US3141188A - Door stop - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1964 J. H. GRAY 3,141,188

DOOR STOP Filed Nov. 21, 1960 IN VENTo/Q: Jnmss hmewsv ERA);

HTTOENE/S United States Patent 3,141,188 DOOR STOP James H. Gray, 3t. Louis, Mo., assignor to Brennan-Gray Corporation, (Ilayton, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Nov. 21, 196i), Ser. No. 70,735 Claims. (Cl. 1686) This invention relates to a door guard, and particularly to a door guard that is movable to a position for engaging the floor, to a position for acting as a bumper between the door and an adjacent wall and to a position from which it will automatically engage the fioor to interrupt an abrupt opening force applied to the door.

The door guard includes a rod that is pivotally supported by a bracket. There is a spring that biases the rod in an upward direction whereas the weight of the rod opposes the force of the spring. The spring normally holds the rod with its resilient free end slightly raised above the floor below the door to which the stop is attached. The force of the spring is such that the weight of the pivotally supported rod gives it a sufiicient inertial force to overcome the strength of the spring when the door is jerked open.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a door guard that will automatically interrupt an abrupt opening force applied to a door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door guard that can be positioned to permit normal operation of the door, but which will operate to stop the opening of the door when it is pushed with a sudden force.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a door guard that can be moved into position to act as a buffer against banging the door against an adjacent wall. A subsidiary object is to provide means for locking the door guard in buifer position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door guard that can be moved into floor-engaging position for blocking movement of the door in an opening direction, including means readily operable by a persons foot to lock the door guard in floor-engaging position. A subsidiary object of the invention is to provide means for latching the locking means so that the door guard will remain in floor-engaging position, which latching means is also readily releasable by engagement by a persons foot.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of the door guard;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the door guard taken from the right side of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view in section on an enlarged scale taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view of the upper left hand corner of the door guard with parts broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view of the mechanism for limiting the movement of the locking means that maintains the door guard in floor engaging position;

FIGURE 7 is a view in section on an enlarged scale similar to that of FIGURE 3 with the door guard locked in fioor-engaging position; and

FIGURE 8 is a view in section of the upper part of the door guard of FIGURE 7 with the door guard locked in buffer position.

Referring to the drawings, the door guard 10 is supported by a bracket 11 that is fastenable to the side of a door D by screws 12. The bracket 11 includes a face plate 13 having the generally diamond-shaped outline clearly illustrated in FIGURE 1. A pair of supporting wings 14 depend forwardly from the face plate 13 and at 3,141,188 Patented July 21, 1964 Ice right angles to it. The wings 14 are spaced apart and are joined at their upper ends by a top plate 15. The upper surface 16 of the top plate 15 acts as a seat for a spring to be described, the lateral confines of the spring seat being defined by a pair of block members 17 having inwardly spacing opposed arcuate surfaces 18.

The lower forward edges 19 of the wings 14 are tapered rearwardly. A front plate 20 extends between the wings 14, rearward of the forward edges 19. The upper edge 21 of the front plate 20 is located so that the front plate will not interfere with the operation of the door guard while yet providing structural support.

Each of the wings 14 has a hole 22 through it, the holes 22 being coaxial. A shaft 23 is rotatably supported by the holes 22 and extends between the wings 14. Fixed to the shaft, (at least partly by an eye bolt 51 that will be further described) is a rod 24 having a hole 25 through one end for receiving the shaft 23. As can be seen from the drawings, the rod 24 has a tapered mid-portion 26.

The lower end of the rod 24 has a pin 27 extending from it, the pin 27 having an enlarged head 28. A resilient bumper or buffer 23 is snapped over the head 28 of the pin 27 and abuts the lower end of the rod 24. The bumper 29 is formed of a suitable rubber or plastic.

The forward side of the rod 24 is notched to form an abutment 32 near its upper end. A vertically slidable sleeve casting 33 having the general shape of a tapered half cylinder, as illustrated in the drawings, has a lower edge 34 that is movable into engagement with the abutment 32 to restrict the upward swinging movement of the rod 24. The cast sleeve 33 has a top plate portion 35, the rearward edge 36 of which is slightly spaced from the face plate 13 of the bracket 11 to permit the cast sleeve 33 to slide freely. The cast sleeve 33 is guided in its movement by a pair of vertical grooves 38 formed in the outer surfaces of the wings 14 and into which extends a pair of inwardly depending vertically elongated projections 39 formed in the opposite sides of the cast sleeve 33.

