Portable door securement device

Abstract

A portable door securement device is provided having a member extending from a first end engaged to a doorknob of a swinging door or endwall of a sliding door. A second end of the securement device is configured to be engaged with a support surface adjacent the door, to prevent opening of the door in a direction toward the engaged member.

Claims

1. A portable door securement apparatus comprising: an elongated member extending along a member axis from a first end of said elongated member to a second end of said elongated member; a connector, said connector in an engagement with a body, said body extending from a first end thereof in said engagement to said connector, to a second end thereof, said body having a mid portion therebetween; a first end of said connector adapted for a removable engagement with a sliding door; said body having a handle extending from said second end thereof; said second end of said elongated member adapted for a removable engagement with a surface adjacent said sliding door; said body in a first pivoting engagement with said first end of said elongated member such that said body is pivotable between a first position and a second position; said first end of said connector having a wedge extending therefrom; said wedge positionable into an engaged position within a gap located in-between the sliding door and a window located in a position adjacent to said sliding door; said first end of said connector having a first planar surface adjacent said wedge, said first planar surface positionable to contact with an end wall of said sliding door, with said wedge positioned in said engaged position; and wherein with said first end of said connector in said removable engagement with said sliding door with said second end of said elongated member in said removable engagement with said surface adjacent said sliding door, said sliding door is prevented from opening in a direction toward said elongated member.

2. The portable door securement apparatus of claim 1 wherein said engagement of said connector with said body is a second pivoting engagement with said body.

3. The portable door securement apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: said wedge having a first wedge and having a second wedge and having a slot therebetween.

4. The portable door securement apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: a notch formed by said first planar surface intersecting a second planar surface positioned on said wedge, said second planar surface contacting an interior side edge of said sliding door with said wedge in said engaged position.

5. The portable door securement apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: a notch formed by said first planar surface intersecting a second planar surface positioned on said wedge, said second planar surface contacting an interior side edge of said sliding door with said wedge in said engaged position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the disclosed device. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 depicts the door securement device herein, operatively engaged in an as-used position, with a handle of a swinging door operatively engaged with the device at a first end which is in contact with a floor surface at a second end, to prevent opening of the door in a direction toward the engaged device.

(4) FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1, in a perspective view, showing the first end of the member of the device having a connector adapted to engage around a stem of a projecting doorknob stem.

(5) FIG. 2a shows a mode of the device having a member of fixed length, which while not as easily packed to a suitcase or the like, will still secure a door from opening.

(6) FIG. 3 displays the device from a side view showing the first end of the member having the connector rotated by a handle end, to compressibly engage against a surface of the stem of a doorknob or handle and the handle rotated to the locked position, and showing the connector positioned substantially perpendicular to an imaginary axis running through the center of a doorknob such as in FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 3a shows the device as in FIG. 3, but with the handle of the connector body rotated in a direction away from the member, thereby releasing the connector from the compressed or tensioned engagement against the lower side of a doorknob stem depicted in FIG. 1.

(8) FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the devices of FIGS. 1-3, showing the bottom surface of an engaged mount, having a gripping interface formed of pliable material with a plurality hexagon shaped cavities depending into the pliable material.

(9) FIG. 5 depicts a mode of the device as in FIGS. 1-4, having a handle movement sensor which operates when engaged to the handle, to actuate an onboard alarm.

(10) FIGS. 6-9 shows a mode of the device wherein the connector is wedge shaped and configured to insert in the gap between a sliding glass door, and the stationary door adjacent thereto.

(11) FIGS. 10-11 depicts a mode of the device herein, wherein a mount is included to store the device adjacent a door when not in use.

(12) FIG. 12 shows the device configured with a connector which is adapted to engage the handles on two sliding doors which both have handles on a mating side, to hold the two sliding doors closed.

