STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an extendable door lock.
BACKGROUND
Door locks are used, for example, to help prevent illicit passage through a door thereby helping to prevent theft or damage to contents in a room or facility located behind the door.
SUMMARY
In one non-limiting embodiment, the invention is an extendable door lock sub-assembly, comprising: a first shaft, a second shaft, and a lock mechanism.
The first shaft defines a proximal end and a distal end.
The second shaft comprises a first segment and an adjoining second segment. The first segment defining a first opposite end and a second opposite end, the second segment defining a third opposite end and a fourth opposite end. The second segment has a smaller cross-section than the first segment, wherein the third opposite end of the second segment is located inside the second opposite end of the first segment thereby defining a constriction in the first segment. The first opposite end of the first segment is sized to receive the proximal end of the first shaft. The first shaft is capable of telescoping into and out of the first segment, wherein the constriction prevents the first shaft entering the second segment.
The lock mechanism being located at least partly in a housing.
The first segment is perforated to provide an inner hole, the first shaft is perforated to provide a plurality of first shaft holes, wherein when the inner hole is aligned with one of the plurality of first shaft holes the lock mechanism is capable of engaging the inner hole with the aligned first shaft hole to prevent movement of the first shaft relative to the second shaft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C each show an environmental view of an extendable door lock according to the invention.
FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an extendable door lock according to the invention.
FIG. 3A shows an exploded view of an extendable door lock of FIG. 2 minus washer plates according to the invention.
FIG. 3B shows an exploded view of an extendable door lock sub-assembly according to the invention.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an extendable door lock according to the invention.
FIG. 5 shows a top planar view of first and second mounting brackets according to the invention.
FIG. 6 shows a top planar view of a second shaft showing first and second segments and a lock mechanism according to the invention.
FIG. 7 shows a reverse side perspective view of an extendable door lock according to the invention.
FIG. 8 shows an end view of the second shaft of FIG. 6 according to the invention.
FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an array of carriage bolts and associated items according to the invention.
FIG. 10 shows an interior side of a door jamb fitted with an interior washer plate with a longest carriage bolt protruding therefrom for insertion into a first or second attachment hole according to the invention.
FIG. 11 shows an extendable door lock in a storage mode according to the invention.
FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an array of carriage bolts and associated items according to the invention.
FIG. 13 shows a longitudinal section view of a first shaft and a first segment of an extendable door lock in the vicinity of a lock mechanism according to the invention.
FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of an extendable door lock with a lock mechanism in a locked configuration according to the invention.
FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the extendable door lock of FIG. 14 (minus first and second interior washer plates) with the lock mechanism in an unlocked configuration according to the invention.
FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of an extendable door lock with a lock mechanism in the form of a spring-loaded combination lock in a locked configuration according to the invention.
FIG. 17A shows a perspective view of the extendable door lock of FIG. 16 with the lock mechanism in the form of a spring-loaded combination lock in an unlocked configuration according to the invention.
FIG. 17B shows a perspective view of the extendable door lock of FIG. 16 with the lock mechanism in the form of a spring-loaded combination lock in an unlocked configuration minus combination lock set key 280.
FIG. 18 shows an exploded view of the extendable door lock of FIG. 16 according to the invention.
FIG. 19 shows a close up exploded view of the extendable door lock of FIG. 18 according to the invention.
FIG. 20 shows a schematic longitudinal section view of a first shaft and a first segment of an extendable door lock in the vicinity of a lock mechanism in the form of a spring-loaded combination lock in a locked configuration according to the invention.
FIG. 21 shows a schematic longitudinal section view of the shaft and first segment of the extendable door lock of FIG. 20 with the lock mechanism in the form of a spring-loaded combination lock in an unlocked configuration according to the invention.
FIGS. 22A through 23B show first and second mounting brackets welded to a metal door jamb.
FIGS. 24A, 24B and 24C are tables listing parts providing a useful point of reference.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is to be understood that the terms “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “side”, “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “upper”, “lower”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “height”, “width”, “length”, “end” and the like are used herein merely to describe points of reference and do not limit the present invention to any specific orientation or configuration. It should also be understood that the claimed invention and parts may be of any size, shape or configuration suitable for operation of the invention and may be constructed of any suitable materials. Still further, any and all dimensions if shown in attached Figures are example dimensions; dimensions (length, width, height) can vary from those shown.
