GB2224769A

GB2224769A - Device for holding a case in a fixed place

Info

Publication number: GB2224769A
Application number: GB8922931A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hubert Salmen; Paul Salmen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-11-09
Filing date: 1989-10-11
Publication date: 1990-05-16
Also published as: DE3837971A1; IT8922169A1; ES2016513A6; IT1236871B; IT8922169A0; FR2638792B1; GB8922931D0; FR2638792A1

Description

2224769 DEVICE FOR HOLDING A CASE IN A FIXED PLACE The invention relates

to a device for holding a case in a fixed place which consists of a support which can be fastened in a fixed place and a coupling part which is connected to this for the purpose of releasably attaching the case, wherein the couplinq part can be fixed in the closed position with the case placed in it.

Devices of this kind are known, for example, from DE-GM 87 15 978, DE-GM 87 15 979, DE-GM 88 09 455 and FR-PS 1 017 185.

In the case of the known devices, a support which can be fastened in a fixed place is provided into which a coupling part fastened to the bottom of the case can be pushed. The pushed-in position can be locked by means of a locking mechanism which is operated by a key, so that the case is then securely connected to the support which is fastened in a fixed place.

A disadvantage of these known embodiments is that a rigid connection is produced between the case and the support which can be fastened in a fixed place, so that it is possible for an unauthorized operator to break the connection between the case and the support, or between the support and the underlying base, by means of a lever or the like inserted between the case and the support. It is also possible to destroy the connection between the case and the support, or between the support and the underlying base, by means of a force acting sideways on the case itself, so that the case can then be removed and taken away by an unauthorized person.

Starting from this state of the art, the object of the invention is to provide a device of this general kind with which the unauthorized removal or theft of the case fastened to the support is made considerably more difficult.

In order to achieve this objective the invention proposes that the coupling part should be fastened to the support so that it can be pivoted in all directions.

The coupling part, which may form part of the case or can however be a component which can be releasably attached to the case, is, in accordance with the invention, not connected rigidly to the support but is fastened so that it can turn on the latter, by means of a ball-and-socket joint for example. As a result of this construction, unauthorized removal of the case, which is attached to the coupling part, is made considerably more difficult since the action of a sideways force, or the application of a lever to it, causes the case together with the coupling part to swivel about its pivoting bearing and a force cannot be exerted directly on the pivoting element, the coupling part, the case or the support itself.

A particularly preferred further development involves arranginq that a helical spring is located under tension between the support and the coupling part and, in particular, a securing tie the lenqth of which can be altered to a limited extent is fastened as the connection between the support and the coupling part.

The helical spring located in this way under tension between the support and the coupling part may be permanently connected to the support and the coupling part, so that the helical spring is at the same time the fastening element for fixing the parts together. The coupling part and the support are separated from one another by a distance corresponding to the length of the helical spring, whereby the length of the helical spring should be chosen to be such that the case attached to the coupling part can be pivoted by means of the helical spring relative to the support into a position which in the extreme case is about 901 from the normal upright position.

But it is also possible simply to locate the helical spring under tension between the support and the coupling part, and to provide the connection between the coupling part and the support by 1 means of an additional securing tie the length of which can be altered to a limited extent, and in this case the securing tie should generally be of such a length that it corresponds to the length of the un-tensioned or only slightly pretensioned helical spring.

A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the securing tie is in the form of a compressible sleeve arranged surrounding the helical spring, and the sleeve is fastened axially at one end to the support and at the other end to the coupling part.

4 The compressible sleeve thus covers the helical spring on the side which is outside radially and its end regions are in any case covered by the support and the coupling part, so that overall an enclosed unit is produced. The compressible sleeve can follow the movement of the helical spring, and moreover the compressible sleeve confers a certain inherent rigidity on the total assembly, provided that the compressible sleeve is made of a relatively stiff material. In this connection it should be observed that in general the helical spring should possess a relatively large diameter which, for example, in the case of a plate-shaped support and coupling part should correspond approximately to the diameter of these parts.

As an alternative or additional measure it can be arranged that the securing tie is formed by at least one cable which is arranged coaxially to the helical spring and is fastened by its ends to the support and the coupling part.

This cable which is arranged and fastened coaxially to the helical spring forms a safety device which prevents an over-extension of the helical spring so that the helical spring cannot be unduly lengthened as a result of an axially acting force and consequently made ineffective.

The coaxially arranged cable does not, however, impair the desired movability of the coupling part, together with the case which is coupled to it, relative to the permanently fixed support.

Preferably it is arranged that the support is formed by a metal plate.

Furthermore, preferably it is arranged that the coupling part is formed by a metal plate.

These metal plates may have a circular shape, whereby the size of the metal plates should substantially be adapted to the surface area on which the case stands. The metal plate forming the support is fastened by means of a suitable screw or other similar fastening means to a suitable underlying base, whereby, when it is then desired to make the permanent attachment, the head of the screw which bears on the metal plate can be welded to the latter, or the engagement slot for a screwdriver can be cut off.

An alternative manner in which a case can be fastened to a coupling part is characterized in that high-strength bands are permanently fastened to the coupling part, which bands can be connected together by means of a)ock so that they can be locked.

For example, bands, chains or cables made of a material which is difficult to break or is indestructible can be attached to the coupling part, which bands are wound round the case after the case has been placed on the coupling part and are locked together by means of a lock. The case is then effectively permanently fastened to the coupling part, and the coupling part is itself fastened in the manner described above to the permanently fixed support..

Alternatively, it is also possible for an attachment part to be fastened on the side of the case which can be attached to the coupling part and can be fixed by means of a lock in the attached position.

