US2825597A

US2825597A - Door check

Info

Publication number: US2825597A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas C Richmond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-12-15
Filing date: 1955-12-15
Publication date: 1958-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 1975-03-04

Description

y March 4, 1958 T. c. RICHMOND nooR CHECK Filed neo,

IN V EN TOR. .m0/W45 C l Q/cHMo/D BY United- States Patent Doon CHECK Thomas C. Richmond, Huntsburg, Ohio Application December 15, 1955, Serial No. 553,381 l 11 Claims. (ci. 292-343) This application relatessto adjustable wedge devices, especially door checks or thevlike, for securing against movement devices such as doors. having edges moving along a surfacey perpendicular tothe .Aline of motion so that the door may be secured by driving ya wedge between the edge thereof andthe lioor. y t

"An object of the Ainvention yis to provide an adjustable- Ataper wedge with means for bringing wedge surfaces into parallelismj l VA further lobject of the invention is to present a hat, horizontal wedging surface to the edge of the door, or the like, to be secured in position and to avoid damage `thereof by wedging against a corner or an edge thereof. Another object of the invention is to provide means for quickly changing the taper angle of a wedge.

Still another object of the invention is to enable such means for changing the taper angle of the wedge to be employed in a door check designed for fitting between the yfloor and the door edge to secure the' door in position. t t

Still another object.v of the invention isy to provide a door-check wedge adjustable inmaximumheight and taper for accommodating both ,doors with Very small clearance and with relatively large clearance between the edge. of the door and the door. l

Other and further objects, `features and advantages ol' th'efinvention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with a preferred fOrm'the're'O, aldoor check is provided .comprising a pair-of stampings or plates secured together pivotally at one end and provided with a treadle actuated eccentric or `camat the other end for enabling tbedoor che'cleto be placed under a door and havethetaper angle `increased by stepping on the extending treadle to cause 4 Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable wedge' With`.leveling sole plates pivoted to the wedge 'to' provide fhorizontalbearing surfaces. .for the under.' edge of a door to be secured in place,

j betterunderstanding. of the invention will be alorded by the followingldetailed description considered in conjunctionlwith thef accompanying drawing, in which:

Figlis a viervfofja longitudinal verticalsection of a 4doknr checkor adjustabl'ewedge constituting an embodinient' of my'inventjion';,V i t 'jFig.'2 is a planview'of the device of Fig. l;

"Fig 3 is a viewin elevation of the narrow or apex endet the adjustable wedge ofiFig. 1,*represented as sen Vlooking intherdirection of the arrows 3 3 indi- "cat-ed'y infFig. 'ely'tliowedge-parts being-spread to the maximum taper or maximum angle between the parts;

l4'iis""'afviewv corresponding to Figs 3 withgthe tradle'lifted andithe'adjustablewedge "collapsed to the imininium taper orminimumanglelbetween v he wedge 'pgI-tstdio La; ifo .3.1.11

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View of the device of Figs.

`11 and a wedge plate 12. They are joined at one end by pivot means 13. Preferably one plate is longer than the other and a cam, preferably in the form of an eccentric-circle cam 14, is-pivotally mounted in bearing means 15`formed inthe shorter plate, for example the plate 12, and having a cam surface 16 adapted to bear against va confronting surface 17 of the longer plate, in this case theliloor platelll. By rotation of the eccenytric .cam 14, in one direction, the unpivoted endsy of the plates liland 12 may be spread and by rotation of the cam '14 in the opposite direction the plates may be collapsed.

Preferably, the cam 14 is formed with a treadle 18 so that the adjustable wedge may be pushed under the lower edge 19 of a movable member such as a door 21, movable `parallel to a surface 22, such as a floor on which the floor plate 11 rests, andthe wedge plate 12 may be'lifted under the door edge 19 to secure the door, by stepping-on the treadle 18. Y

Inorder to provide a better bearing surface for more securely holding the door 21and to avoid marring the face23 thereof bydenting the corner 24 between the face 23 and the lower edge 19, the wedge plate 12 is preferably provide-d with a plurality of leveling plates 25 pivotally secured thereto. As illustrated, each of the leveling plates 25 is provided with a pivot or mounting pin 26 fastened in a suitable bearing portion formed in the wedgeplate 12. .The detailed construction will be explained more fully hereinafter.

