Patent Publication Number: US-2021180374-A1

Title: Door retention device

Description:
PRIORITY 
     The present application claims the benefit of domestic priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/948,108 filed on Dec. 13, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     For as long as there have been walls, there have been doors. For as long as there have been doors, there has been a need to maintain the door in a desired position and/or to protect the door or a nearby wall from damage resulting from opening the door. 
     Doors are used in all types of facilities and have any number of design configurations. Some doors are free-swinging and some are spring biased towards a closed configuration. With either a free-swinging door or with a biased door, it can sometimes be desirable to maintain the door in an open configuration. The most common way to maintain a door in an open position is with a door holding wedge that is positioned under the door. However, door holding wedges suffer from several disadvantages. For example, a door holding wedge is easy to misplace and is not always easily locatable in a fixed location. This can lead to frustration when a wedge cannot be found. In addition, the process of retaining the door in an open position with a wedge requires some awkward movements such as bending over, pulling the door onto the wedge, and holding the wedge still with a foot. These movements can lead to injuries, especially in the case of workers that have to prop open several doors. Also, if the floor is slick or if the wedge is not sufficiently inserted under the door, the door may not be properly retained. Furthermore, when door retaining wedges are lying around, they can create a tripping hazard and can look untidy. 
     Another problem that arises with doors is when an object, such as a wall, is within the path of the door&#39;s swing arc. For example, sometimes a door will only be able to open about 90 degrees before abutting a wall. Because of this potential abutment, damage can readily occur to the door, wall, and/or doorknob if steps are not taken to prevent the damage. Commonly, a doorstop is installed on the baseboard of the abutting wall or on the door so that the doorstop makes contact with the door and/or wall. However, while these doorstops reduce the damage that occurs, there remains the potential for damage from the part that contacts the doorstop, especially over multiple uses. In addition, when the doorstop is positioned to make contact near the bottom of the door, the bottom force on the door creates an uneven force application to the hinges of the door, and this uneven force can damage the hinges over time. 
     There is therefore a need for an improved door retention device. There is a further need for a door retention device that can also serve as a door stop. There is a further need for a door retention device that is easily locatable in a known position. There is a further need for a door retention device that is easily operated. There is a further need for a door retention device that is adjustable. There is a further need for a door retention device that is universally applicable to multiple types of doors. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention satisfies these needs. In one aspect of the invention, an improved door retention device is disclosed. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device can also serve as a door stop. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device is easily locatable at a known position and is easily operated to retain a door in an open configuration. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device is universally applicable to multiple types of doors, doorknobs, and/or handles. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device can be maintained in an upward or door receiving position. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device can be latched in a downward or door retaining position. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device is automatically locked in a downward or door retaining position when moved into that position. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device is latchable in a downward or door retaining position and the latch is releasable by pressing down on the door retention device. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device includes an arm that is adjustable. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device includes an arm that is adjustable in length and/or in angular orientation. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device comprises a door retaining member and a wall mounting member, the door retaining member having a door contacting member that is capable of contacting a door in a manner that selectively maintains the door in an open configuration. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device comprises a wall mounting member adapted to be mounted on a wall or other object at a position where the door retention device can engage an open door; a door retaining member comprising an arm and a door engaging member; and a connection mechanism rotatably connecting the door retaining member to the wall mounting member, wherein the door retaining member is rotatable relative to the wall mounting member between a door receiving position where a door can be received without being retained and a door retaining position where the door engaging member can engage the door in a manner that retains the door in an open configuration, and wherein the connection mechanism includes a mechanism that maintains the door retaining member in the door receiving position and that allows selective movement of the door retaining member to the door retaining position. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device comprises a wall mounting member adapted to be mounted on a wall or other object at a position where the door retention device can engage an open door; a door retaining member comprising an arm and a door engaging member; and a connection mechanism rotatably connecting the door retaining member to the wall mounting member, wherein the door retaining member is rotatable relative to the wall mounting member between a door receiving position where a door can be received without being retained and a door retaining position where the door engaging member can engage the door in a manner that retains the door in an open configuration, and wherein the connection mechanism includes a latching mechanism that latches the door retaining member to maintain it in the door retaining position. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device comprises a wall mounting member adapted to be mounted on a wall or other object at a position where the door retention device can engage an open door; a door retaining member comprising an arm and a door engaging member; and a connection mechanism rotatably connecting the door retaining member to the wall mounting member, wherein the door retaining member is rotatable relative to the wall mounting member between a door receiving position where a door can be received without being retained and a door retaining position where the door engaging member can engage the door in a manner that retains the door in an open configuration, and wherein the arm is adjustable so that the position of the door engaging member relative to the wall mounting member can be adjusted. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a door retention device comprises a wall mounting member adapted to be mounted on a wall or other object at a position where the door retention device can engage an open door; a door retaining member comprising an arm and a door engaging member; and a connection mechanism rotatably connecting the door retaining member to the wall mounting member, wherein the door retaining member is rotatable relative to the wall mounting member between a door receiving position where a door can be received without being retained and a door retaining position where the door engaging member can engage the door in a manner that retains the door in an open configuration, and wherein the door engaging member comprises a pair of downward extending prongs that define a doorknob shank receiving space whereby the downward extending prongs can engage the backside of a doorknob by receiving a shank of the doorknob in the doorknob shank receiving space. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a method of maintaining a door in an open configuration comprises providing a door retention device on a wall the door abuts when open, the door retention device comprising a door retaining member having an arm and a door engaging member; maintaining the door retaining member is a door receiving position where the door can be opened and closed; selectively moving the door retaining member out of the door receiving position by overcoming the bias of a spring and into a door retaining position where the door engaging member engages the door in a manner that retains the door in an open configuration. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a method of maintaining a door in an open configuration comprises providing a door retention device on a wall the door abuts when open, the door retention device comprising a door retaining member having an arm and a door engaging member; maintaining the door retaining member is a door receiving position where the door can be opened and closed; selectively moving the door retaining member out of the door receiving position and into a door retaining position where the door engaging member engages the door in a manner that retains the door in an open configuration and latching the door retaining member in the door retaining position. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a method of maintaining a door in an open configuration comprises providing a door retention device on a wall the door abuts when open, the door retention device comprising a door retaining member having an arm and a door engaging member; maintaining the door retaining member is a door receiving position where the door can be opened and closed; selectively moving the door retaining member out of the door receiving position and into a door retaining position where the door engaging member engages the door in a manner that retains the door in an open configuration and latching the door retaining member in the door retaining position, and releasing the latch by pressing down on the arm. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a method of maintaining a door in an open configuration comprises providing a door retention device on a wall the door abuts when open, the door retention device comprising a door retaining member having an arm and a door engaging member; maintaining the door retaining member is a door receiving position where the door can be opened and closed; selectively moving the door retaining member out of the door receiving position and into a door retaining position where the door engaging member engages the door in a manner that retains the door in an open configuration, and adjusting the arm by changing its length and/or angular orientation. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a method of maintaining a door in an open configuration comprises providing a door retention device on a wall the door abuts when open, the door retention device comprising a door retaining member having an arm and a door engaging member in the form of a hook; maintaining the door retaining member is a door receiving position where the door can be opened and closed; selectively moving the door retaining member out of the door receiving position and into a door retaining position where the door engaging member engages the door in a manner that retains the door in an open configuration. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a method of maintaining a door in an open configuration comprises providing a door retention device on a wall the door abuts when open, the door retention device comprising a door retaining member having an arm and a door engaging member; maintaining the door retaining member is a door receiving position where the door can be opened and closed; selectively moving the door retaining member out of the door receiving position and into a door retaining position where the door engaging member engages the door in a manner that retains the door in an open configuration; automatically latching the door retaining member in the door retaining position upon movement from the door receiving position to the door retaining position; and releasing the latch to return the door retaining member to the door receiving position to allow the door to be closed. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings which illustrate exemplary features of the invention. However, it is to be understood that each of the features can be used in the invention in general, not merely in the context of the particular drawings, and the invention includes any combination of these features, where: 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic perspective view of a version of a door retaining device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic side view of the door retaining device of  FIG. 1A  in a door retaining position; 
         FIG. 1C  is a schematic side view of the door retaining device of  FIG. 1A  in a door receiving position; 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic perspective view of the door retaining device of  FIG. 1A  in use retaining a door with a first type of doorknob; 
         FIG. 2B  is a schematic perspective view of the door retaining device of  FIG. 1A  in use retaining a door with a second type of doorknob; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of another version of a door retaining device of the invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic perspective view of another version of a door retaining device of the invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic partially sectional perspective view of the door retaining device of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic perspective view of another version of a door retaining device of the invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic side view of the door retaining device of  FIG. 5A  latched in a door retaining position; 
         FIG. 5C  is a schematic side view of the door retaining device of  FIG. 5A  is an unlatched position; 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic perspective exploded view of a version of a door retaining device of the invention; 
         FIG. 6B  is a schematic partially sectional side view of the door retaining device of  FIG. 6A  in a latched door retaining position; and 
         FIG. 6C  is a schematic partially sectional side view of the door retaining device of  FIG. 6A  in an unlatched position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to a door retention device. In particular, the invention relates to a door retention device that can be mounted on a wall or other object to selectively maintain a door in an open configuration. Although the invention is illustrated and described in the context of being useful for retaining a door, the present invention can be used in other ways, as would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the present invention should not be limited just to the examples and embodiments described herein. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a version of a door retention device  100  according to the invention. 
