GB2271605A - Door keeper - Google Patents

Abstract

A door keeper (10) comprises a member (16) for mounting on a door jamb (12) and retaining a lock bolt (14). The member (16) is releasably retained in a locking position. In use, this permits a door to be held closed by the bolt (14) engaging the keeper in situations where, for example, a person attempts to open a locked bathroom door. However, in the event of an emergency, application of a greater force to the door will release the member (16) from the locking position, freeing the lock bolt (14) and allowing the door to open. As shown a spring (20) normally restrains the keeper. In other embodiments a spring restrains a pivoted keeper and a chain secured to the keeper allows only limited door opening. <IMAGE>

Description

DOOR KEEPER This invention relates to a door keeper, and in particular to a door keeper for mounting on a door jamb and retaining a lock bolt.

Many premises are provided with doors fitted with locking bolts. In the home, bathroom doors are often provided with such bolts for assuring privacy. In normal circumstances such bolts prove satisfactory in use, however it is not uncommon for young children to lock themselves in a bathroom and, for whatever reason, be unable to release the bolt. Unless access can be gained to the room by other means the door must be forced open, which typically results in the door keeper being wrenched from the door jamb. A somewhat similar situation may occur in the toilets of premises such as public houses and clubs where customers may force open locked cubicle doors, causing considerable damage to the door, bolt or keeper.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a door keeper which obviates or mitigates this disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided a door keeper comprising a member for mounting on a door jamb and retaining a lock bolt, wherein the member is releasably retained in a locking position.

In use, this permits a door to be held closed by the bolt engaging the keeper in situations where, for example, a person attempts to open a locked bathroom door.

However, in the event of an emergency, application of a greater force to the door will release the member from the locking position, freeing the lock bolt and allowing the door to open.

Preferably, the member is resiliently releasably retained in the locking position. Most preferably the member is attached to the door jamb via spring means and may be pivotable against the action of the spring means.

Thus, the force necessary to open the door may be preset by selecting spring means of predetermined rate.

Preferably also, the spring means is retained in a housing mounted to the door jamb. The housing may be secured to the door jamb using fasteners, such as wood screws, or may be recessed within the door jamb.

Preferably also, the member is attached to the spring means via a flexible member, such as a chain. The flexible member may be secured to a base plate which engages a distal end of the spring means, such that the spring means must be compressed to move the member from the locking position. Alternatively, the member may be attached to the spring means through a threaded member located in a corresponding threaded portion of the housing such that pivoting of the member from the locking position results in a corresponding longitudinal movement between the threaded member and the threaded portion of the housing, which longitudinal movement may be resisted by the spring means.

If desired, a further retaining member may be provided to permit a limited degree of movement of the lock bolt while preventing release of the lock bolt. This embodiment of the invention would allow some movement of a door when subject to an opening force but would not permit complete opening of the door. Thus, this form of door keeper will absorb some of the force being applied to the door and will assist in preventing the door keeper being wrenched from the door jamb, without allowing opening of the door.

Although reference is made above to doors and lock bolts, the invention has equal utility in other applications where, for example, latches or keys are used in place of bolts.

This and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view of a door keeper in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention shown mounted on a door jamb and operating in conjunction with a locking bolt; Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a part sectional view of a door keeper in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; and Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views of door keepers in accordance with still further embodiments of the invention.

Reference is first made to Figure 1 of the drawings which illustrates a door keeper 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention shown mounted on a door jamb 12. Also shown is a door-mounted sliding bolt 14, with the bolt in the locking position. The door keeper 10 comprises a keeper member 16 mounted on a housing 18 via a hinge 19, the housing 18 being fixed to the door jamb 12. If reference is made to Figure 2 of the drawings it will be noted that the members 16 is L-shaped and, in the illustrated locking position, the bolt 14 is retained between the member 16 and the jamb 12.

The housing 18 contains a coil spring 20. The member 16 is attached to a chain 21 which is itself attached to a base plate 23 which abuts the lower end of the spring.

Thus, the member 16 is releasably held in the locking position by the action of the spring, and the spring 20 must be compressed to move the member 16 from the locking position.

In normal use, an attempt to open the door will produce a force F on the member 16 by the bolt 14. The spring rate is selected such that the member 16 will be held in the locking position under such circumstances.

However, if a greater force is applied to the door the spring 20 is compressed and the member 16 is permitted to pivot, to the position shown in ghost outline in Figure 2, releasing the bolt 14 and allowing the door to be opened.

The member 16 will then be pulled back to the locking position by the action of the spring 20.

Figure 3 of the drawings illustrates a further door keeper 30. In this embodiment the keeper includes a bolt retaining member 36 which is pivotally mounted in a housing 38. The member 36 is mounted in the housing 38 via a threaded portion 42 which engages a corresponding threaded nut 44 provided in the housing 38 such that pivoting of the member 36 from the locking position results in rotation of the threaded portion 42 in the nut 44 and produces a corresponding longitudinal movement along axis A-A. Such movement is resisted by a coil spring 40 located within the housing 38.

From the above described embodiments it will be clear that the present invention provides a simple and convenient releasable door keeper which may be fitted to, for example, bathroom doors and allows a locked door to be opened in the event of an emergency without damage to the door lock or door frame.

In a further embodiment the door keeper may allow a degree of relative movement between the door and a door jamb but will not allow the door to be opened. This could be achieved by replacing the L-shaped member 16 with a tubular member for receiving the bolt. A locked door provided with such a keeper would have a certain amount of "give" which would assist in preventing damage to the door or door structure in the event of an attempted forced entry.

In an alternative arrangement, the member 16 could be restrained against movement to a position which permits release of the bolt. Two such arrangements are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. The arrangement shown in Figure 4 is similar to the door keeper of Figures 1 and 2 but additionally comprises a further housing 18a containing a spring 2Oa. A further chain 21a extends from the upper end of the member 16 to a base plate 23a, such that movement of the member 16 from the normal locking position occurs only on compression of both springs 20, 20a. Further, the bolt 14 cannot be fully released from the member 16 as, even if the member.

is pivoted through 900 against the action of the springs, the chain 21a will still restrain the bolt 14.

In Figure 5 a C-shaped member 66 is attached to a door jamb 62 by means of two chains 71a, 71b which engage the base of respective springs 70a, 70b, but will be retained within the member 66 such that the door will only open a small degree.

It will be clear to those of skill in the art that the above described embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention and that various modifications and improvements may be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. A door keeper comprising a member for mounting on a door jamb and retaining a lock bolt, wherein the member is releasably retained in a locking position.

2. The door keeper as claimed in claim 1 in which the member is resiliently releasably retained in the locking position.

3. The door keeper as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the member is attached to the door jamb via spring means.

4. The door keeper as claimed in claim 3 in which the member is pivotable against the action of the spring means.

5. The door keeper as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which the spring means is retained in a housing for mounting on the door jamb.

6. The door keeper as claimed in claim 5 in which the member is attached to the spring means via a flexible member.

7. The door keeper of claim 5 in which the member is attached to the spring means via a threaded member located in a corresponding threaded portion of the housing.

8. The keeper as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the member permits a degree of movement of the locked bolt while preventing release of the locked bolt.

9. A lock bolt substantially as described herein and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3, Figure 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.