Adjustable lock for inward opening doors
OwnerLisa Snearlinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable door lock. The lock includes a vertically adjustable frame with an upper cross-bar opposite a base. The upper cross-bar is preferably padded. The base is provided with a horizontal lip. At least two risers extend between the upper cross bar and the base. The risers allow the height of the frame to be increased or decreased. A brace is hinged to the frame. The brace includes a slip resistant foot. In operation, the lip is inserted beneath the door, and the frame is expanded until the upper cross-bar firmly abuts the door knob. The brace is then extended away from the door to position the foot against the floor. The risers are locked in place to secure the height of the frame and the brace is locked in place. Once in place, the frame and the brace will prevent the door from being opened inwardly.
Claims17
An adjustable lock for securing a door having a knob and a bottom, wherein the door lock comprises:
- a frame having a base opposite an upper cross-bar and at least two vertical risers extending from the base to the upper cross-bar;
- wherein the base has a substantially horizontal lip configured to fit beneath the door bottom;
- wherein each of the at least two vertical risers contains an upper portion and lower portion slidably disposed relative to each other, whereby the length of each of the at least two vertical risers may be adjusted;
- and wherein said upper and lower portions of said vertical risers are sized and configured to allow said substantially horizontally disposed lip to be positioned beneath the bottom of the door and the upper cross-bar raised to abut the door knob;
- a riser lock positioned on at least one of the at least two vertical risers, whereby the position of the upper portion relative to the lower portion of the at least one vertical riser may be secured;
- a brace having a foot, wherein said brace is adjustably mounted to said frame on a hinge configured to create an angle between said brace and said frame of between zero and about forty-five degrees, whereby said brace may be adjusted to position said foot on a surface proximate to said door bottom;
- and
- a brace lock configured to secure the brace in a desired angle relative to said frame.
A method of securing an inwardly opening door having a knob and a bottom positioned proximate a floor, wherein the door is secured using a door lock comprising a frame having a base opposite an upper cross-bar and at least two vertical risers extending from the base to the upper cross-bar;
- wherein the base has a substantially horizontal lip configured to fit beneath the door bottom;
- wherein each of the at least two vertical risers contains an upper portion and lower portion slidably disposed relative to each other, whereby the length of each of the at least two vertical risers may be adjusted;
- a riser lock positioned on at least one of the at least two vertical risers, whereby the position of the upper portion relative to the lower portion of the at least one vertical riser may be secured;
- a brace having a foot, wherein said brace is adjustably mounted to said frame on a hinge configured to create an angle between said brace and said frame of between zero and about forty-five degrees;
- and a brace lock configured to secure the brace in a desired angle relative to said frame;
- wherein the method comprises:
- positioning the substantially horizontal lip beneath the door bottom;
- positioning the frame adjacent to the door;
- extending the upper portion of each of the at least two vertical risers until the upper cross-bar is in contact with said door knob;
- moving said brace on said hinge relative to said frame until said foot is in contact with said floor;
- engaging said brace lock to fix the angle of said brace relative to said frame;
- and
- engaging said riser lock to secure the upper cross-bar in contact with the door knob.
A method of securing an inwardly opening door having a knob and a bottom positioned proximate a floor, wherein the door is secured using a door lock comprising a frame having a base opposite an upper cross-bar and at least two vertical risers extending from the base to the upper cross-bar;
- wherein the base has a substantially horizontal lip configured to fit beneath the door bottom;
- wherein each of the at least two vertical risers contains an upper portion and lower portion slidably disposed relative to each other, whereby the length of each of the at least two vertical risers may be adjusted;
- a riser lock positioned on at least one of the at least two vertical risers, whereby the position of the upper portion relative to the lower of portion of the at least one vertical riser may be secured;
- a brace having an upper portion and a lower portion slidably disposed relative to each other, said lower portion of said brace further comprising a foot, said brace further comprising a foot lock configured to secure said upper and lower portion of said brace in a desired positioned relative to each other, wherein said brace is adjustably mounted to said frame on a hinge configured to create an angle between said brace and said frame of between zero and about forty-five degrees and a brace lock configured to secure the brace in a desired angle relative to said frame;
- wherein the method comprises:
- positioning the substantially horizontal lip beneath the door bottom;
- positioning the frame adjacent to the door;
- extending the upper portion of each of the at least two vertical risers until the upper cross-bar is in contact with said door knob;
- moving said brace on said hinge relative to said frame until said foot is proximate to said floor;
- extending said lower portion of said brace relative to said upper portion until said foot is in contact with said floor;
- engaging said foot lock to secure the position of said lower portion of said brace relative to said upper portion;
- engaging said brace lock to fix the angle of said brace relative to said frame;
- and
- engaging said riser lock to secure the upper cross-bar in contact with the door knob.
A method of securing an inwardly opening door having a knob and a bottom positioned proximate a floor, wherein the door is secured using a door lock comprising a frame having a base opposite an upper cross-bar and at least two vertical risers extending from the base to the upper cross-bar;
- wherein said upper cross-bar comprises a left hand portion and a right hand portion slidably disposed relative to each other, whereby the width of the upper cross-bar may be adjusted, said upper cross-bar further comprising a cross-bar lock configured to secure the upper cross-bar at a desired width;
- wherein the frame further comprises a cross-brace further comprising a left hand portion and a right hand portion slidably disposed relative to each other, wherein the cross-brace further comprising a cross-brace lock configured to secure the cross-brace at a desired width;
- wherein the base has a substantially horizontal lip configured to fit beneath the door bottom;
- wherein each of the at least two vertical risers contains an upper portion and lower portion slidably disposed relative to each other, whereby the length of each of the at least two vertical risers may be adjusted;
- a riser lock positioned on at least one of the at least two vertical risers, whereby the position of the upper portion relative to the lower of portion of the at least one vertical riser may be secured;
- a brace having a foot, wherein said brace is adjustably mounted to said frame on a hinge configured to create an angle between said brace and said frame of between zero and about forty-five degrees and a brace lock configured to secure the brace in a desired angle relative to said frame;
- wherein the method comprises:
- expanding or contracting the frame to a desired width;
- engaging the cross-bar lock to secure the cross-bar at a desired width;
- engaging the cross-brace lock to secure the cross-brace at a desired width;
- positioning the substantially horizontal lip beneath the door bottom;
- positioning the frame adjacent to the door;
- extending the upper portion of each of the at least two vertical risers until the upper cross-bar is in contact with said door knob;
- moving said brace on said hinge relative to said frame until said foot is in contact with said floor;
- engaging said brace lock to fix the angle of said brace lock relative to said frame;
- and
- engaging said riser lock to secure the upper cross-bar in contact with the door knob.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.