Abstract:
An improvement for a doorstop is comprised of a structure including a base piece with a suitable cove in at least one side of the body of the base to straddle the end of the door at the bottom of said door, an upright with a shape suitable for grasping and visibility from both sides of a door affixed to the base, and suitable and properly distributed weight such that said structure stands adjacent to the end of an open door and holds said door in place.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a structure for a doorstop which stands at the end of an ajar door—visible from both sides of the door. When in use, the prominent structure is easily reachable, with a vertical component joined to a coved or dual-pronged, weighted base, which straddles the end of the door while remaining structurally independent from the door. The high profile, stop can be reached easily and reset, equally and conveniently, from either side of the door in conjunction with swinging the door to its new position.  
           [0003]    2. Art Relating to the Invention  
           [0004]    Doorstops since the inception of door use have come in a myriad of shapes. There are two main types of doorstops—those which jamb a door from underneath, and those which rely on weight and form to stop the door from swinging.  
           [0005]    The stops which jamb a door are generally made of rubber or a synthetic and are sloped in shape so as to compress under the door. They are compressed under the door generally from a person&#39;s effort relating to one side of the door. The person holds the stop in place and pushes the door against the slope of the doorstop. The underside of the door catches on the pliable surface of the stop and jambs the door in place. This type of stop is not easily seen from both sides of the door and is very low profile. Indeed, it can create a bit of a surprise to those perceiving that the door is freely ajar and ready to swing easily. To reposition this type of doorstop a person can find themselves having to contort if the stop is to be released or applied on the opposite side of the door.  
           [0006]    The weighted and formed stops are generally low in profile and are formed into all types of familiar shapes. often some indent in the form allows the user to corner the door and use the weight of the figure to hold or stop the door from swinging.  
           [0007]    Other stops—configured to hold away the back vertical, hinged end of the door away from the doorjamb—are also used. These doorstops often have an attachment feature such as being magnetic to be affixed to a hinge or a series of tightening brackets and plates which are adjustable and hold the stop in place.  
           [0008]    Whatever the apparatus the stops are generally easier to operated and are more obvious from one side of the door relative to the other. Indeed the door itself is generally more easily freed from one side via a breeze or a push from one side of the door in comparison to the other.  
           [0009]    The able bodied person has managed generally to maneuver the doorstops in wide use today. However, while the limitations of the current group of choices may be inconvenient to the average user, those limitations can offer one more obstacle to people with back and leg problems, the handicapped, the elderly, the seeing impaired, the wheelchair bound, the arthritic and even those who are physically or mentally hampered (such as a stroke victim). While coordination, caution, perception and acumen are a taken-for-granted means to overcome the limitations of the current set of doorstops, that may not be enough for many other users who use doorstops.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention comprises a weighted base which straddles the end of the door with a cove that has sides which are either equilateral or uneven in their length and girth. The cove is wide enough to straddle the door at least to sit around the angles of the door or to keep it from swinging loose. The apparatus is free standing such that it can be set aside when not in use and easily set and reset when in use.  
           [0011]    The present invention is comprised of components—including the coved base and an upright. A handle on the upright can be added. If necessary, attachment hardware is employed. Indeed the present invention can be a single formed, cast or molded unit. The resent invention can be assembled from components such as the base piece, the upright and the handle. The handle aspect per sé may not be formed or attached or differentiated from the upright depending on the style and design of the apparatus. If a handle is designed into the apparatus it may have the appearance of any number of finials, orbs, animal heads, product shapes, functional shapes, architectural shapes, handles or suitable forms.  
           [0012]    The upright portion of the apparatus may be a simple pole structure or it may incorporate architectural, natural or functional designs. Designs can include vines, leaves, architectural columns, a golf club, lattice, animal shapes, shapes that match furniture or houseware designs, artistic, branding iron, antiqued or distressed, basic rods, or poles which are wider in one portion and narrower in other portions of the upright. The upright may include a cove shaped guide which can help hold the overall structure more in alignment with to vertical component of the door.  
