Door lock indicator

• US 8,037,725 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lancer and Loader Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Jonathan E. Levine
• Inventors: Levine, Jonathan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd
• Application Number:
  US12/987,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20110100077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 70432-441, 70D/IG.59, 70D/IG.30, 70D/IG.51, 704/54, 362/100, 340/5.3, 340/5.32, 340/5.6, 340/5.67, 340/542, 340/543, 340/545.7, 116/80, 200/308, 200/316, 200/43.01, 200/43.04, 200/43.08, 200/61.62, 200/61.64, 200/61.66, 200/61.67, 200/61.68
• US Class Current: 70/432
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/10 Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
• 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: Y10S 70/30 Switch lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/59 Lock with indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8622 Key insertion guides

Abstract

A door lock indicator device is disclosed. The door lock indicator device can include a rotatable portion, a lock status display, and a switch (e.g., a button). The rotatable portion can define an opening shaped to receive a key blade. The door lock indicator device can be installed on a face of a door lock with the opening aligned with a keyhole of the door lock. Rotating a key blade within a keyway of the door lock can cause the rotatable portion to rotate with the door lock'"'"'s cylinder. The lock status display can include a first indicator light and a second indicator light. Activating the switch can cause the lock status display to indicate a direction of a most recent rotation of the rotatable portion and/or a locked or unlocked status of the associated door lock.

Claims

1. A door lock indicator device, comprising:

a frame including a rotatable portion defining an opening shaped to receive a key blade;

a lock status display, wherein the door lock indicator device is configured to retrofit a door lock by attaching to a face of the door lock with the opening aligned with a keyhole of the door lock such that a key extending through the opening and into the keyhole of the door lock is capable of operating the door lock, and the lock status display indicates a direction of a most recent rotation of the rotatable portion, a locked or unlocked status of the door lock, or both the direction of the most recent rotation of the rotatable portion and the locked or unlocked status of the door lock;

a clockwise-rotation switch activated by clockwise rotation of the rotatable portion; and

a counterclockwise-rotation switch activated by counterclockwise rotation of the rotatable portion.

2. The door lock indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable portion includes a projection, the clockwise-rotation switch includes a contact arm and a contact plate, the counterclockwise-rotation switch includes a contact arm and a contact plate, clockwise rotation of the rotatable portion causes the projection to press the contact arm of the clockwise-rotation switch into electrical contact with the contact plate of the clockwise-rotation switch, and counterclockwise rotation of the rotatable portion causes the projection to press the contact arm of the counterclockwise-rotation switch into electrical contact with the contact plate of the counterclockwise-rotation switch.

3. The door lock indicator device according to claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to change the lock status display based on whether the clockwise-rotation switch or the counterclockwise-rotation switch was activated most recently.

4. The door lock indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the door lock indicator device is battery powered.

5. The door lock indicator device according to claim 1, further comprising a light configured to shine over the opening.

6. The door lock indicator device according to claim 1, further comprising a fastener configured to attach the door lock indicator device to the face of the door lock.

7. A door lock indicator device, comprising:

a frame including a rotatable portion defining an opening shaped to receive a key blade; and

a lock status display, wherein the door lock indicator device is configured to retrofit a door lock by attaching to a face of the door lock with the opening aligned with a keyhole of the door lock such that a key extending through the opening and into the keyhole of the door lock is capable of operating the door lock, the lock status display indicates a direction of a most recent rotation of the rotatable portion, a locked or unlocked status of the door lock, or both the direction of the most recent rotation of the rotatable portion and the locked or unlocked status of the door lock, and the lock status display includes a first indicator light and a second indicator light.

8. The door lock indicator device according to claim 7, wherein the first indicator light displays as an arrow pointing clockwise and the second indicator light displays as an arrow pointing counterclockwise.

9. The door lock indicator device according to claim 7, wherein the first indicator light and the second indicator light each include a light emitting diode.

10. The door lock indicator device according to claim 7, further comprising a locked marking adjacent to the first indicator light or the second indicator light.

11. The door lock indicator device according to claim 10, wherein the locked marking is movable between being adjacent to the first indicator light and being adjacent to the second indicator light.

12. The door lock indicator device according to claim 7, wherein the door lock indicator device is battery powered.

13. The door lock indicator device according to claim 7, further comprising a light configured to shine over the opening.

14. The door lock indicator device according to claim 7, further comprising a fastener configured to attach the door lock indicator device to the face of the door lock.

15. A door lock indicator device kit, comprising:

a door lock indicator device having a lock status display and a frame including a rotatable portion defining an opening shaped to receive a key blade, wherein the door lock indicator device is configured to retrofit a door lock by attaching to a face of the door lock with the opening aligned with a keyhole of the door lock such that a key extending through the opening and into the keyhole of the door lock is capable of operating the door lock, the lock status display indicates a direction of a most recent rotation of the rotatable portion, a locked or unlocked status of the door lock, or both the direction of the most recent rotation of the rotatable portion and the locked or unlocked status of the door lock, and the lock status display includes a first indicator light and a second indicator light; and

a fastener configured to attach the door lock indicator device to the face of the door lock.

16. The door lock indicator device kit according to claim 15, further comprising a locked marking affixable to the door lock indicator device either adjacent to the first indicator light or adjacent to the second indicator light.

17. The door lock indicator device kit according to claim 15, wherein the door lock indicator device is battery powered.

18. The door lock indicator device kit according to claim 15, wherein the door lock indicator device further comprises a light configured to shine over the opening.

19. The door lock indicator device kit according to claim 15, wherein the first indicator light displays as an arrow pointing clockwise and the second indicator light displays as an arrow pointing counterclockwise.

20. A method for using a door lock indicator device, comprising:

retrofitting a door lock by attaching a door lock indicator device to a face of the door lock;

after retrofitting the door lock, inserting a key blade through an opening of a rotatable portion of the door lock indicator device and into a keyway of the door lock;

after inserting the key blade, rotating the key blade to lock or unlock the door lock, wherein rotating the key blade rotates the rotatable portion of the door lock indicator device;

after rotating the key blade, observing a lock status display on the door lock indicator device to determine a direction of a most recent rotation of the rotatable portion, a locked or unlocked status of the door lock, or both the direction of the most recent rotation of the rotatable portion and the locked or unlocked status of the door lock, wherein the lock status display includes a first indicator light and a second indicator light, clockwise rotation of the rotatable portion causes the first indicator light to illuminate, and counterclockwise rotation of the rotatable portion causes the second indicator light to illuminate; and

attaching a locked marking to the door lock indicator device adjacent to the first indicator light if the direction of rotation of the key blade in the keyway associated with locking the door lock is clockwise or adjacent to the second indicator light if the direction of rotation of the key blade in the keyway associated with locking the door lock is counterclockwise.