GB2279696A - Device for locking a letter-box - Google Patents

Abstract

A device 20 for use in locking a letter-box 12 comprises a bracket 30 for mounting on a door 10 or panel adjacent to a letter-box. A stop means is mounted to the bracket 30 to be moveable between a position in which the pivotable flap 14 of the letter-box 12 is held closed and a position in which the flap 14 is allowed to open. The stop means comprises a first L-shaped member 32 which is pivotally mounted to the bracket about a first axis (42, Fig. 2) and a second L-shaped member 34 which is pivotally mounted to the first L-shaped member about a second axis (50, Fig. 2) the two axes being perpendicular to each other. An adjustable abutment in the form of a threaded stud (58, Fig. 2) having a knurled head 60 may be provided on the second L-shaped member 34 for engaging with the pivotable flap 14. <IMAGE>

Description

LOCKING OF LETTERBOXES The present invention relates to the locking of letterboxes and is more especially concerned with a device which is operable at selected times, by a user, to prevent the opening of a pivotable flap in or by a letterbox and so prevent the posting of unwanted circulars, newspapers or other deleterious items through the letterbox.

A device of this kind is known from GB-A-2198184 to which the reader is invited to refer.

The known device included, in general terms, bracket means for mounting on a door or panel, and stop means mounted on said bracket means so as to be captive thereon, said stop means being movable between operative and inoperative positions relative to said bracket means, such that, in use, said stop means, when in its operative position, could abut a co-acting letter flap and prevent opening thereof.

More particularly, it was disclosed that the bracket means could provide a vertical passageway and the stop means could be displaceable both longitudinally along the axis of the passageway and rotationally around the axis of the passageway, whereby the stop means could be moved between its operative and inoperative positions by manual manipulation thereof.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a device which is similar to the known device but which is believed to be easier to operate than and more convenient than the known device.

According to the present invention, a device for use in locking a letterbox comprises: bracket means for mounting on a door or panel, adjacent to a letterbox in the door or panel, and stop means mounted on the bracket means to be movable between operative and inoperative positions, in which a pivotable flap in or by the letterbox in the door or panel is respectively held closed or allowed to open, characterised in that the stop means includes a first member mounted for simple rotary movement relatively to the bracket means about a first axis, and a second member mounted for simple rotary movement relatively to the first member about a second axis, the first and second axes being mutually perpendicular or at least nearly perpendicular.

By splitting the stop means into said two separate members the intended manner of operation of the stop means should be more clearly understood even by a user who has not been given instructions.

Moreover, by the use of said two separate members, the operative position of the stop means is independent of the shape of the letterbox, with the result that the pivotable flap could still be held closed even if the letterbox had a lower surface significantly below the lower edge of the pivotable flap.

Preferably, each of the first and second members is Lshaped.

In one arrangement, each of the first and second members achieves said rotary movement by means of a respective mounting including a rivet, but in another arrangement, each of the first and second members achieves said rotary movement by means of a respective mounting including a bolt and a nut.

The bracket means may be provided with a fixed abutment which is intended, in use, to prevent complete freedom of said rotary movement of the first member.

Moreover, the second member may be provided with an adjustable abutment which is intended, in use, to be movable towards or away from the pivotable flap.

Two devices in accordance with the present invention, for use in locking a letterbox, will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a device of the present invention in its operative position in abutment with a pivotable flap in a letterbox in a door; Figure 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view taken through the device, pivotable flap, letterbox and door of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view from above, the front and one side of a modified device of the present invention; and Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respectively rear, other side and underneath views of the modified device of Figure 3.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, a typical door 10 is shown having a letterbox 12 of standard shape provided with a typical pivotable flap 14 - these components need not be described more fully, apart from to confirm that the door 10 could be replaced by a fixed wall, or panel, and that the pivotable flap 14 need not be spring-loaded but could merely hang under gravity.

A device in accordance with the present invention, to be mounted to the door 10 to lock the letterbox 12 by abutment with the pivotable flap 14, is indicated generally by the reference 20.

