GB2524237A

GB2524237A - Closure assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2524237A
Application number: GB1404253.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raja Muhammad Bllal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-11
Filing date: 2014-03-11
Publication date: 2015-09-23
Also published as: GB201404253D0

Abstract

A closure assembly 40 for preventing damage to trapped fingers, wherein the assembly has a frame 56, a barrier 42, such as a door or window, and a resiliently deformable segment member 44a, 44b. The member(s) may be polyurethane foam, fire-resistant, intumescent and sound-attenuating, and may be co-extensive, and abut a sealing surface of the barrier or frame. The barrier and frame may have a lock (12, fig 1) and strikeplate (16, fig 1), with multiple members above and below the lock. A roller latching mechanism 50 may retain the barrier. The member and sealing surface may be magnetically attracted (114, fig 10B). A slidable shield (84, fig 7) may cover part of the member to prevent unauthorized or illegal access. The members may be added to oblique, angled or diagonal surfaces (166, 170, fig 15) of the barrier and frame.

Description

CLOSURE ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a closure assembly for an opening, of particular (but not exclusive) application to the doors and windows of a building.

When a door is closed, any object in the path of the door may become trapped as the door moves towards and into its associated frame, and/or compressive forces may be exerted on said object as surfaces on the door and frame move towards abutment.

When the object in question is a part of the human (or animal) body that is caught in the path of a door, temporary or permanent injury can result. Such accidents are relatively common, and treating door-related human accidents costs the British National Health Service an estimated £240 million per year. The potential for injury may be particularly high in buildings used predominantly by children and/or the elderly.

Not only may members of such groups have less self-awareness, but their bodies may be less resilient to injury. Though accidents involving interior and exterior building doors are believed to be particularly common, similar injuries can be sustained through accidents with other openings, such as windows, furniture doors or drawers, garage doors and manholes.

The problem of injuries sustained in a ftnge area of hingedly movable doors (such as conventional internal and external doors) has been addressed to some extent by the provision of articulated hinge covers. These generally comprise a resilently flexible cover (usually an appropriately shaped sheet of plastic) which articulates as the door moves so as to maintain cover over the hinge area, thereby preventing insertion of any object, for example a human hand or finger(s), into the hinge area which could otherwise become crushed or trapped. However, such devices can be expensive, unsightly, and prone to damage or wearing out. Furthermore, it is not possible for such devices to be used to prevent injury resulting from elsewhere on/around the door, notably the leading end of the door (i.e. the end of the door to which a handle and/or lock may conventionally be provided, opposite to the hinge area).

One product which is designed to guard against injuries arising from the leading end of a door consists of a U-shaped component which is clipped onto said leading end of the door (i.e. the leading end of the door is pushed into the mouth of the "U"). When the door is moved towards its closed position, an arm of the "U" becomes trapped between the door and door-frame, preventing the door from being fully closed. The component is of sufficient size that if the door is moved towards its closed position with a person's finger(s) (for example) positioned between the door and door-frame, the door and frame remain spaced apart sufficiently for the fingers not to be trapped and to remain undamaged. However, with this product in place, the door cannot be fully closed. It therefore cannot fulfil the usual functions of a closed door such as denying line of sight, limiting air circulation and/or sound propagation between rooms, containng fires, etc. Further, some potential for injury remains in that, if a part of the body, for example a human hand, is placed in the path of the door at the height at which the component is attached, that part of the body may instead be trapped or crushed between the door-frame and the U-shaped component. Furthermore, this component may also be considered unsightly in some situations, and again it is limited in that it can only be applied to the leading end of the door (and potentially the top of the door if sufficient ceiling space is provided. Still further, if the door to which the components mounted is closed with sufficient force, the door or frame may be damaged by the point stresses introduced by contact with the component.

It is therefore an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the aforesaid disadvantages, and/or to provide an improved or alternative closure assembly.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure assembly for an opening, the closure assembly comprising: a frame at least partially defining the opening; and a barrier of complimentary shape to the frame, the barrier being movable relative to the frame to selectively obstruct the opening, wherein at least one of the barrier and the frame comprises a deformable member configured to be received within a recess in the, or the other of, the barrier or the frame.

The deformable member being receivabe in a recess may provide protection for body parts which are trapped on obstruction of the opening by the barrier, while still allowing the barrier to fully obstruct the opening (e.g. a door to be fully closed in its associate door-frame). Further, the present invention is advantageous in that it has wide applicability, rather than only being suitable for a particular end of a barrier or frame, as

is the case with the prior art discussed above.

Examples of closure assemblies for openings include internal and external doors for buildings, roller shutters, sliding doors, doors of white goods, trapdoors, openable windows, garage doors, furniture doors and drawers, vehicle doors, manhole-type arrangements, and the like. A frame is defined as the structure immediately surrounding the opening, whether or not this takes the form of a discreet frame structure. For instance, in the case of a manhole-type arrangement the frame may simply be the portion of the floor around the perimeter of the manhole opening.

