Abstract:
A door holder and stop which utilizes an elongated arm and track to retain the door in a closed position. The arm, through the use of a plate, is attached to a door frame. Pivotally and slidably connected to the arm is the track, having a return end and a closure end. The track is fixably attached to a door. At one end, the track has a locking mechanism for retaining the door in a closed position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to door holders and stops having retaining mechanisms for holding doors shut while in a closed position. More specifically, the invention concerns a door holder and stop, with an arm and a track, that uses magnetic force to hold a door shut while in the closed position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Presently, door holders and stops are known for keeping doors held open at a predetermined angle. The known door holders and stops include an arm, one end of which is pivotally attached to a slide. The other side is attached to a door frame. A channel located in a track, which is attached to a door, provides a guideway for the slide. Normally, on one end of the track, there is a thumb wheel positioned to rotate to engage or disengage a pawl against a hook, which is on the slide. The pawl and the hook provide a locking mechanism for locking the slide against further movement on the track. In this manner, the door is held in an open position. Although this is helpful in some instances, there is no mechanism on the door stop for keeping the door shut in a closed position. 
     Also previously known are many types of door latch mechanisms. The most well known door latch mechanisms include the traditional reciprocating latch bolt type, where a door knob is rotated to unlatch a latch bolt, or a push down type where handle is pushed down to unlatch the latch bolt. Installation of a standard door latch can include drilling a first hole through the thickness of the door for the door knob and drilling a second hole perpendicular to the first hole for the latch mechanism. Also, part of the door frame may need to be mortised and chiseled away to properly position a receiving plate for the latch. Once the drilling is finished, installation of the actual latch can begin and involves fastening various portions of the door latch in place, and making exact measurements as to where the door latch will be. This is an exacting process that can be difficult to master and is time consuming. Therefore, there is a need for a door retaining mechanism that is easy to install and use. 
     A first object of the present invention to provide an improved door holder and stop which can hold doors shut while in a closed position. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an improved retaining mechanism for a door which replaces a conventional reciprocating latch. 
     Finally, it is another object of this invention to provide an improved retaining mechanism for a door which is easy to operate and install. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other needs are met or exceeded by the present door holder and stop that uses a retaining mechanism to hold a door shut while in a closed position. One end of an arm is slidably and pivotally attached to a track. Another end of the arm is attached, via an attachment plate, to one of a door and a door frame. The track is mounted onto the other of the door and door frame. During operation of the door, the arm slides along the length of the track. On one end of the track, a retaining mechanism is located which acts to hold the door shut when it is in a closed position. 
     More specifically, a door holder and stop are provided, including an elongated arm having a first end and a second end, and a first attachment mechanism for pivotally attaching the first end of the arm to one of a door and a door frame. An elongated track, pivotally and slidably attached to the arm, has a return end and a closure end, and is attached to the other of the door and the door frame. One of the return end and the closure end have a retaining mechanism for retaining the door in a closed position when the door is shut. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the track includes a channel which runs longitudinally through the track from the return end to the closure end. Within the channel is a slide, with a first end and a second end, and which is slidable along the channel and pivotally attached to the arm. Fixably attached in the channel at one end is a magnet, preferably at the closure end. One of the first end and the second end of the slide is attached to a magnet surface, such that the magnet will attract the surface when the door is in the closed position. Preferably, the magnet surface includes a magnet plate and a fastener countersunk into the plate and is located at the second end of the slide. The fastener acts as an adjusting mechanism for adjusting a relative distance between the plate and the second end of the slide. Also included is a spring to bias the magnet surface against the second side of the slide. 
     Also included in the preferred embodiment is a door holder and stop which includes the retaining mechanism at the closure end of the track and a mechanism for holding a door open at a predetermined angle located at the return end. The opening mechanism uses a standard pawl and hook device to lock the door in an open position. Preferably, the pawl is located on the return end of the track and is engageable with the hook, which is located on the first end of the slide. Once the hook and pawl are engaged, the door is then held in an open position. A spring is located within the slide at the first end and acts to bias the hook in a downward position. However, a user may unlock the hook and pawl by jiggling the door, which works against the spring and lifts the hook off of the pawl. 
     The pawl mechanism may also be rotated by use of a thumb wheel so that it does not engage the hook. This advantage allows the user to open the door fully without the door locking open at a predetermined angle. Since the pawl is held in the channel by a fastener, the user may completely remove the pawl. Removal of the pawl may be accomplished after the track has been installed, thereby allowing the user to easily add and remove the pawl without the trouble of having to reattach the whole door holder and stop. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the present door holder and stop; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the present door holder and stop; and 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken along the line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2  and in the direction indicated generally. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In FIG. 1, a general drawing of the preferred embodiment is depicted. A door holder and stop, generally designated  10 , includes an arm  12  and a track  14 , which are well known in the art. The arm  12  has a first end  16  and a second end  18 . Pivotally attached to the first end  16  is an attachment plate  20 . The plate  20  has a plurality of holes  22  (shown in FIG. 2) to securely attach the arm  12  to either a door  24  or a door frame  26 . In the preferred embodiment, the arm  12  is attached to the door frame  26 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the arm  12  is attached to the track  14  via a slide  28 , which has a first end  28   a  and a second end  28   b . The slide  28  slides along the length of the track  14  through an open topped channel  30 , which is defined by the track  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the channel  30  and the slide  28  have a width of approximately 0.6 to 0.7 inches, and the slide  28  also has a length of approximately 3.4 to 3.5 inches. However, other dimensions are contemplated depending on the application. Also included in the track  14  are a return end  32  and a closure end  34 . 
     As the door  24  moves between an open position, where the first end  28   a  is adjacent to the return end  32 , and a closed position, where the second end  28   b  is adjacent to the closure end  34 , the arm  12  pivots and causes the slide  28  to move through the channel  30  between the return end  32  and the closure end  34  of the track  14 . The arm  12  is attached to the slide  28  by a pivot pin  56  (best shown in FIG. 3) which allows the arm to pivot as the arm is moved by the door  24 . Shown hidden in FIG. 2 are a hook  36  and a pawl  38 , which will be described more clearly below with reference to FIG.  3 . 
     Also shown in FIG. 2 is a magnet surface  46  located on the second end  28   b  of the slide  28 . As the slide  28  moves through the channel  30  and towards the closure end  34  of the track  14 , the magnet surface  46  encounters a retaining mechanism, generally designated  39 , located at the closure end of the track  14 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 3, the retaining mechanism  39  for holding the door  24  in a closed position with the door frame  26 , is located at the closure end  34  of the track  14 , although other locations are contemplated. In the preferred embodiment, the retaining mechanism  39  includes a magnet  40 . The magnet  40  is held sandwiched between plates of a steel lamination  42  by a fastener  44 , which, in turn, is held in place by a square nut  45 . Naturally, other known fastening technologies are contemplated such as cotter pins, rivets, adhesives, etc. The magnet  40  magnetizes the steel lamination  42  so that the lamination has a magnetic force. It is also contemplated that just the magnet  40  may be used, without the steel lamination  42 , or that other equivalent arrangements which provide a magnetized surface may be used. 
     The magnet  40  is preferably made with an approximate width of 0.550 to 0.570 inches, a length of about 1.040 to 1.050 inches and a thickness of approximately 0.280 to 0.300 inches. Abutting the magnet  40 , the steel lamination  42  preferably has a length of approximately 1.040 to 1.050 inches, a width of about 0.610 to 0.620 inches, and a thickness of between about 0.1640 to 0.0750 inches. The above dimensions may change to suit the application. 
     Located on the second end  28   b  of the slide  28  is the magnet surface  46 . In the preferred embodiment, the magnet surface  46  is found on a magnet plate  48 . Into the magnet plate  48 , a flatheaded fastener  50  is countersunk. The fastener  50  and the magnet plate  48  thus form a flat surface which is attracted to the magnetic force provided by the steel lamination  42 . Since the fastener  50  and the magnet plate  48  form a flat surface, the magnetic force acts on the surface evenly, providing a better hold. In the preferred embodiment, the fastener  50  is a screw, however, other known fastening technologies, such as those mentioned above, are contemplated. 
     Also included is a compression spring  51  which is located between the fastener  50  and the slide second end  28   b , to bias the fastener  50  away from the second end  28   b  of the slide  28 . The relative distance between the fastener  50  and the second end  28   a  of the slide  28  can be adjusted by threading the fastener  50  into or out of the slide second end  28   b.    
     When the magnet surface  46  is brought into close contact with the steel lamination  42 , the magnetic force pulls the magnet surface and effectively retains the magnet surface near the steel lamination. This magnetic attraction holds the slide  28  at the closure end  34  of the track  14 , retaining the door  24  in a closed position. 
     The magnetic hold can be broken by a sharp push on the door  24 . Enough pressure on the door  24  will counteract the magnetic force and the slide  28  will move away from the closure end  34 , allowing the door  24  to be opened easily. This allows the user to easily close a door and retain the door in the closed position. Also, since the force is broken by a push, the door can be opened easily. To adjust the amount of force needed to open the door  24 , the fastener  50  is adjusted so that the magnet surface  46  is closer to or farther from the lamination  42 . The above-described features are improvements over prior door latch mechanisms, which require turning or pushing a knob, and/or also require a significantly greater amount of latch hardware and labor for assembly. A door equipped with the door holder and stop of the present invention can be opened easily without using one&#39;s hands (for example doctors, who cannot touch the door with their hands) and only requires a push. 
     Also located at both the closure end  34  and the return end  32  of the track  14  is an end plug  58 . The end plug  58  is fixed in the track  14 , and acts as a stopper and defines the ends of the channel  30 . By threading a fastener  60  through the end plug  58  and into the door  24 , the door holder and stop  10  is more securely held onto the door. Generally, the end plug  58  is constructed of solid steel, although other materials are contemplated. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the door holder and stop  10  of the first embodiment is preferably further equipped with a mechanism for holding the door  24  in an opened position at a predetermined angle. As shown in FIG. 2, the hook  36  and the pawl  38  are located on the slide  28  and the track  14 , respectively. Preferably, the hook  36  is located on the first end  28   a  of the slide  28 , although other locations are contemplated. The pawl  38  is located on the return end  32  of the track  14 . The construction and dimensions of these components are the same as in a conventional door holder and stop that uses such a mechanism to retain a door in an open position. 
     As the slide  28  moves toward the return end  32  of the track  14 , the hook  36  is held in a downward position by a compression spring  52 . A fastener  62  is located in the slide  28  to hold the spring  52  in place. When the hook  36  abuts the pawl  38  (best seen in FIG. 3 ), the hook moves about a pivot point  64  and engages the pawl. Once the hook  36  and pawl  38  are engaged, the door  24  cannot be opened any farther and will be held in that position until dislodged. With a slight push or jiggle of the door  24 , the user can counteract the force of the spring  52  and cause the hook  36  to rotate about its pivot point  64  and disengage from the pawl  38 . 
     Also located on the pawl  38  is a thumb wheel  54  which protrudes through the bottom of the track  14 . With this thumb wheel  54 , the user can rotate the unlatched pawl  38  180° (as shown in phantom on FIG.  3 ). An engaging end  38   a  of the pawl  38  rotates through an open upper end  31  of the channel  30  when the slide  28  is moved away, such as to the closed position. This allows the user to open the door  24  fully without locking it at a certain position. The entire pawl  38  mechanism, including the thumb wheel  54  may be removed if the user so desires. In the preferred embodiment, at least one fastener  66  is used to hold the pawl  38  in the track  14 . The fastener  66  can be loosened and the pawl  38  can be removed, which also allows the user to fully open the door  24  without locking it at a certain position. The pawl  38  can be removed even while the track  14  is attached to the door  24 , allowing for a user to easily switch between the options of holding the door open or allowing the door to open and close freely. 
     As demonstrated, the current invention is an improvement over prior art door restraining or latching mechanisms. The present door holder and stop can be installed easily into any standard door and door frame by merely fastening the arm into the door frame and the track into the door. No complicated drilling and mortising are required, as in installing a conventional latch. Another advantage to the current invention is that it can also be used easily, staying closed with a push, and opening with a push. In the preferred embodiment, it allows a user to hold the door in an open position as well as shut in a closed position. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that other modifications, substitutions and alternatives are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such modifications, substitutions and alternatives can be made without departing form the spirit and scope of the invention, which should be determined from the appended claims.