GB2186022A - Letter slot flap with limited opening - Google Patents

Abstract

Flap assembly for use on the inner side of a door letter slot for added security has a hinged hanging flap (15) pivoted from a mounting plate (10), the latter being provided with a stop piece (16) which limits the swinging movement of the flap outwardly of the slot. The flap (15) may be composed of two portions (15a, 15b) at a shallow angle to each other, such that portion (15b) becomes vertical when portion (15a) abuts the stop piece (16). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Letter slot flap This invention relates to flaps for letter slots in the entrance doorsto houses, flats, offices and the like and has as its object the provision of a flap forthe inner side of the slot which is neat in appearance, easily fitted, and which provides substantial security against use of the slot for such improper purposes as gaining access to interior locks orfastenings ofthe door or probing or passing objects through the slot to reach areas of the property beyond the immediate vicinity of the door.

According to the invention a letter slot flap assembly includes a frame orother mounting form ationforoperative attachment to an innerface ofthe doororotherstructure surrounding the slot, aflap pivoted on said formation for swinging movement from a position of rest at which it covers the inner side of the slot in use, and stop means on said formation limiting angular movement of the flap away from said position.

Conveniently the stop means extends across the flap from side to side of the mounting formation so asto bridge an upper region ofthe slot in use, but itis also contemplated that the stop means could comprise a lug or preferably a pair of lugs one at each end of the formation having end portions shaped to be abutted bytheflapsoasto limit said movement.

One practical example of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing being a perspective view of a flap assembly mounted for use.

The assembly comprises a mounting plate 10 having a central cutaway portion so that it leaves the letterslot 11 of a house orflat door 12 unobstructed, said plate being mounted on the insideface ofthe door in use.

Plate loins provided with narrow vertical outwardly directed end flanges 13 upper portions of which journal a hinge pin or pivots 14 of a flap 15.

Flap 15 overlies the innerface of plate 10 at its position of rest, hanging substantially vertically but can swing outwardly ofthe doorto allow mail, newspapers orthe like to pass through the slot 11 from the outside.

Stop means is provided to limit said swinging or angular movement of flap 15, in this example said means consists of a U-shaped bridging piece 16 extending acroosflap 15 from side to side, the ends of the limbsofthe U being attachedtoendflanges 13.

Piece 16 is angled so asto extend across the upper part of the assembly with its inner edge close to the upper edge of mounting plate 10 and so that it slopes downwardly at an angle in the manner of a hood.

Flap 15 has upper and lower regions 15a, 1 Sbforming a shallow angle with each other so that it is somewhat bellied outwardly by plate 10 though its ends are still enclosed sty flanges 13 when it is atthe position of rest.

The maximum opening of the flap is determined by abutment of upper region 1 spa with bridging piece 16 and at that position (shown in broken lines in the drawing) the lower region 1 5b will lie in a substantially vertical plane in spaced parallel relationship to the inner face of the door. This spacing is sufficient to allowthe mail, newspapers etc two be passed through the slot so that they fall directly down immediately inside the door but any attempt to reach through the slot 11 in a more horizontal direction orto either side of slot 11, e.g. to gain access to the lock 20 or other fastening ofthe door orto insert any rigid probe or other like article through the slot will be prevented.

Thearrangementwill also largely prevent any attempt to project any harmful or noxious substance through the slot to any distance away from the door, for example inflammable liquid orfireworks and thus the area liable to immediate damage thereby will be substantially restricted.

In this way the invention adds substantially to security and safety, particularly of house and flat doors.

The stop means may take other forms, for example instead of a piece bridging the entire width of the assembly a pair of end pieces could be provided mounted on flanges 13 and having short end portions turned towards each other to abut the end mar gins onlyofupper region 15aoftheflap.

To facilitate mounting on the door the assembly may be sold in a disassembled condition so that the fixing screws can be readily inserted through plate 10, the flap being mounted subsequently. To provide access to at least upperfixing screws it may be necessary to provide one or more apertures in bridging piece 16and once mounting and assembly has been completed these can be closed by rubber grommets which will also form a buffer to cushion abutment of flap 15with piece 16.

1. A letterslotflap assembly including a frame or other mounting formation for operative attachment to an innerface ofthe door or other structure surrounding the slot, a flap pivoted on said formation for swinging movement from a position of rest at which it covers the inner side of the slot in use, and stop means on said formation limiting angular movement of the flap away from said position.

2. AnassemblyasinClaim 1 whereinthestop means extends across the flap from side to side of the mounting formation so as to bridge an upper region of the slot in use.

3. An assembly as in Claim 1 wherein the stop means comprises at least one lug at one end ofthe formation having an end portion shaped to be abutted bytheflap so asto limit said movement.

4. An assembly as in Claim 3wherein the stop means comprises a pair of said lugs, one at each end ofthe mounting formation.

