CA2734421A1 - Apparatus and method for hardening a cam lock - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for hardening a cam lock Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2734421A1 CA2734421A1 CA 2734421 CA2734421A CA2734421A1 CA 2734421 A1 CA2734421 A1 CA 2734421A1 CA 2734421 CA2734421 CA 2734421 CA 2734421 A CA2734421 A CA 2734421A CA 2734421 A1 CA2734421 A1 CA 2734421A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- hardening
- cam
- lock
- bracket
- cam lock
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
Abstract
A hardening bracket for hardening a cam lock is disclosed. The hardening bracket includes a hole adjacent to a first end for admitting a lock cylinder of a cam lock therethrough, a hole adjacent to a second end for providing access to a screw fastener securing a cam to the lock cylinder, and an angled flange at the second end, configured to support the cam of the cam lock against bending. A method for hardening a cam lock is also disclosed. The method for hardening a cam lock includes attaching a hardening bracket as described above to a lock cylinder of a cam lock such that the angled flange is adjacent to a cam of the cam lock, securing the hardening bracket to the cam lock using a locking ring, and installing the cam lock in a door of a personal compartment.
Description
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HARDENING A CAM LOCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of hardening locks.
More particularly, the present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of hardening cam locks as may be commonly used to secure personal compartments of multi-compartment boxes such as mailboxes.
BACKGROUND
Locked personal compartments of multi-compartment boxes, such as mailboxes, are commonly used to provide secure storage and access for individual authorized users, by means of securement with a cam type lock for the door of each personal compartment.
However, such cam locks used to secure personal compartments are prone to mechanical force attacks, such as by prying open the door of the personal compartment to gain access to its contents. Accordingly, due to the risk of loss of the contents of such personal compartments, apparatus and methods of hardening cam locks are desired.
SUMMARY
In one aspect of the present invention, a hardening bracket for hardening a cam lock is provided. In such an embodiment, the hardening bracket comprise a hole adjacent to a first end for admitting a lock cylinder of a cam lock therethrough, a hole adjacent to a second end for providing access to a screw fastener securing a cam to said lock cylinder, and an angled flange at said second end, configured to support said cam of said cam lock against bending.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for hardening a cam lock is provided.
In such an embodiment, the method for hardening a cam lock comprises attaching a hardening bracket as described above to a lock cylinder of a cam lock such that said angled flange is adjacent to a cam of said cam lock, securing said hardening bracket to said cam lock using a locking ring, and installing said cam lock in a door of a personal compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a lock hardening apparatus or bracket according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a lock hardening apparatus or bracket according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a bottom view of a lock hardening apparatus or bracket according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a side perspective view of a lock hardening apparatus or bracket according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 illustrates an end view of a lock hardening apparatus or bracket according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
When a conventional locked personal compartment, such as a personal mailbox compartment, is pried open by unauthorized persons, such as thieves, the cam of the personal compartment lock is typically bent until it separates from the lock base, or at least until it typically bends sufficiently to clear the frame of the personal compartment to allow the compartment door to be opened without authorized use of the key to open the lock.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the present hardening apparatus or hardening bracket may be applied to the lock of a personal compartment, so as to resist this type of typical attack, as will be appreciated by considering the following described illustrative but non-limiting embodiment.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of hardening locks.
More particularly, the present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of hardening cam locks as may be commonly used to secure personal compartments of multi-compartment boxes such as mailboxes.
BACKGROUND
Locked personal compartments of multi-compartment boxes, such as mailboxes, are commonly used to provide secure storage and access for individual authorized users, by means of securement with a cam type lock for the door of each personal compartment.
However, such cam locks used to secure personal compartments are prone to mechanical force attacks, such as by prying open the door of the personal compartment to gain access to its contents. Accordingly, due to the risk of loss of the contents of such personal compartments, apparatus and methods of hardening cam locks are desired.
