Patent Application
20160303732
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a device and a method of providing a keyless locking tool chest.
2. Description of Prior Art and Related Information
The tool boxes and tool chests known in the art typically comprise a plurality of drawers which can be locked and unlocked using a traditional set of keys. The main problem with using traditional keys is that if the keys are lost or stolen, the user will need to replace the entire lock system. Further, the traditional key and lock system does not prevent an unauthorized person from making a duplicate key to open the tool chest.
A current keyless locking tool chest, or simply a keyless tool chest, that embodies the invention described herein provides a tool chest having a plurality of drawers that can be locked and unlocked with a keyless lock. This eliminates the need for traditional keys to lock the tool chest, yet maintains the maximum security of the tool chest by allowing a user to create his or her own secret lock combination and reducing the chance of an unauthorized person using a duplicate key to open the tool chest.
In one aspect, a keyless tool chest comprises a plurality of drawers, a keyless lock and a locking mechanism connected to the keyless lock that locks and unlocks the plurality of drawers. In one embodiment, the keyless lock may comprise a combination lock having a plurality of rotating discs with inscribed numerical notches. In another embodiment, the keyless lock may comprise an electronic keypad wherein a predetermined numerical combination can be entered.
The locking mechanism may further comprise at least a horizontal bar that is connected to the keyless lock and a turn dial at its center, and a pair of vertical bars at its ends. In one preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism may comprise two horizontal bars. The pair of vertical bars is connected to each of the plurality of drawers. In a “locked” configuration, the horizontal bar and the pair of vertical bars are not movable, such that the plurality of drawers cannot be pulled out of the chest. Upon setting the correct numerical combination, either by aligning the numerical notches on the plurality of rotating discs or by entering digital numbers using the electronic keypad, the turn dial becomes rotatable and the horizontal bar becomes movable together with the pair of vertical bars, such that the plurality of drawers can be pulled out of the tool chest.
In yet another aspect, a method of providing a keyless tool chest is provided. The method may comprise providing a plurality of drawers, providing a keyless lock, and providing a locking mechanism that locks and unlocks the plurality of drawers.
The step of providing a keyless lock may comprise providing a combination lock having a plurality of rotating discs with inscribed numerical notches. In another preferred method, this step may comprise providing a combination lock with an electronic keypad.
The step of providing a locking mechanism that locks and unlocks the plurality of drawers may further comprise connecting a horizontal bar to the keyless lock and a turn dial at its center, and connecting the horizontal bar to a pair of vertical bars at the horizontal bar's opposite ends, wherein the pair of vertical bars is connected to each of the plurality of drawers. The step may further comprise setting the correct numerical combination to allow the turn dial to rotate and the horizontal bar to move together with the pair of vertical bars to allow the plurality of drawers to be pulled out of the tool chest.
The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein illustrated embodiments are described. It is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth as examples and not by way of limitations on the invention as ultimately defined in the claims.
Throughout the specification, positional and directional terms below refer to the following:
In the default “locked” position, the plurality of left drawers 20 and the plurality of right drawers 23 are “closed” or pushed into the tool chest 10. As shown in
In a fully assembled form, the turn dial 32 is internally connected to the keyless lock 30 such that when the correct predetermined combination is set in the keyless lock 30, the turn dial 32 is rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The turn dial 32 is tightly secured to the center washer 56 through the washer opening 70 such that when the turn dial 32 is rotated, the center washer 56 is also rotated. Further, the center washer 56 is connected to the left horizontal bar 42 through the left center opening 41 and to the right horizontal bar 44 though the right center opening 43 using a first nut and bolt set 72. The left horizontal bar 42 is secured to the inside portion of the tool chest 10 through the left bracket hole 58 and the left horizontal bracket 46 using a second nut and bolt set 74. The right horizontal bar 44 is secured to the inside portion of the tool chest 10 through the right bracket hole 62 and the right horizontal bracket 48 using a third nut and bolt set 76. The left horizontal bar 42 is further connected to the left vertical bar 52 through the left corner opening 60 and the left top hole 66 using a fourth nut and bolt set 78. The right horizontal bar 44 is further connected to the right vertical bar 54 through the right corner opening 64 and the right top hole 68 using a fifth nut and bolt set 80.
