GB2230293A - Jamming device for a door or window - Google Patents

Abstract

A jamming device (10) for a hinged door (20) or the like comprises an elongate member locatable in the gap between an edge of the door (20) and the frame (30) thereof remote from the hinge axis of the door, the elongate member including a first pocket (12) on one side of the elongate member to receive the edge (21) of the door and a second pocket (13) on the other side of the elongate member to receive a part (31) of the frame. As shown in fig. 1, the device may be a permanently shaped strip of springy material eg thin steel, or as shown in fig. 3a, may have one of its pockets formed by a device (17) adjustably clampable to the main part of the device. <IMAGE>

Description

DOOR OR WINDOW JAMMING DEVICE This invention relates to a jamming device for a hinged door or window (hereinafter referred to as a "hinged member") which acts to retain the hinged member in a closed or near-closed position by engagement (a) with a region of the hinged member adjacent an edge thereof which is remote from the hinge axis of the member and (b) with a region of the frame of the hinged member adjacent to said edge in the closed condition of the hinged member.

A wide variety of locks and catches is available to retain a door or window in a closed or near-closed position but most of the prior art devices require one or more fittings to be permanently secured to the hinged member and/or its frame. A jamming device in accordance with this invention can be clpped in place as and when required and can be removed when not required, usually removed without leaving any indication on the hinged member or frame that it has been temporarily use to retain the hinged member in a closed or near-closed condition.

According to the invention a jamming device for a hinged member as hereinbefore defined comprises an elongate member locatable in the gap between an edge of the hinged member and the frame thereof remote from the hinge axis of the hinged member, which elongate member includes first means to define pocket on one side of the elongate member to receive the said edge and second means to define a pocket on the other side of the elongate member to receive a part of the frame.

Suitable the elongate member is a strip of springy material such as steel or plastics permanently deformed with sharp bends (e.g. at 900) to exhibit the two pockets.

Where the device is to be used on a range of different hinged members, possibly hinged members of differing thicknesses, it may be desirable to limit at least cne of the pockets b means of a clamp adiustably locatable along the strip. A generally straight strip having a central double bend and a pair of adjustable clamps one on each side of the double bend and one on each side of the strip can provide a first pocket between the double bend and one of the clamps and a second pocket between the double bend and the other of the clamps.

A particularly simDle design of jamming device bent from a strip of spring steel (e.g. 1 mm thick, 30 mm wide and 175 mm long) can have a double 900 bend close to the centre of the length of the strip, a first pocket defined between the double bend and one outer 900 bend and a second pocket defined between the double bend and an opposite outer 900 bend the first pocket having a length (in the elongate direction of the strip) which corresponds to the thickness of the hinged member (e.g. 35 mm) and the second pocket having a length which corresponds to the thickness of the frame part (e.g. 40 mm).A jamming device of the particularly simple design described ove can be located in place from either side of the hind member and can be made removable from either or both sides of the hinged member depending on the length of the bent strip defining the outer end of the respective pocket. By providing, say, a shallow pocket to receive the edge of a door. a jamming device releasable from inside the door (i.e. the side towards which the door swings as it opens) can be obtained.

Making the door pocket sufficiently deep or providing an inadequate projecting length of strip to permit manual deforming of the strip to release the door edge from its pocket, gives a design which although it can be snapped in place from the inside of the door without the use of tools, it cannot subsequently be removed from inside the door without the use of tools (e.g. to cut the strip).

A further embodiment of adjustable jamming device can be based on a flexible elongate member (e.g. of string or webbing) terminated at one end by a fixed end stop which defines one of said first or second means and thus sets the limit of one of said pockets, and provided with an adjustable stop which defines the other of said first and second means and ets the limit to the other pocket. The adjustable stop could be provided with a key to lock it in place at the selected position along the flexible elongate member, thus making it possible for release of the jamming device once set, to be non-destructively possible only for a key holder. The fixed end stop can be of a demountable nature, so that non-destructive release of the jamming device is also possible from that side of the hinged member on which the fixed end stop is located.