For the sake of simplicity, inexpensiveness and ease of manufacture and assembly, the pivot means 13` preferably takes the form of a pair of lugs or tabs 27 extending from the left hand end of the floor plate 11, near the sides thereof as shown, and bent around to form hollow cylindrical bearings 23 l for 'receiving journals formed in theend of the wedge plate 12.A The wedge plate 12, in turn, has a pair of oblong openings 29 punched therein so as to leave end portions or integral strip parts 31 adapted to fit within the hollow cylindrical bearings 28 to serve as journals. It will be understood that yin assembling the plates 11 and 12, the tabs 27 are bent around by a suitable tool so as to enter the oblong openings 29.

Preferably, the door plate 11 and the wedge plate 12v are in the form of sheet metal stampings, U shaped in cross section, eachwith a iiat web portion joining a. pair of triangular angesmto form a tapered flange channel. As illustrated more clearly in Fig. 5, the floor plate 11 comprises a web portion 32 with channel-forming flanges 33 tapering from zero width at the triangle apex 34 indicated in Fig. l to a maximum width toward the unpivoted end 35 of the plate 11, as indicated more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. The wedge plate likewise comprises a web portion 36 joining a pair of channel forming flanges'. Preferably the

flanges

33 and 37 are both upturned with the lower surface of the web 32 of the oor plate 11 resting upon a horizontal surface 22, such as the floor, and the wedge plate 12 is narrower vthan the floor plate .11 so that the plate 12 may nest within the floor plate 11 with the parts collapsed to the minimum wedge angle 'or taper.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the flange 33 may be cut away along thefrearedge line 33 sothat the maximum width of the flange 33 occurs at a point 39 to the left of the .bearing for the cam 14. Moreover, `preferably the flange 37 of the wedge plate 12 extends beyond the unpivoted end 41 of the Wedge plate 12 so as to form two projecting ears 42 in which openings may be punched or drilled to form the bearings 15 for receiving a pin 43 rotatably mounting the earn 1.4.

Eachr of the leveling plates is a metal stamping U shaped in cross 'section and comprises a web portion 44 from which extend downwardly a pair of ears 45, the ,leveling plate 25 being of such width that ears 45 fit loosely between the wedge plate flanges 37. The lears 45 are spaced a short distance from the lower end or edge 46 of each of the leveling plates 25, as seen in Fig. l. For pivotallysecuring each leveling plate 25 tothe wedge plate 12, the pivot pins 26 are provided, extending through ,the ears 45 and Vthe wedge plate flanges 37, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Each of the leveling plates 25 is provided with a lip 48 downwardly offset, as illustrated inFig. l. The space between the pivot pins 26 in relation to the overhang of the edges 46 a'nd the distance from the lip 48 to the pivot pin 26 is such that each lip 48 fits under the overhanging edge 46 of the adjacent leveling plate to limit .the upward movement of the llip 4S and permit all of the leveling plates 25 to be aligned along a straight line when none of them is deflected downward.

Preferably the eccentric cam 14 and treadle 18 are formed as an integral unit consisting of a sheet metal stamping with a web portion 49 joining a pair of flange portions 51 formed as shown in Fig. l with curved edges, with a substantially circular portion forming the pair of cam surfaces 16 lying adjacent the floor plate flanges 33. Openings are drilled or punched in the' flange portions 51 eccentric with respect to the circular cam surfaces V16, as shown, to receive the mounting pin 43. As illustrated, the

pins

26 and 43 are staked upset or peened over at the ends to secure them in position.

