The present invention relates to locking apparatus. Typically, a locking apparatus for a roller shutter is used to prevent a person from maliciously accessing the premises protected by the shutter. However, the lock arrangement used in typical roller shutters can generally be broken, for example using bolt cutters, thereby getting around the protection provided by the roller shutter.

To address this problem, additional locking apparatus can be fitted to roller shutters post shutter installation. One such means requires an aperture to be drilled into the guides of the roller shutter and the shutter itself, making installation and use of such means difficult as the holes in the guides and the shutter need to be aligned before the additional locking means can be used. Furthermore, the additional locking apparatus tends not to fit tightly with the aperture. The result of this is that the additional locking apparatus can be pried out of the aperture, thereby allowing malicious access. Similar problems arise in other installations that use so- called "bullet locks". US 8,132,435B2 describes a locking apparatus which is suitable for securing roller shutters, however, as with all products, increased reliability and lower manufacturing costs are desirable.

It is an aim of example embodiments of the present invention to address problems in locking apparatus, for example in locking apparatus useful for protecting premises with roller shutters, whether identified herein or otherwise. According to the present invention there is provided apparatus as set forth in the aspects below. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the statements and description which follows.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking apparatus the apparatus comprising: a body, an arm and a tapered region; wherein relative movement between the arm and the tapered region extends the arm from the body, characterized in that the arm flexes to extend beyond the body.

The locking apparatus may in example embodiments be arrangeable to secure a roller shutter in position.

The body may have a first and a second end; wherein the axial direction is from the first to the second end and the radial direction is perpendicular to the axial direction. Suitably, relative movement between the arm and the tapered region in an axial direction of the body extends the arm from the body in a radial direction.

Suitably, the locking apparatus further comprises coupling portion from which the arm extends. Suitably, the arm and coupling portion are integrally formed, for example comprising the same piece of material. Suitably, the arm and/or coupling portion comprises a resilient, flexible material such that extension of the arm beyond the body takes place by elastic flexion thereof. Suitably, the arm and/or coupling portion bends resiliently from a portion away from the free end of the arm. Suitably, the tapered region is provided on an outward facing portion of the body. Suitably, the tapered region is exposed to the exterior surface of the body, when the arm is retracted within the body. Suitably, the tapered region comprises the end of a channel formed in the body. Suitably, the tapered region provides a surface which connects with the exterior surface of the body, for example runs directly into the exterior surface of the body at an interface at the exterior surface of the body.

Suitably, the widest part of the tapered region is at the radial extent of the body where the tapered region is located. Suitably, the tapered region adjoins a channel in the body, for example in the exterior surface of the body. Suitably, the tapered region adjoins an opening in the body, for example in the exterior surface of the body. Suitably, the tapered region is of fixed axial position on the body, and the arm moves in the axial direction over the tapered region as the arm extends in a radial direction. That is, relative movement between the arm and the tapered region in an axial direction of the body is achieved by moving the arm in an axial direction of the body over the tapered region, such that the arm moves simultaneously axially and radially.

Suitably, the free end of the arm first engages the tapered region as the arm extends beyond the body. Suitably, the point of contact between arm and tapered region moves along the arm as the arm slides over the tapered region. Suitably, the arm flexes to lie generally parallel to, for example lying in contact with, the tapered region, as the arm extends beyond the body. Suitably, parts of one, or two sides of the arm away from the free end of the arm slide against the inside of a channel in the body as the arm extends beyond the body. Suitably, the channel in the body comprises an arm aperture.

Suitably, the apparatus further comprises a locking member. Suitably, rotation of the locking member causes relative movement of the arm and the tapered region. Suitably, rotation of the locking member in one direction causes relative movement of the arm and the tapered region to extend the arm from the body, whereas rotation of the locking member in an opposite direction allows the arm to retract back toward the body or to be retracted back toward the body.

Suitably, the locking member cooperates with a key such that rotation of the key rotates the locking member. Suitably, the locking member comprises a threaded shaft .

Suitably, the locking apparatus comprises an advancer coupled to the arm. Suitably, rotation of the shaft relative to the advancer moves the advancer along the threaded region.

Suitably, the body comprises a narrow portion and a wide portion, the narrow portion to be inserted into an aperture in a roller shutter guide channel.

Suitably, the body comprises a plurality of arms. Suitably, the arms are coupled by a coupling portion, for example a coupling portion formed integrally with the arms. Suitably, the

The locking apparatus may comprise at least one arm; wherein relative movement between the at least one arm and the tapered region of the body extends the arm from the body .

Suitably, in use, relative movement between the arm and the tapered region extends the arm from the body to engage the arm with a guide channel of a roller shutter and to hold the locking apparatus in position with the guide channel; and wherein the locking apparatus so positioned provides an obstruction in the guide channel to prevent a roller shutter from being opened.

Suitably, in use, the locking apparatus protrudes from an internal surface of the guide channel to provide an obstruction on to the movement of a slat of the roller shutter.

The body may comprise a narrow portion and a wide portion; wherein in use, the narrow portion is inserted into an aperture in a wall of a guide channel. The arm may be located in the narrow portion.

In use, the narrow portion may be arranged through an aperture in a wall of the guide channel and the arm may be arranged to engage with an internal surface of the wall; wherein engaging the arm with the internal surface may cause the wide portion to press against an external surface of the wall thereby holding the locking apparatus in position. The locking apparatus may be tightly held in position .

The body may comprise a first and a second end; and wherein relative movement between the arm and the tapered region in an axial direction from the first to the second end of the body may extend the arm from the body in a radial direction. The locking apparatus may further comprise a lock having a locking member. Suitably, rotation of the locking member causes the relative movement of the arm and the tapered region. Suitably, continuous rotation of the locking member causes the relative movement of the arm and the tapered region.

Suitably, rotation of the locking member in one direction causes the relative movement between the arm and the tapered region to extend the arm from the body, whereas rotation of the locking member in an opposite direction allows the arm to retract back toward the body.

The lock may comprise a key that cooperates with the locking member, such that rotation of the key rotates the locking member.

The locking member may comprise a shaft; the shaft may comprise a threaded region. The tapered region may be arranged on the shaft.

The locking apparatus comprises an advancer coupled to the arm. Suitably, rotation of the shaft relative to the advancer moves the advancer along the threaded region. Suitably, relative rotation of the advancer and the shaft is enabled by restriction of the advancer's rotational position in the body by engagement of the arms with the body, for example by edges of the arms with edges of apertures in the body.

The body may comprise a plurality of arms, for example two arms, or three, or four or more. Suitably, the arms may be arranged generally symmetrically with one another.

The body may comprise arm apertures, one for each arm and wherein each arm may be arranged to extend through a corresponding arm aperture. Suitably, the features of more than one arm, for example each arm in a plurality of arms may be substantially as described above in relation to the one arm.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking apparatus substantially as herein described. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a locking apparatus substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a locking apparatus substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a an exploded front perspective view of components of a locking apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows front perspective view of the components of Figure 1 assembled into a locking apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present invention, arranged with arms within a body; and Figure 3 shows front perspective view of the components of Figure 1 assembled into a locking apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present invention, arranged with arms extending from the body. Figures 1, 2 and 3 show an example embodiment of a locking apparatus 1 of the present invention. The locking apparatus 1 comprises a body 10, first and second locking arms 20 and a lock member 50. In use the locking apparatus 1 is positioned through an aperture in a guide channel of a roller shutter, and the locking arms 20 are used to press the body 10 against the guide channel to firmly hold the locking apparatus 1 in place. In this way, the locking apparatus 1 reduces the likelihood of a roller shutter being opened maliciously as it is difficult to insert a tool between the body and the guide channel in order to try to pry out the locking apparatus .

To further explain the apparatus of Figures 1, 2 and 3, reference is now made to the make-up of a typical roller shutter comprises a shutter and two guide channels disposed on either side of the shutter to guide the shutter between closed and open positions. The guide channels are typically of U-shaped cross-section, shutter is typically made up of a plurality of slats.

When it is desired to lock the shutter in position the locking apparatus 1 is inserted into an aperture provided in a wall of a guide channel. The locking apparatus 1 is passed into the aperture and the locking arms 20 moved to press against the guide channel in the vicinity of the aperture. The locking arms 20 are moved by the lock member 50 until they are pressed against the guide channel to hold the lock assembly 1 firmly in position.

The locking apparatus 1 is used to provide an obstruction to the movement of the shutter. This obstruction is provided by arranging at least part of the locking apparatus 1 to protrude into an area of the guide channel through which the shutter would pass when it is being opened. The presence of the locking apparatus in that area inhibits movement of the shutter along the guide channel. The locking apparatus 1 in the guide channel blocks movement of the roller shutter in the guide channel, either by filling a naturally occurring void between slats in the shutter, or by blocking any other suitable body, such as part of the slat, which would normally pass along the guide channel. In this way, the locking apparatus 1 prevents the shutter from being opened .

The locking apparatus 1 can be located in an aperture at any position along the guide channel. Arranging the locking apparatus 1 in this way negates the need for a user to align a locking apparatus 1 with an aperture in the shutter itself to secure the lock in place. The locking apparatus 1 described allows the user to achieve a secure coupling between the locking apparatus 1 and the guide channel while accommodating variations in guide channel thickness, as will now be described.

The internal features of the locking apparatus and their operation will now be described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3. Figure 1 shows the body 10 of the locking apparatus 1 having a tapered region 30. The tapered region 30 is arranged to engage with a locking arm 20 to move the locking arm 20 from within the body 10. As shown in Figure 2, the locking arms 20 are located, in a rest position which is unstressed, and relatively retracted, within the body 10, i.e., each arm 20 is maintained substantially flush with or beneath an external surface 11 of the body 10. In contrast, Figure 3 shows the locking arms 20 extending from beyond the external surface 11 of the body 10.

The tapered region 30 is arranged to taper in an axial direction of the body from a widest point 32 located at the second end 13 of the body 10 towards a narrowest point 31 at the first end 12 of the body 10. The tapered region 30 is provided as a ramp portion, arranged at the closed end of a channel in the body 10. The channel provides an arm aperture 15 from which the arm 20 can be extended, and a passageway between the internals of the locking apparatus and the external surface of the body 11.

Relative movement of the locking arms 20 and the tapered region 30 moves the locking arms 20 radially outward from within the body 10 to a position extending from the body 10. Also, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the locking arms 20 are also movable in an axial direction of the body 10 from a first end 12 toward a second end 13 of the body 10.

The arrangement visible on top of the lock body 10 is also provided on the opposite side thereof, so that each arm aperture 15 is located to correspond to the position of a locking arm 20. Each arm aperture 15 allows a locking arm 20 to extend there-through externally from the body 10 and be moved from the first end 12 of the body 10 toward the second end 13 of the body 10. The locking arms 20 are formed to maintain a resting form as shown in Figure 1, with the arms 20 generally planar and generally parallel to one another. This rest position is the unstressed position, in which the arms 20 lie within the body 10. Between the arms 20 a coupling portion 23 is provided. In the example embodiment the arms 20 and coupling portion 23 are integrally formed, comprising a single piece of material. The arms 20 and coupling portion 23 comprise a generally U-shaped component. The arms 20 and optionally the coupling portion 23 are formed of a resilient, material which is flexible enough to deform elastically as the locking apparatus is operated.

Figure 3 shows the locking arms 20 extending from beyond the external surface 11 of the body 10. The mechanism by which relative movement of the locking arms 20 and the tapered region 30 of the body 10 is controlled will now be described. The locking apparatus 2 further comprises an advancer 21 coupling the locking arms 20 to a lock member 50. Various fixings 60 are shown in the Figures to aid coupling of the components of the locking apparatus to one another. The advancer 21 is the mechanism used to move the arms relative to the tapered region 30 of the body 10, in cooperation with a shaft 52, the arms 20 and the body 10 itself by engagement of the body 10 and the arms as the shaft 52 rotates, and the advancer is held in fixed orientation relative to the body 10, without itself rotating. The operation of the lock member 50 and shaft 52 is described in more detail below. The locking arms 20 are arranged with their bases, i.e. their end away from their free end, abutting the advancer 21. The coupling portion 23 between the arms also abuts the advancer 21. The other, end free of the locking arms 20 can be urged into position to extend from the body by flexing of the arms 20 in a cantilever type manner without the need for a pivot, hinge or the like. In use, the arms are extended to engage with the wall of a roller shutter guide channel. The locking arms 20 are arranged to contact the tapered region 30 initially proximate to the free end, i.e. the end of the arms opposed to the coupling portion 23. As the locking arms 20 move over the tapered region 30 of the body 10 the point of contact on the arms moves away from the free end, and the free end extends outwardly from the body 10 and off the tapered region 30 toward the second end of the body 10. The lock member 50 of the locking apparatus 1 comprises a lock 51 and a shaft 52 with a threaded region and is arranged to extend from the second end 13of the locking apparatus 1 towards the first end 12 of the locking apparatus 1. The lock 51 is configured to receive a key (not shown) . In use, the key is inserted into the lock 51, enabling the threaded shaft 52 to be rotated. The threaded region of the shaft 52 engages with the advancer 21. Rotation of the shaft 52 draws the advancer 21 along the shaft 52. With this motion the locking arms 20 impinge on and move over the tapered region 30 causing the locking arms 20 to extend from within the body 10. The arms 20 remain, at their side regions, engaged with the arm apertures 15, preventing rotation of the arms with the advancer 21, so that rotation of the shaft 52 results in axial movement of the advancer 21 and the arms 20 which are coupled to the advancer 21.

In use, the locking assembly 1 is inserted into an aperture, such as in a roller shutter guide channel. A key (not shown) is inserted into the lock 51 and rotated. Rotating the key causes the threaded shaft 52 to rotate. Rotation of the threaded shaft 52 causes the advancer 21 to move along the shaft 52.

If the key is rotated clockwise, for example, the advancer 21 moves from the first end 12 of the body 10 towards the second end 13 of the body 10. The movement of the advancer 21 causes the locking arms 20 to move from the narrowest point 31 of the tapered region 30 toward the widest point 32 of the tapered region 30. Continued rotation of the key in this direction causes the locking arms 20 to deform elastically, to move from a position retracted within the body 10 to an extend position outside the body 10, and at the same time to be advanced towards and engaged with the material, such as the side wall of the guide channel, surrounding the aperture in which the body 10 is located. By selecting the amount of key rotation, the amount of pressure between the locking arms

20 and the material surrounding the aperture in which the body 10 is located can be controlled, taking into account the thickness of that material. In this way, the arms become pressed flush against the material surrounding the aperture in which the body 10 is located.

To retract the locking arms the key is rotated counter-clockwise, for example, and the advancer 21 moves away from the second end 13 of the body 10 and towards the first end 12 of the body 10. The movement of the advancer

21 combined with the flexion which has been applied to the arms 20 and the coupling portion 23 causes the locking arms 20 to increasingly move from the widest point 32 of the tapered region 30 to the narrowest point 31 of the tapered region 30. Continued rotation in this sense causes the locking arms 20 to return to the rest position, retracted to not extend from the body 10, so that the locking apparatus 1 can be removed from the aperture.

The key is removed from the lock member 50 after rotation is completed, preventing further rotation of the lock member 50. The body 10 comprises a narrow region at the first end

12 of the body 10 and a wide region the second end 13 of the body 10. The narrow region is of smaller width than the wide region such that the narrow region fits through an aperture in the channel. The arms 20 are located in the narrow region. The wide region prevents the locking apparatus 1 from passing through the aperture when the locking arms 20 press against the wall of a roller shutter channel, for example.

In preferred embodiments, the narrow and wide regions are cylindrical. The narrow region may suitably have a diameter in the range 1cm to 2.5cm. The wide region may suitably have a diameter in the range of 1.5cm to 3.5cm. The length of the body 10 from the first to the second end may suitably be in the range of 2cm to 10cm.

In use, the narrow region is arranged through an aperture in a wall of the guide channel. The arms located in the narrow region are then engaged with an internal surface of the wall. Engaging the arms with the internal surface causes the wide portion to be pressed against an external surface of the wall. The effect of engaging the arms and the wide portion with the internal and external surfaces cause the locking apparatus to be held, tightly, in position to provide an obstruction in the form of a protrusion that prevents the shutter being opened, maliciously .

As discussed, once an aperture is provided in a wall of a roller shutter guide channel, the locking apparatus 1 can be simply installed to provide an additional level of security by locking the shutter in place.

Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment ( s ) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.