Abstract:
A security door block is provided for holding a door handle in the locked position. The security door block includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm is dimensioned to prevent rotation of the door handle. The second arm is spaced between the door handle and the door jam. The security door block serves as a deterrent to intruders to delay their entry to a room.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/745,495 filed Dec. 21, 2012, which application is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The present disclosure is related to a security door block. Previously, there have been many systems which serve to hold a door in the closed position, including door locks, deadbolts, latches, and locking bars. Many of these systems can be overcome by using a key from the outside of the door. Others of these systems can be readily defeated if an intruder can break a window to access the inside of the door. As such, an improved door security system is needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    The present disclosure describes a security door block which is suitable for holding a door handle in the locked position. The security door block includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm is dimensioned to prevent rotation of the door handle. The second arm is spaced between the door handle and the door jam. The security door block serves as a deterrent to intruders to delay their entry to a room. The security door block described herein is suitable for use in addition to existing door locking systems. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0004]    A preferred embodiment of this invention has been chosen wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a security door lock as carried on a door handle and abutting a door jam; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the security door lock of  FIG. 1 , prior to being installed on the door handle; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the security door lock of  FIG. 1  with a latch moved toward the closed position to allow the barrel of the door handle to pass the latch; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the security door lock of  FIG. 1  as installed on a door handle; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the security door lock of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the security door lock of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  7 - 7  of the security door lock of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the security door lock as installed on a door handle and abutting a block. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]    The present disclosure describes a security door block  10  having a first arm  12  and a second arm  14 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the security door block  10  is suitable for use with a door handle  16  and a door jam  18  to hold the door handle  16  in the closed position. The door handle  16  includes three principal parts, a barrel  20 , a grasping portion  22  and a tapered end  24 . The barrel  20  is the cylindrical portion of the door handle  16  which joins the grasping portion  22  to a door  26 . The tapered end  24  is the terminal end of the grasping portion  22  and is angled relative the grasping portion  22  in the direction of the door  26 . In use, the first arm  12  is carried between the barrel  20  and the tapered end  24  while the second arm  14  is carried between the barrel  20  and the door jam  18 . 
         [0014]    The first arm  12  and the second arm  14  are oriented parallel one another. A gap  28  is defined as the space between the first arm  12  and the second arm  14 . When the security door block  10  is used with a door handle  16 , the barrel  20  is positioned in the gap  28 . A spanning portion  30  joins the first arm  12  to the second arm  14 . Preferably, the spanning portion  30  is oriented perpendicularly to both the first arm  12  and the second arm  14 . 
         [0015]    The first arm  12  has a generally rectangular cross-section, being defined by four walls where one of the walls, the latch wall  34 , faces the second arm  14 . 
         [0016]    A cavity  32  is defined as a space formed in the first arm  12 . The cavity  32  forms an opening in the latch wall  34 . A post  36  is positioned in the cavity  32 . The post  36  carries a latch  38 . The latch  38  includes an aperture for accepting the post  36 . The latch  38  is rotatable about the post  36  between an open position (as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) and a closed position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0017]    The latch  38  includes a locking arm  40  and a spring arm  42 . The locking arm  40  and the spring arm  42  are joined together proximate the aperture. The locking arm  40 , when in the open position, extends away from the first arm  12  in the direction of the second arm  14 . Preferably, the locking arm  40  includes a ramped surface  44  which sits flush with a side wall  46  of the second arm  14  when the latch  38  is in the closed position. The locking arm  40  also includes a contact surface  50  which contacts the barrel  20  of the door handle  16  when the security door block  16  is being installed on the door handle  16 , as will be described below in greater detail. Preferably, the contact surface  50  faces away from the spanning portion  30  when the security door block  10  is in the closed position. Preferably, the contact surface  50  is flush with—or lies in the same plane as—the latch wall  34  when the latch  38  is in the open position. 
         [0018]    A portion of the cavity  32  is defined by a stop  52 . The stop  52  is a portion of the wall which defines the cavity  32 , wherein the stop  52  stands proud from the balance of the wall which defines the cavity  32 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a spring  48  is carried in the cavity  32  with a first end of the spring  48  in biased contact with the stop  52  and the second end of the spring  48  in biased contact with the spring arm  42 . The spring  48  urges the latch  38  away from the first arm  12  and into contact with the second arm  14 . 
         [0020]    The security door block  10  is installed on a door handle  16  as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 . In  FIG. 2 , the second arm  14  of the security door block  10  is positioned flush against the door jam  18  and above the door handle  16 , such that the gap  28  is above the barrel  20 . The security door block  10  is next advanced toward the door handle  16  such that the barrel  20  passes into the gap  28  and into contact with the contact wall  50  of the latch  38 , thereby urging the latch  38  toward the open position. The security door block  10  is next advanced further until the barrel  20  contacts the spanning portion  30  and the latch  38  biases back to the closed position, thereby completing the installation of the security door block  10  on the door handle  16 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , in some instances, the door  26  will swing inwardly relative the room, and as such, the door jam  18  will not be suitable for being positioned adjacent the security door block  10 . In such instances, a block  54  may be secured to the door jam  18 , such that the second arm  14  of the security door block  10  will be positioned between the barrel  20  and the block  54  when the security door block  10  is installed on the door handle  16 . 
         [0022]    When used, the security door block  10  prevents the door handle  16  from being rotated since the first arm  12  contacts the tapered portion  24 . By preventing rotation of the door handle  16 , the security door block  10  is used in cases where an individual desires to barricade themselves inside a room. In one application, the security door block  10  is suitable for use in schools or other buildings during a lock down. During a lock down, a teacher, or other person, will close the door  26  and will install the security door block  10  on the handle  16  as described herein. When installed, the security door block  10  prevents rotation of the door handle  16 , thereby slowing down an intruder from entering the room. Even a brief delay may be enough to dissuade the intruder from entering the room which is utilizing the security door block  10 . 
         [0023]    The security door block  10  is removed from the door handle  16  by biasing the latch  38  to the open position and then moving the security door block  10  up and away from the barrel  20  until the barrel clears the latch  38 , at which point the latch  38  is free to bias back to the closed position and the security door block  10  is removed from the door handle  16 , returning the door handle  16  to the proper function. 
         [0024]    It is understood that while certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been shown and described, the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects. No specific limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Modifications may be made to the disclosed subject matter as set forth in the following claims.