The invention to which this application relates is a rotatable or pivotable door handle locking device.

Although the following description refers almost exclusively to use of a pivotable or rotatable door handle locking device for use in locking interior and/or exterior doors of a building or premises, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention can be used to lock other items or obj ects, such as furniture doors and/or the like.

The weakest point of security in a house is often considered to be the external door, as if an unauthorised person can open the door they can easily access and remove items from the house. Doors on the rear of the house, such as patio doors and French doors, are of particular concern as they are less visible to the casual ob server, and thus a burglar can work on opening the door with less risk of being challenged.

To improve security, modern doors are often fitted with five point mortise locks in which a number of levers and/or bolts are moved from a retracted position in the door, to an extended position in which they extend into corresponding points in the door frame.

The movement of the levers and/or bolts between extended and retracted positions is typically actuated by turning the handle of the door. A keyed cylinder is typically provided to prevent such movement unless the cylinder is unlocked.

Therefore if the cylinder is broken by an unauthorised person, it is relatively straightforward to open the door by simply turning the handle to retract the levers and/or bolts. Locking devices for use on door or window handles are known. US2006/0272365 discloses a multipurpo se portable lock for preventing the opening of a door. The lock includes a shackle body supported by the shaft of a door handle in use with two extended parallel rods and a lock body with holes for slidably receiving the extended parallel rods. The lock body is fixed to a door frame. The parallel rods have notches on the same to allow engagement with one or more biased pawl members. The pawl members are biased to a disengaged position and are moved into engagement with the notches via a locking mechanism. Problems associated with this lock are that the arrangement requires mounting brackets to be fixed to the wall adjacent the door to allow location of the lock body therewith, thereby damaging the door and/or wall surrounding the door; moving the lock to a locked po sition is a multi-step process and location of the lock body on the shaft of the door handle does not prevent rotation of the door handle in use. US5799521 disclo ses a security bar for location on a door handle which has an indicator to allow a user to see if the door has been tampered with. The security bar extends from a door handle to a door jamb. A cup or tube provided on the security bar encases the door handle preventing user access to the handle. Since the bar has to extend across the door from the handle to the door jamb, the security bar reduces the aesthetic appearance of the door when fitted. In addition, a receiving aperture has to be made in the door j amb for receiving a pin of the security bar, thereby damaging the door and/or wall surrounding the door.

GB2440539 discloses a security device for preventing operation of a window catch. The device includes a tubular member that is placed over the window catch handle and prevents the lever of the window catch from being rotated.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a rotatable or pivotable door handle locking device for improving security.

A further aim of the present invention is provide a method of using a rotatable or pivotable door handle locking device. In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotatable or pivotable door handle locking device comprising: first and second body portions, at least one of the portions including receiving means for receiving a rotatable or pivotable door handle;

at least one of the body portions including one or more arms which are received by corresponding recesses on the other body portion;

the body portions being capable of relative movement between a first position in which they are engaged via the arms and recesses, and a second position in which they are disengaged;

wherein the body portions and/or arms are arranged such that they substantially block or prevent rotation or pivotal movement of the door handle when fitted thereto and moved to the engaged position.

In other words, the pivotable or rotatable door handle abuts against the body portions and/or arms when a user tries to turn the handle, thereby preventing movement of the handle. This is in c o n tr a s t to p rio r ar t d evic e s , s uc h a s U S 2006 / 02 72365 wherein a shaft of a rotatable door handle merely provides support for the lock body in use rather than preventing rotation of the door handle. As such, when the locking device o f the present invention is fitted to a door handle, if the door lock is broken an unauthorised person cannot open the door as the handles are locked in p o s i ti o n , a n d therefore the levers and/or bolts extending into the door frame cannot be retracted.

Preferably the locking device is freely supported or free standing on the door handle and/or frame o f the door handle in use when in at least the first engaged position (i.e. the present invention is fitted directly to the door handle, it is not fixed to the door itself, it does not require damage to the door and/or any special tools or fittings to fit the locking device) .

Preferably the door handle is releasably received in the receiving means of the locking device. As such, the locking device can be located on and/or removed from the door handle as often as required.

Typically the receiving means is a recess or channel defined in the body portion into which the door handle can extend. Typically the receiving means is shaped such that lateral movement of the door handle therein is substantially prevented.

Preferably the receiving means, recess or channel is substantially enclo sed and surrounded by the body portion, typically with the exception of an opening in the receiving means, recess or channel for receiving the door handle. This substantially prevents user access to the door handle when the device is located on the door handle.

