Door lock with indicator

• US 4,490,999 A
• Filed: 09/27/1982
• Issued: 01/01/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Derald E. Martin, Nial K. Castle, Ralph D. Martin
• Original Assignee: Derald E. Martin, Nial K. Castle, Ralph D. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Ralph D., Castle, Nial K., Martin, Derald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US06/424,223
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 70/432, 70/330, 49/13, 40/460, 40/492
• US Class Current: 70/432
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 41/00 Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked indicator lights E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7407 Operating indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators

Abstract

A self-contained door lock with an indicating device visible on the inside surface of a door that can be provided as an adaptor for existing door locks or manufactured as part of the original door lock. The indicating device automatically gives a visible indication at the lock location as to whether the door lock is locked or unlocked. The indicating device automatically works in coordination with the door lock mechanism.

Claims

1. A unitized door lock with indicator, said door lock having means to lock and unlock the lock for use in conventional doors in the usual manner as with a key or thumb turn comprising:

a mounting plate having stationary indicator means and having an opening displaying the condition of the lock as either "open" or "locked";

moveable indicator means showing through an opening in the mounting plate and havig thereon indicia indicating either "open" or "locked", said moveable indicator means being activated automatically by activating means such as a key or thumb turn, whether activated from inside or outside of the door;

wherein movement of the lock actuating means in one direction indicates one condition of the lock by exposing the indicia on said stationary indicator means, and movement of the lock actuating means in another direction indicates the other condition of the door lock by covering the indicia on the stationary indicator means;

an attachment assemby for attaching to the door lock on the inside surface of the door, said assembly including an actuating member connected to the door lock actuating means for locking and unlocking the door and for moving the moveable indicator means;

wherein the moveable door lock indicator means includes gripping means extending from the door for gripping by the user and connected to the door actuating means for locking and unlocking the door lock;

wherein the stationary indicator means and the moveable indicator means are arranged so that the moveable indicator means passes over a fixed indicator means in one direction and under it in another direction to indicate the locked condition or unlocked condition of the door lock even when the lock is in the neutral position.

2. A unitized door lock with indicator, said door lock having means to lock and unlock the lock for use in conventional doors in the usual manner such as with a key or with a thumb turn comprising:

a mounting plate having stationary indicator means and having an opening displaying the condition of the lock as either "open" or "locked";

moveable indicator means showing through an opening in the mounting plate and having thereon indicia indicating either "open" or "locked", said moveable indicator means being actuated automatically by activating means such as a key or thumb turn, whether activated from inside or outside the door;

wherein movement of the lock actuating means in one direction indicates one condition of the lock by exposing the indicia on said stationary indicator means, and movement of the lock actuating means in another direction indicates the other condition of the door lock by covering the indicia on the stationary indicator means;

an attachment assembly for attaching to the door lock on the inside surface of the door, said assembly including an actuating member connected to the door lock actuating means for locking and unlocking the door and for moving the moveable indicator means;

wherein the moveable door lock indicator means includes gripping means extending from the door for gripping by the user, and connected to the door actuating means for locking and unlocking the door lock;

wherein the stationary indicator means and the moveable indicator means are arranged so that the moveable indicator means passes over the fixed indicator means in one direction and under it in another direction to indicate the locked condition or unlocked condition of the door lock even when the lock is in the neutral position; and

wherein the moveable indicator means rotates with respect to the fixed indicator means and at least one of said indicator means is canted with respect to the other indicator means.

3. A unitized door lock with indicator according to claim 2 wherein one of said indicator means has resilience so that it accommodates the relative movement of the other indicator means.

4. A unitary door lock with indicator according to claim 3 wherein:

the moveable indicator means has resilience.

5. A unitized door lock with indicator, said door lock having means to lock and unlock the lock for use in conventional doors in the usual manner with a key inserted in a keyhole on either side of the door, comprising:

a mounting plate having stationary indicator means and having an opening displaying the condition of the lock as either "open" or "locked";

moveable indicator means showing through an opening in the mounting plate and having thereon indicia indicating either "open" or "locked", said moveable indicating means being actuated automatically by activating means such as a key, whether activated from inside or outside of the door;

wherein the movement of the lock actuating means in one direction indicates one condition of the lock exposing the indicia on said stationary indicator means, and movement of the lock activating means in another direction indicates the other condition of the door lock by covering the indicia on the stationary indicator means;

a first adapter plate means positioned on the outer surface of the door adjacent to the keyhole of the lock;

first rotary means positionable on said first adapter plate means and rotatable by the key as the key is rotated in the door lock;

motion transmission means connectable to said first rotary means and extending through the door from the outer surface of the door to the inner surface of the door;

second adapter means positioned on the inside surface of the door adjacent the keyhole of the door lock;

second rotary means positionable on said second adapter plate means and connectable with said motion transition means;

said second rotaray means including the second moveable indicator means and said second adapter plate includes said first stationary indicator means; and

wherein the moveable indicator means has resilience and is canted with respect to said fixed indicator means.