GB2449287A

GB2449287A - Security apparatus using a padlock

Info

Publication number: GB2449287A
Application number: GB0709497A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Andrew Hill; Timothy Strawson
Original assignee: Bradbury Security Grilles Ltd
Current assignee: Bradbury Security Grilles Ltd
Priority date: 2007-05-17
Filing date: 2007-05-17
Publication date: 2008-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 2027-05-17
Also published as: GB2449287B; GB0709497D0

Abstract

In one embodiment of the security apparatus, a lockable enclosure comprises a base part 4 enclosing at least one staple 8, a padlock 10 having a slidable shackle 9 engageable with the staple or staples and a body containing a lock mechanism operable to lock or release the shackle. The enclosure has a cover part 6 engageable with the base part 4 to enclose at least a major part of the padlock within the enclosure, and an opening 12 through which the lock mechanism of the padlock may be operated. The cover part 6 is provided with an inwardly projecting locking arm 11 which co-operates with the padlock body when the shackle is locked to prevent separation of the cover part from the base part. The enclosure prevents access to a door lock 2 or to a door handle. As an alternative to a lockable enclosure, the cover part can be a door to a building.

Description

SECURITY APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to security apparatus, for example for locking a door or for providing a secure cabinet or cover for existing door handles or locks.

Background to the Invention

Many commercial and industrial premises have doors which are locked using standard key-operated locks. Because such premises may be unat-tended at night or at weekends, the doors become vulnerable to attack as thieves seek to gain access to the contents of the premises. To increase the security of the premises, it is common to install on the outside of the door a hasp set secured by a padlock. While this may delay the thieves' access to the building, it does not prevent it, because the shackle of the padlock, or the sta- ples on the hasp set, can be attacked, for example using bolt-cutters. In addi- tion, the door handle and lock is still open to attack and damage once the pad-lock has been removed. Even if an attack is unsuccessful, the damaged handle and lock will need to be replaced.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention seeks to overcome these disadvantages by provid-ing security apparatus comprising a cover securable on a frame by means of a padlock, the padlock having a shackle and a body containing a lock mechanism operable to lock or release the shackle, the shackle being slidable between an extended release position and a retracted locked position, the apparatus being such that at least the shackle of the padlock is covered by the cover when Se- cured, the lock mechanism of the padlock being accessible from outside the se-cured cover, wherein a staple is provided on a first of the frame and the cover, the shackle of the padlock being engaged on the staple, and a locking arm pro-jecting from other of the frame and the cover and engaging with the padlock body when the shackle is in the retracted locked position thereof to prevent separation of the cover from the frame.

In one embodiment, an enclosure comprises a base part enclosing at least one staple, a padlock having a shackle engageable with the staple or sta-pIes and a body containing a lock mechanism operable to lock or release the shackle, the shackle being slidable between an extended release position and a retracted locked position, and the lock mechanism being operably accessible from the side of the lock body remote from the shackle, and a cover part en-gageable with the base part to enclose at least a major part of the padlock within the enclosure, the enclosure having an opening through which the lock mechanism of the padlock may be operated, and the cover part being provided with a locking arm projecting inwardly of the enclosure and co-operating with the padlock when the shackle is the retracted locked position thereof to prevent separation of the cover part from the base part.

Preferably, the cover is hinged to the frame. Thus, for example, the cover may be a door to a building, or simply to a lockable enclosure. The hinge is preferably contained within the enclosure.

The staple or staples may be mounted on the base part or the cover, serving simply to receive the padlock. Alternatively, the staples may be pro-vided on a hasp set mounted on the door, the base part having an aperture therein permitting it to be mounted over an existing hasp set, for example.

The enclosure may be provided with one or more apertures to accom-modate existing door handles and locks. The enclosure is suitably formed of steel or other material resistant to physical attack. The opening in the enclosure through which the padlock lock mechanism may be accessed is preferably ar-ranged to face downwardly so that the padlock hangs within it and so that it is protected from the weather.

The security apparatus of the invention is simple to install on existing doors and the like, and may be configured to enclose existing handles and locks, protecting them from attack and enhancing the security of the premises without the need for costly replacement of locks. The enclosure is highly resis-tant to attack and therefore offers significant enhancement to the security of the door.

