Patent Publication Number: US-4369993-A

Title: Door locking device for use with interchangeable padlocks

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a locking device. The locking device is especially suitable for use with compartments, such as lockers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Numerous types of locking devices are known in the prior art. Both combination and key locks have been used with lockers. 
     In certain prior art lockers, the body of the locking device has been disposed on the inside of the locker. In such lockers, the locking mechanisms have been specifically designed for the particular locker. Additionally, some of these specifically designed locking mechanisms have been removable from the locker door. Examples of such removable locking mechanisms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,284 issued to Gray, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,876 issued to Foote et al. 
     Other prior art lockers have utilized conventional padlocks for locking the door of the locker. In lockers of this type, the padlock has been hung external of the door. In one prior art locker a recess is formed in the external surface of the door within which the padlock is hung. Such a locker is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,961 issued to List. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a locking device for use with a door and jamb. The device includes a means for removably attaching a padlock to an interior surface of a door, a movable handle, means for connecting the handle to the shackle of the padlock, and a strike plate. The handle is adapted to be slidably carried by the door and to be accessible from the exterior surface thereof. The handle is adapted to be passed through a slot in the door whereby the motion of the handle can move the shackle between its locked and unlocked positions. The strike plate is adapted to be connected to a jamb and to cooperate with the shackle of the padlock to prevent the opening of the door when the shackle is locked to the body of the padlock. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the handle passes through a vertical slot in the door and is connected to a latch plate. The latch plate is held for vertical sliding motion against the interior surface of the door. The latch plate includes a tab extending rearwardly from the major surface of the latch plate. The tab has an aperature through it for receiving a shackle of a padlock. A bracket is removably bolted to the interior surface of the door and is configured to receive the body of the padlock between it and interior surface of the door. 
     In one embodiment, the strike plate includes an aperture for removably receiving a portion of the shackle to lock and unlock the door to the lamb. In another embodiment, a portion of the latch plate itself cooperates with the jamb to lock and unlock the door. 
     The present invention provides for the exchangeability of locks with minimal expense. Specifically designed locks need not be used since conventional padlocks can be interchanged. Also, by having the locking device within the locker or door itself, an extremely smooth front face is presented with only the face of the lock and a small handle protruding therefrom. 
     Various advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part thereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and objects obtained by its use, reference should be had to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described several embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closed locker incorporating a locking device in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial rear elevational view of the locker door, partially in section, illustrating a first embodiment of the locking device attached to the interior of the locker; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is partial rear elevational view of a locker door, partially in section, illustrating a second embodiment of the locking device attached to the interior of a locker; and 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5--5 of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 portions of a locking device in accordance with the present invention designated generally as a 10. The locking device 10 is shown attached to a compartment or a locker 12. The locker 12 includes a plurality of walls, including top wall 14 and side wall 16 shown in FIG. 1. A door 18 is pivotally connected to the side wall opposite side wall 16. The door 18 includes a top edge 20 which extends rearwardly and overlaps a portion of the top wall 14. The door 18 also includes a side edge 22 which extends rearwardly and overlaps a jamb 24, which forms the forward edge of side wall 16. 
     The locking device 10 includes a holding bracket 26, a latch plate 28, a handle 30, holding means 32 and a strike plate 34. 
     The bracket 26 is removably secured to an interior surface 36 of the door 18 by means of threaded studs 38 and nuts 40. The studs 38 are fixed, such as by welding, to the interior surface 36 and extend rearwardly threfrom. The bracket 26 includes a pair of connecting flanges 42, 44 each with an aperture for receiving one of the studs 38. The bracket 26 also includes a curved lower portion 46 and a rear plate portion 48. 
     The bracket 26 removably secures a padlock 50 to the interior surface 36 of the door 18. The padlock 50 includes a body 52 and a shackle 54. The curved lower portion 46 cradles the outer circumferential surface of the body 52 and the rear plate portion 48 holds the body 52 against the interior surface 36. The curved lower portion 46 extends around the circumference of the body 52 for more than 180° to prevent the body 52 from sliding upward. The portion 46 extends to immediately adjacent each leg of the shackle 54. An aperture is formed through the door 18. A combination dial 56 of the lock 50 is exposed through the aperture in door 18 and is operable from the exterior of the locker 12. A key-type lock may be used in place of a combination lock provided the key opening is on the front face of the lock and is exposed through the aperture in the door when the lock is cradled in bracket 26. 
     The handle 30 is attached to the latch plate 28 and extends through a vertically extending slot 58 in the door 18. The handle 30 is thus also accessible from the exterior of the locker 12. 
     The latch plate 28 is held for vertically sliding motion by the holding means 32. The holding means 32 includes a flange member comprised of a first vertically extending flange 60 and a second vertically extending flange 62. Each flange 60, 62 includes a portion 64 connected to the interior surface 36 and a guide portion 66 spaced therefrom. The guide portions 66 overlie the opposite vertical sides of the latch plate 28 so that the latch plate 28 is slidably held between the interior surface 36 and the guide portions 66. The latch plate 28 is thereby guided for upward and downward vertical motion. 
     A tab 68 extends rearwardly from the latch plate 28. The tab 68 has aperture through which the shackle 54 is passed. If the shackle 54 is unlocked from the body 52 of the padlock 50, handle 30 is free to move upwardly and downwardly in the slot 58. In this manner the shackle 54 can be moved between its downward locked position (shown in full line of FIG. 2) and its upper unlocked position (shown in phantom line in FIG. 2). 
     The strike plate 34 has a first portion 70 connected to the jamb 24 and a locking section 72 extending therefrom laterally inward to a position above a portion of the body 52 of the lock 50. The locking section 72 has an aperture through which a portion of the shackle 54 can pass to thereby lock and unlock the door 18. A major surface of the locking section 72 is disposed transverse to the plane of the interior surface 36 of the door 18. 
     When the shackle 54 is in its locked positioned and a person wishes to open the locker 12, the combination is dialed to unlock the shackle 54 from the body 52. If a key type padlock is used, the shackle is unlocked with the key. Thereafter, the handle 30 is moved upward until the shackle 54 is free of the locking section 72 of the strike plate 34. The door 18 can then be opened. 
     A second embodiment of a locking device in accordance with the invention, indicated generally as 10&#39; i shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Like elements in the two embodiments are indicated by like numerals, with those in the second embodiment being primed. The locking device 10&#39; operates in a manner similar to the locking device 10 except that the latch plate 28&#39;, the connecting means 32&#39;, and the strike plate 34&#39; are constructed differently. 
     The latch plate 28&#39;has a pair of spaced vertically extending slots 74, 76. A pin 78 is attached to the interior surface 36&#39; and extends through the slot 74, and a pin 80 is attached to the interior surface 36&#39; and extends through the slot 76. Each pin 78, 80 has a diameter slightly less than the width of slots 74, 76. The pin 78 extends from a plate or disk 82 which is attached to the interior surface 36&#39;. The pin 80 extends from a plate or disk 84 which is attached to the interior surface 36&#39;. A circular plate or disk 86 is attached to the free end of the pin 78, and a circular plate or disk 88 is attached to the free end of the pin 80. The plate 86 and the plate 88 each have diameter greater than the width of the respective slots 74, 76. In this manner, the latch plate 28&#39; is held between two pair of plates, i.e. between plates 82, 86 and plates 84, 88. The latch plate 28&#39; thus can be slid vertically up and down. 
     The locking section section 72&#39; of the strike plate 34&#39; has a major surface which extends generally parallel with the interior surface 36&#39;. The latch plate 28&#39; includes a locking portion 90 which extends laterally toward the side wall 16 and slightly rearward or inward of the locking section 72&#39; of strike plate 34&#39; with the door 18&#39; in its closed position. When the latch plate 28&#39; is in its lower position, the locking portion 90 overlaps the locking section 72&#39; to thereby hold the door 18&#39; shut. When shackle 54&#39; is unlocked from the body 52&#39;, the latch plate 28&#39; can be raised to the position shown in phantom line in FIG. 4. In such a position, the locking portion 90 is disposed above the locking section 72&#39; and the door 18&#39; is free to swing open. 
     Numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, and the noveal features thereof are pointed out in the appended claims. The disclosure, however, is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts, within the principal of the invention, to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.