GB2109048A

GB2109048A - Fastenings including a strap

Info

Publication number: GB2109048A
Application number: GB08229467A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gillian Edana Halpin; Carol Ann Spriggs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-10-17
Filing date: 1982-10-15
Publication date: 1983-05-25

Abstract

A fastening for a hinged member comprises two parts which can be removably secured without damage to the hinged member and some other surface respectively. One of the parts carries a strap member which can be releasably fastened to the other part to prevent a small child from opening the hinged member. One embodiment shows a suction cup 10 fixed to a strap 13 and another cup 11 releasably attachable through keyhole fastening 15a, 15b. In the other embodiment a rectangular pad 52 is attached to member 31 and has an integral T-headed strap 3, the head 35 of which can engage under abutments 38, 39 on member 36 also attached to its substrate i.e. member 30. The attachment in both cases is by double-sided adhesive tape. <IMAGE>

Description

material.

The strap 13 has a circular aperture 14 adjacent one of its ends through which the part 1 2a of the protrusion of the cup 10 extends, thus to hold the strap 13 captive to the cup 10. The strap 13 has a further aperture 15 of key-hole shape adjacent the other of its ends. The circular part 15a of the aperture 15 has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the part 12b of the protrusion of the cup 11, and the rectangular part 15bofthe aperture 15 has a width slightly greater than the diameter of the part 1 2a of the protrusion of the cup 11, al! whereby the strap 13 may be releasablyfastened to the cup 11 by passing the protrusion 12 of the cup 11 though the aperture 15 and locating the part 12a through the part 15b.

In use, one of the suction cups is secured to the face of a hinged member such as a door or lid and the other to another part such that the strap 13 when engaged with the cup 11 prevents opening of the door or lid. The spacing between the two cups should be such that the strap needs to be fully extended to engage and disengage the aperture 15 with the protrusion 12 of the cup 11. Preferably the cup 11 is located at a position which is inaccessible to a small child or at least such that it would be difficult for him to disengage the strap 11 therefrom.

Figure 4 shows how the latch device might be used to secure the lid of a toilet seat in its closed position. The cup 11 is secured to the upper surface of the lid L towards the centre thereof whilst the cup 10 is secured to the outside of the toilet bowl B. Any one of a number of suitable commercially available adhesives may be used between the cups and the parts to which they are affixed to provide a lasting bond, which nonetheless will permit removal of the cups without damage to the surfaces to which they were affixed. An adult can readily disengage the strap from the cup 11 to permit the toilet to be used and re-engage the strap after use, an operation, however, difficult or impossible for a small child.

The strap 13 may be elastic material requiring that the strap is stretched in order that it can be engaged or disengaged with the cup 11.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that a second form of latch device embodying the invention and suitable for securing a hinged door 30 to a cabinet 31 comprises two moulded parts of plastics material. The first part 32 comprises a rectangular pad which is secured to the cabinet 31 by a piece of double-sided adhesive tape 33 and which is integrally formed with a strap 34 terminating with a plate-like enlargement 35. The second part 36 again comprises a rectangular pad which is secured to the edge of the door 31 by a piece of double-sided adhesive tape 37 and which is integrally formed with upstanding lugs 38 and 39. The first part is connected to the second part by snapping the plate-like enlargement 35 behind the lugs 38 and 39, the strap 34 being located between the lugs. This device is particularly suitable for securing the door of a refrigerator.

It will be understood that the latch devices are capable of numerous other applications, such as for SPECIFICATION Latch device This invention concerns a latch device for securing a hinged door, lid or the like against opening by a young child.

It is a common and well documented phenomenon that children pass through a so-called "lavatory period" during which they have a fascination for an open toilet, with the result that they play in its vicinity. Apart from the fact at this practice is generally unhygienic, or even hazardous to health, it is not unusual for objects (which may be of value) to be thrown into the toilet bowl with the risks of damage or loss of such objects and of blockage in the soil pipe leading from the toilet.

Equally young children frequently open the doors to domestic appliances of various kinds such as refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and so on.

Not only can this be generally inconvenient to the busy housewife, but there is also an ever present risk of damage to such appliances and injury to the child.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a latch device for a hinged door, lid or the like which normally acts to hold such in the closed position and which would be difficult or impossible for a young child to release, though readily operable by an adult.

According to the present invention there is provided a latch device for a hinged member comprising two means securable to the hinged member and some other part respectively in such manner that the means may be removed without damage to said member and part, a strap member fixed to one of said means and releasablyfastenable to the other of said means.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, two forms of latch device embodying the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a first form of latch device; Figures 2 and 3 show plan views of the latch device of Figure 1 when engaged and disengaged respectively; Figure 4 is a side view of a toilet illustrating the operation of the latch device of Figure 1 when used to secure the lid or cover of the toilet seat.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a second form of latch device embodying the invention; and Figure 6 is a side elevation of the later device of Figure 5.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3, it will be seen that the latch device comprises two suction cups 10 and 11 (of rubber or similar material) each having a central upstanding protrusion 12 of circular cross -section on its upper side. Each protrusion 12 is of mushroom-like form comprising a part 12a of relatively smali cross-sectional area adjoining the main body of the cup and a part 12b of relatively large cross-sectional area adjoining the part 12a. The latch device further comprises a flexible strap member 13 conveniently of nylon or similar plastics securing the doors of freezers, washing machines, medicine cabinets and so on.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above examples only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined herein.

Claims

1. A latch device for a hinged membercompris- ing two means securable to the hinged member and some other part respectively in such a manner that the means may be removed without damage to said member and part, a strap member fixed to one of said means and releasably fastenable to the other of said means.

2. A latch device according to claim 1, wherein each of said means comprises a suction cup.

3. A latch device according to claim 1, wherein each of said means comprises a pad securable to a surface by means of a piece of double-sided adhesive tape.

4. A latch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said strap member has a key-hole slot at its end and is fastenabie to the other of said means by engagement of said slot with a protrusion on the other of said means.

5. A latch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said strap has an enlarged portion at its end which can be fastened to the other of said means by engagement behind upstanding lugs on the other of said means.

6. A latch device according to any preceding claim wherein said strap member is of elastic material requiring that it be stretched to enable fastening to the other of said means.

7. A latch device according to any preceding claim, wherein said two means are secured to the lid of a toilet seat and the toilet bowl respectively.