WO1994029555A1

WO1994029555A1 - Locking device

Info

Publication number: WO1994029555A1
Application number: PCT/IB1994/000172
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Wessel
Original assignee: Ripple Investments Limited
Priority date: 1993-06-04
Filing date: 1994-06-03
Publication date: 1994-12-22
Also published as: GB9311576D0

Abstract

A locking device, for a container having double doors (2, 3) defining a closure plane (13) between them, comprises: a first member (12) adapted to be fixed or fixable to the inside of one (2) of the double doors to extend across the closure plane (13) and lie behind the inside of the other door (3); a forwards extension (16) of the first member, extending from inside to outside of the doors; a second member (21) lockable to the forwards extension outside the one door (2) to extend across the closure plane and lie in front of the other door (3); the arrangement being such that when the second member is locked in position, the two members (12, 21) captivate the other door (3) between them, thereby inhibiting opening of the doors.

Description

LOCKING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a locking device particularly for transport containers.

Transport containers, of the type which are transported by road, rail and ship, are subject to theft of their contents. They are locked by an external mechanism secured by padlocks. The padlocks and mechanism are easily breached and the contents of the container pilfered.

The object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for a container which provides improved security.

A locking device according to the invention, for a container having double doors defining a closure plane between them, comprises: a first member adapted to be fixed or fixable to the inside of one of the double doors to extend across the closure plane and lie behind the inside of the other door; a forwards extension of the first member, extending from inside to outside of the doors; a second member lockable to the forwards extension outside the one door to extend across the closure plane and lie in front of the other door; the arrangement being such that when second member is locked in position, the two members captivate the other door between them, thereby inhibiting opening of the doors.

Preferably the first member is adapted to grip the other door in a direction transverse of the closure plane, whereby attempted unauthorised opening of the doors causes them to be drawn towards each other. Normally each door has an inside frame member adjacent the closure plane. Accordingly, the adaption of the first member can be the provision of a fixed flange extending forwards from the first member at the edge of the other door's frame member opposite from the closure plane. On attempted unauthorised opening the flange is pulled against the door frame member by the one door and prevents opening of the doors. Alternatively, an adjustable member may be provided inwardly of the flange or in its place. Preferably the flange and/or the adjustable member is dimensioned to abut the inside of the other door.

It is envisaged that the first member may be welded or otherwise permanently attached to the one door, possibly during the manufacture of the container; and that the outside of the one door may be adapted for locking of the second member to it, the forwards extension being an integral part of the door. However, the preferred embodiment is intended for fitting to existing containers as a "retro-fit" unit.

In the preferred embodiment, the first member has an abutment extending forwards from the first member at the edge of the one door's frame member opposite from the closure plane. The forwards extension is a tongue projecting forwards at the closure plane from inside to outside of the doors at their closure plane. The first member includes an outside flange extending from the tongue to lie on the front of the door and adapted to have the second member locked to it.

Conveniently, the abutment is adjustable so that it can be forced against the door's frame member and force the tongue against the edge of the door at the closure plane. The locking adaption of the first and second members preferably takes the form of: slots on the outside flange of the first member; complementary slots on the second member; a hasp having prongs which can project through both sets of slots to secure the members together; and a lock for locking the hasp in position.

The lock may be separable from the first and second members, or it may be permanently carried by one of the members, preferably the second member. Suitably the lock has a padlock mechanism. It is particularly convenient if the lock is a combination lock whose combination can be changed when the locking device is disassembled. Then the combination can be recorded on the container's bill of lading only, which bill need not accompany the container, so that the container can be opened only by an authorised person having access to the bill of lading.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is an end view of a container, showing its two doors; Figure 2 is a larger scale view of a locking device of the invention fitted to the doors of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of the locking device of Figure 2, with portions of the doors to which it is fitted shown in cross-section; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a first member of the locking device on a larger scale again;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 of a second member of the locking device;

Figure 6 is front view of a hasp of the locking device; Figure 7 is a front view of the second member; Figure 8 is a front view of the first member; and Figure 9 is a scrap view similar to Figure 2 of a box for a combination lock.

Turning first to Figure 1, the container 1 thereshown has two side-hinged doors 2,3. These are secured by locking rods 3,4 pivoted to the doors at 5 and engaging at their ends with fittings 6 on the container's body. The rods are locked by padlocks 7,8, which are exposed and vulnerable to tampering.

The doors have a locking device 11 of the invention fitted to them. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the device has a first member 12 which extends across the closure plane 13 of the doors. The first member is a steel plate and abuts door frame members 14,15, which are exposed inside the doors. The first member 12 has welded to it a spring steel tongue 16 which extends out between edge seals 17 of the doors. An outside flange 18 is welded to the tongue 16. The first member 12, its tongue 16 and its outside flange 18 form a clevis into which the edge of the door 2 with its frame member 14 is received. The first member 12 is held on the door by a block 19 sized to fit between the member 12 and the inside surface of the door. The block 19 is bolted to the first member 12 it so as to captivate the frame member 14 between itself and the tongue 16, which grips the door seal 17. It will be noted that because the first member is firmly attached to the one door 2, the latter cannot be opened without the other door 3 being opened as well.

Opening of the other door 3 without opening of the one door 2 is prevented by a second member 21 being locked to the outside flange 18 of the first member 12. The second member is essentially a flange extending outside the other door 3 in a similar position to that of the first member behind the door. The second member has a welded steel box 22 by which it is locked to the outside flange 18.

If an attempt is made to force open both doors at once, the first member grips them and holds them together by means of the block 19 abutting the frame member 14 of the door 2 and a similar block 23 bolted to the first member in a position lie close to the frame member 15 of the door 3 when the doors are closed. As a back-up to the block 23, the first member 12 has a welded flange 24, which extends to the back of the door 3 and catches the door's frame member in the absence of the block. A reinforcing plate 25 is welded to the back of the first member 12.

Tampering with the locking device is inhibited by the flanges 18, 21 extending behind the rods 3,4.

Locking together of the first and second members will now be described with reference to Figures 4 to 8. The outside flange 18 has a pair of rectangular steel blocks 31,32 welded to its front face. Each has a respective rectangular aperture 33,34. Between them extends a plate 35, having a pair of circular apertures 36,37.

The welded steel box 22 has an open back, which is closed in use by the outside flange 18. The blocks 31,32 then extend into the box. Their apertures are matched by similar apertures 38,39,40,41 in the top and bottom of the box. The apertures in the top of the box are in fact provided in a plate 42 which is welded to the underside of a top plate 43. The latter has a rectangular cut-out, leaving a recess 44 in the top of the box. The apertures 40,41 in the bottom of the box are arranged at either side of a cutout 45 in the bottom plate 46, through which a pad lock body 47 can be offered up when the device is to be locked.

A hasp 51 is comprised of a plate 52 shaped to be received in the recess 44 in the top plate 43 of the box 22. Depending from the plate 43 are a pair of rectangular fingers 53,54, which can pass through the apertures 38,39 then 33,34 and then into 40,41. Thus the box is securely held to the flange 18, when the hasp is fitted. Between the fingers 53,54 there depend two studs 55,56 which are provided with notches 57 for engaging with the lock body 47 and locking the hasp in place.

Alternatively to the use of a removable lock, the lock body 147 may be permanently fixed in the box 122, as shown in Figure 9. It is captivated there by an apertureless bottom plate 146. The lock is a combination lock, whose combination can be set through an aperture 161 in the front plate of the lock box 122.

Claims

Claims:

1. A locking device for a container having double doors defining a closure plane between them, the locking device comprising: a first member adapted to be fixed or fixable to the inside of one of the double doors to extend across the closure plane and lie behind the inside of the other door; a forwards extension of the first member, extending from inside to outside of the doors; a second member lockable to the forwards extension outside the one door to extend across the closure plane and lie in front of the other door; the arrangement being such that when second member is locked in position, the two members captivate the other door between them, thereby inhibiting opening of the doors.

2. A locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member is adapted to grip the other door in a direction transverse of the closure plane, whereby attempted unauthorised opening of the doors causes them to be drawn towards each other.

3. A locking device for a container of which its other door has an inside frame member adjacent the closure plane of the doors, the locking device being as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adaption of the first member comprises a fixed flange extending forwards from the first member at the edge of the other door's frame member opposite from the closure plane, the arrangement being such that on attempted unauthorised opening of the container the flange is pulled against the door frame member by the one door and prevents opening of the doors.

4. A locking device for a container of which its other door has an inside frame member adjacent the closure plane of the doors, the locking device being as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adaption of the first member comprises an adjustable member alone, or an adjustable member arranged inwardly of a fixed flange, the adjustable member being secured to extend forwards from the first member at the edge of the other door's frame member opposite from the closure plane, the arrangement being such that on attempted unauthorised opening of the container the adjustable member is pulled against the door frame member by the one door and prevents opening of the doors.

5. A locking device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the flange and/or the adjustable member is dimensioned to abut the inside of the other door.

6. A locking device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first member is permanently attached to the one door, preferably by welding.

7. A locking device as claimed in claim 6, including adaption of the outside of the one door of the container for locking of the second member to it, the forwards extension being an integral part of the door.

8. A locking member for a container of which its other door has an inside frame member adjacent the closure plane of the doors, the locking device being as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first member has an abutment extending forwards from the first member at the edge of the one door's frame member opposite from the closure plane.

9. A locking device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the abutment is adjustable for fitting in position such that it can be forced against the door's frame member and force the tongue against the edge of the door at the closure plane.

10. A locking device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the abutment is dimensioned to abut the inside of the other door.

11. A locking device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the forwards extension of the first member is a tongue arranged to project forwards from inside to outside of the doors at their closure plane.

12. A locking device as claimed in any preceding member. wherein the first member includes an outside flange extending from the forwards extension of the first member to lie on the front of the door and adapted to have the second member locked to it.

13. A locking device as claimed in claim 12, wherein for locking together the forwards extension of the first member and the second member include: slots on the outside flange of the first member; complementary slots on the second member; a hasp having prongs which can project through both sets of slots to secure the members together; and a lock for locking the hasp in position.

14. A locking device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lock is separable from the first and second members.

15. A locking device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the lock is permanently carried by the first member or the second member, preferably the second member.

16. A locking device as claimed in the lock is a combination lock, preferably of the type whose combination can be changed when the locking device is disassembled.

17. A locking device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second member includes lateral flanges arranged to extend between door closure rods of the container.