Abstract:
A locking plate system comprising a locking plate assembly and proprietary wrench is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the locking plate assembly is installed either singularly or in sets on a rigid panel (rectangular or L-shaped) and used to secure the panel to an elevator wall or door jam. In addition, rivets are used to secure the locking plate assembly, The locking plate assembly utilizes a jack post and a latch dog, each having teeth that are manipulated to lock and unlock the system. The respective angles of the interfacing teeth on both the jack post and latch dog provide the unique capability of the locking system to effectuate both the functional compressive strength of the locking plate and the ability of the mechanism to retain its locking functionality. In other embodiments, the rigid panels are included in the embodiment, with specific description given for the composition of the panels.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    The present application may include subject matter related to one or more of the following commonly-owned United States patent applications, each of which was filed on even date herewith, claims the benefit of, and is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/366,251, filed Jul. 21, 2010. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a locking plate system that when attached to a surface of a rigid structure applies a compressive force parallel to the surface of the rigid structure. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Elevators, while constructed in a manner that ensures security of its occupants, often have decorative features included in the walls and door jams that appeal to a clientele that use the elevator. However, the elevator often performs a dual usage. In addition to transporting passengers, it may on occasion be used for moving large pieces of equipment such as office equipment, furniture, and building maintenance items, and also used by service carts, such as water bottle carts, mail package and coffee/snack carts. Furthermore, there is risk during the moving of equipment that the equipment may damage the elevator and its decorative items. Therefore, there is a need to have a means for adding protective panels to the elevator walls and door jams when equipment is being moved, and removing the protective panels when the elevator is restored for passenger use. Current means for protecting wall and door jams use a protective panel to cover the elevator surfaces and decorative elevator elements, and a means for attaching a protective panel to the elevator surfaces. 
         [0004]    However, existing protective products are either too heavy to be truly portable, are inflatable and therefore subject to puncture, do not have adequate means to safely secure them to the interior walls or door jambs or have a securing mechanism which must be left permanently attached to the interior walls or door jamb thereby leaving unsightly parts remaining on the decorative trim surface. Furthermore, such existing protective products may be vulnerable to tampering by unauthorized persons. 
         [0005]    More generally, there is a need for a locking plate system that, when attached to a surface of a rigid structure, applies a compressive force parallel to the surface of the rigid structure. Such a locking plate system may be used for installing a rigid panel that partitions a room or other space into two chambers, or installing a vertical post that supports a sagging ceiling beam. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The locking plate system is comprised of eight members of a locking plate assembly held together with four rivets, and a proprietary wrench. The locking plate assembly utilizes a jack post and a latch dog, each having teeth that intermesh and may be manipulated to lock and unlock the system. The respective angles of the interfacing teeth on both the jack post and the latch dog provide the unique capability of the locking system to effectuate both the functional compressive strength of the locking plate and the ability of the mechanism to retain its locking functionality. The jack post also has a set of oval cavities that are used to apply leverage to the system using the proprietary wrench. The mechanism allows the jack post to move freely when the latch dog is in the unlocked position (teeth are not engaged). The proprietary wrench is employed by simultaneously placing its two pins into one of the jack post oval cavities and one of the two fulcrum holes respectively. Compressive strength is achieved by ratcheting the jack post in the direction of a structure having opposing rigid surfaces. When the latch dog is in the locked position the jack post can only move in an extended direction against the opposing rigid surfaces. When sufficient compression is reached to hold the protective panel in place the latch dog is moved to the locked position that retains the compressive strength and the proprietary wrench may then be removed. 
         [0007]    In a first application of the current invention, the locking plate system is installed singly, or in pairs, on a rigid panel and used to secure the panel to the elevator. The panels, locked into place with a compression fit mechanism included in the locking plate assembly, is designed to ensure fast, secure, functional, low profile protection. The locking plate system includes a proprietary wrench designed to lock and unlock the mechanism while preventing the locking system to be manipulated by unauthorized users. 
         [0008]    The inventive concept may be applied to other fixed structures, enclosed areas, or other properties of value to protect them from damage, or when required to spread apart two rigid structures. 
         [0009]    The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention description below refers to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partially exploded view of the locking plate assembly. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates the members of the locking plate assembly. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a perspective view of the assembled locking plate assembly of the current invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a perspective view of the proprietary wrench of the current invention. 
           [0016]    FIGS. SA and SB illustrate how the proprietary wrench is used to force the footer of the jack post towards and away from a wall. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6A  presents a perspective view of the locking plate assembly illustrating its dimensions for a first embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6B  presents a perspective view of the first and second side rails and latch post illustrating the dimensions for a first embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6C  presents a perspective view of the proprietary wrench illustrating the dimensions for the first embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6D  presents a frontal detail view of the locking mechanism, the detail indicated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6E  illustrates a close up detail of  FIG. 6D , in expanded scale, illustrating a design of the intermeshing teeth. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate the locking plate assembly used in the interior walls and exterior wall jamb of an elevator. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate the locking plate assembly used to support a partition and to hold up a beam respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    In the detailed specification, if more than one part is included in a figure, only one or two parts may have a numeral associated with it. The same numeral may be used to refer to identical parts in different members. Terms such as top, bottom, left, right. front, rear and back refer to the figure being referenced. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment  100  of the present invention. First embodiment  100  is comprised of a locking plate assembly  102 , and a proprietary wrench  104 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partially exploded perspective view of locking plate assembly  102  of first embodiment  100 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , locking plate assembly  102  is comprised of eight members: a top plate  106 T, a bottom plate  106 B, a first side rail  108 R, a second side rail  10 SL, a jack post  110 , a latch dog  112 , a compressible rubber plug  127  and a ball bearing  129 . Also included are four rivets  119 . When locking plate assembly  102  is assembled, top plate  106 T and bottom plate  106 B sandwich the first side rail  108 R, second side rail  108 L, and the jack post  110 . Top plate  106 T, bottom plate  106 B, and jack post  110  having jack post teeth  133 , are positioned in the same plane as first side rail  108 R and second side rail  108 L, with jack post  110  positioned between first side rail  108 R and second side rail  108 L. First side rail  108 R has a latch dog containment cavity  114  that contains latch dog  112 , but allows latch dog  112  to rotate a small amount within the plane containing first side rail  108 R and second side rail  108 L. Latch dog containment cavity  114  has a channel  131  that accommodates compressible rubber plug  127  and ball bearing  129 . Latch dog  112  has a latch dog tab  124  and latch dog teeth  132 . Locking plate assembly  102  is assembled using the four rivets  119 . Rivet receiving holes  120 , four located on top plate  106 T, four located on bottom plate  106 B, two located on first side rail  108 R and two located on second side rail  108 L secure the locking plate assembly  102  members. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates the members of locking plate assembly  102 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , top plate  106 T has eight top fastener holes  116 T. First side rail  108 R has four middle fastener holes  116 M, and second side rail  108 L, has four middle fastener holes  116 M. Bottom plate  106 B has eight bottom fastener holes  116 B. When locking plate assembly  102  is assembled, these fastener holes are aligned so that fasteners, such as bolts or screws, may secure locking plate assembly  102  in the assembled configuration to a rigid panel  138  using an attachment means, such as screws or bolts. The attachment means are not shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, locking plate assembly  102  may be attached to rigid panel  138  using adhesives. 
         [0028]    Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , top plate  106 T has a top right fulcrum hole  118 TR, a top left fulcrum hole  118 TL, and a pin accepting cavity  121  having an approximately rectangular shape. Bottom plate  106 B has a bottom right fulcrum hole  118 BR and a bottom left fulcrum hole  118 BL. Jack post  110  has a leg  122 , and a footer  125  positioned on a first leg end  126  of leg  122 . Jack post  110  has an array of equally spaced set of oval cavities  128  positioned on leg  122  with oval cavity major axis  123 C of each of the oval cavities  128  lying parallel to footer major axis  123 F of footer  125 . Top plate  106 T has a tab access cavity  130 . Tab access cavity  130 , latch dog containment cavity  114 , and latch dog  112  are dimensioned and configured so that latch dog  112  fits in tab access cavity  130  with latch dog tab  124  of latch dog  112  protruding from tab access cavity  130 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a perspective view of locking plate assembly  102  assembled for use with proprietary wrench  104 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates a perspective view of proprietary wrench  104 . Proprietary wrench  104  has a first pin  134 L, a second pin  134 R, and a handle  135 .  FIG. 5A  illustrates locking plate assembly  102  attached to a rigid panel  138 .  FIG. 6D  illustrates a detail of latch dog  112  positioned in latch dog containment cavity  114  with compressible rubber plug  127  and ball bearing  129  positioned in channel  131 . Latch dog  112  has two dimples  141  that accommodate the ball bearing  129 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  6 D, rigid panel  138  is installed in a structure having opposing rigid surfaces  137  comprising left rigid structure  136 L, and right rigid structure  136 R. Referring to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  5 A, proprietary wrench  104  is used to force the footer  125  of jack post  110  against left rigid structure  1361 . This is accomplished by: 
         [0031]    Step A: Manually push the jack post  110  as far left as possible, and simultaneously engage the latch dog teeth  132  with jack post teeth  133  by pushing the latch dog tab  124  towards jack post  110 . Compressible rubber plug  127  pushes ball bearing  129  so that it engages bottom dimple  141 B and holds the latch dog  112  in place, keeping the teeth engaged. 
         [0032]    Step B: Insert the first pin  1341 . into oval cavity  128  and simultaneously insert the second pin  134 R in bottom left fulcrum hole  118 BL. Then rotate proprietary wrench  104  in a counter clockwise direction  139 CCW as far as possible. The latch dog teeth  132  continue to engage the jack post teeth  133  since compressible rubber plug  127  continues to hold the ball bearing  129  against bottom dimple  141  B and holds the latch dog  112  in place, thereby keeping the teeth engaged. 
         [0033]    Step C: Remove proprietary wrench  104  from locking plate assembly  102 . Repeat step B and C until rigid panel  138  is secured. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 4-A ,  4 B, and  513  illustrate how proprietary wrench  104  is used to disengage the footer  125  of jack post  110  from left rigid structure  136 L of the opposing rigid surfaces  137 . This is accomplished by: 
         [0035]    Step A: Insert first pin the into oval cavity  128  and simultaneously insert the second pin  134 R in bottom left fulcrum hole  118 BL. Then rotate proprietary wrench  104  in a counter clockwise direction  139 CCW as far as possible, and simultaneously disengage the latch dog teeth  132  with jack post teeth  133  by pushing the latch dog tab  124  away from the jack post  110 . Compressible rubber plug  127  pushes ball bearing  129  so that it engages the top dimple  141 T and holds the latch dog  112  in place, keeping the teeth disengaged. 
         [0036]    Step B: Manually push the jack post  110  as far right as possible, while simultaneously disengaging the latch dog teeth  132  with jack post teeth  133  by pushing the latch dog tab  124  away from jack post  110  until rigid panel  138  is released. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D, and  6 E illustrate preferred dimensions of the first embodiment  100  members when applied to panels such as those installed in elevator interiors and elevator exterior door jambs. Referring to  FIG. 6A , top plate  106 T has a length of 6.0 inches (15.24 cm) and a height of 3½ inches (8.89 cm). Jack post  110  has a horizontal length of 8⅜ inches (21.27 cm) and a foot depth of 1⅜ inches (3.492 cm). Oval cavities  128  have a length of a ½ inch (1.27 cm) and a diameter of ¼ inch (0.635 cm). Top left fulcrum hole  118 TL and top right fulcrum hole  118 TR are separated by a distance of 3½ inches (8.89 cm) between centers, and each has a diameter of 0.26 inches (0.6604 cm). The remaining members, the first side rails  108 R and second side rail  108 L and latch dog  112  (not shown in  FIG. 6A , see  FIG. 2 ) are dimensioned and configured to be consistent with these dimensions. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6B  illustrates first side rail  108 R, second side rail  108 L and jack post  110 .  FIG. 6C  illustrates dimensions of the proprietary wrench of first embodiment  100  of the invention. Referring to  FIGS. 6B and 6C , first pin  124 L and second pin  124 R are separated by a distance of 1¼ inches (3.175 cm) between pin centers; each pin having a diameter of slightly less than ¼ inch (0.635 cm). 
         [0039]      FIG. 6D , a close up detail view as indicated in  FIG. 2 , illustrates how jack post  110 , latch dog containment cavity  114 , and latch dog  112  operationally interact, and provides dimensions for a first embodiment. Latch dog containment cavity  114  and latch dog  112  are sized and configured so latch dog  112  can rotate several degrees within latch dog containment cavity  114 . Latch dog tab  124 , which protrudes from tab access cavity  130  located on top plate  106 T, is used to move latch dog  112  towards or away from jack post  110 , so that latch dog  112  fits in tab access cavity  130  with latch dog tab  124  of latch dog  112  protruding from tab access cavity  130 . Latch dog containment cavity  114  and latch dog  112  are dimensioned and configured so that latch dog  112  fits loosely in tab access cavity  130 . Latch dog tab  124  of latch dog  112  protrudes from tab access cavity  130 . (Tab access cavity  130  is not shown in  FIG. 6D ). Latch dog  112  is positioned in latch dog containment cavity  114  with compressible rubber plug  127  and ball bearing  129  being positioned in channel  131 . Latch dog  112  has two dimples  141  that accommodate the ball bearing  129 . When latch dog  112  is rotated so that the latch dog teeth  132  engage jack post teeth  133 , latch dog teeth  132  and jack post teeth  133  may lock if there are opposing forces on latch dog teeth  132  and jack post teeth  133 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6E  illustrates a design for a detail of  FIG. 6D  in expanded scale. The design of  FIG. 6E  shows the dimension of latch dog teeth  132  and jack post teeth  133  so that the teeth engage and disengage properly. The teeth will lock provided opposing forces with a first force  143 D on latch dog  112  and a second force  143 U on jack post  110 . Jack post teeth  133  and latch dog teeth  132  each have a tooth height  140  of 0.362 inches (0.9195 cm), and a tooth width  142  of 0.62 inches (1.575 cm). Jack post teeth  133  have a jack post tooth angle  144  of sixty degrees from horizontal, and latch dog teeth  132  have a latch dog tooth angle  146  of fifty nine degrees, leaving an angle difference  148  of one degree. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate the first embodiment  100  of the present locking plate invention when used with an elevator. Referring to  FIG. 7A , first locking plate assembly  102 A and second locking plate assembly  102 B, are attached to a rear rigid panel  150  located in the interior of an elevator cab, are positioned horizontally, and provide a compression force on left rigid panel  152  and right rigid panel  151  positioned on the interior walls of an elevator. Third locking plate assembly  102 C, attached to left rigid panel  152  of the interior elevator, is positioned vertically and applies a compressive force to elevator floor  155  and interior door header  153 . The first embodiment  100 , together with one or more rigid panels is a second embodiment  200  of the current invention. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 7B , first embodiment  100  includes a fourth locking plate assembly  102 D that secure an L-shaped rigid panel  154  installed on door jamb  156 . Fourth locking plate assembly  10213  is positioned vertically, is attached to the L-shaped rigid panel  154 , protects door jamb  156 , and applies a compressive force to the elevator entrance floor and the elevator exterior door header. The rear rigid panel  150 , right rigid panel  151 , left rigid panel  152 , and L-shaped rigid panel  154  are included in a second embodiment  200  of the current invention. The first embodiment  100 , together with the L-shaped rigid panel  154  comprises a third embodiment  300  of the current invention. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the left rigid panel  152 , rear rigid panels  150  and right rigid panel  151  preferably have an inner core of compressible plastic foam material, such as closed cell polyethylene, closed cell polystyrene or a combination of closed cell polyethylene-polystyrene foam. This foam core may or may not be provided, as desired, with an outer resilient plastic skin. 
         [0044]      FIG. 8A  illustrates the use of locking plate assembly  102  to support a partition  162  used to separate left wall  158  and right wall  160  of a room into two chambers.  FIG. 8B  illustrates the use of two locking plate assemblies  102  in conjunction with a post  164  resting on floor  168  to support a beam  166 . The two locking plate assemblies  102  used in  FIG. 8B  may have dimensions much larger than the dimensions illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 6C , with corresponding larger dimensions of the proprietary wrench, since it is designed to handle a heavier load. 
         [0045]    The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.