Portable remote controlled door closer

• US 6,061,964 A
• Filed: 05/06/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leon Arnell, Louis G. Arnell, Thomas P. Sturges
• Original Assignee: Leon Arnell, Louis G. Arnell, Thomas P. Sturges
• Inventors: Arnell, Leon, Sturges, Thomas P., Arnell, Louis G.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US09/074,923
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 49/25, 49/26, 49/27, 49/28, 49/29, 49/324, 49/339, 49/348, 49/340, 49/358, 49/359
• US Class Current: 49/359
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/236 using force or torque
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/612 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/46 in or on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/11 Manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

A portable remotely controlled automatic door closing apparatus enables the door of a room or office to be closed from a remote location within the room or office by transmitting a signal to an actuator which exerts a force on the door to move it from an opened position to a closed position. The apparatus comprises a battery or AC powered motor which moves a lever arm into engagement with the door to rotate the door about its hinges from the open to the closed position. The apparatus is free standing and immobilized on the floor in a non-connected relationship thereto between an apparatus wall and the door in its open position. The apparatus is immobilized to prevent slipping by a floor-engaging mechanism, such as an adhesive, an anti-skid rubber material, or suction cups, or carpet engaging projections.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus which closes a door, said apparatus comprising:

(a) force exerting means in an initial position freely adjacent the door which in a second position engages a surface of the door in a closing motion to move the door from an opened position to a closed position;

(b) control means responsive to a remote actuation signal for controlling the force exerting means engagement with the door in a closing motion;

(c) a portable housing which houses the control means and the force exerting means in a free standing position on a floor juxtaposed to a wall adjacent to the opened position of the door such that upon operation of the force exerting means to move the door to the closed position the housing is prevented from moving relative to said position, a plurality of apertures provided in said housing for receiving fastening means; and

(d) mounting means provided with a plurality of apertures, a sufficient number of said apertures in insertional alignment with the apertures provided in said housing and for inserting said fastening means there through for attachment to said floor or to said wall, or to said floor and wall thereby securing said apparatus to said mounting means.

2. A door-closing kit comprising:

(a) a portable apparatus which closes a door, said apparatus comprising;

(i) force exerting means in an initial position freely adjacent the door which in a second position engages a surface of the door in a closing motion to move the door from an opened position to a closed position;

(ii) control means responsive to a remote actuation signal for controlling the force exerting means engagement with the door in a closing motion;

(iii) a portable housing which houses the control means and the force exerting means in a free standing position on a floor juxtaposed to a wall adjacent to the opened position of the door such that upon operation of the force exerting means to move the door to the closed position the housing is prevented from moving relative to said position, a plurality of apertures provided in said housing for receiving fastening means; and

(b) mounting means provided with a plurality of apertures, a sufficient number of said apertures in insertional alignment with the apertures provided in said housing and for inserting said fastening means there through for attachment to said floor or to said wall, or to said floor and wall thereby securing said apparatus to said mounting means.

3. An apparatus mounted on a door which apparatus closes said door, said apparatus comprising:

(a) force exerting means in an initial position freely adjacent a wall adjacent to the opened position of the door which in a second position engages a surface of said wall in a motion to move the door from an opened position to a closed position;

(b) control means responsive to a remote actuation signal for controlling the force exerting means engagement with the wall in a closing motion;

(c) a housing which houses the control means and the force exerting means in a mounted position on the door juxtaposed to a wall adjacent to the opened position of the door wherein said housing is provided with one or more apertures for receiving fastening means for attaching said apparatus to the door.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising mounting means provided with a plurality of apertures, a sufficient number of said apertures in insertional alignment with the apertures provided in said housing and for inserting said fastening means there through for attachment to said door.

5. The portable apparatus of claim 4 wherein the force exerting means comprises a motor and an arm connected to the motor which arm engages the wall in a closing motion upon rotation of the motor to move the door from the opened position to the closed position.

6. The portable apparatus of claim 5 wherein said arm carries a roller on an end thereof for engaging the wall, the roller rolling against the wall as the arm engages the wall in a closing motion moving the door to the closed position.

7. The portable apparatus of claim 6 wherein the arm is connected to the motor through a clutch which slips when a reverse force greater than a predetermined amount of torque is applied to the arm.

8. The portable apparatus of claim 7 wherein the arm comprises tubing which is crimped onto a drive shaft of the motor so as to enable slippage upon a reverse force exceeding a predetermined amount of torque being exerted on the arm.

9. The portable apparatus of claim 4 wherein said control means comprises a timer for operating the force exerting means for a first predetermined period of time sufficient to move the door from the opened position to the closed position.

10. The portable apparatus of claim 9 wherein said control means further comprises returning means responsive to the door reaching the closed position for returning the force exerting means to said initial position.

11. The portable apparatus of claim 10 wherein the returning means comprises means for reversing the direction of the force exerting means for a second predetermined period of time.

12. The portable apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a second timer which is actuated upon the door reaching the closed position for reversing the direction of the force exerting means for said predetermined period of time.

13. The portable apparatus of claim 12 wherein the force exerting means comprises an actuator and an arm connected to the actuator for engaging the wall, and the control means comprises a latch responsive to said actuation signal for causing operation of the actuator for said first predetermined period of time to move the door to the closed position, and for operating the returning means for said predetermined period of time to return the actuator to the initial position.

14. The portable apparatus of claim 3 wherein the control means includes means for receiving said actuation signal from a wireless remote signal emitter for operating the force exerting means.

15. A door closing kit comprising:

(a) an apparatus mounted on a door, said apparatus comprising;

(i) force exerting means in an initial position freely adjacent a wall adjacent to the opened position of the door which in a second position engages a surface of said wall in a motion to move the door from an opened position to a closed position;

(ii) control means responsive to a remote actuation signal for controlling the force exerting means engagement with the wall in a closing motion;

(iii) a housing which houses the control means and the force exerting means in a mounted position on the door juxtaposed to a wall adjacent to the opened position of the door wherein said housing is provided with one or more apertures for receiving fastening means for attaching said apparatus to the door; and

(b) mounting means provided with a plurality of apertures, a sufficient number of said apertures in insertional alignment with the apertures provided in said housing and for inserting said fastening means there through for attachment to said door.