help!

[lockedoutofbathroom]

Hi,

I am locked out of my bathroom right now and the radio is very loud not to mention sinking dribbling and lights on. I have no idea how to pick a lock. I was wondering if you guys could help me figure this out. The lock doesnt have a key. It has a tiny hole in the middle of the handle. I can't open the door a little bit in stick a credit card or screwdriver or nething in there. I have been fooling around with a paper clip for about an hour now. I have looked through this site but cant find help for this type of lock. I'm assuming its pretty easy because its just for a bathroom in a house. Please help me. Thanks.

[Sabin37]

I know of two varieties of these type of lock, which are known as privacy locks.

Type 1 - You have to push a little button inside the knob and then turn the knob when the button is pressed.

Type 2 - In this variety the button must be turned not pushed. You have to take a small screwdriver or something that will turn the button inside the knob. Once it is turned the door is open.

I believe that if the locking mechanism is where you have to push in a button on the knob for it to lock, it will be Type 1. If you have to turn the middle of the knob for it to lock, it is probably Type 2.

Good luck!

[master in training]

if it was me and the sink was overflowing and the radio blaring, i wouldnt be on the pc or messing about, i'd just force the door, like you said, its an internal door, so it shouldn't take much doing! if you're worried about forcing it, could you take off the door knob and turn the bar inside with a pair of pliers?


~ Master in Training ~

[security_lock]

........or you could just take the door off its hinges.............assuming the door opens towards you.

[lockedoutofbathroom]

the hinges are on the other side , the sink is just dripping not overflowing, i think its a type 2 so i will try that

thank you guys

[master in training]

if its on the ground fllor, you could go through the window, or even if its on the second floor if you have a ladder!

the door lock isnt always the only way in, you have to think around the problem and find a different way in. for example, turn off the water at the stop _ and turn off the plug sockets at your fuse box to solve your problems for the moment, then you can work on getting through the door.

[lockedoutofbathroom]

i tried a philips head screw driver but that didnt work and i also tried the pliers but that didnt work.

[lockedoutofbathroom]

do u think flat head would work? i dont have one small enough but i can go buy one

[master in training]

any chance of any photos or anything? you'll need to upload them to a host to put them on to add them to the forum, you can open a free account fairly quickly at places like http://www.photobucket.com

this would probably help people in advising you on how to open it.


~ Master in Training ~

[lockedoutofbathroom]

sorry i dont have a dig camera or scanner


to lock the door , i dont push a button but turn a "switch or button" from sideways to vertical...

there is no key hole just a hole in the center of a handle smaller then the diameter of a pencil... when i put something in it i can not see in the hole.... its pretty hard to see in there as is

i tried unscrewing the knob but it would only come about an inch off the door.

also, the door does not open at all so i can not slide a card or nething to push the lock in

[lockedoutofbathroom]

this is kinda what the inside knob looks like.... the outside knob is the same except a small hole in the center instead of the turn thing

http://stillmemory.ca/mirrorproject/rir ... nob_th.JPG

[digital_blue]

Take a metal coat hanger and straighten it out. Try just pushing it in the lock to see if the lock will pop open upon pressure. If not, pount the end of the hanger flat with a hammer and use that to turn the lock open through the little hole. That hole is there for exactly this reason. You should be able to either push, or turn (as Sabin said) and get the lock unlocked.

Keep us informed. We always like to know what worked!

db

[lockedoutofbathroom]

can u describe the hanger instructions a little clearer, i dont totally understand

[lockedoutofbathroom]

it is a turn one, how would i turn this with a hanger ?

[master in training]

well personally, i have no experience of these locks, but i would imagine the thing you are trying to turn would be one of a few shapes, it may be hex/allen wrehcn shaped, in which case you would need one to fit, or it may be circular, in which case the coat hander may fit, or it may be sort of flat, like a screwdriver shaped, in which case you could hammer the end of the coat hanger flat and use this.

no doubt someone (most likely db) will correct me, but this is my guess as to how it would work, however, like i said, i have never encountered one of these before.

~ Master in Training ~