There are various situations in which it may be beneficial or useful to prevent access to a cabinet or room. For example, it is common to use safety covers for door knobs to prevent children, people suffering from mental or other disorders, and others from accessing these areas. Typically, these door knob covers do not prevent access but merely make it difficult for these individuals to access by providing a hinderance to turning the door knob.
However, some homes utilize door levers that move upward or downward to open a cabinet or door, rather than being rotated as is the case for door knobs. As a result, a cover for the door lever is not practical and would not serve the function of preventing access. While sometimes these door levers have locks, the locks are frequently automatically unlocked when the door handle is rotated from the interior side of the door (i.e. inside of the building or room). Thus, the only way to prevent unlocking and opening of the door by children or others is to prevent movement of the door lever.
One known device for providing a hinderance to movement of the door lever is shown in
The device 1 has several deficiencies. First, the first lever 12 is not moveable and cannot be moved to permit upward movement of the door lever 20. Second, even if the device 1 is in the open position such that the door lever 20 can be moved, the first lever 12 is positioned right above the door lever 20 making it difficult to grasp and move the door lever 20. Third, the second lever 14 moves upward and downward and remains in the path of movement for the door lever 20. Accordingly, even in the open position, the second lever 14 is a hinderance to grasping and moving the door lever 20 downward to open the door. Therefore, the device 1 has numerous deficiencies that prevent it from being installed to prevent access while permitting access when required.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify indispensable features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one or more embodiments, a device is disclosed. The device can have a base portion with a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The second side of the base portion is securable to a surface of a door. The base portion can have a width defined between a first end and a second end. A first projection extends from the base portion, the first projection is moveable in a radial direction toward the first end and the second end. A second projection extends from the base portion and is positioned a distance from the first projection and moveable radially toward the first end and the second end.
In one or more embodiments, a method is disclosed that can comprise securing a back portion of a device to a surface of a door such that a first projection of the device is above a lever of a door and a second projection of the device is positioned below the door lever. The back portion of the device has a width defined between a first end and a second end. The method also comprises moving one of a first projection and second projection in a radial direction to a first position such that the first projection and the second projection extend substantially perpendicular to the width of the back portion to prevent the door lever from moving upward or downward.
In one or more embodiments, a method is disclosed that comprises securing a device to a surface behind a door lever such that a first projection and a second projection of the device are positioned above and below the door lever. The method may further comprise pressing a first button on the first projection to radially move the first projection to a first position extending perpendicular with respect to the door lever to prevent movement of the door lever in an upward direction. Additionally, the method may comprise pressing a second button on the second projection to radially move the second projections to a first position extending perpendicular with respect to the door lever to prevent movement of the door lever in a downward direction.
These and additional aspects of the present disclosure are set forth in the description that follows, and/or may be learned by a person having ordinary skill in the art by reading the material herein and/or practicing the principles described herein. At least some aspects of the present disclosure may be achieved via means recited in the attached claims.
The present disclosure is understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for simplicity and clarity, and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present systems and methods and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present systems and methods and various embodiments with various modifications as may be suited to the particular use contemplated.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” In addition, for ease of use, the words “including” and “having,” as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.” In addition, the term “based on” as used in the specification and the claims is to be construed as meaning “based at least upon.”
Turning to
As shown in
A first projection 112 and a second projection 114 extend from the base portion 102. The first projection 112 and the second projection 114 are radially supported and secured to the base portion 102. A length of the first projection 112 can be defined between a first end 116 and a second end 118. A length of the second projection 114 can be defined between a first end 120 and a second end 122. In an embodiment, the first projection 112 and the second projection 114 can have a substantial similar or the same length. The length of the projections 112, 114 may be greater than a distance D1 of the lever 200 from the surface 110. In an embodiment, the minimum length of the projections 112, 114 can be equal to a distance of the lever 200 from a surface on which it is attached and/or secured. The length of the projections 112, 114 can extend the distance of the lever 200 from the surface plus a distance to compensate for a width of the lever 200 and/or to ensure the lever 200 can prevent movement of the lever 200. The projections 112, 114 may have a tapered edge adjacent the second ends 118, 122 to prevent or reduce possibility of harming a user or others that may contact the projections 112, 114.
