Security device for electrical conductors in a conduit or in a lamp post

Abstract

A bracket encircles a conduit or lamp post and includes an opening for access to a cover attached to the conduit or lamp post and serves as a security device to prevent access to the electrical conductors behind the cover. A removable plate having a bottom edge engaged within a channel extends across the opening of the bracket. A tang extends from the bracket for penetrable engagement with a slot in the plate. An aperture in the tang extending through the plate is engageable with the shackle of a lock to preclude removal of the plate.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A security device for preventing access to a cover on a conduit or lamp post, said device comprising:
 (a) a bracket for surrounding the conduit or lamp post coincident with the cover on the conduit or lamp post;   (b) said bracket including an opening positionally corresponding with the cover;   (c) a plate detachably attachable to said bracket and extending across the opening, said plate including a slot;   (d) said bracket including a first half for engaging the rear of the conduit or lamp post and a second half for engaging the front of the conduit or lamp post coincident with the cover attached to the conduit or lamp post; and   (e) a tang extending from said second half of said bracket for penetrable engagement with said slot in said plate, said tang including an aperture adapted for engagement by the shackle of a padlock.   
     
     
         2 . The security device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said plate includes a bottom edge and a top edge and wherein said tang is proximate said top edge and wherein said second half of said bracket includes a channel for receiving and retaining said bottom edge of said plate. 
     
     
         3 . The security device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first half includes cutaways for mating with the surface at the rear half of the conduit or lamp post and said second half includes further cutaways for mating with the surface at the front half of the conduit or lamp post. 
     
     
         4 . The security device as set forth in  claim 3  including fittings for attaching said first half with said second half to encircle the conduit or lamp post with said bracket. 
     
     
         5 . A security device for covering an access port in a conduit or in a lamp post, which conduit or lamp post is not rectangular in cross-section, said security device comprising:
 (a) a first half of a bracket having opposed lateral sides, a back side and top and bottom sides, said top and bottom sides including cutaway sections commensurate in configuration with the cross-section of the rear half of the conduit or lamp post;   (b) a second half of said bracket having a front opening, further top and bottom sides, said further top and bottom sides including further cutaway sections commensurate in configuration with the cross-section of the front half of the conduit or the lamp post;   (c) a first flange extending interiorly from a first one of said lateral sides;   (d) a second flange extending interiorly from a second one of said lateral sides;   (e) a first strap interconnecting said further top side with said further bottom side;   (f) a second strap interconnecting said further top side with said further bottom side, said further top and bottom sides and said first and second straps defining an opening;   (g) screws for threadedly drawing the upper end of said first strap with the upper end of said first flange, for threadedly drawing the lower end of said first strap with the lower end of said first flange, for threadedly drawing the upper end of said second strap with the upper end of said second flange and for threadedly drawing the lower end of said second strap with the lower end of said second flange;   (h) a tang extending from said second half of said bracket;   (i) a channel secured as part of the opening and disposed adjacent the lower ends of said first and second straps; and   (j) a plate engaging said channel to cover the front opening, said plate including a slot for penetrable engagement by said tang.   
     
     
         6 . The security device as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the components of said security device are of stainless steel. 
     
     
         7 . The security device as set forth in  claim 5  including a lock having a shackle for engaging an aperture in said tang. 
     
     
         8 . A method for covering an access port present on a conduit or lamp post, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) extending a bracket partially about the conduit or lamp post to locate an opening in the bracket coincident with the access port;   (b) detachably attaching a plate to the bracket to cover the access port;   (c) engaging a slot in the plate with an apertured tang extending from the bracket upon exercise of said step of attaching; and   (d) attaching the shackle of a lock with the aperture in the tang after exercise of said step of engaging.   
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said bracket includes a front and rear part and including the step of securing the front and rear parts to one another to encircle the conduit or lamp post with the bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 9  wherein each of the top and bottom sides of each of the first and second parts includes a cutaway conforming with one half of the cross-section of the conduit or lamp post and the step of placing each cutaway adjacent the conduit or the lamp post. 
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 10  including the step of securing the first and second parts about the lamp post to nest the conduit or the lamp post within the cutaways.