Patent Publication Number: US-2013234454-A1

Title: Stayzopen

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/608,975 filed Mar. 9, 2012. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Oftentimes individuals may need to navigate between rooms in a home, apartment, business, or school while cleaning, mopping, or vacuuming, but doors that don&#39;t stay open on their own can get in the way. Furthermore, young children can become injured by a door that is left ajar, or by a door that accidentally closes on them. Also, it can be difficult to move quickly and efficiently between rooms, especially for individuals who have their hands full and who have no easy way to hold the door open manually. Generally, door stops are inefficient and frequently scuff up the floor or do not securely hold the door open. Thus, a simple yet reliable device for holding a door open is necessary. 
     There is a need for a device that helps improve convenience and safety in the home or office by providing a simple and effective way of holding a door open. The present invention is aesthetically pleasing and can be easily installed behind a door and can be used in homes, offices, schools, businesses, or virtually any location with lever and knob-style door handles. The door latch device can help improve efficiency in the home by providing an easy way to hold open any door conveniently and effectively. Doors can be held open to facilitate convenient vacuuming, mopping, and general cleaning between rooms, as well as easy movement between rooms when hands are full. With minimal effort, the door handle can easily latch over the door latch device so that children and pets cannot accidentally run into a door that is left ajar. The door latch device would be beneficial to all home or apartment owners, as well as any facility with doors that need to remain open occasionally. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a door latch device that can be removably attached to a wall in order to hold any door open by the handle. The door latch device comprises a rod component comprising a first end and a second end. The rod component is a threaded rod component that is screwed directly into a wall or other vertical surface. The door latch device further comprises an engaging member secured to the first end of the threaded rod for engaging a door handle to hold the door in an open position. The engaging member is a thin protrusion for engaging a lever-style door handle, or a thin curved protrusion for engaging a round knob door handle. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the door latch device comprises a securing component removably attached to the second end of the threaded rod for locking the threaded rod component into a wall. The securing component comprises at least one jam nut and a washer for securing the door latch device to a wall stud. Further, the securing component comprises a butterfly-style nut for securing the door latch device to drywall. Additionally, the securing component locks the threaded rod component at a specific distance from the wall and at a level of the door handle, such that the door latch device engages the door handle when the door is in an open position. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a perspective view of the door latch device used with a round knob door handle in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a perspective view of the door latch device used with a lever-style door handle in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a perspective view of the door latch device engaging a lever-style door handle in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a perspective view of the door latch device engaging a round knob door handle in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIGS. 3A-D  illustrate a perspective view of a plurality of different embodiments of the door latch device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the door latch device in use with a lever-style door handle in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the door latch device in use with a round knob door handle in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. 
     A door latch device is disclosed that can be easily and cleanly installed behind a door and can be used in homes, offices, schools, businesses, or virtually any location with lever and knob-style door handles. The door latch device can help improve efficiency in the home by providing an easy way to hold open any door conveniently and effectively. With minimal effort, the door handle can easily latch over the door latch device so that children and pets cannot accidentally run into a door that is left ajar. The door latch device would be beneficial to all home or apartment owners, as well as any facility with doors that need to remain open occasionally. 
     The door latch device comprises a threaded rod component that is screwed directly into a wall or other vertical surface. The door latch device further comprises an engaging member for engaging a door handle to hold the door in an open position. The engaging member is a thin protrusion for engaging a lever-style door handle, or a thin curved protrusion for engaging a round knob door handle. The door latch device also comprises a securing component for securely attaching the threaded rod component into a wall. The securing component locks the threaded rod component at a desired distance from the wall and at a level of the door handle, such that the door latch device is capable of engaging the door handle when the door is in an open position. 
     Referring initially to the drawings,  FIGS. 1A-B  and  2 A-B illustrate a door latch device  100  that can attach to a wall in order to hold any door open by the handle. The door latch device  100  comprises a rod component  102  comprising a first end  104  and a second end  106 . The rod component  102  is a threaded rod component that is screwed directly into a wall or other vertical surface. Typically, the threaded rod component  102  is cylindrical in shape, however any other suitable shape, functional or ornamental, can be used as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention. 