Hinges 124, 126 may permit movement, for example, radial movement of the first projection 112 and the second projection 114 with respect to the base portion 102. The projections 112, 114 can move radially about the hinges 124, 126. The projections 112, 114 move radially along a path between the first end 40 in a radial direction to the second end 42 of the base portion 102. The path of movement of the projections 112, 114 may move along an arc-like path from the first end 40 to the second end 42 and in a radial direction with respect to the base portion 102. The projections 112, 114 may move to a first position that is perpendicular to the width of the base portion 102.
In the first position, the second ends 118, 122 of the projections 112, 114 can be at a maximum distance from the surface 110. At the first portion, the first projection 112 can prevent the lever 200 from moving in an upward direction. The length of the first projection 112 at the first position extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of the width of the base portion 102. The lever 200 may contact the first projection 112 at the first position, and the lever 200 can be prevented from further upward movement. For example, the lever 200 may abut the first projection 112 in the first position prior to the lever 200 opening the door, cabinet or other surface the lever 200 is attached thereto.
At the first position, the second projection 114 can prevent the lever 200 from moving in a downward direction. The length of the second projection 114 at the second position can extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the width of the base portion 102. The lever 200 may contact the second projection 114 at the first position, and the lever 200 can be prevented from further downward movement. For example, the lever 200 may abut the second projection 114 in the first position prior to the lever 200 opening the door, cabinet or other surface the lever 200 is secured thereto. The lever 200, as an example, may be connected to a door whereby movement of the lever 200 in the upward or downward direction may open the door. Preventing movement of the lever 200 in the upward or downward direction can prevent the door from being opened for any number of reasons that will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, including preventing access to children, elderly or others. In an embodiment, the device 100 having the projections 112, 114 can be used to prevent children to access a cabinet or room for safety purposes.
The projections 112, 114 can move independently from the first position along the arc-like path in a radial direction with respect to the base portion 102. For example, one of the projections 112, 114 can move radially without movement of the other one of the projections 112, 114.
The projections 112, 114 can move to a second position that may be substantially parallel to the width of the projections 112, 114, such as shown in
A first button 130 can restrict or permit movement of the first projection 112. A second button 132 can restrict or permit movement of the second projection 114. The first button 130 can be positioned on the hinge 124 of the first projection 112, such as a top of the first projection 112. The second button 132 can be positioned on the hinge 126, such as at a bottom of the second projection 114. The buttons 130, 132 can be biased in an upward or outward position that prevents movement of the projections 112, 114. Biasing the buttons into a locked position may be accomplished with a spring and locking mechanism or other structure that will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art.
Pressing, depressing or otherwise engaging the buttons 130, 132 can permit movement of the respective projections 112, 114. For example, pressing the first button 130 can permit the first projection 112 to be moved from the first position toward the second position, or vice versa. The first button 130 can be pressed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the projections 112, 114 and/or toward the second button 132 to move the first projection 112. Likewise, pressing the second button 132 can permit the second projection 114 to be moved from the second position to the first position or vice versa. The second button 132 can be pressed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the projections 112, 114 and/or toward the first button 130 to move the first projection 112. The first button and the second button are pressed in a direction perpendicular to the radial movement of the first projection 112 and the second projection 114. In an embodiment, the buttons 130, 132 may be biased in a locked position that prevents movement. Pressing the buttons 130, 132 together may permit movement of both of the projections 112, 114.
In an embodiment in which the first button 130 only permits movement of the first projection 112, the first projection 112 may move independently from the second projection 114. Similarly, in an embodiment where the second button 132 only permits movement of the second projection 114, the second projection 114 may move independently from the first projection 112. In another embodiment, the first button 130 can permit movement of the first projection 112 and the second projection 114. For example, pressing the first button 130 can permit movement of the first projection 112 and the second projection 114. Similarly, the second button 132 can be pressed to move the first projection and the second projection 114. In yet another embodiment, movement of the first projection 112 or the second projection 114 can require pressing the first button 130 and the second button 132.
