Abstract:
A lock and key system and device for doors. It is a removable door locking system or lock and carry kit, including: a door blank disposed in a door frame; a first elongated member passing through the latch hole and extend therefrom; a second elongated member disposable in the lock body hole and extending therefrom; a flange extending radially from a first end of the elongated member and stops passage of the first end through the lock body hole of the door; an aperture through the second elongated member; and/or a detachable lock coupleable to the aperture and stops passage of the second end through the lock body hole when coupled to the aperture. The door blank may include a lock body hole through the door blank that receives a lock body and a latch hole through the door blank and in communication with the lock body hole.

Description:
[0001]     This invention claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. §120, to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/681,223 to Norman L. Clifton filed on May 13, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to door accessories, specifically to door lock and carry systems and devices.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     During construction of buildings it is generally accepted that doors are installed in the final stages of construction. Having door frames but not doors provides workers with easier access to all portions of a building and generally speeds up the building process, especially in the final stages. However, there are times when doors are needed and/or wanted. Examples include: in the evening for security, to restrict air flow from one room to another, to reduce noise pollution from one portion of a facility to another, etc. Further, similar considerations are present during remodeling, painting, etc.  
         [0006]     To accommodate such needs it is known to prematurely install one or more doors, to hang a covering such as a plastic sheet over a door frame, and to lean a substantially planar material against a door frame to block the frame. Other examples of attempts to provide temporary portions of doors include the following patents which are hereby incorporated by reference herein:  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,685 to Frank discloses a portable auxiliary door lock including a lock cylinder slidable upon a bar having toothed edges to engage the locking means within the cylinder. The device differs from such locks for sliding panels, as it provides for temporary attachment between the edge of an arcuately hinged door and the adjacent door jamb to secure the door when it is closed. One end of the bar is bent at a 90 degree angle to insert into the latch recess of the striker plate. However, rather than using the lock cylinder to abut against the door and thereby at least partially blocking access to the lock cylinder for actuation due to the adjacent door knob assembly, the cylinder faces away from the knob assembly and an additional stop plate is used to retain the door. Other improvements are provided, such as adjustment for the spacing between the door and the jamb and additional security to preclude the forced removal of the lock cylinder from the bar.  
         [0008]     Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,185 to Bruning discloses a temporary door installation for a grain carrying freight car wherein the pry board is upwardly tapered to eliminate the need for special sealing.  
         [0009]     However, these solutions fail to provide a system and/or device facilitating a sturdy temporary door that is easily installed and easily removed.  
         [0010]     What is needed is a door system and/or device that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been filly solved by currently available door systems and/or devices. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a lock and carry system or kit for doors.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment of the invention, there is a removable door locking system or lock and carry kit, including one or more of the following: a door blank configured to be disposed in a door frame; a first elongated member configured to pass through the latch hole and extend therefrom; a second elongated member disposable in the lock body hole and configured to extend therefrom; a flange extending radially from a first end of the elongated member and configured to stop passage of the first end through the lock body hole of the door; an aperture through the second elongated member; and/or a detachable lock coupleable to the aperture and configured to stop passage of the second end through the lock body hole when coupled to the aperture.  
         [0013]     In another embodiment the door blank may include a lock body hole through the door blank and configured to receive a lock body and/or a latch hole through the door blank and in communication with the lock body hole.  
         [0014]     In still another embodiment, the elongated member may include a first end shaped to substantially prevent egress of the first elongated member from the latch hole through the lock body hole when the first end is disposed in the lock body hole and/or a second end disposable through the lock body hole.  
         [0015]     In a further embodiment, there may be a flexible member coupled to the second end and configured to facilitate threading the second elongated member through the lock body hole.  
         [0016]     In a still further embodiment, there may be a door fitting slot disposed on an exterior surface of the first end.  
         [0017]     In yet another embodiment, the first elongated member may include a plurality of telescoping members disposable in an extended and a retracted position. The first elongated member may further have a spring disposed within the plurality of telescoping members. The spring may bias the telescoping members in the extended position.  
