System and method for sheltering in place with advanced responder notification and ready access

A system for providing at a moment's notice a universal tamper-evident, shelter-in-place door locking device at a door to a room on a floor for at least one user in the room and wherein said door locking device accommodates for varying door undercuts while providing the at least one user with total control of the device while automatically providing precise location notification to authorities, said system comprising:

• a door assembly that comprises a first portion configured to mount to an inside surface of the door and a second portion configured to be positioned on an outside surface of the door, said second portion including a key cylinder comprising a lock cam that is positioned within said first portion;
• a floor strike, positioned within the floor underneath the door when the door is in a closed position;
• said door locking device being portable to be moved from a first location within said room to said first portion and configured for coupling to said first portion, said door locking device comprising:
• a locking pin carrier comprising a plurality of locking pins whose lower ends are configured to be positioned in said floor strike, said locking pin carrier being slideable on support rods fixed between an upper flange and a lower flange both of which are fixedly secured to a body plate that is configured for releasable coupling to the door, said locking pin carrier comprising a projection, said locking pin carrier being biased upward in an unlocked position by springs coupled between said locking pin carrier and said upper flange body plate;
• a releaseable brake positioned between said upper flange and said lower flange, said releasable brake comprising a plurality of teeth over which said projection slides when said locking pin carrier slides on said support rods away from said upper flange against said bias and towards said lower flange, said teeth forming a plurality of locked positions to accommodate the varying door undercuts, said projection releasably locking into one of said plurality of teeth when said locking pin carrier stops sliding;
• said locking pin carrier comprising an upper member and a lower member, each of said locking pins slideable through said lower member and said lower flange and wherein an upper end of each locking pin is biased against said lower member by a spring positioned between said upper member and said upper end of said locking pin, said upper end of each locking pin prevented from passing through said lower member;
• and
• a release member movably coupled to said locking pin carrier that can be activated by the persons to release said locking pin carrier from said one of said plurality of locked positions to automatically return said locking pin carrier to said unlocked position;
• and
• a storage unit at said first location, having a transmitter, that is secured in the room, said storage unit containing said door locking device initially therein, said transmitter being activated to alert authorities when said storage unit is opened to remove said locking device from said storage unit and automatically providing authorities with location data of said transmitter.

A method for providing at least one user in a room with the ability to shelter-in-place by installing on a door of the room on a floor, at a moment's notice, a portable door locking apparatus that accommodates for varying door undercuts and wherein the at least one user has total control of said door locking apparatus, said method comprising:

• mounting a door assembly to the door that comprises a first portion mounted to an inside surface of the door and a second portion positioned on an outside surface of the door and wherein the second portion includes a key cylinder comprising a lock cam;
• forming a floor strike in the floor adjacent the inside surface of the door for receiving a free end of at least one of a plurality of locking pins from a portable door locking apparatus therein;
• closing the door;
• releasably coupling said portable door locking apparatus to said first portion, said portable door locking apparatus comprising:
• a locking pin carrier comprising a plurality of locking pins whose lower ends are configured to be positioned in said floor strike, said locking pin carrier being slideable on support rods fixed between an upper flange and a lower flange both of which are fixedly secured to a body plate that is configured for releasable coupling to the door, said locking pin carrier comprising a projection, said locking pin carrier being biased upward in an unlocked position by springs coupled between said locking pin carrier and said body plate;
• a releaseable brake positioned between said upper flange and said lower flange, said releasable brake comprising a plurality of teeth over which said projection slides when said locking pin carrier slides on said support rods away from said upper flange against said bias and towards said lower flange, said teeth forming a plurality of locked positions to accommodate the varying door undercuts, said projection releasably locking into one of said plurality of teeth when said locking pin carrier stops sliding;
• said locking pin carrier comprising an upper member and a lower member, each of said locking pins slideable through said lower member and said lower flange and wherein an upper end of each locking pin is biased against said lower member by a spring positioned between said upper member and said upper end of said locking pin, said upper end of each locking pin prevented from passing through said lower member;
• and
• a release member movably coupled to said locking pin carrier that can be activated by the at least one person to release said locking pin carrier from said one of said plurality of locked positions;
• and
• applying a downward force on said locking pin carrier to displace said carrier downward to releasably lock said locking pin carrier with said releasable brake while positioning lower ends of said plurality of locking pins within said floor strike to prevent the door from being opened.

A method for providing at a moment's notice a universal tamper-evident, shelter-in-place portable door locking device at a door to a room on a floor for at least one user in the room and wherein said door locking device accommodates for varying door undercuts while providing the at least one user with total control of the device while automatically providing precise location notification to authorities, said method comprising:

• releasably stowing said portable door locking device within a storage unit secured in the room, said storage unit comprising a transmitter associated with a releasable cover of said storage unit such that when said cover is opened or removed said transmitter generates an alert signal to authorities, said portable door locking device comprising:
• a locking pin carrier comprising a plurality of locking pins whose lower ends are configured to be positioned in a floor strike formed in the floor, said locking pin carrier being slideable on support rods fixed between an upper flange and a lower flange both of which are fixedly secured to a body plate that is configured for releasable coupling to the door, said locking pin carrier comprising a projection, said locking pin carrier being biased upward in an unlocked position by springs coupled between said locking pin carrier and said body plate;
• a releaseable brake positioned between said upper flange and said lower flange, said releasable brake comprising a plurality of teeth over which said projection slides when said locking pin carrier slides on said support rods away from said upper flange against said bias and towards said lower flange, said teeth forming a plurality of locked positions to accommodate the varying door undercuts, said projection releasably locking into one of said plurality of teeth when said locking pin carrier stops sliding;
• said locking pin carrier comprising an upper member and a lower member, each of said locking pins slideable through said lower member and said lower flange and wherein an upper end of each locking pin is biased against said lower member by a spring positioned between said upper member and said upper end of said locking pin, said upper end of each locking pin prevented from passing through said lower member;
• and
• a release member movably coupled to said locking pin carrier that can be activated by the at least one person to release said locking pin carrier from said one of said plurality of locked positions to automatically return said locking pin carrier to said unlocked position;
• and
• mounting a door assembly to the door that comprises a first portion mounted to an inside surface of the door and a second portion positioned on an outside surface of the door and wherein the second portion includes a key cylinder comprising a lock cam;
• forming said floor strike in the floor adjacent the inside surface of the door for receiving a free end of at least one of said plurality of locking pins from said portable door locking device therein;
• closing the door by the at least one user;
• opening up or removing said cover of said storage unit, by the at least one user, causing said transmitter to immediately emit said alert signal to authorities, and removing said portable door locking device from said storage unit by the at least one user;
• releasably coupling said portable door locking device to said first portion by the at least one user;
• and
• applying a downward force on said locking pin carrier to displace said carrier downward to releasably lock said locking pin carrier with said releasable brake while positioning lower ends of said plurality of locking pins within said floor strike to prevent the door from being opened.