US3578370A

US3578370A - Magnetic door stop

Info

Publication number: US3578370A
Authority: US
Inventors: James J Greytok
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-04-11
Filing date: 1969-04-11
Publication date: 1971-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-11

Abstract

A door stop is provided with a magnetically susceptible element that may be aligned in cooperative relationship with a magnetically susceptible element of a door to provide magnetic means to secure the door in the open position. The magnetically susceptible element of the door stop may be moved, when desired, into a nonoperating position. In one optional form of this invention, provision is made for adjustably aligning the operating face of the magnetically susceptible element of the door stop to make planar contact with the door while in its open position.

Description

United States Patent Inventor James J. Greytok 1123 Ashbridge Road, Rosemont, Pa. 19010 Appl. No. 815,412 Filed Apr. 11, 1969 Patented May 11, 1971 MAGNETIC DOOR STOP 11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S.C1 292/251.5, 16/86 Int. Cl ..E05c 19/16, E05d 13/00 Field of Search 292/251.5, 201,144, 70, 74, (A); 16/49, 82, 86 (A); 24/201.2; 248/206 (A); 335/285, 287, 288

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,604,323 10/1926 Spencer 335/288 2,607,990 8/ 1952 Payamps 33/27 2,695,140 1 [/1954 Haugaard 335/285X 3,100,664 8/ 1963 Duval 292/251.5

3,288,511 11/1966 Tavano 292/25 1.5

3,297,347 1 1967 Rogers 292/74 FOREIGN PATENTS 573,454 1 1 1945 Great Britain 292/251.5

Primary Examiner-Stephen J Novosad Assistant Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy Attorney-Synnestvedt and Lechner ABSTRACT: A door stop is provided with a magnetically susceptible element that may be aligned in cooperative rela- ATENTED HAY] 1 sum 1 or 2 JI lin \Lr 41. gi m FIG. 3

K O T Y E R G m T m8 m N A J 4 88 avfl M glfmu FIG. 4

ORNEY V PATENTEMAYI I I9?! 3,57 ,370

SHEET 2 [IF 2 FIG. 6

I INVENTOR u I I JAMES J. GREYTOK IHHIn... III' BY j'wmwflm/ (I20 \IZO ATTORNEY MAGNETIC a sror BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Although the following description uses terms that apply to v the most common types of doors mounted on hinges that swing open, the invention is not limited to such doors but may be used for doors mounted in other ways such as doors that open by sliding action.

2. Description of the Prior Art A door stop commonly is useful in the installation of a building door hung with its hinges near the wall of a room. The door stop, when properly mounted on the wall or on the floor, will serve to prevent damage to the wall, such as by the door knob when the door is opened with excessive speed or force.

Devices for holding doors open are also known and may be used, for example, when a number of packages or boxes must be carried through by hand or by truck or when it is desired to leave the door open for ventilation. Devices combining the functions of a door stop and door holder are known, such as those in which a magnet is mounted on the door stop and an armature is mounted on the door. When the door is swung open, the armature contacts the magnet and the door is held open.

One disadvantage of these prior art devices is that the magnetic action operates to hold the door in an open position whenever the armature on the door contacts the door stop whether or not it is desired to leave the door open. There is no way to nullify the magnetic action of the device and have it operate only as a door stop.

Another disadvantage lies in the fact that magnets are usually made from brittle metals and are subject to damage if the door is slammed too hard against the device.

The known devices may have insufficient holding power since provision often is not made for adjusting the orientation of the magnet to secure a proper alignment with the armature on the door. The absence of such an adjustment will result in tine contact instead of area contact between the magnet and armature, and so reducing the magnetic holding action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide improved magnetic means for securing doors in the open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus, in association with a door stop, that may magnetically secure a door in the open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magnetic door stop that may be simply adjusted to either a magnetically operative or a magnetically inoperative position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magnetic door stop that is provided with cushioning for the magnet that will help absorb impact and reduce breakage and damage to the magnet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magnetic door stop, the face of which may readily be aligned in parallel relationship to the plane of an open door.

Another object of this invention is to provide magnetic means in association with a door stop that may simply be adjusted, as by the foot, to be either in a magnetically operative or magnetically inoperative position.

These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providing a door stop with a magnetically susceptible element that is adjusted to engage a magnetically susceptible element of a door when the door is in the open position. By means which will be understood from the following description of the drawings, the magnetically susceptible element of the door stop may readily be moved from a magnetically operative to a magetically inoperative position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of the invention using a magnet supported in parallel relationship to a stationary arm holding a bumper;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a second embodiment of the inven tion using a magnet sliding on a stationary arm holding a bumper;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a third embodiment of the invention using a magnet sliding in a stationary hollow arm hold ing a bumper;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partially cut away, of a fourth embodiment showing a magnet and bumper carried on opposite ends of a pivoted arm held in a stationary support;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment using a magnet held in a disc of elastic material, the disc being sup ported by a stationary bracket;

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. I, an armature 10 of magnetic material is shown attached by screws 12 to a door 14, assumed, for purposes of description, as being a common door swinging on conventional hinges, so that, as it opens, it moves to the right in FIG. I. In the case of steel doors, the armature 10 may be omitted.

Positioned in the path of the door 14 is a post 16 having an integral screw portion I8 which is screwed into the baseboard 19, thus holding the post 16 firmly in position. Post 16 may conveniently be circular in cross section. A bumper 20, for instance, a rubber bumper, is mounted on the end of the post 16 so as to contact the door 14 when the door is fully opened, A sleeve 21, preferably of nonmagnetic material, is supported on post 16 at a point near the post by a clip 24 having a body portion 24a and an upper portion 24b through which passes a bolt 26. Body portion 24a encircles the arm 16 so that when the bolt 26 is tightened, theclip will firmly grip the post 16. A similar clip 28 supports the end of the sleeve 21 near the baseboard I9.

Slidably mounted in sleeve 21 is a magnet 30 with an enlarged end 30a toward the door and enlarged end 3011 toward the baseboard, Thus, the

clips

24 and 28 may be so located along the post 16 as to allow the sleeve 21 and magnet 30 to take the positions shown in full lines in FIG, 1. In this position the magnet 30 seizes the armature 10 so that the device acts as a door holder. By sliding the magnet 30 to the position 32 shown in dashed lines, only the bumper 19 will contact the armature 10 and the device then acts only as a door stop.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that in the device of FIG. 1, three stop or abutment elements are included, namely the armature or plate 10, the bumper 20 and the magnet 30. It will further be seen that the arrangement provides for motion of at least one of said elements in a path providing for alternative activation of one or the other of the

stop elements

20 and 30. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, this is accomplished by mounting the element 30 for motion, but it will be understood that a similar effect may be secured in an arrangement where one or the other of the three abutment elements is arranged for movement to provide for alternative actuation of either the bumper or magnetic holding device.

In FIG. 2, an armature 40 is mounted on a door 42 by screws 44. A post 46, preferably of nonmagnetic material, is fixed in baseboard 48 by screw 50 and carries a bumper 52. Slidably mounted on post 46 is a magnet 54 having an enlarged opening in the end near the door allowing the magnet 54 to be adjusted to the alternate position 56 shown in dashed lines. Thus, in the positionshown in full lines in FIG. 2, the magnet seizes the armature 40 so that the device acts as a door holder, and when the magnet is in the position "shown by dashed lines, the device acts as a door stop.

In FIG. 3, a screw 60 fixed in baseboard 62 supports a tube 6 1, preferably of nonmagnetic material, carrying an annular bumper 66 in position to contact the armature 68 on a door 70. Slidably mounted inside tube 64 is a magnet 72 to which is attached a tab 74 passing downwardly through a slot 76 in tube 64. By contacting the tab 74 with the foot or hand, the magnet 72 may be shifted to the alternate position 78 shown in dashed lines. Thus, in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 3, the magnet will seize the armature 68 and hold the door open. When the magnet is in position 78, only the bumper 68 contacts the armature and the device serves only as a door stop.