The extendable door lock of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 100. It should be expressly understood that the extendable door lock 100 of the present invention can be used to help secure a variety of doors and hence is expressly not limited to a particular door. For example, the extendable door lock 100 can be used to secure doors such as office doors. For example, the extendable door lock 100 can be used to secure ‘job site office doors’ (found on construction sites).
Table 1 of parts (see FIGS. 24A, 24B, and 24C) is a useful point of reference.
The extendable door lock 100 is typically applied across the exterior of a door see, for example, FIG. 1A) that opens outwards to help prevent illicit passage through a door 101 thereby helping to prevent theft or damage to contents in a room or facility located behind the door 101.
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show an environmental view of the extendable door lock 100 applied across the exterior side 106 of a door 101. Specifically, the extendable door lock 100 is shown in three possible configurations wherein a lock mechanism 107 (shown in the in the form of a barrel lock 108) is shown pointing outwards (FIG. 1A), downwards (FIG. 1B), and upwards (FIG. 1C). The extendable door lock 100 can, for example, be placed across the exterior of a door 106 just above a door handle 115.
Still referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, a door jamb 102, typically made of wood, defines: a first exterior side 110 of the door jamb 102, and a second exterior side 111 of the doorjamb 102. The extendable door lock 100 defines: a first principal end 177, and a second principal end 178 thereof. The first 177 principal end is shown attached to the first exterior side 110 of the door jamb 102. The second 178 principal end is shown attached to the second exterior side 111 of the door jamb 102.
It should be understood that the form of the lock mechanism 107 can vary and is expressly not limited to a barrel lock 108 shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, If present, the barrel lock 108 can be operated using any suitable key such as, but not limited, a barrel lock key 112 shown, for example, in FIG. 2.
Referring to FIGS. 2 through 8, the extendable door lock 100 comprises a first shaft 120, a second shaft 135, a first mounting bracket 170, a second mounting bracket 175, and the lock mechanism 107. (Note that FIG. 3B shows an exploded view of an extendable door lock sub-assembly 100s which does not include first 170 and second 175 mounting brackets.) The first 120 and second 135 shafts take the form of elongated hollow members.
The first shaft 120 defines a proximal opposite end 125 and a distal opposite end 130. The second shaft 135 comprises a first segment 140 and an adjoining second segment 145. The first segment 140 defines a first opposite end 160 and a second opposite end 165, wherein the lock mechanism 107 in the form of a barrel lock 108, is at least partly located in a barrel lock housing 109b. The barrel lock housing 109b and lock mechanism 107 is shown located proximate to the first opposite end 160 of the first segment 140. It should be understood that the location of the lock mechanism 107 and housing 109b can vary and need not be located proximate to the first opposite end 160 of the first segment 140.
The second segment 145 defines a third opposite end 147 and a fourth opposite end 149. The second segment 145 has a smaller cross-section than the first segment 140. The third opposite end 147 of the second segment 145 is located inside the second opposite end 165 of the first segment 140 thereby defining a constriction 150 in the first segment 140 of the second shaft 135. The first shaft 120 is capable of telescoping into and out of the first segment 140 except that the constriction 150 prevents the proximal end 125 of first shaft 120 entering the second segment 145 and hence prevents the first shaft 120 entering the second segment 145.
Specifically, the first opposite end 160 of the first segment is sized to receive the proximal end 125 of the first shaft 120 (see, for example, the exploded view shown in FIG. 2), wherein the first shaft 120 is capable of telescoping into and out of the first segment 140 except that the constriction 150 prevents the first shaft 120 entering the second segment 145.
The first mounting bracket 170 is configured to receive the distal opposite end 130 of the first shaft 120; wherein the first mounting bracket 170 comprises a first tubular component 195 and a first base plate 200. For example, the first tubular component 195 of the first mounting bracket 170 receives the distal opposite end 130 of the first shaft 120, the first tubular component 195 being capped off by a first cap 197 (the first cap 197 forms an integral part of first tubular component 195; for example, see FIG. 3A). The first tubular component 195 is attached to the first base plate 200. The first base plate 200 defines a first interior surface 205 which during installation rests against a first exterior side 110 of a door jamb 102. The first base plate 200 having a plurality of first base plate holes 210 there-through (FIG. 5 shows two first base plate holes 210). A first plurality of fasteners 215 are used to connect the first mounting bracket 170 to the door jamb 102.