In some uses, the lever 200 may be installed such that the lever 200 only moves in one direction, such as downward or upward. In those uses, the user may choose to have only the first projection 112 or the second projection 114 at the first position, and the other projection 112, 114 may be positioned at the second position to prevent hinderance of use of the lever 200. Accordingly, the independent movement of the projections 112, 114 may be beneficial in various applications of the lever 200. In other uses, the lever 200 may be required to move upward or downward prior to locking or unlocking the lever 200. For example, if the lever 200 requires movement upward to lock the lever 200, then the first projection 112 may be in the second position to permit locking or unlocking. If the first projection 112 is required to be moved upward to unlock the lever 200, then the first projection 112 can be in the first position to prevent movement upward to unlock the lever 200 without first moving the first projection 112 to the second position. Permitting independent movement of the first projection 112 and second projection 114 permits many different uses of the device 100 that are not possible with the prior art device set forth in
In an embodiment, the device 100 may be secured to the surface 100 of a door. The device 100 may be used to prevent children from accessing a room, such as a parent's room or room with dangerous or other objects not suitable or undesirable for children. The device 100 may be removable secured to the surface 100 and removed from the surface 100 without damaging (or with minimal damage to) the door.
Alternatively, the device 100 may be permanently secured to the door. In an embodiment, the base portion 102 may have a removable backing layer that exposes an adhesive to secure the base portion 102 to the door. The base portion may be positioned on the door behind the lever 200 such that the first projection 112 and the second projection 114 are substantially equal distance to the lever 200. The first button 130 can be pressed to move the first projection 112 to the first position that can be substantially perpendicular to the lever 200 and the width of the base portion 102. At the first position, the lever 200 can be prevented from moving upward to open the door. The second button 132 can be pressed to move the second projection 114 to the first position that can be substantially perpendicular to the lever and the width of the base portion 102. The lever 200 can be prevented from moving downward by the second projection 114 at the first position. At the first position, the projections 112, 114 can prevent the lever 200 from moving upward and downward, and thus, preventing the door from being opened by, for example, a child.
In the event an adult or other individuals desire to open the door, the buttons 130, 132 can be pressed to move the projections 112, 114 from the first position to the second position that is substantially parallel to the base portion 102. Advantageously, the disclosure provides that either of the projections 112, 114 can be moved independently. For example, children may most often pull on the lever 200 in a downward direction. Therefore, in certain embodiments, the adult or other individual may press the button 130 to move the first projection 112 to the second position while maintaining the second projection 114 in the first position. As a result, the lever 200 may be moved upward to open the door, and upon closing the door, the second projection 114 can still prevent downward movement of the lever 200 to open the door. After access to the room is complete, the user may press the first button 130 (and/or the second button 132) to move the projections 112, 114 to the first position. In the event the device 100 is not required to prevent movement of the lever 200, the projections 112, 114 can both be moved to the second position to permit normal operation of the lever 200 without interference. Advantageously, with both the projections 112, 114 at the second position, the lever 200 can be accessed, grasped and otherwise normally operated without having to remove the device 100 from the surface 110 of the door.
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, although the disclosed embodiments are described in detail in the present disclosure, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments without departing from their spirit and scope.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3643478 | McPeake | Feb 1972 | A |
3861726 | McLennan | Jan 1975 | A |
4322100 | McLennan | Mar 1982 | A |
4947663 | Yeager | Aug 1990 | A |
5689984 | Diculescu | Nov 1997 | A |
6301941 | Nicholsfigueiredo | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6929292 | Galindo | Aug 2005 | B1 |
7048315 | Wong | May 2006 | B2 |
7377135 | Copus | May 2008 | B2 |
9206631 | Lee | Dec 2015 | B2 |
9371673 | Nichol | Jun 2016 | B2 |
20090235704 | Quach | Sep 2009 | A1 |
20090302617 | Schmid | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20100031715 | Bundy | Feb 2010 | A1 |
20100236299 | Price | Sep 2010 | A1 |
20120222459 | Glazar | Sep 2012 | A1 |
20120248793 | Fiedler | Oct 2012 | A1 |
20140007632 | Daniels | Jan 2014 | A1 |
20140175814 | Holsopple | Jun 2014 | A1 |
20140300114 | Atkinson, Jr. | Oct 2014 | A1 |