GB2305210A

GB2305210A - Tamper resistant mechanical actuator for the levelling leg of a caravan or trailer

Info

Publication number: GB2305210A
Application number: GB9518116A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Douglas Callaway
Original assignee: AMOUNTREAL PROJECTS Ltd
Current assignee: AMOUNTREAL PROJECTS Ltd
Priority date: 1995-09-06
Filing date: 1995-09-06
Publication date: 1997-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-06
Also published as: GB2305210B; GB9518116D0

Abstract

A device for prevention of unauthorised access to the mechanical actuator, in the form of a hexagonal nut 4, comprises an enclosure including an outer element 2, attached to a surface 3 of the caravan or trailer, and an inner element 6 slidably received therein. The two elements are secured together by security lock 8 having a pivotable locking lever 19 engageable in slots 15,18. The two elements have a D-shaped cross-section to prevent relative rotation.

Description

SECURING MEANS FOR PREVENTION OF UNAUTHORISED ACCESS The present invention relates to securing means for preventing access to an actuator means of a device. The invention relates particularly, but not exclusively, to the prevention of unauthorised access to, and / or tampering with, a mechanical fastener such as a nut or bolt head.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided securing means for enclosing an actuator means of a device, the securing means comprising a first element attached in use to the device, and a second element releasibly lockable to the first element via locking means to enclose the actuator means and prevent access thereto, wherein the second element is displaceable relative to the first element to allow access to the actuator means when the locking means is unlocked.

By providing locking means which prevents access to an actuator means of a device, such as a mechanical actuator means, an electro-mechanical switch or the like, unauthorised actuation of the device can be prevented using relatively simple and inexpensive means. The securing means is preferably adapted to enclose an actuator means comprising a mechanical fastener. The fastener may comprise a nut or bolt head, and in a preferred embodiment may comprise a hexagonal nut or bolt head.

In a preferred embodiment, the securing means is adapted to enclose a mechanical fastener to prevent rotation thereof.

The actuator may be an actuator of a levelling leg of a caravan or trailer, wherein the securing means is adapted to be secured to the actuator when the levelling leg is in contact with the ground to prevent towing away of the caravan or trailer.

The first element may be adapted to be attached to the device via attachment means, wherein when the first and second elements are locked together, the attachment means is enclosed to prevent access thereto.

This has the advantage of preventing unauthorised removal of the entire securing means from the device.

In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means comprises at least two spaced-apart bolts.

This has the advantage of preventing rotation of the first element relative to the device.

Alternatively, the first element may in use be welded to the device.

Preferably, the second element is removable to allow permanent access to the actuator means when the second element is removed.

This has the advantage of enabling the device to be used conveniently, while avoiding unnecessary obstruction of the actuator means to authorised access.

In a preferred embodiment, the first element includes a bottom wall having an opening therethrough for receiving the actuator means, and one or more side walls co-operable with corresponding side walls of the second element to define a closed space when the second element is locked to the first element.

The locking means may comprise at least one lever receivable in aligned slots in corresponding side walls of the first and second elements.

The locking means may comprise a security lock.

The securing means may comprise means for preventing relative rotation of the first and second elements when the first and second elements are locked together.

Preferably, the means for preventing relative rotation of the first and second elements comprises mutually co-operating non-circular cross-sections of the first and second elements.

Preferably, said cross-sections are substantially Dshaped. Preferably, the first and second elements each have side walls comprising a substantially planar wall and a substantially cylindrical wall extending therefrom.

The first and second elements are advantageously made of a hardened material.

In a preferred embodiment, the second element is at least partially received within the first element when locked thereto.

This provides the advantage of preventing insertion of a tool between the second element and the device for forced removal of the second element.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of enclosing an actuator means of a device to prevent access thereto, the method comprising attaching a first element to the device, and releasibly locking a second element to the first element via locking means to enclose the actuator means.

The method preferably comprises providing a securing means as defined above.

The method may be a method of preventing actuation of a levelling leg of a caravan trailer.

The method may further comprise the step of attaching the first element to the device at a relatively inaccessible location thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the first element is attached to the device such that the aligned slots in the first and second members are inaccessible via conventional tools.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a first element of a securing means embodying an aspect of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional elevation of a securing means including the first element of Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a securing means 1 is shown which has particular application in preventing unauthorised access to a hexagonal nut or bolt head forming an actuator of a levelling leg of a caravan or trailer. This enables the levelling leg to be secured in the position in which it is in contact with the ground to prevent the caravan or trailer from being towed away.

The securing means 1 comprises a first element 2 of a suitable durable material such as hardened metal and which is attached to a surface 3 of a device (not shown) such as the part of a caravan adjacent to a levelling leg thereof near to a mechanical actuator in the form of a hexagonal nut 4 having a threaded shaft 5 and being the actuator of the levelling leg. The securing means 1 also comprises a second element 6 made of similar material to the first element 2 and which fits slidably inside the first element 2 and can be locked thereto by means of locking means 7 to enclose the nut 4 and prevent access thereto.The locking means 7 comprises a security lock 8 mounted to an end face 9 of the second element 6 and having rotatable discs actuatable by means of a cylindrical key (not shown) rather than linearly movable pins which have the drawback of often being forcibly releasable by means of a screwdriver.

The first element 2 comprises an open ended cup member of generally D-shaped cross-section and having a generally flat base 10 having a clearance aperture 11 for receiving nut 4, and a pair of diametrically spaced securing holes 12 for securing the base 10 of the cup member to the surface 3 of the device such as a caravan or trailer by means of suitable fasteners such as carriage bolts (not shown) such that the base 10 of the cup member abuts against the device and the nut 4 protrudes through aperture 11. The fasteners are generally provided with means at the ends remote from the first member 2 for preventing detachment of the fasteners from that side of the device.

First element 2 also has a cylindrical side wall 13 and a generally planar side wall 14 forming a chord of the cylinder formed by side wall 13 and having a generally horizontal slot 15 therein.

The second element 6 comprises an open ended cup member having end face 9 from which extend side walls 16 having a horizontal cross-section of similar shape to that of the first member 2, but having external dimensions slightly smaller than the internal dimensions of side walls 13, 14 of the first member 2, such that the second member 6 can fit inside the first member 2 to define a closed space 17 therein. The side wall 16 of the second member 6 has a generally horizontal slot 18 which is aligned with slot 15 when the second member 6 is received within the first member 2.

The locking means 7 also includes a pivotable lever arm 19 which can be pivoted about a vertical axis 20 into and out of engagement with slots 15, 18 by means of a cylindrical key (not shown) receivable in the security lock 8.

The operation of the securing means 1 will now be described.

The first element 2 is attached to the caravan or trailer adjacent to the levelling leg by means of the fasteners such as carriage bolts (not shown) passing through attachment holes 12.

The first element 2 may generally be arranged at a relatively inaccessible part of the caravan to make its removal by means of tools as difficult as possible, and detachment of the fastener from the caravan is made as difficult as possible by suitable means as will be known to persons skilled in the art, such as locking nuts. It is also advantageous to arrange the securing means 1 is such a way that slots 15, 18 of the first means 2 and second means 6 are inaccessible to a saw for removal thereof. The nut 4 is rotatable about threaded shaft 5 for enabling fixing of the levelling leg of the caravan in its position in which it is in contact with the ground. In the open condition of the securing means, access to the nut 4, is freely available, and the nut 4 can be operated in the normal manner to vary the position of the levelling leg of the caravan.

In order to prevent unauthorised access to the nut 4, the second element 6 is slidably accommodated in the first element 2 so that the first and second elements define closed space 17 enclosing nut 4 and the adjacent fasteners therein to prevent access thereto. This also prevents insertion of a tool such as a screwdriver between the second element 6 and the surface 3 of the caravan to which the first element 2 is attached to forcibly remove the second element 6.

The second element 6 is then secured to the first element by rotation of the key (not shown) to pivot locking lever 19 about axis 20 into engagement with slots 15, 18 to prevent relative axial separation thereof. The levelling leg of the caravan or trailer thus can be lowered into contact with the ground and secured in that orientation by means of nut 4, to which further unauthorised access is prevented. This then prevents the caravan or trailer from being towed away.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that various modifications to the invention are possible without departure from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A securing means for enclosing an actuator means of a device, the securing means comprising a first element attached in use to the device, and a second element releasibly lockable to the first element via locking means to enclose the actuator means and prevent access thereto, wherein the second element is displaceable relative to the first element to allow access to the actuator means when the locking means is unlocked.

2. A securing means according to claim 1, adapted to enclose an actuator means comprising a mechanical fastener.

3. A securing means according to claim 2, adapted to enclose a fastener comprising a nut or bolt head, and particularly a hexagonal nut or bolt head

4. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims, adapted to enclose a mechanical fastener to prevent rotation thereof.

5. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims, adapted to enclose an actuator means comprising an actuator of a levelling leg of a caravan or trailer, wherein the securing means is adapted to be secured to the actuator when the levelling leg is in contact with the ground to prevent towing away of the caravan or trailer.

6. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first element is adapted to be attached to the device via attachment means, and wherein when the first and second elements are locked together, the attachment means is enclosed to prevent access thereto.

7. A securing means according to claim 6, wherein the attachment means comprises at least two spaced-apart bolts.

8. A securing means according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first element is in use welded to the device.

9. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second element is removable to allow permanent access to the actuator means when the second element is removed.

10. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first element includes a bottom wall having an opening therethrough for receiving the actuator means, and one or more side walls co-operable with corresponding side walls of the second element to define a closed space when the second element is locked to the first element.

11. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking means comprises at least one lever receivable in aligned slots in corresponding side walls of the first and second elements.

12. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking means comprises a security lock.

13. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for preventing relative rotation of the first and second elements when the first and second elements are locked together.

14. A securing means according to claim 13, wherein the means for preventing relative rotation of the first and second elements comprises mutually co-operating non-circular crosssections of the first and second elements.

15. A securing means according to claim 14, wherein said cross-sections are substantially D-shaped.

16. A securing means according to claim 15, wherein the first and second elements each have side walls comprising a substantially planar wall and a substantially cylindrical wall extending therefrom.

17. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second elements are made of a hardened material.

18. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second element is at least partially received within the first element when locked thereto.

19. A method of enclosing an actuator means of a device to prevent access thereto, the method comprising attaching a first element to the device, and releasibly locking a second element to the first element via locking means to enclose the actuator means.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the method is a method of preventing actuation of a levelling leg of a caravan or trailer.

21. A method according to claim 19 or 20, further comprising the step of attaching the first element to the device at a relatively inaccessible location thereof.

22. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the first element is attached to the device such that aligned slots in the first and second members are inaccessible via conventional tools.

23. Securing means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of enclosing an actuator means of a device to prevent access thereto, the method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.