GB2576184A

GB2576184A - Security letter plate

Info

Publication number: GB2576184A
Application number: GB1812893.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pearson Paul; Keeling James
Original assignee: Heywood Williams Components Ltd
Current assignee: Heywood Williams Components Ltd
Priority date: 2018-08-08
Filing date: 2018-08-08
Publication date: 2020-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 2038-08-08
Also published as: GB201812893D0; GB2576184B

Abstract

A letter plate 10 comprises a body portion 12 and a flap portion 22. The body portion comprises an opening 20 and the flap portion is pivotable relative to the body potion to cover and uncover the opening. The letter plate further comprises means for restricting the angle the flap portion is pivotable relative to the body portion. The angle restricting means may comprise an extendible connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion is fixedly attached at a first end to the flap portion and is slidingly attached at second end to the body portion. The body portion may comprise a slot 50, 52 for receiving the connecting portion when the flap portion is closed. The connecting portion may be formed of two or more fins 54, 56, 58, 60 which nest together in the slot when the flap portion is closed, and which extend apart when the flap is pivoted open. The opening may extend through the body portion from a front side to a back side. A lower surface of the opening may be inclined from the rear side to the front side, and an upper surface of the opening may slope downwards from the rear side to the front side.

Description

[0001] The present invention is related to a letter plate, and in particular a letter plate that provides improved security.

[0002] Letter plates typically comprise a front plate, a rear plate, and an opening for allowing mail to pass through the door. The front plate can be pivoted by a user to provide access to the opening, and pushing mail through the opening causes the rear plate to pivot and allow the mail to pass through the letter plate and into the house.

[0003] Conventional letter plates can provide an access point for thieves, in a process known as “fishing”. Thieves outside a house insert a device such as a fishing rod through the opening in the letter plate. The device extends the reach of a thief so that items, such as house keys or car keys, placed near the door can be grasped or otherwise lifted by the device and retrieved through the letter plate.

[0004] Letter plates also provide an access point for thieves to attempt to manipulate the interior lock of a door, in order to gain access to a house. Letter plates may be attacked in an attempt to damage or destroy the rear plate to allow an intruder to then manipulate the interior lock of the door through the opening in the door. An intruder may use tools to attempt to remove the letter plate from the inside surface of the door.

[0005] Fishing and manipulation attacks to letter plates are increasingly occurring problems, and so there are pressures on designers of letter plates to provide letter plates with improved security. Tests have been devised in order to determine whether a letter plate meets security requirements to protect against fishing and attempts to manipulate the interior lock.

[0006] The test related to fishing involves placing a target on a table near a door, and inserting a rod through the door to pierce the target. If it is not possible to pierce the target within a specified time, the letter plate meets the security requirements. If it is possible to pierce the target, a disc is then attached to the end of the rod, and attempts are made to retrieve the disc and the rod back through the letter plate. If it is not possible to fully retrieve the disc and rod back through the letter plate within a specified time, then the letter plate meets the security requirements for this test.

[0007] The test related to attempts to manipulate the lock involves placing a target on an inside face of the door, in a position corresponding to a conventional position of a thumb lock or key lock. The letter plate is attacked using a variety of tools for a predetermined amount of time. A bent rod is then used to attempt to engage the target. If it is not possible to engage the target with the rod for a specified amount of time within a predetermined time limit, then the letter plate meets the security requirements for this test.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a letter plate with improved security.

[0009] According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus and method as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a letter plate comprising a body portion and a flap portion, wherein the body portion comprises an opening and the flap portion is pivotable relative to the body portion to cover and uncover the opening, and wherein the letter plate comprises means for restricting the angle by which the flap portion is pivotable relative to the body portion.

[0011] The means for restricting the angle by which the flap portion is pivotable provides the advantage that the angle, in a height direction, at which an intruder may insert a device through the letter plate is limited. This may restrict the reach of an intruder that is attempting fishing through the opening.

[0012] The means for restricting the angle by which the flap portion is pivotable relative to the body portion may comprise a connecting portion between the flap portion and the body portion. The connecting portion may be attached at a first end to the flap portion and at a second end to the body portion. The body portion may comprise a slot for receiving the connecting portion when the flap portion is in a closed position. When the flap portion is pivoted from the closed position, the connecting portion may extend from the slot. The connecting portion may be movably attached to the body portion, such that the connecting portion may extendable from the slot but may be prevented from fully extending out of the slot.

[0013] The connecting portion between the flap portion and the body portion may be a side wall. The side wall may provide a barrier, inhibiting side access to the opening. The side wall may limit the angle, in a width direction, at which an intruder may insert a device through the letter plate. The side walls may thereby inhibit an intruder from manipulating a lock on an inside surface of the door.

[0014] The side wall may be formed of two or more fins, preferably four fins. The fins may be adapted to nest together within the slot in the body portion, and fan out when the flap is pivoted from the closed position. The feature of the nesting fins provides the advantage that the depth of the body portion can be reduced.

[0015] A first of the two or more fins may be integral with the flap portion. The first of the two or more fins may comprise two substantially parallel panels. The first of the two or more fins may be configured to receive a second of the two or more fins between the two panels.

[0016] The means for restricting the angle by which the body portion is pivotable may comprise an abutment portion that projects from the body portion for abutting against the flap portion when the flap is pivoted to uncover the opening. The abutment portion may be configured to abut against the flap when the flap is pivoted to a maximum permitted angle, such that the abutment portion prevents the flap from pivoting beyond the maximum permitted angle.

[0017] The abutment portion may be a lip. The lip may extend from a top edge of the body portion and may curve over a top edge of the flap portion. The lip may extend along the length of the top edge of the body portion. When the flap portion is pivoted, the flap portion may abut against the lip such that the flap portion is prevented from pivoting further.

[0018] The abutment portion may act as a secondary means for restricting movement of the body portion. This provides the advantage that if an intruder breaks the connecting portion, the angle by which the flap may pivot remains restricted by means of the abutment portion.

[0019] The angle by which the body portion may be pivotable relative to a closed position may be less than 90 degrees. Preferably, the angle by which the body portion is pivotable relative to the closed position is 40 degrees.

[0020] The body portion may be attachable to an interior side of a door. The body portion may comprise a tubular projection for projecting through an opening in the door. The tubular projection may project from a door-facing side of the body portion. The tubular projection may project from an end of the opening at the door-facing side of the body portion.

[0021] The opening may be substantially rectangular in cross-section. The opening may extend through the body portion from the door-facing side of the body portion to a flap-facing side of the body portion. The opening may comprise a lower surface. The lower surface may be inclined from the door-facing side of the body portion to the flap-facing side of the body portion. The inclined surface may provide the advantage of limiting the angle, in a height direction, between a bottom edge of the flap and the lower surface of the opening portion at the flap-facing side of the body portion through which a device may be inserted.

[0022] The opening may comprise an upper surface. The upper surface may be sloped downwards from the door-facing side of the body portion to the flap-facing side of the body portion. The sloped upper surface may provide the advantage of limiting the angle in a height direction, between a bottom edge of the flap and the upper surface of the opening portion at the flap-facing side of the body portion through which a device may be inserted.

[0023] The opening may comprise at least one side surface. The opening may comprise two side surfaces provided on relative left and right sides of the opening. The at least one side surface may be on a plane at an oblique angle relative to the door-facing side of the body portion. The at least one side surface may be angled inwards from the door-facing side of the plate to the flap-facing side of the plate. The width of the opening may thereby be greater at the door-facing side of the body portion than at the flap-facing side of the body portion. This may provide the advantage of limiting the angle, in a width direction, at which a device may be inserted through the opening. This may inhibit an intruder from engaging and destroying the connecting portion between the flap portion and the body portion when attempting to manipulate a lock on an inside surface of a door.

[0024] The body portion may comprise fixing positions for attaching the body portion to a door. The fixing positions may be provided at the same position as conventional letter plates, so that the letter plate may be retrofitted to a door. Fixings may be insertable through the fixing positions in the body portion, through bores in the door, and attached to a letter plate on a front surface of the door. The letter plate on the front surface of the door may be an existing, conventional letter plate.

[0025] The body portion may comprise additional fixing positions, for receiving additional fixings to attach the body portion to a door. The additional fixings may be inserted through the additional fixing positions in the body portion and into the door. The additional fixings may inhibit an intruder from removing the letter plate from a door.

[0026] The flap may be formed of zinc, aluminium, stainless steel or glass-reinforced plastics material.

[0027] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

[0028] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

[0029] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a letter plate;

[0030] Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the letter plate with the flap closed;

[0031] Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the letter plate with the flap open;

[0032] Figure 4 shows a front view of the letter plate with the flap closed;

[0033] Figure 5 shows a front view of the letter plate with the flap open;

[0034] Figure 6 shows a side view of the letter plate with the flap closed;

[0035] Figure 7 shows a side view of the letter plate with the flap open; and [0036] Figure 8 shows a section view of the letter plate along section A-A shown in figure 3.

[0037] As shown in figure 1, a letter plate 10 comprises a body portion 12, a sleeve portion 14, and a cover portion 16. The body portion 12 is attachable to the sleeve portion 14 and the sleeve portion 14 is attachable to an interior surface of a door.

[0038] As shown in figures 2 and 3, the sleeve portion 14 comprises a tubular sleeve 18 that projects away from the body portion 12 and is configured to extend through a hole in a door in use. As shown in figures 1,5 and 8, the body portion 12 has an opening 20 in communication with a passage 21 defined by the tubular sleeve 18, such that mail can be inserted through the tubular sleeve 18 and through the opening 20. The sleeve portion 14 comprises an internal brush seal 19. The internal brush seal 19 is provided between the opening 20 and the passage 21 in the tubular sleeve.

[0039] As shown in figures 1-8, the cover portion 16 comprises a flap 22 for covering the opening 20 in the body portion 12. The flap 22 is pivotable relative to the body portion 12 and is biased to a closed position, in which the opening is covered, by torsion springs 24. The torsion springs 24 pivotally connect an upper edge 26 of the flap 22 with an upper edge region 28 of the body portion 12, forming a hinge. In normal use, the letter plate is attached to the door in an orientation such that the hinge is provide at the top of the letter plate, and the flap 22 is pivotable upwards to uncover the opening, providing access to the opening 16, as shown in figures 3 and 7.

[0040] The opening 20 extends from a front side 30 of the body portion 12, facing the cover portion 14, through the body portion 12 to the sleeve portion 14. As shown in figure 8, a height of the opening 20 at the rear side 32 of the body portion, facing the sleeve portion 14, is substantially the same as the height of the passage 21 of the tubular sleeve 18. As shown in figure 8, an upper surface 34 of the opening 20 is substantially parallel to an upper end 36 of the body portion 12 and is in plane with an upper wall 38 of the tubular sleeve 18. In other examples, the upper surface 34 of the opening 20 may be sloped downwards from the rear side 32 of the body portion 12 to the front side 30 of the body portion 12.

[0041] A lower surface 40 of the opening 20 is inclined relative to the upper surface 34 of the opening, from the rear side 32 to the front side 30 of the body portion 12. The height of the opening 20 at the front side 30 of the body portion 12 is therefore smaller than the height of the opening 20 at the rear side 32 of the body portion 12. The inclination of the lower surface 40 of the opening 20 limits the angle, in a height direction, at which items can pass through the opening 20.

[0042] The width of the opening 20 at the rear side 32 of the body portion 12 is substantially the same as the width of the passage 21 through the tubular sleeve 20. The opening 20 comprises left and right side surfaces 42. The left and right side surfaces 42 are angled inwards, from the rear side 32 of the body portion 12 to the front side 30. The width of the opening 20 at the front side 30 is therefore smaller than the width of the opening 20 at the rear side 32. The angled side surfaces 42 limit the angle at which items can pass through the opening, thereby inhibiting an intruder from accessing and destroying side walls 46 at the ends of the flap 22 when the intruder is attempting to manipulate a lock in the door.

[0043] The flap 22 is substantially rectangular and covers the opening 20 when in a closed position, as shown in figures 4 and 6. The cover portion 16 comprises the side walls 46 that are provided at first and second ends of the flap 22, shown in figures 7 and 8. The side walls 46 are connected at a first end to the flap 22 and at a second end to the body portion 12. In the closed position, the side walls 46 are inserted in slots 50, 52 in the body portion and corresponding slots 53, 55 in the sleeve portion 14, shown in figure 1. The slots 50, 52 are provided in the front side 30 of the body portion 12, at either side of the opening 20. Similarly, the slots 53, 55 in the sleeve portion are provided at either side of the sleeve portion 18. As the flap 22 is pivoted open, the side walls 46 extend out from the slots 50, 52, as shown in figure 7. The connection between the second end of the side walls 46 and the body portion 12 prevents the side walls 46 from extending fully out of the slots 50, 52, and therefore limits the angle by which the flap 22 may be pivoted relative to the body portion 12. This limits the angle at which items can pass through the opening 20 in the height direction of the opening. The side walls 46 also form a barrier at the sides of the flap 22 to limit the angle at which items can pass through the opening 20 in the width direction of the opening, thereby inhibiting an intruder from manipulating a key lock or thumb lock on an inside of the door..

[0044] As shown in detail in figure 1, each of the side walls 46 is formed of a first fin 54, 56 and a second fin 58, 60. The fins are configured to nest together when the side walls 46 are provided in the slots 50, 52, and are configured to extend outwards when the flap is pivoted open, as shown in figure 7. This reduces the required depth of the slots 50, 52, and so reduces the depth of the body portion 12. The first fin 54, 56 is integral with the flap, while the second fin 58, 60 is slidingly connected to both the first fin 54, 56 and the body portion 12.

The first fin 54, 56 comprises two parallel panels, and the second fin 58, 60 is receivable between the two parallel panels when the fins nest together.

[0045] The second fin 58, 60 comprises a first elongate aperture 62, 64 that slidingly receives a retaining pin 66, 68. The retaining pin 66, 68 is fixed to the body portion 12 and is configured to slide relative to the first aperture 62, 64, along the width of the first aperture 62, 64. As the flap 22 is pivoted to the open position, the second fin 58, 60 slides relative to the retaining pin 66, 68, such that the position of the retaining pin 66, 68 relative to the first aperture 62, 64 moves along the width of the first aperture 62, 64. In a fully extended position, the end 69, 71 of the first aperture 62, 64 abuts the retaining pin, thereby retaining the second fin 58, 60 partially within the slot 50, 52 and thus preventing the side wall 46, 48 from fully extending out of the slot 50, 52.

[0046] The second fin 58, 60 comprises a second elongate aperture 70, 72 that slidingly receives a rivet 74, 76. The rivet 74, 76 is fixed to the first fin 54, 56 and is configured to slide relative to the second aperture 70, 72. As the flap 22 is pivoted to the open position, the first fin 54, 56 extends away from the second fin 58, 60, and the rivet 74, 76 slides along the second aperture 70, 72. In a fully extended position, the rivet 74, 76 abuts the end 78 of the second aperture 70, 72, thereby preventing the first fin 54, 56 from extending further away from the second fin 58, 60, and limiting the angle by which the flap 22 can pivot relative to the body portion 12.

[0047] As the flap 22 is pivoted to a closed position, an inner edge 80, 82 of the second fin 58, 60 abuts against a surface of the door to which the letter plate 10 is attached. This causes the first fin 54, 56 to nest around the second fin 58, 60, such that the side walls 46 are fully provided within the slots 50, 52, and the flap closes the opening 20.

[0048] The body portion 12 comprises a lip 84 that extends outwards over the upper edge 26 of the flap 22. The lip 84 has a curved profile, as shown in figure 8 and limits the angle in the by which the flap 22 may be pivoted relative to the body portion 12. When the flap 22 is pivoted to a maximum permitted angle, the lip 84 abuts against the flap 22, preventing the flap 22 from pivoting further beyond the maximum permitted angle. The lip 84 extends along the upper edge of body portion 12. In the event that an intruder breaks the side walls 44, 46 of the cover portion, the lip 84 provides secondary protection, limiting the angle at which the flap 22 may be pivoted relative to the body portion 12.

[0049] The body portion 12 comprises holes 86 for receiving fixings. In use, fixings extend through the holes 86, and through bores in the door to corresponding holes in a conventional letter plate provided on an exterior side of a door. The fixings attach the letter plate 10 to the conventional external letter plate on the exterior side of the door. The holes 86 are provided in the corresponding position to bores in the door and holes in the conventional letter plate, such that the letter plate 10 can be used in a door with an existing external letter plate attached.

[0050] The body portion 12 comprises additional holes 88 for receiving fixings, provided below the first holes 86, as shown in figure 1. In use, fixings extend through the additional holes 88 to attach the letter plate 10 directly to the door. This provides extra fixings to the door, thereby inhibiting an intruder from removing the letter plate 10 from the door.

[0051] Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0052] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0053] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0054] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A letter plate comprising a body portion and a flap portion, wherein the body portion comprises an opening and the flap portion is pivotable relative to the body portion to cover and uncover the opening, and wherein the letter plate comprises means for restricting the angle by which the flap portion is pivotable relative to the body portion.

2. The letter plate according to claim 1, wherein the means for restricting the angle by which the flap portion is pivotable relative to the body portion comprises a connecting portion provided between the flap portion and the body portion.

3. The letter plate according to claim 2, wherein the connecting portion is fixedly attached at a first end to the flap portion and is slidingly attached at a second end to the body portion.

4. The letter plate according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the body portion comprises a slot for receiving the connecting portion when the flap portion is in a closed position.

5. The letter plate according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the connecting portion is extendible.

6. The letter plate according to claim 5, wherein the connecting portion is formed of two or more fins, wherein the fins are configured to nest together in the slot when the flap portion is in the closed position and are configured to extend apart when the flap is pivoted to an open position.

7. The letter plate according to claim 6, wherein a first of the two or more fins is integral with the flap portion.

8. The letter plate according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the connecting portion forms a side wall at an end of the flap portion.

9. The letter plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for restricting the angle by which the flap portion is pivotable relative to the body portion comprises a lip that projects from the body portion and is configured to abut against the flap portion.

10. The letter plate according to any preceding claim wherein the opening extends through the body portion from a front side of the body portion to a rear side of the body portion.

11. The letter plate according to claim 10, wherein a lower surface of the opening is inclined from the rear side of the body portion to the front side of the body portion.

5

12. The letter plate according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein an upper surface of the opening is sloped downwards from the rear side of the body portion to the front side of the body portion.

13. The letter plate according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein at least one side surface of the opening is angled inwards from the rear side to the front side of the body portion, such that 10 a width of the opening at the front side of the body portion is smaller than a width of the opening at the rear side of the body portion.