The present invention is directed to portable security locks. More particularly, the present invention is directed to portable security locks which lock hinged doors closed by engaging with keepers opening through striker plates, the locks having locking elements that engage the doors to retain the doors closed.
Many different types of portable door locks have been provided in the past that are designed to be inserted between the edge of a door and a door jamb. These locks are held in engagement with a striker plate on the door jamb and have a component for engaging a face of the door to prevent swinging of the door. Such portable locks usually have a relatively complicated, expensive construction and are difficult to both apply and release. Moreover, these locks tend to have separate pieces which must be interfitted or assembled at the time of application to a door. With locks that have multiple parts there is always the possibility of a part being lost or misplaced while the lock is being stored or carried on one's person.
There is need for a portable security lock of the aforementioned type which can be quickly applied in an emergency situation after one or two practice sessions. Since such a lock may be carried in either a pocket or pocketbook, it would preferably be compact and have minimal parts.
In view of the aforementioned considerations, the present invention is directed to a portable security lock which is coupled to a keeper opening in a strike plate on a door jamb. The lock has a locking element which engages a door to hold the door closed. The portable security lock according to the invention comprises a base plate having first and second ends with a hook portion disposed at the first end, which hook portion is adapted to enter the keeper opening and engage with a vertical edge of the keeper. The base plate has a length sufficient to protrude a selected distance beyond the door jamb and closed door when the hook portion is engaged with the edge of the keeper opening. A pivot is disposed at the second end of the base plate, and a latching plate is pivoted by a first end thereof on the pivot to rotate toward and away from the door when the portable security lock is mounted on the door jamb. A locking foot is disposed at a second end of the latch plate. Upon the latch plate being pivoted toward the door, the locking foot is adapted to engage the door. A slide mounted on the latching plate has a detent thereon for sliding into engagement with a keeper on the base plate to lock the latching plate to the base plate and thereby hold the locking foot on the latching plate in locking engagement with the door.
In a further aspect of the invention, the pivot extends vertically when the lock is installed in the keeper of a door frame and the slider is mounted on the latching plate for movement toward the locking foot to engage the detent with the keeper on the base plate.
In still a further aspect of the invention, the latching plate has first and second surfaces with the first surface facing the base plate when the latching plate is pivoted over the base plate. The latching plate has an aperature therethrough with the slider mounted on the second surface of the latching plate the detent projecting through the aperature to engage the keeper on the base plate.
In still a further aspect of the portable security lock, the keeper on the base plate is an opening through the base plate, which opening receives the detent and allows a lip on the detent to engage the second surface of the base plate.
In an additional aspect of the invention, the slider has a tab projecting outwardly therefrom in the same direction as the locking foot.
In still and additional aspect of the invention, the foot has a planar surface thereon for facing the door, the planar surface being covered by a resilient pad which abuts the door when the door is shut.
Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Referring now to
Referring now to
At a second end 50 of the base plate 25 a hinge 52 is provided on which the latching plate 26 is pivoted by a pintle 56 retained in hinge lugs 58 and 60 of the hinge. The latch plate 26 has a bearing 62 at the end of a projecting tongue 64 through which the pintle 56 is received.
Referring now to
When it is desired to release the portable security lock 15, the finger tab 32 is pulled back in a direction away from the locking foot 30 so that deadbolt 33 clears the base plate 25. This releases the latching plate 26 from the base plate 25 and allows the latching plate 26 to pivot from the
The detent 72 of the dead bolt 33 passes through the opening 34 in the base plate 25 and has a lip 92 which slides behind a first side 94 of the base plate 25 holding the portable security lock 15 folded, as is shown in
As is seen in
From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing form the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20050046201 A1 | Mar 2005 | US |