Combination doorstop, holdopen and shock absorber

• US 4,760,621 A
• Filed: 05/27/1986
• Issued: 08/02/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony C. New
• Original Assignee: Anthony Manufacturing Corporation.
• Inventors: Stromquist, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Godici, Nicholas P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Edward A.
• Application Number:
  US06/867,525
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 16/85, 16/82, 16/63, 16/65, 16/DIG. 10, 16/DIG. 17, 16/49, 16/51, 16/66, 220/335
• US Class Current: 16/85
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/30 of extensible, e.g. telescopic, construction flexible members E05C17/36 ; locking of telescopic systems in general F16B7/10; lockable telescopic gas springs F16F9/0254
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/10 Spring actuated checks and closers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/17 Checks and closers, holding means

Abstract

The device includes a coiled extension spring, one end containing a hook for pivotal attachment either to the door or door frame, the other end being open to receive an elongated, tubular guide, one end of which threads into the open end of the spring. The other end of the guide is closed and contains a coaxial aperture through which slides an elongated rod having one end adapted for pivotal attachment to the other of the door or door frame and a piston attached to its second end which is slidably-retained within the guide to position the rod during relative coaxial sliding of the rod and guide, and to stop the rod against further protractive movement when the piston abuts the closed end of the guide. Camming surfaces located radially on the piston cooperate with opposing follower means in the guide, of which two embodiments are disclosed, to clamp the piston in the most extensive position of the rod, which clamping action can be overcome by a retractive force of the rod of a predetermined amount. When in the fully-protracted position, the device is capable of absorbing large amounts of shock, such as would be caused by collisions by heavy objects against the door.

Claims

1. A doorstop and holdopen for a door hingably-attached to a door frame, comprising:

a tubular guide having means at one end for attaching said guide for pivotal movement to one of said door or said frame, and a closed second end containing an aperture therethrough;

an elongated member having a first end and a second end said first end having means thereat for attaching said member for pivotal movement to the other of said door or said frame, said member extending through said aperture into said guide and having an enlarged portion at said second end slidably-retained therein for aligning said member axially during protractive and retractive sliding movement relative to said guide and for stopping said member against further protractive movement when said portion is in abutment with said closed end of said guide, said enlarged portion having camming means thereon for exerting radial forces with axial movement of said member; and

follower means unconnected to both said enlarged portion of said elongated member an said guide mounted in said second end of said guide for cooperating with said camming means on said enlarged portion of said member to exert an axial force against retractive displacement of said member when said member is in a fully-protracted position and hold said member in said position, and for releasing said force upon a protractive displacement of said member with a predetermined axial force in the opposite direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second end of said member further comprises:

a piston attached to said second end, said piston having an end proximate to said member with an area greater than said aperture to abut said guide'"'"'s closed end when said member is in said fully-protracted position, an end distal of said member having at least two radially-opposite camming surfaces thereon inclined to said member'"'"'s axis and disposed to operate said follower means upon retractive movement of said piston, and at least two radially-opposite camming surfaces between said ends inclined to said member'"'"'s axis and disposed to operate said follower means upon protractive movement of said piston.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said follower means further comprise:

at least two followers in said guide located away from said closed end and retained therein for radial movement in evenly-spaced, inwardly-biased radial opposition to said member, each said follower having at least two oppositely-facing following surfaces thereon inclined to the normal of said member'"'"'s axis and disposed to cooperate with said camming surfaces on said piston to displace said followers radially-outward with retractive or protractive movement of said piston; and

means for biasing said followers toward said elongated member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said piston further comprises:

an extension on said distal end of said piston, said extension having at least two concave depressions therein, each said depression being radially opposed to one of said followers and conjugate therewith to receive said followers and clamp said piston centered therebetween at about said member'"'"'s most extensive position.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each said follower further comprises:

a ball bearing;

means for retaining said ball bearing in said guide for radial movement therein in radial opposition to said member; and

means for biasing said ball bearing toward said member.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each said follower further comprises:

a ball bearing;

means for retaining said ball bearing in said guide for radial movement therein in radial opposition to said member; and

means for biasing said ball bearing toward said member.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said follower means further comprises:

a U-shaped spring clip snapped about the circumference of said guide, said guide having a pair of radially-opposed, transverse slots extending therethrough to receive and retain said clip such that a portion of said clip extends through each said slot and transversely through said guide to cooperate with said camming surfaces on said piston to displace said portions radially-outward with retractive or protractive movement of said piston.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said follower means further comprise:

a U-shaped spring clip snapped about the circumference of said guide, said guide having a pair of radially-opposed, transverse slots extending therethrough to receive and retain said clip such that a portion of said clip extends through each said slot and transversely through said guide to cooperate with said camming surfaces on said piston to displace said portions radially-outward with retractive or protractive movement of said piston.

9. A combination doorstop, holdopen, and shock absorber for a door hingably-attached to a door frame, comprising:

an extension spring having a first end with means thereat for attaching said spring for pivotal movement to one of said door or said frame, and a second end opposite thereto;

a tubular guide having one end attached to said second end of said spring and a closed second end opposite thereto containing an aperture therethrough;

an elongated member having a first end and a second end, said first end having means thereat for attaching said member for pivotal movement to the other of said door or said frame, said member extending through said aperture into said guide and having an enlarged portion at said second end slidably retained therein for aligning said member axially during protractive and retractive sliding movement relative to said guide and for stopping said member against further protractive movement when said portion is in abutment with said closed end of said guide, said enlarged portion having camming means thereon for exerting radial forces with axial movement of said member; and

follower means unconnected to both said enlarged portion of said elongated member and said guide mounted in said second end of said guide for cooperating with said camming means on said enlarged portion to exert an axial force against retractive displacement of said member when said member is in a fully-protracted position and hold said member in said position, and for releasing said force upon a protractive displacement of said member with a predetermined axial force in the opposite direction.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said second end of said member further comprises:

a piston attached to said second end, said piston having an end proximate to said member with an area greater than said aperture to abut said guide'"'"'s closed end when said member is in said fully-protracted position, an end distal of said member having at least two radially-opposite camming surfaces thereon inclined to said member'"'"'s axis and disposed to operate said follower means upon retractive movement of said piston, and at least two radially-opposite camming surfaces between said ends inclined to said member'"'"'s axis and disposed to operate said follower means with protractive movement of said piston.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said follower means further comprise:

at least two followers in said guide located away from said closed end and retained therein for radial movement in evenly-spaced, inwardly-biased radial opposition to said member, each said follower having at least two oppositely-facing following surfaces thereon inclined to the normal of said member'"'"'s axis and disposed to cooperate with said camming surfaces on said piston to displace said followers radially-outward with retractive or protractive movement of said piston; and

means for biasing said followers toward said elongated member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said piston further comprises:

an extension on said distal end of said piston, said extension having at least two concave depressions therein, each said depression being radially opposed to one of said followers and conjugate therewith to receive said followers and clamp said piston centered therebetween at about said member'"'"'s most extensive position.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each said follower further comprises:

a ball bearing;

means for retaining said ball bearing in said guide for radial movement therein in radial opposition to said member; and

means for biasing said ball bearing toward said member.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each said follower further comprises:

a ball bearing;

means for retaining said ball bearing in said guide for radial movement therein in radial opposition to said member; and

means for biasing said ball bearing toward said member.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said follower means further comprise:

a U-shaped spring clip snapped about the circumference of said guide, said guide having a pair of radially-opposed, transverse slots extending therethrough to receive and retain said clip such that a portion of said clip extends through each said slot and transversely through said guide to cooperate with said camming surfaces on said piston to displace said portions radially-outward with retractive or protractive movement of said piston.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said follower means further comprise:

a U-shaped spring clip snapped about the circumference of said guide, said guide having a pair of radially-opposed, transverse slots extending therethrough to receive and retain said clip such that a portion of said clip extends through each said slot and transversely through said guide to cooperate with said camming surfaces on said piston to displace said portions radially-outward with retractive or protractive movement of said piston.

