GB2495786A

GB2495786A - A door restraint having door and door frame engagement members

Info

Publication number: GB2495786A
Application number: GB201120832A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-13
Filing date: 2011-12-05
Publication date: 2013-04-24
Also published as: GB201120832D0; GB201117726D0

Abstract

A door restraint having a door frame engagement member 202 and a door restraining member 302 which are joined together via a connecting member 308 passing through an aperture in the door 510. The door frame engagement member engages a door frame at a first face of a door, preferably on both sides, the door restraining member restrains a second face of the door. Preferably the aperture is a letter box. The frame engagement member is preferably a square hollow tube section and has outwardly extending protrusions 208 on either end to engage with the door frame. Preferably the door restraining member fits through the hole in the door and then is rotated into a restraining position. A lock may secure the restraint in place. Also claimed is a method of restraining a door and a kit of parts.

Description

DOOR RESTRAINT

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for securing an entry point to a building / interior room of a building. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for restraining a door of an entry point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Doors are secured to a door frame by fixing means such as a locking means and a hingeable connection, which prevent forced entry to a building / interior room of a building.

Emergency services are often required break through such doors, this may be to provide aid, warrant execution or other such duties.

Currently, doors are broken through by means of a battering ram, which when used provides an impulsive force sufficient to displaces the door from the frame. Generally, this causes substantial damage to at least one of the frame, door and fixing means. The damage is such that the door can not be re-secured without replacement of at least one of the frame, door and fixing means. Failure to secure the door would otherwise result in an insecure property. Since replacing the frame and / or fixing means takes a substantial amount of time a temporary means to secure the entry point is required.

It is known to temporarily secure an entry point by attaching panels of wood to the exterior of the frame and / or door. However, this process is labour intensive and wasteful, since the panel of wood are ultimately discarded when a replacement door assembly is fitted.

It is an object of aspects of the present invention to address at least one of the above or other problems. More particularly, an object is to provide a means for temporarily securing an entry point of a building! interior room of a building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a door restraint comprising: a door frame engagement member; a door restraining member; wherein, the door frame engagement member is configured to engage a door frame at a first face of a door, the door restraining member is configured to restrain a second face of the door, the door frame engagement member and door restraining member being configured to be connected via an aperture through the door.

Preferably, the door frame engagement member is configured to engage the door frame at more than one engagement point. Preferably, the door frame engagement member is configured to extend across a door between at least two engagement points. Preferably, the door frame engagement portion is elongate in a length direction. Preferably, the door frame engagement portion has a length greater than a width of a typical door, more preferably the length is 0.75-2 meters.

Preferably, the door frame engagement member comprises engagement portions configured to resist relative movement between door frame engagement member and door frame. Preferably, the engagement portions comprise one or more outwardly extending protrusions.

Preferably, the door frame engagement member is substantially hollow. Preferably, the door frame engagement member comprises a square section tube.

Preferably, the door frame engagement member comprises a first connecting portion operable to receive a second connecting portion of the door restraining member. Preferably, the first connecting portion comprises an aperture.

Preferably, the door restraining member comprises a door engagement portion connected to the second connecting portion. Preferably, the door engagement portion is configured to fit through an aperture in the door, more preferably, the aperture is a letter box.

Preferably, the door engagement portion is elongate, preferably having a length of less than 30 cm.

Preferably, the door engagement portion comprises engagement portions configured to resist relative movement between the door and door engagement portion. Preferably, the engagement portions comprise one or more outwardly extending protrusions.

Preferably, the second connecting portion is elongate. Preferably, the second connecting portion has fixing means attached thereto, the fixing means preferably being configured to secure the second connecting portion to the first connecting portion. Preferably. the fixing means comprises a bolt operable to engage a thread of the second connecting portion.

Optionally, the second connecting portion is deforrnable, such that a user can plastically deform it from a first open position to a second closed position. Preferably, the second connecting portion when in the second closed position is arranged to prevent removal of the fixing means from the second connecting portion.

Optionally, the second connecting portion comprises one or more apertures therethrough which are suitable for engagement with a locking means. Preferably, the apertures are arranged such that the locking means, when received, is arranged to prevent removal of the fixing means from the second connecting portion.

Preferably, the second connecting portion is rigidly connected to the door engagement portion.