Further, a portion, or the whole, of the frame may be movable. For instance, in a pair of French doors each door may be considered to be part of the frame defining the opening which the other door selectively obstructs. Alternatively, the frame may be considered to only partially define the opening, the opening also being defined in part by the other door.

A deformable member is any element which is wholly deformable or which has a deformable region. The member or deformable region may, for example, be made out of a loam or an elastomeric material, or may take the form of a brush, a corrugated or honeycomb structure, or a pad filled with gas, liquid, gel or granular material.

Alternatively, it may take any other suitable form or be made out of any other suitable material or combination of materials. The deformable member or deformable region is preferably resiliently deformable, thereby providing a cushioning action, but may instead be plastically deformable thereby providing a crumple-zone effect. Where the deformable member has a deformable region, this region may or may not be in an exposed position. For instance, it may be on an external surface of the deformable member or it may be partially or fully enclosed by the recess or by other components of the deformable member.

The deformable member is either partially or entirely receivable within the recess. The barrier may be positionable to fully obstruct (i.e. fully close) the opening, or may only be positionable to partially obstruct the opening. The deformable member may be releasably mountable to the barrier or frame. It may comprise a wipe-clean material and/or an environmentally-friendly material such as a recycled plastic. It is preferably durable and chemically inert (for instance it is preferably UV-stable), thereby requiring little or no maintenance. For the avoidance of doubt, the deformable member may comprise a plurality of separate sections positioned next to one another.

A recess is a space in a location on the barrier or frame at which the material of said barrier/frame would ordinarily be present. The recess may or may not be a cavity. For instance, where an entire section of door is replaced by a deformable member (for example the deformable member may occupy the space which is conventionally occupied by the door stile), the deformable member may still be considered to be received within a recess in the door even though it is not received within a cavity.

The recess may be provided on the one of the barrier and frame which comprises the deformable member. This may allow the deformable member to obscure the recess, reducing its visual impact. Alternatively, the recess may be provided on the one of the barrier and frame which does not comprise the deformable member.

Where the recess is provided on the one of the barrier and frame which comprises the deformable member, the deformable member may be shaped to provide an edge or a surface which is positioned substantially co-extensive with a surface of the barrier or frame within which it is comprised. This may limit the visual impact of the deformable member, and/or provide advantageousy uniform interfacing with other surfaces or components at the boundary between the deformable member and the barrier or frame.

The frame and the barrier may each comprise a stop surface, the stop surfaces being configured to abut when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening; and at least a portion of one of the stop surfaces may comprise at least a portion of the deformable member. A portion of the deformable member being comprised in one of the stop surfaces may provide deformable padding in a region of the closure assembly that is particularly likely to be the cause of injury.

By way of an example of the above arrangement, in a conventional domestic door the lock stile defines a stop surface on the barrier (the door), and the stop on the door jamb that is opposite the hinges defines a corresponding stop surface on the frame. As a further example, in a sash window the stop surface of the barrier is the bottom surface of the lower sash, and the stop surface of the frame is the top surface of the sill.

In embodiments where the stop surfaces are non-parallel, or where one or both of the abutment surfaces are non-planar, the two stop surfaces may only physically touch at one or more discrete points. This may occur, for instance, where an aged door is modified to provide a closure assembly according to the invention. The timberwork of the door or door-frame may be warped, therefore their respective stop surfaces may (for example) be convex and only physically touch at one point along their lengths.

The barrier may have a leading end, and the deformable member may be locatable at the leading end or at a portion of the frame which is adjacent thereto when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening. This may provide deformable padding in a region of the assembly that is particularly likely to be the cause of injury.

The leading end of a barrier is the end that traverses the opening when the barrier is moved open or closed. For instance in the case of a domestic door, the leading end is the side of the door at which the handle and lock are conventionally fitted. In the case of a roller shutter garage door, the leading end of the barrier (the shutter) is the lowermost slat which conventionally contacts the ground when the shutter is closed. In the case of a sash window, the leading end of the barrier is the bottom of the lower sash.

One of the barrier and frame may comprise a lock and the other may comprise a strikeplate, at least one of the lock and strikeplate being positionable between two recesses, between two deformable members, or between a deformable member and a recess. This may allow the present invention to be retrofitted to existing doors without replacement or modification of the lock and/or strikeplate.

A strikeplate is any component configured to interface with a lock to secure the barrier in a predetermined position (e.g. obstructing the opening). The lock or strikeplate may be equidistant between the recess and/or deformable member on each side thereof.

At least a portion of the deformable member may be positionable along an edge of the barrier or frame. This may provide deformable padding in a region of the assembly that would provide particularly high peak forces upon contact with a part of the body.

For the avoidance of doubt, an edge of the barrier or frame is any intersection between two faces. The edge may or may not be chamfered or filleted.

The deformable member may comprise a core with a deformable layer positioned thereon. This may allow the deformable member to be advantageously soft to the touch while retaining sufficient structural integrity.

