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(11) | EP 1 203 137 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
FIinger protector device Fingerschutzeinrichtung Dispositif de protection des doigts |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention relates to finger protector devices, especially (but not limited to) finger protector devices for door hinges.
Background to the Invention
[0002] Hinge mechanisms for doors and similar openings are generally arranged such that on opening the door a gap is formed between the internal face of the door and the adjacent door frame. On closing the door this gap is inevitably reduced until the door is closed. Therefore, during closing any objects protruding into the gap are squeezed or trapped. This is a frequent cause of accidents whereby fingers are trapped between the door and adjacent door frame. Such accidents can be painful and can result in serious injuries. These accidents can be especially commonplace and distressing for young children. Furthermore, the use of doors comprising automatic closing means, such as springs, can result in high closing forces.
[0003] WO-A-92/15763 discloses a door finger guard to prevent people from trapping their fingers between the edge of a door and the door frame. The invention is arranged to lie neatly between a door surface and a door frame when the door is closed so that it does not intrude in a passage way and in effect forms a hypotenuse of a triangle. The door finger guard comprises alternating regions of relatively rigid and relatively flexible plastics materials. WO-A-92/15763 discloses the pre-characterising features of claim 1 herein.
[0004] GB-A-2 314 112 discloses a door jamb finger guard for a swinging door comprising four elongate strips which are sequentially hinged to one another along their long edges, each of the free long edges of the first and fourth strips being pivotably connected to a long edge of a respective one or two further elongate fixing strips one of which, in use, is secured to the door and the other to the door jamb. The finger guard is shaped such that in the closed position of the door, three of the strips lie generally parallel to the door or the door jamb and the fourth strip extends at angle to the door and the door jamb.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided finger protector device comprising first, second and third members, the second member being connected between the first and third members by flexible means, the first member is arranged, in use, to be mounted to a first surface and the third member is arranged, in use, to be mounted to a second surface, in which relative movement of the first and second surfaces is possible, in which the first member is connected to a first mounting portion by a flexible plastics joint and in which the third member is connected to a second mounting portion by a flexible plastics joint, and characterised in that the flexible plastics joints are pre-biased at about 90° such that the first member and the first mounting portion to which it is attached are forced to a relative position of about 90° and the third member and the second mounting portion to which it is attached are forced to a relative position of about 90°.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0009] The present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the drawings that follow in which:
Figure 1 is a cross-section of a safety device for a door.
Figure 2 is a cross-section of a door in a closed position with a safety device attached.
Figure 3 is a cross-section of a door in a partially open position with a safety device attached.
Figure 4 is a cross-section of a door in an open position with a safety device attached.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the cross-section of the safety device 10 is approximately a right angled triangle. However, prior to formation the safety device 10 is substantially planar. The sides of the safety device 10 are formed from elongate strips of a suitable plastics material. Hinge sections 22, 24 connect the first side 16 to the second side 14 and the third side 12 to the second side 14 respectively. The hinge sections 22, 24 are formed from a flexible material. The use of flexible hinge sections reduce the opportunity of any pinching action which may result from mechanical hinge sections.
[0011] Connecting portions 18, 20 are provided to mount the safety device 10 to a door 30 and adjacent frame 32 or wall. The connecting portions 18, 20 are connected to the first and third sides 16, 12 by flexible hinge sections 28, 26 respectively. Connecting portions 18, 20 may be made thicker than sides 12, 14, 16 to assist in mounting. To assist in mounting and in the motion of the device, the flexible joints joining connecting portions 18, 20 to sides 12, 16 respectively are pre-biased to about 90°.
[0012] In order to mount the safety device 10 to a door 30 and adjacent frame 32 slots (not shown) are initially affixed to the door 30 at an inner position and to an adjacent position on the frame 32, as shown in Figure 2. The safety device 10 can then be mounted by securing the connecting portions 18, 20 in the respective slots (not shown).
[0013] Alternatively, and as a preferred option with thicker connecting portions 18, 20 holes (not shown) may be provided in the connecting portions to allow for screw fixing.
[0014] Once mounted the connecting portion 18 will move corresponding to the movement of the door 30 whilst the connecting portion 20 will remain affixed to the frame. The flexible hinge sections 22, 24, 26, 28 enable the safety device 10 to reconfigure according to the relative orientation of the door 30 and the frame 32. As shown in Figure 2, when the door 30 is in a closed position the safety device 10 adopts a right angle triangle cross-section. Approximations of the cross-sections of the safety device 10 with the door 30 in a partially open position and providing a 90° open position are shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 respectively. It can be seen that at all times during the opening of the door 30 the safety device 10 prevents access to the gap formed between the inner face of the door 30 and the adjacent door frame 32. Therefore, on the subsequent closing of the door 30 there is no opportunity for objects, especially fingers, to be trapped between the door 30 and the frame 32.
