BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a deadbolt handle locking device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the deadbolt handle locking device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a lower plan view of the deadbolt handle locking device according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an upper plan view of the deadbolt handle locking device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the deadbolt handle locking device according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a lower plan view of the deadbolt handle locking device, as in FIG. 3, in an unlooped configuration.
FIG. 7A is a partial perspective view of the deadbolt handle locking device of FIG. 5 with the buckle in a first position.
FIG. 7B is a partial perspective view of the deadbolt handle locking device of FIG. 5 with the buckle in a second position.
FIG. 8 is an environmental, perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the deadbolt handle locking device according to the present invention.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is directed towards a locking device 10 for deadbolt locks. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the locking device 10 is a releasable strap secured to a deadbolt lock handle 36 of a door, and to the shaft of a doorknob 38, selectively preventing rotation of the deadbolt lock handle 36. The locking device 10 includes a base strap 14 having a central portion 13 and opposed proximal and distal ends 22, 24, respectively. The base strap 14 may be formed from any suitable material, such as fabric, for example, which is structurally strong enough to prevent rotation of handle 36. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the preferred embodiment, base strap 14 has a substantially rectangular contour, however, it should be understood that base strap 14 may have any suitable contour, dependent upon the needs and desires of the user.
As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the proximal end 22 of the base strap 14 forms a loop having an adjustable circumference for adjustable and releasable tightening about the deadbolt lock handle 36. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a buckle 12 is secured to the free end of proximal end 22 of base strap 14, forming the selectively adjustable loop. It should be understood that any suitable means for adjusting the circumference of the looped end may be utilized.
The central portion 13 of the base strap 14 has opposed upper and lower surfaces 30, 28, respectively, and, in use, the central portion 13 of the base strap 14 is wound about the shaft of the doorknob 38, with the upper surface 30 being positioned adjacent and contiguous with the shaft of the doorknob 38.
A distal region of the central portion 13 is releasably secured to a proximal region of the central portion 13, thus preventing rotation of the deadbolt lock handle and preventing unauthorized opening of the door. The distal region of the central portion may be secured to the proximal region by any suitable releasable fastener, such as a hook-and-loop type fastener, for example. In FIG. 4, a first fastening portion 18, such as hooks, for example, is shown secured to the distal region of central portion 13, and a second fastening portion 16, such as loops, for example, is shown secured to the proximal region of central portion 13. It should be understood that the hook-and-loop type fastener 16, 18 is shown for exemplary purposes only and that any suitable releasable fastener may be utilized, dependent upon the needs and desires of the user.
As noted above, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, buckle 12 is mounted to the proximal end of the base strap 14, allowing the user to selectively adjust the circumference of the loop. The loop, in this embodiment, includes a free end and a fixed end, with the fixed end being joined to the central portion 13 of the base strap 14. The buckle 12 is secured to the free end of the loop, and the fixed end is slidably received by, and passes through, the buckle 12. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the loop may include a pair of fixed ends 35, both joined to the central portion 13 of the base strap 14, and forming a forked region 34. In this alternative embodiment, the buckle 32 is slidably mounted on the pair of fixed ends 35, allowing for selective adjustment and tightening of the loop about the deadbolt lock handle 36.
FIG. 7A illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 5 with the buckle 32 in a first, lower position, providing the user with a relatively wide-circumference looped portion 22, to be mounted on the deadbolt handle 36. In FIG. 7B, the buckle 32 is shown in a second, higher position (illustrated by directional arrow 100), allowing the looped portion 22 to be tightened about the deadbolt handle 36.
Further, an inner surface of the loop may have a frictionally engaging layer 20 formed thereon, for releasably frictionally engaging the deadbolt lock handle 36. The frictionally engaging layer 20 may be formed from rubber or the like. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the lower surface 28 of the central portion 13 of the base strap 14 may have user-selectable indicia 26 imprinted thereon. It should be noted that in FIG. 3, end 22 is shown as being formed as an adjustable loop. FIG. 6 illustrates, in plan view, device 10 prior to the formation of looped end 22; i.e., buckle 12 has not yet received portion 14 in this configuration.
In FIG. 8, an extender strap 110 is provided, allowing for securement of a deadbolt handle 36 on a door which has a relatively large displacement between deadbolt lock handle 36 and doorknob 38. On a conventional door, the distance between the deadbolt handle 36 and the doorknob 38 is approximately 7 inches. However, a customized door may have a distance longer than the conventional 7 inches. Although device 10 may be produced in a wide variety of sizes, dependent upon the needs and desires of the user, the user may further employ extender strap 10, to be used in combination with device 10 for the securement of the deadbolt handle 36.
Extender strap 110 includes an upper portion 120 and a lower looped portion 130, as shown. Lower looped portion 130 is secured about the shaft of the doorknob 38, as shown, and the upper portion 120 has a fastening material 18 (such as that described above with reference to FIGS. 1-7B) formed thereon for releasable and adjustable securement with fastening material 16, of device 10. Thus, the user may adjustably and releasably secure the extender strap to the lower portion of device 10, allowing for securement of the deadbolt handle 36 in a manner similar to that described above.
The lower looped portion 130 is illustrated as having a permanent looped contour, preferably formed through sewing or similar methods. However, the looped portion 130 may be releasable and adjustable, through the use of releasable and adjustable fixtures, such as snaps, hook-and-loop type fasteners or the like. Further, it should be understood that looped portion 130 may be unsecured and the extender portion 110 may be used to lock the deadbolt handle 36 in place in a manner similar to that described above with regard to FIG. 1.
The present locking device 10 secures between the shank or shaft of doorknob 38, positioned near the deadbolt mechanism on the inside of the door, and the deadbolt lock handle 36, thus completely preventing any movement of the deadbolt latch handle 36. It is significant to note that the present invention secures to the outer end of deadbolt handle 36, thus changing the leverage point of the deadbolt handle 36 from the center to an end of the handle; this provides maximum holding power with less force or pull being exerted by the user to place the security strap 10 in the locking position. Even a key or picking instruments cannot provide sufficient torque or leverage to overcome the grip of the present security device 10 when it is secured to the deadbolt latch handle.
The locking device 10 allows for the looped portion 22 to secure about the perimeter of the deadbolt handle 36 itself, rather than the associated shaft, which would be rather cumbersome for the user, and difficult to secure. Further, as illustrated, the looped portion 22 secures the deadbolt handle 36 about its center, requiring only approximately one quarter of the strap to be wrapped about the deadbolt handle 36, rather than the entire strap. Thus, the device 10 may be easily and quickly secured to the deadbolt handle 36 and to doorknob 38. During the process of wrapping and attachment to the deadbolt handle 36, the buckle 12, 32 is automatically tightened to secure the looped end 22 about the deadbolt handle 36, once again providing ease of use and efficient application.
Further, it should be noted that the looped end 22 may be adjustably secured about a deadbolt handle 36 having any suitable size or contour, rather than just the exemplary deadbolt handle 36 illustrated in the Figures.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Patent Application
20080042451
