GB2311097A

GB2311097A - A letter-box lock

Info

Publication number: GB2311097A
Application number: GB9705320A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Connolly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-03-15
Filing date: 1997-03-14
Publication date: 1997-09-17
Also published as: GB9705320D0

Abstract

A letter-box lock 1 has bracket 7 which is secured to a door. An elongate lock member 2 is wedge-shaped and drops into the bracket 7 so that it presses against the letter-box flap. The lock member 2 may press against the flap via a spacer block 5, or directly in the event that the letter-box has an inside flap.

Description

"A Letter-Box Lock" The invention relates to a lock for a letter-box, fitted to timber, aluminium or PVC doors.

In recent years, householders and business people have become increasingly aware of the need to control the opening and closing of a letter-box. For example, a typical security problem which arises, particularly in cities, is the practice of delivery people partly inserting "junk mail" or free-sheet newspapers into a letter-box. If the residents are away from home, this mail indicates to potential thieves that the owners are not at home and presents a security risk. Further, in many areas of cities, it is desirable to keep a letter-box closed during certain periods of the day and week for security reasons.

Locks for letter-boxes have been devised in the past and examples are described in British Patent Specification Nos. GB 2171453A, GB 2208528A, GB 2279696A and GB 2198184A. However, all of these locks suffer from the disadvantage of not being particularly strong and it appears that they could be relatively easily tampered with.

The invention is therefore directed towards providing a lock which is more effective than has heretofore been the case, without additional complexity or difficulty in installation.

According to the invention, there is provided a letter-box lock comprising an elongate lock member, and a fixed support comprising means for securing to a door and for suspending the lock member in position against a letterbox.

In one embodiment, the lock member is at least partly wedge-shaped whereby tampering causes tighter engagement between the lock member and the fixed support.

Preferably, the fixed support comprises a C-shaped bracket having end flanges for securing to the door.

In another embodiment, the bracket comprises an outer flat face for engagement with a tapered face of the lock member, and pair of splayed arms which terminate in the flanges.

In a further embodiment, the lock number comprises an upper tapered face for engagement with the fixed support to hold the lock member in an upside-down position when not in use.

Ideally, the lock further comprises a spacer for mounting in a letter-box between the lock member and a letter-box flap.

Preferably, the spacer comprises a block having a vertical groove for engagement with the lock member.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of a letter box block of the invention; Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are perspective, front, and diagrammatic cross-sectional views respectively showing the lock in use with a horizontal letter-box; Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic cross-sectional and front views respectively showing the lock in use with a vertical letter-box; Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective and side views respectively showing a lock of the invention for PVC and aluminium doors in use; and Fig. 9 is a side view showing the manner in which the lock of Figs. 7 and 8 is configured when not in use.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1 there is shown a letter-box lock of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The lock 1 comprises a lock member 2 which is of wood material and is of generally elongate shape. The lock member 2 has a tapered face 3 so that it is generally wedge-shaped. It also comprises an upper tapered face 4. The lock further comprises a spacer block 5 having a vertical groove 6.

Finally, the lock 1 comprises a generally C-shaped bracket 7 having end flanges for screwing to a door to be secured in position.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the manner in which the lock 1 is used for a horizontal letter-box 11 is described. The letter-box 11 also comprises a flap 12.

The bracket 7 is screwed into position just above the letter-box 11. As shown in Fig. 2, there may additionally be a second bracket 13 which is smaller than the bracket 7 and is secured in place below the level of the letterbox 11. The locking block 5 is inserted within the letter-box against the flap with the groove 6 facing outwardly. The lock member 2 is then dropped through the brackets 7 and 13 with the narrow end first until the tapered face 11 engages the outer extremity of the bracket C. The lock member 2 is then effectively wedged in position.

It will be appreciated that the lock 1 is of extremely sturdy and robust composition. It will not be easily damaged. Further, if a burglar or other unauthorised individual tries to tamper with the letter-box, the resulting movement will simply cause the lock member 2 to be wedged in place more tightly between the bracket 7 and the door 10 because of the weight of the lock member 2 and the generally wedged-shaped construction. It will also be appreciated that the lock 1 is of extremely simple and inexpensive construction, despite the fact that it is extremely strong and robust. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the removable parts, namely the lock member 2 and the block 5 may be connected to the door by cords 8 so that they are not removed when not in use.

The lock may be used with a vertically-directed letterbox, such as the letter-box 15 shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The letter-box 15 has a vertical flap 17. There is no need for modification of the lock 1 as it may be used securing the bracket 7 below the level of the letter-box 15 whereby the upper end of the lock member 2 engages the block 5.

Where the letter-box has an inner flap such as in some aluminium or PVC doors a slightly different lock of the invention may be used. Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, a lock 20 is shown which has a bracket 7 similar to that of the lock 1, but it does not have a block 5. The lock 20 has a lock member 25 which has a generally similar configuration to that of the lock member 2, but the inner face is cut-away at 26 to accommodate the inner flap 22 of the letter-box which sits proud of the inner surface of the door 21. As is clear from Fig. 8, the surface 26 extends above the level of the letter-box so that there is room for the lock member 25 to drop further as it settles and/or is tampered with. The manner in which the lock member 25 may be stored is shown in Fig. 9. This arrangement is particularly convenient for the lock 20 as there is no block 5 to be stored.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described, but may be varied in construction and detail within the scope of the claims. For example, it is envisaged that the lock member may engage the block in a dovetail-type connection. The bracket may be of any suitable shape to hold the lock member in position and it may alternatively be of plastics or metal material. If the block is not the correct width, a screw can be inserted in the front of the block to increase the overall width.

Claims

1. A letter-box lock comprising an elongate lock member, and a fixed support comprising means for securing to a door and for suspending the lock member in position against a letter-box.

2. A letter-box lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lock member is at least partly wedge-shaped whereby tampering causes tighter engagement between the lock member and the fixed support.

3. A letter-box lock as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the fixed support comprises a C-shaped bracket having end flanges for securing to the door.

4. A letter-box lock as claimed in claim 3 wherein the bracket comprises an outer flat face for engagement with a tapered face of the lock member, and pair of splayed arms which terminate in the flanges.

5. A letter-box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lock number comprises an upper tapered face for engagement with the fixed support to hold the lock member in an upside-down position when not in use.

6. A letter-box lock as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a spacer for mounting in a letter box between the lock member and a letter-box flap.

7. A letter-box lock as claimed in claim 6, wherein the spacer comprises a block having a vertical groove for engagement with the lock member.

8. A letter-box lock substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6.

9. A letter-box lock substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9.