This application claims the benefit of pending application Ser. No. 17/165,313, filed on Feb. 2, 2021, entitled Door Stopper Device.
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of door stops of existing art and more specifically relates to door stops for preventing movement of a door past a desired position.
A doorstop is a device used to hold a door open or closed, or to prevent a door from closing or from opening too widely. For example, individuals may use a doorstop to prop their door open in order to circulate air throughout their house, or businesses may use doorstops in order to keep their doors open during business hours.
Conventionally, doorstops have involved the use of heavy objects placed next to a door, or wedges slid under a door. However, these doorstops are unsatisfactory as they are unsightly, potential trip hazards and often become dislodged or moved. Some attempts have been made to overcome these problems by attaching the doorstop to the door itself or on an adjacent wall. However, these attempts are not ideal as they require removal of door hardware, cause damage to the door, and/or can only be used on particular doors. Thus, a suitable solution is desired.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known doorstop art, the present disclosure provides a novel door stopper device. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an easily installed door stopper device that holds a door in a desired position and does not require removal of, or attachment to, door hardware to install.
A device for substantially preventing movement of a door is disclosed herein. The door is movable between an open position and a closed position via at least one door hinge and the open position includes a varying degree of open positions. The device may include a first attachment plate configured to attach to the door and a second attachment plate configured to attach to a door frame. The door frame is adjacent the door in use.
A stopper hinge may be attached to the second attachment plate. At least one stopper assembly may be configured to selectively pivot about a vertical axis via the stopper hinge. The at least one stopper assembly may include a body and a stopper rod. The body may have a left arm, a right arm and tubular head attached about a mid-section thereof. The left arm may include a fastener means configured to removably attach the left arm to the first attachment plate and the right arm may be fixedly attached to the stopper hinge. Further, the stopper rod may be inserted into the tubular head. The at least one stopper assembly may be configured to prevent movement of the door past a desired position.
According to another embodiment, a method of using a device is also disclosed herein. The method includes providing the device as above; attaching the first attachment plate to the door; attaching the second attachment plate to the door frame; and preventing movement of the door past a desired position via the at least one stopper assembly.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a door stopper device, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a doorstop and more particularly to a door stopper device as used to hold a door in a desired position, such as in an open position or a closed position. The door stopper device is preferably easily installed for use with virtually any swinging door (about a vertical axis) and does not require the removal of door hardware to install.
Generally disclosed is a door stopper that may be independent from a door, in that the door stopper may function independently without utilizing existing hardware on the door. This may allow use of the door stopper with most doors. The door stopper may prevent the door from moving past a desired position. For example, the door stopper may prevent the door from opening too wide. The door stopper may also be adjustable. In some embodiments, the door stopper may also include a child safety lock. In this embodiment, the door stopper and child safety lock may be configured to lock the door in a closed position.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
Referring now to
The second attachment plate 120 may be configured to attach to a door frame 10 adjacent the door 5 in use. The second attachment plate 120 may also be attached or installed onto the door frame 10 without causing damage. However, in some embodiments, to provide stability, the second attachment plate 120 may be attached to the door frame 10 via screws. The screws may be 2 inches in length for example. The screws may fasten to behind a door frame casing and drywall adjacent the door 5. This may provide additional support to the device 100 when in use. To further aid in stability, the first attachment plate 110 and the second attachment plate 120 may comprise a steel material. However, other materials are also contemplated.
As shown, the stopper hinge 130 may be attached to the second attachment plate 120. Preferably, the stopper hinge 130 may be integral to the second attachment plate 120. The stopper hinge 130 may be a barrel hinge including a pin for allowing rotation of the same. In some embodiments, the stopper hinge 130 may also be made from the steel material, but again, other materials are also contemplated. The at least one stopper assembly 140 may be configured to selectively pivot about a vertical axis 131 via the stopper hinge 130. The addition of the stopper hinge 130 may prevent a need to utilize existing door hinges of the door 5 and may enable use of the device 100 on doors with sealed hinges.
The at least one stopper assembly 140 may be configured to prevent movement of the door 5 past a desired position. For example, the at least one stopper assembly 140 may hold the door 5 in the open position at a 90-degree angle. The at least one stopper assembly 140 may include a body 142 and a stopper rod 144. As shown, the stopper rod 144 may include a cap 147. The cap 147 may protect the door frame 10 and the second attachment plate 120. The body 142 may include a left arm 141, a right arm 143 and a tubular head 145 attached about a mid-section thereof. The right arm 143 may be fixedly attached to the stopper hinge 130 and the left arm 141 may include a fastener means 146 configured to removably attach the left arm 141 to the first attachment plate 110. The fastener means 146 may be a self-adhesive bracket, screw, etc. The fastener means 146 may removably or permanently attach the left arm 141 to the first attachment plate 110.
The stopper rod 144 may be inserted into the tubular head 145. In some embodiments, the stopper rod 144 may include male threads and the tubular head may include female threads. The stopper rod 144 may be threaded into the tubular head 145. Preferably, a length of the stopper rod 144 may be adjustable. In the thread embodiment, the length of the stopper rod 144 may be adjustable via selective unscrewing and screwing of the stopper rod 144 through the tubular head 145. Adjusting the length of the stopper rod 144 may dictate a degree to which the door 5 is held open. For example, as above, the at least one stopper assembly 140 may hold the door in the open position at a 90-degree angle. If a user desires the door to be held open at a 45-degree angle, they may extend the length of the stopper rod (either by screwing the stopper rod tighter or another method).