Attaching mechanisms of this kind are known as such from the utility models mentioned above. It is only necessary for this purpose, that the case to be attached to the coupling part comprises, on its underside for example, an appropriate attachment part which can be inserted in the coupling part and can be locked by means of a lock in the attached position.

The invention is described in the following by means of an example of an embodiment.

Figures 1 and 2 show a device in accordance with the invention with an attached case in front view and in side view.

Figure 3 is a variant seen in cross-section in the position shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a variant as seen in Figure 3.

The device for holding a case 1 in a fixed place consists of a support 2 which can be permanently fixed and a coupling part 3 which is permanently connected to the support, to which coupling part the case 1 can be releasably attached. The coupling part 3 can be fixed in the closed position by means of a lock or the like with the case 1 inserted. According to the invention the coupling part 3 is fastened to the support 2 so that it can be pivoted in all directions. In addition, in the embodiment example a helical spring 4 is located under tension between the support 2 and the coupling part 3, which spring may either bear only on the appropriate contact surfaces of the support and the coupling part, or it can be attached by suitable means to these contact surfaces.

Moreover, securing ties 5 or 6, the length of which can be altered to a limited extent, and which will be described in more detail later, are arranged to form the connection between the support 2 and the coupling part 3.

The securing tie 5 is formed as a compressible sleeve which surrounds the helical spring 4 radially. In addition the sleeve is fastened at one end to the support 2 and at the other end to the coupling part 3. The securing tie 6 is formed by a cable, especially a steel cable, which is arranged coaxially to the helical spring 4 and is fastened by its ends to the support 2 and the coupling part 3. As a result of this arrangement of the securing tie a certain stabilization of the position of the coupling part 3 relative to the support 2 is obtained, especially when the helical spring 4 is pretensioned by suitably arranqed coupling parts, especially securing tie 6. In the embodiment example, the support 2 is formed by a circular metal plate which is bent to form a flange at the edge. Through holes can be provided in the region of the peripheral flange for fastening screws or other suitable fastening means, and these fastening means can be treated after fitting of the support 2 in such a way that they can no longer be unfastened by normal tools such as screwdrivers. The coupling part 3 can also be formed by a circular or by an elongated metal plate which has a flat surface so that a positioninq surface is formed for the case I to stand on. In the embodiment example, high-strength bands 7 are permanently fastened to the coupling part 3, which bands may be made of metal or other suitable nl3terials which are difficult to break. Instead of the bands, chains or similar parts may be used. The free ends of the bands 7 can be coupled to one another by means of a lock 8 and can be locked. In the embodiment example the band 7 is pulled through the handle of the case so that a single band 7 passed round the case 1 suffices to hold the case 1 in position. When such a carrying loop or a similar part is not provided on the case 1, it is necessary to attach several bands permanently to the support 2 which can then be wound-in different directions around the case 1.

Instead of bands, or in addition to them, an attachinq part can be permanently fastened on the underside of the case 1 which can be attached to a correspondingly formed coupling part 3. Attaching parts of this kind are known from the state of the art.

1 1.

- 7 In the embodiment example shown in Figure 4 an elastic securing tie 11 is fastened between the base 9, formed for example by the sheet metal floor of a motor vehicle, and a rigid base part 10 of the case 1, which tie consists, for example, of a solid cylindrically-shaped hard rubber body. Steel plates, which form the support 2 and the coupling part 3, are vulcanized onto the securing tie 11. In the middle of these, for example round, plates a thickened reqion with a threaded hole is formed, which regions serve to receive the fastening means, for example screws with heads, which engage through the parts 9 and 10 respectively.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment example described but can be varied in many ways within the scope of the claims.

Such attaching parts can be fixed in the locked position by means of a lock, so that release of the case 1 from the coupling part 3 is possible only after opening the lock.

Claims

1. A device for holding a case in a fixed place which consists of a support which can be permanently fixed and a coupling part which is connected to this for the purpose of releasably attaching the case, wherein the coupling part can be locked in the closed position when the case is placed in it, characterized in that the coupling part (3) is fastened to the support (2) so that it can be pivoted in all directions.

2. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that a helical spring (4) is located under tension between the support (2) and the couplinq part (3) and a securing tie (5 or 6) the length of which can be altered to a limited extent is fastened as the connecting piece between the support (2) and the coupling part (3).

3. A device according to Claim 2, characterized in that a securing tie (5) is in the form of a compressible sleeve arranged surrounding the helical spring (4), and the sleeve is fastened axially at one end to the support (2) and at the other end to the coupling part (3).

4. A device according to any one of Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that a securing tie (6) is formed by at least one cable which is arranged coaxially to the helical spring (4) and is fastened by its ends to the support (2) and the coupling part (3).

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support (2) is formed by a metal plate.

6. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the coupling part (3) is formed by a metal plate.

7. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that high-strength bands (7) are permanently fastened to the coupling part (3) which bands can be connected together by means of a lock (8) so that they can be locked.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a lockinq part fastened on the side of the case can be attached to the coupling part (3) and can be fixed by means of a lock (8) in the closed position.

9. A device according to any one of Claims 1, 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that an elastic securing tie is fastened between the support and the coupling part, which tie comprises an elastic solid body made of rubber or rubber-like material.

10. A device according to Claim 9, characterized in that metal plates, and in particular steel plates, are fastened, and in particular vulcanized, to the surfaces of the elastic solid body which face the support and the coupling part.

11. A device according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the metal plates comprise recesses, approximately in the middle, for fastening means which pass through the support and the coupling part respectively.

PubhShed 1990 at The Patent Office. State House. 66 71 High HoIborn. LondonWC1R4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent Office Seles Branch. St Mary Cray, Orpington. Kent BRB 3RD Printed b., Multipiex tecIliniques Ld St Mary Cray. Ken,. Cori. 187