Safety device for disabling a screen door latching mechanism

Claim 1

In a door latching mechanism of the type wherein mechanism having a movable vertical latch bar mounted on the surface of a door jamb between inner and outer doors for engagement with latching means located on the outer door, said latch bar having an extended position for engagement wherein said latch bar is spaced by a first distance from said jamb, the improvement which comprises: (a) guide means for movably receiving a barrier member therein; (b) means for mounting said guide means to said jamb proximate to said latch bar; and (c) an elongate barrier member having first and second ends, said barrier member having a length greater than the distance between the inner door and the latch bar, said barrier member being movably mounted and aligned in said guide means, said second end being contacted by ther inner door upon closure to urge said first end beneath said latch bar when in said extended position, the movement of the barrier member beneath said latch bar limiting movement thereof and preventing the opening of the outer door.