Abstract:
A door travel limiting device includes a housing, a stop member, a compression spring, and a flexible member. The stop member is slidably received by the housing, and is slidable in first and second sliding directions, and has first and second ends respectively extending outwardly from different portions of the housing. The stop member is biased to slide in the first sliding direction, causing a portion proximate to its second end to noimally retract into the housing. Extreme sliding positions of the stop member are limited by protrusions. A flexible member protrudes from the stop member to selectively engage portions of a housing track, to retain the second end of the stop member at an intermediate position between its first and second positions, when the stop member is first actuated to slide from the first position to the second position, and is then no longer actuated but biased.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the securing of sliding patio doors, and more particularly to apparatus which are capable of primary and/or secondary travel limiting of the door, to alternately restrict or allow access. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Patio doors have traditionally been an easy target for a burglar seeking to gain unlawful entry into a home, which typically only required the use of a pry bar and application of a modest amount of force to overcome the locks used therein. Although many homeowners had simply resorted to placing a wooden stick or a strip of wood into the bottom of the track to obstruct sliding movement of the door when not in use, other more elegant devices have been developed. One example is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,374 to Lovell for a “Home Security Protection Kit.” 
         [0003]    However, resourceful thieves developed tactics to overcome the use of such devices, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,733 to Winters, which is for a “Safety Lock for Sliding Glass Doors.” Furthermore, these sliding doors were relatively easy to disengage from the track of the frame, even from the outside. This spawned the development of other sliding door related apparatus, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,412 to Gist for “Security Device to Prevent Removal of Sliding Windows and Doors.” 
         [0004]    Although there have been a number of devices conceived to inhibit the movement of sliding doors, there nevertheless remains a need for an improved device that may serve to desirably limit travel of a sliding patio door to be at a closed position, or alternatively in one or more partially open positions, including a fully opened position, while providing ease of operation for the user that does not sacrifice the security of the door against a forced entry. The present invention provide such travel limiting capabilities and also improved security over the prior art door stops. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the invention to provide a door stop to inhibit travel of a sliding door or window. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the invention to provide a door travel limiting device capable of serving as a secondary lock for the door, when the door is in a closed position. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a door travel limiting device capable of inhibiting sliding movement of the door, once the door has been suitably positioned in a partially opened position. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the invention to provide a door travel limiting device capable of enhancing the security of a sliding door against a forced entry. 
         [0009]    Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A travel limiting device for use with sliding patio doors, or even windows, may include a housing, a stop member, a compression spring, and a flexible member. The stop member may be slidably received by a portion of the housing, and may be slidable in a first sliding direction and in a second sliding direction. The stop member may have first and second ends that respectively extend outwardly from different portions of the housing. The stop member may be biased, through the use of a compression spring, a tension spring, or even a suitably configured leaf spring, to slide in the first sliding direction, to cause a portion of the stop member proximate to its second end to normally be retracted into the housing. Extreme sliding positions of the stop member relative to the housing may be limited by a single protrusion or two different protrusions on the stop member, which may engage a corresponding feature or features of the housing. 
         [0011]    A flexible member may be formed integral with, or may be secured to, the stop member, and may protrude therefrom and be configured to selectively engage various portions of a track formed in the housing. A cantilevered free end of the flexible member may engage and follow the contour of the track, and be deflected therein in a first direction, when the stop member is actuated by a user to overcome the biasing and translates from the first position, in which the door is unsecured, to its second position. When the user ceases actuating the stop member, the biasing means causes the stop member to translate in the opposite direction, and the flexible member follows another portion of the track, which directs it to return at least part of the way to its un-deflected position, and be directed into a recess. The free end of the flexible member engages the recess, which prevents the biasing from accomplishing any further travel of the flexible member and stop member, thus the stop member is thereby releasably held at an intermediate travel position being between its first and second positions. 
         [0012]    The travel limiting device may be fixedly secured to the sliding door, using any suitable attachment means, including, but not limited to, an epoxy adhesive, a welding process, mechanical fasteners through holes in a flange of the housing, etc. Moreover, the housing may even be integrally formed with the frame of the sliding door. 
