Lock assembly having secure engagement plate

An enclosure door for use to secure an enclosed space, the enclosure door comprising:

• a lock assembly receiving opening, the enclosure door having a plurality of lock assembly receiving opening edges that interconnect with each other to fully surround the lock assembly receiving opening;
• a preassembled lock assembly including a lock case assembly that can secure the enclosure door in a closed position when secured thereto;
• a lock actuating assembly interconnected with the lock case assembly such that the lock actuating assembly can actuate the lock case assembly so that the lock case assembly secures the enclosure door in a closed position when secured thereto;
• and a mounting plate having an interior side and an exterior side;
• the lock actuating assembly being secured to the exterior side and the lock case assembly being secured to the interior side such that the lock assembly is a preassembled independent unit that can be separated from the enclosure door without being disassembled;
• wherein the preassembled lock assembly is secured within the lock assembly receiving opening by at least one interior mounting plate securing bracket secured to the interior side of the mounting plate when the preassembled lock assembly is inserted into the lock assembly receiving opening to effectively grip at least one of the plurality of lock assembly receiving opening edges proximate the lock receiving opening, so that the preassembled lock assembly is effectively secured to the enclosure door.

A method of securing a preassembled electronic lock assembly to an enclosure door;

• the method comprising:
• creating a lock assembly receiving opening in the enclosure door, the enclosure door having a plurality of lock assembly receiving opening edges that interconnect with each other to fully surround the lock assembly receiving opening;
• inserting a preassembled electronic lock assembly into and at least partially through the lock assembly receiving opening;
• the preassembled electronic lock assembly including a lock case assembly that can secure the enclosure door in a closed position when secured thereto;
• a lock actuating assembly interconnected with the lock case assembly such that the lock actuating assembly can actuate the lock case assembly so that the lock case assembly secured the enclosure door in a closed position when secured thereto;
• and a mounting plate having an interior side and an exterior side;
• the lock actuating assembly being secured to the exterior side and the lock case assembly being secured to the interior side;
• wherein the lock assembly can be secured within the lock assembly receiving opening by at least one interior mounting plate securing bracket secured to the interior side of the mounting plate when the preassembled electronic lock assembly is so inserted, to effectively grip at least one of the plurality of lock assembly receiving opening edges proximate the lock receiving opening, so that the lock assembly is effectively secured to the enclosure door;
• and wherein the lock case assembly is secured to the interior side of the mounting plate;
• securing the preassembled electronic lock assembly to the enclosure door by securing at least one interior mounting plate securing bracket to the interior side of the mounting plate and effectively gripping at least one of the plurality of lock assembly receiving opening edges proximate the lock assembly receiving opening so that the lock assembly is effectively secured to the enclosure door.