Patent Publication Number: US-2021180375-A1

Title: Barrier Locking System and Method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. App. No. 62/946,538 filed Dec. 11, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a barrier locking system and method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There has been a significant increase in school shootings between the 1980s and 2000s. Government reports on school shootings by the US Secret Service, FBI, and Department of Education provide an explanation of factors contributing to shootings. During an active situation, it may be difficult to maintain a safe space while awaiting the arrival of emergency response personnel. Deterrents currently on the market may require different components to be set in place when needed and requires storage space until used. While some products may restrict a hostile person or persons from entering a room, others fail in that task. Many products fail to take into account the potential need for Police or EMS personnel to gain entry into a room during an emergency. Once engaged or set in place, several of these units have no way to be unlocked by Police, EMS or rescue units making a critical situation untenable. The items currently available do not address or consider the necessity for quick and immediate access to mitigate and potentially neutralize an immediate threat. Further, many current products do not meet the requirements detailed in the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code for door locks. Current products failing to address the above noted access and egress requirements put all potential targets, at high risk. These include Schools, Office Buildings, Stores, Government Buildings etc. due to the inability of police, security forces and rescue personnel to enter and neutralize the situation or by hampering egress from the room in case of fire or other emergency. 
     SUMMARY 
     In light of the foregoing background, the following presents a simplified summary of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure or to delineate the scope of the disclosure. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below. 
     Various aspect of the present disclosure relates to a barrier locking system and method. An aspect of the disclosure pertains to a barrier apparatus for a door. The apparatus may have a slidable lock rod having a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally. A pivot lever may be provided having a tip engageable with the grooves of the lock rod and a cam member may be engageable with the pivot lever. In one aspect, the cam member may be rotatable to pivot the lever downwardly to disengage the tip from the grooves of the lock rod. 
     In another aspect, the apparatus may include a button having a distal tip being engagable with the pivot lever; the button being linear movable to pivot the lever downwardly to disengage the tip from the grooves. In another aspect, the button further include a coil spring configured to urge the button away from the pivot lever. 
     In another aspect, a wire member being connected to pivot lever; the wire member being linear movable to pivot the lever downwardly to disengage the tip from the grooves. In another aspect, a bushing may be included on the lock rod and a coil spring disposed around the lock rod, the coil spring may be configured to urge the lock rod vertically by abutting engagement of the bushing. In another aspect, the lock rod may be constructed of a plastic or metal (aluminum, steel) material. In another aspect, a control box has a control portion housing the pivot lever and a rod region for retaining the lock rod. 
     An aspect of the disclosure pertains to a barrier apparatus for a door including a slidable lock rod having a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally; a pivot lever having a tip engageable with the grooves; and a teardrop shaped member engageable with the pivot lever; the member being rotatable to pivot the lever downwardly to disengage the tip from the grooves. 
     In one aspect, a manually activated locking device is provided to inhibit and restrict an entry/exit door from opening either outward or inward or both, as installed. In one aspect, the device that can be set from inside the room to be protected from threats or intrusion. In one aspect, the locking device is designed to be tamper-proof from outside the room yet allows access by authorized individuals thereby creating a secure but accessible safe zone for individuals or property inside the zone. In one aspect, the activated locking device may be mechanical system which may prevent electronic hacking of the locking device. 
     These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’ include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic diagram of a front elevation of the barrier locking system in which certain aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic diagram of a side elevation of the barrier locking system in which certain aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an enlarged view of the control assembly in accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an enlarged view  FIG. 3  in accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an enlarged view of the control assembly showing a releasing position in accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an enlarged view of the internal structure of a control box in accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a pivot lever in accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a release button in accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of floor insert device in accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a door lock rod construction in accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-section of the door lock rod taken along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10  in accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a device plate accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a device plate and cam key accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a wire member door arrangement accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates an enlarged view of lower door rod and insert arrangement accordance with one or more constructions and implementations of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a schematic diagram an alternative barrier locking system in which certain aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a schematic diagram of a front elevation of the alternative barrier locking system in which certain aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a schematic diagram of the alternative barrier locking system on barrier, such as a door, in which certain aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, various embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made. 
     As illustrated in the  FIGS. 1-15 , a barrier locking system  100  provides a locking and releasable apparatus for a barrier that defeats unauthorized entry attempts by those who would disrupt or have intent to do harm to individuals or property protected therein. The barrier locking system  100  can be implemented to a classroom, office, meeting room or conference room such that office or rooms can be rendered a safe room easily accessible by first responders or other law enforcement or rescue authorities and other individuals. 
     One or more constructions, the barrier locking system  100  may include a control box  200 , a vertically movable door rod  300 , a pivot lever  400  engageable with the barrier or dock look rod  300 , a release button  500 , a release wire member  600 , an optional floor insert member  700 , and optional key  900 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the control box  200  includes several functional regions a rod region  204  for retaining and operation of the door rod  300  and a control region  206  for locking and unlocking the door rod  300 . The rod region  204  may have a circular openings  208  at the top and bottom of the control box  200  of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the rod  300  to enable to rod  300  for freely move vertically within box  200 . The control region  206  includes a top opening  210  sized to receive an end of the wire cover  602 . The wire cover  602  generally has a U-cross-Sectional shape. The bottom of box  200  includes a cylindrical cavity  212  configured to receive the release button  500  and a button coil spring  508 . The control box  200  can be of a mold configuration, metal casted or machined. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 and 10-11 , the door rod  300  is provided in a spring mounted arrangement with a coil spring  302  configured resiliently urged the rod  300  upward in vertical movement in the control box  200 . In one construction shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the rod  300  may have a top cap  303  mounted to a cylindrical body  305  and a distal end  307  which engages and enters into a cavity of the floor insert member  700 . The rod body  305  includes a plurality of indents or a vertical set of grooves  309 . The rod body  305  has an indented groove construction vertically into the surface which may be tuned to the length and depth of vertical movement up-and-down and the position at which the door rod  300  stays in place. In some constructions, the set of grooves  309  can be 10, 12, 15-20 depending of the increment of vertical movement for locking engagement with the lever  400 . The grooves  309  are disposed longitudinally on the rod body  305 . The length of each groove  309  is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod  300 . The tip  307  may be an indent portion  313  configure to receive a set screw  215 . The rod  300  may be constructed of suitable metal material, such as steel and higher strength aluminum or other material. In another construction shown in  FIGS. 10-11 , the door rod  300  rod body  305  may be of ridge arrangement. The rod body  305  can be of an extruded or injected molded higher strength plastic or metal (aluminum, steel) material. And the tip  307  may be constructed from aluminum or another metal material. 
     The pivot lever  400  is pivotally mounted to pivot pin  202  in the control box  200  to engage the grooves  309  in the rod body  305 . The lever  400  has distal end  402  and opposing tip  404 . Distal end  402  is configured to abut and engage a distal tip  502  of the release button  500 . The tip  404  of lever  400  is configured to matingly engage one of move of grooves  306  as best shown in  FIGS. 4  and disengage from the groove  309  based on mechanically action as shown in  FIG. 5 . Level  400  includes a hole  406  for retaining an end of the release wire member  600 .  FIG. 7  shows one construction of level  400 , including the distal end  402  is provided in the form of an indent portion  408  and a sidewall  410  in which the distal tip  502  of the release button  500  can provide an enhanced abutting configuration. Still referring to  FIG. 7 , the hole  406  is provided via handle-like protrusion  412  extending from a top surface of the level  400 . As been seen in  FIG. 7 , a cylindrical cavity  414  is shown in which the pin  202  engages and extends therethrough. The pivot lever  200  can be of a molded configuration, metal casted or machined. 
     Release button  500  includes a distal tip  502  connected to a shaft body  504  with on connected to a pad body  506 . The distal tip  502  can be provided in the shape of hemisphere construction. The shaft body  504  may be in the form of an elongated cylinder. The pad body  506  is provided in the form of a short cylinder of greater diameter of the shaft body  504 . The pad body  506  may be sized for a tip of the finger of user so that the user can reliably engage the button  500  upward to unlock the door rod  300 . The release button  200  can be of a molded configuration, metal casted or machined. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the floor insert  700  may have hollow cylindrical construction to received the door rod  300 . The top plate  702  may have a circular cutout. The internal cavity  704  has a depth sufficient to provide engage of the door rod  300  end. The bottom of the insert  700  may include a base  706 . In one construction, the cavity  704  of the floor insert  700  may include a coil spring configured to compress when the door rod  300  enters the cavity  406 . The coil spring diameter may be smaller than the door rod  300  diameter. In operation, the coil spring can resiliently urge the door rod  300  upward when the spring decompresses. The floor insert  700  can be of a molded configuration, metal casted or machined. 
