AN IMPROVED ADJUSTABLE DOOR STOP SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to an adjustable door stop system and method and may be utilized with hinge mounted doors in order to stop movement of the door at a selected

position. In particular, the present invention relates to an adjustable door stop system and method that will not mar or damage the door and will not mar or damage an adjacent wall.

Prior Art.

Door stops are well known devices which are used to prevent opening doors from causing damage to doors, to doorknobs, or to adjacent walls. Some existing door stops require special hinge leaves. The present invention is directed to a door stop system and a method that may be utilized and added to almost any standard, existing, hinged mounted door.

One known popular type of door stop is held in place by a hinge pin and includes a padded, adjustable post that rests against the doorway on one side and a padded post that rests against the door on the other side. While this functions adequately for its intended purpose, continual pressure by the post against a hollow core door will often result in

damage to the door.

Applicant's prior adjustable door stop, shown and disclosed in U.S. Patent No.

4,998,941 entitled "Adjustable Door Stop", addresses and solves this problem. Applicant's prior door stop provides an adjustable door stop that will not impact against the door at all and therefore avoid any damage to the door. Applicant's prior invention also provides an adjustable door stop that can be utilized with various hinged mounted doors.

In some cases today, the traditional wooden or metal doorway has been reduced in size and in thickness. This may be done as a modern style feature, or alternatively, to save time and expense. Accordingly, the sheet rock, paneling, or other thin material of the wall is brought up close to the doorway. Accordingly, any door stop which would traditionally rest against a rigid doorway or molding for the doorway will instead rest against the wall

material, such as sheet rock, fiber board, or thin paneling. Pressure from the post or arm of the door stop over time may result in marring or damaging of the wall. Accordingly, the doorstop used to address the problem will actually create a problem of its own.

It is a principal object and purpose of the present invention to provide an adjustable door stop system and method that will neither mar or damage a door nor mar or damage a wall adjacent to the doorway.

It is a further object and purpose of the present invention to provide an adjustable door stop system and method that may be utilized with a wide variety of hinge mounted doors. It is a further object and purpose of the present invention to provide an adjustable door stop system and a method wherein a hinge pin for the hinge leaves is prevented from

axial movement.

It is a further object and purpose of the present invention to provide an adjustable door stop system that interfaces and operates with the hinges connected to the door and the doorway and will not touch or interface with the door or the doorway at all.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides both a system and a method for an adjustable door stop for a hinge mounted door. One hinge leaf would be connected to a door while another hinge leaf would be connected to a doorway. The system includes a cylindrical hinge pin having an axis about which the hinge leaves rotate. A first disk extends radially outward from one end of the hinge pin. The radius of the first disk is larger than the radius of the pin.

A second, circular disk has an axial opening therethrough. A first disk finger extends from the first disk substantially parallel to the axis of the hinge pin and parallel to the hinge pin. A second finger extends from the second disk substantially parallel to the axis of the

hinge pin and parallel to the hinge pin. The finger extending from the first disk and the finger extending from the second disk operate together to stop and arrest movement of the door at a desired position prior to either the door or the adjacent wall being marred.

A mechanism is also provided to prevent any axial movement of the hinge pin. In one embodiment, the end of the hinge pin opposite the first disk is provided with a threaded

recess which receives a threaded fastener. A mechanism is also provided to prevent movement of the first disk with respect to the second disk in a number of ways. In one embodiment, an aperture is provided through the first disk. Likewise, at least one aperture is provided into or through the second disk. A stop pin is received through the aperture in the first disk and into or through the second

disk aperture. In an alternate embodiment, the underside of the first disk may include a plurality of

teeth or ridges which mate with or engage ridges or teeth on the second disk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of an improved adjustable door stop system constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the assembled version of the improved adjustable door stop system shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view taken along section line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a hinge pin of the present invention apart from the device;

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a second disk apart from the invention;

Figure 9 illustrates the hinge pin and the second disk together; and

Figures 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views showing the invention installed with a door and a doorway.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use the invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the instant invention.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the details of the invention's construction and the arrangement of its components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows an exploded view and Figures 2,

3 and 4 show assembled views of an adjustable door stop system 10 for a hinge mounted door. One hinge leaf 12 would be connected to a door 14 (not shown in Figures 1 through

4). Another hinge leaf 16 would be connected to a doorway 18 (not shown in Figures 1 through 4). The system 10 includes a cylindrical hinge pin 22 having an axis (illustrated by dashed lines 24 in Figure 1). The hinge leaves 12 and 16 are secured by the pin 22 and

rotate about the axis 24 of the hinge pin.

Figure 5 illustrates a front view and Figure 6 illustrates a bottom view of the hinge

pin 22 apart from the device 10. A first disk 26 extends radially outward from one end of

the hinge pin.

A first disk finger 28 extends from the first disk 26 substantially parallel to the axis 24 of the hinge pin 22 and spaced from and parallel to the hinge pin 22.

A second, circular disk 30 has an axial opening 34 therethrough. The opening

receives the hinge pin. A second finger 32 extends from the second disk 30 substantially parallel to the axis 24 of the hinge pin 22 and spaced from and parallel to the hinge pin. The

first disk finger extending from the first disk and the finger extending from the second disk operate together to stop and arrest movement of the door at a desired position prior to either the door or the adjacent wall being marred. Accordingly, in one arrangement, the first disk finger 28 engages the hinge leaf connected to the doorway and the second disk finger engages the hinge leaf connected to the door to stop movement of the door without

contacting either the door or the doorway.

In an alternate arrangement, the first disk finger engages the hinge leaf connected to the door and the second disk finger engages the hinge leaf connected to the doorway.

A mechanism is provided to prevent any axial movement of the hinge pin. In one embodiment, the end of the hinge pin 22 opposite the first disk 26 is provided with a threaded, axial recess 40 (seen in Figure 4) which receives a threaded fastener 42. The head of the fastener prevents the pin 22 from axial movement. While the hinge pin 22 is not

normally prone to axial movement, the mechanism provides a back-up or fail safe mechanism to prevent any axial movement. Figures 5 and 6 show the hinge pin apart from the device and Figures 7 and 8 show

the second disk.

A mechanism is also provided to prevent movement of the first disk 26 with respect to the second disk 30. This may be accomplished in a number of ways. As best seen in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, an aperture 46 is provided through the first disk 26. Likewise, at least one aperture 48 is provided into or through the second disk. It will be understood that a number of apertures may be provided through each of the disks to provide a wide range

of settings. A stop pin 50, seen in Figure 9, is received through the aperture 46 and into and

through the second disk aperture 48.

An alternate mechanism may also be used to prevent movement of the first disk 26 with respect to the second disk 30. The underside of the first disk 26 may include a plurality of teeth or ridges 54 which mate with and engage ridges or teeth 56 on the second disk 30.

In order to utilize the adjustable door stop system of the present invention, the hinge pin 22 having the first disk 26 extending radially therefrom is inserted through the opening

34 in the second disk 30 so that the barrel of the hinge pin 22 is received through the

opening of the second disk. The hinge pin 22 and the second disk are then together inserted to connect the hinge leaves 12 and 16 together. At the same time, the first disk and its accompanying first finger is oriented with respect to the second disk and its second finger

so that the hinge leaves may rotate to a desired position or positions before the fingers engage the hinge leaves. Thereafter, if a stop pin 50 is utilized, it will be inserted through the first disk and into or through the second disk. Finally, the threaded fastener 42 is

engaged in the threaded axial recess 40 of the hinge pin 22. Figure 10 shows the door 14 in the closed position while Figure 11 illustrates the door 14 moving to an opened position.

When the door 14 is opened, the first disk will engage with the hinge leaf connected to either

the door or the doorway and the second disk will engage with the hinge leaf connected to either the door or the doorway to thereby stop movement of the door.

Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.