The deformable layer may take the form of one or more protrusions (such as an array of dots or a ridge), a flat layer, a covering which partially or fully surrounds the core, or it may take any other suitable form. The core may or may not also be deformable.

The deformable member may be positionable to sealingly engage with a counterposed sealing surface when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening. This may reduce the passage of air (for instance damp air), dust, sound and the like through the closure assembly when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening. Further, the deformable member and the sealing surface may be magnetically attracted to one another when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening. This may strengthen this sealing engagement, further reducing passage of air, dust, sound and the like.

Said magnetic attraction may be brought about by both the deformable member and the sealing surface being magnetised, or by one being magnetised and the other being magnetic. For the avoidance of doubt, the deformable member and the sealing surface may each be fully or partially magnetised or magnetic.

The deformable member may be elongate. This may be beneficial in allowing the deformable member to extend along a significant distance, increasing the protection offered. Preferably, the deformable member may run along the majority of the length of a face or edge of the barrier or frame in which it is comprised. This may further increase the extent of coverage and thus the degree of protection offered.

The insert may run along 50% -100% of the length of said face or edge. Preferably, it may run along 70%-90% of the length of said face or edge. It may run substantially or entirely the length of said face or edge.

The closure assembly may further comprise a catch mechanism configured to non-lockingly retain the barrier in a predetermined position. This may allow the barrier to be held in a particular position without the requirement for it to be locked in place.

The catch mechanism may take the form of one or more roller catches or ball catches, or may take any other suitable form. Preferably, the predetermined position is the position in which the barrier fully obstructs the opening.

The barrier or frame may comprise a sheld for selectively covering at least part of the deformable member.

The shield may take the form of a rigid cover plate, or may take any other suitable form. The shield may be extendable and/or retractable. For instance, it may be extended when a handle of the door is moved in the direction which locks the door, and retracted when the handle is moved in the direction which opens the door.

Alternatively, or in addition, the shield may be retractable and/or extendable via a separate mechanism. The shield may be lockable in position, either via a door lock or via a separate locking mechanism. Preferably, the shield is mounted on the one of the barrier and frame which comprises the deformable member. Alternatively, it may be mounted on the other one of the barrier and the frame.

The deformable member may comprise a fire-resistant material portion. The deformable member may therefore be slow to burn or degrade in a fire, allowing the assembly to limit the oxygen supply to the fire for a longer period of time, preventing the fire spreading. Further, the deformable member being fire-resistant may make it less liable to fuel the fire itself.

The term lire-resistant material" would be readily understood by the skilled person. It may, for instance, be considered to be a material which allows conformation to an appropriate standard or building regulation (for example a material allowing compliance with Approved Document B to the UK Building Regulations, and/or allowng at least a minute rating under BS EN ISO 476 part 22 to be achieved). The insert may be substantially or entirely made of fire-resstant material. Alternatively, the fire-resistant material portion may take the form of a layer on, or a core within, the deformable member. The fire-resistant material portion may or may not correspond to the deformable region discussed above.

The deformable member may comprise a sound-attenuating material portion. This may improve the soundproofing characteristics of the closure assembly.

The term "sound-attenuating material" would be readily understood by the skilled person. It may, for instance, be considered to be a material which allows conformation to an appropriate standard or building regulation (for example a material allowing compliance with Approved Document E to the UK Building Regulations, and/or allowing a rating of E or higher under BS EN ISO 11654 to be achieved). The insert may be substantially or entirely made of sound-attenuating material. Alternatively, the sound-attenuating material portion may take the form of a layer on, or a core within, the deformable member. The sound-attenuating material portion may or may not correspond to the fire-resistant material portion and/or the deformable region discussed above.

The deformable member may comprise an intumescent portion (which may also be an example of a fire-resistant material portion, and/or in some situations may be an example of a sound-attenuating material portion). For example, the deformable member may comprise interspersed particles of, or a layer of, intumescent material such as intercalated graphite, vermiculite, perlite, sodium silicate or ammonium phosphates.

The barrier may have a leading end, the leading end having an oblique surface, and a portion of the frame which is adjacent thereto when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening may have an oblique surface angled in the same general direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure assembly for an opening, the closure assembly comprising: a frame at least partially defining the opening; and a barrier of complimentary shape to the frame, the barrier being movable relative to the frame to selectively obstruct the opening, wherein the barrier has a leading end, the leading end having an oblique surface, and a portion of the frame which is adjacent thereto when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening has an oblique surface angled in the same general direction.

The barrier and frame having oblique surfaces may reduce the possibility of the barrier and frame imparting a scissor-action to body parts trapped therebetween, by reducing the opportunity for body parts to be trapped between edges of the barrier and frame which pass close by one another, thereby reducing the severity of any injury sustained.

In a closure assembly according to the second aspect of the invention, or a closure assembly according to the first aspect of the invention which has oblique surfaces: the frame and the barrier may each comprise a stop surface, the stop surfaces being configured to abut when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening; and the stop surfaces of the frame and barrier may be provided on their respective oblique surfaces.

