Patent Publication Number: US-7210320-B1

Title: Lock guard system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable to this application. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable to this application. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to door lock devices and more specifically it relates to a lock guard system for efficiently securing a dead bolt lock mechanism from outside access. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. 
   Door lock devices have been in use for years. Typically, door locks and more specifically dead bolts are accessible from both sides of a door. Usually the inside of the door has a knob for controlling the extension and retraction of the dead bolt while the outside of the door utilizes a key for controlling the dead bolt orientation. Unfortunately, dead bolt locks currently used today are able to be unlocked by those with a master key or those who can “pick” a lock to illegally gain access. 
   While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for efficiently securing a dead bolt lock mechanism from outside access. Current dead bolt locks on doors do not always stop those with master keys or those who are able to “pick” a lock from gaining access. 
   In these respects, the lock guard system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of efficiently securing a dead bolt lock mechanism from outside access. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of door lock devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new lock guard system construction wherein the same can be utilized for efficiently securing a dead bolt lock mechanism from outside access. 
   The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new lock guard system that has many of the advantages of the door lock devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new lock guard system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art door lock devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
   To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a stop member comprised of a base including an upper slot and a plate that includes a lower slot for receiving a sleeve and fastener. The stop member connects to an existing dead bolt mechanism by extending the fastener and sleeve through the lower slot into an existing aperture in a covering plate. The stop member is able to adjust about the sleeve and lower slot to allow the dead bolt mechanism to operate both normally or to prevent the knob that controls the dead bolt from rotating. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   A primary object of the present invention is to provide a lock guard system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
   A second object is to provide a lock guard system for efficiently securing a dead bolt lock mechanism from outside access. 
   Another object is to provide a lock guard system that utilizes the current dead bolt assembly components. 
   An additional object is to provide a lock guard system that doesn&#39;t require additional drilling of the door. 
   A further object is to provide a lock guard system that is easily deactivated to allow normal usage. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
   To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1   a  is an upper perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1   b  is a cross sectional view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded upper perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3   a  is a front view of the present invention connected to an existing dead bolt mechanism allowing the dead bolt to open. 
       FIG. 3   b  is a front view of the present invention connected to an existing dead bolt mechanism in an intermediate position. 
       FIG. 3   c  is a front view of the present invention connected to an existing dead bolt mechanism preventing the dead bolt from opening. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the present invention connected to an existing dead bolt mechanism preventing the dead bolt from opening. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A. Overview 
   Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1   a  through  4  illustrate a lock guard system  10 , which comprises a stop member  20  comprised of a base  22  including a upper slot  26  and a plate  24  that includes a lower slot  28  for receiving a fastener  30  and sleeve  32 . The stop member  20  connects to an existing dead bolt mechanism by extending the fastener  30  and sleeve  32  through the lower slot  28  into an existing aperture in a covering plate  17 . The stop member  20  is able to adjust about the sleeve  32  and lower slot  28  to allow the dead bolt mechanism to operate both normally or to prevent the knob  12  that controls the dead bolt from rotating. 
