US3541816A - Lock for overhead garage doors and the like - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 24, 1970 c, MADDQX I 1 3,541,816

LOCK FOR OVERHEAD GARAGE DOORS AND THE LIKE Filed April 29, 1968 44 5g F f) 0Fifa3.

I 40 34 M/I/ENTOR ATTORNEY 22 26 DAYTON C. MADDOX I I UnitedStates Patent 3,541,816 LOCK FOR OVERHEAD GARAGE DOORS AND THE LIKE Dayton C. Maddox, 4003 /z Whistler Ave., El Monte, Calif. 91732 Filed Apr. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 724,744 Int. Cl. E05b 55/00, 65/06; EOSc 1/04 US. Cl. 70--134 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lock is provided for closures such as overhead garage doors and the like. The lock has a lock bolt movable between locking and unlocking positions, and a key operated latch mechanism for latching the locking bolt in its locking position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates generally to locks and more particularly to a novel lock for overhead garage doors and the like.

Prior art It will become readily evident to those versed in the art as the description proceeds that the present lock may be employed to advantage on a variety of closure structures. However, the lock is intended primarily for use on hinged overhead garage doors and, for this reason, will be disclosed in connection with an overhead garage door structure.

Overhead garage door structures are widely used in family dwellings and comprise a door frame defining a door opening containing the garage door proper. The vertical sides of the door are attached to the vertical sides of the door frame by hinges which support the door for vertical swinging movement between a closed posi tion wherein the door is vertically disposed within and closes the door opening and an open position wherein the door is disposed in a generally horizontal overhead position.

A variety of locks have been devised for such overhead garage doors. The existing locks of this class, however, are characterized by various deficiencies which the present invention seeks to cure. Foremost among these deficiencies are complexity of construction, high cost of manufacture, difliculty of installation, lack of adequate security, and absence of tamper-proof construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved lock which, as noted, is particularly designed for use on overhead garage doors. The present lock is characterized by its simplicity of construction, relatively low cost of manufacture, ease of installation, and secure tamper-proof construction.

In general terms, the lock is characterized by a lock bolt to be mounted on one member of a closure structure for longitudinal sliding movement between a closure locking position and a closure unlocking position, and a key operated latch mechanism for locking the bolt in its locking position. The bolt is accessible from both sides 3,541,816 Patented Nov. 24, 1970 of the closure for movement between its locking and unlocking positions. The key operated latch mechanism has a key receptacle which is accessible at one side of the closure, whereby the latch mechanism may be unlocked with a key from this side of the closure to permit retraction of the lock bolt to unlocking position and opening of the closure or door. In the particular embodiment of the invention which has been selected for illustration in this disclosure, the key operated latch mechanism is equipped with a knob accessible at the opposite side of the closure for unlocking the mechanism by hand. A feature of this disclosed embodiment resides in the fact that the lock bolt and key operated latch mechanism are carried by a mounting plate in such a way that the lock may be quickly and easily installed on one member of a closure structure, such as an overhead garage door, by simply cutting an appropriately shaped opening in the door and mounting the lock plate over the opening.

According to another feature of the disclosed embodiment, the latch mechanism is a conventional door latch which may be embodied in the present lock without modification to lock the sliding lock bolt in its locking position. This feature, then, greatly simplifies the construction and reduces the cost of manufacture of the present lock.

As noted earlier, the lock of the invention is intended primarily for use on overhead garage doors and will be described in connection with such a door. In this case, the lock is installed on the door in such a way that the lock bolt, when extended to locking position, engages the door frame to block opening movement of the door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a door lock according to the invention installed in an overhead garage door structure;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the lock in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 33 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a closure structure 10 having a closure frame member 12 defining a closure opening 16, and a closure member 20 positioned within the opening. In this instance, the closure member is an overhead garage door which is mounted on the door frame by hinge means (not shown) for swinging movement between a closed position, illustrated, within the door opening and an overhead open position. The present invention provides a lock 22 for locking the door in its closed position.

