GB2034797A - Locking buckles - Google Patents

Abstract

One portion 3 of a security belt 1, adapted to be fastened about a container to prevent unauthorised access, is provided with a buckle 2. The other portion of the belt engages in the buckle with a belt end portion 9 extending therethrough and arranged to receive a lockable member 11 preventing withdrawal of the belt end through the buckle. The member may be a padlock engaging in holes in one belt portion, in both belt portions, in the belt end portion and the buckle or in both belt portions and the buckle. If a buckle with a tang is used, the lockable member may engage in a tang hole. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to security belts This invention relates to a security belt for attaching to any form of openable container which needs protection against unauthorised access to the contents thereof. The belt of the invention is particularly suitable for use with luggage to protect the contents thereof against pilferage during transit.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a security belt of the invention; Figure 2 shows another embodiment of a security belt of the invention with an optional modification thereto; Figure 3 is cross section through the belt of Figure 1 but showing the padlock in position and including the modification loop of Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows yet another embodiment similar to those of Figures 1 to 3 but using a different type of buckle.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a security belt having a buckle through which the free end of the belt may.be fed to tighten it around a container to be secured, the free end of the belt having holes therein to receive releasable securing means which, when inserted in one or more of said holes, prevent the free end of the belt being withdrawn through the buckle.

Conveniently, the buckle is provided with an extension shaped to overlie the free end of the belt after insertion through the buckle, said extension having at least one hole therein the or each of which is alignable with one of said holes in the belt end to receive the securing means therethrough.

If desired, the end of the belt attached to the buckle may also be provided with holes to align with the or each hole in the free end of the belt and/or the buckle extension.

Conveniently, the releasable securing means is a conventional padlock of which only one leg of the locking hook is inserted in the belt end holes.

However, both legs may be inserted in suitably provided holes if desired. It will be appreciated however that any suitable form of removable barrier may be provided for attachment to the free belt end to prevent its withdrawal through the buckle. For instance the free belt end could be provided with a transversely extending throughpocket to receive a lockable security bar which cannot be removed therefrom untii the bar is released.

Referring now in more detail to Figure 1 there is shown a security belt 1 to one end 3 of which a buckle 2 is secured in known manner, for instance using rivets 4 as illustrated or by stitching. The belt may be made of any suitable natural or synthetic material such as leather, nylon cord or woven metal.

The buckle 2 comprises a first buckle part 5 which may be provided with one or more tines 6 and a second tensioning part 7 having an aperture 8 therein through which the free end 9 of the belt is threaded as is best illustrated in Figure 3. The provisions of this tensioning part 7 on the buckle provides a tortuous path for the belt end 9 and prevents it from being drawn out of the buckle. It also serves to guide end 9 of the belt down onto and directly above end 3 thereof for reasons which will be explained shortly.

As can be seen from the drawings, the end 9 of the belt is provided with a plurality of holes 1 0 therein. If desired end 3 of the belt may be provided with a corresponding pair of holes 1 Oa so that a padlock 11 may be inserted through the holes 10 and 1 Oa in both belt ends 3 and 9 and secured therein to prevent removal of the belt end 9 through the buckle 3. Alternatively, the holes 1 Oa in the belt end 3 may be omitted and the belt end 9 secured by passing the padlock through only the holes 10 therein.

For added strength and security, however, the buckle 2 preferably includes an extension 1 2 thereto also provided with holes 1 3 to align with the holes 10 in the belt end 9 and the optional holes 1 Oa in the belt end 3. As can be seen from Figure 3, the padlock 11 can secure the belt by being inserted through the holes 1 3 in the buckle extension 12 and the holes 10 in the belt end 9 and optionally through the holes 1 Oa in the belt end 3 thereby preventing removal of the belt from the case or container to which it is fitted until the padlock 11 is released, the belt being passed through the carrying handle or specially provided brackets or eyelets which prevent the belt being slipped off the case.

If extra security is required a second padlock may be inserted in any of the adjacent sets of aligned holes 13, 10 or 1 Oa.

The belt can also be provided with additional loops 14 secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by stitching or the illustrated rivets 1 5, the loops being located at approximately half way and seven eights of the way along its length to permit.

a second belt of the kind described and illustrated to be fixed around the case or box in the opposite direction, said second belt passing through the loops 14 on the first belt and being similarly locked.

As can be seen from Figure 4, a buckle with a single tang 16 may be used, the free end of the belt including tang holes 1 7 in addition to the securing holes 10 which receive the padlock 11.

In the illustrated embodiment, the padlock is fitted through one of the holes 13 in the buckle extension 12 and also through one of the holes 1 0 in the free end of the belt and through hole 1 Oa in the part of the belt secured to buckle cross bar 19.

However, it will be realised that the padlock need not necessarily be fitted through all of these holes as any combination thereof could be used depending on what holes are provided, Indeed, it could be fitted only in a hole 10 in the belt end if a buckle without an extension 12 is used, for instance as shown by the dotted line 1 8 or a buckle terminating at the cross bar 1 9. With such an arrangement, additional security can be obtained if hole 1 Oa is provided to receive the padlock.

Instead of providing the buckle extension 1 2 with two security holes 1 3 as illustrated, with a single tang buckle, a single security hole 20 can be provided to align with the tang holes 17 in the belt.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be appreciated that numerous combinations of buckle configuration and holes are possible, the main feature of the invention being the provision of securing means preferably releasable which either attach the free belt end to the buckle and/or to the part of the belt secured to the buckle cross bar or alternatively which may be attached to the free end of the belt alone to prevent it being withdrawn through the buckle.

As a further alternative to the foregoing, the belt ends may be rivetted together or to the container itseif.

Claims (10)

1. Security belt means including a first belt portion provided with a buckle, a second belt portion detachably engageable in said buckle with a belt end portion extending therethough, said belt end portion being provided with means allowing the lockable attachment thereto of a member preventing withdrawal of said belt end portion through said buckle.

2. Security belt means in accordance with claim 1 wherein said belt end portion is provided with at least one hole arranged to accept the hasp of a padlock constituting said withdrawalpreventing member.

3. Security belt means in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first belt portion is provided with at least one hole alignable with the or each said hole in said belt end portion.

4. Security belt means in accordance with claim 3 wherein equispaced and transversely aligned pairs of said holes are provided in said belt portions.

5. Security belt means in accordance with claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said buckle is provided with a portion having therein at least one hole alignable with a corresponding hole in one or both of said belt portions.

6. Security belt means in accordance with any of the preceding claims wherein said buckle includes a tang arranged to engage in one of a series of holes provided in said second belt portion.

7. Security belt means in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first belt portion is apertured to allow the passage of means for attaching said withdrawal preventing member, said means passing also through one of said series of holes for said tang in said belt end portion.

8. Security belt means in accordance with claim 1 wherein said belt end portion is provided with a transversely extending through-pocket adapted to receive a lockable securing bar constituting said withdrawal preventing member.

9. Security belt means in accordance with any preceding claim and further provided with loops secured thereto and permitting the passage therethrough of portions of a similar security belt means.

10. Security belt means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any Figure of the accompanying drawings.