A door may be provided with a door closer configured to automatically close the door from an open position without further input from a user. A door closer typically includes an energy storage device configured to store energy imparted to the door when it is opened and to use the stored energy to close the door when it is released.
A door closer may be embodied as nothing more than a helical tension spring connected between the door and a mating door frame. Such a door closer has several drawbacks. For example, the bare spring may pinch a user when it retracts. Also, the spring may be exposed to the elements and become dirty or corroded as a consequence. Once dirtied or corroded, it may be difficult to clean. Even if clean and uncorroded, the spring may be unsightly. Further, the coils of the spring may routinely come into contact with, drag across, and abrade the edge of the door when the door is opened and closed.
Alternatively, a door closer may be embodied as a pneumatic tube including a cylinder connected to the door and a piston connected via a piston rod to the door jam. Such a door closer typically has a high profile, and may project away from the door and into adjacent living space. Also, such a door closer might not be aesthetically pleasing.
Some door closers include a hydraulic mechanism attached to a door and a linkage connecting the hydraulic mechanism to a door jam. Such door closers also have a high profile, and they can be unattractive and costly.
Dimensions and the like as may be shown in the drawings or described herein are illustrative and not limiting. References to orientation, for example, top, bottom, left, right, up, down, and the like are to be construed as references to relative orientation and should not be construed to refer to absolute orientation unless context clearly dictates otherwise.
The drawings show an illustrative embodiment of a door closer 10 configured for attachment to a door 110 and a door jamb 120 according to the present disclosure. The door closer 10 includes a housing 12, a spring 14 disposed within the housing, a strap 16 connected to a first end of the spring, a strap guide 18 connected to a first end of the housing, and a spring anchor 20 connected to a second end of the spring and to a second end of the housing.
The housing 12 is shown as an elongated tube configured to receive the spring 14 therein with sufficient clearance between an inner dimension of the housing and an outer dimension of the spring so that the spring may be extended and retracted within the housing without binding. In other embodiments, the housing 12 could take another form configured to receive the spring 14 therein with sufficient clearance between an inner dimension of the housing and an outer dimension of the spring so that the spring may be extended and retracted within the housing without binding.
The spring 14 is shown as a helical extension spring having a first hook 22 at a first end thereof and a second hook 24 at a second end thereof. The first spring hook 22 is configured for connection to a mating feature of the strap guide 18. As shown, the first spring hook 22 is J-shaped, but it could have other forms. The second spring hook 24 is configured for connection to a mating feature of the spring anchor 20. As shown, the second spring hook 24 is circle-shaped, but it could have other forms.
The strap 16 is an elongated, thin, flexible member. The strap 16 could be embodied as fabric webbing, a sheet of flexible material, or in another suitable form. For example, the strap 16 could be embodied as a cable or a chain. The strap 16 is configured to define a first anchor point 26 near a first end thereof and a second anchor point 28 near a second end thereof. (As shown in
The strap guide 18 is shown as an oblong, irregularly-shaped body having a generally triangular end profile, as best shown in
The strap guide 18 defines a bore 36 extending inwardly from a first end of the body. The bore 36 is configured to receive the first end of the housing 12. The strap guide 18 defines a land 37 at the inner end of the bore 36. When the first end of the housing 12 is inserted into the bore 36, the first end of the housing may abut the land 37.
The strap guide 18 also defines a slot 38 extending obliquely inwardly from an exterior side surface 40 of the body 34 to the end of the bore 36 within the body 34. The bore 36 and the slot 38 are contiguous and are configured to receive the first end of the strap 16 in sliding engagement therethrough. Surfaces of the bore 36, the slot 38, and the interface therebetween that may come into contact with the strap 16 during normal use, as discussed further below, may be contoured and/or otherwise finished to enable sliding of the strap therethrough without resulting in undue abrasion or wear of the strap.
The strap guide 18 includes first, second, and third parallel and spaced apart tabs 42, 44, 46 extending longitudinally outwardly from a second end of the body 34. The first and second tabs 42, 44 cooperate to define a first groove 48 therebetween, and the second and third tabs 44, 46 cooperate to define a second groove 50 therebetween. The first, second, and third tabs 42, 44, 46 and first and second grooves 48, 50 are configured to engage with corresponding grooves and tabs of a frame of a door to which the door closer 10 may be attached, as will be discussed further below. In an embodiment, the door closer 10 may be attachable to such a door in other ways, and the first, second, and third tabs 42, 44, 46 and first and second grooves 48, 50 may be omitted.
The spring anchor 20 is shown as an irregularly-shaped, oblong body having a generally truncated triangular end profile, as best shown in
The spring anchor 20 defines a first bore 54 extending longitudinally inwardly from a first end of the body. The bore 54 is configured to receive the second end of the housing 12. The spring anchor 20 defines a land 56 at the inner end of the bore 54. When the second end of the housing 12 is inserted into the bore 54, the second end of the housing may abut the land 56.
