Abstract:
A free-standing door supporting clamp includes a platform for engaging an edge of a door. First and second clamping members, each having a leg and an arm angularly offset from another, are pivotally attached to the platform. The first and second clamping members are each comprised of a rod having spring properties, such that upon placing the door onto the platform of the assembled clamp, the arms of the first and second clamping members pivot inward into flexing contact with the door, and the legs provide, with the platform, a stable support for the door over a floor or ground surface.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from United States Application Serial No. 60/254,752 filed Dec. 11, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the preparation and installation of doors. More particularly, the present invention relates to a door clamp which holds the door in a free-standing position while the door is modified for installation or otherwise worked on.  
           [0003]    In the construction of buildings, and particularly framed structures such as residential housing, significant effort is often directed to the preparation and installation of doors. Aside from the cutting and planing required to properly size the door so that it properly fits within the frame and accommodates for carpet, tile or other foreign materials, the door must also be mounted to the door frame with hinges. Also, various holes must be formed and aligned and the door and door frame for the installation of locks, deadbolts and the like. Previously installed doors must sometimes be modified when new handles and locks are installed.  
           [0004]    The carpenter installing the door typically holds the door in a vertical position, while attaching the hinges and drilling the appropriate holes for handles and locks. Doors are often rather large, bulky and heavy and can be difficult to handle. Due to the elongated nature of the door, the carpenter must hold the top of the door with one hand while bracing his or her foot and lower leg against the bottom of the door while drilling, cutting, etc. Given this awkward arrangement, it is possible that the door can slip out of grasp of the carpenter while worked on. This can present an undue safety hazard for the carpenter, as the power tool can slip when the door moves. Also, the door may slip into and damage furniture, other finished carpentry or walls.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a stabilizing means for supporting and securing the door in a vertical and free-standing position while these procedures are to be performed. The present invention fulfills this need and provides other related advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention resides in a free-standing door supporting clamp that stabilizes and secures a door in a vertical and free-standing position so that various procedures and operations can be performed thereon, such as those described above.  
           [0007]    The free-standing door supporting clamp generally comprises a platform for engaging an edge of a door. A first clamping member includes a leg and an arm that are angularly offset from one another, preferably by more than 90°. The first clamping member is pivotally attached to the platform. A second clamping member also having a leg and an arm which are angularly offset from one another, typically by more than 90°, is also pivotally attached to the platform, such that upon placing the door onto the platform, the arms of the first and second clamping members pivot inward into flexing contact with the door, and the legs, provide, with the platform, a stable support for the door over a floor or ground surface.  
           [0008]    The first and second clamping members are comprised of a rod, typically of metal material, having spring properties. The legs of the first and second clamping members are generally quadrilateral in configuration, and the arms thereof are generally triangular in configuration, although the invention is not necessarily limited to such configurations.  
           [0009]    The platform includes open-faced grooves formed in a lower surface thereof and spaced from one another for insertion of a portion of the first and second clamping members, typically intermediate the arm and leg. In order to engage and support doors of various widths, the platform may include three or more open-faced grooves.  
           [0010]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door clamp embodying the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an end view of the door clamp of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an opposite end view of the door clamp of FIG. 2;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a side view of the door clamp of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the door clamp of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the door clamp of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the door clamp of FIG. 1, illustrating the assembly of the components thereof;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the door clamp of the present invention in an open state and having a door, shown in phantom, being placed thereon;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the door clamp of the present invention having the door, shown in phantom, placed thereon so as to close the clamp about the door;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the door clamp of the present invention in an open position and having a door placed thereon such that the door clamp pivots and flexes into the closed position, shown in phantom; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is an end view of a door supported by the door clamp of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]    As illustrated in the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is concerned with a door clamp  10  for supporting unhinged doors in a vertical and free-standing position. The door clamp  10  is generally comprised of first and second clamping members  12  and  14  which support a platform  16 .  
         [0024]    With reference to FIGS.  1 - 7 , the first and second clamping members  12  and  14  are each comprised of a somewhat flexible and resilient rod which is bent into an irregular shape to form a leg  18  at one end thereof and an arm  20  at an opposite end thereof with an intermediate section  22  which serves as a pivotal anchor to the platform  16 . As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the leg  18  and arm  20  do not lie in the same plane and form a V-like structure when viewed at an end thereof. Preferably, the leg  18  and arm  20  are angularly offset from one another by at least 90° in order to flex upon and pinch a door, as will be described more fully herein. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the leg  18  forms a trapezoid-like structure, and the arm  20  forms a triangle, although the invention is not limited to such a configuration. The rod is comprised of a material, such as metal or plastic having spring properties, which can be flexed from a relaxed state to a tensioned and sprung state and returned to the relaxed state when the force or pressure is removed.  
         [0025]    With particular reference to FIG. 7, the platform  16  is comprised of a relatively rigid and durable material, such as wood, plastic, metal or the like. A top surface  24  of the platform  16  is generally flat. Two open-faced channels  26  are formed in the bottom surface  28  of the platform  16  for receipt of the intermediate sections  22  of the first and second clamping members  12  and  14 . The channels  26  extend across the entire length of the platform  16  and are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance. This distance is determined, in part, by the thickness of the door to which the door clamp  10  is to be applied. For example, if the door is relatively thick, the channels  26  are spaced further apart from one another, and if necessary, the platform  16  is enlarged. In contrast, if the door is relatively thin, the channels  26  are spaced much closer to one another. In order to accommodate doors of varying thicknesses, one or more channels  26  may be formed adjacent to one of the original channels  26  so that the user of the device may insert the intermediate sections  22  of the first and second clamping members  12  and  14  into the appropriate channels  26  to accommodate for the thickness of the door. The channels are configured such that the intermediate section  22  can be inserted into the channel  26  in a snap-fit manner, yet allow the intermediate section  22  to rotate or pivot therein.  
         [0026]    With reference to FIGS.  8 - 9 , in use, the intermediate section  22  of the first clamping member  12  is inserted into a channel  26  of the platform  16 , and the intermediate section  22  of the second clamping number  14  is inserted into the appropriate channel which will allow the door clamp  10  to fully close upon the door  30  as more fully described herein. In its relaxed state, the arms  20  of the first and second clamping numbers  12  and  14  extend away from one another to provide open access to the top surface  24  of the platform  16 .  
         [0027]    As illustrated in FIG. 8, in use, an edge, such as the bottom surface of the door  30  is inserted between the two arms  20  and onto the platform  16 . As the weight of the door  30  rests upon the platform  16 , the legs  18  of the first and second clamping numbers  12  and  14  flatten from an angled position to a near horizontal position, resulting in the two arms  20  rotating into a more vertical and upright position against the sides of the door  30 . The legs  18  of the first and second clamping members  12  and  14 , with the platform  16 , cooperatively form a stable base and the arms  20  of the first and second clamping numbers  12  and  14  act to hold the door  30  in a vertical and free-standing position.  
         [0028]    The movement of the door clamp  10  from an opened and relaxed position to a closed position resulting from the placement of the door thereon, is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 shows the door  30  resting upon the platform  16  and the arms  20  of the first and second clamping numbers  12  and  14  pressed or flexed against the door  30  in a near vertical position.  
         [0029]    The carpenter may leave the door on its hinges and merely require the use of one door clamp  10  on the end of the door  30  opposite the hinges in order to mobilize the door for drilling holes and the like for the installment of handles, locks, etc. There may be other instances, however, where a door clamp  10  is positioned on both ends of the door  30  to hold it in an upright position, such as when the door is removed from the hinges. With the door 30 secured in the closed door clamp  10 , the carpenter is free to make any repairs or adjustments that are necessary without fear of the base of the door  30  slipping from its position within the door clamp  10 . When the appropriate adjustments and installations are completed, the door  30  is lifted from the platform  16  and the release of the force upon the legs  18  will cause the clamping numbers  12  and  14  to return to their relaxed state, thus opening the door clamp  10  and permitting the removal of the door  30 . In the event the door clamp  10  does not immediately return to its relaxed state, the carpenter can press down and pivot one of the legs  18  to move the arm  20  away from the door  30  and allow its removal.  
         [0030]    It will be apparent to the reader that the door clamp  10  of the present invention provides many advantages to the carpenter. The door clamp  10  is relatively compact in size, and can be disassembled for storage and transportation. Also, doors of varying widths may be accommodated. The invention also provides a device which is very easy to assemble and use while providing a very stable support base for the free-standing door  30 . The door clamp  10  will reduce the risk of injury to the carpenter, as well as the potential damage to surrounding objects with which the door might slip into without such a stable supporting base.  
         [0031]    Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications of each may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.