GB2384482A

GB2384482A - Lockable storage containers

Info

Publication number: GB2384482A
Application number: GB0201566A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Charles Remnant
Original assignee: NEWSPACE CONTAINERS Ltd
Current assignee: NEWSPACE CONTAINERS Ltd
Priority date: 2002-01-24
Filing date: 2002-01-24
Publication date: 2003-07-30
Also published as: GB0201566D0

Abstract

A storage container includes a lockable door (2) having a latching mechanism (4) which includes a pivotally mounted lever arm (5) having a handle (3) fixed to one end, the other end of the lever arm being engageable with a stop pin (14) at one end of a draw bolt (10) biassed by a spring (12). The other end (9) of the draw bolt is engageable in a draw bolt keep (not shown) in a side of the storage container opposite to the leading edge (1) of the door (2) when the door is closed. A key operable lock (16) having a slidable lock bolt (15) is mounted behind that part of the lever arm (5) attached to the handle (3) such that when the lock (16) is set, the lock bolt (15) prevents substantially any movement of the slidably mounted draw bolt against the spring (12). A lever plate (6) fixed to the lever arm (5) allows operation of the latching mechanism (4) from inside the container when the lock (16) is not set and the arm (5) includes a face plate with a keyhole coincident with the keyhole of the lock (16) when the latching mechanism (4) is in the closed condition.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LOCKABLE STORAGE CONTAINERS This invention relates to lockable storage containers of the type typically used on building sites etc to provide security for materials and tools. In particular this invention relates to storage containers of the type which may be transported on the back of a lorry.

Storage containers of the aforementioned type have to be sufficiently robust to withstand attacks from thieves or vandals when the site in which they have been temporarily installed is unattended, e. g. at night or at the weekend. Such storage containers therefore necessarily have to be robust and include locking mechanisms for doors to such containers which are difficult to access, such as the door latching mechanism of GB 2309738 which is in the form of a "cat flap".

A problem with known locking mechanisms for such storage containers is that they necessarily have to be very robust so as to withstand attacks from thieves and vandals, whilst at the same time they must also be easily operable when the storage container is being used by authorised persons of either gender. This problem is exacerbated when, as is often the case, such storage containers are converted to e. g. office accommodation so that instead of the doors

being opened perhaps once a day they may instead be opened and closed many times during a single day. This may therefore make existing lock mechanisms unsuitable for such frequent use.

The present invention is derived from the realisation that there exists a need for a door latching and locking mechanism for such a container which is relatively easy to operate when the storage container is in frequent use, e. g. during a weekday, whilst being sufficiently robust to ensure that unauthorised access to the container is prevented.

According to the invention there is provided a storage container including a lockable'door, the door including a latching mechanism including a pivotably mounted lever arm, a handle fixed to one end of the lever arm, the other end of the lever arm being engageable with one end of a slidably mounted draw bolt, the other end of the draw bolt being releasably engageable in a draw bolt keep in a side of the storage container opposite the leading edge of the door when the door is closed, further characterised in that a key operable lock having a slidable lock bolt is mounted behind that part of the lever arm attached to the handle such that when the lock is set the lock bolt prevents substantially any movement of the slidably mounted draw bolt.

Conveniently, the lever arm is set within a housing in the door of the storage container, to which housing may also be fixed the slidably mounted draw bolt and the key operable lock such that the entire assembly may be made as a single unit and thereafter be fitted to the door through a suitably shaped aperture by e. g. welding.

Conveniently, that part of the lever arm to which the handle is attached includes a face plate having a key hole coincident with the key hole of the lock, the face plate therefor preventing direct access to the lock other than through the keyhole by a key to operate the lock.

Advantageously, that end of the lever arm co-operable with the draw bolt also includes a hand operable lever plate by which the draw mechanism may be operated from the inside of the storage container when the door is shut but not locked.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of part of a door of a storage container and its attendant locking mechanism; Figure 2 of part of the door of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 is a rear view of part of the door of Figure 1.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown the leading edge 1 of part of a corrugated steel door 2 movable outwardly in the direction arrowed when the handle 3 forming part of a combination door opening, closing and locking mechanism shown generally at 4 is moved to the position shown in outline.

The door opening, closing and locking mechanism 4 includes a pivotally mounted lever arm 5 to which the handle 3 is fixed at one end and to the other end of which is fixed a hand operated lever plate 6, the function of which is described below with reference to Figure 3.

The lever arm 5 when not in the position shown in dotted outline rests within a lever arm housing 7, seen more clearly in Figure 2, secured e. g. by welding to the inner skin of the door 2. Behind the leading edge 1 of the door 2 there is an upturned portion 8 of the housing 7 through which and through part of the leading edge 1 of the door 2 slidably extends a part cylindrical forward end 9 of a draw bolt 10 which is slidably received through a correspondingly shaped aperture in a spigot 11 extending from the housing 7 parallel to, but spaced apart from, the upturned portion 8 of the lever arm housing 7.

A compression spring 12 surrounds the draw bolt 10 and abuts on one end the spigot 11 and on the other end the part cylindrical end 9 to the draw bolt 10 such that through the use of a stop pin 13 extending through the draw bolt 10 on the opposite side of the spigot 11 the draw bolt 10 is spring biased to urge the part cylindrical forward end 9 to the position shown.

As will be apparent, when the door 2 is in its closed position the forward end portion 9 of the draw bolt 10 rests within a correspondingly shaped keep or recess (not shown) within an edge side wall of the storage container, the side wall defining part of a frame within which the door sits.

A further stop pin 14 extending through the end of the draw bolt 10 allows the latter to be slidably moved against the bias of the spring 10 via the lever arm 5 to the limit shown in outline, which limit is imposed by the presence of the forward end of a slidable lock bolt 15 of a key operable lock 16, typically a mortise lock.

As is seen more clearly with reference to Figure 2, the lever arm 5 in the region adjacent the handle 3 includes a face plate 5a which incorporates a key hole 17 which is in alignment with a corresponding keyhole cut into that part of the housing 7 which, in turn, is in alignment with a

keyhole (not shown) in the lock 16 so that in the position shown the draw bolt 15 can assume a position immediately behind the draw bolt 10 when the lock 16 is set by actuation of a key (not shown). In this position, it will be understood that the part cylindrical forward end 9 to the draw bolt 10 is therefore unable to move so that, effectively, movement of the lever arm 5 and handle 3 is prevented. Even if these are forced, e. g. by a jemmy, to assume on the outside of the storage container a position corresponding to that shown in outline in Figure 1, it will nevertheless be apparent that the integrity of the locking mechanism 4 is still maintained.

On the other hand, it will also be apparent that when the lock 16 is not set and the lock draw bolt 15 assumes the position shown in bold in Figure 1 the rest of the lock mechanism 4 can be used to temporarily lock and unlock the door 2 through the expedient of pulling the handle 3 towards the user of the device. In effect, the draw bolt 10 is being used as a temporary day lock for everyday use, and also as a night lock for closing the door 2 during e. g. night-time or weekends through the expedient of placing the lock 16 immediately behind the draw bolt 10 and through the operation of the lock draw bolt 15 when the lock 16 is set.

A further feature of the invention is a hand operated lever plate 6 by which the lock mechanism 4 may be operated from

the inside of the storage container when the lock 16 is not set. This is achieved by simply pushing against the lever plate 6 which then forces the lever arm 5 to, in turn, force the draw bolt 10 against the bias of the spring 14 towards the lock 16 to the limit imposed by the lock's own draw bolt 15.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A storage container including a lockable door, the door including a latching mechanism including a pivotably mounted lever arm, a handle fixed to one end of the lever arm, the other end of the lever arm being engageable with one end of a slidably mounted draw bolt, the other end of the draw bolt being releasably engageable in a draw bolt keep in a side of the storage container opposite the leading edge of the door when the door is closed, characterised in that a key operable lock having a slidable lock bolt is mounted behind that part of the lever arm attached to the handle such that when the lock is set the lock bolt prevents substantially any movement of the slidably mounted draw bolt.
2. A storage container according to claim 1 further characterised in that the lever arm is set within a housing in the door of the storage container.
3. A storage container according to claim 2 further characterised in that a slidably mounted draw bolt and key operable lock is mounted within the housing.
4. A storage container according to any preceding claim further characterised in that that part of the lever arm to which the handle is attached includes a face plate having a

<Desc/Clms Page number 9>

key hole coincident with the key hole of the lock.
5. A storage container according to claim 3 or claim 4 further characterised in that that end of the lever arm cooperable with the draw bolt also includes a hand operable lever plate by which the draw mechanism may be operated from the inside of the storage container when the door is shut but not locked.
6. A locking mechanism for a door substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.