Where the cover is a door to a building or cabinet, for example, it will be provided with an opening for access to the lock mechanism of the padlock only, so that the padlock can be unlocked and slid on its shackle, thereby releasing the door. Only when the door is open is access given to the full padlock, per-mitting it to be removed from the staple; when the door is closed, access to the shackle is prevented, and access to the lock mechanism with tools other than a key is difficult or impossible, affording further protection.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the inven-tion: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a door and the enclosure according to one embodiment of the invention installed thereon; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the enclosure shown open and installed over a door handle; Figure 3 is a perspective view from below showing the enclosure of Fig-ure 2 partially closed; and Figure 4 is view of the enclosure of Figures 2 and 3, shown fully closed.

Detailed Description of the illustrated Embodiment

Referring to the drawings, a hollow steel door I has a cylinder lock mechanism 2 installed therein. In order to protect the lock against attack by in-truders, an enclosure 3 of the invention is installed on the external surface of the door so as to surround the external part of the lock mechanism. The enclo-sure 3 comprises a base part 4 which has a back 4a provided with apertures through which the door lock 2 or handle 5 (Figure 2) can pass during installa-tion. The base part 4 is secured to the door by means of screws or bolts (not shown) passing through mounting holes 4b. The base part 4 has sides 4c and 4d upstanding from the back 4a, one side 4c having the cover part 6 mounted thereon by means of hinges 7, and a bottom panel 4e. Staples or simple aper-tured brackets 8 are welded to the back 4a of the base part 4 so as to receive the sliding shackle 9 of a padlock 10. It will be appreciated that these stapes could form part of a separate hasp set attached to the door and surrounding frame to provide additional security for the door, and would then protrude through a corresponding aperture in the back 4a instead of being welded to it.

The cover part 6 is shaped to provide a sloping top 6a to the enclosure, a plain front 6b, a side 6c which overlaps the side 4d of the base part to provide additional security, and a bottom panel 6d which partially overlaps the bottom panel 4e of the base part.. The sloping top 6a fits underneath a lip 4f on the base part to prevent ingress of rainwater and to prevent access from damaging tools used by an intruder. The inside of the front 6b carries a hooked arm 11 projecting inwardly therefrom so as to pass through the looped shackle 9 of the padlock 10 when the shackle of the padlock has been slid to its open position as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. When the padlock body is pushed upwardly into the enclosure with the cover part closed so that the shackle is moved to the re-tracted locking position thereof, the downwardly-directed hook of the arm 11 passes behind the padlock body (i.e. the padlock body moves upwardly to a po-sition in which it overlies the hook), so preventing the arm from being withdrawn and thereby locking the cover in place. The dimensions of the enclosure and the aperture 12 formed by corresponding cut-outs in the bottom parts 4e and 6d are arranged to constrain movement of the padlock to a sliding vertical motion when locking or released (the padlock is preferably arranged to be locked by means of a key, rather than locked without the presence of a key by simply closing the shackle, but it will be appreciated that other forms of padlock could be used, including the combination-locking type of padlock).

Figure 3 shows the cover part 6 being closed over the base part 4, be-fore the padlock is pushed upwardly to its locking position, while Figure 4 shows the locked enclosure, with only the lowermost part of the padlock protruding, affording access to the downwardly directed keyhole of the locking mechanism of the padlock. The padlock is thus protected by the enclosure along with the door handle or door lock enclosed within it.

While the invention has been described with reference to a lockable en-closure, it will be appreciated that it can be applied to doors to buildings, lock-able cabinets, and indeed any situation where two separable components need to be temporarily locked together.

Claims

1. Security apparatus, comprising a cover securable on a frame by means of a padlock, the padlock having a shackle and a body containing a lock mechanism operable to lock or release the shackle, the shackle being slidable between an extended release position and a retracted locked position, the ap-paratus being such that at least the shackle of the padlock is covered by the cover when secured, the lock mechanism of the padlock being accessible from outside the secured cover, wherein a staple is provided on a first of the frame and the cover, the shackle of the padlock being engaged on the staple, and a io locking arm projecting from other of the frame and the cover and engaging with the padlock body when the shackle is in the retracted locked position thereof to prevent separation of the cover from the frame.

2. Security apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the cover is hinged to the frame.

3. Security apparatus according to Claim I or 2, wherein the frame comprises part of a lockable enclosure.

4. Security apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the or each hinge is enclosed within the enclosure.

5. Security apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the staple forms part of a hasp set mounted separately from the enclosure.

6. Security apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the enclosure is provided with an aperture through which at least a part of the hasp set passes.

7. Security apparatus according to any of Claims 3 to 6, wherein the enclosure is provided with at least one aperture therethrough dimensioned and arranged to accommodate an existing door handle or lock on a door.

8. Security apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the padlock lock mechanism is accessible through an opening in the cover which is arranged to face downwardly in use.

9. Security apparatus, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.