Patent Publication Number: US-2007119020-A1

Title: Devices for selectively inhibiting the closure of doors and methods for inhibiting the closure of doors

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/740,959, filed Nov. 30, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present disclosure is directed to devices for selectively inhibiting the closure of doors, methods of manufacturing such devices, and methods of installing such devices. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIGS. 1A-1F  are schematic views of a device for selectively inhibiting the closure of doors in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a device for inhibiting the closure of doors in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     A. Overview  
      The following disclosure describes several embodiments of devices for selectively inhibiting the closure of doors, methods of manufacturing such devices, and methods of installing such devices. One aspect of the invention is directed to devices for inhibiting closure of a door. The door has a distal surface and a handle proximate to the distal surface. In one embodiment, a device includes a first portion configured to be removably attached to the handle of the door, and a second portion projecting from the first portion. The second portion is sized and configured to be positioned at the distal surface of the door to inhibit closure of the door.  
      In another embodiment, a device includes a base configured to be removably attached to the handle of the door, and a projecting portion projecting from the base a distance sufficient to project beyond the distal surface of the door when the base is attached to the handle of the door.  
      Another aspect of the invention is directed to methods for inhibiting closure of doors. In one embodiment, a method includes releasably attaching a first portion of a device to a handle assembly at a first side of a door such that a second portion of the device is positioned at a distal surface of the door and inhibits closure of the door. The method further includes releasably coupling an extensible portion of the device to the handle assembly at a second side of the door.  
      Specific details of several embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to devices for selectively inhibiting the closure of doors, methods of manufacturing such devices, and methods of installing such devices. Several details describing well-known structures or processes often associated with doors and door handle assemblies are not set forth in the following description for purposes of brevity and clarity. Also, several other embodiments of the invention can have different configurations, components, or procedures than those described in this section. A person of ordinary skill in the art, therefore, will accordingly understand that the invention may have other embodiments with additional elements, or the invention may have other embodiments without several of the elements shown and described below with reference to  FIGS. 1A-2 .  
      Where the context permits, singular or plural terms may also include the plural or singular term, respectively. Moreover, unless the word “or” is expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from other items in reference to a list of at least two items, then the use of “or” in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any combination of the items in the list. Additionally, the term “comprising” is used throughout to mean including at least the recited feature(s) such that any greater number of the same features and/or other types of features and components are not precluded.  
     B. Embodiments of Devices for Selectively Inhibiting the Closure of Doors  
       FIGS. 1A-1F  illustrate a device  100  for selectively inhibiting the closure of a door  180  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The particular door  180  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1F  includes a first major surface  181   a,  a second major surface  181   b  opposite the first major surface  181   a,  a distal surface  182  extending between the first and second major surfaces  181   a - b,  a proximal surface  184  extending between the first and second major surfaces  181   a - b,  and a door handle assembly  190  at the distal surface  182 . The distal surface  182  is opposite the proximal surface  184 , and the proximal surface  184  is pivotably coupled to a door jamb  186  with a plurality of hinges  188 . The illustrated door handle assembly  190  includes a first neck  192   a  projecting from the first surface  181   a,  a first knob  194   a  attached to the first neck  192   a,  a second neck  192   b  projecting from the second surface  181   b,  and a second knob  194   b  attached to the second neck  192   b.  The first neck  192   a  and the first knob  194   a  project a distance T 1  from the first surface  181   a  of the door  180 . Although the device  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1F  will be discussed in conjunction with the illustrated door handle assembly  190 , in other embodiments the device  100  can be used with other door handle assemblies, including assemblies with a cantilevered handle or lever rather than a knob.  