         [0018]     In a still yet further embodiment, there may be one or more eyelets coupled to the first and/or second elongated members. Such eyelets may provide anchoring for straps, thongs, key-chains, mechanical coupling, clips, hooks, etc.  
         [0019]     Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, us language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.  
         [0020]     Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.  
         [0021]     These features and advantages of the present invention will become more filly apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.  
     
    
     BRIEF DECEPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side perspective view of a rod-shaped member  100  according to one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side perspective view of a bolt  200  according to one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of a bolt  200  according to one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a lock and carry system being placed in operation according to one embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a lock and carry system for a door according to one embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.  
         [0029]     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a side perspective view of a rod-shaped member or second elongated member  100  according to one embodiment of the invention. The illustrated rod-shaped member  100  is generally cylindrical. There is a first end or door fitting portion  120  and a second end or handle  110 . The first end is shaped to substantially prevent egress of a first elongated member  200  (See  FIG. 4 ) from a latch hole  460  (See  FIG. 4 ) when the first end  120  is disposed in a lock body hole  430  (See  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0031]     The illustrated handle portion  1   10  is smaller in radius than the door fitting portion  120  and is shaped and sized to be disposable through an associated lock body hole  430 , such as a standard sized lock body hole for a particular type of door. There is also shown a cavity or aperture  130  through the second elongated member  100 . The illustrated cavity  130  is in a door fitting portion  120 . The cavity  130  may be configured to receive mechanisms, such as but not limited to locks, bolts, and bolt mechanisms.  
         [0032]     There is also shown a cavity bar  135  defining a portion of the cavity  130 . The cavity bar  135  may be configured to provide a feature around which a detachable lock  520  (See  FIG. 5 ) may couple. There is also shown a door fitting slot  140 . The door fitting slot  140  may be included in the door fitting portion  120 . The illustrated door fitting slot  140  includes a ridge  142  and may be configured to accommodate mechanisms and/or portions of a door hole that may be non-cylindrical and/or non-circular. The ridge  142  and door fitting slot  140  may enable proper radial alignment and/or proper longitudinal alignment of the rod-shaped member  100 . The door fitting slot  140  may enable proper alignment of a bolt  200  (See  FIG. 2 ) and/or may prevent easy removal of a bolt  200 .  
         [0033]     The illustrated rod-shaped member  100  is configured to fit within a hole in a door. Preferably the rod-shaped member  100  is configured to fit within a standard sized hole drilled into doors for the purpose of installing locks. The rod-shaped member  100  may be configured to fit snugly within a standard sized door hole. The rod-shaped member  100  may have a circular, ellipsoid, oval, rectangular, irregular, polygonal, etc. cross section that may correspond to a door hole. The rod-shaped member  100  may be longer than a width of the rod-shaped member  100  or may be equal to or shorter than a width of the rod-shaped member  100 .  
         [0034]     The rod-shaped member  100  may be made of a great variety of materials. In one embodiment, the rod-shaped member  100  is constructed including a durable rigid material. The rod-shaped member  100  may include wood, metal, composite, resin, fiber, polymer, ceramic, and/or any other durable and/or rigid material. The rod shaped member  100  may include more than one material.  
         [0035]     The rod-shaped member  100  may be oblong and/or may be sufficiently long to extend through a hole or lock body hole  430  (See  FIG. 4 ) in a door or door blank  450  (See  FIG. 4 ) configured to be disposed in a door frame. The rod-shaped member  100  may be sufficiently long to extend through a lock body hole  430  in a door  450  and simultaneously extend outward substantially perpendicular from the door  450 . The rod-shaped member  100  preferably is sufficiently long to extend outward from a door  450  enough to provide a gripping surface large enough to accommodate one or two human hands. This structure may be a handle. There may be a second handle extending out from a second side of the door  450 .  
