Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a door clamp, particularly a door clamp that is suitable for holding a door prior to its attachment to a door frame.

Background of the Invention

Fitting a door to a door frame can be a cumbersome process.

Prior to attachment to the frame, the door needs to be prepared for the attachment of hinges and door furniture such as latches, locks and/or handles. Attachment of the hinges for example typically involves supporting a lower part of the door, measuring the positions of the hinges on the rear door edge, and then chiselling a recess into which the hinge plates will be located and secured. Subsequent attachment of latches, locks and/ or handles require the door to be manually repositioned and appropriate holes drilled for receiving the furniture nearer the front edge of the door. The door may then be varnished or painted which requires the hinges and furniture to be removed and, usually, the door is painted one side at a time.

The overall process is complex and time-consuming, requiring repeated adjustment of how and where the door is supported. There are potential safety issues in that by supporting the door at only a lower part leaves it susceptible to toppling and/ or damage due to wind. It is often the case that on building sites the doors are prepared outdoors and wedged between blocks, meaning that people can be injured if the door is blown over or otherwise becomes unsecured.

It is an aim to provide an improved means of supporting a door for preparation prior to attachment to a door frame.

Summary of the Invention

A first aspect of the invention provides a clamp for a door, the clamp comprising a base member, an upright member supported by the base member, and an upper member extending from the upright member such that it is spaced apart from, and substantially parallel with, the base member, the base and upper members each having a rotatable securing mechanism on their respective upper and lower surfaces, the securing mechanisms being substantially aligned on a vertical axis and suitable for receiving and detachably securing in use opposite edges of a door.

The securing mechanisms may each comprise a rotatable mount respectively attached to the base and upper members to permit rotatable movement of a securing surface about the vertical axis. The securing mechanisms may be arranged to rotate at least 180 degrees. In some embodiments, the securing mechanisms may be arranged to rotate 360 degrees.

The securing mechanisms may each comprise a pair of cleats, jaws or similar members defining a recess for receiving a respective edge of a door, the width of the recess being adjustable by movement of one or both of the jaws

The clamp may further comprise one or more third securing mechanism(s) provided on the upright member, between the base and upper members, for selectively securing a different edge of the door, e.g. to prevent rotation. The one or more third securing mechanism(s) may each comprise a pair of cleats, jaws or similar members defining a recess for receiving the different edge of the door, the width of the recess being adjustable by movement of one or both of the jaws.

One or more of the base, upright and upper members may be configured such that their length(s) can be adjusted.

The upright member may be formed of first and second detachable sections, the sections being attachable to one another by means of the end of one section locating within the end of an another section in a telescopic manner.

The length of the upright member may be adjustable by means of a row of vertically arranged holes being provided in the telescoping ends of the first and second sections and a pin for locating through a selected pair of overlapping holes. The clamp may further comprise a level gauge on the upright member, e.g. a spirit level.

The base member may comprise a pair of arms which extend outwardly in generally opposite directions.

The base, upright and upper members may be detachable from one another.

The base and upper members may have substantially the same length and the upright member may be formed of two or more detachable sections each having substantially the same length as the base and upper members.

There may further be provided a storage case dimensioned and arranged to store the base, upright and upper members.

The base, upright and upper members may be formed of box section.

The base, upright and upper members may be formed of aluminium material, e.g. Grade 6063.

The upright member may have a length that is between 2000 and 2200 mm, or is extendible within said dimensions.

A second aspect of the invention provides a clamp for a supporting a door, the clamp comprising a framework comprised of first and second elongate arms removably attached at or near opposite ends of an upright member, the first and second elongate arms being substantially parallel to one another and each carrying a rotatable securing means in a opposed vertical alignment for temporarily securing opposite ends of a door in-between the first and second elongate arms, and the upright member carrying at least one securing means for temporarily securing a lengthwise end of the door to prevent rotation of the rotatable securing means.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a door clamp according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a rotatable clamping mechanism used in the Figure 1 door clamp; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the Figure 1 door clamp with a door mounted thereon.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Embodiments herein describe a door clamp for the temporary support of a door or similar product, prior to mounting to a door frame.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment door clamp 1. The door clamp 1 comprises a base member 3, an upright member 5 and an upper member 7. Each of the base, upright and upper members 3, 5, 7 may be provided as elongate arms formed of box sections formed of aluminium or similar, although other materials and shapes are viable. The base member 3 has a flat underside so that it may rest horizontally on the ground. The upright member 5 is attached to the base member 3 in vertical orientation, or thereabouts. The method of attachment in this example is by means of a protruding boss 8 provided at or near a lower end of the upright member 5, perpendicular to its lengthwise axis, which in use locates within an open end of the base member 3 in a telescopic, friction fit manner. Similarly, a boss 11 is provided at or near an upper end of the upright member 5, perpendicular to its lengthwise axis, which in use locates within an open end of the upper member 7. The upper member 7 extends over the base member 3, therefore, and is substantially parallel therewith.

