BOLT SECURITY DEVICE

Abstract: A bolt is co-operable with a locking mechanism which is engageable with a shoulder (21) near the end of the bolt. The locking mechanism comprises a shoulder cap (26) and a nipple cap (27) between which is mounted a spring member (36) which is formed with grooves and through which the end (22) of the bolt can be extended so as to deflect the spring member before the spring member locks into a groove (19) of the bolt.

Description: This invention relates in general to security devices and in particular to a unique bolt lock which comprises two members and a spring into which the head of the bolt is received. United States Patent 4,0l0,788 discloses a bolt seal with a threaded bolt upon which a spin lock can be received. The present invention comprises a bolt with a head on one end and a groove which forms a shoulder adjacent the other end which is insertable into a locking mechanism comprising two sleeves and a spring which is formed with slots so as to allow portions of the spring to be deflected to allow the end of the bolt to be inserted therein such that the spring will be received in the groove to lock the locking mechanism to the end of the bolt. The bolt portion can be different lengths and diameters and the lock cannot be removed from the bolt without damaging the structure so that it would be obvious to an observer that the bolt and lock had been tampered with. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure and in which: ON THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a sectional view illustrating the bolt and locking mechanism in use; FIG. 2 is an end plan view illustrating the locking device; FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view through the locking device; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV in FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the locking spring of the invention. FIG. l illustrates the bolt lock of the invention designated generally as l0 which comprises a bolt having a head l3 with a curved surface and a cylindrical portion l4 which is attached by a fillet l6 to the main shaft l5 of the bolt. The tapered portion l7 connects the main portion l5 to a smaller portion l8 which is formed with a groove l9 by tapering a portion of the smaller portion l8 down to the shoulder 2l. Cylindrical head portion 22 joins the shoulder 2l and has a tapered end 23 as illustrated. A locking mechanism 24 comprises three parts comprising a shoulder cap 26, a nipple cap 27 and a spring member 36. The shoulder cap has a first cylindrical portion 28 which in the locked position fits around the smaller portion l8 of the bolt. The shoulder cap also has outwardly extending portion 29 and a cover portion 26 and an outer curved portion 3l which locks the nipple cap 27 and the spring 36. The nipple cap 27 has a cylindrical portion 34 and an inwardly extending portion 33 which forms a cap that covers the end 23 of the bolt. The spring 36 is locked between the members 26 and 27 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The spring 36 has a disc shaped portion 38 formed with an outer edge 37 and a generally truncated conical portion which is separated by slots 5l, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 so as to form inwardly extending fingers 39 through 44 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The ends 50 of the fingers 39 through 44 engage the shoulder 2l of the bolt portion 22 when the bolt is inserted into the locking mechanism 24. In use, the bolt l0 is inserted through a pair of members ll and l2 formed with a central opening through which the main body portion 15 of the bolt extends and the locking mechanism 24 is pressed onto the end 23 of the bolt. The tapered end 23 separates the fingers 39 to 44 such that they ride up on the portion 22 until the fingers are received in the groove 19 and then lock behind the shoulder 21 of the bolt portion 22 as illustrated in FIG.3. After the locking mechanism has been inserted onto the portion 22 of the bolt it can be rotated relative to the bolt but it cannot be removed, since the locking fingers 39 to 44 engage the shoulder 21 and cannot be removed therefrom. In a particular embodiment the bolt was made of AlSl type 4037 steel and the large portion 15 was designed so that it would withstand a 90° bend without cracking or breaking. The shoulder cap 26 was formed of 17 gauge (0.054) DQ CRS. The spring 36 was formed of 24 gauge (0.024) CRA spring steel SAE 1050 or equivalent.

Claims: 1. A security device comprising a bolt formed with a head (13) on one end and a shaft portion (15) extending from said head and formed with a groove (19) and shoulder (21) near the second end, a locking mechanism comprising a shoulder cap (26) formed with a central opening through which the shaft (15) of the bolt can extend, a nipple cap (27) attached to said shoulder cap and having a cover portion (26) for covering the central opening of said shoulder cap, and a spring member (36) formed with an outer edge of generally disc shape which is held between said shoulder cap (26) and said nipple cap (27) and also has a central truncated conical shaped portion in which grooves (51-56) are formed to define locking fingers (39-44) with ends separated to form a central opening which is smaller than said shaft portion of said bolt such that the second end of said bolt can be forced into said shoulder cap, said nipple cap and said spring member so that said fingers can be received in said groove (19) of said bolt to engage said shoulder (21) to lock said locking mechanism to said bolt so that it cannot be removed without destroying said bolt and/or said locking mechanism. 2. A security device according to claim 1, characterised in that said second end of said bolt is tapered (23) so as to spread said fingers (39-44) of said spring member (36). 3. A security device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said shaft portion (15) of said bolt is made of material such that it can be bent 90° without fracturing or breaking. 4. A security device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said shaft portion of said bolt has two portions with a first portion (15) near the head (13) of the bolt having a larger diameter than the second portion (18) remote from the head of said bolt.

Inventors: BLEDSOE, JACK E., BYSTRY, JERRY A., ELLERT, MARC C., LOYNES, LESLIE M., PENICK, CLARENCE A., JR.
Applicants: BRAMMALL, INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: F16B41
IPC codes: F16B21, G09F3, F16B41