US3539214A - Adjustable magnetic plate striker - Google Patents

Description

i United States Patent.

Inventor Raymond Fisher Otter River Road, Templeton, Massachusetts 01468 App]. No. 780,331

Filed Dec. 2, 1968 Patented Nov. 10, 1970 ADJUSTABLE MAGNETIC PLATE STRIKER 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 292/251.5, 292/144 Int. Cl E05c 1/08, E05c 17/56 Field of Search 292/251.5,

144: 24/2012, (Unofficial); SSS/(inquired) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,230,740 6/1917 McCracken 292/251.5X 2,288,688 7/1942 Dubilier 292/251.5X 3,288,511 11/1966 Tavano 292/25l.5 FOREIGN PATENTS 573,454 11/1945 Great Britain 292/251.5

Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy Attorney-Berman, Davidson & Berman ABSTRACT: A metal striker plate for magnetic catches, the plate having means for adjustable magnetic holding force, the plate comprising a flat member having a portion thereof perforated with openings so to present less metal to the magnet, thus decreasing the magnetic tension and retaining force when this area is selectively aligned therewith.

Patented Nov. 10, 1970 z W M W EAU MQ/VD F/SHE/Q 1 ADJUSTABLE MAGNETIC PLATE STRIKER SFECIFICATION This invention relates generally to striker plates for magnetic catches such as are used to maintain doors in a closed position.

It is generally well known that in some instances magnetic catches exert a too great pull on metal plates presently installed as striker plates, and a person is obliged to use an excessive physical force to open the door. This of course is not practical particularly on small cabinet doors and the like where there is no'reason for so strong a retaining hold.

Accordingly it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a striker plate for magnetic catches, which has self contained means for varying the magnetic pull of the catch thereagainst, and wherein the pull is fully adjustable between a maximum and a minimum force.

Another object is to provide a striker plate comprised of a flat magnetically responsive metal, and which has a perforated area and an unperforateci area a selected amount of each being presentable to a magnetic catch so to vary the amount of magnetic attraction force.

Another object is to provide a striker plate which may be variously adjusted such as by rotation or by a sliding movement.

Other objects are to provide a striker plate which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown in use on a door.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invennon.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are front views of further modified forms thereof.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of yet a further modified form.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 10 represents a metal striker plate for magnetic catches according to the present invention, wherein there is flat plate 11 made from magnetically attractive material such as iron or the like, the plate 11 having parallel opposite sides I2 bounded by circular edge 13; the plate having a solid area 14 that is unperforated, and an area 15 that is perforated by openings 36. The plate has a central opening receiving mounting screw 37 secured to a door 18, the door being pivotable into a closed position toward door jamb 19, the door being retained in closed position by a magnetic catch 20 against which the striker plate abuts.

In operative use, the holding force for retaining the door closed may be varied by rotating the plate ll about the screw 17, thus presenting either the solid area to engage the catch (for maximum holding force) or presenting the perforated area (for minimum holding force). Otherwise the plate may be rotated only partly a selected distance so to provide full adjustability of any holding force. It is understood that the less area engaging the catch the less the holding force. Thus the perforated openings may be made larger or more densely together in one portion than in another to provide further adjustability of force.

In FIG. 3, the striker plate 30 has a rectangular shape. In FIG. 4, the striker plate 40 is hexagon shaped. In FIG. 5, the striker plate 50 has a slot 51 receiving mounting screw 17, the plate being slidable. In FIG. 6, the striker plate 60 is slidable and has slots 61 instead of circular perforations. In FIG. 7, the striker plate 70 comprises a magnetic responsive plate having exposed surface 71. A plate 72 of plastic material is inserted upon one end thereof, the plate 72 being of gradually greater thickness so to resist magnetic force more greatly toward its thicker end where it spaces the catch a greatest distance from the striker plate section 73 therebehind.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes ill be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Iclaim:

I. In combination a magnetic catch, a striker plate for said magnetic catch comprising aflat magnetically responsive metallic plate, said plate having an imperforate portion and a perforate portion with the perforate portion having aplurality of openings therethrough whereby said perforate portion will have a magnetic responsiveness substantially less than that of said imperforate portion, and means mounting said plate for adjustment to preset a selected degree of magnetic responsiveness to said catch.

2. A device as claimed in claim I, wherein said plate is slotted and the means moving said plate for adjustment includes a mounting screw extending through said slot.

3. A device as claimed in claim I, wherein said mounting means includes a center mounting screw for pivoting of said plate to adjusted position and securing said plate in adjusted position.

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