GB2504703A

GB2504703A - Gravity activated door stop

Info

Publication number: GB2504703A
Application number: GB1213975.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Benjamin Morris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-08-06
Filing date: 2012-08-06
Publication date: 2014-02-12
Also published as: GB201213975D0

Abstract

A safety device for preventing a door from closing comprising a stop pivotally mounted to the door frame such that the stop is arranged in a first position resting against the door when the door is closed and rotating under gravity to a second position to block the door from closing. The door stop is mounted above the door so it swings in position (c.f. a pendulum action). The outer faces of the door stop are preferable chamfered 1 2 to form a tapered wedge shape. Preferably the stop has two arms arranged at a right angle to each other. The first vertical arm mounted to a hinge on the door frame, the second horizontal arm being the door stop portion. The stop can be used for sliding doors or hinged doors, the latter requiring a retaining plate (8 Figure 9) to rest against the door in the closed position. The device prevents children from crushing their fingers when the door is accidently shut.

Description

Safety device for a door

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relaLes to a safely device comprising an automatic doorstop. The priniary aim of the design is to prevent linger injury in children.

BACKGROUND

This automatic door-stop was designed following an incident in which my youngest child narrowly avoided serious injury to his fingers in our sliding patio door. I searched the market for a device which was child-proof and would prevent closure of a sliding door, hut found none such available.

I have seen a device for a hinged door which performs a similar function, hut don't believe it can he used on sliding doors: This takes the form of a removable arm positioned on top of the door which falls into place on opening the door, and can he retracted by means of a pull cord.

Another doorstop which is designed to prevent finger injury in children and could he used on a sliding door: ht.ip:/iwww.lindam.eonilproduchoinc_accessories/salety/door_st.opper.hlnii This requires actively positioning the device on the door edge, and therefore is not automatic in function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect oF tte invention, there is provided a safety device Ibr prevenLing a door From closing, comprising: * a hinge attachable to a door frame; and * a stop coupled to the hinge, rotatable between a first position and a second position relative to the door frame by means of the hinge, * wherein the stop is arranged, in its first sition. to rest against the door with the door closed, and * upon opening of the door, to rotate under force of gravity into it.s second position, where it blocks the path of the door to prevent it from closing.

The safety device is automatic, in the sense that the stop rotates into its blocking conliguration without manual intervention, upon opening of the door. As long as the door remains closed, the stop rests against the door (the first position of the stop). Once the door is opened, the stop is no longer retained in its first position by the presence of the door and the stop swings into the second position. The second position lies in the path that the door follows as it opens and closes. In this position, the slop will thereforc obstruct the door when an alternpt is made to close it.

In this context, the "door frame" niay also include a part of a wall adjacent to or above the doorway. ftc device is preferably attachable to a lintel above the door or may be attachable to a doorjamb beside the door. In some embodiments, the door may be a double-leaf door and the "doorjamb" or the "door frame" for one leaf maybe provided by the edge of an adjacent static door leaf.

In sonic embodiments, the stop rests directly against the door in the first position. For example, the stop may rest directly against a face of the door, such as a front or back face, or an edge Face.

In other embodiments, the part which engages the door is separate from the rest of the safety device and is permanently attached to the door. In these embodiments, some other portion of the safety device (for example, the stop) engages against said part and disengages from said part when the door is opened, so as to allow the stop to rotate into its blocking configuration. this arrangement may he advantageous when the safety device is used with a pivotafly mounted door.

If the door is a double-leaf door, with a first leaf that is customarily closed and a second leaf that may he opened or closed, then the safely device may he attached to the first leaf That is, the first, customarily closed, leaf of the door is treated as part of the door frame for the second leaf In this configuration, the safety device will prevent closure of the second leaf, after it is opened.

