Patent Publication Number: US-2023151644-A1

Title: Child safety lock

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a retrofittable safety lock for cupboards, cabinet doors and the like, and, more particularly, “child-proof” latches that include features which make them difficult to be actuated by small children. 
     BACKGROUND (PRIOR ART) 
     A variety of materials are used for the work surface of kitchen cupboards and sideboards. Materials such as quartz, granite, wood, acrylic, laminate etc. are often used for their aesthetic quality and finish since these surfaces can be a very dominant feature of a room. 
     These sideboards are commonly used in daily life in kitchens, bedrooms, offices, etc. to store a wide range of articles, some of which may be harmful to children. Small children may also attempt to climb on, or even in, cupboards and cabinets in an effort to hide. Cupboards and cabinets may house many types of materials which may be potentially hazardous to children such as medicines, household cleaners, knives, tools, paint, etc. 
     To prevent young children from accessing these storage areas, numerous items have been patented and sold, most of a multi-piece assembly. Generally, some sort of a longitudinal member with a hook portion is attached to either side surface of a cupboard or cupboard handle to limit the amount the cupboard door may be opened. 
     The hook portion may engage with the cupboard handles or fixings on the cupboard doors. A latch on the hook may be depressed by an adult to release the hook from the cupboard handles or fixings on the cupboard doors. 
     While the disengagement of the latch is relatively easy for an adult, the latches are intended to be difficult to manipulate by a child. 
     These products are also often fixed to the top inner surface of the cupboard so that they are most easily releasable from above and therefore more easily releasable by adults than small children. 
     Such a lock is known from GB 2553270. These products often need to be fixed to the inside surface of the cupboard or drawer, which often includes the use of screws or adhesive. Adults find it difficult to correctly fix such safety locks to existing cupboards with the confidence that they have been fitted correctly and will function correctly during use and effectively prevent children accessing a cupboard and yet not make the task of an adult opening the cupboard too onerous. 
     STATEMENT OF INVENTION 
     According to the invention there is provided a retrofittable safety lock for limiting movement of a movable first element with respect to a fixed second element as defined in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1   : shows a perspective view of a set of components of a first embodiment the safety lock of the invention, 
         FIG.  2   : shows a perspective view of a first step in the assembly of the latch member of the safety lock of the first embodiment, 
         FIG.  3   : shows a perspective view of a subsequent step in the assembly of the latch member of the safety lock of the first embodiment, 
         FIG.  4   : shows a perspective view of the assembled latch member of the safety lock of the first embodiment located in position on the cupboard frame as seen from the inside of the cupboard, 
         FIG.  5   : shows a perspective view of the assembled latch member of the safety lock of  FIG.  4   . seen from the outside of the cupboard to which the safety lock is attached, 
         FIG.  6   : shows a perspective view of the safety lock of  FIG.  5    with the catch member attached, 
         FIG.  7   : shows a perspective view of the safety lock of  FIG.  5    with the catch member removed and the cupboard doors open, 
         FIG.  8   : shows a perspective view of a set of components of a second embodiment the safety lock of the invention, 
         FIG.  9   : shows a perspective view of a first step in the assembly of the latch member of the safety lock of the second embodiment, 
         FIG.  10   : shows a perspective view of a second step in the assembly of the latch member of the safety lock of the second embodiment, 
         FIG.  11   : shows a perspective view of the assembled latch member of the safety lock of  FIG.  10   . seen from the outside of the cupboard to which the safety lock is attached, 
         FIG.  12   : shows a perspective view of the safety lock of  FIG.  10    with the catch member removed and the cupboard doors open, 
         FIG.  13   : shows a perspective view of a set of components of a third embodiment the safety lock of the invention, 
         FIG.  14   : shows a perspective view of a first step in the assembly of the latch member of the safety lock of the third embodiment, 
         FIG.  15   : shows a perspective view of a subsequent step in the assembly of the latch member of the safety lock of the third embodiment, 
         FIG.  16   : shows a perspective view of the assembled latch member of the safety lock of  FIG.  13   . seen from the outside of the cupboard, 
         FIG.  17   : shows a perspective view of the safety lock of  FIG.  13    with the catch member attached, 
         FIG.  18   : shows a perspective view of the safety lock of  FIG.  13    with the catch member removed and the cupboard doors open, 
         FIG.  19   : shows a perspective view of a set of components of a fourth embodiment the safety lock of the invention, 