Preferably means are provided for biasing the wedge plate 12 downward toward the floor plate 11 so as to permit the plate 12 to lie substantially fiat upon the floor plate 11 when the treadle 18 is kicked up to release the cam 14. Contraction spring means may be used for this purpose comprising a hairpin type of wire spring 52 having a wire arm 53 secured to the floor plate 11 and wire arm 54 engaging the wedge plate 12. Wire arms 53 and 54 are joined by a coil spring 55 so bent as to draw the wire arms 53 and 54 together.

As illustrated, the spring arm 53 is secured to the floor plate 11 by striking up a tab 56 under which the arm 53 fits tightly and vbending the end 57 of the wire arm 53 under a second tab 53 struck up from the floor plate 11. For enabling the arm 54 to engage the wedge plate 12, an opening 59 is cut near the end 41 of the arm .12, through which the arm 54 extends. Theupper end 61 of the arm 54 is preferably bent downward to bear downward against the upper surface 62 of the web 36 of the wedge plate 12. i

The leveling plates 25 on the other hand are preferably biased to the upward position withV the lips 48 pressing upward against the edges 46 of the adjacent leveling plates. This may be accomplished by suitable means such as expansion springs in the form of wire hairpin springs having coil spring portions y63 with

arms

64 and 65 normally spread apart by the coil spring portion 63, theV coil springs 63 being fitted around the pivot pms 26 and the

arms

64 and 65 pressing downward agalnst the web 36 of the wedge plate 12 and upward against the leveling plates 25, respectively.

In order to secure a moving member such as a door 21 without denting the corner 24 and without necessitating the use of wedges of different sizes for doors 21 having their lower edges 19 of different heights from the floor plane 22, the adjustable wedge or door check illustrated in the drawing is employed. In order `to accommodate a door with an edge 19 relatively low, the door ycheckisrflrst set with-.the treadle 18.in..the upward `position illustrated in Fig. 4, shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, so as to bring the uppermost of the leveling plates 25 to the lower position as illustrated in Fig. 4. The door check is then slipped under the door as far as it will go, the upturned treadle 18 serving to limit motion in case the edge 19 is high enough to permit the entire collapsed wedge to pass under the edge 19. Thereupon the treadle 19 is turned downward by stepping upon it, which lifts the wedgeplate 19 around the pivot means 13 and causes whichever one of the leveling plates 25 may be under the door edge 19 to rise against the edge 19. The reacting thrustof the edge 19 bears downward against the leveling plate 25 in question, compressing the expansion spring .63 and causing the leveling plate 25 to take a horizontal position under the door 21, as illustrated in Fig. l. It will be apparent, therefore, that the entire upward thrust is against the plane surface at the lower edge 19 of the door 21 so that there is no tendency to dent the corner l24. Moreover, any tendency for wedging action to cause the wedge to slip out from under the door or the door to slip Aoff the wedge is overcome.

Nevertheless, if desired, friction coating material may be applied to either the under surface or the upper surface of the adjustable wedge, namely either to the under surface of the web 32 of the floor plate 11 or to the upper surface of each of the leveling plates 25, or, if desired, to both surfaces. As illustrated in the drawing, strips 66 of rubber, plastic, or other suitable material having corrugated upper surfaces 67 are cemented to the upper surface of the leveling plates 25, thus serving as a further protection to the under surface or edge 19 of the door 21 and assuring a secure friction grip even though the floor plate 11 may 4rest upon a carpet or other surface upon which it slides readily. It will be understood that if the door check is to be used primarily on highly polished wax floors which it may be desired to protect'from scratching or scraping, resilient corrugated rubber, plastic or like material may be applied instead to the lower surface of the floor plate 11.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle of Aoperation of the invention has been described together with the apparatus now believed to represent the best embodiment thereof, but it is .to be understood that the apparatus shown and described is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other arangements.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:

