GB2291092A

GB2291092A - Finger guards for doors

Info

Publication number: GB2291092A
Application number: GB9413613A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Napier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-07-06
Filing date: 1994-07-06
Publication date: 1996-01-17
Also published as: GB9413613D0

Abstract

A safety guard is provided to prevent fingers being introduced into the space between a hinged door and a frame when the door is open. The safety device comprises a sheet-like element 10 which is secured either to the frame or to the door by nails, screws or adhesive and is initially in a position in which it extends across the gap between the door and the door frame, in the region adjacent the hinges of the door, when the door is in the open position. The sheet can be pleated or corrugated or can comprise two hingedly connected sheets, two flexible sheets joined in a mutual spiral, or a flexible coil joined to the frame and to the door by headed nails which extend through narrow slots in the coil. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A SAFETY ARRANGEMENT" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a safety arrangement and more particularly relates to a safety arrangement intended to minimise the risk of an accident occurring when a door shuts.

When a door shuts it is possible that an accident may occur, especially involving small children, with fingers being trapped between the door and the door frame.

A particular area, where a risk of the accident being very serious, is in the region where the door is hinged to the door frame. If the fingers of a child are located between the door and the door frame in this region, as the door is shut a very considerable force may be applied to the fingers, causing significant damage and injury.

The present invention seeks to provide a safety arrangement which will at least reduce the risk of accidents of the type described above from occurring.

According to this invention there is provided a safety device to prevent elements being introduced into the space between a door and a frame, to which the door is hingedly connected, when the door is open, said safety device comprising a sheet-like element secured to the frame and/or to the door, the element being movable to a position in which it extends across the gap between the door and the frame when the door is in the open position and the element moving to a retracted position as the door is closed.

The sheet-like element may be a sheet of resilient material, and may be a planar sheet or a corrugated sheet.

The sheet-like element may be a multi-part sheet interconnected by hinged connections, the sheet being hingedly connected to the door and/or to the door frame.

In another embodiment the sheet-like element is a sheet of resilient material having spring properties, one edge of the sheet being secured to the door or door frame, the other edge of the sheet being resiliently biassed against the door frame or the door respectively.

Preferably the door frame (or the door) which has the free edge of the sheet biassed against it is provided with a protective element.

In another embodiment the sheet-like element comprises two components each connected respectively to the door and the frame, the elements being interconnected and, when the door is closed, winding to form a co-spiral coil.

Conveniently the two components are connected by pivotal interconnection means.

In a further embodiment the sheet-like element is secured to the door and/or the frame by securing means which pass through a substantially horizontal slot formed in the sheet-like element, the sheet-like element being adapted to form at least one coil as the door closes.

In another embodiment the sheet-like element is secured to the door and/or the frame by adhesive tape.

Preferably the sheet is of UPVC.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a door, when open; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a safety device in accordance with the invention connected to the door; FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section through the door of Figure 2 showing the door in the open position; FIGURE 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 showing the door in the open position in phantom and in the closed position in solid lines; FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 showing a modified embodiment of the invention when the door is in the open position; FIGURE 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 4 illustrating the embodiment of Figure 5 when the door is in the closed position;; FIGURE 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 showing another embodiment of the invention with the door in the open position; FIGURE 8 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 7 showing the door partly closed; FIGURE 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 4 showing the embodiment of Figure 7 when the door is in the closed position; FIGURE 10 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 showing another embodiment of the invention of the door in the open position; FIGURE 11 is a view corresponding to Figure 4 showing the embodiment of Figure 10 when the door is in the closed position; FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the lower part of a door provided with a further arrangement in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 13 is a sectional view, corresponding to Figure 3 illustrating the embodiment of Figure 12 when the door is open;; FIGURE 14 is a sectional view corresponding to Figure 13 showing the door partly closed; and FIGURE 15 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 12, corresponding to Figure 4, showing the door fully shut; FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of a lower part of a door and a frame provided with another form of safety device in accordance with the invention, whilst the door is open; FIGURE 17 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 16 with the door partly shut; FIGURE 18 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 16 with the door fully closed.

FIGURE 19 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 showing another embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 20 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 19 showing the door partly closed, and FIGURE 21 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 19 showing the door fully closed.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings a door 1 is illustrated which has a leading edge 2. Located on the opposite side of the door from the leading edge 2 are a plurality of hinges 3 which secure the door to a door frame 4.

In Figure 1 the door is illustrated in the open condition, meaning that there is a space 5 defined between the door and the door frame. This space is only present when the door is open, as illustrated, and the space is totally closed up as the door is shut.