Preferably the rotatable or pivotable door handle has a sub stantially elongate gripping portion to allow gripping of the door handle by a user to allow rotation or pivoting of the door handle in use. Preferably the gripping portion protrudes sub stantially perpendicularly to a shaft of the door handle. The shaft of the door handle typically protrudes outwardly from a front or rear surface of the door. Preferably the body portion is sub stantially elongate in form having a longitudinal axis along the length thereof. The receiving means, recess or channel in one embodiment is provided substantially co-axially to the body portion and/or sub stantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion (i.e. the longitudinal axis of the receiving means, recess or channel is provided sub stantially co-axially or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion) . In one embodiment the elongate gripping portion of the door handle is inserted into the receiving means, recess or channel such that the longitudinal axis of the elongate gripping portion is co-axial and/or sub stantially parallel to the body portion and/or the receiving means, recess or channel.

In one embodiment the body portion includes at least a front wall, r e a r w all a n d fir s t an d s e c o n d e n d s . P r e fe r ab ly th e receiving means, recess or channel is provided with an opening and said opening is defined in an end wall of the body portion.

In one embodiment the locking arm receiving recess of the body portion is provided at an end wall and preferably the same end wall as the door handle receiving means opening.

In one embodiment, the second body portion also includes receiving means such as a recess for receiving a door handle. This arrangement is typically suitable for double doors where there are two rotatable or pivotable door handles provided sub stantially adjacent to each other. In the double door arrangement, normal rotation of the two door handles is typically in substantially opposite directions. The locking device of the present invention in this embodiment prevents rotation of two door handles in opposite directions when in the first engaged position. For example, a typical rotatable or pivotable door handle requires rotation in a downwardly direction to allow opening or unlocking of a door to which the handle is attached to and/or rotation in an upwardly direction to allow clo sing or unlocking of the door.

Preferably an opening of the door handle receiving means of each of the first and second body portions are substantially opposite to each other when the locking device is in the first engaged position. Further preferably the door handle receiving means of each of the first and second body portions are sub stantially aligned or planar with each other when the locking device is in the first engaged po sition. For example, the longitudinal axes of the channels of the first and second body portions can be sub stantially co-axial.

Typically the locking device is mountable on adjacent door handles of respective adjacent doors.

Typically the body portions are slid together via the arms until the ends of the handles substantially reach the ends of the recesses inside the respective body portions, or as far as possible if the handles are shorter than said recesses.

Thus when the locking device is fitted to two adjacent door handles and moved to the engaged position, neither handle can turn or rotate to open the door, as lateral movement of the handle within each body portion is substantially prevented, and movement of each body portion is substantially prevented by the position of the handle in the other body portion. In one embodiment each body portion is provided with an arm and a recess for receiving the arm of the other body portion. The arm and opening to the recess are typically provided at the same end of the body portion. Preferably the arm and opening to the recess are provided adjacent opposite side walls of the body portion end.

In a further embodiment one of the body portions is provided with two or more arms, and the other body portion is provided with corresponding recesses for receiving the arms.

Typically the handle is po sitioned between the arms when the body portions are fitted thereto and moved to the engaged position. If a user attempts to rotate the door handle in an upwardly or downwardly direction, the arms of the body portion either side of door handle prevent this movement.

In one embodiment the first body portion is slideably engageable with the second body portion. Preferably the arms on each body portion are moved towards each other in opposing directions to bring the body portions to the first engaged position.

In one embodiment the body portions are engaged or are maintained in an engaged position via locking means.

In one embodiment the locking means includes a ratchet formed from one or more notches on the arms, and one or more pawls extending into the corresponding recesses of the body portions, said pawls engaging the arms via the notches.

Thus the ratchet locks the body portions together when the arms are inserted into the corresponding recesses. In one embodiment the ratchet includes biasing means to bias the pawls into engagement with the arms. Typically the biasing means includes one or more springs. As the biasing means bias the pawl to the engaged position, engagement of the pawl in a notch is a single step process only when moving the locking device to a locked or engaged position (i.e. no further actuation of any item is required) . Typically, releasing means are provided to release engagement of the pawls from the notches and allow movement of the body portions to the disengaged position.

In one embodiment the releasing means includes a button on the exterior surface of at least one of the body portions. Typically the releasing means includes one or more springs. Typically the releasing means biases the body portions away from each other when actuated. In a further embodiment, the releasing means includes any or any combination of one or more lock barrels, combination locks, electronic keypads, and/or the like. To actuate the releasing means in this embodiment typically requires the user to insert a key or code.

In a further embodiment the locking means includes any or any combination of one or more key locks, catches, latches, combination locks, padlocks and/or the like. In one embodiment, at least one of the body portions includes an abutment member. Typically the abutment member abuts against a frame of the rotatable or pivotable door handle when the body portions are moved to the engaged position. Typically the abutment member sub stantially prevents the door handle from turning when the locking device is fitted thereto. This arrangement is advantageous for a single door arrangement.

Thus the abutment member engages the frame of the door handle when a user tries to turn the handle, thereby substantially preventing movement or rotation of the handle.

In this embodiment it is preferable for the first body portion to include a door handle receiving means and at least one, and preferably two, further recesses for receiving the arm(s) of a second body portion. Preferably the abutment member is associated with at least the second body portion, and optionally also the first body portion. Thus, in this single door arrangement, the first body portion engages with a gripping portion of the door handle and the second body portion engages with a frame of the door handle.

In one embodiment the body portions are made from moulded plastic. Typically the arms are made from stainless steel. It will of course be appreciated that any suitable material could be used.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of locking a rotatable or pivotable door handle, comprising the steps of:

fitting a first body portion to a pivotable or rotatable door handle;

fitting a second body portion to the frame of the door handle, or an adjacent pivotable or rotatable door handle;

moving the body portions together via one or more arms and corresponding recesses provided on the body portions;

whereby the body portions are engaged together and arranged such that rotation of the handle is blocked or prevented by the arms and/or body portions. In one embodiment, releasing means are actuatable to allow the body portions to be moved apart to release the door handle. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a door with a rotatable or pivotable door handle locking device,

said door including a rotatable or pivotable door handle for allowing the door to be moved between an open and/or unlocked position and a clo sed and/or locked position,

said locking device comprising:

first and second body portions, at least one of the portions including receiving means for receiving the rotatable or pivotable door handle;

at least one of the body portions including one or more arms which are received by corresponding recesses on the other body portion;

the body portions being capable of relative movement from a first position in which they are engaged via the arms and recesses, and a second position in which they are disengaged; wherein the body portions and/or arms are arranged such that they substantially block or prevent rotation or pivotal movement of the door handle when fitted thereto and moved to the engaged position.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described wherein:-

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a locking device according to an embodiment of the invention: (a) in a disengaged position; (b) in an engaged position. Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a locking device according to a further embodiment of the invention: (a) in a disengaged position; (b) in an engaged position. With reference to Figures la-b, there is illustrated a pair of patio doors 2 forming a double door arrangement, each of which has a door handle 4, 4' on a front and rear surface thereof. As the doors are paired they are hinged on opposite sides, and therefore the handles extend and rotate in opposite directions. The sides of the door that are moved into abutment or engagement with each other to form a closed position, and that are moved out of abutment or engagement with each other to form an open position, are the sides adjacent which the door handles 4, 4' are provided.

More specifically, the doors in this embodiment are typically of a type having a five point mortise lock arrangement that is actuated by rotating the door handle 4, 4' with respect to the door handle frame 5, 5'. The lock arrangement is typically provided adjacent the inner opposing sides of the doors. Upward rotation of the door handle tends to move the lock arrangement to a locked position and downward rotation of the door handle tends to move the lock arrangement to an unlocked position. Thus, by preventing rotation of the door handle of this type of door as per the present invention, this in turn prevents actuation of the five point mortise lock of the door and therefore prevents unlocking of the door when locked.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the locking device of the present invention can be used on a door with any lock arrangement but is of particular advantage when used on a door that is locked or unlocked as a result of rotation of the door handle(s). The door lock arrangement is typically provided integrally of the door and/or adjacent the inner opposing edges or sides of the door. The locking device of the present invention is typically fitted to the interior facing door side but could be fitted to the exterior facing door side if required.

The door handle frame 5, 5' protrudes outwardly of the door, the relevance of which will be explained in more detail below in relation to the second embodiment. The door handle includes a shaft portion 7, 7' and a gripping portion 9, 9'. Both the shaft portion 7, 7' and gripping portion 9, 9' are rotatable relative to frame portion 5, 5'.

The locking device in this embodiment comprises first and second body portions 6, 6', each o f which is provided with receiving means for a door handle in the form of a recess 8' extending along the length thereof, an arm 10, 10', and a recess 12' for receiving the arm 10 of the other body portion.

More particularly, in the illustrated example, first and second body portions 6, 6' are substantially elongate in form and the recess 8' is substantially or wholly enclosed by the body portion so that access to at least the gripping portion 9, 9' of the handle, and optionally shaft portion 7, 7', is substantially prevented. The body portions 6, 6' have a front surface 1 1 , 1 1 ', rear surface 13, 13', a first end 15, 1 5' and a second opposite end 1 7, 17'.

