PROTECTIVE COVER DEVICE AND METHOD TO MANUFACTURE SAID COVER DEVICE

Abstract

A cover device for covering the angle formed between the edge of a hinged door and a door frame includes first and second elongate bodies, each body having substantially parallel sides and divided by hinge lines parallel to the sides into a plurality of elongate panels. The first body is mountable at one end to the door, and the second body is mountable at one end to a frame relative to which the door hinges. The hingeable connection between the bodies is by at least one longitudinal channel and at least one longitudinal protrusion which locates within the channel to be removeably held within it but able to move longitudinally with respect to it, and thereby to act as a hinge whilst enabling the relative longitudinal movement between the elongate bodies.

Claims

1. A cover device for covering the angle formed between the edge of a hinged door and a doorframe, comprising: first and second elongate bodies, each body having substantially parallel sides and divided by hinge lines parallel to the sides into a plurality of elongate panels, wherein at least some of the panels are hingable relative to an adjacent panel in order to enable at least some of the panels to concertina relative to each other, the first body being mountable at one end to the door and the second body being mountable at one end to a frame relative to which the door hinges, and the respective free ends of the first and second bodies being removeably hingably connected together and which enables a degree of relative movement of one body, in a longitudinal direction parallel to the hinge lines, relative to the other body, wherein the hingeable connection between the bodies is by means of features comprising at least one longitudinal channel and at least one longitudinal protrusion which locates within the channel to be removeably held within it but able to move longitudinally with respect to it, and thereby to act as a hinge whilst enabling the relative longitudinal movement between the elongate bodies.

2. The cover device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one body comprises a channel at its free edge, and wherein the other body comprises a protrusion, the protrusion locating within the channel and being removeably held therein by virtue of the protrusion being of greater width than the opening of the channel.

3. The cover device as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is a waist, narrower than the nearest part of the protrusion between the protrusion and the adjacent part of the body bearing the protrusion.

4. The cover device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hingeable connection between the first and second bodes comprises a connection member adapted to connect the free ends of the first and second bodies for providing hinged elongate channel and protrusion connections therewith.

5. The cover device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the connection member device has two edges and connects to the first and second bodies by cooperating protrusions and channels, provided on the edges of the further connection member and the free ends of the bodies.

6. The cover device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the bodies is formed of two different plastics having different rigidities.

7. The cover device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the bodies includes comprises a collapsible zone having at least two hinges such that part of the body can collapse to concertina generally flat against each other.

8. The cover device as claimed in claim 7, wherein an accurate part is formed between said two hinges.

9. The cover device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: at least one planar portion and at least one further hinge between said two hinges.

10. A method of forming a cover device as claimed in claim 6, comprising the step of forming the at least one body by co-extrusion of at least two plastic materials.

11. A door and frame protected by a cover device as claimed in claim 1, mounted between the door and frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows the cover device formed of two bodies;

[0021] FIG. 2 shows the cover device in position between a door and frame with the door partially opened;

[0022] FIG. 3 shows the device with the door open further;

[0023] FIG. 4 shows the device with the door substantially closed;

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the device with the door closed;

[0025] FIG. 6 shows an alternative door cover;

[0026] FIG. 7 shows one of the bodies in a folded position;

[0027] FIG. 8 shows the cover of FIG. 7 with the door partly open;

[0028] FIG. 9 shows the cover of FIG. 6 with the door further open;

[0029] FIG. 10 shows the cover of FIG. 6 with the door substantially closed;

[0030] FIG. 11 shows the door of FIG. 6 from a top view with a cover attached;

[0031] FIGS. 12 and 13 show alternative embodiments; and

[0032] FIGS. 14 and 15 show a co-extrusion technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment. A cover device 1 comprises two similar but (in this embodiment) not identical bodies 2 and 3. Each of the bodies is an elongate strip which is preferably of length (in direction A) of approximately the height of a door to which it is to be affixed. Alternatively, it may be of reduced height. The bodies will be placed in a position on the door and frame where a child's (or adult's) fingers are likely to be impinged upon if the child uses their fingers between door and frame. The strips are formed of plastic material such as polypropylene, PVC or other material and includes two different types of plastic, one of which is more rigid than the other. They may be co-extruded to form single articles comprising two materials. The rigid parts comprise generally flat panel portions whilst the less rigid parts, which may be flat or curved, form hinge parts (living hinges) in the finished strip. The parts are identical apart from their innermost edge.

[0034] Body one will now be described in detail.

[0035] This comprises a first outer panel 4 adapted to be fixed to a face of door 5 (FIG. 2). A layer of double-sided tape 6 is fixed to one face of panel 4 affixing this to the door 5. However, other methods of attaching the panel to the door may be used, such as screws, brackets and so on.

