Patent Application
20070240836
This invention relates to the field of sliding screen doors, in particular, an automatic closer for sliding patio screen doors.
Sliding screen doors are commonly found in many businesses and residences. They are usually used in conjunction with heavier sliding glass doors. During temperate weather, it is often desirable to leave the sliding glass door open. However, a screen door is needed to keep out unwanted insects and debris. A common problem with the use of such screen doors is that the screen door is often rendered ineffective because it is left open due to the memory lapse of the user. Often times the person opening the screen door does not remember to close the screen door after use, thereby defeating its purpose.
The prior art in the field includes devices designed to counteract this problem. Most of the prior art does not deal specifically with sliding screen doors, but with all sliding doors, generally. U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,820 by Teutsch teaches of a system that uses an oil-dammed or magnetic spring for closing a heavy sliding glass door. This device controls the rate of closure of the door through the use of a reel and spool. Similarly Jensen teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,636 of a device that uses pressurized gas to automatically close the sliding door. Other inventions, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,465 by Stephan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,29 by Kaftan and U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,372 by Beard et al use springs to return the sliding door to its closed position. All of the prior art is relatively complex compared to the instant invention and all contain many mechanical parts that will wear out, most notably the springs used to bring the sliding door closed.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a simpler closing device that is less susceptible to wear and tear with use.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a main pipe, usually a PVC pipe with a ¾″ inner diameter that is 57″ long, is used. The pipe is vertically attached to the outer frame of the sliding door assembly through two or more pipe clamps attached to the outer frame. The PVC pipe snaps in and out of the pipe clamps making it both easy to install and easy to remove. The PVC pipe has end caps on either end, the top cap having a hole drilled in the center with a brass thru-hole fitting inserted into the hole. A fine monofilament line extends through the top cap and is attached to a barrel swivel. The barrel swivel is attached to an eyehook that is screwed to the frame of the inner sliding screen door. The other end of the fine monofilament line is attached to weights that slide up the inside of the PVC pipe when the patio screen door is opened and that fall back to the bottom of the PVC pipe as the screen door slides closed.
There is a pair of one-inch wheels with metal bearings that replace the old plastic rollers located at the bottom of the patio screen door in order for the closer to work properly. There are no springs or other mechanical parts to wear out in the closer; it works simply through the use of gravity. Only the wheels would require periodic replacement, depending on the amount of use.
The invention is designed to fit on any patio sliding screen door up to 48″ in width. The use of the invention will convert any sliding screen door into a self-closing screen door. The wheel kit will correct screens that no longer slide or stay on track.
The principal object of the invention is to provide a means to convert any sliding patio screen door into a self-closing door through the use of minimal mechanical parts, thereby reducing the potential for worn parts and need for replacement or repair.
Another object of the invention is to provide for ease of installation and removal of the self-closing system.
For a better understanding of the invention, turning now to the drawings,
A brass thru-hole fitting 18 is inserted inside the aperture 17. A fine monofilament 19 is placed inside the hollow cylindrical tube 15 so as to extend through the aperture 17 at one end and is attached to a weight 20 at the other end as the door 12 is forced open, the weight 20 rises 26 inside the tube 15. The monofilament 19 extending out from the aperture 17 is attached to an attaching means such as a barrel swivel 21, which in turn is affixed to the inner framing means 11 of the screen door 12 by a screw 22. Two wheels 23 are placed on the bottom of the screen door 12.
The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims, as those skilled in the art will make modifications to the invention for particular uses.
