Abstract:
A security apparatus for a doorway includes a plate having a plurality of receiving holes and a plurality of fastening holes. One side of the plate has a formed portion which is bent to be off plane with the plane defined by the remainder of the plate. The receiving holes may be of different sizes to accommodate different bolts. The fastening holes may include one or more groups of fastening holes. In one example the plate has three groups of fastening holes that may be off center from the plate&#39;s centerline. The groups may be positioned away from the centerline either toward or away from the formed portion. At least one group is staggered compared to at least one other group. And, at least one group has a spacing between adjacent holes that is greater than the spacing of at least one other group.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY AND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/833,759, filed Jun. 11, 2013, entitled “Doorway Security Apparatus.” The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/833,759. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    An intruder can gain unauthorized access to an otherwise secure space by several methods. A space such as a room or a residence may be secured by locked windows and one or more doors that are secured with conventional door locks. One method of forceful entry is to pick the conventional lock, drill a hole through the lock, or otherwise breach the lock. To combat this, people often use a deadbolt. The deadbolt may be controllable by way of an interior latch while there is no exterior keyhole for the deadbolt. An intruder may circumvent the deadbolt by other means of forceful entry. One such method involves kicking in a door or otherwise forcing the door to open. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The market demands new devices aimed at preventing unauthorized intrusion into a space. This is particularly true in connection with securing doorways. A solution should also be characterized by simplicity and convenience. 
         [0004]    Various example embodiments described herein are directed to superior and simplified devices and methods for securing entryways. In one example, a security apparatus comprises a plate having first and second opposed ends separated by a length and first and second side edges extending between the respective first and second opposed ends. The first side edge is substantially perpendicular to both the first and second ends. The second side edge is separated from the first side edge by a width. The second side edge has a formed portion and first and second joining portions which join first and second ends of the formed portion with respective first and second ends of the apparatus. 
         [0005]    In one example, a security apparatus is provided for a doorway comprising a door frame structural element. The apparatus includes a plate having first and second ends, and first and second side edges extending between the first and second ends. The apparatus also has a midpoint substantially half way between the first and second ends, and a longitudinal centerline extending between the first and second ends and substantially half way between the first and second side edges. The plate has a formed portion extending from the second side edge thereof and the formed portion includes an extension bent out of plane from a plane defined by the plate. The plate has formed therein a plurality of receiving holes. Each of the receiving holes is adapted to receive a locking mechanism. The plate has a plurality of fastening holes formed therein. The plurality of fastening holes includes a set of first fastening holes, and a set of second fastening holes. The set of first fastening holes is located proximal the midpoint of the plate and has a first spacing therebetween. The set of second fastening holes includes at least one second fastening hole positioned between the set of first fastening holes and the first end of the plate. The set of second fastening holes has a second spacing between the at least one second fastening hole and an adjacent fastening hole and the second spacing is different from the first spacing. The at least one second fastening hole is staggered from the set of first set of fastening holes relative to the longitudinal centerline of the plate. 
         [0006]    In another example, a security apparatus is provided for a doorway having a door frame structural element. The apparatus includes a plate having first and second ends, and first and second side edges extending between the first and second ends. The plate also has a midpoint substantially half way between the first and second ends, and a longitudinal centerline extending between the first and second ends and substantially half way between the first and second side edges. The plate has a formed portion extending from the second side edge thereof. The formed portion includes an extension bent out of plane from a plane defined by the plate. The plate has formed therein at least one receiving hole adapted to receive a locking mechanism. The plate has a plurality of fastening holes formed therein. The plurality of fastening holes includes a set of first fastening holes, and a set of second fastening holes. The set of first fastening holes is located proximal the midpoint of the plate. The set of second fastening holes is located distal the midpoint of the plate. The number of first fastening holes is greater than the number of second fastening holes. 
         [0007]    It will be understood that these are examples only and the embodiments described herein are not thereby limited. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a security apparatus according to an example embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  along line  2 - 2 ; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a receiving hole of a security apparatus, the receiving hole having a Roman-style arch. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]    Various example embodiments provide devices and methods for securing entryways. As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , a security apparatus  10  comprises a plate  12  having first and second opposed ends  14  and  16 . Plate  12  may be formed from  16  gauge steel, for example. However, other suitable materials and thicknesses may be used. Preferably, plate  12  withstands about 1,000 foot pounds (lbf) of force when installed. 
         [0012]    First end  14  is separated from second end  16  by length “L.” Plate  12  has first and second side edges  18  and  20 . First side edge  18  extends between, and is substantially perpendicular to, first and second ends  14  and  16 . Second side edge  20  comprises a formed portion  22  having first and second ends  24  and  26 . Second side edge  20  further comprises first and second tapered portions  28  and  30 , and first and second joining portions  32  and  34 . First joining portion  32  joins an outward end of first tapered portion  28  with first end  14 . Second joining portion  34  joins an outward end of second tapered portion  30  with second end  16 . First tapered, portion  28  joins first end  24  of formed portion  22  with first joining portion  32 . Second tapered portion  30  joins second end  26  of formed portion  22  with second joining portion  34 . 
