EP1554955A1

EP1554955A1 - Security device for a letterbox

Info

Publication number: EP1554955A1
Application number: EP04075151A
Authority: EP
Inventors: René Van Diest
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-01-19
Filing date: 2004-01-19
Publication date: 2005-07-20

Abstract

The invention relates to a security device for a letterbox (2,5) that is mounted in a part (1) of a building, such as a door or the like. The security device comprises a closed cover (7), which can be placed into abutment with the outer side of the part of the building in which the letterbox (2,5) is present, in such a manner that the cover (7) surrounds the letterbox (2,5), which device furthermore comprises fastening means (10), which engage the side of the cover (7) that faces toward the letterbox (2,5) and which can be passed through the letterbox opening (3) so as to be fastened in place inside the building.

Description

The invention relates to a security device for a letterbox that is mounted in a part of a building, such as a door or the like, which security device comprises a closed cover, which can be placed into abutment with the outer side of the part of the building in which the letterbox is present, in such a manner that the cover surrounds the letterbox, whilst the device furthermore comprises fastening means by which the cover can be secured to a locking element present at the inner side of the opening of the letterbox.
In many cases it may be desirable to be able to close off a letterbox in such a manner that no undesirable objects or the like can be introduced into a building, such as a house, via the letterbox. Think in this connection of the turn of the year, when there is a risk of firework being thrown into the building through the letterbox. Especially in entertainment districts, undesirable material is frequently introduced into buildings via the letterbox at night.
From British patent No. 2314373 an indication can be derived with regard to a security device of the above kind, which can be fitted to letterboxes; a clear description of such a security device cannot be derived from said publication, however.
According to the invention, at least one rod is connected to the inside of the cover, in such a manner that the rod can be passed through the opening of the letterbox upon fitting of the cover for protecting the letterbox, the length of said rod being such that, once the cover has been fitted, said rod projects into the interior of the building for being connected to the locking element which is present at the inner side of the opening and which extends over said opening.
Using the construction according to the invention, an effective security device for a letterbox can be obtained, which can firmly abut against the outer side of the building, so that it will also be difficult to vandalize the security device from outside.
The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying Figure, which shows a schematic, sectional view of a door provided with a letterbox and a security device according to the invention mounted thereon.
In the accompanying Figure a door 1 is shown as an example of a part of a building, but it will be apparent that the letterbox may also be present in another part of a building, such as a window, a wall or the like. It is also possible to use the security device according to the invention, which will be described below, with letterboxes that are not mounted in a door.
As is furthermore shown in the Figure , a usual frame-like part 2 of a letterbox is fixed to the outer side of the door 1, in such a manner that the opening 3 enclosed by said frame-like part is aligned with an opening 4 formed in the door 1.
A flap 5 is furthermore pivotally connected to the frame-like part 2 by means of pivot pins 6. The flap is shown in the open position thereof, in which position postal matter and the like can be delivered to the interior of the building in question through the letterbox in a usual manner via the openings 3 and 4 in the situation in which the security device is not fitted.
The security device according to the invention comprises a cover 7, which is provided with a circumferential edge 8, wherein the dimension of the cover 7 comprising the circumferential edge 8 is such that the circumferential edge 8 can be positioned around the frame-like part 2 of the letterbox with its free end, into abutment with the door 1 or the part of the building in which the letterbox is present. The closed cover 7 thus closes off the opening 3 of the letterbox.
Present on the inner side of the cover are at least two projections 9, or a strip 9 extending in the longitudinal direction of the cover, for example, in which threaded bores are formed. Stud bolts 10 are screwed into said threaded bores in the projection(s) or strip 9, the length of said stud bolts 10 being such that the stud bolts forming the fastening means in question extend into the interior of the building through the aforesaid openings 3 and 4 in the position in which the cover 7 abuts against a door or the like part of a building in a position surrounding the letterbox.
A locking plate 11 provided with holes corresponding to the stud bolts 10 is moved over the stud bolts extending into the building. The dimensions of the locking plate 11 are such that the locking plate can be supported over at least part of its circumference on parts of the door 1 or the like surrounding the opening 4. The door 1 or the like is clamped between the locking plate 11 and the cover 7 by means of butterfly nuts 12 or the like, which are screwed onto the stud bolts 10, as is shown in the Figure. It will be apparent that a solid fixation of the cover 7 that closes off the opening 3 of the letterbox to the door 1 or the like is effected in this manner, and since the cover 7 is not provided with projecting parts or the like and abuts firmly against the door 1 with its free circumferential edge, it will be difficult for persons to remove the cover 7 from the outside of the door 1 or the like with malicious intent. The security device is nevertheless easy to fit without much effort, so that anyone will be able to fit the security device and remove it again.

Claims

A security device for a letterbox that is mounted in a part of a building, such as a door or the like, which security device comprises a closed cover, which can be placed into abutment with the outer side of the part of the building in which the letterbox is present, in such a manner that the cover surrounds the letterbox, whilst the security device furthermore comprises fastening means by which the cover can be secured to a locking element present at the inner side of the opening of the letterbox, characterized in that at least one rod is connected to the inside of the cover, in such a manner that the rod can be passed through the opening of the letterbox upon fitting of the cover for protecting the letterbox, the length of said rod being such that, once the cover has been fitted, said rod projects into the interior of the building for being connected to the locking element which is present at the inner side of the opening and which extends over said opening.
A security device according to claim 1, characterized in that two rods to be passed through the opening of the letterbox are fixed to said cover.
A security device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said rods are provided with screw thread along at least part of their length so as to make it possible to screw fastening means thereon.
A security device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said security device is made up of a locking plate, which is provided with one or more holes for passing the rods therethrough.
A security device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rod is made up of a stud bolt, which is screwed into a threaded hole with one end, which hole is formed in a part of the cover that is present on the inner side of the cover.