In general terms, the lock 22 comprises a lock bolt 24 which is mounted on one member of the closure structure 10 for longitudinal sliding movement between locking and unlocking positions, and a key operated latch mechanism 26 for latching the bolt in its locking position. The bolt, when in locking position, engages the opposite member of the closure structure to block opening movement of the closure or door. When in its unlocking position, the bolt clears the opposite member to permit opening movement of the door. The bolt is accessible at both sides of the door for movement between its locking and unlocking positions. The key operated latch mechanism 26 has a key receptacle 28 accessible at one side of the door to receive a key, and a latch bar 30 which is movable between latching and unlatching positions by rotation of a key in the receptacle. When in latching position, the latch 30 projects laterally into the path of unlocking movement of the lock bolt 24 so as to latch the bolt in its locking position. The latch, when in unlatching posi tion, is retracted from the lock bolt path to release the bolt for unlocking movement. The latch mechanism also has means 32 operable from the side of the door 20 opposite the key receptacle 28 for retracting the latch bar 30 to its unlatching position. In this instance, the latch operating means 32 comprises a knob which may be rotated by hand to retract the latch.

Referring now in greater detail to the embodiment of the invention which has been selected for illustration, the lock 22 has a mounting plate 34 including a generally rectangular portion 34a and a coplanar extension 34b along one vertical side of the rectangular portion. The lower and upper sides of the mounting plate in FIG. 3 are hereinafter referred to as its front and rear sides, respectively. Welded or otherwise rigidly joined to the rear side of the mounting plate 34 is a hollow tubular mounting pad 36 of rectangular outline. This mounting pad has a width on the order of one-half the width of the mounting plate and is located adjacent the side edge of the plate opposite its extension 34b. The pad is spaced substantially equal distances from the latter plate edge and the upper and lower plate edges, as shown. Extending through the mounting plate 34 adjacent its upper edge, within the region of the plate between its extension 34b and the mounting pad 36, is a slot 38. Slot 38 extends crosswise of the plate in spaced parallel relation to its upper edge.

Lock bolt 24 has an intermediate cross member 40 and coplanar front and rear bolt portions 42, 44 rigidly joined at one end to and extending in opposite lateral directions from the cross member. The front and rear bolt portions are disposed in parallel, laterally opposite relation to one another. The extending front end 40a of the cross member 40 provides a handle for moving the lock bolt from the front side of the door. The lock bolt has a rear extending end 40b which provides a rear handle on the bolt for moving the latter from the rear side of the door.

Lock bolt 24 is mounted on the lock plate 34 in such a way that the bolt cross member 40 extends through the plate slot 38. The offset front and rear bolt portions 42, 44 are located at the front and rear sides, respectively, of the plate and parallel the plate slot. The front bolt portion 42 extends in a direction of the lock plate extension 34b. The rear bolt portion extends in a direction of the opposite side edge of the mounting plate. Rigidly joined to the front side of the plate extension 34b is a front bearing 46 which slidably receives the front bolt portion 42. A rear bearing 48 secured to the rear side of the rear mounting pad 36 slidably receives the rear bolt portion 44. It is now evident, therefore, that the bearings 46, 48 slidably support the lock bolt 24 for endwise movement parallel to the mounting plate slot 38.

The lock bolt latch mechanism 26 is a generally standard door latch having a housing 50. This housing is fastened to the rear mounting pad 36, below the rear bolt portion 44 which extends across the upper end of the pad, as shown. The latch bar 30 of the latch mechanism slides vertically in the upper end of the latch housing and is normally extended by a spring within the housing to its latching position of FIG. 2. In this position, the latch is located in the path of movement of a depending latch shoulder 52 on the lock bolt 24. The front face 54 of the latch, that is, the latch face which is presented in the direction of locking movement of the lock bolt, extends normal to the path of the lock bolt. The rear face 56 of the latch is bevelled, as shown.