Alternatively, a closure assembly with oblique surfaces may have stop surfaces positioned elsewhere, or may not have stop surfaces.

Each oblique surface may be positioned at an angle of at least 20 degrees to a plane defined by the opening. For instance, each oblique surface may be positioned at an angle of at least 30 degrees or at least 40 degrees to said plane.

The barrier and the frame may each comprise a deformable member. The barrier and/or the door may have one or more of the additional features set out herein.

Further, the barrier and frame may each comprise a recess. The barrier and frame each comprising a deformable member may provide advantageously wide applicability.

For instance, where the barrier and frame each comprise a deformable member, the deformable member comprised within the barrier and the deformable member comprised within the frame may be positionable in a counterposed relationship, thereby being arranged to contact one another with the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening. This may provide an advantageously detormable contact region, thereby enhancing the protection of parts of the body trapped in that region.

Alternatively, the deformable members on the barrier and frame may be offset from one another. For instance, they may be positioned in a staggered relationship, thereby increasing the size of the region protected by deformable members while circumnavigating components on the barrier and/or frame which preclude the presence of a resilient member in that location. By way of example, a door may have a cat-flap at its bottom end, precluding the fitting of a deformable member to the door in that region. This may be circumnavigated by the fitting of deformable members to the bottom end of the door on both sides of the cat-flap, with a further deformable member fitted to the door sill adjacent to the cat-clap. The entire bottom of the door would therefore be protected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a barrier for a closure assembly according to the first or second aspect of the invention A barrier according to the third aspect of the invention may be retrofitted to an existing frame, thereby providing a closure assembly according to the first or second aspect of the invention, in situations where the requirements placed on the frame restrict its alteration.

Where the barrier is for a closure assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, the barrier may comprise the or a deformable member.

The deformable member being comprised within the barrier may be beneficial in that the padding provided by the deformable member is positioned on the component which (necessarily) moves, and which may therefore pose more of a risk of impact injuries (for instance a door may be opened into somebody).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a frame for a closure assembly according to the first or second aspect of the invention A frame according to the fourth aspect of the invention may be retrofitted to an existing barrier, thereby producing a closure assembly according to the first or second aspect of the invention, when requirements placed on the barrier restrict its alteration.

Where the frame is for a closure assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, the frame may comprise the or a deformable member.

The deformable member being comprised in the frame may be beneficial in allowing the barrier, which is conventionally the weaker structure, to remain as rigid or robust as possible.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts for assembling a closure assembly according to the first or second aspect of the invention, a barrier according to the third aspect of the invention, or a frame according to the fourth aspect of the invention.

A barrier, frame or closure assembly according to the invention being supplied in kit form may allow advantageous ease of storage, transport and/or assembly.

For a better understanding, the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings (not to scale) in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a closure assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figures 2A and 2B are cross-sectional plan views taken along the line A-A of the closure assembly of figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of a portion of a door of the first embodment; Figure 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of part of a frame of a third embodiment of the invention; Figures GA and SB are cross-sectional plan views of the third embodiment; Figures 7A-7C are cross-sectional plan views of a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a deformable member suitable for use in the invention; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of another deformable member suitable for use in the invention; Figures bA and lOB are cross-sectional plan views of a fifth embodiment of the invention; Figures 11 A and 11 B are cross-sectional plan views of a sixth embodiment of the invention; Figures 12A-12G are cross-sectional plan views of exemplary configurations of deformable member; Figures 13A-13D are cross-sectional plan views of further exemplary configurations of deformable member; Figures 14A-14D are cross-sectional plan views of additional exemplary configurations of deformable member; Figure 15 is a cross-sectional plan view of a seventh embodiment of the invention; Figure 16 is a cross-sectional plan view of an eight embodiment of the invention; and Figure 17 is a cross-sectional plan view of a further exemplary closure assembly.

Figures 1, 2A and 2B show a closure assembly 2 according to a first embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the closure assembly takes the form of a domestic external door. The closure assembly 2 has a door 4 (an example of a barrier according to the first, second, third and fifth aspects of the invention) and a frame 6, which in this embodiment takes the form of a conventional door-frame. The door 4 is hung' on the frame 6 in conventional manner using two sets of hinges 8. The door has a handle 10 and lock 12, the lock having a bolt 14 which (when the door is locked, as shown in Figure 1) projects into a cavity in the frame 6 through a strikeplate 16.

