GB2062084A

GB2062084A - A Device to Prevent Unauthorised Opening of a Door Having an Espagnolette Closure Such as the Door of a Lorry

Info

Publication number: GB2062084A
Application number: GB7937428A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-10-29
Filing date: 1979-10-29
Publication date: 1981-05-20

Abstract

The device comprises a lock to be attached to the door frame 1, and a member 11 designed to cover the hook 5 of the espagnolette closure and the end of its rod 3 which projects beyond an edge of the door, said member being lockable on the frame by means of the said lock. Plate 8 is screwed to the frame and casing 10 containing the lock is attached to the plate. Member 11 is mounted by inserting end 23 into aperture 12 and held in position by actuating the lock so that its bolt enters slot 24. Flange 26 covers the end of the dividing line between the doors to keep them closed even if the rods 3 are cut. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Device to Prevent Unauthorised Opening of a Door Having an Espagnolette Closure, Such as the Door of a Lorry The present invention relates to a device to prevent unauthorised opening of a door with an espagnolette closure, such as the doors of a lorry.

An espagnolette closure for a door comprises a rod mounted on the door and fast therewith in the longitudinal direction, which can be pivoted by means of a handle, at least one of the two ends of the rod which project beyond an edge of the door being equipped with a hook designed to engage via rotation of the rod over pin means or in an aperture provided in the frame of the door.

This system is very widely used on lorries, especially for their rear doors. However, it has the disadvantage that it can be broken into relatively easily. The actual locking of this system is effected by means of a padlock which locks the handle and consequently prevents the rotation of the rod and the disengagement of the hooks which are integral with it. It is thus only necessary to open this padlock in order to open the door.

The present invention aims to remedy this disadvantage.

According to the invention there is provided a device for preventing unauthorised opening of a door having an espagnolette closure such as a lorry door, characterised in that it comprises a lock to be attached to the frame of the door, and a member arranged to cover the hook on the rod and the end of the rod which projects beyond the door, said member being lockable on the frame by means of the said lock.

Thus, to open the door it is no longer sufficient merely to pivot the rod and disengage the hook. In fact, the hook and the end of the rod which bears it are locked between the frame and the member of the device according to the inventon which is fixed to the frame by means of the lock.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the said member is substantially in the shape of a Ushaped crossbar, one end of which is designed to engage in a catch which is integral with the frame, and the other end of which is equipped with an aperture designed to accommodate the bolt of the lock.

Preferably, the said member comprises a projection which projects over the door when the member is locked on the frame.

It might be conceivable to cut through the bar of the espagnolette closure in order to overcome the device according to the invention. With the above embodiment, however, this would not be enough to open the door, since the latter would still be blocked by the projection mounted on the member of the device. It would then be necessary to cut through the door, which is not a practical proposition.

At all events, the invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of one of its embodiments.

In the attached schematic Drawings: Figure 1 shows in a simplified manner the rear of a lorry equipped with the device according to the invention, Figure 2 is a view on a larger scale, showing the device in elevation, Figure 3 is a view from above, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of its various components, separated from each other.

Figure 1 shows a lorry viewed from the rear, comprising a frame 1 and two doors 2 and 2'.

These doors may be closed by means of an espagnolette system comprising a rod 3 which can be manipulated by means of a handle 4.

These handles make it possible to pivot the rod 3 so that the hooks 5 which are attached to the lower section 6 of the rods 3 may be engaged behind pins 7 which are attached to the frame 1, or in holes provided in the frame, so as to lock the doors 2 and 2'. Generally, the handles 4 are locked with the aid of a padlock so as to prevent the doors from being opened. However, it is obviously very easy to break this padlock.

The device according to the invention, which makes it possible to prevent such unauthorised breaking in, is described in more detail with reference to Figures 2 to 4. This device comprises essentially a plate 8 attached to the frame 1 and equipped with a catch 9, a housing 10 for a bolt, and a member 11.

In the embodiment shown in the Drawings, the plate 8 is in the form of a metal plate on which the catch 9 is welded, forming in turn a substantially parallelepipedic chamber 12. The sheet which forms the plate is pierced with holes 13 which enable it to be screwed to the frame 1.

