DOOR STOPPER AND HOLDER DEVICE

Abstract

A door stopper and holder device for a door and having a distal part for anchoring to a structure adjacent the door when in a door open position, and a proximal part movably mounting onto the distal part. The proximal part is movable between an operating configuration, in either stopper mode or holder mode with the proximal part either being in abutment with the door or capturing the door therewith in the door open position, respectively, and a switching configuration in which the proximal part allows the door to be moved relative to the device which switches between the stopper and holder modes of the operating configuration. A device axis is generally perpendicular to a door plane when the door is in the door open position.

Claims

1. A door stopper and holder device for operating with a door when in a door open position, the door generally having a main body defining a door plane, the device comprising: a distal part for anchoring to a structure adjacent the door when in the door open position; and a proximal part movably mounting onto the distal part; wherein the proximal part being movable between an operating configuration, with a device axis being substantially perpendicular to the door plane when the door is in the door open position, in either stopper mode or holder mode with the proximal part being adapted to either be in abutment with the door or capture the door therewith in the door open position, respectively, and a switching configuration in which the proximal part is adapted to allow the door to be moved relative to the device which switches between the stopper mode and the holder mode of the operating configuration.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximal part is rotatably mounting onto the distal part about the device axis, with the proximal part being rotatable between the operating configuration and the switching configuration.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the proximal part includes a door capturing section having a proximal end adapted to be in abutment with the door when in the door open position.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the door capturing section has a generally U-shaped body defining distal and proximal members both extending from a base member, the base member being generally spaced from the device axis, with both the distal and proximal members being substantially perpendicularly oriented relative to the device axis, the distal and proximal members receiving the door therebetween when in the operating configuration to releasably capture the door.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the proximal part is into an in-line position relative to the distal part when in the operating configuration, the device further comprising a flexible resilient member connecting to the distal part and biasing the proximal part into the in-line position, while allowing the door capturing section to be selectively displaced into an angled position relative to the device axis when in the switching configuration.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the flexible resilient member is connected to both the proximal and distal parts and is located therebetween.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the flexible resilient member is a torsion-coil spring having a coil axis being generally parallel to the device axis.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the torsion-coil spring allows the rotation of the proximal part relative to the distal part about the device axis.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the flexible resilient member is a torsion-coil spring having a coil axis being generally colinear with the device axis.

10. The device of claim 4, wherein the base member is generally parallel to the device axis, with both the distal and proximal members being substantially perpendicularly oriented relative to the base member.

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the U-shaped body is generally vertically oriented when in the operating configuration.

12. The device of claim 4, wherein the U-shaped body is adjustable in size.

13. The device of claim 4, wherein the base member is adjustable in a length direction thereof so as to adjust a distance between the distal and proximal members.

14. The device of claim 4, wherein one of the distal and proximal members slightly extends away from the other one of the distal and proximal members when extending away from the base member.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the distal and proximal members slightly extend away from one another when extending away from the base member.

16. The device of claim 3, wherein the proximal part has a center of gravity offset from the device, the center of gravity maintaining the proximal part into the operating configuration about the device axis.

17. The device of claim 3, wherein the proximal part is freely rotatably mounted onto the distal part about the device axis.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximal part is into an in-line position relative to the distal part when in the operating configuration, the device further comprising a flexible resilient member connecting to the distal part and biasing the proximal part into the in-line position, while allowing the door capturing section to be selectively displaced into an angled position relative to the device axis when in the switching configuration, the flexible resilient member being a flexible bar member.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the proximal part is fixedly attached to the flexible bar member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the description in association with the following Figures, in which similar references used in different Figures denote similar components, wherein:

[0044] FIG. 1 is a front view of a door stopper and holder device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; showing the device in the operating configuration and in stopper mode, with a torsion-coil spring;

[0045] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the device in the operating configuration and in holder mode;

[0046] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the device in the switching configuration, with the torsion-coil spring being slightly flexed and stretched;

[0047] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of a door stopper and holder device in accordance with the present invention, showing a door capturing section proximal part freely rotatably mounted on a flexible bar distal part;

[0048] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of a door stopper and holder device in accordance with the present invention, showing a door capturing section proximal part freely rotatably mounted on a rigid bar distal part, with the door capturing section in the operating configuration in solid lines and in the switching configuration in stippled lines;

[0049] FIGS. 6 and 7 are left side views of the embodiment of FIG. 5, taken along line S-S of FIG. 5, showing door capturing section in the operating and switching configurations, respectively; and

[0050] FIGS. 8 and 9 are top plan views of another embodiment of a door stopper and holder device in accordance with the present invention, showing the device, in the operating and switching configurations, respectively, with a proximal part movably mounted on a distal part via a flexible bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] In FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown an embodiment 10 of a door stopper and holder device in accordance with the present invention. The device 10 operates with an adjacent door 12 (or window, or gate) when the door is in a door open position. The door 12 generally has a main body 14 defining a door plane, typically, as illustrated in the figures, the device 10 is located adjacent the bottom edge 16 (or surface) of the door close to the free lateral edge 18. A section of the device 10 is adapted to be selectively positioned within the free space between the bottom edge 16 of the door 12 and the underlaying floor surface 20 (the floor surface 20 beneath the door 12).

[0052] The device 10 comprises a distal part 30 for anchoring to a structure adjacent the door 12 when in the door open position, such as a wall 22 or the like, and a proximal part 40 movably mounted onto the distal part 30, and illustrated as being typically rotatably mounted onto the distal part 30 about a device axis 33, as indicated by arrow R. The device axis 33 is typically perpendicular to the wall 22 or other mounting surface.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the proximal part 40 is rotatable, typically using one's foot or hand (not shown), between an operating configuration (shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2) in either stopper mode (shown in FIG. 1) or holder mode (shown in FIG. 2) with the proximal part 40 being adapted to either be in abutment with the door 12 or capture the door 12 therewith in the door open position, respectively, and a switching configuration (shown in FIG. 3) in which the proximal part 40 is adapted to allow the door 12 to be moved relative to the device 10 as to switch between the stopper mode and the holder mode of the operating configuration. The device axis 33 is substantially perpendicular to the door plane when in the door open position and the proximal part 40 in the operating configuration.

[0054] The proximal part 40 is typically into an in-line position relative to the distal part 30 when in the operating configuration, and the device 10 further comprises a flexible resilient member 60 connecting to the distal part 30 and biasing the proximal part 40 into the in-line position. The flexible resilient member 60 allows the proximal part 40 to be selectively displaced into an angled position relative to the device axis 33, as indicated by arrow F, when in the switching configuration.

[0055] Typically, the flexible resilient member 60 is connected to both the proximal 40 and distal 30 parts and is located there between.

[0056] The flexible resilient member 60 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 is a torsion-coil (or extension) spring 62 with a coil axis 63 being generally parallel to the device axis 33. The torsion-coil spring 62 also allows the rotation of the proximal part 40 relative to the distal part 30 about the device axis 33. In other words, the flexible resilient member 60 is a torsion-coil spring 62 having the coil axis 63 being generally colinear with the device axis 33 when in the operating configuration, and at a slight angle relative to, or parallel to the device axis 33 when in the switching configuration. Although the proximal part 40 is shown as being rotated clockwise when looking toward the wall 22 in FIG. 3, it is noted that the proximal part 40 could be rotated in any direction.

[0057] The proximal part 40 typically includes a door capturing section 42 (or cradle) that has a proximal free end 44 adapted to be in abutment with the door 12 when in the door open position and the device in the operating configuration in the stopper mode. The door capturing section 42 has a generally U-shaped body defining distal 46 and proximal 48 members both extending from a base member 50, generally in the upward direction, such that the U-shaped body 42 is generally vertically oriented when in the operating configuration. The base member 50 is generally spaced from and preferably parallel to the device axis 33, with both the distal 46 and proximal 48 members being substantially perpendicularly oriented relative to the device axis 33 and the base member 50. The distal 46 and proximal 48 members receive the door 12 there between when in the operating configuration and in the holder mode to releasably and safely capture the door 12. Although the distal 46 and proximal 48 members as well as the base member 50 are illustrated as having a generally rectilinear shape, any other shape could be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0058] The free end 44 typically includes a resilient bumper member 45 or the like, as represented in stippled lines in the figures, to absorb the hit (and noise) from the contact with the door 12, as well as preventing damage to the door 12. Although not illustrated, some sort of resilient bumper members could also be used inside the cradle 42, on both proximal 48 and distal 46 members, and on the screw head 64, to protect the surfaces of the door 12.

[0059] Similarly, to ensure that the door capturing section 42 always remains in the operating configuration, by default, the proximal part 40 has a center of gravity 41 (or center of mass) vertically offset from and below the device axis 33 and vertically offset therefrom (or vertically in-line therewith). Accordingly, the distal member 46 is freely rotatably mounted on a screw 64, secured into the torsion-coil spring 62, between the screwhead and a locknut 66 mounted onto the torsion-coil spring 62. At the distal end, the torsion-coil spring 62 is secured to the wall 22 via a nut 68 screwed on the torsion-coil spring 62 and secured to a washer 69 itself secured to the wall 22 using a wood screw (not shown) or the like.

[0060] Alternatively, the door capturing section 42 could be rigidly secured to the torsion-coil spring 62 and then, the torsion-coil spring 62 itself would allow the rotation of the door capturing section 42 bout the device axis 33. In another alternative, the torsion-coil spring 62 could be freely rotatably mounted onto the wall 22.

[0061] As illustrated in stippled lines in FIGS. 1 and 4, the proximal part 40 could include and additional lump mass 52 at a proper location to help lower the center of gravity 41 relative to the device axis 33. The additional lump mass 52 could be either part of the proximal part 40 or be secured thereto via any well-known mechanical or chemical fastener.

