GB2130634A - Apparatus for preventing unauthorised entry through a door - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent unauthorised entry to a house by an intruder breaking the glazing of the door or window nearby, and then reaching inside to unlatch the door lock, a hasp 24 and a staple 25, both made from mild steel sheet 1/16th" thick, are fixed in position to cover the door lock latch operating knob 33, and when the hasp is locked in position by a separate lock, prevent the door lock latch from being operated. With the apparatus locked in position the door is still operable with the key from the outside. The hasp and staple may also be used in conjunction with a sliding bolt (Fig.3) or a door restraining chain (Fig.2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for preventing unauthorised opening of a doororthe like This invention relates to apparatus for preventing unauthorised opening of a doororthe like and more particularly but not exclusively to means to prevent an inturderfrom operating locking means on a door.

The front doors of houses are commonly glazed and often intruders are known to have effected unautho rised entry by breaking the glazing ofthe door and then reaching in to unlatch the door lock or bolt.

Sometimes a small window near the door is broken to give access to the lock or bolts which can easily be unlatched.

The objective ofthis invention is to prevent illegal entry by making the lock or bolts inaccessible to the intruder. The invention accordingly provides apparatus comprising a hasp pivotably connected to the door and arranged to span the lockable member and so prevent accessto the operable portions of the lockable member.

In one embodimentthe hasp has a fixing plate attached to the door and a strap portion pivotably connected at one end to the fixing plate and an aperture atthe other end for entering over a staple on the doorto permit securing by securing means, such as a padlock.

The apparatus may be used to protect various common door locking means such as bolts, ball and chain devices and the well door mounted locks known as cylinder locks, such as are sold underthetrade marks YALE, UNION or ERA.

In a preferred embodiment the hasp is shaped to engage with the operable portions of each type of locking means to prevent operation.

However, it will be understood that in the case of "YALE" locks the normal operation of the external key is not obstructed so the authorised user is not inconvenienced when the apparatus is in use. He may still slam the door shut using its spring bolt and open it with his key from the outside.

Various embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a door and frame fitted with various lockable devices; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the apparatus when fitted to a security chain; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the apparatus when fitted to a bolt; Fig.4Aisa side view of a third embodiment of the apparatus in the open position; Fig. 4B is an elevation ofthe apparatus of Fig. 4A when closed and secured by a padlock; Fig. 4C is a side view ofthe apparatus of Fig. 4B; Fig. 5A is an elevation ofthe apparatus of Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C when secured to a door lock; Fig. 5B is a side view ofthe apparatus of Fig. 5A;; Fig. 6A is an elevation of a fourh embodiment of the apparatus when secured to a door lock; Fig. 6B is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 6A when in the open position; Fig. 7A is an elevation of a fifth embodiment of the apparatus when fitted to a door lock; Fig. 7B is a sectional side view of the apparatus of Fig. 7A; and Fig. 7C is an end view ofthe apparatus of Figs. 7A and 78.

In Fig. 1 a door 1 is hingedly mounted in a door frame 2. There is a window3 alongside the doorframe and the door includes two glazed portions 4, 5.

The door is locked bythree exemplary devices: a lockS, a chain 7 and a bolt 8. Each device has a lockable portion on the door which co-operates with a latching plate on the door post 9.

If an intruder breaks the window 3 he gains access to the lock6 and chain 7which he can easily undo. If the intruder breaks or cuts the lower glazed portion 5 he gainsaccesstothe boltwhich can also be undone easily.

Fig. 2 shows the chain 7 and its fastenings on an enlarged scale so that it can be seen thatthe chain is attached at one end to the door post 9 by means of a staple plate 10. The other end of the chain has a ball 11 attached to it. The lockable device comprises a slotted plate 12 attached to the door by means of screws which are not shown. The slotted plate 12 has a long slot 13 widened at the end remote from the staple to receive the ball 11. In use the ball 11 is entered into the slot 13 through the widened portion and then slid to the end of the slot nearest to the staple 10 where it serves to permit partial opening ofthe doorto permit conversation with visitors of dubious repute.In Fig. 2 the ball 11 is secured in the slot by apparatus comprising a hasp 14 pivotably connected to the door, by a concealed fixing plate 15, and arranged to span the ball 11 and slot 13 and so prevent access to the ball 11. The hasp 14 may be provided with a side cheekto prevent movement ofthe ball 11 in the slot, however thisfeature has been omittedforclarity and economy of metal. The hasp 14 is secured to the door by engagementwith a staple 16 on the door, the fixings ofwhich staple are concealed by the hasp. A padlock through the staple may be used to complete the security ofthe hasp.

Fig. 3 shows a door bolt 8 and its cooperating latch plate 18 which may be fixed to the door post. The bolt 8 is slidably mounted in a slide plate 19 which may be secured to the door. The bolt has a side arm 17, shown by dashed lines in the drawing. In orderto disengage the bolt8from the latch plate 18 it is necessary to rotatethe side arm 17 aboutthe axis of the bolt and retract it past side flanges 20 of the slide plate 19.

However, in Fig. 3 a hasp 21, hingedly connected to the door, is closely fitted to the side plate and spans the side arm 17 ofthe bolt so preventing the rotation necessaryfor opening. The hasp 21 has an aperture, at its end remote from the hinge, through which a staple 22 protrudes to permit padlocking for security.

Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C show a third embodiment of the apparatus which is arranged to permit securing of the door lock 6 in Fig. 1. Such door locks have an operating knob which is often in the form of a lever used to open the lockfrom the inside. The apparatus of Figs. 4 and 5 is particularly suitable for locks having an elongate lever or oval operating knobs, the rotational operating path of which can be obstructed to prevent operation of the lock.

In Fig. 4Athe apparatus comprises a fixing plate 23, a hasp 24 hingedly connected at one end to the fixing plate, and a staple 25. The hasp has a first portion 26 extending from the hinge 27to a second or spanning portion 28 extending laterally from the first portion and a third portion 29 extending from the second portion in a direction parallel to the first portion to terminate in an aperture plate 30 adapted to cooperate with the staple 25 as shown in Fig. 4B.

In Figs. 4B and 4C the cooperation ofthe hasp 24 with the staple 25 is secured by means of a padlock.

Comparing Fig. 4A with Fig. 4C it will be seen that the second or spanning portion 28 ofthe apparatus has a solid side cheek 31 (Fig. 4A) and a slotted side cheek 32 the functions ofwhich cheeks are demonstrated in Figs. 5A and 5B.

Fig. 5A shows the apparatus of Fig. 4when fitted to a door lock 6 ofthe type having an operating knob in the form of a lever 33. Rotation ofthe lever retracts the bolt 34 (shown by dashed lines) against a return spring which urges the bolt 34 to cooperate with the latch plate 35 on a door post 9. Such locks enable the doorto be slammed shut two the locked position without movement ofthe lever33. The lever 33 is only rotated in orderto open the lock iso securing of the lever 33 against rotation prevents opening of the lockfrom the inside of the door 1. As such locks are opened from the outside by means of a key in a cylinder lock, mounted on the outside of the door 1, securing ofthe internal lever 33 against rotation does not prevent use ofthe genuine key to open the door 1.

In Fig. SAthefixing plate 23 of the apparatus is fixed bythree screws to the door 1 just above the lock 6. The hasp 24 extends downwards from the fixing plate 23 to spanthelockandoperating lever33. The aperture plate 30 ofthe hasp is secured to the staple25 by means of a padlock. Referring to Figs. and 5B is will be noticed that the fixing screws ofthe staple are covered by the aperture plate 30 so the apparatus cannot be simply unscrewed when the padlock is in position.

In Fig. the hasp 24 can be seen to have a side cheek 32 ofwhich a slot 32Afits closely against the sides ofthe operating lever 33 so the the lever cannot be rotated to open the lock.

