Provisional Patent Application of

Brian D. Klauber, citizen of USA,

5 Forsythia Dr., Nashua, N.H. 03062

and

Robert D. Klauber, citizen of USA

1100 University Manor Dr., Condo 38B, Fairfield, IA 52556

for DOOR FINGER PINCH PREVENTER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

(0001) This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application 61/291,974, filed January 4, 2010, by the present inventors. REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A

COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC

(0002) n/a

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

(0003) This invention relates to a device for a door, typically, but not limited to, a door in a home, which has particular application for preventing fingers and/or hands from being pinched and/or injured when the door is closed, a common concern of parents who harbor fear of accidental injury to children. Description of Related Art

(0004) Prior art patent material includes i) making a door frame larger than its door so that fingers are not pinched when the door is shut (Sato Japanese Pat No. JP10025957, Sasaki et al Japanese Pat No. JP2007085097, Sugiyama Japanese Pat No. JP10184182, Ohashi Japanese Pat No. JP2004316409, Nishioka Japanese Pat No. JP2004100377); ii) door stoppers (Mahon Intl Pat Applic WO2006/066307, Sugiyama Japanese Pat No. JP9165969, Nishioka Japanese Pat No. JP2009167692, Huang US Pat Applic Pub. No. US2009/0058104, Iwasaki Japanese Pat No. JP2005036552); special handles (Suzuki Japanese Pat No. JP2009057731); iii) devices specifically for sliding doors, folding doors, garage doors, or door edge adjacent the door handle (Takashima Japanese Pat No. JP20077170149, Goto Japanese Pat No. JP2007132120, Nakagawa Japanese Pat No. JP1115254, Kamata Japanese Pat No. JP10082253, Kawai Japanese Pat No. JP2008121355, Azuma Japanese Pat No. JP2008025281, Furuta Japanese Pat No. JP7324555); iv) electronic or mechanical sensing (Ogino Japanese Pat No. JP2006097463, Norton US Pat No. 6,176,292 Bl); v) repelling magnets (Yoshikawa Japanese Pat No. JP2005146530); and vi) coverings over door jambs (Ishikawa Japanese Pat No. JP2009091826, Yamazaki Japanese Pat No. JP2007247231, Park Korean Pat Applic No. KR20020001694, Holden US Pat Applic Pub. No. US2005/0183342, Goto Japanese Pat No. JP2008179945, Takaoka Japanese Pat No. JP2008002098, Kitajima Japanese Pat No. JP2003184420, Nakayama Japanese Pat No. JP2003184419, Henmi Japanese Pat No. JP10131607, Suzuki Japanese Pat No. JP9112124, Hanson US Pat No. 6,141,909, McLean US Pat No. 4,261,140.)

(0005) Commercially available door finger pinch protection devices include vii) door stoppers, such as Panda Door Finger Pinch Guard

(http://www.kidsmartliving.com/pandoorfinpi.

html?productid=pandoorfinpi&channelid=NEXTA), WEDjIE Classic

(http://www.onestepahead.

com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=535793&parentCatego ryId=85183&categoryId=85183 &cmSource=New_85183), Bifold Door Finger- Pinch Guard (http://www.target.com/Bifold- Door-Finger-Pinch-Guard-2-pk/dp/B000C40LJO/ref=sc_qi_ detaillink), KidCo Clear Door Finger Guards (http://www.albeebaby.com/kidco-door-finger-guards.html), Safety 1st 10436 Finger Pinch Guard

(http://www.diapers.com/Product ProductDetail.aspx?productid=6493&site=CI&cm_mmc= cse-_-nextag-_-health_safety-_-SF-019&srccode=cii_932456 0&cpncode=19-32820582-2), and American Red Cross Door Finger Guard

(http ://www. amazon.com/dp/BOO 1 NJRA46/ref=asc_

df_BOO 1 NJRA46971581 ?smid=A2ZZGD0WFH5CWA&tag=nextag-baby-mp01 -delta- 20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B00 1NJRA46); and vii) coverings over door jambs, including American Guardian's Shield Finger Guard

