Method and apparatus for shimming door latch keeper plate
OwnerRandy Grant Alleninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Shims are provided to be placed behind a door jamb strike plate in order to reduce the distance between the door edge and the strike plate. Decreasing the distance between the strike plate and the door permits the dead latch or the locking arm of a door latch to more fully engage a hole in the strike plate so that the door may be held shut. The shims may have various thicknesses and may be used in combination to achieve a desired overall adjustment. The shims are typically plastic which is provided in the shape of the strike plate or cut to a desired shape. The shims may be placed either at the time of a door installation, or at a later date when the door or jamb may have settled, or expanded slightly.
Claims13
A shim for a door latch striker plate, the shim comprising
- a generally planar base material;
- a first hole in the base material to accommodate a retractable latch bar;
- and
- a pair of mounting holes in the base material, such that the pair of mounting holes will accommodate a pair of striker plate mounting screws.
A method for improving the latch performance of a door latch system, the door latch system comprising a latch, a retractable latch bar, and a striker plate, the method comprising
- providing at least one striker plate shim, the shim comprising
- a generally planar base material provided in the shape of the outline of the striker plate,
- a first hole in the base material to accommodate a retractable latch bar, and
- a pair of mounting holes in the base material, such that the pair of mounting holes will accommodate a pair of striker plate mounting screws;
- and
- placing the shim under the striker plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.