   B. Stop Member 
   The stop member  20  is preferably made of a rigid material that will not distort when a fastener  30  is attached or when the knob  12  of the dead bolt mechanism comes in contact. The stop member  20  is preferably made of a material which will withstand contact with household cleaning solutions and long exposure to moisture and humidity such that it will not rust or absorb water. The stop member  20  may additionally be coated with a finishing material which must withstand contact with household cleaning solutions and long exposure to moisture and humidity. The stop member  20  is preferably a metal material, however, it is not restricted from being molded in a plastic or a composite material. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1   a  through  2 , the stop member  20  is comprised of a base  22  and a plate  24 . The base  22  and plate  24  are constructed of similar materials. The base  22  and plate  24  are preferably integrated into one piece by a machining, molding or casting process, but it can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that a fastening method (e.g. welding or fastener) could be utilized to retain the base  22  and plate  24  together. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1   a  through  2 , the base  22  portion of the stop member  20  is preferably cubic or box like in shape, but it can be appreciated that many forms could be utilized. An upper slot  26  extends substantially perpendicular from and through a first end  21  and towards a second end  23  which is preferably finished with a radii. The upper slot  26  also extends into a lower side  27  a desired amount towards an upper side  25  as best shown in  FIG. 2 . The amount of the upper slot  26  extends into the base  22  is determined by the style of fastener  30  used to retain the stop member  20 . The upper slot  26  allows for clearance to the head of the fastener  30  when the lock guard system  10  is assembled and in use. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1   a  through  2 , the plate  24  portion of the stop member  20  is preferably rectangular in shape and substantially matches the base  22  portion. A lower slot  28  extends through the plate  24 . The lower slot  28  extends substantially perpendicular to the first end  21  of the base  22  in its assembled form of the stop member  20 . The distal ends of the lower slot  28  may be finished in a radius, such that center lines extending through the radii of the lower slot  28  shall each lie substantially on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the lower side  27  of the base  22  and pass through the corresponding radius of the upper slot  26  as best shown in  FIGS. 1   b  through  2 . As also shown in  FIGS. 1   a  through  3   c , the distal end of the plate  24  is preferably finished with multiple chamfer features  29 , but it can be appreciated that other features (e.g. rounds) could also be utilized. 
   C. Operation of the Invention 
   In use, the lock guard system  10  can be utilized to additionally secure most existing dead bolt mechanisms in apartments, businesses and residential homes. However, it can be appreciated that there are many other dead bolt locking applications wherein the lock guard system  10  can be utilized. The lock guard system  10  utilizes a stop member  20  to limit the rotation of the knob  12  on a dead bolt mechanism when access is attempted from the outside  15 . The lock guard system  10  provides additional protection for dead bolt mechanisms from burglars, and those with master keys  19  or copied keys  19 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3   a  through  4 , the lock guard system  10  is preferably attached to the covering plate  17  of a dead bolt mechanism. The lock guard system  10  preferably uses the existing aperture of a removed existing fastener  18  used in the covering plate  17  and door  11 . A sleeve  32  and fastener  30  are extended through the lower slot  28  located in the plate  24  into the existing aperture to attach the stop member  20  to the dead bolt mechanism. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, an aperture could be added to a dead bolt mechanism if one is not available for mounting the lock guard system  10 . 
   The fastener  30  retains the stop member  20  to the dead bolt mechanism, while the sleeve  32  permits rotation and slide adjustment of the stop member  20  within the lower slot  28 . The adjustment allows for different orientations of the stop member  20  to perform different functions. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3   a , the stop member is orientated horizontally. In this position, the dead bolt mechanism functions in its normal fashion from both the inside  13  and outside  15 . In this position, the knob  12  is able to rotate over the plate  24  portion of the stop member  20 . As shown in  FIG. 3   a , this orientation allows a user to be able to rotate the knob  12  from the inside  13  and disengage the bolt  14  from the receiver aperture  16  in the wall adjacent to the door  11 . It also allows a user to utilize a key  19  to disengage the bolt  14  from the receiver aperture  16  in the wall adjacent to the wall to gain access from the outside  15 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 3   b , the stop member  20  is orientated vertically in an intermediate step of either locking or unlocking the dead bolt mechanism. In this position, the stop member  20  has been rotated about the fastener  30  prior to engaging the lock guard system  10  or has been slid vertically within the lower slot  28  to disengage the lock guard system  10 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3   c , the stop member  20  is again orientated vertically, but is placed in the engaged locking position for the lock guard system  10 . Positioned as such, the knob  12  of the dead bolt mechanism is unable to rotate to allow disengagement of the bolt  14  from the receiver aperture  16 . In this position only a user on the inside  13  of the door  11  is able to disengage the stop member  20  as shown in  FIG. 3   a  and allow the dead bolt mechanism to be unlocked. A user attempting to unlock the dead bolt mechanism from the outside  15  by means of a key  19  as shown in  FIG. 4  or other methods (e.g. pick tool) is essentially unable to. 
   What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by the following claims (and their equivalents) in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.