Referring to FIG. 9, the first plurality of fasteners may comprise a first plurality of carriage bolts 360 and a first plurality of complementary bolt nuts 370 (see FIG. 9). Each of the first plurality of carriage bolts 360 has a shallow mushroom head 380 and a point end 390. One of the first plurality of carriage bolts 360 is longer in length than the rest (the longest carriage bolt is labeled “400” in FIG. 9). An optional first plurality of bolt covers 410 are used to cover the point ends 390 except for the point end of the longest bolt 400.
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the purpose of the longer bolt 400 is revealed. Specifically, when the extendable door lock 100 is not in use it can be hung from the longest carriage bolt 400. For example, the longest bolt 400 can be inserted into the second attachment hole 168 (shown in FIG. 7) and thereafter the extendable door lock 100 is hung from the longest bolt 400. The longest bolt 400 can also be inserted into the first attachment hole 167 (shown in FIG. 6) and thereafter the extendable door lock 100 is hung from the longest bolt 400. Alternatively, the longest bolt 400 can be inserted into one of the plurality of first shaft holes 185 (shown, for example, in FIG. 2) and thereafter the extendable door lock 100 is hung from the longest bolt 400.
In one embodiment, a first interior washer plate 176 is used in conjunction with the first plurality of fasteners 215 to secure the first principal end 177 of the extendable door lock 100 to the interior side 217 of a door jamb 102; for reference, the interior side 217 of a door jamb 102, as is the interior side 218 of door 101, is shown in FIG. 10. The first interior washer plate 176 defines a first plurality of washer plate holes 179 therethrough; the first plurality of washer plate holes 179 is shown, for example, in FIG. 2. During installation the door jamb 102 is drilled through to provide through holes to accommodate the first plurality of fasteners 215 therethrough. The first plurality of fasteners 215 are then used to secure the first interior washer plate 176 to the interior side 217 of a door jamb 102.
The second mounting bracket 175 is configured to receive the fourth opposite end 149 of the second segment 145; wherein the second mounting bracket 175 comprises a second tubular component 220 and a second base plate 230. For example, the second tubular component 220 of the second mounting bracket 175 receives the fourth opposite end 149 of the second segment 145, the second tubular component 220 being capped off by a second cap 225 (the second cap 225 forms an integral part of second tubular component 220; for example, see FIG. 4). The second tubular component 220 is attached to a second base plate 230. The second base plate 230 defines a second interior surface 235 which during installation rests against the second exterior side 111 of door jamb 102. The second base plate 230 having a plurality of second base plate holes 240 there-through (FIG. 5, for example, shows two second base plate holes 240). A second plurality of fasteners 245 are used to connect the second mounting bracket 175 to the door jamb 102.
Referring to FIG. 12, the second plurality of fasteners may comprise a second plurality of carriage bolts 420 and a second plurality of complementary bolt nuts 430. Each of the second plurality of carriage bolts 420 are of equal length, possess a shallow mushroom head 440 and a point end 450. An optional second plurality of bolt covers 460 are used to cover the point end 450 of each carriage bolt 420.
In one embodiment, the first plurality of fasteners 215 and second plurality of fasteners 245 are of equal length except that one fastener 400 is of longer length than the remaining fasteners, and wherein when the extendable door lock 100 is not in use the extendable door lock 100 is capable of being hung from the longer fastener 400.
In one embodiment, a second interior washer plate 250 is used in conjunction with the second plurality of fasteners 245 to secure a second principal end 178 of the extendable door lock 100 to the interior side 217 of a door jamb 102 (see FIG. 10). The second interior washer plate 250 defines a second plurality of washer plate holes 260 therethrough; the second plurality of washer plate holes 260 is shown, for example, in FIG. 2. During installation the door jamb 102 is drilled through to provide through holes to accommodate the second plurality of fasteners 245 therethrough. The second plurality of fasteners 245 are then used to secure the second interior washer plate 250 to the interior side 217 of a door jamb 102; for reference, the interior side 217 of a door jamb 102 is shown in FIG. 10. (The use of the first interior washer plate 176 and the second interior washer plate 250 are entirely optional; for example, the first 176 and second 250 interior washer plates are not shown in FIGS. 3 and 15.)
FIG. 13 shows a longitudinal section view of the first shaft 120 and first segment 140 of the second shaft 135 in the vicinity of the lock mechanism 107 (in this instance barrel lock 108). The first segment 140 is perforated to provide an inner hole 180. The first shaft 120 is perforated to provide a plurality of first shaft holes 185 (also shown, for example, in FIG. 2), wherein when the inner hole 180 is aligned with one of the plurality of first shaft holes 185 (labeled 190) the lock mechanism 107 (i.e., the barrel lock 108) is capable of engaging the inner hole 180 with the aligned first shaft hole 190 to prevent movement of the first shaft 120 relative to the second shaft 135. (The longest bolt 400, discussed above, can also be inserted into one of the plurality of first shaft holes 185 and the extendable door lock 100 hung therefrom.)
