The present invention relates to safety apparatus for use in holding a closure panel in a safety position, ajar in a mounting frame. In particular, the invention relates to such apparatus for use in holding a door in an ajar position in a door frame.

Accidents are frequently caused when doors are closed by holding the door at the open edge, wherein fingers are inadvertently trapped between the edge of the door and the door frame.

A solution to this problem has now been devised.

According to the present invention, there is provided safety apparatus for use in holding a closure panel in a safety position ajar in a mounting frame, the apparatus comprising an elongate bracing element extending from a proximal end, mounted for movement with the edge of the closure panel, to a distal end arranged in the safety position to locate with the mounting frame (or a catch formation provided thereon) so as to inhibit the panel closing completely in the frame, the bracing element being displaceable from the safety position against a biasing force thereby to enable the panel to close in the frame from the ajar, safety position.

The safety apparatus permits the closure panel to close to the safety ajar position in which the space between the edge of the open panel and the frame is large enough such that fingers are not trapped or pinched. In order to completely close the panel in the frame, the user must positively displace the bracing element from engagement with the frame against the biasing force which tends to hold the bracing element in engagement with the frame or catch formation.

It is preferred that the apparatus comprises mounting means for mounting the bracing element for movement with the edge of the closure panel. Advantageously, the mounting means comprises a mounting element extending transversely to the bracing element, preferably comprising a face arrange to abut the panel.

It is preferred that in opening the closure panel past the ajar position from the closed position, the bracing element is reset by being biased to a position in which, upon subsequent closing of the panel, the distal end is arranged again to locate with the mounting frame, or catch formation, to hold the panel in the safety, ajar position.

In a first embodiment, the bracing element comprises a resiliently deformable bracing element, the proximal end of which is rigidly connected to the edge of the closure panel. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the distal end of the bracing element is able to resiliently flex relative to the proximal end to such an extent that when in the safety position, the distal end can be flexed by manual force, out of engagement with the mounting frame or catch formation permitting the door to close. It is preferred that the apparatus is provided with grip or handle means to effect displacement of the bracing element from the safety position. The grip or handle means preferably extends transversely from the bracing element. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the bracing element comprises a plastics material preferably formed integrally with the grip or handle means, advantageously by a plastics extrusion process.

The frame in which the closure panel is mounted may be provided with a rebate, notch or the like (comprising a catch formation) with which the distal end of the bracing element engages when in the safety position. Alternatively, a catch protrusion or the like may be fitted to the closure panel mounting frame for engagement with the distal end of the bracing element.

In a second embodiment, the bracing element may comprise a rigid bracing element biased to engage the frame or catch formation by means of a discrete biasing element preferably comprising a spring or the like. In this embodiment, the proximal end of the bracing element is preferably pivotally mounted to the edge of the closure panel to be pivoted between the safety position and the release position in which the closure panel may be completely closed.

It is preferred that the biasing means acts on a recess provided in the biasing element, the recess being shaped and dimensioned, and the biasing means being adjustable, such that the line of action of the biasing means varies as the bracing element moves from the safety position to the release position. It is preferred that the line of action of the biasing means in the release position extends past the opposite side of the pivotal axis of the bracing element than in the safety position.

Advantageously, the proximal end of the bracing element is provided with a projecting striker formation arranged to engage with a corresponding striker formation provided on the closure panel frame to ensure that as the door is completely closed, the bracing element is rotated about its pivotal axis such that the line of action of the biasing means sweeps through the pivotal axis to return the bracing element to an orientation corresponding to its orientation in the safety position.

The striker formation provided on the closure panel frame may be the same formation as, or a different formation to, the catch formation on the closure panel receiving frame.

The invention will now be described in specific embodiments by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of safety apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of safety apparatus according to the invention; and

Figures 3 to 6 are schematic views of the apparatus of Figure 2 in various stages of opening and closing of a door in a door frame.

Referring initially to Figure 1, there is shown a door (1) arranged to close an opening defined by a frame (2) the door and frame being hinged along a common edge (not shown) .

Safety apparatus (generally designated 30) is attached to the open edge of the door by means of a foot formation (3) which is screwed secure by means of screws (4) . Extending transversely from foot formation (3) is an integrally formed bracing element (5) having intermediate its proximal end (6) and distal end (7) , a transversely extending grip (8) . Bracing element (5) , grip (8) and foot (3) are formed integrally as a plastics extrusion such that bracing strut (5) is capable of flexing relative to foot (3) about its proximal end (6) to enable the distal end (7) of the bracing strut to move when manual force is applied to handle (8) .

The position of securing of the apparatus to door (1) and the length of bracing strut (5) are arranged such that when the door is moved toward a closed position, the distal end (7) of strut (5) comes to rest in a notched rebate (9) provided in frame (2) , so as to hold the door in an ajar position defining a gap between the open edge of the door and frame (2) of sufficient size to prevent fingers becoming trapped therebetween.

In order to fully close door (1) in frame (2) it is necessary for a user to consciously apply manual force to pull grip (8) in the direction of arrow A in order to remove distal end (7) of strut (5) from the rebate (9) in door frame (2). Distal end (7) (which has a curved terminal outer surface to prevent scratching) then slides along the remainder of the width of frame (2) until the door comes to rest in the closed position (as shown by the dashed lines in Figure 1) . In the closed position the bracing strut (5) is flexed relative to foot (3) ; upon re-opening the door, as distal end (7) passes edge (10) of recessed rebate (9) distal end (7) resiliently flexes (springs) back to its "normal" position such that consequent closing of the door to an ajar position causes distal end (7) of bracing strut (5) once again to engage in recess rebate (9) holding the door in the ajar safety position.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 6, there is shown an alternative embodiment of apparatus according to the invention in which bracing strut (15) is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot (16) extending between two guide plates (18,19). Guide plates (18,19) are fabricated with an L-section bracket (20) one face of which (20a) is provided with holes enabling it to be screwed to the openable edge of a door (11) . A biasing spring (21) is positioned between guide plates (18,19), and is provided with a domed head (22) arrange to engage with a complementarily shaped recess (23) provided in the bracing strut (15) . The pivotal proximal end (16) of bracing strut (15) is provided with a transversely extending striker formation (24) which is arranged upon closing of the door (11) to engage a complementary striker formation (25) provided on the door frame (12) . Door frame (12) is also provided with a projecting catch formation (26) standing proud of the door frame.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows. In the door closed position shown in Figure 3, the line of action of the biasing spring (21) is such that as the door is opened spring (21) compresses as the distal end (17) of bracing strut (15) rotates anti-clockwise about pivot point (16); in doing so, edge (27) of bracing strut (15) slides over the door frame striker formation (25) as shown in Figure 4. In the door ajar safety position as shown in Figure 5, biasing spring (21) acts on bracing strut (15) to urge the distal end (17) into engagement with catch formation (26) to hold the door in the safety ajar position. In order to close the door fully from the safety ajar position, it is necessary to rotate the distal end (17) of bracing strut (15) anti-clockwise about pivotal axis (16) against the force of the biasing spring (21) and subsequently pulling the door closed holding strut (15) . In rotating the distal end (17) of bracing strut (15) anti-clockwise to the position shown in Figure 6, the "over centre" nature of the arrangement between spring (21) , recess formation (23) and pivot (16) causes the line of action of biasing spring (21) to sweep through the pivotal

axis (16) from one side to the other. The effect of this is that the biasing force does not automatically return bracing strut (15) to its original position but temporarily holds the bracing strut in the position shown in Figure 6. Upon fully closing the door, striker formation (24) engages with striker formation (25) causing the distal end of strut (15) to rotate clockwise about its pivotal axis. This causes the line of action of spring (21) to sweep in a reverse direction back to the other side of pivotal axis (16) returning bracing strut (15) to its original position as shown in Figure 3.

It will be appreciated that, whilst the invention has been described specifically for use in connection with safety apparatus for use with doors, the principle of the invention is suitable for use with any closure panel which is used to close an aperture in a frame.

The invention provides a convenient and easily usable means of ameliorating the risk of users trapping their fingers between closure panels and frames.