FIELD OF INVENTION

The current invention relates to a safety door. In particular, it relates to a safety door for releasable attachment to a safety door frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Suicide prevention poses a major part of choosing and selecting fixtures and fittings within secure facilities and dedicated medical care buildings for patients at risk of self-harm and suicide. A traditionally used option is magnetic fittings that are used as hinge plates and the like to secure curtain rails and even doors in place. The use of magnetically attached doors removes ligature points that can be used to affix a noose or the like around hinge points with the effect that any attempt to do so results in the magnetic connection between the door and the door frame being overcome by the weight of the person and the door coming away from the frame.

Such systems are known, see for example GB2570179, which describes an anti-ligature system that utilises magnetic attachment to suspend items such as curtain rails to reduce ligature points, with a particular focus on ensuring the item is removed by application of non-perpendicular force.

An alternative system utilises soft doors that easily come away from fixed wall hinges, with the doors having tubular components that engage with the hinge but provide no point for a noose or the like to be placed over. Such a system is shown in US20090293364. This system uses magnets in the door made from styrene with a foam sleeve loosely folded around.

An issue with the systems described above is that the affixing mechanism between the door and the frame is exposed, allowing for the possibility of tampering. In US20090293364, the magnets are held in a webbing strap attachment, which provides a risk of ingress of fluids or faeces. There is also a risk that this webbing could be unpicked and used as a ligature.

The use of magnets within a door may also be problematic due to the widespread use of maglocks and the like to secure inmates or patients within the facility. Allowing inmates or patients access to magnets within the door therefore potentially compromises this security aspect.

The present invention aims to at least ameliorate the above mentioned issues. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a safety door for releasable attachment to a safety door frame, said safety door comprising: a core layer having a first side and a second side, said core layer comprising a first foam-like material; a first layer attached to the first side of the core layer; a second layer attached to the second side of the core layer; a first adhesive layer disposed between the first side of the core material and the first layer for binding the first layer to the core layer; a second adhesive layer disposed between the second side of the core material and the second layer for binding the second layer to the core layer; attachment means for releasably attaching the safety door to a safety door frame; and wherein the stiffness of the core layer is different from the stiffness of the first and/or second layer.

The present invention is typically used in institutions housing inmates or patients at risk of self-harm. Magnetically attaching a safety door (which in the present context is generally referring to a padded or soft door that acts as a privacy shield or the like at the entrance to a bathroom or a window) is often used to reduce the risk of an inmate or patient in a hospital using hinge points between the door and the hinge plate as a ligature point. Such doors are often saloon-type doors, having gaps at the top and bottom of the doors for patient safety and monitoring. Such doors often have artwork or other soothing scenes or decoration to promote patient wellbeing.

The core layer may be stiffer than the first and second layers, enabling the core layer to withstand higher levels of pressure and/or radiation. Thus, the first and second layers need to be soft enough such that the door does not pose a weapons risk, whilst the core layer needs to be rigid enough to allow the door to both function as a door and to withstand high level of abuse, for example, from inmates.

In some embodiments the first layer and/or the second layer may each have a plurality of spaced score lines for increasing flexibility of the door. In some embodiments the score lines may be bi-directional to allow the door to resist snapping when stress is applied in multiple directions. The score lines may be equally spaced to allow stresses to be equally applied across the layer surfaces. The score lines may be aligned substantially perpendicular to a plane of the first layer and a plane of the second layer.

In some embodiments the core layer, and the first and second layers may each comprise a foam-like or fibre material. The first and second layers may be made from the same material. Accordingly, the first and second layers essentially may form a unitary covering, enveloping the core layer. In such embodiments there are essentially two layers - the outer layer formed of the first and second layer and the inner layer formed of the core layer.

The thickness of the first layer and the second layer combined may range between 5 mm to 40 mm and the thickness of the core layer may range between 5 mm to 50 mm. Accordingly, the door can range from 10 mm to 130 mm thick. With a suitable selection of the thickness of each of the layers, the door is able to maintain its rigidity at least up to the size of 1100 (width) x 1600 (height) mm. These are the maximum dimensions required to provide privacy for the users in places such as prisons and/or hospitals.

In another embodiment, the score lines may be aligned substantially perpendicular to a plane of the first layer and a plane of the second layer. This ensures that the door does not snap in any direction when put under the pressure it would be subjected to in the environment of use. Additionally, the door may possess a memory effect, which means it will retain its upright shape upon bending for a particular length of time.

In yet another embodiment, the safety door may have a hinge part stitched and sealed within the safety door. The hinge part may be made from the second material. Thus, the hinge part and the first and/or the second layer form a single piece of material The hinge part may enclose one or more magnetic elements for magnetically attaching the door to an external door frame. The magnetic elements may be permanent magnets. This magnetic attachment of the door allows the door to collapse when a certain pressure/force threshold is exceeded, thus preventing the risk of inmates and/or patients causing injury or self-harm.

Additionally, by concealing the magnets, their presence is not immediately evident to the patient or inmate, reducing the likelihood that the patient will seek to misuse them.

