GB2517181A

GB2517181A - Lock

Info

Publication number: GB2517181A
Application number: GB1314547.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Lee
Original assignee: Peter Savage Ltd
Current assignee: Peter Savage Ltd
Priority date: 2013-08-14
Filing date: 2013-08-14
Publication date: 2015-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2033-08-14
Also published as: GB2517181B; GB201314547D0

Abstract

A lock which comprises a box 22, a locking formation 14 and a padlock 60. The box is mounted on a first part preferably of an access cover or the like, and the locking formation is arranged to be mounted on a second part. The box has an aperture (32 Fig 3) to receive the locking formation and the padlock is locked to the locking formation to prevent the locking formation being removed from the box. The locking formation includes a post around which the padlock shackle is locked and includes an overhang 62 to act as a stop if the padlock body is lifted, preferably there are two overhangs. The box and the padlock are sized such that the box limits how far the padlock body can be pivoted around the post and the padlock is trapped between the sides of the box, the floor of the box, the post and the overhang. The padlock is therefore protected from attack or damage. Preferably a pillar is provided on the locking formation having a stepped side facing the post for the shackle to rest against.

Description

LOCK

The present invention relates to a lock and particularly but not exclusively to a lock for locking an access cover.

In many countries drinking water is supplied to the population from reservoirs of water, the water being treated to be fit for human consumption. Water supplied from a reservoir is monitored automatically, and manually on a periodic basis, to detect deviations from standards that have to be adhered to by water authorities.

However, introduction of a pollutant, such as a poison, may not be detected before water is delivered to a consumer. Additionally, introduction of a pollutant into a water rcscrvoir would rcquire that rcscrvoir to bc quarantincd with all water contained thcrcin requiring further treatment or disposal depending on the form of pollutant introduced into the reservoir.

Reservoirs themselves are typically well protected by various security measures. However, there are conventionally many access points to a water reservoir, each of which may be vulnerable. For example, an entry point such as a valve which may be located away from the reservoir may provide an opportune access point to the reservoir.

A common type of access point comprises a frame which is bolted to a concrete plinth, the frame having a lid which is either hinged to the frame or removable in one or more pieces. In the United Kingdom, specific security tests must be met by access covers which arc designed to prevent access to entry points to a reservoir, or other facilities. The security tests applicable are graded with each increase in level signifying an increase in the time allowed and range of tooLs which can be used to attempt to gain entry into the access cover. The rating system is run by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB). It is desirable for access points to a reservoir to be compliant with LPC level 3 or 4.

In order to meet the requirements of the relevant security tests, a previous locking configuration included a slidable rod, movable within an access cover lid, the rod having a number of projections which when the rod is actuated engage with pockets in the frame to prevent the lid from being opened. A single padlock is used to prevent movement of the rod when in a ocked position.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a lock, the lock comprising a box, a locking formation and a padlock, the box being arranged to be mounted on a first part and the locking formation being arranged to be mounted on a second part to be locked to the first part, the box having an aperture to receive the locking formation and being arranged to receive the padlock so that the padlock can be locked to the locking formation to prevent the locking formation being removed from the box, the locking formation including a post around which the padlock is locked, the post including an overhang to act as a stop if the padlock is lifted, the box and padlock being sized such that the box limits how far the padlock body can be pivoted about the post, wherein, when the padlock is locked to the locking formation, the padlock body is trapped between the sides of the box, the post and the overhang, and the padlock shackle is locked around the post.

In this way, the two parts arc securely locked together, but access to the padlock is limited and the ability of someone to move the padlock is limited, so that the padlock and in particular the keyhole of the padlock is difficult for a person to get at to attempt to break it.

Advantageously, the lock includes a cover to close the box, the cover being openable to allow a user access to the lock to secure the padlock around the locking formation.

In one embodiment, the post carries a second overhang extending from the post in the opposite direction to the first overhang in order to act as a stop if the shackle of the padlock is lifted. Thus, if someone tries to hammer the body of the padlock down, that will cause the shackle to hit the second overhang.

The locking formation preferably includes an upwardly facing part which supports the body of the padlock. The padlock body is thus situated between the upwardly facing part and the first overhang, to limit its movement.

The locking formation may include a shackle stop behind the post against which the shackle can abut so that pushing the padlock body towards the post closes the padlock. Additionally or alternatively, the locking formation may include a shackle stop above the level of the post which is arranged to abut the shackle when the padlock shackle is moved over the post into position. Where both shackle stops are provided, preferably, the shackle stops are provided on a common pillar of the locking formation.

The locking formation may be made of any suitable material, such as steel, for example stainless steel, and in a preferred embodiment the locking formation is made of manganese steel. Manganese steel offers a high resistance to drilling and cutting as manganese steel is typically harder than the material most drill bits are made from. It also work hardens as it is drilled. The locking formation may be in the form of a plate, and the plate may be between 5 and 15 millimetres thick.

The box may include a fastening and the body of the padlock may lie over the fastening to prevent or inhibit access to the fastening.

A second aspect of the invention provides an access cover assembly comprising a cover and a frame, the assembly further including a lock according to the first aspect of the invention, the box being mounted to one of the cover and frame and the locking formation being mounted to the other of the cover and the frame.

In a preferred embodiment, the box is mounted to the cover and the locking formation is mounted to the frame. The cover may include a lid through which the interior of the box can be accessed, for example, to unlock the padlock.

The body of the padlock may cover a part of a mounting arrangement in the floor of the box which is arranged to secure the frame to a fixed construction.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation in cross section through a lock according to the embodiment of the invention showing the padlock in an unlocked condition; Figure 2 is the view of Fig I with the padlock shown in a locked configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective view from underneath of the lock of the embodiment of the invention; and, Figure 4 is an perspective view of the locking formation of the embodiment of the invention.

The lock 10 of the embodiment of the invention comprises a box 12, a locking formation 14, and a padlock 16. The lock 10 is intended for use in preventing access to utilities located within an access cover assembly 18. The access cover assembly 18 comprises a cover 20 mounted to a frame (not shown) by a hinge. The cover 20 carries the box 12 which is co-operable with the locking formation 14 carried by the frame.

The box 12 is largely constructed from mild steel, or any other suitable material, and welded to the underside of the cover 20. The box 12 comprises a base wall 22 and two side walls 24 extending therefrom. The base wall 22 and side walls 24 define a U shaped frame attachable to the underside of the cover 20 by a top wall 26 which is constructed from manganese steel, when the lock is compliant with LPC 4, or stainless steel, when the lock is compliant with LPC3. The box 12 is open at one end 28 to enable access for a padlock 16 into the box 12. The opposite end of the box 12 is closed by an end wall 30. The base wall 22 of the box 12 includes a substantially rectangular slot 32 (constituting the aperture of claim 1) to enable the locking formation 14 to pass thcrcthrough and a circular aperture 34 for receiving a head of a mounting bolt 36 which mounts the frame to a concrete plinth (not shown).

The walls 22, 24, 30 of the box are 10mm thick.

The locking formation 14 is constructed from manganese steel, when the lock is compliant with LPC 4, or stainless steel, when the lock is compliant with LPC 3, and is welded to the frame. The locking formation 14 projects upwardly from the frame to cooperate with the rectangular slot 32 in the base wall 22 of the box 12. The locking formation 14 comprises a planar component cut from a 10mm thick plate of manganese steel and having a base wall 38 and a first side wall 40 defining between them an L shape. A second side wall 42 extending from the base wall 38, opposite to the first side wall 40, extends vertically from the base wall 38 to a height less than that of the first side wall 40. The second side wall 42 includes a rectangular intrusion 44 for receiving the body 60 of the padlock 16.

A contoured cut out 46 extending from the top of the first side wall 40 toward the centre of the locking formation 14 defmes, in conjunction with the rectangular intrusion 44, an off-centred T shaped part 48 and opposite the T shaped part 48 a pillar 49. The T shaped part 48 defmes a head 51 and a post 68 canying the head 51. The head 51 of the T shaped part 48 defines a top wall 50 and first and second overhangs 64, 78 on either side of the post 68. The upwardly facing lower wall 66 of the rectangular intrusion 44 supports the body 60 of the padlock 16. The contoured cut out 46 is shaped to include a vertical section 52 to act as a backstop for the padlock shackle 62 when the padlock 16 is being positioned around the T shaped part 48 of the locking formation 14. The vertical section 52 leads into a diagonal section 54 which acts to urge the padlock 16 into a recess defined between a thither vertical section 56 and a side 58 of the post 68 of the T shaped part 48, and a floor 59 forming the bottom of the cut out 46, the recess being arranged to receive the shackle 62 of the padlock 16.

The box 12 lies beneath an aperture 76 in the cover 20 which is closable by a lid 70 hinged to the cover 20 by a hinge 72 and having a hole 74 therein for a boh.

