Single Stem Or Shank Patents (Class 70/34)
  • Patent number: 6543260
    Abstract: A coupler lock for securing a device within a sleeve of a vehicle hitch to prevent unauthorized removal of the device which can include a hitch ball insert, a cargo platform, bike carrier or similar accessory designed to be attached to the vehicle. The coupler lock includes a lock housing removably attached to one end of a lock bar configured to pass through apertures within the hitch sleeve and insert. The lock housing has a plurality of ball bearings radially movable in and out of an annular groove to lock and release the bar. A locking cup longitudinally movable within the lock housing in response to movement of the lock cylinder retains the bearings within the groove or releases the bearings from removal of the lock bar from the lock housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Fulton Performance Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Vander Koy, Sung Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6490892
    Abstract: A barrel lock padlock is provided which can be used to engage the hasp-and-staple fitted to an enclosure such as a gas or electricity meter box. The housing of the barrel lock has a slot into which the staple can be passed to align with the bore in the housing in which the plunger of the barrel lock is movable, so that when the plunger is moved to the locking position by its spring it passes through the staple to lock the box. A key is passed through a key hole in a cap of the lock to engage the plunger and retract it, allowing the padlock to be removed from the staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Highfield Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Glen Freiman
  • Patent number: 6464269
    Abstract: A tamper resistant security device, a removal tool, and methods of engaging and disengaging the tamper resistant security device are provided. The tamper resistant security device includes a locking pin including a head, a shaft, and a groove, a locking cap comprising a blind hole, a groove formed inside and substantially coaxial with the blind hole, and a snap ring fitting within the groove and further capable of snapping into the groove of the locking pin. A protective cover includes a closure device cavity, a locking pin hole extending through the protective cover, a locking cap cavity, and an alignment hole. During assembly, the protective cover is placed over the closure device, the locking pin passes through the locking pin hole, and the locking cap is placed in the locking cap cavity and the snap ring of the locking cap is retained in the locking groove of the locking pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventors: Richard E. Wilhelm, Kevin Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 6457336
    Abstract: A lock, in particular a brake disk lock for motorcycles, comprising a lock housing and a bolt lockable thereto; with the bolt having a stop member, a bolt head and a bolt neck arranged therebetween, and with the lock housing having a receiving region to receive the bolt head of the bolt, a lock cylinder and a latch movable by a rotary actuation of the lock cylinder to lock or unlock the bolt head inserted into the receiving region. The lock housing further has at least one conversion element, by means of which a rotary actuation of the lock cylinder can be converted into an axial locking or unlocking movement of the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: ABUS August Bremicker Soehne KG
    Inventor: Michael Bremicker
  • Patent number: 6442982
    Abstract: A locking device (10) is serving for, with a lock (18), locking an already closed door (4) which is mounted with hinges (6) on a frame (5) in a gable (3) of a container (1). The door is held in the closed position by a turnable locking bar (7) which, at least at one end, has a projection for, by turning the bar, engaging it with a holder on the frame. The locking device (10) furthermore comprises a lock hole (25) running through the locking bar (7), the lock hole (25) assumes, in the closed position, a direction mainly parallel to the door plane; a house (11) with a channel (12) attached to the door, the channel (12) encloses the locking bar (7), and a bolt guide (22) which is in alignment with the lock hole (25) in the closed position; and a sliding bolt (23) for sliding through the bolt guide (22) and the lock hole (25) and locking the locking device (10) with a lock (37) which engage with tumblers (27) in the lock (18). A combination lock can advantageously be used as lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventors: Allan Larsen, Henning Kummerfeldt
  • Publication number: 20020108407
    Abstract: A locking device for locking one or more objects together includes a lock stud defined by an elongated shaft having a head at a first end and an annular recess at a second end, and a lock body that slides over and locks onto the second end. The lock body includes an outer housing having an aperture for receiving the second end of the elongated shaft. A cylinder lock mechanism is positioned in the outer housing, and the cylinder lock is rotatable between a locked an unlocked position. The cylinder lock is rotationally coupled to a locking disc that is eccentrically disposed in the outer housing with respect to the aperture of the outer housing. The locking disc has an aperture therein that engages the annular recess in the elongated shaft when the cylinder lock is rotated to the locked position. The locking device also includes a sleeve that is dimensioned to slide over the elongated shaft to allow the locking device to be used for locking through several different sized apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: John B. Zapushek
  • Publication number: 20020104338
    Abstract: A coupler lock for securing a device within a sleeve of a vehicle hitch to prevent unauthorized removal of the device which can include a hitch ball insert, a cargo platform, bike carrier or similar accessory designed to be attached to the vehicle. The coupler lock includes a lock housing removably attached to one end of a lock bar configured to pass through apertures within the hitch sleeve and insert. The opposite end of the lock bar has a barrel permanently attached to prevent the lock from passing through the apertures. The first end of the lock bar has an annular groove. The lock housing has a plurality of ball bearings radially movable in and out of the annular groove to lock and release the bar. A locking cup longitudinally movable within the lock housing in response to movement of the lock cylinder retains the bearings within the groove or releases the bearings form removal of the lock bar from the lock housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Tim Vander Koy, Sung Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6425272
    Abstract: A padlock includes an elongated shackle bar, a lock body mounted on a first end portion of the shackle bar, and a lock unit mounted on an opposite second end portion of the shackle bar. The lock body and the lock unit have cross-sections larger than that of the shackle bar. The lock unit includes a tubular lock housing, a key-operable lock core mounted in the lock housing, and a shackle engaging member mounted rotatably in the lock housing. The shackle engaging member has a shackle engaging portion for engaging the second end portion of the shackle bar, and a core engaging portion connected to the shackle engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Waterson Chen
  • Patent number: 6419258
    Abstract: A lock mechanism includes a casing having a cavity therein, a shaft with an annular recess insertable into the cavity, a lock tumbler with a rotatable output member, and a spring-biased rigid locking clip pivotally mounted to the casing in the cavity so as to normally engage the recess in the shaft to secure the shaft to the casing unless pivoted out of the recess by the output member of the lock tumbler. Such a lock mechanism can used be to solve many different security problems, including securing a ball to the ball socket of a trailer hitch as a deterrent to theft of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Neff Co Technologies
    Inventor: Jeff M. Grote
  • Patent number: 6412315
    Abstract: A receiver lock for a trailer box hitch designed to secure a ball mount in place and protect it from unauthorized removal. The receiver lock consists of a solid metallic cylindrical pin (20) with a head (28) on one end and round end (40) on the other end. The pin includes a body (22) with a notched recess (32) essentially adjacent to the head with a bore (38) running through the head and body communicating with the recess. A cam lobe (42) is located within the recess and has a shape that conforms to the body when in an unlocked position, and extends above the body when locked. A circular keyway lock (48) is placed in the bore in the head and held captive with a set screw (50). A hexagonal lock connecting rod (56) joins the cam lobe to the lock through the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventors: John C. Cheng, Calvin S. Wang
  • Publication number: 20020073746
    Abstract: A locking device includes a shackle member having a shank and a latch portion at one end an a stop at the other end. A locking head mounts in a locked state on the latch portion but is removable when unlocked. A sleeve is carried on the shank but is removable. The sleeve and the shank together define a size conversion structure for the shackle. When the sleeve is on the shank, the shackle has one operative thickness to closely fit one size aperture, but when the sleeve is removed, the shackle has another, smaller operative thickness to fit a smaller aperture. A retaining member may be employed to resist removal of the sleeve. Two or more sleeves may be used to fit more than two apertures. These can be separately mountable onto the shank or may be nested on the shank, one inside of the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Philip W. Wyers
  • Publication number: 20020069681
    Abstract: Fasteners, such as lock-pins, that in selected embodiments can be installed or removed from the near side of a blind installation. In one embodiment, the lock-pin includes a pin and a rotatable key. The pin includes a head portion, a shaft portion having a tip end, and a longitudinal axis of symmetry. A bore extends through the head portion and the shaft portion in a generally longitudinal direction non-colinear with the longitudinal axis of symmetry. In one aspect of this embodiment, the key includes a spring portion toward the head portion of the pin, a retainer portion toward the tip end of the pin, and an actuator rod portion extending therebetween rotatably disposed within the bore of the pin. When the key is rotated to an unlocked position, the retainer portion is disposed within the diameter of the shaft portion such that the pin can be inserted in, or retracted from, a hole only slightly larger in diameter than the shaft portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Richard Golden, Mark Adams
  • Patent number: 6402181
    Abstract: A hitch and lock device for coupling a trailer to a vehicle includes a lock rod engaged through the elements from the vehicle and the trailer, and a lock device engaged with the lock rod to secure the elements together. The lock device may be quickly engaged onto the lock rod to lock the lock rod to the elements and to solidly secure the trailer to the vehicle. The lock device includes a latch slidably received in a housing, and a spring biasing the latch to engage with the lock rod, and an actuator actuated by a core with a key to disengage the latch from the rod against the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Lih Shya Lee
  • Patent number: 6386006
    Abstract: A rotation restricted barrel lock and key includes a rotationally actuated barrel lock and a key for opening the lock. The key comprises a lock engaging portion rigidly attached to a handle, and a sleeve rotatably mounted on the handle shaft. The sleeve may slide axially along the shaft within preset limits. Lock actuation is characterized by rotation of the lock engaging portion of the key relative to the lock. During actuation of the lock, a set of prongs on the sleeve engages a complementary set of notches on the barrel lock, thereby non-rotatably coupling the barrel lock to the sleeve. By grasping the sleeve, the user can prevent rotation of the lock while turning the key handle, and thus actuate the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Dewalch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman Binz DeWalch
  • Patent number: 6364339
    Abstract: A hitch and lock device for coupling a trailer to a vehicle includes a lock rod engaged through the elements from the vehicle and the trailer, and a lock device engaged with the lock rod to secure the elements together. The lock device may be quickly engaged onto the lock rod to lock the lock rod to the elements and to solidly secure the trailer to the vehicle. The lock device includes a latch slidably received in a housing, and a spring biasing the latch to engage with the lock rod, and an actuator actuated by a core with a key to disengage the latch from the rod against the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Lih Shya Lee
  • Patent number: 6345522
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical latching apparatus for an enclosure such as a vending machine and including an electronic lock controller for disengaging a latch assembly securing the door of the enclosure against the enclosure frame in a closed, locked position. Upon actuation, the lock controller disengages the latch assembly and enable the door of the enclosure to be moved to an open position for accessing the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Star Lock Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Woodrow C. Stillwagon, Jean L. Meeks, J. Travis Sparks
  • Patent number: 6338261
    Abstract: A lock includes a case with a sleeve received therein. The sleeve is connected to the case by a bolt. A cylinder is rotatably received in the sleeve and a locking bar is connected to the cylinder by a pin, the locking bar having an elongated head engaged with a recess in the case. A plurality of locking pins biased by springs radially extend in to the sleeve. The sleeve can be replaced by removing the bolt from the case, and the cylinder can be disengaged from the locking bar by removing the pin connecting the two members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Inventor: Ten-Kao Liu
  • Patent number: 6237376
    Abstract: A lock having a pin inserted into openings in the housing and the shaft to lock the shaft against movement relative to the housing. A lock guard is welded to the housing and a pin and ball receptacle is welded to the opposite side of the housing. A pin lock inserted through the lock guard, through the housing and the shaft into the pin and ball receptacle includes an outer pin containing a pair of ball bearings disposed within openings in the end of the outer pin. When inserted the pair of ball bearings are disposed adjacent to depressions in the inside surface of the pin and ball receptacle. A cylinder key lock is attached at the end opposite the key to a rotator which engages an inner pin. The inner pin has a large diameter section and a reduced diameter section at its end. When the large diameter section is in contact with the ball bearings, the ball bearings protrude through the outer pin and engage the depressions in the pin and ball receptacle to lock the outer pin to the pin and ball receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: James E. Surratt
  • Patent number: 6233984
    Abstract: A semitrailer cargo door locking system is described for use with a semitrailer cargo door having as part of its opening mechanism a rotatable handle which secured within a hasp mechanism comprising a rigid lower hasp and a swivelable upper hasp. The locking system includes a shackleless keyed lock having an internal bolt for engaging aligned holes provided in the upper and lower hasps, thereby preventing unauthorized opening of the cargo doors when in a locked state. The lock housing is provided both with a protective extension to minimize attempts to pry the lock, and with a tapered side wall to prevent removal by the application of a destructive torque applied by a wrench or other like device. The lock is further provided with a anchor line for either permanently or removably securing the lock to the cargo door. To provide the lock with the ability to be used with regulated loads, a means may also be provided to attach a sealing structure to the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventor: Andrew Blehi, III
  • Patent number: 6170305
    Abstract: An interconnect mechanism is provided for a dual lock of the type having a deadbolt, a deadbolt driving mechanism, a latch bolt, and a latch bolt driving mechanism with an inside handle. The interconnect mechanism includes a base plate adapted to be mounted to an inner side of a door. The base plate includes a flange wall on an outer face thereof which faces away from the door. The base plate further includes a wing on each of two lateral sides thereof, the flange wall including a top face, a lower portion, and an upper portion. A lower cam is rotatably mounted to the lower portion of the flange wall. The lower cam is operably connected to the inside handle to rotate therewith. The lower cam includes a lobe located above the top face of the flange wall. An upper cam is rotatably mounted to the upper portion of the flange wall. The upper cam is operably connected to the deadbolt driving mechanism. The upper cam includes a lobe located above the top face of the flange wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Mu-Lin Shen
  • Patent number: 6161403
    Abstract: A bicycle steering lock having a pin inserted into openings in the steering housing and the fork shaft to lock the steering of the bicycle. A lock guard is welded to the steering housing and a pin and ball receptacle is welded to the opposite side of the housing. A pin lock inserted through the lock guard, through the housing and the fork shaft into the pin and ball receptacle includes an outer pin containing a pair of ball bearings disposed within openings in the end of the outer pin. When inserted the pair of ball bearings are disposed adjacent to depressions in the inside surface of the pin and ball receptacle. A cylinder key lock is attached at the end opposite the key to a rotator which engages an inner pin. The inner pin has a large diameter section and a reduced diameter section at its end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: James E. Surratt
  • Patent number: 6055832
    Abstract: A locking device includes a shackle member and a key operable locking head that may be fastened onto a latch portion of the shackle member. The locking head has a housing and a rotatable retainer and a lock core in the interior of the housing. The lock core is mechanically coupled to the retainer, and both the retainer and the lock core are axially oriented with respect to an axial opening in the housing. The latch portion is axially insertable through the axial opening when the lock core is in an unlocked state and has a latch head which becomes fastened by the locking head when the retainer is rotated by the lock core into a locked state. A seal is supported by the housing proximately to the axial opening and acts to seal against a seal surface on the latch portion. The shackle member can be a linear portion with a stop portion, such as a knob, or alternatively, a cable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventor: Philip W. Wyers
  • Patent number: 5992187
    Abstract: A shaft retainer device that comprises three major components: a barrel shaped housing, a leverable gripping assembly which is located inside the housing along its central axis, and a key lock in one end of the housing. When the device is locked, the gripping assembly radially grips any grooved shaft that has been inserted in the housing preventing shaft withdrawal. When unlocked by a key, the gripping assembly is spread apart, releasing its radial grip on the groove of any grooved shaft that has been previously inserted in the device. The shaft retainer will work equally well with any shaft that has a raised ridge or a stepped edge around its circumference, and can accommodate a range of shaft diameters. The device is small, light weight and economical to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Jay S. Derman
  • Patent number: 5987939
    Abstract: A lock includes a locking bolt (21) and a lock body (32, 33). The lock body (32, 33) has a locking space (43) and aligned bores (37, 38) provided on either side of the locking space (43). The aligned bores (37, 38) received the locking bolt (21). A latch member (14) is provided within the lock body (32, 33) to release the locking bolt (21). A transverse bolt member (10) engages with the latch member (14) and thereby controls operation of the latch member (14). The transverse bolt member (10) is also provide within the lock body (32, 33). User operable locking cylinders (6) are operable on the transverse bolt member (10) to move the transverse bolt member (10) axially. The engagement between the latch member (14) and the transverse bolt member (10) is by way of respective engagement surfaces (15, 12a). One of the engagement surfaces is an inclined surface (12a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Solex International (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Thanyaluk Pitisettakarn
  • Patent number: 5960653
    Abstract: A door closure for an electric meter box comprises a barrel lock, a lock receiver, a tie rod, a locking nut, and a base plate. The lock includes a shank portion, a head portion, and a flange. The head portion resides in a hole in the meter box door, and the flange captures the outside surface of the door. The lock shank is received by a hole in one end of the lock receiver. The hole has an internal groove for receiving the locking balls in the lock shank. The other end of the lock receiver receives the threaded end of a tie rod. The other end of the tie rod is welded to a base plate, which is screwed into the back of the meter box. The position of the lock receiver can be adjusted to match the depth of the meter box by screwing the receiver up or down on the tie rod. The position of the receiver is then fixed by a lock nut immediately behind the lock receiver. The lock receiver can also be aligned with the door hole by flexing the tie rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventors: Norman Binz DeWalch, Jeffrey Mark Davis
  • Patent number: 5946952
    Abstract: A door locking assembly is provided including a base having a pair of halves. A first one of the halves is adapted for being mounted to a door and a second one of the halves for being mounted on a door frame. The halves each include a slot formed therein. A sliding bar is included having a first orientation in engagement with both slots of the base for precluding the door from being opened and a second orientation with only one of the slots of the base receiving the sliding bar for allowing the door to be opened. Next provided is a cover removably mounted over the sliding bar for precluding the same from being removed from the first orientation. For precluding the removal of the cover, a locking mechanism is included which is adapted to engage both the cover and the sliding bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Jouri Mintchenko
  • Patent number: 5941102
    Abstract: Lock assembly including a first locking device in two parts intended to be mounted on a door, and a second detachable locking device intended to be treaded from above on the two parts of the first locking device when the door is closed. One of the locking devices shows a projecting portion and the second locking device shows a recess cooresponding to the projecting portion with a cooresponding wedge-shape. The projecting portion shows an outward directed rim along the sides extending to its wedge-shaped tip, and the recess shows an inwards directed rim along the cooresponding sides. A faucet extends in a locked position through the projecting portion across the recess. The projecting portion shows a half-cylindric cavity and the faucet shows a half-cylindric section and is fit into the bottom of the half-cylindric cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventors: Hans Reinholdsson, Karl Stenberg
  • Patent number: 5884510
    Abstract: A bolt lock including a lock barrel having a central opening cylindrical about a central axis and extending between an open front end and a closed rear end. The lock barrel has bolt openings extending outwardly from opposite sides of the central opening adjacent the lock barrel rear end, with a pair of bolts received in opposite bolt openings. Each bolt has a head on one end, a leg on the other end with a rear side having a spring groove, and a front side with an axially extending shoulder. The bolt shoulders are planar and parallel to one another. The spring grooves are open at the end of the leg and parallel to and equidistant from a radius of the central axis. The bolts have their other ends in the central opening adjacent one another with the bolt legs substantially side by side when in a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: John J. Crocco, Anthony R. Martinez
  • Patent number: 5875658
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for large gates and hatches, such as visor, deck, bow and stem gates located on the side of a vessel. The locking mechanism includes an elongated hard-surface guide part having a hard-surface guide slot. The locking mechanism also includes one or more elongated hard-surface locking parts for securing within the guide slot. The elongated locking parts can include parts of unequal dimensions that simultaneously move in order to center themselves inside the hard-surface guide part. The locking part and the guide part each include two long sides that are beveled in a similar manner for forming a tight fit between the two parts when locked together. At least one locking pin passing through a respective slot in each of the parts tightly locks the two parts together to form a rigid construction in every direction. The construction can be unlocked and dismantled by undoing the locking pin or pins. Unlocking can also be facilitated by means of an opener pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventors: Mauno Urpo Olavi Lahtinen, Paavo Juhani Holtta
  • Patent number: 5819561
    Abstract: A security door-locking system is described for locking closed doors of tractor cabs on truck tractors, for example, of the type used to pull over-the-road common truck trailers, and vehicles, etc., with similar pre-existing door latching systems. A flat rigid bar has a hole near one end for fitting over the striker pin on the door jamb; and the other end of the bar may be attached to a lock outside the tractor cab after the door is closed. A retainer between the lock and the door/door-jamb provides a secure locking arrangement. And a system like a ratchet provides for attaching the lock to the bar in a tight position with the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Andrew Blehi, III
  • Patent number: 5819889
    Abstract: A motorcycle disk brake lock comprises a main body and a locking tool. The main body is provided with a retaining slot, a first receiving cell, a through hole located between the retaining slot and the first receiving cell, and a recess located in the inner wall of the retaining slot such that the recess is opposite in location to the through hole. The locking tool is housed in the first receiving cell such that the lock core of the locking tool is capable of moving back and forth in the first receiving cell. The lock core is provided with a lock bolt which is fitted into a spring. The recess of the retaining slot is provided in the inner wall thereof with a first retaining portion engageable with a second retaining portion of the lock bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Jin-Ren Shieh
  • Patent number: 5713224
    Abstract: A lock device includes a body having a lock core mounted therein and a first hole. A casing is securely mounted around the body. The casing includes a second hole in alignment with the first hole of the body. A first side of the casing includes a rectangular slot defined therein and a side slot in communication with the rectangular slot. A hollow guiding member is securely attached to a second side of the casing and has a through hole in alignment with the first and second holes. The guiding member includes a non-linear guiding slot defined in a periphery thereof, the non-linear guiding slot including a section which extends in a direction having an angle with a longitudinal axis of the first and second holes. A latch rod extends through the first and second holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Gaieter Liou
  • Patent number: 5701772
    Abstract: A multishaft combination lock includes a lock body, an alignment sleeve, and a detachable pin. The alignment sleeve has a hole and is rotatably coupled to the lock body to provide access into the lock body. The alignment sleeve has an angled cutout at a first end, with the alignment of the cutout being adjusted by rotating the alignment sleeve. The detachable pin has a floating bushing that can be misaligned with the principle axis of the detachable pin. To lock the multishaft combination lock, the lock body is fitted to the detachable pin through the hole of the alignment sleeve with the floating bushing misaligned with the angled cutout. When the detachable pin is fully inserted into the lock body, the floating bushing is positioned beyond the end of the alignment sleeve within the lock body and becomes misaligned or offset with the alignment sleeve. To unlock the lock, the alignment sleeve is rotated so that the angled cutout is aligned with the floating bushing of the detachable pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Kenneth Wang
  • Patent number: 5697233
    Abstract: A tamper-proof device is provided for lockingly attaching a piece of equipment such as a TV set or a microwave oven to a support base. It has a pair of rigid plates that are respectively connected to the piece of equipment and the support base. One of the plates is surrounded by a flange which defines a closed area in which wedges are located to hook both plates together. The two plates are rigidly connected to each other by a screwable bolt that can be reached with a screw driver through a coaxial opening provided in the flange. A sleeve extends in between the head of the bolt and the opening. This sleeve can be closed by key-operated lock in order to prevent access to the bolt. The lock is free to rotate within the sleeve even when its latch is locked in outward position. Such prevents a theft from breaking the latch by forcing the lock into rotation in a cantilever fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Baultar Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Albert, Bruno Archambault, Claude Therer
  • Patent number: 5682775
    Abstract: A lock having a hand-slideable lock-bolt. A lock body has a transverse bore passing therethrough and in which the lock-bolt can be mounted. The lock-bolt is movable between locking and unlocked positions. A retention element located in the lock body but externally operable prevents the lock-bolt when in the unlocked position from being removed from the lock body. By externally manipulating the retention element the lock-bolt can be released for complete removal from the lock body. A key operable lock cylinder is located in the lock body and prevents the retention element from being manipulated to release the lock-bolt for removal unless a key is inserted in the lock cylinder and the lock cylinder is in an unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: M J Baber and Company Limited
    Inventor: Murray James Baber
  • Patent number: 5666831
    Abstract: A locking system comprising a locking fastener having tamper-resistant features, and a special key having a bit at one end for engaging a socket in the head of the locking fastener to rotate the latter. The internal configuration of the socket corresponds to an external configuration of the bit, and the corresponding contour of the socket prevents the fastener from being turned by tools other than the special key. The fastener may have left-handed threads on its shaft and its head may be recessed in a counterbore in a closure part to prevent gripping tools from gripping an external surface of the head. The configurations of both the socket and the key may readily be made by economical metal working techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: MCI Corporation
    Inventor: Elizabeth Doros
  • Patent number: 5664445
    Abstract: An improved lock guarded from being sabotaged by prying or cutting has a round latch rod and a lock assembly that are separably locked together by way of retaining balls housed and limited in holes in a rotary unit which is spring biased so as to retractably move back and forth in a sleeve. A limiting stopper having a flanged end which is provided with a pair of opposite cuts in correspondence to the retaining balls. The retaining balls are in general limited by the flanged end without being movable up and down so that a latch rod having a groove in which the retaining balls can be housed is locked in place once the latch head is forced into engagement with the retaining balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Handyway Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Shu Chang
  • Patent number: 5544506
    Abstract: An improved auxiliary lock for closing and fastening a movable part to a stationary part using a key is described. The device comprises a bolt assembly comprising an inner cylinder having a key hole and an outer cylinder encircling the inner cylinder, a first re-entrant engagement member to be fixed to the movable part and a second re-entrant engagement member to be fixed to the stationary part. The first and second re-entrant engagement members have holes made therein to be put in alignment when these re-entrant members are nested together with one projection of each engagement member inserted in the indentation of the counter engagement member. The bolt assembly is inserted in the through holes of these re-entrant engagement members when nested, thereby locking the movable part to the stationary part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Sanpou Lock Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Nakano
  • Patent number: 5542273
    Abstract: A barrel lock includes a cylindrical plug with a locking ball actuated by a positive acting threaded pin that is screwed into the plug. The plug slips into a mating cylindrical retainer and is locked in place by the pin forcing the ball to protrude beyond tile exterior of the cylindrical plug. An anti-rotation coupling that includes a key attaches to the plug which makes the barrel lock especially easy to install and operate. A threaded puller assures separation of the plug and retainer even when the barrel lock may be jammed due to earlier tampering. The simplicity of the invention provides for a rugged construction with positive sealing surfaces that protect against contaminants and corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: James W. Bednarz
  • Patent number: 5540065
    Abstract: A locking device which may be used in locking one or more objects together, includes a rod having a key-like male portion at its tip and a combination locking means forming an enlarged head which locks over the rod's forward shackle. The locking head also includes a resettable combination inner assembly allowing for the setting of any combination by its user for convenient locking or removal without the need for additional tools or keys. The locking device further has on its exterior a series of outer projections allowing for its locking and unlocking without the benefit of visual confirmation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Philip W. Wyers
  • Patent number: 5507160
    Abstract: A locking device for locking a brake disk includes a slot formed in a body which includes a groove for receiving a shank and a chamber for receiving a housing. A circuit board is engaged in the housing and includes a switch. A stud is slidably engaged between the shank and the switch. The stud is disengaged from the switch when the stud is engaged in the recess of the shank, and the stud is forced toward the switch in order to depress the switch when the stud is disengaged from the shank and when the shank is engaged inward of the body so as to lock the brake disk in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Inventor: Jin-Ren Shieh
  • Patent number: 5492206
    Abstract: A motorcycle disk brake lock comprises a main body including a retaiing slot to fit over the brake disk and a lock body which fits into a first recess. A lock bolt, part of the lock body, extends in a through hole, across the slot, into a second recess. The lock bolt has a stop slot near the end protruding through the slot into the main body across from the first recess. A stop member is inserted into a third recess that intercepts the second recess. The stop member is capable of moving back and forth to engage and disengage the stop slot. The lock bolt is held securely in the second recess when the stop member engages the stop slot. To release the lock body, the lock body is rotated by key to remove the stop slot from the opening of the third recess and force the stop member out of engagement. The device may also include an additional stop slot and stop member on the side of the main body on the opposite side of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Inventor: Jin-Ren Shieh
  • Patent number: 5475994
    Abstract: A high security gun lock device is disclosed which has an elongate gripping and locking assembly that is inserted into the muzzle end of the barrel of a revolver or pistol type hand gun and which is then connected to a dummy round located in a cylinder chamber of the revolver or the firing chamber of the pistol. The dummy round has a bulbous head which is grasped by a plurality of expandable gripping fingers mounted on the inner end of the gripping and locking assembly to lock the latter to the former. An axially slidable actuating mechanism is manually operable to cause the gripping fingers to release the bulbous head of the bullet, and a spring biased interposer is normally operable to prevent movement of the actuating mechanism until a locking mechanism is set to a predetermined condition to permit operation of the interposer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Inventors: William P. Briley, Jr., George T. Croft, Robert E. Schmeck
  • Patent number: 5469722
    Abstract: A locking device which includes a new combination of components, namely, the hasp and a round cylinder lock protectively embedded in an indentation built into the hasp. The hasp is designed to be used with a round cylinder lock of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,769,821 and sold by the American Lock Company. The hasp of the present invention is comprised of a steel reinforced plate, the steel reinforced plate has a truncated circular indentation on a front side thereof for encapsulating an outer diameter of the round cylinder lock. The truncated circular indentation has a hasp hole, a locking pin extends from the round cylinder lock and is receivable in the hasp hole. The hasp hole is sized slightly larger than the outer circumference of the locking pin, the locking pin is fixed to the round cylinder lock and extends axially outwardly thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: Robert J. Ellefsen
  • Patent number: 5467619
    Abstract: A latching system, in accordance with a first preferred, embodiment of the present invention, comprises a notched post assembly, a post gripping assembly and a handle assembly, and, in preferred embodiments, a lock assembly associated with the handle assembly. The notched post assembly is comprised of an elongated post formed at one end with at least two opposing, axially extending rows of notches or teeth and alternately disposed smooth surfaces. The post gripping assembly comprises a channel for accepting the notched end of the post and comprises movable latch elements which cooperate with the notches of the post to effect the primary latching function of the system. The unlatching of the post from the channel is accomplished by rotating the post to disengage the notches and the latch elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Star Lock Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Woodrow C. Stillwagon, Donald Embry
  • Patent number: 5442941
    Abstract: A padlock, having a substantially U-shaped lock body (1), a shackle (2) moveable back and forth between a locked position and a free position, connected in its locked position to both branches (1a,1b) of the lock body and one end (2b) of which extending through one of the branches (1b) of the lock body. The lock body (1) is provided with a lock mechanism (3) operated with a key (5) and bolt means (7) connected to the lock mechanism for locking the shackle (2) to the lock body (1). In addition, supported to said end (2b) of the shackle (2) extending through one of the branches (1b) of the lock body there is a lever element (11), which is transversal with regard to the shackle (2) and is turnable relative to the lock body (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Abloy Security Ltd. Oy
    Inventors: Hannu Kahonen, Jukka Pitkanen
  • Patent number: 5410893
    Abstract: A trailer hitch coupling anti-theft lock is formed by a platen underlying the ball socket recess of a hitch coupling and having an elongated lock pin projecting vertically through the platen and secured at its innermost end with a flange for impinging a component of the hitch coupling between the flange and the platen. A hollow housing surrounding a shackle-type padlock is provided with an aperture in its wall for slidably receiving the outwardly projecting end portion of the lockpin and biasing the housing wall forming the aperture into an annular groove in the lockpin adjacent the outer surface of the platen in response to inward movement of the lock body relative to its shackle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: Doris E. Easterwood
  • Patent number: 5404734
    Abstract: A lock comprised of a cylindrical body having a first passage extending axially through the body which passage is configured to enable a locking bar to be passed through the body, the bar having at least one orifice intermediate its extremities, the lock body having a second partial passageway extending from the side wall of the body at least into the first passageway and normal to the latter so that the orifice in the bar can be disposed in register with the second passageway. A cylindrical lock configured to fit slidably in the second passageway so that at least a portion of the lock may be thrust in the second passageway and through the bar orifice when the latter is disposed in register with the second passageway, when the lock may be secured by a key to be withdrawn from the outer end of the lock. This lock and bar may employed with external plates to secure adjacent members from movement relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Inventor: Louis Martinez
  • Patent number: 5388436
    Abstract: A motorcycle disk brake lock comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a lock main body. A gap is located between the first and the second arms. A lock bolt is provided with a straight leg portion and a curved portion. The straight leg portion is disposed slidably in the first arm while the curved portion of the lock bolt extends toward the second arm and across the gap. A lock bolt fastening pin is disposed in a base portion of the lock main body such that the lock bolt fastening pin can be moved between a first position and a second position, and that the lock bolt fastening pin restrains the lock bolt when located at the first position. A lock having a lock cylinder and a lock core is disposed in the base portion of the lock main body such that the lock core of the lock is coupled with the lock bolt fastening pin, which can be caused to move to the first position from the second position when the lock core is located at a locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventor: Jin-Ren Shieh
  • Patent number: 5315849
    Abstract: A utility meter box lock construction includes a male assembly having a male body which is bolted to the front wall of the utility meter box with a threaded bolt having an annular groove which is locked to the male body by a set screw. The lid is secured in place in a closed condition by a conventional utility plunger lock which is assembled to a female assembly having a bore which aligns with a bore in the male body. A threaded insert is threaded to the male body in the bore which is aligned with a second bore in the female assembly for receiving the plunger lock. The balls of the plunger lock are expandable to an extension locking state for mating with a groove in the insert threaded to the male body. The position of the plunger balls is set along the plunger bore by rotation of the threaded insert for ensuring that the female member with a lid-locking flange closely closes the lid of the box to the box sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks
    Inventor: George Georgopoulos