Referring now to
The first stopper assembly 150 may include a first body 152 and a first stopper rod 154. The first stopper rod 154 may include a first cap 159 attached to an end thereof. The first body 152 may include a first left arm 151, a first right arm 153, and a first tubular head 155. The first stopper rod 154 may be insertable into the first tubular head 155 and may be adjustable, as discussed above, as a length of the first stopper rod 154 may be adjusted such that a desired degree of open position 15 of the door can be achieved. Again, similar to above, the first stopper rod 154 may include a first male thread 157 and the first tubular head 155 may include a first female thread 158 configured to mate with the first stopper rod 154. The first left arm 151 may include a first fastener means 156 configured to removably attach the first left arm 151 to the first attachment plate 110 and the first right arm 153 may be fixedly attached to the stopper hinge 130.
In this embodiment shown in
The second stopper rod 164 may be insertable through the second tubular head 165 and the third tubular head 167. This embodiment of the second stopper rod 164 may be similar to the embodiment discussed and shown with the first stopper assembly 150 (and the at least one stopper assembly 140). For example, in some embodiments, female and male threads may also be utilized with the second stopper rod 164 and the second and third tubular head 167, and the second stopper rod 164 may be adjustable. In other embodiments, the second stopper rod 164 may include a push pin configured to selectively engage and disengage at least one of the second tubular head 165 and the third tubular head 167.
For example, apertures in the second tubular head 165 and the third tubular head 167 may interlock (as shown in
Referring now to
It should be noted that step five 605 and step six 606 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of the method 600 are illustrated using dotted lines in
Referring now
The first attachment plate 210 is configured to attach to the door 5. The second attachment plate 220 is configured to attach to the door frame 10 adjacent the door 5 in use and in line with the first attachment plate 210. By having the placement of the first attachment plate 210 and the second attachment plate 220 on the door 5 and door frame 10, allows for the stoppage of door 5 without any interference or modification of the door hinge 6 by device 200.
Referring now to
The second attachment plate 220 may also be attached or installed onto the door frame 10 without causing damage. However, in some embodiments, to provide stability, the second attachment plate 220 may be attached to the door frame 10 via screws. The screws may be 2 inches in length for example. The screws may fasten to behind a door frame casing and drywall adjacent the door 5. This may provide additional support to the device 200 when in use. To further aid in stability, the first attachment plate 210 and the second attachment plate 220 may comprise a steel material. However, other materials are also contemplated.
As shown, the stopper hinge 230 may be attached to the second attachment plate 220. Preferably, the stopper hinge 230 may be integral to the second attachment plate 220. The stopper hinge 230 may be a barrel hinge including a stopper hinge pin 232 for allowing rotation of the same. In some embodiments, the stopper hinge 230 may also be made from the steel material, but again, other materials are also contemplated. The at least one stopper assembly 240 may be configured to selectively pivot about a vertical axis 231 via the stopper hinge 230. The addition of the stopper hinge 230 prevents the need to utilize the existing door hinges 6 of the door 5 and may enable use of the device 200 on doors with sealed hinges.
The body 242 may include a left arm 241, a right arm 243 and a tubular head 245 attached about a mid-section thereof. The right arm 243 may be fixedly attached to the stopper hinge 230 and the left arm 241 may include an arm cap 246 configured to engage with the first attachment plate 210.
The stopper rod 244 may be inserted into the tubular head 245. In some embodiments, the stopper rod 244 may include male threads and the tubular head 245 may include female threads. The stopper rod 244 may be threaded into the tubular head 245. Preferably, a length of the stopper rod 244 may be adjustable. In the thread embodiment, the length of the stopper rod 244 may be adjustable via selective unscrewing and screwing of the stopper rod 244 through the tubular head 245. Adjusting the length of the stopper rod 244 may dictate a degree to which the door 5 is held open. For example, if a user desires the door to be held open at a 45-degree angle, they may extend the length of the stopper rod (either by screwing the stopper rod tighter or another method).
The stopper assembly 240 may be configured to prevent movement of the door 5 past a desired position. The stopper assembly 240 may include a body 242 and a stopper rod 244. As shown, the stopper rod 244 may include a cap 247. The cap 247 is secured to stopper rod 244 by swivel 249, such as a ball bearing. The swivel allows the cap 247 to engage in an aligned or flush configuration with the second attachment plate 220. This allows for exerted force brought on by stopping of the door 5 to be more evenly distributed across the cap 247 and the second attachment plate 220.
In some embodiments the stopper assembly can be configured to prevent the door 5 from opening past a fixed angle. For example, as shown in
As illustrated in
The stopper assembly 440 further includes a locking arm 460 having a locking arm hinge opening 462 which is configured to receive the stopper hinge pin 432 of stopper hinge 430. Locking arm 460 is configured to be fixed in place to prevent pivotal movement about a vertical axis 431 via the stopper hinge 430. Locking arm 460 further includes a locking arm opening 464 located at distal from the stopper hinge 430 and is aligned in the same orientation as the stopper hinge opening 449.
The stopper assembly 440 further includes a locking pin 470 that is configured to engage stopper hinge opening 449 and locking arm opening 464. When engaged, stopper assembly 440 is locking in place which prevents movement by door 5. When not engaged, the door 5 may be opened. To aid in security of the device 400, the locking pin 470 may be made from steel material. However, other materials are contemplated.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17165313 | Feb 2021 | US |
Child | 18130387 | US |