The door 4 has a deformable member 18, in this case an elongate and resiliently deformable member, mounted in a recess 20 in its leading end (i.e. the end of the door opposite the hinges 8). In this embodiment, the deformable member 18 is a cuboidal block of polyurethane foam, which is provided with a self-adhesive layer to hold it within the recess 20 in the door 4. If the door 4 is swung closed with a person's fingers lying across the frame 6 in its path, the deformable member 18 will deform around them as the door closes, softening the impact and decreasing the crushing forces applied to them. Similarly the deformable member 18 acts as protective padding if the door 4 alone contacts the part of the body, for example if the door is opened into someone. In this embodiment, the deformable member 18 is sufficiently soft and of sufficient size that the assembly 2 can be fully closed with a person's fingers trapped, without the person sustaining injury. In other embodiments however, the deformable member still acts to cushion impact and reduce compressive force, but it may be smaller and/or harder so that the door cannot be fully closed when something is trapped in it.

The deformable member 18 runs along the majority (in this case around 80%) of the length of the leading end of the door 4. As shown most clearly in Figures 2A and 2B, the frame 6 defines a stop surface 22 and the door 4 also defines a stop surface 24 (which in this case is the portion of its face which is proximal to the stop surface of the frame when the door is closed). The stop surfaces 22, 24 are positioned to abut when the door 4 is fully closed, preventing the door from travelling any further (i.e. swinging through the frame 6 in the case of a hinged door). These are the surfaces that impart the scissor and/or crushing action to parts of the body caught in the door. The deformable member 18 is therefore configured so that a portion of it is comprised within stop surface 24, thereby providing the most effective protection. However, the door 4 has two unprotected portions 26, one at either end of the deformable member 18. If the deformable member 18 extended through the entire length of the stop surface 24, if the door 4 was closed forcefully the deformable member may deflect and allow the door to move further into the frame 6, beyond the closed position, potentially damaging the hinges or impacting objects on the other side of the door. The unprotected portions 26 prevent this by providing a rigid contact area when the door 4 is closed. Though in this embodiment there are two unprotected portions, one at either end of the stop surface 24 (the regions of the door in which parts of the body may be trapped less commonly), in other embodiments there may be one unprotected portion, or three or more, and the unprotected portions may each be in any suitable location.

For the avoidance of doubt, an arrangement where the deformable member 18 extended through the entire length of the stop surface 24, as described above, would be within the scope of the present invention. Although the recess in such an embodiment would not take the form of a cavity, it would nonetheless be a recess as defined above in that it would be a space in a location at which the material of the door Figure 3 shows a portion of the door 4 in more detail, illustrating the boundary 28 between the deformable member 18 and one of the unprotected portions 26. The deformable member 18 provides a surface 30a and an edge 32a each of which are co-extensive with surface 34a of the door, which in this case is the surface on which the stop surface 24 is defined. The same is true for surface 30b and edges 32a and 32b of the deformable member in relation to surface 34b of the door, and also applies for the surfaces of the door and insert not visible in Figure 3 (and edge 32b). The boundary 28 is therefore continuous in shape, minimising the aesthetic impact of the presence of the deformable member 18. This may be further minimised by the deformable member 18 having a similar colour, texture and/or material to the door 4.

Surface 30a of the deformable member 18 and surface 34a of the door being co-extensive is advantageous in that it allows continuous contact between the door 4 and frame 6 when the door is closed. Indeed, in this embodiment the deformable member 18 sealingly engages with a counterposed surface (not visible) of the frame. The assembly 2 can therefore provide better partitioning between (in this embodiment) the inside and outside of the house, thereby minimising draft, noise and dust ingress. The function of the closure assembly 2 as a sound barrier is enhanced by the deformable member 18 being made out of polyurethane foam, which is a noise-attenuating material. Further, in some embodiments the assembly 2 minimising draft may have benefits beyond occupant comfort. Limitation of air movement brought about by doors can limit the oxygen feed to, and therefore the spread of, a fire. The choice of material for the deformable member 18 is also beneficial in that polyurethane foam can be treated to make it fire-resistant. The deformable member is therefore slow to burn or degrade in a fire, allowing the assembly 2 to limit the oxygen supply to the fire for a longer period of time. Further, the deformable member 18 being fire-resistant means that it is less liable to fuel the fire itself.

The positioning of the deformable member 18 in the assembly 2 of the first embodiment is also beneficial in that a portion of the deformable member (in this case edge 32a) is positioned along edge 36a of the door 4, and another portion (in this case edge 32b) is positioned along edge 36b of the door. The edges of a door can cause the most severe injuries, as the force of impact is concentrated in a very small area, therefore the deformable member being positioned along edges 36a and 3Gb enhances the protection offered.

Returning to Figure 1, it is apparent that as the deformable member 18 is positioned between the lock 12 and the strikeplate 16 when the door 4 is closed requires the bolt 14 to be particularly long, as it must pass from the lock (which is mounted on a rigid portion of the door 4) through the deformable member and into the strikeplate. A second embodiment of the invention, which may place no such limitation on lock design, will now be described. This lack of constraint placed on the lock design makes the second embodiment particularly suited to applications where existing doors are retrofitted with deformable members, as it does not necessitate replacement of modification of the existing lock. This embodiment is shown in Figure 4.

