Patio screen door closer

Abstract

A system for converting a sliding patio screen door into a self-closing door through the use of an easily attachable hollow cylindrical tube attached vertically to the outer frame of the sliding door. The tube contains a hole in the top cap that allows a fine monofilament to extend through it and attach to the inner frame of the sliding screen door. The monofilament is attached to a weight on its other end inside the tube. When the door is opened through the application of manual force, the weight is lifted inside the tube. Once the force is released, the weight is returned through gravity to its rest position, thereby pulling the door closed.

1 . A sliding screen door system comprising 
 an outside framing means for housing a sliding screen door;    a substantially planar screen door housed within said framing means and containing its own internal framing means;    two or more clamping means attached to said outside framing means;    a hollow cylindrical tube clamped to said outside framing means through attachment to said clamping means;    two end caps enclosing either end of said hollow cylindrical tube, said cap on the top end of said hollow cylindrical tube containing an aperture in the center of said top cap;    a thru-hole fitting inserted inside said aperture;    a monofilament extending through said thru-hole fitting and through said aperture at one end and attached to a weight at the opposite end;    an attaching means attached to said top end of said monofilament that extends through said aperture;    a holding means for keeping said attaching means stationary on said top end of said internal framing means of said screen door;    two or more wheels attached to the bottom of said screen door.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said clamping means are pipe clamps.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said hollow cylindrical tube is made of PVC tubing.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said hollow cylindrical tube has a ¾′″ internal diameter.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said hollow cylindrical tube is 57″ long.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said thru-hole fitting is made of brass.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said attaching means is a barrel swivel.  
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said holding means is a screw.  
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said wheels are 1″ in diameter.  
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said wheels contain metal bearings.  
     
     
         11 . An automatic sliding screen door system comprising 
 placement of a substantially planar screen door containing its own internal framing means inside an outside framing means;    placement of a hollow cylindrical tube to the outside of said outside framing means through attachment to two or more clamping means attached to said outside framing means;    placement of two end caps enclosing either end of said hollow cylindrical tube, said cap on the top end of said hollow cylindrical tube containing an aperture in the center of said top cap;    placement of a thru-hole fitting inserted inside said aperture;    placement of a monofilament extending through said thru-hole fitting and through said aperture at one end and attached to a weight at the opposite end;    placement of an attaching means attached to said top end of said monofilament that extends through said aperture;    placement of a holding means for keeping said attaching means stationary on said top end of said internal framing means of said screen door;    placement of two or more wheels attached to the bottom of said screen door.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said clamping means are pipe clamps.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said hollow cylindrical tube is made of PVC tubing.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said hollow cylindrical tube has a ¾′″ internal diameter.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said hollow cylindrical tube is 57″ long.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said thru-hole fitting is made of brass.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said attaching means is a barrel swivel.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said holding means is a screw.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said wheels are 1″ in diameter.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said wheels contain metal bearings.