(www.onestepahead.com/catalog/ product.jsp?productId=363755), Little Fingers Protector (http://www.screwfix.com/prods/62459 /Ironmongery/Door- Furniture/Commercial/Commercial-Door- Furniture/Little-Fingers-Rear-Hinge- Protector? cm_mmc=Shopping.com-_-Ironmongery-_-Door 20Furniture-_- Little 20Fingers 20Rear 20Hinge 20Protector&source=aw), Fingersafe MK 1A (www. fingersafe.com), Fingagard (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fingagard-The-Finger-Protector-l-Door - White-

Pack_W0QQitemZ190357061296QQcategoryZ20434QQcmdZViewItemQ Q_trksidZp4340 •m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo 3DSIC 26its 3DI 26itu 3DUCI 252BIA 252BUA 252 BIEW 252BHCS 252BUFI 26otn 3D10 26ps 3D63), New Horizons Door Guard (http://little-fingers.com/index.html), Finger-Gard (www.finger-gard.com), and LCN Safety-Guard (http://www.lcnclosers.com/pdfs/autoops/door_hdwr_p.l-2.pdf. )

(0006) The only prior art devices with even remote feasibility, practicality, or cost effectiveness are the door stoppers and door jamb coverings. Users, and warnings from producers, describe door stoppers as causing "damage .. to your door, frame and/or hinge", "difficult to install, difficult to maintain, ... poor design", having to "take them off the doors so I can shut" them, "can't close the door while [it] is on", "broke within 2 months", "easy to break", "lasted in our house for about an hour".

(0007) Prior art coverings for door jambs do not permit easy, quick installation to a hinged door, such as that found in most homes, without attachment means such as screws, nails, epoxy, tape, etc while providing virtually 100% prevention of accidental injury to fingers and/or hands of children or others. Few could be installed by a parent, such as most single mothers, lacking carpentry skills. Those configurations which are most easily attached, i.e., via adhesive, are easily removed by children, fall off during use, can damage the painted surface, and/or still are not truly easy to install (see Shield Finger Guard, Fingagard and Finger Gard reviewer comments and installation instructions at web sites listed above.) All but Kitajima require two separate devices per door, one each for the front and rear of the hinge gap. However, Kitajima' s device consists of several separate pieces, of different materials, and thus is not simple to manufacture nor inexpensive. Further, it needs an adhesive attachment means, and shares with the other devices, a lack of ease for installation.

(0008) Several of the door jamb covering devices may, under certain circumstances, provide some measure of protection against finger pinching yet lack ease of installation, simplicity, and low cost. There is tradeoff between durability and ease of installation. The easier to install, the easier for children to remove or damage. The more durable, the more difficult to install.

(0009) The door jamb coverings of Kitajima, Nakayama, Henmi, and Hanson, for examples, have all of the above limitations, each being composed of several parts and materials including rigid members attached to bendable material, all of which must be attached to the door and door frame via adhesives, screws, or similar cumbersome means. Suzuki needs similar attachment means, only offers protection on one side of a door, and actually leaves an opening whereby a finger could be inserted and injured. None of the prior art is effective, has no (or simple) attachment means, can comprise a single material, is cheap and easily manufactured, and can be readily installed by virtually anyone. (0010) Hence, heretofore there has been no suitable, simple and quick-to-install, inexpensive, easy-to-manufacture, after market device, which could be made of a single material, that prevents pinching of fingers and/or hands in doors. OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

(0011) The invention, in its various embodiments, solves a fundamental problem experienced by many families, and others, of being unable to prevent injury to children, as well as adults, from inadvertent catching of fingers and/or hands in gaps formed on the hinged edge of open doors as those gaps close upon shutting of the doors.