         [0013]    A keeper may be secured to the master frame within which the sliding door travels, and may be positioned and secured proximate to the travel limiting device. The keeper may have one or more openings in a flange that protrudes away from the master frame. The openings may be formed to match the cross-sectional shape used for the stop member—a cross-sectional shape which may include, but is not limited to, a rectangular shape, circular shape, etc. One such opening may be positioned on the flange of the keeper, so that when it is engaged by the stop member, it may maintain the sliding door in the closed position, and may thus serve as a secondary lock. One or more additional such openings positioned on the flange at a distance from the first opening may be used to limit travel of the sliding door while it is opened only slightly to permit air to circulate therethrough. The positioning and fixedly securing of the keeper to the master frame of the sliding door, and the engagement therewith by the stop member of the travel limiting device, serves to further protect against a forced entry by an intruder using a pry bar in attempting to dislodge the door from its track. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the travel limiting device of the present invention after being mounted to a sliding door, and shown with its stop member in the unsecured position relative to the keeper mounted on the master frame, with the door free to slide normally. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is the perspective view of  FIG. 1 , but showing the stop member in a secured position in which it is engaged within a corresponding opening in the keeper, and the door is inhibited from sliding. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the travel limiting device of  FIG. 1 , but shown with a different style of keeper. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the travel limiting device and keeper of  FIG. 2 , but shown with the stop member in a secured position in which it is engaged within a corresponding opening in the keeper, and the door is inhibited from sliding. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the travel limiting device and keeper of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the travel limiting device and keeper of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 7A  is an exploded view of the component parts used to make one embodiment of the travel limiting device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the component parts of  FIG. 7A , after being assembled. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8A  is a rear view of the travel limiting device of  FIG. 7B , showing the sliding member within the cavity of the housing occupying a first (upward) travel limited position (unsecured door position), and showing the free end of the flexible member, which extends from the stop member, being at a first position (position “A”) within a housing track therein. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8B  is the rear view of  FIG. 8A , but showing the sliding member having been actuated to translate until the free end of the flexible member contacts a first region of the housing track at position “B,” and is thereby deflected laterally in a first direction due to its contact with the track. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8C  is the rear view of  FIG. 8B , but showing the sliding member having been actuated further to reach a second (downward) travel limited position, denoted as position “C,” and the free end of the flexible member has moved to be clear of the first region of the housing track and subsequently contacts a second region of the housing track. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8D  is the rear view of  FIG. 8C , but showing the sliding member no longer being actuated, and the biasing means having caused reverse-translation of the stop member, and with the second region on the housing track having directed the flexible member to return at least part of the way to its un-deflected position, and having directed its end into a recess, to releasably retain the stop member at a position “C,” being intermediate between position A and position B (door secured position). 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the housing track, showing progressive movement of the end of the flexible member between its positions corresponding to positions A, B, C, and D of the stop member. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10A  is the same as  FIG. 8D , illustrating position “D.” 
           [0028]      FIG. 10B  is the rear view of  FIG. 10A , but showing the stop member having again been actuated to its second (downward) travel limited position, denoted as position “E,” since the free end of the flexible member had been caused to deflect in a second direction due to its contact with a third region of the housing track. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10C  is the same as  FIG. 8A , illustrating position “A,”&#39; after the stop member of  FIG. 10B  was no longer being actuated, and the free end of the flexible member had been directed by a fourth region of the housing track to avoid the recess and return to its initial position within the track. 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the housing track, showing progressive movement of the end of the flexible member between its positions corresponding to positions D, E, and A of the stop member. 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the exterior of the housing of the travel limiting device of  FIG. 7B . 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  is an end view of the housing of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the housing of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 15  is a rear view of the housing of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the interior cavity of the housing of  FIG. 7B   
           [0036]      FIG. 16A  is an enlarged detail view of the housing cavity showing the track regions on a portion of the interior wall of the housing of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 17  is a reverse perspective section view of the housing of  FIG. 16 , showing the opposite side of the track regions therein. 
           [0038]      FIG. 17A  is an enlarged detail view of the track regions illustrated within  FIG. 17 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a stopping member of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 19A  is an exploded view of the button member and locking pole used to form a second embodiment of the stopping member of the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 19B  shows the component parts of the stopping member of  FIG. 19A  after being assembled, and with the flexible member secured thereon, and the locking pole ready to receive a compression spring thereon. 
           [0042]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the button member of  FIG. 19A . 
           [0043]      FIG. 21  is an end view of the button member of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 22  is a top view of the button member of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 23  is a side view of the button member of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the locking pole of  FIG. 19A . 
           [0047]      FIG. 25  is a side view of the locking pole of  FIG. 24 . 
           [0048]      FIG. 26  is an end view of the locking pole of  FIG. 24 . 
           [0049]      FIG. 27  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the flexible member of the present invention. 
           [0050]      FIG. 28  is a side view of the flexible member of  FIG. 27 . 
           [0051]      FIG. 29  is a top view of the flexible member of  FIG. 27 . 
           [0052]      FIG. 30  is an end view of the flexible member of  FIG. 27 . 
           [0053]      FIG. 31  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the biasing means of the present invention, being a compression spring. 
           [0054]      FIG. 32  is a side view of the compression spring of  FIG. 31 . 
           [0055]      FIG. 33  is a front view of the compression spring of  FIG. 31 . 
           [0056]      FIG. 34  is an end view of the compression spring of  FIG. 31 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0057]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the travel limiting device  10  of the present invention, after being fixedly secured to a sliding door  100 . The device of  FIG. 1  is shown in the unsecured position so that the door is free to slide open.  FIG. 2  shows the device in a first secured position, which may be used to inhibit sliding travel of the door through engagement of a stop member of the device with a corresponding opening in a keeper  150 . The keeper  150  may be secured to the master frame  200  in which the door  100  slides. The device  10  and the keeper  150  may each be respectively attached using any suitable attachment means, including, but not limited to, using a welding operation, by using an epoxy adhesive, or using mechanical fasteners (e.g., screws/nuts and bolts), etc. The first opening  151  in the keeper  150  may be positioned along its length, so that when it is engaged by the stopping member of the device  10  that is fixedly secured to the door  100  ( FIG. 2 ), it may serve as a secondary lock for when the door is fully closed. This arrangement of the keeper  150  secured to the master frame  200 , and with it being engaged by the stop member of the device  10  may additionally serve to further enhance the overall security of the sliding door, to be able to better withstand forced entry by an intruder making use of a pry bar to attempt to dislodge the door from the track of the master frame. For that reason—providing additional security against the forced entry—a pair of devices  10  may be respectively installed upon a lower frame portion (e.g., lower rail/stile juncture)  101  of the sliding door  100 , and on an upper frame portion, where each device may engage a corresponding keeper that is respectively secured to an upper portion of the master frame and to a lower portion of the master frame. 
         [0058]    The second opening  152  in the keeper  150  may be positioned so that it may be engaged by the device  10  when the door has been slid open slightly, to allow fresh air to circulate through the opening between the door and its frame. This would not pose a serious impediment to an enterprising thief seeking to gain entry through that door; however, it may serve to prevent a small child from egressing therethrough, by limiting the opening created through sliding travel of the door to be fairly narrow. For that reason, there may be several other openings (e.g., a third opening and a fourth opening, etc.) in the keeper  150 , to permit the homeowner to utilize the stopping member of the device  10  with a suitably positioned keeper opening that may result in a sufficiently/suitably sized opening between the sliding door and the master frame. 
         [0059]    Although young children are very creative and may at some point learn to defeat the device  10  by operating its stopping member, in order to gain unobstructed access through the opening creating between the sliding of the master frame, this creativity may be thwarted through the use of the device  10  positioned at the top of the door frame to thereat engage a keeper secured to the upper portion of the master frame. 
         [0060]      FIG. 7A  shows an exploded view of one embodiment of the component parts that may be used to create the travel limiting device  10 . The parts may include a housing  20 , a button member  40 , a locking pole  60 , flexible member  70 , and a compression spring  80 . 
         [0061]    Button  40  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 20-23 , and may be formed of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, composite materials, etc. The body of button  40  may be formed with any suitable cross-sectional shape, including a rectangular cross-section, but to be exemplary, it is shown throughout the figures presented herein with a circular cross-section, so that the button has a substantially cylindrical body  43  with a first end  41  and a second end  42 . A portion of the cylindrical body  43  may have another protrusion  44  extending laterally therefrom, and may be formed integrally with the cylinder  43 , or may be fixedly secured thereto. Protrusion  44  may also be used to limit sliding travel of the button  40  in a first direction, as discussed hereinafter. The first end  41  of the cylindrical shaft  43  may have a head  48  protruding therefrom, which may be formed to be slightly larger than the cylinder  43  of button  40 , to better accommodate actuation of the device by a user&#39;s hand or foot. The protruding head  48  may also serve to limit sliding travel of the button in a second direction, which is also discussed hereinafter with respect to operation of the device. 
         [0062]    A hole  47  having an axis generally concentric with the axis of cylinder  43  may be formed in button  40  beginning from the second end  42 , and extending either completely through the button or only to a depth terminating between first end  41  and second end  42 . Hole  47  of button  40  may receive the locking pole  60  therein. Locking pole  60 , which is shown in detail within  FIGS. 24-26 , may also be formed using any suitable cross-sectional shape (e.g., square, rectangular, circular, hexagonal, etc.); however, to be exemplary, it is shown herein having been formed with a circular cross-section so that the locking pole is generally a cylindrical member. Part of the outer cylindrical surface of the locking pole  60  may have knurling  61  formed thereon, which may be used to enhance receiving of the locking pole within hole  47  in a press fit, as shown in  FIG. 19A . Alternatively, or in addition to the knurling  61 , adhesive may be used to retain the locking pole within the hole  47 . Adhesive may be utilized where a clearance fit for hole  47  is utilized, in the absence of knurling. The locking pole may be constructed using the same material that is used for button  40 , or it may be formed using a material that is better suited for engagement with the keeper  150 . 
         [0063]    Button  40  may also include a post  45  that may protrude from the cylinder  43 . The post  45  may be used to receive a portion of the flexible member  70 , which is shown in detail in  FIGS. 27-30 . The flexible member  70  may include an elongated portion  73  that has a first end  71  and a second end  72 . The first end  71  of the elongated portion  73  may transition into an engagement portion of the flexible member, and may be formed at an angle with respect to the elongated portion  73 . The engagement portion  74  may terminate in a rounded end, or it may instead be bent at an obtuse angle, which may be  180  degrees, to form a rounded engagement surface. The second end  72  of the elongated portion  73  may transition into a series of helical turns  75 , which may be sized to fit upon the post  45  of the button  40 . 
         [0064]    To be able to more positively secure the flexible member  70  to the button  40 , the series of turns  75  may transition into a hook  76 , which may be received within a recess  46 R formed by a protrusion  46  and a flat portion  43 F formed on the cylinder  43  of the button  40  ( FIG. 20 ). The flexible member  70  and the button  40  are shown within  FIG. 19A  prior to mounting of the flexible member, and is shown within  FIG. 19B  after being mounted thereon. 
         [0065]    An alternate embodiment for the flexible member may be utilized, and is shown within  FIG. 18 , in which the flexible member  70 A may be foiined integral with the button, or be fixedly secured thereto, to cantilever directly therefrom.  FIG. 18  also shows an alternate embodiment for the forming of the button and locking pole combination, where the two individual parts have been combined and replaced by a single part-stopping member  40 A. Stopping member  40 A may have an elongated protrusion  49 A that is oriented in the axial direction of the cylindrical stopping member, and may be formed integral therewith, or may instead be fixedly secured to the cylinder. A first end  49 A i  of the elongated protrusion  49 A may be used to limit travel of the stopping member  40 A in a first axial direction, while a second end  49 A ii  of the elongated protrusion  49 A may be used to limit travel of the stopping member in a second axial direction, which may eliminate the need for the protruding head that is used on button  40 . 
         [0066]    The stopping member for device  10  is intended to slide within the housing  20  to engage keeper  150 , and so where the cross-sectional shape of the stopping member is square or rectangular, or another polygonal or irregular shape, there is no concern about rotation of the stopping member, which may adversely affect operation of the flexible member, when the stopping member translates within a correspondingly shaped (“keyed”) opening in the housing. With the use of a circular cross-section to form a cylindrical shape for the stopping member, anti-rotation of the member within a corresponding cylindrical opening in the housing may be prevented by the elongated protrusion  49 A engaging a corresponding opening in the housing  20 , in a similar key/keyway arrangement. A similar elongated protrusion  49  may also be used on the cylindrical body  43  of button  40  for the same purpose. 
