GB2185949A

GB2185949A - Roofrack security assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2185949A
Application number: GB08702325A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roderick Raymond Mcdonald
Original assignee: Unistrut Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Unistrut Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1986-02-04
Filing date: 1987-02-03
Publication date: 1987-08-05
Also published as: GB2185949B; GB8702325D0

Abstract

A security assembly to secure a ladder 12 to a roofrack 11, the assembly includes a lock 33 which moves a hooked rod from an engaging position 22 with respect to a rung of the ladder, to a release position 23 spaced from the rung so that in the engaging position the ladder is secured to the roofrack by the hook engaging the rung. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security assembly The present invention relates to security devices and more particularly but not exclusively to a security assembly to secure a ladder to the roofracks of a motor vehicle to prevent unauthorised removal of the ladder.

Conventionally in industrial situations, ladders have been conveyed on motor vehicles via "roofracks". Howeverthere is a disadvantage in this method oftransportation in that the ladders may be removed without the authority of the owner.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein a security assembly to secure an object to a motor vehicle roofrack, said assembly comprising a mounting to be fixed to the roofrack, a base pivotally attached to said mounting so that in use the base is pivotable about a horizontal axis, and object engaging member movably mounted on said base so asto be movable along an axis extending generally transverse of the pivot axis of said base, said object engaging member being movable along the transverse axis between an object release position and an objection retaining position, and securing means to selectively retain said object engaging member in said retaining position.

A preferred form ofthe present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure lisa schematic perspective view of a portion of a motorvehicle upon which there is mounted a roofrack and security assembly to secure a ladder to the roofrack; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the security assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic part sectioned side elevation of the security assembly of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of the security assembly of Figure 2; Figure 5is a schematic plan view of a mounting bracket employed in the security assembly of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a schematic side elevation of the bracket of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of a base employed in the security assembly of Figure 2;; Figure 8 is a schematic end elevation of a base plate employed in the security assembly of Figure 2; Figure 9 is a schematic plan view of a cam member employed in the security assembly of Figure 2; and Figure 10 is a schematic side elevation of the cam memberof Figure 10.

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a security assembly 10 to be attached to a roofrack 11 to secure a ladder 12 to the roofrack 11.

The security assembly 10 includes a mounting bracket 13 secured to the roofrack 1 by one or more bolts 14. The bracket 13 extends generally horizontallyfrom beneath the rack 11 and is provided with a pivot 15 which pivotally supports a base 16 ofthe security assembly 10. The base 16 includes a plate 17 pivotally attached to the bracket 13 by means of the pivot 15. It should be appreciated that the pivot 15 defines a generally horizontally extending pivotaxis 18. Attached to the plate 17 is a ladder engaging rod 19 having a hooked end to engage a ladder rung 20.

The rod 19 is movable longitudinally along the axis 21 from an engaging position 22 attaching the ladder 12 to the roofrack 11 by engagement between the hook and the rung 20, and a non-engaging position 23 allowing relative movement between the ladder 12 and the roofrack 11. The rod 19 is attached to a carrier plate 24 via threaded eyelets 25 welded to the plate 24. The rod 19 is threaded and threadably engages the eyelets 25 for adjustment purposes. Located between the eyelets 25 is a nylon washer 26. The eyelets 25 are welded to the plate 24.

Now with particular reference to Figures 4 to 10, wherein the base plate 17, carrier plate 24 and rod 19 are more fully depicted. As best seen from Figure 4, the base plate 17 has curved edge portions 27 which define channels which slidably receive the carrier plate 24. The base plate is best seen in end elevation in Figure 8. The carrier plate, as best seen in Figure 7, includes a slot 28 which extends generallytrans- verse of the axis 21. The slot 28 is engaged by a projection 29 formed in the cam member 30 (as best seen in Figures 9 and 10). The cam member 30 hasa square aperture 31 which engagesthe square shaft 32 of the lock 33.The lock 33 is of a generally conventional structure in that it is provided with a key operated barrel which secures the handle 34 in a locked position with the rod 19 in the engaged position 22. By rotation of the handle 34, the shaft32 causes rotation of the cam member 30 about the axis 34. Via sliding engagement of the projection 29 in the slot 28, rotation of the cam member 30 causesthe carrier plate 24to move relative to the plate 17 along the axis 21. This movement of the carrier plate 24 causes movement of the rod 17 between the two positions 22 and 23.

In operation of the above described security assembly 10, the lock 33 is actuated in order to move the rod 19 between its two positions 22 and 23. The lock barrel and its associated key are employed to secure the rod 17 in the ladder engaging position 22.

Upon movement of the rod 19 to the non-engaging position 23, the security assembly 10is pivotable about the axis 18 allowi ng removal of the ladder 12 from the rack 11, or alternatively placement ofthe ladder 12 on the rack 11 to be secured thereto.