The closure assembly 40 of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, therefore only its differences will be described in detail. In this embodiment the door 42 has two deformable members 44a, 44b, each of which is received in a recess 46a, 46b in the door. The deformable members 44a, 44b collectively extend over around 70% of the leading end of the door. Though this arrangement provides a reduced degree of protection, as parts of the body trapped in the door between the deformable members 44a, 44b may still sustain injury, this disadvantage may be offset by the ease of retrofitting (as outlined above) offered by this design. Further, in addition to unprotected portions 48 at the top and bottom of the door 42 (as described in relation to the first embodiment), the space between the deformable members 44a, 44b provides a third unprotected portion 48', which may increase the durability of the assembly 40 as outlined above.

The closure assembly 40 also has two catch mechanisms 50, each formed by a roller catch 52 mounted to an unprotected portion 48 of the door 42, and a receiver cup 54 mounted to the frame 56. The roller catches 52 and receiver cups 54 are of conventional design, and will not be described in detail. The catch mechanisms 50 act to hold the door 42 in a closed position but do not lock it in place. The door 42 can therefore be opened simply by pulling it.

Figures 5, 6A and 6B show a closure assembly 60 according to a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the deformable member 62 is mounted in a recess 64 in the frame 66. The frame is an example of a frame according to the fourth aspect of the invention. In a similar fashion to the first embodiment, the deformable member 62 provides a surface 68a and an edge 70a each of which are co-extensive with surface 72a of the frame, which in this case is the stop surface 67. The same is true for surface 68b and edges 70a and 70b of the deformable member 62 in relation to surface 72b of the frame 66, and also applies for surface 68c and edge 70b of the deformable member 62 in relation to the corresponding surface of the frame (not visible). Further, again in a similar fashion to the first embodiment, a portion of the deformable member 62 (in this case edge 70a) is positioned along edge 74a of the frame 66, and another portion (in this case edge 70b) is positioned along edge 74b of the door.

Figures 7A-70 show a closure assembly 80 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The fourth embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except that the door 82 has a shield 84 mounted thereto. The shield 84 is slidable to cover the portion of the deformable member 86 which would be accessible from the outside (i.e. from the top from the perspective of Figure 7). This prevents the presence of the deformable member 86 being exploited by thieves (for instance the deformable member may otherwise allow easier access to the bolt (14 in Figure 1) of the lock (12 in Figure 1) with bot cutters), and protects it from the elements. In this embodiment the shield 84 is connected to the handle 88 such that by rotating the handle in the opposite direction to that which opens the door (i.e. rotating the handle by lifting its leading end) not only moves the bolt (14 in Figure 1) of the lock (12 in Figure 1) into the strikeplate (16 in Figure 1) but also extends the shield 84 in front of the deformable member 86 (as shown in Figure 7C). Similarly, rotating the handle 88 so as to open the door 82 retracts the shield 84 and exposes the deformable member 86 (as shown in Figure 7B).

Figure 8 shows an alternative design of deformable member. Rather than being a cuboidal block of foam, this deformable member 90 has a compound structure. It has a mounting section 92, a core 94 and a deformable outer layer 96. The mounting section 92 is relatively rigid, and comprises a ridge 98 for receipt within a groove in a barrier or frame (not shown). It also has a pair of retention fins 99. The retention fins 99 are deformed and forced against the ridge 98 and inserted into the groove along with it.

The restorative force of the deformed fins 99 acts to urge them against the sides of the groove, holding the deformable member 90 in place. The outer layer 96 is made of soft polyurethane foam. The core 94 is made from an elastomeric material such as natural or synthetic rubber. This makes it relatively rigid, thus providing support to the outer layer 96, but still deformable up to a point so that it can flex if necessary to accommodate a part of the body trapped against it.

Though this deformable member 90 has been described as having a mounting section 92, core 94 and outer layer 96, for the avoidance of doubt it may also be thought of as having a core 92 with two deformable layers 94, 96 thereon, as having a core 92 with a singe deformable layer made of two different materials 94, 96, as having a core 96 with two deformable layers 92, 94 thereon, etc. Figure 9 shows another alternative design of deformable member. This deformable member 100 has a mounting section 92 (which again may be considered to be a core or a deformable layer, as indicated above) with a deformable portion in the form of a brush section 102 mounted thereon. The bristles 104 of the brush section 102 collectively deform in a similar manner to a foam section. In a similar arrangement, the bristles 104 of the brush section 102 may be replaced by a plurality of fins.

A fifth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1OA and 109. The closure assembly 110 of this embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment, except that the deformable member 112 is provided with a magnetised insert 114 on the stop surface 116. When the door 117 is closed, the magnetised insert 114 is magnetically attracted towards the stop surface 118 of the frame 119 (which in this embodiment is ferromagnetic), strengthening the sealing engagement described in relation to the first embodiment.

Figures 1 1A and 11 B show a sixth embodiment of the invention. The closure assembly of this embodiment is essentially a combination of the first and third embodiments.

