Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6722711
-
Patent Number
6,722,711
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, April 9, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 20, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Sandy; Robert J.
- Melwani; Dinesh
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 292 DIG 37
- 292 252
- 292 145
- 292 19
- 292 41
- 292 227
- 292 140
- 024 453
- 411 348
- 411 360
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A locking arrangement is for a receptacle and cover with overlapping parts and aligned holes through the overlapping part. A bolt extends into at least one of the holes with a handle at one end of the bolt for pulling the bolt out of the aligned holes in a withdrawing direction. An expansion mechanism at an opposite end of the bolt expands to prevent withdrawing the bolt. The mechanism has a contracted geometry for allowing withdrawing of the bolt. An actuator mounted for movement to the bolt is pushed to contract and unlock the mechanism. A spring biases the expansion mechanism toward the expanded geometry so that when the actuator is not being pushed, the expansion mechanism is in the expanded geometry to lock the cover to the receptacle.
Description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to locking mechanisms, and, in particular, to a new and useful locking mechanism for containers having bodies and lids with overlapping portions, or cabinets or drawers with overlapping parts, and especially for outside receptacles such as trash cans and recycled bins.
The present invention solves the problem of keeping animals out of household trash containers thus preventing the mess that often is the result of an animal getting into the garbage can and rummaging through the contents of the container. The present invention can also keep young children out of drawers or cabinets.
Others have attempted to incorporate locking mechanisms in the design of a trash receptacle, such as hinged handles that engage grooves or ridges in the cover to inhibit the removal of the lid, or straps that attempt to hold the lid in place, or even levers that clamp the cover onto the container while in the upright position. See, for example: U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,167 for a Container Cover fastener; U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,924 for a Releasable Tension holder for Removeable Receptacle Covers; U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,964 for Trash Can Protector; U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,656 for Trash Receptacle Having Lid Fastening Means; U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,851 for Container Cover Lock; U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,488 for Locking Device for Garbage Can Lid; U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,054 for Animal Proof Storage Container Apparatus; U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,144 for Garbage Can Lid Latch; U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,161 for Container Having Twist-Locking Cover; U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,598 for Lock for Trash Bins; U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,341 for Gravity Actuated Container Lock; U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,050 for Lid-Locking Device for Trash Containers; U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,093 for Device for Locking the Cover of a Container, and Container So Equipped; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,944 for Locking Mechanism for Trash Can Receptacle and Other Doors.
The problem with prior designs is that they fail to function if the can is knocked over, and the animal can then use one or more limbs to paw their way to “unlock” the securing mechanism. The present invention takes advantage of the fundamental difference between primate and non-primate animals. The fact that primates have an opposing digit makes it impossible for non-primates to release the “lock” mechanism of the invention and then remove the lock to permit opening of the cover.
Various locking mechanisms are known and used in a variety of other fields as well. U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,011, for example, discloses a Push Button Panel Fastener, which utilizes captured balls that can be engaged against the recess of a pin for detachably connecting two parts to each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a container lock which is easily and quickly engaged to lock the lid of a container in place, but which cannot be removed by the type of animals which would normally raid garbage pails, such as racoons and the like particularly, and generally cannot be removed by any non-primate nor by young children who have not yet developed adequate manual dexterity.
In accordance with the present invention, the lock has a part which must first be pushed and held, and then, while holding the lock, the lock is pulled to disengage it from the container, drawer or cabinet. This push-plus-pull action is impossible for a non-primate and small children to execute, yet provides for quick engagement and quick disengagement.
Another practical use of the invention, therefore, is to provide a safe and effective way to keep the cover on any container where it has or can be made to have overlapping components to be secured. An example is a plastic utility bin where the lid has a rim that overlaps the body of the container. The invention prevents the cover from being dislodged and the contents of the bin from spilling, without intentionally “unlocking” the mechanism and removing it from the container. Such boxes would be securely closed even if they were to fall from a shelf. Even containers that do not have overlapping parts could be secured if a small modification were made, or added to the container, such as two angles added in such a way that one leg of each angle overlaps and the lock of the invention is extended into aligned holes in the overlapping legs.
The invention could also be used to keep young children out of such containers since they may not yet possess the coordination to successfully release the mechanism. The mechanism could be used on cabinet doors to keep toddlers from getting into undesired areas of the homes as well. Other uses include the securing of cabinet doors and drawers on recreational vehicles like boats and mobile home. The term “receptacle” is used here to be generic for any container, cabinet, drawer receiving or the like, and the term “cover” includes a container lid, a cabinet door, a drawer front or the like.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a locking arrangement for a receptacle having a cover, the receptacle and cover having overlapping parts, the locking arrangement comprising, a bolt for extending through aligned holes in the overlapping parts of the receptacle and cover, a handle at one end of the bolt for engagement for pulling the bolt out of the aligned holes in a withdrawing direction, the handle being outside the receptacle when the bolt extends through the aligned holes, expansion means at an opposite end of the bolt for expanding to an expanded geometry having at least one dimension which is greater than a dimension of the aligned holes to prevent withdrawing the bolt from the aligned holes, the expansion means having a contracted geometry which is at most equal to the dimension of the aligned holes for allowing withdrawing of the bolt from the aligned holes. A far or opposite end of the bolt extends inside the receptacle when the bolt extends through the aligned holes. The lock has an actuator mounted for linear movement to the bolt and engaged with the expansion means for moving the expansion means from the expanded geometry to the contracted geometry when the actuator is pushed in an unlocking direction which is different from the withdrawing direction, and biasing means engaged with the expansion means for biasing the expansion means toward the expanded geometry so that when the actuator is not being pushed in the unlocking direction, the expansion means is in the expanded geometry.
The present invention effectively prevents all non-primate animals and small children from being able to remove the cover from virtually any home-style, outdoor garbage can, or any other container where the cover or lid overlaps part of the body of the container, or can be made to overlap as described above. A garbage can is used for descriptive purposes. The can requires a small modification which is the perforation of the cover and the closing lip of the can where the two components overlap, by a pair of aligned holes. The typical home-style trash container has a cover that fits over and around the outside of the body of the container. A relatively small hole is drilled through the cover and container which can be simply accomplished using a standard household drill, or hand reamer. The invention will however, work, equally well should there be a container in which the cover fits inside the can.
The following description is based on the general trash can design where the cover fits on and over the can.
The aligned holes can be in any receptacle and cover whether it be a trash can, a recycle bin, a lock box, or any other container plus lid combination. As noted, the term “receptacle” is used in its broadest sense to include such enclosures as cabinets, drawers and other enclosure in furniture where the “cover” corresponds to a door for the cabinet, a front of a drawer or other structure in furniture. The only requirement of the present invention is that parts of the “receptacle” and “cover” overlap each other and have aligned holes for receiving what is generically referred to a bolt in the context of the present invention.
The expansion means may be bellows, a plurality of V-shaped members that expand or contract in the direction of the diameter of the bolt, a washer or multiple washers which expand or contract in the radial direction, a disk which is mounted in an offset position at the end of the cylindrical bolt and which can move into misalignment with the bolt for expanding the geometry of the bolt and thus preventing its withdrawal from the aligned holes, an elastic tube with expansion boss inside, a coil spring or a variety of other geometries both disclosed and undisclosed.
One expansion means of the present invention utilizes one or more ball bearings or spheres to expand the geometry of the bolt. When used in the environment of a trash can as the receptacle, the hole through the can, can be fitted with an escutcheon type keeper plate that has a hole which is slightly larger in diameter than the locking bolt. This is needed especially with certain embodiments the invention and with plastic trash containers. The locking bolt, also hollow, houses a mechanism that includes, at least one ball bearing, a spring, a cam rod. When at rest the spring holds the cam rod in the locked position which presses the ball bearing outwardly so that part of the bearing projects through a hole in the outer bolt. When at rest the bearing effectively increases the diameter of the locking bolt preventing it from passing through the keeper plate. A release button for the bolt can be recessed in the handle, shielded, or positioned, in such a way as to require the use of an opposing digit to activate the release and still withdraw the bolt by its handle through the keeper in the can.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1
is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention in a position for insertion into the aligned holes in a receptacle and cover with overlapping parts;
FIG. 2
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
of the locking arrangement in a locked condition;
FIG. 3
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
of the locking bolt of the present invention withdrawn from the aligned holes;
FIG. 4
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
of a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5
is a view similar to
FIG. 2
of the second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
of the third embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7
is view similar to
FIG. 2
of the third embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8
is an enlarged detail of the embodiment of
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 9
is an end view of the embodiment of
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 10
is a view similar to
FIG. 8
showing expansion means in the expanded geometry for the embodiment of
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 11
is a view similar to
FIG. 9
showing the expanded geometry;
FIG. 12
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
of a still further embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 13
is a view similar to
FIG. 2
of the embodiment of
FIG. 12
in the locked position;
FIG. 14
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
of another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 15
is a view similar to
FIG. 2
of the embodiment of
FIG. 14
in the locked position;
FIG. 16
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
of a still further embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 17
is a view like
FIG. 2
of the still further embodiment; and
FIG. 18
is a view similar to
FIG. 7
, showing a variant of the third embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in particular wherein the same reference numerals are utilized to designate the same or functionally similar parts, the invention disclosed in
FIGS. 1
,
2
and
3
is a locking arrangement generally designated
10
for a receptacle
12
having a cover
14
. The receptacle and cover
12
and
14
, have overlapping parts
12
a
and
14
a
with aligned holes
12
b
and
14
b
therethrough. The holes may be any shape but circular holes are preferred since they can easily be made by a household drill passing through the overlapping parts.
The locking arrangement of the invention comprises a bolt
16
for extending through the aligned holes
12
b
,
14
b
in the overlapping parts
12
a
,
14
a
of the receptacle and cover. Bolt
16
has a handle
18
at one end of the bolt for engagement for pulling the bolt out of the aligned holes in a withdrawing direction W in FIG.
3
. The handle and the first end of the bolt to which the handle is connected, are outside the receptacle when the bolt extends through the aligned holes as illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
Expansion means
20
are provided at an opposite, inside end of bolt
16
for expanding into an expanded geometry shown in
FIG. 2
, having at least one dimension, in this case diameter, which is greater than a dimension of the aligned holes, again the diameter of the holes, to prevent withdrawing the bolt from the aligned holes
12
b
,
14
b.
The expansion means
20
also have a contracted geometry shown in
FIG. 1
, which is at most equal to the dimension of the aligned holes for allowing withdrawing of the bolt from the aligned holes as shown in FIG.
3
.
An actuator, such as a shaft or rod
22
, is mounted for linear movement to the bolt
16
, and engages the expansion means
20
for moving the expansion means from the expanded geometry of
FIG. 3
, to the contracted geometry of
FIG. 1
, when the actuator is pushed in an unlocking direction P which is opposite from the withdrawing direction W.
Biasing means, such as a spring
24
, is operatively engaged with the expansion means
20
for biasing the expansion means toward the expanded geometry of
FIG. 2
, so that when the actuator is not being pushed in the unlocking direction P, the expansion means is in the expanded geometry. The operative engagement in the embodiment of
FIGS. 1
to
3
is actually between a large diameter part
22
a
of the actuator rod
22
, and an inside step
16
a
of the bolt
16
.
In the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-3
, expansion means
20
comprises a bellows
20
a
having one or more repeats of V-shaped sides. The top
20
b
of bellows
20
a
is fixed to the inner end of the actuator rod
22
by, for example, a screw
20
c
. The inner end
20
d
of the bellows is attached to the inner end of bolt
16
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, when a user pushes actuator
22
in the pushing direction P, this compresses spring
24
and pushes the inner end
20
b
of bellows
20
a
inwardly in the same direction and into the receptacle
12
through the aligned holes. Since the outer end
20
d
of the bellows is fixed to bolt
16
and further because bolt
16
has a large diameter portion
16
b
which allows only part of the bolt to extend through the aligned holes, bellows
20
a
is moved to its contracted or elongated geometry. This reduces the outer diameter of the bellows so that the bolt
16
along with the bellows can be inserted into the aligned holes.