         [0067]    The housing may be formed into many different shapes. An exemplary housing  20  is illustrated in detail within  FIGS. 12-15 , and may generally have a first end  21  and a second end  22 . As stated hereinabove, housing  20  may be secured to the door  100  by using a welding process, or using adhesive, or using mechanical fasteners. Where one or more mechanical fasteners are to be used for mounting the housing, these fasteners may be received through a hole or a pattern of holes (e.g.,  23   a / 23   b / 23   c / 23   d ) in flange  24  of the housing. The flange may, but need not necessarily, extend beyond the ends  21 / 22  of the housing, depending upon the location chosen for the pattern of mounting holes. The flange  24  extends beyond the second end  22  of the housing shown in  FIG. 14 , as the holes  23   a  and  23   b  were disposed above the cavity, rather than being disposed to the side of the cavity. 
         [0068]    An opening  25  in the exterior surface  26  of the housing may create a cavity defined by an interior surface  27 . The second end  22  of the housing  20  may have an orifice  28  that penetrates from the exterior surface through the interior surface of the cavity. Orifice  28  may be formed to match the cross-sectional shape of the stop member. Housing  20  is illustrated within the drawing figures to be configured to receive the combination locking pole  60  and button  40 , and therefore orifice  28  is shown therein as a cylindrical hole, which may have a diameter sized to provide a clearance fit with the outer diameter of locking pole  60 . The first end  21  of the housing may have an orifice  29  ( FIG. 17 ) therein that penetrates from the exterior surface through the interior surface of the cavity. Orifice  29  may also be formed to match the cross-sectional shape of the stop member, and since the housing is illustrated within the drawing figures to be configured to receive the combination locking pole  60  and button  40 , orifice  29  is shown therein as a cylindrical hole, which may have a diameter sized to provide a clearance fit with the outer diameter of the locking pole.  FIG. 17  also shows the slotted opening  29 S cut adjacent to, and interconnecting with, the orifice  29  to form a keyway that is shaped to receive the elongated anti-rotation protrusion  49  of button  40 . 
         [0069]    The assembled combination of button  40  and locking pole  60  shown in  FIG. 19B  may be received through the keyway formed by orifice  29  and slotted opening  29 S, with the free end of the locking pole entering first through the keyway. As the end of the locking pole  60  clears the keyway and initially enters the cavity of the housing  20 , the compression spring  80  may be inserted into the cavity through opening  25 , so that it may be received upon the end of the locking pole. The assembled combination of button  40  and locking pole  60  may be further advanced through the keyway, with its orientation being particularly clocked such that post  45  and then protrusion  46 , each of which extends away from the outer diameter of the button cylinder, may pass through the slotted opening  29 S of the keyway. Once those two features have entered the cavity, the clocking of the combination may be reoriented (if the anti-rotation protrusion  49  of button  40  is not formed in-line with the post  45  and  46 ) so that the anti-rotation protrusion  49  may next enter the slotted opening  29 S of the keyway. This adjustment to the clocking may also operate to cause the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70  to rotate into engagement with a track formed in the interior surface of the housing cavity, as discussed hereinafter. The free end of the locking pole may be received through, and exit out from, the orifice  28  of housing  20 . (Note that other assembly sequences for construction of device  10  are possible, and the one described herein is merely meant to be an exemplary sequence). 
         [0070]    The combination of button  40  and locking pole  60  may be prevented from backing out, by the use of protrusion  44  on the button  40 . As seen in  FIG. 23 , the protrusion may be formed to extend/cantilever, at an angle, out from a recess in the cylinder  43  of the button  40 . So, as the combination is inserted in through the keyway in the housing formed by orifice  29  and slotted opening  29 S, the protrusion is forced to deflect inwardly through contact of the angled side of the protrusion  44  with the housing, as indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 23 . Once the combination is properly seated in the housing cavity, the protrusion clears the housing wall and returns to its undeflected position, from which it prevents removal of the combination from the housing  20 . The assembled device  10  is shown in  FIG. 8A . 
