Doorknob disabling device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6658906
  • Patent Number
    6,658,906
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, January 22, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 9, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Gall; Lloyd A.
    • Kyle; Michael J.
    Agents
    • Bishop; Douglas S.
Abstract
A device for temporarily disabling a doorknob attached to a hinged door. The device covers the doorknob with a rigid enclosure, preventing rotation of the doorknob to move the associated locking bolt. A retaining unit is mated with an extension from the rigid enclosure in a male-female relationship, simultaneously with fitting the retaining unit over the outer edge of the hinged door while ajar. Closure of the door into the associated doorjamb, with the enclosure over the doorknob, prevents parting movement between the enclosure and the retaining unit, providing a self-locking feature.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The concept of placing a cover enclosure over a rotational doorknob, to prevent rotation of the doorknob, and concurrent dislodging of the associated locking bolt, and, finally, opening of an associated door, is, generally known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,221, to Atchisson, discloses a retrofit doorknob lock apparatus, in which a shroud is placed over the doorknob and the doorknob shaft and a clevis fits through slots in the shroud to retain the shroud in place. The clevis is locked in place with a separate exterior lock, on the same side of the door. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,608, to Young, discloses an auxiliary door lock including a doorknob cover, a resilient band along the inner wall surface of the cover, and a locking means, again on the same side of the door, utilizing a separate, exterior lock. The door lock of U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,867, to Leneave, again discloses a cover, comprised of a tubular casing, which fits over a doorknob, on one side of the door, with a locking lever, utilizing a separate lock, again, on the same side of the door. U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,256, to Crosby, for a doorknob security device, also utilizes a cover mechanism, kept in place by a separate lock, on the same side of the door. The lockable doorknob enclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,235, to Aucoin, again deals with an enclosure which fits over a doorknob to prevent rotation of the knob, and which has an incorporated locking mechanism, requiring a separate key, again, on the same side of the door as the mechanism.




As is indicated from review of the referenced prior art, all of the mechanisms shown for disabling a doorknob require an additional locking mechanism, either with an incorporated lock and key, or by requiring a separate, external lock, which would require either a combination or key to open. None of the devices shown in the prior art allow the disabling function to be completed by simply placing the door ajar, fitting the device into place, and closing the door, thereafter allowing entry only by activation of the doorknob from the opposite side. Correspondingly, the devices of the prior art do not permit removal of the device, once locked in place, simply by opening the associated door from the opposite side and removing the device by simple reverse sequence of its installation, without the need to separately unlock a separate attached security device.




Accordingly, a need exists for a doorknob disabling device, of a two piece construction, which may be put in place in a simple sequence, by placing the associated door ajar, placing a cover over the doorknob and mating a retaining mechanism with the doorknob cover, by movement of the retaining mechanism toward the cover, and closing of the door, so that the cover and retaining mechanism may not be disassociated while the door is closed, because of the position of the associated door jam, and its contact with the retaining mechanism, and the associated doorknob and its contact with the cover.




A need for such a device is particulary apparent in industries such as the mobile home sales industry, to prevent prospective customers from unnecessarily opening, and leaving unlocked, different access doors, during the course of their investigation of the product.




Likewise, the prior art does not provide a doorknob disabling device which may be placed over a knob on a associated door, on the side for gaining entry, and closed by a person temporarily occupying the interior space to which the door provides access, when there is a need for personal security in such space.




The present invention is directed toward a device with a minimum of components and moving parts, which does not require a separate locking mechanism, and addresses the shortcomings of the prior art.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention is directed to a locking device, generally, and, in particular, to a doorknob disabling device which is utilized with a standard doorknob, which may or may not have a key on the knob on the side of the door from which access may still be gained, and, in some cases, having a manual locking or unlocking device on the portion of the doorknob on the interior or opposing side of the door. The device may, however, be utilized on any doorknob, even one without locks on either side, to disable the doorknob from the side of the door on which the device is affixed, when the door is closed within its associated doorjamb.




The device is designed, primarily, to be utilized to cover the knob on the side of the door which does not require a key, and from which the door may be manually locked or unlocked, so that, when the door is closed, the door may only be unlocked, as a prelude to opening, by utilizing the key from the exterior side of the door.




The device may be constructed of an rigid, non-permeable material. It is ideally constructed of metal. Plastic, acrylic or other material may be utilized. The device consists of a hollow cylinder, cup, or other enclosure having an open end, in which to accept a doorknob, and being otherwise, externally closed. This member is constructed, generally, so that it has the appearance of a cylinder, glass, or cup, but, in theory, may be of any shape, so long as there is a unitary, rigid exterior surface, completely enclosing the doorknob, when the doorknob is inserted or covered through the open end. The enclosure may be of a variation of sizes, and is generally configured to fit as snugly as desired over a doorknob, so that the open end rests against the planar surface of the door upon which the knob is attached. The cylinder may be long enough to accommodate varying doorknobs while maintaining contact with the door. While the interior portion of the closed end of the covering enclosure may touch the outer surface of the doorknob when the open end of the enclosure is in contact with the planar surface of the door, it is not necessary that it do so, and the device works equally well when the interior of the enclosure is actually contacting the knob, or where there is a space between the exterior knob surface and interior surface of the enclosure.




The device may constructed in different sizes, to accommodate different diameters of doorknobs, but the device will operate as intended, so long as the interior portion of the enclosure is of greater diameter than the diameter of the doorknob. If desired, rings or spacers may be placed around the interior of enclosure to make the interior diameter of the enclosure more closely conform to the outer diameter of the knob, if a close fit is particularly desired. As stated, it is not necessary for this fit to be close in any particular relative dimension, other than that the space between the exterior circumference of the knob and the interior surface of the enclosure must be less than the distance of the insertion of the mating extension from the enclosure into the female mating receptacle on the retention device, so that sideways movement of the enclosure will be impeded by the knob, prior the point where the mating relationship may be disengaged.




The enclosure has an opening, which is basically formed by a truncated section, so that the opening has an edge surface, substantially in a singular plane, which corresponds with and contacts the planer surface of the associated door. Either in the same plane, or in a plane parallel thereto, the enclosure member has a mating extension which extends outward toward the outer edge of the door, when the enclosure is in place over the doorknob.




A second detachable retaining member is conformed to fit over the width of the door edge approximate to the where the doorknob and lock assembly to be disabled is located. The retaining member is, preferably, a flat piece, conformed by bending to contact, by corresponding planar surfaces, the side of the door on which the knob to be disabled is located, the opposing side of the door, and the exterior edge of the door extending between them. The retaining member is fitted with a receptacle member, to accept and rigidly contain the extension from the enclosure, in a male-female relationship, when the enclosure is placed over the doorknob, and the retaining member is then placed over the edge of the door as described. The portion of the retaining member which forms the female receptacle portion of the mating relationship may be a complete enclosure, or may be partially cut away leaving overlapping flanges at the edges to hold extension firmly in place. The portion of the retaining member which contacts the planar edge of the door also is conformed to provide an opening sufficient for the locking bolt of the doorknob locking assembly to pass through.




The device is put in place when the associated door is ajar. Accordingly, when the associated door is closed, within its associated doorjamb, the enclosure may not be removed from the doorknob, because disassociating motion along the plane of the door is prevented by contact between the interior of the enclosure and the doorknob assembly and contact by the exterior portion of the retention member, and the associated doorjamb. Further, the enclosure may not be moved away from contact with the door, around the doorknob, because of the portion of the retaining member which is bent around the edge of the door, and which contacts the opposite surface of the door, and because of the dual retaining function provided when the locking doorknob assembly bolt passes through the opening in the retention member and locks into the associated receptacle in the doorjamb.




In another embodiment of the invention, the enclosure member alternatively is provided with two parallel pairs of apertures, with each pair aligned linearly parallel to the surface of the associated door and perpendicular to the plane of the exterior edge of the door, with a corresponding parallel pair of rods mounted on the retention member and fitting within and through the parallel pairs of apertures in male-female relationship.




Other objects, advantages and novel features of this invention will be set forth and will become apparent in the detailed description which follows.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The following detailed description is best understood with reference to the following drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the device, in mated position covering a doorknob and secured over the outer edge of an ajar door;





FIG. 2

is an exploded view of the components of the device showing the relationship between the device and an associated doorknob and door, as well as the mating association of the components of the device when in place;





FIG. 3

is a sectional top view of the device in place on an associated door;





FIG. 4

is perspective view of the an alternative embodiment of the device in place on an associated door, showing, in transparency, the relationship of the device with a doorknob on the associated door;





FIG. 5

is a sectional top-view of an alternative embodiment of the device in place on an associated door; and





FIG. 6

is a perspective view of the device, in mated position covering a doorknob and secured over the outer edge of a closed door.





