GB2469491A

GB2469491A - Fastening device with operating member that is substantially inoperably by an animal's mouth.

Info

Publication number: GB2469491A
Application number: GB0906483A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gurmakh Ubhi; Clive Phillips
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-15
Filing date: 2009-04-15
Publication date: 2010-10-20
Also published as: GB0906483D0

Abstract

A fastening device with at least one operating member moveable keylessly relative to a body 12, 62 and being so configured, and/or disposed, or associated with the body as to be operable by a human hand but substantially inoperable by an animal's mouth. The device also comprises a fastening member 14, 64 moveable relative to the body between a fastening position and a releasing position, a catch 30, 32, 80 for holding the fastening member in the fastening position and a releasing device for releasing the catch to enable the fastening member to move from its fastening position to its releasing position. The operating member may be a push-button 34, 84. Two spaced operating members 34, (figure 2, 38) may be provided with both needing to be operated in order to release the catch. The fastening member may be spring-biased. The fastening device may form a padlock 10. A key-operated locking arrangement (figure 3, 50) may also be provided. The animal may be a horse.

Description

Ref: Al 231 7GB Title: Fastening device

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a fastening device. A fastening device in accordance with the invention may be used in situations where a locking device such as a padlock or a lockable bolt device is utilised, e.g. for fastening a door or the like in a closed position, but, as will be described hereafter, a fastening device in accordance with the invention may not require the use of a key or a combination/code mechanism for operating it.

A fastening device in accordance with the invention has been devised particularly, although not exclusively, for use in fastening doors giving access to animal-housing enclosures, specifically the doors of stables. One problem which arises in connection with the housing of horses in stables, (which characteristically have a door which opens in two parts of which the upper part frequently is left open so that the horse may look out and indeed reach its head and neck over the lower part of the door and hence have access to whatever fastening device is used on the outside of the lower part), is that a horse can become very skilled in using its mouth to unfasten whatever fastening device is used for the lower door part. Such a fastening device is usually provided near the upper end of the lower part of the door, so as to be :. 25 roughly at the shoulder height of a horse where it is best able to resist force ::.. exerted on the door by the horse, and hence is easily accessible to the horse. I...

It is not, however, desirable that the door should be fastened by a device : which utilises a padlock, or any other type of lock necessitating use of a key to release it, since in the event of emergency, e.g. fire, it would be required to * *, 30 release a stable door, or doors of a number of stables, quickly to facilitate escape of the horse(s). The time taken to release a number of key-operated *.**.S * S * 2 locking devices would present a significant hazard under certain circumstances.

According to one aspect of the present invention, we provide a fastening device comprising: a body, a fastening member moveable relative to the body between a fastening position and a releasing position, catch means for holding the fastening member in the fastening position; and releasing means for releasing the catch means to enable the fastening member to move from its fastening position to its releasing position, wherein the releasing means comprises at least one operating member moveable keylessly relative to the body, the at least one operating member being so configured, and/or disposed, in relation to a respective part or parts of or associated with the body as to be operable by a human hand but substantially inoperable by an animaPs (preferably a horse's) mouth.

By moveable keylessly relative to the body, we mean that the operating member(s) does not require to be engaged by a key in order to move it, nor a key engaged or code or combination be input to the fastening device before the operating member(s) can be moved. This does not, nevertheless, preclude the possibility of including a locking arrangement, as described hereafter, which can be brought into operation to enable the fastening device . : to be used as a security device. *...

*.... 25 In a fastening device in accordance with the invention, the fact that the or each operating member is keylessly operable by the human hand, for releasing the * catch means to enable the fastening member to move from its fastening : *. position to its release position, gives the required characteristics of providing for easy release of the fastening device in the event of emergency. The configuration and/or disposition of the operating member(s) in relation to the * 3 body or associated part(s) enables the fastening device to be operated by a person but not by an animal such as a horse which has only its mouth available to effect such operation. While a horse can become adept at using its mouth to deal with simple fastening devices such as slidable bolts, it is unable to use its mouth parts (including its teeth) to manipulate an operating member or members disposed and/or having the co-operation with the body, described hereafter.

Whilst it would be within the scope of the invention to have a single operating member for releasing the catch means, preferably there are two operating members which both require to be moved relative to the body to release the catch means. The movement of two operating members is something which is readily accomplished by a person using two fingers, or a finger and thumb, but is extremely difficult for an animal to accomplish using only its teeth and mouth parts.