The opening to the recess of the first and second body portions is provided substantially centrally of first end 1 5, 15 ' respectively. The longitudinal axis of the recess is substantially parallel or co-axial to the longitudinal axis of the body portion. As such, the gripping portion of the handle is also typically sub stantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion and recess. The arm recesses are also defined in the first end of the first and second body portions. The arm and arm recess for each body portion is typically such that a protruding arm is provided on one side of the handle receiving recess and the arm recess is provided on the other side of the handle received recess, as shown in figure l a. The arm and arm recess are typically provided on opposite sides in the first and second body portions so that the arm on one body portion can be received in the arm recess on the opposite body portion.

The body portions are made from moulded plastic, and the arms are made from stainless steel.

The arms include a series of notches 14' which are engaged by pawls (not shown) extending into the recess of the body portion into which the arm is inserted. The notches and pawls form a ratchet mechanism to prevent outward movement of the arm once inserted into the corresponding recess. The pawls are typically resiliently biased to an engaged position.

Thus the body portions 6, 6' can be mounted on the respective door handles 4, 4' and slid together via the arms until the ends of the handles reach the ends of the cavities inside the respective body portions.

As illustrated in Figure l b, the arms 10, 10' are thus arranged on either side of the handles 4, 4', such that if for example a person attempts to turn one of the handles 4' clockwise (from the view illustrated), such movement is substantially prevented by the limited movement of the handle within its recess, and the arm 10' which abuts against the handle 4' as the body portion 6' is forced downwardly by the end of the handle, which in turn is restricted in movement due to the engagement with the other body portion mounted on the adjacent door handle 4. Thus even if the door lock usually positioned in aperture 18 is broken, the door still cannot be opened as the handles cannot be turned to release the levers and/or bolts extending from the door into the door frame.

To release the locking device from the door handles, each body portion is provided with releasing means in the form of a button 16, 1 6' which releases the pawls from the notches such that the arms can then be pulled out of their corresponding recesses. In the illustrated embodiment, a user would press both buttons sub stantially simultaneously and pull the body portions apart to remove the device from the door handles. Thus, it can be seen that the lock device of the present invention engages only the door handles in use and is therefore freely supported only by the door handle. No additional external fittings need to be attached to the door frame or door to support the lock device. This prevents damage to the door and/or door surrounding, does not reduce the aesthetic appearance of the door and does not require the user to have any special tools to fit the lock on the door handles in use.

With r e fe r e n c e t o Figu r e s 2 a-b, a further embodiment is illustrated wherein the locking device comprises a first body portion 30 having two arms 26 and an abutment member 38, which is engageable with a second body portion 20 having a recess 22 for a door handle 4, two recesses 24 for receiving arms 26, and an abutment member 28.

More particularly, the abutment member extends from or beyond a rear surface 25 of first body portion 30. The abutment member 38 has a rear surface in direct contact with the door and a side surface in contact with a protruding side 27 of the door handle frame 5 in use. A first end 29 of first body portion 30 has the two arms 26 extending therefrom.

In this embodiment of the invention, the second body portion 20 is mounted on the door handle 4 in a similar manner to the first embodiment and such that a side surface of the abutment member 28 is in contact with a protruding side 32 of the door handle frame 5. A rear surface of the abutment member is in direct contact with the door. Protruding side 32 is opposite to protruding side 27 of the door handle frame 5. Thus, the abutment members 38, 28 of the first and second body portions engage either side of the protruding side surfaces of the door frame handle. This prevents rotation of the abutment members and thus rotation of the body portions.

Second body portion 20 has a first end 31 with arm recesses 24 defined either side of the door handle recess/ channel 22, as shown in figure 2a. The arms 26 of the first body portion 30 are then inserted into the corresponding recesses 24 of the second body portion and the body portions are ratcheted together via the notches 34 as hereinbefore described, thereby bringing the abutment member 38 of the first body portion into contact with the frame 5.

With both abutment members 28, 32 in contact with the frame, the handle is unable to turn as the movement is transferred to the abutment members which cannot rotate through the frame. A button 36 is provided to disengage the ratchet mechanism and allow the locking device to be removed from the handle.

It will be appreciated that for additional security, the button could be replaced with the barrel of a lock into which a key fits, or other means such as a combination lock or an electronic keypad.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention may also include further additional modifications made to the device which does not affect the overall functioning of the device.