Last week Stuart asked about using a Schlag keypad door lock for keeping his toddler out of the basement. I must have been thinking about this problem subconsciously because while I was browsing Pinterest for some table saw dust collection ideas, I found a pin to the Howsar temporary or travel lock.
The Howsar lock is a little plastic tool that fits into a standard sized door strike plate to create a temporary lock for doors that don’t have one.
Advertisement
There are several different temporary locks on the market, but most of them have metal parts. Being made out of reinforced nylon, the Howsar lock is going to be safer for pets and kids and shouldn’t get you stopped if you decide to put it in your carry-on bag.
It can be adapted for most interior doors and is not accessible from the other side of the door. The lock installs without tools. You simply open the door and place the tab of the long part into the hole in the strike plate. Then you close the door and insert the cam piece into the slot and push it in until it is tight against the door.
If you live in the UK you can purchase the lock for about £6 ($8.50 US) shipped, otherwise you’ll have to pay a larger shipping and handling fee. For instance to ship one to my house would cost me £8.50 ($12 US) total.
Buy Now (via Hoswar Lock in the UK)
Below is a short video demonstrating by Global Travel Products, showing how to use the Howsar temporary door lock.
Advertisement
Stuart’s Note: This seems like the perfect thing to keep my toddler out of the non-locking hall closet!
Nathan
nifty idea.
I was looking at a set of slipper – knob covers for a similar purpose. But I always heard they didn’t work all that well.
round knob , no lever handle. plastic 2 piece afair – surrounds the knob such that you have to grip the whol thing with enough pressure or else the plastic slips around the knob without enough grip to turn the knob to unlatch.
Benjamen
We used the knob covers on our basement door knob successfully for several years. They don’t last for ever though. By the end the clips to keep the halves together were broken and the rubber overmold was breaking down. It was kind of gooey and gross.
But, they were inexpensive and served their purpose.
Stuart
I bought some knob covers, and went around the knob aisle at HD. I could only find one knob style that wasn’t too large for them to fit properly.
Mike
Are you still looking for a door solution? You might go look at Toys ‘R’ Us. They have an entire section of devices for making your house child-resistant, including numerous door latches and door knob/lever attachments. You can actually examine them in your hands before buying them unlike Amazon.
Stuart
I’ll keep that in mind, thanks!
I’ve been very familiar with the selection at Home Depot and Target. I haven’t been to the Babies R Us one in a while.
fred
I don’t recall how we kid-proofed most of our single doors – all lever style handles – but I remember making a simple lock for our 3 sets of double doors.
What I did was to cut a piece of 1×3 hardwood about 3 inches longer than distance between the centerline of the 2 handles. I then drilled and cut 2 u-shaped notches in the board to form a yoke to slip over the 2 handles. I drilled a hole (centered on the 1x side) lengthwise near the bottom edge of the board to accommodate (snug fit) a brass rod to slip in and seal off each of the open “U” s. I used a laminate trimmer to round over all the edges – and I threaded one end of the rod and added an acorn nut secured with locktite as a handle. I stained the wood to match the doors. All three sets of doors had 1 operating an 1 dummy handle – with mortised in throw bolts – so the fixed door secured the movable door when the contraption was in place. By the time the kids figured out how it worked – it was no longer needed.
Dave in VT
Slightly different design, DIY using a fork: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lNFJt10w1E
dll932
If I recall correctly, there are similar devices available for travelers from other sources.
Jon
There are several designs like this one (first I found on a google search just now) that I have seen in use in homes where I’ve done work. The first time I encountered one it took me a moment to figure out how to use it. A kid who doesn’t really understand will take much longer to learn how, though the most observant and determined ones will eventually figure it out, just like every other kind of child lock. 🙂
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/french-door-lever-handle-lock-by-safety-1st/1014996389?skuId=14996389
dll932
And another possibility perhaps:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/safety-1st-reg-secure-mount-deadbolt-lock/1041479315
maxwasatch
I had a metal lock with a similar concept back when I was in college. It actually took a key and could lock some drawers and cabinets as well. Sadly, a swift kick to the door bent it badly and I had to reinforce it with some large washers. I am not sure where it ended up. maybe a box somewhere.
For keeping kids in the house I have a hotel-style lock at the top of the main entrance door. Adds some security and keeps the munchkins from opening the entry door unless I want them to open it.