Still referring to FIG. 13, the barrel lock 108 has a lock pin 113; the barrel lock 108 is at least partly located in a housing 109b. The barrel lock 108 is shown in its unlocked position in solid lines. The barrel lock 108 may be moved to a locked position, shown in phantom, in which the lock pin 113 is inserted through an inner hole 180 in the first segment 140 and one of a plurality of first shaft holes 185; more specifically, when the inner hole 180 is aligned with one of the plurality of first shaft holes 185 (for convenience labeled 190) the barrel lock 108 is capable of engaging the inner hole 180 with the aligned first shaft hole 190 to prevent movement of the first shaft 120 relative to the second shaft 135.
Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15 of which FIG. 14 shows the barrel lock 108 in a locked configuration. The barrel lock 108 is shown in an unlocked configuration in FIG. 15. The barrel lock 108 is operated using barrel lock key 112.
FIG. 16 shows a combination lock 270 which forms part of a spring-loaded combination lock 265 (shown, for example, in FIG. 19). The combination lock 270 is shown in its locked position mostly surrounded by housing 109c. The label “100c” refers to an extendable door lock fitted with a combination lock 270. (The label “100c” is used throughout FIGS. 16 through 19; and FIGS. 23A and 23B.)
In FIG. 17, the combination lock 270 is shown in its unlocked position. The combination lock 270 is partly protruding from housing 109c. A combination lock set key 280 is used to set the combination of the combination lock 270 while the combination lock 270 is in its unlocked position. It should be understood that the combination lock set key 280 is optional such that the combination lock is opened solely by finger input by a human (not shown in FIG. 17); a combination lock lacking a combination lock set key 280 is shown in FIG. 17A and is labeled 270b.
FIG. 18 shows an exploded view of a lock mechanism 107 in the form of a spring-loaded combination lock 265. The spring-loaded combination lock 265, which includes the combination lock 270, further comprises a lock bracket 290 used to hold the combination lock 270. A bracket tongue 295 extends from the lock bracket 290. A securing member 300 is used to secure the combination lock 270 in the combination lock housing 109c. During installation of the combination lock 270, the securing member 300 is inserted into the spring-loaded combination lock 265 via a securing hole 305 (shown in FIG. 19).
FIG. 19 provides a close up view of the spring-loaded combination lock 265. A lock bracket gap 340 is located in the lock bracket 290. The lock bracket 290 defines a lock bracket hole 344. A combination lock hook 320 fits through the lock bracket gap 340 allowing hook end 346 of the combination lock hook 320 to fit through the lock bracket hole 344. As can be seen in FIG. 19, the spring-loaded combination lock 265 further comprises a spring 310. The combination lock hook 320 is shown in an unlocked configuration with hook gap 350 visible. The spring 310 is confined within the confines of the combination lock hook 320.
FIG. 20 shows a schematic longitudinal section view of the spring-loaded combination lock 265 with the combination lock 270 in its locked configuration. The combination lock hook 320 is shown in a locked position with the spring 310 compressed. The bracket tongue 295 is shown inserted through an inner hole 180 in the first segment 140 and one of a plurality of first shaft holes 185; more specifically, when the inner hole 180 is aligned with one of the plurality of first shaft holes 185 (for convenience labeled 190) the combination lock 270 is capable of engaging the inner hole 180 with the aligned first shaft hole 190 to prevent movement of the first shaft 120 relative to the second shaft 135.
FIG. 21 shows a schematic longitudinal section view of the spring-loaded combination lock 265 with the combination lock 270 in its unlocked configuration. In this configuration the spring 310 is decompressed having pushed the combination lock 270 partly out of housing 109c. The combination lock hook 320 is shown in an open state (revealing hook gap 350) following a correct input into the combination lock 270 by the human user. The bracket tongue 295 has withdrawn from the aligned first shaft hole 190 thereby permitting free movement of the first shaft 120 relative to the second shaft 135. A human user (not shown) of the extendable door lock 100 inputs a code into the combination lock 270 to unlock the combination lock 270.