[0015] The configuration of the safety device 10 also enables the safety device 10 to function during opening angles substantially greater than 90°. The configuration of the safety device 10 also enables the safety device 10 to be mounted on an adjacent frame which is not at a right angle to the door, for example a bevelled frame or a flat frame.
1. A finger protector device (10) comprising first (12), second (14) and third (16) members,
the second member (14) being connected between the first (12) and third (16) members
by flexible means (22,24), the first member (12) is arranged, in use, to be mounted
to a first surface (30) and the third member (16) is arranged, in use, to be mounted
to a second surface (32), in which relative movement of the first and second surfaces
is possible, in which the first member (12) is connected to a first mounting portion
(18) by a flexible plastics joint (26) and in which the third member (16) is connected
to a second mounting portion (20) by a further flexible plastics joint (28), and characterised in that both flexible plastics joints (26, 28) are pre-biased at about 90° such that the
first member (12) and the first mounting portion (18) to which it is attached are
forced to a relative position of about 90° and the third member (16) and the second
mounting portion (20) to which it is attached are forced to a relative position of
about 90°.
2. A finger protector device (10) according to Claim 1 in which the flexible means (22,24,26)
provides a pivotal connection.
3. A finger protector device (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the first
(12), second (14) and third (16) members are elongate members.
1. Fingerschutzvorrichtung (10), die ein erstes (12), ein zweites (14) und ein drittes
(16), Element umfasst, wobei das zweite Element (14) mit dem ersten (12) und dem dritten
(16) Element durch flexible Einrichtungen (22, 24) verbunden ist, das erste Element
(12) so eingerichtet ist, dass es in Funktion an einer ersten Fläche (30) angebracht
ist, und das dritte Element (16) so eingerichtet ist, dass es in Funktion an einer
zweiten Fläche (32) angebracht ist, wobei relative Bewegung der ersten und der zweiten
Fläche möglich ist, das erste Element (12) durch ein flexibles Kunststoffgelenk, (26)
mit einem ersten Anbringungsabschnitt (18) verbunden ist und das dritte Element (16)
durch ein weiteres flexibles Kunststoffgelenk (28) mit einem zweiten Anbringungsabschnitt
(20) verbunden ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass beide flexiblen Kunststoffgelenke (26, 28) um ungefähr 90° vorgespannt sind, so dass
das erste Element (12) und der erste Anbringungsabschnitt (18), an dem es angebracht
ist, an eine relative Position von ungefähr 90° gedrückt werden und das dritte Element
(16) sowie der zweite Anbringungsabschnitt (20), an dem es angebracht ist, an eine
relative Position von ungefähr 90° gedrückt werden.
2. Fingerschutzvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die flexible Einrichtung (22,
24, 26) eine Schwenkverbindung bildet.
3. Fingerschutzvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, wobei das erste (12),
das zweite (14) und das dritte (16) Element längliche Elemente sind.
1. Dispositif de protection des doigts (10) comprenant des premier (12), deuxième (14)
et troisième (16) éléments, le deuxième élément (14) étant raccordé entre les premier
(12) et troisième (16) éléments par des moyens souples (22, 24), le premier élément
(12) étant agencé, en service, pour être monté sur une première surface (30) et le
troisième élément (16) étant agencé, en service, pour être monté sur une deuxième
surface (32), le mouvement relatif des première et deuxième surfaces étant possible,
le premier élément (12) étant raccordé à une première portion de montage (18) par
un joint en plastique souple (26) et le troisième élément (16) étant raccordé à une
deuxième portion de montage (20) par un autre joint en plastique souple (28), caractérisé en ce que les deux joints en plastique souples (26, 28) sont pré-contraints à environ 90° de
façon à ce que le premier élément (12) et la première portion de montage (18) à laquelle
il est attaché soient amenés par force dans une position relative d'environ 90° et
à ce que le troisième élément (16) et la deuxième portion de montage (20) à laquelle
il est attaché soient amenés par force dans une position relative d'environ 90°.
2. Dispositif de protection des doigts (10) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les
moyens souples (22, 24, 26) procurent un raccord pivotant.
3. Dispositif de protection des doigts (10) selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication
2, dans lequel les premier (12), deuxième (14) et troisième (16) éléments sont des
éléments allongés.