           [0013]    The base portion of the apparatus may be a simple U-shape, or it may incorporate architectural, natural or functional designs. Designs can include letters of the alphabet, numbers, symbols, the base portion of a hockey stick or a golf club, sculpture, animal shapes, vehicles, shapes that match furniture or houseware designs, artistic creations, branding iron symbols, tools, equipment, money, royal, very modern, natural, music, cultural, antiqued or distressed, etc. The cove, of the base, can be wider or longer on one side and narrower or shorter on the other side of the opening.  
           [0014]    Each component of the present invention can be made of various materials. Steel, stainless steel, wood, plastic, leather, iron (cast or wrought), aluminum, alloys, brass, pewter or any suitable material can be used to construct the apparatus. Coatings, paint and chemical processes may be used to decorate or protect the invention from corrosion, wear, or from affecting the quality and surfaces with which the apparatus may be in contact—such as the door veneer, wall paint, carpet color, etc.  
           [0015]    The present invention may be constructed so as to be rigid or it may have a hinged, swivel component wherein the base and upright pivot.  
           [0016]    While there are a multitude of possible permutations, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a coved base, an upright with a suitable shape to grasp the upright such as a handle and suitable weight distributed appropriately—toward the base or in the base. The overall weight of the present invention should range between 3 lbs. to 10 lbs., depending on the size of the door to be held. For instance a large entry door on a Spanish Mission style home in the windy Southwest would require a heavier doorstop than a door in an apartment occupied by an elderly person in New York City.  
           [0017]    The heights of the present invention can vary from 6″ to 36″ as long as there is an upright component affixed to a base which straddles the bottom of the swinging end of the door. The present invention can be coated particularly at the base to prevent rust, corrosion, and marring of the door wall or base board. In addition, coatings at the base such as a rubber coating may should serve to add grip to the apparatus relative to the floor or door base.  
           [0018]    Legs, pads, or a cleat surface on the base may be incorporated to help the apparatus remain in the position where it is placed.  
           [0019]    Under the preferred embodiment a myriad of adjoined component and base configurations are possible using various attachment techniques, the most likely configuration is constructed to have an upright and wrap the end of a door at the base. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    These and other aspects of the present invention may be more fully understood with reference to the drawings wherein:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 Shows one version of the invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 shows details of possible assembly and components aspects of the invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3. shows a comparison between a purely functional version of the invention and a stylized version of the invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 shows the invention in use.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 shows several versions of the invention from overhead as the particular version relates to the end of the door when in use.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 shows a representative version of the invention in use with a guide on the upright.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 shows representative varying heights of the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 shows a few stylized representative versions of the invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 shows views of a few stylized representative variations of the invention including additional components.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 shows views of a few representative, architectural variations of the base of the invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11 shows views of a few representative, architectural variations of the of the invention including a stylized upright and base.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12 shows a version of the present invention with a swivel connection between the base and the upright. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a single, handled, prominent, end-of-door, base-straddling doorstop. This structure is to be used in direct conjunction with known and understood needs of those wishing to hold a door ajar in a designated position. Referring now to FIG. 1 Illustrates the invention as a cast structure  1 . The casting material is any suitable metal such as aluminum or cast-iron or steel. The structure includes an upright  2  the base  3  with a coved opening  4  and a knob  5  at the top of the upright to create a handle wider than that which can be used as a handle—the top of the upright  6  itself.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 shows possible details of assembly and components of the invention. Structure  7  is comprised of an upright  8  with no added knob for grasping at the top  9  of the upright. There is attached a glow-in-the-dark reflector band  10  toward the top of the upright for night visibility. The upright is threaded on one end  11  to pass through a hole  12  in the base structure  13  where the upright is screwed to a nut  14 . A washer  15 , or widened cast is used above the base to help hold the base. The base  16  has sufficient weight to hold the door and to sufficiently hold the upright up. The base includes the coved opening  17  with a wider mouth  18  which narrows to the back.  
         [0035]    Structure  19  is comprised of an upright  20  with a knob for a handle  21 . The glow-in-the-dark strip  22 , while not absolutely necessary, is attached just under the knob. Again the upright is threaded  23  at the base  24 , but screws  25  directly into the base. A coating  26  is used on the bottom and sides  27  of the base to protect surfaces where the invention is used. The base has affixed pads  28  to help set the stop in place. The cove opening  29  of the base has a suitable coating  30  on the surface to protect the door from marring.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3. shows a comparison of a purely functional version of the invention and a stylized version of the invention. Structure  31  represents a functional version of the invention, it does not include a glow-in-the-dark reflector strip. It does, however include the upright  32  attached to base  33 . The upright is adhered  34  the knob handle  35  at the top. The base of structure  31  has a suitable coved opening  36  and appropriate weight and girth to hold a door. Structure  37  has an upright  38  screwed to a suitable finial  39 . The base  40  is representative of a plurality of possible shapes that can serve as a suitable shape for the base. The base, in this illustration, has more than one coved side  41  which can serve to straddle the end of a door. Similarly, when in use, the upright of the present invention does not have to line up exactly on-center with the vertical end of the door.  
         [0037]    The components of the present invention, as well as the construction and assembly techniques and the design aesthetic features of the invention are interchangeable with one another. A plurality of variations of the present invention can be achieved to constitute a suitable permutation of the final structure. The components and assembly techniques and designs of the present invention are mutually exclusive, as to their necessity to each other, to construct the present invention.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 4 illustrates the invention  42  in use and straddling a door  43 . The coved base  44  wraps the base  45  of the ajar door. The structures upright  46  sits at the end  47  of the ajar door. The top of the upright, with a handle  48 , is shown in proximity to the doorknob; however, there is no necessary relationship between the height of the structure&#39;s upright and the doorknob height.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5 illustrates how various representative base shapes straddle the door. Structure  49  has dual prongs  50  which create a cove  51  that surrounds the base of the door  52 . The upright is located at opening  53 . Structure  54  illustrates how the upright  55  of the present invention can be located off-center relative to the end of the door  56 . The shape of structure  54  creates a coved opening  57  to wrap the end of the door. Structure  58  shows how a minimal cove  59  can be utilized as part of the present invention to straddle the door  60 . Location  61  is one place where the upright can be attached or incorporated. Structure  62  shows how more than one cove  63  can be part of the base. The upright is affixed at location  64 —slightly off-center relative to the end of the door  65 . Structure  66  illustrates a coved opening  67  which incorporates a widened mouth  68  to help sleeve the door  69  when the user is setting the apparatus. The upright is on-center  70  relative to the door end.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 6 illustrates how a guide  71  positioned on the upright  72  can wrap the end of the door  73  to help situate to overall structure  74  in an position. Base  75  proves the means to stop the door by straddling the door base  76 . A knob handle  77 , while not required, is provided for help in grasping the present invention when setting, resetting and setting aside.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 7 shows a continuum of the possible heights, represented by the dotted line  78  of the present invention as it relates to the ends of the doors  79 ,  80 ,  81  shown at consistent height. The representative structures  82 ,  83 ,  84  show varying heights as the apparatus relates to the doorknob  85 ,  86 ,  87 . The first structure  82  has a finial handle  88  affixed above the elevation of the knob  85 . The middle structure  83  has the finial handle  89  affixed approximately midway between the doorknob  86  and the base  90 . The third structure  84  has the finial  91 , affixed to the upright  92 , at an elevation relatively short in comparison to the knob  87 . The base  93  of the third structure  84  supports the upright  92  and holds the door  81  at it&#39;s base. Similarly, the base  94  of the first tallest structure creates a cove  95  to wrap the door at any ajar position. While three representative structures are shown, a continuous plurality of suitable heights, represented by dotted line  78  can be utilized to construct the present invention.  
         [0042]    The illustrations of FIG. 8. show how the present invention can be constructed to utilize a plurality of shapes for the base. The shape at the base has at least one minimal cove component or the shape is modified or duplicated to create a cove to suit the construction of the present invention. Structure  96  has affixed a shape  97  with several possible coves  98 ,  99 ,  100 ; even the cove  101  can serve to hold the door at the base. While the base is somewhat complex, the upright  102 —as with all the uprights of this illustration—is a simple post of any suitable height and no knob or finial is affixed to these representative structures of the present invention. Bases  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107 ,  108 ,  109 ,  110 —as with a myriad of shapes—can be affixed to an upright to create a variety of permutations of the present invention.  