(0012) The hinged edge is particularly problematic due to the lever principle. A small amount of force near the other edge (typically, the handle edge) of the door results in a very large force on any object inserted into the gap on the hinged edge. Hence, even a small child playing with a playmate near a door can inadvertently apply enough force to severely pinch, break, sever, or cripple one or more fingers of the playmate. Parents and others consider this a serious, and continual, problem. The invention solves this problem in a superior and wholly satisfactory manner.

(0013) Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide a means for prevention of injury to fingers and/or hands when doors are closed that

1) is easy to install,

2) is quick to install,

3) can hold itself in place without need for cumbersome attachment means such as adhesive, screws, nails, bolts, clips, or tape,

4) is effective on both sides of a door,

5) is simple in construction,

6) is easily manufactured,

7) is inexpensive, both to manufacture and to purchase,

8) can be made of a single material,

9) is not easily removed by children,

10) does not fall off during use,

11) does note leave glue or other adhesive on the door or door frame when removed, and

12) is durable.

(0014) No prior art device provides these benefits and advantages. Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description of it.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(0015) The present invention solves significant problems associated with prior art. It does this by providing a covering sleeve along the hinged edge (usually, but not necessarily, vertical) of a door on one or, preferably, both sides. The covering sleeve protects fingers or hands from being inserted into the gap between the open door vertical edge and the vertical edge of the door frame into which the door fits snugly when closed. The preferred embodiment comprises covering sleeves for both sides of the door, and these can be incorporated into a single piece, which can, but need not necessarily, be made of a single material. Such a dual sleeve device could be composed of rubber, or rubber-like material, and simply be inserted into the door hinged edge gap when the door is open. A protective sleeve would protrude out either side and cover the gap. When the door is closed, the flexible sleeves would simply bend and to permit door closing.

(0016) The device could be held in place vertically by gravity and by resting on a hinge, or portion of a hinge, and/or by frictional force from contact with the door edge and jamb. It could be held in place horizontally (and also aid vertically) by friction via internal compressive and bending stresses exerting normal forces along the door edge and door frame edge. Alternatively simple tacks could be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(0017) Figure 1 shows a common household door, wall, and associated elements referred to herein.

(0018) Figure 2 depicts the preferred embodiment of the invention from the front side.

(0019) Figure 3 shows a cross section of one embodiment. (0020) Figure 4 illustrates the preferred embodiment from the rear side.

(0021) Figure 5 shows the invention alone and separate from the door and door frame into which it is placed.

(0022) Figure 6 shows a cross section of the preferred embodiment.

(0023) Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the invention.

(0024) Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of the invention comprised of separate sections.

(0025) Figure 9 depicts a sectional view of an embodiment having a supporting element used with a hinge.

(0026) Figure 10 shows an embodiment of the invention which employs one or more elements causing pressure to be exerted on the door edge and/or jamb.

(0027) Figure 11 illustrates another embodiment of the invention with support means comprising a lip overhanging a hinge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(0028) Figure 1 depicts a standard door 2 and associated wall 4 without the present invention. The words "hinged" or "hinge" 6 when used in reference to an edge of a door, means herein the edge 8 where leverage from force on the doorknob 14 can cause excessive force to be transmitted through the edge 8 and felt in the gap between the door. This use of the words "hinged" or "hinge" refer to edge 8, even if another device other than a hinge is used on that edge.

(0029) The word "edge" herein means a door edge such as edge 8 or a door jamb/frame edge such as edge 10. The word "side", on the other hand, as used herein refers to the front and rear sides of the door, i.e., the typically planar areas from which the door handles emerge.

(0030) "Frame" and "door frame", as used herein, refer to the region around the outside of a closed door, which is not part of the door. "Jamb" and "door jamb" refer to the section of the door frame to which hinges are typically attached, and which is typically vertical. Edge 10 is a door jamb, which is part of a door frame.

