NZ503969A - Locking system for locking articles such as a ladder to a vehicle roof rack - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a locking mechanism. The lock has: (a) a support with two parallel arms formed in a U-shape (b) a retaining member movably mounted on the first arm and a bridge member extending to the second arm (c) an engagement means for releasing the first arm and (d) a release mechanism. The release mechanism is movable relative to the support. The bridge member forms, in association with the two arms and the support a removable barrier. This allows an article such as a ladder to be easily locked and unlocked from a roof rack.

Description

PATENTS FORM 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Number Dated A LOCK We, LADDER LOCK INDUSTRIES PTY LIMITED, an Australian company, of Unit 1/4 Greenwood Place, Harbord, New South Wales, 2096, Australia, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement. (followed by la) 1 o \docs\foreign fihngs\9389form5 doc \\server\e\docs\patents\comp\9037b doc A LOCK This invention relates to a locking system which is useful for locking articles to a substrate, particularly a support structure such as a vehicle roof rack. However it is not limited to use on vehicles and may be used on other objects.

Tradesmen frequently carry long objects, such as ladders, on roof racks of their vehicles. The present invention aims to provide a device that may be useful to secure an article, such as a ladder, to a support structure, such as a vehicle roof rack, and optionally to prevent its unauthorised removal.

In one broad form the invention provides a locking system including: a support including a first arm and a second arm spaced from, and extending substantially parallel to, the first arm; a retaining member movably mounted on the first arm, including a bridge member capable of extending to the second arm; engagement means movably mounted on and capable of releasably engaging the first arm; and release means for releasing the engagement means, said release means being movable relative to the support or the retaining member or both, wherein the bridge member is capable of forming a removable barrier in cooperation with the first and/or second arms to secure an article against unauthorised removal.

Preferably the engagement means has a first operative state in which the engagement means grips the first arm and prevents relative movement of the engagement means and the retaining member along the first arm. The engagement means preferably has a second operative state in which the engagement means is released from the first arm by the release means so that said engagement means and said retaining member are relatively free to move along the first arm.

The engagement means may comprise a wide range of means whereby to releasably engage the first arm which means will be familiar to those skilled in the 1a WserveAe\docs\patents\comp\9037b doc art. For example, the engagement means may include positive engagement means by the use of screws, nut/bolt arrangements and the like. The engagement means may include means which rely on friction such as spring-loaded callipers. Preferably the engagement means has an oversized aperture through which the 5 first arm passes and the first operative state occurs when the engagement means is angled to the support. The engagement means may comprise a sphere, ovaloid or planar object. The engagement means preferably comprises a plate.

The engagement means may be connected to the retaining member or, conversely, may not be positively connected to any component of the locking system when released to the second operative state. Preferably the engagement means is mounted on the retaining member. Preferably the engagement means is movably mounted on the retaining member. For example, the engagement means may be connected by hinged, elastic, strap or universal joint means. Still more preferably, the engagement means is pivotably mounted on the retaining member. The engagement means may be mounted on a wall of the retaining means. The engagement means may be mounted on a side wall of the retaining means, which wall is oriented substantially parallel to the first arm.

The engagement means may be positioned between two support surfaces. A first support surface may form part of the retaining member. A second support surface 20 may form part of the release means. If the engagement means is mounted to another structure such as the retaining means, the other end may be positioned to abut one of the support surfaces, such as an end wall of the release means.

Preferably the retaining member includes a first wall through which the first arm passes and the release means has a second wall through which the first arm passes. Preferably the engagement means is located to engage the first arm intermediate the first and second wall. Preferably one end of the engagement means is pivotally mounted on the retaining means and the other end is positioned to permanently abut the second wall of the release means.

The bridge member may be integrally formed with the retaining member. The 30 bridge member may be separately formed with respect to the retaining member. The bridge member may be positively connected to the retaining member. The bridge member may be fixedly mounted on the retaining member using one of many methods available to persons skilled in the art. For example, the bridge member may be fixed to the retaining member by means of welding, pop-rivets 35 screws, bolts and the like. Alternatively the bridge member may be rotatably 2 \\server\e\docs\patents\comp\9037b doc mounted on the retaining means. The bridge member may be capable of pivoting about an axis substantially parallel to the first and second arms.