SUMMARY
In one aspect of the present invention, a hardening bracket for hardening a cam lock is provided. In such an embodiment, the hardening bracket comprise a hole adjacent to a first end for admitting a lock cylinder of a cam lock therethrough, a hole adjacent to a second end for providing access to a screw fastener securing a cam to said lock cylinder, and an angled flange at said second end, configured to support said cam of said cam lock against bending.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for hardening a cam lock is provided.
In such an embodiment, the method for hardening a cam lock comprises attaching a hardening bracket as described above to a lock cylinder of a cam lock such that said angled flange is adjacent to a cam of said cam lock, securing said hardening bracket to said cam lock using a locking ring, and installing said cam lock in a door of a personal compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a lock hardening apparatus or bracket according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a lock hardening apparatus or bracket according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a bottom view of a lock hardening apparatus or bracket according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a side perspective view of a lock hardening apparatus or bracket according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 illustrates an end view of a lock hardening apparatus or bracket according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
When a conventional locked personal compartment, such as a personal mailbox compartment, is pried open by unauthorized persons, such as thieves, the cam of the personal compartment lock is typically bent until it separates from the lock base, or at least until it typically bends sufficiently to clear the frame of the personal compartment to allow the compartment door to be opened without authorized use of the key to open the lock.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the present hardening apparatus or hardening bracket may be applied to the lock of a personal compartment, so as to resist this type of typical attack, as will be appreciated by considering the following described illustrative but non-limiting embodiment.
In one embodiment, a hardening apparatus or hardening bracket as shown in Figure 1 is retained on the base or cylinder of a cam lock assembly, such as by using a typical threaded locking ring that may also used to secure the base of the lock to the door of the locking personal compartment, such as is shown in Figures 2 to 5. By virtue of the properties of the hardening apparatus or hardening bracket, including its shape and its angles including the angle and shape of a first cam-reinforcing end, the hardening apparatus or bracket may desirably act to buttress and brace or support the cam element of the cam-type lock so that when force is applied to the door of a personal compartment locked by the cam lock, such as by a person attempting to break into the personal compartment, the hardening apparatus or bracket is operable to resist the force applied to the cam element by bracing or holding the cam in place and preventing it from being bent backwards or away from the frame of the personal compartment.
Accordingly, the hardening apparatus or bracket thereby desirably provides resistance against unauthorized forced entry into the personal compartment.
Accordingly, the hardening apparatus or bracket thereby desirably provides resistance against unauthorized forced entry into the personal compartment.
Claims (4)
1. A hardening bracket for hardening a cam lock, said hardening bracket comprising:
a hole adjacent to a first end for admitting a lock cylinder of a cam lock therethrough;
a hole adjacent to a second end for providing access to a screw fastener securing a cam to said lock cylinder; and an angled flange at said second end, configured to support said cam of said cam lock against bending.
a hole adjacent to a first end for admitting a lock cylinder of a cam lock therethrough;
a hole adjacent to a second end for providing access to a screw fastener securing a cam to said lock cylinder; and an angled flange at said second end, configured to support said cam of said cam lock against bending.
2. The hardening bracket according to claim 1, wherein said bracket comprises a galvanized or otherwise corrosion resistant steel.
3. A method for hardening a cam lock, comprising:
attaching a hardening bracket as described in claim 1 to a lock cylinder of a cam lock such that said angled flange is adjacent to a cam of said cam lock;
securing said hardening bracket to said cam lock using a locking ring; and installing said cam lock in a door of a personal compartment.
attaching a hardening bracket as described in claim 1 to a lock cylinder of a cam lock such that said angled flange is adjacent to a cam of said cam lock;
securing said hardening bracket to said cam lock using a locking ring; and installing said cam lock in a door of a personal compartment.
4
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US31540010P | 2010-03-19 | 2010-03-19 | |
| US61/315,400 | 2010-03-19 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2734421A1 true CA2734421A1 (en) | 2011-09-19 |
Family
ID=44671793
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2734421 Abandoned CA2734421A1 (en) | 2010-03-19 | 2011-03-18 | Apparatus and method for hardening a cam lock |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2734421A1 (en) |
-
2011
- 2011-03-18 CA CA 2734421 patent/CA2734421A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |
Effective date: 20140318 |