(0031) Figure 2 shows the finger pinch preventer invention 20 inserted between a door 2 and door frame, and functionally operational. The invention 20 comprises an elongated flexible device that, in one embodiment, protrudes through both sides of the gap between door edge 8 and jamb edge 10, when the door 2 is open, and forms protective barriers or shields, 50 and 52, as shown in Figure 3, on both sides of the door. These protective barriers prevent insertion of fingers and/or small hands into said gap. In Figure 3, which shows a cross section of the invention in one embodiment, the invention comprises a single unit of a single kind of material with shields 50 and 52 and connecting sections 54 and 56. In this embodiment, the invention has the same uniform, or essentially uniform, wall thickness in all four sections 50, 52, 54, and 56.

(0032) Transverse motion of the invention 20 in the plane of Figure 3 is prevented by the protruded nature of shields 50 and 52, the edge 8 of door 2, and the jamb 10 (wall edge) of the wall 4. By extending shields 50 and 52 outside of the planes of edges 8 and 10, yet holding the transition point between said shields and connecting sections 54 and 56 close to the corners of door 2 and jamb 10, a natural geometric restriction to motion is formed. In addition, the invention 20 can be constructed to exert pressure on edges 8 and 10, and also to have reasonable coefficient of friction, so as to effect a frictional tangential force in the plane of edges 8 and 10, which restricts motion tangential to said edges. This pressure can be the natural result of using flexible material for the invention 20, which must be compacted in order to insert it into the hinged edge gap between door edge 8 and jamb edge 10. The internal compressive stress thus set up in the invention would cause it to press outward onto edges 8 and 10. (0033) Thus, transverse motion in the plane of Figure 3 can be satisfactorily restricted without use of attachment means such as adhesive, screws, nails, tacks, tape or the like, though absence of such attachment means is not necessary for the invention, and such means may be used with the present invention, if desired. (0034) Motion of the invention in the direction normal to the plane of Figure 3 (typically, the vertical direction in space) is also restricted via the afore noted frictional force.

(0035) Figure 4 shows the invention from the hinge 6 pin side, and Figure 5 shows it unattached to, and separate from, a door. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the hinge pin side protective shield(s) 50 and openings 38, which allow the invention to be inserted into the gap between the door and the jamb by permitting space for hinges 6. Protective shield(s) 50 may, as shown, (or may not) to some degree wrap around (or come in contact with) part of the hinge 6, such as the hinge pin(s). This overhang can help to prevent the insertion of fingers and/or small hands into the gap near the hinges.

(0036) The overhang also serves to hold the invention 20 in place in several ways. By hugging, or being in contact with, the hinge 6 and/or sections thereof, such as the pin and/or pin region, it restricts motion in all three dimensions, both by the natural geometry and by the friction force generated on the inner surface of protective shield 50 by the hinge 6. (0037) Motion in the vertical direction (specifically the direction aligned with the gravitational acceleration vector) is further restricted by gravity and the support edge(s) 36. The support edge(s) 36 rest(s) on the top part of the hinge 6 and thus motion downward is prevented. Motion upward is restricted by gravity. In some embodiments, the lower edge 37 can be constructed to fit snugly on the hinge 6, and thus constrict motion upward as well. Said lower edge 37 is herein referred to as the "upward restrictive edge". Any support edge serving the function of support edge 36 may also be referred to as a "downward restrictive edge".

(0038) The invention is thus seen to be easily installed simply by inserting it into the door/jamb gap when the door is open. It can also be easily manufactured by liquid molding. (0039) Figure 6 shows the preferred embodiment cross section in which the protective shields 50 and 52 are thicker than the thinner connecting sections 64 and 66. This permits the door to be shut more readily, as thinner connecting sections 64 and 66 mean less compressive pressure would be built up in the gap between the door edge 8 and the jamb edge 10 as the door closes. The thicker protective shields 50 and 52 provide greater protective resistance to fingers, as well as stronger contact and friction forces arises from greater compressive force in the protective shields 50 and 52.

(0040) Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment of the invention for protection on a single side of a door. In it, restrictive panel elements 70 are used in lieu of one of the protective shields 50 and 52 on one side of the door. The restrictive panel elements 70 may be rectangular, but need not be so. They may clip into place, but need not be so. They may, but need not, be held in place with means for fastening such as, but not limited to, tacks, nails, screws, adhesives such as glue/epoxy, and/or tape. Figure 7 shows thin connecting sections 64 and 66, but here, as everywhere herein, such thin connecting sections 64 and 66 can be interchanged with connecting sections of normal thickness such as 54 and 56 of Figure 3. All embodiments, regardless of which type of connecting section(s) are discussed and/or shown in figures, may use either type.

(0041) In a related embodiment, restrictive panel elements 70 are excluded. That is, the embodiment has a cross section such as that of Figure 7, but without elements 70. That embodiment comprises a protective shield 50 (or 52) and sections such as 64 and 66, which are deemed herein "edge contacting sections".

(0042) Figure 8 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein the invention is comprised of separate sections 80, 82, 84, and/or 86. This can make the invention easier to install and/or use. Any one, or more, of the sections may be used, any one of which is comprised by the invention.

(0043) Figure 9 shows a sectional view in which the invention is further supported by a support element 90 such as, but not limited to, a string, wire, plastic strip, clip, rubber band, or other rubber element attached, or otherwise connected to, a hinge 6. The hinge thereby helps to support the invention and hold it in place via a supporting element between the invention and the hinge. This can be done in one way, as shown in Figure 9, in which a stringlike element 90 is attached to the invention and loops up and around a hinge 6. The element 90 may, but does not have to, be elastic in nature. Other ways of supporting the invention structure 20 are comprised by the invention as well. These may include clips holding the invention to the hinge, clips attached to stringlike elements or the like. Of course, the invention 90 may rest directly on the hinge without additional elements such as support element 90. (0044) In many embodiments, an important factor in the functioning of the invention is the pressure exerted outwardly in the directions of door edge 8 and wall edge 10 (door jamb), which results from the stresses in the protective shield 50 and/or protective shield 52. Thus, in these embodiments, protective shield 50 and/or protective shield 52 are designed to produce such stress and outward pressure when the invention is inserted into place between the door edge 8 and wall edge 10. This internal stress in protective shield 50 and/or protective shield 52 can be effected by an arc like (or rounded or quasi-Omega) shapes, such that the invention is squeezed to some degree when inserted between the door edge 8 and wall edge 10. Any shape effecting internal stress in a manner which produces force that is exerted from the invention to door edge 8 and/or wall edge 10 is comprised by the invention.

(0045) The invention could also comprise a springlike hinge 100 as part of protective shield 50 and/or protective shield 52, as shown in Figure 10, which produces the afore described force from the invention to door edge 8 and/or wall edge 10. It is also comprised by any means that produces the same, or similar, effect as springlike hinge 100. (0046) The outward force on door edge 8 and wall edge 10 serves the purpose of holding, or helping to hold, the invention in place, typically via frictional forces between the invention and door edge 8 and wall edge 10. The invention comprises any means to effect a compressive force between the invention and the door edge 8 and wall edge (door jamb) 10, and thus produce a frictional force holding, or helping to hold, the invention in place. (0047) Figure 11 depicts another embodiment of the invention comprised of one or more sections such as, or similar to, elements 110 and/or 112. Such elements have some similarity to those of Figure 8, in that protective shield(s) 50 may overhang the pin side of hinge(s) 6. However, the overhang of such elements 50 in Figure 11 also has an overhanging lip or "thumb", 120, which may, but does not have to, be an integral part of protective shield 50, and which may overhang the top part of the pin in hinge 6. This overhanging lip 120 may be used to support the protective shield 50 and/or an entire section such as 110 and/or 112. This would provide support in the vertical direction against the force of gravity. It could also provide support against motion of the invention in directions normal to that of the gravity vector.

(0048) In variations of this embodiment, the invention could be inserted in the lower part of the door gap in a hooking motion such that an element similar to 50 would curl around the pin side of the hinge. Then the next section 50 could be simply inserted above it in the same hooking motion until the top of the door is reached. In certain variations of this embodiment, sleeves cover the entire length of the hinge.