FIG. 4 illustrates a device conveniently mounted on a floor 80. A screw 82 supports a base 84 carrying two upwardly extending

legs

86 and 88, leg 88 being broken away for clarity of illustration. Supported between the upper ends of

legs

86 and 88 is an arm 90 freely turning on a horizontal shaft 92 fixed in

legs

86 and 88. Fixed to the right-hand end of arm 90 is a bumper 94, and on the left-hand end is a magnet 96 of larger diameter than the bumper 94.

At its upper end, leg 86 is formed into stop portions 98 on the left and 100 on the right while leg 88 has similar stop portions (not shown). The

legs

86 and 88 are so spaced that when arm 90 is turned in the direction of arrow 91, bumper 94 will pass between them, being of relatively small diameter, but the magnet 96 will not pass between them, being of larger diameter. Thus, the

stop portions

98 and 100 on leg 86 and the unnumbered stop portions on leg 88 act to stop magnet 96 in either the position shown in full lines in FIG. 4 in which the device functions as a door holder or in the position 102 indicated in dashed lines in which the device functions as a door stop.

In FIG. 5, an armature 110 is attached by screws 114 to a door 112, causing the armature to swing with the door, for in stance, through an are generally indicated by dotted line A- In the general path AC, a U-shaped bracket 116, of magnetic material, is mounted on the baseboard 117 in any convenient manner. In this case, screws 120 are shown passing through the base 116a of the bracket into the baseboard 117. Of course, if desired, the bracket 116 may be mounted on a support located in a suitable position on the floor.

Bracket 116 has a lower leg 116k and an upper leg 116a. Vertically disposed and passing through the legs 11611 and 116s of the bracket is a bolt 118 having an enlarged head, a large diameter portion 118b, a small diameter threaded portion 118a and a shoulder 118d. Bolt 118 passes through and serves as a shaft for a disc 121 which may freely turn between the bracket legs 11611 and 116C, the disc 121 being held away from contact with the bracket legs by spacing

washers

122 and 124. Disc 121 has a body 121a of nonmagnetic material, preferably a yieldable substance such as rubber or other elastomer.

A magnet 126, shown in its preferred form as a rectangular block, is recessed in a surface portion of the disc 121 and is bonded in place. Positioned below the lower bracket leg 116b, a metal strap 128 is held in place by the small diameter body portion 1180 of bolt 118. Strap 128 is also secured by washer 130 and nut 132 on the threaded end of 118e of bolt 118. Strap 128 is made of magnetic material such as soft iron. Toward the baseboard 117, the strap 128 has an end 128a bearing against the bottom of bracket leg 116b. Toward the door the strap 128 has an upwardly offset horizontal planar portion 12% located close to and parallel to the common lower plane of disc 121 and magnet 126.

The small diameter threaded body portion 1180 of bolt 118 passes through a closely fitting hole in the bracket leg 116!) and is of such length that the shoulder 118d bears against strap 128. Strap 128 thus may be locked in place by tightening the nut 132, thus tightening the assembly of bolt 118, bracket leg 116b, strap I28, and washer 130.

Assume that the device is to be installed for use with a swinging door in the configuration shown in FIGS. and 7. The armature 110 is first attached at a suitable location on the lower portion of the door. The door is swung fully open and the point determined on the baseboard 117 where the bracket 116 should be mounted in the path of the armature 110. With the device loosely assembled, the bracket is then attached to baseboard 117 by screws 120. Next, the disc 121 is rotated so that the magnet is in full area contact with the armature when the door is fully open. Then the strap 128 is turned so that its offset portion l28b is located beneath the magnet. Finally, nut 132 is tightened, locking the strap 128 in place.

To operate the device as a door stop, a person, by a motion of his foot, may rotate the disc 121 so that the magnet 126 falls anywhere along the arc DEF in FIG. 7. In this position, the flux of the magnet 126 will pass through the bracket 116 and the resulting attraction will hold the magnet between the bracket legs 116!) and 1160, thus maintaining the nonmagnetic portion 121a of disc 121 in alignment with armature 110.

