The embodiments generally relate to locking mechanisms.
Access points, such as doorways, are commonly locked to prevent unwanted ingress or egress through the doorway. Many locking mechanisms are currently available. However, these devices are prone to breakage. Further, many locking mechanisms may be tampered with in order to breach the access point they are design to secure.
This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in a simplified form that is disclosed further in the detailed description of the embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The embodiments described herein provide a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus. The locking apparatus may utilize friction as a means of resistance for securing an entryway.
According to some embodiments, the apparatus may include a main body that includes a rail to provide a sliding engagement between the main body and a slide. A resistance spring is mounted between a lower spring mount on the main body and an upper spring mount on the slide to bias the locking apparatus to a closed position to retain an access point in a closed position. A mounting hole permits the mounting of the locking apparatus to an access point. A security pin engages against the detention latch and improves upon the commonly used shear pins in the current technology.
Other illustrative variations within the scope of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. The detailed description and enumerated variations, while disclosing optional variations, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
A complete understanding of the present embodiments and the advantages and features thereof will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and certain features and certain views of the drawings may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are to the described apparatus. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitations or inferences are to be understood therefrom.
Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components and procedures related to the apparatus. Accordingly, the apparatus components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are set forth in this application. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitation or inferences are to be understood therefrom. Furthermore, as used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship, or order between such entities or elements.
In general, the embodiments relate to a detention latch locking mechanisms that prevent breaching of locked and secured detention latches. As an added benefit, consumable shear pins may not be required or included. During a common method of detention latches, a roller arm may be forced into an open position by lodging a foreign object between the roller arm and the frame of a secure doorway. Doing so effectively prevents a latch bolt of the same detention latch from securing the door in place, allowing for interference with secured detention latches. According to some embodiments, the disclosed locking apparatus may be retrofitted to an existing access point to prevent such tampering.
In general, a locking apparatus may be implemented in a secure doorway in an open setting while preventing locking of the roller arm into an open position via a foreign object. A secure doorway may include a frame through which a latch bolt and roller arm may pass. The latch bolt may be part of a larger lock assembly which the locking apparatus may secure. The roller arm may include a roller and roller pin which may mechanically interact with a pin guide of the locking mechanism to bias a main body towards the doorway frame via a resistance spring. In use, the latch bolt and roller arm may be forced towards the locking apparatus such that the roller pin mechanically interacts with the pin guide to rotate the locking apparatus such that a security pin passes over the first shoulder of the lock assembly and onto a top face of the lock assembly and into a second shoulder. At the same time, a pin guide may bias the roller pin and roller towards a door, preventing locking of the roller arm into an open position via a foreign object.
A retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus may include a main body defining a mounting hole, a pin guide, a slide guide, a slide track, a slide channel, a grub screw guide groove, and a concave divot. The locking apparatus may further include a first spring mount affixed to the main body and defining a first spring mounting hole. The locking apparatus may further include a slide comprising a first plate and a second plate joined by a rail constructed and arranged to slidably interact with slide guide and slidably travel within the slide channel and wherein the slide defines a grub screw guide groove and a concave divot. The locking apparatus may further include a second spring mount affixed to the slide and defining a second spring mounting hole; a resistance spring mounted to the first spring mounting hole and the second spring mounting hole; and a security pin fixed to the second plate.
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The resistance spring may be constructed and arranged to prevent the failure of shear pins or security pins (depicted as 506 in
The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, product, and methods considered to be within the scope of the disclosure and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, product, and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and still are considered to be within the scope of the invention.
According to variation 1, a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus may include a main body defining a mounting hole, a pin guide, a slide guide, a slide track, a slide channel, a grub screw guide groove, and a concave divot; a first spring mount affixed to the main body and defining a first spring mounting hole; a slide including a first plate and a second plate joined by a rail constructed and arranged to slidably interact with slide guide and slidably travel within the slide channel and wherein the slide defines a grub screw guide groove and a concave divot; a second spring mount affixed to the slide and defining a second spring mounting hole; a resistance spring mounted to the first spring mounting hole and the second spring mounting hole; and a security pin fixed to the second plate.
