WO2004009935A2

WO2004009935A2 - A lock

Info

Publication number: WO2004009935A2
Application number: PCT/IB2003/002896
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johannes Petrus Smartryk Robinson; William James Farquhar; Jacobus Johannes De Vries
Original assignee: Transito Freight Protection (Proprietary) Limited
Priority date: 2002-07-22
Filing date: 2003-07-22
Publication date: 2004-01-29
Also published as: AU2003249487A8; WO2004009935A3; AU2003249487A1

Abstract

A pillar locking device lock (10) is configured to be locked to a shaft of a pillar locking device. The pillar locking device lock (10) includes a rotation prevention formation (12) to prevent or restrict rotation of the shaft of the pillar locking device.

Description

A LOCK

THIS INVENTION relates to a lock. In particular, it relates to a pillar locking device lock.

Pillar locking devices are commonly used on hinged doors of shipping containers and freight compartments of load-bearing vehicles to keep the doors closed. A pillar locking device typically comprises a shaft with a transversely extending fork at one end thereof, and a T-shaped pillar. In a closed or locked position, tines of the fork are located behind the crossbar of the T-shaped pillar. To open a door the shaft is rotated by means of a transversely extending handle thereby to rotate the tines from behind the T-shaped pillar so that they are clear of the pillar, allowing the door to open. Typically, the shaft is pivotally mounted to the door and the T-shaped pillar is mounted adjacent to the door to a surface within which the door is located.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a pillar locking device lock which is configured to be locked to a shaft of a pillar locking device and which includes a rotation prevention formation to prevent or restrict rotation of the shaft of the pillar locking device.

The rotation prevention formation may include an obstruction component beatable behind tines of a pillar locking device to obstruct rotation of the tines to such a degree that they cannot be rotated free from a pillar, e.g. a T-shaped pillar, of the pillar locking device.

The rotation prevention formation may be in the form of a hook formation, a free end portion of the hook formation defining the obstruction component and being hookable behind the tines of a pillar locking device. The pillar locking device lock may include a lock arrangement releasably to lock the pillar locking device lock to a shaft of a pillar locking device. The lock arrangement may be spaced from the rotation prevention formation.

The lock arrangement may include a shaft receiving component hookable behind a shaft of a pillar locking device.

The lock arrangement may include a tamper indicating device to indicate any tampering with the lock arrangement. The tamper indicating device may be configured to lock the shaft receiving component to the shaft.

The shaft receiving component may be U-shaped. The tamper indicating device may include a bolt extending through free end portions of the U-shaped shaft receiving component and a tamper indicating retainer beatable at one end of the bolt to retain the bolt in position in tamper indicating fashion.

The bolt may define a recess in an end portion thereof and the tamper indicating retainer may include a stop body bckable to the end portion by means of a key bckable in tamper indicating fashion in the recess and to the stop body.

In one embodiment of the invention the bolt has a circular cylindrical shank and the recess is annular, with the stop body being in the form of a sleeve or a socket which is rotatable relative to the shank when the key is locked to the sleeve in tamper indicating fashion.

The key may be bckable to the stop body by an expansion pin which can be inserted into a passage or bore in the stop body and through an aperture in the key.

The key may be hingedly connected to the stop body.

The stop body may define a slot transecting the passage or bore in the stop body, providing access to a portion of the expansion pin when the key is locked to the stop body by the expansion pin. The tamper indicating retainer may include a blade engaging formation at one or both ends of the slot to engage a saw blade, thereby inhibiting sawing of the expansion pin by means of a saw blade working into the slot in the stop body.

The rotation prevention formation and the lock arrangement may be connected by an elongate body. The elongate body may be length adjustable and may be pivotally connected or connectable to the lock arrangement by means of the bolt.

The pillar locking device lock may include an electronic tracking device allowing electronic tracking and locating of the pillar locking device lock. The electronic tracking device is preferably self-powered, e.g. by means of an electrochemical cell or battery.

The pillar locking device lock may include an identification code, which is preferably clearly visible on a surface of the pillar locking device lock. The visible identification code may correspond with an identification code of the electronic tracking device.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of locking a pillar locking device, which includes locating an obstruction component behind tines of the pillar locking device to obstruct rotation of the tines to such a degree that they cannot be rotated free from a pillar of the pillar locking device; and locking the obstruction component to a shaft of the pillar locking device.

Locating an obstruction component behind tines of the pillar locking device may include hooking a free end portion of a hook formation behind the tines.

