Abstract:
A door latch assembly is attachable to a door jamb. The door latch assembly includes a base member and an extension member. The base member is mountable to the door jamb. The extension member is connectable to the base member such that the extension member extends from the base member. The extension member has a door stop member and a latch cup member. The door stop member is disposed substantially perpendicular to the latch cup member so that the door stop member provides a support for the door and the latch cup member receives a latch of the door so that the door is maintained in an ajar position.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/094,587, filed Sep. 5, 2008, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates generally to door latches, and more particularly, not by way of limitation, to an improved door latch assembly for maintaining a door in an ajar position and a closed position. 
         [0005]    2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
         [0006]    Structures for maintaining a door ajar are well known in the art. In a typical home, rooms may become colder in winter and hotter in summer due in part to poor air circulation. To counter poor air circulation and to maintain the exclusion of pets and small children from a room, a door structure can be used to maintain a door in an ajar position. 
         [0007]    To this end, although door latch structures of the existing art are operable, further improvements are desirable to enhance the use of a door latch assembly which functions to maintain a door in a fixed ajar position. It is to such a door latch assembly that the present invention is directed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a door latch assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention, partially in cross-section wherein the door latch assembly engages a conventional door in a connectable position and an extended position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the door latch assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view a base member of the door latch assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an extension member of the door latch assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an elevational view of an extension member connected to a base member of the door latch assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , shown therein is a door latch assembly  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention. Broadly, the door latch assembly  10  includes a base member  12  and an extension member  14 . The door latch assembly  10  is capable of being attached to a conventional door jamb  15 . A conventional striker plate (not shown) is positioned on the door jamb  15 . Preferably, the door jamb  15  is for an interior door  16 , rather than an exterior door. However, it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that a door jamb for an exterior door may be utilized with the door latch extension  10  in accordance with the present invention. The interior door  16 , hereinafter referred to also as a door  16 , is positioned within a door frame (not shown) having a door trim and the door frame is positioned within an interior wall  17  in a conventional manner. The door  16  is a conventional door including an exterior side, an interior side, and a door jamb end. The door  16  is provided with a latch and a door knob. 
         [0014]    It is contemplated that the door latch assembly  10  is constructed from two pieces of material, however, it should be understood that the door latch assembly  10  may be constructed from various components or from one solid piece of material. The door latch assembly  10  is preferably made of a durable and rigid material which is strong enough to prevent movement and bending of the door latch assembly  10 . Suitable materials for construction of the door latch assembly  10  and components thereof include polymeric materials, plastics, metals such as aluminum, steel, titanium, magnesium or alloys containing these metals, and composite materials which are capable of providing the desired strength and durability for the door latch assembly  10 . 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 , the base member  12  includes a first leg  18  and a second leg  20 . The first leg  18  of the base member  12  is substantially perpendicular to the second leg  20  of the base member  12  so that the base member  12  is provided with a substantially L-shaped configuration. However, it should be understood that the base member  12  may be configured in a variety of ways as long as the base member  12  functions in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0016]    The first leg  18  of the base member  12  is provided with a striker plate portion  22 . The striker plate portion  22  is provided with a pair of connector members  24  and  26  positioned on vertically opposing sides of an opening  28 . The opening  28  is sized and dimensioned to receive a door latch. Each of the connector members  24  and  26  of the striker plate portion  22  are provided with an indentation  30  so as to adapt the striker plate portion  22  to the size of any conventional striker plate. The striker plate portion  22  effectively replaces a conventional striker plate. It is well known in the art that there are various sizes of striker plates used in different sized door jambs. The indentation  30  substantially extends vertically along the connector members  24  and  26  to adapt to various sized striker plates such that a screw may penetrate each of the connector members  24  and  26 . A screw is used to connect each of the connector members  24  and  26  of the striker plate portion  22  to a door jamb. Additionally, the connector members  24  and  26  may include a longer portion of material so as to adapt to various sized striker plates, thus a portion of the connector members  24  and  26  may be trimmed off to compensate for various sizes of conventional striker plates. It should be understood that connectors are well know in the art and include various means for connecting one element to another. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the first leg  18  of the base member  12  is mounted to a door jamb by the striker plate portion  22  by removing a conventional striker plate from the door jamb and replacing the conventional striker plate with the striker plate portion  22 . Although the striker plate portion  22  is shown as a unitary portion of the base member  12 , it should be understood that the striker plate portion  22  may be provided as a separate component from the base member  12  so long as the striker plate portion  22  functions in a manner as described herein. 
         [0018]    The second leg  20  of the base member  12  includes a first end  32 , a second end  34 , an inner surface  36  and an outer surface  38 . The second leg  20  extends about a door frame (not shown). The inner surface  36  of the second leg  20  of the base member  12  is capable of being positioned to allow for a secure fit between the second leg  20  of the base member  12  and a wall when the base member  12  is positioned against a wall. 
         [0019]    A slot  39  is provided proximate the first end  32  of the second leg  20  of the base member  12 . The slot  39  is configured so as to provide a pair of spaced apart tracks  43   a  and  43   b . The end of the tracks  43  and  43   b  cooperate to provide a seat which is defined by a shoulder  49 . An opening  40  is provided in the slot  39  such that a screw may be inserted to provide additional support for the base member  12  when being mounted about the door frame. 
         [0020]    The outer surface  38  of the second leg  20  is provided with a first side member  41  and second side member  42 . The first side member  41  and the second side member  42  are positioned in a spaced apart vertical relationship so as to form a channel  44  extending substantially between the first end  32  and the second end  34  of the second leg  20  for receiving the extension member  14 . The second end  34  of the second leg  20  is provided with a pair of openings  45  and  46  and a pair of spaced apart tracks  47  and  48  (not shown) for providing additional support to the door latch assembly  10 . A button  50  is also provided proximate the second end  34  of the second leg  20  of the base member  12  which will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. An opening  51  is provided which is positioned about the button  50 . 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5 , the extension member  14  of the door latch assembly  10  is provided with a substantially angled configuration to assist in the correct alignment of the door and for holding a door in an ajar position. The extension member  14  may be provided in a variety of lengths, such as 2 inches, 4 inches, 6 inches, etc., depending on the size of the door and the desire of an individual when holding a door ajar. The extension member  14  includes a locking member  52  at one end  53  and a door stop member  54  and a latch cup member  56  at the opposite end  57 . The locking member  52  is provided with one end  58  that includes a first support member  59  and a second support member  60  in a substantially spaced apart unshaped configuration. Each support member  59  and  60  is provided with a tooth  61 . 
         [0022]    The other end  63  of the locking member  52  includes a key  65 . The slot  39  of the base member  12  is configured to receive the key  65 . A portion of the key  65  is configured to engage the tracks  43   a  and  43   b  of the slot  39 . 
         [0023]    The door stop member  54  extends substantially perpendicular from the latch cup member  56 . The door stop member  54  includes a surface  62  for receiving a door. 
         [0024]    The latch cup member  56  is provided with a latch retaining space  64  for receiving a latch of a door when the door is moved into the ajar position. The latch retaining space  64  is configured so as to be capable of receiving various sizes of door latches. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , the extension member  14  of the door latch assembly  10  is removably connectable to the base member  12 . In the connected position, the locking member  52  of the extension member  14  is matingly received by the channel  44  of the base member  12 . The first support member  59  and the second support member  60  are guided by tracks  47  and  48  such that each of the support member  59  and  60  are positioned into and extended through the openings  45  and  46 , respectively, and the teeth  61  provided on the first support member  59  and the second support member  60  are positioned into the opening  51  thus locking the extension member  14  in an extended position so that a door may be held ajar. Further, the key  65  is inserted into the slot  39  and along the tracks  43   a  and  43   b  until the key  65  abuts the seat  49  of the slot  39  to provide additional support to the extension member  14  in the connected position. By applying a force to the button  50 , the teeth  61  on the first support member  59  and the second support member  60  are released from the opening  51  and the extension member  14  is selectively removed from the channel  44  of the base member  12  in a first direction away from the button  50  so that a door may be closed. 
         [0026]    In use, the door latch assembly  10  is attached to a door jamb  15 . To attach the door latch assembly  10  to the door jamb  15 , the conventional door striker plate (if present) is removed. The striker plate portion  22  of the base member  12  of the door latch assembly  10  is attached to the door jamb  15 . The inner surface  36  of the second leg  20  of the base member  12  is positioned against the door trim or a wall to allow for a snug fit between the second leg  20  of the base member  12  and the wall  17 . The locking member  52  of the extension member  14  is matingly received by the base member  12 . The door  16  engages the surface  62  of the door stop  54  and the latch of the door  16  is received by the latch receiving space  64  of the latch cup member  56  and the door  16  is maintained in the ajar position. 
         [0027]    The door latch assembly  10  is economical and easily installed. A door may be left ajar with the door latch assembly  10  allowing better air circulation for a room, while preventing animals or small children to transit through the door way. Another advantage of the door latch assembly  10  also allows children to be better heard when confined to a room than with the door completely closed and can prevent animal contact with small children when desired. 
         [0028]    When not in use, the extension member  14  may be removed from the channel  44  and stored in a safe location to allow for a door to function normally. The door latch assembly  10  can be easily installed to replace the common door striker plate on both right hand and left hand doors. At all times a door knob will function normally. 
         [0029]    In other embodiments, the various parts of the door latch assembly  10  are constructed from glow in the dark materials to prevent inadvertent contact at night by an individual. Optional attachments to the door latch assembly  10  may be included for placing car keys, wallets, change, etc. A night light may be provided to illuminate the door latch assembly  10 . Additionally, an alarm may be provided to alert one of the opening of a door. 
         [0030]    From the above description, it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed.