LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE DOORS

Abstract

A locking mechanism for double doors includes a three-sided bar having a top side and a pair of vertical sides extending downwardly from the edges of the top side. Each vertical side includes a slot formed therein. An L-shaped bracket has a first section for attachment to an interior surface of a door, and a second section that extends through a slot in the door outwardly through the exterior side of the door. To lock the doors, the second portion of the bracket slides through the slots in the vertical sides of the bar. A lock hole is positioned on the second portion of the bracket, and when the three-sided bar is engaged with the bracket and the lock hole is positioned between the vertical sides of the bar, a padlock or combination lock engages the lock hole to hold the bar in place across the double doors.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for doors comprising: an L-shaped bracket for attachment to a door, including a first section adapted for attachment to an interior side of a door and a second section extending away from said first section at a generally right angle; a three-sided bar having a horizontally oriented top side with two longitudinal edge and a pair of vertically oriented sides, each said vertical sides extending downwardly from one of said longitudinal edges of said top side; each said side wall including a slot for receiving said second section of said bracket said second section of said bracket defining a lock hole for receiving a lock, wherein said lock hole is positioned so that it lies between said vertical sides when said second section of said bracket extends through said slots in said vertical sides of said three-sided bar.

2. The locking mechanism for doors set forth in claim 1, further including at least one spacer plate attached to an exterior portion of one of said vertical sides.

3. The locking mechanism for doors set forth in claim 2, wherein said spacer plate includes a spring loaded mechanism for applying pressure to a door when said second section of said bracket is extending through said slots in said vertical sides of said three-sided bar.

4. The locking mechanism for doors set forth in claim 1, further including a plurality of spacer plates having different thicknesses, wherein said spacer plates may be interchangeably attached to one of said vertical sides of said three-sided bar.

5. The locking mechanism for doors set forth in claim 1, further including a lock for engaging said lock hole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention, showing a barn having a pair of double doors, wherein one of the doors is secured to the frame by top and bottom sliding lock mechanisms, and further showing the present locking mechanism extending between both doors on an outside portion thereof;

[0022] FIG. 1A is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention, showing a barn having a single door, and further showing the present locking mechanism having the three-sided bar extending in front of both the door and the door frame in a secured position;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present locking mechanism, showing an L-shaped bracket that is adapted to be secured to an inner portion of a door or door frame on a first portion thereof, and further showing the three-sided bar that is positioned on a second portion of the L-shaped bracket, wherein spacer plates are affixed to a rear side of the three-sided bar, and further showing a lock that may be used to secure the three-sided bar to the second portion of the L-shaped bracket;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective cutaway view of one embodiment of the present locking mechanism attached between a pair of double doors, showing the lock positioned within the lock hole for securing the three-sided bar to the second portion of the L-shaped bracket;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present locking mechanism, showing the L-shaped bracket attached to a door and a lock positioned within the lock hole for securing the three-sided bar to the second portion of the L-shaped bracket;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a top cross-sectional cutaway view of the embodiment of the present locking mechanism shown in FIG. 3, wherein a lock is positioned within the lock hole for securing the three-sided bar to the second portion of the L-shaped bracket;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a top cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present locking mechanism, wherein the three-sided bar is bolted to a first door on one side, and the bracket is attached to the opposed door or door frame;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present locking mechanism, showing the L-shaped bracket attached to a door frame and a lock positioned within the lock hole for securing the three-sided bar to the second portion of the L-shaped bracket;

[0029] FIG. 8 is a top cross-sectional cutaway view of another embodiment of the present locking mechanism, wherein the L-shaped bracket is attached to a door frame, and the second portion of the L-shaped bracket extends through a slot in the door frame for engagement to the three-sided bar, and wherein the spacer plates on either side of the three-sided bar have the same thickness; and

[0030] FIG. 9 is a top cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present locking mechanism, wherein the L-shaped bracket is attached to a door frame, and the second portion of the L-shaped bracket extends through a slot in the door frame for engagement to the three-sided bar, and wherein the spacer plates on either side of the three-sided bar have different thicknesses;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The present locking mechanism 10, in a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-9, includes an L-shaped bracket 12 that includes a first side and a second side. The first side 14 preferably includes a pair of holes to receive screws, so that the first side 14 may be screwed, or otherwise attached, to the interior side of a door 18 or door frame 20. The second side 16 of the L-shaped bracket 12 extends through a slot in the door 18 (or a door frame 20) so that it protrudes from the slot in linear fashion outwardly from the exterior side of the door 18. A lock hole 22 is positioned on the second side 16 of the L-shaped bracket 12, and is used to receive a lock 24, such as a combination lock or other type of lock 24 that fits through the lock hole 22.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, a three-sided bar 26 has a generally U-shaped cross section, and includes a horizontally oriented top side 28 and a pair of vertically oriented sides 30 that are in parallel relation to one another. Each vertical side 30 is attached to the top side 28 along longitudinal edge thereof, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. One of the vertical sides 30 is the front vertical side 30 that faces away from the exterior of the door 18 when in the locked position, and the rear vertical side 30 faces the door 18. A pair of spacer plates 32 may be affixed to the exterior portion of the rear vertical side 30, and the spacer plates 32 are used to provide a snug fit, so that when the bar 26 is in the locked position, the spacer plates 32 are in contact with the exterior faces of each door 18 (one spacer plate 32 is in contact with a first door 18, and the other spacer plate 32 is in contact with a second door 18 of a double door assembly). The spacer plates 32 are screwed or bolted onto the rear vertical side 30 of the bar. It is contemplated that spacer plates 32 of different sizes and thicknesses may be interchangeably used, in order to accommodate different sizes and configurations of double doors 18.

[0033] Optionally, the spacer plates 32 may include an adjustable mechanism, or a spring loaded mechanism for achieving a tight fit against the doors. For example, a strip of metal may be bent into an arch and attached to the spacer plate 32 at either end thereof, so that the apex of the arch is pressed against the door when the bar 26 is in the secured position. The metal strip may be rigid enough to apply pressure between the spacer plate and the door, but is also flexible enough to bend slightly out of the relaxed position when such pressure is applied. When the bar 26 is removed from the locked position and the pressure is released, then the metal strip may rebound to its former relaxed state. Alternatively, the metal strip may be oriented in the opposite direction, wherein the apex of the arch is positioned against the spacer plate 32, and the ends of the strip apply pressure to the door 18. Other suitable spring-loaded mechanisms are well known in the art, and may be used instead, as well.

[0034] It is contemplated that the present locking mechanism 10 is used in conjunction with another locking mechanism that is commonly found on double doors 18. This locking mechanism includes vertically oriented sliding rods or latches 34 on the distal end of the doors 18 (opposed side from the hinges), wherein the sliding rod 34 at the top of the door 18 may be moved vertically upwardly into a hole in the door frame 20, and wherein the sliding rod 34 at the bottom of the door 18 may be moved vertically downwardly into another hole in the door frame 20, as shown in FIG. 1, which secures one of the doors 18. In this configuration, the L-shaped bracket 12 is preferably affixed to the door having the vertical sliding rods.

[0035] In order to lock the double doors 18 using the locking mechanism 10, a user first closes the doors 18 and uses the vertical sliding rods 34 to secure one of the doors 18. The user then slides the three-sided bar 26 onto the second side 16 of the bracket 12, so that the second side 16 of the bracket 12 extends through both slots 36 in the vertical sides 30 of the bar 26. When the lock hole 22 is positioned between the vertical sides 30 of the bar 26, the user then slides a padlock 24, combination lock, or the like, through the lock hole 22 and secures the lock 24 into the locked position, as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The lock 24 prevents the bar 26 from being removed from the bracket 12, and the bar 26 extends across both doors 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. In order to unlock the doors 18, the user simply unlocks the lock 24, removes it from the lock hole 22, and removes the bar 26 from the bracket 12, thus allowing the doors 18 to be opened again.

[0036] It should be understood that the L-shaped bracket 12 may be positioned so that the second side 16 extends between the double doors 18, rather than extending through a slot in one of the doors 18, in an alternative embodiment. Other slight modifications may be made to the assembly, as well, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For instance, the lock hole 22 may be positioned on the portion of the L-shaped bracket that extends beyond the bar 26, when the bar 26 is in the secured position, rather than between the vertical sides 30. The spacer plates 32 may be optional, and used only when required or desired for a better fit. While certain components and elements may be described herein as being made from a particular material, it should be understood that any suitable material may be used for any of the components, structures and assemblies described herein.

[0037] In another embodiment, the present locking mechanism 10 may be used to secure a single door 18, rather than a double door 18. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 7,8 and 9, the L-shaped bracket 12 is attached to an inner portion of a door frame 20, and extends through a slot to an outer portion of the door frame 20. When the door 18 is closed, the three-sided bar 26 slides onto the second side 16 of the L-shaped bracket 12, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the lock 24 is placed through the lock hole 22 and locked.

[0038] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.