EP3351712A1 - Locking clamp for securing a gate to a fence post - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking clamp for securing two adjacent bodies together, in particular for securing a gate to a fence post. The locking clamp comprises a first bracket and a second bracket which, together with the first bracket, surrounds an area for receiving the two adjacent bodies. The stirrups each have a first end and a second end, wherein they are hinged together at their first ends, so that the stirrups can be pivoted between an open position in which the locking clamp can be arranged about the two adjacent bodies, and a closed position in which the stirrups are together in the area surrounding the two adjacent bodies. Each of the brackets forms at its free end a tab which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the second end and which has at least one bore. In the closed position, the tabs of the bracket come to lie plane-parallel to each other, so that to secure the bracket together a striker of a padlock in the holes of the tabs can be inserted.

Description

The present invention relates to a securing clamp for securing two adjacent bodies to each other and in particular a locking clamp, with which, for example, a gate or a gate on a fence post, such as a pasture fence, or for example on another gate or door wings secure.

Access gates as well as sliding gates with round profile and gates of fences are often secured by means of link chains by such a link chain wrapped around the gate and an adjacent post and then secured the chain with a padlock. Although such link chains may be made of hardened steel, they can still be broken or broken by mechanical impact by means of bolt cutters, saws, crowbars, files or the like. Similarly, padlocks can be broken by force using appropriate tools, even if the striker is made of hardened steel.

Further, to secure two adjacent bodies to each other, such as to secure a door to a fence post, a locking clamp may be used having two hinged brackets which together enclose in their interior an area for receiving the two adjacent bodies. At each of the bracket in each case a metal sheet is welded near its free end, which has a hole for receiving a striker of a Hang castle has. The sheets are oriented in this way and easily accessible from the outside, that the sheets can be manipulated by mechanical action of violence, with the result that the respective weld breaks or ruptures.

The invention has for its object to provide a locking device with which two adjacent body can be secured together, such as a gate on a fence post, the device should be as stable as possible to withstand the effects of mechanical force.

This object is achieved by a locking clamp for securing two adjacent body to each other, in particular for securing a gate to a fence post, which has a first bracket and a second bracket which surrounds an area for receiving the two adjacent body together with the first bracket wherein the stirrups each have a first end and a second end and are hinged together at their first ends so that the stirrups can be interposed between an open position of the locking clip in which the locking clip can be positioned about the two adjacent bodies and a closed one Pivotable position in which the brackets together surround the area for receiving the two adjacent body, each of the bracket forms at its second end a tab which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the second end of the respective bracket and has at least one bore, U.N d wherein the tabs of the bracket in the closed position come to lie substantially plane-parallel to each other, so that can be hooked to secure the bracket together a padlock with its striker in the holes of the tabs.

For example, the bracket made of sheet steel, preferably made of hardened steel sheet, and thus be relatively solid, whereby the locking clamp can not or only slightly manipulated and / or damaged by the action of mechanical force. In contrast to conventional link chains, the locking clip according to the invention thus has a greater resistance to mechanical trauma.

Furthermore, it is added that the locking clip according to the invention also makes access to a padlock and in particular on the striker to secure the bracket of the locking clamp together difficult, since the tabs of the bracket of the locking clamp come to lie in the closed position of the locking clamp plane-parallel and a small distance from each other , So that the striker of a hung in the hole of the tabs padlock is not or hardly accessible from the outside through the gap between the two tabs. The gap, which is formed in the closed position of the locking clamp between the two tabs, preferably has a gap which is less than the thickness of the steel sheet, and more preferably less than half the thickness of the steel sheet from which the stirrups are made. The gap is thus so small that access to the striker is prevented by the gap, for example with a bolt cutter, a lever tool or a saw. However, in the closed position, the two tabs can also lie directly coplanar with one another, ie without forming a gap therebetween, whereby the locking clamp offers even fewer points of attack for mechanical violence. Furthermore, due to the orientation of the tabs, the locking clamp can be secured by means of a so-called discus lock, as a result of which the locking clamp or the lock can be operated from the front in the usual way as the lock cylinder in a lock case. Furthermore, the locking clip according to the invention allows a two-sided mounting, since the clamp can be formed mirror-symmetrically with respect to a plane which is oriented perpendicular to the hinge axis of the clamp.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the locking clamp according to the invention are described, wherein further embodiments can also result from the description of the figures, the dependent claims and the drawings.

