AU619316B2 - Padlock cover - Google Patents

Description

Form COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 6 PATENTS ACT 1952-6919 16 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: PI 9391 20.7.1988 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: S**Priorit

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Related Art:

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Name of Applicant:

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Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: CLIVE DAVID MOULDAY 19 Arnside CrescI Westmeadows, Victoria, Australia CLIVE DAVID MOULDAY 0 ,g Watermark Patent Trademark Attorneys 50 QUEEN STREET, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 3000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: PADLOCK COVER M 010834 1 0789 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me 2 PADLOCK COVER This invention relates to a lock mechanism cover and relates particularly but not exclusively to a padlock cover which protects the padlock staple and the majority of the padlock from unauthorised tampering. The invention also relates to a locking assembly including a lock mechanism cover in association with a padlock and conventional padlock lockable bolt or hasp and staple means. The lock mechanism cover and locking assembly of the invention is applicable to any conventional lock mechanism able to be secured by a padlock.

The problem with a conventional lock mechanism secured by a padlock is that the shackle of the padlock is unprotected from attack by way of tools such as levers, bolt cutters or hacksaws. One locking assembly designed to 55 o. overcome the above problem is disclosed in PCT Application No. PCT/GB/00314 (publication WO 83/01645). The device Sdescribed in this application is specifically directed to a locking mechanism including a hasp and staple securable by way of a padlock. The device includes a housing designed to shield the hasp and staple as well as shielding the shackle of the padlock from unauthorised tampering. The housing S includes a base plate having a slot permitting the staple to protrude therethrough which, when secured by the hasp and a padlock, is prevented from being removed by reason of the base plate being secured between the staple and the hasp by way of the shackle of the padlock which is engaged in the shackle hole of the staple. It will be seen that this device whilst affording some protection from unauthorised tampering will still permit access to the shackle of the padlock as the length of the housing is restricted. If the length of the housing is increased to cover substantially all of the padlock body as well as the shackle, it is not possible to engage the padlock shackle with the hole in the staple of the lock assembly.

It is an object of this invention to provide a lock mechanism cover and a locking assembly which overcomes or 3 substantially overcomes the disadvantages of the above and other known locking assemblies which include padlocks and covers therefor.

In one form the present invention therefore provides a lock cover having a body portion and a shackle portion, said lock being adapted to engage with and secure a staple of a locking means, said lock cover including a housing adapted to surround and shield the lock and a locking piece disposable within and/or through the housing, and between the lock body and the shackle to co-operate with the body portion and the shackle of the lock and the housing such that when the lock is secured the locking piece prevents removal of the housing by inter engagement of said lock, locking piece and said locking piece with the 1 0 body portion and the shackle of the lock and with the housing.

The present invention also provides a lock cover having a body portion and a shackle portion, said lock being adapted to engage with and secure a staple of a locking means, said lock cover including a housing adapted to surround and shield the lock "nd a locking piece disposable within and/or through the housing and between the lock body and 1..1.5 the shackle tc co-operate with the lock and the housing such that when the lock is within the cover the locking piece is in place and the lock is closed, the locking piece is secured i within the housing by the lock and prevents the housing from being removed from the lock by inter engagement of said lock, locking piece and said housing.

Preferably the lock cover is of a substantially hollow rectangular cross-section dimensioned to accept and shield the lock. Preferably the locking piece comprises a pin which passes through opposite walls of the housing and is engageable with the lock or lock body within or between the lock body and the shackle to prevent the cover or pin from being removed when the lock is secured. Alternatively, the locking piece comprises a bar or block which is able to be placed within the housing to abut against stop means within 5 the housing to lock the housing to the lock when the lock is secured.

Preferably the lock cove- includes resilient material, preferably in the form of a sleeve (such as rubber "NIT 0 i 4 or the like) within said housing to additionally protect the lock. Such resilient material protects the lock from forcing open by jarring when struck with a heavy object such as a sledge hammer or the like.

Several preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lock cover in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternate lock cover in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a further alternative lock cover in accordance with the 0 9 invention.

.0 Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a 00 further alternative lock cover in accordance with the invention.

Figures 5 and 6 are schematic cross-sectional views of a further preferred alternative construction of a lock cover in accordance with the invention showing the mechanisms in the unlocked (Fig. 5) and locked (Fig. 6) S0 0 configurations.