         [0036]     The rod-shaped member  100  may have an exterior surface configured to enable gripping of the rod-shaped member  100 . In one embodiment, the rod-shaped member  100  may have an outer surface comprising a material including properties that enhance friction between a hand and the rod-shaped member  100 . For example, and not as limitation, the outer surface may include rubber, plastic, and/or any other polymer. The rod-shaped member  100  may have an outer surface shaped to enhance gripping of the rod-shaped member  100 . There may be ripples, hand grips, one or more longitudinal ridges, circumferential ridges, and/or any other structures/shapes known in the art to enhance grippability of an object, particularly a rod-shaped object.  
         [0037]     There may be a multiplicity of ribs  150  defining an outer shape of the rod-shaped member  100 . The ribs  150  may have cavities  160  therebetween. Such ribs and cavities  160  may beneficially enhance gripping and/or reduce a weight of the second elongated member  100 .  
         [0038]     There is shown a sloping section  170  configured to transition the handle portion  10  to the door fitting portion  120 . The sloping section advantageously provides a radial transition between the first and second ends  120  and  110  without having any sharp corners that may damage a door blank and/or a user.  
         [0039]     There is shown an eye or eyelet  180  configured to receive member(s) coupled thereto, such as, but not limited to elongated flexible materials  410  (See  FIG. 4 ), such as leather strips or thongs. The eyelet  180  may provide an anchoring portion for attachment and/or storage of one or more accessories.  
         [0040]     There may be a flange  190  at an end of the rod-shaped member  100 . The flange  190  may be with a larger radius than a hole in a door. The flange  190  may be configured with a larger radius than a standard sized hole in a door. The flange  190  may prevent the rod-shaped member  100  from passing through a lock body hole  430  (See  FIG. 4 ) in a door  450  (See  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0041]     The rod-shaped member  100  may include a door locking mechanism  520  (See  FIG. 5 ). The door locking mechanism  520  may be configured to function while the rod-shaped member  100  is within a lock body hole  430 . The locking mechanism  520  may include a bolt  200  that may be configured to extend through a bolt hole or latch hole  460  (See  FIG. 4 ) in a door  450  (See  FIG. 4 ) and extend into a receiving hole in a door frame as is commonly practiced in the art of doors. The locking mechanism  520  may include an outer face on the rod-shaped member  100  that may be configured to enable locking and unlocking of the door. Locking and unlocking of the door may be by means of a key or by any other means for triggering locking and/or unlocking known in the art.  
         [0042]     The locking mechanism  520  may include an actuating member (not shown), such but not limited to a button, lever, dial, etc., configured to trigger locking and/or unlocking the door and may be integral the rod-shaped member  100 . The actuating member may be positioned on a handle portion  110  of the rod-shaped member  100 . The actuating member may be a lever, a slide, a button, and/or any other mechanism known in the art to trigger or actuate a locking mechanism  520 . Locking may be accomplished by installing the rod-shaped member  100  in a hole in a door  450  thereby forcing a bolt or first elongated member  200  through a bolt hole  460  in the door  450  and into a bolt receiving hole in a door frame.  
         [0043]     In one embodiment, the bolt  200  is separate from the rod-shaped member  100  and only adjacent the rod-shaped member  100  when the rod-shaped member  100  is in the lock body hole  430  in the door  450 . The bolt  200  may be permitted to withdraw from the receiving hole in the frame when the rod-shaped member  100  is removed at car least partially from the door  450 .  
         [0044]     There may be a threading device  410  (See  FIG. 4 ) coupled to the rod-shaped member  100 . The threading device  410  may be configured to facilitate installation of the rod-shaped member  100  in a door. The threading device  410  may be coupled to an end of the rod-shaped member  100 . The threading device  410  may be thinner than the rod-shaped member  100 . The threading device  410  may be flexible. The threading device  410  may be a wire, may be a leather strip, may be a plastic strip, may be a doubled strip, and/or may be a loop. The threading device  410  may be any means configured to facilitate inserting the rod-shaped member  100  into a hole in a door.  