     The threaded rod component  102  would generally be constructed of steel, aluminum, chrome-plated steel, zinc-plated steel, or any other similar metal, etc., though any other suitable material may be used to manufacture the threaded rod component  102  as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention. The threaded rod component  102  can also comprise a variety of colors and designs to suit user and manufacturing preference. The threaded rod component  102  is approximately between 3.0 and 7.0 inches long as measured from the first end  104  to the second end  106 , and approximately between ⅛ and ⅝ inches in diameter. Typically, the threaded rod component  102  is solid, but it does not have to be and can function by being partly or wholly hollow. 
     The door latch device  100  further comprises an engaging member ( 108  and  200  as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) secured to the first end  104  of the threaded rod  102  for engaging a door handle (not shown) to hold the door in an open position. The engaging member  108  is a thin protrusion for engaging a lever-style door handle, or the engaging member  200  is a thin curved protrusion for engaging a round knob door handle. However, the engaging member  108  or  200  can be any suitable shape or structure as is known in the art as long as the engaging member  108  or  200  contacts (or engages) a door handle to hold the door in an open position. Typically, for a lever-style door handle, the thin protrusion contacts the underside of the door handle, restraining it from movement (as shown in  FIG. 2A ). Additionally, for a round knob door handle, the thin curved protrusion contacts the underside of the round knob, restraining it from movement (as shown in  FIG. 2B ). However, the engaging member  108  or  200  can contact (engage) the door handle at any suitable position on the door handle as is known in the art. 
     Further, the engaging member  108  or  200  can be manufactured as an integral piece with the threaded rod component  102  but it does not have to be, and the device  100  can function with the engaging member  108  or  200  being a separate component and being secured to the threaded rod component  102 . Specifically, the engaging member  108  and  200  is secured to the threaded rod component  102  via welding, gluing, threading, etc., or any other suitable securing means as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention. 
     The engaging member  108  or  200  would generally be constructed of steel, aluminum, chrome-plated steel, zinc-plated steel, or any other similar metal, etc., though any other suitable material may be used to manufacture the engaging member  108  or  200  as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention. Typically, the engaging member  108  or  200  would be constructed of the same material as the threaded rod component  102 . 
     The door latch device  100  further comprises a securing component  110  (as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ) removably attached to the second end  106  of the threaded rod  102  for locking (or securely attaching) the threaded rod component  102  into a wall (not shown). The securing component  110  comprises at least one jam nut  112  and a washer  114  for securing the door latch device  100  to a wall stud (as shown in  FIG. 1B ). Typically, there are two jam nuts  112  that lock together to prevent the threaded rod component  102  from pulling out of the wall, however the door latch device  100  can function with as few as one jam nut  112 . Further, a cover  116  can be threaded onto the rod component  102  to cover the jam nuts  112  from view and to provide the door latch device  100  with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     The securing component  110  can also comprise a butterfly-style nut  118  for securing the door latch device  100  to drywall (as shown in  FIG. 1A ). The butterfly-style nut  118  is a typical butterfly-style nut as is known in the art and is threaded onto the second end  106  of the rod component  102  and closed via its hinges. Once inserted into a hole in the drywall, the butterfly-style nut is opened which pulls against the backside of the drywall, securing the rod component  102  into the wall. However, the securing component  110  can be any suitable fasteners as are known in the art as long as the securing component  110  locks the threaded rod component  102  into a wall stud, drywall, or other structure. 
     Further, the securing component  110  locks the threaded rod component  102  at a specific desired distance from the wall and at a level of the door handle. A user would insert the threaded rod component  102  at a specific distance from the wall, depending on the distance of the door handle from the door. The threaded rod component  102  would also be inserted into the wall at a level of the door handle, such that the door latch device  100  is capable of engaging or contacting the door handle when the door is in an open position. Once inserted into the wall at the desired height from the ground and distance from the wall, the securing component  110  locks the threaded rod component  102  into place in the wall. 
       FIGS. 3A-D  illustrate a plurality of door latch devices  100 . As stated supra, the door latch device  100  comprises a threaded rod component  102  that is screwed directly into a wall or other vertical surface. The door latch device  100  further comprises an engaging member  108  and  200  secured to a first end of the threaded rod  102  for engaging a door handle to hold the door in an open position. The engaging member  108  is a thin protrusion for engaging a lever-style door handle (as shown in  FIGS. 3B and 3D ), or the engaging member  200  is a thin curved protrusion for engaging a round knob door handle (as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3C ). 