Engagement of the front face 54 of the latch 30 with the lock bolt latch shoulder 52, as shown in FIG. 2, latches the lock bolt 24 in its locking position. The key receptacle 28 and the knob 32 of the latch mechanism 26 are operatively connected to the latch bar 30 so that rotation of the receptacle with a key, or rotation of the knob by hand, retracts the latch downwardly in FIG. 2 to clear the lock bolt latch shoulder 52. Lock bolt 24 is then released for retraction to its broken line or locking position of FIG. 2 from either the inside or the outside of the door 20 by grasping the corresponding lock bolt handle 40a, 40b. Return of the lock bolt 24 to locking position results in engagement of the lock bolt latch shoulder 52 with the rear camming face 56 on the latch bar 30, whereby the latch is cammed downwardly to clear the shoulder. Upon arrival of the lock bolt at its locking position, the latch 30 springs back to its latching position of FIG. 2 to relatch the bolt in locking position.

The lock 22 is installed by cutting in the door 20 a rectangular opening 58 slightly smaller than the lock plate 34. This opening is located adjacent one vertical side of the door at a convenient level above the ground. The lock is then installed in the opening from the outside of the door so that the lock plate 34 covers the opening and seats against the outer surface of the door about the opening, as shown in the drawings. Bolts 60 are now inserted through drilled holes in the door and lock plate to secure the latter to the door. These holes may comprise carriage bolts or other suitable fasteners which cannot be removed from the outside of the door. After the lock has thus been installed, a hole 62 is drilled in the door frame 12 to receive the lock bolt 24 when the latter is extended to locking position.

It is now evident that the lock bolt 24, when in locking position, locks the door 20 against opening. The door may be opened from the outside by inserting a key into the key receptacle 28 and rotating the key to retract the latch bar 30 and then sliding the lock bolt to unlocking position. The door is opened from the inside by rotating the latch bar knob 32 by hand to retract the latch 30 and then sliding the lock bolt to unlocking position. The door is locked by reversing this procedure.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with a presently preferred embodiment thereof, it will be obvious that various modifications of the invention are possible.

What is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. A lock comprising:

a mounting plate having front and rear sides,

a lock bolt,

means supporting said lock bolt on said plate for longitudinal movement between locking and unlocking positions,

a unitary totally self-contained key operated latch mechanism mounted on said plate for releasably locking said bolt in locking position,

said lock bolt including a laterally projecting latch shoulder at said one side of said plate and an operating handle accessible at each side of said plate, and

said latch mechanism including a housing laterally offset to one side of said lock bolt, a latch bar mounted on said housing for movement laterally of said lock bolt into and from the path of said latch shoulder during unlocking movement of said bolt, means including a key receptacle on said housing accessible from one side of said plate and a handle on said housing accessible from the other side of said plate for retracting said latch bar clear of said lock bolt to release said bolt for movement to its unlocking position, and removable fasteners securing said housing to said plate whereby said latch mechanism may be installed on and removed from said plate without removing said bolt.

2. A lock according to claim 1 wherein: movement to its unlocking position, and removable said latch bar has a front la tch face normal to said fasteners securing said housing to said one member, path which engages said latch shoulder in the lockwhereby said latch mechanism may be installed and ing position of said bolt to latch said bolt against removed without removing said latch bolt. retraction to unlocking position, and 5 8. An overhead garage door structure comprising: said latch bar has a rear inclined cam face which ena frame member having an opening,

gages said latch shoulder in the unlocking position an overhead garage door member within said opening of said lock bolt to permit return of said lock bolt having inner and outer sides, to locking position by a forward thrust of said bolt means mounting said door member on said frame so that said latch bar is cammed to retracted position member for movement between open and closed by said latch shoulder. positions, 3. A lock comprising: a lock including a lock bolt slideably mounted on one a mounting plate having front and rear sides, of said members adjacent an edge thereof for longia lock bolt, tudinal movement between an extended locking posimeans supporting said lock bolt on said plate for tion wherein one end of said bolt engages the other longitudinal movement between locking and unlockmember to block opening movement of said closure ing positions, member and a retracted unlocking position wherein a key operated latch mechanism mounted on one side said bolt end clears said other member to permit of said plate for releasably locking said bolt in lockopening movement of said closure member, handles ing position, and on said bolt accessible from either side of said strucsaid lock bolt including a central cross member extendture for moving said bolt between said locking and ing through a slot in said plate, a front bolt portion secured to and extending in one lateral direction of said cross member at the front side of said plate,

unlocking positions, and a key operated latch mechanism on one of said members including a latch bar engageable with said bolt to lock said bolt in its and a rear bolt portion secured to and extending in locking position and means including a key receptacle the opposite lateral direction of said cross member accessible from one side and a handle accessible at the rear side of said plate. from the other side of said structure for retracting 4. A lock according to claim 3 wherein: said latch bar clear of said lock bolt to release said rear lock bolt portion has a laterally projecting said bolt for movement to its unlocking position,

latch shoulder, and said lock bolt having a central cross member extending said latch mechanism includes a latch bar movable through an opening in said door member, a front bolt into and from the path of movement of said latch portion secured to and extending in one lateral dishoulder with said bolt during retraction of said bolt rection from said cross member at the front side of to unlocking position. said door member, and a rear bolt portion secured 5. A lock according to claim 4 wherein: to and extending in the opposite lateral direction said latch mechanism comprises a conventional latch from said cross member at the rear side of said structure including a housing bolted to the rear side door member, 7 of said plate and containing said latch bar for movesaid door frame member having a bore for receiving ment thereof into and from the path of movement said front bolt portion in the locking position of said of said latch shoulder.

6. A lock according to claim '5 including:

a mounting pad secured to the rear side of said mounting plate, and

lock bolt, and

said latch mechanism is mounted on said door member with said key receptacle accessible from the front side of said door member.

9. An overhead garage door structure comprising:

a frame member having an opening,

an overhead garage door member within said opening having inner and outer sides,

means mounting said door member on said frame said latch housing is secured to the rear side of said pad, whereby said housing is spaced from said mounting plate.

7. A closure structure comprising:

a closure frame member defining a closure opening,

member for movement between open and closed a closure member positioned within said opening,

means mounting said closure member on said frame positions,

member for movement between open and closed a lock including a lock bolt slideably mounted on one Positions, and of said members adjacent an edge thereof for longia lock including a lock bolt slideably mounted on one tudinal movement between f extended locking P of said members adjacent an edge thereof for longition wherein one end f Said bolt eflgagesfhe other tudinal movement between an extended locking posimember to block openlng movefnent Sa1d closufe tion wherein one end of said bolt engages the other and a retracted unlocklng P0Sltlon wherelfl member to block opening movement of said closure Sald P end clears Sald Pther member to P511111t member and a retracted unlocking position wherein Openlng movement of $ald closul'fi f id b l d clears i other member to permit dles on said bolt access ble from either slde of said opening movement f i closure member, handles structure for moving said bolt between said locklng on said bolt accessible from either side of said and unlocklng POSIUOIIS3 and a 3f P latch structure for moving said bolt between said locking mechanism on of t members lflcllfdlng a and unlocking positions, and a unitary totally selfbar e l l Wlth Sald b01t t0 Sald bolt 111 Its contained key operated latch mechanism on one of locklng P and means Including a y t:- said members including a housing laterally offset tacle accessible fl'Ol'Il one side and a handle 300E851- to one side of said lock bolt, a latch bar mounted ble from the other side of said structure for reon said housing for movement into latching engagetracting said latch bar clear of said lock bolt to ment with said bolt to lock said bolt in its locking release said bolt for movement to its unlocking position, means including a key receptacle on said position, housing accessible from one side of said structure said lock bolt is accessible from both sides of said and a handle on said housing accessible from the structure, other side of said structure for retracting said latch said key receptacle is accessible from the outer side of bar clear of said lock bolt to release said bolt for said structure,

said lock comprises a mounting plate secured to said door over an opening in the door,

said plate mounts said lock bolt and latch mechanism,

said bolt has a cross member and said latch mechanism is mounted on the rear side of said plate, and said plate has a slot through which said bolt cross member extends.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein:

said rear lock bolt portion has a laterally projecting latch shoulder, and

said latch mechanism includes a latch movable into and from the path of movement of said latch shoulder with said bolt during movement of said bolt to unlocking position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner E. J. Mc CARTI-IY,

Assistant Examiner us. 01; X.R'.

Images