GB2266917A

GB2266917A - Padlock security device

Info

Publication number: GB2266917A
Application number: GB9309629A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Fendick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-05-13
Filing date: 1993-05-11
Publication date: 1993-11-17
Also published as: GB9309629D0; GB9210290D0

Abstract

Locking means for locking eg a door 11 to a doorpost or two gates 10, 11 together comprise a padlock 30, a hood or casing 21 which substantially encloses the padlock, and a lever 40 mounted in the hood or casing which engages with the padlock arm 31, the casing having on its face a keyhole 33 aligned with the keyhole of the padlock and on its opposite side a slot 22 through which an eye bar attached to one of the gates, 12 can be passed. The lever may have an operating element projecting through the casing, but preferably has a slot 44, matching the key of the padlock, accessible through a second keyhole in the face of the casing. The padlock is fixed in the casing, which is attached to the other gate, or door post. All parts of the padlock (including its arm) are thus protected within the casing. The padlock arm is operated by means of the lever, which is inside the casing, so cannot be interfered with. The padlock body is likewise inside the casing, and similarly cannot be interfered with. The casing also prevents access to the eye bar when the device is in use (provided that the two bodies to which the casing and the eye bar are respectively attached are in close contact), so that it cannot be reached by any effective form of cutting means. <IMAGE>

Description

Security device Deorice The present invention relates to security devices, and more specifically to locking devices.

There are many situations where there is a need for locking means to secure together two large and relatively movable bodies, such as a door and door frame, or a pair of doors. In some cases, a lock can conveniently be built into one of the bodies with a bolt arm which engages with the other arm. In other cases, a padlock is more convenient.

A built-in lock is best used where one side of the door is inaccessible - eg where the door gives access to the interior of a building. The locking mechanism - both the control mechanism and the bolt operated by it - are then inaccessible when the door is locked. A potential intruder can of course physically attack the door itself, but the only point of attack against the lock is through the keyhole, which requires lock-picking abilities.

There are many situations where, for one reason or another, it is not convenient to use a built-in lock. It may be difficult or impossible to build a lock into one of the bodies. Both sides of the bodies may be accessible - eg the bodies may be a gate and a gatepost. Or the two bodies may both be movable - eg a pair of doors or gates - in which case a more elaborate type of lock would be needed to lock then to each other.

The padlock has long been established for such situations, for both fixed buildings and vehicles. One of the two bodies (say a door frame) has a projecting eye bar attached to it and the other (a door) has an aperture through which the eye bar projects when the door is closed against the door frame.

(The aperture may be in an arm projecting from and possibly hinged to the door.) The padlock has its arm placed through the eye bar and is then locked in position. This prevents the eye bar from being withdrawn from the aperture; that is, the door from being moved away from the door frame.

A padlock is highly effective at preventing casual opening by unauthorized persons. It is however less effective against a determined attack by someone who has suitable tools. The vulnerable part of the padlock is primarily its arm, and this can be attacked by bolt-cutters or by a hacksaw or other cutting device (which may be power driven) The eye bar (and the arm, if present) may be similarly attacked.

The primary object of the present invention is to improve the security of such locking means.

The crux of the present invention is the provision, in combination with a padiock, of a hood or casing which substantially encloses the padlock together with a lever which engages with the padlock arm the casing having on its face a keyhole aligned with the keyhole of the padiock and on its opposite side a slot through which an eye bar can be passed. The lever may have an operating ele ment projecting through the casting, but preferably has a slot, matching the key of the padlock, accessible through a second keyhole in the face of the casing.

As will be seen, this provides e high degree of protection for the padlock, since all parts of the padlock (including its aren) are protected within the casing.

The padlock arm is operated by means of the lever, which is inside the casing, and therefore cannot be interfered with. The padlock body is likewise inside the casing, and similarly cannot be interfered with. The casing also prevents access to the eye bar when the device is in use (provided that the two bodies to which the casing and the eye bar are respectively attached are in close contact in that situation), so that it cannot be reached by any effective form of cutting means.

As the padlock is protected from major attack by the casing, the padlock can therefore be a relatively cheap type.

