EP3060733B1

EP3060733B1 - A locking mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP3060733B1
Application number: EP14855852.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michiel Coenraad VAN DER WALT; Bazil Raymond SAGE
Original assignee: Protea Coin Group (assets In Transit And Armed Reaction)
Current assignee: Protea Coin Group (assets In Transit And Armed Reaction)
Priority date: 2013-10-23
Filing date: 2014-09-30
Publication date: 2019-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2034-09-30
Also published as: WO2015061811A2; AP2016009177A0; BR112016009091A2; WO2015061811A3; EP3060733A4; EP3060733A2

Description

Field of the invention

This invention is in the field of locking devices and related security products.

Background to the invention

The inventor is aware that theft of goods in transit is a common problem and results in significant monetary losses.
The inventor believes that this invention overcomes certain deficiencies in other locking mechanisms.
DE 805 012 C discloses a locking mechanism comprising a bolt that is biased by a screw spring, wherein the bolt is configured to engage a groove defined by a locking bar, wherein the bolt is biased to an engaged position by a spring and the bolt comprises a threaded shaft for engaging the thread of a threaded key, the key being configured to retract the locking pin through translation of torque and rotational motion on the key by a user into a linear force on the bolt, thereby causing said bolt to disengage from the groove defined by the surface and to remain in a disengaged position while the key is engaged with the threaded surface of the threaded shaft.
WO 2008/018031 A2 discloses a locking decive that includes a shank receivable through an aperture defined by a surface of a bracket and securing means for securing the shank relative the bracket, thereby to inhibit the unauthorized removal of the shank from the bracket and bracket from the container.
US 541 159 A discloses a screw with a thread and a counter-thread wherein the diameter of the counter-thread is smaller than the diameter of the thread.

Summary of the invention

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism including a housing in the form of a first nut which is configured to receive a shank, a spring - loaded member comprising a body and a locking pin, wherein the locking pin is configured to engage an aperture defined by a surface of a second nut, the body and the locking pin being biased to an engaged position by a spring and wherein the body defines a threaded surface for engaging the thread of a threaded key, the key configured to retract the locking pin through translation of torque and rotational motion on the key by a user into a linear force on the spring loaded member, thereby causing said locking pin to disengage from the aperture defined by the surface and to remain in a disengaged position while the key is engaged with the threaded surface of the body, characterised in that the first nut includes a cuff for receiving the second nut and thereby limiting unauthorised access to the second nut.
The threaded surface of the body for engaging the threaded key may be in the form of an extension of the body of the member and may be substantially elongate in form.
It is to be understood from this specification that in another embodiment of the invention, the threaded surface of the body for engaging the threaded key may be a surface of an aperture defined by the body of the member.
The threaded surface of the body and the threaded key may be left hand threaded.
The threaded surface of the body and the threaded key may be a right hand thread.
The locking pin may include guides to prevent the locking pin from rotating around its long axis relative to the housing.
In an embodiment of the invention, the locking pin may be threaded.
The locking pin may be essentially elongate and may be circular in cross-section.
In an embodiment of the invention, the locking pin may be any suitable shape, including but not limited to a triangular or rectangular cross-section.
In another embodiment of the invention, the body may define an aperture, which may be threaded for engaging the threaded key.
The first nut may include a pressure washer for facilitating the retaining of the body and the locking pin in the housing.
The shank may be generally elongate.
The shank may be a generally cylindrical elongate and may include a tapered end.
The shank may include a thread and may include a first threaded section and a second counter- threaded section. The first threaded section may include a larger diameter relative the second counter-threaded section.
A first nut may have a larger bore diameter relative a second nut bore diameter.
The first nut may include a thread and the second nut may include a counter-thread.
The first nut may be shaped and dimensioned to engage with the first threaded section of the shank and the second nut may be shaped and dimensioned to engage with the second counter-threaded section of the shank.
Typically, the first nut is advances along the threaded portion of the shank to an engaged position.
Advancement of the second nut along the shank towards the engaged position of the first nut may assist to discourage the removal of the first nut.
The body and the locking pin housed in the first nut and the second nut are shaped and dimensioned to lock the first nut relative the second nut, thereby to assist in limiting rotation and removal from the shank of the first and second nut.

Detailed description of the drawings

The invention will now be described and explained with reference to the following non-limiting drawings and examples wherein;

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional drawing of a locking mechanism not forming part of the present invention, wherein the housing is in the form of a nut;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the key;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional drawing of another embodiment not forming part of the invention;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional drawing of an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional through the locking mechanism, the first and the second nut.

In the Figures 4 and 5 reference numeral 10 generally refers to a locking mechanism in accordance with the invention.
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a locking mechanism 10 including a housing 26 in the form of a first nut 30 which is configured to receive a shank (not shown). The first nut 30 includes a cuff 42 for receiving the second nut 44 and thereby limiting unauthorised access to the second nut 44. The locking mechanism 10 further includes a spring loaded member 11 comprising a body 12 and a locking pin 14, wherein the locking pin 14 is configured to engage an aperture 18 defined by a surface 119 (see figure 5), the locking pin 14 being biased to an engaged position by a spring and wherein the body 12 defines a threaded surface 20 for engaging the thread 36 of a threaded key 34, the key 34 being configured to retract the locking pin 14 through the translation of torque and rotary motion on the key 34 by a user into a linear force on the member 11, thereby causing said locking pin 14 to disengage from the aperture 18 defined by the surface 119 and to remain in a disengaged position (not shown) while the key 34 is engaged with the threaded surface 20 of the body 12.
The first nut 30 includes a pressure washer 28 for facilitating the retaining of the spring loaded member 11 in the housing 26.
The threaded surface 20 of the body 12 and the threaded key 34 are left hand threaded. The locking pin 14 is threaded, essentially elongate and circular in cross - section.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 and 5 the threaded surface 20 of the body 12 engaging the threaded key 34 is in the form of an extension 21 which is substantially elongate in form.
Figure 3 depicts an embodiment where the body 12 defines an aperture 19, which is threaded 20, for engaging a modified embodiment of the threaded key (not shown). The first nut 30 is configured to receive the shank (not shown).
The surface 119 defining the aperture 18 (Figure 5) for receiving the locking pin 14 is in the form of a second nut 44.
The shank (not shown) is a cylindrical elongate member and includes a tapered end and a thread having a first threaded section and a second counter-threaded section. This first threaded section has a larger diameter relative to the second counter - threaded section.
A first nut 30 has a larger bore diameter 31 relative to a second nut's 44 bore diameter 45. The first nut 30 includes a thread 32 and the second nut 44 includes a counter - thread 40.
In the embodiment shown in the invention, the first nut 30 is shaped and dimensioned to engage with the first threaded section of the shank (not shown) and the second nut 44 is shaped and dimensioned to engage the second threaded section of the shank (not shown).
In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 and 5, the first nut 30 includes the cuff 42 for receiving the second nut 44, thereby limiting unauthorised access to the second nut 44.
Typically, the first nut 30 is advanced along the threaded portion of the shank (not shown) to an engaged position.
Advancement of the second nut 44 along the shank (not shown) towards the engaged position of the first nut 30 assists in discouraging the removal of the first nut 30.
The spring loaded member 11 housed in the first nut 30 and the second nut 44 are shaped and dimensioned to lock the first nut 30 relative the second nut 44, thereby to assist in limiting rotation and removal from the shank of the first 30 and the second nut 44.

Claims

A locking mechanism comprising a housing (26) in the form of a first nut (30) which is configured to receive a shank, a spring-loaded member (11) comprising a body (12) and a locking pin (14), wherein the locking pin (14) is configured to engage an aperture (18) defined by a surface of a second nut (44), the body (12) and locking pin (14) being biased to an engaged position by a spring (16) and wherein the body (12) defines a threaded surface (20) for engaging the thread of a threaded key (34), the key (34) being configured to retract the locking pin (14) through translation of torque and rotational motion on the key (34) by a user into a linear force on the spring loaded member (11), thereby causing said locking pin (14) to disengage from the aperture (18) defined by the surface and to remain in a disengaged position while the key (34) is engaged with the threaded surface (20) of the body (12), characterised in that the first nut (30) includes a cuff (42) for receiving the second nut (44) and thereby limiting unauthorised access to the second nut (44).
A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the threaded surface (20) of the body (12) for engaging the threaded key (34) may be in the form of an extension of the body (12) of the member and substantially elongate in form.
A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the threaded surface (20) of the body (12) for engaging the threaded key is a surface of an aperture defined by the body of the member.
A locking mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking pin (14) includes guides to prevent the locking pin (14) from rotating around its long axis relative to the housing.
A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the locking pin (14) is threaded.
A locking mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the locking pin (14) is essentially elongate and circular in cross-section, or in that the locking pin (14) is triangular in cross-section, or in that the locking pin is rectangular in cross-section.
A locking mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first nut (30) includes a pressure washer (28) for facilitating the retaining of the body (12) and the locking pin (14) in the housing.
A locking mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first housing is configured to receive a shank which is generally elongate and includes a tapered end, the shank especially including a thread.
A locking mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first housing is configured to receive a shank which includes a first threaded section and a second counter-threaded section, wherein especially the first threaded section includes a larger diameter relative to the second counter threaded section.
A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the first nut (30) has a larger bore diameter relative the second nut (44) bore diameter, and/or in that the first nut (30) includes a thread and the second nut (44) includes a counter-thread.
A locking mechanism as claimed in claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the first nut (30) is shaped and dimensioned to engage with the first threaded section of the shank and the second nut (44) is shaped and dimensioned to engage with the second counter-threaded section of the shank, and/or in that the first nut (30) is advanced along the threaded portion of the shank to an engaged position.
A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that advancement of the second nut (44) along the shank towards the engaged position of the first nut (30) assists to discourage the removal of the first nut (30), wherein the body (12) and the locking pin (14) housed in the first nut (30) and the second nut (44) are shaped and dimensioned to lock the first nut (30) relative to the second nut (44), thereby assisting in limiting rotation and removal from the shank of the first (30) and second nut (44).