A retrofittable, auto-resetting detention locking apparatus is disclosed. The disclosed locking apparatus may be retrofitted to an existing access point to prevent tampering with a doorway locking mechanism. The locking apparatus may include a main body and slide which are biased towards one another via a spring, the main body and slide being able to slidably engage with one another.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments generally relate to locking mechanisms.

BACKGROUND

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.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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.

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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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.

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.

FIG.1illustrates a perspective view of the locking apparatus100having a main body104. The main body104defines a mounting hole105to mount the locking apparatus100to a door system, such as in a penitentiary setting. A slide102may be slidably engaged with the main body104, as will be shown in greater detail. A resistance spring106may attach to both the main body104and the slide102such that the slide and main body may be biased towards one another. A spring-loaded grub screw108may threadingly engage with the slide102.

FIG.2illustrates a first side view of a main body104(also depicted as104inFIG.1) of a locking apparatus. The main body104may define a mounting hole214, a pin guide206, a slide guide202, and a slide track210which interfaces216with the slide102. The main body may further define a slide channel218in which the slide102may be seated. The main body104may further include a lift nose208configured to rotate the locking apparatus when in use.

FIGS.3and4illustrate a perspective view and a side view of a main body104(also depicted as104inFIG.1andFIG.2) of a locking apparatus. The main body104may define a mounting hole214, a pin guide206, and a slide guide202. The main body may further define a slide channel218in which the slide102(seen inFIG.1) may be slidably seated. The main body104may further include a lift nose208configured to rotate the locking apparatus when in use. The main body may further include a first spring mount308defining a first spring mounting hole306to receive the resistance spring (depicted as106inFIG.1). The main body104may define a grub screw guide groove302constructed and arranged to lift, guide, and secure, in conjunction with the resistance spring, the grub screw into a concave divot304also defined by the main body104. The grub screw guide groove302and concave divot304may be constructed and arranged to create resistance for the slide102during an attempted breach of the locking apparatus as the grub screw travels from the grub screw guide groove302and into the concave divot304, forced by the resistance spring. The grub screw guide groove302may be generally tapered in width and depth, or otherwise generally tear-drop shaped in depth and perimeter.

FIGS.5and6illustrate a perspective view and side view of the slide102of a locking apparatus, according to some embodiments. The slide102may include a first plate510and a second plate512joined by a rail (depicted as600inFIG.6) which may slidably interact with slide guide202, seen inFIG.2. The first plate510and second plate512may slidably travel within the slide channel218(best seen inFIG.2). The first plate510and second plate512may also jointly form the lift nose520. which engages with a secure during use, and which is explained in detail in the description ofFIGS.15-19. The slide102and the first plate510and second plate512may also define a body channel300configured to slidably engage with the main body (depicted as104inFIGS.1and2). The slide102may define a grub screw hole508into which a grub screw504may be threaded, such that the grub screw tip602may interface with the grub screw guide groove302and into the concave divot304(depicted inFIG.3). The slide102may further include a second spring mount514defining a second spring mounting hole502to receive the resistance spring (depicted as106inFIG.1). The slide102may further include a security pin506mounted to the second plate512. The security pin506may be constructed and arranged to mechanically engage with the locking mechanism of a door.

FIGS.7and8illustrate assembled perspective views of a locking apparatus, according to some embodiments. Slide102may be slidably engaged with the main body104and biased into a closed position via spring800. In the same way, the grub screw504may be biased into the concave divot (not shown) defined by the main body104. The spring800may be attached to the slide102at the first spring mount308defining a first spring mounting hole306and the second spring mount514defining a second spring mounting hole502. The locking apparatus may be mounted to a fixture or surface adjacent a secure door via the mounting hole214. The slide102may further include a security pin506mounted to the second plate512. The security pin506may be constructed and arranged to mechanically engage with the locking mechanism of a door. The lift nose208may be constructed and arranged to rotate the entire locking apparatus around an axis of rotation at the mounting hole214such that the security pin506may travel within a larger door locking assembly, depicted inFIGS.15through19. The slide102and main body104may also form a shoulder522constructed and arranged to engage with a latch lever of a larger door locking assembly depicted inFIGS.15through19.

FIGS.9through14illustrate various views of the locking apparatus.

FIGS.15-19illustrate an exposed view of a locking apparatus implemented in a secure door mechanism, as viewed from the rear of the secure door mechanism during operation of the secure door mechanism and locking apparatus.FIG.15shows the secure door mechanism and locking apparatus in a “closed door” position.FIGS.16-18show secure door mechanism and locking apparatus during the transition from a “closed door” position to an “open door” position.FIG.19shows the secure door mechanism and locking apparatus in an “open door” position.

Referring toFIG.15, the locking apparatus is depicted installed in a secure door mechanism900configured to lock or unlock doors, such as penitentiary doors. The locking apparatus includes a main body104defining mounting hole214to mount the locking apparatus to the secure door mechanism. A resistance spring106may attach to both the main body104and the slide102such that the slide and main body may be biased towards one another. The slide102may include a lift nose520constructed and arranged to engage with a latch lever910, and in particular, a latch lever nose912during operation. The slide102may include a security pin506constructed and arranged to engage with the latch arm906which is attached to the door latch904and latch arm in908. In a “closed door” position as inFIG.15, the roller trigger902of the secure door mechanism900is biased into the secure door mechanism900and engages the pin guide (depicted at least inFIGS.2-4) of the main body104such that the lift nose520is biased downward, toward the latch lever910, but does engage the latch lever nose112. A secure door mechanism motor950may be constructed and arranged to drive movement of the latch lever910and latch lever nose912when transitioning from open to closed, or vice versa, by driving the drive arm970to pivot the latch lever910around pivot960.

Referring toFIG.16, the locking apparatus is depicted installed in a secure door mechanism in a closed, secure position. During operation, particularly during unlocking of the secure door mechanism900, the roller trigger902may be fully biased towards the locking apparatus, driving the lift nose520downward towards the latch arm906and latch arm pin908by engaging with the pin guide (depicted at least inFIGS.2-4) of the main body104.

Referring toFIG.17, the locking apparatus is depicted installed in a secure door mechanism during unlocking. During operation, particularly during unlocking of the secure door mechanism900, the secure door mechanism motor950may drive the latch lever910generally towards the locking apparatus. Upon unlocking, such as via electronic button in operable communication with the secure door mechanism motor950. By unlocking, the secure door mechanism motor950may drive the drive arm970to pivot the latch lever910around pivot960such that the latch lever nose912engages with the lift nose520and driving the locking apparatus generally upwards. The latch904is also pulled into an open position along with the latch arm906.

Referring toFIG.18, the locking apparatus is depicted installed in a secure door mechanism during unlocking. In a fully unlocked, open position, the latch lever nose912has passed under, and behind, the lift nose520and has engaged with the shoulder522, effectively securing the latch904within the secure door mechanism while the roller trigger902is fully biased towards the locking apparatus. The locking and apparatus and secure door mechanism are in a “charged” but unlocked state.

Referring toFIG.19, the locking apparatus is depicted installed in a secure door mechanism when triggering re-locking of the secure door mechanism upon release of the roller trigger902. When released, the roller trigger902may force the locking apparatus upward by engaging the pin guide (depicted at least inFIGS.2-4) of the main body104such that the lift nose520is biased upward and the latch lever nose912is no longer engaged with the shoulder522. In the way, the latch lever910, latch lever nose912, latch904, latch arm906, and latch arm pin908may all spring back to their locked positions via spring980, as shown inFIGS.15and19. The locked positions depicted inFIGS.15and19may be a representation of when the door is both closed and locked, or when the door is open but also in a locked, latch-exposed position.

The resistance spring may be constructed and arranged to prevent the failure of shear pins or security pins (depicted as506inFIG.5) during a breach attempt of a secure lock or door system. In the event that a shear pin is broken, the latch lever910, latch lever nose912, latch904, and latch arm906are able to travel freely within the lock assembly, resulting in an unsecure door lock. According to the present embodiments, the security pin506acts as a security trigger, rests behind the latch arm906, and holds the latch opening during opening of a door. During an attempted breach, the resistance spring and locking apparatus allows the security pin to slide upward and back relative to the latch arm rather than shear and subsequently trip forward relative to the latch arm, effectively resetting the lock during a breach attempt.

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 slide1during 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.