Dead-bolt locking device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6301941
  • Patent Number
    6,301,941
  • Date Filed
    Friday, January 21, 2000
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 16, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A dead-bolt locking device for preventing a dead-bolt lock from being picked open. The dead-bolt locking device includes a generally rectangular support member having a back side, a front side, a front end, and a back end, and also having a track disposed in the front side and extending through the front end and terminating near the back end; and also includes a locking member having a back side, a front side, a front end, a slot extending through the front end and being adapted to receive the handle of the dead-bolt lock, and a boss integrally attached to the back side and being slidably received in the track; and further includes a handle member integrally attached to the front side of the locking member.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a dead-bolt gripper and more particularly pertains to a new dead-bolt locking device for preventing a dead-bolt lock from being picked open.




2. Description of the Prior Art




The use of dead-bolt gripper is known in the prior art. More specifically, dead-bolt gripper heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.




Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,202; U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,812; U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,967; U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,373; U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,462; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 317,556.




While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new dead-bolt locking device. The inventive device includes a generally rectangular support member having a back side, a front side, a front end, and a back end, and also having a track disposed in the front side and extending through the front end and terminating near the back end; and also includes a locking member having a back side, a front side, a front end, a slot extending through the front end and being adapted to receive the handle of the dead-bolt lock, and a boss integrally attached to the back side and being slidably received in the track; and further includes a handle member integrally attached to the front side of the locking member.




In these respects, the dead-bolt locking device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing a dead-bolt lock from being picked open.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of dead-bolt gripper now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new dead-bolt locking device construction wherein the same can be utilized for preventing a dead-bolt lock from being picked open.




The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new dead-bolt locking device which has many of the advantages of the dead-bolt gripper mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new dead-bolt locking device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art dead-bolt gripper, either alone or in any combination thereof.




To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a generally rectangular support member having a back side, a front side, a front end, and a back end, and also having a track disposed in the front side and extending through the front end and terminating near the back end; and also includes a locking member having a back side, a front side, a front end, a slot extending through the front end and being adapted to receive the handle of the dead-bolt lock, and a boss integrally attached to the back side and being slidably received in the track; and further includes a handle member integrally attached to the front side of the locking member.




There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.




In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.




As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.




Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.




It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new dead-bolt locking device which has many of the advantages of the dead-bolt gripper mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new dead-bolt locking device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art dead-bolt gripper, either alone or in any combination thereof.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a new dead-bolt locking device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.




It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new dead-bolt locking device which is of a durable and reliable construction.




An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new dead-bolt locking device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such dead-bolt locking device economically available to the buying public.




Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new dead-bolt locking device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.




Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new dead-bolt locking device for preventing a dead-bolt lock from being picked open.




Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new dead-bolt locking device which includes a generally rectangular support member having a back side, a front side, a front end, and a back end, and also having a track disposed in the front side and extending through the front end and terminating near the back end; and also includes a locking member having a back side, a front side, a front end, a slot extending through the front end and being adapted to receive the handle of the dead-bolt lock, and a boss integrally attached to the back side and being slidably received in the track; and further includes a handle member integrally attached to the front side of the locking member.




Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new dead-bolt locking device that can be easily and conveniently mounted to any door.




Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new dead-bolt locking device that prevents the door from being opened from the outside even with a duplicate key.











These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a new dead-bolt locking device according to the present invention and being used.





FIG. 2

is a rear perspective view of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional view of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to

FIGS. 1 through 3

thereof, a new dead-bolt locking device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral


10


will be described.