1. A security assembly to secure an object to a motor vehicle roofrack, said assembly comprising a mounting to be fixed to the roofrack, a base pivotally attached to said mounting so that in use the base is pivotable about a horizontal axis, and object engaging member movably mounted on said base so asto bemovablealong an axis extending generallytransverse of the pivot axis of said base, said object engaging member being movable along the transverse axis between an object release position and an objection retaining position, and securing means to selectively retain said object engaging member in

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Security assembly The present invention relates to security devices and more particularly but not exclusively to a security assembly to secure a ladder to the roofracks of a motor vehicle to prevent unauthorised removal of the ladder. Conventionally in industrial situations, ladders have been conveyed on motor vehicles via "roofracks". Howeverthere is a disadvantage in this method oftransportation in that the ladders may be removed without the authority of the owner. It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages. There is disclosed herein a security assembly to secure an object to a motor vehicle roofrack, said assembly comprising a mounting to be fixed to the roofrack, a base pivotally attached to said mounting so that in use the base is pivotable about a horizontal axis, and object engaging member movably mounted on said base so asto be movable along an axis extending generally transverse of the pivot axis of said base, said object engaging member being movable along the transverse axis between an object release position and an objection retaining position, and securing means to selectively retain said object engaging member in said retaining position. A preferred form ofthe present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure lisa schematic perspective view of a portion of a motorvehicle upon which there is mounted a roofrack and security assembly to secure a ladder to the roofrack; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the security assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic part sectioned side elevation of the security assembly of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of the security assembly of Figure 2; Figure 5is a schematic plan view of a mounting bracket employed in the security assembly of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a schematic side elevation of the bracket of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of a base employed in the security assembly of Figure 2;; Figure 8 is a schematic end elevation of a base plate employed in the security assembly of Figure 2; Figure 9 is a schematic plan view of a cam member employed in the security assembly of Figure 2; and Figure 10 is a schematic side elevation of the cam memberof Figure 10. In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a security assembly 10 to be attached to a roofrack 11 to secure a ladder 12 to the roofrack 11. The security assembly 10 includes a mounting bracket 13 secured to the roofrack 1 by one or more bolts 14. The bracket 13 extends generally horizontallyfrom beneath the rack 11 and is provided with a pivot 15 which pivotally supports a base 16 ofthe security assembly 10. The base 16 includes a plate 17 pivotally attached to the bracket 13 by means of the pivot 15. It should be appreciated that the pivot 15 defines a generally horizontally extending pivotaxis 18. Attached to the plate 17 is a ladder engaging rod 19 having a hooked end to engage a ladder rung 20. The rod 19 is movable longitudinally along the axis 21 from an engaging position 22 attaching the ladder 12 to the roofrack 11 by engagement between the hook and the rung 20, and a non-engaging position 23 allowing relative movement between the ladder 12 and the roofrack 11. The rod 19 is attached to a carrier plate 24 via threaded eyelets 25 welded to the plate 24. The rod 19 is threaded and threadably engages the eyelets 25 for adjustment purposes. Located between the eyelets 25 is a nylon washer 26. The eyelets 25 are welded to the plate 24. Now with particular reference to Figures 4 to 10, wherein the base plate 17, carrier plate 24 and rod 19 are more fully depicted. As best seen from Figure 4, the base plate 17 has curved edge portions 27 which define channels which slidably receive the carrier plate 24. The base plate is best seen in end elevation in Figure 8. The carrier plate, as best seen in Figure 7, includes a slot 28 which extends generallytrans- verse of the axis 21. The slot 28 is engaged by a projection 29 formed in the cam member 30 (as best seen in Figures 9 and 10). The cam member 30 hasa square aperture 31 which engagesthe square shaft 32 of the lock 33.The lock 33 is of a generally conventional structure in that it is provided with a key operated barrel which secures the handle 34 in a locked position with the rod 19 in the engaged position 22. By rotation of the handle 34, the shaft32 causes rotation of the cam member 30 about the axis 34. Via sliding engagement of the projection 29 in the slot 28, rotation of the cam member 30 causesthe carrier plate 24to move relative to the plate 17 along the axis 21. This movement of the carrier plate 24 causes movement of the rod 17 between the two positions 22 and 23. In operation of the above described security assembly 10, the lock 33 is actuated in order to move the rod 19 between its two positions 22 and 23. The lock barrel and its associated key are employed to secure the rod 17 in the ladder engaging position 22. Upon movement of the rod 19 to the non-engaging position 23, the security assembly 10is pivotable about the axis 18 allowi ng removal of the ladder 12 from the rack 11, or alternatively placement ofthe ladder 12 on the rack 11 to be secured thereto. CLAIMS

1. A security assembly to secure an object to a motor vehicle roofrack, said assembly comprising a mounting to be fixed to the roofrack, a base pivotally attached to said mounting so that in use the base is pivotable about a horizontal axis, and object engaging member movably mounted on said base so asto bemovablealong an axis extending generallytransverse of the pivot axis of said base, said object engaging member being movable along the transverse axis between an object release position and an objection retaining position, and securing means to selectively retain said object engaging member in said retaining position.

2. The security assembly of claim 1 wherein said securing means isa Iockassemblywhich is manually operable and which moves said object engaging member between said release position and said retaining position.

3. The security assembly of claim 2 wherein said lockassembly includes a handle pivotally mounted on said base and adapted to be used by an operator, said handle being pivotable about an axis transverse of the axis along which said object engaging member is moved, a projection fixed to said handle but spaced from the pivoting axis thereof, a carrier movably mounted on said base so asto be movable generally parallel to the axis of said movable member, a slotformed in said carrier and within which said projection is located so that upon movement of said handle about its pivot axis, said carrier is caused to move, and wherein said object engaging member is fixed to said carrier so as to be moved thereby upon pivoting of said handle.

4. The security assembly of claim 3 wherein said object engaging member is a rod terminating at one end with a hook.

5. The security assembly of claim 4wherein said object engaging member is rotatably supported by said carrier so asto be rotatable aboutthe axis along which the object engaging membermoves.

6. The security assembly of claim 5 wherein the axis of said object engaging member is generally perpendicu lar to the pivoting axis of said base.

7. Asecurity assembly substantially as here- inbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.