The safety device has the following advantages: * passive' automatic operation * can he mounted out of reach of children * simple operation * few moving parts and low complexity * no override or bypass, in order to avoid accidents if the stop is mistakenly overridden, In many embodiments, it is not necessary to attach anything to the door leaf This avoids the need to hook the device over the top of the door, for example. Accordingly, the device does not require (or create) a gap around the top of the door. Known safety devices which hook onto the top of a door leaf may he associated with draughts, due to such a gap. Furthermore, because they avoid the need to attach anything to the door leaf, embodiments of the present invention can be independent of the way that the door engages the frame. They can he used with sliding doom, as well as pivoting (swinging) doors and are not affected by the profile of the edge faces of the door leaf.

Ihe invention provides an automatic device requiring no intervention to deploy. In one embodiment, the device takes the form of a swinging L-shaped arm, held out of place by the door itself. The arm is suspended from the top of the door frame. It is manually retracted to rest against t.he closed door. On sliding open the door, the arm deploys by swinging down t.o put a physical block into the doorjamb such that the door cannot then he closed. The thickness of the arm itsellpreferahly is sulficiently thick to allow free movement ola child's hand, but not too thick so that the door can he substantially opened without the arm swinging into place. To close the door, someone of sufficient height (presumably a responsible adult) must retract the device out of the door closure and close the door. The device can have as little as one moving part -a simple hinge, 10 minimise the risk of failure and accident.

* The stop may he freely rotatable on the hinge.

* The stop may comprise a part of a rigid pendulum whose pivot is provided by the hinge.

* The safety device may comprise an arm connected at it.s first end to the hinge and at its second end to the stop, so as to couple the stop to the hinge.

* An end face of the arm at its first end preferably fonns an acute angle with a longitudinal axis of the arm. Preferably the angle formed is between 20 and 70 degrees. More preferably the angle formed is about 45 degrees.

* The stop may comprise an elongate meniber.

* Ibis elongate stop member and the arm niay he mutually disposed at an angle of between 45 and 135 degrees.

* The elongate stop member and the arm are preferably approximately at a right angles to one another. This elongate stop member is also referred to herein as a horizontal step. The arm connecting this to (he hinge is also referred to herein as a vertical ann.

* An end of (he stop which faces the door preferably comprises a tapering wedge having opposing first and second sides, the first side facing the door frame, when in use.

* The first side of the wedge is preferably tapered more steeply than the second side.

* Preferably, the stop is reeonfigurahle to reverse the first and second sides of the wedge. This can enable the stop to be used in doors which close in different directions (right Lo left or left to right) while always ensuring that the more steeply tapered side of the wedge faces the door frame. For example, the stop may be t.wistable about its axis with respect to the rest of the safety device, in order to reverse the first and second faces.

* The maximum thickness of the stop is preferably in the range 20 to 50 mm, more preferably 30-4Onun. here, thickness refers to the dimension of the stop which det.enmnes the size of the opening when the stop blocks the door from closing.

* [ic hinge is preferably adapted to allow sonic freedom of movement, such that a pivot axis provided by the hinge can vary.

* The hinge may he a pipe and pin type hinge. The pipe provides a journal and the pin provides a shaft.

* The pipe is preferably over-sited with respect to the pin, so as to allow freedom ol movement. An internal diameter of the pipe may he larger than an external diameter of the pin. Here, freedom of movement means that the axis of rotation of the hinge can vary somewhat.

* The safety device may further comiprise a first projecting member for resting against the door, when the door is closed and the stop is in its lirst. posit.ion.

* The first projecting member may project froni an end of the stop nearest the door. In this case, the projecting member is an integral part of the safety device and projects from the device.

* The safety device may ftrther comprise a discrete projecting member attachable to the door, wherein the stop is arranged to rest against the discrete projecting member in the first position, with the door closed. This discrete projecting member is a separate part from the rest of the safety device. It can he fixed to the door and projects proud of the door. ftc discrete projecting member may extend a lace of the door, such as an end face of the door facing the doorjamb.

* The first projecting incmher andlor discrete projecting member may comprise a thin plate or pin, adapted to fit between the end face of the door and the door jamb when the door is shut. Ihe thin plate is also referred to herein as a retaining plate.

* According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a doorway comprising: a door leaf pivotally mounted in a door frame; and a safety device as summarised above.

