Claims
- 1. A lock system for a container with a closure which is movable between open and closed positions, said lock system utilizing a padlock having a body with a key insertion end and a shackle, said lock system comprising:
- means for supporting the padlock within the container such that the key insertion end of the padlock body is exposed for external access through an aperture in the container;
- a unitary bracket removably connected to the supporting means for capturing the shackle of the padlock, the bracket having non-threaded prong means, which prong means themselves engage the supporting means; and
- a tang coupled to the movable closure which is positionable within the shackle for capture by the padlock upon locking thereof, whereby the closure is maintained in its closed position, the tang being positionable within the shackle such that the shackle need not be removed from the bracket to enable release of the tang.
- 2. The lock system of claim 1 wherein the supporting means within the container comprises a substantially horizontal shelf member which is attached to the interior of the container and communicates with the aperture.
- 3. The lock system of claim 1 wherein the supporting means has at least one slot formed therein to correspond with the prong means of the bracket, whereby the bracket is removably connected to the supporting means by insertion of each prong means into a corresponding slot.
- 4. The lock system of claim 1 wherein the tang is pivotally mounted on the movable closure and has a locking notch for engagement with the shackle when the tang is in a substantially vertical position, the tang being normally urged to an inclined position with the locking notch out of engagement with the shackle whereby closing of the padlock causes the padlock body to advance the tang to cause the engagement.
- 5. The lock system of claim 1 wherein the bracket comprises a substantially U-shaped member having a pair of depending legs which have coaxial openings therethrough for capturing the shackle of the padlock.
- 6. The lock system of claim 5 wherein at least one of the legs has an integral inclined flange which extends away from the supporting means for guiding the tang within the shackle upon closing of the closure.
- 7. The lock system of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a cabinet having at least one movable door with an inwardly extending catch member, said cabinet further comprising a movable member engageable with the catch member to hold the door closed, a slide member movably mounted on the interior of the cabinet and carrying the movable member and means operable from outside the cabinet for moving the slide member, the tang being connected to the slide member.
- 8. The lock system of claim 7 wherein the tang is pivotally mounted on the slide member and has a locking notch for engagement with the shackle when the tang is in a substantially vertical position, the tang being normally urged to an inclined position with the locking notch out of engagement with the shackle whereby closing of the padlock causes the padlock body to advance the tang to cause the engagement.
- 9. The lock system of claim 7 wherein the supporting means within the container comprises a substantially horizontal shelf member which is attached to the interior of the container and communicates with the aperture.
- 10. The lock system of claim 7 wherein the supporting means has at least one slot formed therein to correspond with the prong means of the bracket, whereby the bracket is removably connected to the supporting means by insertion of each prong means into a corresponding slot.
- 11. The lock system of claim 7 wherein the bracket comprises a substantially U-shaped member having a pair of depending legs which have coaxial openings therethrough for capturing the shackle of the padlock.
- 12. The lock system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the legs has an integral inclined flange which extends away from the supporting means for guiding the tang within the shackle upon closing of the closure.
- 13. A lock system for a container with a closure which is movable between open and closed positions, said lock system utilizing a padlock having a body with a key insertion end and a shackle, said lock system comprising:
- means for supporting the padlock within the container such that the key insertion end of the padlock body is exposed for external access through an aperture in the container;
- a bracket carried by the supporting means and having a pair of depending legs which have coaxial openings therethrough for capturing the shackle of the padlock; and
- a tang coupled to the movable closure which is positionable within the shackle for capture by the padlock upon locking thereof, whereby the closure is maintained in its closed position, the tang being positionable within the shackle such that the shackle need not be removed from the bracket to enable release of the tang.
- 14. The lock system of claim 13 wherein the supporting means within the container comprises a substantially horizontal shelf member which is attached to the interior of the container and communicates with the aperture.
- 15. The lock system of claim 13 wherein the tang is pivotally mounted on the movable closure and has a locking notch for engagement with the shackle when the tang is in a substantially vertical position, the tang being normally urged to an inclined position with the locking notch out of engagement with the shackle whereby closing of the padlock causes the padlock body to advance the tang to cause the engagement.
- 16. The lock system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the legs has an integral inclined flange which extends away from the supporting means for guiding the tang within the shackle upon closing of the closure.
- 17. The lock system of claim 13 wherein the bracket has integral prong means for removably engaging the supporting means.
- 18. The lock system of claim 17 wherein the bracket is substantially U-shaped.
- 19. The lock system of claim 17 wherein the supporting means has at least one slot formed therein to correspond with the prong means of the bracket, whereby the bracket is removably connected to the supporting means by insertion of each prong means into a corresponding slot.
- 20. The lock system of claim 17 wherein the tang is pivotally mounted on the movable closure and has a locking notch for engagement with the shackle when the tang is in a substantially vertical position, the tang being normally urged to an inclined position with the locking notch out of engagement with the shackle whereby closing of the padlock causes the padlock body to advance the tang to cause the engagement.
- 21. The lock system of claim 17 wherein at least one of the legs has an integral inclined flange which extends away from the supporting means for guiding the tang within the shackle upon closing of the closure.
- 22. The lock system of claim 17 wherein the container comprises a cabinet having at least one movable door with an inwardly extending catch member, said cabinet further comprising a movable member engageable with the catch member to hold the door closed, a slide member movably mounted on the interior of the cabinet and carrying the movable member and means operable from outside the cabinet for moving the slide member, the tang being connected to the slide member.
- 23. The lock system of claim 13 wherein the bracket comprises an integral member of the supporting means.
- 24. The lock system of claim 23 wherein the tang is pivotally mounted on the movable closure and has a locking notch for engagement with the shackle when the tang is in a substantially vertical position, the tang being normally urged to an inclined position with the locking notch out of engagement with the shackle whereby closing of the padlock causes the padlock body to advance the tang to cause the engagement.
- 25. The lock system of claim 23 wherein at least one of the legs has an integral inclined flange which extends away from the supporting means for guiding the tang within the shackle upon closing of the closure.
- 26. The lock system of claim 23 wherein the container comprises a cabinet having at least one movable door with an inwardly extending catch member, said cabinet further comprising a movable member engageable with the catch member to hold the door closed, a slide member movably mounted on the interior of the cabinet and carrying the movable member and means operable from outside the cabinet for moving the slide member, the tang being connected to the slide member.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of copending application Ser. No 365,661, filed on June 13, 1989, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (16)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
240836 |
Oct 1962 |
AUX |
64533 |
May 1946 |
DKX |
878907 |
Jul 1953 |
DEX |
7712422 |
Nov 1976 |
NLX |
2058196 |
Apr 1981 |
GBX |
2185519 |
Jul 1987 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
American Van Equipment, Catalog 41, Jun. 1990, pp. 1 and 22 (the "Tool Vault" lock system illustrated was offered for sale, advertised and used more than one year before the priority filing date of this application). |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
365661 |
Jun 1989 |
|