Description of Related Art Security within a business or home has become an ever increasing concem.

The consumer has come to demand ever better security devices for securing a door in a closed position.

One of the oldest known door security devices comprises a strong piece of timber and two L-shaped brackets for holding the timber across the face of a door.

Such a structure has proven the test of time, but suffers from many disadvantages in a modem context. In particular, the timber is heavy, unsightly and difficult to store.

Moreover, the L-brackets are used only to hold the timber and they must be permanently mounted to the wall on either side of the door in addition to the other hardware already used to hold the door. The L-shaped brackets are visually prominent and unsightly, and may ever present a hazard to those passing through the doorway.

A more modem example of a door security device is sold under the trademark

DOORCLUB" (R). The DOORCLUB has been a marketing success, but it detrimentally secures the door at its bottom. Accordingly, if an intruder attempts to break down the door, it may pivot on the DOORCLUB and break out of the door frame at an upper location.

There remains a need, therefore, for a door security device which affirmatively secures a closed door from one or more mid positions, but which has a non-intrusive aesthetically pleasing combination when not in use. Finally, there remains a need for a door security device which securely retains a closed door within the door frame, without slot, to prevent the door from breaching the security by preventing it from gaining momentum before it reaches the security device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a security apparatus that is adapted to secure a door having a hinged edge that is pivotally mounted to a door frame and a latched edge this is movable between an open and a closed position relative to the door frame.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises first and second side supports that are spaced from one another on opposite sides of the door, the first side support located on an inside surface of the door frame and adjacent to the hinged edge of the door, and the second side support located on an inside surface of the door frame and adjacent to the latched edge of the door. Each side support comprises a substantially flat mounting plate and an extension member carried by the mounting plate. Also provided are means for mounting the mounting plates of the first and second side

supports to the inside surfaces of the door frame with their respective extension members protruding beyond the plane of the door when the door is closed; a cross- member, and means for releasably securing the cross-member between the respective extension members of the first and second side supports in order to secure the door whenever desired.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides the door security apparatus as described above, but wherein the first side support comprises an existing hinge having a hinge plate which serves as a mounting plate and a hinge cylinder which serves as the extension member, and wherein the second side support is a special side support that is secured to the inside surface of the door frame immediately opposite to the existing hinge so that the cross-member may be releasably secured between the existing hinge and the special side support.

In an even further aspect, the present invention provides a cross-member for use in securing a door wherein the cross-member comprises a central section and first and second cylindrical end sleeves carried by the central section. The cylindrical end sleeves have a vertical slot which extends upward from a bottom edge thereof and more dimensioned to slide respectively over the hinge cylinder of an existing hinge or the extension cylinder of a special side support. The vertical slots respectively accommodating the hinge plate of the existing hinge or the mounting plate of the special side support.

In an even further aspect, the present invention comprises two special side supports for use when an existing hinge is directly opposite a door knob, or some other

obstruction, and cannot be used as described above. The two special side supports in this aspect of the invention are simply mounted above or below the existing hinge and door knob to support the cross-member without using any existing hardware.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood with reference to following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred door security apparatus according to the present invention as installed on a door, Figure 2 is a close-up perspective view of the door security apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the door security apparatus of Figure 2 taken along section lines 3-3; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the door security apparatus of Figure 2 taken along section line 4-4; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred door security apparatus including an extruded central section and a pair of injection molded, cylindrical end sleeves which telescopically connect to the extruded central section; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cylindrical end sleeve of Figure 5 taken along sectional lines 6-6;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view that shows the preferred spacing dimensions of a special side support which permits the door to be swung freely through its arc; and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view that shows typical spacing dimensions for an existing hinge cylinder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 shows a preferred door security apparatus 10 according to the present invention in its proper context, i. e. mounted adjacent to a door 20 to prevent'the door 20 from being opened. As shown in Figure 1, the door security apparatus 10 comprises a cross-member or central section 50 and a pair of cylindrical end sleeves 62,62'which collectively span the door 20. The door security apparatus 10 is hung between the respective door edges 28,29 by releasably securing the cross-member 50 and cylindrical end sleeves 62,62' between a pair of mounting plates (not shown in Figure 1) as more fully described below. It can now be appreciated that the door security apparatus 10 prevents the door 20 from being opened when it is mounted as shown in Figure 1.

The present invention advantageously provides an extremely high level of security when it is installed across the door, yet when it is removed from the door as explained below, very little of the device remains behind. As a result, the aesthetics of the doorway are not damaged and there are no intrusive L-shaped brackets, or the like, to create an eyesore or obstruction.

The preferred door security apparatus 10 further includes first and second side

supports 30,40 that are spaced from one another on opposite side of the door 20 as best shown in Figures 5,7 and 8. The first side support 30 is located on an inside surface of the door jam 24 and adjacent to the hinged edge 28 of the door and the second side support 40 is located on an inside surface of the door jam 24 and adjacent to the latched edge 29 of the door 20. As shown in the foregoing Figures, each side support 30,40 preferably comprises a substantially flat mount plate 31,41 and an extension member 32,42, canied by the mounting plate. The first side support 30 preferably comprises an existing hinge 30, having a hinge plate 31 which serves as the mounting plate 31 and a hinge cylinder 32 which serves as the extension member 32.

The second side support 40 preferably comprises a special side support 40 that is secured on the inside surface of the door jam 20, directly across from the existing hinge 30. This is the preferred embodiment because it only requires the installation of one special side support 40. If the existing hinge 30 is not available because it is opposite to the door knob 22, however, then the security apparatus 10 could be supporte between two special side supports 40,40 that are hung in opposition to one another, either above or below the existing door knob 22, and existing hinge 30.

The door security apparatus 10 easily secures the door 20 by releasably joining the respective extension members 32,42 of the first and second side supports 30,40.

The preferred releasable securing means comprises the first and second cylindrical end sleeves 62,62'that are canied on opposite ends of the central section 50 and are dimensioned to slide over the extension members 32,42 of the first and second side supports 30,40. The preferred cylindrical end sleeve 62,62' is sized to fit the cylindrical

extension 42 or over the existing hinged cylinder 32. The preferred cylindrical end sleeve 62,62' has a vertical slot 67,67' which extends upward from the bottom edge to accommodate the mounting plate 41 of the special side support 40 and the hinge plate 31 of the existing hinge 30 as best shown in Figure 6.

As best shown in Figure 2, the preferred door security apparatus 10 comprises an extruded central section 50 which carried an elongated slot 51 along its entire back side and a pair of adjustment slots 53,53' on its top side. As shown, the security apparatus 10 further comprises first and second telescoping members 60,60' which are telescopically joined to opposite ends of the extruded central section 50 and which respectively carry the first and second cylindrical end sleeves 62,62'. The first and second telescopic member 60,62' are a mirror image of one another. Accordingly, like parts are similarly identified with like numbers except that one is identified with ordinary numbers and the other with prime numbers.

As best shown in Figure 5, the telescoping member 60 generally comprises an elongated main body 70 which carries three vertical ribs 71,72,73 to form a hybrid I- Beam profile with two of the vertical ribs 71,72 at a back side thereof and the other vertical rib 73 at a front side thereof. This unique profile permits the second and third vertical ribs 72,73 to fit slidably inside of the extruded central section 50 with the first vertical rib 71 slidably located outside of the extruded central section 50 as best shown in Figures 3 and 4.

As further shown Figures 3 and 5, the hybrid l-Beam construction of the telescoping member 60 further comprises a plurality of triangular supports 74 which

help maintain the strength and rigidity of the vertical ribs 72,73 while minimizing the amount of material needed to form the telescoping member 60.

As shown in Figure 2, the first vertical rib 71 carries a spacer 90 on the outside of the extruded central section 50, the spacer 90 contacting the door 20 near its latched edge 29. The preferred spacer 90 is a round polymer disk with an appendage (not shown) that connects to an aperture (not shown) in the first vertical rib 71. As shown in Figure 7, a gap must be present between the front plane 21 of the door 20'and the extension member 42 of the special side support 40 to permit the door 20 to swing freely through its arc"S". The preferred gap between the extension member 42 and the front plane 21 of the door 20 is 11/16". The spacer 90 is intended to fill the gap.

Accordingly, the thickness of the spacer 90 is close to 11/16"the preferred thickness being 9/16". The unique space 90 fills the gap between the door 20 and the security apparatus 10 to prevent the door 20 from gaining momentum when an intruder tries to break down the door.

Retuming to Figure 5, it can be seen that the cylindrical end sleeve 62 carried by the telescoping member 60 is carefully integrated with the hybrid l-Beam construction of the main body 70. As shown, the first, second and third vertical ribs 71, 72 and 73 connect directly to the cylindrical end sleeve 62.

As can be understood by reviewing Figures 2,5,7 and 8, the cylindrical end sleeve 72 preferably has a chamfered edge 65 to accommodate the decorative molding 25 that often surrounds the door 20. The present inventor determined that it was necessary to include the chamfered edge 65, because the decorative molding 25 may be installed very close to the inside edge of the door frame 24. The wall thickness

along the chamfered edge 65 can become quite thin. An upper cap 66 on the cylindrical end sleeve 62, however, strengthens the overall end sleeve 62 so that the reduction in wall thickness is not a concern.

The first and second telescoping members 60,60' may beneficially slide in and out of the extruded central section 50 so that the security apparatus may span virtually any door 20. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second telescoping members 60, 60'are secured at desired positions within the central section 50 to define a particular width. As best shown in Figure 4, the preferred securing means are two cap screws 84,84' and two corresponding nuts 69,69'which are over-molded, inside of the first and second telescoping members 60,60'. The cap screw 84 passes through the slot 53 in the central section 50 and into an aperture 64 within a boss 63 carried by the telescoping member 60, to thereafter meet the screw 69. The cap screw 84 is tightened down, as clearly shown in Figure 4, to secure the telescoping member 60 at any desired position relative to the central section 50 within the confines of the slot 53.

The special side support 40 is mounted to an inside surface of the door frame 24. The preferred means for mounting the special side plate 40 is a plurality of wood screws 44 which pass through apertures in the special side support 40, through the door frame 24, and into the studs 21 which define the door space. Other securing means such as adhesives and nails are of course possible, but wood screws are most practical.

By the use of a special nylon material made by Dupont and known as ZYTEL

801 STF, it is possible to create a special side support 40 with a very thin mounting plate 41, as thin as a 100 thousandths of an inch (. 100"). Accordingly, if there is sufficient space between the door frame 24 and the latched edge 29 of the door 20, it may be possible to surface mount the side support 40 to the door frame 24. If such space does not exist, then the mounting plate 41 is recessed or flush mounted in the surface of the door frame 24 as is conventional with hinge plate 31 at the opposite side of the door.

More than one door security apparatus 10 may be used on a given door 20. If only one door security apparatus 10 is used, it should be mounted near the center of the door where an intruder is likely to apply force. If multiple security devices 10 are used, they should be located at equally spaced positions on the door 20. Two such devices 10, for example, should divide the door into equal thirds.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.