Refrigerator door lock with alarm

• US 4,024,494 A
• Filed: 06/17/1976
• Issued: 05/17/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quesnel F. Joseph
• Original Assignee: Quesnel F. Joseph
• Inventors: Quesnel, F. Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/696,948
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 R, 340/52 D, 340/52 F, 340/274 R, 200/44, 200/61.44, 200/153 R, 200/155 R
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/22 Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0042 For refrigerators or cold rooms E05B17/0075 takes precedence; magnetic E05C19/16
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details

Abstract

A manual positive locking device for doors of refrigerators, freezers and the like that do not have positive door locks such as typically used in motor homes, the locking device having an integral switch connected to an electrical alarm and adapted to be connected to the electrical system of the vehicle such that attempting to start the vehicle with the locking device in the unlocked condition will alert the operator of the unsecured condition. A rotatable T-shaped handle is provided that can be turned to a position that holds refrigerator doors in a tightly closed condition and in such position opens the contacts of the integral switch. The handle can be turned to a position clear of the doors and in such position closes the contacts of the integral switch and thus enables the alarm circuit for initiation when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on.

Claims

1. A lock and alarm device for attachment to refrigerators, freezers, cabinets and the like installed in recreational-type vehicles for securing the doors of such refrigerators, freezers, cabinets and the like in which an alarm will occur when such doors are not secured and the vehicle engine is started, comprising:

friction lock means mountable adjacent to at least one door, said means having a manually operable handle, said handle adapted to contact the front surface of the door in a first position, such contact serving to hold the door securely closed, and to clear the door in a second position allowing the door to be opened;

electrical contact means operatively connected to said handle and arranged to be in a closed position when said handle is in the second position, and to be in an open condition when said handle is in the first position; and

electrical alarm signal means connected in series with said electrical contact means and connectable to the ignition switch of the vehicle, thereby forming a series circuit consisting of the vehicle battery, said electrical contact means, said signal means, and the ignition switch;

whereby said alarm signal means is energized when said lock is in the second position at a time when the ignition switch is closed.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said friction lock means includes a body portion having mounting means and a lock shaft disposed in said body and attached to said handle, said handle being rotable approximately 90°

between the first position and the second position.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 in which said lock shaft includes adjustment means for adjusting the length of said shaft with respect to said handle.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 in which said adjustment means comprises external threads in the outer end of said shaft, said shaft having a flattened area thereon, said handle having internal threads for threadedly attaching said handle to said shaft, a lock nut threaded on said shaft for locking said handle in a selected position on said shaft, and a set screw threadedly inserted in said handle for engaging said flattened area for correctly indexing said handle with respect to said contact means.

5. The device as defined in claim 3 in which said adjustment means comprises a pin for securing said handle to said shaft and gauging means for determining the correct location of said pin with respect to said shaft and the correct length of said shaft.

6. The device as defined in claim 2 in which said electrical contact means includes a rotable conductive portion attached to said lock shaft and a pair of stationary contacts having electrical leads connected thereto, said conductive portion arranged to form the closed contact condition between said pair of stationary contacts when said handle is rotated to the second position and the open contact condition between said pair of stationary contacts when said handle is rotated to the first position.

7. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said electrical alarm signal means is an audible alarm.

8. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said electrical alarm signal means is a visual signal.

9. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said handle is generally T-shaped having a tapered underside serving to contact the front surface of the door in the first position, said tapered underside arranged to contact the edge of the door as said handle is manually rotated from the second position toward the first position and to progressively urge the door to a tightly closed condition with maximum tightness occurring in the first position.

10. The device as defined in claim 7 in which said T-shaped handle includes an approximately semi-circular portion for contacting the front surface of the door.