AU605919B2 - Lock combination - Google Patents

Description

0 4 AUSTRLIA (51)

PAIT

(43) AD-A-2B818i g A-0h.

PCT WORLD INTEL CTU, PR TY GANI T[O PCTona5 uau INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLI ED ND TI T PATI T OPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 4 (11) International Publication Number: WO 89/ 02019 17/20 0, 1 67/38 A (43) International Publication Date: 9 March 1989 (09.03.89) E05B 13/00 21/00 (21) International Application Number: PCT/AU88/00338 (81) Designated States: AU, JP, US.

(22) International Filing Date: 1 September 1988 (01.09.88) Published With international search report.

(31) Priority Application Numbers: PI 4129 PI 8229 (32) Priority Dates: 3 September 1987 (03.09.87) 11 May 1988 (11.05.88) This document contains the (33) Priority Country: AU amcndments made under Section 49 and is correct for (71)(72) Applicant and Inventor: ZAMMIT, John, James printing [AU/AU]; 12 Buchanan Street, St. Albans, VIC 3021

(AU).

(72) Inventor; and Inventor/Applicant (for US only) FERGUSON, Brent, A.O.J.P. 1 1 MAY 1989 Anthony [AU/AU]; 15 Mitchell Road, Melton SouLh, VIC 3338 (AU).

AUSTRALIAN

(74) Agent: PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES; 26 Elling-

A

worth Parade, Box Hill, VIC 3128 3 1 MA? 1989 PATENT OFFICE (54) Title: LOCK COMBINATION 31 32 4 3

AS

(57) Abstract A lock combination is provided which may be used to secure from rotation a rotatable handle as used, for example, for closing the doors of a freight container. In one embodiment (Figs. I and a lock combination comprises an outwardly hinged eaclosure means which itself comprises a confining means and a casing means for protecting a lock.

A staple means penetrates the casing means through vertically disposed aperture (10) in the rear of casing means The shackle of a padlock shackle may be inserted through a transverse hole in the staple.

,WO 89/02019 PCT/AU88/00338 1 LOCK COMBINATION This invention relates to a lock combination for use in connection with a door assembly to inhibit forceable entry.

The present invention relates particularly, although not exclusively, to the doors provided on shipping containers and trailer S mounted containers such as refrigerated vans and the like. Such container doors usually are provided with two doors meeting at the centre line, the doors being hinged to the outside edges of the door opening. The latching of the doors is usLally achieved by means of upwardly and downwardly extending locking bars which are slidable it vertically in bearings, the bars being engageable with formations at the top and bottom edges of the door opening. The locking bars are moved by means of a rotatable handle which operates a generally centrally located pivoted actuator for the locking bars. The rotatable handle when not in use can be stored more or less flat against the associated door so as to extend generally horizontally, with the end of the rotatable handle being received in a retaining cradle. To prevent unauthorised operation, the end of the rotatable handle can be locked in the retaining cradle by means of a padlock.

A disadvantage of this known arrangement is that the padlock can be readily forced by means of a crow-bar or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock combination which inhibits unauthorised access to freight containers.

In this specification and in the claims, the words, "door assembly" are to be understood as extending to doors, windows, hatches, gates, and the like and to the immediate surrounds of the doors, etc.

Furthermore, in this specification and in the claims, the word "staple" is to be understood as meaning a projection or projections, extending from the door or its surround, into the casing and to which the lock is secured.

It should be understood also that the lock combinations according to the invention may be mounted either on the door, etc., with the staple on the surround, or vice versa.

In this specification and claims, the expression "general plane of the door assembly" is to be understood as the plane constituted by the front surface of a flat door and extending to each side and above and below the door.

rl According to the present invention there is provided a lock combination for a door assembly and an associated door operating handle bar mounted to the door assembly for rotating movement relative to the door assembly so as to operate locking bars movable between locking positions and unlocked positions in response to operation of the handle bar, the handle bar having an inoperative position in which it lies generally flat against an outside face of a panel of the door assembly, the lock combination comprising: an enclosure means attachable to the outside face of the panel of the door assembly and adjacent to the handle bar and movable when attached to the outside panel between an operative position preventing normal operation of the handle bar and an inoperative releasing position enabling normal unobstructed operation of the handle bar, the enclosure means comprising a confining portion which confines the handle bar against being rotated relative to the door

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"assembly and operated normally to open the door of the door assembly when the enclosure means is in its operative position, the enclosure cor\ 'C Vo<,no S CfCmeans further including a casing adjacent the nnc- sue-mea-n and defined by casing walls and having an aperture in one of its walls; a staple mountable to the door assembly so as to project outwardly adjacent to the handle bar when in its inoperative position, the staple passing through the aperture in the casing when the enclosure

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means is in its operative position, the staple having an outer end ewhich co-operates with a lock mechanism which is substantially 25 enclosed within the casing when the lock mechanism is operatively co-operating with the outer end of the staple, the lock mechanism preventing movement of the enclosure means away from the staple to its releasing position by engaging the outer end of the staple and

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3 preventing its withdrawal through the aperture in the casing wall, S° 30 the casing walls substantially surrounding the lock mechanism so as to inhibit forceable tampering with the lock mechanism but allowing access to the lock mechanism for normal operation thereof.

In a first embodiment the enclosure means is movable between its releasing and operative positions by hinging movement about either a horizontal or a vertical axis. Alternatively, the enclosure means may be movable between its releasing and operative positions by pivoting movement about a pivot point, the movement being either in ',he general plane of the outside face of the panel of the door assemnbly or into and out of said genetal plane. In a further Talternative, the enclosure means is movable between its releasing and 4W. i 2a operative positions by horizontal or vertical sliding movement in tracks in the general plane of the outside face of the panel of thb door assembly.

The lock mechanism may be a padlock, the staple means having an opening in its outer end to receive a shackle of the padlock, the casing means completely enclosing the padlock in use except for an opening sufficiently large to allow insertion, locking, unlocking and removal of the padlock but being positioned to inhibit tampering with the shackle.

Alternatively, the lock mechanism may be mounted within the casing means, the staple means co-operating with latch means connected to and operated by lock mechanism.

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4 •v i x "i i- 'in WO 89/02019 PCT/AU88/00338 3 Thus the casing means is provided with access to the staple and associated padlock. The casing means may comprise, for example, a tubular section, of rectangular section steel tube, a staple aperture being provided in that wall of the casing means which faces the door when the lock combination is in its operative position whereby the staple may pass through the staple aperture into the tubular casing means. The bottom end of the tubular casing means is, in one embodiment, open to enable access to the end of the staple when it is received in the casing means.

The end of the staple is conveniently provided with a transverse bore which cooperates with the shackle of a padlock, the padlock inhibiting movement of the lock combination away from its operative position by preventing withdrawal of the staple through the staple aperture. The open end of the tubular casing means enables access to the padlock while the body of the casing means prevents forceable opening of the padlock by means of a crow-bar or the like.

Where the lock is integral with the casing means, the casing means may comprise, for example, an enclosed section of rectangular section steel tube closed at both ends, The staple aperture is provided in that wall of the casing means which faces the door when the lock combination is in its operative position whereby the staple may pass through the staple aperture into the casing means The lock may comprise a tumbler lock having a key slot facing the outside of the casing means so that an operator with the correct key can insert the key and operate the lock. The locking member which cooperates with the staple may comprise a latch means which is movable between an operative position in which it cooperates with the staple and an inoperative position. In the inoperative position, the lock combination may be withdrawn from the staple, which passes out through the staple aperture.

In one arrangement the lock has a rotary action, wherein the latch means may travel about the general axis of rotation of the barrel of the lock moving in and out of engagement with the staple.

In this arrangement, the staple may have a hook formation at its outer end, whereby the latch means may be arranged to engage with the j staple behind the hook formation to prevent withdrawal of the enclosue portion away from its operative position. The staple may be generally L shaped with the "foot" of the L pivoting upwardly or downwardly to retain the latch means.

WO 89/020119 PCT/AU88/00338 4 In another arrangement, the latch means comprises a generally Sor Z-shaped locking plate which is movable about a pivot axis about midway along its length. The locking member is adapted to co-operate with a pair of staple elements extending out from the door, one of the staple elements having a downwardly facing hook formation and the other having an upwardly facing hook formation. With this arrangement the S-shaped latch means may be arranged to pivot about an axis passing about midway between the staple elements, the latch means extending transverse to the staple elements so that pivoting movement of the latch means causes it to engage simultaneously behind both hook formations. The lock mechanism in this arrangement may be directly coupled to the locking member at about the axis of pivoting movement.

In the embodiment where the lock combination is hinged, the hinge may be mounted at the top of the combination, for example, by welding, the other part of the hinge being secured to the door.

Conveniently, there may be provided a backing plate for mounting flush to the inside surface of the door opposite to the hinge.

Fastening bolts or the like may be passed through the hinge, through the door and through the backing plate and receiving nuts on the inside. The backing plate strengthens the door in the vicinity of the security lock.

In another arrangement, the hinge may comprise a plate extending from the hinge axis and arranged to be mounted flush to the outside door surface. The plate may be made of steel and be fixed to the door by any suitable means such as bolts passing through the plate and into or through the door. The plate may be provided with the staple extending outwardly therefrom at a point spaced from the hinge axis, the staple being, for example, welded to the plate.

The staple may have an enlarged annular collar or washer around its outside to limit the extent to which it extends outwardly from the outside surface of the door when its inner end is passed through an opening in the door and through the backing plate. This end may be screw threaded for receiving a securing nut. The annular collar also strengthens the door where it is apertured to receive the projection.

In this embodiment, the casing means may be provided with a recessed portion surroundinq the projection opening so that the annular collar around the projection is received within the recess when the enclosure casing means is moved to its operative position.

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9 0* 0 6@ With this arrangement the enclosure portion can lie flush against the associated door when the lock combination is in its operative position.

In the case of freight container or similar doors, a rotatable handle bar is often used to operate locking bars. In the closed and barred condition of the door, the rotatable handle bar has a stored position lying generally horizontally against the door and is received in a retaining cradle. The rotatable handle bar is moved from this stored position to operate the locking bars. The lock combination may be arranged to confine the rotatable handle bar at or adjacent its outer end, mid-way along its length, or if desired, close to its inner end where it is coupled to the bars which lock the container door.

The invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the broad scope of the invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hinged lock combination according to one embodiment; Fig. 2 is a back view of the lock of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow A, Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of another, hinged embodiment; Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of a pivoted embodiment; 25 Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of a further, hinged embodiment shown in use in its operative position; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear view of the embodiment of Fig. looking in the direction of the arrow B; and Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of a slideable embodiment, 30 shown in an inoperative position.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a lock combination I is mounted on a door assembly 2 by means of hinge 3 and bolts 4, Lock combination 1 comprises enclsoure means 15 including confining means 5 and casing means 6. The confining means 5 has an open sided channel shape to confine a rotatable handle bar (not shown). Confiring means 5 is integral with casing means 6, which encloses the projecting portion of staple 7, which penetrates casing means 6 through vertically *see 6 @666 666@ a9 0OOO *u66 6 6 go 66... 66 66 Qr 6 66 disposed aperture 10 plate' 8 holds staple 7 a transverse opening in the rear of the casing means. A retaining in door assembly 2. Staple 7 is provided with 9 to retain the hasp of a padlock (not shown).

L t' :j i I ii i I 4 i Casing means 6 is of rectangular tubular shape, bottom 11 being open to allow insertion of the padlock mentioned previously.

In Fig. 3, a very similar lock combination 20 is illustrated, provided with hinge 21, which is rotatable about hinge axis 22. Lock combination 20 comprises enclosure means 29 which includes confining means 23 and casing means 24. The casing means 24 is provided with staple aperture 25 in its rear wall. A recessed portion 26 is also provided in the rear wall to accommodate collar 27 on staple 28.

Casing means 24 is also open at the bottom.

Fig. 4 illustrates a slightly different embodiment in which confining means 33 of lock combination 30 is provided with an upper plate 31 having a central pivot hole 32. In this embodiment, confining means 33 for handle bar 49, although also of open sided 9 *channel shape, is open to one side only. Casing means 34 is also 15 open to one (in fact, the same) side, being provided with a somewhat larger staple aperture

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r In this case, a horizontally disposed staple 36 is shown penetrating into casing means 34. Stqfle 36 has a transverse opening 37 through which is inserted the shackle 38 of padlock 39.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a somewhat different embodiment in which a lock combination 40 is provided witli a mounting plate 41 having a hinge means 42 at its top. Lock combination 40 comprises confining means 43, which is integral with casing means 44. Again, confining means 43 is of open sided channel shape. Casing means 44 is provided with integral cylinder lock 45, operable from outside casing means 44 o 5 by means of a key (not shown), Cylinder lock 45 is provided at its inner end with a rotatable pin 46 to which is attached a rotatable, S-shaped latch means 47A/47B. Portions 47A and 47B are engagable with corresponding latch elements 48A and 48B. A rotatable handle So 30 bar 49 is shown in ghost lines penetrating into the space protected by confining means 43.

Fig, 7 illustrates yet another embodiment in which a lock combination 50 is provided with an upper rail 51A and a lower rail 51B. These rails are located to the rear of lock combination 50 and are adapted to co-operate with horizontally disposed upper sliding track 52A and lower sliding track 52B respectively. Lock combination is otherwise equivalent to lock combination 40. Thus, it comprises confining means 53, casing means 54 and cylinder lock Again, this cylinder lock is provided with rotatable pin 56 connected S to rotatab!le S-shaped latch means 57A/57B, which co-operate with 7 latch elements 58A and 58A. Rotatable handle bar 59 is shown, again in ghost lines, penetrating confining means 53.

It will be seen that, by rotation on a hinge or at a pivot point or by sliding, the various embodiments of lock combination according to the invention may be used to secure a rotatable handle bar.

Thus, the lock combination according to the present invention provides effective and secure locking by restricting access to and operation of the rotatable handle bar used to operate the locking bars for a container door. Where a padlock is used, it is difficult to gain access to the padlock by a crow-bar or the like to enter the container. Where the lock is integral with the casing, the lock mechanism is completely enclosed to prevent direct access.

The lock combination is of simple construction and operation and can be made robust by using heavy gauge steel.

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Claims (7)

1. A lock combination for a door assembly and an associated door operating handle bar mounted to the door assembly for rotating movement relative to the door assembly so as to operate locking bars movable between locking positions and unlocked positions in response to operation of the handle bar, the handle bar having an inoperative position in which it lies generally flat against an outside face of a panel of the door assembly, the lock combination comprising: 10 an enclosure means attachable to the outside face of the o.o panel of the door assembly and adjacent to the handle bar and o. movable when attached to the outside panel between an operative position preventing normal operation of the handle bar and an S i inoperative releasing position enabling normal unobstructed operation of the handle bar, the enclosure means comprising a confining portion which confines the handle bar against being 5595 rotated relative to the door assembly and operated normally to 5650 open the door of the door assembly when tke enclosure means is in its operative position, the enclosure means further including cu~F~ ng a a casing adjacent the enclosure -me-a-n-s- and defined by casing walls and having an aperture in one of its walls; a staple mountable to the door assembly so as to project outwardly adjacent to the handle bar when in its inoperative position, the staple passing through the aperture in the casing when the enclosure means is in its operative position, the staple having an outer end which co-operates with a lock mechanism which is substantially enclosed within the casing when the lock mechanism is operatively co-operating with the outer Z,47P, end of the staple, the lock mechanism preventing movement of the 9 enclosure means away from the staple to its releasing position by engaging the outer end of the staple and preventing its withdrawal through the aperture in the casing wall, the casing walls substantially surrounding the lock mechanism so as to inhibit forceable tampering with the lock mechanism but allowing access to the lock mechanism for normal operation thereof.

2. A lock combination as claimed in Claim 1, whereiii the enclosure means is movable between its releasing and operative positions by hinging movement about either a horizontal or a vertical axis.

3. A lock combination as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the 4s4**S j enclosure means is movable between its releasing and operative positions by pivoting movement about a pivot point, the movement being either in the general plane of the outside face of the panel of the door assembly or into and out of said general plane. i

4. A lock combination as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the enclosure means is movable between its releasing and operative positions by horizontal or vertical sliding movement in tracks in the general plane of the outside face of the panel of the door assembly.

5. A lock combination as claimed in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, wherein the lock mechanism is a padlock, the staple means having an opening in its outer end to receive a shackle of the padlock, the casing means completely enclosing the padlock in use except for an opening sufficiently large to allow insertion, locking, unlocking and removal of the padlock but being positioned to inhibit tampering with the shacklt. RAZ, I J 1 i I I 1 II ir

6. A lock combination as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the lock mechanism is mounted within the casing means, the staple means co-operating with latch means connected to and operated by lock mechanism.

7. A lock combination as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as herein described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 24th day of September, 1990 PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES Attorneys for JOHN J ZAMMIT S 5 a S e *S