     Furthermore, the door latch device  100  comprises a securing component  110  removably attached to a second end of the threaded rod  102  for locking the threaded rod component  102  into a wall. The securing component  110  comprises at least one jam nut  112  and a washer  114  for securing the door latch device  100  to a wall stud or other solid wall structures. Further, the securing component  110  comprises a butterfly-style nut  118  for securing the door latch device  100  to drywall or other hollow wall structures. Further, a cover  116  can be threaded onto the rod component  102  to cover the jam nuts  112  and to provide the door latch device  100  with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. However, the cover  116  is not necessary and the door latch device  100  can function without the use of the cover  116  (as shown in  FIGS. 3A-B ). 
       FIGS. 4-5  illustrate the door latch device  100  in use. In operation, a user (not shown) would choose the color and/or specific design of the door latch device  100  that meets their needs and/or wants. The user would then determine what type of door handle is on the door  502  they want to hold open. If the door handle is a lever-style door handle  400  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), then the user would choose a door latch device  100  comprising an engaging member  108 , wherein the engaging member  108  is a thin protrusion for engaging a lever-style door handle  400 . If the door handle is a round knob door handle  500  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), then the user would choose a door latch device  100  comprising an engaging member  200 , wherein the engaging member  200  is a thin curved protrusion for engaging a round knob door handle  500 . Once the user has chosen the appropriate door latch device  100 , the user would insert the door latch device  100  into the wall  402 . 
     The door latch device  100  is inserted into the wall  402  via the threaded rod  102 . First, a user would attach a securing component  110  to an end of the threaded rod  102  for locking the threaded rod component  102  into the wall  402 . If the threaded rod  102  is being secured into a wall stud or other solid wall, then the user would attach two jam nuts  112  and a washer  114  on the threaded rod component  102 , for securing the door latch device  100  to a wall stud. Further, a user can also attach a cover  116  onto the rod component  102  to cover the jam nuts  112  and to provide the door latch device  100  with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     First, a user threads on the cover  116 , the two jam nuts  112 , and the washer  114  to the rod component  102 . The user then threads the rod component  102  into the wall  402  at a specific distance from the wall  402 , depending on the distance of the door handle from the door  502 . The threaded rod component  102  would also be inserted into the wall  402  at a level of the door handle, such that the door latch device  100  would engage or contact the door handle when the door  502  is in an open position. Once the user inserts the threaded rod component  102  into the wall at the desired height from the ground and distance from the wall, the user threads the cover  116 , the two jam nuts  112  and the washer  114  toward the surface of the wall, locking the threaded rod component  102  into place in the wall  402 . 
     If the threaded rod  102  is being secured into drywall or other hollow wall structures, then the user would attach a butterfly-style nut  118 , two jam nuts  112  and a washer  114  on the threaded rod component  102 , for securing the door latch device  100  to the hollow wall. Further, a user can also attach a cover  116  onto the rod component  102  to cover the jam nuts  112  and to provide the door latch device  100  with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     First, a user threads on the cover  116 , the two jam nuts  112 , the washer  114 , and the butterfly-style nut  118  to the rod component  102 . The user then drills a hole in the drywall at a specific distance from the wall  402 , depending on the distance of the door handle from the door  502 , and at a level of the door handle, such that the door latch device  100  would engage or contact the door handle when the door  502  is in an open position. The user then closes the butterfly-style nut  118  via closing its hinges toward the rod component  102 , and inserts the butterfly-style nut  118  into the hole in the drywall along with the rod component  102 . 
     Once the user inserts the butterfly-style nut  118  into the hole in the drywall, the butterfly-style nut is opened which allows its ends  120  to push against the backside of the drywall, securing the rod component  102  into the wall. Then, the user threads the cover  116 , the two jam nuts  112  and the washer  114  toward the surface of the wall, locking the threaded rod component  102  into place in the wall  402 . Once the door latch device  100  is inserted into the wall  402  at the desired height from the ground and distance from the wall and locked in place, the user opens the door  502  and latches the door handle to the door latch device  100 , securing the door in an open position. 
     What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.