WO2012045309A1

WO2012045309A1 - Door stopper

Info

Publication number: WO2012045309A1
Application number: PCT/DK2011/000106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heidi Nørrebo JØRGENSEN
Original assignee: Blended Minds Aps
Priority date: 2010-10-08
Filing date: 2011-09-26
Publication date: 2012-04-12

Abstract

A door stopper (1) comprising a housing (2) adapted to be fixed at the bottom of a door (26), a wedge member (4) and means for displacing the wedge member (4) and hereby engaging the wedge member (4) between the door (26) and a floor (28) so that the door motion is restricted. The door stopper (1) comprises a foot pedal (6) for displacing the wedge member (4) towards the floor (28) and bringing the wedge member (4) in a fixed vertical position. The foot pedal (6) is configured to be operated by the foot. The door stopper (1) further comprises a release arm (7) configured to release the wedge member (4) from the fixed vertical position. The door stopper (1) is configured to bring the wedge member (4) into contact with the floor (28) without engaging the wedge member (4) between the door (26) and a floor (28).

Description

Door Stopper i

Description

Field of the Invention

The present generally invention relates to a door stopper for stopping or preventing the movement of a door. The invention more particularly relates to a door stopper that is configured to be fixed at the bottom of a door.

Background of the Invention

Door stoppers configured to be fixed at the bottom of a door are well known. GB 2424920 A discloses a door stopper that is intended to be fixed at the bottom of a door. This door stopper comprises a wedge member that is configured to be brought into contact with the floor so that movement of a door can be prevented. Since the orientation of the wedge member is fixed, the door stopper is not capable of allowing for different degrees of door movement restriction.

JP 2003013653 A also discloses a door stopper that is intended to be fixed at the bottom of a door. This door stopper comprises a wedge member that is configured to be brought into contact with the floor for preventing the movement of a door.

This door stopper comprises a fixing screw that has to be used in order to fix a vertically displaceable adjustment rod that is mechanically connected to a wedge member. Thus, this door stopper can not be operated (locked and released) by the foot.

Object of the Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a door stopper that can be operated by the foot. It is also an object to provide a door stopper configured to bring the door into a free motion mode, a stop mode and several intermediate modes in which the motion of the door requires application of forces of different magnitudes.

Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a door stopper that is compact in size.

Summary of the Invention

The door stopper according to the invention comprises a

- a housing adapted to be fixed at the bottom of a door,

- a wedge member and

- means for displacing the wedge member and hereby engaging the wedge member between the door and a floor so that the door motion is restricted. The door stopper comprises:

- a foot pedal for displacing the wedge member towards the floor and bringing the wedge member into a fixed vertical position, which foot pedal is configured to be operated by the foot and

- a release arm configured to release the wedge member from the fixed vertical position.

The door stopper is configured to bring the wedge member into contact with the floor without engaging the wedge member between the door and a floor. Hereby the door stop makes it possible to bring the door into several modes. The door stop can be adjusted so that a free "motion mode" is achieved. This can be achieved by arranging the wedge member in a vertical position where it has no contact with the floor. The door stop can be adjusted so that the door is restricted from being moved. This can be achieved by engaging the wedge member between the door and a floor. Furthermore, the door stop can be adjusted so that a number of intermediate modes, in which the motion of the door requires application of a various forces (applied in horizontal direction), can be achieved. This can be achieved by bringing the wedge into contact with the floor without engaging the wedge member between the door and a floor.

The expression: "the door motion is restricted" means that it requires a horizontally directed force having a significantly magnitude to move the door. This expression, however; covers several conditions such as: a) a complete blockage condition were the door cannot be opened without damaging the door frame or b) a non-complete blockage condition where the door can be opened without damaging the door frame under application of a smaller force. The object of the present invention can be achieved by a door stopper having the features defined in claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependant sub claims and explained in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

It may be an advantage that the housing is adapted to receive and contain the wedge member. Hereby, the door stopper can be very compact in size.

It may be beneficial that the housing has a longitudinal axis and that the door stopper comprises a sliding blocker part movable mounted in the housing so that the sliding blocker part can be moved along the longitudinal axis of the housing. Hereby it is possible to move the sliding blocker part along the

longitudinal axis of the housing and bring the sliding blocker part into the and out of the housing so that the housing of the door stopper can receive and contain the wedge member.

It is an advantage that the sliding blocker part comprises a plate provided with a plurality of grooves provided along the longitudinal axis of the housing and that the sliding blocker part comprises a click adapted to engage a groove and hereby preventing the sliding blocker part from being displaced relative to the plate. This embodiment is beneficial because the click-groove mechanism removes the need for hand operated fastening means such as finger screws.

It may be beneficial that the door stopper comprises a top part mounted on the top of the housing, where a spring is attached to the top part and to a rod provided at the sliding blocker part. The spring ensures that the sliding block can be released from a locked position and returned into the housing due to the force from the spring. Advantageously, the rod extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing and that the rod is attached to an arm member that is rotable mounted at the sliding blocker part and configured to rotate about a rod. Hereby it is possible to rotate the point of attachment of the spring about the axis of rotation of the arm member so that the arm member may be coupled to the click and hereby provide a simple mechanical lock and a release mechanism.

It is beneficial that the arm comprises a connection rod that is

mechanically connected to a click and that the arm member comprises two parallel plate members (plate-shaped bodies) extending perpendicular to the rod. Hereby a very strong and reliable construction can be provided.

Advantageously, the wedge tapers towards the mounting when the sliding blocker part is in the first position in the housing said tapering forming an inclined surface on the wedge.

Preferable, the wedge is made from a flexible material such as natural or synthetic rubber such as polyurethane and that the inclined surface of the wedge is adapted for engage with a floor.

It may be an advantage that a surface structuring is provided to the inclined surface by granulating, grooving, corrugating or any other suitable method of structuring. Hereby the friction between the wedge and the floor can be increased.

The door stopper can be used selectively for blocking the movement of a door, i.e. the door stopper may be used to or not used to block the door. When the door stopper is used to block the movement of the door it may be used when the door is in any position.

The door stopper comprises a housing to be mounted on the door which the door stopper is intended to block. The housing is preferably mounted at the lower part of the door, e.g. just over the lower edge of the door. In this manner the spacing between the door stopper and the floor is limited. This has the advantage that the sliding blocker part do not have to move much towards the lower position to obtain contact with the floor and to be able to block the movement of the door.

The sliding blocker part is adapted to slide in the housing and is able of sliding in and out of the housing, preferably in a vertical direction. In this respect a first position may refer to a first upper position where the sliding blocker part is in entirely within the housing. Preferably the housing is mounted on a door in such a manner that the sliding blocker part can move up and down in a vertical direction.

Corresponding to the above definition the second position may refer to a second lower position where at least a part of the sliding blocker part by a sliding movement is brought to a position where at least a part of the sliding blocker part is outside the housing and in contact with the floor. When the sliding blocker part is in contact with the floor, friction is created between the sliding blocker part and the floor and this friction serves to block the movement of the door. To obtain the best possible friction, it is preferred that the part of the sliding blocker part that is in contact with the floor is a material that can provide a relative high friction. The material may e.g. be rubber.

Naturally, the terms upper and lower position as used above refer to the situation where the door stopper is mounted on a door, preferably in such a way that the movement of the sliding blocker part is in a substantially vertical direction and the distance between the door stopper and the floor below the door is minimized.

Consequently, the door stopper allows the door to be moved when the sliding blocker part is fixed in a first upper position, and the door stopper blocks movement of the door when the sliding blocker part is fixed in a second lower position and in contact with the floor.

Although the sliding movement of the sliding blocker part may be restricted by friction in the housing it is preferred that the door stopper comprises a locking mechanism for fixing the sliding blocker part in the housing. Thus, it is preferred that the housing and the sliding blocker part is adapted in such a way that the sliding blocker part can slide relatively easy in and out of the housing without any substantial friction. The locking mechanism may be based on a spring and click mechanism where the click may engage with grooves in a plate located in the housing. When the click is released from engagement with the grooves the spring may pull the sliding blocker part to the upper position, i.e. the position where the door stopper does not block the door.

Preferably the locking mechanism also comprises a release mechanism to release the sliding blocker part from the fixation.

The locking mechanism may also be based on a gear wheel system or a pin and hole system, which systems may easily be adapted for the door stopper by a skilled person.