         [0071]    The track formed in the interior surface  27  of the housing cavity is shown within the perspective view of  FIG. 16 , as well as the enlarged detail view taken therefrom and shown in  FIG. 16A . The track is also shown within the reverse perspective section view of the housing in  FIG. 16 , and in the enlarged detail cut-away view of  FIG. 17A . The track may be formed by various topographical changes to a portion of the interior surface  27  of the housing, to form discretely different regions or portions of the track&#39;s surface features that may be sequentially encountered by the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70 , as it is driven by translation of the button  40  or the stop member. Stiffeners  30  and  31  ( FIG. 17 ) may be formed within the housing cavity to provide additional structural integrity, and may also serve to assure sliding movement of the stop member in a straight line, to enable proper sequenced movements of the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70  with respect to the track. 
         [0072]      FIG. 9  shows a top view of the track features formed on the interior surface  27  in the cavity of housing  20 , and with certain key positional movements of the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70  also denoted therein. When the combination of button  40  and locking pole  60  is in the door unsecured position, shown by  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 8A , the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70  may engage the track or be slightly displaced therefrom, which is denoted at position “A.” 
         [0073]    As the user of device  10  applies a force to the stop member or to the head  48  of button  40 , shown by the downward arrow in  FIG. 8A , the combination of button  40  and locking pole  60  (the stop member) translates downwardly, and the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70  similarly translates downwardly until the device reaches position “B.” At position “B” for the device, the free end of the locking pole  60  (the stop member) protrudes even farther outward from the orifice  28 , and the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70  has now contacted and been engaged by a first region of the track ( FIG. 17A ). Thereafter, continued application of the force by the user to cause further downward translation of the button results in the portion of the flexible member  70  that is fixedly secured thereto to also translate; however, the cantilevered engagement portion  74  of the flexible member is caused to deflect in a first, outward, direction by its contact with the first track region, and is thereby directed to avoid a recess during the downward translation. As the downward translation is nearly complete, which is defined by the travel limit imposed by the protrusion  49 A of the stop member of  FIG. 18 , or by the head  48  contacting the second end  22  of housing  20  for the combination of button  40  and locking pole  60  ( FIG. 8C ), the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70  moves clear of the first track region, and is engaged by a second track region. Complete downward travel is shown by position “C” in  FIG. 8C . 
         [0074]    Once the user ceases to apply the downward force, the compression spring  80 , which has been compressed by that downward translation and has stored elastic strain energy, now works to bias the combination of button  40  and locking pole  60  (i.e., the stop member) to translate upwardly. During this biased upward translation, the second track region serves to guide and direct the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70  toward the recess. The engagement portion  74  is then nested within the recess at position “D,” and the stop member of device  10  is thereby inhibited from being biased any further, and is maintained at an intermediate position between the door unsecured position of  FIG. 8A , and the full downwardly translated position of  FIG. 8C . The position of the locking pole  60  at position “D” for device  10  constitutes the door secured position that is shown in  FIG. 8D  and  FIG. 2 . 
         [0075]    Once the user desires to subsequently move the position of the door, the device again needs to be actuated by the application of a downward force to the head  48  of button  40 , which is shown by the downward arrow in  FIG. 10A . The combination of button  40  and locking pole  60  (the stop member) again translates downwardly until again reaching the travel limit imposed by the protrusion  49 A of the stop member of  FIG. 18 , or by the head  48  contacting the second end  22  of housing  20  for the combination of button  40  and locking pole  60  ( FIG. 8C ). Complete downward travel is shown by position “E” in  FIG. 10B . However, position “E” for device  10  is different than position “C,” because as the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70  exits the recess and is caused to translate downward, it now contacts a third track region, and is engaged by the third track region and caused to deflect in a second direction. The second direction may be opposite from the first direction. 
         [0076]    As the stop member approaches the downward travel limit, the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70  is caused to engage with a fourth track portion. Once the user again ceases to apply the downward force, the compression spring  80  once again works to bias the combination of button  40  and locking pole  60  (i.e., the stop member) to translate upwardly. During this biased upward translation from position “E,” the fourth track region serves to guide and direct the engagement portion  74  of flexible member  70  back toward position “A,” which it reaches when the stop member reaches the upward travel limit. 
         [0077]    The examples and descriptions provided merely illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the present disclosure will appreciate that further embodiments may be implemented with various changes within the scope of the present invention. Other modifications, substitutions, omissions and changes may be made in the design, size, materials used or proportions, operating conditions, assembly sequence, or arrangement or positioning of elements and members of the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit of this invention.