This invention relates to a lockable file and, more especially, this invention relates to a lockable file for containing documents.
There are various known different types of files for containing documents. One type of known file for containing documents is a file which is usually known as a lever arch file. A lever arch file comprises a cover side and a document storage side. The cover side comprises a first cover. The document storage side comprises a second cover and a document-receiving device which is secured to the second cover and which comprises first and second prongs which are moved between an open position and a closed position by a lever.
Problems sometimes arise with the known lever arch files in that documents are removed from the files when they should not be. Missing documents cause annoyance until they are replaced. If the missing documents are not replaced, for example because they have been stolen or simply lost, then appreciable cost is involved in terms of the time required for somebody to make a duplicate copy of the missing documents and insert them in the file. If the lever arch file is in a place where it may be examined by the public, then the problem of missing documents becomes acute. Thus, for example, lever arch files in libraries, exhibitions, schools, colleges and hotel lobbies are very likely to be opened and have one or more of the documents removed. There are also instances where security of the documents in the file are of importance, for example in cases where the file may contain accounts documents, or legal papers for use by solicitors or as evidence in court.
It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a file comprising a cover side and a document storage side: the cover side comprising a first cover; the document storage side comprising a second cover, and a document-receiving device which is secured to the second cover and which comprises first and second prongs which are moved between an open position and a closed position by a lever; characterised in that the file has locking means for locking the lever in a position in which the first and the second prongs are in the closed position, and the locking means comprises anchor means which is secured in use to the document storage side of the file, and a locking device which locks the lever and the anchor means together for preventing unauthorised movement of the first and second prongs from the closed position to the open position.
The file of the present invention is such that documents can easily be retained in the file simply by use of the locking means. The locking means locks the lever in a position in which the first and the second prongs are in the closed position. The first and the second prongs thus cannot be moved by the lever to the open position and thus security of the documents in the file is maintained until such time as the locking means is unlocked.
The file is preferably one in which the anchor means is secured in use to the document-receiving device. If desired however, the anchor means may be secured in use to the second cover.
Where the anchor means is secured in use to the document-receiving device, then the anchor means may be secured to a plate part of the document-receiving device. The anchor means may be a separately formed anchor means which is secured by fixing means to the plate part of the document-receiving device. The fixing means may be a rivet, nut and bolt or any other suitable and appropriate type of fixing means. The anchor means may alternatively be an integrally formed anchor means which is formed as an integral part of the plate part of the document-receiving device. The integrally formed anchor means may be formed as a pressing which is pressed out of the plate part of the document-receiving device. Such a pressing enables the existing plate part of the known document-receiving devices easily to be modified to form the integral anchor means. If desired, the integrally formed anchor means may be alternatively formed by moulding the plate part of the document-receiving device.
In another embodiment of the invention, the anchor means is an insert which inserts into the document-receiving device and which becomes trapped in the document-receiving device when the first and the second prongs are in the closed position.
The insert preferably comprises a longitudinally extending portion which extends transversely of the file and into the document-receiving device, and an upstanding portion which receives the locking device. Other designs for the insert may however be employed.
Preferably, the insert is one in which the longitudinally extending portion extends under a movable base part of the document-receiving device which moves away from the second cover when the first and the second prongs are moved from the closed position to the open position, the longitudinally extending portion then being trapped under the movable base part when the first and the second prongs are moved from the open position to the closed position.
The upstanding portion of the insert will usually have an aperture for receiving the locking device. Other formations for receiving the locking device may however be employed.
The file may include sleeve means for receiving adjacent ends of the first and the second prongs when the first and the second prongs are in the closed position, thereby preventing attempts to remove documents from the file by trying to flex the first and the second prongs apart when the first and the second prongs are in the locked position.
The sleeve means is preferably made of a plastics material. If desired however the sleeve means may be made of a metal. When the sleeve means is made of a metal, then it may be in the form of a tube which is a closed tube, or a tube which has a longitudinally extending slot along its length.
The locking device may be a key operated lock and/or a combination lock. The locking device may also be a sealable device comprising two parts which are sealed together, for example by heat or pressure. The locking device may also be a ratchet-operating plastics locking tag. Such locking devices would normally need to be cut open in order to gain access to the file but they may usefully be employed where files need to be stored in archives where they should not be opened and access is not going to be required for a long period of time. The use of permanent locking devices may be cheaper than employing locks which are openable and closable such for example as key operated padlocks and combination padlocks. Generally, any suitable and appropriate type of locking device may be employed.