         [0013]    Apparatus  10  has a first width “W 1 ” between first side edge  18  and an outer edge limit of formed portion  22 . Apparatus  10  has a second width between first side edge  18  and the outward side edges of the joining portions  32  and  34 . It can be seen that, due to the taper of tapered portions  28  and  30 , width W 2  is less than width W 1 . The joining portions  32  and  34  may be viewed as reduced portions or reduced-width portions. Formed portion  22  comprises an extension from the planar limit of plate  12  on second side edge  20 . 
         [0014]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , formed portion  22  is angularly offset from the plane defined by plate  12  by an offset angle A. Preferably, the offset angle A is between 10 and 45 degrees. More preferably, the offset angle A is between 25 and 40 degrees. In one specific example the offset angle A is about 35 degrees. 
         [0015]    Plate  12  has formed therein a plurality of receiving holes  36 ,  37 ,  38 , and  39 . Receiving holes  36 - 39  accommodate various locking mechanisms such as latches and/or bolts (not expressly shown). In one example embodiment, receiving holes  37  and  38  are formed to accommodate standard striker and primary deadbolts. Receiving holes  37  and  38  may be formed to have a length of approximately 1.75 inches and a width of approximately 0.785 inches, for example. Receiving holes  36  and  39  may be formed to accommodate privacy lock and/or secondary deadbolt mechanisms. In one example embodiment, receiving holes  36  and  39  are formed larger than receiving holes  37  and  38  in order to accommodate any type of locking mechanism and to ensure acceptance of locking mechanisms that may have been installed without close tolerances (e.g., misaligned or wrongly-spaced locking mechanisms). Receiving holes  36  and  39  may be formed to have a length of approximately 2.5 inches and a width of approximately 0.785 inches, for example. In one example, the receiving holes are spaced about 5.5 inches on center to accommodate standard U.S. doorways. 
         [0016]    Plate  12  also has formed therein a plurality of fastening holes  40 ,  42 , and  44 . Preferably, at least some of the fastening holes (in the illustrated example, fastening holes  40  and  42 ) are positioned off-center and away from formed portion  22 . That is, these holes are not located along a centerline extending along the length of plate  12 . This allows these fasteners to be driven as close as possible to the centerline of a 2×4 in the door frame. This helps to provide maximum strength and reduce the chances of shearing the 2×4 when an intrusive force is applied. Also, at least some of the fastening holes are staggered from one another (in this example, fastening holes  44  being staggered from the other fastening holes). The staggering of the fastening holes helps to prevent the door frame materials from splitting. Also, a percentage of the fastening holes (in this example, fastening holes  40  and  44 ) are disposed closer than others to the midpoint of plate  12  where most of the intrusive force is likely to be applied. In other words, a percentage of the fastening holes toward the midpoint of plate  12  have smaller spacing than some of the holes that are disposed toward the ends of plate  12 . 
         [0017]    In another alternative, a plurality of first fastening holes (preferably a group closest to the midpoint of plate  12 ) has a first spacing. A plurality of second fastening holes (a group, some of which are between the first fastening holes and the first end of plate  12 , and some of which are between the first fastening holes and the second end of plate  12 ) has a second spacing. The second spacing may be less than or greater than the first spacing. In one example, the second spacing is greater than the first spacing. A plurality of third fastening holes (a group, some of which are between the second fastening holes and the first end of plate  12 , and some of which are between the second fastening holes and the second end of plate  12 ) has a third spacing. The third spacing may be greater or less than the second spacing. In one example, the third spacing is greater than the second spacing. 
         [0018]    As can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 3 , in an example embodiment, a Roman-style arch  46  is added to a side of at least one of the receiving holes. Preferably, the Roman-style arch is formed on the side of the receiving hole closest to formed portion  22 . In the illustrated example, the arch  46  is formed on a side of receiving hole  38  which is closest to the second side edge  20  of plate  12 . The arch creates a curved portion extending from the side of the receiving hole inwardly toward a center of the receiving hole. In one example, the Roman-style arch is added to receiving holes  37  and  38 , which accommodate the striker and primary deadbolt. The arch helps to leverage the structural diffusive characteristics of the arch and increase the strength of the respective receiving holes. Due to the increased strength of the receiving holes having the arch, the thickness of plate  12  may be reduced. Typical brackets are formed from a 14 gauge plate. The addition of arches in the receiving holes allows for use of a 16 gauge plate and the thinner apparatus is stronger in the planar direction (the direction of force if a locked door was being kicked in) than an apparatus having a standard thickness. Also, the thinner plate may, in certain situations, allow for installation without a recess. This adds to the convenience and ease of installation. Preferably, the arch extends starts at one corner of the receiving hole and ends at a corner of the receiving hole on the same side. The shape of the arch may be viewed as a portion of a circle. However, it should be understood that other shapes (e.g., ellipsoid or other curved or non-curved shapes) may be used. In the illustrated example, the arch  46  is a portion of a circle. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , an angle A is defined as the angle between the side of the receiving hole having the arch (i.e., the side of the receiving hole as if the arch was not there) and a tangent of the arch extending from either corner of the receiving hole intersecting the arch. Preferably, angle A is from about 1-6 degrees. More preferably, angle A is from about 2-5 degrees. Even more preferably, angle A is about 4 degrees. In a receiving hole in which the arch side has a length of a 0.75 inches, this would translate into the arch being formed on a circle intersecting both corners of the receiving hole, the circle having a radius of about 12.544 inches. The dimension of the arch are preferably such as to maximize the extra strength the arch provides while still enabling a locking mechanism to penetrate the receiving hole. 