Should a child, for example, have his or her fingers within the space 5 as the door closes, there is a grave risk that those fingers will be seriously injured.

In order to prevent accidents of this type arising the present invention provides, as will be described hereinafter with reference to several embodiments, a sheetlike element having one side connected either to the door or the frame and the other side at least in contact with the frame or the door respectively, to prevent items such as fingers being introduced into the space between the door and the frame when the door is open, the sheet moving to a retracted position as the door closes.

Referring initially to Figure 2 of the drawings a substantially planar sheet 10 of rectangular form, of an appropriate deformable or resilient material, such as UPVC is provided. The sheet is mounted in position in an upright orientation, with one edge 11 of the sheet being secured to the door frame 4 by means of a plurality of nails, screws or other fastenings 12. The sheet 10 extends across the space 5 defined between the frame 4 and the door 1, and the opposed edge 13 of the sheet is secured to the door 1 by a further plurality of nail, screws or other fastenings 14.

As can be seen clearly from Figure 2 when the door is in the open condition the sheet 10 spans the space 5 between the door 1 and the frame 4, preventing elements, such as fingers, from being introduced into that space.

The vertical extent of the sheet 10 can be selected to be any extent up to the entire height of the door, but it is envisaged that since the risk of accident is greatest with small children, the sheet may have a vertical extent of, say, 1 meter, the base of the sheet being located adjacent the ground or floor.

As can be seen from Figure 4, when the door 1 is moved from the open position of Figures 2 and 3 to the closed position of Figure 4 the sheet 10 becomes deformed, the sheet, in cross-section, bowing into one of the rooms or spaces to which the door provides access.

The sheet 10 may be formed of any appropriate material, such as metal or plastic, although UPVC is a preferred material. The sheet may be provided with longitudinal reinforcing ribs, extending vertically, to provide desired strength characteristics to the sheet.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention in which a corrugated sheet 20 is utilised in place of the non-corrugated sheet 10. The corrugated sheet 20 is mounted in position on the door 1 in the same way as the sheet 10. As can be seen from Figures 5 and 6, when the door is moved to the opened condition of Figure 5 the corrugations themselves tend to open, whereas, when the door is moved to the closed condition of Figure 6 the corrugations close up in a concertina fashion so that the sheet, when the door is closed, is unobtrusive.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which a two-part sheet 25 is used in place of the one-part integral sheet 10. The two-part sheet comprises two substantially rigid planar sheet elements 26, 27 which are pivotally interconnected about a pivot axis 28. One edge of the element 26 is pivoted by means of a pivot axis 29 to the door frame 4 whereas the opposed edge of the other sheet element 27 is pivotally connected 30 to the door 1.

As can be seen from Figure 7 the two-part sheet occupies a position in which it extends across the space 5 between the door 1 and the frame 4 when the door is in the open position but the two-part sheet moves to a retracted position, adjacent the door 1, when the door closes, as can be seen from Figure 8.

Referring now to Figures 10 and 11 in the illustrated embodiment a spring element 31, made of spring steel is utilised. The spring element 31 is of plate-like form having, adjacent one vertical edge, a plurality of vertical corrugations 32. This edge region of the spring element 31 is secured by hastening means such as nails 33 to the edge of the door frame 4. The spring element 31 has a projecting leaf 33 having a terminal edge 34 which is resiliently biased into engagement with the surface of the door 1 even when the door is in the fully opened position as illustrated in Figure 10. The part of the door contacted by the spring may be provided with a protective element 34 formed of plastic or metal.

As the door moves from the open position of Figure 10 to the closed position of Figure 10 the free edge 34 of the leaf spring 31 will slide against the protective element 34, whilst being firmly biassed into engagement with that protective surface by the resilience of the corrugated portion 32 of the spring.

It is thus to be appreciated that one edge of the spring element 31 is secured to the door frame by means of nails 33 or the like, whereas the other edge 34 of the spring element is always resiliently biassed against the surface of the door or, in the described embodiment, the protective element 34 provided on the surface of the door.

The spring 31 thus prevents access to the space 5 defined between the door and the door frame.

Figures 12 to 15 illustrate another embodiment in which a two-part sheet 35 is provided. Each part of the sheet is made of a resilient or deformable material. One element 36 has a vertical edge 37 thereof secured to the door frame 4 by fastening means such as nails 38. The other sheet element 29 has the opposed edge 40 thereof secured to the door 1 by means of fastening means such as nails 41. The adjacent edges of the sheet elements 36, 39 are connected together. In the described embodiment the edges of the sheets are interconnected by a pivotal arrangement, such as a "piano hinge", but the edges of the sheets could simply be secured together. The sheets are of a resilient material, and each sheet is naturally biassed to form a spiral having a vertical axis.

