Have you ever (door) stopped to wonder how many different types of doorstops there are? Or who exactly invented the Doorstop? Whether the word Doorstop is one word - as in, The 'Doorstop' Shop - or two words - i.e. Door Stop?
Well then you've (door) stopped at the right place.
Here at The Doorstop Shop we've made it our business to find out everything you've ever wanted - or, perhaps didn't actually realise you needed - to know about doorstops and draught excluders.
So without further ado(or), let's get (door) s̶t̶o̶p̶p̶e̶d̶ started:
What is a doorstop?
A doorstop, also known as a door stop, door stopper, or door wedge, is a versatile little item used to hold doors open or closed, or prevent them striking a wall! There are many different kinds of doorstops, some often improvised!
What types of doorstops are there?
Doorstop can refer to a wide variety of items! You can get the most commonly seen wedge doorstops, that go under the door; floor-mounted doorstops to catch it; kick-mounted doorstops that attach to the door, and remember those little springs attached to the skirting board that we all used to play with as children? Those are doorstops too! Here at The Doorstop Shop, we primarily deal in novelty doorstops, a portable variety of door stoppers which add a touch of style and charm to any room.
Who invented the doorstop?
While doorstops as an idea have very likely been around for as long as we’ve had doors, credit is widely attributed to an African-American inventor, Osbourn Dorsey (also known as Osburn or simply O. Dorsey). He filed his patent for a “Door-Holding Device” in 1878, aged just 16! As well as conjouring the idea for doorstops, he is also credited with the invention of the door knob, too.
Is it doorstop or door stop?
According to most dictionaries, you can spell doorstop / door stop either way! The most common is, doorstop, though it is not technically wrong to space out the words door and stop, as in, Door Stop.
Where can I use a doorstop?
Most doorstops are meant for internal use - external doors are often a lot heavier! Doorstops are ideal for propping doors open to let air through, or to prevent them swinging open, if you’d like your door to remain ajar.
What are some other uses for a doorstop?
Your imagination is the limit! Doorstops can be used as: Bookends, paperweights, ornamental displays - some of our a-door-able plush novelty doorstops might even be fun to cuddle!
What is a draught excluder?
Often falling into the same category of goods as a doorstop, a draught excluder is a long item designed to sit at the base of a door, and prevent winds from blowing in underneath, or warm air escaping outside. Draught excluders are also known as draft guards, door sausages or even door snakes in Australia!
What types of draught excluder are there?
There are a few types of draught excluder available! You can buy draught excluders that attach to the door itself, made from rubber, foam, or a brush material. Just like doorstops, you can also find novelty draught excluders to spruce up your room, either weighted to act as a doorstop too, or unweighted so you can move it around the house with you!
Is it draught excluder or draft excluder?
Really, it boils down to whether you are using the British English spelling of Draught or the US spelling - Draft.
Consequently, here in Blighty, we tend to use Draught Excluder, whereas over in the States and Canada, they use Draft Excluder. In Australia, they buck the rule entirely and refer to Draught Excluders as Door Snakes! So there you go.
What was the most expensive doorstop ever?
The often improvised nature of doorstops makes it hard to say - anyone with enough money to burn could use anything they wish! However, the most expensive one known was found in Michigan, US. A farmer had recovered a meteorite that had crashed into his land in the 1930’s and used it as a doorstop for decades. The land - and the meteorite - were sold to a new owner in 1988. It wasn’t until 2018 he had it assessed, and it was valued at about $100k!