Door Viewport With Cross-Door Locking Bar

Abstract

The door viewport with cross-door locking bar laterally spans the door frame with a viewport exterior lip on the door and an interior face plate near an interior of the door forming, in one instance, a mid-bar capture channel. Alternatively, the viewport has an interior extension coacting with a complementary interlocking element on the cross-bar's midpoint. Either construct holds the cross-door locking bar substantially at its mid-point. Cross-bar terminal end mounts removably attach the cross-bar to the door frame. One type of mount is an L-bracket. Another type of mount is a controllable transverse extension member forcing a door frame plate against the door frame. A user-controlled extension means forces the cross-door locking bar away from the door frame plate, with either a screw drive system or a grooved rod with spring loaded lever control.

Claims

1. A door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar adapted to be deployed on an interior-side of a swing-out door and door frame comprising: a cross-door locking bar adapted to laterally span said door frame and said door; a peephole viewport adapted to be mounted in a pass-through aperture of said door, said viewport having an exterior facing lip adapted to be adjacent an exterior surface of said door, said viewport having an interior face plate adapted to be adjacent an interior surface of said door; on said interior face plate, a mid-bar capture channel for said cross-door locking bar; a pair of cross-bar mounts, a respective cross-bar mount of said pair of cross-bar mounts adapted to be mounted on said door frame at a corresponding one terminal end region of said cross-door locking bar; in a locked position, said cross-door locking bar disposed in said mid-bar capture channel and said corresponding terminal end regions of said cross-door locking bar disposed in respective cross-bar mounts on opposite sides of said door frame; and in an unlocked position, said cross-door locking bar withdrawn from said mid-bar capture channel and said respective terminal end regions of said cross-door locking bar withdrawn from corresponding cross-bar mounts; whereby said peephole viewport is adapted to permit interior-to-exterior views through said door in both said first and said second positions.

2. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said peephole viewport is a two-piece viewport with a first piece defining said exterior facing lip and said second piece defining said interior face plate.

3. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second pieces are threaded together to form said peephole viewport adapted to be mounted in said pass-through aperture of said door.

4. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second piece of said peephole viewport includes a door lip adapted to coact on said interior surface of said door such that when said first and second pieces are threaded together, said exterior facing lip is adapted to be mounted on said exterior surface of said door and said door lip on said second piece is adapted to be mounted on said interior surface of said door.

5. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 4 wherein one cross-bar mount of said pair of cross-bar mounts defines an L-shaped bracket wherein said corresponding terminal end region of said cross-door locking bar is disposed in said L-shaped bracket when said L-shaped bracket is mounted on said door frame.

6. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 4 wherein one cross-bar mount of said pair of cross-bar mounts includes a door frame plate adapted to be forced against said door frame, and includes a controllable transverse extension member having at its terminal end said door frame plate, said transverse extension member movably mounted to said corresponding terminal end region of said cross-door locking bar and having a user-controlled extension means for forcing said cross-door locking bar away from said door frame plate.

7. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for forcing is a threaded rod coacting with a threaded element in said controllable transverse extension member and further includes a user-actuated tactile member to rotate the threaded rod relative to said threaded element.

8. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 6 wherein said transverse extension member includes a cross-bar passage therethrough adapted to movably retain said cross-bar therein such that said transverse extension member is adapted to move laterally over said cross-bar.

9. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 8 wherein said transverse extension member includes a cross-bar lock at said cross-bar passage, said cross-bar lock gripping said cross-bar in or near said cross-bar passage such that in a cross-bar locked condition, lateral movement of said cross-bar in said cross-bar passage is prohibited.

10. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 4 wherein: one cross-bar mount of said pair of cross-bar mounts includes a door frame plate adapted to be forced against said door frame; said one cross-bar mount includes a controllable transverse extension member having at its terminal end said door frame plate; said transverse extension member movably mounted to said corresponding terminal end region of said cross-door locking bar; said transverse extension member having a user-controlled extension means for forcing said cross-door locking bar away from said door frame plate; said interior face plate being transversely spaced away from said door lip of said second piece of said peephole viewport; whereby in said first locked position, said cross-door locking bar is transversely forced against said interior face plate in a first direction due to said means for forcing said cross-door locking bar away from said door frame plate in a second direction.

11. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for forcing is a threaded rod coacting with a threaded element in said controllable transverse extension member and further includes a user-actuated tactile member to rotate the threaded rod relative to said threaded element.

12. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 10 wherein said transverse extension member includes a cross-bar passage therethrough adapted to movably retain said cross-bar therein such that said transverse extension member is adapted to move laterally over said cross-bar.

13. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 12 wherein said transverse extension member includes a cross-bar lock at said cross-bar passage, said cross-bar lock gripping said cross-bar in or near said cross-bar passage such that in a cross-bar locked condition, lateral movement of said cross-bar in said cross-bar passage is prohibited.

14. A door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar adapted to be deployed on an interior-side of a swing-out door and door frame comprising: a cross-door locking bar adapted to laterally span said door frame and said door; a peephole viewport adapted to be mounted in a pass-through aperture of said door, said viewport having an exterior facing lip adapted to be adjacent an exterior surface of said door, said viewport having an interior door lip adapted to be adjacent and adjoin an interior surface of said door; an inboard extension adapted to extend from said peephole viewport beyond said interior surface of said door; said cross-door locking bar defining a interlocking element complementary to said inboard extension of said peephole viewport, said interlocking element located substantially midway on said cross-door bar; a lock for locking said cross-door locking bar, said interlocking element, said inboard extension and said peephole viewport together; a pair of cross-bar mounts, a respective cross-bar mount of said pair of cross-bar mounts adapted to be mounted on said door frame at a corresponding one terminal end region of said cross-door locking bar; in a first locked position, said cross-door locking bar disposed in said mid-bar capture channel and said corresponding terminal end regions of said cross-door locking bar disposed in respective cross-bar mounts on opposite sides of said door frame; and in an unlocked position, said cross-door locking bar withdrawn from said mid-bar capture channel and said respective terminal end regions of said cross-door locking bar withdrawn from corresponding cross-bar mounts; whereby said peephole viewport is adapted to permit interior-to-exterior views through said door in both said first and said second positions.

15. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 14 wherein said lock is (a) a pin lock extending through said interlocking element and said inboard extension, or (b) a spring loaded push button lock coacting with said interlocking element and said inboard extension.

16. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 15 wherein said peephole viewport is a two-piece viewport with a first piece defining said exterior facing lip and said second piece defining said interior face plate, said first and second pieces are threaded together to form said peephole viewport.

17. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 16 wherein said second piece of said peephole viewport includes said door lip adapted to coact on said interior surface of said door such that when said first and second pieces are threaded together, said exterior facing lip is adapted to be adjacent said exterior surface of said door and said door lip on said second piece is adapted to be adjacent an interior surface of said door.

18. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 17 wherein one cross-bar mount of said pair of cross-bar mounts defines an L-shaped bracket wherein said corresponding terminal end region of said cross-door locking bar is disposed in said L-shaped bracket when said L-shaped bracket is mounted on said door frame.

19. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 17 wherein one cross-bar mount of said pair of cross-bar mounts includes a door frame plate adapted to be forced against said door frame, and includes a controllable transverse extension member having at its terminal end said door frame plate, said transverse extension member movably mounted to said corresponding terminal end region of said cross-door locking bar and having a user-controlled extension means for forcing said cross-door locking bar away from said door frame plate.

20. The door viewport peephole with a cross-door locking bar as claimed in claim 19 wherein said means for forcing is a threaded rod coacting with a threaded element in said controllable transverse extension member and further includes a user-actuated tactile member to rotate the threaded rod relative to said threaded element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found in the detailed description of the embodiments went taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0021] FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates the viewport peephole mounted in a pass-through aperture of the door and shows the mid-bar capture channel for the cross door locking bar.

[0022] FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the cross door bar, the mid-bar capture channel having the cross door bar disposed therein and a pair of crossbar mounts mounted on the door frame and retaining respective terminal end regions of the cross door bar. The cross door bar has been moved in FIG. 2 as shown in phantom lines.

[0023] FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates one crossbar mount which is an L-shaped bracket.

[0024] FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the viewport peephole with a door lip adjoining the interior surface of the door wherein the interior face plate of the viewport peephole is spaced transversely away from the door lip, the interior face lip forming a portion of the mid-bar capture channel.