     Release wire  600  is housed in a wire cover  602  with an elongated pathway. In one construction, the wire cover  602  has a U-cross-Sectional shape providing that pathway. Nevertheless, the cross-sectional shape could a channel with 90 angles. The wire cover  602  acts as a fascia protective panel to prevent the wire  600  from being tampered or damaged. The cover  602  is securely mounted to the door surface and a top loop portion  604  encircles the round portion of the door knob or handle. The control far end  604  of the release wire  600  is connected to the pivot lever  400  in particular to the hole  406 . The handle end of the wire  600  is connected to spindle of knob  650  as shown in  FIG. 14 . The wire member  600  can be any number of forms such as cylindrical, flexible strand or rod of metal. Nevertheless, wire member  600  can be of high strength plastic/composite material, stranded, non-woven or woven elongated fibers. 
     Shield Plate  800  can be any geometrical planar shape. It provides for mounting of the control box  200  though the door by way of mounting recesses  804 . Port  802  with a cover is provided to protect the port pathway to engage the pivot lever  400 . The access port/hole  802  allows Emergency Management Service (EMS) or Police Department (PD) to use key  900  so as to disengage the lock bar  300 . The plate  800  can be of a mold configuration, metal casted or machined. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the key  900  is provided to be extended through the mounting plate  800 . In one construction, the key  900  includes a distal cam end  902  and a T-shaped handle  904 . The cam end  902  includes a teardrop curved construction for abutting and engaging the pivot level  400  to cause movement of lever  400 . The cam end  902  may be a projection on the rotating key, designed to make sliding contact with the pivot lever  400  while rotating and to impart upward motion to the lever  400 . The key  900  can be of a mold configuration, metal casted or machined. 
     The door locks using one vertical movement push down on the door lock rod  300  until it seats in the floor insert  700 . Unlocking is accomplished using any one of three methods. Method 1—by rotating the door handle in either direction disengages the lock rod from the floor insert. In this method, the wire  600  is wound around the knob/handle such that the wire  600  is pulled upward when the knob is turned from the inside of the room. As the wire  600  moves upward, the tip  404  of the pivot lever  400  rotates downwardly on pin  202  such that the tip  404  becomes disengaged from the grooves  309  of the door lock rod  300 . The coil spring  302  can then resiliently urge the rod  300  upward by pushing on the rod bushing  306 . 
     Method 2—Pushing the release button  500  on the bottom of the box disengages the lock rod  300  from the floor insert  700 . As the release button  500  in pushed upward, the distal tip  502  pushes upward on the end  402  of the lever  400 . In one motion, the tip  404  of the pivot lever  400  rotates downwardly on pin  202  such that the tip  404  becomes disengaged from the grooves  309  of the door lock rod  300 . The coil spring  302  can then resiliently urge the rod  300  upward by pushing on the rod bushing  306 . 
     Method 3—Use two protrusions on the key to remove the security cover that hides the key access port. Then, insert and turn the EMS key  900  from the outside (hallway side) to disengage the lock rod  300  from the floor insert  700 . The port  802  has an access port through the door to accommodate the key  900  accessible from an exterior side. As the key  900  is rotated, the cam end  902  pushes upward on the end  402  of the lever  400 . In one motion, the tip  404  of the pivot lever  400  rotates downwardly on pin  202  such that the tip  404  becomes disengaged from the grooves  309  of the door lock rod  300 . The coil spring  302  can then resiliently urge the rod  300  upward by pushing on the rod bushing  306 . 
     In some constructions for use in schools, a lock is installed on the classroom side of the door lock system. The lock allows the teacher to prevent students from engaging the system and potentially locking the teacher out of the room. In one construction, all locks in a school can be keyed alike thereby allowing use in any classroom. In the event of a situation requiring a lock down of the room, the teacher may use the key to unlock the door lock system and then depresses the locking rod  300  thereby engaging the system  100  and then following Established Security Protocol. In the event of an emergency exit by the rooms occupants, a normal depressing of the door handle either up or down disengages the lock bar  300  for immediate egress. 
       FIGS. 16-18  illustrates a schematic diagram an alternative barrier locking system  1000  in which certain aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented. The barrier lock bar  1300  has a cam key assembly installed to allow the barrier lock bar  1300  to be pulled up and rotated to insure the engaged position. The barrier lock bar  1300  is pulled up and turned to engaged position and reversed to return to down position flush with base plate resulting in a dormant position, the guide pin provides the barrier lock with limited movements within the casing  1200 . The barrier lock bar  1300  has indented grooves vertical and lateral  1309  that determines the length and depth of movement up-and-down and the position at which the barrier lock bar  1300  stays in place once turned to the right. 
     Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.