EP1256678A2

EP1256678A2 - Locking means

Info

Publication number: EP1256678A2
Application number: EP02076592A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lex Elzo Westera
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-05-08
Filing date: 2002-04-23
Publication date: 2002-11-13
Also published as: NL1018015C1; EP1256678A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock (1), comprising a part (3) with an U-shaped cross section in which a cylinder lock (5) is mounted and a connecting piece (4) which connects in a locked situation both free ends of the legs or the side walls of the U-shaped part (3). For that purpose, the two legs or the side walls are each provided with a hole or a bore, through which the connecting piece (4) may slide.

Description

The invention relates to a locking means, comprising a body in which a lock is included and a connecting piece, which connects in a locked situation two parts of the body.
A locking means of this kind is for example a padlock. From the padlock it is known that it can be opened up relatively easily, for example by bending the connecting piece or by sawing or slitting it through.
The locking means according to the invention substantially obviates this disadvantage and is characterized in that the body is at least in a cross section U-shaped, with two legs or two side walls, that a connecting piece is provided which connects in a locked situation of the locking means two free ends of the legs or the side walls, that the two legs or the two side walls each are provided with a recess or a boring through which the connecting piece may slide and that the lock is included in a first leg or first side wall, for fixing the connecting piece in the locked situation. The advantage is that the shape of the body and the legs or side walls can be chosen for a particular application in such a way that the connecting piece and/or an object to be protected by the locking means will be substantially entirely covered, which makes it very difficult to prize open the locking means.
A favourable embodiment which minimises the amount of material needed for the locking means is characterized in that the first leg or first side wall is made more solid than the second leg or second side wall. In this case, the body preferably consists of only one piece of metal, preferably a hard type of steel or steel that can be hardened, in which a few holes have been drilled for mounting a cylinder lock and for letting pass the connecting piece.
A favourable embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the connecting piece is at least substantially straight. It is possible then to make a recess and a boring for the connecting piece in a further solid piece of material in one single operation, which reduces the production costs.
A favourable alternative embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the connecting piece is at least substantially U-shaped. This embodiment is of importance for a body which is provided with a centrally located cavity in which an object to be protected can be placed, like a king pin of a trailer. With the aid of the U-shaped connecting piece, the object can be secured in the cavity.
A further simple and robust embodiment is characterized in that the connecting piece is provided with a slot, extending in a longitudinal direction, such that at least in a non-locked situation the connecting piece may slide over a projection, operated by the lock. Preferably, the slot extends over a limited part of the connecting piece, such that two ends of the slot are closed, which prevents the connecting piece from falling out of the locking means.
A further favourable embodiment of the inventive locking means which can be produced in a simple manner is characterized in that the slot is provided with at least one wider section, in which the projection is at least partly positioned in the locked situation. By shaping the projection for example as an oblate cylinder, the projection may slide through the slot in a first position of the lock and may block the connecting piece in a second position at the position of the wider section.
A further favourable embodiment is characterized in that between the lock and the connecting piece a filler part is placed, one end of which is connected to the lock the other end of which is provided with a projection. In order to obtain a maximum strength, the filler part is preferably made of a hard type of steel or steel that can be hardened.
A favourable embodiment according to a further aspect of the invention is characterized in that the connecting piece is made of steel and is provided with a break zone, which break zone is preferably made such that in the locked situation it is positioned at least substantially outside the U-shaped body. If someone tries to bust open the locking means, the part of the connecting piece outside the body will break off.
The invention will now further be explained with a reference to the following figures, in which:
Fig. 1A represents a first possible embodiment of a locking means according to the invention in side view;
Fig. 1B represents this embodiment in front view;
Fig. 2A represents a second possible embodiment of a locking means according to the invention in side view;
Fig. 2B represents this embodiment in top view;
Fig. 3A represents a third possible embodiment of a locking means according to the invention in side view;
Fig. 3B represents this embodiment in front view;
Fig. 4 represents the connecting piece with slot;
Fig. 5A represents a cross section of the connecting piece according to a line AA';
Fig. 5B represents a cross section of the connecting piece according to a line BB';
Fig. 6A represents the cylinder lock with the projection in an open position;
Fig. 6B represents the cylinder lock with the projection in a locked position;
Fig. 7A represents a well-known king pin
Fig. 7B represents a further embodiment of a locking means according to the invention in front view;
Fig. 7C represents this embodiment in top view.
Fig. 1A represents a first possible embodiment of a locking means 1 according to the invention in side view, which is used here by way of illustration to protect a coupling bracket 2, usually called a DIN eye. Coupling bracket 2, of which by way of illustration the front side has been removed, is the actual connecting point of a trailer and locking means 1 must prevent someone from stealing the trailer. Locking means 1 consists of an U-shaped body 3 which is positioned round coupling bracket 2, after which a connecting piece 4 is placed and fixed with the aid of a cylinder lock 5 which is fixed in a recess in a leg of U-shaped body 3. In the embodiment shown here, cylinder lock 5 is fixed with the aid of a clamping bush 6, well known in the art, which is known to be very difficult to remove. Cylinder lock 5 is provided with a projection 7, which fits into a slot 8 in such a manner that connecting piece 4 can move back and forth freely. When locking means 1 is locked, with the aid of a key which rotates the inner part of cylinder lock 5, projection 7 rotates also, as a result of which connecting piece 4 can no longer be shifted and will be fixed in the position shown in the figure. As U-shaped body 3 and connecting piece 4 are made of hardened steel, it is almost impossible to prize open locking means 1 within a limited time span. In order to prevent connecting piece 4 from being disengaged for example with a pair of pliers, a groove 9 has been made in connecting piece 4, such that when brute force is used the connecting piece may break, but locking means 1 will not open.
Fig. 1B represents this embodiment in front view, with locking means 1 and coupling bracket 2. In U-shaped body 3, cylinder lock 5 is placed and in connecting piece 4 slot 8 is visible, in which a projection of cylinder lock 5 can shift back and forth.
The embodiment shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B can easily be realised in all types of shapes, for realising in a simple manner a specific locking function with optimal locking features. Fig. 2A represents a second possible embodiment of a locking means 1 according to the invention in side view, in which the locking means is entirely optimised for the protection of a coupling bracket 2. For that purpose, U-shaped body 3 is shaped such that coupling bracket 2 is completely hidden from view, while connecting piece 4 completely fills the hole in coupling bracket 2. It is immediately obvious that it will be almost impossible to bust a locking means shaped in this manner. In order to prevent connecting piece 4 from being disengaged for example with a pair of pliers, a groove 9 has been made in connecting piece 4, such that when brute force is used the connecting piece may break, but locking means 1 will not open. The weakest spot of locking means 1 could be projection 7 of cylinder lock 5, because this is traditionally made of bronze. In order to prevent projection 7 from breaking off, a filler part in the shape of a steel disc 10 is placed on top of cylinder lock 5 in the embodiment shown, on one side provided with a hole in which projection 7 fits and on the other side provided with a projection 11 which can co-operate with a slot 8 in connecting piece 4.
Fig. 2B represents this embodiment in top view, with U-shaped body 3, which completely encloses coupling bracket 2 and into which cylinder lock 5 is fixed with the aid of a clamping bush 6. Projection 7 of cylinder lock 5 fits into filler part 10, of which a steel projection 11 in turn fits in a slot 8 of connecting piece 4.
Locking means 1 may consist of one single piece, in which a cavity is milled for the coupling bracket and the holes for connecting piece 4 and for cylinder lock 5 can be drilled. It is also possible to weld locking means 1 together from three pieces. Preferably, C45 steel is used, which can be given a surface hardening treatment after production, or stainless steel may be used which is very strong and corrosion-resistant or 16 manganese chromium 5 steel may be used, which may be tenified during a hardening treatment in order to make it corrosion-resistant.
Fig. 3A represents a third possible embodiment of a locking means 1 according to the invention in side view, which may be used for fixing a bolt 12 onto a frame part 13. For that purpose, an U-shaped body 3 is dimensioned such that it can slide precisely over bolt 12 and frame part 13, whereby a connecting piece 4 can be inserted into two holes in the bolt and in the frame part. In U-shaped body 3 a cylinder lock 5 is glued, of which a projection 7 fits in a slot 8 in connecting piece 4, in such a manner that connecting piece 4 may be shifted back and forth freely. When cylinder lock 5 is locked, projection 7 will rotate as well, as a result of which connecting piece 4 will be fixed in the position shown in the figure. In connecting piece 4, a deep groove 9 is made which prevents the locking means from being opened with the aid of for example a pair of pliers. In such a case, the connecting piece will simply break at the location of groove 9.
Fig. 3B represents this embodiment in front view, with bolt 12, U-shaped body 3 in which cylinder lock 5 and connecting piece 4 are placed.
Fig. 4 represents the connecting piece 4 with slot 8 and break-off groove 9. A projection 7, not visible in the figure, is oriented in a longitudinal direction and can slide back and forth in slot 8. When projection 7 is positioned at the end 14 of slot 8, this projection 7 can be rotated, as a result of which connecting piece 4 will be fixed.
In the shown embodiments, connecting piece 4 always has a circular cross section. However, this is not necessary; a connecting piece with for example a rectangular cross section may also be used but it is more expensive to make rectangular bores in U-shaped body 3.
Fig. 5A represents a cross section of the connecting piece 4 according to a line AA' with slot 8, in which projection 7 can slide. Fig. 5B represents a cross section of the connecting piece 4 according to a line BB' near the end 14 of slot 8, inside of which projection 7 can be rotated, as a result of which connecting piece 4 will be fixed.
Fig. 6A represents the cylinder lock 5 with the projection 7 in an open position, while Fig. 6B represents the cylinder lock 5 with the projection 7 in a locked position.
Fig. 7A represents a king pin, well known in the art, which forms part of a trailer and with the aid of which the trailer may be coupled to a truck.
Fig. 7B represents a further embodiment of a locking means 15 according to the invention in front view, with the aid of which a king pin or a comparable object can be protected. Locking means 15 consists of a block 16 made of steel, in which a hole 17 is made into which at least part of the king pin can be inserted. After placing the locking means onto the king pin, an U-shaped connecting piece 18 is pushed in place, which will fix the king pin. U-shaped connecting piece 18 in turn is fixed by a cylinder lock 19, which is mounted in a first side wall 20 of steel block 16 and of which a projection 21 can slide in a slot 22 in a leg 23 of U-shaped connecting piece 18.
Fig. 7C represents this embodiment in top view, with the steel block 16, into which a hole 17 is made into which at least part of the king pin can be inserted and U-shaped connecting piece 18 by which the king pin can be fixed. Moreover the slot 22 is visible in leg 23, into which a projection 21 of cylinder lock 19 can slide. The ends of slot 22 are closed, such that U-shaped connecting piece 18 cannot fall out and at least one end is provided with a wider section, in which projection 21 is positioned in the figure, in such a way that by locking cylinder lock 19 and by consequently turning projection 21, the U-shaped connecting piece 18 can be fixed. In order to simplify the shifting in and out of U-shaped connecting piece 18, a grip 24 is provided, which can be constructed rather fragile such that it will be impossible to exert a force to U-shaped connecting piece 18 via grip 24.
It is possible to split a king pin in two identical halves, as indicated in Fig. 7A with the aid of line CC'. These two halves may be welded onto for example two doors or onto a door and a hatch, in such a way that in a closed situation both halves form a substantially complete king pin. Locking means 15 can be used than to lock the doors or the hatch in a very effective manner.

Claims

Locking means, comprising a body in which a lock is included and a connecting piece which connects in a locked situation two parts of the body, characterized in that the body is at least in a cross section U-shaped, with two legs or two side walls, that a connecting piece is provided which connects in a locked situation of the locking means two free ends of the legs or the side walls, that the two legs or the two side walls each are provided with a recess or a boring through which the connecting piece may slide and that the lock is included in a first leg or first side wall, for fixing the connecting piece in the locked situation.
Locking means according to claim 1, characterized in that the first leg or first side wall is made more solid than the second leg or the second side wall.
Locking means according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting piece is at least substantially straight.
Locking means according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting piece is at least substantially U-shaped.
Locking means according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the connecting piece is provided with a slot, extending in a longitudinal direction, such that at least in a non-locked situation the connecting piece may slide over a projection, operated by the lock.
Locking means according to claim 4, characterized in that the slot extends over a limited part of the connecting piece, such that two ends of the slot are closed.
Locking means according to claim 6, characterized in that the slot is provided with at least one wider section, in which the projection is at least partly positioned in the locked situation.
Locking means according to claim 5, characterized in that between the lock and the connecting piece a filler part is placed, one end of which is connected to the lock the other end of which is provided with a projection.
Locking means according to claim 9, characterized in that the connecting piece is made of steel and is provided with a break zone.
Locking means according to claim 9, characterized in that the break zone is made such that in the locked situation it is positioned at least substantially outside the U-shaped body.