Two operating members may be disposed at positions remote from one another on the body of the device, e.g. on opposite sides thereof, and may be movable in opposite directions from one another. Again, this is not difficult for a person but near-impossible for an animal using its mouth.

The or each operating member may comprise a push-button. Preferably the or each such push-button has a surface, which is pressed upon to move it, which is depressed relative to an adjacent surface of or associated with the body *. 25 when the button is pressed. Depression of a push button so that its surface lies beneath the surface of an adjacent part is something which is readily accomplished by a person using their finger or thumb, but extremely difficult I..

for a horse having only its teeth available for use. * S. * *...

The surface of the at least one push-button may lie more or less flush with an adjacent surface part of the body prior to movement of the push-button. * 4

The adjacent body surface part of a push-button type of operating member may be afforded by the general contour of the body of the fastening device, or an operating member which stands proud of the general surface contour of the body may be inhibited from operation (by the teeth of an animal) by the provision of one or more shielding formations upstanding from the adjacent body surface. For example, a push-button operating member may be surrounded by a shielding collar formation. If a push-button type of operating member is of a size suitable to be operated by the tip of an average human finger, adjacent shielding formation(s) will render it very difficult for a horse to use its teeth to depress such an operating member.

The fastening member is preferably spring-biased to move from its fastening position to its releasing position.

In one embodiment, a fastening device according to the invention may be in the general form of a padlock, having a fastening member which is moveable pivotably relative to the body of the device, in the form of a hasp of a padlock.

The fastening member may be generally U-shaped, having a first limb which is moveable pivotably and linearly within the body of the device and a second limb which, when the fastening member is in its fastening position, is constrained within a receiving formation in the body. When the fastening member is in its releasing position, the second limb of the member is free of the body of the device, and the fastening member as a whole is free to pivot about its first limb which remains held by the body of the device. I. * * *1 I

In another embodiment of the invention, the fastening device may take the sq.

form of a fastening bolt device, the fastening member extending outwardly of *.* * the body of the device when it is in its fastening position, more than it extends : .. when it is in its releasing position, for engagement with a keep or bolt receiver. 555. * 30 *.a*5 * . * 5

A fastening device in the configuration of a padlock would normally be used with a conventional hasp and staple door holding device. In the case of a fastening device in the form of a locking bolt, the body having the fastening member would be mounted, usually, on the door, with the keep or bolt receiver mounted on a part of the fixed frame relative to which the door is moveable.

In addition to the above-described catch means and operating member(s), a fastening device in accordance with the invention may be provided with a locking arrangement operable by a key, a combination, or any other known expedient, so that the fastening device may be used as a securing locking device if required.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of fastening device in accordance with the invention, with the internal components shown in broken lines; Figure 2 is an elevation of the embodiment of figure 1; Figure 3 is a view as figure 1 of a modified embodiment of the fastening device; Figure 4 is a view as figure 1 of a second embodiment of fastening device in accordance with the invention. *SSS

S

Referring firstly to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a first embodiment 10 of fastening device in accordance with the invention is in the general S...

configuration of a padlock. It comprises a body indicated generally at 12 and a fastening element (sometimes called a hasp) 14 extending outwardly from one : end of the body. As illustrated, the body is cuboidal having six planar main S...

* 30 faces, with the edges between the faces slightly bevelled. It will, however, be appreciated that the body of a fastening device in accordance with the * 6 invention may be of any other convenient shape such as those shapes generally known for padlocks; for example one or more of the faces which are planar in the cuboidal form of body 12 may have a curvature in one or more dimensions. Alternatively a decorative shape may be adopted.

The fastening element 14 is generally U shaped, having a first limb 16 which extends into a bore 17 in the body 12, nearly to the opposite end of the body from where the fastening element extends outwardly. The limb 16 of the fastening element is pivotably moveable, about the longitudinal axis of the limb, within the body 12, and also movable lengthwise of that axis by a short distance. Adjacent the free end of the limb 16 of the fastening member, remote from the part of the fastening member extending from the body, a spring-biased retaining pin 18 engages a reduced-diameter part 19 of the part 16 of the fastening element, and prevents the fastening element from being withdrawn from the body of the device more than a predetermined distance, while a helical compression spring 20 is disposed between the free end face 22 of limb 16 of the fastening element and closed end 24 of the bore 17 in the body 12 receiving the fastening element, so that the fastening element is spring-biased outwardly of the body.

As above mentioned, the fastening element is U shaped, and it has a second limb 26 which is shorter than the limb 16. When the limb 16 of the fastening . : element is received in the bore 17 in the body 12 to the maximum extent the limb 26 has its free end received in a receiving formation 28 extending into the 25 body 12 a short distance from the end face thereof. This corresponds to the I...

* fastening position of the fastening element. When the fastening element has moved outwardly of the body to the extent limited by the cooperation of the :.:::. retaining element 18 with the limb 16 of the fastening element, the free end of the limb 26 is clear of the body, so that the fastening element can pivot freely (or, if desired, to a limited extent) about the axis of the limb 16 corresponding to a releasing position of the fastening element. * 7

For holding the fastening member in its fastening position relative to the body of the lock, catch means is provided. In the fastening device of figure 1, the catch means comprises two catch members 30, 32 mounted in the body 12 of the device. Each catch member 30, 32 is supported in a respective bore in the body 12 of the device so as to be slidable relative to the body in a direction transverse to the length of the first limb 16 of the fastening member 14. The limb 16 extends through respective apertures in relieved parts 30, 32a of the catch members 30, 32, and the limb has respective formations in the form of notches or recesses 30b, 32 with which the parts 30a, 32a of the catch members are engageable to hold the fastening member in its fastening position. The catch member 30 has an operating member 34 in the form of a push-button, and a helical compression spring 36, reacting against the closed end of the bore in the body 12, in which the catch member is disposed, engages the opposite end of the catch member to urge the catch member and operating member together to a position in which the operating member 34 has its outermost surface lying substantially flush with the surface of the body 12 from which it is moveable. In this position, the catch member 30 engages the corresponding formation 30 in the limb 16.

In similar manner to that above described for the catch member 30, the catch member 32 has an operating member 38 in the form of a push-button and is biased, by a spring 40 at the closed end of the bore in which the catch member is disposed, to a position in which the surface of the operating member 38 lies substantially flush with the corresponding surface of side face 25 42 of the body 12, when the fastening member is in its fastening position and the catch member 32 engages with the corresponding notch or recess in the limb 16 of the fastening member. It will be noted that the operating members 34,38 face in opposite directions outwardly of the body 12, and are offset from one another in the direction lengthwise of the axis of limb 16 of the fastening member. * 8

When the fastening device described above is in use, it provides the same fastening function, in relation to a hasp-and-staple, padbolt, or like door-fastening device, as does a conventional padlock. When it is desired to release the device, however, a user has simply to press on the two operating members 34, 38 to displace the catch members 30, 32 in respective opposite directions to release them from engagement with formations 30b, 32b of the limb 16 of the fastening member 14. When thus released, the fastening member 14 moves under the influence of spring 20 outwardly of the body 12 of the fastening device, whereupon the fastening member may be pivoted about the axis of the limb 16 to disengage it from the door-fastening device. It will be appreciated that this is something which can be accomplished much more quickly than a person can use a key (possibly having to select the required key from a number thereof) to release a padlock. The two operating members 34, 38 are readily operated by thumb and forefinger on one hand of a user, or possibly fingers on opposite hands could be used. The fact that the operating members are disposed on opposite sides of the device, are offset from one another, and have to be depressed so that the operating members no longer lie flush with the respective surfaces of the device, but instead lie some distance below the surfaces, does not make them particularly difficult to operate for the human user, but near impossible to be operated by an animal using its mouth to attempt to do so.

: It will be appreciated that the above described principle of operation of the fastening device may be retained whilst using components different in design *:** 25 and/or arrangement from that above described. For example, catch members I...

of different configuration, different forms or dispositions of the springs biasing same, or different forms of operating member may be utilised. For example, instead of an operating member having a surface which lies flush with the body surface adjacent it, an operating member which stands proud of the body surface may be surrounded by, or disposed adjacent, one or more shielding formations or surfaces impeding access to the operating member. * 9

In a simplified version, only a single operating member may be provided for the releasing means which disengages the catch means holding the fastening member in the fastening position. Even with a single operating member, if such operating member has to be depressed beneath the surface level of the body or a shielding formation of the device, it remains extremely difficult for a horse to do that using its mouth.

Referring now to figure 3 of the drawings, this illustrates an embodiment of the invention whose basic structure and function is the same as that of figures 1 and 2; the above description therefore will not be repeated. The embodiment of figure 3 differs from figures 1 and 2 in that it is additionally provided with a key-operable locking device enabling it to be used as a security device as well as a fastening device.

In figure 3, the body 12 of the device receives a lock cylinder 50, rotatably supported in a bore extending into the body from the end face 52 thereof opposite the end face from which the fastening member 14 extends. The lock cylinder 50 is able to be turned through 1 80, or other selected angle, about its longitudinal axis, by a key inserted at its visible end. The lock cylinder 50 has a blocking formation 54 which extends to the region of the catch member 32 opposite the operating member 38 and is arranged to block movement (to .. : disengage the catch member from the respective notch or recess in the limb S...

16 of the fastening member, engaged when the fastening member is in its : 25 fastening position) of the catch member 32 by the operating member 38 when **..

the lock cylinder is in a first angular orientation relative to the body 12, but permit the catch member to be moved by the operating member 38 to disengage it when the lock cylinder is oriented in a second position. For example the two positions of the lock cylinder 50 may be 90 apart from one another, or 180 apart from one another. The blocking formation 54 may be eccentrically disposed relative to the axis of the lock cylinder 50, or may be * 10 concentric but have a relieved portion adjacent its free end to permit movement of the catch member 32 when the lock cylinder is suitably oriented.

Such expedients are well known in the field of locks, and any suitable mechanism for such a purpose may be utilised.

Instead of a key-operated locking device for enabling the fastening device to be used for security locking purposes, possibly a code or combination locking device, or any other security device, may be utilised. Possibly a lock cylinder may be incorporated in one of the catch members and/or its operating member, for blocking movement of the catch member when set in a selected position. When the lock cylinder is set in a position in which movement of the catch member is not blocked, the fastening device may be used for fastening purposes without any need for any use of the key.

Referring now to figure 4 of the drawings, this shows an embodiment of fastening device in accordance with the invention in which, instead of a padlock-type hasp, the fastening member takes the form of a bolt for engagement with a keep. Such a fastening device is intended for installation on a door adjacent the edge thereof remote from the door's hinges, for cc-operation with a keep provided on an adjacent part of the fixed frame of the door. * .**

*. : The fastening device of figure 4 comprises a body 62 and a fastening member 64 of which an end part 66 extends a substantial distance outwardly of the *:* 25 body 62 when in its fastening position relative to the body, for engagement * with a keep as aforesaid. The body 62 is an elongate cuboid or any other shape appropriate for the purposes described hereafter. The fastening member 64 extends through a bore which extends right through the body 62, the fastening member having a manually-engageable knob 68 at its end opposite its end 66. The bore through the body 62 has a first portion 70 near the knob 68 of the fastening member, and a larger diameter portion 72 at the * 11 opposite end of the body with an annular plug 73 through which end part 66 of the fastening member 64 extends. A helical compression spring 74 is disposed between the annular plug 73 of the bore part 72 and a collar 76 on the fastening member, so that when the end part 66 of the fastening member protrudes from the body 62 as shown in figure 3 a force is exerted on the fastening member biasing it away from such position, so that the part 66 retracts within the body 62 and the knob 68 is farther away from the body.

Catch means is provided for holding the fastening member 64 in the fastening position in which is shown in figure 4, and this comprises a catch member 80 movably supported in the body for movement transversely of the length of the fastening member, the catch member 80 being engageable with a notch or recess in the fastening member. The fastening member need not be constrained to a particular angular orientation within the body 62, and the notch or recess with which the catch member 80 is engageable may be of annular configuration extending around the fastening member. As for the catch members 30, 32 shown in figures 1 and 2, the catch member 80 has a push-button operating member 84 and a spring is provided to bias the catch member into engagement with the fastening member.

The outermost surface of the operating member 84 preferably, as above described for the operating members 34, 38, lies substantially flush with the S. : surface of the adjacent face of the body 62 when it is in engagement with the * **.

fastening member to hold the fastening member in its fastening position.

: 25 When the fastening member is to be moved from its fastening position to its S...

releasing position, the operating member 84 is pushed to displace the catch member and release the fastening member, which then moves to a releasing position under the influence of spring 74 until the part 66 of the fastening member is free of engagement with the keep. * 12

As above described, the configuration of the operating member 84, for releasing the catch means, makes it difficult for a horse or other animal to do so by use only of its mouth parts. If desired, however, two catch members may be utilised, preferably disposed in the same way in relation to the body 62 as are the two catch members of the fastening device of figure 1, requiring simultaneously to be depressed by thumb and forefinger or by the use of the fingers of two hands. This makes it even less likely that release of the fastening device from its fastening position could be effected by an animal using its mouth.

As described above in relation to figure 3 of the drawings, a key-operated lock mechanism may be provided for preventing release of the fastening device 64 from its fastening position if required, to enable the device in accordance with the invention to be used as a security bolt device. Such a key-operated mechanism, or a code -or combination-operated mechanism, may be arranged to co-operate in any manner with any one or more components of the fastening device.

A fastening device in accordance with the invention may take forms other than those particularly described above with reference to the drawings. For example, it may take the form of a chain lock or cable lock, which is a device commonly used for preventing machinery from being moved, or for holding . : gates shut. Such a device has a fastening member which engages with the S". body of the device in its fastening position but in its releasing position can be : 25 detached completely from the body, being connected to the body by a flexible S...

constraining element such as a chain or metal cable. Such a fastening device may have catch means for holding the fastening member in engagement with the body in a fastening position, together with releasing means comprising at least one operating member, generally as above described. * 13

Yet a further possibility is that the fastening device may be provided with a device for sending a signal, either by way of electrical wiring or by any other means, e.g. by radio transmission, indicative of the fastening device being in its fastening and/or releasing position. In this way, an interested party may be warned of unauthorised release of the fastening device. An alternative use for such provision in a fastening device may be to indicate that a door preventing access to moving parts of machinery for example is satisfactorily closed, and the signal may be used to enable the machinery to be operated when the door is closed but prevent its operation when the door is not closed.

Therefore it will be apparent that the invention provides a fastening device which meets the requirements for security against being unfastened by an animal which is required to be restrained, whilst being able to be released quickly if circumstances dictate such action.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a S...

: means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for ***.

attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any 25 combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse * forms thereof. **. * .. * S 5 *SS�

5*.aS. * * * 14

Claims

Claims 1. A fastening device comprising; a body, a fastening member moveable relative to the body between a fastening position and a releasing position, catch means for holding the fastening member in the fastening position; and releasing means for releasing the catch means to enable the fastening member to move from its fastening position to its releasing position, wherein the releasing means comprises at least one operating member moveable keylessly relative to the body, the at least one operating member being so configured, and/or disposed, in relation to a respective part or parts of or associated with the body as to be operable by a human hand but substantially inoperable by an animal's mouth.
2. A fastening device according to claim 1 wherein there are provided two operating members, both requiring to be moved relative to the body to release the catch means.
3. A fastening device according to claim 2 wherein the operating members are spaced from one another on the body. *..S

. :
4. A fastening device according to claim 3 wherein the operating members *I..are provided on oppositely-facing surfaces of the body. r' 25
5. A fastening device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one operating member comprises a push-button. * ** * . * *.S*
6. A fastening device according to claim 5 wherein the at least one push-button has a surface which is depressed relative to an adjacent surface of or associated with the body when the button is pressed. * 15
7. A fastening device according to claim 6 wherein the surface of the at least one push-button lies generally flush with an adjacent surface part of the body prior to movement of the push-button.
8. A fastening device according to claim 6 wherein the or each push-button stands proud of the general contour of the body of the fastening device, and is shielded by one or more formations upstanding from the adjacent body surface.
9. A fastening device according to claim 8 wherein the at least one push-button is surrounded by a shielding collar formation.
10. A fastening device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fastening member is spring biased to move from its fastening position to its releasing position.
11. A fastening device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fastening member is in the general form of a hasp of a padlock.
12. A fastening device according to claim 9 wherein the fastening member is generally U shaped, having a first limb moveable pivotably and linearly . : within the body of the device, and a second limb which, when the fastening *...member is in its fastening position, is constrained within a receiving formation r' 25 of the body.
13. A fastening device according to claim 10 wherein, when the fastening member is in its releasing position, the second limb thereof is free of the body of the device and the fastening member is able to pivot about its first limb which remains held by the body of the device. S 16
14. A fastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the fastening member extends outwardly of the body of the device, when it is in its fastening position, more than it extends when it is in its releasing position, for engagement with a keep or bolt receiver.
15. A fastening device according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a locking arrangement for preventing movement of the fastening member from its fastening position.
16. A fastening device according to claim 15 wherein the locking arrangement, when operative, prevents releasing movement of the or at least one of the operating members.
17. A fastening device according to claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the locking arrangement is operable by a key.
18. A fastening device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the animal is a horse.
19. A fastening device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as shown in, the accompanying drawings.:
20. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings. 25 * ** * a a *s.. ***Saa* * S