Referring to FIGS. 22A through 23B, the first base plate 200 and second base plate 230 is shown welded onto a metal door jamb 102m; the metal door jamb 102m being typically made of steel. In this embodiment there is no requirement for the first interior washer plate 176 nor the second interior washer plate 250; in addition there is no requirement for the first plurality of fasteners 215 nor the second plurality of fasteners 245.
In one non-limiting embodiment, the extendable door lock 100 (and which also applies to the versions of the extendable door lock represented by numerals 100s (see FIG. 3B) and 100c (see, for example FIG. 16)) is made of steel. In one non-limiting embodiment, the extendable door lock 100 (including 100s and 100c) is made of composite material. In one non-limiting embodiment, the extendable door lock 100 (including 100s and 100c) is made of a combination of composite material and steel. For example, the amount of composite can vary between 5% and 95% the remaining being steel. In the alternative, the amount of steel can vary between 5% and 95% the remaining being composite material.
The composite material can take any suitable form such as, but not limited to, fiber-reinforced plastic. Examples of fiber-reinforced plastic products include angles, bars, I-beams, boardwalks, bridges, channels, coverboard, covers, decks, flooring, floats, gates, grates, handrails, ladders, panels, pilings, pipe, poles and walkways.
Patents which explain how to make and/or mould fiber-reinforced plastics include, alone or in combination, as follows: U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,087 (to Wackerle, et al, “Member formed of fiber-reinforced plastic material, such as a rotor blade”), U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,032 (to Yanagiok, “Nickel-plated golf club shaft made of fiber-reinforced plastics”), U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,490 (to Yoshioka, et al, “Fiber reinforced plastic sheet molding compound”), U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,459 (to Woltron, et al, “Plastic leaf spring with at least one spring-eye body or spring-eye section”), U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,842 (to Prochaska, et al, “System for the manufacture of tubular structural parts of a fiber-reinforced plastic”), U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,190 (to Airhart, “Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic arrow”), U.S. Pat. No. 6,797,331 (to Singler, et al, “Process for producing a chemical-resistant protective layer for a rotary body having a base body made from fiber-reinforced plastic”), U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,470 (to Key, et al “Glass fibers and fiber-reinforced plastics”), U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,493 (to Nakazono, et al, “Drive shaft made of fiber reinforced plastics, and method for connecting pipe made of fire-reinforced plastics”), U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,318 (to Andre De La Porte, et al, “Hollow fiber-reinforced plastic body”), U.S. Pat. No. 10,611,057 (to Taketa, et al), U.S. Pat. No. 9,751,239 (to Murai, et al, “Method and device for molding fiber-reinforced plastic member”), U.S. Pat. No. 9,574,081 (to Ishimoto, et al, “Epoxy-resin composition, and film, prepreg and fiber-reinforced plastic using the same”), U.S. Pat. No. 9,168,801 (to Dicke, et al, “Transverse link made of fibre-reinforced plastics material for a wheel suspension of a vehicle”), U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,199 (to Graber, et al, “Chassis part consisting of fiber-reinforced plastics, equipped with an integrated sensor”), U.S. Pat. No. 8,376,426 (to Choi, et al, “Plastic composite bumper beam for vehicle”) U.S. Pat. No. 10,773,472 (to Takano, et al, “Method for manufacturing fiber-reinforced plastic molded body”), and U.S. Pat. No. 10,227,464 (to Saji, “Fiber-reinforced plastic shaped product”).
Composite materials that can also be used in the present invention include those described in: U.S. Pat. No. 11,220,465 (to Kubo, et al, “Method for producing SiC/SiC composite material”), U.S. Pat. No. 11,208,535 (to Ochi, et al, “Production method for prepreg, and production method for fiber-reinforced composite material”), U.S. Pat. No. 11,203,178 (to Kuroda, “Reinforced substrate for composite material, composite material, and method for manufacturing reinforced substrate for composite material”), U.S. Pat. No. 11,187,09 (to Ochi, et al, “Coating-liquid-impregnated fiber-reinforced fabric, sheet-shaped integrated object, prepreg, prepreg tape, and method for manufacturing fiber-reinforced composite material”), U.S. Pat. No. 11,208,911 (to Sadler, et al, “Turbine shroud ring segments with ceramic matrix composite components”), U.S. Pat. No. 11,198,651 (to Sadler, et al, “Turbine shroud ring segments with ceramic matrix composite components”)”); U.S. Pat. No. 11,198,924 (to Chandrasekaran, et al, “Composite materials”).
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
20230417093
