Magnetic door stop and door holder

A magnetic doorstop and door holder provides an aesthetically pleasing, functionally simple, and effective solution to allow homeowners to closely control an amount of force needed to maintain a door in an open position. The system is designed to work with most doors, including traditional solid doors and hollow core doors. The system involves magnetic and/or ferromagnetic materials affixed to or embedded within various entryway components, including doors, door jambs, door frames, and door hinges, and within walls and/or flooring adjacent to the entryway. The system is designed to be highly customizable to fit each homeowner's particular needs and circumstances, and adjustable based on the type of door or entryway layout and based on the homeowner's desired strength of holding and precise positioning.

FIELD

This invention relates to the field of door hardware. More particularly, this invention relates to a doorstop and door holder that incorporates magnetic components.

BACKGROUND

Doors today are often equipped with standard equipment for holding doors open, such as kick-down doorstops, hook-and-latch type mechanisms, integrated wedges and props, pneumatic door closers, and basic magnetic devices. These existing technologies are not aesthetically or functionally pleasing and are not readily adjustable to meet the variety of needs posed by a plethora of door designs, which may vary by material, weight, and style.

SUMMARY

The aforementioned problems and more are solved by the magnetic doorstop and door holder described herein. The system provides an aesthetically pleasing, functionally simple, yet highly effective solution designed to grant everyday consumers control over their doors that is typically available only via professional installation. Moreover, the system is designed to work with most doors available on the market today, including not only traditional solid doors, but also hollow core doors, which often limit consumer options regarding existing doorstops and holders.

The system involves magnetic and/or ferromagnetic materials that are affixed to or embedded within various entryway components, including doors, door frames, door jambs, door hinges, and within walls and/or flooring adjacent to the entryway. The system is designed to be highly customizable to fit each consumer's particular needs and circumstances, and to be adjustable based not only on the type of door or entryway layout, but also based on the consumer's desired strength of hold and precise positioning.

Embodiments described herein are directed to a magnetic doorstop and door holder comprising a hinge pin doorstop body having a first end and an opposing second end. Disposed at the first end of the hinge pin doorstop body is a hinge pin receiving aperture configured to receive a hinge pin of a hinge of a door. The magnetic doorstop and door holder includes a first leg, an engagement member, and a second leg. The first and second legs both have a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the first leg is connected to the second end of the hinge pin doorstop body, and the distal end of the first leg extends outward from the hinge pin doorstop body. The engagement member is disposed at the second end of the hinge pin doorstop body adjacent to the proximal end of the first leg. The proximal end of the second leg is adjustably received in the engagement member, and the distal end of the second leg extends outward from the engagement member. A first bumper is attached to the distal end of the first leg, and a second bumper is attached to the distal end of the second leg. A first magnet is attached to the first bumper, and a second magnet is attached to the second bumper. The magnetic doorstop and door holder includes first and second ferromagnetic structures. The first ferromagnetic structure is configured for attachment to the door and comprises one or more materials that are magnetically attracted to the first magnet. The second ferromagnetic structure is configured for attachment to a door frame, door jamb or wall to which the hinge is attached. The second ferromagnetic structure comprises one or more materials that are magnetically attracted to the second magnet.

In some embodiments, the second leg of the magnetic doorstop and door holder comprises a threaded shaft and the engagement member comprises a threaded aperture that receives the threaded shaft.

In some embodiments, the first and second bumpers are formed from polyurethane.

In some embodiments, the first magnet is embedded within the first bumper, and the second magnet is embedded within the second bumper.

In some embodiments, a force of magnetic attraction between the first magnet and the first ferromagnetic structure is adjustable based on selection of the thickness of the portion of the first bumper disposed between the first magnet and the first ferromagnetic structure.

In some embodiments, a force of magnetic attraction between the second magnet and the second ferromagnetic structure is adjustable based on selection of the thickness of the portion of the second bumper disposed between the second magnet and the second ferromagnetic structure.

In some embodiments, one or both of the first ferromagnetic structure and the second ferromagnetic structure comprise a ferromagnetic plate.

In some embodiments, one or both of the first ferromagnetic structure and the second ferromagnetic structure comprise a magnetic shunt assembly.

In some embodiments, the magnetic shunt assembly includes a housing containing a rotatable plate on which a plurality of magnets of various sizes are attached. A top plate on the housing has an aperture disposed in proximity to the rotatable plate. The force of magnetic attraction between the magnetic shunt assembly and the first or second magnet is adjustable based on selection of one of the plurality of magnets to be aligned with the aperture in the top plate.

In some embodiments, the magnetic shunt assembly includes a housing containing a rotatable top plate in which a plurality of apertures of various sizes are disposed. A magnet is fixedly attached to the housing in proximity to the rotatable top plate. The force of magnetic attraction between the magnetic shunt assembly and the first or second magnet is adjustable based on selection of one of the plurality of apertures to be aligned with the magnet.

In some embodiments, the magnetic shunt assembly includes a housing containing a top plate in which an adjustable size aperture, such as an iris aperture, is centrally disposed. A magnet is fixedly attached to the housing in proximity to the top plate and in alignment with the adjustable size aperture. The force of magnetic attraction between the magnetic shunt assembly and the first or second magnet is adjustable based on adjusting the size of the adjustable size aperture.

In another aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to various configurations of a magnetic shunt assembly for adjusting a force of magnetic attraction between the magnetic shunt assembly and an adjacent ferromagnetic structure.

In a first embodiment, the magnetic shunt assembly comprises a housing containing a rotatable plate on which a plurality of magnets of various sizes are attached, and a top plate on the housing having an aperture disposed in proximity to the rotatable plate. The force of magnetic attraction between the magnetic shunt assembly and the adjacent ferromagnetic structure is adjustable based on selection of one of the plurality of magnets to be aligned with the aperture in the top plate.

In a second embodiment, the magnetic shunt assembly comprises a housing containing a rotatable top plate in which a plurality of apertures of various sizes are disposed, and a magnet fixedly attached to the housing in proximity to the rotatable top plate. The force of magnetic attraction between the magnetic shunt assembly and the adjacent ferromagnetic structure is adjustable based on selection of one of the plurality of apertures to be aligned with the magnet.

In a third embodiment, the magnetic shunt assembly comprises a housing containing a top plate in which an adjustable size aperture is centrally disposed, and a magnet fixedly attached to the housing in proximity to the top plate and in alignment with the adjustable size aperture. The force of magnetic attraction between the magnetic shunt assembly and the adjacent ferromagnetic structure is adjustable based on adjusting the size of the adjustable size aperture.

In some embodiments of the magnetic shunt assembly, the adjacent ferromagnetic structure comprises a magnet associated with a magnetic doorstop or a magnetic door holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein are directed to a small, low profile magnetic system10that combines a doorstop and door holder, as depicted inFIGS.1and2. As shown inFIG.1, a preferred embodiment of the combination doorstop and door holder10includes a hinge pin doorstop body12, a hinge pin receiving aperture14, a first (nonadjustable) leg16, an engagement member18, a second (adjustable) leg20, a first bumper22, a second bumper24, a first magnet26, and a second magnet28. The hinge pin doorstop body12has a first end12aand a second end12b. The hinge pin receiving aperture14is disposed at the first end12aof the hinge pin doorstop body. The first leg16has a proximal end16aconnected to the second end12bof the hinge pin doorstop body12, and a distal end16bextending outward from the hinge pin doorstop body12. The engagement member18is disposed at the second end12bof the hinge pin doorstop body12adjacent to the proximal end16aof the first leg16. The second leg20has a proximal end20aadjustably received in the engagement member18, and a distal end20bextending outward from the engagement member18. The first bumper22is attached to the distal end16bof the first leg16, and the second bumper24is attached to the distal end20bof the second leg20. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second bumpers22and24are formed from polyurethane. In a preferred embodiment, the first magnet26is embedded within the first bumper22and the second magnet28is embedded within the second bumper24.

As shown inFIG.2, a first ferromagnetic plate32is configured for attachment to the door in a location adjacent to the hinge34, and a second ferromagnetic plate30is configured for attachment to a door frame, door jamb, wall adjacent to the door jamb, or other structure near the hinge34. The first magnet26of the combination doorstop and door holder10is magnetically attracted to the first ferromagnetic plate32, and the second magnet28of the combination doorstop and door holder10is magnetically attracted to the second ferromagnetic plate30. When the door is moved from a closed position to approach a fully open position, the first and second magnets26and28are attracted to the first and second ferromagnetic plates32and30, respectively, which causes the first and second bumpers22and24to engage the first and second ferromagnetic plates32and30. In preferred embodiments, the force of magnetic attraction between first magnet26and the first ferromagnetic plate32, and between the second magnet28and the second ferromagnetic plate30is sufficient to hold the door in the open position when no external force is being applied by a person to pull them apart. In one embodiment, the force of magnetic attraction may be adjusted by varying the thickness of the materials of the bumper caps22and24at the impacting tips.

As the term is used herein, a ferromagnetic structure is a structure that contains or consists of a ferrous material or other material that is attracted to a magnet by magnetic force. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, a ferromagnetic material is a material having the same kind of magnetism as iron, such as a material that has high magnetic permeability and appreciable residual magnetism and hysteresis, or that possesses magnetization in the absence of an external magnetic field.

In a second embodiment, the combination doorstop and door holder10is configured on the wall or floor and includes one or more magnets or ferromagnetic materials embedded into the frame of a doorway. In a corresponding location on a door that is mounted to the door frame, or on a wall or floor adjacent to the door, one or more magnets or ferromagnetic materials are embedded so as to prevent full closure of the door. The magnets or ferromagnetic materials may incorporate a male and female connector design. Because this embodiment involves no mechanical or moving parts, noise, friction, and wear and tear on components are virtually eliminated.

In a variation of the second embodiment, the magnets or ferromagnetic materials are shrouded in a material allowing for a tight, quiet fit. Such shrouding materials might include, but are not limited to, relatively soft materials, such as polyurethane or other materials with such desirable properties. The magnets or ferromagnetic materials may incorporate a male and female connector design.

In another variation of the second embodiment, the magnetic strength of the magnets or ferromagnetic materials may be adjusted by varying the proximity of the magnets using a worm gear or other device, by use of a magnetic shunt alone or in combination with a worm gear or other device, or by other means. A magnetic shunt might include materials such as, but not limited to, iron-based materials or other materials with such desirable properties that affect the amount of flux passing through the area between the magnet and ferromagnetic material.

As shown inFIGS.3A-3C,4A-4C, and5A-5C, embodiments of a magnetic shunt assembly36include, but are not limited to the following.As shown inFIGS.3A-3C, a housing38contains a rotatable base46mounted on a spindle44. Attached to the top of the base46are several magnets42a-42dhaving various strengths. The housing38has a fixed top plate39made of steel or other ferromagnetic material in which one aperture40is disposed. The desired magnetic force of the shunt36corresponds to the selection of the magnet42a-42dthat is aligned with the aperture40in the top plate39.As shown inFIGS.4A-4C, a housing38includes a rotatable top plate39made of steel or other ferromagnetic material mounted on a spindle44. The top plate39has radially disposed apertures40a-40dof various sizes. A stationary magnet42is supported on a platform48below the top plate39. The desired magnetic force of the shunt36corresponds to the selection of the aperture40a-40dthat is aligned with the magnet42.As shown inFIGS.5A-5C, a housing38has a top plate39made of steel or other ferromagnetic material that includes a mechanically adjustable aperture44, such as an iris aperture. A stationary magnet42is supported on a platform48below the top plate39in alignment with the aperture44. The desired magnetic force of the shunt36corresponds to the selection of the size of the aperture44.
The magnets or ferromagnetic materials of the magnetic shunt assembly36may also be shrouded in a relatively soft material allowing for a tight, quiet fit, as described above, and the magnets or ferromagnetic materials may incorporate a male and female connector design, as described above.