Optionally, the door frame engagement member is substantially circular. Preferably, the substantially circular door frame engagement member comprises engagement portions proximate its periphery.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of restraining a door, the method comprising: inserting a door restraining member through an aperture in a door; arranging the door restraining member to restrain a second side of the door; connecting a first connecting portion of a door frame engagement member to a second connecting portion of the door restraining member; arranging the door frame engagement member to engage a door frame at a first side of a door.

Preferably, the method includes a step of inserting the door restraining member though the aperture from the first side of the door.

Preferably, the method includes a step of rotating the door restraining member to thereby enable engagement of a door engagement portion with the second side of the door.

Preferably, the method includes a step of securing the firs! connecting portion to the second connecting portion by fixing means.

Optionally, the method includes a step of deforming the second connecting portion from a first open position to a second closed position.

Optionally, the method includes a step of engaging a locking means with one or more apertures through the second connecting portion.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts for a door restraint comprising: a door frame engagement member; a door restraining member; wherein, when assembled, the door frame engagement member is configured to engage a door frame at a first side of a door, the door restraining member is configured to restrain a second side of a door, the door frame engagement member and door restraining member being configured to be connected via an aperture through the door.

All of the features contained herein may be combined with any of the above aspects and in any combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows top view of a door restraint according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a top view of the door restraint of figure 1 when attached to a door and door frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a top view of a door restraint 100 and figure 2 shows a top view of the door restraint 100 when attached to a door frame 400. The door restraint 100 has a door frame engagement member 200 and a door restraining member 300.

In this particular embodiment the door frame engagement member 200 comprises a hollow, square sectioned, metal tube 202. A first 204 end and second end 206 of the door frame engagement member 200 has engagement portions 208. In this example the engagement portions 208 comprise protrusions, such as bolt ends, which are arranged to protrude outward from the tube 202 and into the door frame 400. In this way they are operable to increase grip between the door frame engagement member 200 and door frame 400, which will be discussed in more detail below. According to a preferred embodiment, the tips of the engagement portions are pointed to aid gripping.

The tube 202 of the door frame engagement member 200 is elongate in a length direction such that it is arrangeable to span a width of a door 500, as shown in figure 2. This is achieved by selecting the length of the tube 202 to be greater than a typical door width, and is generally achieved by a length of tube which is 0.75 -2 metres in length. In this way, the door engagement portions 208 on the first and second ends 204, 206 are configured to contact opposed sides of a door frame 400.

In an alterative embodiment (not shown), there may be more than two engagement portions per tube 202, and / or a plurality of tubes 202 connected to each other.

Referring back to the present embodiment, the door frame engagement portion 200 further comprises a first connecting portion 210, which, in this example, comprises an aperture 212 that extends through both walls of the tube 202, and is positioned centrally of the ends 204, 206.

The door restraining member 300 comprises a door engagement portion 302, which in this example consists of an elongate, metal, square section tube. The door engagement portion 302 is dimensioned such that it is insertable through an aperture 502 in the door 500.

The aperture 502, may comprise a window or other suitable hole. However in a preferred embodiment the aperture 502 is a letter box slot. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment the length of the door engagement portion 302 is selected to be less than 0.3 meters such that it is insertable through a typical letterbox slot.

The door restraining member 300 further comprises a second connecting portion 304. In this example the second connecting portion 304 comprises an elongate, metal rod 306, that has a male thread 308 around its exterior. The thread 308 is configured to receive a nut 310.

Accordingly, the nut 310 when received is rotatable up and down the rod 306. The rod 306 is composed of a deformable material, such as steel, which can be deformed by a user. In figure 1 the rod 306 is shown in a first open position, wherein the rod is substantially straight, accordingly, the nut 310 and aperture 212 of the door frame engagement member 200 are able to move along the rod 306. In figure 2 the rod 306 is shown when in a second closed position, wherein the rod has a bend 312 (in this particular example it is bend to 90°). In the second closed position the bend 312 prevents removal of the nut 310 and door frame engagement member 200 from the rod 306.

On the door restraining member 300, the second connecting portion 304 is rigidly connected to the door engagement portion 302. In the present embodiment, this is achieved by inserting the rod 306 through an aperture 314 in the door engagement potion 302 and securing the two together by means of welding and / or nuts arranged on either side of the aperture 314.

A method of using the door restraint 100 to restrain the door 500 will now be described.

Initially the door 500 is positioned within the frame 400, such that it is held against the interior frame portions 410, as shown in figure 2. Herein the frame 400 comprises any portion of the door! building support structure, and may for instance, comprise a wooden door frame and I or the wall surrounding it. Herein the door 500 comprises a conventional door, or a temporary panel shaped to fit the frame 400.

Thereafter, the door engagement portion 302 of the door restraining member 300 is inserted from a first side 510 of the door 500, through the aperture 502 of the door 500, such that it is moved to a second side 520 of the door 500. In alternative examples it should be appreciated that if there is no such aperture 502, the method of use may comprise putting a suitable aperture though the door 500, for instance, by drilling.

The rod 306 of the second connecting portion 304 is then rotated by 90° (as shown in figure 2), such that the door engagement portion 302 engages with the second side 520 of the door 500 as shown in figure 2. Thereafter, the door restraining member 300 is held in position, and the door frame engagement member 200 is fitted to the first side 510 of the door 500 by sliding its aperture 212 down the rod 306. The tube 202 of the door restraining member 300 is positioned such that the engagement portions 208 extend into the frame 400.

Thereafter the nut 310 is fastened to the rod 306, and tightened against the tube 202 such that the door engagement portion 302 and tube 202 are urged together. This causes a pressing force to be applied by the engagement portions 208 into the frame 400, and the door 500 to be pressed into the interior frame portions 410 of the frame 400. Accordingly, the door frame engagement member 200 is secured to the frame 400, and the door 500 is held in place.

In this embodiment the rod 306 is then bent by a user to the second closed position (figure 2)to prevent the nut 310 from being removed, which may otherwise occur in the event of unauthorised tampering. In this embodiment, to re-use the device a replacement rod 306 is fitted to the door engagement portion 302 or a replacement door restraining portion 300 selected.

In an alternate embodiment (not shown) the rod 306 comprises a plurality of apertures therethrough. In this way a locking means, such as a pad lock, can be fitted through the apertures of the rod 306 to prevent unauthorised removal of the nut 310 and subsequent disassembly of the door restraint 100 which may otherwise occur in the event of unauthorised tampering. An advantage of this particular embodiment is that the rod 306 can be re-used when refitting the door restrain 100.

In the example embodiments when the door restraint 100 is fitted, the door engagement portion 302 of the door restraining member 300 is positioned on the second side 520 of the door 500, and the door frame engagement member 200 is positioned at the first side 510 of the door 500. Here the first side 510 of the door 500 is on an exterior of a building, and the second side 520 is on an interior. However, it should be appreciated that the door engagement portion 302 and door frame engagement member 200 may be positioned the other way around depending on the orientation of the frame supports 410 of the door frame 400.

In an alternate embodiment, the door frame engagement member is telescopic. In this way it can be used to fit across a range of door sizes.

In a further alternate embodiment, the door engagement member 302 of the door restraining member 300 is telescopic. In this way it can be used to fit through a range of letter box! other aperture sizes.

In a further alternate embodiment (not shown), the tube 202 of the door frame engagement member 200 is replaced by a substantially circular or other suitably shaped member, which has the aperture 212 of the first connecting portion 210 at its centre.

Advantageously, the shape of the door frame engagement member 200 is such that an outer periphery engages with the frame 400. In this way, if it is tampered with by an unauthorised user, it can not be rotated out of contact with the frame 400 which would otherwise result in the door becoming insecure. According to a preferred embodiment the circular member has a diameter of 1 meter. According to a preferred embodiment the circular member comprises a plurality of engagement portions 208 at a periphery. According to a preferred embodiment, the circular member is substantially convex to enhance strength.

According to one embodiment the circular member is made of plastic and may comprise one or more ribs to enhance strength. According to one embodiment the circular member is made of metal.