         [0019]    In the specific example shown in  FIG. 1 , a set of first fastening holes  40  has a first distance between the respective first fastening holes  40 . The first distance is the distance between one fastening hole  40  and another fastening hole  40 . In this case, the first distance is the same between any two respective fastening holes  40 . A set of second fastening holes  44  comprises one fastening hole  44  between first fastening holes  40  and first end  14  of plate  12 , and another fastening hole  44  between first fastening holes  40  and second end  16  of plate  12 . A distance between either of second fastening holes  44  and an adjacent first fastening hole  40  is less than a distance between a respective second fastening hole  44  and an adjacent third fastening hole  42 . The set of third fastening holes  42  comprises one fastening hole  42  between first end  14  of plate  12  and the second fastening hole  44  proximal that respective end of plate  12  (or distal the midpoint of plate  12 ). The set of third fastening holes  42  comprises another fastening hole  42  between second end  16  of plate  12  and the second fastening hole  44  proximal that respective end of plate  12 . 
         [0020]    In the context of this description “distal” means away from and “proximal” means near. For example, if a fastening hole is distal the midpoint of the plate, it is closer to an end of the plate than to the midpoint of the plate. If the fastening hole is proximal the first side edge of the plate it is closer to the first side edge of the plate than to the second side edge of the plate. 
         [0021]    It should be recognized that any respective set of fastening holes may comprise greater or fewer fastening holes than are shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the set of first fastening holes  40  may contain three or seven fastening holes  40 . Preferably, regardless of the number of fastening holes in the set of first fastening holes  40 , the distance between any two fastening holes  40  is the same. Also, preferably, a single fastening hole  40  is formed between any two of the receiving holes  36 - 39 . However, in certain embodiments, two or more fastening holes  40  may be formed between two respective receiving holes. In another example alternative, the set of second fastening holes  44  may comprise more than the two shown in  FIG. 1 . For instance, there may be four fastening holes  44 . Preferably, spacing between any two fastening holes  44  proximal the same end of plate  12  would be the same. In another example alternative, the set of third fastening holes  42  may comprise more than the two shown in  FIG. 1 . For instance, the set of third fastening holes  42  may comprise four fastening holes  42 . Preferably, the spacing between any two adjacent fastening holes  42  proximal the same end of plate  12  is the same. 
         [0022]    In one example embodiment, the majority of the fastening holes are positioned off-center from a longitudinal centerline of the plate  12  and toward the unformed first side edge  18  of plate  12 . According to one example feature, these holes are located at a transverse position from about ¼″ to about ½ inch from the first edge  18 . Again, this is to maximize the number of fasteners that are closer to the center of a 2×4 of the door frame for maximum stability. In one example, the percentage of off-center fastening holes proximal the unformed edge  18  comprises greater than 50% of the fastening holes. In another example, the percentage of off-center fastening holes proximal the unformed, first side edge  18  comprises 60-90% of the fastening holes. In still another example, the percentage of off-center fastening holes proximal the unformed edge comprises about 70-80% of the fastening holes. The other fastening holes (e.g., fastening holes  44  in  FIG. 2 ) need not be located on-center. However, preferably, the other fastening holes are staggered toward the second side edge  20  (having the formed portion  22 ) of plate  12  and away from the fastening holes proximal the first side edge  18  of plate  12 . According to one example feature, these staggered holes are located transversely about ½″ further away than the majority of holes proximal the first side edge  18 . In some cases, these staggered holes may be located on the same side of the centerline of plate  12  as the holes proximal the first side edge  18  (such that the staggered holes are also proximal the first side edge  18 ). In other cases, the staggered holes may be located on the opposite side of the centerline of plate  12  from the holes proximal the first side edge  18  (such that the staggered holes are located proximal second side edge  20  of plate  12 ). 
         [0023]    In another example embodiment, a majority of the fastening holes is located closer to the midpoint of plate  12  than to either respective end  14  or  16  of plate  12 .