Preferably the bridge member is releasably engageable with the second arm. The bridge member may engage the second arm in a number of ways. For example, 5 the bridge member may include spring-loaded callipers, cam means and the like whereby to engage the second arm. Preferably the bridge member includes an aperture having a diameter larger than the second arm and is freely slidable therealong.

Preferably a biasing means is provided to bias the engagement means to the first 10 operative state. The biasing means may rely on gravity. The biasing means may include pneumatic means. The biasing means preferably includes spring means. The biasing means may be positioned intermediate the two surfaces between which the engagement means is interposed. Preferably the biasing means bears against the respective surfaces of the first wall of the retaining member and the 15 engagement means. Preferably the biasing means is positively secured to the engagement means and optionally to the first wall.

Preferably the retaining member and engagement means are slideable along the first arm in the second operative state and the bridge member is slideable along the second arm when engaged thereto.

Preferably, the first and second arms are integrally joined at a base and constitute the arms of a U-shaped member. The support may be made of resilient material, provided is has sufficient rigidity to satisfy the above described functional constraints. Preferably the support is made of primarily rigid material such as galvanised iron or steel. The support may be made of separate components. 25 However, preferably the support is a unitary structure.

The base may be non-releasably fixed to a substrate. The substrate may be a support structure. The substrate may be a bar or rod. For example, substrate may be a bar anchored to a building or other fixed structure which might be erected on a building site. The substrate may be a vehicle roof rack.

The support may straddle the substrate such that the base is located under the substrate and the first and second arms extend upwardly past either side of the substrate. The support may include a U-shaped rod which hooks around a bar, rod or the like and the retaining member may be mounted on the first arm of the U and be adapted to engage the second arm of the U. 3 \\server\e\docs\patents\comp\9037b doc The support may be mounted to the substrate in a number of ways and to some extent the mode of attachment is dependent on the configuration of the substrate at the point of attachment. The support may be directly fixed to the substrate by standard means such as welding, bolt means and the like. Preferably the mode of 5 mounting is non-releasable for security purposes. However, the skilled reader will appreciate that in some applications a releasable means of mounting may be preferable.

The retaining member and/or the release means may substantially surround the engagement means. However, this is not necessarily the case provided the 10 functional constraints described herein are satisfied.

The support may have a smooth surface or it may be provided with a series of grooves to aid in engagement with the engagement means and the bridge member. The support may be a bar or rod of circular, oval or any other cross-section.

A keyed lock may be provided to prevent relative movement of the engagement means and the release means. Alternatively, a padlock may be used.

The support preferably includes mounting means for mounting on a building or other object. The mounting means may be a bracket, a threaded end of the support, or may incorporate a base of the support.

The main body of the retaining member may engage an object to be locked or the retaining member may include one or more arms which extend transversely of the support. The end of each arm may be turned to extend generally parallel to the support.

The release means is preferably mounted on or constrained to move with the 25 retaining member. Preferably, the retaining member and the release means each includes a substantially closed loop engaged together in a chain linkage.

The engagement means may be capable of sliding freely along the support relative to the retaining means or it may be mounted on the retaining member to move with the retaining member along the support.

The support is preferably circular in cross-section. The base of the support may be adapted to mount on or in a support structure, such as a vehicle roof rack bar, or it may be provided with a hooked end for hooking around a bar or rod or the like. The free end of the first arm is preferably provided with a retaining structure 4 ^ y %j & Q \\server\e\docs\patents\comp\9389nz spec a doc to retain the retaining member, engagement means and release means on the first arm.

The invention shall be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments of the invention and the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the Figure 1 embodiment.

Figure 3 is a plan cross-sectional view of the Figure 1 embodiment, taken along line AA of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is an end view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the invention taken along line AA of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is an end view of the Figure 7 embodiment.

Figure 9 is an end view of the fixing of the Figure 7 embodiment.

Figure 10 is a side view of a mounting rod for use with a slideable assembly such as that shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a locking system 10 which includes a first arm or mounting rod 12 and a slideable assembly 13 which may slide along 20 the rod 12. The rod 12 is of circular cross-section, threaded at one end, and passes through an aperture in a roof rack bar 14. Retaining nuts 16 and 17 secure the rod 12 to the roof rack bar 14. The nut 16 is preferably a shear-off cone type nut, in which a portion of the nut breaks off when tightened to a predetermined torque, leaving a circular shaped cone.

The assembly 13 includes a retaining member 18 (see Figure 2) which includes a bridge member or horizontally extending arm 20. The free end of the arm 20 preferably has a second arm or down-turned portion 22. As can be seen in Figure 1 a ladder 23 or the like is laid on the roof rack and sandwiched between the roof rack bars 14 and the arm 20. The down turned portion 22 limits sideways movement of the ladder 23.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF NZ. 1 6 JAM 2001 R !E G £ 3 V : D 0 3 9 5 » \\serverte\docs\patents\comp\9389nz spec a doc As can be seen in Figure 3, the retaining member 18 is formed into a fully closed or substantially closed loop with lower and upper ends 24 and 26 through which the rod 12 passes. Located on the rod 12 between the ends 24 and 26 is an engagement means in the form of a slideable plate 28 and a spring 30 (Figures 2 5 and 3). The plate 28 has an oversized aperture and when the plate 28 is angled to the full extent allowed relative to the rod 12, it locks onto the rod 12 and longitudinal movement along the rod 12 is prevented. When moved toward a generally perpendicular orientation relative to the rod 12, the plate 28 may slide relatively freely along the rod 12. The upper end 29 of the plate 28 (refer Figure 2) 10 is engaged in an aperture 31 in the retaining member 18 and so pivots about the aperture 31. Movement of the spring 30 in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2 causes the plate 28 to engage the rod 12 more firmly unless the lower end 33 is also moved. The spring 30 engages the plate 28 and the end 26 and biases the plate 28 to the locked state. This arrangement is a one-way slide, in that 15 movement of the plate 28 away from the end 26 is possible but movement toward the end 26 against the spring 30 increases the locking action of the plate 28 on rod 12 and so inhibits or prevents movement of both the plate 28 and the retaining member 18. The rod 12 may have a series of circumferential grooves in its surface to aid in engagement with the plate 28. These grooves may be 20 positioned at points along the rod which correspond to common ladder sizes.

Sandwiched between the plate 28 and end 24 is a release member 32 which has ends 34, 36 and side walls 38, 40. Ends 34, 36 have apertures through which the rod 12 passes. It will be noted that end 36 is located outside of the retaining member 18 and extends across end 26 so as to form a chain link assembly, 25 wherein each of members 18 and 32 is limited in their movement along the rod 12 by the other.

The release member 32 is sized so that end 26 is adjacent to end 36 when end 24 is adjacent to end 34. The position of the aperture 31 is chosen so that the plate 28 locks on the rod 12 with its lower end 33 adjacent to or resting against 30 end 34 when end 34 is against end 24. Thus, in the locked position of plate 28, there is little or no free play of end 34 between the end 24 and plate 28.

The walls 38, 40 of release member 32 and walls 42, 44 of the retaining member overlap so that when assembled one cannot obtain access to the locking plate 28, the aperture 31 or spring 30.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF NZ. 1 fi JAM 2001 R 2 G ^WJ ZD \\server\e\docs\patents\comp\9037b doc To release the locking plate 28 to enable movement in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2, it is necessary to move release member 32 longitudinally along the bar in the direction of arrow A relative to the retaining member 18 to bring end 34 nearer to end 26. This causes the plate 28 to pivot about aperture 31 to bring the 5 plate 28 to a more perpendicular position and allows release member 32 and retaining member 18 to slide along rod 12 in the direction of arrow A. Movement of the release member 32 relative to retaining member 18 may be prevented by a keyed lock means or by a padlock passing through apertures 46 in the release member 32. These apertures 46 are adjacent to the end 26 so the shackle of the 10 padlock is adjacent to the end 26. Any movement of the release member relative to the retaining member 18 is limited by the shackle bearing on end 26 before the plate 28 has been pivoted sufficiently, if at all, to allow movement of the assembly.

In use, referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the user merely grips the release 15 member 32 and lifts it upwards. This pivots the plate 28 about aperture 31, releases the plate 28 from the rod 12 and the plate 28 slides up the rod 12, compressing spring 30. The compression in spring 30 and the engagement of the plate 28 with the retaining member via aperture 31 causes the retaining member 18 to rise up the rod 12. The ladder 23 is then positioned on the roof rack and the 20 retaining member 18 pushed down until arm 20 bears on the upper surface of the ladder. The spring 30 causes the locking plate 28 to pivot about aperture 31 to its locked state, so preventing any upwards movement.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown an embodiment intended for horizontal location and in particular for engaging a rung of a ladder. A second retaining 25 member 50 is provided which has ends 54, 56 engaging the rod 12 with the assembly 13 between its ends 54, 56. Movement of the assembly along the bar 14 is limited by the ends 54, 56.