To operate the device as a door holder, a person, by a motion of his foot, may rotate the disc 121 so that the magnet 126 is attracted and held near the offset portion 128!) of strap 128. Thus, the magnet will be held in alignment in its proper position and the device will function as a door holder as long as desired.

The form of combined door holder and door stop of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 has certain distinctive advantages. The magnet may be cushioned in a yielding material, such as rubber, thus protecting it from breakage, and the orientation of the magnet can easily be changed to align it with the armature on the door in spite of different geometries imposed by the door with relation to the locating of the door holder during installation.

In the foregoing description, the magnet has been described as being associated with the door stop and the armature with the door. It can be understood that it is well within the scope of this invention to reverse these elements by placing the magnet on the door and the armature on the door stop. In this variation, the armature rather than the magnet may be positioned on the door stop and moved from an operative to an inoperative position.

lt should also be understood that the term magnetically susceptible element" as used herein refers to an element that either is, or may be, magnetized. Thus, it is intended that this term include both the magnet and the armature.

I claim:

1. A door stop and holding device including in combination:

a magnetically susceptible element mounted on a door;

a bracket fixedly positioned to align with the magnetically susceptible element when the door is in its fully opened position;

a member movably mounted on the bracket adapted to be selectively moved from a first to a second operating position such that when said member is in its first operation position, a resilient surface is presented to the magnetically susceptible element, and when said member is in its second operating position, a magnetic surface is presented to the magnetically susceptible element.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the member is rotatably mounted on the bracket and the resilient surface and the magnetic surface are secured to different portions of the member so that they will be alternately presented to the magnetically susceptible element when the member is rotated.

3. A device to operate in a first mode as a door stop and in a second mode as a door stop and door holder, comprising an armature mounted on a door to move with the door in a predetermined path when the door is opened or closed, a support in the general path of the armature and attached to a fixed surface, an adjustable member mounted on the support so as to present, in the first operating mode, a first portion of the adjustable member to the armature, and in the second operating mode, a second portion of the adjustable member to the armature, and a magnet associated with the second portion of the adjustable member so that, in the first operating mode, the first portion of the adjustable member acts as a bumper, and in the second operating mode, the magnet seizes the armature and holds the door open.

4. A device according to claim 3 in combination with means for holding the adjustable member in the first operating mode.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein means'for holding the adjustable member in the first operating mode comprises a first element of magnetic material carried by the support so that when the adjustable member is in the first operating mode, the magnet associated with the adjustable member is attrected to and held near the first element of magnetic material.

A device according to claim 5 in which the first element of magnetic material is an integral part of the support.

7. A device according to claim 3 in combination with means for holding the adjustable member in the second operating mode.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the means for holding the adjustable member in the second operating mode is a second element of magnetic material carried by the support so that the magnet associated with the adjustable member is attracted to and is held near the second element of magnetic material.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the second element of magnetic material is shiftable on the support so that the orientation of the adjustable member may be modified to align the magnet with the armature when different installation conditions impose different approach paths on the armature.

10. A device according to claim 3 wherein the first portion of the adjustable member comprises a yieldable substance.

1 l. A device according to claim 3 in combination with means for holding the adjustable member in the first operating mode and means for holding the adjustable member in the second operating mode.

Claims

1. A door stop and holding device including in combination: a magnetically susceptible element mounted on a door; a bracket fixedly positioned to align with tHe magnetically susceptible element when the door is in its fully opened position; a member movably mounted on the bracket adapted to be selectively moved from a first to a second operating position such that when said member is in its first operation position, a resilient surface is presented to the magnetically susceptible element, and when said member is in its second operating position, a magnetic surface is presented to the magnetically susceptible element.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein means for holding the adjustable member in the first operating mode comprises a first element of magnetic material carried by the support so that when the adjustable member is in the first operating mode, the magnet associated with the adjustable member is attracted to and held near the first element of magnetic material.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which the first element of magnetic material is an integral part of the support.

11. A device according to claim 3 in combination with means for holding the adjustable member in the first operating mode and means for holding the adjustable member in the second operating mode.