         FIG.  20   : shows a perspective view of a first step in the assembly of the latch member of the safety lock of the fourth embodiment, 
         FIG.  21   : shows a perspective view of a subsequent step in the assembly of the latch member of the safety lock of the fourth embodiment, 
         FIG.  22   : shows a perspective view of a further subsequent step in the assembly of the latch member of the safety lock of the fourth embodiment, 
         FIG.  23   : shows a perspective view of the assembled latch member of the safety lock of  FIG.  19   . seen from the outside of the cupboard, 
         FIG.  24   : shows a perspective view of the safety lock of  FIG.  19    with the catch member attached, 
         FIG.  25   : shows a perspective view of the safety lock of  FIG.  19    with the catch member removed and the cupboard doors open, 
         FIG.  26   : shows a perspective view of a set of components of a fifth embodiment the safety lock of the invention, 
         FIG.  27   : shows a perspective view of a first step in the assembly of the latch member of the safety lock of the fifth embodiment, 
         FIG.  28   : shows a perspective view of the assembled latch member of the safety lock of  FIG.  26   . seen from the outside of the cupboard, 
         FIG.  29   : shows a perspective view of the safety lock of  FIG.  26    with the catch member attached, and 
         FIG.  30   : shows a perspective view of the safety lock of  FIG.  26    with the catch member removed and the cupboard doors open. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS.  1  to  7    show a retrofittable safety lock  1  according to a first embodiment of the invention in its four component parts including a rail attachment member  2 , a catch member  4 , a screw  6 , and a latch part  3 . In this first embodiment the safety lock is adapted to be fitted to cupboards which comprise a wooden frame as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5    which includes a horizontal frame element  5 . The term wooden is used here to include all types of manufactured artificial wood including chipboard, mdf (medium density fibreboard), and the like and other resin or glue based products exhibiting the properties of wood. Such a wooden frame element  5  typically comprises planar surface  7  being co-planar with the cupboard doors when closed and a horizontal lower edge  6 . Cupboard doors  8   a ,  8   b  are arranged below the frame element  5 . 
     In this embodiment, it can be seen that the rail attachment member  2  comprises a square shaped web  9  which provides an attachment surface  10  for securing to the planar surface of the frame element  5  preferably by means of adhesive. The relatively large surface area of at least 2 cm 2  of the attachment surface  10  provides for a strong attachment of the rail attachment member  2  to the frame element  5 . The rail attachment member  2  also comprises a groove housing  11  arranged orthogonally to the web  9  and comprises a groove  12  designed to receive a tongue  13  of the latch part  3 , which tongue  13  comprises correspond flanges  14  on either side which snugly fit into the groove  12 . The tongue  13  also comprises a through hole  15  for receiving a retaining screw  6 , so that to affix the latch part  3 , the user slides the tongue  13  in the groove  12  as shown best in  FIG.  2   . The tongue  13  and groove  12  are slid together to the fullest extent possible, as shown in  FIG.  3   , and as determined by corresponding stops at the end of the tongue  13  and groove  12  respectively, at which point the through hole  15  is aligned with a retaining hole (not shown) inside an abutment  11   a  the groove housing  11 . The stop means is provided by a supporting wall  19  arranged orthogonally to the tongue  13  and reinforced by an angular web  20 . Thus, the user screws in the retaining screw  6  through the through hole  15  and into the retaining hole thus securing the latch part  3  to the rail attachment member in a manner in which any rotation or sideways movement is prevented. The rail attachment member  2 , together with the latch part  3 , is then fixedly attached to the inside surface of the frame element, preferably by means on adhesive, such that a latching protrusion  17  of the latch part  3 , which in turn is arranged orthogonally to the tongue  13  and the supporting wall  19 , extends outwardly between the cupboard doors  8   a ,  8   b , as shown in  FIGS.  6  and  7   . The latch part  3  attached to the frame element  5  in a fixed and secure state, such that the catch part  4  can be engaged with the protrusion  17  by means of the latching hole  18 , by the user to secure the cupboard, in a manner which is already known for example from GB 2553270. 
       FIGS.  8  to  12    show a retrofittable safety lock  21  according to a second embodiment of the invention in its four component parts including a rail attachment member  22 , a screw  16 , a catch member  4 , which may be the same as in the first embodiment, and a latch part  23 . In this second embodiment the safety lock is adapted to be fitted to cupboards which comprise a wooden frame as shown in  FIG.  10    which includes a horizontal frame element  25 . In this embodiment however the rail attachment member is adapted to be attached to the horizontal plane of the horizontal lower edge  26  of the frame element  25  instead of the vertically extending surface as is the case for the first embodiment. 