Further features of the invention will become apparent frorn the following description of a security device embodying the invention and in use on a gate, given by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. l is a top sectional view of the device; and Fig. 2 is a front view of a part of the device.

Referring to the Fig. L, it is assumed that the device is to be used to lock together two iron gates which have meeting ends 10 and It. (Thus the gateposts are some way off to the right and left of the drawing.) The device comprises two major components: an eye bar 12 and a box unit 14.

The eye bar 12 is a bar with a hole at its end and which is welded (or otherwise permanently attached) to the gate 10. A plate 15 is welded to the gate behind the attachment of the eye bar 12, to strengthen that attachment and protect it from attack.

The hox unit t4 comprises a casing 13 together with contents described below. The casing is welded to the gate 11, and comprises a base plate 20 formed integrally with generally rectangular boxing 21 as shown, eg by welding, using heavy gauge metal to render it effectively proof against attack. The casing 1 3 is substantially closed, having only a hole 22 in the base plate 20 through which the eye bar 1 2 can pass and a pair of keyholes on its front.

The casing contains a padlock 30 which is fixed in position, eg by spot welding to the base plate 20. The arm 31 of the padlock is pivoted at its lower right-hand end as shown so that it can be swung into and out of en,,agernenc with the eye bar i2. When the padiock arm 31 is swung to the extreme anticlockwise position, its left-hand end engages with the body of the padlock and locks in position. The padlock can be unlocked by means of its key (not shown), which is passed through a suitably located keyhole 33 in the front face of the casing 13.

The box unit also includes a lever 40 which is pivoted at one end 41 on a pivot 42 and has its other end 43 bent to form a right angle. The end 42 at the pivot has a slot 44 formed in it into which a key (which can conveniently be the padlock key) will fit, through a second keyhole 46 in the front face of the casing 13. The lever 40 can therefore be swung to and fro by means of this key.

If desired, a lock mechanism adapted to the particular shape of the key can be used. However, this is generally unnecessary, as the padlock 30 provides security against the use of a key of the wrong pattern. Alternatively, a knob located outside the casing may be attached to the lever for turning it.

The other end 43 of the lever has a slot 45 which engages with the padlock arm 31. Rotation of the lever about its pivot 42 therefore causes a corresponding rotation of the padlock arm 31. Thus the padlock arm 31 can be swung anticlockwise through the eye in the eye bar 12 to lock in the closed position, from which it can be released only by inserting the key into the padlock and turning it. Once the arm 31 is released, it can then be swung clockwise, to move it out of engagement with the eye bar 12, by inserting the key in the slot of the lever 40 and turning the lever clockwise.

Using the device for locking and unlocking the gates is therefore simple.

However, the arm of the padlock and the part of the eye bar 12 which engages therewith are completely inaccessible to instruments such as bolt cutters, hacksaws, and grinding discs. The main body of the padlock is almost completely inaccessible, as the only aperture in the casing through which it can be reached is the keyhole 33. Such accessibility is extremely restricted, so that it would be difficult to inflict serious damage to the padlock (and it would still be difficult to release the padlock arm) The keyholes are too small to be used as substantial points of attack on the casing or to allow significant access to the padlock for a destructive attack on it. It is still possible for the padlock to be picked, but even that is made more åiffirult, because access to it is restricted by the keyhole in the casing.

The casing can be given a slightly curved top, to shed rain, and provided with small openings at the bottom, to allow drainage of any liquids which may -Fii-,d n d their way inside.

The use of the device is not restricted to gates of the type described, but it can be applied, with suitable adaptations, to a wide variety of situations in which padlocks are used.

Claims

1 Locking means comprising a padlock, a hood or casing which substantially encloses the padlock, and a lever mounted in the hood or casing which engages with the padlock arm, the casing having on its face a keyhole aligned with the keyhole of the padlock and on its opposite side a slot through which an eye bar can be passed.

2 Locking means according to claim l wherein the lever has an operating element project ng through the casing.

3 Locking means according to claim l wherein the lever has a slot, matching the key of the padlock, accessible through a second keyhole in the face of the casing.

4 Locking means substantially as herein described.

5 Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features specifically disclosed herein within the meaning of Article H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).