(0049) Inclusion of overhanging lip 120 does not have to be limited to sections such as 110 and/or 112, but can also be an addition to embodiments such as that shown in other figures and/or described elsewhere herein. For example, the invention could comprise a single section, as in Figure 5, but the protective shield(s) 50 would have overhanging lip(s) such as 110 and/or 112.

(0050) Although certain of the embodiments described above show the invention as composed of a single material, that is not necessary for the functioning of the invention. For example, protective shields 50 and 52 could be made of a flexible, rubber-like material, whereas connecting sections 54 and 56 could be of a rigid, or more rigid, material. The two different materials could be attached to one another via any suitable means. The protective shields 50 and 52, while flexible in certain embodiments, are nonetheless no so flexible as to permit child' s fingers to easily fold them inward such that the fingers could be damaged.

(0051) Although the protective shield 50 is shown in Figures 4, 5 and elsewhere as having a lip overlapping part of the pin side of the hinge 6, such overlapping is not necessary for the functioning of the invention.

(0052) Further, although the invention can be used without means to attach it to a door and/or jamb (other than the natural geometric, frictional, compressive, and gravitational means delineated above), it can also employ one or more of tacks, adhesives, screws, nails, tape or the like. For example, simple tacks may be used through one, or both, of the connecting sections 54 and 56 (or edge contacting sections) to hold the invention firmly to the door edge 8 and/or the jamb edge 10. In lieu of tacks, adhesive and/or tape can be used between the same elements, as well as screws, nails, and/or other fasteners.

(0053) The words/phrases sleeve, covering sleeve, and protective shield as used herein, all mean same thing.

(0054) "Vertical edge" is a descriptive term because the edge of most doors the device is intended for is vertical, however, the phrase, as used herein, unless specifically delineated as otherwise, can also refer to any edge of any door for which the invention described herein can be used.

(0055) The material of which the invention is made is preferably rubber- like, i.e., flexible, in order to accommodate the opening and closing of the door while maintaining protection for fingers/hands. However, any suitable material for any part, element, or section of the invention is comprised by the invention.

(0056) The shape of the protective shields 50 and 52 is such as to cover, and/or overlap, the corners between the door edge 8 and the door sides, as well as the jamb edge 10 and the wall sides, in such a manner as to prevent fingers from being inserted past those corners into the door/jamb gap. That is, it typically hugs the door edge corner, and the jamb edge cover. The shapes of the protective shields 50 and 52 shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are delineated herein as "arclike", "rounded" or "quasi Omega shaped". However, the invention is not restricted to that particular shape for the protective shields 50 and 52. Neither is the invention restricted to having either of the protective shields 50 and 52 as composed of a single piece, or type, of material. In several embodiments, one or both of the protective shields 50 and 52 are composed to provide a compressive force against the door edge 8 and/or the jamb edge 10, but that is not a necessary feature of the invention. In those embodiments, the shape of the protective shields 50 and 52 need only be such that said compressive force is provided by said shape. This is a key aspect of certain embodiments of the invention, i.e., the force exerted on the door edge and/or the jamb edge that, along with the concomitant friction force, holds, or helps to hold, the invention in place. Any shape, orientation, and/or construction of protective shields 50 and/or 52 that provides such force is comprised by the invention. (0057) This invention is shown here in several embodiments, but those skilled in the art will envision many other possibilities that are within its scope. For example, any size, shape, dimensions, or material may be used for any of the elements shown herein. The connecting sections 54 and 56, for example, do not have to be rectangular as shown, but may be any suitable shape, and they may cover, or fail to cover, any specific area of connecting sections 54 and/or 56. Any length, height, width, or thickness of any part of the invention is comprised by the invention.

(0058) The invention can thus be seen to solve a significant problem commonly encountered by families and individuals, and described the Background of the Invention section above, in a simple, novel, and creative manner.

(0059) While the above description contains many specificities, the reader should not construe these as limitations on the scope of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possibilities that are within its scope. (0060) Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.