Portable security lock

A portable locking system for hinged door improves on the type having a right-angle end of a first member for engaging a strike plate in a door frame and second member with a right angle end for pressing against the door and laterally and detachably engaging the first member. The detachable lateral engagement of this invention includes a series of holes tangential to each other in the first member and a plurality of juxtaposed pins protruding from the second member in position for adjustably engaging any corresponding selected holes in the first member. The system preferably includes a "U"-shaped keeper for holding the first and second members together for carrying them, or after installation. For identification in the dark and for ease in handling, a second angled-end of the hole plate is made longer than the first end. Similarly, one of the legs of the "U"-shaped keeper is made longer than the other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to locks and particularly to improvements 
in portable security locks for use with hinged doors and the like. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the prior art, various disclosures as shown by the following U.S. 
patents have been made of the type doorlock that can be carried from place 
to place and installed in a room without preparation or modification of a 
standard door, for engagement of a strike plate or similarly located 
portion of a door frame with the leading face of an inward-opening hinged 
door. 
U.S. Pat. No. 936,164 to N. W. Reid on 10-5-09 showed a pivotal adjustment 
door fastener with a hook on one blade or arm and a pusher on another; 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,079,860 to G. Kiehle disclosed the same general type drive 
with cotter-pin-in-hole adjustment and slidable band 13; evidently this 
could be used also with the door swinging the other way, 11-25-13. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,171,671 to F. T. Skogland, 2-15-16, showed a similar type 
fastener with toothed adjustment provision; 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,971,440 to O. Aubertin, 8-28-34, showed a two-piece unit 
with coarse slots in a bent-over portion for engaging the front end of the 
other piece; 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,619 to J. H. McCracken, 10-2-70, showed another 
attachment device, this one with a cushion. FIGS. 8-10 showed a toothed 
slot adjustment. 
However, none of the disclosures provided the combination of advantage of 
the system of applicant's invention, as indicated by the following and 
other objects. 
A principal object is to provide a system as described that is easy to 
manufacture, requiring only two stamping operations for the basic parts; 
Further objects are to provide a system as described that is easy to apply 
to a door, is substantially self-adjusting, and is strong and reliable; 
Yet further objects are to provide a system as described that has for the 
two basic parts a latching mechanism in duplicate (or greater numbers) for 
strength, but without complexity of construction or of operation. 
Still further objects are to provide a system as described that is adapted 
for installation or removal in darkness by feeling the relation of the 
parts, which are purposefully made different.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
FIG. 1 shows the invention 10 as comprising three parts, all formed from 
flat strips of metal: first or pin plate 20, an elongate compression 
member; second or hole plate 22, an elongate tension member; and third or 
keeper 24, a clip or clamping member. 
The pin plate 20 has a bend 26 at a first angled-end or pusher end 28 at 
right angles to the straight body 30. End 28 may have on the outer face a 
thin layer of felt 32 as a cushion to prevent scarring of the door 
surface, and should not be long enough to strike the base of a door knob 
when installed. The straight body has at an intermediate location two or 
more tangential holes 34, 36 or circular apertures through it, on the 
longitudinal centerline and perpendicular to the face of the plate. 
As part of means for adjustably connecting the members 20 and 22, a 
respective pin 38, 40 fits the length of each hole and protrudes from the 
pin plate 20 on the side opposite the angled end 28. The pins 38, 40 are 
made so close together that they preferably touch along the protruding 
parts, by spacing the holes tangent to each other. The pins may be of 
steel, force-fitted in the holes and are not working parts relative to the 
holes in the pin plate. They may be solid, or of the commercial type 
comprising a springy longitudinally split cylinder. The free ends 42, 44 
may be tapered for easier insertion into the holes of the second or 
hole-plate. 
As noted, three or four or more pins can be employed without changing the 
spirit of the invention; it is only necessary to provide enough holes in 
the hole plate to give the necessary adjustment for them. 
The hole-plate 22 has second and third angle ends, ends 46, 48 bent at 
right angles, parallel to each other in the same direction; one of these, 
latch end 46, for tactile identification is shorter than the other or 
handle end 48, which is too long to engage a latch. Straight along the 
centerline of the body 50 of the hole plate 22 is a series of tangential 
holes 52, that may number seven or eight or more, provided so that the 
ends 42, 44 of the pins 38, 40 can, for adjustably connecting, enter and 
detachably engage any two adjacent holes in adjustment to fit a particular 
hinged door and door frame. 
The keeper 24, or means for detachably clamping, is "U"-shaped; one leg 54 
is shorter than the other leg 56, as means for assuring easy removal. 
Distance between the legs equals the combined thickness of the bodies of 
the pin plate 20 and hole plate 22, so that the keeper can resiliently fit 
on the two bodies when assembled. 
FIG. 2 shows the embodiment 10 assembled and fitting a conventional hinged 
door D (arrow shows arc of door opening) and door frame F to prevent the 
door from opening. 
It can be seen that the member 20 serves as an elongate compression member 
relative to the door D, and that the member 22 serves similarly as an 
elongate tension member, the body or shank of which protrudes between door 
D and frame F. 
There is no way that the door can be opened from the outside with the 
embodiment 10 in place as shown, short of destruction of parts of the 
door, door frame or of the embodiment 10. 
OPERATION 
To install the embodiment 10 requires only a few seconds; the door D is 
swung open, hole plate 22 held as shown by the handle end 48, is engaged 
at the latch end to the conventional striker S, the door D is shut, the 
bent end or pusher end 28 of the pin plate 20 (with felt facing 32, if 
used) is pressed against the door D and the pin ends 42, 44 are pressed 
into corresponding holes 52 in the hole plate 22, and the keeper 24 is 
clipped over the bodies 30, 50 of the pin plate and hole plate, securing 
them together detachably. 
The keeper is optional. If used for additional security it can be installed 
as shown on the inboard end adjacent the door D and door frame F, or it 
can be installed on the outboard end, the pins and holes being at an 
intermediate location to permit the clamp to be installed at either end. 
A would-be intruder would have a difficult time trying to bend or dislodge 
the system of the invention but, as can be seen, the system can be 
installed quickly, and it can be removed instantly by the user. 
Removal requires only pressing up on the keeper (if used) the longer leg of 
which protrudes below the bodies 30 and 50 for the purpose of tactile 
identification, then separating the plates, and the door can be opened. 
From the above, it will be appreciated that the system can be used with 
almost any hinged door with striker plate, that the system cannot be seen 
or manipulated from the exterior of the door, that it is chainless, 
hingeless, boltless, latchless, screwless and keyless. 
Further, as to manufacture, only one operation would be required to make 
each of the three pieces of the preferred embodiment. Apart from the clip, 
the entire system could be completed in two stamping operations, plus 
fixing of the pins 38, 40 and, if desired, attaching the felt 32, which is 
optional. The clip can be made in one operation. 
Steel is the preferred material. The pins in plate 20 may be 3/32 inch (2.4 
mm) in diameter, and the holes in plate 22 in which the pins fit may be 
7/64 inch (2.8 mm) in diameter. The closeness of the plurality of pins and 
holes tends to multiply the resistance of the mechanism to outside forces 
and holds the plates 20 and 22 level with each other. The strap material 
from which the plates 20 and 22 are made may be 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. 
Although the invention is illustrated with the door at the right, it 
requires only inverting the assembly to fit when the door happens to be at 
the left. 
This invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular forms 
disclosed herein, since these are to be regarded as illustrative rather 
than restrictive. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention 
may be practiced within the scope of the claims otherwise than as 
specifically described.