An axially-directed slot 58 extends longitudinally inwardly from the interior end of the bore 54. The slot 58 is configured to receive the second spring hook 24. In an embodiment, the slot 58 is sufficiently narrow to preclude rotation therein of the second spring hook 24 about a diametric axis of the second spring hook.
A second bore 60 extends radially inwardly from an outer surface of the spring anchor 20, to and beyond the slot 58. The second bore 60 is configured to receive a screw 62 or other structure configured to pin the second spring hook 24 to the spring anchor 20 at or within the slot 58.
The spring anchor 20 includes first, second, and third parallel and spaced apart tabs 64, 66, 68 extending longitudinally outwardly from a second end of the body. The first and second tabs 64, 66 cooperate to define a first groove 70 therebetween, and the second and third tabs 66, 68 cooperate to define a second groove 72 therebetween. The first, second, and third tabs 64, 66, 68 and the first and second grooves 70, 72 are configured to engage with corresponding grooves and tabs of a door frame to which the door closer 10 may be attached, as will be discussed further below. In an embodiment, the door closer 10 may be attachable to such a door in other ways, and the first, second, and third tabs 64, 66, 68 and the first and second grooves 70, 72 may be omitted.
The door closer 10 may be assembled by connecting the first spring hook 22 to the second or third anchor point 28, 30 of the strap 16. Typically, upon initial assembly of the door closer 10, the first spring hook 22 would be connected to the second anchor 28 point of the strap.
The foregoing sub-assembly may be disposed within the housing 12, with the second spring hook 24 extending from the second end of the housing 12. The second spring hook 24 may be inserted into the slot 58 of the spring anchor 20. The screw 62 may be screwed into the second bore 60 of the spring anchor 20 and through the second spring hook 24, thereby securing the second spring hook to the spring anchor.
The second end of the housing 12 may be inserted into the first bore 54 of the spring anchor 20, so that the second end of the housing abuts the land 56.
The first end of the strap 16 may be threaded through the bore 36 and then the slot 38 of the strap guide 18 so that the first end of the strap extends through and beyond the slot of the strap guide.
The first end of the housing 12 may be inserted into the bore 36 of the strap guide 18, so that the first end of the housing abuts the land 37.
The relative dimensions of the housing 12, the bore 36 of the strap guide 18, and the first bore 54 of the spring anchor 20 may be selected so that friction between these components tends to retain them to each other.
The assembled door closer may be attached to the door 110 and door jamb 120 by connecting the strap guide 18 and the spring anchor 20 to the door and connecting the first anchor point 26 of the strap 16 to the doorjamb.
As suggested above, the door 110 may include a frame defining one or more grooves and tabs corresponding to one or more of the tabs and grooves of the strap guide 18 and the spring anchor 20, and one or more of the tabs and grooves of the strap guide and the spring anchor may be engaged with the corresponding one or more grooves and tabs of the door.
For example,
As best shown in
The door closer 10 may be connected to the door 110 by tilting the door closer with respect to the door, inserting the tabs and grooves of one of the strap guide 18 and the strap anchor 20 into the corresponding grooves 112 and tabs 114 of a first portion of the frame of the door, near the mullion 118, inserting the tabs and grooves of the other of the strap guide and the strap anchor into the corresponding grooves and tabs of a second portion of the frame of the door, distant from the mullion, and then pivoting the door closer to place the other of the strap guide and the strap anchor against the mullion, thereby snapping the tabs and grooves of the other of the strap guide and the strap anchor past the pinch point 116 so that the tabs and grooves of the strap anchor and the spring anchor are secured between the mullion and the respective pinch points. The door closer 10 could be removed from the door 110 by reversing the foregoing procedure.
The free end of the strap 16 may be connected to the door jamb 120, for example, by inserting a screw 122 through the first anchor point 26 of the strap and driving the screw into the doorjamb.
After a period of use of the door closer 10, the spring 14 may plastically stretch, thereby reducing its efficacy in closing the door 110 to which it is connected. This situation may be remedied by removing the door closer 10 from the door 110, at least partially disassembling the door closer, disconnecting the first spring hook 22 from the second anchor point 28 of the strap 16, connecting the first spring hook to the third anchor point 30 of the strap, reassembling the door closer, and reattaching the door closer to the door.
References to orientation herein, for example, left right, upper, lower, top, bottom, front, rear, and the like, should be construed as references to relative orientation and not absolute orientation unless context dictates otherwise.
Illustrative embodiments of a door closer are shown and described herein. Features disclosed in connection with a given embodiment may be incorporated into other embodiments to the greatest extent possible. The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and should not be deemed to limit the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/529,289, filed on Jul. 6, 2017, and incorporates by reference the disclosure thereof in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190010744 A1 | Jan 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62529289 | Jul 2017 | US |