CA2121970A1 - Portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt - Google Patents

Abstract

PORTABLE ADJUSTABLE AUXILIARY DEADBOLT

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt which can be adjusted to fit different dimensions of door latch striker plates without damage to a door or door frame and thereby secure the door against unauthorized entry. A
portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt comprising: (a) an auxiliary deadbolt housing; (b) a door latchway engager adapted to cooperate with the auxiliary deadbolt housing;
(c) an adjustable door engaging member adapted to cooperate with the auxiliary deadbolt housing and the door latch engager, the length between the door latch engager and the auxiliary deadbolt housing being adjustable; and (d) a securing mechanism for releasably engaging the auxiliary deadbolt housing with the door latch engager and to adjust the length between the auxiliary deadbolt housing and THE
door latch engager.

Description

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PORTABLE ADJUSTABLE ~UXILIARY DEADBOLT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION ~ :

This invention pertains to a novel portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt which is useful for securing an inwardly opening door of a room or building against unauthorized entry. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt which can be adjusted to fit different dimensions of door latch striker plates without damage to the door or door frame finish.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION . :

Statistics show that unlawful breaking and entering into a secured room or building has been increas-ing over the years. Furthermore, assaults on persons in the room or building in which unlawful entry is gained by the intruder are on the rise. Most door securing mechan-isms, such as locks, deadbolts, security chains, and the like, do not provide much of a deterrent to an intruder intent on gaining access to a secured room. Often, it is only necessary for the intruder to kick in the door because the locking system and the door frame are not very strong.

There is a strong need for a portable adjustable deadbolt which a person can use in addition to the custom-ary door locks, deadbolts, security chains, and the like, to provide increased security while the person i6 in the room or building. Such a portable deadbolt should be :
lightweight, strong, inexpensive and easy to manufacture, of sufficiently small dimensions to fit into a purse or luggage, and easy to use.
U.S. Patent No. 4,285,535, August 25, 1981, John E. Leary, discloses a portable auxiliary locking device for securing an inwardly opening door of a room or building against unauthorized entry. The locking device includes a , .

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threaded rod which terminates in an axially extending plate region having a hook-like flange formed at the distal end thereof. The threaded rod passes coaxially through a central opening within a tubular body member having an end face that is configured for abutment with the inner surface of the door. A locking barrel, rotatably interconnected with the second end of the body member, includes a quick-release latch that is spring-loaded into engagement with the threaded rod. In operation, the door is closed with the hook-like flange extending into the opening within the strike plate of the door frame and the threaded rod extend-ing inwardly into the room that is to be secured. The quick-release latch is then depressed and the body member slid into abutment with the surface of the door. The locking barrel is then rotated to clamp the door in the closed position.

Leary does not disclose any adjustment capabil-ity, such as an adjustable barrel, to deal with door frames that have different dimensions of door latch striker plates and maintain the auxiliary door lock perpendicular to the door. heary also does not show any mechanism such as a pronged latch engaging member for preventing the deadbolt from twisting free in door-frame situations where there is a gap of more than an eighth of an inch between the door and frame. Furthermore, the portable auxiliary door lock disclosed by Leary does not have any mechanism for protect-ing the finish on the door and the door frame. Lastly, the thin plate joined to the threaded rod of Leary is not particularly strong. The pressed metal joint between the plate and rod of Leary is prone to fracture, thereby resulting in high rejection and breakage rates and high liability insurance premiums.

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~: - 3 -SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a portable adjust-able auxiliary deadbolt comprising: (a) an auxiliary deadbolt housing; (b) a door latchway engaging means adapted to cooperate with the auxiliary deadbolt housing, said latchway engaging means having at an end thereof at least one projection extending away from the auxiliary deadbolt housing; (c) an adjustable door engaging member adapted to cooperate with the auxiliary deadbolt housing and the door latchway engaging means, the position between the door latchway engaging means and the auxiliary deadbolt housing being adjustable; and (d) a securing mechanism for releasably engaging the auxiliary deadbolt housing with the door latchway engaging means and to adjust the position between the auxiliary deadbolt housing and the door latch-way engaging means.

The door latchway engaging means can be releas-ably connected to the deadbolt housing by cooperating maleand female threads. It can have a blade with a latchway engaging tip thereon and be elongated. The blade tip can extend perpendicular to the elongated direction of the latchway engaging means, and be adapted to penetrate into a door latchway. The door latchway engaging means can extend through the deadbolt housing and can have a male thread formed along at least part of its exterior length.
It can have a pair of projections spaced from one another and extending away from the deadbolt housing.
The door latchway engaging means can be formed from stamped hardened steel and can have formed thereon a plastic male threaded injected molded covering which is adapted to engage with female threads formed in the secur-ing mechanism. The male threaded plastic covering can havethe shape of a rod which extends through the adjustable door engaging member and the auxiliary deadbo].t housing and . ~
~ 4 be adapted to engage with the female threads formed in the securing mechanism.

The auxiliary deadbolt housing can be constructed of a hollow main body, which can be rotatably connected to a second body which has constructed therein said securing mechanism which enables the second body to be releasably secured to an external position on the male threads of the rod shaped body of the door latchway engaging means.

At least part of the adjustable door engaging member can be adapted to fit within and be adjustable in position relative to the auxiliary deadbolt housing. The adjustable door engaging member can have formed therein at the end proximate to the blade tip of the latchway engaging means a recess which can be adapted to accommodate a striker plate of a door lock. At least a portion of the exterior of the hollow door engaging member can have male threads thereon and at least a corresponding portion of the interior of the hollow deadbolt housing can have matching female threads therein to permit positional adjustment between the door engaging member and the deadbolt housing.

The securing mechanism can be a trigger, spring and pivot combination with female threads thereon which engage with the male threads of the rod when the trigger is in a first position, and disengage from the male threads of the rod when the trigger is in a second position. The second body can have a washer and one or more locking clips which are adapted to engage with the deadbolt housing.

The deadbolt can be equipped with a door vibra-tion detector and piezoelectric alarm means. The vibration detector and piezoelectric alarm means can be housed in a hand knob which is attached to the door latchway engaging means at an end opposite to an end which engages a door latchway.

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The tip of the door latchway engaging means can extend at an acute angle of 90 or less relative to the overall body of the latchway engaging means. The adjust-able door engaging member can have fitted thereon a resil-ient bumper means.

In a specific embodiment, the invention is also directed to a portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt comprising: (a) an auxiliary hollow deadbolt housing; (b) an adjustable hollow door engaging member a part of which fits within and cooperates with the auxiliary hollow deadbolt housing, the position between the hollow door engaging member and the auxiliary hollow deadbolt housing being adjustable; (c) an elongated latchway engaging means extending through said hollow deadbolt housing and said hollow door engaging member and being formed from stamped hardened steel and having formed thereon a plastic male threaded injected molded covering which is adapted to engage with female threads formed in a securing mechanism, said latchway engaging means having a tip thereon which is adapted to engage a latchway of a door, and at least one projection extending from said latchway engaging means away from said hollow deadbolt housing and said adjustable hollow door engaging member; and (d) a securing mechanism with female threads thereon for releasably engaging the auxiliary deadbolt housing with male threads of the door latchway engaging means and to thereby enable adjustment of the position between the auxiliary deadbolt housing and the door latchway engaging means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention, but which should not be construed as restricting the spirit or scope of the invention in any way:

~ ~ ~ 1 2 1 9 Figure l illustrates an isometric view of the assembled portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt.

Figure 2 illustrates an exploded isometric view of the components used to construct the portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt.

Figure 3 illustrates a side elevation view of the portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt.

Figure 4 illustrates a top partial-section view of the portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt installed on a door and door jamb.
Figure 5 illustrates a side view of the rod and blade for the portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt.

Figure 6 illustrates a side-view of the rod and blade with injection molded male threaded plastic covering thereon.

Figure 7 illustrates an end view of the rod and blade with plastic covering.
Figure 8 illustrates a side view of a modified rod and blade without an injected molded male threaded covering thereon.

Figure 9 illustrates an end view of a rubber crescent fitted on the flange of the round body insert of the portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt.

Figure 10 illustrates an end view of the rubber crescent.

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Figure 11 illustrates a top view of the rubber crescent.

Figure 12 illustrates a top view of the flange 5 and body of the round body insert. .

Figure 13 illustrates a front view of the round body insert.

10Figure 14 illustrates a side view of the round body insert.

Figure 15 illustrates an end view of the main round body of the portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt.
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Figure 16 illustrates a side view of the main round body. ;

Figure 17 illustrates a side view of the flat ;~
body of the portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt.

Figure 18 illustrates a front view of the flat body.

25Figure 19 illustrates a top view of the flat body.

Figure 20, which appears on the same sheet as Figures 9 to 12, illustrates a front view of a knob fitted with a piezoelectric alarm motion ~etector mechanism.

Figure 21, which appears on the same sheet as Figures 9 to 12, illustrates a rear view of a knob fitted with a piezoelectric alarm motion detector mechanism.

-i ~i 2121970 Figure 22 illustrates an isometric view of the first step of installing the portable deadbolt on the striker plate and door frame before closing the door.

Figure 23 illustrates an isometric view of the second step of installing the portable deadbolt on the striker plate and door frame after closing the door.

Figure 24 illustrates an isometric view of the third step of installing the portable deadbolt on the striker plate and door frame after closing the door.

Figure 25 illustrates a side view of an alterna- -tive embodiment of rod and blade with a single prong.
Figure 26 .illustrates a side view of a second alternative embodiment of rod and blade with quadruple ~i prongs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1, which illustrates an isometric view of the portable adjustable auxiliary dead-bolt 2, the deadbolt is constructed of a blade 4 and rod 6, the latter of which penetrates through a round body insert 8, a main round body 12 and a flat body 14. The round body insert 8 has a partial flange 10 around a part of its circumference at the end facing the blade 4, and a notch 15 found in the portion of the round body insert that is cut away. The round body insert 8 is engaged by means of male threads (not shown) with female threads in the interior of main round body 12. Round body 12 has an edge 21 which faces the insert 8 and at the end opposite the insert 8, a recessed portion 26 and a flange 28. The flat body 14 has a flange 34 which retains a washer 35 against the flange 28. The flat body 14 has fitted therein a trigger 16, 2~21970 . .:
g which pivots on a pin 18. The rod 6 opposite the blade 4, which has male threads thereon, has a knob 20 screwed on the end thereof. The insert 8, round body 12, flat body 14, trigger 16 and knob 20 can be formed from injection molded plastic such as SupertoughTM fibreglass reinforced Nylon 6 available from DuPont. These components can also be formed from a conventional ~'glo-in-dark" plastic.

Referring to Figure 2, which illustrates an exploded isometric view of the portable adjustable auxili-ary deadbolt 2, it can be seen that the blade 4 at the end opposite the rod 6 has a right angle blade hook 44 formed thereon. If required, the acute angle of the blade tip 44 can be less than 90 with blade 4. The blade 4 has a pair of projections 3 extending on each side of the hook 44 away from the rod. These projections 3 stabilize the blade 4 and hook 44 when installed in place between the striker plate and door edges as will be explained later.

The flat body 14 is formed to have a flange 34 which is adapted to retain washer 35 against flange 28 of main round body 12. Male threads 22 are visible on round body insert 8. While not illustrated in Figure 2, the male threads 42 are formed throughout the length of the plastic covering on the rod 6. These male threads 42 engage with the female threads 40 on the underside of a trigger 16 which pivotally fits in an opening in the top of the flat body 14. The washer 35 can be formed of Delrin~M. The washer 35 prevents binding between the flat body 14, and main round body 12. Such binding is a serious problem if the washer 35 is not present. The trigger 16 pivots about pin 18, which has a head 36 formed in the end thereof. A
coil spring 38 maintains the trigger 16 in an upright position so that it can be depressed by a finger.

The flat body 14 has also formed at one end thereof a projecting cylinder 30, which has formed at the `70 .
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~ 10 -end thereof a pair of flared locking clips 32. These locking clips 32 can be depressed inwardly and are adapted to engage with the internal shoulder end of recess 26 of the main round body 12 (shown in dashed lines), when the cylinder 30 and flared locking clips 32 are inserted into the opening within the flange 28 of main round body 12.

Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt 2, partially cut away to show the connection of the trigger 16, and its female threads 40 with male threads 42 of rod 6. The blade 4 is preferably formed from high carbon heat treated steel (1050 USS) for strength. Rod 6, which has a plastic covering with male threads along its length, penetrates through the interior of round body insert 8, main round body 12 and flat body 14. As seen in Figure 3, when trigger 16 is depressed, that is, moved upwardly as illustrated in Figure 3, trigger 16 rotates about pin 18, and thereby lifts female threads 40 off male threads 42 of rod 6. When the trigger 16 is not depressed, it is forced to an upright position (lower position as seen in Figure 3) by coil spring 38. Trigger 16 therefore provides an easy-to-use quick action means of setting the position of the flat body 14, round main body 12 and round body insert 8 at a wide variety of positions along rod 6. Meanwhile, the position of round body insert 8 can be adjusted relative to main round body 12 by rotat-ing round body insert 8 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in order to screw it inwardly or outwardly relative to main round body 12. Round body insert 8, by having an adjustable position relative to round body 12, and notch 15, together with forward edge 21, are adapted to fit a wide variety of dimensions of striker plate found in common door and door frame systems.

