Lock bar

Claim 1

A lock bar for securing adjacent door panels each having a hinge edge and a lock edge in a closed condition comprising a first elongated hollow holding bracket having a rectangular cross section, a lock edge end and a hinge edge end extending lengthwise across a substantial portion of the one of the door panels between the hinge edge and lock edge thereof, means securing the first holding bracket to the one of the door panels with the lock edge end thereof adjacent to but in substantial spaced relation from the lock edge thereof, a second elongated hollow holding bracket having a rectangular cross section, a lock edge end and a hinge edge end extending for a substantial distance longitudinally between the hinge edge and lock edge of the other of the adjacent door panels, means for securing the second holding bracket to the other of the door panels with the lock edge end thereof adjacent to but in substantial spaced relation from the lock edge of the other of the door panels in longitudinal alignment with the first holding bracket, an elongated hollow cross bolt having a rectangular cross section with exterior dimensions slightly less than the interior dimensions of the holding brackets whereby the cross bolt may be moved into and out of the holding brackets across the lock edges of the door panels, pin means extending across the hinge edge end of the second holding bracket for preventing movement of the cross bolt through the hinge edge end of the second holding bracket and removable locking means extending across the hinge edge end of the first holding bracket for selectively preventing withdrawal of the cross bolt from the hinge edge end of the first holding bracket, said cross bolt extending from the pin means to the locking means substantially the entire distance between the hinge edge ends of the holding brackets in a locking position within the holding brackets, wherein the means for securing the holding brackets to the door panels are secured to the holding brackets at each end thereof and each comprises a threaded stud secured to the holding bracket and extending perpendicularly thereto through the respective door panel, a dual diameter retaining member the smaller diameter end thereof being threadedly engaged with the free end of the stud on the other side of the door panel from the holding brackets, a larger diameter washer positioned between the other side of the door panel and retaining member concentric with and positioned over the stud, a screw extending through the washer and into the other side of the door panel having a one way slotted head, and means securing the retaining member and washer together to prevent relative rotation thereof about the longitudinal axis of the stud, and further including a cylindrical hardened steel bar positioned centrally of the cross bolt so as to extend between the lock edge ends of the first and second holding brackets with the cross bolt positioned between the pin means across the hinge edge of the second holding bracket and the locking means and pins extending transversely of the cross bolt at the opposite ends of the steel bar for securing the steel bar centrally of the cross bolt while permitting rotation thereof relative to the cross bolt, and wherein the cross bolt is of a highly visible color and distinct from the color of the door panel and the holding brackets so as to be highly visible in a locking position between the holding brackets and in an unlocking position extending out of the hinge edge end of the first holding bracket.