The obstruction component may be locked to the shaft of the pillar locking device with a freely rotatable tamper indicating device mounted to a bolt co-operating with a shaft receiving component, the shaft of the pillar locking device being captured between the shaft receiving component and the bolt. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of a pillar locking device lock in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a front elevational view of the device of Figure 1 , in use, but for clarity displaced from a pillar locking device;

Figure 3 shows a vertical section through the pillar locking device lock of Figure 1 , taken at Ill-Ill in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a partially sectioned view of a tamper indicating device forming part of the pillar locking device lock of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows a section through the tamper indicating device of Figure 4, taken at V-V in Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a section through the tamper indicating device of Figure 4, taken at VI-VI in Figure 4; and

Figure 7 shows a longitudinal section through a portion of the tamper indicating device of Figure 4, taken at VII-VII in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a pillar locking device lock in accordance with the invention. The lock 10 includes a rotation prevention formation 12 and a lock arrangement 14 spaced from the rotation prevention formation 12.

The rotation prevention formation 12 is in the form of a hook formation 16. A free end portion 18 of the hook formation 16 defines an obstruction component which is hookable behind the tines of a pillar locking device, as will be explained in more detail later.

The lock arrangement 14 is configured to lock the pillar locking device lock 10 to a shaft of a pillar locking device. The lock arrangement 14 includes a tamper indicating device 20 to indicate any tampering with the lock arrangement 14. The lock arrangement 14 also includes a shaft receiving component, in the form of a U-shaped channel 22 which is hookable behind a shaft of a pillar locking device. The tamper indicating device 20 includes a bolt 24 and a tamper indicating retainer 26. The bolt 24 includes a shank 28 and a head 30. The tamper indicating retainer 26 is beatable at a free end of the shank 28 in order to retain the bolt 24 in position in tamper indicating fashion.

The lock arrangement 14 and the rotation prevention formation 12 are connected to and spaced from each other by an elongate body 32. The body 32 includes two spaced side plates 34, a face plate 36 extending between the side plates 34, and a mounting plate 38 spaced from the face plate 36 and also extending between the side plates 34. The mounting plate 38 projects beyond an end of each of the side plates 34, defining a projecting portion 40. An elongate slot 42 is provided in the projecting portion 40.

If desired, the side plates 34 may be wider apart in the vicinity of the hook formation 16 than where they flank the channel 22, e.g. to make room for an electronic tracking device. Naturally, the face plate 36 will then also be wider.

Six circular apertures are provided in the hook formation 16. One aperture, which is a lower aperture in use, is threaded and is indicated by reference numeral 44 (see Figure 3). Five further apertures are grouped together and indicated by reference numeral 46 (see Figure 2). Three of the apertures 46 are arranged in a first row and two of the apertures 46 are arranged in a second row spaced from the first row. The two apertures 46 in the second row are spaced longitudinally on the hook formation 16 so that their centres are between the adjacent three spaced apertures 46 in the first row.

Two threaded apertures 48 (see Figure 1) are provided in the mounting plate 38. The apertures 48 are transversely spaced and, by displacing the hook formation 16 longitudinally inwardly or outwardly relative to the body 32, it is possible to align one of the apertures 46 in the first row with one of the apertures 48, or one of the apertures 46 in the second row with the other of the apertures 48.

A threaded bolt 50 (not shown in Figure 1) extends through the slot 42 and screw-threadedly engages the aperture 44 in the hook formation 16. Similarly, a bolt 52 (see Figure 3) extends through one of the apertures 46 in the hook formation 16 and screw-threadedly engages one of the apertures 48 in the mounting plate 38. Instead of the five apertures 46, an elongate slot can be provided in the hook formation 16 to be used with the bolt 52 to adjust the length of the device 10.

As will be appreciated, when the bolt 52 is removed and the bolt 50 is loosened, the hook formation 16 is longitudinally displaceable relative to the mounting plate 28, rendering the overall length of the pillar locking device lock 10 adjustable. The apertures 46 and 48 provide five length settings for the pillar locking device lock 10, with the length being adjustable by an increment which is equal to the radius of the apertures 46. In order to adjust the length of the lock 10, the bolt 52 is removed and the bolt 50 loosened and the hook formation 16 is displaced to a desired position. The bolt 50 is first fastened, whereafter the bolt 52 is inserted and fastened to lock the hook formation 16 to the mounting plate 38.

The U-shaped channel 22 defines two apertures 54 respectively in each of two opposed legs 56 of the U-shaped channel 22. A foot 58 is provided on one side of the channel 22.

The side plates 34 each define an aperture 60 through which the shank 28 of the bolt 24 is receivable. The apertures 54 are also dimensioned to receive the shank 28. The legs 56 of the U-shaped channel 22 are spaced closer together than the side plates 34, allowing the legs 56 to be received between the side plates 34, with the apertures 54 in register with the apertures 60, so that the shank 28 can extend through the apertures 60 and 54.

The bolt 24 includes an annular recess 62 in an end portion thereof remote from the head 30.

The tamper indicating retainer 26 includes a stop body 64 in the form of a sleeve with a passage 66 extending therethrough. The passage 66 is dimensioned to receive the shank 28 of the bolt 24. Two longitudinally spaced, transversely arranged slots, respectively indicated by reference numerals 68 and 70, are provided in the stop body 64. The slot 68 is deep enough so that it communicates with the passage 66. The slot 70 is shallower than the slot 68 and does not extend into the passage 66. A key 72 is located in the slot 68 and is hingedly attached to the stop body 64 by means of a hinge pin 74. The hinge pin 74 is in the form of an expansion pin.

The stop body 64 also defines a passage 76 radially spaced from and parallel to the passage 66. The passage 76 extends through the stop body 64, so that it passes through the slots 68 and 70.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the key 72, unless locked to the stop body 64, is displaceable between a position, indicated by broken lines and reference numeral 78, in which it is clear of the passage 66, and a position in which it projects into the passage 66. An expansion pin 80 is provided to lock the key 72 to the stop body 64 in a position where it projects into the passage 66.

Two blade engaging formations 82 are provided on the stop body 64, at both ends of the slot 70.

Pillar locking devices are often used on hinged doors, e.g. the doors of shipping containers, freight compartments of load-bearing vehicles, storage rooms, or the like, to keep the doors closed. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, a pillar locking device typically comprises a shaft 84 with a transversely extending fork 86 at one end thereof, the fork 86 including a pair of tines 88. The shaft 84 is typically mounted to the door which is to be kept closed by the pillar locking device, such as a door 90 shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The shaft 84 is spaced slightly from the door 90. The pillar locking device further usually includes a T-shaped pillar 92 which is mounted to a surface 94 within which the door 90 is mounted. When the pillar locking device is in a closed position, the tines 88 of the fork 86 are located behind a crossbar 96 of the T-shaped pillar 92, thereby preventing the door 90 from opening. In this regard, it is to be appreciated that the door 90 is a hinged door, with the shaft 84 being spaced from the hinged edge of the door, typically close to an edge of the door opposite the hinged edge. In order to open the door 90, the shaft 84 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 98 (see Figure 3), thereby to rotate the tines 88 from behind the crossbar 96 so that they are clear of the T-shaped pillar 92, allowing the door 90 to open. Rotation of the shaft 84 is usually achieved by means of a transversely extending lever (not shown) fixed to the shaft 84. The purpose of the pillar locking device lock 10 of the invention is to lock a pillar locking device so that the shaft 84 cannot be rotated, thereby preventing the tines 88 from clearing the T-shaped pillar 99 and thus keeping the door 90 in a closed position. This is achieved by hooking the U-shaped channel 22 behind the shaft 84 of the pillar locking device, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, whereafter the free end portion 18 of the hook formation 16 is hooked behind the tines 88 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, before the U-shaped channel 22 is locked to the body 32. In order to lock the U-shaped channel 22 to the body 32, the legs 56 of the U-shaped channel 22 are located between the side plates 34, with the apertures 54 and the apertures 60 in alignment. The shank 28 of the bolt 24 is then inserted through the apertures 60 and the apertures 54, so that the shank 28 extends through the side plates 34 and the legs 56, with the head 30 abutting against one of the side plates 34. The stop body 64 is then slipped over a free end portion of the shank 28 as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings so that the stop body 64 abuts against the other of the side plates 34. In this position, the annular recess 62 is in register with the slot 68 and thus with the key 72. The key 72 is allowed to drop down into the annular recess 62, whereafter the expansion pin 80 is knocked into the passage 76, as clearly shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. The expansion pin 80 thus locks the key 72 in position inside the annular recess 62, thereby preventing removal of the stop body 64 from the shank 28. The foot 58 inhibits rotation of the lock 10 about the shaft 84.

Prior to locking the pillar locking device lock 10 to the pillar locking device, the length of the pillar locking device lock 10 can be adjusted to fit the particular pillar locking device, by using the bolts 50, 52 and the apertures 46 and 48. As will be appreciated, once the bolt 52 has been fastened and the pillar locking device lock 10 locked to a pillar locking device, access to the bolt 52 is inhibited by the face plate 36 and the side plates 34 of the lock 10 and by the shaft 84 of the pillar locking device.

The applicant believes that the tamper indicating retainer 26 cannot be removed from the bolt 24 without leaving evidence of the tampering with the pillar locking device lock 10. In order to remove the stop body 64, it is necessary to grind through the expansion pin 80, using a small diameter grinding disc 100 as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. The disc 100 accesses the expansion pin 80 through the slot 70. The requirement that a grinding disc be used to cut through the expansion pin 80, in effect means that many potential thieves will be inadequately equipped when attempting to open the door 90. Very often, such thieves do not have a power tool capable of cutting through the expansion pin 80 in their possession. Furthermore, mere sawing through the expansion pin 80 is made difficult by the presence of the blade engaging formations 82 flanking the slot 70.

Once the expansion pin 80 has been severed, a tool is inserted into the expansion pin 80 and one portion of the expansion pin 80 is removed from the passage 76. The key 72 is then lifted as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, and the stop body 64 is simply slid off the shank 28 of the bolt 24 whereafter the remaining portion of the expansion pin 80 can be removed from the passage 76. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, without grinding through the expansion pin 80, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to remove the expansion pin 80, as the stop body 64 and thus the expansion pin 80 abut against the side plate 34, thus providing no room at the abutting end of the expansion pin 80 for a tool which can be used to remove the expansion pin 80.

During normal usage of the pillar locking device lock 10, the only component that needs regular replacement is the expansion pin 80.

As is clear from Figure 3 of the drawings, when the free end portion 18 of the hook formation 16 is located behind the tines 88, rotation of the tines 88 is obstructed to such a degree that the shaft 84 cannot be rotated far enough to allow the tines 88 to clear the T-shaped pillar 92. The pillar locking device lock 10 thus locks to the shaft 84 and prevents unlocking of the door 90 by preventing rotation of the tines 88.

The pillar locking device lock 10 of the invention may include an electronic tracking device indicated by reference numeral 102 and shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. There are a number of commercially available electronic tracking devices which are suitable and which are self-powered, so that the pillar locking device lock 10 can be used where power is not available. Typically, the pillar locking device lock 10 includes an identification code which is clearly visible on one of the side plates 34 or on the face plate 36. This identification code preferably corresponds with an identification code of the electronic tracking device 102. This allows one easily to determine by visual inspection the location of a pillar locking device lock 10 with a particular identification code and also allows one to determine the location of the lock 10 by means of a tracking system, such as a satellite tracking system.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A pillar locking device lock which is configured to be locked to a shaft of a pillar locking device and which includes a rotation prevention formation to prevent or restrict rotation of the shaft of the pillar locking device.

2. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 1 , in which the rotation prevention formation includes an obstruction component beatable behind tines of a pillar locking device to obstruct rotation of the tines to such a degree that they cannot be rotated free from a pillar of the pillar locking device.

3. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 2, in which the rotation prevention formation is in the form of a hook formation, a free end portion of the hook formation defining the obstruction component and being hookable behind the tines of a pillar locking device.

4. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a lock arrangement releasably to lock the pillar locking device lock to a shaft of a pillar locking device.

5. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 4, in which the lock arrangement includes a shaft receiving component hookable behind a shaft of a pillar locking device.

6. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 5, in which the lock arrangement includes a tamper indicating device to indicate any tampering with the lock arrangement.

7. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 6, in which the tamper indicating device is configured to lock the shaft receiving component to the shaft.

8. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 7, in which the shaft receiving component is U-shaped, the tamper indicating device including a bolt extending through free end portions of the U-shaped shaft receiving component and a tamper indicating retainer beatable at one end of the bolt to retain the bolt in position in tamper indicating fashion.

9. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 8, in which the bolt defines a recess in an end portion thereof and in which the tamper indicating retainer includes a stop body bckable to the end portion by means of a key bckable in tamper indicating fashion in the recess and to the stop body.

10. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 9, in which the bolt has a circular cylindrical shank and the recess is annular, with the stop body being in the form of a sleeve or a socket which is rotatable relative to the shank when the key is locked to the sleeve in tamper indicating fashion.

11. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, in which the key is bckable to the stop body by an expansion pin which can be inserted into a passage or bore in the stop body and through an aperture in the key.

12. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 11 , in which the stop body defines a slot transecting the passage or bore in the stop body, providing access to a portion of the expansion pin when the key is locked to the stop body by the expansion pin.

13. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 12, in which the tamper indicating retainer includes a blade engaging formation at one or both ends of the slot to engage a saw blade, thereby inhibiting sawing of the expansion pin by means of a saw blade working into the slot in the stop body.

14. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 13 inclusive, in which the rotation prevention formation and the lock arrangement are connected by an elongate body, the elongate body being length adjustable.

15. A method of locking a pillar locking device, which includes locating an obstruction component behind tines of the pillar locking device to obstruct rotation of the tines to such a degree that they cannot be rotated free from a pillar of the pillar locking device; and locking the obstruction component to a shaft of the pillar locking device.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, in which locating an obstruction component behind tines of the pillar locking device includes hooking a free end portion of a hook formation behind the tines.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, in which the obstruction component is locked to the shaft of the pillar locking device with a freely rotatable tamper indicating device mounted to a bolt co-operating with a shaft receiving component, the shaft of the pillar locking device being captured between the shaft receiving component and the bolt.

18. The pillar locking device lock as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

19. The method of locking a pillar locking device as claimed in claim 15, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

20. A new pillar locking device lock or a new method of locking a pillar locking device, substantially as herein described.