Patent Publication Number: US-2016230431-A1

Title: Supplemental locking system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to locking systems and devices. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a supplemental locking system for use during an emergency event. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During an emergency event such as a lock-down it may be necessary to quickly secure a room or building from an outside area. Often, in order to secure an area, the door is locked and barricaded with furniture or other heavy object located nearby. However, this approach may be time consuming as the barricade is placed in front of the door. Additionally, this method does not account for those situations where a person may need to be let back inside of the room if they were not present when the lock-down was issued. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A supplemental locking system comprises a mountable bracket for a door, a deadbolt housing and a deadbolt. The deadbolt housing and deadbolt are quickly coupled with a locking bracket and the deadbolt is movable to a lock position in one easy and quick movement. The deadbolt housing and deadbolt are able to be stored separately from the locking bracket so that the door is unable to be inadvertently locked. Then in the event of a lockdown or other emergency where it is necessary to lock the door, it is easy to couple the deadbolt housing and deadbolt to the locking bracket and move the deadbolt to a lock position in order to secure the door from the inside. 
     In one aspect, a supplemental door locking system comprises a bracket configured to attach to a door, a deadbolt housing configured to removably couple with the bracket and a deadbolt movable within the deadbolt housing between a door lock position and a door unlock position. The deadbolt is slidably movable between the door lock position and the door unlock position. In some embodiments, the deadbolt is configured to couple with a strikeplate of a door frame in the lock position. In some embodiments, the bracket comprises a groove for removably receiving the deadbolt housing. The groove comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and one or more side walls and the deadbolt housing slidably couples with the groove. In some embodiments, the door comprises a left-hand door. Alternatively, the door comprises a right-hand door. In some embodiments, the locking system is in addition to a keyed door lock of the door. In some of these embodiments, the keyed door lock is only lockable from the outside. 
     In another aspect, a keyless door lock comprises a mountable bracket and a deadbolt configured to removably couple with the mountable bracket, wherein the deadbolt is movable to a lock position in order to lock the door when the deadbolt is coupled with the mountable bracket. The deadbolt is slidably movable between the door lock position and the door unlock position. In some embodiments, the deadbolt is slidably movable within a deadbolt housing. In some embodiments, the deadbolt is configured to couple with a strikeplate of a door frame in the lock position. In some embodiments, the bracket comprises a groove for removably receiving the deadbolt housing. The groove comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and one or more side walls and the deadbolt housing slidably couples with the groove. In some embodiments, the door comprises a left-hand door. Alternatively, the door comprises a right-hand door. In some embodiments, the locking system is in addition to a keyed door lock of the door. In some of these embodiments, the keyed door lock is only lockable from the outside. 
     In a further aspect, a method of securing a door comprises coupling a locking bracket to the door, removably coupling a deadbolt with the locking bracket, and moving the deadbolt to a lock position in order to secure the door. In some embodiments, the door comprises a keyed door lock. In some of these embodiments, the keyed door lock is only lockable from the outside. The deadbolt housing is slidably coupled with the locking bracket. In some embodiments, the deadbolt is slidably movable within a deadbolt housing. In some embodiments, the deadbolt is removably coupled with the locking bracket and the deadbolt is moved to the lock position in one fluid motion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a bracket for a door lock in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a base for a deadbolt housing for a door lock in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a deadbolt housing for a door lock in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a deadbolt for a door lock in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a door locking system in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a supplemental door lock in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a method of securing a door in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a deadbolt for a door lock in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a method of securing a door in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a supplemental door locking system in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the invention are directed to a supplemental locking system. The locking system comprises a mountable bracket for a door, a deadbolt housing and a deadbolt. The deadbolt housing and deadbolt are quickly coupled with a locking bracket and the deadbolt is movable to a lock position in one easy and quick movement. The deadbolt housing and deadbolt are able to be stored separately from the locking bracket so that the door is unable to be inadvertently locked. Then in the event of a lockdown or other emergency where it is necessary to lock the door, it is easy to couple the deadbolt housing and deadbolt to the locking bracket and move the deadbolt to a lock position in order to secure the door from the inside. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of a supplemental locking system and method as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will also be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions be made to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with application and business related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1A , a locking system bracket is depicted therein. The locking system bracket  100  comprises a body  101  comprising a top bracket arm  111 , a bottom bracket arm  113  and one or more side bracket arms  109 . As shown in  FIG. 1A  and particularly within  FIG. 1B , the top bracket arm  111  comprises a first step  103  and the bottom bracket arm  113  comprises a step  103 ′ which creates a groove within the locking bracket  100 . The groove comprises a groove opening  105 . As further shown within  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the bracket  100  comprises one or more mounting holes  107 . The one or more mounting holes  107  enable the bracket to be mounted to a door. For example, in some embodiments, the one or more mounting holes  107  receive one of a nail and/or a screw for mounting the bracket  100  with a door. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a base for a deadbolt housing for a door lock in accordance with some embodiments. The base  210  comprises a top side  213  and a bottom side  211  which extends out from the top side  213 . The bottom side  211  is configured to couple with the groove opening  105  in order to slide within the groove and removably couple with the bracket  100 , such as described above. In some embodiments, the base  210  comprises one or more mounting holes  215  for coupling the base  210  with a deadbolt housing  320  ( FIG. 3 ). The base  210  is able to couple with the deadbolt housing  320  by any appropriate method as known in the art. For example, in some embodiments, the base  210  couples with the deadbolt housing  320  by one or more screws or other fasteners. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the base  210  non-removably couples with the deadbolt housing  320  and/or integrally attached to the deadbolt housing  320 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the deadbolt housing  320  comprises a body  321  comprising a deadbolt opening  323  and an elongated groove  325  for moving a deadbolt  430  ( FIG. 4 ) within the opening  323  of the housing  320 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the deadbolt for a door lock in accordance with some embodiments. The deadbolt  430  comprises a deadbolt body  431  and a mounting hole  433  configured to accept a deadbolt knob for moving the deadbolt  430  within the deadbolt housing  320 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a supplemental door locking system in an assembled configuration. The locking system  550  comprises a mounting bracket  600 , a deadbolt housing  520  coupled to a base  510  and a deadbolt  530  located within an opening of the housing  520 . The deadbolt housing  520  and the deadbolt  530  is separable from and able to removably couple with the groove of the bracket body  500 . Particularly, the deadbolt housing  520  and deadbolt  530  are configured to couple with the groove of the bracket body  500 , such as described above. As shown within  FIG. 5 , the bottom sides  511  of the base  510  fits on the first step  503  and the second step  503 ′ and allows the base  510  to easily slide into the groove opening  505 . In some embodiments, the deadbolt housing  520  and deadbolt  530  are slid within the groove opening  505  until the deadbolt housing  520  contacts the side bracket arm  509 . 
     When the deadbolt housing  520  and deadbolt  530  are coupled with the bracket body  500 , the deadbolt  530  is movable within the deadbolt opening  523  by moving the deadbolt knob  540  forward and backwards within the elongated groove  525 . In some embodiments, the deadbolt knob  540  is moved forward and toward the side bracket arm  509  in order to move the deadbolt to a lock position. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a locking system  650  coupled with a door  660 . The locking system is similar to the locking system  550 , such as described above and comprises a mounting bracket  600 , a deadbolt housing  620  and a deadbolt  630  located within an opening of the housing  620 . In some embodiments, the mounting bracket  600  is coupled to the door  660  using one or more of screws and nails. In some embodiments, the deadbolt housing  620  and the deadbolt  630  are stored separately from the mounting bracket  600 . For example, in some embodiments, the deadbolt housing  620  and the deadbolt  630  in a nearby drawer or a lockable container located near the door  660 . As described above, the deadbolt housing  620  and deadbolt  630  are slid within the groove opening  606 . Once the deadbolt housing  620  and the deadbolt  630  are coupled with the bracket  600 , the deadbolt  630  is able to be moved into the lock position. In some embodiments, the deadbolt housing  620  and the deadbolt  630  slidably couple with the mounting bracket  600  in the same direction as the deadbolt  630  is moved within the deadbolt housing  620  and to the lock position. Consequently, the housing  620  and deadbolt  630  are able to slidably couple with the locking bracket  600  and the deadbolt  630  is locked in order to secure the door  660  in one fluid motion. 
     The deadbolt  630  is moved by moving the deadbolt knob  640  forward and backwards within the elongated groove. In some embodiments, the deadbolt knob  640  is moved forward toward a frame of the door  667  in order to move the deadbolt  630  to a lock position. In some embodiments, the deadbolt  630  couples with a strikeplate of the door frame  667 , when the deadbolt  630  is in the lock position. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the deadbolt  630  covers an edge of the door frame  667  in the lock position where the deadbolt  630  prevents the door from being opened. In some embodiments, the locking system  650  couples to a left-hand door. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the locking system  650  is able to couple to a right-hand door. As shown within  FIG. 6 , the locking system  650  is in addition to a keyed lock of the door nob  665 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a method of securing a door in accordance with some embodiments. The method begins in the step  710 . In the step  720 , a locking bracket is coupled with a door. In the step  730 , a deadbolt is removably coupled with the locking bracket. In some embodiments, the deadbolt is slidably movable within a deadbolt housing which also couples with a locking bracket. In the step  740 , the deadbolt is moved to a lock position in order to lock and secure the door. In some embodiments, the housing deadbolt slidably couple with the locking bracket and the deadbolt is locked in order to secure the door in one fluid motion. In some embodiments, the door comprises a keyed lock. In some embodiments, the keyed lock is only lockable from the outside. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a deadbolt for a door lock in accordance with further embodiments. The deadbolt  821  comprises a deadbolt body  823 , and a deadbolt knob  841  and a deadbolt arm  831 . As shown within  FIG. 8 , the deadbolt arm  831  is fixedly connected to the deadbolt body  823 . The deadbolt knob  841  is configured to move the deadbolt  823  back and forth within a mounting bracket such as described above. The deadbolt body  823  and the ledge  825  are configured to couple and slide within a groove opening of the mounting bracket. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a supplemental door locking system in an assembled configuration utilizing the deadbolt  821  such as described above. The locking system  950  comprises a mounting bracket  901  and a deadbolt  921 . The deadbolt  921  is separable from and able to removably couple with the groove of the bracket body  901 . Particularly, the deadbolt  921  is configured to couple with the groove of the bracket body  901 , such as described above. As shown within  FIG. 9 , the deadbolt body  831  and the ledge  825  fit on the first step  903  and the second step  903 ′ and allow the deadbolt  921  to easily slide into the groove opening  905 . In some embodiments, the deadbolt  921  is slid within the groove opening  905  until the deadbolt body  831  contacts the side bracket arm  909 . 
     When the deadbolt  921  and deadbolt body  831  are coupled with the bracket body  901 , the deadbolt knob  941  is moved forward and toward the side bracket arm  909  in order to move the deadbolt  921  to a lock position. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a locking system  1050  coupled with a door  1060 . The locking system is similar to the locking system  950 , such as described above and comprises a mounting bracket  1000  and a deadbolt  1021 . In some embodiments, the mounting bracket  1000  is coupled to the door  1060  using one or more of screws and nails. In some embodiments, the deadbolt  1021  is stored separately from the mounting bracket  1000 . For example, in some embodiments, the deadbolt  1021  is stored in a nearby drawer or a lockable container located near the door  1060 . As described above, the deadbolt  1021  is slid within the groove opening  1005 . Once the deadbolt  1021 , the deadbolt arm  1031  is able to be moved into the lock position. Consequently, the deadbolt  1021  is able to slidably couple with the locking bracket  1000  and the deadbolt arm  1031  is locked in order to secure the door  1060  in one fluid motion. 
     The deadbolt  1031  is moved by moving the deadbolt knob  1040  forward and backwards in order to move the deadbolt body  1021  within the groove. In some embodiments, the deadbolt knob  1041  is moved forward toward a frame of the door  1067  in order to move the deadbolt arm  1031  to a lock position. In some embodiments, the deadbolt arm  1031  couples with a strikeplate of the door frame  1067 , when the deadbolt arm  1031  is in the lock position. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the deadbolt arm  1031  covers an edge of the door frame  1067  in the lock position where the deadbolt arm  1031  prevents the door from being opened. In some embodiments, the locking system  1050  couples to a left-hand door. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the locking system  1050  is able to couple to a right-hand door. As shown within  FIG. 10 , the locking system  1050  is in addition to a keyed lock of the door nob  1065 . 
     In operation, the a deadbolt housing and deadbolt are quickly coupled with a locking bracket and the deadbolt is movable to a lock position in one easy and quick movement. The deadbolt housing and deadbolt are able to be stored separately from the locking bracket so that the door is unable to be inadvertently locked. Then in the event of a lockdown or other emergency where it is necessary to lock the door, it is easy to couple the deadbolt housing and deadbolt to the locking bracket and move the deadbolt to a lock position in order to secure the door from the inside. Additionally because the deadbolt housing and deadbolt may be stored separately from the door and locking bracket, it is assured that it is only accessible by the appropriate personnel. 
     Particularly, the present invention takes a unique and efficient approach to securing a door during an emergency or other lockdown event. This may be especially useful to schools, office parks, malls, and other areas where there may be a large amount of people dispersed throughout a variety of different rooms and areas. The supplemental locking system enables a user to quickly lock a door and secure a room without a key and in a manner that is undetectable from the outside. Additionally, because the system is keyless and does not require a physical blocking of the door, the door may be opened in those cases where a child or other person must reenter the room. Such as if the child or person was in the bathroom or other area when the emergency occurred. Accordingly, the supplemental locking system as described herein has many advantages. 
     The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.