In yet another embodiment, the door may have plastics covering, in particular a vinyl covering. The vinyl covering may comprise anti-microbial additives or coatings and may be certified for healthcare environments; and the door may also be washable. This can minimize the risk of infection.

Additionally, the door may be stitched for robustness, and may be welded (or high frequency/ultrasonically welded) for complete watertight seal, which avoids ingress of body fluids, thus further minimizing the risk of infection. It can be appreciated that, although described in relation to privacy doors such as those used for bathroom doors and/or stalls, instead of doors it may also be used for window coverings or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the laminated safety door according to the present invention; and

Figure 2 shows a top view cross-sectional view of the safety door of figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a laminated safety door 100 for mounting the door 100 to a door frame (not shown). The door 100 is comprised of several layers. The first layer 110 is attached to a core layer 120 at a first side 125 of the core layer 130, using an adhesive material 130. A second layer 140 is attached to an opposing second side 135 of the core layer 120 using the same adhesive material 130. In this manner, a laminated door structure is formed.

The construction of the door 100 is designed to meet various requirements in order for them to be suitable for use in various settings such as in secure hospitals, prisons and the like. For example, the door 100 should be fire retardant to prevent arson attempts in prison and hospital environments; and should also be light weight enough to allow the door to be suspended by magnets. Thus, the layers 110, 120 and 140 are typically made from light-weight materials (similar in weight to polystyrene non-fire retardant alternatives), such as Basotect® or other flexible, open-cell foam, and these materials, including the adhesive 130 material, are fire retardant.

In the particular embodiment shown, the first 120 and the second 140 layers are made from an identical light-weight material. The core layer 130 is made from a different space-grade foam -like material such as Zotek® or other foam-like material manufactured from fluoropolymers, engineering polymers and speciality elastomers, having a higher stiffness than the first and second layers. This means that the core layer is more rigid than compared to the layers 110 and 140, enabling the core layer 130 to withstand higher levels of pressure and/or stress and/or damage. Thus, the outer layers 110 and 140 are soft enough such that the door does not pose a weapons risk, yet the core layer 130 makes the door 100 robust enough to withstand high level of abuse, for example, from prisoners. Additionally, the combination of the softer outer layers 110 and 140 and a more rigid core layer 130, and with a suitable selection of the thickness of each of the layers 110, 120 and 140, enables the door 100 to maintain its rigidity at least up to the size of 1100 (width) x 1600 (height) mm. These are the maximum dimensions required to provide privacy for the users when placed in use in places such as prisons and/or hospitals.

In yet another embodiment, the outer layers 110 and 140 contain a plurality of equally spaced score lines that are aligned substantially perpendicular to a plane of the door 100. These score lines provide a preferred bend direction and ensure that the door 100 does not snap in any direction when put under the pressure and stresses it will be subjected to in the environment of use. Additionally, the door 100 possesses a memory effect, which means it will retain its upright shape even after being subject to a bending force for a particular length of time.

In one embodiment, the door 100 has a vinyl outer covering that the door 100 is anti -microbial and certified is for healthcare environments; and the door 100 is also washable. This minimizes the risk of infection. Additionally, the door 100 is stitched for robustness, and welded (or high- frequency/ultrasonically welded) for a complete watertight seal of the outer layers, which avoids ingress of body fluids, thus further minimising the risk of infection.

In yet another embodiment, the door 100 comprises an attachment means 200 that is stitched and sealed within the door 100. Figure 2 shows a top down cross-sectional view of one edge of the door 100. The attachment means 200 comprises a hinge part 160 that is made from the same material as the layers 110 and 140. It can be seen from figure 2 that the hinge part 160 is embedded within the safety door by virtue of being received within a pocket formed by either the first layer 110 and/or the second layer 140 (in figure 2 it is shown to be the first layer 110). Starting from the left, the first and second layers 110, 140 are split to form two ends 170. The ends 170 are then folded around the hinge part 160. The two ends are then welded and sewn at point 180. The hinge part 160 runs along the length of the edge of the door 100, and is also welded and sewn at the top and the bottom of the door 100 (not shown) to completely encapsulate them. Although just one edge of the door 100 is shown, both edges of the door 100 can accommodate the hinge part 200 (enclosing the hinge part 160) in a similar manner.

The hinge part 160 encloses a plurality of magnets (such as permanent magnets (not shown) or magnetic counterparts that allow the door 100 to be magnetically attached to a corresponding part of the door frame. The above configuration is highly effective in providing encapsulation of the magnets with very little risk of unwanted removal of the magnets, which minimizes the risk of such magnetic elements being used as weapons. When in use, the door 100 can be magnetically attached to an external magnetic door frame (not shown) by means of the magnetic hinge part 200 to form a saloon style door, although other door styles may also employed.

From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to the skilled person. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art of safety door systems, and which may be used instead of, or in addition to, features already described herein.

Although the appended claims are directed to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention.

Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub combination. The applicant hereby gives notice that new claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom.

For the sake of completeness it is also stated that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, the term "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality, and reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.