         [0045]     There may be a fitting mechanism (not shown). The fitting mechanism may enable a user to adjust a property of an embodiment of the invention to enhance fitting the embodiment in a hole in a door. The fitting mechanism may adjust an effective radius of a rod-shaped member  100  or a portion thereof by actuation or otherwise. The fitting mechanism may include a bladder, a wedge, a screw, a lever, and/or any other structure known in the art to enhance the fit of an object within a hole. Such may be coupled to any surface of a rod-shaped member  100 , thereby enabling alteration of a cross-section of the rod-shaped member  100 .  
         [0046]     In one embodiment of the invention there may be one or more safety features. A safety feature may include a design, a paint color, a flexibility of a portion of an embodiment, a release mechanism, and/or a securing device. There may also be a decorative portion that may include a design, a color, a label, a mark, a translucent member, a transparent member, and/or a decorative feature and/or structure.  
         [0047]     In one embodiment there may be a modular configuration of one or more components, features, options, elements, and/or portions of the embodiment. There may be one or more sizes and/or configurations for one or more of the modular configurations or modular components.  
         [0048]     Looking to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in operation of one embodiment of the invention, there may be a kit provided including one or more of the portions, objects, features, etc. described herein. A user may thread a threading member  410  that is attached to an eye  180  of a rod-shaped member  100  through a hole  430  in a door  450  in a direction from an inside of a room to an outside of a room intended to be locked from the outside, thereby securing valuables, such as construction tools, therein. A bolt  200 , for example an adjustable bolt, may be detached from a keychain and inserted in a bolt hole  460  in a door  450 . The door  450  may then be closed. The rod-shaped member  100  may be pulled into the door hole  430  from the inside of the room by the threading member. The rod-shaped member  100  may be aligned with the bolt  200 . The bolt  200  may be pushed further through the latch hole  460  and into a bolt hole in the frame of the door  450 , thereby securing the door  450  in a shut position. The rod-shaped member  100  may be pulled outwards till a flange  190  of the rod-shaped member  100  abuts the surface of the door, thereby restricting any further outward motion of the rod-shaped member  100 . A padlock  520  or other locking mechanism may be attached by a locking rod  522  about a cavity bar  135  and through a cavity  130  in the rod-shaped member  100  and locked. Thereby a door  450  may be locked. Such may be done as a temporary lock during construction of a facility, such as but not limited to locking an otherwise accessible area for the night to protect tools and/or raw materials.  
         [0049]     In operation of one embodiment, a rod-shaped member  100  may be inserted into a lock body hole  430  of a door  450 . The rod-shaped member  100  may be passed through the door hole till a flange  190  abuts a surface of the door, restricting further motion of the rod-shaped member  100 . A person may grip the rod-shaped member  100 , thereby enhancing grip of the door  450 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 2  shows a side perspective view of a bolt  200  according to one embodiment of the invention. The bolt  200  illustrated may be a telescoping bolt  200 . Thereby the bolt  200  may be adjustable. The bolt  200  may also include an attachment eye  210  for attaching a mechanism to the bolt  200 . For example, without limitation, the attachment eye  210  may attach to a keychain of a user. There may be a lip portion  220  configured to mate with a ridge  142  (See  FIG. 1 ) of a slot  140  (See  FIG. 1 ), thereby securely coupling the bolt  200  to the rod-shaped member  100 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of a bolt  200  according to one embodiment of the invention. There is a base portion  300  including an eye  310  configured for attachment, for example to a keychain. The base portion may be detachable from the bolt  200 . There is a cap portion  320  that may include a cap flange  322 . There is a first telescoping member  330  and a second telescoping member  340 . The first telescoping member  330  is configured to fit within the second telescoping member  330 . A spring  350  may be internal the bolt  200  and may provide force to extend the telescoping members  330  and  340  to an adjustable desired length. Thereby a single bolt  200  may be used in a variety of doors and/or frame configurations.  
         [0052]     It is understood that the above-described preferred embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.  
         [0053]     It is expected that there could be numerous variations of the design of this invention. Finally, it is envisioned that the components of the device may be constructed of a variety of materials. There may be metal, fiber, resin, wood, plastic, polymer, ceramic, composite, and/or mineral.  
         [0054]     Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.