IP Library Granted Patent US 11,920,399
Granted Patent B2
US 11,920,399 · App. 17/903,265 · Granted Mar 5, 2024

Compact door closer

Inventors: Joel Sellinger (Blaine, WA); Benjamin Wesley Docksteader (Custer, WA)
Assignee: MASONITE CORPORATION
E05F15/63E05Y2201/216E05Y2201/41E05Y2201/624E05Y2201/688E05Y2400/612E05Y2400/66E05Y2900/132
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,920,399
App. No.
17/903,265
Granted
Mar 5, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus comprising a baseplate configured to be coupled to an interior side of an inswing door adjacent a pivot edge of the door; a rotatable closing arm with a first end and a second end, the second end coupled to a motor, the motor configured to be engaged in response to receipt of a signal from a remote electronic device; and circuitry electrically coupled between a power supply and the motor, the circuitry configured to wirelessly send and receive information to and from the remote electronic device.

Claims (38)

1. A door closure apparatus comprising:

a baseplate configured to be coupled to an interior side of an inswing door adjacent a pivot edge of the door;

a motor mounted to the baseplate and configured to be activated in response to receipt of a signal from a remote electronic device;

a rotatable closing arm with a free first end and a second end, the second end drivingly coupled to the motor; and

circuitry electrically coupled between a power supply and the motor, the circuitry configured to wirelessly send and receive information to and from the remote electronic device;

the closing arm configured to rotate toward and away from an adjacent surface separate from the door.

2. The door closure apparatus of claim 1 , wherein in response to receipt of the signal from the remote electronic device, the motor is configured to rotate the closing arm to contact the adjacent surface separate from the door.

3. The door closure apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the closing arm is configured to exert a closing force on the adjacent surface that repositions the door.

4. The door closure apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the motor is configured to transmit a rotational force through the closing arm to exert the closing force on the adjacent surface, and wherein the closing force repositions the door to a closed position.

5. The door closure apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the adjacent surface is generally parallel to a plane extending through a door frame the door is coupled to.

6. The door closure apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the adjacent surface is generally normal to a plane extending through a door frame the door is coupled to.

7. The door closure apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the adjacent surface is a door trim surrounding a portion of the door.

8. The door closure apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a proximity sensor configured to determine a position of the closing arm.

9. The door closure apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a proximity sensor configured to determine a position of the door.

10. The door closure apparatus of claim 9 , wherein in response to receipt of a signal from the proximity sensor indicating the door is in a closed position, the motor is deactivated.

11. The door closure apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a roller mounted to the free first end of the closing arm.

12. The door closure apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the closing arm has a maximum travel distance from a home position, wherein, in the home position, the free first end of the closing arm is spaced from the adjacent surface separate from the door, and wherein the maximum travel distance is used to determine when the door is in a closed position.

13. The door closure apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a clutch coupling the motor to the closing arm.

14. An apparatus for closing a door, comprising:

a baseplate configured to be coupled to an interior side of an inswing door, the door configured to be positioned in an open position, a closed position, and a plurality of positions in-between the open position and the closed position;

a closing arm with a free first end biasedly coupled to a second end, the second end coupled to a motor, the closing rotatable between a home position and an engaged position;

the motor coupled to the baseplate and configured to be activated in response of a signal from a remote electronic device;

a first proximity sensor configured to determine a position of the closing arm;

a second proximity sensor configured to determine a position of the door; and

circuitry electrically coupled to a power supply, the motor, the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor, the circuitry configured to wirelessly send and receive information to and from the remote electronic device;

the closing arm configured to rotate toward and away from an adjacent surface separate from the door.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein in the home position, the free first end of the closing arm is adjacent the baseplate and the door is configured to be positioned in the open position, the closed position, or the plurality of positions in-between the open position and the closed position.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein in response to receipt of the signal from the remote electronic device, the motor is configured to reposition the closing arm from the home position to the engaged position, wherein in the engaged position the free first end of the closing arm contacts an adjacent surface and exerts a closing force on the adjacent surface that is translated through the closing arm to the door.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein in response to a signal from the second proximity sensor indicating the door is in the closed position, the motor is deactivated.

18. A method of closing a door, comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal from a remote electronic device at an apparatus, the apparatus coupled to an inswing residential door;

rotating a closing arm of the apparatus from a home position to an engaged position, the closing arm having a free first end and a second end;

contacting the free first end of the closing arm with a surface adjacent to the door;

exerting a closing force on the surface adjacent to the door with the free first end of the closing arm;

rotating the door from an open position to a closed position; and

rotating the closing arm from the engaged position to the home position.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising sending and receiving a signal from a first proximity sensor and determining a position of the closing arm.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising sending and receiving a signal from a second proximity sensor and determining a position of the door.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2025
From: SELLINGER, JOEL; DOCKSTEADER, BENJAMIN WESLEY
To: MASONITE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071628/0332 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jun 7, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MASONITE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067664/0796 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2024
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MASONITE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067664/0832 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2022
From: MASONITE CORPORATION
To: WELLS FAGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 062136/0784 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2022
From: MASONITE CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 062118/0875 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17042366
Provisional Application 62650694 · Mar 30, 2018
Related Publication 20220412145A1 · Dec 29, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,359,490