Patent Abstract:
The invention relates to a secure slide bolt device, and can be utilized in a number of different structures and on different structures access points. More specifically the invention relates to a slide bolt having a locking mechanism integral with and part of the slide bolt. The invention is designed specifically so that the locking mechanism locks into the slide bolt, rather than being a separate and distinct mechanical lock.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a unique locking device and particularly to an exterior slide bolt type-locking device for securing doors and gates. More particularly, the invention relates to a slide bolt type lock in which the locking mechanism is integrated into the slide bolt. 
         [0002]    Conventional slide bolt locks are widely know and used to lock structures such as gates, entry doors and overhead doors. It is well known for conventional slide bolt designs to use a separate padlock or other non-integrated locking system. The present locking device is structured to mechanically integrate with the slide bolt to lock and unlock the protected entryway. 
         [0003]    Several patents are illustrative of earlier, similar devices. U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,828 [East] describes a slide lock, including barrel and bolt members, for securing a gate or similar structure. The shackle of the padlock is inserted into and around a first aperture in the bolt extension and then through a second aperture in both the bolt extension and the barrel to secure the bolt in the closed position. The barrel has longitudinal extensions that limit tampering with the bolt and lock when the bolt is engaged by folding over the outer surfaces of the barrel and the shackles of the padlock when inserted in the locking mechanism. Unlike the current invention the padlock shackles are not locked directly into and through the slide bolt and barrel housing. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,220 [Finch, et al.] discloses a tamper proof exterior locking system that includes dual sets of shackles for securing padlocks to the slide bolt assembly. An external housing extending outward from the back plate extends over and around the padlocks when inserted onto the shackles, preventing tampering. Both padlocks are engaged regardless of the position of the slide bolt, i.e., engaged or disengaged. The differences from the described invention are that one set of shackles is fixedly mounted to the back plate and the second set is insertable into and through the cover plate when the slide bolt is positioned. Again, this patent does not disclose the shackles of the padlock directly connected to the slide bolt. 
         [0005]    The present invention will allow the locking mechanism to include the slide bolt as an integral part of the locking device, and not as a separately combined apparatus. None of the patents discussed above provide for the integration of the actual locking apparatus onto or through the shaft of the slide bolt, or though the barrel housing, nor do they provide for the disengaged locking of the slide bolt device. 
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a single locking device that can be locked in either the engaged or disengaged position using an integrated locking apparatus. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a slide bolt locking device that has an integral key-way or combination lock integrally mounted to the shaft of the slide bolt so that the locking mechanism is always attached to the locking device whether in the engaged or disengaged position. 
         [0007]    It is an additional object of the present invention to permit the locking of the slide bolt locking device in both the engaged and in the disengaged position to prevent tampering with the locking device. It is yet another object of the present invention to substantially eliminate tampering with the slide bolt locking device, whether engaged or disengaged, by integrally mounting the locking apparatus to and through the shaft of the slide bolt and through the barrel housing. 
         [0008]    Other objects will appear hereinafter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present slide bolt locking device invention comprises an entryway locking apparatus including a slide bolt with an integrated key or combination lock. The locking device has a body and a shaft movable into and out of engagement with a slide bolt keeper. The invention further comprises a means for attaching the barrel housing and the slide bolt keeper to a structure such as a door or other entryway closing apparatus such as a gate. The locking device has a locking mechanism with means to engage and disengage directly onto the shaft while the shaft is engaged with the slide bolt keeper, and also while the shaft is disengaged from the slide bolt keeper. Two apertures in the barrel housing for the slide bolt are provided to accommodate the means for locking mechanism to engage and disengage directly onto or through the slide bolt shaft. The invention may also be accomplished by a single aperture in the shaft to accommodate the means for locking mechanism to engage and disengage directly onto said shaft. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the locking device of the present invention showing the locking mechanism engaged. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the locking device of the present invention showing the locking mechanism disengaged. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the locking device of the present invention showing the locking mechanism disengaged and swung outward for withdrawing the bolt from the keeper. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the locking device of the present invention showing the locking mechanism disengaged, swung outward, and being re-aligned with the disengaged bolt locking position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the locking device of the present invention showing the locking mechanism disengaged, swung inward, and being re-aligned with the disengaged bolt locking position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the locking device of the present invention showing the locking mechanism re-engaged in the disengaged bolt locking position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a view of a structure entry door showing the locking device of the present invention mounted to the entry door. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a view of a fence and gate system showing the locking device of the present invention mounted to the gate and adjoining fence structure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a view of an overhead door system showing a pair of the locking devices of the present invention mounted to the door at two points and the opposing door rail structure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The principles and operation of the present invention are better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. The description is not intended in a limiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In order to aid in understanding of the invention, reference numerals that are referred to in the specification with respect to one or more figures may appear in additional figures without a specific reference to such additional figures in the specification. 
         [0020]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown in  FIG. 1  one form of the locking device  10  of the present invention. The locking device  10  can be made of any well-known lock material, such as metals and metal alloys, and is comprised of a lock body  12 , locking pins  14   a,    14   b,  and a slide bolt  16  slidably mounted within barrel housing  18  to enable the mounting of the locking device  10  to a structure. The slide bolt or movable shaft  16  is housed within the barrel housing  18  and is movable into and out of a slide bolt keeper  20  also having means to enable the mounting of the keeper  20  to the structure. Both the barrel housing  18  and slide bolt keeper  20  have means to mount these elements to structures, i.e., flanges  13 ,  15 , to facilitate the mounting of each of each to a structure through a series of apertures in the flanges  13 ,  15 . Attachment of the locking device  10  to a structure can be accomplished using any known fastening means to mount the flanges  13 ,  15  of the barrel housing  18  and slide bolt keeper  20  to the structure. In the drawings the fastening means  22  are shown as screws. 
         [0021]    The locking  12  of the invention is comprised a locking mechanism (not shown) internal to the lock, two locking pins  14   a,    14   b  that extend upward out of the body of the lock  12 , extending toward the slide bolt  16 . Locking pin  14   a  fits into a cooperating and appropriately sized aperture  24   a  in movable shaft  16  when the lock  12  is in the engaged or locked position. Locking pin  14   b  is integrally attached and made part of the slide bolt  16  at an aperture  24   b  into which the locking pin  14   b  is permanently fixed. An H-shaped aperture  26  in the barrel housing  18  spans the space between and includes the aperture  24   a  and the attachment point  24   b  to facilitate the sliding movement of movable shaft  16  and locking means  12  back and forth within the barrel housing  18 . A second aperture  28  in barrel housing  18 , having similar dimensions to aperture  24   a,  facilitates the securing of the locking means  12  while movable shaft  16  is disengaged from the slide bolt keeper  20  to be more fully described below. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , locking means  12  is shown in an unlocked position exposing a notch  30  in locking pin  14   b,  which facilitates locking of the locking mechanism in lock  12 . Locking pin  14   b  may be welded or permanently attached by any other well-known method to the movable shaft  18 . When the locking mechanism  12  is in the unlocked position, rotational movement of the slide bolt  16  along the longitudinal axis within the barrel housing  18  and lateral movement of the slide bolt  16  and attached locking device  12  through the H-shaped aperture  26  will permit the withdrawal of the slide bolt  16  from the keeper  20 .  FIG. 2  also shows the locking pin  14   a  in the unlocked position withdrawn from the locking aperture  24   a  within barrel housing  18 . Locking pin  14   a  may be attached permanently to locking means  12  with an outward length sufficient to fully engage the locking aperture  24   a,  but not overly long to block the rotation of the slide bolt  16  within the barrel housing  18  in order to permit disengagement of the locking pin  14   a  from the slide bolt  16  and facilitate lateral movement of the slide bolt  16 . 
         [0023]    In the first embodiment of this invention, locking means  12  is swung outward and away from slide bolt  16  substantially perpendicular to the plane of the mounted locking device  10  such that locking pin  14   b  can move through the H-shaped aperture  26 , facilitating the lateral sliding of shaft  16  out of and away from the slide bolt keeper  20 . See  FIG. 3  that shows the locking means  12  in the unlocked position and rotated away from the barrel housing  18 , but with the locking device  10  still engaged within the keeper  20 . With reference to  FIG. 5 , this view shows the slide bolt  16  slidably moved leftward so that locking pin  14   a  can engage the apertures  24   a,    28 . In  FIG. 6 , the locking device  10  is shown with locking pins  14   a,    14   b  in the locked position along the slide bolt  16 , but with the movable shaft  16  in the disengaged position, withdrawn from the slide bolt keeper  20 . Locking pin  14   a  is located within the second aperture  28  of the barrel housing  18 , as well as in aperture  24   a  of slide bolt  16 . Locking pin  14   b  is now located on the other, or left, side of the H-shaped aperture  26  and the notch  30  is reengaged within locking means  20 . 
         [0024]    In a second embodiment of the present invention, locking pin  14   a  also has a notch  32  and can be removed from locking device  12 . The locking pin  14   a  can be repositioned into the aperture  28  of slide bolt  16  in order to reengage the locking device  12  with notch  32  located along the body of locking pin  14   a.    FIG. 4  shows locking pin  14   a  being relocated from the left side of locking means  12  into the second aperture  28  of the barrel housing  18  as well as into the aperture  24   a  of the movable shaft  16 . The locking pin  14   a  is shown as not yet engaged with the locking means  12  until the locking means  12  is reengaged with the notches  30 ,  32  of both locking pins  14   a,    14   b  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0025]    With the operation and structural configuration of the present invention described above,  FIG. 7  shows the invention mounted on an exterior door  50  with a doorjamb  52 . The locking device  10  is mounted across the space between the door  50  and the doorjamb  52  such that the flanges  13  of barrel housing  18  are mounted to the door  50  and the flanges  15  of slide bolt keeper  20  are mounted to the doorjamb  52 . In this manner the slide bolt  16  may be withdrawn from and reinserted into the keeper  20  to unlock and relock the door  50 . Similarly, in  FIG. 9 , there is shown a pair of the locking devices  10  of the present invention used to secure an overhead door  54  having door rail structures  56 . The door rails  56  are used to mount the slide bolt keeper  20  and the overhead door receives the barrel housings  18  so that the slide bolt  16  can operate to engage and lock, or be withdrawn and unlock, the door  54  when the two parts of the locking device  10  are aligned for sliding engagement. 
         [0026]    Finally,  FIG. 8  shows the locking device  10  of the present invention mounted a gate  58  to an enclosure fence  60 . The locking device spans the gap between the gate  58  and the opposing gatepost  62  with the flanges  13  of barrel housing  18  mounted to the gate  58  and the flanges  15  of slide bolt keeper  20  mounted to the gatepost  62 . With the slide bolt aperture of both the barrel housing  18  and the keeper  20  aligned, the slide bolt  16  can operate to engage and lock, or be withdrawn and unlock, the gate  58  when the two parts of the locking device  10  are aligned for sliding engagement. 
         [0027]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the invention as well as all modifications which may fall within a range of equivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4