In Fig. 4Athe hasp can be seen to also have a side cheek 31 which is solid and shaped to fit closely to the face ofthe lock so that access to the operating lever is obstructed. The side cheeks 31,32 are preferably made a good close fit to the lock so that it is impossible for an intruderto insert a leverunderthe hasp to prise it awayfrom the door. The hasp 24 is released from the lock 6 by removing the padlock and then swinging the hasp clear ofthe lockto permit operation of the lever 33. Normallythe house-ownerwould securethe hasp in position as shown in Figs. 5A and 5B before leaving the house and slamming the doorto the locked position. Upon his return he would open the door from the outside using his genuine key. He may, if he wishes, leave the security hasp 24 in position until he wants to open the door again.

Whereas the apparatus of Figs. 5A and 5B worked by preventing rotation ofthe operating lever ofthe lockS, the apparatus of Figs. 6A and 6B works by obstructing access to the operating knob ofthe lock. In Fig. saithe knob can be seen to be round and so lacking any surfaceforthe hasp to engage with.

In Figs. 6A and 6B the parts ofthe hasp, like those of Figs. 5A and 5B, are given the same numbers. Itwill be notices that the hasp 24 is broad enough to mask not only the round knob 36 but also the fixing screws 37 of the lock 6. The hasp 24 of Figs.6Aand6B has two solid side cheeks 38 shaped to be a close fit against the face ofthe lock 6 so that itis impossiblefora leverto be inserted between the lock and hasp to permit prising off of the hasp from the door 1 to win access to the knob 36.

Figs. 7A, 7B and 70 show a hasp 39 and bracket 40, which are shown fitted to a door lock 6 and in the closed but notyet padlocked condition.

The bracket has a sole plate 41 conforming generallyto the base of the lock 6 so the screws 37, which hold the locks on the door, also pass through the sole plate.

Aside arm 42 of the bracket extends from one side of the sole plate to a hinge 43. Another side arm 44 extends from the other side ofthe sole plate to terminate in an aperture plate 45.

The hasp 39 extends from the hinge 43 to span the lock 6, operati ng knob 36 and lockfixing screws 37 to terminate at an eye entered overthe aperture plate 45.

The hasp 39 has two solid side cheeks 46which are a close fit to the face ofthe lock, so that the hasp 39 and the bracket 40 encircle the lock 6, and obstruct access to the operating knob 36 and lockfixing screws 37.

The hasp 39 and bracket 40 may conveniently be fitted to the door when the lock is being fitted forthe firsttime and thereafter, when padlocked, as already described with reference to other drawings, provide an effective deterrentto intruders. As an alternative to a padlock, a simple keyed latch may be incorporated in the hasp.

All the hasps described may be made from mild steel, howeverthe simple shaped involved permit use of even tougher materials.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for preventing unauthorised opening of a doororthe like having a lockable member on the door and a cooperating latching plate on the door frame adjacentto the lockable member, wherein the apparatus comprises a hasp pivotably connected to the door and arranged to span the lockable member and so prevent access to operable portions of the lockable member.

2. Apparatus accordingto Claim 1, wherein the hasp has a fixing plate attached to the door, a strap portion pivotably connected at one end to thefixing plate and an aperture at the other end for entering over a staple on the doorto permit securing by securing means.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the securing means is a padlock secured through the staple.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the strap portion has at least one side cheek extending laterally ofthe strap to obstruct access to the operable portions ofthe lockable member.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the lockable member is a bolt having a side arm movable from a first open position to a locking position by first rotating the arm aboutthe axis to clear an abutment, then siiding the bolt in along its axis and thereafter rotating the arm to lie against the door, and the hasp covers the side arm.

6. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the lockable member is a ball attached by a chain to the door post, said ball being retained in a slotted memberfixed to the door, and the hasp covering the slotted member

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the lockable member has a body member fixed to the door and an operating lever or knob rotatalbe across the face ofthe body to operate the lock, and the hasp covers the operating lever.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the hasp has a strap portion spanning the body member and a side cheek ofthe strap prevents rotation ofthe operating lever.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the hasp is made of mild steel.

10. Apparatusforpreventing unauthorised opening of a door or the like, substantially as herein before described and shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 3, or Figs. 4A, 4B, 5A and 5B, or Figs. 6A and 6B or Figs. 7A, 7B and 7C of the accompanying drawings.