FIG. 3
which shows the locking arrangement removed, also illustrates the condition of the locking arrangement before it is inserted into the aligned holes
20
b
,
14
b.
FIG. 2
illustrates the condition when the actuator
22
is released, allowing it to move into the release direction R under the influence of spring
24
. This also moves the end
20
b
of bellows toward its opposite end
20
d
, thus increasing the effective diameter of the bellows
20
a
. The effective diameter of the bellows now being larger than the diameter of either or both of aligned holes
12
b
and/or
14
b
, bolt
16
cannot be withdrawn.
This produces a simple, quick acting yet effective locking of the cover
14
to the receptacle
12
.
FIG. 3
illustrates the withdrawal of the locking arrangement which involves first pushing the actuator in direction P and then pulling the entire assembly in withdrawal direction W. This push/pull combination cannot be executed by any non-primate animal and effectively locks the container against such animals.
According to the present invention one, two or more of the locking arrangements can be used around the perimeter of a trash can or other receptacle, or alternatively a single locking arrangement may be sufficient depending on the geometry of the container or receptacle.
When used to lock a cabinet, for example, a single locking arrangement would be sufficient when it extends through the aligned holes of, for example, a cabinet frame and cabinet door.
FIGS. 1-3
can also serve to illustrate a case where the expansion means rather than being a bellows that extends 360° around the end of the actuator
22
, is one or more V-shaped projections which have one end
20
d
fixed to the inner end of actuator
22
and an outer end connected to the inner end of bolt
16
. The handle may also be cut or have a recess to accept the thumb as it pushes the actuator.
As also shown in
FIGS. 1-3
, handle
18
may be T-shaped and extend from opposite sides of bolt
16
, or may be disc shaped extending 360° around the end of bolt
16
or constitute multiple projections extending radially, outwardly from bolt
16
.
The only essential is that a person be able to grasp the handle to pull it into the withdrawal direction W and, and the same time push actuator
22
in a pushing direction P.
FIGS. 4 and 5
illustrate another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, handle
18
is nothing more than a tapered enlargement of the cylindrical bolt
16
so that a user can simply engage handle
18
with the index and center finger while pushing actuator
22
in the direction of arrow P using the thumb.
The handle
18
also has a flared front end
18
a
which partially or completely covers the outer end
22
a
of actuator
22
even in its retracted position of FIG.
5
. This prevents inadvertent pressing of the actuator in the direction P and possible accidental removal of the locking bolt.
Actuator
22
in the embodiment of
FIGS. 4 and 5
, includes a small diameter portion
22
b
that extends into a hollow small diameter portion
16
c
of bolt
16
. The inner end
22
c
of actuator
22
engages a spring
24
compressed within a blind bore or end of bolt
16
b
. Spring
24
biases actuator
22
in the direction of arrow R in FIG.
5
.
Small diameter portion
22
b
of actuator
22
includes a further smaller diameter portion
22
d
that is positioned and sized to allow a pair of ball bearings or balls
20
e
to be retracted so that no part of either ball
20
e
extends beyond the outer circumference of small diameter portion
16
c
of bolt
16
. This allows the small diameter portion
16
c
to be inserted and withdrawn into and from the aligned holes
12
b
,
14
b
, with the insertion stopping when the end
16
b
of large diameter part of bolt
16
engages the outer surface of overlapping portion
14
a
of cover
14
.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, the larger diameter portion
22
c
of the actuator
22
engages against the inner surfaces of ball bearings
20
e
when actuator
22
is pushed outwardly in the direction of arrow R by spring
24
, to bring the expansion means
20
of this embodiment of this invention into its expanded geometry, namely with at least part of the outer circumference of balls extending out beyond an opening in a plate
20
f
secured against the inner surface of overlapping portion
12
a
of receptacle
12
. Especially when the receptacle and cover are made of plastic, the openings
12
b
,
14
b
may not be accurate enough to stop withdrawal of the locking arrangement. A more accurately formed hole in plate
20
f
solves this problem and should be used with the embodiment of
FIGS. 4 and 5
, or a hollow retaining nut.
FIGS. 6-11
show a further embodiment of the invention where expansion means
20
comprises a cylindrical disc
20
g
pivotally mounted at an acentric pivot pin
20
h
to the end of cylindrical extension
16
c
of bolt
16
. Disc
20
g
has an inner concave cam surface
25
which, with actuator
22
pressed against the spring
24
in the direction of arrow P in
FIG. 6
, sits in the deepest part of the recess and tends to center disk
20
g
on the bolt extension
16
c
as shown in FIG.
8
. To this end, actuator
22
has a semi-spherical inner end
22
e
. Under the action spring
24
actuator
22
moves in the direction of arrow R in
FIG. 7 and
, as shown in
FIG. 10
, disk
20
g
falls by gravity (or by action of a spring—not shown) into misalignment with bolt end
16
c
to thus expand the geometry of the expansion means
20
and prevent withdrawal of the bolt from the aligned holes in the overlapping parts of the container and lid.
FIG. 18
illustrates a variant of the third embodiment wherein the actuator
22
is movable laterally of the axis of the bolt
16
and the pull direction P. The actuator is a push button mounted for movement in the handle
18
and movable against a cam part
20
m
at the end of an off-center shaft
20
h
. Shaft
20
h
is rotatable in bolt
16
and has an opposite end that carries the disc
20
g
. Spring
24
in handle
18
engages cam
20
m
or shaft
20
h
to bias the shaft in a rotation direction to off-set the disc
20
g
in the aligned holes in receptacle and lid,
12
,
14
(this is the expanded geometry). Actuator
22
is pushed in the direction of arrow R′ in
FIG. 18
to rotate shaft
20
h
to move disc
20
g
to a centered position on the aligned holes (the contracted geometry) so the lock can be withdrawn from the aligned holes.
FIGS. 12 and 13
show a further embodiment of expansion means
20
, this time in the form of a compressible washer or ring
20
j
held on a small diameter portion
22
f
at the inner end of actuator
22
and a washer
22
g
attached, for example, via screw
22
h
, to the end of actuator
22
.
FIG. 12
shows the contracted position of the expansion means
20
when actuator
22
is pressed against spring
24
in the direction of arrow P to allow washer
20
j
to take its small diameter geometry.
FIG. 13
shows the effect of spring
24
which moves actuator
22
in the direction of arrow R thus causing washer
22
g
to squash washer
20
j
and move it to its expanded geometry which is larger in diameter than the diameter of either or both aligned holes
12
b
,
14
b.
As a safety, in the case where the expansion means
20
is jammed or broken and cannot be release from its expanded geometry, outside parts of the bolt and handle can be disassembled so that the locking parts of the invention can simply be pushed into the receptacle to remove the cover.
In
FIG. 13
, such safely means are in the form of a threaded part
18
a
of handle
18
, threaded onto the small diameter part
16
a
of bolt
16
. Two flat bottomed slots
16
d
are cut into opposite sides of the cylindrical bolt portion
16
a
. These areas can be engaged by a spanner wrench or the like to hold the bolt
16
from rotating while the handle
18
is unscrewed. Once unscrewed the bolt
16
, actuator
22
and expansion means
20
can be pushed into the receptacle
12
through the holes
12
b
,
14
b
to unlock the lid
14
. This or other safety means can also be provided on the other embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 12 and 13
also illustrate a feature of the invention that can be shared by any embodiment of the invention, namely the recessed nature of the pushbutton end
22
a
of actuator
22
inside the perimeter of handle
18
even when the actuator is release (FIG.
13
). Handle
18
is shaped with an enlarged entry area for the actuator so that despite the recessed push-button portion
22
a
, the thumb of a user of the invention can still push the actuator in the direction P to insert the lock in place (FIG.
12
).
FIGS. 14 and 15
illustrate a further embodiment of the invention wherein expansion means
20
are in the form of an elastic, e.g. latex, tube
20
k
having an outer end clamped to a small diameter bolt portion
16
e
of the bolt by an outer side clamp
20
l
. The outer surface of bolt portion
16
e
may be serrated or have teeth angled toward the left in
FIG. 14
, to help retain tube
20
k
on bolt portion
16
e.
Actuator
22
in this embodiment, has an outer threaded end with a nut
22
i
threaded thereon and a screwdriver slit
22
j
therein which together serve as release means so that if the locking arrangement
10
becomes caught, nut
22
i
can be unthreaded from actuator
22
to release spring
24
and reduce the effective diameter of the outer end of the actuator to allow the actuator
22
to be pushed into the receptacle
12
so that lid
14
can be removed. A boss or smooth enlargement
22
k
is provided at the opposite end of actuator
22
. Boss
22
k
extends out through the open inner end of tube
20
k
in the contracted geometry or position of means
20
shown in FIG.
14
. One or more lubrication or lubricating donuts
22
l
engage around actuator
22
in the chamber formed between bolt portion
16
e
and the boss
22
k
, to spread lubricant over the inner surface of the tube and the outer surface of the actuator. This helps the smoothly increasing diameter of boss
22
k
slide into the open end of tube
20
k
to expand it into the expanded geometer or position of
FIG. 15
, when return spring
24
return actuator
22
to its rest position in the direction R. As shown in
FIGS. 14 and 15
, the bore in handle
18
that receives the actuator
22
, the spring
24
and the nut
22
i
, has an outer end that increase in diameter and flares outwardly so that the outer end of the actuator is shielded by deing recessed in the handle to avoid accidental release of the locking arrangement.
Expansion of tube
22
k
increases its outside diameter to a dimension that is larger than the diameter of at least one of the hole
12
b
and
14
b
, to lock the device in the aligned holes. As with the other embodiments of the invention, removal requires the push/pull action the withdraw the bolt in to direction of arrow W in FIG.
15
.
The embodiment of
FIGS. 16 and 17
is a simplified version of the invention which is still fully functional.
Handle
18
can have front and rear slots so that the actuator in the form of a nut
22
screwed to the end of a bolt
16
, can be pushed in the direction of arrow P. This extends the right hand end of the bolt which is fixed to one end
32
of a coil spring
30
. The opposite end of the coil spring
30
has been lengthened and straightened at
34
and extends out through the aligned holes to a bend
36
that is fixed to the handle
18
. This stabilizes the left hand end of the coil spring and allows it to stretch when bolt
16
is pushed in the direction of arrow P. This stretching reduces the diameter of the coil spring
30
to a smaller diameter D
1
which is equal to or smaller than the aligned holes in the receptacle and lid
12
,
14
. This reduction in diameter of the coil spring can be enhanced further by providing a helical groove
40
with very long pitch that receives a projection
42
extending inwardly from handle
18
. Thus, when actuator
22
is pushed, there is a relative rotation between the handle
18
and the bolt
16
in the winding direction of the coil to further reduce its diameter.
FIG. 17
shows the release direction where actuator
22
is released in the direction of arrow R. This results in coil spring
30
taking on a larger diameter D
2
, which is larger than the aligned holes in the receptacle and lid.
Handle
18
can be shaped so that at all times all parts of the bolt
16
and actuator
22
remain within the confines at least of the sides of the handle
18
to avoid inadvertent releasing of the lock. In addition, actuator
22
can be nothing more than a nut threaded onto the end of bolt
16
. The advantage of this is that in case the lock becomes caught in the receptacle, nut
22
can be unscrewed and the entire bolt
16
with its coil spring
30
can be pushed into the receptacle to permit removal of lid
14
.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
Claims
- 1. A locking arrangement for a receptacle having a cover, the receptacle and cover having overlapping parts with aligned holes therein, the locking arrangement comprising:a bolt for extending at least partly into at least one of the aligned holes in the overlapping parts of the receptacle and cover; a handle at one end of the bolt for engagement for pulling the bolt out of the aligned holes in a withdrawing direction, the handle being outside the receptacle when the bolt extends through the aligned holes and having a bore with an outer end that increases in diameter and flares outwardly at an outer end of the handle; expansion means at an opposite end of the bolt for expanding to an expanded geometry having at least one dimension which is greater than a dimension of the aligned holes to prevent withdrawing the bolt from the aligned holes, the expansion means having a contracted geometry which is at most equal to the dimension of the aligned holes for allowing withdrawing of the bolt from the aligned holes; an actuator mounted for movement to the bolt and engaged with the expansion means for moving the expansion means from the expanded geometry to the contracted geometry when the actuator is pushed, the actuator being mounted for movement in the bore of the handle and having an outer end positioned in the outer end of the bore that increases in diameter and flares so that the outer end of the actuator is shielded in the outer end of the handle bore by being recessed in the handle to avoid accidental release of the locking arrangement; biasing moans engaged with the expansion means for biasing the expansion means toward the expanded geometry so that when the actuator is not being pushed, the expansion means is in the expanded geometry; said expansion means comprising a deformable and expandable tube engaged to the bolt and having an open end, and an expanding boss connected to the inner end of the actuator for expanding the tube, the boss having a smoothly increasing diameter in a direction opposite to the withdrawing direction and extending inwardly from the open end of the tube when the expansion means is in the contracted geometry, and the boss moving outwardly and in the withdrawing direction and into the open end of the tube to expand the tube when the expansion means is in the expanded geometry; and threaded release means at the outer end of the actuator for reducing the effective diameter or the outer end of the actuator allow the actuator to be pushed into the receptacle so that the cover can be removed in case the locking arrangement becomes caught in the aligned holes.
- 2. A locking arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said bolt has an opening therein and said actuator is slidably mounted in said opening, said actuator having an inner end for extending in the receptacle when the bolt extends into at least one of the aligned holes, the inner end of the actuator being connected to the expansion moans.
- 3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said biasing moans comprises a spring for biasing the actuator in a direction out of the bolt and away from an interior of the receptacle when the bolt extends through the aligned holes.
- 4. A locking arrangement with receptacle and cover combination, comprising:a receptacle; a cover for at least partly covering the receptacle; the receptacle and cover having overlapping parts; aligned holes extending through the overlapping parts of the receptacle end cover; a bolt extending at least partly into at least one of the aligned holes in the overlapping parts of the receptacle and cover; a handle at one end of the bolt for engagement for pulling the bolt out of the aligned holes in a withdrawing direction, the handle being outside the receptacle when the bolt extends through the aligned holes end having a bore with an outer end that increases in diameter and flares outwardly at an outer end of the handle expansion means at an opposite end of the bolt for expanding to an expanded geometry having at least one dimension which is greater than a dimension of the aligned holes to prevent withdrawing the belt from the aligned holes, the expansion means having a contracted geometry which is at most equal to the dimension of the aligned holes for allowing withdrawing of the bolt from the aligned holes; an actuator mounted for movement to the bolt and engaged with the expansion means for moving the expansion means from the expanded geometry to the contracted geometry, the actuator being mounted for movement in the bore of the handle and having an outer end position in the outer end of the bore that increases in diameter and flares so that the outer end of the actuator shielded in the outer end of the handle bore by being recessed in the handle to avoid accidents release of the locking arrangement; biasing means engaged with the expansion means for biasing the expansion means toward the expanded geometry so that when the actuator is not being pushed, the expansion means is in the expanded geometry; said expansion means comprising a deformable and expandable tube engaged to the bolt and having an open end, and an expanding boss connected to the inner end of the actuator for moving inside the tube for expanding the tube, the boss having an outside diameter that is larger than an inside diameter of the tube so that when the boss is moved in the withdrawing direction with respect to the bolt and into the open end of the tube, the tube the expanded geometry; and threaded release means at the outer the actuator for reducing the effective diameter of the outer end of the actuator to allow the actuator to be pushed into the receptacle so that the cover can be removed in ease the locking arrangement becomes caught in the aligned holes.
- 5. A combination according to claim 4, wherein said bolt has an opening therein and said actuator is slidably mounted in said opening, said actuator having an inner end for extending in the receptacle when the bolt ends through the aligned holes, the inner end of the actuator being connected to the expansion means.
- 6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring for biasing the actuator in a direction out of the bolt and away from an interior of the receptacle when the bolt extends through the aligned holes.
- 7. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the handle comprises an enlarged portion of a large diameter part of the bolt, the large diameter part being larger than the opening through the overlapping part of the receptacle for fixing an outer position of the bolt when extending through the aligned holes.
US Referenced Citations (16)