The rod 12 is mounted horizontally on a roof rack bar with the second retaining member 50 bearing up against the roof rack bar. When the lock assembly 13 is 30 moved away from arm 56 of second retaining member toward end 54, there is sufficient space for the rung of a ladder to be passed through the resulting gap. The slideable assembly 13 is then moved toward end 56, with portion 22 overlying the rung, until the rung is firmly sandwiched between arm 22 and end 56. Movement of the second retaining member 50 away from the rung is 35 prevented by the roof rack bar whilst the assembly 13 is locked by the locking plate 28. 7 \\server\e\docs\patents\comp\9037b doc Figures 5 and 6 show locking device 60, being another embodiment of the invention. The locking device 60 includes a rod or bar 62 upon which is mounted a slideable assembly 13. The slideable assembly is substantially the same as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The bar 62 has a U-shaped lower 5 portion 64 and an L-shaped upper portion 66.

The lower portion 64 hooks under a roof rack bar 68 between the ladder rails 67. The slideable assembly 13 may then be moved down the rod 62 whilst the rod 62 is held against the roof bar 68, so as to engage a ladder rung 69 with the arm 20. The rung is firmly gripped between the arm 20 and the rod 62 firmly engages the 10 roof bar 68. To release the ladder, the assembly 13 is moved up the bar 62 to clear the ladder, as in Figure 6. The locking device 60 may then be totally removed from the roof rack by lowering it so the hooked lower portion 64 clears the roof bar 68. The upper portion 66 prevents the assembly 13 being removed from the rod 62.

The rod 62 may be of circular cross-section, in which case the assembly may be rotated about the rod or it may be of non-circular cross-section.

Figures 7 to 9 show a lock assembly device 70 intended to be permanently mounted on a roof rack bar 72 to engage the rung 74 of a ladder 76. The device 70 includes a circular cross-sectional support rod 78 which is bent into a U-shape, 20 having upstanding first and second arms 80, 82 and base 84. The first arm 80 extends upwards from the base 84 more than second arm 82. Mounted on the first arm 80 is a slide assembly 86 which operates substantially as in the slideable assemblies of the other embodiments. The slide assembly 86 includes a bridge member or L-shaped arm 88 which has an aperture 90 through which the second 25 arm 82 extends. The assembly 86 may be raised to the top of the first arm 80 so that the second arm 82 does not extend into or through the aperture 90. In this raised position the assembly may be rotated 180° about the first arm 80 so that the L-shaped arm extends in the opposite direction. The first arm 80 has a portion 92 of larger size to prevent the assembly 86 being accidentally moved from the 30 rod 78.

The base 84 of the rod 78 is secured to the roof bar 72 by a clamp 94 so that the rod may be rotated about a horizontal axis 96. The clamp 94 attaches to the roof bar 72 by way of a lock bolt 98. Most roof bars are made of square tubing with a slot 100 running along the lower surface. This enables the bolt 98 to engage a nut 35 102 within the tubular bar 72 and to be positioned anywhere along the bar 72. 8 \\server\e\docs\patents\comp\9037b doc The first arm 80 is provided with a protrusion which, when the assembly 86 is rotated 180° from its engaged position, is aligned with an aperture in the base of the assembly 86. Thus the assembly may be lowered to engage the protrusion, which then prevents unwanted rotation about the first arm 80.

In this configuration the rod 78 may be rotated to position the assembly 70 substantially horizontally to one side of the roof bar 72, with the two arms 80, 82 resting on a support 104 secured to the roof bar 72 in a similar manner to the clamp 94. In this position a ladder may be placed on or removed from the roof rack without impediment from the lock assembly device 70.

To secure a ladder, it is placed on the roof rack and positioned so a rung 74 lies above and between the two arms 80, 82. The assembly 70 is then rotated upwards to straddle the rung 74. The slide assembly 86 is raised upwards, rotated 180° and lowered to engage the second arm 82 and the rung 74. The slide assembly 86 is lowered until the rung 74 is firmly engaged by the L-shaped 15 arm 88. Removal is merely a reversal of these procedures.

Figure 10 shows a mounting rod 106 for use with a slideable assembly such as that show in Figure 1. The rod 106 includes a straight portion 108 upon which the slideable assembly 13 may slide. Since the slideable assembly 13 is free to rotate about the rod 106, it is possible in some circumstances that the slideable 20 assembly 13 could be raised up the rod, even when locked, by twisting and raising the slideable assembly 13. To prevent this possibility, the rod 106 is provided with a series of circumferential grooves 110. These grooves 110 are preferably spaced equally along the portion 108 and are to be engaged by plate 28, which will more securely catch on the grooved rod than a smooth rod.

The rod 106 is not provided with a threaded portion as in the Figure 1 device but is provided with a Z shaped portion 112, such that the rod 106 may be pivotably mounted to a roof rack bar in a similar manner to the Figure 7 device.

The rod 106 is also provided with a transversely extending upper end 114, which serves to prevent the slideable assembly 13 from being accidentally removed 30 from the rod.

It will be appreciated that the device is not limited to use on vehicles. The locking device may be mounted on a floor or wall or such like of a building to secure an object to the structure. 9 \\serverte\docs\patents\comp\9389nz.spec.a doc - It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Throughout the specification and claims the word "comprise" and its derivatives is intended to have an inclusive meaning and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer, steps or group of same but not the exclusion of any other integer, steps or group of same.

! INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 1 R 2001

Claims (16)

\\server\e\docs\patents\comp\9389nz spec a doc 5 0 .j The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A locking system including: a support including a first arm and a second arm spaced from, and extending substantially parallel to, the first arm; a retaining member movably mounted on the first arm, including a bridge member capable of extending to the second arm; engagement means movably mounted on and capable of releasably engaging the first arm; and release means for releasing the engagement means, said release means being movable relative to the support or the retaining member or both, wherein the bridge member is capable of forming a removable barrier in cooperation with the first and/or second arms to secure an article against unauthorised removal.

2. The locking system of claim 1, wherein said engagement means has a first operative state in which the engagement means grips the first arm and prevents relative movement of the engagement means and the retaining member along the first arm, and a second operative state in which the engagement means is released from the first arm by the release means so that said engagement means and said retaining member are relatively free to move along the first arm.

3. The locking system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the bridge member is releasably engageable with the second arm.

4. The locking system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the retaining member and engagement means are slideable along the first arm in the second operative state and the bridge member is slideable along the second arm when engaged thereto. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 11 \Vserver\e\docs\patents\comp\9389nz spec a doc

5. The locking system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second arms are integrally joined at a base and constitute the arms of a U-shaped member.

6. The locking system of claim 5, wherein the base is adapted to be non-releasably fixed to a substrate.

7. The locking system of claim 6, wherein the substrate is a support structure.

8. The locking system of claim 6, wherein the substrate is a bar or rod.

9. The locking system of claim 6, wherein the substrate is a vehicle roof rack.

10. The locking system of claim 6, wherein the support straddles the substrate such that the base is located under the substrate and the first and second arms extend upwardly past either side of the substrate.

11. The locking system of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the engagement means is a plate with an oversized aperture through which the first arm passes and wherein to engage the first arm the plate is moved into angled relationship with the first arm.

12. The locking system of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the release means is mounted on or constrained to move with the retaining member.

13. The locking system of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the retaining means and the release means each includes a substantially closed loop engaged together in a chain linkage.

14. The locking system of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the retaining member includes a first wall through which the first arm passes and the release means has a second wall through which the first arm passes and the engagement means is located to engage the first arm intermediate the first and second wall.

15. The locking system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the engagement means is pivotably mounted on the retaining member.

16. The locking system any one of claims 1 to 15, further including biasing means for biasing the engagement means to the first op 12 \\server\e\docs\patents\comp\9037b doc ABSTRACT A locking system including: (a) a support including a first arm and a second arm spaced from, and extending substantially parallel to, the first arm, 5 preferably such that the support comprises a U-shaped structure; (b) a retaining member movably mounted on the first arm, including a bridge member capable of extending to the second arm; (c) engagement means movably mounted on and capable of releasably engaging the first arm, the engagement means preferably being in the form of a planar plate with an 10 aperture through which the first arm travels; and (d) release means for releasing the engagement means, the release means being movable relative to the support or the retaining member or both, wherein the bridge member is capable of forming a removable barrier in cooperation with the first and/or second arms to secure an article, such as a ladder, against unauthorised 15 removal from a substrate, such as a vehicle roof rack. PIPERS Attorney* Fori! Ladder Lock Industries Pty Limited 13