[0036] Adjacent to panel 4 is a strip of more flexible plastic 7 and this may, as shown, be of reduced depth compared to the depth of panel 4. This can therefore act as a hinge.

[0037] The next panel is another rigid panel 8. Note that in general the rigid panels are of greater width (the dimension of the panel in a direction perpendicular to the hinge lines) than the less rigid ones, but this is not necessarily so in all embodiments.

[0038] The next part is a hinge portion 9 which is preferably, together with the other hinge portions, formed of a less rigid, flexible, plastic material (although it may all be formed of the same plastic material in some embodiments with flexibility being obtained by reduced depth portions or otherwise).

[0039] The next portion 10 is another rigid planar portion and the other end of this connects to a further hinge 11. A further rigid planar panel 12 extends from hinge 11, followed by a hinge 13.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows how the strips may be manufactured (typically by extrusion) such that hinge parts 9 and 11 are already bent (i.e. pre-formed in their bent disposition) to subtend an angle of between their ends of less than 90 (the angle Figure of 1). Thus, the strip is formed with a memory profile of these angles, but the hinges can open out to extend the strip, or closed to shorten the strip, and will then return to the initial memory position. The hinges can allow movement between substantially 180 (ie where the adjacent rigid panel such as panels 8 and 9 are in line with each other) to substantially 60. Where the panels 8, 10 and 12 lie substantially flat upon each other such a panel 10 lies flat upon panel 8 (or closed to shorten the strip).

[0041] By extend or shorten is meant to increase or decrease the distance in space between the ends (i.e. straighten out or increase the bends in the body), so that when in situ a door can be opened to increase the distance between a part of it and the frame, or closed to reduce the distance.

[0042] Hinge 13 is a hinge similar to that of hinge 7. A further planar panel 14 leads to the distal (free) end 15 which is formed to include (at least part of its length) a channel 16. This is achieved by part 15 having a part cylindrical or at least concavely arcuate form, forming a channel within having an opening 17. The opening preferably faces in a direction generally away from panel 4 (when the article is manufactured) but may otherwise disposed, and in the embodiment shown is at an angle.

[0043] Part 3 is similar to part 1 apart from the distal edge 18. Instead of having a channel formed in it, this forms a bulbous protrusion 19 intended to locate within channel 16. As shown, this may be of width (at its widest point) greater than the width of at least part of the rigid section 20 which is adjacent to it, and the opening 17 of the channel is less than the width of the protrusion 19 such that when the protrusion is in place it cannot simply be pulled out easily.

[0044] The protrusion can be otherwise shaped. Preferably it has a part-circular cylindrical cross-section and the channel has a corresponding cylindrical internal cross-section so that the two can relatively rotate.

[0045] The remainder of body strip 3 is identical to that of body strip 2.

[0046] The two parts may therefore be joined by sliding one part into the other from the top or bottom, such that the protrusion 19 locates within channel 16.

[0047] Alternatively, by arranging for channel 16 and its opening 17 to have some flexibility such that it can be resiliently deformed to enlarge opening 17, the protrusion can be pushed in by a snap fit. Once, the enlarged protrusion is located the opening will resiliency close, requiring considerable force to pull protrusion 19 out.

[0048] When assembled together the two parts may therefore hinge relative to each other about the joint formed between protrusion 19 and channel 16, and also a degree of longitudinal movement is enabled (typically up or down in a vertical direction when the bodies are mounted between the door and frame). The joint between the bodies therefore acts as hinge between panels 14 and 20 (the panel adjacent to protrusion 19) but also enables for relative longitudinal movement. It is this relatively longitudinal movement that can enable one of the strips to move longitudinally relative to the other to accommodate a rising butt hinge on a door for example.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows the strips mounted between a door 5 and frame 30. The door is opened around 90 relative to the frame and this is typically the position at which the door is opened in order for the bodies to be mounted on the respective door and frame by virtue of panels 4 and 31, each being affixed to the respective door and frame by double-sided tape, screws or otherwise.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a rising butt hinge 31 and illustrates by arrow B the direction which relative movement can be achieved.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a top view and shows how as the door is opened further the two bodies 2 and 3 can open about hinges 9 and 11 of the one part, and 32 and 33 on the other part. The embodiment shown has the protrusion part 19 of body 3 extends at an angle , to rigid part 20, of less than 180 (typically but not necessarily greater than 90). The channel is arranged with its opening angle similarly.

[0052] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the situation when the door is fully closed. For each body the parts are folded in the same way. Referring to body 2, the parts are folded upon each other such that, by virtue of hinges 7, 9 and 11, panels 4, 8, 10 and 12 lie substantially against each other flexed together by the hinges.

[0053] The zone defined by flexible panel 13 (see FIG. 1) and the body is therefore hinged by around 90 (i.e. a 120 angle around hinge formed by zone at this point.

[0054] As is shown in the Figures, at all dispositions, a child's fingers are prevented from entering the space between a door and frame and being possibly trapped.

[0055] FIGS. 6 to 11 show a further embodiment in which, instead of one of the bodies having a female connector (channel) and the other having a male connector (protrusion), both bodies 60, 70 have a female connector in the form of a channel 40, 41. Thus, both bodies are exactly the same in this embodiment which therefore has the advantage that both bodies are the same and therefore can be made from the same extrusion, cut into sections, for example.

[0056] In this embodiment, a separate connecting member 42 is provided. This might of a more flexible plastic than the plastic used for the rigid panels, such as panel 12, or an equally rigid plastic and this includes a flat central elongate panel 43 and two lateral protrusions 44, 45. Each of these extend at an angle of 180 to the angle of the planar part and include a protrusion in the form of a bulbous cross-section part 46, 47 of greater width than at least the part of the flat panel 43 adjacent to them and which is adapted to locate within a corresponding one of channels 40 and 41.

[0057] In use, the joining part 42 can be inserted between bodies 2 and 3 either from the top or bottom when located within the slots, or by a push snap-fit (where the openings are flexible and formable) as desired. This therefore provides for the relative movement both rotationally and an elongate movement between the two bodies similar to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0058] Alternatively both bodies may have a male connector (protrusion) and the joining member has two female connectors, or the joining member may have one male and one female edge and the bodies be the same bodes 2 and 3 for example.

[0059] FIG. 7 shows one of the bodies with some of the parts flattened against others.

[0060] FIGS. 8 to 11 are equivalent to FIGS. 2 to 5 showing the embodiment of FIG. 6 in use. As shown, the two parts may move relative to each other in an elongate (vertical) direction to allow for rising butt hinges or other circumstances.

[0061] The combination of panels and hinges 4 to 14 of each body enables the effective length of each body to vary to increase as the door is opened and decrease as the door is closed to therefore enable a wide variety of door openings and sizes to be accommodated.

[0062] Other configurations which use two bodies hingably joined may be envisaged within the scope of the invention.

[0063] FIG. 12 is an alternative embodiment in which in at least one of the bodies, instead of separate hinges 9, 11 and 13 and panels 8 to 10 and 12, there is provided a single flexible panel 18 which is formed in a generally U shape as shown. This includes a first hinged section 80 which subtends an angle of greater than 270, a second section 82 with an external angle of more than 90, a curved rear face 83 and some hinge parts 84, 85 to 81 and 82 respectively. Thus, this in effect forms a U shape having a bulge at it closed end and a narrower waist part 87, shown by dashed lines.

[0064] This part can therefore expand as a door is opened or can compress upon itself with hinges 81 and 82 towards each other. As the door is closed it can also fold upon each other upon itself.

[0065] FIG. 13 shows another embodiment, similar to that of FIG. 12, in which instead a curved hinge part the hinges are formed by planar and angled hinges parts having a defined memory angle 91, 92, 95, 94. Clearly this will work in the same manner as the embodiment of FIG. 12 and many other embodiments, including ones which are generally very triangular cross-section for the flexible part highlighted in FIGS. 12 and 13 (i.e. parts 81 to 86) or other configurations. The parts may hinge towards or away from each other.

[0066] The hinge part shown may change shape in order for the guard to reach the closing frame for different types of door. The hinge parts will essentially move in the direction of the arrow, i.e. closing parts 91 and 95 towards each other and causing hinges 92 and 94 to move downwardly to close parts 97 and 98.

[0067] FIGS. 14 and 15 show, very schematically, a co-extrusion technique. Co-extrusion techniques are well known in themselves. Any convenient method may be used. The more rigid plastic material (e.g. UPVC) is applied to a first nozzle 200 and the second plastic material (also UPVC for example) is applied to a second nozzle 202. Each nozzle includes a screw 204 (not shown in nozzle 202) which drives the plastic to the outlet 206. The plastic is heated to a molten state by heaters 208 at each nozzle.

[0068] The outputs are applied to an extrusion die 210. In the embodiments shown the outputs are applied at 90 to each other. As shown in FIG. 15 the die is shaped to extrude (co-extrude) both plastic materials simultaneously to obtain the profile (shown schematically only) 212.