17. A combination doorstop, holdopen, and shock absorber for a door hingably-attached to a door frame, comprising:

an extension spring having a plurality of coils open at one end and having a hooked coil at the other end for pivotal attachment to one of said door or said frame;

a cylindrical tubular guide having an open end, a closed end containing a coaxial aperture therethrough, and a single exterior thread conjugate with said coils of said spring extending from said open end for a portion of the length of said guide, said open end of said guide being threaded into said one end of said spring to a depth of said threaded portion to retain said guide therein;

a rod having a hooked portion at one end for pivotal attachment to the other of said door or said frame, said rod extending through said aperture with a sliding fit and having a second end contained within said guide;

a cylindrical piston attached coaxially to said second end of said rod within said guide, said piston having a sliding fit therein for aligning said rod coaxially with said guide during relative protractive and retractive axial movement, said piston having a convex, spherically-shaped end proximate to said rod to abut said closed end of said guide when said rod is in a fully-protracted position, and a concave, hemitoroidal portion tangentially distal thereto; and

follower means mounted in said guide for cooperating with said piston to exert an axial force against retractive displacement of said piston when said rod is in a fully-retracted position and hold said rod in said position, and for releasing said holding force upon a retractive displacement of said rod with a predetermined axial force in the opposite direction.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said follower means further comprise:

at least two ball bearings retained in said guide in radial opposition to said rod, said guide containing at least two radially-extending apertures therethrough evenly-spaced about its circumference for axial retention and radial movement of said balls therein, said balls being positioned axially from said closed end of said tube for about the distance between said proximate end and said hemitoroidial portion of said piston, for clamping said piston therebetween when said rod is about fully-protracted from said guide; and

a sleeve spring snapped about the circumference of said guide at said axial position of said balls for retaining said balls therein and for biasing said balls radially inward.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said follower means further comprise:

a U-shaped spring clip snapped about the circumference of said guide, said guide having a pair of radially-opposed transverse slots therethrough to receive and retain said clip such that a portion of said clip extends through each said slot and transversely through said guide to cooperate with said spherically-shaped end and hemitoroidial portion of said piston to exert an axial force against retractive displacement of said piston when said rod is in a fully-protracted position, to hold said rod in said position, and for releasing said holding force upon a retractive displacement of said rod with a predetermined force.

20. A doorstop and holdopen for a door hingably-attached to a door frame, comprising:

a tubular guide having means at one end for attaching said guide for pivotal movement to one of said door or said frame, said means for attaching the tubular guide to the door or door frame including an extension spring, which is adapted to only extend or be activated when a force is applied to the door when the elongated member is fully protracted, whereby the spring absorbs the force, and a closed second end containing an aperture therethrough;

an elongated member having a first end and a second end, said first end having means thereat for attaching said member for pivotal movement to the other of said door or said frame, said member extending through said aperture into said guide and having an enlarged portion at said second end slidably-retained therein for aligning said member axially during protractive and retractive sliding movement relative to said guide and for stopping said member against further protractive movement when said portion is in abutment with said closed end of said guide, said enlarged portion having camming means thereon for exerting radial forces with axial movement of said member; and

follower means mounted in said second end of said guide for cooperating with said camming means on said enlarged portion of said member to exert an axial force against retractive displacement of said member when said member is in a fullyprotracted position and hold said member in said position, and for releasing said force upon a protractive displacement of said member with a predetermined axial force in the opposite direction.

21. A combination holdopen and doorstop apparatus for use with a door hinged about a vertical axis comprising:

a rod guide adapted to be connected hingedly to either the door or a door frame, having an aperture in the unattached end for slidably receiving a rod,

a rod which extends through the aperture in the guide and is hingedly attached to the other of the door or door frame,

camming surfaces on the rod which coact with cam followers on the guide to releasably hold the door in a first open position,

a stop member on the rod located within the guide which prevents the rod from further extension through the guide aperture when the door reaches a second greater open position; and

an extension spring connecting the rod guide to the door or door frame, and said extension spring being only extended or activated when a force is applied to the door when it is in its second open position. thereby serving a shock absorber function.