Abstract:
A security slug punch tool is disclosed. A typical application includes protecting curb box cover assemblies employed on catch basins along thoroughfares. The hand held tool houses a first cylinder extending beyond one end of the tool affixed to a smaller diameter cylinder drive pin. A deformable slug is secured within an elastomeric grommet at one end of the tool. An operator forcibly striking the first cylinder causes the slug to be wedged into a face opening in a bolt head, as, for example, a hexagonal opening in a bolt securing a curb box cover assembly, thereby rendering the bolt tamper proof. The punch tool and slug can be configured for securing a variety of bolts with different face openings.

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of our prior application Ser. No. 11/253,893, titled “Curb Box Cover Assembly”, filed Oct. 19, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,495, which application is herein incorporated by this reference. 
   This invention relates to devices and methods for the prevention of unauthorized removal of bolts from generally available structures, and in particular to loosening and/or removal of catch basin cover assemblies along public thoroughfares. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the above noted co-pending prior application, applicants have described a catch basin curb box cover assembly including an improved securing clamping means. As is a common problem with a myriad variety of public structures, these catch basin curb box cover assemblies, together with their unique clamps, can offer an attraction to vandals or pilferers to loosen, remove, or outright steal these structures. To prevent this expensive and destructive behavior a tool has been devised to eliminate or at least seriously discourage this unfortunate activity. 
   It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to prevent unauthorized removal of bolts from public structures. 
   An additional object is to provide a simple, hand held tool for protecting bolts from unauthorized removal. 
   Yet another object is to provide a tool for protecting bolts from unauthorized removal, said tool having a front end configured to conform to an exposed face portion of a bolt. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a tool for wedging a slug into an opening in the face portion of a bolt so as to protect said bolt from unauthorized removal. 
   A further object is to provide a tool for protecting bolts securing public structures after said structures have been secured in place. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These and other objects are obtained with the security slug punch tool of the invention. 
   As noted in our said above mentioned co-pending application a catch basin curb box cover assembly with securing clamps is described. This prior invention provides variously configured curb box cover assemblies for attachment to existing catch basins along the length of thoroughfares in developed areas. A specially designed securing clamping means is employed for confidently securing the cover assembly to the catch basin even against the irregular, angled interior surface of most catch basin castings. Both the covering member and these unique clamps can prove attractive to vandals and others which can result in these structures and components being dangerously loosened, or even completely removed. 
   It occurred that if the bolt employed to secure the clamping means for the covering member was rendered tamper proof, then loosening the bolt so as to damage or remove the covering member would be prevented. To this end a hand held tool has been devised to accomplish this purpose. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the above noted clamping means a pair of co-axially aligned and integrally connected catch basin contact members pivotally mounted on a clamp member are caused to secure a covering member to a catch basin by means of an operator&#39;s action of threading a bolt through a cooperating threaded opening in said pivot member. The head of the bolt is positioned external to the covering member, with clamping means catch basin contact members being positioned behind and within the covering member and opening to the catch basin. In this case an opening in the bolt head contains a standard hexagonal slot, enabling the operator to employ an Allen wrench to turn the bolt head and thereby secure the covering member to the catch basin, with the clamp member secured within the catch basin, but the bolt head clearly visible and accessible on the exterior of the cover assembly now affixed to the catch basin. 
   In this configuration the cover assembly is now vulnerable to mischievous and harmful activity. A punch tool is now employed to prevent such actions. The purpose of the punch tool is to provide the means for securing a slug within the opening in the face of the bolt. This is accomplished with the security slug punch tool of the invention. 
   The punch tool can be fabricated out of various materials, including metals and rigid plastic, with steel being preferred. A steel cylinder sized for comfortable hand holding contains a first large diameter bore in reference to a second smaller diameter bore throughout its length. A cylindrically shaped force transmitter is configured to slip fit within the two bores, with a large diameter portion of the force transmitter extending beyond a first end of the tool. A second end of the tool is configured in a tapered concave shape matching the head of the clamp securing bolt. A rubber grommet securing a metal slug is affixed at the base of this concave shaped second tool end. 
   In operation the second end of the punch tool is placed over the head of the bolt after the bolt has secured the covering member to the catch basin. A hammer of other suitable tool is used to strike the extended end of the force transmitter, causing the drive pin on the force transmitter to slide a spaced distance beyond the concave base portion at the second end of the punch tool with sufficient force so as to cause the slug positioned in the rubber grommet to be wedged into the hexagonal opening in the head of the bolt. The bolt is now permanently protected from being opened by persons unauthorized to do so. 
   The security slug punch tool of the invention can, of course, be configured for a virtually limitless variety of openings in addition to the above described hexagonal slot for standard Allen wrench operation. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective, schematic view of one version of the security slug punch tool of the invention, illustrating the interior placement of component parts with the tool at rest. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded, schematic view of one version of the security slug punch tool of the invention, similar to that depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a catch basin curb box with a cover assembly installed. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the means for clamping the covering member, showing the assembled relationship of the components. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the means for clamping the covering member. 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation view taken along lines  6 - 6  in  FIG. 3  showing the covering member in place in front of the catch basin, and showing a version of the invention about to render the bolt tamper proof. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Turning now to the drawings wherein similar structures having the same function are denoted with the same numerals, in  FIG. 1  a version  10  of the security slug punch tool is illustrated. The punch tool  10  of the present invention can be fabricated in a variety of shapes, with a cylindrical shape being preferred. Material of construction can include rigid plastic, with metals such as steel preferable for durability. An outer barrel  12  houses a first cylinder, hereinafter referred to as a force transmitter  18 , with an attached smaller diameter cylinder, hereinafter referred to as a drive pin  20 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the barrel  12  contains a large bore  14  extending from a first end  31  approximately three quarters of the length of the barrel, with a narrower co-axially positioned second bore  16  extending from said first bore to a second end  41  of the barrel. Approximate dimensions of the barrel can be, for example, 4″ in length×1⅛″ in width, the first bore diameter being ¾″, the second bore diameter being ¼″. An approximate 1″ long×¾″ diameter steel spring  32  is fitted within the first bore  14  of the barrel. Approximately half of the external surface of the barrel can be knurled  30  for added convenience while handling. 
   The force transmitter  18  and attached drive pin  20  are also preferably fabricated in steel. The force transmitter can be approximately 3″ in length, with a diameter slightly less than that of the barrel first bore  14 . A linear slot  24  on the surface of the force transmitter extends from a first end for approximately half its length. The drive pin  20  can be approximately 2″ in length, with a ¼″ diameter. The drive pin extends a spaced distance within a matching approximate ¼″ bore within and at a second end of the force transmitter, then extends beyond this second end of the force transmitter. This extension of the drive pin from the second end of the force transmitter will in operation be an extension within the second bore  16  of the barrel to a point just before an opening  44  at the second end  41  of the barrel. The drive pin is replaceably secured to the force transmitter by means of a threaded hole  26  and set screw  28  adjacent the second end of the force transmitter, being positioned perpendicular to the axis of the first bore  14  of the barrel. 
   After the spring  32  is secured within the barrel  12  the force transmitter  18  and attached drive pin  20  are slipped within the first  14  and second  16  bores in the barrel, being secured in operative position by means of a threaded hole  34  and set screw  36  adjacent the first end of the barrel, being positioned perpendicular to the axis of the first bore of the barrel. The set screw  36  is dimensioned so as to fit within the linear slot  24  on the surface of the force transmitter adjacent a perpendicular walled end of the linear slot so as to form a pre-determined stop for the force transmitter and drive pin within the barrel. In this now operative position the force transmitter now extends a spaced distance beyond the first end of the barrel, with the head  22  of the drive pin positioned adjacent the opening  44  at the second end of the barrel. 
   The second end  41  of the barrel has an approximate ½″ tapered opening so as to conform to the head of a bolt  76  ( FIG. 4 ) as will be more fully explained below. The opening  44  at the second end of the barrel is configured to accept an elastomeric grommet  40 . The grommet is selected so as to accept a deformable slug  42  within its center opening. The slug can be, for example, a mild 10-18 steel softer than that used to fabricate the bolt  74 . Dimensions of the slug can be approximately 3/16″ in width×0.312″ in diameter. With the grommet affixed to the aperture  44  at the second end of the barrel, and with the slug  42  secured within the opening in the grommet, the security slug punch tool  10  of the invention is now ready for operation. 
   As noted above, our co-pending application Ser. No. 11/253,893, filed Oct. 19, 2005 for a “Curb Box Cover Assembly” describes a typical application for the punch tool  10  of the invention.  FIG. 3  illustrates one type of cover assembly  52  as secured to a catch basin. The catch basin is comprised of a catch basin frame  46  securing a street gate  48 , with a curb piece portion  50  of the catch basin. 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , unique clamping means  54  are employed to securely affix the cover member  53  to the catch basin. Clamping means  54  is formed by bending a transition member  56  so that openings  62  in a first catch basin contact member  58  and a second catch basin contact member  60  are axially aligned. A pivot member  64  is secured within the catch basin contact member openings  62  by means of a circumferential groove  66  at one end of the pivot member and a cooperating threaded hole  70  and set screw  68  in second catch basin contact member  60  making contact between opening  62  and groove  66 . A threaded hole  72  within the pivot member is then accessed by matching threads on the shank  78  of the bolt  74 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates the bolt  74  in clamping means  54  about to be tightened to affix the cover member  53  to the curb piece portion of the catch basin with the punch tool  10  ready to render the bolt tamper proof. A cover member contact member  61  of the transition member  56  is shown in contact with an inner face of the cover assembly with the bolt about to be tightened (using, for example, an Allen wrench[not shown]) so as to swing first catch basin contact member  58  (not shown) and second catch basin contact member  60  into contact with an inner face portion of the curb piece portion of the catch basin, thereby securing the cover assembly  52  to the catch basin. After the bolt is finished securing the clamp member  54 , the tapered opening  38  at the second end  41  of the punch tool, which has been pre-configured so as to match opposing contours on the tapered head  76  of the bolt, is secured over the bolt head by an operator. The operator then can take a hammer or similar tool and strike the end of the force transmitter extending beyond the first end of the barrel. This action will cause the force transmitter to compress the spring  32  within the first bore  14  of the barrel and move the drive pin forward, dislodging the slug  42  from the grommet  40  and into the opening  80  in the bolt head. The head  22  of the drive pin is slightly rounded so as to facilitate dislodging of the slug from the grommet. The “softer” metal of the slug material flows sufficiently to fill the opening  80  in the bolt head, and is generally flush to the surface of the bolt head after the operation is complete. The compressed spring will now relax and push the force transmitter back to the pre-determined position within the barrel as determined by the slot  24  contacting the barrel mounted set screw  36 . The operator now simply places another slug into the grommet and proceeds to protect as many bolts as deemed necessary. 
   Thus it can be seen that public structures attractive to vandals and other unauthorized individuals can be simply and economically fastener protected. A security slug punch tool is disclosed providing means for rendering tool tightening and loosening head openings of bolts tamper proof. A quick hammer strike on the hand held tool dislodges a pre-formed slug into the fastener head opening, permanently preventing future loosening. 
   While the present invention has been disclosed in connection with versions shown in detail, various modifications and improvements will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.