GB2148990A

GB2148990A - Door finger guard

Info

Publication number: GB2148990A
Application number: GB08326875A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Barry Liddiard; Brian George James Hannaford; Edward James Ross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-07
Filing date: 1983-10-07
Publication date: 1985-06-05
Also published as: GB8326875D0; GB2148990B

Abstract

The guard comprises a channel portion (2) and a flexible tongue portion (4) retained in and moveable within the channel portion (2) secured to the door (1) and frame (5) respectively. The portions cooperate to mask and thereby prevent access of objects to the gap (7). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety device This invention relates to a safety device. More specifically, this invention relates to a device which assists in preventing entrapment of, for example, fingers or clothing between a door jamb and a door.

A safety device for doors has been described (GB 2 019 475 B), in which a door jamb is guarded by a folding longitudinal strip. The strip is attached by its longitudinal edges respectively to a door and the vertical door post from which the door is hung. When the door is shut, the strip collapses about a vertical fold, and the folded strip lies back against the door post. However, it is still possible for fingers, particularly children's fingers or light articles such as clothing to be caught between the folded longitudinal strip and the door post and this could still be painful for a child.

We have now devised an alternative form of door safety device which substantially avoids these residual problems with the previous proposed device and which has a more satisfactory construction. Our device has wider application than merely doors and can advantageously be used in a number of situations.

According to the present invention, there is provided a safety device for use in conjunction with a door, lid of a box or other like closure hingedly connected to a supporting structure therefor which comprises a channel portion, and a flexible tongue portion adapted in use to be retained in and to move within said channel portion, one of which portions is adapted to be secured to the hinged closure and the other to the said supporting structure, the arrangement being such that when secured to the hinged closure and supporting structure therefore respectively, the portions cooperate so as substantially to mask and thereby prevent access of objects to the space between said closure and its supporting structure.

The device is of particular value in masking the gap between a door and its doorpost so that persons' fingers, especially childrens' fingers, do not get painfully trapped. The device may be of any desired length, and positioned at will, these being chosen to suit the desired application. Although not intended to be so limited, further description of this invention will be in particular relation to its use on doors though it will be appreciated that the device would be useful for masking the hinges of boxes or even for protecting hinges in, for example a food processing or other industrial atmosphere.

The channel portion may either comprise a single strip of material, if desired formed so as to be stepped at each end thereof, for attachment to the door or its supporting structure so that when so attached, a guiding channel or sleeve is created between the strip and the door or door post through which the tongue portion may pass. Alternatively, the channel portion may take the form of a generally planar sheet of material for direct attachment to the door or door post and having a guiding channel or sleeve therethrough.

The tongue portion is preferably made of a flexible material, having a suitably low coefficient of friction so as not to impair the sliding motion of it relative to the channel portion or vice versa.

Plastic materials are generally preferred for reasons of economy, and polythene has been found a suitable material. The channel portion may be made of the same or different materials providing the sliding cooperation is not impaired.

The tongue portion will generally have sufficient length for the leading free edge to remain within the channel when the door is fully open. If desired stops may be provided on the tongue to prevent the tongue portion from disengaging from the channel portion, and thereby to prevent the door from opening too far.

It will be understood that when the door is opened, the portion of the tongue which emerges from the channel masks the door jamb space and prevents objects from being trapped in it when the door is closed.

The invention will now be described by way of Example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a safety device according to this invention fitted to a door.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 are plan views of the device shown in Fig. 1 showing respectively the door fully open, and the door fully shut.

Referring to the drawings in Fig. 1, 2 and 3, a door 1 is shown having a generally elongate strip of polythene 2 which in this embodiment has an elongate slot 3 formed therethrough which defines a channel portion.

The strip is adhered, nailed or otherwise fastened to the door. The strip in this embodiment has a length approximately a third of that of the height of the door though longer or shorter strips in alternative positions may be suitable in appropriate circumstances.

A flexible polythene tongue portion 4 of slightly lesser width than the slot 3 is shown passing through the slot 3 formed in the strip 2. The tongue portion is itself adhered, nailed or otherwise fastened at one end thereof to a supporting doorpost 5. The tongue portion may include a weakened transverse portion at 8, adjacent the secured portion which assists in ensuring that the tongue portion always bends in the desired manner when the door is shut, rather than folding inwards towards the door jamb space 7. The door is hinged to the door post at 6 by hinges (not shown).

When the door is opened, as shown in Fig.

2, the tongue portion 4, which has a length enabling a full opening of the door whilst still being retained in the slot 3, masks the space 7 between the doorpost 5 and the inside edge face of the door 8, thereby preventing the access thereto of fingers or other articles which could be pinched when the door is closed. When the door is in the closed position, the tongue protrudes some way through and beyond the slot 3.

Claims

1. A safety device for use in conjunction with a door, lid of a box or other like closure hingedly connected to a supporting structure therefor which comprises a channel portion, and a flexible tongue portion adapted in use to be retained in and to move within said channel portion, one of which portions is adapted to be secured to the hinged closure and the other to the said supporting structure, the arrangement being such that when secured to the hinged closure and supporting structure therefor respectively, the portions cooperate so as substantially to mask and thereby prevent access of objects to the space between said closure and its supporting structure.

2. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the channel portion comprises a single strip of material for attachment to the door or its supporting structure so that when so attached, a guiding channel or sleeve is created between the strip and the door or door post through which the tongue portion may pass.

3. A safety device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strip is formed so as to be stepped at each end thereof.

4. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the channel portion is in the form of a generally planar sheet of material for direct attachment to the door or door post and having a guiding channel or sleeve.

5. A safety device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tongue portion is made of a flexible material, having a suitably low coefficient of friction so as not to impair the sliding motion of it relative to the channel portion or vice versa.

6. A safety device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein stops are provided on the tongue to prevent the tongue portion from disengaging from the channel portion, and thereby the prevent the door from opening too far.

7. A safety device substantially as herein described and with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.