Abstract:
An improvement to Del Nin&#39;s security locking device outlined by U.S. Patent No. 5,983,680 issued Nov. 16, 1999 is described wherein the improvement comprises of new gearing arrangement and vertical deadbolt design so as to strengthen the device&#39;s vulnerability to forced breakage, and so that such locking device may operate on doors opening from either left or right sides of its door frame. This improved vertical deadbolt design additionally replaces need for any spring-like mechanisms prone to attack and vulnerable to wear and tear, with more sturdy bayonette latch mechanism resulting in solid precision control over deadbolt&#39;s vertical movement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0002]    Lou F. Del Nin, in his U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,680 issued Nov. 16, 1999 and entitled “Door Locking Device”, provided a unique security device comprising both horizontal and vertical deadbolts and significantly advancing the art of door-mounted security devices. The disclosures provided equipment and methods for engaging both horizontal and vertical deadbolts that could be engaged either simultaneously or independent of each other, and allowing one to even open the door with the vertical deadbolt still engaged. These disclosures merit a careful understanding and are incorporated by reference.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Prior Art  
           [0004]    Many devices are known to prevent forced entry through a partially open door, including door-mounted chain locks and floor-mounted doorstops which secure a completely closed door, or alternatively allowing such door to be opened a small amount while keeping it secured against forced entry.  
           [0005]    The security locking device described by Del Nin&#39;s patent is unique in that it provides protection against forced entry both when the door is closed and also when the door is open by way of vertical bolt remaining mounted to the door, regardless of whether engaged or disengaged. An additional safety feature unique to Del Nin&#39;s U.S.-patented door-locking device is that potential intruders are prevented from removing the vertical bolt from a floor-plate aperture with the door remaining in partially-open position.  
           [0006]    However, Del Nin&#39;s U.S.-patented device itself suffers three underlying deficiencies. First of all, key components of Del Nin&#39;s device are situated outside of its protective lock-box casing, and therefore vulnerable to physical attack by an intruder. Referring to reference numbers contained in Del-Nin&#39;s U.S. patent, vertical movement of knob  86  up and down C-shaped opening  88  takes place inside sleeve  84  rather than inside lock-box  30  whose casing offers greater protection in that it is significantly less exposed to attack because of its location higher up on the door and therefore farther from reach of attack by any potential intruder. As a result of its location situated outside lock-box  30  of that patent, isolated from its casing other supporting parts with which to share direct brunt of a potential intruder&#39;s attack, and its more easily accessibly location situated lower down on the door within reach of easy attack by potential intruder, positioning of knob  86  of that patent within sleeve  84  of that patent provides easier access to potential intruders capable of reaching around the door towards gaining entry through destruction of this weakest link in Del Nin&#39;s original U.S.-patented door-locking device.  
           [0007]    Secondly, the door locking device described by Del Nin&#39;s U.S. patent is disadvantaged from fact that a door opening from the left side necessarily requires a door-locking device containing locking mechanism specifically designed for left-side opening doors, and vice versa. Therefore, manufacturers of such door-locking device would be required to produce and attach different locking mechanisms with different gearing arrangements depending on whether the door-locking device in question is being suited to a door opening from either the left or right side of a door frame. Similar difficulties ensue for both vendors of such device required to stock both left-sided and right-sided door-locking devices under separate label and inventory, along with additional cost and inconvenience faced by end-users of Del Nin&#39;s door-locking device who may be unable to re-install such door-locking device from previous residence to new residence where such newer residence employs a door hinged from opposite side of the door-frame.  
           [0008]    Thirdly, Del Nin&#39;s U.S.-patented door-locking device is disadvantaged due to its reliance on a spring mechanism  79  of that patent for engaging and disengaging its vertical deadbolt  34  from open to closed position, and vice versa. Such a spring mechanism described by Del Nin&#39;s U.S. patent requires a larger, more expensive, and more unsightly lock box for use on such door locking device. Such spring mechanism also wears out over time, eventually interfering with smooth operation of the door locking device itself, and until such time that it is replaced at significant expense and inconvenience to the end-user. Finally, incorporation of such spring mechanism  79  allows an intruder to actually disengage vertical deadbolt  34  on their own by potentially reaching around a partially-opened door and manually pulling the vertical deadbolt out from the floor-plate&#39;s aperture upwards into inherent slack of spring mechanism  79 .  
           [0009]    Objects and Advantages  
           [0010]    The present improvement addresses disadvantages of Del Nin&#39;s U.S.-patented device in a novel manner by providing a stronger, more secure, more compact, single ambidextrous locking-device that can be installed on all doors regardless of whether they are hinged from left or right sides of the door frame.  