* The stop of the safety device is preferably arranged, in it.s first position, with the door closed, to rest against, an end face of the door leaf by means of the first projecting nienther or discrete projecting member.

* In this aspect, a pivot axis of the hinge is preferably approximately perpendicular to the plane of the doorway.

According to yet another aspect. of the invention, there is provided a doorway comprising: a door leaf slidably mounted in a door frame, the door frame comprising at leasL one doorjamb; and a safety device as summarised above, with its hinge attached to the door frame such that the stop is rotatable into a space between the door leaf and the doorjamb when the door is opened.

* The pivot axis of the hinge is preferably approximately parallel to the axis along which the door leaf slides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Ihe invention will now he described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig I shows a 3-dimensional depicl.ion of the doorstop.

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the retracted door-stop, looking along the plane of the door.

Fig. 3 is from the same perspective as Fig. B, showing the device deployed.

Fig. 4 is a Lop view of the device (deployed), looking down on the Hinge fixing location, X. lig. 5 shows the rotation of the horizontal stop about its axis to reconfigure the device for left-and right-opening doors.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the device (deployed) with the door opened.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the device (deployed) with the door stopped.

Fig. S is a depiction of the hinge allowing sideways flexing.

Fig. 9 is a further development of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment., the device is of a solid L-shape design. with a vertical ann and a horizontal stop (Fig. I). The vertical ann is fixed by means of a hinge at point X to the door frame or rolled steel joist (RSJ) above the door aperture. Note chamfering at points (I) and (2) -these will be detailed. the vertical arm and horizontal stop arc each approximately 150mm long, and 30-40mm thick.

Fig. 2 is a view along the line of the door -the door is depicted as a single vertical line for clarity. I'he device retracts to rest against the closed door at point (3). I'he top of the vertical arm is angled at approximately 45° (angle 9) to allow it to react filly as shown, without fouling on the door framie or RSJ. On opening the sliding door, the device is deployed to swing freely into the opening (4). Fig 3 is from the same perspective as 11g. B, and shows the device deployed into the space with the door open.

Fig. 4 shows the device from above, having swung in between the open door and the jamb along the plane of the arrow (5). The horizontal stop is chamfered on both sides to a point -chamfering on the jamb' side (2) is greater than on the door' side (I) since snagging on the jamb is more likely -the door is, of course, moved out of (lie way in nonnal operation.

Mininiising chamfering at (1) means that almost the maximal thickness of the device will block the door, regardless of where it swings to rest. The thickness of the prototype is approx. 32mm, but a suggested range of dimension would be 30 -40mm, this being

S

sufficient to allow a child's hand to pass through without becoming tiapped, without. having to open the door too far to activate' the device.

Fig. 5 shows how the horizontal stop can he twisted through 1800 to reverse the chamfered side for left-or right-opening doors. This avoids the need for having two mirror-image devices for the different doors, and means that the device does not need to he symmetrical, allowing for the different chamfering as detailed above.

Fig. 6 shows an end-view of the device, with the hatched area depicting the location of the horizontal stop. The door has been slid open, allowing the device to swing into the opening.

lucre is a 2-3 mm gap ltween tte device and the doorjamb (6), to allow the device to swing freely without snagging on the jamb.

Fig. 7 shows the same perspective as Fig. E, with the door closed. There is sufficient lateral movement in the hinge to allow the device to be pressed against the doorjamb, effectively putting a block in between (he door and the jamb (7). Note that (he vertical arm is outside the door closure.

Fig. 8 shows how the hinge is envisaged. This depiction is of a simple pipe and pin' type hinge, wherein (he outer pipes are connected (as is typical) and attach t.o the door frame I RSJ (i.e. the anchor). The central pipe (grey) is connected (.0 the device, and has a bore slightly larger than the diameter of the pin, allowing it to rock hack and forth and therefore allow the device to swing sideways' to block the door (lower image). flie central pipe, with no sideways pressure on it from the door, rests flat on the pin (upper image) and the device hangs vertically. In the prototype, a cheap cabinet hinge with sonic lateral give was used, but this could be engineered intentionally.

