Device to Almost Close a Door?
November 5, 2010 10:09 AM Subscribe
Are there part-way door closers?
Here's what I would like, in the ideal: a device that automatically closes a door, but only most of the way, leaving enough room for a cat to get in and out. The device should let me close the door all the way if I want, and in addition, I'd like it if it's pretty easy to flip a latch or something to make it so that the door stays open.
There are plenty of door closers for sale, but I can't find any indication of whether there's a way to set them to be door-almost-closers. Can anyone tell me if such a device exists in retail form?
I know there are plenty of ways to jury-rig a solution: a wedge, a cat door, a curtain, whatever, but I'm hoping someone can recommend a device that just works out of the box.
Here's what I would like, in the ideal: a device that automatically closes a door, but only most of the way, leaving enough room for a cat to get in and out. The device should let me close the door all the way if I want, and in addition, I'd like it if it's pretty easy to flip a latch or something to make it so that the door stays open.
There are plenty of door closers for sale, but I can't find any indication of whether there's a way to set them to be door-almost-closers. Can anyone tell me if such a device exists in retail form?
I know there are plenty of ways to jury-rig a solution: a wedge, a cat door, a curtain, whatever, but I'm hoping someone can recommend a device that just works out of the box.
In the South we call this a brick.
posted by cmoj at 11:54 AM on November 5, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by cmoj at 11:54 AM on November 5, 2010 [5 favorites]
Like this? We have them on the basement door and inside the front porch door. You could probably even mount it on a little block to extend its semi-open reach...
posted by mimi at 1:20 PM on November 5, 2010
posted by mimi at 1:20 PM on November 5, 2010
A couple of hooks, some string, and a weight. String starts at the top of the door, goes to a hook near the top of the door frame, and the weight pulls the door closed. Set the length of the string so the weight is rested on the floor when the door is open as much as you want it.
posted by gally99 at 3:28 PM on November 5, 2010
posted by gally99 at 3:28 PM on November 5, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks, folks. I wasn't sure if the closers like Thorzdad linked had a partly open setting. If so, then I'm set.
posted by lore at 5:51 PM on November 5, 2010
posted by lore at 5:51 PM on November 5, 2010
My garage door has an electric-eye safety switch down about an inch from the ground where the door will hit bottom. If the door is closing, and something blocks the beam. the door stops where it is.
One day, my garage door kept stopping about a foot high and I had a hell of a time figuring out why. Turned out there was a pull-down string tied to the inside handle from before the opener was installed. It had been loosely tossed up into the bottom ledge on the door. It had come out, and fell in front of the safety switch sensor when the door was about a foot high.
So maybe if you could make a little flip-down beam-blocker on the garage door, that would work. It would for me. On the other hand, it wouldn't work for my neighbor, because his safety switch makes the door reverse and go back to the top.
posted by ctmf at 5:53 PM on November 5, 2010
One day, my garage door kept stopping about a foot high and I had a hell of a time figuring out why. Turned out there was a pull-down string tied to the inside handle from before the opener was installed. It had been loosely tossed up into the bottom ledge on the door. It had come out, and fell in front of the safety switch sensor when the door was about a foot high.
So maybe if you could make a little flip-down beam-blocker on the garage door, that would work. It would for me. On the other hand, it wouldn't work for my neighbor, because his safety switch makes the door reverse and go back to the top.
posted by ctmf at 5:53 PM on November 5, 2010
Lore, on those closers I suggested...There's a metal clip-like thing on one end that slides along the rod. This is used to block the piston from completely closing the door. Ultra-simple.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:49 AM on November 6, 2010
posted by Thorzdad at 11:49 AM on November 6, 2010
I don't like the rod slider thingies, if you go in and out of the door at all they tend to wiggle lose and let the door close completely.
I like a wooden wedge. It looks like a jury-rig at first but is really the most elegant way. The wedge goes sideways between the door and the door frame, so that the right angle of the wedge is against the wall and frame, the ridge on the frame holds the wedge in place. This will stay put even with heavy traffic through the door and is easy to set and remove.
posted by anaelith at 5:54 AM on November 7, 2010
I like a wooden wedge. It looks like a jury-rig at first but is really the most elegant way. The wedge goes sideways between the door and the door frame, so that the right angle of the wedge is against the wall and frame, the ridge on the frame holds the wedge in place. This will stay put even with heavy traffic through the door and is easy to set and remove.
posted by anaelith at 5:54 AM on November 7, 2010
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posted by Thorzdad at 10:13 AM on November 5, 2010