5. An assembly as in any preceding claim wherein a lower region of the flap forms a shallow angle with an upper region thereof so that when the upper region abutsthe stop meansthe lower region lies in a substantially vertical plane.

6. A letterslotflap assembly substantially as her- einbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Letter slot flap This invention relates to flaps for letter slots in the entrance doorsto houses, flats, offices and the like and has as its object the provision of a flap forthe inner side of the slot which is neat in appearance, easily fitted, and which provides substantial security against use of the slot for such improper purposes as gaining access to interior locks orfastenings ofthe door or probing or passing objects through the slot to reach areas of the property beyond the immediate vicinity of the door. According to the invention a letter slot flap assembly includes a frame orother mounting form ationforoperative attachment to an innerface ofthe doororotherstructure surrounding the slot, aflap pivoted on said formation for swinging movement from a position of rest at which it covers the inner side of the slot in use, and stop means on said formation limiting angular movement of the flap away from said position. Conveniently the stop means extends across the flap from side to side of the mounting formation so asto bridge an upper region ofthe slot in use, but itis also contemplated that the stop means could comprise a lug or preferably a pair of lugs one at each end of the formation having end portions shaped to be abutted bytheflapsoasto limit said movement. One practical example of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing being a perspective view of a flap assembly mounted for use. The assembly comprises a mounting plate 10 having a central cutaway portion so that it leaves the letterslot 11 of a house orflat door 12 unobstructed, said plate being mounted on the insideface ofthe door in use. Plate loins provided with narrow vertical outwardly directed end flanges 13 upper portions of which journal a hinge pin or pivots 14 of a flap 15. Flap 15 overlies the innerface of plate 10 at its position of rest, hanging substantially vertically but can swing outwardly ofthe doorto allow mail, newspapers orthe like to pass through the slot 11 from the outside. Stop means is provided to limit said swinging or angular movement of flap 15, in this example said means consists of a U-shaped bridging piece 16 extending acroosflap 15 from side to side, the ends of the limbsofthe U being attachedtoendflanges 13. Piece 16 is angled so asto extend across the upper part of the assembly with its inner edge close to the upper edge of mounting plate 10 and so that it slopes downwardly at an angle in the manner of a hood. Flap 15 has upper and lower regions 15a, 1 Sbforming a shallow angle with each other so that it is somewhat bellied outwardly by plate 10 though its ends are still enclosed sty flanges 13 when it is atthe position of rest. The maximum opening of the flap is determined by abutment of upper region 1 spa with bridging piece 16 and at that position (shown in broken lines in the drawing) the lower region 1 5b will lie in a substantially vertical plane in spaced parallel relationship to the inner face of the door. This spacing is sufficient to allowthe mail, newspapers etc two be passed through the slot so that they fall directly down immediately inside the door but any attempt to reach through the slot 11 in a more horizontal direction orto either side of slot 11, e.g. to gain access to the lock 20 or other fastening ofthe door orto insert any rigid probe or other like article through the slot will be prevented. Thearrangementwill also largely prevent any attempt to project any harmful or noxious substance through the slot to any distance away from the door, for example inflammable liquid orfireworks and thus the area liable to immediate damage thereby will be substantially restricted. In this way the invention adds substantially to security and safety, particularly of house and flat doors. The stop means may take other forms, for example instead of a piece bridging the entire width of the assembly a pair of end pieces could be provided mounted on flanges 13 and having short end portions turned towards each other to abut the end mar gins onlyofupper region 15aoftheflap. To facilitate mounting on the door the assembly may be sold in a disassembled condition so that the fixing screws can be readily inserted through plate 10, the flap being mounted subsequently. To provide access to at least upperfixing screws it may be necessary to provide one or more apertures in bridging piece 16and once mounting and assembly has been completed these can be closed by rubber grommets which will also form a buffer to cushion abutment of flap 15with piece 16. CLAIMS

1. A letterslotflap assembly including a frame or other mounting formation for operative attachment to an innerface ofthe door or other structure surrounding the slot, a flap pivoted on said formation for swinging movement from a position of rest at which it covers the inner side of the slot in use, and stop means on said formation limiting angular movement of the flap away from said position.

2. AnassemblyasinClaim 1 whereinthestop means extends across the flap from side to side of the mounting formation so as to bridge an upper region of the slot in use.

3. An assembly as in Claim 1 wherein the stop means comprises at least one lug at one end ofthe formation having an end portion shaped to be abutted bytheflap so asto limit said movement.

4. An assembly as in Claim 3wherein the stop means comprises a pair of said lugs, one at each end ofthe mounting formation.

5. An assembly as in any preceding claim wherein a lower region of the flap forms a shallow angle with an upper region thereof so that when the upper region abutsthe stop meansthe lower region lies in a substantially vertical plane.

6. A letterslotflap assembly substantially as her- einbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.