As best illustrated in

FIGS. 1 through 3

, the dead-bolt locking device


10


generally comprises a support member


11


adapted to be securely mounted to a door


32


. The support member


11


includes a generally flat back side


12


, a front end


15


, a generally flat front side


13


, a back end


14


and a track


16


disposed in the front side


13


and extending through the front end


15


and terminating near the back end


14


. The support member


11


is adapted to securely and conventionally mount to a door


32


adjacent to a handle


31


for a dead-bolt lock. The track


16


is defined by an upper wall


17


and a lower wall


18


with the upper wall


17


and the lower wall


18


each having a longitudinal recessed portion


19


,


20


extending therein and extending a length of the track


16


. The support member


11


is generally rectangular with a definite thickness. The support member


11


can be mounted to a door


32


with either fasteners


30


or with adhesive


28


which is attached to the back side


12


of the support member


11


and which is covered with a strip of material


29


. A locking member


21


is slidably mounted to the support member


11


and is adapted to engage a handle


31


for a dead-bolt lock. The locking member


21


includes a back side


22


, a front side


23


, a front end


24


, a slot


26


extending longitudinally through the front end


24


, and a boss


25


securely and integrally disposed on the back side


22


. The boss


25


is slidably and securely disposed in the track


16


. The slot


26


is adapted to removeably receive the handle


31


of a dead-bolt lock therein. The boss


25


includes a top wall


33


, a bottom wall


34


, and an outer portion with the top wall


33


and the bottom wall


34


each having a groove


35


,


36


disposed therein. The grooves


35


,


36


of the top wall


33


and the bottom wall


34


are disposed near where the boss


25


is integrally joined to the back side


22


of the locking member


21


, and are adapted to receive portions of the upper


17


and lower


18


walls of the track


16


, respectively. The outer portion of the boss


25


is slidably received in the track


16


and is slidably received in the recessed portions


19


,


20


of the upper and lower walls


17


,


18


of the track


16


. A handle member


27


is securely and integrally attached to the locking member


21


for sliding the locking member


21


with the handle member


27


being securely attached to the front side


23


of the locking member


21


.




In use, the user either fastens the support member


11


to a door


32


adjacent to a handle


31


for the dead-bolt lock or peels off the strip of material


29


from the support member


11


and mounts the support member


11


to the door


32


. To secure the dead-bolt lock, the user slides the locking member


21


such that the handle


31


of the dead-bolt lock is received in the slot


26


of the locking member


21


. To unsecure the dead-bolt lock, the user slides the locking member


21


such that the handle


31


of the dead-bolt lock is removed from the slot


26


.




As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.




With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.




Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A dead-bolt locking device comprising:a support member adapted to be securely mounted to a door; a locking member slidably mounted to said support member and being adapted to engage a handle for a dead-bolt lock; a handle member securely attached to said locking member for sliding said locking members; wherein said support member includes a generally flat back side, a front end, a front side, a back end and a track disposed in said front side and extending through said front end and terminating near said back end, said support member being securely mountable to a door adjacent to a handle for a dead-bolt lock; wherein said track is defined by an upper wall and a lower wall, said upper wall and said lower wall each having a longitudinal recessed portion extending therein and extending a length of said track; and wherein said back end of said support member extends between said upper wall and said lower wall for preventing removal of said locking member from said support member, wherein said locking member includes a back side, a front side, a front end, a slot extending longitudinally through said front end, and a boss securely disposed on said back side, said boss being sidably and securely disposed in said track.
  • 2. A dead-bolt locking device as described in claim 1, wherein said slot is adapted to removeably receive the handle of a dead-bolt lock therein.
  • 3. A dead-bolt locking device as described in claim 2, wherein said boss includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and an outer portion, said top wall and said bottom wall each having a groove disposed therein.
  • 4. A dead-bolt locking device as described in claim 3, wherein said grooves of said top wall and said bottom wall are disposed near where said boss is integrally joined to said back side of said locking member, and are adapted to receive portions of said upper and lower walls of said track, respectively.
  • 5. A dead-bolt locking device as described in claim 4, wherein said outer portion of said boss is slidably received in said track.
  • 6. A dead-bolt locking device as described in claim 5, wherein said outer portion of said boss is slidably received in said recessed portions of said upper and lower walls of said track.
  • 7. A dead-bolt locking device as described in claim 6, wherein said handle member is securely attached to said front side of said locking member.
  • 8. A dead-bolt locking device as described in claim 7, wherein said back side of said support member includes adhesive and a strip of material removeably covering said back side thereof, for mounting to a door.
  • 9. A dead-bolt locking device comprising:a support member adapted to be securely mounted to a door, said support member including a generally flat back side, a front end, a generally flat front side, a back end and a track disposed in said front side and extending through said front end and terminating near said back end, said support member being securely mountable to a door adjacent to a handle for a dead-bolt lock, said track being defined by an upper wall and a lower wall, said upper wall and said lower wall each having a longitudinal recessed portion extending therein and extending a length of said track, said support member being generally rectangular, said back side of said support member including adhesive and a strip of material removeably covering said adhesive; a locking member slidably mounted to said support member and being adapted to engage a handle for a dead-bolt lock, said locking member including a back side, a front side, a front end, a slot extending longitudinally through said front end, and a boss securely disposed on said back side, said boss being slidably and securely disposed in said track, said slot being adapted to removeably receive the handle of a dead-bolt lock therein, said boss including a top wall, a bottom wall, and an outer portion, said top wall and said bottom wall each having a groove disposed therein, said grooves of said top wall and said bottom wall being disposed near where said boss is integrally joined to said back side of said locking member, and being adapted to receive portions of said upper and lower walls of said track, respectively, said outer portion of said boss being slidably received in said track and being slidably received in said recessed portions of said upper and lower walls of said track; a handle member securely attached to said locking member for sliding said locking member, said handle member being securely attached to said front side of said locking member; and wherein said back end of said support member extends between said upper wall and said lower wall for preventing removal of said locking member from said support member.
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