It will be seen that the device 20 includes bracket means in the form of a plate 30 as well as stop means in the form of a first member 32 and a second member 34.

The device 20 is largely made of metal and may have a brass or chrome finish in order to be attractive.

The plate 30 is provided with a pair of countersunk holes 36, for receiving respective screws 38 for fixing the plate 30 to the door 10 below the letterbox 12, and is also provided with a fixed abutment in the form of a domed stud 40.

The first member 32 is L-shaped and is mounted on the plate 30 for simple rotary movement about an axis 42. The mounting includes a bolt 44 and a nut 46, the bolt 44 passing through aligned apertures in the first member 32 and the plate 30, which are separated by a friction reducing washer 48. The first member 32 can thus be swung generally "vertically" in the direction of the arrows A.

The second member 34 is also L-shaped and is again mounted for simple rotary movement about an axis 50. The mounting is similar to that previously described and includes a bolt 52, a nut 54 and a friction reducing washer 56. The second member 34 can thus be swung generally "horizontally" in the direction of the arrows B.

Finally, an adjustable abutment is provided in the form of a threaded stud 58, with a knurled head 60, the stud 58 co-operating with a threaded aperture 62 in the second member 34 as well as a nut 64.

It will be appreciated that turning the knurled head 60 moves the free end of the threaded stud 58 into a desired position with respect to the pivotable flap 14 i.e.

preferably in abutment with the pivotable flap 14.

It will also be appreciated that, to move the device 20 to its inoperative position from the operative position shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2, the second member 34 is swung through 900 either clockwise or anticlockwise relatively to the first member 32, which is then itself allowed to swing under gravity through 900 in a clockwise sense, movement of the second member 34 anticlockwise from the operative position being prevented by the domed stud 40.

Movement of the device 20 to its operative position from its inoperative position is the reverse of movement of the device 20 to its inoperative position from its operative position.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 6, a modified device 20' in accordance with the present invention is shown which is substantially the same as the device 20 disclosed hereinabove and thus only the following changes need now be mentioned:a) the bolt 44 and nut 46 have been replaced by a rivet 44'; b) the bolt 52 and nut 54 have been replaced by a rivet 52'; and c) the threaded stud 58 and knurled head 60 have been replaced by a longer threaded stud 58' and a smaller knurled head 60'.

All other components are the same i.e. have remained substantially unchanged.

It will be appreciated that the non-headed end of each of the rivets 44' and 52' is non-rotatably fixed to the plate 30 and the first member 32, respectively, for example by welding, with the first member 32 and the second member 34 being rotatably movable relatively to the headed ends of the rivets 44 and 52', respectively.

The main advantage of the modified device 20', over the device 20, is that it is not necessary to form a recess or aperture in the door or panel, for receiving the nut 46, when mounting the modified device 20' because the rear of its plate 30 can be essentially flat.

Claims (8)

1. A device for use in locking a letterbox comprising: bracket means for mounting on a door or panel, adjacent to a letterbox in the door or panel, and stop means mounted on the bracket means to be movable between operative and inoperative positions, in which a pivotable flap in or by the letterbox in the door or panel is respectively held closed or allowed to open, characterised in that the stop means includes a first member mounted for simple rotary movement relatively to the bracket means about a first axis, and a second member mounted for simple rotary movement relatively to the first member about a second axis, the first and second axes being mutually perpendicular or at least nearly perpendicular.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which each of the first and second members is L-shaped.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which each of the first and second members achieves said rotary movement by means of a respective mounting including a rivet.

4. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which each of the first and second members achieves said rotary movement by means of a respective mounting including a bolt and a nut.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the bracket means is provided with a fixed abutment which is intended, in use, to prevent complete freedom of said rotary movement of the first member.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the second member is provided with an adjustable abutment which is intended, in use, to be movable towards or away from the pivotable flap.

7. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 to 6, of the accompanying drawings.

8. A device according to any preceding claim when mounted on a door or panel adjacent to a letterbox in the door or panel.