      The device  100  is removably attached to the door handle assembly  190  for selectively inhibiting the closure of the door  180  such that the door  180  remains at least partially ajar. The illustrated device  100  includes a base  110  and a projecting portion  150  projecting from the base  110 . The base  110  is configured to be slid onto and carried by the first neck  192   a  and the first knob  194   b  of the door handle assembly  190 . For example, the illustrated base  110  is made of a deformable material and has a generally annular shape with (a) a thickness T 2  that is less than the distance T 1  the first neck  192   a  and the first knob  194   a  project from the first surface  181   a,  and (b) a through aperture  120  with a first diameter D 1 . The first diameter D 1  of the aperture  120  is sized so that when the base  110  is stretched, the first diameter D 1  is greater than a major diameter D 2  of the first knob  194   a  so that the first knob  194   a  can be inserted into the aperture  120  and the device  100  can be installed on the door handle assembly  190 . When the device  100  is installed and the base  110  at least partially returns to its unstretched state, the first diameter D 1  is smaller than the major diameter D 2  of the first knob  194   a  such that the device  100  remains attached to the door handle assembly  190 . The device  100  can be subsequently removed from the door handle assembly  190  by stretching the base  110  and sliding the first knob  194   a  back through the aperture  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first diameter D 1  of the aperture  120  is also sized to allow the device  100  to pivot about an axis A-A defined by the first neck  192   a  and the first knob  194   b.  The illustrated base  110  further includes an outer diameter D 2  sized so that the base  110  does not contact the door jamb  186  when the door  180  is closed. In other embodiments, however, the outer diameter D 2  may be sized so that the base  110  contacts the door jamb  186  and prevents the door  180  from closing. In additional embodiments, the device  100  may not pivot about the axis A-A.  
      In other embodiments, the base  110  can have other configurations. For example, the base  110  can have a rectangular, triangular, or other suitable shape. Moreover, the base  110  may include a blind hole in lieu of the aperture  120  such that the portion of the base  110  at the bottom of the blind hole contacts a distal surface  195  of the first knob  194   a.  Furthermore, in additional embodiments, all or a portion of the base  110  may not be made of a deformable material.  
      The projecting portion  150  projects from the base  110  and is configured to inhibit the closure of the door  180 . Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the projecting portion  150  is non-removably attached to the base  110  and projects a distance X in a direction generally transverse to an axis defined by the aperture  120 . The distance X is sufficient such that the projecting portion  150  projects beyond the distal surface  182  of the door  180  when the projecting portion  150  is oriented in a direction Y as illustrated in  FIGS. 1D-1F . In such a position, the projecting portion  150  contacts the door jamb  186  and prevents the door  180  from completely closing when the door  180  is moved toward the closed position. In other embodiments, the projecting portion  150  can be an integral part of the base  110 . Alternatively, the device  100  may not include a projecting portion  150 , but rather the outer diameter D 3  of the base  110  can be sized to inhibit the closure of the door  180 . Moreover, although the illustrated projecting portion  150  is configured to resemble a cat&#39;s head, in other embodiments, the projecting portion can have other configurations and/or shapes. For example, the projecting portion can resemble the head of a bear, pig, or dog.  
      The illustrated device  100  is pivotable between (a) a first position (shown in  FIGS. 1D-1F ) in which the projecting portion  150  projects beyond the distal surface  182  of the door  180 , and (b) a second position (not shown) in which the projecting portion  150  projects upward, downward, or toward the proximal surface  184  of the door  180 , but not beyond the distal surface  182  of the door  180 . In the first position, the device  100  prevents the door  180  from completely closing because the projecting portion  150  is positioned to contact the door jamb  186  before the door  180  is completely closed. Specifically, the projecting portion  150  inhibits further movement of the door  180  toward the closed position because the portion  150  is positioned between the door  180  and the door jamb  186 . In the second position, the projecting portion  150  is positioned so as not to contact the door jamb  186  so that the door  180  can be completely closed. As a result, a user can pivot the device  100  between the first and second positions to selectively prevent the door  180  from closing or allow the door  180  to close as desired.  
      The device  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1F  further includes an extensible strap or band  170  for selectively retaining the device  100  in the first or second position. The band  170  extends through the aperture  120  and can be wrapped around the second neck  192   b  and/or the second knob  194   b  of the door handle assembly  190  when the device  100  is installed. After installation, the band  170  exerts a force on the base  110  to inhibit the base  110  from pivoting about the axis A-A. The band  170 , however, allows a user to selectively pivot the device  100  between the first and second positions to either inhibit the door  180  from closing or allow the door  180  to close. The band  170  can be made of a relatively thin elastic material so that the portion of the band  170  extending across the distal surface  182  of the door  180  does not contact the door jamb  186  and/or does not inhibit the door  180  from closing. In other embodiments, the device  100  may not include the band  170 , but rather some other mechanism for retaining the device  100  in the first or second position. For example, the base  110  can be made of an elastic material and the first diameter D 1  can be sized to prevent accidental rotation of the device  100 .  
