Lock box for sealed latch assembly

A lock box assembly for enclosing and protecting a plastic security seal on the latch assembly of the door on a cargo container or trailer. The lock box includes first and second box members that together form an enclosure for the hasp assembly that holds the seal. Cooperating latch arm slots in the sides of the box members capture the latch arm, thereby securing the lock box to the latch assembly and preventing access to the seal. Aligned holes in the sides of the box members receive a lock pin. This configuration provides a lock box that is simple in design and easy to attach and remove using any conventional lock pin. The box is secured to the latch assembly by capturing the latch arm in the slots, eliminating the need for any structure to pass through the hasps, leaving the seal undisturbed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to devices for protecting security seals on latches for cargo doors, shipping containers and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional cargo carrying vehicles and shipping containers have swing-out cargo doors that include a latch assembly. The typical latch assembly, shown inFIG. 1and designated generally by reference numeral10, comprises a vertical locking bar12and a horizontally extending latch arm14pivotally attached to the vertical bar. The vertical locking bar12includes a locking cam (not shown) that engages a corresponding keeper (not shown) in the frame surrounding the cargo door16when the door is closed and the latch arm14is in a position parallel with the door. The locking cam is disengaged from the keeper when the locking arm is rotated to a position perpendicular to the cargo door allowing the door to be opened.

As shown inFIG. 1, the latch arm14of the latch assembly10is secured in a horizontal position parallel to the cargo door16by a hasp assembly20. The hasp assembly20includes first and second hasps24and26mounted on a base plate28. The base plate28is fixed to a back plate30that is bolted to the door16. The first or lower hasp24is stationary to receive and support the latch arm14as it is pivoted into the engaged or latched position horizontally, as shown inFIG. 1. The second or upper hasp26is pivotally connected to the base plate28and back plate30to rotate within a plane generally parallel to the cargo door16. The ends of the first and second hasps24and26are provided with aligned holes (not numbered) for receiving the shackle of a padlock (not shown) for securing the latch arm14within the hasp assembly20and preventing the cargo door14from being opened.

Where access to the cargo is to be limited, such as when the cargo comprises foods, chemicals, hazardous wastes, or the like, a tamper-evident security seal34, such as a ribbon seal, a padlock seal, a cable seal, or the like, is installed through the aligned hasp holes. These seals are commercially available and typically are embossed with serial numbers. The serial number of the seal may be included on the bill of lading or shipping papers by the shipper. Upon delivery, the recipient can verify the integrity of the cargo by checking the serial number of the intact seal on the cargo door with the serial number on the billing of lading. If the seal is broken or bears a different number, the recipient may, and usually does, refuse delivery.

However, because the security seal34is exposed to the environment during shipment, it is vulnerable to accidental damage and to malicious damage by vandals when the cargo carrying vehicle or shipping container is left unattended. Consequently, even if no tampering or theft of the cargo occurs, the integrity of the cargo may be questioned on delivery if the seal is no longer intact. This results in unnecessary expense to the shipper and the owner of the cargo, as well as delay and inconvenience to the recipient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a protective enclosure or lock box assembly for enclosing and protecting these tamper-evident security seals. The lock box assembly of the present invention includes a lock box that covers the sealed latch so that the seal is not vulnerable to damage or accessible to vandals. The box is secured to the latch assembly in a way that does not interfere with the holes in the hasps through which the seal is attached.

The present invention comprises a lock box assembly for a latch assembly comprising a latch arm engageable with a hasp assembly, where the hasp assembly comprises first and second hasps with aligned apertures therein to receive a security seal. The hasp assembly is adapted to restrain the latch arm therein.

The lock box assembly comprises a lock box that includes first and second box members. The first box member comprises a housing with side walls, and preferably has a closed end, an open end, a closed top, open bottom, and two closed sides. The first box member is sized and shaped to enclose a first portion of the hasp assembly. The sides include latch-receiving recesses, such as latch slots with open ends, and the latch slots are sized to receive a first portion of the latch arm. In addition, the first box member includes lock-receiving recesses that preferably are provided by aligned locking holes in the sides.

The second box member a housing with side walls, and preferably has an open end, a closed end, a top, and two closed sides, and is sized and shaped to enclose a second portion of the closed hasp assembly. The sides of the second box member include latch-receiving recesses, such as latch slots with open ends, and the latch slots are sized to receive at least a second portion of the latch arm. In addition, the first box member includes lock-receiving recesses that preferably are provided by aligned locking holes in the sides.

The first box member is engageable with the second box member to form an enclosure for the hasp assembly and security seal. Preferably, the open end of the first box member is receivable in the open end of the second box member to form a continuous enclosure for the hasp assembly. When the first box member is received in the second box member, the open ends of the latch slots in the first and second box members overlap to form an enclosed slot on each side of the latch box sized to receive the latch arm extending therethrough.

The lock-receiving recesses in the first and second box members are positioned to cooperate when the first and second box members are engaged so that when a lock is received therein, the first and second box members are locked together and around the latch arm. For example, in the preferred embodiment, the locking holes in the first and second box members are aligned to receive a locking pin therethrough. When a locking pin is engaged in the locking holes in the lock box, the first box member is secured to the second box member with the latch arm in the enclosed latch slots. Thus, the lock box is secured to the hasp assembly over the aligned hasps and any seal therein, thereby obstructing access to the seal and the hasp assembly. Advantageously, the assembled lock box encloses but does not engage the aligned apertures in the hasp assembly

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to theFIGS. 2-6, there is shown therein a lock box assembly made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and designated generally by the reference numeral38. The lock box assembly38is designed for use with a latch assembly10, such as that described above and illustrated inFIG. 1.

With continuing reference toFIGS. 2-6, the lock box assembly38comprises a lock box40, which in turn comprises first and second box members42and44. As seen best inFIGS. 2,5&6, the first box member42is formed by a closed end50, an open end52, a closed top54, an open bottom56and two closed sides58and60. The first box member42is sized and shaped to enclose a first portion of the hasp assembly20. Preferably, the first box member42is adapted to enclose the lower half of the hasp assembly, including the first hasp24. The dimensions of the first box member42should be sufficient to accommodate a variety of types of security seals, including the seal34.

Referring still toFIGS. 2,5&6, the first box member42includes a latch slot64and66in each side58and60. Preferably, the latch slots64and66are straight slots with open ends continuous with the open end52of the first box member and extending a distance generally toward the closed end50. As best seen inFIG. 2, the slots64and66are sized to receive a portion of the latch arm14, and preferably to fit closely around the latch arm. Most preferably, the first box arm is shaped to slide in over the lower half of the hasp assembly20and around the bottom half of the latch arm14.

The second box member44, seen inFIGS. 3-6, is formed by a closed end70, an open end72, a closed top74, an open bottom76and two closed sides78and80. The second box member44is sized and shaped to enclose a second portion of the hasp assembly20. Preferably, the second box member44is adapted to enclose the upper half of the hasp assembly, including the second hasp26.

The second box member44includes a latch slot84and86in each side78and80. Preferably, the latch slots84and86are L-shaped slots with open ends84aand86acontinuous with the open bottom76of the second box member and straight sections84band86bthat extend a distance generally toward the closed end70. As best seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, the slots84and86are sized to receive at least a portion of the latch arm14, and preferably the entire width of the latch arm. Specifically, the width of the open ends84aand86aare slightly wider than the width of the latch arm14, and the length of the straight sections84band86bare at least about the same as the width of the latch arm. Most preferably, the second box member is shaped to slide in over the upper half of the hasp assembly20and the first box member42. Thus, the first box member42is received in the open end72of the second box member44to form a single, continuous enclosure for the entire hasp assembly20.

More specifically, the second box member44is first placed over the upper half of the hasp assembly20and the first box member42so that the entire latch arm14is received in the open ends84aand86aof the slots84and86. Then, the second box member44is moved downwardly until the latch arm14is positioned fully in the straight (upper) portions84band86bof the slots84and86, as seenFIGS. 3 and 4. In this position, the latch slots84and86overlap to form an enclosed slot88(FIG. 6) on each side of the lock box40that encircles the latch arm14.

With continuing references toFIGS. 2-6, the first box member42also includes aligned locking holes90and92in the sides58and60near the closed end50, and the second box member44has aligned locking holes96and98in the sides78and80near its open end72. The locking holes90,92,96and98are positioned so that, when the first and second box members42and44are engaged, as shown inFIGS. 3,4and6, the holes all are aligned to receive a single locking pin100(FIG. 4) therethrough, thereby locking the first and second box members together around the latch arm14.

When the locking pin100is engaged in the locking holes90,92,96and98in the lock box40, the first box member42is secured to the second box member44with the latch arm14secured in the enclosed latch slots88. This, in turn, secures the entire lock box40to the hasp assembly20over the aligned hasps24and26and any seal34therein. In this way, access to the seal34, as well as the hasp assembly20, is obstructed.

The lock box members42and44may be formed of any suitable material, but steel is ideal and preferably stainless steel. The members42and44may be formed in any suitable manner; cutting the shape from square tubular steel is acceptable. The preferred form for the closed end, the closed top, and two closed sides of both the first and second box members is solid and planar to form a box that is generally rectangular in longitudinal cross section. However, other shapes may be employed.

The embodiments shown and described herein are exemplary. Some elements or features of the present invention may be found in the art and, therefore, have not been described in detail herein. The description and drawings are illustrative only, and changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of the various parts and elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. The description and drawings do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but rather merely provide one example of how to use and make the invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by the claims.