     The door retention device  100  includes a door retaining member  105  and a wall mounting member  110 . The door retaining member  105  includes an arm  115  having a first end  120 . At the first end  120  is a connection mechanism  125  that allows the door retaining member  105  to be connected to the wall mounting member  110 . The arm  115  connects to the connection mechanism  125  at the first end and extends to a second end  130  having a door engaging member  135  that is capable of contacting or otherwise engaging a door in a manner that selectively maintains the door in an open configuration. In the version of  FIG. 1A , the door retaining member  105  is pivotally or rotationally connected to the wall mounting member  110  by a hinge mechanism  140  that allows the door retaining member  105  to rotate up and down relative to the wall mounting member  110 . The wall mounting member  110  includes a wall mounting structure  145 , such as a plate or the like, that allows the wall mounting member  110  to be mounted to a wall. The mounting of the wall mounting structure  145  to the wall may be performed in any conventional manner, such as by screws, anchors, or the like. 
     The rotational motion of the door retaining member  105  relative to the wall mounting member  110  is shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C . In  FIG. 1B , the door retention device  100  is shown in a door retaining position. In this position, the door engaging member  135  can contact a door in a manner that holds the door open. The door retaining member  105  is rotatable relative to the wall mounting member  110  by the hinge mechanism  140  to the door receiving position shown in  FIG. 1C . In the door receiving position, the door retention device  100  is configured to allow the door to be closed. In the door receiving position, the door retaining member  105  is rotated about a rotational axis of the hinge mechanism  140  upward so the door engaging member  135  does not contact the door in a manner that maintains the door open. 
     In one version, the door engaging member  135  comprises a hook  150  that extends downwardly from the second end  130  of the arm  115  of the door retaining member  105 . The hook  150  can be sized and shaped to latch onto a portion of a door that is to be retained open. For example, in one particular version, the hook  150  can be designed to latch onto a doorknob or handle of the door or other portion of the door. The hook  150  may comprise one or more prongs  155  that project downwardly from the arm  115  when the door retention device is in a door retaining position and are adapted to contact a portion of the doorknob. The one or more prongs  155 , the arm  115 , and the wall and/or wall mounting member  110  form a knob receiving cavity  160  when the door retention device  100  is in the door retaining position. The knob receiving cavity  160  is sized and shaped to receive the at least a portion of the knob of a doorknob in a manner in which the one or more prongs  155  can engage the doorknob or other portion of the door to maintain the knob in the knob receiving cavity  160 . In the version of  FIG. 1A , the hook  150  can be made up of two prongs  155  separated by a shank receiving space  165 . The shank receiving space  165  can be designed to receive the shank or neck of the doorknob. By shank or neck it is meant any portion of the doorknob between the knob and the door having a cross-sectional dimension smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the knob. Thus, when a doorknob is received within the knob receiving cavity  160 , the shank or neck of the doorknob can be received within the shank receiving space  165 , and the prongs  155  can contact the backside of the knob to retain the door. As can be seen, the arm  115  can be shaped to be generally planar and the one or more prongs  155  can extended downwardly from the plane when the arm is in the lowered position. The extension can be at substantially right angles to the plane of the arm or can be angled relative thereto. 