The door 122 comprises a deformable member 124 and the frame 126 comprises another deformable member 128. The deformable members 124, 128 are positioned to contact each other when the door 122 is closed (though a small gap is shown in Figure 11B for clarity), defining an interface 130 between them in which trapped parts of the body can be accommodated by deformation of both deformable members. Such an interface may further lower the risk of injury from trapped body parts.

It is to be understood that the deformable member configurations and positions described above are exemplary in nature. Figures 12A-120 show further exemplary positions and configurations of a deformable member 132. Further, though each deformable member described above has surfaces and/or edges co-extensive with a surface of the barrier or frame to which it is mounted, in other embodiments this may not be the case. Figures 13A and 13B, and Figures 130 and 13D, show two examples where the deformable members 134 do not have a surface or edge co-extensive with a surface of the door 136 or frame 138 to which they are mounted. Indeed, in these examples portions 140 of the deformabe members 134 project beyond the recesses 142 in which they are received, and are positioned such that they are deformed to a certain extend when closing the door 136, even if nothing is trapped. The restorative force of this deformation may assist the sealing engagement discussed above.

In addition, though in the above embodiments and examples each deformable member is received in a recess in the barrier or frame in which it is comprised, in other embodiments the recess may be on the other of the barrier and the frame to the one which comprises the deformable member. Figures 14A and 14B, and Figures 14C and 14D show two examples where the deformable member 144 is mounted on one of the door 146 and the frame 148, and the recess 150 is mounted on the other.

Figure 15 shows a closure assembly 160 according to a seventh embodiment of the invention. The seventh embodiment is similar to the sixth embodiment, therefore only the differences will be described here. In this embodiment, the leading end 162 of the door 164 terminates in an oblique surface 166. Similarly, a portion of the frame 168 which is adjacent to the leading end 162 of the door 160 (when the door is closed) is provided with an oblique surface 170. The oblique surfaces 166, 170 are angled in the same general direction. Further, in this case the oblique surfaces 166, 170 are substantially parallel to one another when the door 164 is closed. In this embodiment, the oblique surfaces 166, 170 are provided on respective deformable members 172, 174, and each oblique surface also functons as a stop surface.

Aside from the cushioning affect provided by the deformable members 172, 174, in the closure assembly 160 of this embodiment the oblique surfaces 166, 170 provide an additional safety feature. Whilst conventional hinged doors can exert a scissor-like action on trapped body parts when an edge of the door and an edge of the frame pass close by one another as the door is closed, the oblique surfaces 166, 170 of this embodiment allow at least some the edges which may otherwise exert such a scissor-action to be spaced further apart. While a body part may still be trapped in the door and undergo compressive forces, discomfort or injury resulting therefrom is likely to be less severe due to the lower maximum pressure exerted. For example, a crushed finger may suffer only bruising, whereas a finger trapped in scissor-like action may suffer bone damage.

The angle at which oblique surfaces are positioned affects the extent to which the above advantage is provided. In this case, since the oblique surfaces 166, 170 are substantially parallel when the door 164 is closed, with the door closed they are positioned at the same angle. More particularly, with the door 164 closed each oblique surface 166, 170 is positioned at an angle 173 of around 25 degrees to a plane 174 defined by the opening. Figure 15 shows the plane 174 positioned to one side of the opening, for clarity. However, it is to be understood that the plane defined by the opening would in fact run along the centreline of the door 164.

In this embodiment, the deformable members 172, 174 each comprise an intumescent portion. More particularly, deformable member 172 is made of polyurethane foam with granular intumescent material interspersed throughout, and the deformable member 174 is made entirely from a resilient intumescent material. The use of intumescent material allows the gap between the door 164 and the frame 168 to be sealed more effectively if the door experiences heat from a fire. This can reduce the speed at which the fire can spread by limiting or preventing the flow of air through the door.

Figure 16 shows an eighth embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is similar to the seventh embodiment, therefore only the differences will be described here. The closure assembly 180 of this embodiment has oblique surfaces 182, 184 provided on the door 186 and frame 188 respectively, however unlike the previous embodiments this closure assembly 180 does not have a deformable member. In this case, therefore, the prevention of injury is provided by the oblique surfaces 182, 184 (as described above) alone. The lack of a deformable member may be advantageous in applications where maximum strength of the door 186 and frame 188 is required.

Although in this embodiment it may be possible for trapped body parts to be injured, the oblique surfaces 182, 186 may nonetheless provide valuable safety protection and reduce the severity of any such injuries.

Although in the seventh and eighth embodiments the oblique surfaces function as stop surfaces, in other embodiments this may not be the case. Figure 17 shows an example of such a closure assembly 190. Although the door 192 and frame 194 have respective oblique surfaces 196, 198, these surfaces do not function as stop surfaces.