Figure 4 illustrates a top partial-section view of the portable adjustable deadbolt 2 installed on the door and door jamb 52 of a construction commonly found in build-~i~2197~

ings. As can be seen, the door 48 and the door knob housing 46 and door knob 47 are in a closed or latched position relative to door jamb 52, which has a latchway 50 formed therein. A conventional door molding 54 is fitted to the front of the door jamb 52. Figure 4 also illus-trates a striker plate 56 which is typically attached by screws (not shown) to the interior side (room side) of the door jamb 52. The striker plate 56 absorbs the impact of the door latch (not shown) which is spring-actioned to extend into latchway 50 when the door 48 is fully closed.
The striker plate 56 protrudes past the molding 54 a certain distance to protect the molding. The distance of protrusion of striker plate 56 can vary with different door systems and different installations. This causes problems in devising a portable deadbolt which can deal with differ-ent installations.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the blade tip 44 has been engaged to fit on and grip the forward edge of latch-way 50. Meanwhile, the flange 10 of round body insert 8has been screwed into an appropriate protruding position relative to main round body 12 so that flange 10 fits securely against the front side of door 48. The forward edge 21 of round body 12 has been fitted against the protruding edge of striker plate 56. The combination of the flange 10 against the door 48, edge 21 against striker plate 56 and the notch 15 enables the portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt 2 to maintain a perpendicular position relative to the door 48 and the door jamb 52. The prongs 3 stabilize the deadbolt 2 and prevent the deadbolt from twisting loose in situations where there is a large gap between the door 48 and door jamb 52. Perpendicularity is very important because it provides maximum resistive force to anyone attempting to break in or force the door.
In an optimum installation, forces executed against the exterior of the door (the left side as seen in Figure 4) are translated down the rod 6. If the portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt 2 is positioned at a non-perpendicular angle, which might be caused by the door 48 either protruding or being depressed relative to the door jamb 52, molding 54, and striker plates 56, then maximum resistive forces are not provided. Then, when a strong breaking force is exerted against the exterior of the door 48, the deadbolt disposed at an angle will tend to move and can cause the blade tip 44 to disengage from latchway 50, which thus defeats the function of the deadbolt 2 as a security device. The pair of projections 3 assist in preventing the deadbolt 2 from working free when there is a large gap between the door 48 and the door jamb 52. This can occur when the round body 12 is screwed to a snug position.

The construction of the applicant's portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt 2 by means of the combination of the two projections 3, the adjustable round body insert 8, the notch 15 and the edge 21 ensures that the deadbolt 2 can always be disposed at a perpendicular position relative to the door 48, door jamb 52, molding 54 and striker plate 56 regardless of the relative orientation of the door 48, the door jamb 52, the molding 54 and striker plate 56.

Figure 4 also illustrates how notch 15 permits the round body insert 8 and flange 10 to avoid contacting the striker plate 56, the molding 54 and the door jamb 52.
Also, notch 15, by being recessed an appropriate distance from flange 10, ensures that notch 15 can accommodate varying protrusions of striker plate 56. In the construc-tion illustrated in Figure 4, the striker plate 56 pro-trudes a small distance from molding 54. However, in some door constructions, the striker plate 56 may not protrude at all or protrude a significant distance from the molding 54. Recessed notch 15 accommodates different protrusions --~` 2~2~7~
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of striker plate 56. Also, edge 21 can be moved towards or away from flange 10 as required to ensure that flange 10 abuts the door 48 and the edge 21 abuts the striker plate 56, regardless of the relative orientation of the door 48 ~ ~
5 and striker plate 56. ~ ~.
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Figure 4 also illustrates how flat body 14, by means of trigger 16 (not shown), can be readily positioned at any convenient distance along the male threads 42 of the rod 6 and thereby enable the insert 8, round body 12 and flat body 14 combination to be positioned conveniently at any suitable position on threads 42. Knob 20, which is screwed on the end of threads 42 removed from the flat body 14, main round body 12 and round body insert 8 combi-nation, provides ready manual grippability of the rod 6 Figure 5 illustrates a side view of the preferreddesign of blade 4, rod 6, blade tip 44, and projectors 3 formed from heat treated hardened high carbon steel. This design has a reinforcing spline 9 for~ed along the major portion of the length of rod 6. The blade tip 44 pro-trudes at a right angle relative to blade 4. If desired, a pair of buttresses 11 (not shown in Figure 5 but see the alternative design in Figure 8) can be stamped in the portion of the blade where blade 4 connects at right angles with blade tip 44. Such buttresses 11 can provide extra stren~th between blade tip 44 and blade 4.

The advantage of the single piece construction shown in Figure 5 is that the blade 4, projectors 3, and rod 6 can be formed from a single piece of high carbon steel by a suitable metal stamping die. Likewise, rein-forcing buttresses 11 (optional) and blade tip 44 can also be stamped, either in the same operation, or in a subse-quent operation. Once the blade 4 and rod 6, with spline9 and blade tip 44 are stamped, then the entire unit is hardened and toughened by well-known steel heat treating ~ 9 ~'ii` ~

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techniques. As seen in Figure 5, a series of notches 17 are formed in the edge of rod 6. These are formed in order to enhance the grip on the rod 6 when an injected molded male threaded plastic Nylon 6 covering 13 (see Figure 6) is formed over rod 6, spline 9 and notches 17.

Figure 6 illustrates a side view of the rod 6 and spline 9 after the male threaded plastic covering 13 has been injection molded over them by well known plastic injection molding techniques such as known plastic handles molded onto screwdrivers, chisels and other tools. Figure 7 illustrates an end view of the blade hook 44, projections 3, spline 9 and plastic 13. Preferably, the covering plastic 13 should be a hard strong plastic such as fibre-glass filament reinforced SupertoughTM Nylon 6, availablefrom DuPont, or some other suitable strong impact-resistant polymer, well known in the plastics industry. The advan-tage of the construction of rod and blade illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 is that it is not necessary to form the blade 4 and rod 6 separately (as is the case with Leary, U.S. Patent No. 4,285,535) and then weld, braze, or pres-sure fuse the two together subsequently. Moreover, since the steel portion of the rod 6 and blade 4 is formed from a unitary piece of metal, the possibility that there may be a stress fracture or break between the blade and the rod is eliminated or minimized. Rejection rates of pressure fused rods 6 (according to the Leary procedure) have been as high as 20~, and welded rods 3~, which create liability insur-ance problems. Production costs are also considerably higher. Furthermore, since the male threaded plastic Nylon covering 13 is formed of an appropriate hard impact-resis-tant plastic, rather than metal, the threads thereon are formed during the injection molding step and engage readily with the female threads 40 of molded plastic trigger 16.
Figure 6 also illustrates how the series of notches 17 enhance the interaction between the rod 6 and the threaded plastic covering 13, thereby ensuring that plastic covering ~`' , .. ~ ~

13 will not pull off rod 6 when a strong force is exerted by an intruder on the door. The rod construction illus-trated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 can be manufactured about twenty times faster than the two piece fused metal or welded construction according to the prior art and at about a quarter of the cost.

Figure 8 illustrates a side view of an alterna-tive less-preferred embodiment of the rod 7 and blade 5 according to the invention. This construction, being one-piece steel, is preferred over the prior art, and can have an injection molded male threaded plastic covering thereon (not shown). The design illustrates reinforcing buttresses 11 at the junction of the blade 5 and hook 45. However, the design does not show a pair of projections 3, and thus is suitable for use only in situations where the gap between the door and door jamb is not greater than one-eighth of an inch.

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 illustrate the manner in which a rubber crescent 58 can be fitted on the flange 10 of round body insert 8, in order to ensure that flange 10 does not damage the paint finish on the door when the deadbolt 2 is installed on a door and door jamb combina-tion. Rubber crescent 58 has formed thereon a trio of arrow-shaped prongs 60 (see Figure 11), which are adapted to fit into and be retained in a trio of prong holes 62 drilled in flange 10 (see Figure 12). Rubber crescent 58 acts as a bumper between the door and the flange 10, and thereby avoids damage to the finish of the door which can occur if the flange were not protected. Moreover, if the portable adjustable deadbolt 2 is cinched too tightly against the door, and if rubber crescent 58 were not present, the flange 10 might leave a permanent indentation in the surface of the door.
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Figures 13 and 14 illustrate respective front and side views of the round body insert 8. As can be seen in Figure 13, the flange 10 extends about 210 degrees around the circumference of insert 8. This angle may be varied.
The flange 10 is designed to abut a door 48 as explained previously. As seen in Figure 14, coarse male threads 22 are formed on ~he exterior of round body insert 8. The notch 15, which is normally perpendicular, but can be rounded if desired, is formed by cutting away a portion of the body of flange 10 and round body insert 8. The purpose of the notch 15 has been explained previously in associ-ation with Figure 4. ~:~
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Figures 15 and 16 illustrate respectively front15 and side views of the main round body 12. Main round body 12 is of a generally hollow cylindrical construction and has formed along a major portion of the interior thereof coarse female threads 70 (shown in dotted lines) which are adapted to engage and mate with male threads 22 of round body insert 8. A portion of the main round body 12 has around its circumference a recess 26, and a flange 28. The interior side of the recess 26 forms a shoulder 72, which is designed to be gripped by flared locking clips 32 of the flat body 14 (see Figure 2). Edge 21 is designed to abut the striker plate 56, or molding 54, as explained previous~
ly.

Figures 17, 18 and 19 illustrate respectively side, end and top views of the flat body 14. The flat body 14 has a flange 34 formed in a portion thereof, this flange 34 being adapted to fit against washer 35 and flange 28 of main round body 12, as discussed previously. A cylinder 30 of reduced diameter, and flared locking clips 32 are formed in one end of flat body 14. This combination is designed 35 to fit into the interior of main round body 12, the clips 32 engaging and gripping interior shoulder 72 of main round body 12. The end view of flat body 14, as illustrated in ., - 17 - .

Figure 18, illustrates a trigger cavity 64, in which trigger 16 is adapted to fit, as well as a cylindrical rod hole 66, which is adapted to slidingly fit over rod 6.
Figure 19 illustrates in top view the construction of flared locking clips 32, and the coil spring hole 68, which is formed in flat body 14. The hole for pin 18 is also illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 19.

Figures 20 and 21 respectively illustrate a front and rear view of an alternative design of knob 74, which has been equipped with an on-off switch 76, a battery entry door 78, a number of piezoelectric alarm vent openings 80, LED lights 82 and a vibration detector sensing opening 84.
The knob 74 can be equipped with an automatic time delay unit (not shown) which permits the user time to move out of range of the vibration detector after arming the knob 74 by turning on the on-off switch 76. The LED lights 82 permit the user to see at a distance that the knob 74 is on, that is, armed. The vibration detector sets off the alarm inside vent openings 80 when someone disturbs the door from the exterior. The automatic time delay unit, the piezo-electric alarm, the battery (lithium) and the LED lights are all well known and commercially avai able on the marketplace. For instance, a bicycle inertia alarm with these features is available on the market from Jenark ApS, Savsvinget 4, Denmark 2970 Horsholm, under the trade-mark Jenark, Model No. 007.
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Figures 22, 23 and 24 illustrate sequential isometric views of the procedure that is used to install the deadbolt in a door. As seen in Figure 22, the door has been opened to expose the striker plate 56 and latchway 50.
The blade 4 is placed so that the blade hook 44 penetrates into the latchway 50. The projections 3 and blade 4 abut the striker plate. The trigger 16 is then depressed and the flange 10 and round body 12 are pulled back on the rod 6. This latter operation can be done before the blade 4 is ` 2121970 placed in position. Once the blade 4 is in position, the door is closed.

As seen in Figure 23, the trigger 16 is then depressed and the flange 10 and body 12 are pushed against the door 48. The flange 10 is then adjusted so that it and notch 15 snugly fit against the door 48 and door jamb 52.
Finally, as seen in Figure 24, the body 12 is rotated clockwise to snugly tighten the deadbolt in position.
The deadbolt is removed by rotating the body 12 counterclockwise until the trigger 16 can be depressed and the body 12 can be slid back on the rod 6.

Figure 25 illustrates a side view of an alterna-tive embodiment of rod and blade with a single prong.
Figure 26 illustrates a side view of a second alternative embodiment of rod and blade with quadruple prongs. The single prong 3 embodiment illustrated in Figure 25 can be used in situations where a double bearing grip is not required. The quadruple prong 3 embodiment illustrated in ;~
Figure 26 is used in applications where both longitudinal and lateral bearing grips are advisable. -As will be apparent to those skilled in thP art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

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Claims (19)

1. A portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt compris-ing:
(a) an auxiliary deadbolt housing;
(b) a door latchway engaging means adapted to cooperate with the auxiliary deadbolt housing, said latch-way engaging means having at an end thereof at least one projection extending away from the auxiliary deadbolt housing;
(c) an adjustable door engaging member adapted to cooperate with the auxiliary deadbolt housing and the door latchway engaging means, the position between the door latchway engaging means and the auxiliary deadbolt housing being adjustable; and (d) a securing mechanism for releasably engaging the auxiliary deadbolt housing with the door latchway engaging means and to adjust the position between the auxiliary deadbolt housing and the door latchway engaging means.

2. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 1 wherein the door latchway engaging means is releasably connected to the deadbolt housing by cooperating male and female threads.

3. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 2 wherein the door latchway engaging means has a blade with a latchway engag-ing tip thereon.

4. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 3 wherein the door latchway engaging means is elongated and the blade tip extends perpendicular to the elongated direction of the latchway engaging means, the blade tip being adapted to penetrate into a door latchway.

5. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 4 wherein the door latchway engaging means extends through the deadbolt housing and has a male thread formed along at least part of its exterior length.

6. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 5 wherein the latchway engaging means has a pair of projections spaced from one another and extending away from the deadbolt housing.

7. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 6 wherein the door latchway engaging means is formed from stamped hardened steel and has formed thereon a plastic male threaded injected molded covering which is adapted to engage with female threads formed in the securing mechanism.

8. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 7 wherein at least part of the adjustable door engaging member is adapted to fit within and be adjustable in position relative to the auxiliary deadbolt housing.

9. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 8 wherein the door latchway engaging means and the male threaded plastic covering have the shape of a rod which extends through the adjustable door engaging member and the auxiliary deadbolt housing and is adapted to engage with the female threads formed in the securing mechanism.

10. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 9 wherein the deadbolt housing is constructed of a hollow main body, which is rotatably connected to a second body which has constructed therein said securing mechanism which enables the second body to be releasably secured to an external position on the male threads of the rod shaped body of the door latchway engaging means.

11. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 10 wherein the adjustable door engaging member has formed therein at the end proximate to the blade tip of the latchway engaging means a recess which is adapted to accommodate a striker plate of a door lock.

12. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the exterior of the hollow door engaging member has male threads thereon and at least a correspon-ding portion of the interior of the hollow deadbolt housing has matching female threads therein to permit positional adjustment between the door engaging member and the dadbolt housing.

13. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 11 wherein the securing mechanism is a trigger, spring and pivot combina-tion with female threads thereon which engage with the male threads of the rod when the trigger is in a first position, and disengage from the male threads of the rod when the trigger is in a second position.

14. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 13 wherein the second body has a washer and one or more locking clips which are adapted to engage with the deadbolt housing.

15. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deadbolt is equipped with a door vibration detector and piezoelectric alarm means.

16. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 15 wherein the vibration detector and piezoelectric alarm means are housed in a hand knob which is attached to the door latchway engaging means at an end opposite to an end which engages a door latchway.

17. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 3 wherein the tip of the door latchway engaging means extends at an acute angle of 90° or less relative to the overall body of the latchway engaging means.

18. A deadbolt as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adjustable door engaging member has fitted thereon a resil-ient bumper means.

19. A portable adjustable auxiliary deadbolt compris-ing:
(a) an auxiliary hollow deadbolt housing;
(b) an adjustable hollow door engaging member a part of which fits within and cooperates with the auxiliary hollow deadbolt housing, the position between the hollow door engaging member and the auxiliary hollow deadbolt housing being adjustable;
(c) an elongated latchway engaging means extend-ing through said hollow deadbolt housing and said hollow door engaging member and being formed from stamped hardened steel and having formed thereon a plastic male threaded injected molded covering which is adapted to engage with female threads formed in a securing mechanism, said latchway engaging means having a tip thereon which is adapted to engage a latchway of a door, and at least one projection extending from said latchway engaging means away from said hollow deadbolt housing and said adjustable hollow door engaging member; and (d) a securing mechanism with female threads thereon for releasably engaging the auxiliary deadbolt housing with male threads of the door latchway engaging means and to thereby enable adjustment of the position between the auxiliary deadbolt housing and the door latch-way engaging means.