GB2249123A

GB2249123A - Portable door lack device

Info

Publication number: GB2249123A
Application number: GB9101785A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Garry Michael Morris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-10-11
Filing date: 1991-01-28
Publication date: 1992-04-29
Also published as: GB9101785D0; GB9022104D0

Abstract

A door lock for preventing opening of a hingedly mounted door 12 which in its closed position resides adjacent to a static member 14 and the rear of the front face of the door, the lock comprising an elongate connection means 20 depending from an anchorage means 16 and extending between the static member 14 and door 12; a locking member 30 movably connected to the connection moans for movement between a door abutting position and a door release position; locking means 34, 35 for locking the locking member in said door lock position, the locking member in said door lock position abutting the door and bridging the door gap to prevent its opening. The connection means 20 extending through the door gap may be flexible eg a Bowden cable (fig. 3). It may be attached to the door opening such that when not in use, it can be pivoted out of the way, against the door frame. <IMAGE>

Description

DOOR LOCK The present invention relates to a door lock.

In particular the present invention relates to a door lock which can be removably mounted between a door and an adjacent static member to thereby fixedly connect the door and adjacent static member together and prevent opening of the door.

The lock of the present application is particularly suited for use as a door lock for a vehicle.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a door lock for preventing opening of a hingedly mounted door which in its closed position resides adjacent to a static member the rear of the front face of the door and elongate connection means depending from the anchorage means and extending between the static member and door, a locking member movably connected to the connection means for movement between a door lock position and a door release position, locking means for locking the locking member in said door lock position, the locking member in said door lock position abutting the door to prevent its opening.

The connection means may be a rigid rod or bar or may be a flexible member such as a length of braided metal wire, eg. a Bowden cable (RTM).

The anchorage means may comprise a hook for releasably attaching the connection means or may comprise fixing means such as a screw, or rivet for fixedly attaching the connection means to the static member.

In one embodiment the anchorage means and locking member comprise a first jaw located to the rear face of thedoor and a second jaw located to the front face of the door respectively, the first and second jaws each bridging the door and said static member so as to connect the door and static member together, the locking means serving to prevent separation of the first and second jaws.

For a door lock intended for use with vehicle doors, the static member may comprise an adjacent door or the body of the vehicle. For such a door lock the first jaw may comprise a plate member, such as a metal plate, having a pair of wings for respective abutment with the door and static member.

If the face of the static member extends generally perpendicularly to the rear face of the door such as may be the case when the static member is the body of the vehicle, one of the wings may be adapted for insertion into an aperture formed in the face of the static member.

In accordance with one embodiment, the locking means preferably comprises a first locking member which is fixedly secured to the connection means and a second locking member which is removably mounted on the first locking member. The first locking member does not co-operate with the jaws to restrain separation. However when the second locking member is mounted on the first locking member, the second locking member holds the first and second jaws in a clamped condition. Preferably the first locking member is fixedly secured to the connection means such that its position along the connection means can be adjusted.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the locking means preferably comprises a locking member movably mounted in a body for movement between a release position and a lock position, the locking member being fixedly connected to the connection means such that movement of said locking member to its lock position draws the first and second jaws together and movement of said locking member to its release position moves the first and second jaws apart. Preferably, a wall of said body defines said second jaw. Preferably the locking means comprises a lever mounted on a support shaft, rotation of said shaft being controlled by a lock key.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a door lock according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first jaw shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a door lock according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a door lock according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring initially to Figure 1, there is shown a door lock 10 which is intended to prevent a hingedly mounted door 12 from being opened relative to a static member 14.

The lock 10 includes a first jaw 16 and a second jaw 18 which are connected to one another via a connection member 20 which extends through gap 21 formed between the door 12 and the static member 14. In Figure 1 the lock 10 is illustrated in its locked condition wherein the jaws 16 and 18 engage opposed sides of the door and static member and wherein the jaws 16,18 are prevented from moving axially apart by locking means 30. Movement apart of jaws 16,18 is prevented by virtue of the locking means 30 engaging the connection member 20 and abutting against the second jaw 18.

In the illustrated embodiment the locking means 30includes a first locking member 32 fixedly secured to the connection member 20 and a second locking member 34 which is removably mounted on the first locking member 32. The second locking member 34 abuts the second jaw 18 and prevents separation of the jaws.

The first locking member 32 is in the form of a sleeve through which the connection member 20 passes. A locking screw 33 is provided which is threadedly received in the sleeve and which on tightening engages the connection member 20 and thereby fixedly secures the locking member 32 to the connection member 20. Loosening of screw 33 enables the position of the locking member 32 to be adjusted such that the correct positional relationship between the second locking member 34 and the second jaw 18 can be achieved.

In order to prevent access to the screw 33 when the lock 10 is in its locked condition, the second jaw 18 is preferably in the form of a sleeve which encloses the first locking member 32.

Preferably a rotatable protective sleeve 40 is provided which covers the connection member 20 at least in the region where the connection member 20 extends from the gap into the second jaw 18. The protective sleeve 40 serves to prevent the connection member 20 from being sawn or cut by insertion of a saw blade between front face of the door and the opposed end of the second jaw 18.

The second locking member 34 is conveniently a conventional lock body containing a lockable latch for engagement with recess 35 formed in locking member 32. The lock body may be activated by a key mechanism or a combination-type mechanism.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first jaw 16 is defined by a pair of wings 16a, 16b. As shown in Figure 1, the rear face of the static member 14 is substantially coplanar with the rear face of the door and thereby enables the jaw 16 to abut against both rear faces. In the case where the rear face of the static member extends generally perpendicular to the rear face of the door it is proposed that one of the wings be adapted for insertion into an opening 14a in the rear face of the static member. This is illustrated in Figure 2 wherein the wing 16a is shown as being provided in the form of a projection and is shown extending into opening 14a.

In use, the door 12 is partially opened to enable the first jaw 16 to be positioned behind the static member 14 (or inserted into an aperture formed in the static member) and is held in that position by holding the connection member 20 whilst the door 12 is closed. The second jaw 18 is then moved into contact with the front face of the door and static member and is then held in that position by mounting the second locking member 34 onto the first locking member 32. Thereafter the door 14 cannot be opened since the jaws 16,18 rigidly connect the door to the static member.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the lock 100 includes a first jaw 16, a flexible connection member 20 and locking means 50. The locking means 50 includes a lever 51 mounted on a shaft 52 rotatably supported in a body 53. The shaft 52 is preferably defined by the tumbler body of a lock. The connection member 20 is secured to the end of lever 51 so that rotation of the shaft 52 moves lever 51 toward or away from the first jaw 16 and in so doing causes the first jaw to be moved away or toward the outer wall 56 of the body. The outer wall 56 thereby defines the second jaw. Movement of the tumbler body is achieved by a key and the arrangement is such that the lever 51 may be locked in a lock position whereat the first jaw 16 has been drawn into clamping co-operation with the second jaw.

In order to adjust the length of the connection member 20, attachment of the connection member to the first jaw 16 is preferably via a locking nut 58. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the sleeve 40 is preferably rotatably supported on the first jaw 16.

Preferably, means for preventing twisting of the first jaw relative to the body are provided. In the illustrated embodiment these means comprise a projection 60 provided on the first jaw 16 which projects into an aperture 62 in wall 56.

An alternate embodiment is illustrated in Figure 4 wherein the connection member 20 shows as being fixedly secured to the static member 14 via anchorage means in the form of fixing means 160. In the illustrated embodiment the fixing means 160 comprise a screw 161. Preferably, as shown the connection member 20 in the form of a flexible strip and preferably the attachment by the fixing means 160 enables pivotal movement of the connection member 20 so that when not in use the flexible strip may be pivotally moved to a stowed position as shown in broken lines in Figure 4.

A door lock member 165 is provided having an aperture 166 through which the connection member extends when the lock member 165 abuts the door when in its door lock position. A plunger lock 168 is mounted on the lock member 165 to lockingly engage with an aperture 164 in the connection member 20. If desired a series of apertures 164 may be provided for co-operation with lock member 165.

It will be appreciated that the fixing means 60 may be in the form of bolts or rivets.

As an alternative to fixing means 160 it is envisaged that the anchorage means may detachably secure the connection means to the static member; for example the anchorage means could comprise a hook or an aperture for securance on a hook or projection on the static member.

In use the door lock member 165 abuts against the front face of the door and is held in that position by the lock 168. Co-operation between connection member 20 and lock 168 may be by any conventional means should an alternative to aperture 164 be required.

It is envisaged that the flexible strip may comprise a cable or flexible wire having for example a loop at one or both ends.

Claims

1. A door lock for preventing opening of a hingedly mounted door which in its closed position resides adjacent to a static member and the rear of the front face of the door, the lock comprising an elongate connection means depending from the anchorage means and extending between the static member and door; a locking member movably connected to the connection means for movement between a door lock position and a door release position; locking means for locking the locking member in said door lock position, the locking member in said door lock position abutting the door to prevent its opening.

2. A door lock as in Claim 1, wherein the connection means is rigid

3. A door lock as in Claim 1, wherein the connection means is flexible.

4. A door lock as in any preceding claim, wherein the anchorage means may comprise a hook for releasably attaching the connection means or may comprise fixing means such as a screw, or rivet for fixedly attaching the connection means to the static member.

5. A door lock as in any preceding claim, wherein the anchorage means and locking member comprise a first jaw located to the rear face of the door and a second jaw located to the front face of the door respectively, the first and second jaws each bridging the door and said static member so as to connect the door and static member together, the locking means serving to prevent separation of the first and second jaws.

6. A door lock as in Claim 5, wherein the first jaw comprises a plate member having a pair of wings for respective abutment with the door and static member.

7. A door lock as in Claim 6, wherein one of said wings may be adapted for insertion into an aperture formed in the face of the static member.

8. A door lock as in Claim 7, wherein the locking means comprises a first locking member which is fixedly secured to the connection means, and a second locking member which is removably mounted on the first locking member, and is adapted to hold the first and second jaws in a clamped condition.

9. A door lock as in Claim 8, wherein the first locking member is fixedly secured to the connection means such that its position along the connection means can be adjusted.

10. A door lock as in Claim 5, wherein the locking means comprises a locking member movably mounted in a body for movement between a release position and a lock position, the locking member being fixedly connected to the connection means such that movement of said locking member to its lock position draws the first and second jaws together and movement of said locking member to its release position moves the first and second jaws apart.

11. A door lock as in Claim 10, wherein a wall of said body defines said second jaw.

12. A door lock as in Claim 11, wherein the locking means comprises a lever mounted on a support shaft, rotation of said shaft being controlled by a lock key.