     In this second embodiment, it can be seen that the rail attachment member  22  comprises a square shaped elongate web  29  which provides an attachment surface  30  for securing to the edge of the frame element  25  preferably by means of adhesive. The relatively large surface area of at least 2 cm 2  of the attachment surface  30  provides for a strong attachment of the rail attachment member  22  to the frame element  25 . The rail attachment member  22  also comprises a groove housing  31  arranged in the same plane as the web  29  and comprises a groove  32  designed to receive a tongue  33  of the latch part  23 , which tongue  33  comprises corresponding flanges  34  on either side which snugly fit into the groove  32 . The tongue  33  also comprises a through hole  35  for receiving the retaining screw  16 , so that to affix the latch part  23 , the user slides the tongue  33  in the groove  32  as shown best in  FIG.  9   . The tongue  33  and groove  22  are slid together to the fullest extent possible, as shown in  FIG.  10   , and as determined by corresponding stops at the end of the tongue  33 , at which point the through hole  35  is aligned with a corresponding retaining hole  35   a  extending through the web  29  inside the groove housing  31 . The stops are provided by a supporting wall  39  arranged orthogonally to the tongue  33  and reinforced by an angular web  40 . Thus, the user screws in the retaining screw  36  through the through hole  35  and into the retaining hole  35   a  and further into the frame element  25  thus securing the latch part  33  to the rail attachment member  22  and in turn securing both to the frame element  25  in such a way that any rotation or sideways movement is prevented. The edge of the web  29  is aligned by the user to the edge of the frame element  25  and pressed together to fix by means of adhesive, which has either been applied by the user or pre-applied and the user merely removes a cover strip in a known way. By this means and the adhesive applied to the attachment surface  30 , fixes the rail attachment means  22  and latch part  3  in position such that a latching protrusion  37  of the latch part  23 , which in turn is arranged orthogonally to the tongue  33  and the supporting wall  39 , extends outwardly between the cupboard doors  8   a ,  8   b , in a fixed and secure state, such that the catch part  4  can be engaged with the protrusion  37  by means of the latching hole  38 , by the user to secure the cupboard, in the same manner as in the first embodiment and as shown in  FIGS.  11  and  12   . 
       FIGS.  13  to  18    show a retrofittable safety lock  21  according to a third embodiment of the invention in its five component parts including a rail attachment member  42 , a C-shaped clamp  44 , a screw  36 , a catch member  4 , which may be the same as in the first embodiment, and a latch part  23 , which is also the same as in the previous embodiment. In this third embodiment the safety lock is adapted to be fitted to cupboards which comprise a metal frame as shown in  FIG.  14    which includes a horizontal frame element  45 , which typically has an inverted U-shaped profile with the front side  49  longer than the rear side  48  as shown in cross section in  FIG.  15   . In this embodiment however the rail attachment member  42  is adapted to be attached to the horizontal frame element  45  by comprising means of shaped insert section  43  which is shaped to correspond with the internal section of the frame element  45  so that the insert section fits snugly inside the frame element  45 . The insert section also includes ledges  46 ,  47  which are dimensioned to correspond with the external edges of the front and rear sides  48 ,  49  of the frame element  45  when the insert section  43  is fitted inside the frame element  45 . 
     In this third embodiment, it can be seen that a further rail attachment component is provided in the form of a C-shaped clamp  44  which includes two opposing clamp sides and a connecting base and one of the sides being provided with a clamp hole  50 . As in the previous embodiments, the rail attachment member  42  also comprises a groove housing  51  comprising a groove  52  designed to receive a tongue  33  of the latch part  23 , which tongue  33  comprises correspond flanges  34  on either side which snugly fit into the groove  52 . The latch part  23  is the same as in previous embodiments and comprises a through hole  35  for receiving a retaining screw  36 , so that to affix the latch part  23 , the user slides the tongue  33  in the groove  52  as shown best in  FIG.  14   . The tongue  33  and groove  52  are slid together to the fullest extent possible, as shown in  FIG.  15   , and as determined by the supporting wall  39  at the end of the tongue  33 . The groove  52  is dimensioned so that when the tongue  33  is in place there is sufficient room for the C-shaped clamp side with the hole  50  of the C-shaped clamp  44  to be slid into the same groove  52  above the tongue  33 , and from the opposite end of the groove  52 , so that together they snugly fit as shown in  FIG.  15   , with the other clamp side resting on the frame element  45  and the clamp hole  50  aligned with the through hole  35  in the latch tongue  33 . Thus, the user screws in the retaining screw  36  through the through hole  35  and into the clamp hole  34  and further into the inside wall of the groove housing  51  thus securing the latch part  33  to the rail attachment member  42  and in turn securing both to the frame element  45  in a manner in which any rotation or sideways movement is prevented. 