Fig. 9 shows a further development of the device, for use in hinged doom. This is a top view of the device, depicting the opening of the door, and the plane of niovcment of the device.

The hinge would need t.o be anchored on a bracket. above the door frame, and a very thin door closed retaining plate' (8) needs attaching to the tip of the device to stop it from swinging into place behind the closed door. Ihis plate fits in between the closed door and the jamb as depicted, and swings into the door along the plane (9). The retaining plate may alternatively be fixed t.o the edge of the door (10).

Other points of note are that whilst the prototype is of wood constmction, other materials, such as extruded uPYC, or metal (steel I aluminium) with a rubber sleeve, could be used.

Care should be taken to ensure that in the case of grained materials (eg. wood) the grain runs along the horizontal stop to avoid guillotining' sections of this arm with the door edge.

Ilie hinge can be attached to the door Frame by any suitable and convenient means, including hut not limited to screws or adhesive. The same is true of the alternative retaining plate fixed to the door (point (10) required in Fig. 9).

Other variations will be apparent t.o those skilled in the art..

Claims

CLAIMS1) A safety device for preventing a door from closing, comprising: -a hinge attachable to a door frame; and -a stop coupled to the hinge, rotatable between a first position and a second position relative to the door frame by means of the hinge, -wherein the st.op is ananged, in its first posit.ion, to rest against the door with the door closed, and -upon opening of the door, to rotate under force of gravity into its second position, where it blocks the path of the door to prevent it from closing.
2) The safety device of claim 1, wherein the stop is freely rotatable on the hinge.
3) ftc safety device of claim 2, wherein the stop comprises a part of a rigid pendulum whose pivot is provided by the hinge.
4) Ilie safety device of any preceding claim, comprising an arm connected at its first end to the hinge and at its second end to the stop. so as to couple the stop to the hinge.
5) The safety device of claim 4, wherein an end face of the arm at. its first end forms an acute angle with a longitudinal axis of the ann.
6) The safet.y device of claim 4 or claim 5. wherein the stop comprises an elongate member.
7) Ilie safety device of claim 6, wherein the elongate stop member and the arm are mutually disposed at an angle of between 45 and 135 degrees.
8) The safety device of claim 7, wherein the elongate stop member and the arm are approximately at a right angles to one another.
9) The safety device of any preceding claim, wherein an end of the stop which faces the door comprises a tapering wedge having opposing first and second sides, the first side facing the door frame, in use.
10) I'he safety device of claim c,wherein the first side of the wedge is tapered more steeply than the second side.
11) The safet.y device of claim 10, wherein the stop is reconfigurable to reverse the lirst. and second sides of the wedge.
12) The safety device of any preceding claim wherein the hinge is adapted to allow play, such that a pivot axis provided by the hinge can vary.
13) Ilie safety device of any preceding claim wherein the hinge is a pipe and pin type hinge.
14) Ilie safety device olelaini 13, wherein the pipe is over-sited with respect to the pin, so as to allow play.
15) The safety device of any preceding daiin, further comprising a first projecting member for resting against the door, with the door closed and the stop in its first position.
16) IThe safety device of claim 15, wherein the fimt projecting member projects from an end of the stop nearest the door.
17) The safety device of any preceding daim, further comprising a discrete projecting member aLtachable t.o the door, wherein I.he stop is ananged t.o rest. against, the discrete projecting member in the first position, with the door closed.
18) I'he safety device of any of claims 5 to 17, wherein thc first projecting member or discrete projecting member comprises a thin plate or pin, adapted to fit between the end face of the door and the door jaiiib when the door is shut.
19) A doorway comprising: -a door leaf pivot.ally niounted in a door frame; and -a safeLy device according to any of claims 15 to 18.
20) The doorway of claim 19, wherein the stop of the safety device is arranged, in its fiit position, with the door dosed, to rest against an end face of the door leaf by means of the first projecting menther or discrete projecting member.
21) The doorway of claim 20, wherein a pivot axis of the hinge is approximately perpendienkr to the plane of the doorway.
