Childproof deadbolt

• US 8,353,188 B1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larry Byerly, Thomas Hochbrueckner
• Original Assignee: Larry Byerly, Thomas Hochbrueckner
• Inventors: Byerly, Larry, Hochbrueckner, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): BOSWELL, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US12/482,051
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 702/10, 702/15, 704/16, 704/67, 704/68, 704/71, 292/177, 292/179, 292/180, 292/182, 292/DIG.26, 292/DIG.37
• US Class Current: 70/467
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/005 Disconnecting the handle E05B13/101, E05B47/0676, E05B55/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5394 Directly acting dog for exterior, manual, bolt manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/577 Locked stationary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7915 Tampering prevention or attack defeating

Abstract

The childproof deadbolt includes a standard deadbolt with a thumb turn wherein a childproofing mechanism is integrated into the design of the thumb turn. The childproofing mechanism consists of at least one spring-loaded push button that when depressed engages an internal gear in rotational connection with the deadbolt. Absent depression of said push button the thumb turn is free to rotate independent of the internal gear and the deadbolt.

Claims

1. A childproof deadbolt comprising:

a deadbolt assembly and an internal gear being in rotational contact with said deadbolt assembly;

a thumb turn is located upon a first side of said deadbolt assembly;

wherein a childproofing means is integrated into the design of the thumb turn and engages said internal gear;

wherein the childproofing means are integrated internally within the thumb turn;

a key cylinder that is located upon a second side of said deadbolt assembly, and engages said internal gear.

2. The childproof deadbolt as described in claim 1 wherein the childproofing means consists of a spring-loaded push button on a first distal end of the thumb turn that in a normal state will not engage the internal gear;

and

upon depression of the push button, a bottom contour will engage teeth of the internal gear and thus operate the deadbolt assembly.

3. The childproof deadbolt as described in claim 1 wherein the childproofing means consists of a spring-loaded push button on a first distal end of the thumb turn and a second spring-loaded push button on a second distal end of the thumb turn;

in a normal state, both of the spring-loaded push buttons will not engage the internal gear; and

upon depression of either of the push buttons, a bottom contour of either push buttons will engage teeth of the internal gear and thus operate the deadbolt assembly.

4. The childproof deadbolt as described in claim 1 wherein the thumb turn and internal gear are comprised of a single part.

5. A childproof deadbolt comprising:

(a) a deadbolt assembly;

(b) an internal gear;

wherein the internal gear is in rotational contact with the deadbolt assembly;

(c) a thumb turn;

wherein the thumb turn is located upon a first side of the deadbolt assembly;

wherein a childproofing means is integrated into the design of the thumb turn;

wherein the childproofing means are integrated internally within the thumb turn;

wherein the childproofing means engages the internal gear.

6. The childproof deadbolt as described in claim 5 wherein the childproofing means consists of a spring-loaded push button on a first distal end of the thumb turn that in a normal state will not engage the internal gear;

and

upon depression of the push button, a bottom contour will engage teeth of the internal gear and thus operate the deadbolt assembly.

7. The childproof deadbolt as described in claim 5 wherein the childproofing means consists of a spring-loaded push button on a first distal end of the thumb turn and a second spring-loaded push button on a second distal end of the thumb turn;

in a normal state, both of the spring-loaded push buttons will not engage the internal gear; and

upon depression of either of the push buttons, a bottom contour of either push buttons will engage teeth of the internal gear and thus operate the deadbolt assembly.

8. The childproof deadbolt as described in claim 5 wherein the thumb turn and internal gear are comprised of a single part.

9. A childproof deadbolt comprising:

(a) a deadbolt assembly;

(b) an internal gear;

wherein the internal gear is in rotational contact with the deadbolt assembly;

(c) a thumb turn;

wherein the thumb turn is located upon a first side of the deadbolt assembly;

wherein a childproofing means is integrated into the design of the thumb turn;

wherein the childproofing means are integrated internally within the thumb turn;

wherein the childproofing means engages the internal gear;

(d) a second thumb turn;

wherein the second thumb turn is located upon a second side of the deadbolt assembly;

wherein childproofing means is integrated into the second thumb turn; and

wherein the childproofing means engages the internal gear.

10. The childproof deadbolt as described in claim 9 wherein the childproofing means consists of a spring-loaded push button on a first distal end of the thumb turn that in a normal state will not engage the internal gear;

and

upon depression of the push button, a bottom contour will engage teeth of the internal gear and thus operate the deadbolt assembly.

11. The childproof deadbolt as described in claim 10 wherein the childproofing means consists of a spring-loaded push button on a first distal end of the thumb turn and a second spring-loaded push button on a second distal end of the thumb turn;

in a normal state, both of the spring-loaded push buttons will not engage the internal gear; and

upon depression of either of the push buttons, a bottom contour of either push buttons will engage teeth of the internal gear and thus operate the deadbolt assembly.

12. The childproof deadbolt as described in claim 10 wherein the thumb turn and internal gear are comprised of a single part.

13. The childproof deadbolt as described in claim 10 wherein the second thumb turn and internal gear are comprised of a single part.