Thus, according to one embodiment, it is provided that the respective bracket, including its tab, can be made in one piece. In the tab and the bracket is so as not about two initially separately manageable parts that are first connected to each other in the context of manufacturing, for example by welding. Rather, it is inventively provided that the respective bracket can be made including its tab in one piece such as one and the same sheet metal blank, which is bent in shape to form the respective bracket together with its associated tab. Thus, there are advantageously no shock or connection points between the tab and bracket, which are usually easily manipulated vulnerabilities.

According to a further embodiment, at least one of the tabs form an angled end portion. Preferably, the angled end portion may be oriented perpendicular to the tab and thus extends substantially parallel to the second end of the respective bracket, since the tab is also oriented perpendicular to the second bracket end.

According to a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that both tabs form an angled end portion, wherein these end portions are oriented such that they protrude in the closed position of the locking clip from the respective tabs in mutually opposite directions. The two angled end portions thus extend in the closed position of the locking clamp in a common flight and thus hide a hooked into the tabs or their holes Hangschloss, whereby an unauthorized access to the same is made more difficult. The angled end portions thus provide effective protection for the striker of a padlock, since the angled end portions prevent access by means of a bolt cutter on the striker of a padlock.

This embodiment, in which each of the two flaps forms an angled end portion, these end portions being oriented so as to project from the flaps in mutually opposite directions in the closed position of the locking clip, is further advantageous in that between the respective angled End portion and the associated bracket, a gap is formed, which makes it possible to hang in the closed position of the locking clamp a padlock or its striker to secure the strap of the locking clamp to each other over the two tabs, so as to secure the closed position of the locking clip. The two angled end portions of the tabs thus prevent such a hanging on the two tabs padlock can be removed from the two tabs. Thus, if, for example, in a particular situation, only a padlock is available whose locking bar does not fit through the holes of the two tabs, then this padlock can be hung over the two tabs in the previously described manner in the closed position of the locking clip, with the two angled end portions prevent the attached padlock from being removed from the two tabs. In other words, therefore, the striker of such hung on the two tabs padlock is caught in the gap formed between the angled end portion of each tab and the second end of the respective associated bracket.

According to a further embodiment, however, the angled end portion of at least one tab may also be oriented such that it at least partially covers a free end of the respective other tab in the closed position of the locking clamp. For example, only one tab may have an angled end portion, with this angled end portion extending over the entire height of the tab, so that it covers the free end of the other tab over its entire height in the closed position of the locking clamp.

According to another embodiment, however, both tabs may have one or more angled end portions which partially overlap the free end of the other tab in the closed position of the locking clip. Preferably, the angled end portions of one tab are engaged with the angled end portions of the other tab in this embodiment, for which purpose the angled end portions of one tab have an offset from the angled end portions of the other tab. Thus, the angled end portions of the two tabs in the closed position of the locking clamp preferably engage positively with each other in the sense of a tongue and groove connection, whereby any gap between the two tabs in favor of increasing the resistance of the locking clamp against external violence is further increased because the introduction of a lever tool in the gap to pry the locking clamp difficult or even impossible.

According to yet another embodiment, the tab of a respective bracket may have a plurality of bores, which are preferably of different sizes, wherein the respective bores of the bracket in the closed position of the locking clamp are aligned. To secure the bracket to each other thus different padlocks, in particular also different can have long and / or different strong striker, are used, and if necessary, several padlocks can be hung simultaneously through the holes of the two tabs, so as to provide additional security.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer exemplarischen Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungsschelle zeigt.

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of a locking clip according to the invention will be explained with reference to a single figure, wherein

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a locking clip according to the invention.

The Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a locking clip 10 according to the invention, with which two adjacent bodies such as a gate and a fence post (not shown) can be secured together. For this purpose, the locking clamp 10 has a first bracket 11 and a second bracket 12, which surrounds a region 14 for receiving two adjacent bodies together with the first bracket 11 in the interior. In the embodiment shown here, the first bracket 11 has a substantially U-shaped first bracket portion 21 and in a corresponding manner, the second bracket 12 has a substantially U-shaped second bracket portion 22, so that the first bracket portion 21 together with the second Ironing portion 22 forms a substantially oval or 0-shaped receiving portion 14 for two adjacent body, which is to be secured with the locking clamp 10 to each other.

The first bracket portion 21 has a first end 23 and an opposite second end 25. Similarly, the second bracket portion 22 has a first end 24 and an opposite second end 26. At their first ends 23, 24, the two brackets 11, 12 by means of a fork joint 15 connected to each other so that they around the hinge axis 16 between an open position (not shown), in which the two second ends 25, 26 of the two strap sections 21, 22 further than in the Fig. 1 are spaced apart from each other in order to put the locking clamp 10 around two mutually adjacent body, and in the Fig. 1 illustrated closed position in which the two strap portions 21, 22 cooperate to form the receiving area 14 and to surround the same.

Again Fig. 1 can also be removed, the first bracket 11 further comprises a first tab 27 which is formed at the second end 25 of the first bracket portion 21 and oriented substantially perpendicular to the second end 25. Correspondingly, the second bracket 12 also has a second lug 28, which is formed on the second end 26 of the second bracket portion 22 and oriented substantially perpendicular to the second end 26. In the illustrated closed position of the locking clamp 10, the two tabs 27, 28 thus come to lie plane-parallel to each other, but they are spaced apart by a gap S small size.

Through the second tab 28, a through hole 32 extends through, and in a corresponding manner extends through the first tab 27 also has a through hole therethrough, which, however, in the Fig. 1 can not be seen, in the illustrated closed position of the locking clamp 10, however, aligned with the bore 32 in the second tab 28. Thus, to secure the two brackets 11, 12 together, a striker of a padlock through the holes in the two tabs 27, 28 are passed so as to secure the two brackets 11, 12 by means of the padlock together, which simultaneously two adjacent body , which are surrounded by the two strap sections 21, 22 are secured by the locking clamp 10 directly to each other.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first tab 27 forms a first angled end portion 29 and, similarly, the second tab 28 also forms a second angled end portion 30. In the embodiment shown here, the two end portions 29, 30 are oriented such that they protrude in the closed position of the locking clip 10 of the two tabs 27, 28 in opposite directions and thus extend in a common alignment. The first end portion 29 is thus spaced by the tab 27 from the first end 25 of the first bracket portion 21 and, similarly, the second angled end portion 30 is spaced from the second end 26 of the second bracket portion 22 by the second tab 28. Thus, if appropriate, a padlock or its striker can also be hung on the two tabs 27, 28 for securing the two brackets 11, 12, as through the two angled end portions 29, 30 such a hang on the two tabs 27, 29 padlock the locking clamp 10 is secured.

Contrary to the illustrated embodiment, however, for example, only the first tab 27 may have an angled end portion which, contrary to the illustrated embodiment, is oriented so as to at least partially cover the free end of the second tab 28 in the closed position of the locking clip 10. Although the gap S between the two tabs 27, 28 hardly any attack surface for a lever tool or the like offers anyway, is in this embodiment in which the free end of a tab 27, 28 through the angled end portion 30, 29 of the other tab 28, 27th is covered, the gap S not accessible from the front, whereby the locking clip 10 of the invention may be even less manipulated.

Furthermore, an embodiment is possible in which both the first tab 27 and the second tab 28 each have one or more angled end portions form, which are oriented so that they at least partially cover the free end of the other tab 28, 27. For this purpose, the end portions of the two tabs 27, 28 offset from each other formed to interlock positively in the sense of a toothing or a tongue and groove connection in the closed state of the locking clamp 10 can. By such a toothing of the end portions of the two tabs 27, 28, the security against breakage of the locking clip 10 is further increased, since this can be ensured that shear forces that may occur in an attempt to pry the locking clip 10, not only from the striker of a padlock but in addition, by the mutually toothed end portions of the tabs 27, 28 are added.

In the inventive locking clamp 10, the two brackets 11, 12 including the respective tabs 27, 28 and the angled end portions 29, 30 of the tabs 27, 28 are each made from one piece. For example, each of the two brackets 11, 12 can be made of sheet metal blank by bending the same in shape to form the respective bracket portion 21, 22, the respective tab 27, 28 and the end portion 29, 30. Each of the two brackets 11, 12 is thus made of one piece and is not composed of individual components, which are fastened together, for example by welding.

Again Fig. 1 can also be removed, the locking clip 10 according to the invention is symmetrical to a plane which is perpendicular to the hinge axis 16 of the joint 15. Due to the symmetrical configuration of the locking clip 10, the same can be used in different orientations, for example, to secure a gate to a fence post, it being ensured in each orientation that a hanging through the holes of the tabs 27, 28 hang lock in the desired manner hangs down. The locking clamp 10 is thus intuitively applicable because the user has the possibility to attach the locking clamp 10 as well to two bodies to be secured to each other, as the conditions allow on site.

Contrary to the illustrated embodiment, the tab 27, 28 of each bracket 11, 12 also have a plurality of holes that can be different in size if necessary. As a result, not only padlocks with different length or strong closing straps can be used; Rather, if necessary, several padlocks can be hung simultaneously through the holes of the tabs 27, 28 so as to further increase the risk of breakage of the locking clamp, if necessary.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two brackets 11, 12 and their bracket sections 21, 22 further bores 33, 34, through which the locking clamp 10 can be screwed, for example, to a fence post.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

locking clip

11

first temple

12

second bracket

14

reception area

15

joint

16

joint axis

21

first strap section

22

second bracket section

23

first end

24

first end

25

second end

26

second end

27

first tab

28

second tab

29

first angled end section

30

second angled end portion

32

drilling

33

drilling

34

drilling

S

gap

Claims (7)

Locking clamp (10) for securing two adjacent body to each other, in particular for securing a gate to a fence post, with a first bracket (11) and a second bracket (12), which together with the first bracket (11) has a region (14) Receiving the two adjacent body surrounds, wherein the bracket (11, 12) each have a first end (23, 24) and a second end (25, 26), wherein they are at their first ends (23, 24) hinged together in that the straps (11, 12) are pivotable between an open position in which the locking clip (10) can be arranged around the two adjacent bodies, and a closed position in which the straps (11, 12) together 14) for receiving the two adjacent bodies, each of the stirrups (11, 12) forming at its second end (25, 26) a tab (27, 28) substantially perpendicular to the second end (25, 26). is oriented and that at least one Bore (32), and wherein the tabs (27, 28) of the bracket (11, 12) in the closed position are plane-parallel to each other, so that for securing the bracket (11, 12) to each other a striker of a padlock in the holes (32) of the tabs (27, 28) is insertable. Locking clamp according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the respective bracket (11, 12) including its tab (27, 28) is made of one piece, preferably from one and the same sheet metal blank. Locking clamp according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
at least one of the tabs (27, 28) forms an angled end portion (29, 30). Locking clamp according to claim 3,
characterized in that
in the closed position of the locking clip (10) the angled end portions (29, 30) of the two tabs (27, 28) project from the same in opposite directions. Locking clamp according to claim 3,
characterized in that
in the closed position of the locking clamp (10) at least the angled end portion (29, 30) of a tab (27, 28) at least partially obscured a free end of the other tab (28, 27). Locking clamp according to claim 5,
characterized in that
the angled end portions (29, 30) of the two tabs (27, 30) each form a toothing with at least one tooth, wherein the toothings of the two tabs (27, 28) in the closed position of the locking clamp (10) engage with each other. Locking clamp according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the tab (27, 28) of each bracket (11, 12) has a plurality of bores (32), which are preferably of different sizes, wherein the respective Holes (32) of the bracket (11, 12) in the closed position of the locking clamp (10) are aligned.

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