(13) FIG. 13 depicts the connector of FIG. 12, in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) The device 10 and system herein disclosed and described in FIGS. 1-13 provide a solution to the shortcomings in prior art of swinging and sliding door securement devices. As can be seen in FIG. 1 showing the device 10, in an as-used position, the disclosed door securement device 10 herein, may be easily operatively engaged to prevent opening of a door 12 in a direction toward the device 10.

(15) As shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 has an elongated member 14 which if formed in the preferred telescopically adjustable mode, includes a first member segment 16 which is telescopically engaged with a second member segment 18. While less preferred due to the lack of adjustability and a larger size during transport, the device 10 may also employ a member 14 of fixed length such as shown in FIG. 2a.

(16) In all modes of the device 10, a first end 20 of the member 14, is configured to engage with a swinging or sliding door to prevent opening. As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the device 10 is adapted to engage with a handle such as with a stem 24 of a knob 25 on a swinging door 12 where the knob is used to open a door 12, and a second end of the member 14 is adapted to operatively engage against a floor or support surface 38. In this as-used positioning to hold the door 12 from opening in a direction toward the member 14, an axis running along the member 14 is aligned between this first end engagement with the door knob of a swinging door or the door itself of a sliding door. The second end of the member 14 is configured for a non slip engagement with the support surface 38 such as a floor or sliding door track.

(17) While such an engagement of the first end of the member 14 with a door or knob may vary, experimentation has found that in modes engaging a door knob 25, a pivoting connector 26 having a body 30 shaped at a first end to engage against a lower side of the handle stem 24 works well. The connector 26 positions two side surfaces of a door handle stem 24 in-between supports or forks 34. Such works best to provide a steady connection under force. Currently, a preferred mode of configuring the first end 20 of the telescopic or static member 14 to operatively engage with the stem 24 on a swinging door, employs such a connector 26 having a body 30 in a pivoting engagement 28 with the first end 20 of the member 14.

(18) In the modes of FIGS. 1-5 for swinging doors, the body 30 of the engaged connector 26 engaged to the handle 33, is configured with a slot 32 depending into a first end of the body 30. This slot 30 is positioned between two extending forks 34 extending from the first end of the body 30 of the connector 26. The slot 32 has a width adapted to position interior surfaces 36 of the opposing forks 34 within the slot 32, on opposing sides and immediately adjacent to side surfaces of the stem 24, and concurrently sandwiched in-between the knob 25 which is larger than the slot 32 and the door 12.

(19) This adjacent-positioning of the forks 34 to place the stem 24 in a sandwiched positioning therebetween, and position the forks 34 and body 30 of the connector itself, sandwiched engagement between the door 12 and the larger diameter knob 26, is preferred. This is because it has been found in experimentation that such a configuration of forks 34 and positioning between the knob 25 which is wider than the gap 32 and the door 12, secures the connector 26 in a manner such that it is not easily dismounted, by shaking or force against the door 12. Currently, a width of the slot 32 of 34 mm-40 mm in-between facing side surfaces of the forks 34 is preferred and a particularly preferred width is 36 mm to 38 mm as testing and experimentation has shown this width to fit a majority of stems 24 snugly to aid in maintaining a secure engagement if the door 12 is forced.

(20) The pivoting engagement 28 of the body 30 of the connector 26 with the first end of the member 14 in all modes of the device 10 herein, is preferably positioned at a mid portion of the body 30 of the connector 26, in between the slot 32 at the first end and a handle 33 at a second end of the body 30 of the connector 26. This handle 33 provides leverage for the body 30 of the connector which is pivotal. The body 30 pivots between a first position where the handle 33 extends at an angle relative to the axis of the member 14 with the distal end of the handle 33 spaced a first distance from the member 14 such as in FIG. 3a, to a second position of the body 30 in the pivoting engagement positioning the distal end of the handle 33 at a second distance from the member 14, which is much closer to and adjacent the member 14 such as shown in FIG. 3. In this second position of pivoting of the body 30 in the engagement with the member 14, an interior edge or endwall 35 of the body in-between the two forks 34 contacts a bottom surface or endwall 35 of the stem 24.