22) A doorway comprising: -a door leaf slidaMy mounted in a door frame, the door frame comprising at least one doorjamb; and -a safety device according to any of claims ito i4, with its hinge attached to the door frame such that the stop is rotalahk into a space between the door leaf and the door jamb when the door is opened.
23) The doorway of claim 22, wherein a pivot axis of the hinge is approximately parallel to the axis klong which the door kaf slides.
24) A safety device for preventing a door from closing once it has been opened, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:AMENDED CLAIMS1) A safety device for preventing a door from closing, comprising: -a hinge attachable to a door frame, to an adjacent static door-leaf, or to a part of a wall adiacent to or above a doorway: and -a stop coupled to the hinge, rotatable between a first position and a second position rdative to the door frame by means of the hinge, -wherein the stop is arranged, in its first position, to rest against the door with the door dosed, and -upon opening of the door, to rotate under force of gravity into its second position, where it blocks the path of the door to prevent it from closing.2) The safety device of claim 1, wherein the stop is freely rotatable on the hinge.3) The safety device of claim 2, wherein the stop comprises a part of a rigid pendulum whose pivot is provided by the hinge.4) The safety device of any preceding claim, comprising an arm connected at its first end to the hinge and at its second end to the stop, so as to couple the stop to the hinge.CD 5) The safety device of claim 4, wherein an end face of the arm at its first end forms an acute angle with a longitudinal axis of the arm.C'sJ 6) The safety device of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the stop comprises an elongate member. r7) The safety device of claim 6, wherein the ethugate stop member and the arm are mutually disposed at an angle of between 45 and 135 degrees.8) The safety device of claim 7, wherein the elongate stop member and the arm are approximately at a right angles to one another.9) The safety device of any preceding claim, wherein an end of the stop which faces the door comprises a tapering wedge having opposing first and second sides, the first side facing the door frame, in use.10) The safety device of claim, wherein the first side of the wedge is tapered more steep'y than the second side.11) The safety device of claim 10, wherein the stop is reconfigurable to reverse the first and second sides of the wedge.12) The safety device of any preceding claim wherein the hinge is adapted to allow play, such that a pivot axis provided by the hinge can vary.13) The safety device of any preceding claim wherein the hinge is a pipe and pin type hinge.14) The safety device of claim 13, wherein the pipe is over-sized with respect to tile pin, so as to allow play.I 5) The safety device of any preceding claim, further comprising a first projecting member for resting against the door, with the door closed and the stop in its first position.I 6) The safety device of claim I 5, wherein the first projecting member projects from an end of the stop nearest the door.17) The safety device of any preceding claim, further comprising a discrete projecting member attachable to the door, wherein the stop is arranged to rest agaifist the discrete projectifig member in the first position, with the door closed.18) The safety device of ay of claims 15 to 17, wherein the first projecting member or discrete projecting member comprises a thin plate or pin, adapted to fit between the end face of the door and the door jamb when the door is shut.19) A doorway comprising: -a door leaf pivotafly mounted in a door frame; and -a safety device according to any of claims 15 to 18.20) The doorway of claim 19, wherein the stop of the safety device is arranged, in its first position, with the door closed, to rest against an end face of the door leaf by means of the C"J first projecting member or discrete projecting member. r21) The doorway of claim 20, wherein a pivot axis of the hinge is approximately perpendicular CI to the plane of the doorway.22) A doorway comprising: -a door leaf slidably mounted in a door frame, the door frame comprising at least one door Jarnk and -a safety device according to any of claims 1 to 14, with its hinge attached to the door frame, to an adjacent static door-leaf, or to a part of a wall adjacent to or above the doorway, such that the stop is rotatable into a space between the door leaf and the door Iamb when the door is opened.23) The doorway of claim 22, wherein a pivot axis of the hinge is approximately parallel to the axis along which the door leaf slides.24) A safety device for preventifig a door from closing once it has heel opened, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.