[0062] Turning more specifically to FIG. 4, there is shown another embodiment 10′ of a door stopper and holder device in accordance with the present invention. The proximal section 40 is freely rotatably mounted onto a flexible bar member 62′ being the flexible resilient member 60′ that allows the tilting of the proximal part 40 indicated by arrow F. Such a flexible bar member 62′, or at least a portion thereof, could be made out of any plastic, rubber-based material, and even metallic material or the like known material(s).

[0063] The door capturing section 42′ of the proximal part 40 is adjustable in size, such as the height of the proximal member 48′ (as indicated by arrow H) and/or distal member 46 (as indicated by arrow H′), and/or in length with the base member 50′ being adjustable in a length direction thereof (as indicated by arrow L) to adjust a distance between the distal 46 and proximal 48′ members. Similarly, at least one of the distal 46 and proximal 48′ members (and possibly both) could be slightly angled (any direction), preferably slightly extend in a direction away from (or also toward) the other one when extending away from the base member 50′ (as indicated by angle W), as to provide for a wider (or narrower) opening of the U-shaped body 42′ to allow for an easier capture of the door 12 therein. Similarly, although not specifically illustrated, the base member 50′ could be slightly angled relative to the device axis 33 (and the floor surface 20) (or not exactly perpendicular to the adjacent wall 22), depending on the specific configuration or type of the door 12 and/or adjacent wall 22. In the latter case, both distal 46 and proximal 48′ members could be either parallel to one another, although not perpendicular to the base member 50′.

[0064] In FIGS. 5 to 7, there is shown another embodiment 10″ of a door stopper and holder device in accordance with the present invention. The device 10″ has the proximal part 40″ that is freely rotatably mounted, about the device axis 33, onto a rigid bar member 62″ of the rigid member 60″ being part of the distal part 30″ that is secured to the wall 22. Since the proximal part 40″ cannot tilt relative to the device axis 33 when in the switching configuration, the door capturing section 42″ is slightly laterally (horizontally) offset from the device axis 33 such that it can be positioned between the bottom edge 16 of the door 12 and the floor when rotated into the switching configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 7 (and in dotted lines in FIG. 5), from the operating configuration shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, as illustrated by arrow R1 of FIG. 6. Once the door has been moved ‘above’ the door capturing section 42″, the latter is released and returns into the operating mode under the action of gravity on the center of gravity 41, as illustrated by arrow R2 of FIG. 7.

[0065] Accordingly, because of the lateral offset of the door capturing section 42″ from the device axis 33, in order for the center of gravity 41 to be vertically in-line below the device axis 33 in the operating mode (see FIG. 6), the door capturing section 42″ includes a counterweight 54 to the U-shaped body opposite the device axis 33, and secured to the distal member 46.

[0066] In FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown another embodiment 10″′ of a door stopper and holder device in accordance with the present invention, similar to the embodiment 10′. This embodiment 10″′ is best suited when there is not enough room or space between the door 12 and the floor surface 20, or when it is difficult to properly secure the device 10″′ on the wall 22 adjacent the floor surface 20. The device 10″′ is mainly for use adjacent the free lateral edge 18 (as illustrated) or top edge of a door 12 or window. In this embodiment 10″′, the proximal part 40 is movably mounted on the distal part 30 via a flexible resilient member 60′, such as a flexible bar member 62′ that allows the lateral (side) tilting of the proximal part 40 indicated by arrow F′ and typically occurring under a force applied by a user's hand or the like. The proximal part 40, fixedly (or rigidly) attached to the proximal end 70 of the bar member 60′ via a screw/nut arrangement 66′ or the like, includes such proximal end 70, while the distal part 30 includes the distal end 72 of the bar member 60′. The flexible central portion 74 of the bar member 60′ makes the flexible link between the two parts 30, 40. The distal part 30 is typically fixedly attached to the distal end 72 via a screw/nut arrangement 68′ or the like.

[0067] FIG. 8 shows the embodiment 10″′ in the operating configuration (with a rectilinear bar axis 33′ in-line with the device axis 33) both in the stopper mode, with the door 12 of the left-hand-side position (in abutment with the bumper member 45), and in the holder mode, with the door 12 of the right-hand-side position. In order to switch between these two modes, a user's hand typically applies a force onto the device 10″′ to make it tilt into the switching configuration (with a curved bar axis 33′) shown in FIG. 9 enough to allow the passage of the door 12. After the body 14 of the door 12 is displaced, the resiliency of the bar member 62′ ensures that it returns to its operating configuration upon removal of the applied force from the user.

[0068] Although not illustrated herein, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand that the door stopper and holder device of the present invention, including the embodiments 10, 10′, 10″, 10″′, when applicable, could be easily modified to be able to operate adjacent a top edge or free lateral edge of a door or window.

[0069] Also, although not specifically discussed hereinabove, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand that all possible combinations of the above-described different features are included in the present invention, and that some additional features may be required for safety purpose and/or proper operation of the device.

[0070] Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope of the invention as hereinabove described and hereinafter claimed.