Variation 2 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in variation 1, wherein the main body includes a lift nose configured to rotate the locking apparatus when in use.
Variation 3 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in variation 1 or 2, further including a grub screw threadingly attached to the slide.
Variation 4 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 1 through 3, wherein the resistance spring is constructed and arranged to create resistance for the slide 1 during an attempted breach of the locking apparatus as a grub screw travels from the grub screw guide groove and into the concave divot.
Variation 5 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 1 through 4, wherein the grub screw guide groove is generally tapered in width and depth.
Variation 6 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 1 through 5, wherein the grub screw guide groove is generally tear-drop shaped in depth and perimeter.
Variation 7 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 1 through 6, wherein the security pin is constructed and arranged to mechanically engage with the locking mechanism of a door.
Variation 8 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 1 through 7, wherein the pin guide is constructed and arranged to prevent locking of a roller arm into an open position.
Variation 9 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 1 through 8, wherein the main body and slide include metal.
Variation 10 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 1 through 9, wherein the main body and slide include steel.
Variation 11 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 1 through 10, wherein the resistance spring is constructed and arranged to automatically reset the retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus.
According to variation 12, a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus may include a metal main body defining a mounting hole, a pin guide, a slide guide, a slide track, a slide channel, a grub screw guide groove, and a concave divot; a first spring mount affixed to the main body and defining a first spring mounting hole; a metal slide including a first plate and a second plate joined by a rail constructed and arranged to slidably interact with slide guide and slidably travel within the slide channel and wherein the slide defines a grub screw guide groove and a concave divot; a second spring mount affixed to the slide and defining a second spring mounting hole; a resistance spring mounted to the first spring mounting hole and the second spring mounting hole; a grub screw threadingly attached to the slide; and a security pin fixed to the second plate, the security pin being constructed and arranged to mechanically engage with the locking mechanism of a door.
Variation 13 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in variation 12, wherein the main body includes a lift nose configured to rotate the locking apparatus when in use.
Variation 14 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in variation 12 or 13, wherein the resistance spring is constructed and arranged to create resistance for the slide during an attempted breach of the locking apparatus as the grub screw travels from the grub screw guide groove and into the concave divot.
Variation 15 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 12 through 14, wherein the grub screw guide groove is generally tapered in width and depth.
Variation 16 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 12 through 15, wherein the grub screw guide groove is generally tear-drop shaped in depth and perimeter.
Variation 17 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 12 through 16, wherein the pin guide is constructed and arranged to prevent locking of a roller arm into an open position.
Variation 18 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 12 through 17, wherein the resistance spring is constructed and arranged to automatically reset the retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus.
Variation 19 may include a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus as in any of variations 12 through 18, wherein the main body and slide include steel.
According to variation 20, a retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus may include a steel main body defining a mounting hole, a pin guide, a slide guide, a slide track, a slide channel, a grub screw guide groove, and a concave divot; a first spring mount affixed to the main body and defining a first spring mounting hole; a steel slide including a first plate and a second plate joined by a rail constructed and arranged to slidably interact with slide guide and slidably travel within the slide channel and wherein the slide defines a grub screw guide groove and a concave divot; a second spring mount affixed to the slide and defining a second spring mounting hole; a resistance spring mounted to the first spring mounting hole and the second spring mounting hole, the spring being constructed and arranged to automatically reset the retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus and to create resistance for the slide during an attempted breach of the locking apparatus as the grub screw travels from the grub screw guide groove and into the concave divot; and a grub screw threadingly attached to the slide; and a security pin fixed to the second plate, the security pin being constructed and arranged to mechanically engage with the locking mechanism of a door.
Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements can be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/397,204 filed on Aug. 11, 2022.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63397204 | Aug 2022 | US |