Other methods of detachably connecting the base, upright and upper members 3, 5, 7 may be used.

The upright member 5 may be formed of multiple sections; here upper, middle and lower sections 12, 13, 14 are used which detachably connect in a telescoping manner. For example, the upper section 12 has an extension piece 15 extending from its lower end, which has narrower outer dimensions than the upper open end of the middle section 12. The extension piece 15 therefore locates within the upper open end with a friction fit. The lower section 14 is similarly arranged with an extension piece 15 to locate within the open upper end of the middle section 13.

In some embodiments, a row of vertically arranged holes may pass through one face of the extension piece 15 and the overlapping wall of the middle section 13 to enable the overall height of the upright member 5 to be adjusted, e.g. by means of a peg or pin being located through selected hole pairings. This may be provided on one or both sections. Other height adjustment mechanisms may be employed to set the overall height.

The base member 3 may further comprise a pair of arms 17 extending outwardly from opposite side faces, to provide additional stability on the ground. In some embodiments, the arms 17 may extend perpendicularly from the base member 3. More than two arms 17 may be provided. The arms 17 may be detachable. In some embodiments, anchoring means may be provided on the base member 3 and/ or arms 17 to permit further securing of the clamp 1 to the ground.

A rotatable securing mechanism 20 is provided on each of the base and upper members 3, 7, specifically on their respective upper and lower surfaces at corresponding locations

(approximately half-way along) such that they both rotate about a common vertical axis 22 which is generally parallel with the upright member 5.

Figure 2 shows in top plan view one of the securing mechanisms 20. It comprises a generally circular plate 24 which rotates about a bearing 28 (hidden). On the shown face are provided a pair of opposed cleats or jaws 26 which define an in-between gap d which may be adjusted by moving one or both cleats towards or apart from one another. Typically, the cleats 26 are mounted on sliders and the position of the cleats can be locked when the desired gap d is set.

Referring to Figure 3, the securing mechanisms 20 may be employed in use to securely grip or clamp opposite upper and lower widthways ends 32, 34 of a door 30. The cleats 26 of each securing mechanism 20 are initially opened and the door 30 located within the gap d The cleats 26 are then closed until the door 30 is secured and supported at both ends 32, 34. One or more third securing mechanism(s) 35 may be provided for preventing rotation of a mounted door 30. In the shown embodiment, a pair of such third securing mechanisms 35 are provided on the upright member 5. The third securing mechanisms 35 may each comprise a pair of cleats or jaws defining an in-between gap d which may be adjusted as before, e.g. by movement along sliders. In the shown example, the third securing mechanisms 35 are provided on the upper and lower sections 12, 14. In use, a first lengthwise side 36 of the door may be temporarily secured to prevent rotation. In this way, the user may prepare the door at the opposite, second lengthwise side 37, for example to measure and chisel the hinge recesses. When complete, the third securing mechanisms 35 may be opened to permit rotation of the door through 180 degrees. The second lengthwise side 37 is then secured and work can be performed on the first lengthwise side 36, e.g. to drill holes for a lock/handle.

A level gauge 38 such as a spirit level may be provided on the clamp 1, preferably on the upright member 5.

Preferably, the various components of the clamp 1 may be detached from one another for convenient storage in a case. For this purpose, the separate components of the base, upright and upper members 3, 5, 7 have similar dimensions. For example, the base and upper members 3, 7 may have substantially the same length and cross-sectional area as each of the upper, middle and lower sections 12, 13, 14 of the upright member 5. The clamp 1 may therefore be transported to a site and erected on a suitable flat surface. When the required tasks are complete, the clamp 1 can be dismantled and stored in its case before being placed in a car or van.

For illustration purposes only, the following approximate dimensions may be used:

Base member 3: length 740 mm; cross-section 140 x 60 mm;

Upper member 7: length 740 mm; cross-section 140 x 60 mm;

Upright member 5: overall length extendible between 2000 mm to 2200 mm;

Upper section 12: length 700 mm; cross-section 140 x 60 mm;

Middle section 13: length 700 mm; cross-section 140 x 60 mm;

Lower section 14: length 700 mm; cross-section 140 x 60 mm. It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are purely illustrative and are not limiting on the scope of the invention. Other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present application.

Moreover, the disclosure of the present application should be understood to include any novel features or any novel combination of features either explicidy or implicitly disclosed herein or any generalization thereof and during the prosecution of the present application or of any application derived therefrom, new claims may be formulated to cover any such features and/ or combination of such features.