A compression spring 40 is seated against the top surface 16 of the plate member 15 within the confines of the blocks 17. The compression spring 40 normally engages the under surface of the top plate portion 35 of the cast sleeve 33 to bias that sleeve upwardly. However, the cast sleeve 33 can be locked in a lowered position by a latch 42 fixed to a pin 43 for pivotal movement within a recess 44 in the face plate 13 of the bracket 11. The pin 43 rotates within a pair of holes 45 at either side of the recess 44. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, there is a coil spring 46 looped about the pin 43 and having one end 47 fixed to the face plate 13 and the other end 48 fixed to the latch 42. The coil spring 46 biases the latch 42 away from the face plate 13 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 7.

The latch 42 has a notch 50 formed in its lower forward end for engaging the rearward edge 36 of the sleeve top plate 35 as shown in FIGURE 7. Therefore, when the cast sleeve 33 is depressed a sufficient distance against the force of the spring 40, the coil spring 46 will cause the latch 42 to automatically snap outwardly from the face plate 13 with the notch 50 of the latch. 42 engaging the end 36 of the sleeve top plate 35.

The cast sleeve 33 is readily released from the latch 42 upon shoving the latch 42 against the face plate 13 by foot pressure against it. When that occurs, the compression spring 40 will cause the cast sleeve to be automatically raised to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The size of the coil spring 40 (shown unstressed in FIG- URE 8) is such that it supplies only enough force to move the sleeve 33 above the notch 50.

A small eye bolt 51 is fastened to the rod 24 and extends into the shaft 23 to prevent axial movement of the shaft relative to the rod 24-. Another eye bolt 52 is threaded into the front plate 20 of the bracket 11, and there is a tension spring 53 connected between the eye bolts 51 and 52. The tensionspring 53 biases the rod 24 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 7. Opposing the force of the tension spring 53 is the weight of the rod 24, and the spring 53 is calibrated so that the weight of the rod 24 will cause it to normally occupy the position illustrated in FIGURE 3. In that position, the lower extremity of the resilient bumper 29 is slightly elevated above the floor F A spring clip 54 is fixed to the rod 24 within a suitable recess 55. The clip 54 cooperates with a notch 56 formed in the bracket 11 to lock the rod 24 in a substantially horizontal position. The rod 24 can be moved to the horizontal position upon raising it by a person's foot, providing the cast sleeve 33 is released from the latch 42. As the rod 24 approaches the horizontal position, the clip 54 snaps within the notch 56 as illustrated in FIGURE 8. Also, as the rod 24 is raised, the cast sleeve 33 will be raised by virtue of the contact by the lower edge 34 with the forward surface of the rod 24. The rod 24 is returned to the normal position illustrated in FIGURE 3 by depressing it with a sufficient force to release the clip 54 from the notch 56. Thereafter, the weight of the rod will return it to its normal position. At the same time, the weight of the cast sleeve 33 will cause it to drop into the normal position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The sleeve 33 is freely slidable within the grooves 38. However, there is a stud 57 through the front of the sleeve 33 that abuts the under surface of the plate to limit the upward movement of the sleeve 54. The stud 57 thus prevents inadvertent removal of the sleeve 54.

It will be observed that, in spite of the versatility of the door guard, it has only a small number of parts and is easily assembled. The bracket 11 includes the face plate 13, the wings 14, the cover plate 15 and the front plate as a single casting. After the spring clip 54 has been fixed to the slot 55, in the rod 24, the rod is attached to the bracket by placing it between the wings 14 with the hole aligned with the holes 22. The shaft 23 is then inserted into position and fixed in place by the eye bolt 51 (accomplished most easily by pivoting the rod 24 upwardly as far as the plate 15 will allow). After the eye bolt 52 is threaded into place, the tension spring 53 is hooked between the eye bolts.

The latch 42 is mounted after the coil spring 46 has been positioned with its end 47 within the recess in the face plate 13. The latch is aligned with the other end 48 of the coil spring in the latch recess and the pin 43 is inserted through one side of the face plate 13, the coil of the spring 46, the latch, and the other side of the face plate. The pin may be locked against axial movement by a pressfit, peening over its ends, or other conventional method.

After the compression spring has been placed upon the spring seat between the blocks 17, the projections 39 on the cast sleeve 33 are slid into the grooves 38 in the sides of the wings 14. The stud 57 is then threaded into place.

After the door guard has been fastened to the side of a door D, its operation may be controlled entirely by a persons foot. The normal position of the door guard is that illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 because, unless the sleeve 33 is forced downward, the compression spring 40 will maintain its top 35 above the notch 50 in the latch 42. Therefore, the bumper 29 on the end of the rod 24 will be slightly raised above the floor F because of the spring 53.

With the normal operation of the door D, the inertial movement of the rod 24, tending to pivot it above the shaft 23 toward the floor F, will be insufficient to overcome the force of the spring 53, and the bumper 29 will remain above the floor. However, when the door D is given a sudden push in an opening direction, the weight of the rod 24 will overcome the force of the spring 53, and the bumper 29 will engage the floor F. The composition of the bumper being chosen so that it will not slide along the floor, and because of the angle of the rod 24 (as shown in FIGURE 7), the door guard will prevent further opening movement of the door D.