To facilitate the use of the door stopper it is preferred that the locking mechanism can be operated by the foot of the user. When the locking mechanism can be operated by the foot it is very easy for the user to either block or unblock the movement of the door as the user do not need to bend down to perform any operations with the hands. This makes the door stopper very easy and convenient to use. For the purpose of obtaining the best possible blocking of the door, e.g. to avoid any accidental or undesired movement of the door, it is preferred that the sliding blocker part comprises a wedge adapted to engage between the edge of the door and the floor.

The wedge is preferably attached to the sliding blocker part and as such constitutes a part of the sliding blocker part. The wedge is suitable attached to the sliding blocker part at the lower end in such a way that the wedge can slide out of the housing of the door stopper and get into contact with the floor. In a preferred embodiment the wedge tapers and preferably the wedge tapers towards the mounting when the sliding blocker part is in the first upper position in the housing said tapering forming an inclined surface on the wedge. When the wedge tapers towards the mounting of the door stopper, the wedge also tapers towards the door and this tapering has the effect that when the wedge is sliding out of the housing to contact with the floor, the wedge will have a tendency of bending and moving in under the edge of the door and get caught between the edge of the door and the floor. In this manner a very strong blocking of the door can be obtained.

To facilitate the bending of the wedge it may be rotatable mounted in the sliding blocker part. The wedge may be rotatable mounted in such a way that rotation of the wedge is restricted in on direction, e.g. the direction away from the door, as this will facilitate the wedge bending under the edge of the door.

Moreover, the mounting may comprise a recess or opening at the lower end to facilitate the bending of the wedge.

The angle of the inclined surface in respect of the mounting or the door may be in the range 10 to 50 degrees, suitable in the range 15 to 45 degrees. Consequently, the inclined surface of the wedge is adapted for engage with the floor, and in preferred embodiments the inclined surface is made uneven by granulating, grooving or corrugating. The uneven surface lowers the tendency of dust and dirt from the floor to stick to the surface of the wedge and thereby lower its friction properties and ability to block the movement of the door.

To obtain the best possible properties of the door stopper according to the invention it is preferred that the wedge is made from a flexible material such as natural or synthetic rubber such as e.g. polyurethane. When the wedge is made from a flexible material it is easier bended which improves its blocking properties as it allows the wedge to be caught between the edge of the door and the floor. Natural or synthetic rubber also contributes to improve the friction properties of the wedge which again improves the blocking properties of the wedge.

The housing, the mounting and the locking mechanism may be made from any suitable material such as metal or plastic. Material of metal may e.g. be selected from stainless steel or aluminium. Material of plastic may e.g. be selected from polyethylene, ABS or

polyoxymethylene. The parts may be made from the same or different material.

Preferably the housing has a very compact design and does not extend further out from the door than the door handle and, actually, it is preferred that the door stopper extends at little less from the door than the door handle.

Description of the Drawing

The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below. The accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only, and thus, they are not limitative of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematically depiction of the door stopper according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows the sliding blocker part and the locking mechanism in the housing,

Fig. 3 shows the door stopper with the sliding blocker part in a first upper and a second lower position, Fig. 4 shows a 3- D depiction of an embodiment of the door stopper according to the invention,

Fig. 5 shows an arm member according to the invention and Fig. 6 is a schematically view of a plate of a sliding blocker part according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, a door stopper 2 according to the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1. The door stopper 2 is a very efficient and compact door stopper that is very easy and convenient to use, which will also become apparent from the following description of some preferred embodiments. In the following the same reference numbers refers to the same parts of the door stopper 2.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the door stopper 1 according to the invention. Figure 1a shows the door stopper 1 seen from the front. Figure 1b shows the door stopper 1 seen from the side, and figure 1c shows the door stopper 1 seen from the top. With reference to figure 1a the door stopper 1 comprises a housing 2 that encloses the sliding blocker part 3 which at the lower end is equipped with a wedge 4. The housing 2 also comprises an opening 5. The opening 5 allows a foot pedal 6 to be connected with the sliding blocker part 3 and also allows the sliding blocker part 3 with the foot pedal 6 to slide up and down in the housing 2.

An upper edge 8 and a lower edge 9 in the housing 2 defines the limits of the sliding movement possible for the sliding blocker part 3. In figure 1b the foot pedal 6 is seen extending from the housing 2 of the door stopper 1. As it can be seen the foot pedal 6 comprises a release arm 7, which can be affected by the upper side of a users foot and thereby release the locking mechanism in the housing 2. In figure 1a and 1b the sliding blocker part 3 is in a first upper position in the housing 2. Thereby, the wedge 4 is contained in the housing 2.

Figure 2 shows the locking mechanism in the door stopper 1. Figure 2a shows the door stopper 1 from the side and figure 2b shows the door stopper 1 from the back.

In figure 2a the sliding blocker part 3 with wedge 4 is seen within the housing 2. The housing 2 has an opening 10 at the bottom through which the sliding blocker part 3 can slide in and out of the housing 2. The top part 11 of the housing is closed. The wedge 4 is rotatable mounted in the sliding blocker part 3 at the point 4a. The wedge is rotatable mounted so it is able to rotate or tilt or bend in the direction of the mounting plate 24 or a door. Thus, the rotation in the direction away from the mounting plate is restricted by an edge part.

The foot pedal 6 is attached to the sliding blocker part 3 by rods 12. At the level of the rods 12 is located an upper rod 13 (see Fig. 5) attached to the sliding blocker part 3. The upper rod 13 is further attached with a spring 14 which at its opposite end is attached to the top plate 11 of the housing 2. The spring 14 serves to draw the sliding blocker part 3 into the housing 2. The rods 12 may be substituted by screws or other suitable attachment means. The release mechanism comprises an arm member 15 that is adapted to tilt around a point 16. The arm member 15 is rotatable attached to the foot pedal 6 at point 16 and at point 18 the arm member 15 is

mechanically attached to a click 19. The arm member 15 may comprise several parallel plate members (see Fig. 5).

The click 9 is adapted to engage with grooves 20 in a plate 21 mounted in the housing 2. The position of the grooves 20 in the plate 21 defines the positions at which the sliding blocker part 3 can be fixed. Moreover, the release arm 7 is adapted to tilt around point 22 so the nose part 23 of the release arm 7 can affect the arm member 15.

The housing 2 further comprises a mounting plate 24 with holes 25 for e.g. screws by which the door stopper 1 can be attached to a door. When the door stopper 1 is to be used for blocking the movement of a door the foot pedal 6 is pressed downwards. Thereby the foot pedal 6 affects the arm member 15 to tilt about the point 16 thereby drawing the click 19 out of the groove 20. When the click 19 is released from the groove 20 the sliding blocker part 3 can move freely in the housing 2.

When the sliding blocker part 3 is in a desired position the pressure on the foot pedal 6 is released which causes the spring 14 to pull the sliding blocker part 3 upwards, which again affect the arm member 15 to move the click 19 into a groove 20 whereby the sliding blocker part 3 is fixed in the housing 2.

When the sliding blocker part 3 is not to be used the release arm 7 is pressed upwards whereby the nose part 23 presses on the arm member 15 and causes it to move in such a way that the click 19 is drawn free of the groove 20. Thereby the sliding blocker part 3 is pulled upwards by the action of the spring 14. When the pressure on the release arm 7 is released this causes the arm member 15 to tilt back and press the click into a groove 20 whereby the sliding blocker part is fixed in the housing 2.

Thus, the locking mechanism in the above described embodiment provides an easy way to operate the door stopper 1 as both the foot pedal and the release arm 7 can be operated by a foot of a user.

Figure 3 shows the situation where the door stopper 1 is mounted on a door 26.

In figure 3a the door stopper 1 is not in use and the sliding blocker part 3 and the foot pedal 6 is in a first upper position. As it can be seen the door stopper with bottom part 10 is mounted on the lower part of the door so that the bottom part 10 is in level with the lower edge 27 of the door 26.

In figure 3b the door stopper 1 is in use and the sliding blocker part 3 and wedge 4 is in a second lower position. Moreover, the wedge 4 is bended in such a way that it is caught in the gap between the lower edge 27 of the door 26 and the floor 28. The bending of the wedge 4 is caused by the inclined surface 29 of the wedge 4. In this manner a very strong and stable blocking of the movement of the door can be obtained by use of the door stopper according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a 3-D depiction of an embodiment of a door stopper 1 according to the invention. In the housing 2 the opening 5 through which the foot pedal 6 extends is seen. Through the opening 5 the sliding blocker part 3 is also visible.

The door stopper according to the invention can be made very compact and have dimensions that allow for the door stopper to be mounted on most types of doors.

Thus it is clear that a very compact door stopper is provided. The door stopper does normally not extend further out from the door than the door handle and will, therefore, not bump into the wall. The door stopper is permanently available on the door and offers and easy and convenient way to block the movement of a door in any desired position.

Fig. 5 shows a close-up view of an arm member 15 according to the invention. The arm member 15 has two parallel plate members 15', 15". The arm member 15 is adapted to be rotable mounted to the sliding blocker part 3 in such a way, that the arm member 15 can pivot about the through going rod 16'. The two parallel plate members 15', 15" are mechanically connected by an upper rod 13 and a lower rod 30.

A click 19 is connected to the lower rod 30. In use the arm member 15 rotates about the rod 16' and the click can engage a groove 20 (see Fig. 6) so that the sliding blocker part 3 is mechanically fixed to the plate 21. However, as earlier described, the release arm 7 is configured to unlock this mechanical fixation. Fig. 6 is a close-up view of a plate 21 of a sliding blocker part 3 according to the invention. It can be seen that the plate 21 comprises six grooves 20. A click 19 engages the second uppermost groove 20. The grooves 20 are evenly distributed along the longitudinal axis X of the housing 2.

List of reference numerals

1 - Door stopper

2 - Housing

3 - Sliding blocker part

4 - Wedge

5 - Opening

6 - Foot pedal

7 - Release arm

8 - Upper edge

9 - Lower edge

10 - Opening

11 - Top part

12, 16', 30 - Rod

13 - Transverse rod

14 - Spring

15 - Arm member

15', 15" - Plate member

16, 17, 18 - Point

19 - Click

20 - Groove

21 - Plate

22 - Point

23 - Nose part

24 - Mounting plate

25 - Hole

26 - Door

27 - Lower edge of the door

28 - Floor

29 - Inclined surface

X - Longitudinal axis of the housing

Claims

1. A door stopper (1) comprising:

- a housing (2) adapted to be fixed at the bottom of a door (26),

- a wedge member (4) and

- means for displacing the wedge member (4) and hereby engaging the wedge member (4) between the door (26) and a floor (28) so that the door motion is restricted characterised in that:

a) the door stopper (1) comprises:

- a foot pedal (6) for displacing the wedge member (4) towards the floor (28) and bringing the wedge member (4) into a fixed vertical position, which foot pedal (6) is configured to be operated by the foot and

- a release arm (7) configured to release the wedge member (4) from the fixed vertical position,

b) the door stopper (1) is configured to bring the wedge member (4) into contact with the floor (28) without engaging the wedge member (4) between the door (26) and a floor (28).

2. A door stopper (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that the housing (4) is adapted to receive and contain the wedge member (4).

3. A door stopper (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the housing (2) has a longitudinal axis (X) and that the door stopper (1) comprises a sliding blocker part (3) movable mounted in the housing (2) so that the sliding blocker part (3) can be moved along the

longitudinal axis (X) of the housing (2).

4. A door stopper (1) according to claim 3 characterised in that the sliding blocker part (3) comprises a plate (21) provided with a plurality of grooves (20) provided along the longitudinal axis (X) of the housing (2) and that the sliding blocker part (3) comprises a click (19) adapted to engage a groove (20) and hereby preventing the sliding blocker part (3) from being displaced relative to the plate (21).

5. A door stopper (1) according to claim 4 characterised in that the door stopper (1) comprises a top part (11) mounted on the top of the housing

(2), where a spring (14) is attached to the top part (1 1) and to a rod (13) provided at the sliding blocker part (3).

6. A door stopper (1) according to claim 5 characterised in that the rod (13) extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) of the housing (2) and that the rod (13) is attached to an arm member (15) that is rotable mounted at the sliding blocker part (3) and configured to rotate about a rod (16').

7. A door stopper (1) according to claim 6 characterised in that the arm member (15) comprises a connection rod (30) that is mechanically connected to a click (19) and that the arm member (15) comprises two parallel plate members (15', 15") extending perpendicular to the rod (16·).

8. A door stopper (1) according to one of the preceding claims

characterised in that the wedge tapers towards the mounting when the sliding blocker part is in the first position in the housing said tapering forming an inclined surface on the wedge.

9. A door stopper according to claim 8 characterised in that the wedge is made from a flexible material such as natural or synthetic rubber such as polyurethane and that the inclined surface of the wedge is adapted for engage with a floor.

10. A door stopper (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that a surface structuring is provided to the inclined surface by granulating, grooving, corrugating or any other suitable method of structuring.