Claims:We claim:

1. A lock assembly (200) for locking a latch (300) of a distribution board (500) with a lock (400), the lock assembly (100) comprising:
a base (100) with a T-shaped configuration having
a top horizontal box (90) configured with an inverted U-shaped loop (20) positioned centrally thereon, and at least two self-locking arrangement (10) configured on two side walls, and
a bottom protrusion (70) having atleast two clicks (50) configured thereon forming a snap fit locking with the latch (300);
a flexible link (180) having one end fixedly securing with one wall of the top horizontal box (90), and
a flap (150) having a bottom end fixedly securing another end of the flexible link (180), the flap comprising
a slit (120) positioned centrally accommodating the inverted U-shaped loop (20) therein, and
an inwardly protruding fork (130) detachably engaging with the top horizontal box (90), thereby facilitating a flapping movement,
wherein upon snap fit locking of the base (100) with the latch (300) and further closing of the flap (150) over the base (100) thereupon enables the lock (400) to be removably secured within the inverted U-shaped loop (20) thereby facilitating locking and unlocking of the latch (300) and securing unauthorized access of the distribution board (500).

2. The lock assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch (300) includes a central cavity (270) adapted with a plurality of indents (250) therein securing the snap fit locking of the clicks (50) of the bottom protrusion (70).

3. The lock assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible link (180) facilitates a hinge joint movement of the flap (150) over the base (100).

4. The lock assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two self-locking arrangement (10) of the base (100) facilitates additional securing of the flap (150) with the base (100).

, Description:Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a locking means to prevent accidental operation of a circuit breaker and more particularly, to a lock assembly of a distribution board associated with an electric switching device.

Background of the invention

An electrical distribution board distributes electrical power from one or more incoming power supply terminals to a number of outgoing power supply terminals. Locking of distribution boards is very important to prevent access of unauthorized person and accidental operation of a circuit breaker. The locking mechanism is used to lock a latch of distribution board in lock condition and avoid danger and health hazard to a person operating on network or process industries where undesired switching (on or off) of the circuit breaker inside the distribution boards can cause damage and loss of production.

The locking devices used for distribution boards known in the prior art, requires a person to replace a normal latch arrangement with some latch having inbuilt locking mechanism for locking the distribution boards. At the same time, when unauthorized person forcefully tries to open the lock it becomes impossible to do the same without damaging the device and circuit breaker. Also, if someone wants to lock the distribution board for any maintenance activity, a new latch is needed to be bought having either an inbuilt locking feature or has to put some stickers or note on the distribution boards during maintenance. Most of the time newly bougnh latch do not fit into the same cutout already present for the existing latch. In addition, note or sticker tear off or falls off (misplace) prematurely. It has been observed that a person may accidently operate such the distribution board during maintenance activity. Hence, the distribution board is required to be locked without changing the existing latch. In prior art, there no device which discloses or teaches the use of locking the distribution boards which can maintain its position and not allow opening the door of distribution board.

Accordingly, there is a need to design a locking device that provides functionality of locking distribution board without changing the existing latch and also facilitates a user-friendly and cost effective solution to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Objects of the invention

An object of the present invention is to lock a latch in lock position and prevent unauthorized person access inside a distribution board without damage.

Another object of the present invention is to facilitate use of existing latch of distribution boards for locking without any replacement.

Yet another object of the present invention is to ease assembly by using lesser number of components.

Another object of the present invention is to provide user-friendly and cost-effective solution for locking the distribution boards and maintenance thereafter.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a lock assembly for locking a latch of a distribution board with a lock. The lock assembly comprises a base, a flexible link and a flap. The base has a T-shaped configuration which comprises a top horizontal box is configured with an inverted U-shaped loop positioned centrally thereon, and at least two self-locking arrangement configured on two side walls. A bottom protrusion of the base includes atleast two clicks configured thereon forming a snap fit locking with the latch. The flexible link has two ends of which one end is fixedly securing with one wall of the top horizontal box. The flap having a bottom end is fixedly secured with another end of the flexible link. The flap comprises of a slit positioned centrally accommodating the inverted U-shaped loop therein, and an inwardly protruding fork detachably engaging with the top horizontal box, thereby facilitating a flapping movement. Upon snap fit locking of the base with the latch and further closing of the flap over the base thereupon enables the lock to be removably secured within the inverted U-shaped loop thereby facilitating locking and unlocking of the latch and securing unauthorized access of the distribution board.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features, as well as the advantages of the invention, will be clear from the following description.

In the appended drawings:

Figure 1A and 1B shows a perspective and detailed view of a lock assembly of a distribution board along with a lock in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 show an exploded view of the lock assembly, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 3A and 3B shows a perspective and detailed view of the lock assembly with a flap closing direction, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 4A shows a perspective and detailed view of the lock assembly with a snapfit arrangement, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 4b shows a perspective view of perspective view of a latch of distribution board, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.

The present invention provides a lock assembly for locking a latch of a distribution board with a lock. The lock assembly comprises a base, a flexible link and a flap. The lock assembly of the present invention provides a user-friendly and cost effective solution for locking the distribution boards and maintenance thereafter.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, various views of a lock assembly (200) for locking a latch (300) of a distribution board (500) with a lock (400) are illustrated. The lock assembly (100) is a single molded component designed specifically with a click fit arrangement for ensuring proper fitment of the lock assembly (100) with the latch (300) of the distribution board (500). The lock assembly (100) is specifically designed to have functionality of locking the distribution board (500) without changing the existing latch thereby provides a user-friendly and cost-effective solution to safety issues concerned with human personnel during maintenance of the distribution board (500) and prevent unauthorized person access inside the distribution board (500) without damage.

Referring to figures 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B, perspective and detailed views of various components of the lock assembly (200) is shown. The lock assembly (200) comprises a base (100), a flexible link (180), and a flap (150).

The base (100) is a T-shaped structure/configuration that comprises of a top horizontal box (90) which is configured with an inverted U-shaped loop (20) positioned centrally thereon. The base (100) also includes at least two self-locking arrangement (10) configured on two side walls. A bottom protrusion (70) of the base (100) includes atleast two clicks (50) configured thereon forming a snap fit locking with the latch (300). The latch (300) of the distribution board (500) includes a central cavity (270) adapted with a plurality of indents (Not shown) therein. At least 2 indents (250) are made in such a manner to adaptably performing the snap fit locking of the clicks (50) of the bottom protrusion (70). In an alternate embodiment, the bottom protrusion (Not Shown) of the base (Not Shown) includes atleast four clicks (Not Shown) configured thereon forming a snap fit locking with the latch (Not Shown). The base (100) is fixedly secured with the flexible link (180).

The flexible link (180) has two ends of which one end is fixedly secured with one wall of the top horizontal box (90). The flap (150) includes a bottom end which is fixedly secured with another end of the flexible link (180). The flap comprises of a slit (120) positioned centrally adapted to accommodate the inverted U-shaped loop (20) therein, and an inwardly protruding fork (130) is adapted to detachably engage with the top horizontal box (90), thereby facilitating a flapping movement as shown in figure 3A and 3B along the ‘Y’ arrow direction. The design of the fork (130) is such that it facilitates to accommodate the inverted U-shaped loop (20) having variable width. The flap (150) is adaptably designed for the lock (400) to go inside and align the required position in the lock assembly (200).

The complete operational assembly of the lock assembly (200) requires successful snap fit locking of the base (100) with the latch (300) along the ‘X’ arrow direction. This is to ensure that lock assembly (200) gets firmly locked in latch (300) and thus with the distribution board (500). Further closing of the flap (150) over the base (100) allows the two self-locking arrangement (10) configured on two side walls secure the sides of the flap and ensures proper fitment. Later upon flapping of the flap (150) enables the lock (400) to be removably secured within the inverted U-shaped loop (20) thereby facilitates locking and unlocking of the latch (300) and securing unauthorized access of the distribution board (500).

In open condition, when the flap (150) is open / not engaged with the base (100), a user has an access to open the lock assembly (200) from the latch (300) as shown in figure 2. But in locked condition as shown in figure 1A and 1B, when two clicks (50) configured on the base (100) has already locked the latch (300) with the snap fit and the flap (150) is flapped on the base (100) and secured with lock (400) it becomes impossible for unauthorized user to remove the lock assembly (200) from the latch (300) without damage and thus making tampering evident. The lock assembly (200) is designed to ensure operational functionality even with smaller size of locks. The lock assembly (200) is operable for multiple size locks ranging from 3.5 sq mm to 5 sq mm.

Advantages of the invention

1. The lock assembly (200) facilitates to lock the latch (300) in a lock position and prevent unauthorized person access inside the distribution board (500) without damage.
2. The lock assembly (200) facilitates a cost-effective assembly.
3. The lock assembly (200) facilitates use of existing latch of the distribution boards for locking without any replacement.
4. The lock assembly (200) is easy to assemble by using lesser number of components.
5. The lock assembly (200) is user-friendly and cost-effective solution for locking the distribution boards and maintenance thereafter.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.