GB2360806A

GB2360806A - Secure Hatch Cover With Padlocked Closure

Info

Publication number: GB2360806A
Application number: GB0007763A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rainer Clover; Derek Pearce
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-30
Filing date: 2000-03-30
Publication date: 2001-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-30
Also published as: GB2360806B; GB0007763D0

Abstract

A design for a secure hatch cover 3 features a padlock - secured closure in which the staple 9 is carried on a hinged member 16 which allows it to be withdrawn from behind a slotted hasp extension 8 in the cover 3 before opening. The staple-carrying plate 16 is spring-loaded at it's pivot 15 to engage the slot automatically on closure, and also engages a ridge 11 on the reverse of the hasp plate 8 for additional security.

Description

2360806 Agents Ref: P02820GB SECURITY COVER

The invention relates to a security cover, more particularly a securable access cover for access to a store or the like. The invention is particularly useful in providing a secure access cover for a water or sewerage system and will be described in relation to that use, but the invention is of more general applicability.

Unauthorised access to, say, underground water supplies or sewerage systems is a major concern. Deliberate contamination of water supplies or even the planting of explosive devices in such systems may result in the loss of lives, and massive repair bills. Simple vandalism to the structure of the access cover and system alone can be very costly to repair.

It is common practice to secure access covers with padlocks using conventional hasp and staple arrangements. This will not prevent the determined vandal from gaining access to the water supply or sewerage system using a jemmy or bolt cutters to remove the padlock and hence gain access to the interiot.

One object of this invention is to provide a security cover with an improved locking mechanism which will reduce the risk of unauthorised access to the water supply or the like, but which can be readily opened by an authorised person. The invention includes the locking mechanism per se.

2 According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a security cover for an access hole in a body, the cover comprising:

- a frame having vertical side walls to surround the access hole; and - a lid which is hingedly connected to one side wall, the opposite side wall having an extension from which projects an outwardly facing hinged staple; the lid having a hasp extension having a slot through which the staple can project when the lid extension is hinged to lie generally parallel to the side wall extension, a padlock being engagable with the staple projecting through the hasp extension, the distance between the end of the hasp extension and the facing portion of the body being too small to allow the padlock to be prised off.

Preferably the inner face of the hasp has a shoulder against which the free end of the staple extension can engage. This holds the two extensions in tight engagement, adding to the security of the locking means.

The staple extension is preferably spring loaded. This again results in secure engagement between the hasp extension and the staple extension by reducing the gap between the two facing portions, and therefore minimising the risk of unauthorised access using a jemmy or the like.

According to the invention in another aspect there is provided a method of securing a cover over an access hole in a body, the method comprising:

- closing a lid over the access hole, the lid being hingedly connected to a first vertical side wall of a frame surrounding the hole; 3 inserting a staple through a slot in a hasp connected to the lid, the staple projecting from a second vertical side wall opposite to the first; and engaging a padlock with the staple projecting through the hasp.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a security cover of the invention in the opened condition; Figure 2 is a partial section through the security cover showing the locking mechanism in the unlocked condition; Figure 3 is a partial section through the security cover showing the locking mechanism in the locked condition; and Figure 4 is a view from position X as shown in Figure 3.

The cover 1 consists of a frame 2 and a lid 3 to surround and cover an access hole H. The frame 2 has a horizontal bottom outer ledge 4, four side walls only three of which are shown 5A, 513 and 5C. The frame 2 also has a horizontal top inner ledge 6. The frame 2 is fastened to underlying substrate S covering the installation by a bolt B passing through holes in the ledge 4. The lid 3 is hinged at 7 to one outer corner of a first vertical side wall 5A. A hasp extension 8 extends from the opposite edge of the lid 3 and has two spaced apart shoulder portions 10 and 11 on its inner surface. A staple receiving slot 12 as shown in Figure 4 is present in the lower region of the hasp extension 8. A seal 13 is present on the underside of the lid to overlie the inner ledge 6. A shelf like extension 14 projects outwardly from the side wall 5C and at the end of which is mounted a hinge 15 and hinge 4 extension 16. A staple 9 faces outwardly for reception in the slot 12 of the hasp extension 8 when the two are brought together.

To lock the lid the staple 9 is inserted through the slot 12 in the lower region of the hasp extension 8, and locked in this position by a padlock 17. The free end of the hinge extension 16 engages the shoulder 11 and the top region of the hinge extension 16 is supported by shoulder 10 of the hasp extension 8.

The distance between the end of the hasp extension 8 and the facing portion of the underlying substrate S is too small to allow the padlock 17 to be prised off, therefore increasing the security of the locking mechanism of the cover 1. A shroud 18 covers the external surface of the hasp extension 8 to further limit access to the locking mechanism in the locked condition using bolt cutters for example.

The particular dimensions and configuration of the locking mechanism and the underlying substrate are chosen so as to deny access to tools such as levers, bolt cutters, hack saws and the like thus preventing the padlock being prised or cut off or being otherwise disengaged. By this means the security of the cover is substantially improved.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment show4, For example the improved locking mechanism may be applied to a double lid system. Other means may be employed in the engagement of the hasp extension 8 and the hinge 15. The hinge 15 may or may not be fitted with a torsion spring depending upon the particular application.

Claims

1 A security cover for an access hole in a body, the cover comprising; a frame having vertical side walls to surround the access hole; a lid which is hingedly connected to one side wall, the opposite side wall having an extension from which projects an outwardly facing hinged staple; the lid having a hasp extension having a slot through which the staple can project when the lid extension is hinged to lie generally parallel to the side wall extension, a padlock being engagable with the staple projecting through the hasp extension, the distance between the end of the hasp extension and the facing portion of the body being too small to allow the padlock to be prised off.

2. A cover according to Claim 1, wherein the inner face of the hasp extension has a shoulder against which the free end of the staple extension can engage.

3. A method of securing a cover over an access hole in a body, the method comprising:

- closing a lid over the access hole, the lid being hingedly connected to a first vertical side wall of a frame surrounding the hole; - inserting a staple through a slot in a hasp connected to the lid, the staple projecting from a second vertical side wall opposite to the first; and Engaging a padlock with the staple projecting through the hasp.