Patent ID: 7866113

Claim:
A device for reinforcing a vertical jamb member of a door assembly, the vertical jamb member being adjacent a free-swinging side of a door, the device comprising: a medial member comprising an elongated, single piece, metal sleeve, the sleeve comprising first and second side panels, the first and second side panels being substantially perpendicular to each other, the first side panel comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular cutouts therein for receiving a door dead bolt or door bolt plunger, the second side panel comprising engagement means; and a lateral member comprising an elongated, single piece, metal sleeve, the sleeve comprising first and second side panels, the first and second side panels being substantially perpendicular to each other, the second side panel comprising engagement means; wherein the medial member is mounted on the vertical jamb member such that the first side panel of the medial member flushly contacts a medial surface of the vertical jamb member and such that the second side panel of the medial member flushly contacts an interior surface of the vertical jamb member; wherein the lateral member is mounted on the vertical jamb member such that the first side panel of the lateral member flushly contacts a lateral surface of the vertical jamb member and such that the second side panel of the lateral member flushly contacts the interior surface of the vertical jamb member; and wherein the engagement means of the second side panel of the medial member engages the engagement means of the second side panel of the lateral member; wherein the engagement means of the second side panel of the medial member comprises a plurality of substantially rectangular slots arranged in a plurality of groups, the plurality of groups spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the medial member; each slot being arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the medial member and parallel to the other slots in the same group; wherein the engagement means of the second side panel of the lateral member comprises a plurality of tabs, the tabs being spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the lateral member, the longitudinal spacing of the tabs corresponding to the longitudinal spacing of the groups of slots on the medial member, each tab extending substantially perpendicularly from the second side panel such that the tabs are substantially perpendicular to the interior surface of the vertical jamb member when the lateral member is mounted on the vertical jamb member; and wherein each tab is received by a corresponding slot when the lateral member is mounted on the vertical jamb member, the corresponding slots being determined based on a width of the interior surface of the vertical jamb member.