Due to the single connection between the turn dial 32, the center washer 56, the left horizontal bar 42 and the right horizontal bar 44 at the center of the assembly, when the turn dial 32 is rotated, the left horizontal bar 42 and the right horizontal bar 44 move together with the left vertical bar 52 and the right vertical bar 54 to allow the plurality of left drawers 20 and the plurality of right drawers 23 to be pulled out of the tool chest 10.
Upon setting the correct predetermined numerical combination in the keyless lock 30, the turn dial 32 becomes rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Upon turning the turn dial 32 clockwise (as viewed from the front), the center washer 56 rotates 90° in the clockwise direction and the first nut 72 and bolt set slides along the elongated openings of the left center opening 41 and the right center opening 43. Simultaneously, the fourth nut and bolt set 78 in the left connection of the assembly slides along the elongated opening of the left top hole 66, and the fifth nut and bolt set 80 in the right connection of the assembly slides along the elongated opening of the right top hole 68. Moving as a unit, the left horizontal bar 42 and the right horizontal bar 44 become slightly raised, non-linear and angled relative to each other, and the left vertical bar 52 and the right vertical bar 54 become slightly raised as well. In this configuration, the plurality of left drawers 20 and the plurality of right drawers 23 can be pulled out of the tool chest 10. Upon turning the turn dial 32 counterclockwise (as viewed from the front), the center washer 56 rotates 90° in the counterclockwise direction and the first nut and bolt set 72 slides along the elongated openings of the left center opening 41 and the right center opening 43 to its original position. Simultaneously, the fourth nut and bolt set 78 in the left connection of the assembly slides along the elongated opening of the left top hole 66, and the fifth nut and bolt set 80 in the right connection of the assembly slides along the elongated opening of the right top hole 68 to their respective original positions. Moving as a unit, the left horizontal bar 42 and the right horizontal bar 44 become linearly aligned relative to each other once again, the left vertical bar 52 returns to its original down position in a 90° right angle relative to the left horizontal bar 42, and the right vertical bar 54 returns to its original down position in a 90° right angle relative to the right horizontal bar 44.
The step 210 of providing a plurality of drawers may further comprise providing a plurality of left drawers and a plurality of right drawers. In one aspect, the step 210 may further comprise providing an equal number of the plurality of left drawers to the number of the plurality of right drawers. In another aspect, the step 210 may further comprise providing an unequal number of the plurality of left drawers to the number of the plurality of right drawers.
The step 220 of providing a keyless lock may further comprise providing a combination lock having a plurality of rotating discs with inscribed numerical notches. In another preferred method, the step 220 may comprise providing an electronic keypad wherein a predetermined numerical combination can be entered. According to the preferred method, the step 220 may further comprise connecting the keyless lock to a turn dial, wherein the turn dial is rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions when the predetermined numerical combination is set in the keyless lock. Preferably, the user can create and reset any personal code combination to operate the keyless lock.
The step 230 of providing a locking mechanism that locks and unlocks the plurality of drawers may further comprise connecting a pair of horizontal bars to the keyless lock and the turn dial, and connecting the horizontal bars to a pair of vertical bars at the horizontal bars' opposite ends, wherein the pair of vertical bars is connected to each of the plurality of drawers. The step 230 may further comprise setting the correct numerical combination to allow the turn dial to rotate and the horizontal bars to move together with the vertical bars to allow the plurality drawers to be pulled out of the tool chest.
In one preferred method, the step 230 further comprises securing the turn dial to a center washer such that when the turn dial is rotated, the center washer is also rotated; securing the horizontal bars to the center washer; securing the horizontal bars to the inside portion of the tool chest through bracket holes; and securing the horizontal bars to the vertical bars. Upon setting the correct predetermined numerical combination in the keyless lock, the turn dial becomes rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions such that when the turn dial is turned clockwise, the center washer rotates 90° in the clockwise direction (as viewed from the front), the horizontal bars become slightly raised, non-linear and angled relative to each other, and the vertical bars become slightly raised. In this configuration, the plurality of drawers can be pulled out of the tool chest. Upon turning the turn dial counterclockwise (as viewed from the front), the center washer rotates 90° in the counterclockwise direction and the horizontal bars become linearly aligned relative to each other once again, and the vertical bars return to their original position in a 90° right angle relative to the horizontal bars.
Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different ones of the disclosed elements.
The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species.
The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only include the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.
The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.
