Security assembly for locks

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a security assembly for locks, formed by a front or fixed plate (1) which is fixed to the lock of application, a moving flat bar (2) arranged so as to shift pushed by a spring (3) on said front or fixed plate (1), and retention means for retaining said moving flat bar (2) in a shifted position.

Description

Object of the Invention

[0001] As established in the title, the object of the present invention is a security assembly for lock cylinders which acts and protects the lock once the cylinder of a lock has been broken.

[0002] The present invention is characterized by the special configuration and design of each and every one of the parts forming the security assembly such that it can be applied to the assembly of already mounted locks, actively protecting them if the cylinder is intentionally broken.

[0003] The invention is comprised in the technical field relating to security and particularly to protection against the forced opening of locks, proposing a system of application in locks preventing manipulation of the mechanism thereof through the gap for mounting the cylinder when the latter is extracted.

Background of the Invention

[0004] In the field of anti-theft security, the role played by locks used for assuring enclosures to prevent the unauthorized opening thereof is essential.

[0005] In that sense, a number of lock embodiments based on sophisticated key mechanisms have been developed to prevent the forced opening or opening by means of foreign manipulations without the proper use of the corresponding key.

[0006] However, the key mechanism for operating locks is incorporated by means of an independent cylinder which is coupled in locks through a gap defined for mounting said cylinder, which today results in a very common technique for tampering with locks, forcefully removing the cylinder from locks by means of pushing or pulling from the outside, such that once the cylinder is removed through the gap for mounting said cylinder the lock mechanism can be easily actuated without needing to use the key.

[0007] Mechanisms for protection after breaking a cylinder such as that described in patent ES 2367736, in which the active protection of the access gap for accessing the lock left by a cylinder after it is removed is carried out by means of shifting a moving flat bar covering the access gap for accessing the inside of the lock, are also known in the state of the art.

[0008] However, this blocking system can be improved because it works with a blocking element that is movable under the action of a traction spring housed inside the body or housing of the lock. This means that nothing else can be installed in those locks which are already provided with said space and means, or with locks that have been previously modified.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to develop a security assembly for locks, and particularly for access to the inside of said locks after the cylinder is removed, which can be mounted in already mounted locks, and where furthermore the locks do not have any additional constructive requirement as has been the case up until now, developing to that end an assembly such as that described below and the essential features of which are described in claim 1.

Description of the Invention

[0010] The invention proposes a security assembly preventing the operation of the lock mechanism through the gap for mounting the cylinder of the key when said cylinder is extracted, this security assembly being determined by means of a very simple embodiment that is easy to apply in locks.

[0011] The proposed assembly comprises incorporating on the housing of the lock of application a moving plate mounted such that it can slide, said moving plate being supported in its sliding direction against the side of the cylinder of the lock to where it is pushed by a spring.

[0012] The moving plate is guided in the direction of the cylinder through a front plate acting as a track and as support or guard for the moving flat bar.

[0013] The security assembly comprises:

• A front plate acting as a track or support for:
• A moving flat bar responsible for covering the gap of the lock where the cylinder is housed if it should break, where the moving plate comprises retention means once it has been shifted; the moving flat bar comprises:
  • shifting means, which shifting can be due to the action of a spring in a possible embodiment;
  • retention means for once the moving flat bar has been shifted.
• Fixing means for fixing the front plate to the lock.

[0014] The front plate or fixed plate is mounted and fixed on one side of the lock. The front plate can be fixed on the lock by means of means adhesives, which could be adhesive strips, applied on the surface of the front fixed plate directly contacting the lock.

[0015] In addition to these adhering means and in a complementary manner, clips fixing the front plate on the lock are arranged, the clips being arranged such that one end of said clips is fitted in a groove of the front plate and the other end is fitted in another groove of an additional rear plate.

[0016] The moving flat bar is mounted such that it directly contacts against the cylinder of the lock and presses it due to the action of a spring fixed on the moving flat bar, such that when the cylinder is extracted, the force of the spring causes the moving flat bar to shift and move forward, forcing the retention means, which in a possible embodiment could be a hook, to be housed in a groove provided in the fixed or front flat bar for that purpose.

[0017] Another possible way of blocking is by means of a bent tab of the fixed plate pressing on the moving flat bar such that once the moving flat bar is shifted and the retaining tab has been overcome, the retaining tab prevents the moving flat bar from returning to its position.

[0018] The moving flat bar can be installed in relation to the front plate in several manners. A first manner comprises providing the front plate with a large enough gap through which the moving flat bar together with its spring and the blocking hook are introduced. Said window has side grooves or guides on which the closure for the access window can run.

[0019] A second manner comprises providing the front plate with an open space on an edge end which has a gap or wedge formed on each side to facilitate the hooking or retention of a small bar attached to the free end of the spring of the moving flat bar. Once the front plate is adhered to the lock and the moving flat bar is introduced through the upper gap, the small bar of the spring is fixed to the perforations of the front plate because the small bar has two wedges, one on each side, for being fixed in the two perforations of the front plate, the upper groove thus being closed when its gap is occupied by the small bar attached to the spring.

Description of the Drawings

[0020] To complement the description that is being made and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of the description in which the hollowing has been depicted with an illustrative and non-limiting character.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a lock provided with the security system object of the invention, showing the face of the lock where the front or fixed plate housing the moving flat bar is fixed.

Figure 2 shows the moving flat bar together with the spring responsible for the shifting and the retaining hook.

Figure 3 shows the face of the assembly formed by the front or fixed plate and the moving flat bar, on the face fixed on the lock.

Figure 4 shows a front view of the fixed plate.

Figure 5 shows the rear fixing plate.

Figure 6 shows the two clips for fixing the fixed or front plate on the lock with the aid of the rear plate.

Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of the retention of the moving flat bar once it has been shifted due to the removal of the cylinder.

Figure 8 shows a front plate with a front opening or window for installing the moving flat bar therein.

Figure 9 shows a second embodiment for housing the moving flat bar in the front plate.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

[0021] A preferred embodiment of the proposed invention is described below in view of the drawings.

[0022] The object of the invention is a security assembly for locks which can be mounted in a simple and easy manner on any type of locks, not requiring any specific constructive characteristic.

[0023] The security assembly comprises:

• A front or fixed plate (1) which is fixed on a side of a lock and acts as a track and a support for:
• A moving flat bar (2).
• Shifting means for shifting the moving flat bar (2).
• Retention means for retaining the moving flat bar (2) once it has been shifted.
• Fixing means for fixing the front or fixed plate (1) on the lock.

[0024] The fixing means for fixing the front or fixed plate (1) on a side of the lock comprise adhesive strips (1.5) (Figure 3) applied on the surface of the front or fixed plate (1) on the face contacting the lock; the fixed plate (1) further comprises an upper groove (1.1) and another one on a side (1.2) in which the ends of clips (8) and (7) are fitted, respectively (Figure 6), the other ends of which are housed in grooves (6.1) and (6.2) made on a rear part (6) for retaining the rear end of said clips (7) and (8).

[0025] In a possible embodiment, the shifting means for shifting the moving flat bar (2) comprise a spring (3) fixed at one of the ends in the moving flat bar (2), as shown in Figure 2, said spring (3) being compressed, loaded and ready to cause the moving flat bar (2) to shift if the cylinder (5) is removed from the lock of application.

[0026] Figure 1 shows part of the elements of the security assembly, showing the front or fixed plate (1) acting as a track or support for the moving flat bar (2). Said figure also shows the grooves (1.1) and (1.2) made on the front or fixed plate (1) in which one of the ends of fixing clips (8) and (7) is fixed, respectively.

[0027] Figure 2 shows the assembly formed by the moving flat bar (2) on which the end of a spring (3), which is preferably planar, is fixed for enabling being housed in the front or fixed plate (1), as well as a retaining hook (4).

[0028] Figure 3 shows the face of the front or fixed plate (1) used for fixing it to the lock, in addition to the moving flat bar (2), the spring (3) and the retaining hook (4), a groove (1.4) is seen in the front or fixed plate (1) in which the end of the retaining hook (4) is fitted once it has been shifted which prevents shifting the moving flat bar (2) and thus being able to access the gap left by the cylinder after it is removed.

[0029] Figure 4 shows the elements described above, highlighting how the front plate comprises a cavity (1.3) having a shape and a size greater than those of the cylinder so that the latter can pass through said cavity (1.3). The grooves (1.1) and (1.2) where one of the ends of the fixing clips (8) and (7) are housed, respectively, are also shown.

[0030] Figure 5 shows the constructive features of the rear fixing plate (6) comprising a cavity (6.3) having a shape and a size slightly greater than those of the cylinder, with a groove (6.1) on which the other end of the fixing clip (8) is fitted, and with another groove (6.2) where the other end of the fixing clip (7) is fitted.

[0031] As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the fixing clips (7 and 8) are arranged transversely for the purpose of providing a stronger and more secure arrangement.

[0032] Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of the retention means for retaining the moving flat bar (2) once it is shifted, comprising a tab (1.6) of the front or fixed plate (1) which presses on the moving flat bar (2) but does not prevent its shifting and which, when said moving flat bar (2) is shifted and said tab (1.6) is overcome, the latter prevents the return of said moving flat bar (2) to its previous position.

[0033] The moving flat bar (2) can be installed in the space comprised between the front or fixed plate (1) and the assembly of the lock in different manners. A first manner is, as shown in Figure 8, by providing the front or fixed plate (1) with a window or gap (9) having a sufficient size so that the moving flat bar (2) with its spring (3) and the retaining hook (4) can pass through it. With this arrangement, once the aforementioned assembly is introduced, the window (9) is closed by means of a gate (11), for which purpose there are side tracks or guides (10) made on the edges of the window (9) on which the edges of the closing gate (11) run.

[0034] Figure 9 shows a second embodiment for housing the assembly of the moving flat bar (2) in the front or fixed plate (1), the front or fixed plate (1) having at one of its ends an open space in the form of a groove having perforations (13) on each side. The gap of the upper edge has a sufficient size so as to allow introducing the moving flat bar (2) with its spring (3) and a small bar (12) fixed at the upper end of the spring (3).

[0035] Once the aforementioned assembly is introduced, the ends of the small bar (12) are fixed in the perforations (13) of the front or fixed plate (1), for which purpose the small bar (12) is provided with wedges (12.1) on each side, which wedges are fitted and fixed in the perforations (13) existing on each side of the open space of the upper edge. The groove through which the assembly of the moving flat bar (2) and spring (3) has been introduced is thus closed when its gap is occupied by the small bar (12).

[0036] As a result of the described features, security means for locks, acting after the cylinder has been broken and removed, the main feature of which is that it can be installed in locks without requiring said locks to have its own constructive features, are provided.

[0037] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is hereby stated that without departing from its essential features, it can be carried out in other embodiments differing in detail from that indicated by way of example and such embodiments will also be covered by the protection that is sought provided that the fundamental principle thereof is not altered, changed or modified.

Claims

1. A security assembly for locks, characterized in that it comprises:

- A front or fixed plate (1) which is fixed on a side of a lock and acts as a track and a support for:

- A moving flat bar (2).

- Shifting means for shifting the moving flat bar (2).

- Retention means for retaining the moving flat bar (2) once it has been shifted.

- Fixing means for fixing the front or fixed plate (1) to the lock.

2. The security assembly for locks according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing means for fixing the front or fixed plate (1) on a side of the lock comprise adhesive strips (1.5) arranged on the surface of the front or fixed plate (1) on the face contacting the lock, and by means of clips (7) and (8) and a rear fixing plate (6).

3. The security assembly for locks according to claim 2, characterized in that the rear fixing plate (6) comprises a cavity (6.3) having a shape and a size slightly greater than those of the cylinder of the lock, with a groove (6.1) on which an end of the clip (8) is fitted, and with another groove (6.2) where an end of another clip (7) is fitted, whereas the front or fixed plate (1) comprises an upper groove (1.1) and another one on a side (1.2) wherein the ends of clips (8) and (7) are fitted, respectively.

4. The security assembly for locks according to claim 1, characterized in that the shifting means for shifting the moving flat bar (2) comprise a spring (3) fixed at one of its ends to the moving flat bar (2), said spring (3) being compressed, loaded and ready to cause the moving flat bar (2) to shift if the cylinder (5) is removed from the lock of application.

5. The security assembly for locks according to claim 1, characterized in that the retention means for retaining the moving flat bar (2) comprise a retaining hook (4) working with a groove (1.4) defined in the front or fixed plate (1).

6. The security assembly for locks according to claim 1, characterized in that the retention means for retaining the moving flat bar (2) comprise a tab (1.6) arranged in the front or fixed plate (1) pressing on the moving flat bar (2) and once overcome by the latter, preventing the return of said moving flat bar (2) to its previous position.

7. The security assembly for locks according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the front or fixed plate (1) has an access window or gap (9) for accessing the inside, having tracks or guides (10) on the sides on which the sides of a closing gate (11) for closing said window (9) run for the purpose of allowing access to the inside of the assembly of the moving flat bar (2) together with the spring (3) and the retaining hook (4).

8. The security assembly for locks according to claim 1, characterized in that the front or fixed plate (1) has an open space on the upper edge, having perforations (13) on each side, whereas the moving flat bar (2) is provided at the free end of the spring (3) with a small bar (12) which has wedges (12.1) on its ends with which it is fixed in the perforations (13) for the purpose of allowing access to the inside of the assembly of the moving flat bar (2), the spring (3) and the retaining hook (4), as well as closing said access.

Drawing