An adjustable jamming device which is based on a flexible elongate member having a demountable end stop and a key-lockable adjustable stop can provide a convenient means for securing a locked hotel room against entry by unauthorised use of a pass key, the device being installed by an occupant of the room with the end stop within the room. When the room is occupied, release of the jamming device is achieved by dismantling the end stop. When the room is unoccupied, the key is used to release the adjustable stop to permit the room occupant to re-enter the room.

The following drawings illustrate, by way of example, some embodiments of jamming device in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a simple non-adjustable device, Figure 2 a device with one level of adjustment, Figures 3 and 3a a device with two levels of adjustment, and Figures 4 and 4a an adjustable device based on a length of flexible webbin.

The drawings -illustrate jamming devices in use on doors. but it should be realised use on windows is not ruled out and that such use is equally embraced by this invention.

In each Figure the device is designated generally by the numeral 10, the door is shown at 20 and the frame at 30.

In Figure 1 the device 10 is shown in plan from above and is bent from a strip of springy steel some 0.5 mm thick. 35 mm wide and 175 mm long. A central double bend 11 defines the boundary between a first pocket 12 on one side (to receive the outer edge 21 of the door > 0) and a second pocket 13 which receives a stop bar 31 of the door frame 30. The outer end of the pocket 12 is defined by a door arm 14 and the outer end of the picket 13 by a frame arm 15.

The device is fitted in Place by holding it over the edge 21 of the door as the door is closed until the frame arm 15 snaps over the bar 31 leaving the latter in the pocket 13. By ensuring engagement pressure is created in either or both pockets 12 and 13, the device will remain at the set height while the door is jammed shut. Flexing the frame arm 15 in the direction of the arrow X will release the device 10. Depending on the size/shape of the door arm 14 the device is or is not removable by flexing that arm away from the door 20.

Similar reference numerals have been used in Figure 2 to designate similar items, the main feature of difference here being that the frame pocket 13 is of adjustable size b virtue of the use of an adjustable block 16. The block 16 can slide along the strip of the device 10 and is locked in the chosen position by a threaded member 16a.

The device of Figure 3 has two adjustable blocks 17 and 18 locked in pace with threaded members 17a and 18a.

Figure 3a is a side view of the device. The blocks 17 and 18 can be identical to reduce manufacturing costs. The chamfered faces 17b, 18b facilitate the locking in place of the device.

The device of Figure 4 has a tape 40 (e.g. a nylon tape, flexible steel strip or fabric webbing) having a demountable end stop 41 and an adjustable stop 42. Figure 4a shows how the end stop is formed from two interengaged parts of a rod 41a and a sleeve 41b. The stop 42 is locked in place using a key 43 in a keyhole 44.

Claims (9)

1. A ammin device for a hinged member as hereinbefore defined comprising an elongate member locatable in the gap between an edge of the hinged member and the frame thereof remote from the hinge axis of the hinged member, which elongate member includes first means to define a pocket on one side of the elongate member to receive the said edge and second means to define a pocket on the other side of the elongate member to receive a part of the frame.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongate member is a strip of springy material permanently deformed to exhibit the two pockets.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongate member is a strip and at least one of the pockets is limited by means of a clamp adjustably locatable along the strip.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongate member is a generally straight strip having a central double bend and a pair of adjustable clamps one on each side of the double bend and one on each side of the strip, whereby a first pocket is provided between the double bend and one of the clamps and a second pocket is provided between, the double bend and the other of çhe clamps.

5. An adjustable jamming device as claimed ín claim 1, in which the elongate member is flexible, is terminated at one end by a fixed end stop which defines one of said first or second means and thus sets the limit of one of said pockets, and is provided with an adjustable stop which defines the other of said first and second means and sets the limit to the other pocket.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which the adjustable stop is provided with a key to lock it in place at a selected position along the flexible elongate member.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, in which the fixed end stop is of a demountable nature.

8. A jamming device for a door or window substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 1, Figure 2, Figures 3 and 3a or Figures 4 and 4a of the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel feature described and/or illustrated herein.