[0025] FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-bar mount with a door frame plate pressed against the door frame and a controllable transverse extension member having a user-controlled extension means for forcing the cross door bar away from the door and the door frame plate. Also, FIG. 5 shows the transverse extension member having a lateral crossbar passage and a crossbar lock grip permitting lateral movements of the crossbar with respect to the transverse extension member.

[0026] FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates a pin release permitting withdrawal of the cross door bar from the peephole viewport. The viewport is pin locked to the cross-bar.

[0027] FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates a spring clip button release permitting withdrawal of the cross-bar from the interior elements of the peephole viewport. FIG. 7 also illustrates the use of dual cross-door bars.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The present invention relates to a door viewport, commonly called a peephole, with a cross door locking bar which is adapted to prohibit a swing out door from being opened when the cross door locking bar is deployed laterally across both the door and the door frame.

[0029] FIGS. 1 and 2 are discussed concurrently herein. FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates the viewport peephole 12 mounted in a pass-through aperture of the door 10 and shows the mid-bar capture channel 30 formed partly by interior face plate 34 for the cross door locking bar 40. FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the cross door bar 40, the mid-bar capture channel having an interior face plate 34 having the cross door bar disposed in the bar channel 30 and a pair of crossbar mounts 50 mounted on the door frame 2a, 2b and retaining respective terminal end regions 50a, 50b of the cross door bar 40 therein. As shown in phantom lines, the cross door bar 40 has been moved upwards in direction 41 in FIG. 2.

[0030] In FIG. 1, door 10 swings from the closed position to an open position identified as outside 8. As shown in FIG. 2, hinges 5 permit that outside swing of door 10 when the user opens door lock 3. Door 10 is hung on door frame. The door frame includes two vertical frame members 2a, 2b. Although cross door bar 40 is shown horizontally spanning door frame members 2a, 2b, different configurations of the viewport peepholecross door locking bar system can be structured to provide a diagonal mount of cross door bar 40 rather than the horizontal mount shown in FIG. 2.

[0031] Viewport peephole 12 includes an exterior facing lip 16 which is adjacent and adjoining the exterior surface of door 10. In the illustrated embodiment, viewport 12 is a two-piece viewport with one piece defining the exterior facing lip 16 and a second piece defining an interior door lip 14 and interior faceplate 34. Interior faceplate 34 defines a mid-bar capture channel 30. Cross door bar 40 is shown in FIG. 1 as being disposed in capture channel 30. The crossbar can be withdrawn from capture panel 30 with the user moving the crossbar upwards as shown by arrow 41.

[0032] The two-piece viewport peephole 12 is threaded together such that a viewing passageway is formed by passageway segments 15, 17. The two-piece viewport 12 also includes a door lip 14 formed on the second piece of viewport peephole 12. In this manner, when the viewport peephole 12 is mounted in the pass-through aperture of the door, the exterior facing lip 16 grips the exterior surface of door 10 and door lip 22 is mounted to and adjoining the interior surface of door 10, thereby securely mounting the viewport peephole 12 on door 10.

[0033] Although a round, cylindrical pass-through is shown in the drawings, the pass-through may be configured in any manner with any shape. Further, viewport peephole 12 may include optical lenses to improve the view through the peephole from the inside to the outside. As is commonly known, a user would stand inside the door, shown as inside 6 in FIG. 1, and view persons or objects outside the door.

[0034] The terminal end regions 50a, 50b, of cross door bar 40 are removably mounted to door frames 2a, 2b by L-shaped brackets 50. These L-shaped brackets are mounted via screws, nails or other mounting means using apertures 51 in the L-shaped bracket 50.

[0035] FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates the L-shaped bracket and one of the apertures 51a. The L-shaped bracket forms a bar channel 53 which retains cross door bar 40 when the bar is deployed across the doorframe. The L-shaped bracket includes a plate which is adjoining the doorframe and the plate has through-passages 51a permitting the L-bracket to be mounted to the doorframe. The L-bracket also has upstanding leg 52 which is spaced away from the doorframe thereby forming bar capture region 53.

[0036] FIGS. 4 and 5 are discussed currently herein. In some instances, doorframe 2a, 2b are disposed in a vertical plane which is farther inboard or to the inside of the home or building as compared with the inside or inboard surface of door 10. In other words, door 10 is inset into frame 2a, 2b. In these situations, it may be necessary to transversely extend mid-bar capture channel 61 to a more inboard position relative to door lip 14 of the viewport peephole 12. FIG. 4 shows that the interior faceplate 62 of peephole 12 extends transversely inboard with respect to door lip 14. Stated otherwise, the mid-bar capture channel 61 occupies a much larger transverse space. The mid-bar capture channel 61 is formed by interior faceplate 62 and transversely extending plate element 60.

