According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of locking an item, the method including locking the item with a padlock having an identification feature; and covering at least a release mechanism of the padlock with a telltale device, without visually obstructing the identification feature of the padlock.

A padlock release mechanism may, besides referring to a key-operated mechanism, be understood to include a combination mechanism. Furthermore, in this specification, the term"padlock"is intended to include locks similar to padlocks having shackles, bolts, toothed racks or the like at least a portion of which is external to a lock body and which is lockable in position relative to the lock body.

Covering at least a release mechanism of the padlock may include covering at least one external surface of the padlock, which surface includes the identification feature, with a body of the telltale device, the body including an aperture or window or transparent wall through which the identification feature is visible.

Covering at least a release mechanism of the padlock may include, when the padlock includes a key-operated mechanism, locking a shield to the padlock so that the shield must be damaged or destroyed in order to access a keyhole of the padlock.

\ According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a telltale device, securable to a padlock having an identification feature, such that it covers at least part of a release mechanism of the padlock for indicating access to the padlock release mechanism, without visually obstructing the identification feature of the padlock.

The telltale device may include a jacket defining a cavity within which at least part of a padlock body is snugly receivable, the jacket having an aperture or window or transparent wall through which the identification feature of the padlock will be visible in use.

The telltale device may include a shield for inhibiting access to the padlock release mechanism; and indicating means for indicating access to the padlock release mechanism.

The shield may form part of the jacket. The indicating means may include a frangible zone defined by at least one line of weakness at least partially in the shield.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a telltale device, for use with a padlock having a release mechanism in a padlock body which also includes an identification feature, the device including a cover body mountable to the padlock such that access to the release mechanism is inhibited by the cover body but without the identification feature of the padlock being visually obstructed by the cover body; and securing means for securing the cover body to the padlock so that the cover body must be visibly damaged or destroyed in order to gain access to the release mechanism.

Typically, the cover body defines an aperture or window, or includes a transparent wall, through which the identification feature of the padlock will be visible in use.

The telltale device may include indicating means for indicating access to the release mechanism of said padlock.

The indicating means may include a frangible zone defined by at least one line of weakness in the cover body. At least a portion of the frangible zone may be positioned to inhibit access to the release mechanism of said padlock with which the device is intended for use.

The frangible zone may be defined between a pair of spaced scores. The cover body may bear a manipulatable tab to facilitate breaking of the cover body in the region of the line or lines of weakness. The fact that the lines of weakness are spaced serves to ensure that the broken part of the cover body remains attached to the remainder of the cover body for disposal together therewith. The manipulatable tab may project from the cover body into a recess in the cover body.

The cover body may be in the form of a jacket defining a cavity within which at least a portion of a padlock body is snugly receivable. The aperture or window, when present, is typically defined in a wall of the jacket, or a wall of the jacket may be transparent. Said wall may be a side wall or a bottom wall of the jacket, the bottom wall typically being in use remote from the shackle of the padlock, or remote from an opening in the jacket through which the padlock is received.

The telltale device may include a series of peripheral spaced longitudinally extending ribs which protrude inwardly from the inner surface of the jacket and which are adapted in use to bear against the padlock body and to limit the angular displacement of the padlock body in the jacket. The ribs may also serve to strengthen the jacket.

The telltale device may include indicia which are formed on an external surface of the device. The indicia may be printed, indelibly embossed or stamped onto the surface of the jacket. The indicia may function as an identification feature for the

telltale device. Preferably, the indicia is provided on a portion of the cover body in which the window or aperture is provided.

The securing means may be provided by a securing member, fast with the cover body and having an opening which in use can be positioned to receive a shackle, bolt, toothed rack, or the like of the padlock.

The securing member may be in the form of a tab hingedly connected to the cover body and defining the opening which in use can be positioned to receive the shackle, bolt, toothed rack, or the like. Preferably, the tab extends from a wall of the cover body in which the aperture or window, if present, is defined, or which wall is transparent.

Instead, the securing means may be in the form of at least one aperture in the cover body for receiving a shackle, bolt, toothed rack, or the like of the padlock.

In one embodiment of the invention, the aperture or window is defined in the frangible zone.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the frangible zone may be provided with a manipulatable tab facilitating separation of the frangible zone at least partially from the cover body. The aperture or window may be located behind the manipulatable tab.

The telltale device may be in the form of a unitary moulding of synthetic plastics material.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which Figure 1 shows a perspective top view of a telltale device in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective top view of the telltale device of Figure 1, from an opposite direction;

Figure 3 shows a perspective bottom view of the telltale device of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a top plan view of the telltale device of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a sectional elevation of the telltale device of Figure 2, taken at V-V in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a sectional elevation of the telltale device of Figure 2, in use, taken at VI-VI in Figure 4; Figure 7 shows a perspective bottom view of another embodiment of a telltale device in accordance with the invention; and Figure 8 shows a perspective top view of a further embodiment of a telltale device in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a telltale device in accordance with the invention. The telltale device 10 includes a jacket, generally indicated by reference numeral 12, which defines a cavity 14 within which a body 16 of a padlock 18 (see Figure 6) is snugly receivable.

The jacket 12 includes a bottom wall 20 which is roughly rectangular when viewed in plan. Transversely spaced longitudinal walls 22 and longitudinally spaced transverse walls 24 extend respectively from the long and short edges of the bottom wall 20. A rectangular aperture 23 is provided in one of the longitudinal walls 22.

Two transversely spaced longitudinally extending ribs 26 protrude inwardly from an inner surface of each of the longitudinal walls 22.

The telltale device 10 includes securing means, generally indicated by reference numeral 28 whereby the telltale device 10 is lockable to the padlock 18.

The securing means 28 includes a flap or tab 30 which is connected to a free edge of one of the longitudinal walls 22 by a hinge 32. A hole 34 extends through the tab 30.

The telltale device 10 includes indicating means, generally indicated by reference numeral 36 (see Figure 3) for indicating when access has been gained to a keyhole or other release mechanism, e. g. the tumblers of a combination padlock (not shown on the padlock 18). In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the indicating means 36 includes a frangible zone 37 defined between two spaced lines of weakness 38 in the bottom wall 20. An upwardly extending manipulatable tab 40 extends from the frangible zone 36 and projects into a recess in the longitudinal wall 22 in which the aperture 23 is located. The function of the tab 40 is to facilitate breaking of the bottom wall 20 between the lines of weakness 38, i. e. the frangible zone 37, to provide access to the keyhole of the padlock 18.

The telltale device 10 is typically formed as a unitary moulding of a synthetic plastics material. However, it will be appreciated, that the device can be formed of any suitable material. Typically, the material will be between 0,5 mm and 1, 5 mm in thickness so as to permit the tearing of the bottom wall 20 along the lines of weakness 38 by hand, when the tab 40 is pulled as shown by arrow 41 in Figure 3.

Indicia such as logos and/or other trademarks may be formed on the jacket 12. Preferably, serial numbers (not shown) are provided on the longitudinal wall 22 in which the aperture 23 is provided in order to keep control of the issuing and use of the telltale devices 10.

In use, where it is desired to monitor access to a padlock 18, with the padlock 18 unlocked, that is with one limb 41 of a shackle 42 clear of the padlock body 1 6, the body 16 of the padlock 18 is positioned in the cavity 14.

The ribs 26 abut against the surface of the body 16 to ensure a snug fit and in order to resist relative displacement of the padlock body 16 in the cavity 14.

If desired, the padlock body 16 may be provided with complementary recesses within which the ribs 26 engage thereby further resisting relative displacement.

The tab 30 is bent over so that the hole 34 therein is in register with an open hole in an upper surface of the body 16 of the padlock 18 and the padlock 18

is locked in position by closing the shackle 42 such that the free limb 41 extends through the hole 34 in the tab 30, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.

The bottom wall 20 hence forms a shield over the keyhole of the padlock 1 8 thereby denying access to the keyhole.

The frangible zone 37 between the lines of weakness 38 is in register with the keyhole. Accordingly, in order to unlock the padlock 18, the lines of weakness 38 are torn by manipulating the tab 40, permitting a key to be inserted, through the opening so formed in the bottom wall 20, into the keyhole of the padlock 18, which in turn permits the padlock 18 to be unlocked.

The telltale device 10 can then be removed from the padlock 18 and discarded.

The fact that the lines of weakness 38 are spaced from each other ensures that the tab 40 and broken part of the bottom wall 20 remain attached to the rest of the telltale device 10 for disposal together therewith. This naturally has environmental benefits.

By virtue of the fact that the only way to gain access to the padlock 18 once the telltale device 10 is mounted thereon is by visibly damaging or destroying the device 10, it serves as a ready indicator to indicate if an unauthorised access has been gained to the padlock.

The telltale device 10 of the invention, as illustrated, is particularly suitable for use with a padlock 18 which includes an identification feature, such as a serial number, in a location corresponding to the aperture 23 in the longitudinal wall 22. Thus, when the padlock body 16 is received in the jacket 12, the serial number of the padlock is visible through the aperture 23, providing quick and easy confirmation that the padlock was not replaced, e. g. by cutting through the shackle 42. This provides an additional check to determine if the padlock 18 or the telltale device 10 has been replaced. Typically, the serial number on the telltale device 10 is located on the longitudinal wall 22 in which the aperture 23 is provided, so that the serial number of the telltale device 10 and the serial number of the padlock 18 can conveniently be checked simultaneously.

As will be appreciated, as the tab 40 and the tab 30 are also located on the same side of the jacket 12 in which the aperture 23 is located and on which the serial number of the telltale device 10 will typically be located, these items can also easily be inspected when the serial numbers are inspected to check for tampering.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, two further embodiments of a telltale device in accordance with the invention are respectively designated 50 and 60. The telltale devices 50,60 are similar to the telltale device 10, and unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts or features.

In the device 50, the aperture 23 is located vertically, centrally, in the longitudinal wall 22. More accurately, the aperture 23 is located in a portion of the longitudinal wall 22 which is in turn located between the spaced lines of weakness 38 which starts in an edge, which is a bottom edge in Figure 7, of the longitudinal wall 22. The central portion of the longitudinal wall 22 between the lines of weakness 38 thus in effect define a tab with the same function as the tab 40 of the device 10.

Accordingly, in order to unlock a padlock to which the telltale device 50 is secured, the lines of weakness 38 are torn by gripping the bottom edge in Figure 7 of the central portion of the longitudinal wall 22 between the lines of weakness 38 and tearing away the central portion, including the aperture 23, permitting a key to be inserted, through the opening so formed in the bottom wall 20, into the keyhole of the padlock, which in turn permits the padlock to be unlocked.

Referring to Figure 8 of the drawings, the tab 40 has a stepped appearance and leans away from the longitudinal wall 22. The aperture 23 is located in the longitudinal wall 22, behind the tab 40. Thus, in use, when the tab 40 is pulled to obtain access to the keyhole of a padlock to which the telltale device 60 is secured, the aperture 23 is in effect enlarged, as is the case with the telltale device 50.

The telltale device 10,50,60 as illustrated, provides a ready and relatively inexpensive indication as to whether there has been unauthorised tampering with a padlock. In addition, each device can be provided with a serial number and/or a logo and/or could be colour-coded permitting easy identification, traceability and control. Furthermore, the inventor believes that the device will be relatively easy to use. Lastly, in view of the snug fit of the body of the padlock within the cavity 14, the device 10,50,60 also serves to inhibit the ingress of foreign matter into the keyhole of the padlock.