           [0011]    The security lock of the present improvement comprises an elongated bolt secured to a door and which is slidable in a direction parallel to one of its faces. The elongate bolt is extendable into at least one engaged position in which an end portion of the bolt extends into an aperture adjacent to the door, and similar to the deadbolt described by Del Nin&#39;s U.S. patent. Also like the deadbolt described by Del Nin&#39;s U.S. patent, complete removal of the bolt from this aperture allows the door to be opened completely.  
           [0012]    However, unlike the deadbolt described by Del Nin&#39;s U.S. patent, this improved version comprises a bayonette latch mechanism attached directly onto vertical deadbolt  34 , preferably mounted onto rivet  80  of that patent. A smaller square-shaped bolthead is mounted onto face of what is now a smaller gear replacement for second gear  78  of that patent, which bolthead slides horizontally within aperture of the bayonette latch mechanism when the smaller gear upon which it is mounted gets turned by a first larger gear, which first larger gear is turned by the user&#39;s key.  
           [0013]    The V-shaped Spring-mechanism is Replaced  
           [0014]    As a result of this improvement, the deadbolt described by Del Nin&#39;s U.S. patent need no longer incorporate any form of v-shaped or even any spring mechanism whatsoever. Accordingly, the door locking mechanism benefits from significantly improved durability and reliability due to its improved reliance on gears rather than spring mechanisms prone to deterioration over time and use. Also addressed is shortcoming of the spring&#39;s inherent slack that would actually allow an intruder means of manually lifting vertical deadbolt  34  out from its floor-plate aperture, no longer problematic following replacement of spring mechanism  79  with inflexible bayonette latch in this improved version.  
           [0015]    Lock-box Casing can be Reduced in Size  
           [0016]    As a further result of this improvement, lock-box casing can be diminished in size due to replacement of Del Nin&#39;s v-shaped spring mechanism with more compact second gear, bayonette latch mechanism, and square bolthead sliding horizontally within aperture of this bayonette latch mechanism. In its preferred version, this improvement additionally reduces size, cost, and unnecessary bulk of first gear  76  of Del Nin&#39;s U.S. patent by squaring off two adjoining outside surfaces of this first gear. Such smaller squared-off first gear is now feasible because such first gear no longer requires 360 degree movement due to greatly reduced rotation on smaller second gear now limited by affixed square bolthead whose travel is in turn confined by bayonette latch mechanism&#39;s limited horizontal aperture.  
           [0017]    First of all, as a result of this improved configuration and smaller lock-box required, Del Nin&#39;s U.S.-patented door locking mechanism can now be manufactured more compactly which benefits users by more attractive door locking mechanism for their doors, and reduced cost due to fewer and smaller parts employed under the improved device. Secondly, this improvement further adds security in that a smaller lock-box casing is more easily and solidly attached to doors featuring indented moulding and other non-flat surfaces to which less than full surface-area of Del Nin&#39;s larger door-locking mechanism could meet flat against the door. Thirdly, manufacturing costs are reduced in that less material overall is required for manufacture of such improved door-locking mechanism. Finally, reversible design of improved bayonette latch mechanism means that upper lock-box portion of the door-locking device described by Del Nin&#39;s U.S. patent is rendered horizontally reverseable so as to accommodate both left and right hinged doors alike.  
           [0018]    Fewer Parts are now Necessary  
           [0019]    In addition to such improvement relating to gearing of Del Nin&#39;s door-locking device, preferred aspect of this improvement additionally does away with connecting rod  82  of that patent no longer necessary to connect v-shaped spring mechanism  79  no longer present in this improved version. Fewer parts employed in this improved door-locking device provides benefits of lower manufacturing costs, reduced vulnerability to intruder attack with weaker components connecting rod  82  and spring mechanism  79  of Del Nin&#39;s U.S. patent no longer employed, and overall ability to accommodate fewer number of parts into more compact lock-box casing less costly to manufacture, easier to mount flush onto moulded doors, and overall more attractive to end-users of the improved door-locking device.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0020]    In accordance with the present invention, an improved security device comprises a latch mounted onto a larger gear meshing with a smaller gear on which is mounted a square bolthead travelling horizontally through a bayonette latch, in turn attached to a vertical deadbolt, which in turn features a knob travelling vertically through C-shaped aperture carved out of tubular portion of said bayonette latch thereby engaging or disengaging said vertical deadbolt either simultaneously with or independent of a horizontal deadbolt, which horizontal deadbolt is in turn either engaged or disengaged by said latch mounted on said first gear. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    Drawing Figures  
         [0022]    In order that this improved door-locking device may be readily understood, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred security lock of the present improved invention installed on a door;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a cut-away isolated view showing components of the lock-box&#39;s internal mechanism and related components of the improved door-locking device shown in FIG. 1.  
                                                 Reference Numerals in Drawings                                 4   door    6   inner face of door        8   hinges of door   10   door opening       12   floor   14   doorknob       16   horizontal deadbolt   18   vertical edge       20   security lock   22   lock-box mechanism       24   hand-operated latch   26   vertical deadbolt       28   floor-plate   30   aperture in floor-plate       32   saddle bracket   34   sleeve for vertical deadbolt       36   larger squared-off gear   38   smaller gear       40   knob mounted on smaller gear   42   square bolthead       44   bayonette latch   46   horizontal aperture       48   knob mounted on vertical deadbolt   50   c-shaped aperture       52   top position of c-shaped aperture   54   bottom position of c-shaped       56   bottom edge of door       aperture                  
 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 illustrates a door  4  having an inner face  6  and an outer face (not shown) and being pivotably mounted on hinges  8  in a door opening  10  above a floor  12 . Although door  4  is shown in FIG. 1 as being in a closed position, it is to appreciated that door  4  is pivotable in door opening  10  in a conventional manner to adopt both open and closed positions.  
         [0026]    Door  4  is equipped with a doorknob  14  which operates a conventional lock set (not shown), as well as a conventional horizontal deadbolt  16  extending through the inside of door  4  and into an aperture (not shown) in a vertical edge  18  of the door opening  10 .  
         [0027]    Also shown in FIG. 1 is a preferred security lock  20  according to the present improved invention. Security lock  20  comprises a lock mechanism  22  attached to the inner face  6  of door  4 , a vertical deadbolt  26  extending vertically downwardly from lock mechanism  22 , and a plate  28  attached to floor  12  and covering an aperture  30  in floor  12  into which vertical deadbolt  26  extends. Hand-operated latch  24 , also shown in FIG. 2 in dotted lines, turns first gear  36  of FIG. 2 and also extends and retracts horizontal deadbolt  16  in a conventional manner.  
         [0028]    The vertical deadbolt  26  is preferably made from a metal such as brass or steel, with a diameter of from about ⅜ to about ¾ inches, more preferably about 1 inch. Vertical deadbolt  26  has a preferred length of from about 30 to about 48 inches when used on a conventional sized door, and is typically from about 40 to about 42 inches long.  
         [0029]    The vertical deadbolt  26  is secured to door  4  by at least one saddle bracket  32 , and preferably two or more saddle brackets  32  as shown in FIG. 1. The brackets  32  are secured to the inner face  6  of door  4  and permit vertical sliding motion of vertical deadbolt  26  parallel to inner face  6  of door  4 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 illustrates improved lock mechanism  22  in isolation from the door  4  on which it is installed, and having its front cover cut away to reveal its internal parts. Lock mechanism  22  provides a means by which both the horizontal deadbolt  16  and vertical deadbolt  26  may be simultaneously engaged and disengaged. As shown in FIG. 2, lock mechanism  22  encloses two gears, a first gear  36  squared-off on two adjoining sides and connected to horizontal deadbolt  16 , and a second smaller gear  38  on which square bolthead  42  sits atop knob  40  mounted on smaller gear  38 . The square bolthead  42  slides within horizontal aperture  46  of bayonette latch  44 , which bayonette latch  44  connects to vertical deadbolt  26  of improved security lock  20 .  
         [0031]    Hand-operated latch  24 , shown in FIG. 2 in dotted lines, turns first gear  36  and also extends and retracts horizontal deadbolt  16  in a conventional manner. It is to be appreciated that hand-operated latch  24  may preferably be replaced by a key-operated latch (not shown), and that the outer face of door  4  is preferably provided with a key-operated latch mechanism (not shown) which turns first gear  36 .  
         [0032]    As shown in FIG. 2, first squared-off gear  36  and second smaller gear  38  mesh with one another such that rotation of first squared-off gear  36  rotates second smaller gear  38  in the opposite direction. This permits horizontal deadbolt  16  and vertical deadbolt  26  to be operated simultaneously by turning first squared-off gear  36 .  
         [0033]    As shown in FIG. 2, square bolthead  42  is mounted off-centre to the smooth side surface of second smaller gear  38 , allowing such square bolthead  42  to travel left and right along horizontal aperture  46  of bayonette latch  44 . The larger tubular-shaped end of bayonette latch  44  in turn forms a sleeve both wrapping around and attached to vertical deadbolt  26 , and in such manner that entire bayonette latch  44  travels up and down in conjunction with vertical deadbolt  26 , and within confines of sleeve  34  which sleeve surrounds upper portion of vertical deadbolt  26  for added stability.  
         [0034]    Operation  
         [0035]    As hand-operated latch  24  or any other form of key latch is turned in the lock mechanism, first squared-off gear  36  turns second smaller gear  38 , causing square bolthead  42  to travel along horizontal aperture  46 , placing vertical pressure through square bolthead  42  onto bayonette latch  44  so as to move entire bayonette latch  44  up or down to raise and lower vertical deadbolt  26  in and out from what is shown in FIG. 1 as aperture  30  of floor-plate  28  installed into surface of the floor.  
         [0036]    With horizontal deadbolt  16  engaged (in the locked position) as shown in FIG. 1, vertical deadbolt  26  may either be in the first or second engaged position, thereby providing a second lock to prevent forced entry through door  4 . When horizontal deadbolt  16  is disengaged (unlocked), vertical deadbolt  26  may either be in the first engaged position or in the disengaged position. Therefore, with horizontal deadbolt  16  unlocked, door  4  may either be opened partially, with vertical deadbolt  26  in the engaged position, or door  4  may be opened completely with vertical deadbolt  26  completely disengaged.  
         [0037]    Therefore, vertical deadbolt  26  is capable of adopting two positions for each position of the horizontal deadbolt  16 , and security lock  20  is preferably provided with a separate mechanism by which the desired position of vertical deadbolt  26  may be selected.  
         [0038]    As shown in FIG. 2, the tubular-shaped end of bayonette latch  44  forms a hollow-sleeve around the upper end of vertical deadbolt  26 . This hollow-sleeve portion of bayonette latch  44  preferably contains a C-shaped aperture  50  through which knob  48  which may preferably be threaded into or otherwise attached to vertical deadbolt  26  after the upper end of vertical deadbolt  26  is inserted into such hollow-sleeve portion of bayonette latch  44 .  
         [0039]    When knob  48  on vertical deadbolt  26  is received in the upper arm  52  of C-shaped aperture  50 , as shown in FIG. 2, the lower-end of vertical deadbolt  26  has two possible positions, either engaged or disengaged, depending on the position of horizontal deadbolt  16 . Preferably, knob  48  would be received in upper arm  52  of C-shaped aperture  50  when it is desired to de-activate the door-stop feature of security lock  20 , so that when horizontal deadbolt  16  is unlocked, door  4  may be completely opened.  
         [0040]    When knob  48  is moved through C-shaped aperture  50  to become received in lower arm  54 , vertical deadbolt  26  is in either the first or second engaged position, depending on the position of horizontal deadbolt  16 . Preferably, knob  48  is received in lower arm  54  of C-shaped aperture  50  when it is desired to use the door-stop feature of security lock  20 . Specifically, with horizontal deadbolt  16  unlocked, vertical deadbolt  26  is in the first engaged position, so that door  4  may be partially opened within limits allowed by aperture  30  in floor-plate  28 .  
         [0041]    Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope  
         [0042]    Although this improved security lock according to the present invention has been described herein as being applied to a door, it is to be appreciated that this improved security lock design may preferably be used with other hinged structures, such as windows and gates. For example, this improved security lock may be provided in an inwardly opening casement window, with the improved bolt and lock mechanism being provided in or on the window sash and the floor-plate being provided in the window sill.  
         [0043]    Although this improved security lock has been described as having a vertical deadbolt, it is to be appreciated that a security lock may be provided where, for example, the deadbolt extends horizontally into a slotted opening in the side jamb of a door opening. Furthermore, a security lock may be provided in which the deadbolt extends upwardly into a slotted opening above the door, for example, in the ceiling.  
         [0044]    Although this improved security lock has been described as being applied to a door having a conventional horizontal deadbolt, it is to be appreciated that this is not necessary. The security lock of the present improved invention may instead be used on its own or in combination with any other type of door lock.  
         [0045]    Although this improved security lock has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto. Rather it is intended that this invention cover all alternate embodiments as may be within scope of the following claims. This invention also includes all embodiments which are functional equivalents of the specific embodiments and features which have been described herein.  
         [0046]    It will be further understood that, although various features of this invention have been described with respect to one or another of the embodiments of the invention, the various features and embodiments of the invention may be combined or used in conjunction with other features and embodiments of the invention as described herein.