DOOR EDGE PROTECTOR

Abstract

A guard for protecting a door edge from impacts caused by people and equipment. The guard is a cut and formed paperboard tube comprising an elongated, substantially planar spine and two side members extending at right angles from the spine. Two gripping members are integrally connected to the side members. The gripping members have convex interior surfaces that form a friction fit with opposite sides of the door.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This patent relates to a device for protecting building surfaces. More particularly, this patent relates to a device for protecting a door edge that can be installed prior to construction, renovation and moving, and can be easily and quickly removed afterwards.

2. Description of the Related Art

During construction, renovation and moving operations, key surfaces in a building, especially those in high traffic areas, can be subjected to abuse by workers and equipment moving in and around the building rooms. These surfaces, which include door edges, door frames and wall corner edges (i.e., outwardly projecting wall corners), are costly and time consuming to repair, which can often delay the completion of a building project. Protecting these surfaces can avoid these costly repairs, reduce overall building costs and shorten building project time.

While numerous attempts to provide a protective device for door frames are known, applicants are aware of only one United States patent specifically directed to a door edge protective device. Olton U.S. Pat. No. 3,271,919 describes a door edge protector having inwardly extending flanges that fit within grooves located on either side of the door. While the Olton device may be suitable for its intended purpose, it is not intended for temporary use, and cannot be easily installed and removed.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a means for protecting building surfaces, particularly door edges, that are vulnerable to abuse by workers and equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door edge protective device that can be easily and quickly installed and removed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a protective device for a door edge that does not require adhesive or other permanent attachment means.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a guard for protecting a door edge to temporarily protect the door edge from impacts caused by people and equipment. The guard is a formed and cut paperboard tube comprising an elongated, substantially planar spine or back and two elongated, substantially planar opposing side members extending from the spine at substantially right angles thereto, the side members being substantially parallel to each other. Two elongated gripping members extend inwardly, toward each other, from the side members. Each gripping member has a convex, door facing surface that grips the door to hold the guard in place for as long as the guard is needed. The gripping members are spaced apart a distance less than the door width when the guard is in a relaxed, uninstalled state.

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door edge guard according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the door edge guard of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the door edge guard of FIG. 1 shown protecting a door edge.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the door edge guard of FIG. 1 shown protecting a door edge.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of a door edge guard according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention may be embodied in many forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more embodiments, with the understanding that this disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments.

Turning to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 one embodiment of the present invention, a guard 10 for protecting a door edge or other similarly shaped building surfaces. The guard 10 comprises an elongated, substantially planar back or spine 12 having opposing longitudinal edges 13 and two elongated, substantially planar opposing side members 14 extending from the edges 13 in a direction substantially at right angles to the spine 12. Preferably the longitudinal edges 13 are rounded.

Preferably the side members 14 are substantially parallel to each other when the guard is in a relaxed, unstressed position (prior to installation) in order to fit snugly against opposite sides of a door 20. Alternatively, the side members 14 may be angled inwardly, toward each other, as shown in FIG. 5.

Two elongated gripping members 16 extend from the ends of the side members 14 distant the spine 12. Each gripping member has a convex, interior (door facing) surface 18 that contacts and grips the door 12 as explained further below.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the door edge guard 10. When the guard 10 is in an unstressed (uninstalled) position, the interior surfaces 18 of the gripping members are separated by a distance (D). This distance (D) should be less than the thickness of the door 20 to be protected so that the door guard 10 can form a friction fit with either side of the door near the door edge 22. When the guard 10 is installed over a door edge 22, the gripping members 16 will flex slightly outward, away from each other, to accommodate the thickness of the door 20. When installed, the gripping members 16 grip either side of the door 20 to hold the guard 10 in place.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views of the guard 10 shown installed over a door edge 22. The guard 10 covers the door edge 22 along its height, and preferably along that part of its height most likely to be subject to abuse from people and equipment. The guard 10 can be made to any length to cover as much of the door edge 22 as desired, and can even be cut crosswise on site as needed.

The guard 10 may be made wide enough and resilient enough to accommodate various door edge thicknesses. The guard 10 may be made from any suitable material, including plastic, but preferably is made from paper or, more specifically, layers of paperboard laminated together.

The guard 10 may be manufactured by winding paperboard into a hollow tube, making a single elongated cut along the tube's length, and forming the cut tube into the desired shape.

It is understood that the embodiments of the invention described above are only particular examples which serve to illustrate the principles of the invention. Modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention are contemplated which do not depart from the scope of the invention as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended claims. It is intended that the claims cover all such modifications and alternative embodiments that fall within their scope.

Claims

1. A paperboard guard for protecting the edge of a door, the guard comprising:

an elongated spine having opposing longitudinal edges;

two elongated, substantially planar opposing side members extending from the longitudinal edges; and

two gripping members extending from the side members, each gripping member having a convex, interior surface capable of contacting and gripping the door when the guard is installed.

2. The guard of claim 1 wherein the spine is substantially planar.

3. The guard of claim 2 wherein the side members are substantially planar.

4. The guard of claim 3 wherein the side members extend from the longitudinal edges in a direction substantially at right angles to the spine, the side members being substantially parallel to each other.

5. The guard of claim 3 wherein the side members extend from the longitudinal edges in an inward direction toward each other, each side member defining an acute included angle with the spine.

6. The guard of claim 3 wherein the longitudinal edges are rounded.

7. The guard of claim 1 wherein the guard is formed a plurality of layers of paperboard laminated together.

8. A guard for protecting the edge of a door, the guard manufactured by:

winding paperboard into a hollow longitudinal tube having a length,

making a longitudinal cut along the length of the tube; and

forming the tube into the desired shape.