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of the device in mated position covering a door knob and secured over the outer edge of a closed door, demonstrating the enclosure means in the shape if a truncated sphere.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




The invention doorknob disabling device


10


, broadly considered, includes an enclosure member


20


and a retention member


30


. The doorknob disabling device is intended for use on an associated hinged door


40


having a doorknob assembly


41


which engages a locking bolt


42


. Such a door


40


generally has a planar interior surface


43


upon which the doorknob assembly


41


is mounted, a corresponding planar exterior surface


44


and a planar outer edge surface


45


, substantially perpendicular to the interior surface


43


and exterior surface


44


, and running between them. The locking bolt


42


extends from and retracts into the outer edge surface


45


, roughly proximate the doorknob assembly


41


.




Enclosure member


20


in the preferred embodiment is a hollow cylinder


21


, having a closed outer first end


22


and an open second end


23


. The cylinder


21


is truncated to form the open end


23


. Cylinder


21


has a rigid unitary outer surface


24


and a unitary inner surface


25


. The truncated open end


23


provides a continuous opening edge


26


of the outer surface


24


and inner surface


25


in a substantially singular plane as demonstrated in the cross-sectional views of

FIGS. 3 and 5

, which is proximate to and contacts the planar interior surface


43


of the associated door


40


. While the preferred embodiment of enclosure member


20


is a cylinder


21


, enclosure member


20


may be of varied exterior shapes, including, but not limited to, the shown cylinder


21


, a cup, or a truncated sphere, so long as the outer surface


24


is rigid and unitary, the edge


26


of the open end


23


is substantially planar, and the enclosure member


20


is sufficiently hollow to cover a doorknob


41


when the open end


23


is in contact with the associated door surface


43


, as shown in

FIGS. 1

,


2


,


3


,


4


,


5


and


6


.




Attached to enclosure member


20


is a rigid mating extension


27


, extending outward from member


20


proximate to opening


23


and substantially parallel to the plane thereof. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, extension


27


is a flat bar member having an upper edge


27




a


, a lower edge


27




b


, defining a height A, and a first end


27




c


proximate to cylinder


21


and an outer second end


27




d


, defining a length B. Extension


27


is of sufficient thickness or width


28


along its length B and height A to provide a rigid connection with retention member


30


when mated as shown in FIG.


1


. Extension


27


further has a flat outer surface


27




e


and a flat inner surface


27




f.






Retention member


30


, in the preferred embodiment, is a flat bar unit, having an outer surface


31


and an inner surface


32


. Member


30


is conformed in a substantial ā€œuā€ shape to provide a first side


30




a


, a second, parallel, opposing side


30




b


, and a bridging, perpendicular end section


30




c


. Member


30


if further conformed to fit over the edge


45


of associated door


40


, with the inner surface


32


of first side


30




a


in planar contact with interior surface


43


, inner surface


32


of opposing side


30




b


in planar contact with exterior surface


44


, and inner surface


32


of end section


30




c


in planar contact with outer edge surface


45


, when member


30


is moved into place as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

.




First side


30




a


of retention member


30


is further configured to receive mating extention


27


in a rigid coupling relationship as shown in

FIG. 1

, by relative contacting movement as shown in FIG.


2


.




Retention member


30


has an upper edge


33


and lower edge


34


defining a height dimension C. In the preferred embodiment, upper edge


33


and lower edge


34


are each flanged to traverse the width


28


of extension


27


along upper edge


27




a


and lower edge


27




b


and a portion of the length B of outer surface


27




e.






Extension member


27


and first side


30




a


are further conformed so that height dimension C is at least as long as height A, so that member


27


is slidably insertable within the flanged edges


33


and


34


and, when so inserted, is rigidly held there in a male-female relationship.




In another preferred embodiment the flanged ends


33


and


34


may be extended across height dimension C, and joined so that first side


30




a


of retention member


30


completely encircles extension member


27


when coupled in male-female relationship. Extension member


27


may be configured as a rod or other shape so long as first side


30




a


is correspondingly configured to provide a rigid male-female coupling when the outer second end


27




d


is fully inserted into the receptacle of first side


30




a


. In whatever configuration or shape extension member


27


and the first side


30




a


of retention member


30


are provided, the mating movement between extension member


27


and first side


30




a


is substantially in a singular plane parallel to the plane of opening edge


26


and perpendicular to planar outer edge surface


45


of the associated door.




In the preferred embodiment, an opening


35


is also provided in end section


30




c


of retention member


30


. The opening


35


is provided large enough to permit passage through it of the locking bolt


42


when the locking bolt


42


is extended from outer edge surface


45


, as shown in FIG.


1


.




The device


10


is installed and made operative by placing the enclosure member


20


over the doorknob assembly


41


on the side of the associated door


40


, so that the open edge


26


is parallel to and in contact with the planar interior surface


43


, with the mating extension


27


extending outwardly and generally perpendicular to outer edge surface


45


. While the door


40


is ajar, retention member


30


is moved toward enclosure member


20


, until inner surface


32


of end section


30




c


is in planar contact with outer edge surface


45


of door


40


, and positioned so that locking bolt


42


is moveable through opening


35


, extension member


27


inserted within the flanged edges


33


and


34


of first side by doorjamb


50


. Any substantial movement of enclosure member


20


in direction E is prevented by doorknob assembly


41


, and movement of both enclosure member


20


and retention member


30


away from contact with the associated door


40


is prevent by the dual functions of bolt


42


extending through opening


35


, and the contact of inner surface


32


of opposing side


30




b


with exterior surface


44


. When the associated door


40


is opened and again ajar, the device may be removed by reverse sequence.




The entire device


10


may be constructed of metal or other rigid synthetic material such as plastic or acrylic matter.




An alternative embodiment of the device


10


is shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

, wherein the mating function between enclosure member


20


and retention member


30


is provided by a pair of linear apertures


51


extending through enclosure member


20


, linearly aligned so as to be perpendicular to edge surface


45


above stem


41




a


of doorknob assembly


41


, and a corresponding second pair of apertures


52


extending through enclosure member


20


linearly aligned parallel to linear apertures


51


and in the same plane parallel to the plane of opening edge


23


, with the distance G between the corresponding pairs


51


and


52


, being less than the largest diameter H of doorknob assembly


41


. Retention unit


30


is correspondly conformed to provide the parallel rods


53


attached to side


30




a


with outer ends


53




a


and


53




b


linearly aligned to be insertable through aperture pairs


52


and


51


, respectively, when inner surface


32


of end section


30




c


contacts outer edge surface


45


with aperture


35


centered to allow passage by locking bolt


42


. Motion in directions E & D is prevented in the same manner by doorjamb


50


and doorknob assembly


41


, while motion in direction F is additionally inhibited by contact of rods


53




a


and


53




b


against doorknob assembly


41


.




WHEREAS, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent that various and additional changes may be made in the disclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A doorknob disabling device for utilization on a doorknob affixed to a hinged door, comprising:a rigid enclosure means, truncated to provide an opening, substantially in a singular plane, conformed to fit over and enclose a doorknob with said opening substantially flush to a supporting door; a retention means, conformed to removably engage an ajar door edge and further conformed to define an aperture in the portion thereof which contacts the outer end of the surface of the door, of sufficient dimension to allow passage of a locking bolt which is irremovable when said door is closed; and a mating means wherein said enclosure means and retention means are rigidly mated by sequential placement of the enclosure means and the retention means.
  • 2. The doorknob disabling device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure means and retention means are mated in male-female relationship.
  • 3. The doorknob disabling device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure means is a hollow cylinder having a closed and open end.
  • 4. The doorknob enclosure device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure means is a truncated sphere.
  • 5. A doorknob disabling device for utilization on a doorknob affixed to a hinged door, comprising:a rigid enclosure means, truncated to provide an opening, substantially in a singular plane, conformed to fit over and enclose a doorknob with said opening substantially flush to a supporting door; a retention means, comprising a plurality of angularly conformed planar sections conformed to simultaneously substantially contact the front, back and outer end surfaces of a supporting door, which is irremovable when said door is closed; and a mating means wherein said enclosure means and retention means are rigidly mated by sequential placement of the enclosure means and the retention means.
  • 6. The doorknob disabling device of claim 1, wherein said mating means further comprises a member affixed to and extending from said enclosure means parallel to the plane of said opening and a receptacle attached to said retention means conformed to accept and retain said member in a male-female relationship.
  • 7. The doorknob disabling device of claim 1, wherein the components thereof are constructed of metal.
  • 8. The doorknob disabling device of claim 1, wherein the components thereof are constructed of rigid, synthetic matter.
  • 9. The doorknob disabling device of claim 5, wherein said retention means is further conformed to define an aperture in the portion thereof which contacts the outer end surface of the door, of sufficient dimension to allow passage of a locking bolt.
  • 10. The doorknob disabling device of claim 1, wherein said mating means comprises two or more linear pairs of apertures defined by the enclosure means and two or more corresponding rods extending from said retention means, each rod being received and retained by one linear pair of apertures in male-female relationship.
  • 11. The doorknob disabling device of claim 10, wherein at least one linear pair of apertures and one corresponding rod is above the axis of the doorknob assembly and at least one pair of apertures and one corresponding rod is below the axis of the doorknob assembly and the distance between said corresponding rods is less than the maximum diameter of the associated doorknob.
  • 12. The doorknob disabling device of claim 10, wherein said retention means comprises a plurality of angularly conformed planar sections conformed to simultaneously contact the front, back and outer end surfaces of a supporting door.
  • 13. A doorknob disabling device for utilization on a doorknob affixed to a hinged door, comprising:a hollow enclosure member having a unitary rigid outer surface and a unitary inner surface; said hollow enclosure member being truncated so as to define an opening in said outer surface and inner surface in a single plane; a rigid first mating member having a length, height and width dimension, a first end affixed to said enclosure member, and a second extending outwardly therefrom in parallel with the plane of said opening; a retention member comprised of two opposing parallel planar side members each having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a uniform width between them, an open top, open bottom, open end and a closed end; said closed end of said retention member being further conformed to define an aperture therein of sufficient dimension to allow passage of a locking bolt; said side members being joined at said closed end by a planar end member extending between them in a perpendicular plane; a second mating member attached to said retention member on the outer surface of one of the side members; and a coupling means, wherein said first mating member is rigidly coupled with said second mating member in male-female relationship by movement of the open end of said retention member toward the second end of said first mating member with the plane of said open end of said retention member being perpendicular to the length of said first mating member.
  • 14. The doorknob disabling device of claim 13, wherein said enclosure member is a cylinder.
  • 15. The doorknob disabling device of claim 13, wherein said enclosure member is conformed to accept within it and enclose a doorknob, with the plane of said outer surface being adjacent to and contacting the surface of a supporting door.
  • 16. The doorknob enclosure device of claim 13, wherein the uniform width between said opposing planar side member is equal to or greater than the width of a supporting door and the open end of said retention member is conformed to slidably fit over the exterior edge of a supporting door.
  • 17. The doorknob disabling device of claim 13, wherein the inner surface of one of the parallel side members and the opening in the hollow enclosure member both contact the same surface of a supporting door with the enclosure member enclosing a doorknob, and the mating members are slidably mateable in male-female relationship by sequentially placing the enclosed member and retention member in place on a door while ajar.
  • 18. The doorknob disabling device of claim 13, wherein the components thereof are constructed of metal.
  • 19. The doorknob disabling device of claim 13, wherein the components thereof are constructed of rigid, synthetic matter.
  • 20. The doorknob disabling device of claim 13, wherein the closed end of said retention member further defines an aperture of sufficient dimension to allow passage of a locking bolt.
Parent Case Info

This application claims the benefit of provisional application 60/263,349 filed Jan. 22, 2001.

US Referenced Citations (16)
Number Name Date Kind
2883850 Falck Apr 1959 A
3245240 Forrest Apr 1966 A
3739608 Young Jun 1973 A
3773369 Wersonick Nov 1973 A
4007956 Harris et al. Feb 1977 A
4127967 Franzl Dec 1978 A
4155578 Rolland May 1979 A
4285221 Atchisson Aug 1981 A
4503692 Grint Mar 1985 A
4575140 Dargis Mar 1986 A
4876867 Leneave Oct 1989 A
5425256 Crosby Jun 1995 A
5560235 Aucoin Oct 1996 A
5775149 Small Jul 1998 A
5934122 Edwards et al. Aug 1999 A
6416089 Williams, Jr. Jul 2002 B1
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/263349 Jan 2001 US