GB2353066A - Box for holding key and masking keyhole - Google Patents

Abstract

The security device comprises a code lock (1) and a housing (10) for releasably receiving the code lock. The housing is adapted to be secured to a surface, such as a vertical surface of a door (11), and the code lock has a manually operable latch (7) for securing the code lock in or on the housing, a touch pad (2) and a locking mechanism for preventing operation of the latch to release the code lock from the housing except in response to the entry of a correct code via the touch pad. The housing may have a storage chamber (23) for receiving the key of a conventional lock. The code lock and housing may in use conceal the keyhole of a key operated lock.

Description

2353066 A SECURITY DEVICE This invention relates to a security device.

It is known to provide door locks which require a code to be entered in order to activate the locking mechanism. These door locks are commonly referred to as code locks and typically include a touch pad incorporating a set of numbers and letters mounted adjacent to a rotatable door knob and a locking mechanism to prevent rotation of the door knob and hence activation of, typically, a mortice lock to which it is connected unless de-activated by entering the correct code. Such code locks are particularly useful as a deterrent to burglars who know that they are unlikely to gain entry by randomly pressing buttons on the touch pad so that the only practical alternative is through a forced entry which therefore significantly increases the risk of detection.

The present invention is derived from the realisation that code locks of this general type can also be utilised in other ways in order to increase perceived security.

According to the invention there is provided a security device comprising a code lock and a housing for releasably receiving the code lock, the housing being adapted to be secured to a surface such as a vertical surface of a door and the code lock having a manually operable latch for securing the code lock in or on the housing, a touch pad and a locking mechanism for preventing operation of the latch to release the code lock from the housing except in response to the entry of a correct code via the touch pad.

With this arrangement the housing may conveniently be attached to an outermost surface of a door, such as a front door of a building, adjacent to a conventional lock such that it gives the appearance of a conventional code lock, so that the door appears to have two locks instead of one. A key may also be storable in the housing for use in the genuine lock so that the key does not have to be carried around and multiple keys do not have to be issued to what may be a large number of parties who require access to the building. In addition, since code locks can conventionally be reprogrammed this has the added benefit that in the event of it being necessary to deny access to the building by an individual who has knowledge of the code to be used, such as an ex-employee, it is simply necessary to program in a new code rather than replace the lock or locks in the building.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of one embodiment of part of a security device according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective rear and side view of the part shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view of the part shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a front view of another part of the security device, and Figure 5 is a side view of the part shown in Figure 4 with internal parts shown in dotted outline.

Referring firstly to Figures I - 3, a generally conventional code lock 1 is provided on the front face thereof with a touch pad shown generally at 2 incorporating a number of push buttons 3 each uniquely identified by either a number on a letter in the manner as shown in Figure 1. At the lower end of the code lock I is a rotatable handle in the form of a knurled knob 4 secured to a shaft 5 rotatably mounted in a correspondingly shaped bore (not shown) in the code lock I and connected in a conventional manner to the touch pad 2 so as to be able to rotate when the locking mechanism (not shown) has been deactivated by a correct selection of the buttons 3 and be prevented from rotation when the lock has been set. Connected to shaft 5 is a spigot 6 on the end of which is secured a part circular elongated latch lever 7 which is caused to rotate upon rotation of the knob 4 when the locking mechanism has been released or deactivated.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, a generally inverted "T" shaped plate 8 having an upstanding projecting tab 9 is mounted at the upper end of the rear wall of the code lock 1. The tab 9 together with the rotatable latch lever 7 provide means for securing the code lock I within a housing in a manner now described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 there is shown a generally rectilinear housing 10 secured adjacent to an edge portion of a conventional wooden door 11, only part of which is shown. The housing 10 includes an outer rim 12 of a shape substantially corresponding to that of the outer periphery of the code lock 1, although slightly larger, so that the code lock I may be inserted within the housing 10. The housing 10 is mounted on the door I I via screws or bolts which run through a set of four support pillars 13, 14, 15 and 16 and by two screws or bolts via a recessed block 17.

In the case where bolts are utilised, apertures (not shown) are formed through the door I I at positions corresponding to the holes in the support pillars 13, 14, 15 and 16 and in the recessed block 17. The bolts can then be inserted through the holes in the housing 10 and the door 11 and secured via nuts bearing against the inner surface of the door 11 or bearing on washers which in turn bear against the inner surface of the door 11.

To increase the robustness of the fixing of the mounted housing 10, a back plate (not shown), having apertures to receive the bolts inserted through the housing and door 11, can be interposed between the inner surface of the door 11 and the nuts or washers of the bolts.

The code lock 1 can only be inserted within the housing 10 to the limit imposed by the height of the support blocks 13, 14, 15 and 16 and recessed block 17 relative to the door 11.

A hook 19 is fixed to a metal plate 18 which is mounted in the housing 10 between the support blocks 13 and 14. The hook 19 can support a key of a conventional door lock.

Above the hook 19 is a recessed portion 20 in the housing 10 for receiving the tab 9 of the plate 8 in a manner to be described.

At the lower end of the housing 10 is a spring biased slidable catch member 21 by which the rotatably mounted latch lever 7 on the code lock I may be releasably secured, depending upon the orientation of the knob 4. Between the slidable catch 21 and the recess 20 is a wall member 22 which therefore separates the interior of the housing 10 into two parts, one being a storage chamber 23 into which, for example, keys may be stored using the hook 19, and the other being a smaller chamber 24 of size sufficient to receive the latch lever (7) in any rotational orientation. The main purpose of the wall member 22 is to protect the lever 7 and catch 21 from any mechanical interference caused by objects such as keys which may have fallen off the hook 19.

In operation, the code lock 1 is tilted from the vertical by an amount sufficient to allow the tab 9 to be inserted into the recess 20, whereafter it is returned to the vertical and the latch lever 7 is pressed against the slidable catch 21 until it assumes a position substantially behind it, whereafter the code lock may be set via the pressing of one of several of the buttons 3 on the touch pad 2. In this position, the combination of the code lock I and housing 10 presents an image of a single mechanical lock, whereas in reality the code lock I only prevents unauthorised access to the interior of the housing 10 and in particular the storage chamber 23 which may typically house one or several keys retained on the hook 19. This has a number of advantages including obviating the need to issue a number of keys to authorised persons requiring access to the interior of a building whilst at the same time providing the additional advantage of a perceived increase of security thereto.

The invention may also be used to prevent direct access to a conventional keyhole in a door by being mounted over it so that the keyhole is only accessible via the interior of the housing 10. To provide for tl-iis, the housing 10 may typically be in the form of an open frame such that the storage chamber 23 shown with reference to Figure 4 may be defined in part by part of the surface of the door It, which may include a keyhole into which a key which may or may not be stored within the housing can be inserted when the code lock 1 has been removed.

In this case, the back-plate is suitably formed to provide unhindered access to the locking mechanism, which is associated with the keyhole and which is mounted on the inner surface of the door. Typically, the back-plate may be in two parts that in use are located above and below the locking mechanism, or may include a recess or aperture in which the locking mechanism can be received during mounting of the back plate.

The invention described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. -7CLAIMS

   I A security device comprising a code lock and a housing for releasably receiving the code lock, the housing being adapted to be secured to a surface such as a vertical surface of a door and the code lock having a manually operable latch for securing the code lock in or on the housing, a touch pad and a locking mechanism for preventing operation of the latch to release the code lock from the housing except in response to the entry of a correct code via the touch pad.
2. 2. A security device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a backplate mountable to the inner surface of the door and fixing elements receivable through the housing and the door, each fixing element clamping the housing and the back-plate to the door.
3. 3. A security device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the housing has a storage chamber for receiving the key of a conventional lock.
4. 4. A security device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing also has a latching chamber separated from the storage chamber for receiving the latch of the code lock.
5. 5. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the code lock and housing in use conceal the keyhole of a key operated lock.
6. 6. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latch is connected to a manually operable handle.
7. 7. A security device as claimed in claim 6, wherein, on entry of the correct code, the handle is rotatable to release the latch.
8. 8. A security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.