Patent Publication Number: US-6658695-B1

Title: Door securing device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to door holding mechanisms and more particularly pertains to a new door securing device for securing screen door in an open position once it has been opened. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of door holding mechanisms is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,925 describes a device for engaging the door cylinder of a door and maintain position of the door cylinder to inhibit the door cylinder from closing the door. Another type of door holding mechanism is U.S. Pat. No. 3,785,004 having a device being coupled to a door check unit for keeping a door in a fully opened position. U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,264 has a releasable latch for engaging a door check unit to selectively inhibit closing the screen door until released by the user. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,722,116 and 4,815,163 each have a mechanism for engaging the door check unit of a screen door for securing the screen door in an open position. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 356,938 shows an attachment to prevent the operation of a storm door closer mechanism. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new door securing device that does not require the hands of the user to set the housing in position against the door cylinder. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new door securing device that is easily removable when not needed. 
     To this end, the present invention generally comprises a housing comprising a perimeter wall. The perimeter wall defines an interior space of the housing. The housing is designed for being slidably positioned on a door rod of the screen door opposite a door cylinder of the screen door. A cable assembly is positioned in the interior space of the housing. The cable assembly is designed for being coupled to the screen door opposite the housing. The cable assembly is designed for drawing the housing towards the door cylinder whereby the housing engages the door cylinder and the door rod to maintain the door cylinder in position on the door rod for inhibiting closing of the screen door. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new door securing device according to the present invention shown in use. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention shown in use. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the present invention taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the present invention showing the bottom wall in the open position. 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of the present invention showing the bottom wall in the closed position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new door securing device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the door securing device  10  generally comprises a housing  11  comprising a perimeter wall  12 . The perimeter wall  12  defines an interior space  13  of the housing  11 . The housing  11  is designed for being slidably positioned on a door rod  1  of the screen door opposite a door cylinder  2  of the screen door. 
     A cable assembly  14  is positioned in the interior space  13  of the housing  11 . The cable assembly  14  is designed for being coupled to the screen door opposite the housing  11 . The cable assembly  14  is designed for drawing the housing  11  towards the door cylinder  2  whereby the housing  11  engages the door cylinder  2  and the door rod  1  to maintain the door cylinder  2  in position on the door rod  1  for inhibiting closing of the screen door. 
     The perimeter wall  12  of the housing  11  comprises a pair of side walls  15 . Each of the side walls  15  comprises a slot  16  extending from a bottom edge  17  of the associated one of the side walls  15 . The slot  16  of each of the side walls  15  is designed for receiving the door rod  1  for positioning the housing  11  around the door rod  1 . 
     The perimeter wall  12  of the housing  11  comprises a bottom wall  18 . The bottom wall  18  is hingably coupled to one of a pair of end walls  19  of the perimeter wall  12 . The bottom wall  18  is pivotal from a closed position to an open position to permit the door rod  1  to be removed from the slot  16   s  in the side walls  15  for permitting removal of the housing  11  from the door rod  1 . 
     A securing member  20  is coupled to the bottom wall  18  of the housing  11 . The securing member  20  is positionable in the interior space  13  of the housing  11  when the bottom wall  18  is in the closed position. The securing member  20  is designed for engaging the door rod  1  of the screen door for maintaining alignment of the housing  11  with the door rod  1 . 
     The securing member  20  comprises a free end  21 . The free end  21  of the securing member  20  has a concave depression  22 . The concave depression  22  is designed for seating the door rod  1  in the free end  21  of the securing member  20  for inhibiting slipping of the securing member  20  from the door rod  1  when the housing  11  is sliding on the door rod  1 . 
     A locking member  23  is selectively extendable through the bottom wall  18  of the housing  11  and engages one of the side walls  15  of the housing  11 . The locking member  23  secures the bottom wall  18  to the associated one the side walls  15  when the bottom wall  18  is in the closed position. 
     A pair of retaining members  24  are positioned in the interior space  13  of the housing  11 . Each of the retaining members  24  is coupled to one of the side walls  15  of the perimeter wall  12 . Each of the retaining members  24  is designed for securing a stop tab  3  of the screen door to the associated one of the side walls  15  for maintaining alignment of the stop tab  3  with the door rod  1  for inhibiting closing of the door when the housing  11  is abutting the door cylinder  2 . The retaining members  24  are loosely positioned around the stop tab  3  to allow the stop tab  3  to pivot with respect to door rod  1  for inhibiting closing of the screen door. 
     The cable assembly  14  comprises a cable member  25  and a winding portion  26 . The cable member  25  extends through the perimeter wall  12  of the housing  11  whereby a distal end  27  of the cable member  25  is designed for being coupled to the screen door opposite the housing  11 . The winding portion  26  is coupled to the housing  11 . The winding portion  26  winds the cable member  25  onto the winding portion  26  for drawing the housing  11  towards the door cylinder  2  when the screen door is opened. 
     In use, the user pivots the bottom wall  18  to open position and slides the door rod  1  into the slot  16   s  of the side walls  15 . The stop tab  3  is positioned between the retaining members  24  and the associated one of the side walls  15 . The bottom wall  18  is pivoted to the closed position and the securing member  20  engages the door rod  1 . The free end  21  of the cable member  25  is coupled to screed door opposite the housing  11 . As the screen door is opened the winding portion  26  winds the cable back onto the winding portion  26  to maintain proximity to the door cylinder  2  and as the screen door is open fully the stop tab  3  is tipped against door rod  1  and presses against the associated one of the side walls  15  to engage the door cylinder  2  to inhibit movement of the door cylinder  2  with respect the rod member. To close the door the user needs only to push the door closed and allow the biasing force of the door cylinder  2  to close the screen door. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.