Security Gang Box

Abstract

This specification discloses a gang box which is used by an electrician to store his tools and which is secured in closed locked condition by a padlock. The padlock is protected by box structure which renders it inaccessible to malefactors for the purpose of destroying the padlock.

Description

The present invention relates to gang boxes which are receptacles used by electricians and other artisans for tool storage purposes and is concerned primarily with a gang box which is secured in closed position by a padlock with the padlock being protected by box structure whereby it is rendered inaccessible to a person using tools to break or destroy the padlock.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At the present time, mechanics and artisans employ a receptacle such as a box to store tools while they are not working. The receptacle which is used by electricians is commonly known in the trade as a gang box and the present invention is described as incorporated into such a gang box.

A gang box is ordinarily made of light sheet metal and includes a front wall that assumes a vertical position and a top wall or panel that is hingedly connected to the remainder of the box structure. In closed position the front edge of the top panel meets with the upper edge of the front wall. The top panel and front wall are ordinarily provided with hasps which are secured together by a padlock.

It is common practice for an electrician to leave his gang box unattended on a job site during non-working intervals. With known gang boxes, the padlock is unprotected and readily accessible to a thief using a tool such as a hacksaw, bolt cutter, chisel or hammer for the purpose of breaking the hasp of the padlock, the hasps on the box, or literally knocking the padlock free of the hasps which it connects.

The liability of an unprotected padlock to damage by a thief has long been recognized and many so-called padlock protectors have been developed by those dealing with this problem. However, it may be stated as a general rule that such known devices are separate and independent of a receptacle or tied in with doors and their joints or similar structure. It is believed that there is no known gang box or similar receptacle which has structure built into it for protecting the padlock.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has in view the following objectives:

1. To provide a gang box or similar receptacle which includes a front wall and a hingedly mounted top panel with structures for protecting a padlock used to secure the top panel in closed position by making it inaccessible to tools which might destroy or break the padlock or knock it loose from the elements which is connects.

2. To provide, in a gang box of the type noted, a heavy short bar which is anchored to the underside of the top panel adjacent to its front edge and which is formed with an aperture adjacent to its free end whereby it is constituted a hasp.

3. To provide, in a gang box of the character aforesaid, a front wall having an opening therein of restricted size and which aligns with an opening of the same size and shape in a security device mounted on the inner face of the front wall.

4. To provide, in a gang box of the kind described, a security device which is made of heavy metal and comprises an inner wall which is curved such as by being a segment of a cylinder, a bottom wall, the front edge of which is flush with the opening in the front wall of the box, a front wall section extending between the edges of the inner wall in spaced relation to the front edge of the bottom, and fastened to the front wall of the box above the opening therein, and a top wall formed with a slot through which the bar on the top panel passes when the latter is in closed position.

5. To provide a gang box of the type noted which includes a front wall comprising a fixed lower panel and an upper panel hingedly connected to the upper edge of the lower panel.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in connection with carrying out the above ideas in a practical embodiment, will, in part, become apparent and, in part, be hereafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects are achieved by providing a gang box including a front wall comprising a fixed lower panel and an upper panel hingedly connected on said lower panel and having a restricted opening therein, a top panel hingedly mounted on the box structure with a heavy bar secured to its underface adjacent to the front edge thereof and having an aperture at its free end, and a security device of heavy metal attached to the inner face of the upper front wall panel opposite to the opening therein. The security device has a curved inner wall, a bottom wall flush with the lower edge of the opening in the upper front wall panel, a front wall section above said opening and a top wall formed with a slot through which the lower end portion of the bar passes when the top panel is in closed position. When so positioned, a padlock is applied to the bar by passing the hasp thereof through the aperture in the bar.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a gang box embodying the precepts of this invention with the top and upper front wall panels in partially opened positions;

FIG. 2 is another perspective depicting the bar and security device in exploded relation with portions of the top panel and upper front wall panel shown in phantom, and

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section on an enlarged scale through the security device, taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Before referring to the drawing, it is well to note that while the present invention is described in conjunction with a gang box of the type that is now widely used by electricians, it is not to be limited to details of the box construction other than those related to the security device.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding elements throughout the several views, a gang box is illustrated in FIG. 1 and identified in its entirety by the reference character 10. Purely for purposes of clarity in describing the structural features, certain dimensions are hereinafter set forth. However, it is to be clearly understood that these dimensions are not a limitation on the invention.

Box 10 proper is of a light sheet metal such as steel. It comprises a bottom wall 11 which is five feet long and thirty inches wide. Upstanding from the end edges of bottom wall 11 are end walls 12 and 13. Each of end walls 12 and 13 has a top edge 14 which is parallel to bottom wall 11 and a forwardly inclined edge 15. Upstanding from the rear edge of bottom 11 is a rear wall 16 which has a height of four feet. Extending between top edges 14 is a fixed top wall panel 17 having a forward edge 18. A swinging top panel or lid 19 is hingedly mounted on fixed panel 17 at edge 18.

Referring for the moment to FIG. 2, a hasp device is designated generally at 20. It comprises a plate 21 of metal that is heavy as compared to the sheet metal from which the wall structure of box 10 is fabricated. Plate 21 is secured to the underside of top panel 19 adjacent to its front edge in any preferred manner, but preferably by welding. Depending from plate 21 is a bar 22, also of heavy metal and formed with an aperture 23.

Referring now again to FIG. 1, a lower front wall panel 24 upstands from the front edge of bottom 11 and extends between the forward edges of side walls 12. An upper swinging front wall panel 25 is hingedly mounted on the upper edge of front wall panel 24 as indicated at 26. Hasp device 20 is preferably located substantially midway of top panel 19. Upper front wall panel 25 is formed with an opening 27 which is also substantially midway the ends thereof. This opening 27 is a so-called restricted opening having a size sufficient to permit a person to insert a hand grasping a padlock therethrough. By way of illustration, it has a length of 8 inches and a height of 4 inches. This opening 27 is illustrated in FIG. 3 which also graphically depicts the difference in the thickness of the metal from which the wall structure of the box is formed and that of the security device now to be described.

A security device is identified in its entirety at 28. As mentioned above, it is of heavy metal. It comprises a curved inner or rear wall 29. As illustrated, this wall 29 is a segment of a cylinder, although this particular curvature is not an essential element of the invention. The main factor is that the wall be curved so as not to interfere with the storage or manipulation of tools in the box 10.

Security device 28 also includes a bottom 30 which is flush with the bottom edge of opening 27. The ends of the inner wall 29 are designated 31, and extending between these ends at a height spaced above bottom 30 a distance substantially equal to the height of opening 27 is a front wall section 32 which is secured to the inner face of upper front wall panel 25 in any preferred manner as by welding. The lower edge of front wall section 32, end edges of inner wall 29 and the forward edge of bottom 30 define an opening which is substantially of the same size and shape as the opening 27. Security device 28 also includes a top wall 33 formed with a slot 34 that is located and dimensioned to receive the lower end of bar 22.

Operation

While the mode of operation and manner of using the subject security gang box is believed to be obvious from the illustrations of the drawings and description of parts set forth above, they may be briefly outlined as follows:

Upper front wall panel 25 is first swung into its closed vertical position. Top wall panel 19 is then swung downwardly to cause the bar 22 to pass through slot 34 and assume the position illustrated in FIG. 3. The owner of the box now grasps a padlock such as shown at 35, but with its hasp 36 in open position, and passes his hand through the opening 27 and the opening in the security device 28 which is aligned therewith. There is sufficient room for him to manipulate the hasp 36 and cause it to be engaged with opening 23. It is then snapped shut to secure the gang box in locked position.

Should a thief or malefactor be tempted to break the padlock or knock it loose from its connections, he is denied access thereto by any tools such as a hacksaw, bolt cutter, chisel or hammer, because of the restricted size of the opening 27 and the limited space afforded by security device 28. Moreover, should he attempt to use a tool such as a crowbar or lever to enlarge the opening 27 or otherwise deform front wall panel 25, he is prevented from doing so by the heavy metal from which the security device 28 and hasp device 20 are made.

When the owner is desirous of opening box 10, it is a simple matter for him to grasp a key in his hand and pass the key through opening 27, unlock padlock 35 and remove hasp 26 from the opening 23 and bar 22.

While a preferred specific embodiment is herein disclosed, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction, mechanisms and devices illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. In a security gang box,

a. a wall structure including a front wall having an upper edge and a hingedly mounted top wall panel having a forward swinging edge;

b. a hasp device secured to the under side of said top wall panel adjacent to its forward edge;

c. a restricted opening formed in said front wall of a size just sufficient to accommodate the passage of a person's hand therethrough, and

d. a security device attached to the inner face of said front wall above the opening therein, said security device including a top wall formed with a slot which receives said hasp device when the top panel is in closed position, whereby a user may grasp a padlock and pass it through said opening and engage the padlock with said hasp device or grasp a key and pass it through said opening to unlock said padlock and remove it from said hasp device.

2. The security gang box of claim 1 in which the wall structure of the box is of light metal and the security device is of comparatively heavy metal.

3. The security gang box of claim 2 in which the hasp device comprises a heavy plate that is welded to the underside of said top panel and a bar depending from said plate and formed with an aperture therein.

4. The security gang box of claim 2 in which the security device comprises a curved inner wall having end edges, a bottom flush with the lower edge of said opening in the front wall, a front wall section extending between the end edges of said inner wall and welded to said front wall above the opening therein, and a top wall formed with a slot which receives said hasp device.

5. The security gang box of claim 4 in which said curved inner wall is a segment of a cylinder.

6. The security gang box of claim 1 in which said wall structure includes a fixed top wall panel having a forward edge to which said top panel is hingedly connected.

7. The security gang box of claim 1 in which said front wall comprises a lower fixed panel and an upper panel hingedly connected to the upper edge of said fixed panel.