The hole 74 through the lid 70, when the lid 70 is closed, is aligned with a threaded hole in the assembly. The bolt is inserted through the hole 74 in the lid 70 and engages with the threaded hole. The head of the bolt engages with the outer face of the lid 70 and holds the lid 70 closed until the bolt is removed. To open the lid 70, an operator must use a tool, here an allen key in the case of a hex-head fastener, to remove the bo It.

The locking formation 14 passes through the rectangular slot 32 in the box 12 when the cover 20 is moved into a closed position. When the padlock 16 is positioned around the post 68 of the T shaped part 48 of the locking formation 14, in a locked condition, it is not possible to open the cover 20 as the padlock 16 is retained by the locking formation 14 and abuts against the box 12 thus resisting lifting of the cover 20.

To lock the assembly, once the cover 20 is closed, the padlock 16 is inserted through the aperture 76 in the cover 20 positioned adjacent the box 12. An operator inserts the padlock 16 through the aperture 76 in the cover 20 with the shackle 62 of the padlock 16 in an open position. The shackle 62is positioned around the top of the T shaped part 48 of the locking formation 14, as shown in Fig 1, and slid in a direction toward the first side wall 40 until the shackle 62 makes contact with the vertical section 52 of the pillar 49. By releasing the padlock 16, it will be urged along the diagonal section 54 of the contoured cut out 46 into the recess defined between a further vertical section 56 of the contoured cut out 46 and the post 68 of the T shaped part 48. The body 60 of the padlock 16 is then pushed towards the pillar 49. The shackle 62 of the padlock 16 will engage the pillar 49, which acts as a stop so that pushing the padlock body 60 will move the padlock 16 into a closed, locked condition.

When the padlock 16 is positioned around the post 68 of the T shaped part 48 of the locking formation 14, in a locked condition, as shown in Fig 2, lateral movement of the padlock is resisted by the side of the post 68 of the locking formation 14 abutting against the shackle 62 of the padlock 16. Sideways pivoting of the padlock 16 is resisted by the sidewalls 24 of the box 12. Vertical pivoting of the padlock 16 is resisted by the first overhang 64 and lower wall 66 making up part of the rectangular intrusion 44 in the second side wall 42 acting against the body 60 of the padlock 16, and the floor 59 of the recess formed by the contoured cut out 46 acting against the underside of the shackle 62.

Preventing significant movement of the padlock 16 relative to the locking formation 14 ensures that, at all times, the body 60 of the padlock 16 covers the head of the mounting bolt 36 securing the frame part of the access cover to the plinth.

It will be appreciated that only one embodiment has been described and that the described embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A lock, the lock comprising a box, a locking formation and a padlock, the box being arranged to be mounted on a first part and the locking formation being arranged to be mounted on a second part to be locked to the first part, the box having an aperture to receive the locking formation, the box being arranged to receive the padlock so that the padlock can be locked to the locking formation to prevent the locking formation being removed from the box, the locking formation including a post around which the padlock shackle is locked, the post including an overhang to act as a stop if the padlock body is lifted, the box and the padlock being sized such that the box limits how far the padlock body can be pivoted about the post, so that, in use, when the padlock is locked to the locking formation, the padlock body is trapped between the sides of the box, the post and the overhang, and the padlock shackle is locked around the post.
2. A lock according to claim 1, wherein the post carries a second overhang extending from the post in the opposite direction from the first overhang, to act as a stop if the shackle of the padlock is lifted.
3. A lock according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the locking formation includes an upwardly facing part which supports the body of the padlock.
4. A lock according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the locking formation includes a shackle stop behind the post against which the shackle can abut so that pushing the padlock body towards the post closes the padlock.
5. A lock according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking formation includes a shackle stop above the level of the post which is arranged to abut the shackle when the padlock shackle is moved over the post into position.
6. A lock according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the shackle stops are provided on a common pillar of the locking formation.
7. A lock according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking formation is made of manganese steeL
8. A lock according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking formation is in the form of a plate.
9. A lock according to any preceding claim wherein the locking formation is to 15 millimetres thick.
10. An access cover assembly comprising a cover and a frame, the assembly further including a lock as claimed in the preceding claim, the box being mounted to one of the cover and frame and the locking formation being mounted to the other of the cover of the frame.
11. An access cover according to claim 10, wherein the cover mounts the box.
12. A lock according to claim 11, wherein the cover includes a lid for the box.