     In operation, the door retention device  100  is mounted to a wall by the wall mounting member  110  at a height and location where it can engage a doorknob of a door when the door is open. The door retaining member  105  is rotated to the door receiving position as shown in  FIG. 1C , and the doorknob is brought into proximity of the door retention device  100 . The door retaining member  105  is then rotated to the door retaining position of  FIG. 1B  so that the doorknob of the door is received within the knob receiving cavity  160  and so that the prongs  155  engage the back of the knob in a manner where they keep the doorknob and door from moving towards a closed configuration. The door retention device  100  can be maintained in the door retaining position with the knob received therein by gravity and/or the pressure of the knob on the prongs  155 . To close the door, the door retaining member  105  is rotated upwardly so that the doorknob of the door can move past the prongs  155  and the door can close. The door retention device  100  may optionally have a hook pad  170  and/or a wall mounting member pad  175  made of soft or cushioning material to help prevent damage to the doorknob or other parts of the door. 
     In one version, the door retention device  100  can also operate as a door stop that prevents damage to the wall from the doorknob or other portion of the door hitting the wall when the door is swung open. For example, the door retention device  100  can be positioned on a wall that would otherwise be contacted by the doorknob or other portion of a door when the door is fully opened at a location where the doorknob or other portion of the door will contact the door retention device  100  instead of the wall. In one version, the door retention device  100  includes a receiving position retaining mechanism  180  that maintains the door retention device  100  in the door receiving position as shown in  FIG. 1C . In the door receiving position, the wall mounting member pad  175  can serve as a doorknob contact portion so that when the door swings open, the doorknob or other portion of the door contacts the wall mounting member pad  175  of the door retention device  100 . Alternatively or additionally, a pad or other contacting surface may be provided on the exterior of the door engaging member  135  so that the doorknob or other portion of the door contacts the door engaging member  135  when in the down position. 
     The door retention device  100  may be composed of any suitable material. For example, the door retaining member  105  and/or the wall mounting member  110  may be made of one or more of plastic, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, nylon, and the like, metal, such as aluminum, stainless steel, bronze, copper, bronze/copper alloys, carbon steel, tool steels, titanium, cobalt, cobalt chrome, and the like, rubber, silicone, glass, ceramic, and the like. The door retaining member  105  and the wall mounting member  110  may be made of the same or different materials. The parts can be made from injection molding, casting, forging, machining, 3D printing, and/or any other suitable manufacturing technique. The hook pad  170  and/or the wall mounting member pad  175  may be made of one or more of rubber, silicone, and similar synthetic materials. 
     A particular version of the door retention device  100  shown in  FIGS. 1A through 1C , the receiving position retaining mechanism  180  comprises a magnetic system  185 . For example, the magnetic system  185  comprises a first magnet  190  on the door retaining member  105  and a second magnet  195  on the wall mounting member  110 . The first magnet  190  and the second magnet  195  are of respective polarities that they are attracted to one another. Thus, when the door retaining member  105  is rotated upwardly about the hinge mechanism  140  the attraction between the first magnet  190  and the second magnet  195  holds the door retaining member  105  in the up position or the door receiving position as shown in  FIG. 1C . A user can apply a separation force sufficient to overcome the attraction between the first magnet  190  and the second magnet  195  to rotate the door retaining member  105  downwardly and into engagement with the doorknob or other portion of the door when desired. In another version, one of the first magnet  190  or second magnet  195  may be replaced with a ferromagnetic material that is attracted to the other magnet. Alternatively, the magnetic system  185  can be replaced by a mechanical system that includes a latch, snap, or other mechanism, such as a hook and loop fastener. Alternatively, the magnetic system  185  can be replaced by a friction system where the friction force required to rotate the door retaining member  105  relative to the wall mounting member  110  exceeds the gravitational force so that the door retaining member  105  can remaining in the door receiving position on its own. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show the door retention device  100  in use retaining a door  200  in an open configuration. The door retention device  100  is mounted onto an abutment wall (not shown for clarity) by securing the back surface  205  of the wall mounting structure  145  to the wall at a position where the door retention device  100  is in alignment with the doorknob  210  of the door  200 . In this manner, the door retention device  100  is usable as a door stop, as discussed above. In addition, the door retention device  100  is constantly available in a known location to be used to retain the door  200  without the need to carry and/or search for a door retainer, such as a door retaining wedge. The door retention device  100  also retains the door in a superior manner to a door retaining wedge in that the hook  150  more easily and more securely grasps onto the doorknob  210 . Also, as can be seen in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the door retention device  100  can be used with different types of doorknobs  210  making the door retention device universally applicable to multiple shaped doorknobs with shanks. The hook  150  with two prongs  155  can receive the shank of the doorknob within the shank receiving space  165  and the knob or handle of the doorknob can be received within the knob receiving cavity  160 . A round doorknob  315  as shown in  FIG. 2A  or a handled doorknob  220  with a laterally extending handle as shown in  FIG. 2B  can be used with the door retention device  100 . The hook  150  latches around the knob in either configuration. Other doorknob configurations can be used as well provided there is a portion of the doorknob that the hook  150  can latch onto. 
