GB2228042A

GB2228042A - Security device for fastening objects to a surface

Info

Publication number: GB2228042A
Application number: GB9002675A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Barlow
Original assignee: Velos Perforex Ltd
Current assignee: Velos Perforex Ltd
Priority date: 1989-02-09
Filing date: 1990-02-07
Publication date: 1990-08-15
Also published as: GB9002675D0; GB8902911D0

Abstract

A simple device designed to prevent ready removal of an object (34), such as a cash box or jewellery tray, from a substrate (30) on which it is laid comprises a first element (10) which is adapted for being fastened to the substrate eg by screws (32) and has a portion (12) for insertion through an opening (36) in the object (34), and a second element (20) adapted for engagement with the said portion (12). In this respect, the first element may comprise a pair of flanks 12a, 12b (Fig. 5) between which a pivot shaft (18) extends, thus forming an aperture 19 (Fig. 4). The second element has a slot (25) into which shaft (18) may pass, the slot preferably having a ramped, notched surface (26), thus acting as a wedge. <IMAGE>

Description

SECURITY DEVICE This invention relates to a device for securement of an object to a larger substrate. Where the object is a valuable item, or a container of valuable items, such as a petty cash box or a jewellery tray, such a device can function as an anti-theft device, at least serving as a deterrent against opportunistic theft, by preventing ready removal of the item or container.

It is an object of the invention to provide a security device as aforesaid which is of relatively simple form and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, yet is also easy to assemble and to use.

According to the invention, a security device comprises a first element having means adapting it for fastening to a substrate and having a portion, defining an aperture, for insertion through an opening in an object which is to be secure to the substrate, and a second element which is engageable through the aperture to secure said object to said substrate, characterised in that the aperture-defining portion of the first element includes a pivot shaft, and the second element includes means for pivotal engagement therewith.

Preferably the portion of the second element which is engageable through the aperture of the first element is of progressively increasing thickness, e.g. wedgeshaped.

In one embodiment of the device, the second element may have an edge provided with a notch in which the pivot shaft will engage to define a secured position, upon insertion of the second element through the aperture of the first element.

In a preferred embodiment, the second element of the device will have an edge provided with a plurality of notches or serrations in which the pivot shaft will consecutively engage to define respective securement positions upon insertion of the second element through the aperture of the first element.

The second element may be provided with an elongate slot whereby it is pivotally mounted on the shaft and also insertable through the aperture of the first element.

In some embodiments the second element may be permanently mounted on the first element. In other embodiments, equally favourable, the second element may include a hooked region whereby it is detachably mounted on the pivot shaft of the first element.

The second element is preferably designed for pivotal mounting at one end and has an enlargement, such as a flange or knob, at its other end, providing purchase for application of force, by a user's thumb or finger, for insertion of the second element through the aperture of the first element, and for removal therefrom.

The second element is preferably adapted in shape such that it is pivotable in one direction only from a position substantially perpendicular to the relevant substrate. In this respect it may have a champfered or well rounded corner at one side only to permit pivoting towards that side only, or it may incorporate stop means which co-operates with the first element to prevent pivoting in one direction.

Preferably also the second element has a stable "in-use" rest position when it is mounted on the first element and disposed substantially perpendicular to the relevant substrate. This may be achieved by the aforesaid stop means defining a limiting position which is slightly over-centre (i.e. a few degrees beyond the perpendicular) or it may be achieved by interfitting recess and protrusion on the respective elements.

One specific practical embodiment of the security device of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of the second element of this embodiment; Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same; Fig. 4 is a side view of the first element of this embodiment; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 6 is a partially sectional view illustrating this embodiment of the security device in use in a secured position; and Fig. 7 is a comparable view showing the same device in use, but in an unsecured "rest" position.

Referring firstly to Figs. 4 and 5, the first element 10 of this particular embodiment of the security device of the invention comprises a stud 12 projecting centrally from a platform 14. The platform 14 is intended to be fastened to a planar substrate with the stud 14 projecting therefrom. For this purpose the platform 14 is provided with a recess 16 at each end, i.e. at each side of the stud 12, whereby it can be screwed to the substrate, the edges of the recesses 16 being champfered so that the screw heads will be countersunk. The stud comprises facing parts 12a, 12b separated by a gap, with a pivot shaft 18 extending between the parts, so that an aperture (indicated by arrow 19) is defined between the shaft 18, the stud parts 12a, 12b and the platform 14.The stud 12, therefore, constitutes a portion of the first element which is adapted for insertion through an opening in an object which is to be secured, and it has an aperture 19 through which the second element 20 is engageable.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the second element 20 consists of a flat strip of material having an enlargement in the form of a perpendicular, circular flange 22 at one end. Adjacent its other end, a slot 24 is cut into the strip, this slot 24 being cut in from an entrance 25 in one of the larger edges of the strip and being angled midway across the width of the strip, then extending approximately half the length thereof. The region where the slot 24 is angled is the location for pivotal mounting of the second element 20 on the shaft 18, as shown in Fig. 7. The edge of the longitudinally extending slot portion, opposite to the slot entrance, is sloping and is formed with a plurality of notches 26, in this case four.The end of the strip adjacent the slot 24 is flat, but the corner 28 remote from the slot entrance is well rounded, to enable pivoting of the element 20, as will be explained shortly. The angular shape of the slot 24 imparts the whole element with a hook-like configuration.

The co-operative use of the first and second elements 10, 20 as a securing device will readily be appreciated from Figs. 6 and 7.

First of all, the first element 10 is secured to a substrate, such as a table or desk top 30, by means of screws 32, countersunk in the recesses 16.

An object which is to be secured, which for the sake of example will here be considered to be a cash box 34, will have an opening 36 formed in its base, conveniently approximately centrally, which opening 36 is matched in size to the diameter of the stud 12. The cash box 34 may also advantageously have resilient feet 38, e.g. in the form of rubber pads.

Once the first element 10 is secured to the substrate 30, the second element 20 is pivotally mounted thereon, as shown in Fig. 7, with the hooked end portion of the element 20 engaging through the aperture 19 below the pivot shaft 18. The element 20 is stable in this position, approximately perpendicular to the substrate, as its flat end rests on the platform 14 of the first element 10. Moreover its non-rounded corner 29 acts as a stop to prevent pivoting in that direction and hold it in a slightly over-centre position, a few degrees from the perpendicular.

The cash box 34 can be placed over the stud 12 either before or after pivotal attachment of the second element 20. Obviously, when the element 20 is attached first it must be disposed in its upright rest position so that the opening in the cash box can be readily fitted thereover. For this reason, the flange 22 is of approximately the same diameter as the stud 12.

From the situation illustrated in Fig. 7, the second element 20 is swung down in the direction indicated by the arrow, the angled region of the slot 24 pivoting on the shaft 18. Then by pushing on the flange 22, towards the left as seen in Fig. 6, the part of the element 20 which has the notched edge is forced through the aperture 19 to secure the cash box 34 to the substrate 30. Naturally the size and configuration of the first and second elements 10, 20, are adapted to the thickness of the cash box wall, as well as the size of the opening therethrough. As the notched part of the element 20 is increasingly inserted through the aperture 19, the feet 38 are increasingly resiliently pressed against the substrate 30, owing to the increasing thickness of that part of the element 20.

Also the notches 26 define successive securement positions.

Particularly if the second element 20 is kept pivotally mounted on the first element 10, it is a quick and simple operation to position a cash box thereover, then pivot and insert the second element. Once a securement position defined by one of the notches 26 has been reached, the cash box 34 can itself be locked and since it is secured to the table or desk top it will not be portable, thus not at risk from an opportunist thief.

The elements 10, 20 can be inexpensively moulded from plastics as two integral units and as such represent no more than the deterrent just mentioned, far more extreme and expensive measures being required to counter premeditated theft, where tools will be used to prise away valuables. Nevertheless, such a security device if used properly should significantly reduce the occurence of opportunist theft, which is what the major proportion of petty theft is. For greater security the elements of the device can, of course, be cast from metal, notably steel.

The foregoing, of course, describes only one specific example, and many variations and alternative embodiments are possible with the scope of the invention. In particular, it is envisaged that the slot in the second element, whereby it is pivotally mounted on the shaft of the first element, could be closed, so that the second element is permanently, yet still pivotally connected to the first element. This would avoid possible loss of the second element, but involve additional work in assembly of the device from the initially separate elements. In a further embodiment, quite the reverse is possible, namely, removal of the portion adjacent the entrance to the angled slot, so the second element has a more open hook-like form, with a recess rather than a slot. As regards the first element, instead of a platform for securement by screws, it could be provided with an integral screw-threaded shaft for fastening to the substrate in the manner of a bolt, with or without a co-operating nut at an opposing surface of the substrate. Of course the aperture through which the second element is to engage could be provided in numerous ways, and stud-like form is not essential.

Claims

1. A security device comprising a first element having means adapting it for fastening to a substrate and having a portion, defining an aperture, for insertion through an opening in an object which is to be secured to the substrate, and a second element which is engageable through the aperture to secure said object to said substrate, characterised in that the aperturedefining portion of the first element includes a pivot shaft, and the second element includes means for pivotal engagement therewith.

2. A security device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the portion of the second element which is engageable through the aperture of the first element is of progressively increasing thickness.

3. A security device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the second element has an edge provided with a notch in which the pivot shaft will engage to define a secured position upon insertion of the second element through the aperture of the first element.

4. A security device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second element has an edge provided with a plurality of notches or serrations in which the pivot shaft will consecutively engage to define respective securement positions upon insertion of the second element through the aperture of the first element.

5. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second element has an elongate slot whereby it is pivotally mounted on the shaft and also insertable through the aperture of the first element.

6. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second element is permanently pivotally mounted on the first element.

7. A security device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the second element includes a hooked region whereby it is detachably mounted on the pivot shaft of the first element.

8. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second element is designed for pivotal mounting at one end and has an enlargement at its other end whereby manual force can be applied for insertion of the second element through the aperture of the first element.

9. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second element is adapted in shape so as to be pivotable on the pivot shaft of the first element in one direction only from a position substantially perpendicular to the substrate.

10. A security device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the second element has a well-rounded corner at one side only to permit pivoting towards that side only.

11. A security device as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the second element has stop means co-operative with the first element to prevent pivoting of said second element in one direction.

12. A security device as claimed in any of claims 9, 10 or 11 wherein the second element has a stable rest position when mounted on the first element and disposed substantially perpendicular to the substrate.

13. A security device as claimed in claim 11 and -12 wherein the stable rest position is an overcentre limiting position defined by the stop means.

14. A security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.