Quite obviously, this automatically operative feature of the door guard is quite important. For example, when the door is opened a small amount in response to a knock or other indication of a visitor and the visitor, proving to be intrusive, attempts to thrust the door wide open, his elforts will be thwarted by the automatic operation of the door guard.

The door guard may be used as a night lock by depressing the cast sleeve 33 until it is latched in a lowered position by the latch member 42. In that condition, the bumper 29 will remain wedged against the floor. It may be released the following morning by pressing the latch 42 against the face plate 13 to release the sleeve 33. The force of the spring 53 will cause the rod to be raised. If the frictional engagement between the bumper 29 and the floor resists the spring, the rod may be positively raised by a foot after it is released.

A further use of the door guard involves raising it until the spring clip 54 snaps into the notch 56. The guard may then be used as a buffer to prevent hanging of the door or its door knob against an adjacent wall. The guard is released from the buffer position by applying sufficient downward prsesure to free the clip 53 from the notch 56.

A particular advantage of the door guard is that it may be operated to lock the door in any specified partly open position. For example, if it is desired to provide room ventilation accompanying about a six inch space between the free end of the door and the adjacent door frame and yet prevent the door from being blown further open by gusts of wind, the users foot is placed flat on the floor at six inches from the door guard when the door is closed. When the door is opened far enough, the bumper 29 on the guard slides downwardly against the side of the foot and engages the floor to lock the door. Because the bumper 29 is closer to the floor F than the top of the users foot, there is no danger of mashing the foot.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the process of this invention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: l

l. A door stop comprising a mounting bracket for attachment to the side of a door a short distance above the bottom of the door, a rod having one end pivotally supported by the bracket so that the weight of the rod biases the rod downwardly about the pivot support, spring 1 the floor beneath the door, and with the free end of the rod spaced further from the door than its supported end, means for releasing the locking means so that the spring means can pivot the free end of the rod away from thedoro, means for releasably locking the rod in a position substantially normal to the door, and means for locking the rod with its free end aganst the floor comprising slidable block means slidably supported by the bracket and engageable with the rod to limit its upward movement.

2. The door stop of claim 1 including means for releasably locking the block means in its rod engaging position, and spring means for automatically moving the block means out of rod engaging position when the block locking means is released.

3. A door stop for stopping a door against the floor beneath the door comprising a mounting bracket for attachment to a side of a door, a rod pivotally attached adjacent one of its ends to the bracket for swinging movement of its free end in a plane normal to the side of the door, a resilient bumper attached to the free end of the rod, spring means attached between the rod and the bracket for maintaining the rod in a position with the bumper raised above the floor, abutment means on the rod, a detent comprising a hollow casting supported by the bracket and movable into engagement with the abutment means to limit the upward movement of the rod, and a latch supported by the casting for releasably latching the casting in engagement with the abutment means.

4. The door stop of claim 3 wherein there are spring means supported by the bracket for biasing the casting upwardly when the latch releases the casting.

E5 5. The door stop of claim 3 wherein the rod is swingable to a substantially horizontal position and there are means for releasably locking the rod in the substantially horizontal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,044,728 Basler Nov. 19, 1912 1,415,493 Strayer May 9, 1922 1,704,967 Fuller Mar. 12, 1929 2,491,246 Bloomfield Dec. 13, 1949 2,762,641 Gilmour Sept. 11, 1956 2,964,780 Blankenship Dec. 20, 1960

Claims (1)

1. A DOOR STOP COMPRISING A MOUNTING BRACKET FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE SIDE OF A DOOR A SHORT DISTANCE ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR, A ROD HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY THE BRACKET SO THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE ROD BIASES THE ROD DOWNWARDLY ABOUT THE PIVOT SUPPORT, SPRING MEANS FOR BIASING THE ROD UPWARDLY ABOUT THE PIVOT SUPPORT, THE MOMENT APPLIED BY THE SPRING MEANS BEING GREATER THAN THE MOMENT APPLIED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE ROD, MEANS FOR LOCKING THE ROD WITH ITS FREE END AGAINST THE FLOOR BENEATH THE DOOR, AND WITH THE FREE END OF THE ROD SPACED FURTHER FROM THE DOOR THAN ITS SUPPORTED END, MEANS FOR RELEASING THE LOCKING MEANS SO THAT THE SPRING MEANS CAN PIVOT THE FREE END OF THE ROD AWAY FROM THE DORO, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING THE ROD IN A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE DOOR, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING THE ROD WITH ITS FREE END AGAINST THE FLOOR COMPRISING SLIDABLE BLOCK MEANS SLIDABLY SUPPORTED BY THE BRACKET AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE ROD TO LIMIT ITS UPWARD MOVEMENT.

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