Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     Most homes are protected from entry by a deadbolt lock system. In many cases unwanted persons (ex-roommate, or former boyfriend or girlfriend, refugees of a relationship gone bad, etc.) may retain or obtain a key to the deadbolt lock. It would be desirable to keep those persons from being able to unlock the deadbolt and entire the residence or premises protected by the deadbolt lock. Alternatively, these deadbolt locks can be “picked” or opened using a “Bump” key, which can be easily purchased online. Such unkeyed methods of entry would also permit an undesired entry almost any existing deadbolt system. 
     Although conventional devices in this field do exist, they are not universal in their applicability to all or substantially all, deadbolt locks, or these conventional approaches require disassembly and reassembly of the existing deadbolt system. Experience with these conventional devices has led the Applicant to determine that are predominantly of very poor construction. 
     Improvements to these conventional devices and approaches to preventing unwanted access through a door secured by a deadbolt lock are desirable. 
     The present application relates generally to a device that clamps onto the interior deadbolt door lock thumb twist knob, preventing unlocking of the deadbolt door lock even with a key or when the lock is being picked. While clamped onto the deadbolt knob, the device of the present disclosure may incorporate a metal hook type arm that extends around the lower door handle to completely prevent turning of the deadbolt lock mechanism. 
     This device may be comprised of an upper and lower clamp system that secures the deadbolt interior knob. The device may also have two small thin steel plates on the back side of the clamp that when in place such that the plates are positioned behind the deadbolt knob itself. With the upper and lower portions secured about the deadbolt interior knob, the metal arm may then easily be adjusted to extend around the door handle. This arm may only need to be adjusted the first time it is used on a particular door, or if the device is moved to another door. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawing figures, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. A brief description of the figures is as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a deadbolt security device according to the present disclosure positioned about an interior knob of a deadbolt lock mounted to a door. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the deadbolt security device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of a clamping unit of the deadbolt security device of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the clamping unit of the deadbolt security device of  FIG. 2 , taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , door  12  is shown with an interior deadbolt knob  20  which may be used to actuate the extension or refraction of a deadbolt  22 . When extended, deadbolt  22  may extend into an opening in a door jamb  14  which may prohibit door  12  from being opened. In addition to the deadbolt mechanism, door  12  may further include a door handle  16  and a releasable latch  18  to permit the conventional opening and closing of door  12 . Door handle  16  may or may not include a locking mechanism. Where it is felt that door handle  16  and latch  18  are not sufficient to provide security to door  12 , retractable deadbolt  22  actuated by interior deadbolt knob  20  may be added to the door. 
     To provide additional security to deadbolt  22 , and to prevent an unauthorized user with a key or an unauthorized user capable of opening deadbolt  22  without a key from passing through door  12 , a deadbolt security device  10  may positioned about an interior deadbolt knob  20 . Deadbolt security device  10  may include a clamping unit  32  comprising an upper clamping member  34  and a lower clamping member  36 . Upper clamping member  34  and lower clamping member  36  may each include a notch  38  configured to fit about and engage interior deadbolt knob  20 . When clamping unit  32  engages knob  20 , the knob and clamping unit may be locked together and unable to turn independently from each other. 
     A pair of slider rods  40  may extend between the upper and lower clamping units and permit the clamping members to be separated to permit removal of device  10  from door  12  or permit placement of device  10  onto door  12 . When the clamping unit  32  is placed about interior knob  20 , lower clamp member  36  may be slid along slider rods  40  closer to upper clamp member  34  until knob  20  is engaged within notches  38 . A ratchet or other releasable mechanism may be provided to permit lower clamp member  36  to be moved away from upper clamp member  34  to permit removal of device  10  from door  12 . Such a releasable mechanism may be released or actuated by a release button  42 . 
     Once the clamping unit  32  is positioned about and engaged with interior deadbolt knob  20 , it is desirable that unit  32  be prevented from rotating to prevent the retraction of deadbolt  22 . To accomplish this, a door handle hook arm  24  may be mounted to clamping unit  32  and may include a shaft  26  and a hook  28  at a distal end of shaft  26 . To prevent rotation of clamping unit  32 , hook  28  will preferably engage door handle  16 . Even if a person outside of door  12  has an appropriate key to actuate the deadbolt lock mechanism and retract deadbolt  22 , the engagement between hook  28  and door handle  16  will serve to prevent rotation of the deadbolt and opening of door  12 . 
     Shaft  26  may be slidably mounted to clamping unit  32  by a slidable position clamp  31 . Since the distance between interior deadbolt knob  20  and door handle  16  may vary depending on the size, shape and nature of use of door  12 , it is desirable that security device  10  be adaptable to such different degrees of separation. Further, since the orientation of interior deadbolt knob  20  may not be consistent from door to door, it is also desirable that clamp  31  permit rotation of shaft  26  with regard to clamping unit  32  so that shaft  26  may be extended toward and engage door handle  16  on a wide variety of doors. Clamp  31  may include a simple slot  31   a  and a thumbscrew  30  that may be loosened to permit shaft  26  to be extended or shortened so that hook  28  is positioned to engage door handle  16 . Once hook  28  is in place, thumbscrew  30  may be tightened down to secure device  10  to the door and prevent rotation of knob  20 . It is anticipated that hook  28  may be coated by a protective material  29  to prevent scratching or marring of door  12  and/or door handle  16 . Such a material  29  is not required for the functioning of device  10  within the scope of the present disclosure but may improve operation of the device. Such a material  29  may also serve to increase friction between door handle  16  and device  10  to further engage the resistance to rotation of interior deadbolt knob  20 . 
     Referring now also to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , clamping unit  32  may further include backing plates  44  adjacent notches  32  on one or both of upper clamp member  34  and lower clamp member  36 . Backing plates  44  will be positioned preferably against door  12  when clamping unit  32  is positioned about interior deadbolt knob  20 . Backing plates  44  may serve to prevent device  10  from being accidently or deliberately dislodged from door  12  when device  10  is being used to prevent actuation of interior deadbolt knob  20 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , backing plates  44  extend behind interior deadbolt knob  20  when device  10  is positioned on door  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , within lower clamp member  36  may be a releasable mechanism to permit or prevent the movement of lower clamp member  36  along slider rods  40 . Such a mechanism may include a pair of tabs  46  extending within a cavity include lower clamp member  36  between an interior end of button  42  and engaging slider rods  40 . A spring  50  may be included within lower clamp member  36  to bias button  42  and inboard ends of tabs  46  outward. Button  42  may include a retaining ring  43  to prevent spring  50  form forcing button  42  entirely out of lower clamp member  36 . An outboard end of each tab  46  may be positioned to engage one of the slider rods  40 . A fulcrum  48  may be provided within the cavity through which tabs  46  extend, with each fulcrum  48  positioned generally equidistant between button  42  and rods  40 . 
     With button  42  and the inboard ends of tabs  46  positioned where biased by spring  50 , engagement of the outboard ends of tabs  46  and slider rods  40  within lower clamp member  36  will preferably prevent movement of upper clamp member  34  and lower clamp member  36  away from each other. This will help secure deadbolt security device  10  to door  12  and prevent accidental or deliberate dislodging of the device. To release device  10  from door  12 , a user would press inward on button  42  to overcome the spring&#39;s bias outward and move button  42  into lower clamp member  36 . In this position, the engagement between tabs  36  and rods  40  would be released enough to permit movement of lower clamp member  36  along rods  40  either toward or away from upper clamp member  34 . Each slider rod  40  may include a stop ring  45  at a distal end to prevent removal of lower clamp member  36  from rods  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , when device  10  is first positioned on door  12 , the upper and lower clamp members would be far enough apart to permit interior deadbolt knob  20  to be positioned past backing plates  44  and within notches  38 . Once knob  20  was in position between the upper and lower clamp members, button  42  may be depressed and lower clamp member  36  may be slid along slider rods  40  until knob  20  is closely engaged by notches  38 . When the notches a closely engaging knob  20 , button  42  may be released and spring  50  will urge the outboard ends of tabs  46  against road  40  and prevent further movement of the clamp members with respect to each other. Once clamping unit  32  is desirably positioned about knob  20 , shaft  26  may be rotated and moved within clamp  31  so that hook  38  will engage door handle  16 . When shaft  26  and hook  28  are positioned as desired to engage the door handle and prevent rotation of clamping unit  32 , thumbscrew  30  may be tightened up to lock hook  28  in place. 
     To remove security device  10  from door  12 , button  42  would be depressed so that lower clamp member  36  may be moved away from upper clamp member  34  sufficiently to disengage with knob  20 . If clamp  31  is mounted to lower clamp member  36 , such movement will also preferably disengage hook  28  from door handle  16 . Thus, removal of security device  10  may be accomplished simply by separating the clamp members along rods  40 . When repositioning device  10  to door  12 , the positioning of hook  28  and shaft  26  will preferably not be required, and hook  28  will be positioned to engage door handle  16  when the clamping members are again positioned closely about knob  20 . 
     The security device of the present disclosure differs from what currently exists in that this device is very sturdy and very easy to use. Device  10  requires no permanent installation on door  12  and further does not require disassembly and reassembly of the deadbolt mechanism to be used. Further, the security device of the present application is completely universal in nature, being adaptable for use with almost any common door, door handle and deadbolt knob configuration or positioning. Many people don&#39;t have the mechanical know how to install a conventional system that requires disassembly of the existing deadbolt system. Other conventional devices are known to break (due to poor construction) or even fall off the deadbolt interior knob. 
     Device  10  may be simply clamped onto inside deadbolt knob  20  on door  12  using minimal pressure. Once clamped, shaft  26  and hook  28  are simply adjusted in place also using minimal pressure. These functions may be accomplished by almost any person of any age with ease. When installed, security device  10  will render the deadbolt lock mechanism immobile. Push button  42  will permit the easy release of security device in mere seconds, also with minimal pressure. 
     Applicant anticipates that any number of suitable materials may be used to construct the security device according to the present disclosure and no limitation is intended within this disclosure with regard to the materials from which the device may be made. 
     While security device  10  has been described as including a pair of sliding rods  40 , it is anticipated that a security device having one rod or a plurality of rods may be configured according to the present application and it is not intended to limit the present disclosure to any particular number of rods. By the use of the word rod, Applicant is not intending to limit the present application to any particular size or shape of element(s) extending between the clamp members and permit movement of the clamp members with respect to each other. It is further anticipated that any number of releasable mechanisms may be used to fix one or both of the clamp members to the rod(s) extending between the clamp members. It is preferable that such mechanism be actuated without tools but beyond that it is not intended to limit the nature of the releasable mechanism. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth above. Thus, it is recognized that those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions, alterations, modifications, and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is meant to be exemplary only, the invention is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the invention, and should not limit the scope of the invention set forth in the following claims.

Technology Category: 4