AU746988B2

AU746988B2 - Locking Device

Info

Publication number: AU746988B2
Application number: AU18486/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Anthony Peter Broekman; Phillip James Spencer; Matthew James Wellings
Original assignee: Tmp Products Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Tmp Products Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-02-26
Filing date: 1999-02-26
Publication date: 2002-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-26
Also published as: AU1848699A

Description

-1-

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicants: Actual Inventors: PHILLIP JAMES SPENCER; ANTHONY PETER BROEKMAN and MATTHEW JAMES WELLINGS Phillip James SPENCER; Anthony Peter BROEKMAN and Matthew James WELLINGS BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 Address of Service: Invention Title: "LOCKING DEVICE" Details of Associated Provisional Application No. PP2071 dated 26th February 1998 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of p rming it known to us:- -la- LOCKING DEVICE The present invention relates to a locking device and in particular to a locking device for securing a first object to a second object.

The invention has been developed primarily for locking a door and will be described hereinafter with reference to that application. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to that particular field of use and is also applicable for locking hatches, gates, cabinets and the like.

The foregoing and any further description of, or reference to, the prior art is provided so that the present invention may be more fully understood and appreciated in a .0 its technical context and its significance more fully appreciated. Unless clearly indicated ~to the contrary, however, this discussion is not, and should not be interpreted as, an 0 so express or implied admission that any of the prior art referred to is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

S"Known locking devices have included flush clasps such as those disclosed in PCT 15 Application Nos. PCT/US80/01208 and PCT/US81/01047. Both of these flush clasps are intended to lock a door against a fixed surface. In practice, however, these cannot be practically applied to a fixed surface that is perpendicular to the door. For example, in the case of roller type doors where the fixed surface is comprised of the ground adjacent the bottom of the door.

In answer to this, locking devices have been developed specifically for roller type doors. An example of such a device is disclosed in Australian Patent Application no.

16228/95. This device includes a pair locking anchors mounted to a fixed surface and having an elongate member connecting the anchors to the door. However, the locking anchors are prone to inadvertently damage or to be damaged by other objects.

'1 lb- Another proposed solution is disclosed in Australian Patent Application no.

86111/96. In this document a securing formation for securing the elongate member is keyed to the anchor. However, the securing formation, when not in use, is easily misplaced or damaged. Moreover, the device is difficult to use in less than ideal lighting.

o -2- It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

According to the invention there is provided a locking device for securing a first object to a second object having a locking formation, the device including: a base for mounting to the first object; a latch having a first end and a second end, the first end being rotatably mounted to the base for allowing movement of the second end between a raised position in which the second end is lockingly engageable with the locking formation and a lowered position in which the second end is wholly recessed within the base.

10 Preferably, the locking formation is a bracket having a mounting flange for S•securement to the second object and a locking tongue extending from the bracket; and S: the second end of the latch includes an opening for receiving the locking tongue.

Preferably also, the opening extends completely through the second end such that the locking tongue extends through the opening when the second end is in the raised position. More preferably, the locking tongue includes securement means for preventing .withdrawal of the locking tongue from the opening.

In a preferred form, the securement means includes an aperture for receiving a eeee locking apparatus. More preferably, the locking apparatus is a padlock.

Preferably also, the first end includes two opposed coaxially extending first mounting formations and the base includes two opposed second mounting formations for captively rotatably receiving respective first mounting formations. More preferably, the latch includes: -3a first free end and a second free end which define respective first mounting formations; and a loop portion intermediate the ends for defining the opening.

In a preferred form, the first free end, the second free end and the loop portion are integrally formed.

Preferably, the base includes mounting apertures for receiving respective mounting members for captively mounting the base to the first object.

Preferably also, the latch is mounted for rotation about a transverse axis and the base includes a longitudinal channel for nestedly receiving the second end when the latch is in the lowered position.

In a preferred form, the base includes: eoo ~an upper surface; and a lower surface for abutting against the first object, the lower surface having a S.predetermined maximum width and the upper surface lying within an arc such that the ratio 15 of the maximum separation of the surfaces to the maximum width is less than unity.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a locking device according to the invention with the latch in its raised position; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1 with the latch in the lowered position; Figure 3 is a front view of the device of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a bottom view of the device of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a rear view of the device of Figure 2; -4- Figure 6 is a right hand side view of the device of Figure 2; Figure 7 is a left hand side view of the device of Figure 2; Figure 8 is a bottom view of the locking formation of Figure 1; Figure 9 is a plan view of the locking formation of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a front view of the locking formation of Figure 1; Figure 11 is a rear view of the locking formation of Figure 1; and Figure 12 is a right hand side view of the locking formation of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular Figure 1, there is illustrated a locking device 1 for securing a first object in the form of a portion of pavement P to a second 10 object in the form of a garage door D. As best shown in Figure 1, door D includes a .locking formation 2, which will be described in more detail below. Device 1 includes a 0: 0% semispherical base 3 for mounting to the pavement and a latch 4 having a first end 5 and a..

a second end 6. End 5 is rotatably mounted to base 3 for allowing movement of end 6 •between a raised position in which end 6 is lockingly engageable with formation 2 and a lowered position in which end 6 is recessed within base 3.

Formation 2 includes a transversely extending mounting flange 7 which, in use, is fixedly secured to door D. A locking tongue 8 extends longitudinally from flange 7 and a away from door D. End 6 of latch 4 includes an opening 9 for receiving tongue 8 when end 6 is in the raised position. More particularly, opening 9 extends completely through end 6 such that when end 6 is in the raised position, locking tongue 8 extends through opening 9.

Tongue 8 further includes a securement means in the form of an aperture through which a locking device, such as a padlock, is selectively located for preventing the withdrawal of tongue 8 from opening 9.

Latch 4 is comprised of a formed cylindrical rod which, at end 5, includes two opposed coaxially extending mounting formations in the form of free ends 11 and 12.

Ends 11 and 12 engage with respective opposed mounting formations in base 3.

Intermediate ends 11 and 12 the rod is configured in a loop portion 13 to define end 6 and opening 9. Although in this embodiment end 11, end 12 and loop portion 13 are integrally formed, in other embodiments this is not the case.

Latch 4 is mounted to base 3 for rotation about a transverse axis. Moreover, base 3 includes a longitudinal channel 14 for nestedly receiving end 6 when latch 4 is in the lowered position. The base also includes a port 15 extending from channel 14 for 10 facilitating manual access to end 6 when in the lowered position. In other embodiments, base 3 includes a mechanical means to move end 6 away from the lowered position. In some embodiments end 6 is resiliently biased towards the raised position.

o# The base 3 is a sectioned sphere having a substantially semispherical upper surface 16 and a substantially planar lower surface 17. Surfaces 16 and 17 meet at a common *o 15 peripheral edge. Surface 17 has a predetermined maximum width and is abutted against the pavement. Surface lies 16 shares that same predetermined maximum width and lies within an arc. The ratio of the maximum separation of surfaces 16 and 17 to the maximum width defines an aspect ratio, which is less than unity.

As shown, surface 16 has a truncated front portion 18 for facilitating the positioning of locking formation 2 adjacent to base 3.

The base 3 includes three equally spaced apart mounting apertures 19 for mounting base 3 to the pavement. When so mounted, ends 11 and 12 engage with channels 20 and 21 in base 3 for the captive mounting latch 4 for rotation with respect to base 3. In other -6embodiments mounting formations 11 and 12 are permanently captively rotatably engaged with channels 20 and 21.

As shown in Figures 1 and 8 to 12, flange 7 includes a plurality of spaced apart transverse slots 23 for facilitating its mounting to the garage door.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it may be embodied in many other forms.

e

Claims

1. A locking device for securing a first object to a second object having a locking formation, the device including: a base for mounting to the first object; a latch having a first end and a second end, the first end being rotatably mounted to the base for allowing movement of the second end between a raised position in which the second end is lockingly engageable with the locking formation and a lowered position in which the second end is wholly recessed within the base.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein: 10 the locking formation is a bracket having a mounting flange for securement to the •o second object and a locking tongue extending from the bracket; and the second end of the latch includes an opening for receiving the locking tongue.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the opening extends completely through the •second end such that the locking tongue extends through the opening when the second o*o* end is in the raised position. ooo0 A device according to claim 1 wherein the locking tongue includes securement means for preventing withdrawal of the locking tongue from the opening. A device according to claim 4 wherein the securement means includes an aperture for receiving a locking apparatus.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the locking apparatus is a padlock.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first end includes two opposed coaxially extending first mounting formations and the base includes two -8- opposed second mounting formations for captively rotatably receiving respective first mounting formations.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the latch includes: a first free end and a second free end which define respective mounting formations; and a loop portion intermediate the ends for defining the opening.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the first free end, the second free end and the loop portion are integrally formed. A device according to claim 9 wherein the first and second free ends have a 10 circular cross section. .o*

11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base includes mounting apertures for receiving respective mounting members for captively mounting .*o.oi the base to the first object.

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the latch is 15 mounted for rotation about a transverse axis and the base includes a longitudinal channel 0* for nestedly receiving the second end when the latch is in the lowered position. :t

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the base includes: 0* an upper surface; and a lower surface for abutting against the first object, the lower surface having a predetermined maximum width and the upper surface lying within an arc such that the ratio of the maximum separation of the surfaces to the maximum width is less than unity.

14. A device according to claim 13 wherein the upper surface is substantially arcuate. A device according to claim 14 wherein the base includes a truncated portion for _Z allowing close positioning of the locking formation with respect to the base. -9-

16. A locking device substantially as herein described with reference to the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED this 8th Day of March 2002 PHILLIP JAMES SPENCER, ANTHONY PETER BROEKMAN, AND MATTHEW JAMES WELLINGS Attorney: JOHN B. REDFERN Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS .o 0o 0@