(21) This pivoting engagement 28 of the body 30 to the member 14, is preferred in all modes of the device 10 as it allows for a secure compressive engagement of an endwall 35 of the slot 32, opposite the open end between the forks 34, in a compressive contact with the surface of the stem 24, by movement of the handle 33 in a first direction toward the member 14 to the second position shown in FIG. 3. Further, the pivoting engagement 28, in addition to forming this secure compressive engagement, also allows for a quick disengagement by grabbing and movement of the handle 33 in a second direction, to move the body 30 in a pivot back to the first position of FIG. 3a, by pulling the handle 33 in a direction moving the distal end of the handle away from the member 14.

(22) In use, to engage the device 10 with a swinging door 12, the door knob stem 24 is slid into the slot 32 between the two forks 34 at the first end of the body 30 of the connector 26. Then second end 22 of the member 14 which is adapted to be secured against the support surface 38 a distance from the base of the door 12 is so secured. With the member 14 angling from engagement of the connector 26 at the first end 20 with the stem 24 and knob 25, to a contact and engagement against the support surface 38, the door 12 is prevented from opening in a direction toward the engaged device 10. Force against the door 12 will only serve to rotate the connector body 30 in a direction wherein the distal end of the handle is forced toward the member 14.

(23) The second end 22 of the member 14 is preferably adapted for a frictional stationary engagement against the supporting surface 38. While simply placing the second end 22 of the member 14 upon the support surface 38 in the angled positioning of the as-used position of FIG. 1, will secure the device 10 and the door 12, it is preferred that the second end 22 of the member 14 be reinforced in this engagement with a base member 40 to provide additional support to prevent slipping.

(24) A first side 42 of this base member 40 is connected to the second end 22 of the member 14. On a second side 44 of the base member 40, opposite the first side 42, is positioned a contact surface 46 which is formed in a configuration and of a material providing a significant increase in frictional engagement of the base member 40 against the support surface 38.

(25) Currently favored is a contact surface 46 formed of rubber or a polymeric material. In experimentation to determine a material and hardness which is optimum to provide frictional engagement against carpet as well as hardwood, tile, and other support surfaces 38, it was found that polymeric material having a durometer of substantially 65 shore, worked well, and that polymeric material having a durometer of 69-71 shore, worked exceptionally well on all surfaces. Consequently, such is preferred over harder polymeric materials which may wear better over time, but were found to slide more easily.

(26) Additionally preferred, as shown in FIG. 4, is the formation of recesses 48 in a pattern, which depend into the contact surface 46. Various shapes and patterns were tried in experimentation, and it was found that a pattern of a hexagon shaped recesses 48 performed significantly better than other shapes such as rectangles or circular shapes, in preventing slipping of the contact surface 46 and thus the base member 40 and member 14, in differing directions. The hexagon shaped recesses 48 prevented slipping in multiple directions better than other shapes.

(27) Still further, as noted above, the member 14 is preferably telescopic to differing lengths and thereby collapsible from a chosen elongated position to a compact position of the segments for stowing the device 10. In positioning a member 14 formed of at least two segments such as 16 and 18, the user translates the segments 16 and 18 in their sliding telescopic engagement from the compact length to form the member 14 to a desired elongated length which is held by a lock. Such a lock may be any locking engagement as would occur to those skilled in the art. Currently, a preferred lock to fix the engaged first member segment 16 in position with the second member segment 18, is a pin 50 which communicates through openings 52 aligned and formed the sidewalls of both segments of the member 14. Currently, segments 16 and 18, are formed of a respective length, such that when telescopically engaged, the length of the member 14 between the first end 20 to the second end 22, can vary by substantially 370 mm from a longest length to a shortest length. By substantially is meant plus or minus ten percent of the stated figure.

