Background--Field of Invention
This invention generally pertains to a protective hasp attachment devices for padlock applications, and in particular to U-shaped shackle padlocks used in conjunction with general purpose hasps to secure doors, drawers, and various styles of closure structures.
The most commonly used padlocks and attachment devices such as fixed and articulated hasps and staples are typically loose fitting and of "U" shape. This assures ease of use, flexibility, and minimal cost. Unfortunately these configurations provide ease of forced attack using bolt cutters, prying tools and similar methods. Many many attempts have been made to protect these vulnerable elements. Typically the shackle is hidden within a protective structure as can be seen in the following U.S. Patents:
The common disadvantage reflected in the prior art is the restrictive nature of the concepts that limit the applications and choice of padlock that can be used. The newer and better concepts often require costly manufacturing methods and find few applications as a result.
Objects and Advantages
The object of this invention is to provide a simple, versatile, hasp attachment device that incorporates enhanced protection from the more common methods of forced attack, and minimal manufacturing costs. Several advantages of this invention are:
a) The design will accept a variety of the U-shaped shackle padlocks in common use.
b) The design will attach to and work in cooperation with a variety of the doors, drawers, and closures currently secured with traditional hasps.
c) The design permits a variety of manufacturing methods and materials to assure compatibility with the security needs and economics of the application.
d) The design limits the motion of the attached padlock which enhances security and reduces the noise and surface damage often associated with traditional hasp applications on trucks and vans.
e) The design offers an attachment method using carriage bolt type fasteners that are secure from forced attack by virtue of their location within the structure, and of unlimited length as a result of the shape of the mounting slots. In addition this configuration provides great flexibility in locating the mounting bolts which can be very useful in difficult applications.
Drawing Figures
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the mounted tubular hasp, comprising two elements, attached to a closure in the closed position with the padlock in place, closed and locked.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a cutaway of both parts of the mounted tubular hasp, attached to a closure in the closed position with the padlock in place, closed and locked. This view shows how the padlock works in cooperation with the two elements of the tubular hasp.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a cutaway of both parts of the mounted tubular hasp attached to a closure in the closed position with the padlock unlocked, the shackle open and rotated to clear the tubular hasp, and moved to the larger element permitting the elements to separate and the closure to open.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the mounted tubular hasp with the padlock removed and the closure partly open.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the two elements of the unmounted tubular hasp from the mounting side with two carriage bolt type fasteners of different lengths, with the longer one in place and the shorter one not in place.
FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the two elements of the tubular hasp attached to the rear doors of a van secured with padlock installed and locked.
Description of a Preferred Embodiment
Refer now to FIG. 1 which is an overall drawing of a preferred embodiment of the invention. A conventional U-shackle padlock 10 is shown in FIG. 1 with the shackle 11, having a pivotable leg and a free leg which is swingable about the pivotable leg, closed and locked and this in place within and connecting the large element 12 and the small element 13 of the tubular hasp. The large element has a front wall 14 and outer end wall 15, mounting wall 16, containing mounting holes connected by slots as shown in FIG. 2, inner end wall 17, containing a first lock body opening 17a for the padlock body and a first shackle member opening 17b for the shackle as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The small element has a front wall 18, containing a leg opening 18a to clear the swing of the shackle 11 when rotated, the outer end wall 19, and mounting wall 20 containing mounting holes connected by slots as shown in FIG. 3, and an inner end wall 21 containing a second lock body opening 21a for the padlock body and a second shackle member opening 21b for the shackle.
FIG. 2, illustrates, by cutaway, the cooperation of the padlock 10 when the large element 12 and small element 13 of the tubular hasp are mounted to a closure 22 in the closed position and the padlock 10 is installed within and securely connecting the large and small elements of the tubular hasp with the shackle in the closed and locked position.
FIG. 3, illustrates, by cutaway, the cooperation of the padlock 10 when the large element 12 and the small element 13 of the tubular hasp are mounted to a closure 22 in the closed position and the padlock 10 is located within the large element 12 with the shackle 11 in the unlocked and open position and rotated about its axis of rotation 23 sufficiently to clear the front wall 14 permitting the padlock 10 to move freely between the position illustrated here and that illustrated in FIG. 2. along an axis of travel 30.
FIG. 4, illustrates the freedom of the closure 22 to move open when the padlock is not in position to work in cooperation to secure the large and small elements of the tubular hasp.
FIG. 5, illustrates the method for mounting the tubular hasp using various lengths of carriage bolt type fasteners 24 which are inserted through bolt hole 25 in the mounting wall 16 along their longitudinal axis 26. The mounting hardware 24 is then free to move into the mounting slots 27 and free to move along the axis 28 of the slots 27 to accommodate mounting location requirements of the closure 22.
FIG. 6, illustrates the two elements 12 and 13 of the tubular hasp installed and secured using a padlock 10 on the rear doors 28 of a van 29.
The foregoing describes a common application of a fixed hasp to provide an attachment means to use a padlock to secure a typical closure. The traditional devices do not provide adequate protection from forced attack using well known and readily available tools and methods. This invention provides two tubular elements to accept a conventional padlock, that in combination and attached to the closure to be secured will provide a snug fitting assembly hiding the vulnerable elements, reduce rattling and deter forced attack.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive of or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.