     By this means the latching protrusion  37  of the latch part  23 , which in turn is arranged orthogonally to the tongue  33  and the supporting wall  39 , extends outwardly between the cupboard doors  8   a ,  8   b , in a fixed and secure state, such that the catch part  4  can be engaged with the protrusion  37  by means of the latching hole  38 , by the user to secure the cupboard, in the same manner as in the first embodiment as shown in  FIGS.  16  to  18   . 
       FIGS.  19  to  25    show a retrofittable safety lock  21  according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in its six component parts including a rail attachment member  53 , a C-shaped clamp  44 , an L-shaped clamp  54 , a screw  36 , a catch member  4 , which may be the same as in the first embodiment, and a latch part  23 , which is also the same as in the previous embodiment. The L-shaped clamp  54  comprises first and second legs  64 ,  65  arranged orthogonally to each other with the first leg  64  comprising a through hole  66 . In this fourth embodiment the safety lock is adapted to be fitted to cupboards which comprise a metal frame as shown in  FIG.  22    which includes a horizontal frame element  55 , which typically has an inverted U-shaped profile with open end of the U facing inside the cupboard and with as top side  59  longer than the bottom side  58  as shown in cross section in  FIG.  22   . In this embodiment the rail attachment member  53  is adapted to be attached to the horizontal frame element  55  by comprising means of shaped insert section  56  which is shaped to correspond with the internal section of the frame element  55  so that the insert section  56  fits snugly inside the frame element  55 . The insert section  56  also includes a first slot  57  which is dimensioned to correspond with the external edge of the lower side  58  of the frame element  55  when the insert section  56  is fitted inside the frame element  55 . In addition, the insert section  56  includes an upstanding stop  60  which is dimensioned to correspond with the external edge of the upper side  59  of the frame element  55  when the insert section  56  is fitted inside the frame element  55 . 
     In this fourth embodiment, it can be seen that the same C-shaped clamp  44  is provided which includes two opposing clamp sides and a connecting base and one of the sides being provided with a clamp hole  50 . As in the previous embodiment, the rail attachment member  53  also comprises a groove housing  61  comprising a groove  62  designed to receive a tongue  33  of the latch part  23 , which tongue  33  comprises correspond flanges  34  on either side which snugly fit into the groove  62 . The latch part  23  is the same as in previous embodiments and comprises a through hole  35  for receiving a retaining screw  36 , so that to affix the latch part  23 , the user slides the tongue  33  in the groove  62  as shown already done in  FIG.  20   . The tongue  33  and groove  62  are slid together to the fullest extent possible, as shown in  FIGS.  20  and  22   , and as determined by the supporting wall  39  at the end of the tongue  33 . The groove  62  is dimensioned so that when the tongue  33  is in place there is sufficient room for the clamp side with the hole  50  of the clamp  44  to be slid into the same groove  62  above the tongue  33  so that together they snugly fit as shown in  FIG.  22   , with the other clamp side resting on the upper side  59  of the frame element  55  and the clamp hole  50  aligned with the through hole  35  in the latch tongue  33 . 
     Additionally in this embodiment the insert section  56  of the rail attaching member  53  includes a second slot  63  which is deeper than the first slot  57  and deep enough to receive the first leg  64  of the L-shaped clamp  54 . Thus, the user locates the tongue  37  and the c-shaped clamp side with the hole in the groove  62  and fits the assembled parts to the frame member  55  with the shirt side  58  inserted into the first slot  57  and then inserts the first leg  64  of the L-shaped clamp  54  into the second slot  63  such that the through holes  35 ,  50  and  66 , of the tongue, C-shaped clamp side and first leg of the L-shaped clamp are all aligned. The user then screws in the retaining screw  36  through the through hole  35  and into the clamp hole  50  and the through hole  66  and further into the inside wall of the groove housing  61  thus securing the latch part  33  to the rail attachment member  53  and in turn securing both to the frame element  55  in a such a way that any rotation or sideways movement is prevented. 
     As with the previous embodiments the latching protrusion  37  of the latch part  23 , extends outwardly between the cupboard doors  8   a ,  8   b , in a fixed and secure state, such that the catch part  4  can be engaged with the protrusion  37  by means of the latching hole  38  by the user to secure the cupboard, as shown in  FIGS.  23  to  25   . 
       FIGS.  26  to  30    show a retrofittable safety lock  1  according to a fifth embodiment of the invention in its four component parts including a rail attachment member  72 , a catch member  4 , a screw  16 , and a latch part  23 . In this embodiment, the safety lock is adapted to be fitted to cupboards which comprise a metal rail as shown in  FIGS.  27  and  28    which includes a horizontal frame element  75  having a shallow U-shaped channel  76  with the edge of the side walls forming a small inwardly directed lip (not shown). The rail attachment member  72  comprises an insert body portion  74  which is dimensioned to fit inside the U-shaped channel of the rail  75  and also includes elongate flanges  73  along each side which are dimensioned to be slightly over sized in relation to the inwardly facing lips of each side wall of the U-shaped channel such that by means of elastic deformation of the flanges  73  the rail attachment member can be pressed into the U-shaped channel of the rail  75  and be retained by the lips and side walls and permitted to moved lengthways along the channel  76 . As in the previous embodiment, the rail attachment member  72  also comprises a groove housing  71  comprising a groove  70  designed to receive a tongue  33  of the latch part  23 , which tongue  33  comprises correspond flanges  34  on either side which snugly fit into the groove  70 . The latch part  23  is the same as in previous embodiments and comprises a through hole  35  for receiving a retaining screw  16 , so that to affix the latch part  23 , the user slides the tongue  33  in the groove  72  as shown already done in  FIG.  27   . The tongue  33  and groove  72  are slid together to the fullest extent possible, as shown in  FIG.  27   , and as determined by the supporting wall  39  at the end of the tongue  33 . 
     The user then screws in the retaining screw  16  through the through hole  35  and into a smaller hole  69  in the inside wall of the groove housing  71  thus securing the tongue  33  to the rail attachment member  72  and in turn permitting the screw  16  to extend through the smaller hole  69  to the frame element  75  in a such a way that any sliding movement of the rail attachment member  72  when pressed into the channel  76  is prevented and rotation or sideways movement of the latching protrusion  37  is also prevented. Two smaller holes  69  are provided to permit the user to insert the tongue  33  into the groove  70  from either one off the two ends of the groove  70 , and there is in both cases alignment of a smaller hole  69  with the through hole  35  when the latch member  23  is fully pressed into the groove  70 . 
     As with the previous embodiments the latching protrusion  37  of the latch part  23 , extends outwardly between the cupboard doors  8   a ,  8   b , in a fixed and secure state, such that the catch part  4  can be engaged with the protrusion  37  by means of the latching hole  38  by the user to secure the cupboard, as shown in  FIGS.  28  to  30   . 
     Another advantage of the invention is that lock is secured to the frame element of the cabinet, which allows the child safety lock to be installed without making alterations or securing to the outside surface of the cupboard or drawer. This is advantageous to preserve the outside appearance of the cupboard door and avoids the need to secure anything to the panel surfaces would damage the quality of the appearance. 
     COMPONENT LIST 
     
         
           1  —Safety lock 
           2  —Rail attachment member 
           3 —Latch part 
           4 —Catch member 
           5 —Frame element 
           6 —Horizontal lower edge 
           7 —Planar surface 
           8   a ,  8   b —Cupboard doors 
           9 —Enlarged web 
           10 —Attachment surface 
           11 —Groove housing 
           11   a —Abutment 
           12 —Groove 
           13 —Tongue 
           14 —Flanges 
           15 —Through hole 
           16 —Retaining screw 
           17 —Latching protrusion 
           18 —Latching hole 
           19 —Supporting wall 
           20 —Reinforcing web 
           21 —Retrofittable lock 
           22 —Rail attachment member 
           23 —Latch part 
           25 —Frame element 
           26 —Horizontal lower edge 
           29 —Square shaped web 
           30 —Attachment surface 
           31 —Groove housing 
           32 —Groove 
           33 —Tongue 
           34 —Flanges 
           35 —Through hole 
           35   a —Retaining hole 
           36 —Retaining screw 
           37 —Latching protrusion 
           38 —Latching hole 
           39 —Supporting wall 
           40 —Reinforcing web 
           42 —Rail attachment member 
           43 —Insert section 
           44 —C-shaped clamp 
           45 —Horizontal frame element 
           46 — Ledge 
           47 — Ledge 
           48 — Front side 
           49 — Rear side 
           50 — Clamp hole 
           51 — Groove housing 
           52 — Groove 
           53 — Rail attachment member 
           54 — L-shaped clamp 
           55 — Frame member 
           56 — Insert section 
           57 — First slot 
           58 — Short side 
           59 — Long side 
           60 — Upstanding stop 
           61 — Groove housing 
           62 — Groove 
           63 — Second slot 
           64 — First leg 
           65 — Second leg 
           66 — Through hole 
           69 — Smaller holes 
           70 —Groove 
           71 — Groove housing 
           72 — Rail attachment member 
           73 —Flanges 
           74 — Side walls 
           75 — Rail 
           76 — U-shaped Channel