US3884057A

US3884057A - Lock protection apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3884057A
Application number: US410439A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald L Maurer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-10-29
Filing date: 1973-10-29
Publication date: 1975-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-20

Abstract

Apparatus for protecting the bolt of a lock from being cut. A first member has a hasp attached with a hole through one end and a second member has a slot hasp. The first and second members are locked together when the hasp is passed through the slot and the bolt of the lock is passed through the hole in the hasp. A protective wall is formed on the second member around the slot. When the members are locked together the protective wall renders the bolt inaccessible to the usual massive tools required for quick cutting of the bolt.

Description

United States Patent [191 Maurer 51 May 20, 1975 LOCK PROTECTION APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Donald L. Maurer, 2125 Petersburg Dr., Milpitas, Calif. 95035 22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1973 [21] App]. No.2 410,439

3,800,570 4/1974 Kaplan 70/18 Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flehr, Hohbach, Test,

Albritton & Herbert ABSTRACT Apparatus for protecting the bolt of a lock from being cut. A first member has a hasp attached with a hole through one end and a second member has a slot hasp. The first and second members are locked together when the hasp is passed through the slot and the bolt References Cited of the lock is passed through the hole in the hasp. A UNITED STATES PATENTS protective wall is formed on the second member 858,769 7 1907 Warner 70/260 X around the slot- When the members are locked l,429,105 9/1922 Rudy 70/56 gether the protective wall renders the bolt inaccessible 3,590,607 7/1971 Beaver 70/5 C to the usual massive tools required for quick cutting of 3,652,114 3/1972 Cady 292/281 th b lt 3,718,014 2/1973 Delgedillo 70/56 3,736,016 5/1973 Garvey 292/281 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures LOCK PROTECTION APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for protecting the bolt of a lock from being cut and more particularly to such as a device for preventing quick cutting by barring the usual massive tools used therefor.

Considerable pilferage and unlawful entry occurs when persons force locks by cutting the lock bolts with bolt cutters for example. Even hardened metallic lock parts are susceptible to separation by bolt cutting tools. Spare tires on pickup trucks have been a particularly attractive item for thieves who in the past have merely had to cut through a single readily accessible bolt, to release the tire from the storage position on the truck and subsequently remove it. Means are needed to thwart those who would break locks for the purpose of removing goods secured thereby, or at least to require sufficient time for such locks to be broken to make it likely that the impending thievery could be detected and stopped before completion.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION One of two members which are to be secured to gether has a hasp attached thereto having a hole in its end for receiving the bolt of a lock. The other member has a projection also having a hole for receiving the bolt of the lock. The projection is mounted on a base plate which has a through slot adjacent to the projection fashioned to allow the hasp to pass therethrough. A protective wall is built upon the base plate surrounding the projection. When the hasp is inserted through the slot in the base plate and the hole in the end of the hasp is aligned with the hole in the projection, the bolt of the lock may be inserted through the algined holes thereby securing the two members together. The position of the protective wall precludes the possibility of using a tool which could quickly cut the bolt and release the members.

In general it is an object of the present invention to provide protection for the bolt of a lock securing two members together.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective device for the bolt of a lock so that a cutting operation performed on the bolt would necessarily consume considerable time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective device for the bolt of a lock which does not render normal locking and unlocking of the lock inconvenient.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a spare tire support for a pickup truck incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the elongate cross member used in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric sectional view of the hasp and cross members along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of the lock protection apparatus used on a fence gate.

FIG. 5 is an isometric sectional view of another embodiment of the lock protection device similar to FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The lock protection device disclosed herein prevents the cutting of a bolt on a lock altogether, or at the very least prevents quick cutting of the bolt. In either case the time expended by thieves in their attempt to rupture a lock is extended providing greater probability of detection and theft prevention. FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show one embodiment of the invention which is attached to the framework 11 of a pickup truck. A spare tire 12 is often suspended beneath the framework 11 on an elongate cross member 13 supported from the framework by two end bolts 14 and 16. Without more structure it may readily be seen that a bolt cutting device could be applied to either end bolt 14 or 16, severing the same,

allowing the elongate cross member 13 to be swung aside for removing the spare tire 12 from its storage position, whereupon it may be removed from the scene.

A hasp member 17 has a plurality of through holes 19 formed therein for providing adjustment of mounted position of hasp 17 on framework 11. l-Iasp member 17 is secured to the frame 11 by fastening means such as rivets or bolts 18. Hasp 17 also has a through hole 21 in the end opposite that mounted to the framework 1 1. Hole 21 is formed to accept a bow or bolt 22 such as that carried by a padlock 23.

There is a slot or hole 24 formed through elongate cross member 13 and centrally disposed between the sides and the ends of the cross member 13. An end bolt hole 25 is formed near each end of cross member 13. A tongue or projection 26 is formed adjacent to hole 24 as seen in FIG. 3 and may be formed of the material which is punched out or displaced when forming hole 24. Projection 26 in turn has a hole 27 formed therethrough which will accept bolt 22.

Elongate cross member 13 forms a base plate upon which is mounted a bulkhead or protective wall 28 which completely surrounds hole 24 and projection 26. Protective wall 28 is of sufficient height to provide a well which encloses projection 26 rendering bolt 22 substantially inaccessible when it is passed through hole 27.

A U-shaped depression 31 is formed in the central portion of elongate cross member 13. The width of the U 31 is smaller than the inside diameter of a wheel 29 upon which tire 12 is mounted. The height of the U 31 is preferably greater than the height of the protective wall 28. In this fashion padlock 23 avoids undue exposure tocontact by passing objects and possible damage therefrom.

The manner in which the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 is utilized may be explained as follows. Hasp member 17 is mounted on framework 11 utilizing fasteners 18 passing through a preselected one of the plurality of holes 19 so that the hasp member 17 will extend through the center hole in the wheel 29 carrying the spare tire 12. End bolt 14 is suspended from the vehicle frame 11 and elongate cross member 13 is attached to the lower end thereof by passing the end bolt 14 through one of the end bolt holes 25. The spare tire 12 and wheel 29 combination is lifted into position surrounding hasp 17 until hasp 17 extends below the wheel 29. Elongate cross member 13 is then positioned so that hole 24 underlies the end of hasp member 17 and is then elevated to contact tire l2 and to allow hasp member 17 to project through hole 24. End bolt 16 may now be fastened to the frame 11 to extend through the second hole 25 in cross member 13 for supporting the spare tire 12 in its storage position as shown in FIG. 1. Holes 21 and 27 are aligned and bolt 22 of padlock 23 is passed through holes 21 and 27 and closed or locked, thereby securing elongate cross member 13 to the vehicle framework 11. In this configuration either or both end bolts 14 and 16 may be cut and the tire l2 and the wheel 29 combination will not be released from the vehicle framework 11. Bolt 22 is not accessible to the jaws of a bolt cutter since protective wall 28 blocks the advance of such a tool toward bolt 22. It should be noted that while bolt 22 is protected and rendered inaccessible to tools for quickly breaking bolt 22, access to the keyhole on the end of padlock 23 is maintained for unlocking padlock 23 with the appropriate key.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. A gate post 32 has fastened thereon a member 33 carrying a hasp 34 projecting therefrom. An outermost vertical edge 36 of a swinging hinged gate is shown having a base plate 37 mounted thereto. A bulkhead or protective wall 38 is attached to the base plate 37 forming a well 39 therein. A hole 41 is formed within well 39 in base plate 37 to allow hasp 34 to pass therethrough. A projection 42 is formed adjacent to hole 41 and attached to base plate 37. An additional hole 43 is placed through projection 42. I-Iasp 34 has a hole 44 formed in the end thereof having a configuration similar to that of hole 43.

When gate edge 36 is swung to the closed position hasp 34 projects through hole 41.

Holes

44 and 43 are aligned and a bolt 46 in the open condition on a padlock 47 is passed through the aligned

holes

43 and 44. When bolt 46 is secured in padlock 47 the gate is in the locked condition and bolt 46 is rendered inaccessible by protective wall 38 due to the depth of wall 39 being sufficient to block direct access to bolt 46. Unrestricted access to keyhole 48 in padlock 47 is maintained as may be seen in FIG. 4.

FIG. shows an additional embodiment providing another configuration of the lock protection device.

Two members to be locked together have attached" thereto a hasp 49 and a baseplate 51 respectively. A through slot 52 is formed centrally in baseplate 51 to accept hasp 49 and a through-hole 53 is formed in hasp 49. A protective wall 54 is attached to baseplate 51 surrounding slot 53 forming a well 56. Wall 54 may be attached by any of a number of conventional means such as by screws or welding.

In operation the embodiment of FIG. 5 requires hasp 49 to be placed through slot 52 so that hole 53 is accessible in well 56. A bow or bolt 57 of a padlock 58 is passed through hole 53 and locked. Well 56 is at least deep enough to enclose all of bolt 57 and has a length and width sufficient to allow padlock 58 to be maneuvered therein for insertion and retraction of bolt 57 from hole 53. Thus keyhole 59 is readily accessible and bolt 57 is protected from being broken while in the locked condition receiving the two members together.

A device has been provided which prevents bolt cutting by conventional massive bolt cutting tools. Limited access to the bolt on a lock is available, but the amount of time required to break a bolt protected by the disclosed invention is sufficient to render detection probable thus providing for protection from theft and unlawful entry. At the same time there is no interference with normal locking and unlocking procedures.

I claim:

1. A protective apparatus for the bolt of a lock which secures two members together comprising a hasp attached to one member, a base plate attached to the other member, means attached to said base plate formed to mate with said hasp for being secured thereto by the bolt, and a continuous protective wall attached to said base plate and surrounding said means attached to said base plate, whereby when said hasp is mated with said means attached to said base plate and secured thereto by the bolt, the bolt is protected from cutting by said protective bulkhead.

2. A protective apparatus for the bolt of a lock securing two members together wherein one member has a hasp attached having a hole for receiving the bolt comprising a base plate attached to the other member and having an opening therethrough for passing the hasp, a projection adjacent to said opening having a hole for receiving the bolt, and a continuous protective wall attached to said base plate surrounding said projection, said continuous protective wall having a height extending beyond said projection, whereby when said hasp passes through said opening, the hole in the hasp is aligned with said hole in the projection and the bolt of the lock is passed therethrough, the bolt is rendered substantially inaccessible to cutting devices by said protective wall.

3. A protective apparatus for a bolt on a lock securing a spare tire and wheel on a vehicle, comprising a hasp member having a hole for receiving the bolt on one end and secured to the vehicle on the other end, an elongate cross member for bearing against the side of the tire having one end pivotally secured to the vehicle for securing the tire against the vehicle frame and having a hole centrally disposed between the cross member ends and sides for passing said hasp member, a projection secured to said cross member adjacent to said centrally disposed hole and having a hole therein for receiving the bolt, a.protective wall secured to said cross member surrounding said projection, whereby when the spare tire wheel is placed adjacent the vehicle so that said hasp member passes through the center thereof and said elongate cross member is pivoted into position against the side of the tire so that the holes in the hasp member and projection are in alignment, the bolt on the lock may be passed through the aligned holes and the bolt and the hasp are rendered substantially inaccessible to cutting devices by said protective wall.

4. A protective apparatus for a bolt on a lock as in claim 3 wherein said elongate cross member has a centrally located U-shaped portion which extends into the wheel inside diameter, whereby said protective wall is contained within the tire axial width dimension.

5. An apparatus for securing a spare tire and wheel combination to a framework of a vehicle comprising an elongate cross member for bearing against the side of the tire and having one end pivotally secured to the framework, said elongate cross member having a hasp member secured at one end to the framework for passing through said aperture and having a hole through the other end for receiving a U-shaped bolt on a lock, a continuous protective wall surrounding said aperture, having a wall height exceeding the height of the legs of 6. An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said elongate cross member has a central portion depression adapted to extend along a diameter of the spare tire within the inside diameter of the wheel, whereby said continuous protective wall is positioned inwardly on the wheel axis so that contactbetween the U-shaped bolt and objects passing close by the side of the tire is avoided.

Claims

3. A protective apparatus for a bolt on a lock securing a spare tire and wheel on a vehicle, comprising a hasp member having a hole for receiving the bolt on one end and secured to the vehicle on the other end, an elongate cross member for bearing against the side of the tire having one end pivotally secured to the vehicle for securing the tire against the vehicle frame and having a hole centrally disposed between the cross member ends and sides for passing said hasp member, a projection secured to said cross member adjacent to said centrally disposed hole and having a hole therein for receiving the bolt, a protective wall secured to said cross member surrounding said projection, whereby when the spare tire wheel is placed adjacent the vehicle so that said hasp member passes through the center thereof and said elongate cross member is pivoted into position against the side of the tire so that the holes in the hasp member and projection are in alignment, the bolt on the lock may be passed through the aligned holes and the bolt and the hasp are rendered substantially inaccessible to cutting devices by said protective wall.

5. An apparatus for securing a spare tire and wheel combination to a framework of a vehicle comprising an elongate cross member for bearing against the side of the tire and having one end pivotally secured to the framework, said elongate cross member having a hasp member secured at one end to the framework for passing through said aperture and having a hole through the other end for receiving a U-shaped bolt on a lock, a continuous protective wall surrounding said aperture, having a wall height exceeding the height of the legs of said U, so that when a tire is placed against the framework and said elongate cross member is pivoted to lie across the tire diameter, said hasp member passes through said aperture, whereby the U-shaped bolt may be passed through said hole for securing the spare tire to the framework and said hasp member and bolt are thereby protected from access by cutting implements by said continuous wall.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said elongate cross member has a central portion depression adapted to extend along a diameter of the spare tire within the inside diameter of the wheel, whereby said continuous protective wall is positioned inwardly on the wheel axis so that contact between the U-shaped bolt and objects passing close by the side of the tire is avoided.