l. A door check comprising in combination a channeled floor plate having first and second ends and flanges tapering from a minimum width at the first end to a maximum width toward the lsecond end, a wedge plate having rst and second ends with flanges tapering from a minimum width at the first end to a maximum width toward the second end, the plates being pivotally secured yto each other at their first ends, an eccentric cam (mounted between the flanges of one of the plates at the y second end thereof, withv a cam surface lbearing against the other plate between the flanges theerof, with a treadle plate extending from said cam lfrom between said anges for rotating the c arn to spread the plates at their two ends to form a wedge, and a plurality of leveling plates each having ears bent therefrom and spaced a'di'startce less thanthe space'between the flanges of the wedge plate, pivot pins extending through 'said flanges" and Asaid ears `for pivotally securing each lof the leveling plates to the wedge plate for providing a level surface abutment to the underside of the door, or the like, under vwhich the door check may be placed for securing said door against movement.

2. A door check as in claim 1, wherein the flanges of the -floor .plate and the wedge plate are upturned, the wedge plate is narrower than the floor plate with the flanges thereof resting within the flanges of the floor portions each with curved edge and an ott-,center hole to form an eccentric cam, and a pivot pin passing through the said cam holes and through the anges at the second end of one of the plates whereby thev cam is pivotally mounted and the curved surface thereof bears against the other plate at the end thereof for 'spreading the said second ends of said cam plate and said oor plate by rotation of said eccentric cam surface around the cam mounting pin.

4. A door check comprising incombination a, door plate having rst and second ends, a wedge plate having i `1 rst and second ends, pivoted at the rst end to the iirst end of the oor plate, an eccentric cam mounted at the second end of one plate with a cam surface bearing against the other plate at the second end thereof with a projecting treadle for rotating the cam to spread the plates at their second ends to form a wedge, and a plurality of leveling plates pivoted to the Wedge plate at spaced points along the length thereof to turn about parallel axes paralleling the pivot axis, each leveling plate being formed to provide independently of the other leveling plates a level surface abutment to the under edge of a door, or the like, under which the door check may be placed for securing such door against movement.

5. A door check device comprising in combination lloor engaging and check members, means pivotally connecting one end of the check member to the floor member, a plurality of leveling plates disposed along a line normal to the pivot axis of the check member, means individually mounting the leveling plates on the check member for tilting movements about spaced axes parallel to one another and to said pivot axis, the device being receivable between the bottom of a door and a iloor and adapted, upon raising of the other end of the check member, to move the leveling plates upwardly in unison whereby one of the leveling plates is engaged against the underside of the door bottom, the tilt mount of such one leveling plate allowing the latter to bear atwise against the door bottom, and means at the other end of the check member and actuatable to react against and spread the embers in effecting such raising of the check member and forcing the engaged leveling plate strongly against the bottom of such door.

6. A door check device comprising in combination floor engaging and check members, means pivotally connecting one end of the check member to the floor member, a plurality of leveling plates disposed along a line normal to the pivot axis of the check member, means individually mounting the leveling plates on the check member for tilting movements about spaced axes parallel to one another and to said pivot axis, the device being receivable between the bottom of a door and a floor and adapted, upon raising of the other end of the check member, to move the leveling plates upwardly in unison whereby one of the leveling plates is engaged against the underside of the door bottom, the tilt mount of such one leveling plate allowing the latter to bear atwise against the door bottom, spring means acting between the members and biasing the check member toward the iloor member, and means at the other end of the check member and actuatable to react against and spread the members in eiecting such raising of the check member and forcing the engaged leveling plate strongly against the bottom of such door.

7. A door check device comprising in combination door engaging and check members, means pivotally connecting one end of the check member to the door member, a plurality of levelingplates disposed along va line normal to the pivot axis of the check member, means individually mounting the leveling plates on the check member for tilting movements about spaced axes parallel to one another and to said pivot axis, the device being receivable between the bottom ofv a door and a door and adapted, upon raising of the other end of the check member, to move the leveling plates upwardly in unison whereby one of the leveling plates is engaged ,against the underside of the door bottom, the tilt mount of such one leveling plate allowing the latter to bear flatwise against the door bottom, each leveling plate having a front edge toward and a rear edge remote from the pivot axis, spring means acting between the check memberV and the individual leveling plates and biasing the tilting of the latter to move the rear edges of such plates away from the check member, and means at the other end of the check member and actuatable to react against and spread the members in eecting such raising of the check member and forcing the engaged leveling plate strongly against the bottom of such door.

8. A door check device comprising in combination floor engaging and check members, means pivotally connecting one end of the check member to the oor member, a plurality of leveling plates disposed along a line normal to the pivot axis of the check member, means individually mounting the leveling plates on the check member for tilting movements about spaced axes parallel to one another and to said pivot axis, the device being receivable between the bottom of a door and a iioor and adapted, upon raising of the other end of the check member, to move the leveling plates upwardly in unison whereby one or the leveling plates is engaged against the underside of the door bottom, the tilt mount of such one leveling plate allowing the latter to bear atwise against the door bottom, each leveling plate having a front edge toward and a rear edge remote from the pivot axis, spring means acting between the check member and the individual leveling plates and biasing the tilting of the latter to move the rear edges of such plates away from the check member, spring means acting between the members and biasing the check member toward the floor member, and means at the other end of the check member and actuatable to react against and spread the members in effecting such raising of the check member and forcing the engaged leveling plate strongly against the bottom of such door.

9. A door check device comprising in combination loor engaging and check members, means pivotally connecting one end of the check` member to the oor member, a plurality of leveling plates disposed along a line normal to the pivot axis of the check member, means individually mounting the leveling plates on the check member for tilting movements about spaced axes parallel to one another and to said pivot axis, the device being receivable between the bottom of a door and a oor and adapted, upon raising of the other end of the check member, to move the leveling plates upwardly in unison whereby one of the leveling plates is engaged against the underside or" the door bottom, the tilt mount of such one leveling plate allowing the latter to bear latwise against the door bottom, each leveling plate having a front edge toward and a rear edge remote from the pivot axis, spring means acting between the check member and the individual leveling plates and biasing the tilting of the latter to move the rear edges of such plates away from the check member, the front edge of each leveling plate overlapping the rear edge of the next adjacent leveling plate toward the pivot axis to limit the tilting movement of such adjacent plate, whereby the leveling plates are normally disposed substantially in a continuous line, and means at the other end of the check member and actuatable to react against and spread the members in effecting such raising of the check member and forcing the engaged leveling plate strongly against the bottom of such door.

10. A door check device comprising a floor engaging member, a check member having a front end formed with atplurality of ,elongated slots disposed in spaced relation along a common line, the door member having a front endformed with a plurality of upturned reversely curved ltabs constituting a rounded hollow entering end structure ,on the device, said tabs being received through the elongated slots of the check member in the provision of a hinged joint between the members with the front end of the check member disposed inside the hollow end structure, and means at the other end of the check member and actuatable to react against and spread the members in effecting such raising of the check member and forcing Athe engaged leveling plate strongly against the bottom of such door.

11. A door check device comprising in combination oor engaging and check members, means pivotally com necting one end of the check member to the floor member7 v 'said members being channel shaped in section, each having a web and a pair of spaced substantially parallel flanges, the flanges extending along substantially the en- 8 l tire lengths of the respective members, the flanges of one member being disposed between and guided by the ilanges of the other member, and an eccentric and means mounting it between the anges of one of the members forA relative rotary movement about an axis paralleling the pivot axis of the check member and to bear against the web of the other member between the flanges of the latter in spreading the members to expand the device to react strongly against a door bottom and a floor between which it isV placed.

References Cited in the ileof this patcnt UNITED STATES PATENTS 110,985 Lugrin Jan. 17, 1871 171,807 Hoffman Jan. 4, 1876 177,102 Daniels May 9, 1876 589,359 Lowry Aug. 31, 1897 701,431 Watts June 3, 1902 943,791 Russell Dec. 21, 1909 1,369,462 Olson Feb. 22, 1921