Pet Door Pest and Debris Barrier

• US 20110225892A1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Donald Tierney
• Original Assignee: Bruce Donald Tierney
• Inventors: Tierney, Bruce Donald
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/472
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/543 Horizontally moving screens
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/32 Serving doors; Passing-through doors ; Pet-doors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/54 Roller fly screens operating, guiding or securing devices therefor E06B9/56

Abstract

A barrier device preventing access of pests such as mosquitoes, flies, and other small animals as well as debris between a panel pet door and a screen door by providing a seal between the panel pet door and the screen door. The barrier material may have ribs for the purpose of added stiffening or as a guide for adjusting the reach of the barrier. A stopping device may be used to ensure the screen door is closed to a location where good contact is made with the barrier device.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a projecting flange that blocks access between a first member attached to the projecting flange and an offset second member that abuts the projecting flange.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the projecting flange comprises material that is one of rigid and flexible.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a blade having a cross-section that is one of straight and curved.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the projecting flange is in one of a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the projecting flange comprises an elastomeric material.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the projecting flange further comprises at least one raised ridge.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the ridge extends along the projecting flange.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the ridge stiffens the projecting flange.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the ridge defines a trimming location to shorten the reach of the blade.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the blade flexes to accommodate variations in the distance between the blade and the second member.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a base, wherein double-sided tape attaches the base to the first member.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a base, wherein the base includes a hollow cross-section to provide higher rigidity per weight.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the first member comprises one of a wall, a door frame, a panel pet door, a window frame, a door, a screen door, a window, and a window screen.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the second member comprises one of a wall, a door frame, a panel pet door, a window frame, a door, a screen door, a window, and a window screen.

15. The device of claim 1 further comprising a stopping device that controls abutment of the second member with the projecting flange.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein access is blocked to at least one of insects, arachnids, small animals, debris, and extraneous material.

17. A device, comprising:

a vertically-oriented projecting flange that blocks access between a panel pet door attached to the projecting flange and an offset screen door that abuts the projecting flange.

18. The device of claim 17 further comprising a continuous seal between the projecting flange and the screen door, the seal provided by at least one of a curved flexible blade with at least one longitudinal ridge, and a base having a hollow cross section.

19. A method, comprising:

blocking access between a first member and an offset second member by attaching a projecting flange to the first member; and

abutting the second member against the projecting flange, whereby a continuous seal is formed between the first member and the second member.

20. A method, comprising:

blocking access between a vertically-oriented panel pet door and an offset screen door by attaching a projecting flange to the panel pet door; and

abutting the screen door against the projecting flange, whereby a continuous seal is formed between the panel pet door and the screen door.