Usually, the file will have two of the first prongs, and two of the second prongs. The file may however be such that it has only one of the first prongs and one of the second prongs, or the file may be such that it has more than two, for example three, of the first prongs and the second prongs. Generally, the file can be of any known construction except that it will include the locking means.
If desired, the file may include tamper evident means for indicating if the locking device has been tampered with. Any suitable and appropriate type of tamper-evident means may be employed. The tamper-evident means may form part of the locking device as for example in the case of a seal which has to be broken for opening purposes and is. thus able to provide evidence of the locking device being tampered with and opened in an unauthorised manner.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to Figures 1 - 4, there is shown a known file in the form of a lever arch file 2. The file 2 comprises a cover side 4 and a document storage side 6. The cover side 4 comprises a first cover 8. The document storage side 6 comprises a second cover 10 and a document-receiving device 12. The document-receiving device 12 is secured to the second cover 10. The document-receiving device 12 comprises first prongs 14 and second prongs 16. The first and the second prongs 14, 16 are moved between an open position as shown in Figure 3, and a closed position as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. This movement of the first and second prongs 14, 16 is effected by a lever 18. As can best be seen from Figure 3, the first prongs 14 move and the second prongs 16 remain stationary. As can be seen from Figure 4, the second prongs 16 receive documents in the form of sheets of paper 20. The sheets of paper 20 are held in position by an optional clamp 21.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 show only parts of the document-receiving device 12 but it can be appreciated from a consideration of Figures 1 - 4 that the lever 18 pivots about a pivot 22 on an upstanding member 24 which is formed as a pressing out of a plate part 26 of the document-receiving device 12. A roller 28 is mounted on the lever 18 adjacent the pivot 22 and the roller 28 rolls along the upper surface of a movable base part 30 of the first prong 14. The roller 28 thus enables the lever 18 to bring a rolling pressure on the movable base part 30 on depression of the lever 18 as shown in Figure 3 in order to bring each first prong 14 from the open position shown in Figure 3 to the closed position shown in Figure 2.
The file 2 is such that the first and the second covers 8, 10 respectively are separated by a spine 32 as can best be appreciated from Figures 1 and 4. The construction and operation of the lever arch file 2 is well known and it will not be further described.
Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a first lever arch file 34 of the present invention. Similar parts as in Figures 1 - 4 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figure 5, the file 34 includes locking means 36 for locking the lever 18 in a position in which the first and the second prongs 14, 16 are in the closed position as shown in Figure 5.
The locking means 36 comprises anchor means 38 which is secured by a rivet 40 to the document storage side of the file 34 and, more specifically, to the second cover 10. The anchor means 38 comprises a base part 42 which receives the rivet 40. The anchor means 38 also comprises a ring member 44 which upstands from the base part 42 as shown. The locking means 36 also comprises a locking device in the form of a lock 46 which locks the lever 18 and the anchor means 38 together for preventing unauthorised movement of the first and second prongs 14,16 from the closed position to the open position. More specifically, the lock 46 has a hasp 48 which passes around the lever 18 and the ring member 44. The lock 46 is a key operated lock which is operated by a key 50.
Figure 6 shows a second lever arch file 52 of the present invention. Similar parts as in Figure 5 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figure 6, it will be seen that the anchor means 38 has been replaced by anchor means 54. The anchor means 54 comprises a base part 56 which is secured by a rivet 58 to the plate part 26 of the document- receiving device 12. A ring member 60 upstands from one end of the base part 56. The key operated lock 46 is replaced in Figure 6 by a combination lock 62 having combination discs 64 which are rotated into the required combination for opening the lock 62. The hasp 48 of the lock 62 passes through the ring member 60 and around the lever 18.
Figure 7 shows part of a third lever arch file 66 and again similar parts as in previous Figures have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The file 66 is such that the lever 18 is shorter than the lever 18 shown in Figures 1 - 6. More specifically, the lever 18 has an outstanding portion 68 which is adjacent an edge 70 of the plate part 26. This enables anchor means 72 to include an upstanding portion 74 which is formed as a pressing out of the plate part 26 and which thus leaves a hole 76 in the plate part 26. The upstanding portion 74 itself has a hole 78 for receiving a hasp 14 of a lock such for example as the lock 46 or the lock 62.
Figure 7 also illustrates how the plate part 26 has holes 80, 81, this being because the upstanding member 24 and the upstanding portion 74 are formed as pressings out of the plate part 26. Figure 7 further illustrates how the plate part 26 is secured by rivets 82 to the second cover 10.
Figure 8 shows part of a fourth lever arch file 84 of the present invention. Similar parts as in previous Figures have been given the same reference numerals. The lever arch file 84 has anchor means 86 comprising a base part 88 and an upstanding part 90 with a hole 92. The base part 88 also has an upstanding part 94 which is on a longitudinally extending portion 96. The longitudinally extending portion 96 extends transversely of the file and into the document-receiving device 12. When this has been done, the upstanding part 94 abuts against a side of a part 98 connecting the two first prongs 14 together. The upstanding part 94 abuts against the inside of the part 98 and thus helps to stop the longitudinally extending portion 96 from being swivelled under the part 98 even when the lock 46 is in position and locked. A spring sheet member 100 operates under the part 98 to bias the part 98 and its first prongs 14 to the open position shown in Figure 8. As can be appreciated from a comparison of Figure 8 with Figures 5 and 6, the document-receiving device 12 shown in Figure 8 is of a slightly different construction to the document-receiving device 12 shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6.
Figure 9 shows locking means 102 comprising the lock 46 and anchor means 104. The anchor means 104 comprises two upstanding parts 106 for receiving the hasp 48 of the lock 46 via holes 108. A U-shaped formation 110 has a slot 112 which receives the bottom of the first prong 14 underneath the part 98. This helps to locate the anchor means 104 and stop it being swivelled during tampering. A hook 114 locates under the right hand end of the part 98 and also helps to stop undesired movement of the anchor means 104.
In Figures 6 and 7, it will be appreciated that the anchor means 54, 72 is an integral anchor means formed integrally with the plate part 26. In contrast, in Figures 8 and 9, it will be appreciated that the anchor means 86, 104 is a separate anchor means which extends under a movable base part 98 which moves away from the second cover 10 when the first and the second prongs 14, 16 are moved from the closed position to the open position. The anchor means 86, 104 have the illustrated longitudinally extending portions 96, 115 which are then trapped under the movable base part 98 when the first and the second prongs 14, 16 are moved from the open position to the closed position.
Figures 10 and 11 show anchor means 116 which is in the form of a wedge having a base part 118 and an upstanding portion 120. The upstanding portion 120 has a hole 122 for receiving the hasp of a lock such for example as the lock 46 or the lock 62. These locks are padlocks as can be seen from the drawings. The anchor means 116 can thus form part of a sixth lever arch file 124.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 show part of a seventh lever arch file 126 which utilises sleeve means in the form of a sleeve 128 on each one of the two second prongs 16. For simplicity of illustration, Figures 12 and 13 do not show a locking device but this may be any suitable and appropriate locking device. The sleeves 128 provide overlap between adjacent ends of the first and the second prongs 14, 16. The sleeves 128 prevent the adjacent ends of the first and the second prongs 14, 16 being forced apart by an amount sufficient to remove some of the sheets of paper 20 even when the locking means is in its locked condition. The sleeves 128 are made as tubes of a plastics material.
In Figure 15 there is shown an alternative sleeve 130 which is made of metal and which includes a longitudinally extending slot 132.
Figures 16, 17 and 18 show three alternative types of locking device. Figure 16 shows a locking device in the form of a sealed plastics ring 134. Figure 17 shows a locking device 136 in the form of a plastics ratchet-type length of material 138 and a clamping body 140. Figure 18 shows a locking device in the form of a lead seal 142 and a length of wire 144.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, different types of locking means to those shown in the drawings may be employed. The file of the present invention may include various types of tamper-evident means for providing evidence of tampering with the locking means. The first and the second prongs 14, 16 may be solid prongs or tubular prongs. The ends of the prongs may have interlocking portions for interlocking with each other. In addition to or as an alternative to the sheets of paper 20, the documents may include cardboard documents and plastics files. The file of the present invention need not only be a file known as a lever arch file and it may be a file of another name and/or construction, providing the file has the features defined by the following claims.