TEMPORARY STRIKE PLATE WITH LOCKING FEATURES

A door locking apparatus is provided which includes an integrated plate having a strike plate adjoined to an extension, and a lock coupled to a flexible elongate member. The strike plate includes an aperture and fastener holes, and is configured such that it securely affixes to the recess of a door frame when the door is open. The extension is shaped to protrude from the surrounding frame when the strike plate is installed to the frame. The elongate member extends from the extension and is of sufficient length to wrap around a door handle when the door is closed. The lock can pass through the elongate member and an intermediate portion thereof passes through the lock, or, through an opening in the extension such that the door cannot be opened without unlocking the lock and removing it from the elongate member when the elongate member is wrapped around the handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to door locks. More particularly, the present invention relates to door locks incorporating a temporary strike plate with locking features, and methods of using the same.

During construction of buildings there is often a delay between installation of doors and installation of locks. During the period of delay, there is no convenient way to secure the door. However, it is often desirable to lock certain doors during construction for a variety of reasons.

Moreover, there are many occasions when a portable door lock may be desired. For example, installing locks on doors can be a time-consuming and costly undertaking. In order to avoid time and expenses associated therewith, it may be desirable to install a removable, portable door lock. It may also be desirable to secure a door intermittently or temporarily for short periods of time, and installing a traditional lock under such circumstances may be inconvenient. As a result, it would be advantageous to have removable and reusable lock which can be quickly and easily installed and released, and which permits reasonable unimpeded use of the door.

It is also important for a door lock to be effective and secure. Unfortunately, though portable door locks provide many advantages compared to their fixed lock counterpart, portable door locks suffer from several disadvantages. For example, in order for a portable door lock to meet the aforementioned requirements, many different variations of portable locks have been made, but unfortunately, many of these devices have one or more characteristics which make them unsuitable for universal application. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,794,871 and 5,501,494 describe a removable portable door lock having an interior member and exterior member adjoined by a connecting strap having a strap locking device. In these patents, the exterior member is placed over an exterior doorknob, the interior is placed on the interior door knob, and the door cannot be opened without forcibly removing the members as they are relatively immovable with respect to one another. Though this embodiment may be cost-effective, practical, and convenient, it fails to provide a lock which provides adequate security and prevents against entry of unauthorized persons.

Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,089 discloses a portable door lock installed in a door jam recess that utilizes two plates adjoined by a hinge. Said door lock comprises a plate which extends out from the door frame and has a lock and unlock position. Furthermore, the disclosed portable door lock may include a hook to wrap around a doorknob. This embodiment may be quick and easy for a user to apply, however, it suffers from serious drawbacks. For example, the mechanism which prevents the door from opening can easily be removed and, thus, the door may still be prone to break-ins. Indeed, this disclosure also fails to disclose a portable door lock mechanism which can be installed on a flanged L-shaped handle and, similar to the aforementioned patents, discusses only door knobs which appear spherical in shape.

Besides these, other door lock apparatuses also fail to provide versatile functionality with respect to a door knob or handle design. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,748 describes a removable and reusable door lock which includes a rod-like latching bar and a chain assembly. In particular, the latching bar is bent to approximate a fit for the neck of a door knob. However, given the shape of the bar's bend, the portable door lock is limited in scope with respect to the type of door knob or handle designs with which it is compatible. Furthermore, this locking mechanism fails to utilize an actual lock.

Thus, it would be desirable, therefore, to develop a new apparatus and method for locking doors during construction or the like until a regular lock can be installed, that overcomes these and other limitations of the prior art. Specifically, it would be advantageous to provide a door locking apparatus which is easy to use, secure and cost-effective. It would also be advantageous to provide an apparatus which is removable, reusable, and compatible with handles having levers, L-shaped arms, or flanged ends.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the aforementioned disadvantages by providing an improved door locking apparatus which is removable and reusable, and provides a temporary locking or security measure for a door when an internal locking mechanism is not present or inoperable. The door locking apparatus includes an integrated plate having a door strike plate coupled to an extension. The strike plate may be configured for fastening to a door frame, for example, by having a central rectangular aperture to accommodate the bolt of a lock and a pair of fastener holes. Preferably, when the door is in an open position, the strike plate is attached by a pair of threaded fasteners to the door frame over an empty receptacle for receiving the door bolt once the finished strike plate and related lock components are installed.

In a preferred embodiment, the extension is coupled to the strike plate by being formed of the same steel plate as the strike plate. The locking apparatus may be made of any durable structural material. The extension is shaped for extending past the frame away from an inward-swinging direction or towards an outswing direction of the door hinged to the door frame when the strike plate is fastened to the frame. The extension may include at least one opening in its outer portion for attaching to at least one of a flexible elongate member, to a shackle or lock, or both. The strike plate and extension may be coplanar. Alternatively, the extension and strike plate may be in a parallel configuration, wherein the inner portion of the extension is shaped to provide a perpendicular offset between the strike plate and the outer portion of the extension. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the parallel offset configuration of the extension, which is fitted to contours of the frame, enables the extension plate to slip between the door and the frame and extend past the frame towards the outside of the inward-swinging door opposite to its direction of swing.

Furthermore, the flexible elongate member is attached to the outer portion of the extension. The elongate member is of sufficient length for wrapping around a door handle when the door is closed. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible elongate member may be, or may include, a cable, for example, a plastic-coated wire rope. In an alternative embodiment, a chain may be used. The flexible elongate member may be configured in a closed loop at a terminus distal from the extension, for attachment to a shackle, lock, or the like. In yet another embodiment, the flexible elongate member may be fastened to the extension by a fastener.

When the apparatus is attached to the frame, the flexible elongate member (e.g., wire rope) can wrap around the handle (also called a knob) which is attached to the door. No lock is installed in the interior of the door. The shackle and/or lock passes through the closed loop formed at the end of the wire rope and an intermediate portion of the wire rope passes through the shackle/lock. Thus, the door cannot be opened without unlocking the shackle/lock or locking mechanism, and removing it from the flexible elongate member.

In accordance with, and without limitation of the foregoing disclosure, a method of locking a door to a frame wherein the door lacks an internal lock may include opening a door hinged to a frame, and attaching a strike plate in a recess of the door frame, wherein the strike plate comprises an extension coupled thereto, and wherein the extension is shaped for extending past the frame of the door and has an flexible elongate member attached to an outer portion of the extension. The method may further include closing the door, wrapping the flexible elongate member around a handle of the door, and locking the proximal terminus of the flexible elongate member to at least one of the extension or to an intermediate portion of the flexible elongate member using a lock. The door may be configured for an internal locking mechanism that latches to the frame. The described apparatus and method are most suitable when the internal locking mechanism is not present or inoperable.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a door locking apparatus which is easy to install and convenient. Advantageously, the door locking apparatus provides an actual shackle or lock which prevents unwanted entry of unauthorized persons. Also advantageously, the door locking apparatus provides for engagement of the locking components with lever or L-shaped handles having laterally extending flanged arms extending therefrom.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description which follows with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, as shown in the drawings, hereinafter will be described the presently preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

With reference to allFIGS. 1-6, the door locking apparatus100for locking a door202to a surrounding frame204includes an integrated plate102having a door strike plate106coupled to an extension108, and a shackle501or lock208fastened to a flexible elongate member104. The strike plate106portion of the integrated plate102is configured so as to fasten to the surrounding door frame204. Specifically, the door strike plate106is sized and configured to attach in the recess800of the door frame204. Preferably, and more specifically, the strike plate106includes a central aperture110and a pair of fastener holes112A,112B. In particular, the central aperture110is configured to accommodate the bolt of a lock, and the pair of fastener holes112A,112B are configured to further secure the attachment of the strike plate106to the door frame204. As illustrated inFIG. 6, the strike plate106and related lock components can be installed to the door frame204by threadably affixing a pair of threaded fasteners through the pair of fastener holes112A,112B over an empty receptacle600for receiving the door bolt. The method of installing the strike plate106to the door frame204may include opening a door202hinged to a frame204so as to enable the user to attach the strike plate106and its lock components in the recess800of the frame204.

In a preferred embodiment, the central aperture110of the strike plate106is rectangular in shape. Additionally, the pair of fastener holes112A,112B are oriented such that the first fastener hole112A is arranged proximal to the central aperture110and the second fastener hole112B is arranged distal to the central aperture110. In the preferred embodiment, the aperture110and pair of fastener holes112A,112B reside on the same longitudinal axis.

Moreover, the extension108portion of the integrated plate102includes a inner portion401and an outer portion402, wherein the extension108is adjoined to the door strike plate106at its inner portion401. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the dashed line indicates a boundary between the strike plate106and the extension108, and not any physical feature. Furthermore, the strike plate106and extension108may be integrated together by being formed from the same structural plate and define the integrated plate102. Preferably, the integrated plate102can be made of any durable structural material. Even more preferably, the integrated plate102is composed of steel.

