Abstract:
An integrated peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger constructed as an integral unit to aid in a single installation and preservation of an outward facing door.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention is related to an external door apparatus constructed to provide an integrated mechanism for a visitor to acknowledge her presence, an occupant to visually identify the visitor without opening the exterior door, and a support for a decorative object. 
   2. Discussion of the Background 
   Many homeowners enhance the purpose and aesthetics of their external doors for safety, visitor acknowledgement, and decoration. Conventional peepholes are installed for the purpose of the occupant to identify the visitor without opening the door. Door knockers are installed to enhance the beauty of the home and to enable the visitor to acknowledge their presence. In addition, many occupants decorate their external doors with wreaths, door swags, and the like to enhance the beauty of the home. These safety and decorative accessories are purchased and installed individually. 
   As recognized by the present inventor, it is common for these objects to be misaligned during installation, leaving a less than desirable effect. Removable wreath hangers are unstable and often scratch the exterior door. Furthermore, they are usually used during only part of the year, and removing it from the door during off-seasons leaves the owner to repair the damage. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One purpose of this invention is to provide a combination peephole, door knocker, and decoration hanging device that allows enough room for the decorative object to hang unobtrusively to either the peephole or door knocker. 
   One object of the present invention is to overcome the difficulties and limitations of conventional approaches to installing individual peepholes, door knockers, and door decoration support hangers. 
   A feature of the present invention is a combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger for installation as a single unit. The combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger has a main body of a predetermined width, a predetermined length that extends from a top to a bottom, a predetermined thickness, a front surface, and a back surface. 
   In one embodiment, the front surface is made up of two contiguous surface portions, which are attached together by a hinge. A first surface portion is oriented above a second surface portion. The first surface portion is configured to support a door decoration support, a peephole, a strike plate, and a stationary top hinge portion. The door decoration support is oriented above the peephole such that when the door decoration support is in use, the door decoration does not obstruct the view from the peephole. The second surface portion is configured to support a non-stationary bottom hinge portion and a door knocker. The first surface portion and the second surface portion are formed as an integral unit. 
   The back surface is configured to attach the combination peephole, door knocker, door decoration support hanger to the door. 
   In another embodiment, the door decoration support is a recessed area oriented along the top of the back surface following the contour of the combination peephole, and door decoration support hanger. 
   In a further embodiment, the door decoration support is at least one hook oriented along the top of the back surface following the contour of the combination peephole, and door decoration support hanger. 
   In yet another embodiment, the door decoration support is at least one adjustable tab, oriented along the top of the back surface following the contour of the combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger. 
   In still a further embodiment, the door decoration support is a malleable material oriented along the top of the back surface following the contour of the combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger. 
   Another feature of the combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger is an engravable area on the first surface portion. 
   In another embodiment only a peephole and door decoration support hanger are combined. 
   In another further embodiment, the knocker is detachably attached from the peephole and door decoration support hanger. 
   In a further embodiment, the engravable area is optional. 
   The present inventor recognized that there is competition for the space at the center, eye-level portion of a front-door. Although many doors include a centered peephole with a door knocker close by, these devices are usually rendered unfit for their intended purpose when the homeowner installs a wreath. Moving the peephole, or door knocker is not practical, and so it is often the case that the function of these devices is compromised when a wreath-hanger and wreath are installed and displayed on the exterior door. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a back view of a combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger according to  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the recessed decoration hanger according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross section view of the keyed slot decoration hanger embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a slidable hook; 
       FIG. 7  is a back view of the at least one hook decoration hanger embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross section view of the at least one adjustable tab decoration hanger embodiment; and 
       FIG. 9  is a front view of a combination peephole and door decoration support hanger noting that the door knocker, non-stationary hinge, and strike plate may be removably attached. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger according to the present invention. A main body  1  has a predetermined length, L, in an inclusive range of five to nine inches, a width, W, in an inclusive range of five inches to nine inches, and a thickness, T ( FIG. 2 ), in an inclusive range of one half inches to three inches along the length direction. While specific ranges are given, the invention should not be construed as being restricted to these dimensions, within the spirit and scope of the invention. The L, W, and T dimensions may vary according to the door size. For example, a small size (and thus smaller dimensions) is more appropriate for apartment doors, while larger sizes are more appropriate for larger scaled doors of large estate homes. The main body  1  and associated components are optionally constructed of molded plastic, metal (e.g., brass, chrome, steel, or the like), or hybrid parts. These parts are either integrally formed, or assembled, such as with screws or adhesive, as subcomponents. 
   The main body  1  has a front surface  2  that includes a first surface portion  3  to support a stationary portion of the combination peephole, door knocker, door decoration support hanger, and a second surface portion  4  to support a non-stationary portion of the combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger. The first surface portion  3  supports a door decoration support  5 , a peephole  6 , a strike plate  7 , and a stationary top hinge portion  8 . The door decoration support  5  is a recessed area oriented along an outside contour of the first surface portion  3 . The door decoration support  5  could also be made from hooks, adjustable tabs, or a malleable material that is able to support a decorative object. The door decoration support  5  is configured to enable the decorative object to be displayed without obstructing the view from the peephole. The second surface portion  4  supports a non-stationary bottom hinge portion  9  and a door knocker  10 . When used, the door knocker  10  is rotated about the hinge and then brought into contact with the door or an optional strike plate  7  to make an audible noise. 
     FIG. 2  is a side view of the combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger shown in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment the main body  1  is made of a molded stainless steel. However, the main body  1  could also be made from a molded aluminum, brass or other material that is able to support a door decoration. The main body  1  has a thickness, T, in an inclusive range of one half inches to three inches along the length, L, direction. The door decoration support  5  is a recessed area oriented along an outside contour of the first surface portion  3 . The door decoration support  5  could also be a least one hook, or at least one adjustable tab, or a malleable material oriented along an outside contour of the first surface portion  3  that is able to support a door decoration. The peephole  6  provides an unobstructed view. 
     FIG. 3  shows a back view of a combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger according to the present invention. The first surface portion  3  provides a primary attachment area  30  oriented above the peephole  6  and a secondary attachment area  31  oriented below the peephole  6 . The combination peephole, door knocker, and door decoration support hanger is attached to a door using screws. The glass for the peephole  6  is optionally integrated into the structure, or it is installed separately and the structure includes a through bore that is aligned with the peephole and provides an unobstructed view through the peephole. 
     FIG. 4  shows the door decoration support hanger as a recessed area  41 . The recessed area  41  is formed in the first surface portion  3  of  FIG. 1 . The door decoration rests upon this recessed area  41 . 
     FIG. 5  shows the door decoration support hanger as a keyed slot. The keyed slot door decoration support hanger  5  is formed in the first surface portion  3  that receives one or more slidable hooks  52  that are removably slid in the keyed slot  51  when support is needed for the decorative object. In  FIG. 1 , the keyed slot is shown in dashed lines. The slot has a keyed opening  51 , such as in a dovetail shape. A hook  52  to be installed has a shape at a keyed-end  53  as shown in  FIG. 6  opposite to the hook, where this keyed-end  53  has a cross-section made to be received in the keyed opening. When installed, the hook  52  cannot be removed from the front because the keyed-end  53  of the hook  52  as shown in  FIG. 6  is held by the slot. 
     FIG. 6  shows a side view of the slidable hook  52  that is inserted into the keyed opening  51  of  FIG. 5 . The slidable hook  52  has a shape at a keyed-end opposite to the hook, where this keyed-end  53  has a cross-section made to be received in the keyed opening  51  of  FIG. 5 . When installed, the hook  52  cannot be removed from the front because the keyed-end  53  of the hook  52  is held by the slot  51  of  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 7  shows a back view of the first surface portion  3  wherein the door decoration support hanger  5  being at least one hook  61  on an outer perimeter  62  of the primary attachment area  3  of  FIG. 3 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a side view of the door decoration support hanger  5  being at least one adjustable tab  71  on an outer perimeter of the primary attachment area  3  of  FIG. 3 . 
     FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of a combination peephole and door decoration support hanger with the door knocker  90  and strike plate as optional attachments. A main body  80  has a predetermined length, L, in an inclusive range of five to nine inches, a width, W, in an inclusive range of five inches to nine inches, and a thickness in an inclusive range of one half inches to three inches along the length direction. While specific ranges are given, the invention should not be construed as being restricted to these dimensions, within the spirit and scope of the invention. The L, W, and T dimensions may vary according to the door size. For example, a small size (and thus smaller dimensions) is more appropriate for apartment doors, while larger sizes are more appropriate for larger scaled doors of large estate homes. The main body  80  and associated components are optionally constructed of molded plastic, metal (e.g., brass, chrome, steel, or the like), or hybrid parts. These parts are either integrally formed, or assembled, such as with screws or adhesive, as subcomponents. 
   The main body  80  has a front surface  82  that includes a first surface portion  83  to support a stationary portion of the combination peephole and door decoration support hanger with the door knocker and strike plate as optional attachments, and an optional second surface portion  84  to support a non-stationary portion of the combination peephole and door decoration support hanger with the door knocker and strike plate as optional attachments. The first surface portion  83  supports door decoration support  85 , a peephole  86 , and a stationary top hinge portion  88 . While the first surface portion  83  is shown having a semi-circular shape, the invention should not be construed as being restricted to this shape. The door decoration support  85  is a recessed area oriented along an outside contour of the first surface portion  83 . The door decoration support  85  could also be made from hooks, adjustable tabs, or a malleable material that is able to support a decorative object. The door decoration support  85  is configured to enable the decorative object to be displayed without obstructing the view from the peephole. The optional second surface portion  84  supports a non-stationary bottom hinge portion  89 , a removably attached door knocker  90 , and a removably attached strike plate  87 . When used, the removably attached door knocker  90  is rotated about the hinge, then brought into contact with the removably attached strike plate  87  to make an audible noise.