OF A DOOR HANDLE

The present invention relates to a door lock and a method of adding a lock to a door, with particular application to domestic interior doors.

Background

In rented/short-term accommodation there are not often locks on internal doors (i.e.

bedroom, bathroom/WC). Fitting an existing door lock would require modifying/damaging the door/doorframe. An earlier patent application, PCT/GB2006/004911 revealed how one particular invention could be used by clamping lockable cover to the door handle assembly. This prevents unauthorised access to the handle when the cover lid is locked.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a door lock as in claim 1. According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit as in claim 11. According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a door as in claim 13.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of adding a door lock to a door as in claim 14.

Embodiments provide a portable, temporary door lock.

Embodiments provide a method of temporarily locking and alarming doors, without damaging/modifying the door or anything associated to it.

Embodiments provide a lockable case that covers the door handle (or door knob) outside the door; preventing the door handle's operation from outside and thus locking the door in an analogous fashion to PCT/GB2006/004911. Instead of using a clamping mechanism to clamp the cover to the handle assembly, the cover is secured to the door by removing the door handle assembly, placing the lockable cover over the handle spindle and then reattaching the handle assembly to the door. The case is then clamped to the door stopping movement in all degrees of freedom, but allows the handle to turn inside the case. From inside the room, the door handle therefore remains operational and does not hinder escape. The door handle is made inaccessible outside of the room by closing and locking the case lid. It becomes accessible by unlocking and opening the case lid, thus unlocking the door.

Embodiments of the invention comprise two main features...

1. The casing back-plate which has cut-outs to allow the door spindle and door handle fixing screws to pass through it

2. The case lid that covers the door handle

An important difference between embodiments of this invention and other devices is that the lockable case is simply clamped to the door by the door handle assembly, but still allows the handle to turn inside the case, enabling it to be opened from the opposite side of the door.

It may by way of example only, be sold as kit that retrofits to existing door assemblies or can be sold already attached to a door.

The invention can also be used inside the door, to prevent people getting out of a room, but allow people to get in.

Detailed description

To facilitate understanding of this invention a preferred embodiment will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows the back plate of the casing with the cut outs for the door fixing screws and handle spindle. Figure 2 shows the back plate of the casing with the cut outs for the door fixing screws and handle spindle with the handle spindle passing through the back of the casing and the handle assembly removed.

Figure 3 shows the casing held in place on the door by the door handle assembly with the case cover open.

Figures 4a and 4b shows examples of different door handle sizes able to fit inside the case. The examples shown are not exhaustive. Round door knobs are also catered for.

Figure 5 shows the case lid closed concealing the door handle. Description of operation

Assembly

To clamp the temporary door lock to the door: As shown in Figure 1, the back plate for the casing (1) has a number of cut outs. Cut outs (4) allow for the door latch spindle to pass through the back plate (1). Cut outs (5) allow for the door handle fixing screws (8) from a variety of different door handle sizes [For example Figures (4a) and (4b)] to pass through the casing, clamping the casing (1) to the door (7) in the process.

Figure 2 shows the back plate of the casing (1) with the handle spindle (9) passing through the cut out (4) of the casing (1) and the handle assembly (2) removed to allow the cover assembly to be attached to the door (7).

Figure 3 shows the casing (1) fixed in position onto the door (7) by the attachment of the door handle assembly (2) to the door with the fixing screws (8), with the case lid (Ia) open to allow access to the door handle assembly (2). Lock (6) is attached to the case lid (Ia) and lock catch (3) is attached to the back plate for the casing (1). Figures 4a and 4b show examples of different size door handle assemblies (2a) & (2b) that may be accommodated within the casework due to the use of slotted cut-outs (5) for the door handle assembly fixing screws (8).

Figure 5 shows the case lid (Ia) closed and locked to the case back plate (1) by lock (6) engaging on lock catch (3) concealing the door handle assembly (2) preventing access to it and thus effectively locking the door.

Operation

To gain access to the room the case lid (Ia) is opened by unlocking lock (6), the door handle of handle assembly (2) may be turned in the usual way.

To lock the room the case lid (Ia) is closed concealing the door handle assembly (2) and the lock (6) is activated locking case lid (Ia) closed thus preventing access to the handle assembly (2).

Removal

To remove the temporary door lock from the door, the lock (6) is unlocked and the case lid (Ia) is opened. The door handle assembly fixing screws (8) are removed allowing the door handle assembly (2) to be removed. The case back plate (1) to the case may then be removed. The door handle assembly (2) may then be re-attached to door (7) with fixing screws (8).

Domestic doors

The invention is designed for use with internal domestic door levers or door knobs, although could also have other applications.

Adjustable

The temporary door lock may be fitted to either left or right hung doors by way of example having the cut outs (4) and (5) either side by side as in figure 3 or one above the other and turning the temporary door lock case upside down as in figure 1. The case may also be screwed directly to the door through holes in the back plate (not shown) for a more permanent fixing if required.

Alarm

An alarm may also be fitted to the temporary door lock in the event that the case is forced open or if the temporary door lock is struck in an attempt to break the device.

The disclosures in United Kingdom patent application no. 0914827.1, from which this application claims priority, and in the abstract accompanying this applications are incorporated herein by reference.