Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.

62/025,337, filed July 16, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to devices for maintaining doors in an open position, and more particularly to maintaining doors in an open position using magnetism.

Background of the Invention

[0003] Maintaining doors in an open position can be difficult and even dangerous at times. For example, trailers towed behind cars, trucks, and other vehicles typically have back doors that open so that almost the entire back of the trailer is accessible (for ease of loading). These doors have hinges allowing them to pivot up to 270 degrees so that the side of the door contacts an adjacent side wall of the trailer. A challenge occurs in maintaining the doors in an open position so that the vehicle can be loaded or unloaded, as there is a tendency for the door to swing back towards a closed position. There are plastic holders available, in which an elongated plastic member is positioned between a holding mechanism on the door and another on the side of the trailer, but these have a tendency to break.

[0004] Similar challenges can occur in doors used at industrial or commercial sites. Such doors are often maintained in an open position using items placed on the floor to prevent the door from closing. Such items pose an obstacle to people, and may cause accidents such as tripping.

[0005] What is needed is a door holder that can safely and securely maintain a door in an open position.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] A holder for a door is provided, including: a base securable to a surface on the door, a bumper extending from the base; and a first magnet located within the bumper, the magnet positioned such that the magnet biases the surface of the door towards a second magnet on a second surface. The door may be for a vehicle and the second surface may be a side of the vehicle. The second magnet may be positioned in a second holder affixed to the second surface, the second holder having a base and a bumper. The bumper and/or base may be made of rubber. The base may have a cylindrical shape. The second holder may be mounted to a vertical member supported by a horizontal member, the horizontal member securable to a floor. The horizontal member may be attached to a plate, the plate positionable below the floor. The second holder may be positioned to meet and magnetically attract the first magnet when the door is in an open position. The vehicle may be a trailer and the door is a rear door on the trailer, the rear door pivotable to a position approximately parallel to the side of the trailer.

[0007] A trailer is provided including first and second rear doors, the first and second rear doors pivotable to positions approximately parallel to respective first and second sides of the trailer; first and second door holders positioned on the first and second rear doors, respectively, the first and second door holders each comprising a base secured to the respective first and second doors, a bumper, and a magnet; third and fourth door holders positioned on the first and second sides, respectively, the third and fourth door holders comprising a base secured to the respective first and second sides, a bumper, and a magnet; and wherein when said first and second doors are pivoted to a position approximately parallel to the respective first and second sides, the first door holder biases the first door to the first side by magnetic attraction to the third door holder; and the second door holder biases the second door to the second side by magnetic attraction to the fourth door holder.

Description of the Figures

[0008] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a door holder according to the invention.

[0009] Figure 2 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a door holder according to the invention.

[0010] Figure 3 is a cross sectional side view thereof, taken along line A-A in Figure 2. [0011] Figure 4 is a side view thereof.

[0012] Figure 5 is a view of an embodiment of a door holder according to the invention placed on a trailer door.

[0013] Figure 6 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention showing a floor mounted door holder.

[0014] Figure 7 is a front view thereof.

[0015] Figure 8 is a bottom view thereof.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0016] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate the principles of the invention. The invention is described in connection with such embodiments, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents. Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. These details are provided for the purpose of example and the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

[0017] The term "invention" and the like mean "the one or more inventions disclosed in this application", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0018] The terms "an aspect", "an embodiment", "embodiment", "embodiments", "the

embodiment", "the embodiments", "one or more embodiments", "some embodiments", "certain embodiments", "one embodiment", "another embodiment" and the like mean "one or more (but not all) embodiments of the disclosed invention(s)", unless expressly specified otherwise. [0019] A reference to "another embodiment" or "another aspect" in describing an embodiment does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referenced embodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0020] The terms "including", "comprising" and variations thereof mean "including but not

limited to", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0021] The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term "plurality" means "two or more", unless expressly specified otherwise. The term "herein" means "in the present application, including anything which may be incorporated by reference", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0022] The term "e.g." and like terms mean "for example", and thus does not limit the term or phrase it explains.

[0023] The term "respective" and like terms mean "taken individually". Thus if two or more things have "respective" characteristics, then each such thing has its own characteristic, and these characteristics can be different from each other but need not be. For example, the phrase "each of two machines has a respective function" means that the first such machine has a function and the second such machine has a function as well. The function of the first machine may or may not be the same as the function of the second machine.

[0024] Where two or more terms or phrases are synonymous (e.g., because of an explicit

statement that the terms or phrases are synonymous), instances of one such term/phrase does not mean instances of another such term/phrase must have a different meaning. For example, where a statement renders the meaning of "including" to be synonymous with "including but not limited to", the mere usage of the phrase "including but not limited to" does not mean that the term "including" means something other than "including but not limited to".

[0025] Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of the present application) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of the present application) is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosed invention(s). An Abstract has been included in this application merely because an Abstract of not more than 150 words is required under 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b) or similar law in other jurisdictions. The title of the present application and headings of sections provided in the present application are for convenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

[0026] Numerous embodiments are described in the present application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced with various modifications and alterations, such as structural and logical modifications. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular

embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0027] No embodiment of method steps or product elements described in the present application constitutes the invention claimed herein, or is essential to the invention claimed herein, or is coextensive with the invention claimed herein, except where it is either expressly stated to be so in this specification or expressly recited in a claim.

[0028] Figure 1 displays an embodiment of a door holder 10 according to the invention. Door holder 10 includes base 20, which in the embodiment shown is cylindrical, but may be a different shape. In general base 20 should have a low height in order to make door holder 10 unobtrusive. Base 20, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, may include a plurality of apertures 30 for receiving screws, bolts, or other attachment means to a door, brace, or side surface opposite the door. In alternative embodiments of the invention, other attachments means, such as an adhesive, or glue could be used. Apertures 30 may be lined with a ring, such as steel ring 40, to strengthen aperture 30. Aperture 30 may include ledge 50 to receive, for example a head of a screw.

[0029] Bumper 60 extends transversely out from base 20, and may have a generally cylindrical shape, tapering as the distance from base 20 increases, and ending in a generally flattened surface 70. Both bumper 60 and base 20 may be made of rubber or plastic to allow contact with a door or other surface without causing damage. Alternative shapes of bumper 60 may be used, such as hemispheres, cubes, pyramids or ziggurats. Magnet 80 is positioned centrally in door holder 10, and during manufacture may be inserted in door holder 10 through the bottom of base 20 which can then be sealed by plug 90.

[0030] As shown in Figure 5, door holder 10 is placeable on trailer door 100. A second door holder 14 is placeable on the side 110 of trailer 15 in a position so that when door 100 is opened, door holder 10 meets door holder 14 and the respective magnets 80 in holders 10 and 12 attract each other (i.e. the poles of each magnet 80 is positioned so that the south pole of one magnet 80 is closest to the north pole of the other magnet when the door is in an open position), thereby maintaining the door 100 in an open position. Door 100 is typically pivotable to align with side 110. Door holder 12 is positioned on opposite door 120 to contact a door holder (not shown) on the other side of trailer 15 when door 120 is opened.

[0031] Magnets 80 are strong enough to maintain doors 100, 120 in an open position but a tug on the door should be sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction and allow the doors 100, 120 to be returned to a closed position.

[0032] Door holders 10 may be placed on other doors, besides that of trailers, for example compressors doors, holiday trailer doors, or any door pivotable to align with a nearby surface on which a mating door holder can be positioned.

[0033] An alternative embodiment of the invention in which door holder 10 is floor mounted is shown in Figures 6 through 8. In this embodiment, door holder 10, and mating door holder 14 are positioned near ground level and door holder 10 is mounted to a floor. Door holder 10 is secured to brace 150 by, for example rivets, although other means of attachments such as screws or adhesive may be used. Mating door holder 14 is attached to a door (not shown). Brace 150 includes a vertical portion 160 generally positioned transverse to the floor surface and to which door holder 10 is attached, and a horizontal portion 170, which is generally parallel and shaped to rest on the floor surface. Curved portion 175 connects horizontal portion 170 to vertical portion 160, although in alternative embodiments curved portion 175 may not be used, and horizontal portion 170 and vertical portion 160 may meet and be attached at approximately a right angle. [0034] As shown in Figure 6, brace 150 includes plate 180 which can be positioned below the floor surface, for example if the surface is steel grated flooring, Alternatively if the bottom of the floor is difficult to access, for example if the floor is concrete, then plate 180 may not be present or may serve as a washer. Plate 180 is connected to horizontal portion 170 by pins 185.

[0035] In use brace 150 with door holder 10 is secured to a floor at the desired position at which to maintain the open door. Mating door holder 14 is affixed to the door at the same height as door holder 10. When the door is opened door holder 10 and mating door holder 14 meet, and the magnetic attraction between respective magnets in door holder 10 and mating door holder 14 maintain the door in an open position.

[0036] Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to these embodiments without changing or departing from their scope, intent or functionality. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.

[0037] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Aspects of the present systems, methods and components can be modified, if necessary, to employ systems, methods, components and concepts to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. For example, the various methods described above may omit some acts, include other acts, and/or execute acts in a different order than set out in the illustrated embodiments.

[0038] Further, in the methods taught herein, the various acts may be performed in a different order than that illustrated and described. Additionally, the methods can omit some acts, and/or employ additional acts.

[0039] These and other changes can be made to the present systems, methods and articles in light of the above description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is to be determined entirely by the following claims.