Instead, the door 192 and frame 194 have respective stop surfaces 200, 202 provided in corresponding locations to those described in relation to the first embodiment.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described design may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For instance, though the shield of the fourth embodiment is mounted on one side, other embodiments may have shields mounted on both sides. Furthermore, though in the above embodiments the deformable members are positioned on the leading end of the door or on the portion of frame adjacent thereto when the door is closed, in other embodiments one or more deformable members may (instead or in addition) be present on the barrier at the top side, bottom side and/or at the side opposite the hinges, and/or at corresponding locations on the frame.

While it may be beneficial for surfaces of the barrier and frame to sealingly engage and/or be magnetically aft racted to one another, said surfaces may not be the stop surfaces. They may instead be any other suitable surfaces, such as the face of a cuboidal insert that is distal from the door or frame in which it is comprised, and the corresponding surface on the other of the door and the frame (i.e. in the case of a conventional door design, the face of the door from which the locking bolt protrudes, and the face of the frame to which the strikeplate is mounted).

The described and illustrated embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims are desired to be protected. In relation to the claims, it is intended that when words such as "a," "an," "at least one," or "at least one portion" are used to preface a feature there is no intention to limt the claim to only one such feature unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language "at least a portion" and/or "a portion" is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.

Optional and/or preferred features as set out herein may be used either individually or in combination with each other where appropriate and particularly in the combinations as set out in the accompanying claims. Optional features disclosed in relation to one aspect of the invention may be applicable to other aspects of the invention, where appropriate.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A closure assembly for an opening, the closure assembly comprising: a frame at least partially defining the opening; and a barrier of complimentary shape to the frame, the barrier being movable relative to the frame to selectively obstruct the opening, wherein at least one of the barrier and the frame comprises a deformable member configured to be received within a recess in the, or the other of, the barrier or the frame.
2. A closure assembly according to claim 1 wherein the recess is provided on the one of the barrier and frame which comprises the deformable member.
3. A closure assembly according to claim 2 wherein the deformable member is shaped to provide an edge or a surface thereof which is positioned substantially co-extensive with a surface of the barrier or frame within which it is comprised.
4. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein: the frame and the barrier each comprise a stop surface, the stop surfaces being configured to abut when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening; and at least a portion of one of the stop surfaces comprises at least a portion of the deformable member.
5. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the barrier has a leading end, and the deformable member is locatable at the leading end or at a portion of the frame which is adjacent thereto when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening.
6. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein one of the barrier and frame comprises a lock and the other comprises a strikeplate, at least one of the lock and strikeplate being positionable between two recesses, between two deformable members, or between a deformable member and a recess.
7. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein at least a portion of the deformable member is positionable along an edge of the barrier or frame.
8. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the deformable member comprises a core with a deformable layer positioned thereon.
9. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the deformable member is positionable to sealingly engage with a counterposed sealing surface when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening.
10. A closure assembly according to claim 9 wherein the deformable member and the sealing surface are magnetically attracted to one another when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening.
11. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the deformable member is elongate.
12. A closure assembly according to claim 11 wherein the deformable member runs along the majority of the length of a face or edge of the barrier or frame in which it is comprised.
13. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim further comprising a catch mechanism configured to non-lockingly retain the barrier in a predetermined position.
14. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the barrier or frame comprises a shield for selectively covering at least part of the deformable member.
15. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the deformable member comprises a fire-resistant materal portion.
16. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the deformable member comprises a sound-attenuating material portion.
17. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the deformable member comprises an intumescent portion.
18. A closure assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the barrier has a leading end, the leading end having an oblique surface, and a portion of the frame which is adjacent thereto when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the oning has an oblique surface angled in the same general direction.
19. A closure assembly for an opening, the closure assembly comprising: a frame at least partially defining the opening; and a barrier of complimentary shape to the frame, the barrier being movable relative to the frame to selectively obstruct the opening, wherein the barrier has a leading end, the leading end having an oblique surface, and a portion of the frame which is adjacent thereto when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening has an oblique surface angled in the same general direction.
20. A closure assembly according to claim 18 or 19 wherein: the frame and the barrier each comprise a stop surface, the stop surfaces being configured to abut when the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening; and the stop surfaces of the frame and barrier are provided on their respective oblique surfaces.
21. A closure assembly according to any one of claims 18-20 wherein with the barrier positioned to obstruct the opening, each oblique surface is positioned at an angle of at least 20 degrees to a plane defined by the opening.
22. A closure assembly according to any preceding claims wherein the barrier and the frame each comprise a deformable member.
23. A closure assembly according to claim 22 wherein the deformable member comprised within the barrier and the deformable member comprised within the frame are positionable in a counterposed relationship, thereby being arranged to contact one another with the barrier is positioned to obstruct the opening.
24. A barrier for a closure assembly according to any preceding claim.
25. A barrier according to claim 24, incorporating at least claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises the or a deformable member.
26. A frame for a closure assembly according to any one of claims 1-23.
27. A frame according to claim 26, incorporating at least claim 1, wherein the frame comprises the or a deformable member.
28. A kit of parts for assembling a barrier, frame or closure assembly according to any preceding claim.
29. A barrier, frame or closure assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1-17.