Portable door lock suitable for use by people of all ages

• US 5,501,494 A
• Filed: 09/12/1994
• Issued: 03/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Willetts
• Original Assignee: Thomas Willetts
• Inventors: Willetts, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Millner, Monica E.
• Application Number:
  US08/304,395
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 292/264, 292/288, 292/248, 292/347, 292/DIG. 2, 292/1, 70/416, 70/417, 273/55, 273/58 C, 273/428, 446/247, 446/255
• US Class Current: 292/262
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/182 insertable in the gap between the wing and the frame or in the gap between a lock and its striker, e.g. for cooperation with the striker
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/02 Auxiliary knob slip covers, guards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/28 Extension link
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/34 Portable

Abstract

A portable door lock includes an interior member and an exterior member which are connected to each other by a cord. The interior member is slidable along the cord and the cord is provided with a stopping member which is engageable by the interior member to prevent movement of the interior member along the cord away from the exterior member. In a first embodiment, the interior and exterior members are spheres and the stopping member is a knot and a washer. The interior sphere is substantially hollow and has a through bore with a key hole for engaging the washer. The cord is provided with a loop adjacent the exterior sphere for hanging the exterior sphere on an exterior door knob. In a second embodiment, the exterior member is a truncated hollow sphere which is dimensioned to fit over an exterior door knob. The strength of the lock is dependent on the materials chosen, but should be sufficient to be impenetrable by children, but easy for an adult to break.

Claims

1. A removable door lock in combination with a door comprising:

a) an exterior member;

b) a cord having a first end and a second end, said first end being coupled to said exterior member;

c) an interior member slidably arranged on said cord so that it is movable along said cord toward and away from said exterior member;

said cord containing stopping means for stopping movement of said interior member in a direction away from said exterior member, said stopping means being located at a point on said cord between said first and second ends; and

said interior member having means for selectively engaging said stopping member so that said interior member may be stopped by and released from said stopping member, wherein

said exterior member is located on an exterior side of the door and said interior member is located on an interior side of the door, and after the door is closed, said interior member is slid along said cord toward the door and said means for selectively engaging said stopping member is brought into engagement with said stopping member.

2. A removable portable door lock according to claim 1, wherein:

said interior and exterior members are substantially spherical.

3. A removable portable door lock according to claim 2, wherein:

said interior member is substantially hollow and said means for selectively engaging said stopping member is a keyhole.

4. A removable portable door lock according to claim 3, wherein:

said stopping means includes a knot in said cord.

5. A removable portable door lock according to claim 4, wherein:

said stopping means includes a washer on said cord between said knot and said exterior member.

6. A removable portable door lock according to claim 1, wherein:

said cord is provided with a loop adjacent to said exterior member, said loop dimensioned to fit over a door knob for locating said exterior member on the exterior side of the door.

7. A removable portable door lock according to claim 1, wherein:

said exterior member is a substantially hollow truncated sphere which is dimensioned to fit over and substantially cover a door knob.

8. A removable portable door lock according to claim 1, wherein:

said second end of said cord is provided with means for stopping said interior member from sliding off said cord.

9. A removable portable door lock according to claim 8, wherein:

said means for stopping said interior member from sliding off said cord includes a knot.

10. A removable portable door lock according to claim 9, wherein:

said means for stopping said interior member from sliding off said cord includes a washer on said cord between said knot and said stopping means.

11. A removable portable lock in combination with a movable closure member of an enclosure comprising:

a) an exterior member;

b) a cord having a first end and a second end, said first end being coupled to said exterior member;

c) an interior member slidably arranged on said cord so that it is movable along said cord toward and away from said exterior member;

said cord containing stopping means for stopping movement of said interior member in a direction away from said exterior member, said stopping means being located at a point on said cord between said first and second ends; and

said interior member having means for selectively engaging said stopping member so that said interior member may be stopped by and released from said stopping member, wherein

said exterior member is located on an exterior side of the movable closure member and said interior member is located on an interior side of the movable closure member, and after the movable closure member is closed, said interior member is slid along said cord toward the movable closure member and said means for selectively engaging said stopping member is brought into engagement with said stopping member.