US 11447993

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 11447993:

• Patent Number: US11447993B1
• Title: Door security device
• Assignee: Notrox LLC
• Inventor: John Reger
• Filing Date: November 22, 2021
• Issue Date: September 20, 2022
• Abstract: A door security device for an in-swing door includes a mounting plate secured to the door jamb adjacent the door outside edge, a hinge pin assembly supported by the mounting plate proximate the door outside edge, a locking swing plate secured to the hinge pin assembly for pivotal movement between unlocked and locked angular positions in relation to the hinge pin vertical axis, the locking swing plate biased by force of gravity to a lowermost position, and the mounting plate having a first receiver wall defining the lowermost position of the locking swing plate in the locked position perpendicular to a first rear surface of the mounting plate and defining the uppermost position of the locking swing plate in the unlocked position away from the locked angular position.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a door locking device designed to prevent forced entry through an in-swing door. The device includes a mounting plate that fastens to the door jamb next to the door's outside edge. This mounting plate features a series of "first receiver ears" and "first receiver bays" arranged along a central hinge pin axis. A "locking swing plate" has corresponding "second receiver ears" that fit into these bays. The first receiver ears are uniquely shaped with a "first major rest" at their highest point (for an unlocked position), a "declining slide surface," and a "first locking channel" at their lowest point (for a locked position). The locking swing plate can both pivot and move up and down. When the swing plate is rotated into a "locking angular position" and allowed to drop to its "lowermost vertical position," a "major blocking surface" on the plate presses against the inside surface of the door, securing it. The design ensures that gravity pulls the swing plate into and holds it in this locked position, preventing it from pivoting out of place unless a user manually lifts it.
• Claim 10: This claim further details the door locking device, specifically elaborating on the "first receiver wall" component of the mounting plate. It highlights that this wall has a varying height, with a "first major rest" defining its maximum height and a "locking channel bottom wall" defining its minimum height. A "declining slide surface" connects these two heights, sloping downward. The "locking channel" is described as an open slot that passes through the receiver wall. This channel, along with other walls and surfaces, guides a "neck portion" of the locking swing plate's receiver into the channel. Similar to Claim 1, this claim emphasizes that gravity biases the locking swing plate into its lowermost, locked position within this channel, where its blocking surface abuts the door's interior surface to prevent forced entry. The locking swing plate remains fixed in this position until manually lifted by a user.

Legal Status and CAFC Dockets:
US Patent 11447993B1 is currently Active, with an anticipated expiration date of November 22, 2041. No specific dockets related to patent 11447993 were found in the provided CAFC 2026 docket search results.