Moreover, it is equipped with cutouts 14 which allow the locking pins or the hooks 5, when these are provided, to pass through to engage in the holes provided in the frame 1.

The housing 10 is open at the rear (the side not shown in Figure 4) so as to allow a lock 15 to be fixed inside the housing. This lock may obviously be of any known kind.

At the back of the housing 10 there is a plate 1 6 with two slots in which screws 1 7 attached to the plate 8 can engage. The housing 10 is then attached to the plate 8 by means of screws 1 8 which co-act with holes 1 9 in the plate 8.

Moreover, the housing 10 comprises an opening 20 which allows the bolt 21 of the lock 1 5 to pass through, and a hole 22 which allows the passage of the key for the lock.

The member 11 is substantially in the form of a U-shaped crossbar, one end 23 of which is designed to engage in the chamber 12 in the catch 9. The other end comprises a hole 24 which allows the passage of the bolt 21 of the lock 1 5.

In addition, the upper arm of the U-shaped crossbar which forms the member 11 comprises two cutouts 25 which allow the passage of the rods 3. The member 11 also comprises a plate 26 which forms a projection.

The device is used as follows: The plate 8 to which the catch 9 is attached is screwed on the frame 1, and the housing 10 inside which the lock is located is screwed onto the plate 8. Thus, the catch 9 and the lock 1 5 in its housing 10 are mounted permanently on the rear part of the lorry. After the doors 2 and 2' have been closed and locked, the member 11 is put in place by engaging its end 23 in the chamber 12 of the catch 9 and by closing the lock 1 5 so that the bolt 21 penetrates into the hole 24.

The member 11 is thus locked on the frame. In this position, the lower end 6 of the rods 3, together with the hooks 5 and the pins 7, are covered by the member 11. In addition, the projection 26 projects over the lower part of the doors 2 and 2' (Figure 1). Thus, if the rods 3 are pivoted by means of the handles 4, these rods remain blocked by the member 11 so that the doors cannot be opened. Even if the lower ends of the rods 3 are cut through, the doors are still blocked by the projection 26, and as a result they cannot be opened unless they are first cut through. It will also be appreciated that when the member 11 is locked in its effective position it protects the heads of the screws 13 and 1 8 sa that the dsvice cannot be detached.

Preferably, the whole device is made from welded metal plates which are sufficiently thick to ensure thay cannot be forced. Furthermore, the catch 9 and the housing 10 are advantageously provided with reinforcement 27 so that the device cannot be crushed and jammed in the event of an impact on the rear of the lorry.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the embodiment described above; on the contrary, it covers all constructional variations within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for preventing unauthorised opening of a door having an espagnolette closure, such as a lorry door, characterised in that it comprises a lock to be attached to the frame of the door, and a member arranged to cover the hook on the rod and the end of the rod which projects beyond the door, said member being lockable on the frame by means of the said lock.

2. A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said member is substantially in the shape of a U-shaped crossbar, one end of which is designed to engage in a catch which is integral with the frame, and the other end of which is equipped with an aperture which is designed to accommodate a bolt of the said lock.

3. A device according to Claim 2, characterised in that one of the arms of the U-shaped crossbar forming the member comprises a cut-out to allow' the passage of the rod of the espagnolette closure.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the said member comprises a projection which projects over the door when the member is locked on the frame.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the lock is located in a housing equipped with openings for the passage of the bolt and a key of the lock.

6. A device according to Claims 2 and 5 combined, characterised in that the said catch and the said housing are integral with a plate attached to the door frame.

7. A device according to Claim 6, characterised in that the said plate comprises a cut-out which allows the passage of the hook of the espagnolette closure.

8. A device according to Claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the said plate is screwed onto the frame, and in that the said member covers the heads of the screws when it is locked on the frame.

9. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the said member is designed to cover the two hooks and the ends of the two rods of the espagnolette closures of an entrance with double doors.

10. A device for preventing unauthorised opening of a door having an espagnolette closure, the device being constructed and arranged susbtantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.