The invention relates generally to access control devices, more particularly, to a lock box which allows selective access to an internal cavity thereof so that various users can be provided key access while maintaining a high level of security.
Lock boxes are known and commonly include a connector or shackle for securing the lock box to an object. Each lock box includes an internal compartment for storing one or more objects. Lock boxes are commonly used in real estate applications where numerous agents require access to a single lock, but it is not cost effective to provide all agents with a key to that lock.
Referring now to the portion of a prior art lock box 10 illustrated in
It has been determined that such spring loaded push button retention mechanisms can possibly be subjected to inadvertent opening during an act of vandalism, such as by applying hammer blows to the housing to overcome the spring force of the retention mechanism. Thus, there is a need for a new and improved lock box retention mechanism which overcomes such difficulties.
According to an aspect of the invention, a lock box is provided including a base plate. A back cover is mounted to the base plate and includes a first internal compartment. A first end of a connector is mounted within the first internal compartment and a second end of the connector, including an inlet, is selectively retained within the first internal compartment. A retention mechanism is configured to rotate between an unlatched and a latched position to selectively retain the second end of the connector. A front cover coupled to the base plate is movable between a closed and open position. When the front cover is in the closed position, the front cover limits movement of the retention mechanism between the latched and unlatched positions.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of releasing an end of a looped connector, the end including an inlet from a retention mechanism of a lock box is provided. The lock box includes a base plate and a back cover mounted to the base plate and including a first internal compartment. A front cover is coupled to the base plate and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The front cover includes a locking mechanism configured to control movement of the front cover. The locking mechanism is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The method includes unlocking the locking mechanism and moving the front cover to the open position. The retention mechanism is rotated from a latched position to an unlatched position, and a force is applied to the connector.
These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring now to
The front cover 50 is generally similar in size and shape to the base plate 40 and is operably coupled thereto. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, a bottom edge 52 of the front cover 50 is pivotally coupled to an adjacent bottom edge 46 of the base plate 40, such as with a hinge 54 for example, such that the front cover 50 is movable between a closed position (
Extending through an opening (not shown) in a front surface 58 of the front cover 50, into the internal cavity 56, is a locking mechanism 60. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism 60 is a mechanical locking mechanism including a lock cylinder 62 configured to receive a complementary key; however other locking mechanisms 60 are within the scope of the invention. In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiment, the locking mechanism 60 includes a lock cam 64 extending from and generally perpendicular to the axis B of the lock cylinder 62. The lock cam 64 is configured to move with the lock cylinder 62 between a locked position and an unlocked position. For example, when a corresponding key is inserted into the lock cylinder 62 and rotated about axis B, together the lock cylinder 62 and lock cam 64 move between the locked position and the unlocked position.
In the closed position, a back surface 66 of the front cover 50 is arranged generally adjacent the first planar surface 42 of the base plate 40 and the lock cam 64 of the locking mechanism 60 is generally aligned with a contact portion 48 of the first connection member 44 (see
In one embodiment, a flap 68 (see
The back cover 70 is generally smaller in size than the base plate 40, and is mounted to a second planar surface 72 of the base plate 40, such as with a plurality of fasteners 74 for example. Similar to the front cover 50, the back cover 70 also includes an internal cavity or compartment 76. A portion of a connector 80 configured to secure the lock box 30 to an object (not shown), such as a door knob or steering wheel for example, is generally arranged within the compartment 76 of the back cover 70. Examples of a connector 80 include, but are not limited to a cable or a shackle for example. A first end 82 of the connector 80 is mounted within the compartment 76, such that the connector 80 extends outwardly through a first hole 84 in the back cover 70. A second end 86 of the connector 80 is configured to extend through a second hole 88 in the back cover 70 to removably couple to a portion of a retention mechanism 100 arranged within the compartment 76. When the second end 86 of the connector 80 is attached to the retention mechanism 100, the connector 80 forms a loop extending from the back cover 70. The second end 86 of the connector 80 generally includes an inlet 90 having a reduced cross-sectional area. In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiment, the connector 80 is a cable having a latching mechanism 92 attached to the second end 86 and configured to selectively couple to the retention mechanism 100. The latching mechanism 92 includes an first section 94 adjacent the inlet 90 (see
The retention mechanism 100 configured to selectively retain the second end 86 of the connector 80 is illustrated in more detail in
The retention mechanism 100 is rotatable about an axis C between a latched position (
To attach the lock box 30 to an object, the connector 80 is looped around the object and the second end 86 of the connector 80 is inserted through the second hole 88 and into the first portion 108 of the opening 106 of the cylinder 104. The knob 102 of the retention mechanism 100 is then rotated from the unlatched position to the latched position. When the knob 102 is rotated, the cylinder 104 rotates relative to the second end 86 of the connector 80 so second portion 110 of the opening 106 receives the inlet 90 of the second end 86. Because the second end 86 of the connector 80 is larger than the second portion 110 of the opening 106, the second end 86 is retained within the cylinder 104. To release the connector 80, the cylinder 104 is rotated back to the unlatched position, via knob 102, so that when a force is applied to the connector 80, the second end 86 of the connector 80 may pass freely through the aligned first portion 108 of the opening 106 and the second hole 88 of the back cover 70.
By using a rotatable retention mechanism 100 to retain the second end 86 of the connector 80, the front cover 50 of the lock box 30 limits unintended rotation of the the knob 102, and therefore the retention mechanism 100. As a result, application of a force, such as by a vandal for example, will be insufficient to release the second end 86 of the connector 80 retained within the cylinder 104 of the retention mechanism 100.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/928,630 filed Jan. 17, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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