     In one version, as shown in  FIG. 3A , the door retention device  100  can include an adjustment mechanism  300  that allows the position and/or orientation of the door engaging member  135  to be adjusted relative to the wall mounting member  110  and/or the wall that the door retention device  100  is mounted on. In the version of  FIG. 3 , the adjustment mechanism comprises a length adjustment mechanism  305  that adjust the length or longitudinal extension of the arm  115  of the door retaining member  105 . By adjusting the length of the arm  115 , the door retention device  100  can be adapted to be used with different sized and/or shaped doorknobs. Additionally or alternatively, by adjusting the length of the arm  115 , the size of the gap between the wall and the retained door can be adjusted. In the version of  FIGS. 3 , the length adjustment mechanism  305  includes a first arm portion  310  and a second arm portion  315  that is slidable relative to the first arm portion  310 . The second arm portion  315  can be locked at a selected position relative to the first arm portion  310  by a locking mechanism  320 . In the particular version of  FIG. 3 , the first arm portion  310  and the second arm portion are telescopically engaging so that the first arm portion  310  comprises a male member  325  that is telescopically received within a female member  330  of the second arm portion  315 . Alternatively, the male member can be provided on the second arm portion  315  and the female member can be provided on the first arm portion  310 . The locking mechanism  320  can be any mechanism that secures the first arm portion  310  and the second arm portion  315  at a desired position. For example, the locking mechanism  320  can comprise a screw  335  that passes through a hole  340  in the female member  330 . The screw  335  also passes through a longitudinally extending slot  345  in the male member  325  and engages threads on the opposite side of the slot  345 . The threads can be provided in the opposing side of the female member or in a nut or the like. Alternatively, the screw  335  can be a set screw that has a lower surface that bears on a surface of the male member  325 . By female member it is meant any cavity, slot, groove, trough, or the like that can receive the male member in sliding relationship. The female member can surround or partially surround the male member. The length adjustment mechanism  305  of the adjustment mechanism  300  can be designed to make the distance between the wall mounting member  110  or the wall and the hook  150 , i.e. the length of the knob receiving cavity  160  a desired amount. In one version, this distance can range from about 0.5 inches to about 12 inches, or from about 1 inch to about 6 inches, or from about 1 inch to about 4.5 inches. 
     Additionally or alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the adjustment mechanism  300  can comprise an angle adjustment mechanism  400 . In this version, the angle of second arm portion  315  with respect to the first arm portion  310  can be adjusted. In the version shown in  FIG. 4A , the adjusted angle can be an angle lying in the in the generally horizontal plane when the door retention device  100  is in the door retention position. The angle adjustment mechanism  400  allows the angle of the door engaging member  135 , and in particular the angle of the hook  150 , to be adjusted relative to the wall mounting member  110  and/or the wall the door retention device is mounted to. This allows the door retention device  100  to be more effectively useable in configurations where the door knob and the abutment wall are something other than about 90 degrees. In the version shown, an arcuate slot  405  is provided in the second arm portion  320 , or alternatively in the first arm portion  310 . A locking member  410 , such as a screw  335 , which can be received in threads or can be a set screw as discussed above, extends through the arcuate slot  405 . When tightened, the screw  335  can secure the second arm portion  315  and to the first arm portion  310  at a desired angular orientation relative to one another. The angle adjustment mechanism  400  of the adjustment mechanism  300  can be designed to make the angle between a central longitudinal axis of the first arm portion  310  and a central longitudinal axis of the second arm portion  315  adjustable relative to one another by an angle of up to about 30 degrees in one or both directions, or up to about 45 degrees in one or more directions. By longitudinal it is meant the general direction from the wall mounting member  110  to the door engaging member  135  when the first arm portion  310  and the second arm portion  315  are aligned. 
     Another version of a door retention device  100  according to the invention is shown in  FIG. 5A . In this version, the receiving position retaining mechanism  180  comprises a biasing mechanism  500 . For example, the biasing mechanism  500  can comprise one or more springs  505 . The biasing mechanism  500  is adapted to bias the door retaining member  105  upwardly toward the wall mounting member  110 . Thus, the biasing mechanism  500  biases the door retention device  100  into is door receiving position. To move the door retention device  100  into its door retaining position, sufficient force is applied to the door retaining member to overcome the bias of the biasing mechanism  500  and move the door retaining member  105  into engagement with the doorknob or other portion of the door. The biasing mechanism  500  can comprise one or more torsion springs  510 , as shown in the version of  FIG. 5A  or one or more tension springs, where the one or more tension springs are connected at one end to the door retaining member  105  and at another end to the wall mounting member  110 . 
     For some doors, such as doors that are spring-biased into a closed position, the force of the doorknob on the hook  150  is sufficient to maintain the door retaining member  105  in a downward position. Alternatively, a latching mechanism can be provided to maintain the door retaining member  105  in its downward position. The latching mechanism can include a latch member that is moveable between a latching position that prevents the door retaining member  105  from moving upward and a unlatching position where the door retention member  105  is allowed to move upward in response to the bias of the biasing mechanism  500 . 
     A version of a door retention device  100  have a latching mechanism  515  is shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . In this version, the latching mechanism  515  is an automatic latching mechanism  520  that automatically latches to secure the door retention device  100  is the downward or door retention position when moved into that position from the upward position. The automatic latching mechanism  520  is sufficiently strong to prevent the biasing mechanism  500  from moving the door retaining member  105  upwardly until the automatic latching mechanism  515  is unlatched.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate one design in which the automatic latching mechanism  520  can be unlatched by a simple hand movement. In this version, the automatic latching mechanism  520  becomes unlatched when downward pressure is applied to the first end  120  of the arm  115  of the door retaining member  105 .  FIG. 5B  shows the door retention device  100  with the door retaining member latched into the door retention position. A user can then apply downward pressure on the first end  120  of the arm  115  to move the arm downward relative to the wall mounting member  110 . This movement disengages the latching mechanism  515  and allows the biasing mechanism  500  to move the door retaining member  105  upwards, as shown in  FIG. 5C . The door retention device  100  is then in the upright door receiving position and is held there by the biasing mechanism  500  until again lowered back into the door retaining position by a user pressing on the second end  130  of the door retaining member  105 . As the door retaining member  105  lowers, the automatic latching mechanism  520  engages and maintains the door retention device  100  in the door retaining position. 
     A particular version of the automatic latching mechanism  520  of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 6A through 6C . In this version, the wall mounting member structure  145  of the wall mounting member  110  includes a mounting plate  600  and one or more mounting fasteners  605 , such as screws or anchors, that can be driven into an abutment wall to secure the mounting plate  600  and thus the wall mounting member  110  to the abutment wall at a desired location. The wall mounting member  110  also includes the hinge mechanism  140 . The hinge mechanism  140  in this version is made up of a first flange  610  and a second flange  615  that each extend from the mounting plate  600  in a direction away from the abutment wall and towards the door retention member  105 . The hinge mechanism  140  further includes a hinge bar  620  that extends through a hole  625  in each of the first flange  610  and the second flange  615 . The hinge bar  620  creates a hinge axis  630  about which the door retention member  105  can rotate, as shown in  FIGS. 6B and 6C . The mounting member pad  175  which in the version of  FIG. 6A  also includes a padded protrusion  635  for additional door protection can be secured to the mounting plate  600  so s to cover the fasteners  605 . 
     The door retention member  105  is receivable on the hinge mechanism  140  so that it can rotate about the hinge axis  630  from the door retaining position of  FIG. 6B  to the door receiving position of  FIG. 6C . The first end  120  of the arm  115  of the door retaining member  105  includes hinge member  640  that rotates on the hinge bar  620 . The hinge member  640  has a body  645  with a hinge hole  650  passing widthwise therethrough. The hinge hole receives the hinge bar  620  when the hinge member  640  is positioned between the first flange  610  and the second flange  615 . A torsion spring  510  is positioned to engage both the first flange  610  and the hinge member  640  of the door retaining member  105 . In the version of  FIG. 6A , two torsion springs  510  may be provided with the second torsion spring  510  engaging the second flange  615  and the hinge member  640 . Each torsion spring  510  is positioned within an interior recess  650  within each of the first flange  610  and the second flange  615 . Each torsion spring  510  includes a flange leg  655  that contacts the wall of the recess  650  and a hinge member leg  660  that is inserted into a slot  665  in the body  645  of the hinge member  640 . The one or more torsion springs  510  are thus able to bias the door retention member  105  towards the door receiving position shown in  FIG. 6C . 
     When moved from the door receiving position shown in  FIG. 6C  to the door retaining position shown in  FIG. 6B , the automatic latching mechanism  520  automatically locks the door retaining member  105  in the door retaining position of  FIG. 6B  by nature of the interaction of the body  645  of the hinge member  640  and one or both of the first flange  610  and the second flange  615 . The first flange  610  and the second flange  615  has a cut out portion  670  that is engageable with a lateral protrusion  675  on the body  645  of the hinge member  640 . While moving from the door receiving position of  FIG. 6C  to the door retaining position of  FIG. 6B , the body  645  rotates about the hinge axis  630  and slides along an outer curved surface  680  of the first flange  610  and the second flange  615 . Once rotation is complete, the lateral protrusion  675  fits within the cut out portion  670 . Because of the action of the torsion spring  510 , the lateral protrusion  675  is urged into the cut out portion  670  and a forward wall of the cut out portion  670  prevents upward rotation of the door retention member  105 . To disengage the automatic latching mechanism  520 , a user can press downwardly on the top surface  685  of the first end  120  of the arm  115 . This downward pressure with counteract the urging of the lateral protrusion  675  into the cut out portion  670  and will allow the lateral protrusion  675  to slide out of contact with the forward wall of the cut out portion  670 . When this happens, the door retaining member  105  is no longer prevented from rotating upwardly and the one or more torsion springs  510  can then cause the door retaining member  105  to rotate to the door receiving position of  FIG. 6C . 
     Additional optional features are shown in  FIG. 6A . For example, the locking mechanism  320  for the length adjusting mechanism  305  can comprise a screw  335  that passes through the opening  340  and the slot  345  and is received in a nut  685 . The nut  685  can have a square or otherwise flat outer shape and can be received within a rectangular channel on the underside of the male member  325 . The rectangular channel receiving the outer shape of the nut  685  in a manner that prevents rotation of the nut  685  so the screw  335  can be driven therethrough. 
     The door retention device  100  can be further modified and varied as would be recognized by those skill in the art. For example, the door retaining member  105  can be designed to swing downward relative to the wall mounting member  110  rather than upward. Similarly, the door retaining member  105  can be designed to swing sideways, either horizontally or at a different angle, relative to the wall mounting member  110 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with regard to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible, and alterations, permutations and equivalents of the version shown will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. For example, the cooperating components may be reversed or provided in additional or fewer number. Also, the various features of the versions herein can be combined in various ways to provide additional versions of the present invention. Furthermore, certain terminology has been used for the purposes of descriptive clarity, and not to limit the present invention. Throughout this specification and any claims appended hereto, unless the context makes it clear otherwise, the term “comprise” and its variations such as “comprises” and “comprising” should be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, limitation, or step but not the exclusion of any other elements, limitations, or steps. Therefore, any appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein and should include all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.