Padlock adapter assembly

Claim 2

A padlock adapter assembly for use with a plurality of padlocks each having a shackle to enable any one said padlocks to be retained on said assembly while enabling said assembly to be detached from a latch element, the improvement comprising: a pair of plates each having a pair of spaced passages with each passage adapted to be aligned with a respective spaced passage in the other plate for receiving a shackle of a respective padlock through the aligned pair of passages, and means formed adjacent one end of each plate for engagement with said latch element to prevent entrance into a closure and pivotable about an axis passing through either passage of said pair of spaced passages for releasing said means from said latch element in response to the removal of the respective shackle.

Claim 3

In the adapter assembly claimed in claim 1, means securing said plates together at a position spaced intermediate each pair of spaced passages and enabling said plates to pivot relative each other about a shackle in the aligned pair of passages.

Claim 4

In the adapter assembly claimed in claim 2 in which said means securing said plates comprises a rivet extending through a slot in each plate.

Claim 5

In the adapter assembly claimed in claim 3 in which each slot has an elongate axis extending at an angle to a line joining the axis of each pair of spaced passages.

Claim 6

The adapter assembly claimed in claim 4 in which the elongate axis of one slot extends transversely at substantially 150° to the elongate axis of the other slot in response to the engagement of said means with said latch element.

Claim 7

In the assembly claimed in claim 5 in which said plates are substantially identical and said means formed adjacent one end of each plate comprises an arcuate hook extending in opposite directions for passage through aligned apertures in said latch elements.

Claim 8

A padlock adapter assembly for use with a plurality of padlocks each having a shackle to enable any one said padlocks to be retained on said assembly while enabling said assembly to be detached from a pair of latch elements having aligned apertures, the improvement comprising: a pair of plates each having a pair of spaced passages with each passage aligned with a respective spaced passage in the other plate for receiving a shackle of a respective padlock through the aligned pair of passages each plate having an elongate slot located intermediate the pair of spaced passages, means passing through each slot for securing said plates together at a position spaced intermediate said passages and enabling said members to pivot relative each other about a shackle in either pair of aligned passages in response to the removal of a shackle in the other pair of aligned passages, and a hook formed adjacent one end of each plate for passage in one direction through said aligned latch member apertures for preventing entrance into a closure in response to the receipt of a shackle in each pair of aligned passages for passage in the opposite direction from said aligned apertures in response to the removal of one of said shackles from one pair of aligned passages and relative pivotable movement between said plates about an axis passing through the other pair of aligned passages.

Claim 9

A padlock adapter assembly for use with a plurality of padlocks each having a shackle to enable any one said padlocks to be retained on said assembly while enabling said assembly to be detached from a pair of latch elements having aligned apertures, the improvement comprising: a pair of plates each having a pair of spaced passages with each passage aligned with a respective spaced passage in the other plate for receiving a shackle of a respective padlock through the aligned pair of passages each plate having an elongate slot located intermediate the pair of spaced passages, means passing through each slot for securing said plates together at a position spaced intermediate said passages and enabling said members to pivot relative each other about a shackle in either pair of aligned passages in response to the removal of a shackle in the other pair of aligned passages, and a hook formed adjacent one end of each plate for passage in one direction through said aligned latch member apertures for preventing entrance into a closure in response to the receipt of a shackle in each pair of aligned passages for passage in the opposite direction from said aligned apertures in response to the removal of one of said shackles from one pair of aligned passages and relative pivotable movement between said plates about an axis passing through the other pair of aligned passages.

Claim 10

The assembly claimed in claim 7 in which each plate includes a passage for receiving a seal wire adapted to be broken in response to pivoting movement of said plates about a selected axis.