[0037] FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-bar mount 70 which forces a door frame plate 74 against doorframe 2a. Cross-bar mount 70 includes a controllable transverse extension member 77 which has a terminal end 73 abutting or mounted on doorframe plate 74. The transverse extension member 77 is movably mounted with respect to terminal end region 40a of cross-door bar 40. Further, the transverse extension member 77 includes a user controlled extension means (generally 77a) for forcing the cross door bar 40 transversely away from doorframe plate 74 and door frame 2a. The transverse movement of transverse extension number 77 is shown by the double-headed arrow 75.

[0038] In FIG. 5, the means for forcing 77a is a threaded rod 72 coacting with a threaded elements 72a in the interior 71 of transverse extension member 77. Threaded rod 72 is rotated by a user actuated tactile member 76 to rotate the threaded rod 72 relative to internal threaded elements 71 formed in the interior of transverse extension member 77.

[0039] Since the lateral span of any particular door or doorframe may be different, there is a need to have controllable transverse extension member 77 at variable lateral locations on and about crossbar 40. FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates that controllable transverse extension member 77 and cross-bar mount 70 is permitted to move laterally with respect to crossbar 40 via crossbar passage 79a. Crossbar 40 is movably retained within crossbar passage 79a and further within the controllable transverse extension member 77 and cross bar mount 70. In order to lock any lateral movement of bar mount 70 with respect to crossbar 40, crossbar mount 70 includes a crossbar lock 78 at crossbar passage 79a. In the illustrated embodiment, crossbar lock 78 is a threaded stem passing through a threaded passage in the crossbar mount 70. The terminal end of the crossbar lock 78 grips crossbar 40 in or near the crossbar passage 79a. Crossbar lock has a user actuation surface shown as a thumbscrew which rotates in directions 79 to either grip crossbar 40 with respect to crossbar mount 70 or to release such impact grip on bar 40. As explained earlier, controllable transverse extension member 77 may take many forms other than the screw down extension member shown in FIG. 5. For example, a force grip system could be utilized or a system wherein the transverse extension member 72 has a series of grooves or cuts and a spring-loaded lever is mounted on or in cross-bar mount 70 such that the end or tooth of the lever is biased into the grooves or cuts such that when the user forces the grooved rod 72 towards doorframe plate 74 that the biased lever tooth falls into the more transverse groove on grooved rod 72. To release extension member 77, the user depresses the spring loaded lever and the lever tooth is withdrawn from the rod grooves permitting the user to transversely move member 77 away from frame 2a.

[0040] FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows a pin lock to lock the crossbar 40 onto a transverse extension 32 extending inboard from door lip 14 of peephole 12. The cross door bar 40 includes, at a substantially mid-midway position on the bar, an interlocking element 80. The interlocking element is complementary to the inboard extension 32 of peephole 12. A lock is provided for locking the cross door locking bar, the interlocking element 80, the inboard extension 32 and peephole 12 together. In FIG. 6, this lock is pin lock 82 with a stem 84 that passes through aligned apertures in interlocking element 80 and inboard extension 32.

[0041] In FIG. 7, the locking element 80 is a spring-loaded pushbutton lock having spring 94 and pushbutton controls 92, 99. In FIG. 7, the interlocking element 90 is a male element complementary to the female inboard extending extension 32. In FIG. 6, the interlocking element 80 is a female element with respect to male inboard extension 32.

[0042] Further, in FIG. 7, the cross-bar locking bar includes two lateral locking bars 91, 93. In FIG. 6, the cross door bar 40 is unlocked from peephole 12 by lifting lock 82 upwards in the direction shown by arrow 85. The phantom lines in FIG. 6 show the withdrawn and unlocked position of the bar with respect to the peephole.

[0043] In FIG. 7, the pushbutton control 92 is depressed as shown by arrows 97, 99 and the double bar 91, 93 is withdrawn as shown by arrow 95. In FIG. 7, the inboard surface 33 of inboard extension 32 is adjacent and adjoining interlocking element 90.

[0044] The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention.