ZA200409439B - Monitoring of operation of a padlock. - Google Patents

Description

MONITORING OF OPER ATION OF A PADLOGK

© "THIS INVENTION relates to the monitoring of operaticon of a padlock. In particular, it relates to a method of locking am item and fo a telltale cdevice securable to a padlock ha=ving a key-operated release mechanism.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of locking an Etem, the method including lockin g the item with a padlock having & key-operated release mechanism; and sealin g a key for the padlock to the pa dlock with a telltale device, the key being in a lock position in the padlock release mechanism, so that removinge the key or operating the key to Open the padlock damages or destroys the telltale device=.

I n this specification, the term “padlock” is intended to #nclude key-operated locks similar to padlocks having shackles, bolts, toothed racks cor the like at least a portion of wvhich is external to a lock body and which is lockable mn position relative to the lock body. The key may be removably o r permanently mounted to the lock.

Sealing the key for the padlock to the padlock with am telitale device may include cowering the key of the padlock writh the telltale device, which may be of a transparent or translucent material. Sealing the key for the padioc k to the padlock with a telltale deavice may further include covering at least a portion of aa body of the padlock ) with the teslitale device. Preferably, this #s effected without vissually obstructing an identificatiosn feature of the padlock, if the padlock includes an identification feature, e.g. «30 an identification number.

Covering the key of the padlock with the telltale device rmay include inserting the padloci, unlocked, with the key in a lock position in the padlockz release mechanism, key first into an open end of a jacket formingg part of the telltale devi ce.

CONFIRMATION COPY

The metho d may include attachming the telltale devices to the padlock koy passing a shackle, bo It, toothed rack, or the like of the padlock threough a portion of the telltale device, before locking the item with theme padiock. . 5 According ®o another aspect of the invention, there is provided a telltasle device, securable to &a padlock having a ke-y-operated release me=chanism, the telita_le device including seal means to seal a key for the padlock in a lock position in tie padlock release mechanism such that removing the key or operating the key to open the padlock damages =or destroys the seal me=ans.

The seal means may be in the for-m of a cover body, whaich includes a jack-et defining a cavity for re=ceiving at least the ke y of a padlock which is in a lock position in the padlock. Preferably, the jacket defines =a cavity or cavities for snugly receiving the key and a padlock bo-dy of the padlock, the jacket having an oper end through which the padlock, with the kkey in the padlock release mechanism, can be inserted key first.

At least a portion of the jacket may be of a transparent or transluc=ent material to allo=w visual confirmation of tthe presence of the kewy in the padiock release mechanism.

At least a p ortion of the telltale de=vice may be of a mate=rial which includes a phosphorescent constatuent.

The telltale device may include se=curing means for secu ring the jacket to tke padlock. The securin g means may be provided by a securing m ember, fast with the jacket and having an opening which in use can be positioned to receive the shacklee, bolt, toothed rack, or the like. The securi ng member may be im the form of a tab hingedly connected t-o the jacket and defTining the opening wiich in use can oe positioned to receive tke shackle, bolt, toothe=d rack, or the like.

Instead, thea securing means may~ be in the form of at leeast one aperture in - 30 the jacket for receivingg a shackle, bolt, toothe=d rack, or the like of th e padlock.

According to another aspect of —the invention, there is provided a telita le device, securable to &a padlock having a kewmy-operated release me -chanism, the device including a cover body mountable to the padlock such that at least a portion thereof covers a key for the padlock which is in a lock position in the padlock release mechanism; and ] securing me ans for securing the cover bady to the padlock so that t .he cover body must be visibly damaged or destroyed in order to remove the key or to ogperate the key . 5 to open the padlock.

A portion of the cover body may be configured to cover at least a portion of a body of the padlock.

The cover body may define an aperture or window or may include a transparent wall, through which an identification fe ature of the padlock w ill be visible in use, as described in PCT/IB02/00191, the specific-ation of which is incorpoorated herein by way of referemce. Furthermore, the cover bodly, or a portion thereof=, may be of a transparent or tra nslucent material to allow visual confirmation of the presence of the key in the padlock release mechanism. The telltal e device or a portion tkereof may be of a material which includes a phosphorescent constituent.

The telltale device may include indicating means for indicatirhg removal or operation of the key of the padlock.

The indicating means may include a frangible zone in thee cover body, between the portion of the cover body configured to cover the key and the= portion of the cover body configured to cover at least a portion of the padlock body.

The cover body may include a series of peripherally spaced longitudinally extending ribs which protrude inwardly from an irner surface of the conver body and which are adapterd in use to bear against the padlock body and to limit the angular ] displacement of the padlock body in the cover body. The ribs may also serve to strengthen the cower body. . 30

The telitale device may include indicia which are formed o n an external surface of the dewice. The indicia may be printed, indelibly embossed or stamped onto the surface of the cover body. The indicia may fumnction as an identificat ion feature for the telltale device. Preferably, when the cover bodwy includes a window or- aperture, the indicia is provided on a portion of the cover body whaich includes the window or aperture.

The cover body may include a jacket ass hereinbefore describeed. Thus, the . 5 jacket may define a cavity or cavities for snugly reczeiving the key of a padlock which is ir a locked position and the padlock body of the padlock, the jacket having an open end through which the key and padlock can be inserted.

The securing means may be as hereinbefore described.

The telltale de vice may be in the form of a unitary mouldingg of synthetic pelastics material.

The invention vwill now be described, by wray of example, with re-ference to the aa ccompanying diagrammatic drawings in which

Figure 1 shows a perspective top view of a telltale device in accordance with the irmvention;

Figure 2 shows a pe rspective bottom view of the telltale device of Fig ure 1; and

Figure 3 shows a sectioned perspective vievv of the telltale devicee of Figure 1, c=orresponding to Figure 1 , in use.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a telltale dl evice in accordance with the invention. The telltale device 10 includes a «cover body, in tke form of a jacket 12, which defines a cavity 14 wilkhin which a body 16 o# a padlock 18 heaving a shackle 46, as w ell as a key 20 for the pad lock 18 is receivable (see Figure 3).

The jacket 12 includes a bottom wall 222 which is roughly rectangular when . v-iewed in plan. Transve rsely spaced longitudinal walls 24 and longitudinally spaced transverse walls 26 externd respectively from the leong and short edges of the bottom « 30 wall 22.

Two transversezly spaced longitudinally eextending ribs 28 protrude inwardly frrom an inner surface of e ach of the longitudinal wal Is 24.

The telltale dewice 10 includes securing means, generally inclicated by reference numeral 30 whereby the telltale device 10 is Rockable to the padloc k 18. The securing means 30 includes a flap or tab 32 which is comnected to a free edges of one of the transverse walls 26 by & hinge 34. A hole 36 extends through the tab 32. 5

The jacket 12 comprises two portions. A first portion of the jacket 12, generally indicated by reference numeral 38, is configured to receive the body 16 of the padlock 18. It is also this portion 38 of the jacket 12 whiach carries the ribs 28.

The jacket 12 also includes a portion 40 for ir use covering the key 20 of the padlock 18. The portion 4Q is roughly cigarette-box sh-aped. An interior of t he portion 40 is in communication with an interior of the portion 38 , via an aperture 39 (see Figure 3) in the bottom wall 22.

Indicating meanss, in the form of a frangible zane 42 connects the portions 38, 40 of the jacket 12 to each other. The frangible zo ne 42 comprises a plurality of bridging formations 43 conmecting the portions 38, 40 of the jacket 12. If desired, the bridging formations 43 may be slanted and enlarged (nowt shown), to facilitate &nspection of the device 10.

The telltale device 10 is in the form of a wunitary moulding of a synthetic plastics material, e.g. polypropylene, which includes a phosphorescent constituent, allowing the telltale device 10 to glow in the dark. Instzead, the telltale device 10 may include phosphorescent markings. Although not shown in the drawings, in a preferred embodiment of the telltale d evice of the invention, at leasst the portion 40 of the= jacket 12 is translucent to allow eassy visual confirmation of thes presence of the ke=y 20 in a padlock release mechanisn of the padlock 18. Typically, the synthetic plastic s material . will be between 0.5 mm ard 1.5 mm in thickness so ams to permit easy tearing of the bridging formations 43 of the frangible zone 42 by hard, when the portion 40 of the jacket 12 is twisted as indicaated by arrow 44.

Indicia such as logos and/or other trade marl<s may be formed on the jacket 12. Preferably, serial numb ers (not shown) are provided on one of the longitucdinal walls 24. |t is also to be noted th at an aperture may be provicded in one of the wallss 24, 26 of

WO »3091519 PCT/IB03/01 484 the jeacket 12, typically in one of the longitudiral walls 24, as de scribed in

PCT/1BB02/00191, to allow visu al confirmation of any id=entification feature, such as an ID numbesr, applied to the body 16 of the padlock 18.

The telltale device 10 is particularly suitable for use with padlockss which are normally kept in a locked condition, but which it is dessired should be quickly and easily unlocl=<able, e.g. in the event of an emergency. A typic al example of such a p adlock is a padlock used on an emergency or fire escape door.

In use, an unlocked padlock 18, with the= key 20 in the padio«ck release mechanism, is inserted key first into the cavity 14 wmntil the key 20 is located in the portior 40 of the jacket 12 and the body 16 of the pacdlock 18 is snugly received inside the portion 38 of the jacket 12. This situation is cle. arly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawirgs. The tab 32 is then bent over so that the hole 36 therein is in regis ter with an open hole in an upper surface of the body 16 of the padlock 18 and the pacilock 18 is locked in position by closing the shackle 46 such tat a limb 48 of the shackle 46 extends through the hole 36 in the tab 32, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The ribs 28 abut against the surface of the body 16 to ensure a smug fit and in ord er to resist relative displacement of the padloack body 16 in the cavity 14. If desire d, the padlock body 16 may be provided with complementary recessses within which the ribs 26 engage thereby further resisting relat ive displacement.

The portion 40 of thee jacket 12 forms a coveer for the key 20 thereboy denying direct access to the key 20. However, the padlocl< 18 can easily be urlocked by grippirg the portion 40 of the jacket 12 between the fin gers of a person, and t-wisting the portior 40, and the key 20, as indicated by the arrcow 44. When the powtion 40 is twisted, the bridging formations 43 of the frangible zomne 42 tear separating ®he portion 40 frorn the portion 38, thereby leaving clear evidence ithat the padlock 18 wass opened.

By virtue of the fact that the only way to gaiin access to the padlock 18 once the tel ltale device 10 is mounted thereon is by visibly d amaging or destroying the device 10, it serves as a ready indicator to indicate if unauthcorised access has beer gained to the pamdiock 18. Furthermore, when the portion 40 of the jacket 12 is of a twansparent

~ WNO 03091519 PCT/IB03/01484 material, it is easy to check whether or not a key is in positior in the release mechan ism of the padlock 18. This is of particular importance in the case of padlocks used on ermergency and fire escape doors or the like.

The telltale device 10, as illustrated, providess a ready and relatiwely inexpensive seal for sealing a Key in a lock position inside a release mechanism of a padlock, and provides a ready and relatively inexpensive ind ication as to whether th ere haas been unauthorised tampering with a padlock. In add:ition, each device can be preovided with a serial number and/or a logo and/or could koe colour-coded permitEing eaasy identification, traceability and control. Furthermore, the inventor believes that the device will be relatively easy to use. Advantageously, thme device 10 may prov=ide phmosphorescence, allowing the device 10 to be easily seen in the dark, e.g. in an emergency door stairwell or area which is dark in the event o—f a power failure. Lastly=, in view of the fact that aimost the entire body of the padlock, as well as the key of the paadiock, is enclosed by the jacket 12 of the device 10, thee device 10 also servess to inMibit the ingress of foreign matter into the mechanisms of th-e padlock.

Claims (2)

. = Ju” Ld : . T 313Z" Lud cv me { 3 . | — ’ | 8 oo . CLAIMS:

1. A method of locking an item, the method inclueding li locking the item with a padlock having a key-opsrateed release mechanism and saaling a key for the padlock te the padiock with a telltale device, the key belng in a lock position in the padlock relesse mechanism, so that removing the key or caperating i the Ixey to open the padlock damages or destroys the tel Hale devics, sealing thes key for - the goadlock to the padlock with the telltale device incl ‘uding covering the ke-y of the padlcack with the telltale device and covering at least a peortion of a body of the padlock © 10 with the telltale device.

2 The method as claimed in claim 1, in which covering the key of the padlock . with the telitale device Includes inserting the padiock, umlocksd, with the key im a lock . position in the padiock relesass mechanism, key first nto an open end of =a jacket formi ng par of the telltale de vice.

! 3. The methed as claimed In any one of the prec=eding claims, in which at least . a po rion of the telltale de=vice is of a material which includes a phosphcerescent constituent.

4. The method as claimed in any one of the pre ceding claims, which Includes attaching the telltale device £o the padlock by passing a shackle, bolt, toothed wack, or the lie of the padiack through a portion of the telltale d evice, before lacking the item with thhe padlock. , 25

5. A teltale device, securable to a padlock hasving a key-operatsd welease mech=anism, ths telltale device Including seal means to seal a key for the padio ck in a lock position in the padiock release mechanism such that mremoving the key or op erating the ke=y fo open the padlock d amages ar destroys the seal means, the seal mean= being : © 830 in the form of a cover body, which includes a Jacket defining a cavity for recei~ving at } least the key of a padlock which is in a lock position in the gpadiock. :

6. The telltale device as claimed in claim 5, in whi-ch the jecket defines a cavity or cav-itiss for snugly receiving the key and a padlock bo dy of ths padlock, the jacket . . aL H ’ ° a _— » .e - ° xd pI 1AM Sor I RAST vod Ort: EE yr SLESL TI0/e0/01 4! S044 KE HABER - LER <{EvhE [7534 . . :

9 . haaving an open end through which the padlock, with thee key in the padlock release nmechanism, can be inserted key first. : 7 The telltale device as claimsd in claim 5 or clairmn 6, In which at least a portion + 5 ofthe jacket is of a transparent or translucent material io amliow visual confirmation of the pmressncs of the key in the padlock releases mechanism.

i .

!

8. The telltale device as claimed In any one of claims § to 7 inclusive, in which alk lsast a portion thereof is of a material which includes a pohosphorescent constituent. ‘ 10 :

: 9. The telltsle device a= claimed in any one of c=laims § to 8 inclusive, which imacludes securing means for securing the Jacket to the pad lock

160. The telltale device as claimed in claim 8, in which the securing mesans is ; 18 parovided by a securing member, fast with the jacket and heaving an opening which En use ca=n be positioned to receive a shackle, bolt, toothed rack, or the like of the padioci, bo 1-4. The telltale device as claimed in claim 9, in wkich the securing means Is in tie form of at least ane aperture In the jacket for recsivingm a shackle, bolt, toothed rack, omrthe like of the padlock.

1=. The telltale device as claimed In claim 6, which Includes indicating mea ns for imdicating removal or operation of the key of the padlock. : to

1&3. The telltale device as claimed in claim 12, irm which the Indicating rneans ineciudes a frangible zone in thae cover body, between a portion of the cover body configured to receive the key ard a portion of the coverirg body configured to rescsive ' time padlock body. : Co i 30 14, A method of locking ‘@n Item as claimed In cl=aim 1, substantially as Ferein te de=scribed and illustrated.

1. A telltale device as claimed in claim 5, substantially as hersin described and : illmsstrated.

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- ] - RB au Lou Co ’ -G P L41os “Laud ERT WI sane =" P , : 10 ‘1 ] ‘ Co 16. A new method of locking z1an item or a new telltamie device, substantially as herein desscribed. } ~ N i . . -

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