Latch bolt guard

Claim 2

In combination, a swinging door having an openable and closable jamb confronting edge provided with a projectable and retractable knob-operated latch bolt provided with tamperresisting means, and a manually applicable and removable jimmyproofing guard attachable to said bolt from the inside room surface of said door, said guard having means which is releasably and retentively connectible with the tamper-resisting means on said latch bolt in a manner to positively secure the same in a non-retractable striker plate engaging bolt setting position, said tamper-resisting means comprising a pair of kerfs formed in diametrically opposite peripheral surface portions of a median portion of said latch bolt, said kerfs providing keeper seats, said guard comprising a clip embodying right angularly disposed legs, one leg being bifurcated and providing spaced parallel coplanar fork arms, said fork arms being adapted to straddle said latchbolt and being retentively but releasably seatable in the respectively cooperable keeper seats.

Claim 3

The combination defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said other leg is provided with handling means.

Claim 4

The combination defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said handling means comprises a finger-gripping knob having a shank affixed to and projecting from an interior surface of said other leg.

Claim 5

For use in conjunction with a door latch bolt whose peripheral surface is provided at a predetermined place with diametrically opposite keeper notches, a bodily attachable and removable jimmy-proofing guard, said guard being constructed from flat-faced strap material bent upon itself between its outward and inward ends and being generally L-shaped in form and embodying a first outwardly disposed leg and a right angularly disposed inward leg, said outward leg being bifurcated and providing a fork and said inward leg providing handling means and being provided with a finger-gripping knob.

Claim 6

For use in conjunction with a door latch bolt whose peripheral surface is provided at a predetermined place with diametrically opposite keeper notches, a bodily attachable and removable jimmy-proofing guard, said guard being constructed from flat-faced strap material bent upon itself between its outward and inward ends and being generally L-shaped in form and embodying a first outwardly disposed leg and a right angularly disposed inward leg, said outward leg being bifurcated and providing a fork and said inward leg providing handling means and being provided with a finger-gripping knob.

Claim 7

In combination, a door having opposite side faces and a marginal edge defining corresponding marginal edge portions of said side faces, a latch member supported from said door for shifting between projected and retracted positions relative to said edge, a pair of oppositely outwardly opening kerfs formed in opposite side portions of said latch member and opening in opposite directions along said marginal edge, said kerfs being projected and retracted relative to said marginal edge in response to projection and retraction of said latch member, a lock for preventing shifting of said latch member from a projected position toward said retracted position, said guard comprising a pair of side-by-side panel-like substantially coplanar arms including generally parallel adjacent edges, one pair of corresponding ends of said arms being free of connections extending therebetween and connecting means extending between the other pair of corresponding arms supporting each arm from the other, said lock being removably supportable from said latch member, when the latter is projected, with said adjacent edges of said arms received in said kerfs and said arms keyed to said latch member and opposing said marginal edge for abutment therewith to prevent shifting of said latch member to said retracted position.

Claim 8

In combination, a door having opposite side faces and a marginal edge defining corresponding marginal edge portions of said side faces, a latch member supported from said door for shifting between projected and retracted positions relative to said edge, a pair of oppositely outwardly opening kerfs formed in opposite side portions of said latch member and opening in opposite directions along said marginal edge, said kerfs being projected and retracted relative to said marginal edge in response to projection and retraction of said latch member, a lock for preventing shifting of said latch member from a projected position toward said retracted position, said guard comprising a pair of side-by-side panel-like substantially coplanar arms including generally parallel adjacent edges, one pair of corresponding ends of said arms being free of connections extending therebetween and connecting means extending between the other pair of corresponding arms supporting each arm from the other, said lock being removably supportable from said latch member, when the latter is projected, with said adjacent edges of said arms received in said kerfs and said arms keyed to said latch member and opposing said marginal edge for abutment therewith to prevent shifting of said latch member to said retracted position.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 5 wherein said lock is constructed of sheet material and said arms and said connecting means comprise integral portions of said sheet material.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 5, wherein the lengtH of said kerfs, the spacing between said kerfs and the spacing between said adjacent edges is such to also key said lock to said latch member against angular displacement relative thereto about an axis disposed between and at generally right angles relative to said kerfs.

Claim 11

In combination, a swinging door having an openable and closable jamb confronting edge provided with a projectable and retractable latch bolt, a pair of kerfs formed in diametrically opposite peripheral surface portions of a median portion of said latch bolt, said kerfs providing keeper seats, a jimmy-proofing guard, said guard comprising a clip, said clip being bifurcated and providing spaced parallel substantially coplanar fork arms, said clip being engageable with said latch bolt with said arms straddling said bolt and retentively but releasably seated in said keeper seats, said keeper seats being disposed outwardly of but closely adjacent said jamb confronting edge when said bolt is in a projected position relative to said edge, whereby any attempt to retract said bolt would cause said fork arms to abut said jamb confronting edge and prevent further movement of the latch bolt toward its retracted position.

Claim 12

In combination, a swinging door having an openable and closable jamb confronting edge provided with a projectable and retractable latch bolt, a pair of kerfs formed in diametrically opposite peripheral surface portions of a median portion of said latch bolt, said kerfs providing keeper seats, a jimmy-proofing guard, said guard comprising a clip, said clip being bifurcated and providing spaced parallel substantially coplanar fork arms, said clip being engageable with said latch bolt with said arms straddling said bolt and retentively but releasably seated in said keeper seats, said keeper seats being disposed outwardly of but closely adjacent said jamb confronting edge when said bolt is in a projected position relative to said edge, whereby any attempt to retract said bolt would cause said fork arms to abut said jamb confronting edge and prevent further movement of the latch bolt toward its retracted position.