08*.0 Referring to Figure i, there is shown a cover surrounding a lock 23 having a body portion 11 and shackle 12 attaced to the staple 13 of a latch mechanism (not shown in detail). The lock 23 is enclosed within housing 14 comprising side walls 15,16 and end walls 17 (with opposing 00 end wall, not shown). Locking piece 18 passes through apertures 19 in the side walls of the housing 14 and between the legs 22 of the shackle 12 and the body 11. Locking piece 18 in the form of a bar of metal of substantially circular cross-section includes notch 20 to permit movement of body 11 and shackle 12 to the secured or locked position as shown. Co-operation between the lock body 11, the locking piece 18 and housing 14 prevents removal of the housing which substantially prevents unauthorised tampering with the shackle 12 of the lock when the cover is in place.

i 5 Sections of the side or end walls of the housing at the end closest to the staple 13 may be removed to allow for locks 23 having various shackle lengths 12, or to accommodate differing configurations of latch and staple mechanisms.

Connector 21 in the form of a wire or chain may be used to attach the locking piece 18 to the housing 14 so that the parts may be readily selected when required for use.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown an alternate construction of cover 30 wherein housing 14 is of similar construction to the housing of Figure 1 and includes side 15,16 and end wall 17. Locking piece 31 comprises a cylindrical section 32 and a handle section 33 in which the cylindrical section 32 is adapted to abut against cradle members 34,35 attached to the side walls 15,16 within the housing 14. Keyhole aperture 36 in one side wall permits the locking piece to be inserted through the larger portion 37 of the keyhole aperture in the side wall and abutted against the cradles with the handle 33 being disposed within the smaller portion 38 of the keyhole when the lock 23 is closed or secured. Co-operation between the lock body 11 and the side walls 15,16 acts to prevent r removal of the locking piece 31 and thus unauthorised access to the shackle 12 of the lock 23 when the lock and cover is secured to the staple 13 of a locking mechanism as before. Again, as before, connector 21 may be included.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown in similar invention in which housing 14 is as described before and includes side and end walls 15,16,17. In this embodiment the locking piece 41 comprises an approximately rectangular member which is adapted to snugly fit between legs 22 of the shackle 12 of the lock 23. The locking piece abuts with chocks 42,43 attached to the side walls 15,16 within the housing 14. It will be readily apparent that when the lock is secured to the staple 13 of a locking mechanism, the housing 14 due to abutment of the locking piece 41 between the chocks 42,43 and the lock body 11 and between the legs 6 22 of the shackle 12, will not permit unauthorised access to the shackle 12 of the lock 23 or to a substantial portion or all of the body 11 of the lock 23. Again, connector 21 may be included as described before.

The parts of the lock cover of the invention may be made of any suitable material but are preferably of suitable metal or metal alloy, such as, iron or steel. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made to the cover particularly described without departing from the spirit of the invention described.

For example, the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 may be varied in that the 1 0 locking member may include slots cut therein and partially therethrough to engage with the aperture or apertures of the walls of the housing to prevent removal when the mechanism is secured. Similarly, with regard to the embodiment of Figure 3, a plate like locking member may be used which includes slots cut therein to engage with cooperating slots in the walls of the housing.

15 Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a further embodiment of the invention in which the lock cover 50 comprises housing 14 of similar construction to that shown in .Figure 1 or 2 which includes apertures 51, 52 in side walls 15, 16 to accommodate locking pin 53 which is of substantially square cross-section. The apertures 51, 52 in the walls of the housing are such as to permit free passage of the pin through the walls and between the legs of the shackle 22 of the lock. The pin 53 includes cut out or recesses 54 to accommodate the walls of the housing therein when the cover and the lock is in a locked configuration. As with previous variations or embodiments the cooperation between the cover and the locking pin and the lock prevents removal of the locking pin and i lock and substantial unauthorised access to the lock and shackle when affixed to a staple S 25 andlocked.

It will be readiiy apparent that the cross-sectional configuration of the pin and apertures of 3O -1, IA 4 Mtr -2 i. l;.i '1 :i j Figure 4 may be of any other convenient cross-sectional form such as round or rectangular.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a further embodiment of cover according to the invention which is a variation of that described in relation to Figure 1.

Like parts are numbered as in Figure 1. The housing 14 is additionally provided with tubular portions 61 and 62 extending outwardly from either side of the housing coaxially with the apertures 19 in the walls of the housing. The tubular portions are dimensioned such that the locking member can slide to and fro between the unlocking position as shown in Figure 5 and the locking position as shown in Figure 6. Again as in Figure 1 the 1 0 locking pin includes cut out, recess or notch 20 to permit movement of ihe lock to the locked position. The locking pin also includes lug 63 projecting from and affixed thereto dimensioned to slide in slot 64 in tubular portion 62. It will be readily seen that such configuration maintains the cover and locking piece together without need for connector 21 as in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4.

Referring again to Figures 5 and 6, the general operation of the device of the invention will be described. The operation of the devices of Figures 1 to 4 is similar.

In Figure 5 the lock 71 is inserted in its open position through the hole of staple 13. The lock 71 is open such that one leg of the staple is free from the lock body. The lock cover is passed over the lock with the locking piece 19 withdrawn as shown in 20 Figure 5 to permit clean access of the lock 71 into the cover. The locking piece 18 is then inserted through the cover and between the legs of the shackle to the position shown in Figure 6. The notch 70 is positioned over the lock body 11 to enable closure of the lock by engagement of the shackle legs in the lock mechanism in the lock body. Such :I locking prevents sliding of the locking piece 18 whilst the lock is closed and prevents 25 removal of the lock cover by cooperation of the locking piece, lock body, shackle, locking piece and housing as will A9

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8 be readily apparent. Conversely unlocking of the lock by means of eg. a key permits the locking piece to be slid out of the way to permit the lock cover to be removed and the lock to be disengaged from the stable 13.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the lock cover may be made of any suitable metal and that many modifications may be made to the lock cover without departing from the scope of the invention herein described in the form of preferred embodiments.

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Claims (10)

1. A lock cover for a lock having a body portion and a shackle portion, said lock being adapted to engage with and secure a staple of a locking means, said lock cover including a housing adapted to surround and shield the lock and a locking piece disposable within and/or through the house, and between the lock body and the shackle to co-operate with the body portion and the shackle of the lock and the housing such that when the lock is secured the body portion and/or of the shackle of the lock prevents removal of the locking piece and the locking piece prevents removal of the housing by inter engagement of said locking piece with the body portion and the shackle of the lock and with the housing.

2. A lock cover for a lock having a body portion and a shackle portion, said lock being adapted to engage with and secure a staple of a locking means, said lock cover including a housing adapted to surround and shield the lock and a locking piece disposable within 0 to o and/or through the housing and between the lock body and the shackle to co-operate with the lock and the housing such that when the lock is within the cover, the locking piece is in place and the lock is closed, the locking piece is secured within the housing by the lock and prevents the housing from being removed from the lock by inter engagement of said lock, locking piece and said housing.

3. A cover as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the lock cover comprises a housing of S substantially hollow rectangular cross-section dimensioned to accept and shield the lock. o@ S

4. A cover as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the locking piece comprises a pin which passes through opposite walls of the housing and is engageable with the lock or lock body within or between the lock body and the shackle to prevent the cover or pin from being removed when the lock is secured.

A cover as claimed in Claim 3 in which the locking piece is contained within the Lhousing and abuts against projections within the housing to co-operate with the housing and the lock to prevent removal of the lock when secured. °i 10

6. A cover as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the locking piece is slidably mounted in tubular members disposed coaxially with orifices in opposite walls of the housing to permit slideable access of the locking piece through the cover.

7. A cover as claimed in claim 6 in which the locking piece and/or the housing include means to enable movement of the lock to enable closure thereof and to prevent removal of the locking piece when the lock is closed.

8. A cover as claimed in claim 7 wherein the means to enable movement include slots or recesses in the walls of the housing or in the locking piece to enable said movement.

S9. A cover as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 which includes a sleeve of resilient material such as rubber within said housing to additionally protect the lock when secured within the cover.

10. A lock cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. 0 DATED this day of 1989. CLIVE DAVID MOULDAY son i 0 0 u WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS, Queen Street Melbourne. Vic. 3000 AUSTRALIA 14/15:va