Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Auxiliary imperforate panel-like shield attached to main...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2001-10-30
Stephan, Beth A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Auxiliary imperforate panel-like shield attached to main...
C052S003000, C052S103000, C052SDIG001, C049S383000, C150S154000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308474
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to protective devices for building surfaces for use during construction, remodeling, and moving of appliances and furniture in or out of the building. More specifically, this invention relates to a shield for protecting a door and its nearby doorway trim.
2. Related Art
There is a need for protection of interior and exterior doors after the doors have been hung and are vulnerable to damage during the final phases of construction, fixture installation, and the process of moving residents into the building. These phases typically involve the movement of large and bulky objects and equipment through the doorway, and the door and doorway opening is often gouged or scraped by the objects/equipment or the tools/handcarts or those moving the items. Therefore, great expense could be spared if the doors and their associated doorway trim could be temporarily covered and cushioned until the construction and moving-in process is complete.
Katz (U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,364, issued Feb. 8, 1983) discloses a protector which extends down the front of a door and is adjustable in length. The Katz protector has a top pocket that receives the top end of a door, and a bottom flap which can be folded up and fastened to adjust the length of the protector.
McNaughton (U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,593, issued Apr. 14, 1992) discloses a door shield with pleated surface for offering impact resistence. The McNaughton device includes magnetic and adhesive members for adherence to the door.
Saruwatari et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,727, issued Oct. 26, 1993) discloses a multi-piece door cover assembly which protects the sides and edges of a door and is attached to the door so that the door may be used, closed and locked. Saruwatari et al. uses a plurality of flaps that curve from one side of the door, around between the hinges to attach to the other side of the door. Saruwatari et al. also includes a cut-out for the door handle to allow use and locking of the door while the cover is installed.
Ullman (U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,733, issued Oct. 4, 1994) discloses a protector having a combination of pockets, straps, and extensions for covering a door. The protector is attached to the top end of the door by a pocket on the outer door corner and by a loop strap on the inner door corner. Buckling straps extends in several places around the door and an extension is Velcro®-attached to the lower portion of the protector for adjustment of the overall length of the protector.
Koeniguer (U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,443, Sep. 1, 1998) discloses a door and door frame protector, which includes a hinge side frame cover and a latch side frame cover. The hinge side frame cover includes a front frame cover panel which extends along the front of the door frame and to the door to cover part of the door, and an L-shaped member extends into the gap between the door and the door frame for frictionally securing the cover to the door. Additionally, a door-clip on a tensioning cord extends from the cover to the edge of the door. The front frame cover panel along the front of the door frame does not engage or connect to the door frame, but merely extends adjacent to the door frame.
Still, there is a need for a simple and economical shield system, which is easy and quick to use. There is a need for shield system that protects both a door and its adjacent doorway surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a shield system for protecting a door and its adjacent doorway surfaces from damage by traffic of people, construction materials and tools, equipment, dollies, furniture, boxes and other items through the doorway. The present invention is convenient system that takes little time to install and, hence, will be used more readily by construction workers and furniture movers.
The invented shield system protects both the door surface and preferably the surfaces of the doorway on the side wherein the hinges are attached. The invention comprises a shield which has a door portion that preferably extends substantially across at least one side of a door, and preferably a trim portion adapted to extend through the doorway and substantially across the vertical doorway trim molding. The preferred shield extends substantially all the way from top end to bottom end of the door and from the hinge edge of the door to the latch edge of the door. Alternatively, the shield may extend part or all of the way toward the latch edge to protect the part of the door normally damaged by impact. Use of the invented shield system, therefore, may prevent damage to the door surface, but also to the very vulnerable doorjamb and trim molding materials which are typically gouged and scratched as often as is the door itself.
One or more hook portions or other connection means may be included for holding the shield in place to provide a good fit and to optimize protection of the door and doorway. Preferably, the hooks include a book on the top of the shield to extending over the top end of the door. The hooks may include a hook on the outer end of the trim portion for catching or gripping on the edge of the trim. The hooks may include a bottom hook for extending around the bottom end of the door and/or for allowing the shield to be reversed for either right or left opening doors. Another hook may extend around the latch surface of the door.
The preferred shield system is adaptable to many sizes of doors and doorways, and preferably may be used on either right or left-opening doors by turning the shield up-side-down. The shield is preferably hung on the door with one or more hook portions or a combination or hook portion and optional cord which may extend lengthwise around or along the door. Such flexibility of installation adds to the convenience and universality of the invented system.
The preferred material for the shield is a material that is tough and puncture-resistant, but that is flexible enough to curve and bend for easy installation. A two-layer composition, comprising a tough layer of polymer, and a cushioning layer of foam, is the preferred material of construction. Preferably, the hooked portions are bent and crimped integral portions of the two-layer material, which results in a resilient hook member, or the hook portions may be made by bending scored panels near the shield's edges, which results in a less resilient but still well-fitting hook for extending around edges of the door.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4193232 (1980-03-01), Almsted et al.
patent: 4372364 (1983-02-01), Katz
patent: 4888918 (1989-12-01), Green et al.
patent: 5042656 (1991-08-01), Kahre
patent: 5103593 (1992-04-01), McNaughton
patent: 5255727 (1993-10-01), Saruwatari et al.
patent: 5351733 (1994-10-01), Ullman
patent: 5443885 (1995-08-01), Wilson
patent: 5488804 (1996-02-01), Batscher
patent: 5537779 (1996-07-01), Jackson
patent: 5603194 (1997-02-01), Fridlyand et al.
patent: 5649390 (1997-07-01), Davidson
patent: 5737878 (1998-04-01), Raulerson et al.
patent: 5799443 (1998-09-01), Koeniguer
patent: 5800006 (1998-09-01), Pettigrew
patent: 5918430 (1999-07-01), Rowland
patent: 5922737 (1999-07-01), Bryant
Glessner Brian E.
Pedersen Barbara S.
Pedersen Ken J.
Stephan Beth A.
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