Door lock

Claim 2

A lock for securing a door member to a frame member, said lock comprising: means defining a lock opening having first and second edge portions on one of said members, a catch element mounted on the other of said members, said catch element having a free end portion extendable through said lock opening when said door member is closed, said free end portion having first and second locking shoulders extending outwardly in different directions, said free end portion being movable between a first position wherein said first shoulder is engageable with said first edge portion to prevent said door from being opened, a second position wherein said second shoulder is engageable with said second edge portion to prevent said door from being opened, and a third position intermediate said first and second positions wherein both of said shoulders can pass freely through said lock opening to allow said door to be opened, said free end portion being biased toward said first position, and key means engageable with said catch element to move said free end portion between said first position and said third position.

Claim 3

The lock of claim 1 wherein said free end portion is laterally movable between said first, second and third positions, wherein said other of said elements is provided with a key opening aligned with said catch element whereby said key is insertable through said key opening to engage said catch element, and further comprising key stop means for limiting the movement of said key means through said opening to that point at which said free end portions are in said third position.

Claim 4

The lock of claim 2 wherein said first shoulder extends radially outwardly from said free end portion generally in the direction of said first position, wherein said second shoulder extends radially outwardly in a direction at least generally perpendicular to that of said first shoulder.

Claim 5

The lock of claim 3 wherein said catch element is provided at the point of engagement by said key means with a first surface engageable by said key means flanked by at least one second surface inclined at an angle away from the direction of insertion of said key means to deflect away unauthorized instruments.

Claim 6

The lock of claim 3 wherein said second shoulder extends perpendicularly to said first shoulder and wherein said lock opening comprises a main portion of sufficient width to permit free passage of both of said shoulders when said free end portion is in said third position and an auxiliary portion of lesser width to preclude passage of said second shoulder when said free end portion is in said second position.

Claim 7

The lock of claim 5 wherein said catch element comprises a pair of spaced generally parallel leg members, each carrying a said free end portion having a said first shoulder and a said second shoulder, and wherein said second shoulders are out-turned in generally opposite directions from one another.

Claim 8

A lock for securing a door member to a frame member, said lock comprising: a lock opening in one of said members, said lock opening having a first portion defined by a top edge and a pair of opposed first side edges and a second portion defined by a bottom edge and a pair of opposed second side edges, a catch element mounted on the other of said members, said catch element comprising a leg member terminating in a free end portion alignable with said lock opening, a first shoulder extending outwardly from said free end portion and engageable with said top edge, a second shoulder extending outwardly from said free end portion and engageable with one of said edges of said bottom portion, said free end portion being laterally movable between a first position wherein said first shoulder is engageable with said top edge, a second position wherein said second shoulder is engageable with one of said edges of said auxiliary portion, and a third position intermediate said first and second positions wherein both of said shoulders can pass freely through said lock opening, said free end portions being biased toward said first position, a key opening in said other of said elements aligned with said catch element, and key means insertable through said key opening in the direction of movement of said free end portion to engage said catch element to move said free end portion between said first position and said third position, said key means comprising stop means for limiting the movement of said key means so that said key means cannot move said free end portion beyond said third position toward said second position.

Claim 9

A lock for securing a door member to a frame member, said lock comprising: a lock opening in one of said members, said lock opening having a first portion defined by a top edge and a pair of opposed first side edges and a second portion defined by a bottom edge and a pair of opposed second side edges, a catch element mounted on the other of said members, said catch element comprising a leg member terminating in a free end portion alignable with said lock opening, a first shoulder extending outwardly from said free end portion and engageable with said top edge, a second shoulder extending outwardly from said free end portion and engageable with one of said edges of said bottom portion, said free end portion being laterally movable between a first position wherein said first shoulder is engageable with said top edge, a second position wherein said second shoulder is engageable with one of said edges of said auxiliary portion, and a third position intermediate said first and second positions wherein both of said shoulders can pass freely through said lock opening, said free end portions being biased toward said first position, a key opening in said other of said elements aligned with said catch element, and key means insertable through said key opening in the direction of movement of said free end portion to engage said catch element to move said free end portion between said first position and said third position, said key means comprising stop means for limiting the movement of said key means so that said key means cannot move said free end portion beyond said third position toward said second position.

Claim 10

The lock of claim 7 wherein said catch element comprises a pair of spaced catch legs, each of said legs comprising a free end portion, a first shoulder and a second shoulder.

Claim 11

The lock of claim 8 further comprising a pair of said key openings in said other of said members, one of said key openings being aligned with one of said catch legs and the other of said key openings being aligned with the other of said catch legs, and wherein said key comprises a pair of spaced key legs, each of said key legs being insertable through one of said key openings to engage one of said catch legs.

Claim 12

The lock of claim 9 wherein each said key leg engages said catch leg at a catch leg contact surface, and wherein said catch leg contact surface is flanked by at least one inclined surface to deflect unauthorized objects.

Claim 13

The lock of claim 10 further comprising a pair of upstanding wall members on each of said legs on either side of said contact surface and generally parallel to said key legs to form a key leg channel, to keep said key legs from moving axially with respect to said contact surface during engagement therewith.

Claim 14

The lock of claim 9 wherein said means for limiting the movement of said key comprises a stop surface interposed between said key legs and engaging said one of said members between said key openings.

Claim 15

The lock of claim 9 wherein said second shoulders extend outwardly in opposite directions to be engageable with said second side edges, and wherein said second side edges are spaced a lesser distance from one another than are said first side edges.

Claim 16

The lock of claim 13 wherein each said free end portion further comprises an upwardly oriented inclined cam surface engageable with said top edge as said catch element enters said opening whereby said free end is cammed downwardly to pass through said opening.

Claim 17

The lock of claim 14 wherein said catch element is attached to said door member and said lock opening is in said frame member.

Claim 18

The lock of claim 11 wherein said other of said members is provided with a recess surrounding said key openings, and wherein said wall portions terminate in inclined end surfaces engageable with said recess to align said contact surface beneath said key openings when said free end portions are in said first position.