The invention relates to a device for keeping out vermin at overhead doors .

An overhead door or rolling door usually consists of a frame with two j ambs and a lintel , against which a guide is arranged . A door constructed from panels connected pivotally to each other is guided along this guide . In order to seal the door relative to the frame rubbers are arranged along the two j ambs , against which the door lies when in closed position .

In the corner between the ground, the door and a j amb there may be some space which is not properly sealed of f by the rubbers . Vermin, such as mice , can enter therethrough . Mice additionally have a tendency to eat through or eat away at the rubber in order to gain entry anyway .

It has heretofore been di f ficult to prevent vermin from entering along an overhead door . In order to keep out vermin it is important that the door is properly adj usted relative to the frame , and that the rubbers are undamaged . Over time , the door may however start to become misaligned and rubbers may become damaged due to frequent use .

It is now an obj ect of the invention to reduce or even obviate the above stated drawbacks .

This obj ect is achieved according to the invention with a device for keeping out vermin at overhead doors , which device comprises a formed plate with a first flat plate part , a second flat plate part and a transition part arranged between the first plate part and the second plate part , which transition part has a single curve with a substantially constant radius of curvature relative to a longitudinal axis and wherein the first flat plate part is arranged on a first longitudinal edge of the transition part and wherein the second flat plate part is arranged on a second longitudinal edge .

This device can be placed in the corner between the ground, frame and door and covers the rubber and any gaps between rubber and door . When for instance a mouse now walks along the door to the frame , the formed plate and particularly the curved transition part will ensure that the mouse is led past the corner between the ground, frame and door . This will cause the mouse to continue on and not be tempted to attempt to enter .

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention the transition part is arcuate in cross-section, as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis . The arcuate form ensures that the path of vermin, such as a mouse , is gradually altered when the animal walks along the device . The arcuate shape additionally gives the door system space to move upward and downward freely .

The first flat plate part preferably lies substantially perpendicularly of the second flat plate part . The device can hereby be arranged with the second flat plate part against a j amb of the frame in simple manner, while the first flat plate part lies against the overhead door .

In another embodiment of the device according to the invention the angle between the first flat plate part and the second flat plate part lies between 90 ° and 110 ° , and is preferably 100 ° .

Making the angle between the two plate parts slightly more obtuse than a right angle will create some space in the corner between the door, the rubber and the device according to the invention, which is advantageous when there are protruding door rubbers , while the free ends of the two plate parts do lie in proper abutment . In another preferred embodiment of the device the radius of curvature is between 2 cm and 5 cm . With such a radius of curvature the vermin is led ef ficiently past the corner between frame , ground and door, while the device remains compact and does not pose any impediment to persons and vehicles passing the door when the door is open .

In yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention fastening means , particularly double-sided tape , are provided on the second flat plate part on the surface remote from the first flat plate part .

With the fastening means , such as particularly double-sided tape , the device can be arranged with the second flat plate part against the j amb of a frame in simple and rapid manner, wherein the first flat plate part then lies against the door .

In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention a number of , preferably parallel , notches are arranged in the first flat plate part , which extend from the edge of the first flat plate part to the transition part in order to form bendable tongues .

The formed tongues make it possible to bend the first flat plate part in simple manner and thus compensate for for instance a rubber of an overhead door lying too far back . The longitudinal direction of the notches is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis .

In yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention at least one corner of the first flat plate part at a distance from the longitudinal edge , with which the first flat plate part is arranged on the transition part , is rounded .

When the door is open, the first flat plate part protrudes slightly into the door opening . Rounding at least one corner at a distance from the longitudinal edge reduces the risk of any inj ury due to the protruding plate part .

The at least one corner is preferably bent out of the plane of the first flat plate part toward the second flat plate part .

The invention further relates to a combination of an overhead door and a device according to the invention, wherein the overhead door comprises :

- a frame with two j ambs and a lintel ;

- a door constructed from pivoting panels ;

- a guide arranged on the two j ambs for the purpose of guiding the door along the two j ambs ; wherein the device lies with the first flat plate part against the door and wherein the device is arranged with the second flat plate part on one of the two j ambs of the frame .

These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings .

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention .

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the rear side of the embodiment according to figure 1 .

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the combination according to the invention in perspective view .

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional top view of the combination according to figure 3 .

Figure 5 shows a variant of the embodiment of the device according to the invention .

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention . Device 1 has a first flat plate part 2 , a second flat plate part 3 and a transition part 4 arranged between the first plate part 2 and the second plate part 3 . This transition part 4 has a single curve and has a constant radius of curvature R . The first flat plate part 2 is arranged on a first longitudinal edge 5 and the second flat plate part 3 is arranged on a second longitudinal edge 6 . A corner 7 at a distance from the longitudinal edge 5 is rounded, thus limiting the chances of in ury .

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the rear side of device 1 according to figure 1 . Two strips of double-sided tape 8 , 9 are arranged on the second flat plate part 3 for the purpose of mounting device 1 against a amb of a frame . Holes 10 , 11 are further provided for securing device 1 using screws .

Figure 3 shows a combination of an overhead door 20 with a device 1 as shown in figures 1 and 2 . The overhead door 20 has a frame with j ambs 21 and a lintel (not shown) and a door constructed from hori zontally pivoting panels 22 . Provided on the underside of door 20 is a strip of rubber 23 for sealing against the ground G . Further arranged between amb 21 and panels 22 is a vertical sealing rubber 24 . This sealing rubber 24 can be attached either to j amb 21 or to panels 22 .

A device 1 is arranged in the corner between panels 22 , j amb 21 and the ground G . Of device 1 , the second flat plate part 3 is arranged against the j amb and the first flat plate part 2 lies against the panels 22 of overhead door 20 .

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the combination shown in figure 3 . Panels 22 are guided in a guide 25 , which is arranged against j amb 21 . It is further clearly visible that sealing rubber 24 seals panels 22 onto j amb 21 .

Device 1 lies with the first flat plate part 2 against panels 22 and with the second flat plate part 3 against j amb 21 . Vermin, such as mice , will hereby be unable to get to sealing rubber 24 and the vermin is prevented from being able to enter via the space between panels 22 and j amb 21 , possibly after eating through part of the sealing rubber 24 .

Figure 5 shows a variant of the embodiment of the device according to the invention, as shown in figure 1 . The same parts are therefore designated with the same reference numerals .

Arranged in first flat plate part 2 are four parallel notches 30 , whereby tongues are formed in the first flat plate part 2 . These tongues can then be bent in simple manner so that the edge of the first flat plate part 2 follows the shape of a j amb and/or rubber better . This prevents gaps along which vermin could still enter .