AU638492B2 - Lock for a gate - Google Patents

Description

638492 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) FOR OFFICE USE Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodgcd: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Name of Applicant: WILLIAM HENRY CLARK 6* Address of Applicant: 105 Whitehorse Road Moolap Victoria, 3221 F Actual Inventor(s): William Henry Clark Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

0see** S. Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "LOCK FOR A GATE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: c;g W-1- I pc.002,VJ6712.SPE,1 -2- '"LOCK FOR A GATE This invention relates to the locking of gates and has particular application to gates in wire mesh fencing.

Wire mesh fencing is widely used, inter alia, for enclosing premises such as equipment storage yards, building storage sites and display sites for motor vehicles, power machinery and larger equipment for hire. Such fencing typically includes a single or double gate made of the same mesh and tubing materials as the fixed portions of the fence and, despite the substantial value of the equipment or materials enclosed by the fence, these gates are usually locked by no more than a chain and padlock. A chain and padlock does not present a significant challenge to early morning thieves armed with heavy duty bolt cutters and thus thefts from such sites are a regular problem. Attempts at the provision of more 15 substantial locking systems built into the framework of wire mesh fences and gates have not proven successful because of the somewhat variable gap between the *0 *fixed and moveable parts of the frame. For example, in the cases of double gates, the opposed upright posts may actually contact when the gates are closed or may be several centimeters apart and this spacing can often vaiy with time, helped by 20 ground movements and the occasional bumping of the fence or gate by a truck or other vehicle.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide for an improved locking arrangement for gates which in particular is adaptable to the variable dimensional circumstances of wire mesh gates.

The invention accordingly provides a lock for a gate which includes respective first and second bodies adapted to be respectively secured in cooperative positions to a first gate and to a second gate or other upright which is adjacent the first gate when the gate(s) is closed. The lock further comprises a coupling member, and means for mounting the coupling member to one of the abovesaid bodies for movement of the co',pling member between a retracted 9toos,10,rPo.OO2,P36712SPH2

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-3position and an engagement position in which the coupling member extends from said one body into engagement with the other of the bodies when the gate(s) is closed. Means is provided on the other body to latch the coupling member in its engagement position, and lock means is operable to release this latch means to allow the coupling member to be moved to its retracted position. The mounting means permits the coupling member to move both pivotally for facilitating minimal protrusion or obstruction by the coupling member in its retracted position, and translationally with respect to said one body for compensating for variations in the spacing of the gates or of the first gate and the upright.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the respective bodies include means for detachably attaching them to upright posts forming frame members of the respective gates or forming a frame member of the first gate and the upright. Such detachable securement means may, in a particular aspect of the 15 invention, each include a pair of opposed plates between which the respective We post is received and associated bolt means.

in another particular aspect of the invention, the mounting means may include a pair of internal tracks in said one body and associated wheels carried 20 by the coupling member for rolling engagement in the tracks.

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According to a still further particular aspect of the invention, the coupling member may include a pair of elongate arms, for example of cast metal, which in the engagement position extend through respective slots or openings defined by said first and second bodies.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a gate lock according to a first embodiment of the invention, shown with the two principal parts coupled as they would be when locking double gates in situ but, for ease of illustration, not shown 901005,gjnspw.OOZPJ67I2SP,3 on an actual gate; Figure 2 is an exploded view of one of the two principal parts of the lock; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the other principal part of the lock; Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line 4-4 in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an incomplete isomnetric view of a gate lock according to a second embodiment of the invention with the post securement compon;nts 9* omitted for ease of illustration; 9O 15 Figures 7A 7B are partial exploded views depicting components of the sliding pivot part of the lock shown in Figure 6,

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Figure 8A is an exploded view of the latch part of the lock shown in Figure 6; and S Figure 8B is an exploded view of the latching mechanism.

0. The gate lock 10 illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 comprises two principal parts 12, 14 respectively depicted at the right and left as viewed in Figures 1 and 4.

S. 25 One part, 12. carries a pivotally and slidably mounted coupling member 16 including a pair of substantially flat elongate arms 18, 19, and is hereinafter referred to as the sliding pivot part. The other major part, 14, includes mechanisms for latching and locking arms 18 and 19 and is therefore hereinafter referred to as the latch part.

The respective parts 12, 14 are detachably mountable to respective upright posts 7, 8 (Figure 4) which may be the inside posts of a pair of gates or the posts 901 005,onspe.0021oOJ67 1ZSP1.4 of a gate and an adjacent fixed upright such as the end post of a mesh fence. A typical application is to the double gates of a wire mesh fence. Such gates normally have a pair of opposed cut-outs in the mesh for receiving a heavy chain which is padlocked in place to lock the gates together in the closed position. For the purposes of this invention, the respective parts of the lock would be mounted in these cut-outs. It will be seen from Figures 1 and 4 in particular that, in the locking condition, the arms 18, 19 project from the sliding pivot part 12 into the latch part 14 and thereby couple the two parts together. It is now proposed to discuss the parts 12, 14 in detail commencing with the sliding pivot part 12 and with particular reference to Figures 2, 4 and Part 12 comprises a housing 20, preferably of cast or extruded aluminium components, which includes a base defining a base plate 24 and upstanding side track members 22 of generally inwardly open U-shaped cross-section, a back plate 15 26, and a centre box 28 which complements base plate 24 to define a top cover S 29 and an internal transversely extending chamber 30. The base plate 24 and 0 track members 22 include elongate fine bores 25 to receive screws for attaching back-plate 26 and also small front covers 32 for the track members. Centre box 28 includes a rear depending wall 28a by which the box is secured to back-plate 26 and a pair of underlying return flanges 28b which are attached to base plate 24.

Arms 18, 19 are solid cast stainless steel plates. These arms have a number of cut-outs and rebates at their front or outer ends which will be described subsequently in connection with latch part 14, but are relatively plain at their rear. Their rear edges are part tapered part rounded and the two arms are welded to a threaded connecting rod 34 which extends through and just projects outwardly from apertures 34a in the arms. Rod 34 extends across chamber 30. Respective bolts 35 engage the rod 34 and carry stainless steel roller bearings 36 fitted with nylon wheels 38. These wheels roll along generally T.

section tracks 23 (Figure 2) in track members 22 between limits determined by the length of chamber 30 (Figure Each track 23 includes an outer slot 23a for 9010S,gjnspc.00V'6712SP13 1 'I p -6the head of bolt It will be seen that centre box 28 is spaced from track members 22 to define a pair of slots 31 for the arms 18, 19 when they are in their engagement position projecting from the front of sliding pivot part 12 into latch part 14.

Secured to the front wall of centre box 28 is a generally U-shaped post attachment member 40. The post attachment member is formed as a single casting including side arms 40a and a rear web 42 which is bolted to box 28. The sliding pivot part 12 is affixed to a gate or fence post 8 (Figure 4) by bringing side arms 40 about the post and then extending a pair of bolts through holes in the post and through matching elongate slots 41 in the plates. Slots 41 are provided to permit relative initial adjustment. Subsequent slipping or rotation of the part 12 with respect to the post is prevented by providing each end of the bolts with 15 a longitudinally ribbed plate 44 which engages and meshes with a correspondingly O0 ribbed outer surface 40b of side arm Turning now to Figures 3 and 5 in particular, the latch part will be described in detail. Its components are again preferably aluminium extrusions or 20 castings. Latch part 14 includes a housing 50 having a base 52 with upstanding side walls 54, 55 which are received in a close fit within the side walls 56, 57 of a centre box 51. Box 51 also has a rear wall 51a and a front wall 51b. The interior chamber 58 (Figure 4) thereby defined is closed by an inclined top cover and the housing is held together by four carriage bolts 62 which extend through apertures in front wall 51b along retaining grooves 63 in the base and cover into threaded engagement with sockets 64 (Figure 4) on rear wall 51a.

Base 52 has a further pair of larger grooves 66 of part circular cross-section which provide sliding tracks for the complementary shaped slides 67 of an integral nylon block 68. Block 68 is biased towards the front end of tracks 66 by a pair of helical compression springs 70 in tracks 66 and carries a stainless steel crosspin 72 which projects out through slots 74 in inner side walls 54, 55 and registered 901005,gnpe.002,PJ6712.S1?,6 -7windows 75 in outer side walls 56, 57. As will be seen in due course this cross-rod forms a latch which engages arms 18, 19 and prevents their return to the retracted free position.

The device for locking the latch is a conventional double cylinder barrel lock 76 with a rotatable projecting peg 77. The lock is supported in apertures 78 of complementary shape in inner side walls 54, 55 and key access is through an opening 79 in outer side wall 56. The key actuates the lock to pull back nylon block 68 via a split ring 80, a coupling pegJ'g and a matching bracket 82 fixed to the nylon block.

The outside P1aces of outer side walls 56, 57 carry a pair of upstanding T- S* section ribs 84 which engage matching grooves 85 on the inside face of an integral •mounting assembly 90. Assembly 90 includes side wings 92 and, disposed between 15 their forward ends, a U-shaped post attachment member 94 joined to the side S wings by webs 95. The post attachment member 94 is attached to the post 7 of a gate or fence (Figure 4) by disposing the clamping member about the post and passing through holes in the post a pair of carriage bolts which extend through registering apertures 96 in the webs 95. The opposed inside faces of the post e 20 attachment member are longitudinally ribbed as with the outside faces of post attachment member 40, to engage complementary ribbed plates 98 (Figure 1), In this case the elongate slots 99 are provided in the plates 98 and close fitting apertures in the clamping member. Assembly 90 is secured to the housing 50 by means of the aforementioned carriage bolts 62.

The spacings between clamping member 94 and the side wings 92, as determined by webs 95, form a pair of slots 100 to receive the free ends of arms 18, 19. As best seen in Figure 2, these arms are rebated on both sides to closely fit slots 100 and to form at each side an elongate cap strip 102 which lies over and rests on wings 92, clamping members 94 and the upstanding top edges of cover 60. Indeed, these cap strips project beyond the main front tdge of arms 18, 19. The provision of the cap strips covering slots 100 in this way makes it difficult O ,gnsp6,002PJ67l2.SPE,7 -8to gain unauthorised access to the slots when attempting to tamper with the latch arrangement.

Each of the rebated outer portions of arms 18, 19 have two slots an upright slot 104 to receive the respective web 95 and a longitudinal slot 106 to receive an end of latching cross-pin 72. The arms are tapered under slot 106 so that the descending arms may push back cross-pin 72 against springs 70 when engaging the lock. Once the slot 106 is in register with window 74 and slot springs 70 will push the cross-pin into slot 106 and it will not be possible to retract arms 18, 19 to open the gates without using the key to effect withdrawal of the cross-pin.

Figures 6 to 8 depict a second embodiment of gate lock 10' according to the invention. Like parts are indicated by like primed reference numerals.

6* Referring firstly to the sliding pivot part 12', there is no counterpart of housing 20 and the coupling member 16' is an integral cast steel component of generally square-U configuration, defining elongate arms 18', 19' of rectangular cross-section and a similar rear crosspiece 34'. Arms 18', 19' are slidably 20 received by respective rectangular guides 108 which together pivotally carry a post *attachment member 40' (Figure 7B) with side arms 40a', a rear web 42', ribbed surfaces 40b' and ribbed plates 44a, 44b to receive carriage bolts 43, One of the plates 44a has threaded apertures 110 to engage bolts 43, while the other plate

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44b has unthreaded apertures 112.

S Guides 108 are pivotally secured to post attachment member 40' by means of respective headed pins 114 which project through flanges 109 on the guides and rear tabs 118 on member 40' into opposite ends of a bore 117 in U-section housing 116. Housing 116 is fixed to web 42' of member 40' by bolts 120 which threadably engage nuts 121 slidably received by housing 116 and which project into transverse notches 115 in pins 114.

901005,Wjmpe.0024PJ671ZsPKSP -9- Nylon washers 122 on pins 114 separate guides 108 from tabs 118 and provide bearing surfaces against which the guides can freely rotate on pins 114 to pivot coupling member 16' about a horizontal axis to an upright retracted position behind the post to which part 12' is attached. The throw of arms 18', 19' is adjusted by simply sliding the arms in guides 108.

Part 14' (Figures 6, 8A and 8B) has a simple external box housing (which is not detailed) with a pair of front rectangular openings 124 to receive arms 18', 19' in a close sliding fit, and with side openings 79' to receive a Iransversely extending casing 140 for respective single cylinder barrel locks 76'.

Openings 124 are chamfered at their exterior rims to facilitate entry of the respective arms.

The front face of box housing 50' has a pair of projecting lugs 126 to 15 receive a carriage bolt 128 by which post attachment member 94' is pivotally mounted to the housing. Member 94' is of similar configuration to post attachment member 40' and includes a rear web 42a, side arms with ribbed outer surfaces 40ba, rear tabs 118a, and respective threaded and unthreaded ribbed plates 130 for bolts 43a. Carriage bolt 128 carries a similar pair of threaded and 20 unthreaded plates 132 with inside ribs or serrations. The pivotal mounting of post attachment member 94' to lugs 126 allows for some angular and vertical adjustment in situ between the two principal parts 12', 14' of the lock, 0 The latching and release mechanism is best seen in Figure 8B. Separate 25 locking pin holders 68a', 68b', with laterally projecting latching pins 72a', 72b' mounted in transverse blind square bores 133, are mounted for vertical sliding movement in complementary hollow halves of a guide block 135. The pin holders 68a', 68b' are biased downwardly by springs 70' disposed in corner recesses 136 of guide block 135 and tubular retainers 138 of pin holders 68a', 68b'. In this biased, lowermost position, latching pins 72a', 72b' seat in respective slots 106' (Figure 7A) in arms 18', 19', thereby latching coupling member 16' against S rlease.

Transverse barrel lock casing 140 is held by a screw 142 (Figure 8A) which passes through an aperture 143 in the front of box housing 50' into a threaded hole 141 (Figure 8B) in the casing. Screw 142 is hidden against tampering by a bolt cover 144 carried by carriage bolt 1A between lugs 126. Casing 140 itself fixes barrel locks 76' by hidden screws 145 and has a central cut-away 146 in which pin holders 68a', 68b' seat, resting on rebates 148 on the barrel locks.

Indeed, the pin holders engage the barrel locks to restrain them against withdrawal. The respective cams 77' of barrel locks 76' are coupled by a shaft 152 which rotatably carries a lever 154 rotatable by the cams to engage and lift the pin holders 68a', 68b' and so release pins 72a', 72b' from slots 106', thereby permitting withdrawal of coupling member 16' and disengagement of the lock.

Arms 18', 19' of coupling member 16' carry respective stop members 160 15 (Figures 6 and 7A) which are located by grub screws 162 engaging grooves 164 on the arms, and which serve two further purposes. Members 160 are located by shoulders 165 on the arms and have flanges 166, 167 which embrace the associated corner of box housing 50' and thereby both cover the openings 124 and embrace the corners to prevent rotation of the housing on carriage bolt 128.

20 These are significant anti-tamper measures.

It will be appreciated that the gate lock of Figures 6 to 8 can be engaged too*. from either side of the gate without a key, and released from either side with a key. The locking pins work independently to increase security against attempted 25 tampering. In the engaged condition of the lock, it will also be noted that coupling member 16' obscures or covers access to various bolts and fasteners, including bolts 43, 43a, thus guarding further against tampering.

It will be further appreciated that either of the illustrated locks provides a very effective lock for gates in wire mesh fencing. The two parts are easily mounted to an appropriate pair of posts by simply drilling holes in the posts and .S fixing the parts in place to compensate for variations in the spacing of the posts !0- -11 which occur both from site to site and with time after installation at the same site.

The throw of the arms 18, 19 constituting the coupling member is variable over a substantial range since the arms' pivot axis is translationally moveable in sliding pivot part 12, or with respect to the coupling member 16'. These arms are cast in stainless steel and are thus not easily distorted or damaged. The design of the preferably aluminium components of the two housings facilitates assembly but prevents access to operational parts of the mechanism such as ad the latch and locking mechanisms.

.0 As an additional security measure, it would of couiirse be normal practice for all accessible bolts to be of an appropriate tamper-proof kind.

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Claims (10)

1. A lock for a gate, comprising: respective first and second bodies adapted to be respectively secured in co- operative positions to a first gate and to a second gate or other upright which is adjacent the first gate when the gate(s) is closed; a coupling member; means for mounting said coupling member to one of said bo'iles for movement of the coupling member between a retracted position and an engagement position in which the coupling member extends from said one body into engagement with the other of said bodies when said gate(s) is closed; means on said other body to latch the coupling member in said engagement position; and lock means operable to release said latch means to allow said coupling 15 member to be moved to its retracted position; wherein said mounting means permits said coupling member to move both "pivotally for facilitating minimal protrusion or obstruction by the coupling member in its retracted position, and translationall) with respect to said one body for compensating for variations in the spacing of the gates or of the first gate and said 0 20 upright.

2. A lock according to claim 1 wherein said respective bodies include means for .a detachably attaching them to upright posts forming frame members of the respective gates or forming a frame member of the first gate and the upright.

3. A lock according to claim 2 wherein said means for detachably attaching the respective bodies to upright posts each include a pair of opposed plates between which the respective post is received, and associated bolt means, 30 4. A lock according to claim 3 wherein said bolt means include nut and/or wa.;her means which engages said plates so as to prevent relative slip or rotation. 930415,p\oper\gin,63866-90.rcs,12 y Y 13 A lock according to claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein said coupling member, when in its engagement position, obscures or covers access to said bolt means.

6. A lock according to any preceding claim wherein said the coupling member includes a pair of elongate arms which in the engagement position extend through respective slots or openings defined by said first and second bodies.

7. A lock according to claim 6 including cap means carried by said coupling member for externally covering said slot(s) or opening(s) when the coupling member is in its engagement position,

8. A lock according to any preceding claim wherein said mounting means includes a pair of internal tracks in said one body and associated wheels carried by the coupling member for rolling engagement in the tracks. 00 A lock according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said mounting means includes guide means for slidably receiving said coupling member, which guide g 0.e means is pivotally mounted on transverse shaft means for rotating said coupling 0 0 20member in situ about a horizontal axis. A lock according to any preceding claim wherein said latching means comprises a locking member and means biasing said locking member to latch said coupling member in said engagement position, said lock means being operable to release said latch means by moving the latch means against said biasing means. S

11. A lock according to claims 6 and 10 comprising separate said locking members and biasing means for each elongate arm of the coupling member,

12. A lock according to claim 10 or 11 wherein said lock means comprises key actuated lock means including a casing, and wherein the or one of the locking members restrains said casing against withdrawal from said other body when in its biased latching position. 93041 S,p:\opcr\gjn.63866'9.rcs,13 14

13. A lock according to claim 12 wherein said lock means is retained in said other body by fastener means which is obscured when the lock is in situ on a gate and said coupling member is in its engagement position.

14. A lock for a gate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 15th day of April, 1993 WILLIAM HENRY CLARK By his Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON Be 0O S SO S SOS. 55 S S 5 S5 S 0 SO 50 5 S S 0 S. 5 5 0 S *OSB 00 SB 0 0 *SSS SO 55 B B S 5.55 B 5* 0 5555 S 55500 S B 9304 15, p:ope r\ d ti.63866- 90. res, 1