GB2188676A - Portable door stop - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable door stop has door locating means 14 attached to telescopic adjustable elongated shafts 10, 12. The stop 10,12 extends from approximately the mid- point of the door to the floor at a predetermined angle gamma to the vertical. The shafts 10 and 12 are fixed together by a peg 20 when the desired telescopic adjustment has been made. The stay may incorporate a leverage device 22 to shorten the stop 10, 12, to allow the occupant of a room or building to determine the nature of a caller, and if necessary use the leverage power in re-lengthening the stop to force the door shut against an intrusion attempt. An audible alarm device may also be included. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security device for a door The present invention relates to a protective or security device to be used in conjunction with a door by the occupants of a room or building against forced entry by an intruder.

Various security devices for doors are known. For example enhanced security may be achieved by the use of a statically sited short length security chain one end being permanently attached to the door frame and the other end detachably hooked to a fitting mounted on the inside face of a door close to the attachment point on the door frame. With the chain in position the door can be opened to the limit of the chain allowing a small gap in which the visitor may be ascertained but preventing a visitor from entering the premises until the nature of the visitors business has been determined.

A further security device which is similar to this security chain is a solid metal rod having a pivoting attachment, the device again allowing the door to be opened a small amount to ascertain the nature of the business of the visitor. The rod or bar is more secure than the chain in that it is less possible to break it with bolt croppers etc.

To use either of the above types of device requires an amount of measuring, drilling, screwing or bolting in order to fit the device to the door and door post. People lacking the resources to perform or pay for such services are liable to be deterred from taking desirable security protection. In addition once the device is fitted it can only be used on that particular door, for example, the front door of a house or an apartment or the bedroom door. It is not readily transferable from one door to another as required. A further disadvantage is that the device is only as strong as its weakest point which in general is the fitting method i.e. the screws. Forcing the door can detach the security device is from the door or door post.Another disadvantage is that in an emergency the security device could delay the exit of an occupant from the building or room in the case of for example, fire.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable door stay having door locating means attached to an elongated shaft capable of extending from approximately the mid point of a door to a floor at a predetermined angle to the vertical.

The length of the stay may be adjustable so that it may be used on different doors and doors having various heights, door furniture etc. The stay may be provided with telescopic parts or shafts, preferably two, to allow the length of the stay to be adjustable but fixed by for example a pin or peg passing through the telescopic parts perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stay.

The stay may have one end which is adapted to engage door furniture such as the underside of the shaft of a door handle or door lock. The adaption may comprise a fork type arrangement. The fork may be made of wood, steel or plastics.

The stay may be made of wood, metal such as mild steel, and be a solid rod or bar.

The stay may have a lever adaption to allow the stay to be lengthened to cause jamming between the door and floor at a predetermined angle to the vertical. Should the door require to be opened a small amount the lever can be operated to shorten the stay slightly and allow the door to be opened. The level can be used to force the door shut.

The stay may have a rubber foot to grip the floor and to prevent the stay from digging into the floor. The foot of the stay as well as or instead of incorporating a rubber foot may also incorporate an alarm mechanism such that when extra pressure is applied to the stay for example if the door is being forced, an alarm will activate.

The present invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and la shows a side elevation of the invention in position; Figure 2 shows a side elevation with the invention in position and the door partly open but secured.

Figures 3a and 3b are front views and side views of the door locating means of the present invention.

Figure 4 is cross section of an alarm attachable to the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and la a stay 10 which is made of strong material resistant to compressive forces such as for example steel tube having telescoped therein a further stay 12 preferably of steel tube of slightly smaller diameter to allow the stay to be adjustable. Although a steel tube may be used, the stay may be rectangular or square in cross section or be made of other materials apart from steel such as aluminium, wood or plastics material.

At the upper end of the tube 12 is a bifurcated top 14 shown in further detail in Figs. 3 and 3b. The bifurcated top has a cross piece 16 which allows the bifurcation to accept, for example the shaft of a door knob, a door handle or a door lock such as the door handle 18 shown in Fig. 1. The extension of the bifurcation 14 retains the stay 10 in position and prevents it from falling side ways. As an alternative to the bifurcation 14 a small security strap may be attached at the top of the stay around the door handle or lock etc. The bifurcation 14 may be rotated through 1800 such that the points are positioned in suitable locating points on the door.

The smaller diameter stay 12 is retained in position by a pin 20 passing through a hole 21 in the stay 12. The pin 20 which may be attached to a lever 22 as shown in Fig. 1.

The lever 22 is an optional feature allowing the door to be opened, as hereinafter described, without loosing the security of the stay 10 propped beneath the door handle 18.

If the lever 22 is absent, the pin 20 retained through the smaller diameter stay 12 through hole 21 would abut the larger diameter 10 to ensure that the required length of the stay is maintained. Fig. la shows the simplest form of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 2, the lever 22 allows the stay 10 to be adjustable in length. A clip 23 holds the lever in position as shown in Fig. 1.

By pulling back on the lever 22 the connecting rod 24 acts on the pin 20 pulling it in the direction shown in the arrow shortening the length of the smaller diameter stay 12. The consequence of this is that the door may be opened to the extent of the distance of the gap G yet the stay 10 still retains its rigidity against further pressure on or forcing of the door 26.

The foot of the stay 10 may have a rubber stop 28 which acts an anti-slip ferrule to provide a good grip on a smooth hard floor or a carpet in resistance to any thrust which might be transmitted through the stay by the efforts of a would be entruder enforcing open the door to gain entry.

The foot end of the stay 10 is generally positioned on the floor of a room at a distance away from the door in the range of approximately one half to one quarter of the vertical distance from the floor to the door handle (depending on the height of the particular door handle 18). This provides the predetermined angle gamma. It will be seen that the angle gamma will vary according to the length of the stay, the height of the door handle and the distance the stay can be shortened in allowing the occupant to determine the business of any caller.

Referring to Figs. 3a and b, these show the front elevation and the side elevation of a bifurcated top portion 14 as shown in Fig. 1.

The bifurcated portion 14 has two upright fingers 30 and 32 spaced apart by means of a cross piece 34. Fingers 30 and 32 are angled as they extend away from the cross piece 34 at an angle beta to the general line of the lower portion of the fingers 30 and 32. This angle beta may vary in practice although it is found that a suitable angle would be around 27". The cross piece 34 engages the underside of the shaft of a door handle 18 as shown in Fig. 1 or any other suitable door furniture. The two fingers 30 and 32 retain the stay in appropriate contact with the door preventing the stay from falling side ways when it is withdrawn a short distance such as 5 to 10 cm, to allow the door to be opened to determine the nature of the business of a caller.The enclosed rectangular space caused by the cross piece and the fingers 30 and 32 gives clearance to any projecting key situated below the door handle and allows access to to that key when the prop is in position. The fingers 30 and 32 may be sheathed 36 soft materials such as PVC tubing to protect the paint work of the doors, the handles and other door furniture. Alternatively the whole bifurcated portion 14 may be dipped in a soft plastic to provide the same protecting effect.

The fingers 30 and 32 may also be used in suitable locating points in a cross bar on a door.

With reference to Fig. 4 an optional alarm system may be attached to the foot of the stay. An audible alarm unit 38 is powered by a battery 40 and is contained within a housing 42. The foot 28 is mounted on an insert 44 which slidably engages within the stay 10.

The insert 44 is spring biased against a pin 46 by means of a compression spring 48. A further connecting pin 50 connects an arm 52 to a battery connector 54 spaced away from a terminal of the battery 56. The second terminal of the battery (not shown) is connected directly to the audible alarm and the circuit is completed by means of a connection from the audible alarm to the battery connector 54.

When pressure is applied to the stay 10 the spring 48 is compressed causing the battery connector 54 to complete the circuit further causing the audible alarm 38 to sound. In use the foot 28 would be positioned such that the stay is positioned against the door so that the spring 48 is not under compression. Pressure on the door causes the spring 48 to compress and consequently the alarm circuit to be completed, setting off the audible alarm. Alternative alarms may be used including a compressed gas alarm or a clockwork alarm.

These may also be operated by longitudinal pressure on the stay.

Referring to Fig. 1 the present invention is shown reinforcing the closed door. The appropriate overall length of the stay is set by the user having extended the required length of smaller diameter tube 12 from the stay 10 and secured it in position by means of the metal pin 20 inserted through a peg hole 21 provided at equal intervals along the length of the tube 12.

Referring to Fig. 2 the door may be opened by opening the lever 22 causing the tube 12 to show a slide within the stay 10. The door may only be opened a short distance such as 10 to 20 cm shown by the gap G. It is firmly held against further forced opening by pressure being applied to the stay 10.

As will be seen, the occupant having elected to open the door wide enough to communicate with a caller the connecting rod 24 will be released by extending the lever 22 from its parallel position abutting the stay 10 in an arc allowing the tube 12 to slide down into the tube 10 until stopped by the pin 20.

This effectively shortens the stay between 3 and 10 cm, preferably approximately 5 cm, permitting the door to open to a limited extent. However, the integrity of the stay is maintained as there is no temporary disturbance of the stay from secure contact of the stop 28 with the floor. This latter point is important in situations where a compatatively frail person needs to keep a door secure against a stronger and agressive intruder. In addition the lever 22 gives advantages to an occupant enabling them to reclose the door.

Although particular forms of lever have been described, alternatives may be used. For example, the lever may supply a similar performance controlled contraction and poweful extension by means of a levered cam which bears directly or indirectly on pin 20. The cam may be integral with the pin 20 and bear directly or indirectly on tube 12. Alternatively, the mechanism may be of a rack and pinion type, a lever and pawl type acting on perforations or projections associated with either tube 10 or 12. Further variations may employ a hydraulic or pneumatic pump or a threaded shaft and nut arrangement to provide appropriately powered contraction of extension of the length of the security drop without disturbing the integrity of the security prop when in use.

Claims (10)

1. A portable door stay having door locating means attached to an elongated shaft capable of extending from approximately the mid point of a door to a floor at a predetermined angle to the vertical.

2. A stay as claimed in claim 1 which is adjustable so that it may be used on different doors and/or heights of door furniture.

3. A stay as claimed in claim 2 which is provided in two telescopic parts to the length of the stay being adjustable but fixed by a peg passing through the two parts perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stay.

4. A stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having one end which is adapted to engage door furniture such as the underside of the shaft of a door handle or door lock.

5. A stay as claimed in claim 4 wherein the adaption comprises a fork type arrangement.

6. A stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims made of metal, wood or plastics.

7. A stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having a leverage device to allow the stay to be lengthened to cause jamming between the door and floor at a predetermined angle to the vertical.

8. A stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having a resilient foot pad to provide a grip on the floor.

9. A stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including an alarm mechanism such that when pressure is applied longitudinally to the stay, for example if the door is being forced, an alarm will activate.

10. A stay as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.