As can be seen, from Figures 14 and 15, as the door 1 moves from the fully open position of Figure 12 to the fully closed position of Figure 15 the two elements 36, 39, become convoluted with each other, forming a mutual spiral coil 40 as shown in Figure 15. As the door returns to the fully open position the spiral coil unwinds and the twopart sheet 35 prevents access to the space between the door and the door frame.

Figures 18 to 19 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention in which a sheet 41 of material is provided which has, at its top and at its bottom (and at other selected locations) a transverse horizontal slot, such as the slot 42. The sheet 41 is secured to the door frame by means of a nail 43 or the like having an enlarged head which passes through the slot 42 and similarly the sheet 41 is connected to the door 1 by means of a nail 44 having an enlarged head which passes through the slot 42.

The sheet is a sheet of naturally resilient material, the edge portions of which are provided with a natural bias to form spiral coils with a vertical axis.

As can be seen in Figure 16, the edge portions 45, 46, of the sheet are beginning to coil up even though the door is fully open.

As can be seen in Figure 17, as the door 1 moves towards a closed position, the nails 43 and 44 are effectively brought closer together, by the action of the door closing. The edge portions 45, 46 of the sheet become more coiled with the nails 43, 44 being located at positions spaced away from the ends of the slot 42.

As the door 1 moves to the fully closed position as shown in Figure 18 the edges 45, 46 of the sheet are fully coiled, with the nails 43, 44 being located immediately adjacent each other.

It is to be appreciated that in a modified embodiment of the arrangement shown in Figures 16 to 18 the slot 42 could be formed of two portions of substantially equal length, being separated by a small portion of sheet.

The small portion of sheet would be located to extend between the nails 43 and 44 when the door is in the fully closed position as shown in Figure 18.

The sheet 41 may be made of metal or may be made of a plastics material.

Referring now to Figures 19 to 21, yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In this embodiment a sheet 50 of UPVC material is utilised which is mounted to a door 1 and a door frame 4 in a position very similar to that occupied by the sheet 10 of the embodiment of Figures 2 to 4. However, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 19 to 20, the sheet 50 is secured to the door 1 and the frame 4 by means of strips of adhesive tape 51,52. The adhesive tape is flexible and as can be seen as the door 1 moves from the open position of Figure 19 to the closed position of Figure 21, the sheet 50 flexes, but also the lengths of adhesive tape 51,52 which secure the sheet 50 in position flex as well.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments it is to be appreciated that further embodiments may be devised. It is to be appreciated that whilst, in certain described embodiments, elements are described as being secured to a door frame whilst having a free edge contacting a door, such arrangements could be reversed, with the element being secured to the door and having a free edge contacting a door frame.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A safety device to prevent elements being introduced into the space between a door and a frame, to which the door is hingedly connected, when the door is open, said safety device comprising a sheet-like element secured to the frame and/or to the door, the element being movable to a position in which it extends across the gap between the door and the frame when the door is in the open position and the element moving to a retracted position as the door is closed.

2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the sheetlike element is a sheet of resilient material.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the sheet-like element is a planar sheet.

4. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the sheet-like element is a corrugated sheet.

5. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the sheet-like element is a multi-part sheet interconnected by hinged connections, the sheet being hingedly connected to the door and/or to the door frame.

6. An device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the sheet-like element is a sheet of resilient material having spring properties, one edge of the sheet being secured to the door or door frame, the other edge of the sheet being resiliently biassed against the door frame or the door respectively.

7. A device according to Claim 6 wherein the door frame (or the door) which has the free edge of the sheet biassed against it is provided with a protective element.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 1 or 2 wherein the sheet-like element comprises two components each connected respectively to the door and the frame, the elements being interconnected and, when the door is closed, winding to form a co-spiral coil.

9. A device according to Claim 8 wherein the two components are connected by pivotal interconnection means.

10. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the sheet-like element is secured to the door and/or the frame by securing means which pass through a substantially horizontal slot formed in the sheet-like element, the sheet-like element being adapted to form at least one coil as the door closes.

11. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the sheet-like element is secured to the door and/or the frame by adhesive tape.

12. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, 10 or 11 wherein the sheet is of UPVC.

13. A safety device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A safety device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A safety device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A safety device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A safety device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 12 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A safety device substantially as herein described with reference to and a shown in Figures 16 to 18 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A safety device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 19 to 21 of the accompanying drawings.

20. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.