GB2123075A

GB2123075A - Door or drawer fastening devices

Info

Publication number: GB2123075A
Application number: GB08313427A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred William Hyett
Original assignee: DAVIES VALERIE ELAINE
Current assignee: DAVIES VALERIE ELAINE
Priority date: 1982-05-21
Filing date: 1983-05-16
Publication date: 1984-01-25
Also published as: GB8313427D0

Abstract

A door or drawer fastening device comprises a strap 1 connected to a pair of suction pads 2, 3. The suction pad 2 is pivotally attached to the strap 1 whilst the suction pad 3 has an enlarged head 4 which passes through an elongated slot 6 in the strap which can be eased over the head to release the strap. In use the device is applied across the opening of a drawer 8 or a door 9 in such a way that the strap 1 will be taut. The device can then only be released with some difficulty which will render the door or drawer secure against attempts at opening by very young children. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to door or drawer closing devices This invention relates to a device which may be used for holding doors and drawers in a closed condition. This is of particular advantage where it is desired to prevent young children from opening doors or drawers or similar items such as toilet lids. Where young children are concerned it may be desirable to prevent them gaining access to refrigerators, cupboards and oven doors (particularly when hot).

According to the present invention there is provided a door or drawer closing device comprising a flexible strap having a first suction pad secured to one end and a second suction pad having an external projection which is releasably received within a slot defined in the other end of the strap.

This device can quickly and easily be fitted into position on a door, drawer or the like without the aid of tools, screws or adhesive.

Furthermore it can readily be transferred from one door, appliance, etc. to another.

The connection of the second suction pad to the strap by means of the external projection received within a slot in the strap renders release of the suction pad from the strap as a relatively difficult operation which is unlikely to lie within the capabilities of very young children, particularly if the device is applied so that the strap is under some tension. The flexibility of the strap will enable an adult user to distort the strap to the extent necessary to free it from the suction pad.

It is preferred that the projection on the second suction pad should be formed with a large head defining a narrower neck. Ideally the slot in the strap should be of elongated form and be narrower than the head of the projection in one direction. In the preferred construction the slot is longer than the width of the head in the direction extending along the length of the strap.

The first suction pad may with advantage be secured pivotally to the strap as this renders less critical the precise positioning of the two suction pads. If desired however the first suction pad could be formed integrally with the strap.

The intermediate portion of the strap between the ends thereof may be formed to be of narrower width than the end portions carried on the suction pads. The strap itself can be formed from any convenient material of which plastics material, leather or woven canvas belting are preferred. The suction pads are preferably formed from plastics materials although rubber or synthetic rubber may also be used.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are plan and side views respectively of a door or drawer closing device of this invention; and Figure 3 illustrates how the closing device can be used to secure a door and a drawer.

The closing device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a flexible strap 1 formed from a transparent plastics material on which are mounted two suction pads 2, 3 formed from the same material. Both suction pads have an external projection which defines an enlarged head 4 and a narrower neck 5. A hole is formed in one end of the strap 1 which is smaller than the size of the head 4. However the plastics material may be warmed until it is elastically deformable so that the hole in the strap can be forced over the head 4. On cooling the strap will be connected to the suction pad 2 in a pivotal manner. At the other end the strap 1 incorporates an elongated slot 6 whose length is greater than the diameter of the head 4 but whose width is of a similar dimension to the diameter of the neck 5. The head 4 can therefore be inserted through the slot 6 by slight distortion of the strap 1.

As shown in Fig. 3 the closing device may be applied to a chest 7 so as to secure a drawer 8 or a door 9. The first suction pad 2 will be attached to the body of the chest 7 whilst the other suction pad 3 will be attached to the drawer 8 or the door 9 so that the strap 1 is taut or even under some tension. Neither the drawer 8 nor the door 9 can then be opened unless the closing device is released.

This can be done either by removing the suction pads (which is naturally difficult without use of a suitable implement) or by manipulating the strap 1 so as to ease the slot 6 over the head 4 of the suction pad 3. Because the strap 1 is taut some pressure has to be exerted in order to release the strap in this way so that release of the strap by a young child would be virtually impossible if the closing device is properly applied.

The closing device can be used for a variety of purposes, such as for securing doors to rooms or of refrigerators or ovens or medicine chests. The closing device can also be used to hold down the lid of a toilet seat. It will be appreciated that the closing device can only be used on doors or the like to which the suction pads can be securely fixed, such as smooth plastic or glazed items or doors painted with gloss paint.

1. A door or drawer closing device comprising a flexible strap having a first suction pad secured to one end and a second suction pad having an external projection which is releasably received within a slot defined in the other end of the strap.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to door or drawer closing devices This invention relates to a device which may be used for holding doors and drawers in a closed condition. This is of particular advantage where it is desired to prevent young children from opening doors or drawers or similar items such as toilet lids. Where young children are concerned it may be desirable to prevent them gaining access to refrigerators, cupboards and oven doors (particularly when hot). According to the present invention there is provided a door or drawer closing device comprising a flexible strap having a first suction pad secured to one end and a second suction pad having an external projection which is releasably received within a slot defined in the other end of the strap. This device can quickly and easily be fitted into position on a door, drawer or the like without the aid of tools, screws or adhesive. Furthermore it can readily be transferred from one door, appliance, etc. to another. The connection of the second suction pad to the strap by means of the external projection received within a slot in the strap renders release of the suction pad from the strap as a relatively difficult operation which is unlikely to lie within the capabilities of very young children, particularly if the device is applied so that the strap is under some tension. The flexibility of the strap will enable an adult user to distort the strap to the extent necessary to free it from the suction pad. It is preferred that the projection on the second suction pad should be formed with a large head defining a narrower neck. Ideally the slot in the strap should be of elongated form and be narrower than the head of the projection in one direction. In the preferred construction the slot is longer than the width of the head in the direction extending along the length of the strap. The first suction pad may with advantage be secured pivotally to the strap as this renders less critical the precise positioning of the two suction pads. If desired however the first suction pad could be formed integrally with the strap. The intermediate portion of the strap between the ends thereof may be formed to be of narrower width than the end portions carried on the suction pads. The strap itself can be formed from any convenient material of which plastics material, leather or woven canvas belting are preferred. The suction pads are preferably formed from plastics materials although rubber or synthetic rubber may also be used. The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are plan and side views respectively of a door or drawer closing device of this invention; and Figure 3 illustrates how the closing device can be used to secure a door and a drawer. The closing device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a flexible strap 1 formed from a transparent plastics material on which are mounted two suction pads 2, 3 formed from the same material. Both suction pads have an external projection which defines an enlarged head 4 and a narrower neck 5. A hole is formed in one end of the strap 1 which is smaller than the size of the head 4. However the plastics material may be warmed until it is elastically deformable so that the hole in the strap can be forced over the head 4. On cooling the strap will be connected to the suction pad 2 in a pivotal manner. At the other end the strap 1 incorporates an elongated slot 6 whose length is greater than the diameter of the head 4 but whose width is of a similar dimension to the diameter of the neck 5. The head 4 can therefore be inserted through the slot 6 by slight distortion of the strap 1. As shown in Fig. 3 the closing device may be applied to a chest 7 so as to secure a drawer 8 or a door 9. The first suction pad 2 will be attached to the body of the chest 7 whilst the other suction pad 3 will be attached to the drawer 8 or the door 9 so that the strap 1 is taut or even under some tension. Neither the drawer 8 nor the door 9 can then be opened unless the closing device is released. This can be done either by removing the suction pads (which is naturally difficult without use of a suitable implement) or by manipulating the strap 1 so as to ease the slot 6 over the head 4 of the suction pad 3. Because the strap 1 is taut some pressure has to be exerted in order to release the strap in this way so that release of the strap by a young child would be virtually impossible if the closing device is properly applied. The closing device can be used for a variety of purposes, such as for securing doors to rooms or of refrigerators or ovens or medicine chests. The closing device can also be used to hold down the lid of a toilet seat. It will be appreciated that the closing device can only be used on doors or the like to which the suction pads can be securely fixed, such as smooth plastic or glazed items or doors painted with gloss paint. CLAIMS

2. A door or drawer closing device according to claim 1, wherein the projection on the second suction pad is formed with a large head defining a narrower neck.

3. A door or drawer closing device according to claim 2, wherein the slot in the strap is of elongated form and is narrower than the head of the projection in one direction.

4. A door or drawer closing device according to claim 3, wherein the slot is longer than the width of the head in the direction extending along the length of the strap.

5. A door or drawer closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first suction pad is pivotally secured to the strap.

6. A door or drawer closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first suction pad is integrally formed with the strap.

7. A door or drawer closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the intermediate portion of the strap between the ends is of narrower width than the end portions carrying the suction pads.

8. A door or drawer closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the strap is formed from plastics material, leather or woven canvas belting.

9. A door or drawer closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the suction pads are formed from plastics materials.

10. A door or drawer closing device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.