into the undercut groove.

Cost, quality and consistency of manufacture are major considerations in the manufacture of pet doors. The panel and the frame within which it swings, whether about a horizontal or vertical axis, will generally be fabricated by inexpensive injection moulding techniques avoiding the use of extruded sections, typically employing acrylic plastics for the panel so that it can be made transparent, as many pets are reluctant to pass through a pet door unless they can see that the area on the other side is safe for them. In GB 2231836 Pet Mate Ltd, we discuss the problem of mounting draught strip to pet doors while avoiding extruded sections, and we disclose a solution to that problem. This has proved successful up to a point, but is dependent on the integrity of the adhesion between the strip and the panel being maintained. Since the adhesion between the woven surface of the draught strip and the groove along one edge of the strip is much stronger than the adhesion between the smooth backing strip and panel, there is a risk that the draught strip may eventually become loose from the panel along its other edge through repeated use of the pet door. Moreover, gluing is essentially a manual process, and thus subject to variability. The embodiment of pet door described in detail hereinbelow has resulted from our attempts to improve upon the arrangements disclosed in our aforesaid GB 2231836.

In accordance with a first aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a pet door comprising a panel mounted within a frame to swing about an axis that is generally horizontal or generally vertical in use, the frame being adapted to be mounted within an opening in a lower portion of a door or wall to allow access for a pet therethrough; the panel mounting along at least one peripheral edge thereof at least one length of draught strip of the kind adapted to be mounted in a groove having a generally inverted "T"-shaped profile in section, the draught strip having flexible draught excluding material mounted along a centreline of the strip and adapted to extend through a slot defined by the stem of the inverted "T" and flanges adapted to be retained in undercut side slots defined by the crossbar of the "1"; the panel being formed from an injection moulded main panel member that provides one side of a said groove along said edges, and at least one auxiliary plastics member joined to the main panel member along said edges by ultrasonic welding to complete the groove.

The draught strip may be in one or more lengths, and may be free of adhesive, simply being trapped in the groove as a result of joining of (an) auxiliary member(s) to the main panel member. Adhesive may be applied, particularly to more vulnerable end portions of a length of draught strip.

In accordance with a second and alternative aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a method of mounting draught strip to a pet door of the kind comprising a panel mounted within a frame to swing about an axis that is generally horizontal or generally vertical in use, the frame being adapted to be mounted within an opening in a lower portion of a door or wall to allow access for a pet therethrough, the draught strip being of the kind adapted to be mounted in a groove having a generally inverted "T"-shaped profile in section, the draught strip having flexible draught excluding material mounted along a centreline of the strip and adapted to extend through a slot defined by the stem of the inverted "T" and flanges adapted to be retained in undercut side slots defined by the crossbar of the "T"; the method comprising the steps of: forming the panel from an injection moulded main panel member that provides one side of a said groove along at least one peripheral edge of the said panel member, and joining at least one auxiliary plastics member to the main panel member along said at least one edge by ultrasonic welding to complete the groove and to trap at least one length of said draught strip in the completed groove, optionally with application of adhesive.

Preferred embodiments include one or more of the following features: The panel is adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis in use, and has a bottom edge and two side edges and rounded corners between the bottom edge and the side edges. The bottom edge mounts a magnetic element for centring the panel, the magnetic element comprising either a magnet for cooperation with one of a magnet and a ferromagnetic member mounted on a confronting portion of the frame or a ferromagnetic member for cooperation with a magnet mounted on a confronting portion of the frame. The mounting for the magnetic element interrupts the groove in the bottom edge, and comprises a box into which the magnetic element is placed, all the sides for said box apart from one being moulded in the main panel member, and the remaining said side for the box being provided by a portion of a said auxiliary plastics member joined to the main panel member along said bottom edge.

The panel includes an axle defining the axis about which the panel rotates, the axle being integrally moulded with the main panel member apart from an auxiliary plastics member joined to the axle region of the main panel member by adhesive to define with the main panel member a said groove between the main panel member and the said auxiliary plastics member extending along a top edge of the panel in use, in which groove a length of said draught strip is located. The main panel member and the auxiliary plastics members are formed from a polycarbonate plastics material, preferably transparent in the case of the main panel member to allow a pet to see through the closed pet door.

A preferred embodiment of pet door is hereinafter more particularly described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a conventional draught strip mounted in a groove having a generally inverted "T"-shaped profile in section, as shown in Fig. 1 of GB 2231836; Fig. 2 is a similar schematic sectional view showing the mounting of the said draught strip to the periphery of a panel for a cat-flap in accordance with the teaching of GB 2231836, and as shown in Fig. 2 thereof; Fig. 3 is an exploded view of an example of a panel for a pet door embodying

teachings of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 is a corresponding view showing the assembled pet door panel; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line V-V in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Fig. 4.

A conventional draught strip 1 (Fig. 1) comprises brush pile 2 woven along the centreline of a base strip 3, itself of woven construction, to which a smooth polypropylene backing strip 4 is applied. The base strip 3 and backing strip 4 together define flanges 5 extending along the sides of the draught strip. Such draught strip is adapted to be inserted into a groove 6 from one end thereof, the groove 6 being formed in an extruded section.

The groove has a generally inverted "T"-shaped profile in section, so that as shown -the brush pile 2 may extend through a slot 7 defined by the stem of the inverted "T" while the flanges 5 are retained in undercut side slots 8 defined by the crossbar of the "T".

As explained in GB 2231836, the provision of an undercut groove of the kind shown in Fig. 1, while readily feasible with extruded sections, is simply not feasible with inexpensive plastics injection moulding. In the arrangement of Fig. 2 (which corresponds to Fig. 2 of GB 2231836), a cyanoacrylate adhesive is employed to adhere the draught strip 1 to a groove 9 moulded into the panel of a cat-flap adjacent its periphery 10. Groove 9 has unequal sides, one side 11 being essentially coextensive with the backing strip 4, while the other side 12 is substantially coextensive with one flange 5. The cyanoacrylate adhesive provides a significantly stronger bond with the base strip 3, probably because of its woven construction providing interstices into which the adhesive may penetrate, than it does with the smooth surface of the polypropylene backing strip 4. Nevertheless, until the present proposal, this construction represented the best available solution to the problem of providing draught strip to the periphery of a swinging pet door panel.

Turning now to Figs. 3 to 5, there is shown in exploded view, in perspective and in an edge section, respectively, an embodiment of panel 100 for a pet door. It will be understood that panel 100 is adapted to be mounted within a frame (not shown) to swing about an axis 101. As illustrated the axis 101 is generally horizontal. In alternative embodiments, the panel may be mounted to swing about a generally vertical axis in use. It will also be understood that the frame will be adapted to be mounted within an opening in a lower portion of a door or wall to allow access for a pet therethrough. Panel 100 has a bottom edge 102 and two side edges 103 and rounded corners 104 between the bottom edge 102 and the side edges 103. Mounted along the bottom and side edges and around the rounded corners around the periphery of panel 100 are lengths 105 of draught strip of the kind adapted to be mounted in a groove having a generally inverted "T"-shaped profile in section, the draught strip having flexible draught excluding material 106 mounted along a centreline 107 of the strip and adapted to extend through a slot defined by the stem of the inverted "T" and flanges 108 adapted to be retained in undercut side slots defined by the crossbar of the "T". Draught strip 105 is preferably, though not necessarily, the same as draught strip 1 of Figs. 1 and 2. The panel includes a region 109 defining the axis 101 about which the panel rotates. Region 109 mounts a further length 110 of draught strip along a top edge 111 of the panel in use, as shown in section in Fig. 6.

Panel 100 comprises a main panel member 112 that may be inexpensively injection moulded from plastics material, preferably a polycarbonate plastics material, and preferably transparent so that a pet approaching the pet door may see through the main panel to be reassured that it is safe to pass through the door. Auxiliary plastics members 113, 114, 115 and 116 are joined to the main panel member as described below.

Bottom edge 102 mounts a magnetic member 117 at its centre to ensure that when an animal is not using the door, the panel is centred within the frame. To this end another magnetic member will be mounted in the frame in confronting relation to magnetic member 117 when panel 100 is in its neutral vertical position. One or both of the magnetic members must comprise a permanent magnet. The other may be a piece of ferromagnetic material. In this particular embodiment, as can be seen from Fig. 3, magnetic member 117 interrupts the draught strip at the centre of bottom edge 102, and is mounted within a box 118, all the sides of which, apart from one, are moulded in main panel member 112. The other side 119 of box 118 is provided by a widened portion 120 of bottom strip 115. Auxiliary member 113 is generally "J"-shaped, and auxiliary member 114 is its mirror-image.

As shown in Fig. 3, several blind holes 121 are formed in the surface of main panel member 112. The auxiliary members 113, 114 and 115 are formed with studs 122 adapted to be located in the blind holes 121 when the auxiliary members are offered up to the main panel member 112. As can be seen from the sectional view of Fig. 5, main panel member 112 is moulded with a slot 123 having unequal sides, one side 124 being essentially coextensive with the whole width of draught strip 105, while the other side 125 is substantially coextensive with one flange 108. Auxiliary plastics member 114, when offered up to main plastics member 112 completes a groove 126 having a generally inverted "T"-shaped profile in section. As shown in Fig. 5, the draught strip 105 is located in this groove so that its flexible draught excluding material 106 mounted along its centreline 107 extends through a slot 127 defined by the stem of the inverted "T" between the distal end of side 125 of slot 123, now relegated to a side slot of groove 126, and confronting distal end 128 of a ridge 129 formed along one edge of auxiliary plastics member 114, while flanges 108 are retained in side slot 123 and in a corresponding side slot 130 defined between ridge 129 and the confronting surface of side 124, together effectively defining the crossbar of the "T". The auxiliary members 113, 114 and 115 each have a bead 131 that is softened by ultrasonic radiation to weld the members 113, 114 and 115 to the main panel member 112. In the finished panel, the flexible draught excluding material 106 of draught strip 105 extends just beyond the extreme peripheral edge 132 of main panel member 112, which shields it on the outer side of the pet door, to sweep the confronting surface of the frame. The draught excluding material may be pushed into the groove either pre or post welding. End portions are suitably secured with a hot melt adhesive. On the inner side of the pet door, the draught excluding material 106 is largely exposed.

As can be seen from the sectional view of Fig. 6, while auxiliary member 116 similarly completes a groove 133 having a generally inverted "T"-shaped profile in section, the shape of the main panel member in this axle region and the shape of the auxiliary member differ from the shapes of the similar components in the edge region of Fig. 5 because of the need to complete the profile of the axle to allow it to rotate about its axis with a similar clearance between the axle and the frame in all rotary positions of the panel about the axis. Thus, auxiliary plastics member 116 is inset at 134 into the surface of the main panel member rather than standing proud of it, as does member 114 in the Fig. arrangement, and the outer shape of auxiliary plastics member 116 corresponds to the shape of the axle region on the outer side of the main panel member 112. Blind holes 135 are provided in the inset region for cooperation with studs protruding from the inner side of auxiliary member 116 (not visible in the drawings) to assist in location in like manner to studs 122. Ultrasonic energy is applied in similar fashion as with the other auxiliary plastics members to weld this member to the main plastics member with draught strip 110 located in the groove 133 defined between the main panel member and the auxiliary member. In this arrangement, the draught excluding material 106 of draught strip 110 extends just beyond the surface of the completed axle 132 formed both by main panel member 112 and auxiliary plastics member 116, between which a widened groove 136 is defined beyond the inverted "T" profile groove 133.

It is not necessary for adhesive to be applied to the lengths 105, 110 of draught strip as they are trapped within the "T" profile grooves completed by welding the auxiliary plastics members to the main panel member. However, for added security, a hot melt adhesive may optionally be applied to the regions of the main panel member and auxiliary members that define the undercut side slots.

Claims

Claims 1. A pet door comprising a panel mounted within a frame to swing about an axis that is generally horizontal or generally vertical in use, the frame being adapted to be mounted within an opening in a lower portion of a door or wall to allow access for a pet therethrough; the panel mounting along at least one peripheral edge thereof at least one length of draught strip of the kind adapted to be mounted in a groove having a generally inverted "T"-shaped profile in section, the draught strip having flexible draught excluding material mounted along a centreline of the strip and adapted to extend through a slot defined by the stem of the inverted "T" and flanges adapted to be retained in undercut side slots defined by the crossbar of the "T"; the panel being formed from an injection moulded main panel member that provides one side of a said groove along said edges, and at least one auxiliary plastics member joined to the main panel member along said edges by ultrasonic welding to complete the groove.
2. A pet door according to Claim 1, wherein the panel is adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis in use, and has a bottom edge and two side edges and rounded corners between the bottom edge and the side edges, and wherein draught strip is mounted along said bottom and side edges and rounded corners.
3. A pet door according to Claim 2, wherein one said edge mounts a magnetic element for centring the panel, the magnetic element comprising either a magnet for cooperation with one of a magnet and a ferromagnetic member mounted on a confronting portion of the frame or a ferromagnetic member for cooperation with a magnet mounted on a confronting portion of the frame.
4. A pet door according to Claim 3, wherein the mounting for the magnetic element comprises a box into which the magnetic element is placed, all the sides for said box apart from one being moulded in the main panel member, and the remaining said side for the box being provided by a portion of a said auxiliary plastics member joined to the main panel member along said one edge.
5. A pet door according to any preceding Claim, wherein the panel includes an axle defining the axis about which the panel rotates, the axle being integrally moulded with the main panel member apart from an auxiliary plastics member joined to the axle region of the main panel member by ultrasonic welding to define with the main panel member a said groove between the main panel member and the said auxiliary plastics member extending along an axial region of the panel in use, in which groove a length of said draught strip is located.
6. A pet door according to any preceding Claim, wherein the main panel member and the auxiliary plastics members are formed from a poilycarbonate plastics material, preferably transparent in the case of the main panel member to allow a pet to see through the closed pet door.
7. A pet door according to any preceding Claim, wherein the draught strip is trapped in the groove as a result ofjoining of (an) auxiliary member(s) to the main panel member.
8. A pet door according to any of Claim 7, wherein end portions of a length of draught strip are secured by adhesive.
9. A method of mounting draught strip to a pet door of the kind comprising a panel mounted within a frame to swing about an axis that is generally horizontal or generally vertical in use, the frame being adapted to be mounted within an opening in a lower portion of a door or wall to allow access for a pet therethrough, the draught strip being of the kind adapted to be mounted in a groove having a generally inverted "T"-shaped profile in section, the draught strip having flexible draught excluding material mounted along a centreline of the strip and adapted to extend through a slot defined by the stem of the inverted T" and flanges adapted to be retained in undercut side slots defined by the crossbar of the "T"; the method comprising the steps of: forming the panel from an injection moulded main panel member that provides one side of a said groove along at least one peripheral edge of the said panel member, and joining at least one auxiliary plastics member to the main panel member along said at least one edge by ultrasonic welding to complete the groove and to trap at least one length of said draught strip in the completed groove, optionally with application of adhesive.
10. A pet door substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
11. A method of mounting draught strip to a pet door, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.