According to a preferred embodiment, the door engagement portion 302 comprises engagement portions 316 which are arranged to protrude outward and into the door 500. In this way they are operable to increase grip between the door engagement portion 302 and door 500. According to a preferred embodiment, the tips of the engagement portions 316 are pointed to aid gripping.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A door restraint comprising: a door frame engagement member; a door restraining member, wherein, the door frame engagement member is configured to engage a door frame at a first face of a door, the door restraining member is configured to restrain a second face of the door, the door frame engagement member and door restraining member being configured to be connected via an aperture through the door.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The door restraint as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door frame engagement member is configured to engage the door frame at more than one engagement point.</claim-text> <claim-text>(\J 3. The door restraint as claimed n any preceding claim, wherein the door frame engagement member is configured to extend across a door between at least two engagement o points.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The door restraint as claimed n any preceding claim, wherein the door frame engagement portion is elongate in a length direction.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The door restraint as claimed n any preceding claim, wherein the door frame engagement portion has a length greater than a width of a typical door of about 0.75 -2 meters.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The door restraint as claimed n any preceding claim, wherein the door frame engagement member comprises engagement portions configured to resist relative movement between the door frame engagement member and a door frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The door restraint a claimed in caim 6, wherein the engagement portions comprise one or more outwardly extending protrusions.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The door restraint as claimed n any preceding claim, wherein the door frame engagement member is substantially hollow.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The door restraint as claimed in claim 8, wherein the door frame engagement member comprises a square section tube.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The door restraint as claimed n any preceding claim, wherein the door frame engagement member comprises a first connecting portion operable to receive a second connecting portion of the door restraining member.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The door restraint as claimed n claim 10, wherein the first connecting portion comprises an aperture.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The door restraint as claimed in claims 10 to Ii wherein the door restraining member comprises a door engagement portion connected to the second connecting portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. The door restraint as claimed in claim 12, wherein the door engagement portion is configured to fit through an aperture in the door.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. The door restraint as claimed in claim 13, wherein the aperture is a letter box.</claim-text> <claim-text>(\J 15. The door restraint as claimed in claims 12 to 14, wherein the door engagement portion is elongate and has a length of less than 30cm.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. The door restraint as claimed in claims 12 to 15, wherein the door engagement L_Q portion comprises engagement portions configured to resist relative movement between the door and door engagement portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. The door restraint as claimed in claim 16, wherein the engagement portions comprise one or more outwardly extending protrusions.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. The door restraint as claimed in claims 10 to 17, wherein the second connecting portion is elongate.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. The door restraint as claimed in claims 10 to 18, wherein the second connecting portion has fixing means attached thereto, the fixing means being configured to secure the second connecting portion to the first connecting portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. The door restraint as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fixing means comprises a bolt operable to engage a thread of the second connecting portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. The door restraint as claimed in claims 10 to 20, wherein the second connecting portion is deformable, such that a user can plastically deform it from a first open position to a second closed position. 11.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. The door restraint as claimed in claims 10 to 21, wherein the second connecting portion when in the second closed position is arranged to prevent removal of the fixing means from the second connecting portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. The door restraint as claimed in claims 10 to 20, wherein the second connecting portion comprises one or more apertures therethrough which are suitable for engagement with a locking means.</claim-text> <claim-text>24. The door restraint as claimed in claim 23, wherein the apertures are configured such that the locking means, when received, is arranged to prevent removal of the fixing means from the second connecting portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>25. The door restraint as claimed in claims 10 to 24, wherein the second connecting portion is rigidly connected to the door engagement portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>C\J 26. The door restraint as claimed n any preceding claim, wherein the door frame engagement member is substantially circular.</claim-text> <claim-text>27. The door restraint as claimed in claim 26, wherein the substantially circular door frame engagement member comprises the engagement portions proximate its periphery.</claim-text> <claim-text>28. A method of restraining a door, the method comprising: inserting a door restraining member through an aperture in the door; arranging the door restraining member to restrain a second side of the door; connecting a first connecting portion of a door frame engagement member to a second connecting portion of the door restraining member; arranging the door frame engagement member to engage the door frame at a first side of a door.</claim-text> <claim-text>29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the method includes a step of inserting the door restraining member though the aperture from the first side of the door.</claim-text> <claim-text>30. The method as claimed in claims 28 to 29, wherein the method includes a step of rotating the door restraining member to thereby enable engagement of the door engagement portion with the second side of the door.</claim-text> <claim-text>31. The method as claimed in claims 28 to 30, wherein the method includes a step of securing the first connecting portion to the second connecting portion by fixing means.</claim-text> <claim-text>32. The method as claimed in claims 28 to 31, wherein the method includes a step of deforming the second connecting portion from a first open position to a second closed position.</claim-text> <claim-text>33. The method as claimed in claims 28 to 31, wherein the method includes a step of engaging a locking means with one or more apertures through the second connecting portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>34. A kit of parts for a door restraint comprising: a door frame engagement member; (4 a door restraining member, wherein, when assembled, the door frame engagement member is configured to engage L_Q a door frame at a first side of a door, the door restraining member is configured to restrain a second side of a door, the door frame engagement member and door restraining member being configured to be connected via an aperture through the door.</claim-text>