      In the illustrated embodiment, the base  110  and the projecting portion  150  include a flexible enclosure (e.g., a fabric) and compressible filler material in the enclosure (e.g., stuffed with cotton batting). In other embodiments, however, the base  110  and/or the projecting portion  150  can be made of plastic, latex, rubber, and/or other suitable materials. Moreover, although the illustrated device  100  resembles a cat, in additional embodiments, the device  100  may resemble other animals, characters, and/or other objects. For example, the device  100  can resemble cartoon characters.  
      One feature of the device  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1F  is that the device  100  selectively prevents an individual from completely closing the door  180 . An advantage of this feature is that the device  100  prevents children and/or other individuals from closing the door  180  on their fingers and pinching or otherwise injuring (e.g., severing) their fingers between the door  180  and the door jamb  186 . Moreover, the device  100  also inhibits children and/or other individuals from accidentally locking themselves in a room. As described above, a parent or other person may selectively pivot the device  100  to the first position for inhibiting closure of a door.  
      Another feature of the device  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1F  is that the device  100  can pivot about the door handle assembly  190  between a first position in which the device  100  inhibits closure of the door  180  and a second position in which the door  180  can be closed. An advantage of this feature is that the device  100  does not need to be removed from the door  180  to allow an individual to close the door  180 . As a result, the illustrated device  100  is easier and more convenient to use than conventional devices that must be removed from a door in order to close the door. Furthermore, the illustrated device  100  is less likely to be lost or misplaced because it does not need to be removed from a door and stowed in another location like conventional devices.  
      Another feature of the illustrated device  100  is that the base  110  and the projecting portion  150  are made of generally deformable materials. An advantage of this feature is that the device  100  is expected to inhibit the closure of a door without marking, denting, and/or otherwise damaging the door, door hinges, and/or door jamb when an individual attempts to close the door and the projecting portion contacts the door jamb.  
      Another feature of the device  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1F  is that the base  110  can be securely and removably attached to the door handle assembly  190 . An advantage of this feature is that the device  100  is expected to remain on and not fall off the door handle assembly  190  when an individual attempts to close the door  180 . Although the device  100  is expected to remain on the door  180 , a person can intentionally remove the device  100  from the door handle assembly  190 .  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a device  200  for selectively inhibiting the closure of the door  180  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. For illustrative purposes, the device  200  is shown detached and shifted downward from the door handle assembly  190  in  FIG. 2 . The illustrated device  200  includes a base  210 , a first extensible strap or band  270   a  attached to the base  210 , and a second extensible strap or band  270   b  attached to the base  210 . The base  210  is configured to be positioned at the distal surface  182  of the door  180  to inhibit the closure of the door  180 . The first and second bands  270  are configured to be releasably attached to the door handle assembly  190  to retain the device  200  on the door  180 . The illustrated base  210  includes a first section  212   a,  a second section  212   b,  and a third section  212   c.  The first, second, and third sections  212   a - c  can be generally flexible so that when the device  200  is attached to the door  200 , the first section  212   a  is positioned against the distal surface  182 , the second section  212   b  is positioned against the first major surface  181   a,  and the third section  212   c  is positioned against the second major surface  181   b.  Although the illustrated base  210  has a castle-like configuration, in additional embodiments the base  210  can have other configurations. For example, the base  210  can have configuration corresponding to an animal (e.g., a bee), airplane, car, boat, cartoon character, or other object.  
      The first band  270   a  is attached to the second section  212   b  of the base  210 , and the second band  270   b  is attached to the third section  212   c  of the base  210 . The first and second bands  270   a - b  can be stretched and placed around the first and second necks  192   a - b,  respectively, of the door handle assembly  190 . The first and second bands  270   a - b  accordingly retain the device  200  on the door  180  during use. In other embodiments, the first and/or second band  270   a - b  can have a different configuration. For example, one or both of the first and second bands  270   a - b  may not be extensible.  
      The above detailed descriptions of embodiments of the invention are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, although the illustrated devices are shaped to resemble an animal and a castle, various other shapes are possible.  
      The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other door and door handle assembly configurations. These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the detailed description. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various examples described above and illustrated in the figures to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.  
      These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the device for inhibiting closure of a door may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. For example, many of the details, dimensions, angles, and other features shown in the figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details, dimensions, and/or features without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.  
      From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the invention. Furthermore, aspects of the invention described in the context of particular embodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims.