GB2237057A

GB2237057A - Detachable lockable fastener

Info

Publication number: GB2237057A
Application number: GB9021030A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Moran
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-10-03
Filing date: 1990-09-27
Publication date: 1991-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-27
Also published as: GB2237057B; GB9021030D0

Abstract

In a detachable lockable fastener, a shackle or bolt, instead of being engageable directly with a detent tongue of a lock mechanism as in prior proposals, is engaged by a keep pin 16 which in the locked condition intersects the shackle (fig 2) or bolt and does not protrude from the body of the fastener. The keep pin is engaged by the lock mechanism. Such an arrangement is less vulnerable to opening by force. In another arrangement (figs 3-6, not shown) a detachable fastener body containing a keep pin receives a bolt for locking by the pin. <IMAGE>

Description

DETACHABLE LOCKABLE FASTENER This invention relates to a detachable lockable fastener.

Known detachable locks, for example padlocks, have the disadvantage that they are vulnerable to being forced open due at least in part to the fact that an exposed shackle has points of weakness, for example at a shackle hinge and/or at a detent recess formed at one end portion of the shackle for receiving a detent of a lock mechanism. Upon the application of force with such as a jemmy or crow-bar, a padlock shackle will usually yield by fracture or rupture in the vicinity of the hinge and/or the detent recess; or the lock mechanism yields.

An object of the present invention is to provide a detachable lockable fastener in which the abovementioned disadvantage is obviated or mitigated.

According to the present invention, there is provided a detachable lockable fastener comprising a body incorporating a lock mechanism, keep pin means movably accommodated in the body and releasably engageable by the lock mechanism, and a bolt or shackle having a portion thereof movably accommodated in the body, the arrangement being such that in use when the fastener is locked the keep pin means intersects said portion of the bolt or shackle to retain the bolt or shackle and the keep pin means does not protrude from the body.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation in partial cross-sectional elevation of a padlock in accordance with prior art; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation similar to Fig. l, but showing a padlock in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation of a roller-shutter door assembly provided with a detachable lockable fastener in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line IV-IV in Fig. 3, and to a larger scale than Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional elevation on the line V-V in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is an "exploded" perspective view of the principal components of the fastener shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, a conventional padlock has a body 10 incorporating a lock mechanism shown generally by reference numeral 11, and the lock mechanism is operable to extend and retract a detent tongue 12. A shackle of the fastener is constituted by a U-shaped member 13 of which a longer leg constitutes a bolt movably received in the body 10 and provided with a recess 14 adjacent one end thereof for cooperation with the detent 12. A compression spring 15 acts between the body 10 and an end face of the shackle 13.

The conventional fastener of Fig. 1 is unlocked by operation of the lock mechanism 11 to withdraw the detent 12 whereupon the shackle 13 can be freed. This construction is relatively easily forced open due to weakness in the vicinity of the recess 14 and/or detent 12.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, parts having the same general function as those of Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals. In Fig. 2 a U-shaped shackle 13 is movably received in a body 10, the latter incorporating a lock mechanism 11 with a detent 12. The Fig. 2 body 10 also houses a keep pin 16 a portion of which intersects the shackle 13 in that an end portion 16A of the keep pin 16 extends through a hole drilled through the shackle 13. Thus, the shackle 13 is retained by a portion of the keep pin 16 which portion is supported in the body 10 on diametrically opposite sides of the keep pin, this arrangement being less vulnerable to rupture than the arrangement used in Fig. 1.

The left hand portion of the keep pin 16 is provided with an annular recess 17 for receiving the detent 12; and a spring 15 acts between the body 10 and the keep pin 16 simply for moving the keep pin 16 from engagement with the shackle 13 when the detent 12 is retracted by operation of the lock mechanism 11. It can be seen by inspection of Fig. 2 that the lock mechanism detent 12 is isolated from force applied to the shackle 13; and the keep pin 16 is virtually inaccessible to forcing when the fastener is locked.

In Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings, a roller-shutter door 20 consists, in known manner, of horizontally-hinged metal slats 21 guided between uprights 22. A detachable lockable fastener 23 is provided adjacent the lower end of the door and includes a fastener body 24 incorporating a lock mechanism 25, and a mounting block 26 for carrying a bolt (not shown in Fig. 3). Details of the fastener 23 can be seen in Figs. 4 to 6.

The body 24 is detachably mounted to one of the slats 21 by means of a mounting plate 27 having a dove-tail configuration which is complementary to a similar configuration provided on the back face of the body 24. The mounting plate 27 is secured to one of the slats 21 by means of screws and nuts 28 (omitted in Fig.

6). The mounting block 26 is secured to the door upright 22 by means of screws 29, and the mounting block 26 carries a bolt 30 which can be "shot" to engage the body 24. The bolt 30 is provided with a pair of drilled holes 31 for receiving a pair of keep pins 32 which are mutually interconnected by a plate 33. The bolt 30 is provided with a head 34 locatable in a recess 35 of the mounting block 26 for the purpose of aligning the holes 31 with the keep pins 32 to enable insertion of the latter as shown in Fig. 5 where it can be seen that the keep pin plate 33 is received in a mating recess 36 in the body 24 so that the keep pins are isolated from externally-applied force when the fastener is locked.

The operation of the fastener shown in Figs. 4 to 6 is self-evident from inspection of the drawings; but it should be noted that when the fastener is released, the body 24 together with the keep pin assembly and the bolt 30 can be easily removed for safe-keeping.

Modifications of the fastener described with reference to Figs. 3 to 6, within the scope of the appended claims, include using a single keep pin instead of the keep pin assembly. Also the sliding bolt may be replaced by a hinged or "swing" bolt carried by the mounting block 26 and accommodated by an open-sided slot in the body 24.

Claims

1. A detachable lockable fastener comprising a body incorporating a lock mechanism, keep pin means movably accommodated in the body and releasably engageable by the lock mechanism, and a bolt or shackle having a portion thereof movably accommodated in the body, the arrangement being such that in use when the fastener is locked the keep pin means intersects said portion of the bolt or shackle to retain the bolt or shackle and the keep pin means does not protrude from the body.

2. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keep pin means comprises a pair of keep pins each movably accommodated in the body and releasably engageable by the lock mechanism, the keep pins being mutually interconnected by a plate or bar, and the body being provided with a recess for receiving said plate or bar when the keep pins are engaged by the lock mechanism.

3. A fastener as claimed in claim 1 or 2, including a mounting plate for sliding interlocking engagement with the said body, and a mounting block for carrying the bolt.

4. A detachable lockable fastener, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 2 or Figs. 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.