US3606430A

US3606430A - Split lock keeper

Info

Publication number: US3606430A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest J Parmel Jr
Original assignee: Traulsen and Co Inc
Current assignee: TRAULSEN & Co Inc (DEL)
Priority date: 1969-12-10
Filing date: 1969-12-10
Publication date: 1971-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-20

Abstract

A TWO-PART OR SPLIT LOCK KEEPER INCLUDES A BRACKET OR RETAINER MOUNTABLE ON A CABINET WALL BY SCREWS. A USHAPED KEEPER BODY WHICH ENGAGES THE BOLT OF A LOCK ON A DOOR IS ATTACHED TO THE BRACKET BY FURTHER SCREWS. LEGS OF THE KEEPER BODY COVER THE SCREWS HOLDING THE BRACKET. WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED IT COVERS AND CONCEALS SCREWS HOLDING THE KEEPER BODY ON THE BRACKET.

Description

Sept. 20, 1971 I .1. PARMEL. JR 3,606,430

' [SPLIT LOCK KEEPER v Filed Dec. 10, 1969 INVI'JN'IOR. ERNEST J. PARRELR United States Patent Ofice 3,606,430 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 3,606,430 SPLIT LOCK KEEPER Ernest J. Parmel, Jr., Long Island City, N.Y., assignor to Traulsen & Co., Inc, College Point, N.Y. Filed Dec. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 883,927 Int. Cl. Eb 15/02 U.S. Cl. 292-34118 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A two-part or split lock keeper includes a bracket or retainer mountable on a cabinet wall by screws. A U- shaped keeper body which engages the bolt of a lock on a door is attached to the bracket by further screws. Legs of the keeper body cover the screws holding the bracket. When the door is closed it covers and conceals screws holding the keeper body on the bracket.

This invention pertains to a lock keeper and more particularly to a split lock keeper which is so arranged that it can be adjustably positioned in relation to an associated lock on a door only when the door is opened. When the door is closed the screws holding the parts of the lock keeper are concealed and inaccessible.

Lock keepers heretofore known which are used to engage locks on doors of cabinets, refrigerators, freezers and the like have generally had the disadvantage of being mounted with externally accessible screws. Thus the security afforded by the locks has been defeated due to ease with which the lock keepers could be removed to open the doors.

According to the present invention there is provided a two-part tamper-proof lock keeper. The lock keeper has a flat rectangular bracket or retainer formed with two elongated holes through which screws can be inserted for mounting the bracket on a wall or door jamb of a cabinet. The elongated holes permit lateral adjustment of the bracket for precisely spacing the bracket with respect to the edge of the door jamb so that the keeper will properly engage the bolt of the lock mounted on the cabinet door. The bracket has a pair of apertured ears through which other screws can be inserted to engage the body part of the lock keeper which receives the bolt of the lock. The body part of the lock keeper is generally U-shaped and has threaded screwholes in its legs to receive the screws which mount the body to the bracket. The last named screws are exposed only when the door is opened. When the door is closed these screws face the adjacent end edge of the door so that the screws are concealed and protected from tampering.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a two-part lock keeper assembly for a lock on a door, the assembly including a main body part and a retainer or bracket for the main body part. Screwholes are provided in both the main body and bracket and are arranged so that they are concealed when the door is closed.

Another object is to provide a two-part lock keeper assembly as described, wherein the bracket includes a rectangular plate with elongated screwholes for adjustably mounting on a door jamb, and with apertured ears extending outwardly from corners of the plate; and wherein the main body part has screwholes to receive screws for engaging the ears of the bracket, these screws being concealed when the door is closed.

A further object is to provide a two-part lock keeper assembly as described wherein the main body part is U-shaped, the screwholes receiving the screws which mount it to the bracket are located in sides of the legs,

while the free ends of the legs abut the bracket and conceal the screws mounting the bracket to the door jamb.

For further comprehension, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lock keeper assembly embodying the invention shown mounted on a door jamb of a cabinet, the door being shown closed and having a lock engaging the lock keeper.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the lock keeper assembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main body part of the lock keeper assembly shown in a dilferent position from that in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, the door keeper assembly 10 includes a bracket or retaner 12 including a fiat rectangular plate 14 formed with spaced elongated holes 16 near opposite narrow edges 18. Holes 16 receive screws 17 to mount the bracket on jamb 19 of a cabinet 20. Two rectangular ears 21 are located at corners of the plate at along edge 24 and extend perpendicularly outward of the plate in a vertical plane. Holes 26 for receiving screws 28 are provided in ears 21. Lockwashers 30 may be provided for screws 17 which engage in threaded holes 31 in a fixed plate 32 mounted inside shell 34 in wall 35 of cabinet 20. The elongated holes 16 permit the bracket to be adjusted laterally toward and away from the end edge or face 38 of the door jamb.

The assembly 10 further includes generally U-shaped main body part 50 which is a massive metal block formed with a rectangular cutout 52 to define two legs 54. Threaded holes '56 in lateral sides 57 of the legs receive screws 28 for mounting the body part '50 on the bracket. Then the flat, free end faces 58 of the legs 54 abut the face of bracket plate 14 to cover and conceal screws 17 and screwholes 16. Recesses 59 in faces 58 receive heads of screws 17. Recesses 60 are formed in legs 54 to receive the cars 21 of the bracket. The heads of screws 28 are located at outer sides of the ears and face in the direction of the end edge or face 62 of door 66. The ears 21 are parallel to end face 38 of the door jamb. A recess 68 is provided in one side of the bight 67 of keeper body part 50 to receive and engage bolt 70' of lock 72. The recess opens in the same direction as screwholes 56; see FIGS. 25.

Lock 72 is mounted in conventional fashion on the hinged door 66. Gasket 73 is secured to the door. Key 74 operates the cylinder of the lock to extend bolt 70 for engaging in recess 68 of the lock keeper body part 50. It will be apparent that when the door is closed and locked, screws 28 are inaccessible and cannot be reached by a screwdriver or other such tool, since they are covered by end face 62 of the door and by gasket 73. Only when the door is opened are screws 28 expostd at face 38 of the door jamb.

The lock keeper assembly provides increased security and protection for the contents of cabinet 20 and fulfills a long felt need in the field for a tamper-proof lock keeper.

What is claimed is: t

1. A lock keeper assembly for a cabinet comprising a bracket adjustably mountable by first screws on a door jamb of the cabinet, and a keeper body mountable by second screws on the bracket, said keeper body and bracket being so arranged that the keeper body covers the first screws, while the second screws are covered by the door only when the door is closed, said bracket comprising a fiat plate having elongated holes to receive the first screws for adjustably mounting the plate on the door jamb, and further comprising rectangular ears extending outwardly of the plate for engaging the keeper body.

2. A lock keeper assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a flat rectangular plate having elongated holes to receive the first screws for adjustably mounting the plate on the door jamb, and rectangular ears extending out of two adjacent corners of said plate, said ears having holes for receiving the second screws to mount the keeper body on the bracket.

3. A lock keeper assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the keeper body is generally U-shaped with legs having lateral screwholes to receive the second screws when extended through holes in said ears, said legs having free end faces disposed to abut the bracket for covering the elongated holes in said plate.

4. A lock keeper as defined in claim 3 wherein said end faces of the legs have recesses to receive heads of the first screws.

5. A look keeper assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the keeper body has other recesses in one side arranged to receive said ears flush with said one side of said body, said body having a further recess to receive a bolt of a lock when the door is closed and the lock is locked.

6. A lock keeper assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the holes in said ears are countersunk, to receive heads of the second screws which face the free end face of the door when the door is closed to protect the keeper body from removal of the second screws while the door is closed.

7. A lock keeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a flat plate with holes to receive the first screws, and wherein the keeper body has lateral holes to receive the second screws for mounting the same on the bracket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,127,891 8/1938 Starling 292341.18 X 3,257,139 6/1966 Russell 292341.18 3,265,427 8/1966 Williams 292341.18 3,361,466 1/1968 Russell 292-341.18

STEPHEN J. NOVOSAD, Primary Examiner E. I. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner