Patent Application
20240318468
This invention relates to a high security hasp that couples with a lock to secure cabinets, utility cabinets, doors, openings or other locked areas. A hasp is formed of metal plates that are fastened together with a lock to secure a door or an opening. These doors or openings may be on any opening, doorway, cabinet, or any device that needs to be secured by a lock.
The shackle of a padlock is a bar that is locked/secured to the body of the lock when in the locked position and unsecured/free from the lock in the unlocked position. In a typical padlock, the shackle is a U-shaped bar that loops around from one side of the padlock to the other. When the padlock is locked, the U-shaped shackle is secured to both sides of the lock. When the padlock is unlocked, the U-shaped shackle is free from one side of the lock so that the padlock can be removed from the hasp.
A hasp for a typical padlock with a U shaped exposed shackle includes two metal plates, with each of the metal plates attached to one side of the door or opening to be secured. This type of hasp generally has a first metal plate with a raised loop that fits through a complementary slot on the second metal plate. The shackle of the pad lock fits through the loop and once the pad lock is locked, the shackle prevents moving the raised loop of the first plate through the complementary slot of the second metal plate. This secures the first metal plate to the second plate.
A second type of padlock is a hidden shackle pad lock. This type of pad lock is sometimes referred to “puck” type pad locks. This type of lock is round, with a key hole on the vertical side of the lock. In this type of lock, the shackle is hidden in a compartment on the rear side of the lock. The shackle comprises a straight bar that is secured to both sides of the lock in the locked position. In the unlocked position, the shackle retracts into the body of the lock. In a typical padlock, the U-shaped shackle is a weak point and can be cut more easily than the body. With a hidden shackle padlock, the shackle is hidden behind the body of the lock. Hidden shackle padlocks are typically made of hardened steel that is difficult to cut. This configuration makes hidden shackle padlocks more difficult to cut and thus more secure.
A second type of hasp is secured by a hidden shackle pad lock. This second type of hasp has a first raised metal tab and a second raised metal tab, each with a circular opening through the tab. The tabs are sized to fit in the compartment at the rear of a hidden shackle lock, the circular openings sized such that the shackle of a hidden shackle pad lock with fit through them and the tabs oriented such that when the shackle is routed through the circular openings and locked, that the lock secures the first raised metal tab to the second raised metal tab. Securing the first raised metal tab to the second raised metal tab secures the two sides of any opening that needs to be secured.
Hasps are generally manufactured of high strength steel but can also be made of stainless steel, aluminum, or cast iron.
Prior art hasps designed to be used with hidden shackle have a variety of shortcomings including that they can be easily removed from a door/opening or may be cut in half to separate the two halves of the hasp.
The present invention is an improved hasp for use with a hidden shackle pad lock. The improved device is manufactured of high strength steel and includes a tamper proof hinge with a domed pin. Further the shackle is mounted on high strength laminated steel mounting plates for additional security. The device includes a protective shroud for the hidden shackle lock with offset breaks in the shroud to prevent cutting the lock with a grinder. Further the configuration of the shackle allows use on openings that need to be secured, particularly those on boxes for public utilities (utility boxes).
The following detailed description refers to the preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention as shown in the attached figures and in the below description. This detailed description is not meant to limit the scope of the invention in any way but is intended to disclose the preferred embodiment/best mode of the invention at the time of filing this application.
First securing plate 2 is attached to one side of the opening to be secured. First securing plate 2 is attached to hinge 4 that is connected to first plate 3. First plate 3 includes slot 9 that is sized to fit over loop 5 which is connected to second securing plate 6. Second securing plate 6 is attached to the other side of the opening to be secured with the hasp 1 and pad lock 8. Loop 5 fits through slot 9 with U shaped shackle 7 of pad lock 8 routed through loop 5. When pad lock 8 is locked, U shaped shackle 8 is locked into place, thus securing loop 5 and second securing plate 6 to first plate 3 and first securing plate 2. When this process is complete, the first side of an opening is secured to the second side of that opening with pad lock 8.
Hidden shackle pad lock 10 provides improved security because the normally vulnerable shackle 14 is hidden behind the body of pad lock 10. Typically, U shaped shackle 7 of pad lock 8 is the targeted for cutting by thieves. Because shackle 14 of hidden shackle pad lock 10 is hidden behind the substantial body of pad lock 10, it is very difficult to access and cut. Hidden shackle pad lock 10 is often made of high strength metal, specifically high strength steel that is difficult to cut, even with power tools. The length of time it takes to cut through the body of pad lock 10 and the noise generated by the tools necessary to perform such cutting exposes thieves to detection and capture. This additional body strength and hidden shackle, make hidden shackle pad lock 10 more secure that pad lock 8 with U shaped shackle 7.
Hinge 102 is attached to one end of first securing plate 101 and to one end of second securing plate 103. Hinge 102 is a high security hinge with a domed pin that is difficult to cut with a grinder or other power tool. In the preferred embodiment, hinge 102 is made of high strength steel and securely welded to first securing plate 101 and second securing plate 103. Welding is used in the preferred embodiment, but any method of connection well known in the art could be used such as casting or forging. Hinge 102 could be formed as a portion of both first securing plate 101 and/or second securing plate 103.
In the preferred embodiment, second securing plate 103 is L shaped with a right angle in the plate that allows the hinge to be positioned along the utility cabinet side 120 while attached to one side of second securing plate 103 while the front side of the second securing plate 103 is oriented along the utility cabinet door 121. First lock base 111 is attached to second securing plate 103. First lock base 111 comprises the first raised vertical tab to couple with the shackle of pad lock 104. First lock base 111 also comprises first lock shroud 110. First lock shroud 110 is a semi-circular raised shroud that provides additional protection from cutting for pad lock 104. The edges of first lock shroud 110 tightly couple with complementary edges of second lock shroud 107, which is attached second lock base 112 which is positioned on third securing plate 103. Second lock base 112 includes a second raised vertical tab that couples with the shackle of pad lock 104 to secure first lock base 111 and second lock base 112 to each other. In the preferred embodiment, first lock base 111 and second lock base 112 are welded securely to second securing plate 103 and third securing plate 106. When compartment 13 of pad lock 104 is positioned over the raised vertical tabs of first lock base 111 and second lock base 112 and the shackle is routed through the tabs, second securing plate 103 is locked securely to third securing plate 106. This locked position securely locks utility cabinet door 121 closed.
As an additional security measure, third lock shroud 123 provides protection against accessing the rear of lock 104. Third lock shroud 123 has a reduced wall height, to provide access to key hole 105. However, third lock shroud 123 has wall height sufficient to guard against a thief lifting lock 104 to gain access to the rear of the lock. Third lock shroud 123 prevents lifting lock 104 to gain access to the rear of lock 104. This provides additional protection from prying lock 104 away from hasp 100. The combination of first lock shroud 110, second lock shroud 107, and third lock shroud 123 provide 360 degree protection for lock 104 to fortify hasp 100 against cutting or prying of lock 104.
The components of improved security hasp 100 including first securing plate 101, hinge 102, second securing plate 103, first lock base 111, second securing plate 106, second lock base 112, first lock shroud 110 and second lock shroud 107 are made of high strength steel in the preferred embodiment. The components may be cast, forged or cut with a variety of methods to form the items. While high strength steel is used in the preferred embodiment, other materials may be utilized such as stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron or any other high strength material known in the art. Manufacturing methods such as casting, forging, welding, CNC cutting and plasma cutting may be used in the manufacture of each of the component parts.
As an additional security measure, third lock shroud 123 provides protection against accessing the rear of lock 104. Third lock shroud 123 has a reduced wall height, to provide access to key hole 105. However, third lock shroud 123 has wall height sufficient to guard against a thief lifting lock 104 to gain access to the rear of the lock. Third lock shroud 123 prevents lifting lock 104 to gain access to the rear of lock 104. This provides additional protection from prying lock 104 away from hasp 100. The combination of first lock shroud 110, second lock shroud 107, and third lock shroud 123 provide 360 degree protection for lock 104 to fortify hasp 100 against cutting or prying of lock 104.
Also shown are first raised vertical tab 115 and second raised vertical tab 116. These tabs are oriented to fit in the compartment 13 of pad lock 104 and to couple with shackle 14 of the lock. First raised vertical tab 115 and second raised vertical tab 116 are oriented across from each other so that the shackle 14 can be routed through the shackle slots 122 in the tabs.
As an additional security measure, third lock shroud 123 provides protection against accessing the rear of lock 104. Third lock shroud 123 has a reduced wall height, to provide access to key hole 105. However, third lock shroud 123 has wall height sufficient to guard against a thief lifting lock 104 to gain access to the rear of the lock. Third lock shroud 123 prevents lifting lock 104 to gain access to the rear of lock 104. This provides additional protection from prying lock 104 away from hasp 100. The combination of first lock shroud 110, second lock shroud 107, and third lock shroud 123 provide 360 degree protection for lock 104 to fortify hasp 100 against cutting or prying of lock 104.
Hinge 102 is an antitheft hinge with domed pin 118. The domed top of the hinge, made from hardened steel makes it very difficult to cut with a grinder or other methods, thus improving the security.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to the above disclosed preferred embodiment, many modifications in design, implementation, systems and execution are possible while still maintaining the novel features and advantages of the invention. The preferred embodiment is not meant to limit the scope of the patent in any way, and it should be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the language of the disclosure on the whole.
