Abstract:
A door stop device comprising a block member, a receiving channel to facilitate placement of the device onto a door hinge, and an attaching means suitable for removably attaching the door stop device to an item of clothing worn by a user. The door prop device of the present invention is designed to be readily accessible and available for immediate use by those who primarily work in, or provide service to, the resort, hotel and motel industries.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to devices for propping-open doors and more particularly, to a device which is designed to be readily accessible to service personnel by attaching the door stop device to an item of clothing worn by a user of the device.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Many modern hotels and motels in the resort industry are equipped with automatic closing doors. While these doors serve security and fire suppression functions when they are closed, there are many circumstances when it is beneficial to keep such doors open for brief periods of time. Hotel employees such as bellmen, room service, housekeeping, engineering, security and convention service personnel, all have occasions when regular passage through these doors is convenient. In those instances, it is beneficial to use a door prop device to keep the door open for the brief periods of time necessary. Bellmen, for example must enter rooms many times a day carrying bags for patrons. Their service is most conveniently performed when the door to the room being accessed can be held open by a door prpp device. Conventional door prop devices however, are not designed to be easily and conveniently carried on the person of the service provider.  
         [0003]     Conventional door stop devices are not suitable for the heavy fire-proof and security doors found in the modern luxury resort industry and most are not suitable for use where the exterior finish of the door must be protected from marks, scratches and dents.  
         [0004]     Thus, there is a continuing need in the resort industry for a simple, economical and professional appearing door prop that can be easily carried on the person of service personnel in resorts of the highest quality and which is suitable for the needs of the modern hotel industry.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The door prop device of the present invention is designed to be readily accessible and available for immediate use by those who primarily work in, or provide services to, the resort hotel and motel industries. The door prop device is designed to always be readily accessible to the service personnel by attaching it to an item of clothing, preferably a sash or belt of the kind typically worn by personnel in these industries and yet still look professional. In order to adequately prop open the typically heavy, self closing doors of the resort industry, the device is constructed to slide over the top of a hinge pin and down alongside the hinge plates that attach the door to the door frame. Placement of the device on the center hinge of a door ensures that the door remains securely in the open position.  
         [0006]     Also, the device is made of high quality durable rubber or plastic that will not mark even the most expensive finishes found in the high quality resort industry. The embodiments of the present invention are further directed to a method for improving access to a door chock device by resort industry personnel. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective bottom view of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective top view of the first embodiment of the present invention showing its placement into a position to obstruct a door from closing;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention showing a swivel collar attachment;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention showing the swivel collar attachment;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5   a  is a plan view of the swivel collar;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5   b  is a cross-sectional view of the swivel collar;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the present invention showing a receiving channel;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective bottom view of a second embodiment of the present invention showing an attachment recess;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the second embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     The device of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to an embodiment to be used in propping open a typical door equipped with an automatic closing device.  
         [0018]     With reference to the drawings, a new and improved door prop device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described.  FIGS. 1 through 9 , illustrate an improved door prop device  10 , comprising a block member  100  and a securing member  110  contiguous with the block member  100 . The block member  100  and the securing member  110  each have a top surface  120  and a bottom surface  130 . These designations apply with the understanding that when the door prop device  10  is placed onto a vertically mounted hinge  140 , having hinge pin  150  and hinge plates  160  &amp;  170 , best seen in  FIG. 2 . The bottom surface  130  of block member  100  is beneath the top surface  120  of the block member  100 . The block member  100  contains at least two bumper walls  180  &amp;  190 .  
         [0019]     A receiving channel  200  is formed intermediate the block member  100  and securing member  110 . Receiving channel  200  is constructed of sufficient dimensions to fit over and otherwise engage hinge pin  150  and similar type pins.  