The extension108is shaped to extend past the surrounding frame204towards either an outswing direction or outside of the inward-swinging of the door202hinged to the door frame204when the strike plate106is fastened to the frame204. In a preferred embodiment, and as illustrated inFIG. 1, the strike plate106and the extension108are coplanar. In another preferred embodiment, and as illustrated inFIGS. 4-6, the inner portion401of the extension108is shaped to provide an offset318between the strike plate106and the outer portion402of the extension108. In this embodiment, the offset318may be perpendicular to the strike plate106and the outer portion401of the extension108. More particularly, the offset318section of the extension108is coupled at its edges to the adjoining portions of the integrated plate102by complementary bends that are configured to follow the contour of the door frame204, thereby holding the strike plate106and the outer portion401of the extension108in parallel alignment. Thus, the parallel offset configuration of the extension, which is fitted to contours of the frame204, enables the extension to slip between the door202and the frame204and extend past the frame204towards the outswing direction or outside of the inward-swinging of the hinged door202. For example, and as best illustrated inFIG. 6, the parallel offset allows the extension108to extend towards the outside of the inward-swinging door502opposite to its direction of swing.

Additionally, at least one flexible elongate member104extends from the outer portion401of the extension108. In some embodiments, the outer portion401of the extension108includes at least one opening114for attaching to the flexible elongate member104or a shackle501/lock208, or both, as illustrated inFIG. 5. Preferably, the flexible elongate member104has a proximal terminus406having a primary closed loop408and distal terminus410having a terminal closed loop412. In particular, the flexible elongate member104is configured such that the proximal terminus406, through its primary closed loop408, mates with the opening114of the extension108. Alternatively, however, and as illustrated inFIGS. 5-6, the flexible elongate member104may be fastened to the opening114by a fastener. Further, the flexible elongate member104is configured such that the distal terminus410, through its terminal closed loop412, engages with a lock208, shackle501, or the like. More specifically, the terminal closed loop412engages with a shackle501on a lock208. Even more specifically, the shackle501of the lock208passes through the terminal closed loop412. In preferred embodiments, the lock208may include a padlock, combination lock, digital lock, a single-dial lock, a multiple-dial lock, or a key lock. Additional or alterative lock and shackle constructions can be determined by those skilled in the art.

In a preferred embodiment, the flexible elongate member104may be, or may include, a cable. In particular, the flexible elongate member104may be a plastic-coated wire rope. Alternatively, in another preferred embodiment, the flexible elongate member104may be a chain. Various cable and fastener constructions for providing these capabilities can be selected by those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, the flexible elongate member104is of sufficient length to wrap around a handle (or knob)700attached to the door202when the door202is in a closed position. Preferably, the handle700is L-shaped or includes a lever with a laterally extending flange702. Specifically, when the door locking apparatus100is installed to the frame204, the flexible elongate member104can wrap around the laterally extending flange702of the lever or L-shaped handle700when the door202is closed and thereby lock the door202to the frame204. More specifically, and as illustrated inFIG. 2, the shackle501or lock208passes through the terminal closed loop412formed at the distal terminus410of the flexible elongate member104and an intermediate portion of the flexible elongate member104passes through the shackle501or lock208. Alternatively, and as best illustrated inFIG. 5, the shackle501or lock208passes through the terminal closed loop412and affixes to an opening114in the extension108. Accordingly, in both scenarios, the door202cannot be opened without unlocking the lock208and removing it from the flexible elongate member104.

A door202may be configured for an internal locking mechanism that latches to the frame204. The present door locking apparatus100provides an improved door locking apparatus and method of use the locking apparatus is most suitable when the internal locking mechanism is not present or inoperable. Advantageously, the locking apparatus provides a provides a temporary locking or security measure until a conventional lock can be installed in the door, at which time the door locking apparatus100can easily be removed and reused. Also advantageously, the door locking apparatus100provides a lock which secures the door from unwanted entry of unauthorized persons, and is compatible with door handles having a laterally extending flanged arms.

While a preferred door locking apparatus and methods of use have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Alternative embodiments may be envisioned by those skilled in the art after consideration of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, having described my invention in such terms such as to enable a person skilled in the art to understand the invention, recreate the invention and practice it, and having presently identified the presently preferred embodiments thereof, I claim: