Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DOOR I.OCK COVER
BACKGROtJND OF T.HE INVENTION
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This invention relates generally to the field of door
lock covers of a type including a pair of oppositely disposed
side walls interconnected by a narrow web which in installed
condition overlie the edge of a door in the area of a
resiliently mounted latch .member. Such devices are
particularly useful in the installation of xeplacement locks
which may be of configuration other than the original locks,
but may also be used in original lock installation as well.
Devices of the general type are well known in the art, and
the invention lies in specific constructional details which
permit low cost fabrication and the homologation of certain
parts for use with doors of different effective widths.
The United States patent to Allenbaugh, No. 3,673,605 of
June 27, 1972, discloses a typical installation of the instant
type, in which the centrally disposed web which overlies the
free longitudinal edge of the door is provided with a relieved
rectangular area to accommodate the end plate of the lock with
which the door is provid~d. A central opening in the relieved
area permits the cylinder housing th~ latch member to pass
therethrough, and a pair of screws interconnects the end
plate with threaded openings in the relieved area to fix the
location of the end plate. Since the relieved area is formed
integrally from the web itself, the screw holes are not very
deep, and are not suitable for use with self tapping screws.
In some cases, this construction is formed by broaching the
holes to provide an axially longer threaded distance prior
to the subsequent threading operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision
of an improved door lock sover construction of the type
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described offering improved ease of manufacture and
installation. The web member is formed to include a generally
rectangular opening to accommodate the end platP of the lock.
~ smooth inturned flange of metal borders the longitudinal
and transverse sides of the opening to provide a neat
appearance. In each embodiment, a relatively thick orificed
plate member is provided to overlie the opening in the web
member and mount the lock plate thereon. The plate includes
longit~ldinal flanges extendin~ laterally from the plane
thereof to enter corresponding channels formed by the
longitudinally extending flanges bordering the opening in
the web to position the plate member. In one embodlment, the
plate is maintained in position by bendable tabs extending
from the transverse flanges bordering the opening. In a
second embodiment, this construction is substituted by screws
penetrating the web member and the plate member on either
side at the ends thereof. In a third embodiment, the parts
are secured by an epoxy adhesive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the
specification, similar reference characters have been
employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the
several views.
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of
the invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal central sectional view thereof.
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof.
Figure 4 is a rear elevational view thereof.
Figure 5 is an elevational view showing the forward
surface of a plate member forming a part of the embodiment.
Figure 6 is an elevational view showing a second
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSFD EMBODIMENT
In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention,
the device, generally indicated by reference character 10,
comprises broadly: an outer housing element 11, and a plate
element 12.
The outer housing element 11 is conventionally formed
from a metallic stamping and bent to U-shaped cross section
to include first and second side walls 20 and 21 inter-
connected by a relatively narrow web 22. The elemen~ 11 is
bounded by a continuous upper edge 23, a continuous lower edge
24, i~ner edges 25 and 26 and fold edges 27 and 28. Screw
holes 29 extend through the walls 20-21 to permit anchorage
on a door, although in many cases, the engagement of door
knobs through relatively larger openings 30 may suffice. The
inner surface 31 of the housing element abuts the inner,
outer, and edge surfaces of a door (not shown) in well known
manner.
Extending inwardly from the outer surface 34 of the web
22 is a rectangular opening 35 bounded by longitudinal sides
36 and 37 formed by inwardly curved flanges 38, and free edges
of which are disposed inwardly of the inner surface 31 of the
web. The upper and lower ends of the opening 35 are bounded
by flanges 42 and 43.
The plate element 12 is of elongated configuration, and
may be formed either by die casting or stamping of relatively
soft metal such as aluminum or extruded to be cut to proper
length. A pair of longitudinal edge flanges 44 and 45 are
adapted to engage channels 46 and 47 formed by the flanges
38. The end edges 48 and 49 on the element 12 are
positioned thereby between the flanges 42 and 43 to
accurately position the plate element within the opening 35.
Tabs 50 may then be bent to substantially a right angle to
engage the inner surface 51 thereof and completely anchor
the plate element 12 relative to the outer housing elementO
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The outer surface 45 of the plate element is positioned in
recessed orientation behind the opening 35 for reception of
a lock end plate 53.
Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention,
illustrated in Figure 6, parts corresponding to those of the
principal embodiment have been designated by similar
reference characters with the additional prefix "1".
The second embodiment of the invention diffexs from the
first embodiment, principally in the elimination of the
bendable tabs on three edges of the transverse flanges
bordering the rectangular opening 35. Instead, the plate
element 112 is made somewhat longer, and with the elimination
of the transverse flanges 42 and 43, the element 12 extends
beyond the upper and lower edges of the opening 35. Tapped
holes 160 are positioned beneath corresponding holes in the
web 122, so that the elements 112 and 113 may be inter-
connected by screw means 163. In either case, the lock
plate is secured by screws which pass through the lock end
plate and the element 112 as in the prior art. In each case,
owing to the thickness of the element 12, the screws are
fastened by a plurality of threads (not shown), rather than
the single thread which results when the fastening screw
penetrates a thin sheet of metal.
In an alternate embodiment (not illustrated) it is
possible to secure the outer housing element 11 and plate
element 12 using an epoxy adhesive applied in the channels 46
and 47.
It may thus be seen that we have invented novel and
highly useful improvements in lock plate cover devices, in
which the device offers increased strength and rigidity as
well as durability, with very little increase in production
costs as contrasted with prior art devices~ Because the
device is made in multiple pieces, should any one part,
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particularly the plate element become damaged, it may be
readily replaced at very low cost without the necessity of
replacing the entire device. By varying the depth of the
laterally extending longitudinal flanges on the plate
element, it is possible to vary the depth of the recess in
which the lock end plate is disposed, so as to always assure
a flush mounting, irrespective of the thickness of the lock
end plate. This can also be accomplished using shims in the
channels formed hy the longitudinally extending f~anges on
the web.
We wish it to be understood that we do not consider the
invention limited to the precise details of structure shown
and set forth in this specification, for obvious
modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which
the invention pertains.
