GB2184773A - A locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device 12 has a member having a pivotable portion 13 with an aperture 14 therein and a fastening member 18 having an outwardly projecting portion with a neck portion 21 and an enlarged head portion 20 which passes through the aperture 14 whereafter the members are held by a padlock 8 whose arm 9 extends about the neck portion 21 and is protected by the head portion 20 from attack by e.g. an elongate blade or bolt cutter. As shown, the aperture 14 is circular and is in a plate 13 pivotably connected to a plate member 15 by hinging means 17 e.g. on integral strip. Fastening member 18 comprises a plate 18. Plates 15, 18 may be omitted and the neck portion 21 could have an internal thread to accommodate a screw. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A locking device BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to locking devices.

More particularly the present invention relates to locking devices of the hasp-type which to the present time have comprised an apertured plate which fits over a staple and can be locked in that position by means of a padlock or the like.

Such hasps are one of the best known types of locking devices and fasteners and are found in numerous situations such as the fastening of gates, doors, boxes, tool-chests, cupboards and indeed wherever a lid of a container or a closure for an opening is required to be fastened.

As will be clear from the description given hereinafter, such hasps suffer from the major disadvantage of being relatively easily broken open by a vandal or burglar.

In this regard and referring to figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, a prior art hasp of well known type has a plate 1 with a slot 2 which can fit over a staple-like projection 3 provided on a plate 4.

The plate 1 is itself connected to a plate 5 by means of a hinge or other pivot 6. The plates 4 and 5 are adapted to be secured by screws or the like 7 to the respective components such as a gate and a gate post, lid and container, or the like, requiring to be closed by the hasp.

In figure 2 a padlock 8 is shown fitted about the hasp of figure 1 with the padlock arm 9 being locked into position about the projection 3. However, it is seen from figure 2 that the arm 9 of the padlock 8 is exposed to attack from a vandal or burglar using a screwdriver (as shown) 10 or other similar instrument having an elongate blade.

Moreover, as seen in figure 3, again with the padlock 8 being locked into position, the arm 9 is exposed to attack by a pair of bolt cutters or other cutting implement 11.

It is thus seen that in the prior art hasp of figures 1 to 3, the exposing of the arm 9 of the padlock 8 when fitted means that it is relatively easy for an attempt to be made to break open the padlock 8 to obtain unauthorised entry into the container or entry through the closure which was trying to be prevented by means of the padlock 8.

The present invention, therefore, has as its object the provision of a hasp-type locking device or fastener which can provide for the speedy and efficient locking of the components to which it is fitted but which overcomes or at least obviates disadvantages in such locking devices available to the present time.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

SUMMARYOFTHE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a locking device comprising a plate member having a first portion to be provided with fixing means and a second portion pivotable relative to said first portion and having an aperture therein, a fastening member to be provided with fixing means, and having a projecting portion projecting outwardly therefrom, said projecting portion having an enlarged upper portion which is able to pass through the said aperture and a neck portion having a substantially reduced cross section relative to said head portion, the arrangement being such that in use an arm of a padlock-like locking means can be locked in position about said neck portion and be substantially protected by said enlarged head portion.

Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of a possible embodiment of the invention and in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a typical "prior art" hasp-type fastener; Figure 2 shows the hasp of figure 1 when closed and with a padlock fitted and an attempt being made by means of a screwdriver to force the padlock; Figure 3 shows the hasp of figure 1 with the padlock fitted and with the padlock being attacked by bolt cutters; Figure 4 shows very diagrammatically a locking device according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows the locking device of figure 4 with a padlock fitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT To overcome the above identified problems in the prior art, the present invention in one embodiment is shown in figure 4. The hasp-like locking device of a present invention is referenced generally by arrow 12. It is seen to comprise a plate 13 having an aperture 14 provided therein. The aperture 14 is shown as being substantially circular but any suitable shape can be used. The plate 13 is shown pivotably connected with a plate member 15 which is adapted by means of screws or the like 16 to be fixed at a desired position. A hinging means 17, which could be provided by the inherent flexibility of an integral strip of material forming both plates 13 and 15, is shown providing a pivotable connection between the plates 13 and 15.

The locking device 12 comprises a further plate member 18, provided with fixing means such as screws 16 so as to secure the plate 18 in position.

Extending outwardly from the plate 18 is a projection 19 having an enlarged upper head portion 20 which is able to pass through the aperture 14 and is suitably shaped to be of a size substantially commensurate therewith. Behind the head portion 20 is a neck portion 21 having a substantially reduced cross-sectional size relative to the head portion 20.

As seen from figure 5, with the plate 13 being closed relative to the plate member 18, the head portion 20 passes through the aperture 14 and the arm 9 of the padlock gate can be locked into position about the neck portion 21.

It will be further seen that due to the enlargement of the head portion 20 relative to the neck portion 21 the arm 9 of the padlock gate is substantially protected from attack either by an elongate blade such as that of a screwdriver-like tool or by the jaws of a bolt cutter-like tool.

In this way the hasp-locking device of the present invention overcomes or at least obviates a serious disadvantage in hasp-like locking devices available previously. The locking device of the present invention may be made from any suitable material and by any suitable technique. As mentioned above it is envisaged that the resilience of an at least partially resilient material, such as plastics, can provide the hinging between plates 13 and 15 of figure 4. In some situations the plates 15 and 18 could be omitted. Afirst member could thus be provided with the neck portion 21 and the enlarged head portion 20 but with an ability to be fixed in a desired position. The neck portion 21 could for example have an internal thread to accommodate a screw.The other member could then merely comprise an apertured plate adapted to be pivoted in some suitable manner without requiring the provision of a specific fixing plate (15) our a specific hinge-component (17).

Also as mentioned previously, while the enlarged head portion 20 is shown of a substantially circular shape so as to be commensurate with a substantially circular aperture 14, any suitable type and size for the aperture 14 and head prtion 20 can be used provided that the enlarged portion 20 is able to pass through the aperture 14 with the enlarged portion 20 protecting the arm of a padlock provided about the neck portion 21.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A locking device comprising a plate member having a first portion to be provided with fixing means and a second portion pivotable relative to said first portion and having an aperture therein, a fastening member to be provided with fixing means, and having a projecting portion projecting outwardlytherefrom, said projecting portion having an enlarged upper portion which is able to pass through the said aperture and a neck portion having a substantially reduced cross section relative to said head portion, the arrangement being such that in use an arm of a padlock-like locking means can be locked in position about said neck portion and be substantially protected by said enlarged head portion.

2. A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aperture is substantially circular and said enlarged upper portion of said projecting portion is also substantially circular and commensurate with the size of said circular aperture.

3. A locking device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fixing means of both said fastening member and said first portion of said plate member comprise apertures therethrough to receive respective fixing screws.

4. A locking device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second portions of said plate member are connected together by a hinge to enable said second portion to be pivotable relative to said first portion.

5. A locking device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.