GB2484364A - A door handle immobilising cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A door security device comprises a hollow lockable enclosure 1 capable of housing a rotatable handle 4 and having a face with an aperture receiving the handle; a locking means 7 mounted on or in the enclosure is moved to obstruct the aperture in a closed position to prevent egress of the handle. Preferably the handle is T-shaped and the handle cover 1 has a slot to receive the handle in a first orientation; the slot closed by the locking means 7 rotated by cylinder key to block removal of the handle

Description

Door. Security Device This invention relates to a door security device system to effectively add a secondary level of security to any door handle latch and/or lock assembly which comprises an elongate handle extending radially of a rotatable actuating shaft for the latch or lock tongue of the assembly. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to a garage door security device system to effectively add a secondary level of security to a garage door handle lock assembly, in particular a T handle lock assembly of the type which is fitted to many garage doors.

The majority of homes have garages. Most of these garages incorporate up and over' type doors which are fitted with I shaped handles incorporating a lock. It is often the case that as well as housing cars, garages are used for storing valuable products such as tools, garden equipment, bikes, freezers, etc. There is a known problem that the T shaped handles incorporating the lock as standard to these doors do not offer the level of security required to withstand an attempted break in. The lock mechanisms used are often of poor quality and offer virtually no resistance to being picked by professional criminals. T handle locks also offer a good opportunity to attach a long lever which can then be used to exert a breaking force on the handle and lock. This then allows the garage door to be opened.

Theft from garages is therefore quite common and the financial loss to the owner can be substantial.

Secondary garage door mechanical security devices do already exist; however most of them require various levels of do it yourself' ability to install them. In some cases the level of skill is beyond the capabilities of untrained people, which then requires the added involvement of a professional tradesman to complete the task at added cost. Additionally, many such devices are uneconomically expensive to produce.

The need for secondary security devices also extends beyond T handle garage door lock assemblies to any door latch and/or lock assembly which has an elongate handle extending radially of a rotatable actuating shaft for the latch or lock tongue of the assembly. Examples include front door latches of this type.

An object of this invention is to provide an effective device to add extra security to such handles, and in particular the T shaped locking handle fitted to garage doors to stop burglars gaining unauthorised entry.

Another object is to provide an effective device that is easy to install and does not require any DIY skills.

A further object is to provide such an effective device that is economic to produce.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a door security device for immobilising a door handle latch and/or lock assembly which comprises a handle with at least one handle arm mounted on and extending radially of a rotatable actuating shaft for the latch or lock tongue of the assembly, which device comprises a hollow lockable enclosure capable of housing the handle and having a face with an aperture capable of receiving the handle, and a locking means mounted on or in the enclosure and capable of being moved to obstruct the aperture in a closed position sufficiently to prevent egress of the handle.

Preferably, the device is so configured that in the closed position of the locking means the device cannot engage with the handle, so that the device cannot be used to exert leverage on the handle; that is, the device is freely rotatable about the actuating shaft of the latch or lock assembly. More preferably, the enclosure is of circular cross-section transverse to the axis of the actuating shaft of the latch and/or lock assembly. Preferably, the face of the enclosure is fixedly mounted on or integral with the rest of the enclosure. Preferably, in use of the device, the face of the enclosure faces the face of the door nearest to the handle.

Preferably, the locking means is attached to a lock mechanism which has a key, such that in a rest position of the locking mechanism the aperture is unobstructed by the locking means, and when the key is used to operate the lock mechanism it moves the locking means to obstruct the aperture sufficiently to prevent egress of the handle.

The device can then only be removed by unlocking it with the key. Preferably, the locking mechanism is so configured that it cannot readily be picked or opened with an implement other than the key.

Preferably, the locking means is rotatable with respect to the enclosure to obstruct the aperture. The locking means may be mounted within the enclosure, or on an external face of the enclosure which faces the door in use. Preferably the locking means is mounted within the enclosure.

The device may be adapted for use with handles with one, two or more arms, such as an L handle or T handle, often a I handle. Preferably, the aperture in the device is configured to conform closely to the arm or arms of the handle, and so may have on or more aperture arms. Thus for an elongate L handle or T handle the aperture may consist of a single slot conforming to the handle. An advantage of such a conforming aperture is that the device may be readily located onto the handle before closing the aperture, which for example facilitates its use in the dark.

The enclosure conveniently comprises a back plate with the aperture for the handle, which is received by the rim of, and permanently attached to, a dished main body.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking means is rotatable, more preferably about the axis of the actuating shaft of the latch or lock assembly, and is in the form of a bracket with one or more lugs, each of which obstructs an aperture arm at least in part when the locking means is in its closed position. In one embodiment, the device is configured for use with an L handle or a I handle, so that the locking bracket may rotate through an angle of 90 degrees between its open and closed position. It will be seen that in all cases, an opening still remains in the closed position which is large enough to accommodate the shaft of the handle.

All the components of the device may be constructed of robust materials, such as metal. For example, the back plate may conveniently be of a mild steel, permanently fixed to a die-cast aluminium main body.

Alternatively, the components of the device may be constructed from a material which is more resistant to attack by sawing or drilling, for example chrome steel or stainless steel.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood it will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig I -Shows a perspective view of the lockable enclosure positioned next to the T locking handle attached to the garage door Fig 2-Shows a rear view of the lockable enclosure attached and locked to the garage door T handle Fig 3-Shows a rear view of the lockable enclosure with the rear plate removed.

The locking bracket is in the unlocked position Fig 4-Shows a rear view of the lockable enclosure with the rear plate removed The locking bracket is in the locked position Fig 5-Shows a rear view of the lockable enclosure with the rear plate in position The locking bracket is in the unlocked position Fig 6-Shows a rear view of the lockable enclosure with the rear plate in position The locking bracket is in the locked position.

Fig 7-Shows a cross sectional drawing of the security device in the receptive and unlocked position situated adjacent to the garage door T Handle and garage door Fig 8-Shows a cross sectional drawing of the invention in the unlocked position with the garage door T Handle inside the security device.

Fig 9-Shows a cross sectional drawing of the security device in the locked position with the garage T Handle inside the security device.

The device that I have invented is a secure strong enclosure that can be fitted and locked to the T shaped locking handle on a garage door. The device effectively stops access being gained to the I handle lock so that any criminal activity can be prevented. The lock assembly that is fitted to the device is of a much higher quality and standard than those fitted as standard to most of the T handles. It therefore offers a lot more resistance to attack and is much more difficult to defeat.

The device comprises of three main components, a main body 1, a locking bracket 7 and a back plate 6. All these components are constructed from a material to resist attack by sawing or drilling. A lock mechanism 2 is also incorporated into the device.

As can be seen from the diagrams the device comprises of a main body I which contains a locking bracket 7 that can rotate through an angle of 90 degrees inside it. A back plate 6 is attached to the rear of the main body which encloses the locking bracket. The back plate 6 incorporates an elongated slot 8 or opening which is of a size that is just larger than a garage door T handle 4 which is attached to a garage door.

The main body 1 incorporates a lock mechanism 2 that is securely incorporated within its structure. This lock mechanism 2 is attached using fastener 11 to the locking bracket 7. When the key 3 is used to operate the lock mechanism it exerts a rotational action on the locking bracket 7. The mechanism is designed so that the locking bracket 7 rotates through an angle of 90 degrees. The locking bracket 7 is designed so that when the lock mechanism 2 is in the open position the slot in the back plate 6 is unobstructed. When the lock mechanism 2 is actuated the locking bracket 7 is rotated to a position where it then obstructs the outer positions of the slot 8.

A small opening still remains in the centre of the slot 8 which is large enough to accommodate the shaft of the T handle 4. This is the locked position and the device can be left in this situation.

The device is used in the following way.

There is a T handle lock 4 that is attached to a garage door 5.

The device is made ready for use by ensuring that the rear slot 8 is fully open as in Fig 5. This is achieved by using the key 3 and lock mechanism 2. The device is then placed over the I handle 4 using the back plate slot 810 achieve this.

The T handle 4 is now inside the device. The key 3 is used to actuate the locking mechanism 2. As seen in Fig 6 this rotates the locking bracket 7 through 90 degrees. The outer portions of the locking bracket 7 move to positions which then cover the two open areas of the slot either side of the centrally located I handle 4.

As can be seen in Fig 2 this leaves just a small open area in the centre of the slot 8 through which the T handle shaft is located.

The size of the opening 8 is now smaller than the size of the T handle 4 within the security device. This now stops the removal of the T handle 4 from within the security device.

This means that the vulnerable T handle 4 is not now accessible and this therefore means that it is not possible or prohibitively difficult for a criminal to attack it.

Because the shaft of the T handle 4 is positioned centrally in the device it means that the device can be freely rotated around the I handle 4 without the I handle 4 being similarly rotated. This means that no force can be applied to the T handle 4 so that the T handle 4 can not be levered with force and therefore broken.

To remove the device the key 3 needs to be used to actuate the locking mechanism 2. This rotates the locking bracket 7 and removes the obstructions from the slot 8 in the back plate 6. This then allows the device to be removed from the T handle 4 and the T handle 4 can then be used as it would normally be used by the legitimate owner.

Claims (13)

1. Claims 1. A door security device for immobilising a door handle latch and/or lock assembly which comprises a handle with at least one handle arm mounted on and extending radially of a rotatable actuating shaft for the latch or lock tongue of the assembly, which device comprises a hollow lockable enclosure capable of housing the handle and having a face with an aperture capable of receiving the handle, and a locking means mounted on or in the enclosure and capable of being moved to obstruct the aperture in a closed position sufficiently to prevent egress of the handle.
2. 2. A device according to claim 1, so configured that in the closed position of the locking means the enclosure cannot engage with the handle.
3. 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is of circular cross-section transverse to the axis of the actuating shaft of the latch and/or lock assembly.
4. 4. A device according to claim I, wherein the locking means is attached to a lock mechanism which has a key, such that in a rest position of the locking mechanism the aperture is unobstructed by the locking means, and when the key is used to operate the lock mechanism it moves the locking means to obstruct the aperture sufficiently to prevent egress of the handle.
5. 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the locking means is rotatable with respect to the enclosure to obstruct the aperture.
6. 6. A device according to claim I, wherein the locking means is mounted within the enclosure.
7. 7. A device according to claim 1, which is adapted for use with a T handle with elongate arms.
8. 8. A device according to claim I, wherein the aperture in the device is configured to conform closely to the arms of the handle, and is in the form of a slot conforming to the handle.
9. 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a back plate with the aperture for the handle, which is received by the rim of, and permanently attached to, a dished main body.
10. 10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the locking means is rotatable and is in the form of a bracket with one or more lugs, each of which obstructs an aperture arm at least in part when the locking means is in its closed position.
11. 11.A device according to claim 10, wherein the locking bracket is adapted to rotate through an angle of 90 degrees between its open and closed positions.
12. 12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the closed device is rotatable about the actuating shaft of the latch and/or lock assembly.
13. 13.A device according to claim 1, wherein all the components of the device enclosure are constructed from a material which is resistant to attack by sawing or drilling.