Key lock box assembly

• US 5,794,465 A
• Filed: 11/22/1995
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Interlogix Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Supra Products, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Hill, Matthew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): JAYNE, DARNELL M
• Application Number:
  US08/561,921
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 70/63, 70/54, 70/55, 70/56, 70/51, 70/52, 70/53, 70/DIG. 57, 70/232, 248/551, 248/552
• US Class Current: 70/63
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/321 combined with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/0005 Key safes E05B35/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/22 Padlocks with sliding shackles, with or without rotary or pivotal movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/57 Screw guard
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/487 Parts, accessories, attachments and adjuncts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5867 Encased

Abstract

The present invention concerns an assembly for removably securing a real estate key box to a fixed structure, such as a door or wall. The assembly is designed so that when the key box is mounted on the assembly and locked, neither the key box nor the assembly can be removed from the structure.

Claims

1. A key box assembly for removably securing a key box to a fixed structure, the key box having a lockable, U-shaped shackle the assembly comprising:

a bracket, the bracket defining an aperture which receives a fastener;

said fastener for removably attaching the bracket to the fixed structure;

a cap piece, the cap piece comprising a recessed area shaped to slidably engage the bracket and to enclose portions of the fastener to prevent removal of the fastener when the cap piece is engaging the bracket, the cap piece further defining an elongated curved channel means for conforming to the inner U-shaped surface of the shackle, said channel means adapted to be surrounded by the shackle to attach the key box to the cap piece, the cap piece configured so that the key box is adapted to abut the bracket when the shackle is in an attached locked position to prevent removal of the cap piece.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the recessed area of the cap piece includes two wing-receiving channels for receiving the bracket wings.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cap piece further comprises a flat base portion for engaging the top surface of the bottom tab when the cap piece is engaged on the bracket.

12. The assembly of claim 1 in combination with a key box having a lockable shackle and an internal compartment for storing one or more keys, the shackle being characterized by first and second shapes, the first shape being a circular cross-section thereof, the second shape being a U-configuration, said key box being attached to the cap piece.

4. A key box assembly for removably securing a key box to fixed structure, the key box having a lockable, U-shaped shackle, the assembly comprising:

a fastener;

a bracket, the bracket defining an aperture, wherein the fastener is inserted through the aperture to removably attach the bracket to the fixed structure;

a cap piece, having an elongated curved channel means for conforming to the inner curved surface of the shackle and a flat rear surface having a recess formed therein for slidably engaging the bracket, said elongated curved channel means lying in a plane perpendicular to said fastener;

said cap piece is adapted to fit within the curved surface of the shackle to attach the key box to the cap piece whereby the key box cannot be removed from the fixed structure while the shackle of the key box is attached and locked to the cap piece.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the recess formed in the rear surface of the cap piece includes two wing-receiving channels for receiving the bracket wings.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the cap piece further comprises a flat base for engaging a top surface of the bottom tab when the cap piece is engaged on the bracket.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein a top portion of the key box is adapted to abut a bottom side of the bottom tab when the key box is engaged with the cap piece, thereby preventing removal of the cap piece.

13. The assembly of claim 4 in combination with a key box having a U-shaped shackle and an internal compartment for storing one or more keys, the key box being attached to the cap piece.

8. A key box assembly for removably securing a key box to a fixed structure, the key box having a lockable, U-shaped shackle, the assembly comprising:

a fastener;

a bracket, wherein the bracket defines an aperture, wherein the fastener is inserted through the aperture for removably attaching the bracket to the fixed structure;

a cap piece having a U-shaped curved channel means for engaging with and conforming to the inner curved surface of the shackle, a flat rear surface having a recess formed therein which slidably engages the bracket;

the recess having two wing-receiving channels which receive the bracket, and a flat base engaging a top surface of the bracket when the cap piece is engaged on the bracket;

wherein a top portion of the key box is adapted to abut a bottom surface of the bracket when the key box is engaged in the curved channel means thereby preventing removal of the cap piece from the bracket and removal of the assembly from the fixed structure.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the cap piece blocks access to a exposed portion of the fastener when the cap piece is engaged on the bracket.

10. A key box assembly for removably securing a key box to fixed structure, the key box having a lockable, U-shaped shackle, the assembly comprising:

a fastener;

a bracket, wherein the bracket defines an aperture, wherein the fastener is inserted through the aperture to removably attach the bracket to the fixed structure;

a cap piece, having an elongated curved channel means for conforming to the inner curved surface of the shackle to attach the key box to the cap piece;

said cap piece including a flat rear surface having a recess formed therein which slidably engages the bracket;

said elongated curved channel means and said shackle adapted to lie in the same plane when the key box is attached to said cap piece

whereby the key box cannot be removed from the fixed structure while the shackle of the key box is attached and locked to the cap piece.

11. The assembly of claim 10 in combination with a key box having a lockable U-shaped shackle and an internal compartment for storing one or more keys, said key box being attached to the cap piece.