Claims
- 1. A locking device comprising:
a slotted cylinder having a first end, a second end and a first slot, the first slot having a distal end and a proximate end, the first slot's proximate end coinciding with the cylinder's first end, the first slot extending from the first cylinder end longitudinally and partially toward the second cylinder end, the cylinder having a second slot extending from and open to the first slot distal end at an angle to the first slot, the cylinder having a resistance component contained in the cylinder at its second end; a key having a shaft, a head at a first end of the shaft, and a flange extending from and at an angle to a second end of the shaft, the key head having a cavity wherein the key locks into the cylinder by inserting it into the cylinder with the flange aligned with the first slot, moving the key toward the distal end of the first slot until it encounters and compresses the resistance component and is aligned with the second slot, and rotating the key so that the flange enters the second slot; and a key tool mateable with the key head cavity to rotate the key for locking and unlocking.
- 2. The locking device of claim 1 further comprising a cylindrical sleeve, the sleeve having a first end, second end, first inner diameter, second inner diameter, and third inner diameter, the first inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter of the slotted cylinder so that the slotted cylinder may fit in the sleeve, the first inner diameter extending from the first sleeve end to a length corresponding at least to the length of the slotted portion of the slotted cylinder, the sleeve second diameter being larger than the key head so that the key head may fit at least partially within the sleeve, the second inner diameter extending from the second sleeve end to a length of at least about the key head length, the third inner diameter positioned between the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter, the third inner diameter larger than the key shaft diameter and smaller than the key head so that the sleeve cannot be passed over the key head, a slot extending the length of the third inner diameter section partially into the cylinder wall to accommodate the key flange when the key is placed in the sleeve.
- 3. The locking device of claim 2 wherein the sleeve further comprises a collar at one or more ends.
- 4. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the slotted cylinder has a collar at the slotted cylinder second end.
- 5. The locking device of claim 1 wherein one or more parts of the locking device comprise plastic.
- 6. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the resistance component comprises a material selected from the group consisting of pliable plastic, elastomeric polymer, rubber and coiled metal.
- 7. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the second slot of the slotted cylinder is arc shaped.
- 8. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the key head cavity has a shape selected from the group consisting of a triangle, square, “H”, pentagon, “T”, cross and plus.
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Serial No. 09/363/522 filed Jul. 29,1999, now pending.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09363522 |
Jul 1999 |
US |
Child |
09825716 |
Apr 2001 |
US |