Device for use in the thawing of frozen door locks

• US 4,732,562 A
• Filed: 03/30/1987
• Issued: 03/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johannes S. Palsson
• Original Assignee: Johannes S. Palsson
• Inventors: Palsson, Johannes S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Application Number:
  US07/031,837
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 432/224, 98/31, 34/104, 70/423, 70/424, 70/455, 70/431
• US Class Current: 432/224
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0016 Defrosting, e.g. heating devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7955 Keyhole guards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/796 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/80 Parts, attachments, accessories and adjuncts

Abstract

A device for use in thawing frozen car locks comprises a tube (10) of a heat insulating material having a plug support at one end; axial holes through the plug support; a flat, axially projecting plug (13) extending from the plug support designed to be inserted into and to essentially fill the keyhole of the lock; and a raised lip on the plug end formed with a plurality of through-going, radial cuts (15). When the projection is inserted into the keyhole in a frozen lock, and expiration air is blown into the other end of the tube, this air gives off its heat to the outer side of the lock before flowing through the openings without itself penetrating into the lock. The heat, on the other hand, is conducted into the lock and melts ice formed therein.

Claims

1. A device for thawing a frozen door lock having a keyhole comprising:

a tubular member of heat insulating material;

plug support means in and adjacent to one end of said tubular member;

plug means at said one end of said tubular member extending outwardly from said plug support means and having a shape to facilitate insertion thereof into the keyhole of the door lock; and

means for guiding air blown into the other end of said tubular member onto the door lock so that heat from said air is conducted through the door lock to thaw any frozen matter therein comprising said plug support means being shaped to provide axial openings at both sides of said plug means for the passage of air therethrough.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said plug means has a substantially trapezoidal shape.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said plug support means comprises a closure member; and

said axial openings comprise aperture means through said closure member on both sides of said plug means.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

said plug means has a substantially trapezoidal shape.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

said plug means comprises a blade-shaped member protruding from said one end of said tubular member and having substantially flat faces on said sides and opposite edges; and

said axial openings further comprise further aperture means through said closure member adjacent said opposite edges.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

said plug means comprises a blade-shaped member protruding from said one end of said tubular member and having substantially flat faces on said sides and opposite edges; and

said axial openings further comprise further aperture means through said closure member adjacent said opposite edges.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said tubular member is substantially cylindrical.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

said tubular member is substantially cylindrical.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising:

an annular lip on said one end of said tubular member adapted to engage against the door lock in use; and

wherein

said means for guiding air further comprises at least one radial opening through said annular lip.

10. A device as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising:

an annular lip on said one end of said tubular member adapted to engage against the door lock in use; and

wherein

said means for guiding air further comprises at least one radial groove through the outer edge of said annular lip.

11. A device as claimed in claim 5 and further comprising:

an annular lip on said one end of said tubular member adapted to engage against the door lock in use; and

wherein

said means for guiding air further comprises at least one radial opening through said annular lip.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising:

an enlarged diameter section on said tubular member extending from said one end toward said other end a short distance less than half the length of said tubular member.

13. A device as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising:

an enlarged diameter section on said tubular member extending from said one end toward said other end a short distance less than half the length of said tubular member.

14. A device as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising:

an enlarged diameter section on said tubular member extending from said one end toward said other end a short distance less than half the length of said tubular member.

15. A device as claimed in claim 11 and further comprising:

an enlarged diameter section on said tubular member extending from said one end toward said other end a short distance less than half the length of said tubular member.

16. A device as claimed in claim 14 and further comprising:

an annular lip on said one end of said tubular member adapted to engage against the door lock in use; and

wherein

said means for guiding air further comprises at least one radial groove through the outer edge of said annular lip.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said tubular member is substantially straight.

18. A device as claimed in claim 16 wherein:

said tubular member is substantially straight.