         [0043]    Structure  111  is an overhead view of base  108  with a music note theme. The prongs  112  of structure  111  that create the cove  113  are a doubling of the shape  114 . The upright  115  is affixed at area  116  of structure  111 . Structure  117  is the overhead view of base structure  106 . Here the cove  118  of the base is created by the cat&#39;s paws  119 . The tail area  120  of the cat serves as the start of the upright. Indeed the cat&#39;s tail  121  of structure  122  with an exaggerated length  123  can serve as the upright of the present invention. Illustrated with structures  106 ,  117 ,  122  is that the present invention can be comprised of a myriad of possible uprights and suitably weighted bases, with at least one suitably sized cove to straddle the base of the door.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 9 shows views of a few representative variations of the present invention with a variety of additional components. Structure  124  has a orb handle  125 ; while the symbol base  126  has at least two coves  127 ,  128 . Structure  129  has a flattened orb handle  130  and one cove  131  at the base  132 . Structure  133  has an elongated handle  134  at the top of the upright  135  with a glow-in-the-dark reflector strip  136  affixed just under the knob. The cove base  137  of structure  133  is created by duplicating character  138 .  
         [0045]    Structure  139  has an ergonomic handle  140  at the top of upright  141 . Along the upright is affixed a guide  142  to stabilize the lateral rocking of the upright. The base  143  of structure  139  has at least two coves  144 ,  145  to straddle the door base. Structure  146  has a hooked handle  147  at the top of the upright  148 . Base  149  is comprised of one apparent cove opening  150 . However, two other coved locations  151 ,  152  on the base can be used to trap the end of the door. Structure  153  has a suitable finial handle  154  at the top of the upright  155 . The base  156  is comprised of two pieces  157  of wrought iron artwork. Between the two pieces of wrought iron is the cove  158 . The dual wrought iron continues up the upright to create a guide  159  for this structure, which adds lateral stability to the present invention. Structure  160  represents possible low rise functional designs of the present invention. The upright  161  rises to a height above approximately 6″. The handle is  162  is a simple hook shape. The base  163  is a simple U-shape which comprises the necessary cove  164  of the present invention.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 10 shows a series bases without the upright attached. In that the base shape has at least one cove to straddle the end of the door and has suitable weight and can be seen and manipulated relatively equally from either side of the door, the structures comprise the method of the present invention. However, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes at least a simple upright to be affixed to the base. Structure  165  has legs  166  and an exaggerated opening  167  to the cove  168 . Area  169  is where an upright can be affixed. Structure  170 , with legs  171  has linear walls  172  to create the cove  173  for the present invention. Hole  174  is where an upright can be affixed to structure  170 . Structure  175  has a combination of a linear and rounded opening  176  to create the cove  177 . Structure  175  has legs  178  with multiple feet  179  which can help grab the floor.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 11 illustrates a few representative designs where the key elements of the present invention are integrated with design themes that emphasize an inclusive model from top to bottom. Structure  180  has an organic theme where the upright  181  weaves up the side of the door  182 . The widened top  183  of the upright creates a handle. The weaving upright  181  serves as the guide component; while the base  184 , with legs  185  and cove  186  wraps the bottom of the ajar door. Structure  187  has a dual shaped handle  188  which creates the guide  189  of the structure. The design theme of structure  187  is consistent from the base  190  to the integrated handle  188 . Structure  191  shows how a similar shape can constitute each element of the present invention. The prongs  192  of the base  193  are the same shape as the handles  194 . The upright  195  is created by stacking the shape. Structure  196  has an overall design theme related to a familiar shape. Two wheel shapes  197  create the base to straddle the door. Handlebar shapes create the handle  198  for this permutation of the present invention.  
         [0048]    Structure  199  shows a design theme where the upright  200  is made more functional by virtue of its elongated curve. The elongated theme of the handle is carried to the upright  201  and to the base  202  which wraps the door. Structure  203  has rounded end points at the base  204  and rounded points at the handle  205  that are combined with linear elements of the upright  206  and the walls of the coved base  207 . Structure  208  has a base  209  with picket lattice walls  210 . The upright  211  tapers out to create the handle  212 . Structure has dual uprights  213 ,  214  that meet to create the handle  215 . The base  216  has holes  217  in its walls. The base has linear sides  218  and an arched underside  219 .  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 12 shows two views of the present invention where a swivel connection  220  is made between the upright  221  and the base  222 . When positioned against the door  223  the upright leans on the vertical end of the door.