Patent Application
20200318404
The present invention relates to doorstops. Specifically, it relates to mountable doorstops that uses magnetic attraction to secure the doorstop in the up position.
Many people use doorstops in order to keep a door open without needing to hold it in place. Frequently, doorstops lose traction on the floor leading the door to close unexpectedly, such as when someone walks by displacing the floor slightly around the doorstop. Additionally, doorstops don't always remain in the desired position. Disengaging a doorstop from the floor only to have the doorstop swing back down preventing the door from closing can be frustrating. Therefore, a doorstop device that securely engages with the floor in the down position and magnetically secures to remain in the up position is needed.
In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing magnetic doorstops. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of magnetic doorstops now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a magnetic doorstop wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when maintaining a door in an open position.
The present system comprises a magnetic doorstop having a plate that is configured to mount on a surface, such as a door, wherein an arm extends from the plate at a hinge. The arm is configured to pivot about the hinge, such that it can transition from an up position and a down position. In the down position, a first end of the arm engages with a floor, whereas in the up position the arm rests parallel to the plate. A magnet is disposed on the plate in line with the arm such that the arm magnetically secures to the plate in the up position. In some embodiments, the first end of the arm comprises a high friction tip. In another embodiment, a lower end of the high friction tip is configured to rest flush against the floor. In other embodiments, the plate comprises a bell-shaped cross section. In yet another embodiment, the hinge comprises a pin having an ovoid shape. In some embodiments, the plate further comprises at least one aperture configured to receive a fastener therethrough. In another embodiment, the arm rests flush against the plate when in the up position. In other embodiments, the magnet is disposed within the plate.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the magnetic doorstop. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to
The magnetic doorstop 11 further comprises an arm 13 extending from the plate 12 about a hinge 15. The arm 13 is configured to pivot about the hinge 15 such that the arm 13 transitions between an up position and a down position. A first end 18 of the arm 13 is configured to engage with a floor when in the down position. In the illustrated embodiment, a high friction tip 19 is disposed on the first end 18 of the arm 13. The high friction tip 19 is configured to engage with the floor when the arm 13 is in the down position, such that a door that the plate 12 is mounted on cannot open. The high friction tip 19 serves to provide an increased surface area in contact with the floor while reducing the risk of any damage to the floor. In the illustrated embodiment, a lower end 23 of the high friction tip 19 is shaped such that it rests flush with the floor. Additionally, the shape of the high friction tip 19 tapers towards a forward end of the high friction tip 19.
In some embodiments, the arm 13 comprises an angle such that the first end 18 and a second end 21 lie in different planes. The arm 13 is configured to removably secure to the plate 12 via magnetic attraction to the magnet 14 when in the up position. In some embodiments, the arm 13 rests flush with the plate 12 when the arm 13 is in the up position. This provides the magnetic doorstop 11 with a compact form factor when in the up position, reducing the risk of a user tripping over the arm 13. In some embodiments, the length of the arm 13 comprises a ferrous material, such that the entirety of the arm 13 is configured to magnetically secure to the plate 12. In another embodiment, a portion of the arm 13 comprises a ferrous material, wherein the portion is disposed such that it aligns with the magnet 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the arm 13 is configured to rotate 180 degrees relative to the plate 12 and is prevented from extending beyond the plane of the plate 12.
The arm 13 extends from the plate 12 such that it pivots about the hinge 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge 15 comprises a pin 16, wherein the pin 16 comprises an ovoid shape. The ovoid shape of the pin 16 provides an increased coefficient of friction between the pin 16 and the plate 12 when the arm 13 is pivoted between the up position and the down position. This increased coefficient of friction allows the arm 13 to remain in the desired position. Additionally, the increased force required to move the arm 13 between the up position and the down position due to the ovoid shape of the pin 16 is evenly distributed across the plate 12 to reduce damage to the surface the magnetic doorstop 11 is mounted on. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge 15 is disposed on a lower side of the plate 12, such that the hinge 15 is disposed on a wider end of the bell-shaped plate 12.
Referring now to
In one use, a user installs the magnetic doorstop 11 on either side of a door as desired. If mounted as illustrated in
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
