Hinge stile gap blocking apparatus

Abstract

This invention relates to a hinge stile gap blocking apparatus and to a method designed to prevent hand and finger injuries resulting from inadvertent door closures. The apparatus includes a pair of joined elongate members, each elongate member is joined to the other by an elastic band which extends through the opening of a door frame hinge stile gap with each joined elongate member residing on opposite sides of the hinge stile gap. The elongate members move when the door is pivoted, but are sufficiently tensioned against the hinge stile such that hands and fingers cannot be placed in the hinge stile gap when the door is open.

Claims

1. A door safety apparatus for protecting hands and fingers comprising: at least one hinge gap blocker assembly including a first elongate member and a second elongate member, the first elongate member and the second elongate member include a longitudinal clip slot shaped to receive a plurality of clip members, each clip member including prong portions and a band slot; the clip slots include a rectangular channel and the rectangular channel is interlockable with the prong portions of the clip members; at least one annular coupling adapted to join the first elongate member to the second elongate member; a plurality of elastic bands adapted for placement over the band slots of the clip members; the first and second elongate members disposed opposite one another and joined at sections along their lengths by opposite facing pairs of clip members and elastic bands.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of an example hinge guard assembly according to the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge guard assembly shown in (FIG. 1);

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a example arrangement of components of a hinge guard assembly;

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of (FIG. 1);

(5) FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view thereof;

(6) FIG. 6 is an exploded view thereof;

(7) FIG. 7 is another exploded view thereof;

(8) FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a clip pair that includes an elastic band;

(9) FIG. 8B is another perspective view thereof of a clip pair without the elastic band;

(10) FIG. 9A is a side view of one side of an in-situ door and door frame prior to installation of the hinge guard assembly;

(11) FIG. 9B is an opposite side view thereof;

(12) FIG. 10A is a side view of one side of an in-situ door and door frame after installation of the hinge guard assembly;

(13) FIG. 10B is an opposite side view thereof;

(14) FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines (11-11) of (FIG. 10A);

(15) FIG. 12 is another a cross-sectional view thereof showing a possible position of the hinge stile blocking apparatus when the door is pivoted open;

(16) FIG. 13 is a perspective view looking into a hinge stile gap showing the elongate members on either side of the gap joined by an elastic member.

REFERENCE LISTING OF THE NUMBERED ELEMENTS

(17) 100 hinge guard 101 elongate member 102 support rib 104 coupling rib 106 annular coupling 108 clip 110 clip prongs 112 band annulus 114 clip slot 116 cap 117 band 118 friction ring 119 band slot 120 door 121 door hinge 122 door hinge stile 123 door jamb 124 door gap 125 hinge barrel slot 126 hinge barrel 130 hinge stile gap

DEFINITIONS

(18) In the following description, the term “door” as used herein, includes pivoting or hinging panels that are designed to occlude a doorway. The term “complete door closure” as used herein, means the edge of the door is substantially flush with a door surround and wherein there is minimal gap between the edges of the door and the frame. The term “door surround” as used herein, means the structure surrounding a door, whether outward facing or inward facing, and includes raised molding (casing), or other non-raised surface, e.g., wall or cabinetry surfaces directly adjacent to—or abutting the door's edge(s). The term “door jamb” as used herein, refers to portions of the door frame that are typically at a right angle relative to the casing of the door when the door is shut. The term “leading edge” also known as the “shutting stile,” refers to that portion of a door that leads when the door is being moved from an open to closed position; e.g., the lock stile of a rail and stile door. The term “hinge stile” refers to the vertical portion of a door edge to which hinges are affixed and about which the door pivots. The term “hinge stile gap” refers to the gap created between the back edges of a door and a door frame when the door is partially or wholly opened. Unless otherwise explained, any technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of this disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described below. The term “comprises” means “includes.” All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. In case of conflict, the present specification, including explanations of terms, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

(19) Referring generally to FIGS. 1-13, embodiments according to the present invention for a hinge stile blocking apparatus and a method for preventing injuries resulting from insertion of hands and fingers into a hinge stile gap 130 of a door 120 include, a door hinge stile gap blocker apparatus 100 depicted herein, includes a pair of elongate members 101 that may be substantially cylindrical or another shape that will suitably block a hinge stile gap when a door is not fully closed. Each elongate member of a pair of elongate members are connected one to another via a number of spaced elastic bands 117. Typically, the elongate members include sections that are coaxially connected via annular couplings 106 and friction rings 118 disposed between the sections. Annular couplings 106 include reinforcement portions such as coupling rib 104 and clip slot 114 which is adapted to seat a clip 108 via clip prongs 110. Elongate members 101 include a longitudinal slot 125 adapted to receive a hinge barrel 126. Clips 108 are typically paired and a band placed over band slots 119 (FIG. 8B), and the clip prongs 110 interlock with the clip slot 114 of couplers 106. Accordingly, when the apparatus 100 is mounted to a door jamb 123, the respective elongate members 101 reside on either side of the door frame and the band 117 bridge between the two elongate members residing there when the door is open or closed, the bands being of a thickness that will not interfere with fully closing the door.

(20) Implementations of the hinge stile gap blocking apparatus 100 may be retrofitted to an existing door 120 and door jamb 123, or, may be pre-installed on pre-hung doors. Alternately, certain implementations of the apparatus may be provided in a kit form suitable for home or commercial use. It is even conceivable that the hinge stile blocking apparatus be incorporated into wood, plastic or metal commercial door frames at the time of manufacture.

(21) FIGS. 1 and 2 show respectively, a side elevation and perspective view of an example hinge stile blocking assembly that includes two elongate members 101 joined side by side by elastic bands 117. The elongate members typically are divided into sections that are coaxially connectable via annular couplings 106 that are mountable at the ends of the sections. The couplings include a slot for receiving a clip 108 so that when the elongate members are aligned side-by-side the corresponding couplers and clips are likewise aligned. Mounted to each clip, a band 117 bridges and connects the clips of the paired elongate members.

(22) FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing an example arrangement of the various elements of the a hinge stile blocking assembly 100 that include elongate members 101, coaxially connectable by mounting couplers 106 between sections. In the figure, a clip pair 108 is disposed within hinge barrel slot 125

(23) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of (FIG. 1) of an exemplary elongate section 101 with a longitudinal cove/slot 125 that receives clips 108 allows the slidable passage of the clips and serves to partially enclose the hinge barrels of a door jamb 123.

(24) FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the arrangement of elements shown in (FIG. 3). FIG. 6 is an exploded view that shows a clip pair 108 joined by an elastic band 117 that are configured to nest in the clip slots 114 of couplings 106.

(25) FIG. 7 is another exploded view where the elongate members have been omitted. Typically, bands 118 may be used to join couplings 106 to sections of the elongate members.

(26) FIGS. 8A and 8B show respectively, a clip pair 108 joined by an elastic band 117 and a clip pair omitting the band showing the band slot 119 of the clips 108.

(27) FIGS. 9A and 9B show respectively, opposite sides of a door frame prior to installation of a hinge stile gap blocker 100.

(28) FIGS. 10A and 10B show respectively, opposite sides of a door frame after installation of a hinge stile gap blocker 100.

(29) FIGS. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views of a door frame hinge stile 122 and the elongate members 101 of opposite sides of the hinge stile gap 130.

(30) The following is one exemplary method of installation according to embodiments of the invention:

(31) (1) mounting a first set of annular couplings, each coupling mounted at the intersection of one or more sections of a first elongate member;

(32) (2) at an intersection of the one or more sections, placing a clip member with an elastic band thereover, the clip member inserted into a clip slot of each of the annular couplings;

(33) (3) positioning the first elongate member in a door hinge stile and connecting it to a second elongate member disposed on an opposite side of the door hinge stile by mounting a clip member from a second set of clip members to each annular coupling of a second set of annular couplings mounted to the second elongate member, and looping one of the elastic bands previously mounted to an opposing coupling of the first elongate member to a corresponding clip member of the second elongate member.

(34) It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting to the particular forms and examples disclosed. Accordingly, it is intended that this disclosure encompass any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments as would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of this disclosure, and falling within the scope of the following claims.