         [0020]     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , in practice, securing member  110  is placed into door space  210  by a user of the door prop device  10 , such that the bottom surface  130  of block member  100  contacts the hinge pin  150 . The user of door prop device  10  places downward pressure onto the top surface  120  of block member  100  and/or the top surface  120  of securing member  110  causing receiving channel  200  to engage a portion of hinge pin  150  and a portion of hinge plates  160  &amp;  170 . As the user continues downward pressure on top surface  120  of block member  110  the receiving channel  200  slideably engages the hinge pin  150  and hinge plates  160  &amp;  170 .  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 &amp; 4 , receiving channel  200  has a depth, defined as the distance between the intersection of underside  220  of securing member  110  and the bottom surface  130  of bumper walls  180  &amp;  190 . The depth of the receiving channel  200  is sufficient to extend below a top portion of hinge pin  150  allowing bumper walls  180  &amp;  190  to slide down alongside hinge plates  160  &amp;  170 , best seen in  FIG. 2 , until the underside  220  of receiving channel  200  abuts against a top portion of hinge pin  150 .  
         [0022]     At least two bumper walls  180  &amp;  190  of block member  100  act as an abutment against hinge plates  160  &amp;  170  of a door jam  230  thus preventing the automatic door  290  from closing against a door jam  230 . In one embodiment, best seen in  FIG. 6 , concave surfaces  240  &amp;  250  are formed along a portion of the depth of the receiving channel  200 . This embodiment facilitates placement and engagement of the door prop device  10  over hinge pin  150 .  
         [0023]     One embodiment of the present invention includes an attaching element  260 , best seen in  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 , integrated on the door stop device  10 . The attaching element  260  facilitates removably attaching door prop device  10  to an item of clothing worn by a user of the door prop device  10 . In one embodiment, attaching element  260  is disposed along a top surface  120  of block member  100  and/or securing member  110 . In alternative embodiments however, attaching element  260  is disposed along a bottom surface  130  of door stop device  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 5   a  &amp;  5   b , attaching element  260  is a swivel collar  270  that is coupleable with a receptive device worn on the clothing or tool belt of a user. Swivel collar  270  couples with a corresponding U-shaped cavity  280  of the receptive device capable of being attached to a typical tool belt (not shown).  
         [0024]     In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7 &amp; 8 , a recess  300  integrated on bottom surface  130  accommodates an attaching element. Alternatively, the recess  300  may be integrated on the top surface  120 . In this embodiment, the attaching element is an independent element that is affixed to the molded door stop device  10  rather than integrated therewith. The attaching element may be affixed using glue, epoxy, VELCRO® or any similar secure affixation means. The independent attaching element facilitates a simpler and more reliable door stop manufacturing process. That is, the molding process is more conducive to a compact unit not having extruding members such as the integrated attaching element  260 .  
         [0025]     In any embodiment, attaching element  260  or the independent attaching element can be any means for removably attaching the door stop device  10  to an item of clothing. Said means include a hook, a button, snap, strap, carabiner, hook and loop fasteners such as VELCRO®, or any other suitable means.  
         [0026]     In alternative embodiments as shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , block member  100  and securing member  110  vary in size and dimensions to accommodate different sizes and configurations of doors  290  and door jams  230 . Also, as shown in  FIGS. 7-9  certain edges  310  of the door stop  10  may be rounded. In one embodiment, block member  100  is fabricated of a solid slab of hard rubber or a synthetic polymer composition and it may be molded or constructed from any number of suitable materials. Such materials prevent the door stop device  10  from marking the exterior finish surface of the door  110  or the hinge plates  160  &amp;  170  when the door  290  closes against bumper walls  180  &amp;  190  of the door prop device  10 .  
         [0027]     In order to reduce the weight of the door prop device  10 , tapered corners  282 ,  284 ,  286  &amp;  288 , best seen in  FIGS. 1, 3  &amp;  6 , are formed in door prop device  10 . Tapered corners  282 ,  284 ,  286  &amp;  288  of securing member  110  facilitate placement of the door prop device  10  into open space  210  between the door  290  and the door jamb  230 .  
         [0028]     It should be understood that the particular embodiments described above are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and various modifications could be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, thus, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.