Patent Publication Number: US-9903144-B2

Title: Door jam stopper device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of devices made for stopping a door from closing. More specifically, the invention comprises a doorjamb stop capable of engaging the door such that the doorjamb remains open and accessible. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A door is a movable structure which blocks off or allows access to a room or other enclosed area. Doors are typically hung by hinges attached to a door frame, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The hinges  36  allow the door  52  to swing between a closed and open position (open position is illustrated in the prior art FIG. 1). Door frames generally consists of a casing, stop and a jamb. Hinges are connected to the jamb such that door can be flush against the casing when in a closed position. The stop is located along the center plane of the frame. In a closed position the door rests against the stop. 
     A door guard is a device that prevents the door from trapping fingers or other appendages as the door closes. Many door guard devices are directed to preventing the door from closing completely. However, the fixed-side opening along the jamb of the door closes prior to the swinging-side opening. Therefore, if the door guard is only directed to preventing the door from closing entirely, fingers or other appendages can still be caught between the door jamb and the door, proximate the hinges. 
     Additionally, prior art door guards often must be uninstalled or removed in order to close the door completely when not in use. If the prior art door guard is capable of remaining installed, it is integral with the door itself and complex. 
     Therefore what is needed is a door guard which can be easily installed and remain installed when not in use. Additionally, when in use, the door guard must prevent the fixed-side opening from closing. The present invention achieves this objective, as well as others that are explained in the following description. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a system and method of preventing the fixed side opening of a door from closing along the door jamb of a door frame. A guard device is provided generally comprising a pivoting member, an attachment member, a mounting system and a bumper. The pivoting member has a first end and a second end. The attachment member is preferably integral with the first end of the pivoting member. The bumper attaches to the second end of the pivoting member. Mounting system connects to the attachment member at a central void. The mounting system connects to a prior art door stop of a door frame such that the guard device can swivel between a first position and a second position. In a first position guard device is proximate door stop such that the door is capable of fully closing against door stop. In a second position guard device is capable of maintaining the fixed side opening of the prior art door assembly. Bumper swivels out to contact the end of the door (or hinged-side of the door). After guard device is engaged in the second position fixed side opening is incapable of narrowing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view, showing a prior art door hung within a door frame. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view, showing the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view, showing the component parts of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view, showing the bracket attachment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view, showing the bracket attachment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view, showing the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view, showing the present invention being installed along a door stop. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view, showing the present invention installed on a door stop. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view, showing the present invention pivoting outward into position to stop a prior art door. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view, showing the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is an elevation view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       
         
           
             
                 
               
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
              
                 
                     
                 
              
             
             
                 
                 
                 
                 
              
                 
                   10 
                   guard device 
                   12 
                   pivoting member 
                 
                 
                   14 
                   bumper 
                   16 
                   attachment member 
                 
                 
                   18 
                   bracket 
                   20 
                   mounting system 
                 
                 
                   22 
                   lip 
                   24 
                   disc 
                 
                 
                   26 
                   attachment member 
                   28 
                   bolt 
                 
                 
                   30 
                   knob 
                   32 
                   double-sided tape 
                 
                 
                   34 
                   door frame 
                   36 
                   hinge 
                 
                 
                   38 
                   handle 
                   40 
                   door jamb 
                 
                 
                   42 
                   hanging stile 
                   44 
                   latch stile 
                 
                 
                   46 
                   door stop 
                   48 
                   fixed side opening 
                 
                 
                   50 
                   swinging side opening 
                   52 
                   door 
                 
                 
                   54 
                   casing 
                   56 
                   bracket 
                 
                 
                   58 
                   lip 
                   60 
                   central void 
                 
                 
                     
                 
              
             
           
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A prior art door assembly is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The present method of preventing the fixed side opening  48  of a prior art door  52  from closing along the door jamb  40  of a door frame  34  improves on prior art methods and systems. Prior art door frame  34  generally consists of a casing  54 , stop  46  and jamb  40 . Door  52  includes a latch stile  44  and a hanging stile  42 . Latch stile  44  is a vertical portion of the door  52  that runs the full height of the door along the swinging side of the door  52 . The handle  38 , lock, disc or latch are mounted on the swinging side or latch stile  44 . Hanging stile  42  is a vertical portion of the door that runs the full height of the door along the fixed side of the door. Hinges  38  are mounted to the hanging stile  42  of the door  52  and along the jamb  40  of the door frame  34 . Hinges  38  allow the door  52  to swing between a closed and open position. The stop  46  is located along the center plane of the frame  34 . In a closed position the door  52  rests against the stop  46 . A fixed side opening  48  is formed between the hanging stile  42  and jamb  40 . A swinging side opening  50  is formed between the latch stile  44  and jamb  40 . As the prior art door  52  closes, the fixed side opening  48  and the swinging side opening  50  narrow and close. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the present guard device  10  provided under the present method. The guard device  10  is generally comprised of a pivoting member  12 , bumper  14  and mounting system  20 . Mounting system  20  can be any system that attaches guard device  10  to door stop while allowing pivoting member  12  to rotate along a horizontal plane to prevent a door from closing. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing the component parts of guard device  10 . Bumper  14  attaches to pivoting member  12  at the second end of guard device  10 . Attachment member  16  connects to or is integral with pivoting member  12  at the first end of guard device  10 . Attachment member  16  includes a central void to accept mounting system  20 . Mounting system  20  is attached to attachment member  12  such, that pivoting member  12 , bumper  14  and attachment member  16 , swivel along a horizontal plane with respect to mounting system  20 . Mounting system  20  can be any system capable of attaching guard device  10  to door stop (shown in  FIG. 5 and 6 ) which allows guard device  10  to pivot. 
     In the preferred embodiment, mounting system  20  is generally comprised of disc  24 , bracket  18 , attachment piece  26  and knob  30 . Attachment piece  26  is aligned with central void  60  (referenced in  FIG. 4 ) of attachment member  16 , shown by axis line in  FIG. 3 . Bracket  18  includes a lip  22 , which extends upward along the back edge of bracket  18 . Bracket  18  includes an integrated bolt  28 . Integrated bolt  28  extends through disc  24  and attachment member  16  to engage with knob  30 . Disc  24  is capable of rotating with respect to pivoting member  12  (and attachment member  16 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 4  the underside of bracket  18  is pleated. Similarly,  FIG. 5  shows the pleated nature of the face of disc  24 . The underside of bracket  18  engages with disc  24 . Knob  30  secures bracket  18  and disc  24  in position. Attachment piece  26  is affixed to the top of bracket  18 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Attachment piece  26  can be a piece of double-sided tape. Pivoting member  12  swivels as attachment piece  26 , bracket  18 , disc  24  (engaged with bracket  18 ) and knob  30  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) remain in position. 
     The installation of guard device  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . This step of the method consists of attaching guard device  10  along the top edge of a prior art door stop  46 . Lip  22  rests against the edge of door stop  46  (closest to the hinged side of door jamb  40 ) and attachment piece  26  (e.g. double-sided tape) affixes to door stop  46 , as shown by the arrow. Guard device  10  can be installed on existing door frames without modifying the door frame  34  or the door  52  itself. When fully installed and not in use, guard device  10  remains in a first position along the length of door stop  46 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . Mounting device  20  allows guard device  10  to remain securely attached to the door frame. In this first position, door  52  can easily close without being obstructed by guard device  10 . 
     In use, guard device  10  is capable of swiveling along a horizontal plane towards door  52 , as shown in  FIG. 9  (arrows to illustrate the movement of pivoting member  12 ). Mounting device  20  allows the user to easily reach up to the guard device  10  and pivot the device  10  into second position (illustrated in  FIG. 10 ). The placement of guard device  10  along the top of the door frame  34  will also prevent children from displacing guard device  10  such that door  52  may inadvertently swing shut. 
     Guard device  10  is capable of maintaining fixed side opening  48  (along hanging stile  42 ) in an open position (second position), shown in  FIG. 10 . Guard device  10  contacts door  52  to prevent fixed side opening from narrowing. Often individuals place their hands or fingers along the door jamb  40  within fixed side opening  48 . Due to the fact that the fixed side opening  48  closes at a much faster rate than the swinging side opening  50  as the door closes, individuals have less time to react and remove their hands from the jamb  40 . Guard device  10  prevents fixed side opening  48  from trapping appendages or objects by maintaining the open position of the fixed side opening  48 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10  fixed side opening  48  will not close or substantially narrow while guard device  10  is engaged. 
     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The alternate embodiment shows guard device  10  in a different shape. Guard device  10  can be formed in any known shape such that guard device  10  can maintain a position along the length of the door stop  46  in order to allow door  52  to close when guard device  10  is not in use. 
     A second alternate embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . In the second alternate embodiment mounting system  20  is modified. Mounting system  20  includes a modified bracket  56  which engages door stop  46  by frictional engagement rather than the use of double-sided tape.  FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing bumper device  14  attached to pivoting member  12  and attachment member  16 . Modified bracket  56  attaches a pivoting washer (not visible in the present figure) to attachment member  16  such that pivoting member is still capable of pivoting along a horizontal plane. An elevation view of mounting system  20  is shown in  FIG. 13 . Bracket  56  includes two lips  58  which are biased inward. Lips  58  engage with the side edges of door stop  46 . 
     The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As an example, the guard device  30  can include a modified mounting system. Additionally, guard device  10  can be many different shapes and sizes. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.