(28) Shown in FIG. 5, is a mode of the device 10 which employs the same elongated member 14 as other modes herein which will engage with a support surface such as the floor. The device configuration in FIG. 5 employs the pivoting connector 26 to engage with the stem 24 of the door knob 25. Additionally included is a handle connector 54 which is formed as a band to wrap around the knob 25 or stem 24 of a door handle. This connector 54 may be polymeric material which is elastic, to form a compressive engagement with the knob 25 or stem 24. Thereafter, a twisting movement of the knob 25, will rotate the connector 54 which is engaged to a sonic or optical alarm 56 connected to the body 30 or handle 33 which is attached to the connector 26. The alarm 56 is powered by batteries (not shown). Movement of the connector 54, causes activation of a switch 55 in the body 30 which connects the optical alarm 56 to the power source provided by batteries, and causes the alarm 56 to emit one or both of light and sound to alert the user of tampering with the door.

(29) FIGS. 6-9 depict a mode of the device 10 wherein a connector 27 is engaged to the body 30 or handle 33 which itself is in a first pivoting engagement 28 at the first end of the member 14. The connector 27 in this mode, preferably is connected to the body 30 in a second pivoting engagement 29 at a first end of the body 30 where the handle 33 extends from a second end of the body 30. While the device 10 in FIGS. 6-9 will work well without the second pivoting engagement 28 and could be in a fixed engagement with the body 30, it has been found in experimentation that providing the second pivoting engagement 29 allows for an easier engagement with a sliding door 13 shown in FIG. 7. Such sliding doors 13 are well known and conventionally position a sliding door 13 in a frame adjacent a fixed glass window 15.

(30) As best depicted in FIGS. 6 and 9, the connector 27, has a first planar surface 58 running substantially normal to a second planar surface 60 and forms a notch 60 on the connector 27. This notch 60 is configured to engage the first planar surface 58 against an endwall 59 of the sliding door 13, and the second planar surface 60, upon an interior side edge of the sliding door 13 in a gap 63 located conventionally in-between the sliding door 13 and the fixed window 15.

(31) As shown in FIG. 9, an angled exterior surface 64 opposite the second planar surface 60, forms at least one, and preferably a pair of wedges 66 upon the connector 27. The wedge 66 is adapted for sliding into the gap 63 between the sliding door 13 and the window 15 until the first planar surface 58 contacts with the endwall 59 of the sliding door 13. As can be seen in FIG. 7, once in such an engagement of the wedge 66, the second end of the member 14, is operatively engaged upon a support surface such as the track in which the sliding door 13 slides.

(32) Shown in FIGS. 10-11 are a hinge 68 engageable hanging support 70 employable with all modes of the device 10 herein. The hanging support 70 is configured with an opening 72 at a first end which is sized for engagement around a pin 75 used in conventional hinges 68. A recess 74 located at a second end of the hanging support 70, is sized to frictionally engage around a neck portion 76 located in-between the body 30 and the connecter 27 or 27.

(33) Shown in FIG. 12, is a mode of the device 10 herein, wherein the connector 31 is engaged to the body 30 as in FIGS. 1-2 for example, wherein the slot 32 between the two forks 34 on opposite ends of the slot 32, is adapted to engage with handles (not shown but well known) of two sliding doors 13. In such well known configurations, the two sliding doors 13 in a closed position, have their respective endwall surfaces 59 in contact with each other. With the sliding doors 13 in such a closed position, the handles of the two sliding doors 13 are positioned within the slot 32, and each of the two forks 34 contacts a respective handle and prevents the two sliding doors 13 from moving away from each other. Such holds the two sliding doors 13 in the closed position.

(34) As noted, any of the different configurations and components can be employed with any other configuration or component shown and described as part of the device herein. Additionally, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof and steps in the method of production, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, it will be appreciated that in some instance some features, or configurations, or steps in formation of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.

(35) Further, the purpose of any abstract of this specification is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the public generally, and especially the scientists, 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. Any such abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.