US20130341298A1

US20130341298A1 - Bottle lock

Info

Publication number: US20130341298A1
Application number: US13/923,177
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry Fisher Jones, III
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-06-22
Filing date: 2013-06-20
Publication date: 2013-12-26

Abstract

A bottle lock for securely sealing a container, the bottle lock including a housing, a combination ring assembly, a shaft, a bottom locking ring, and a stopper. The bottle lock can then be inserted into a container opening and the shaft rotated until the stopper exerts the desired pressure against the container opening. The combination rings are then rotated to lock the device. The remove the bottle lock, the combination rings are realigned, the housing removed and the shaft then rotated in the reverse direction, releasing the pressure on the container opening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/663,197, filed Jun. 22, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to mechanical locks for containers, such as a secure lid or stopper for ajar or bottle.
2. Description of Related Art
It would be advantageous to provide a secure means of sealing a container for liquids, such as a bottle, for reasons including safety, security and convenience.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,146 and U.S. Pub. No. 20030089145, titled “Twist closure,” issued Feb. 10, 2004 for Horst et al. describes a rotary closure having a carrying body which carries a plug-in section for plugging into a plug-in opening, in which the plug-in section can be arrested by a retaining element which can be rendered operational or non-operational by a rotary handgrip being rotated, it being possible for the rotary handgrip to be blocked by a combination lock having a plurality of number disks. The plug-in section is secured in the bottle collar through the action of a compressible tube which increases in diameter and secures the closure in a liquid-tight manner.
U.S. Pub. No. 20040206719, titled “Alcoloc,” published Oct. 21, 2004 for Haggard et al. describes a self-adjusting lock that will conform to the radius of almost any bottle, and a dual spring, dual ratcheting locking mechanism enabling the self-adjusting aspect of the lock. The lock release mechanism may be through a combination mechanism or a key.
U.S. Pub. No. 20050097931, titled “Drink locking unit,” published May 12, 2005 for Miller describes a method for preventing the inconspicuous introduction of an illegal drug into an unguarded open drinking container and provides an expandable plug with locking/unlocking means into an open drinking orifice. The locking/unlocking means may be an owner re-settable combination.
U.S. Pub. No. 20020179561, titled “Bottle lock,” published Dec. 5, 2002 for Peck et al. describes a bottle lock comprising a lid or tight-fitting stopper, adaptable to insert or otherwise attach to the open end of a bottle or jar or similar container; the lock having a number of disks stacked atop its upper surface that when appropriately aligned allow passage of the contents of the bottle or jar.
U.S. Pub. No. 20110174758, titled “Safety stopper,” for Sanchez et al. describes a cap intended to prevent the contents of a bottle from being consumed by unauthorized people. The cap has means of attaching to the neck of a bottle and includes several disks, crowns, or wheels with alphanumerical inscriptions; the correct code corresponds to a position which allows liquid to be poured out through the cap.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,358,352, titled “Bottle top and lock,” issued Nov. 9, 1920 for Wheelock describes a combination lock and cover for bottles. The lock has a stepped formation with each step being independently rotatable and having a vertical groove, and a locking pin or bolt connected with each of the steps adapted to pass through the vertical grooves whereby when the pins are moved out of alignment with their vertical grooves—the cap being locked in position.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,801, titled “Bottle top closure with combination lock,” issued Oct. 23, 1962 for Dragon describes a bottle closure device incorporating a combination lock. The main body of the lock is threaded on the bottle top. When in the locked position, the lock dials may rotate, but the main body cannot be rotated to remove the bottle closure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,021, titled “Combination locking closure for containers,” issued May 20, 1969 for Johnson describes a locking closure for a container having a tubular cap closed at one end and axially slidable on the container neck to cover and uncover the mouth, the neck being provided with a plurality of annular grooves intersected by an axial slot, said closure having a plurality of dial rings rotatable therein and accessible for turning from the exterior of the closure, and each dial ring having a lug movable through the slot and enterable within one of the grooves to lock the closure to the container neck.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,117, titled “Dial-actuated safety cap, issued Aug. 15, 1972 for Leopoldi et al. describes safety cap for a container or bottle which must be dialed to register a release position by manipulating multiple parts to coincide at the release position and thereby enabling the cap to be opened or removed. The invention further comprises an assembly adapted for installation on a screw top container or bottle as the primary closure or as a safety closure in association with a screw cap on the bottle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,768, titled “Lockable closure cap,” issued Jan. 10, 1989 for Stuckey describes a lockable closure cap for bottles and containers having externally threaded necks. A closure cap having internal threads coacting with the external threads to seal a bottle has an integrally formed annular cylindrical clutch element projecting upwardly from the closure cap. An annular shell housing having a downwardly depending annular skirt to completely enclose the closure cap and prevent external access to the closure cap. An annular rib coacts between the annular shell housing and the closure cap to retain the two in assembly and rotatable relative to one another. A clutch shoe carrier has a pair of clutch shoes which are retained in position by a spring. A lock mechanism secured in the annular shell housing has a pair of cam elements which engage the clutch shoe means to urge them outwardly against the action of the spring and into engagement with the cylindrical clutch element so as to lock the housing to the closure cap via the clutch mechanism so that rotation of the shell housing causes rotation of the closure cap so as to remove same.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,217, titled “Functionally locking bottle cap,” issued May 23, 1989 for Lin describes a functionally locking bottle cap, the feature of which lies mainly in the inclusion of a locking mechanism located in the space between the interior and the exterior of the cap, for which a locking combination number must be set to enable at least one pin to be inserted into at least one pin opening on a selective basis before the bottle cap can be opened. Otherwise an outer cap will rotate freely without causing rotation of an interior cap which is threadably coupled to a container, such as a bottle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,325, titled “Container with lockable cap,” issued Jan. 11, 1994 for Yan describes a lockable container having a neck on a container body and a cap on the neck. Screw-threads releasably retain the cap on the neck. The cap includes a locking member which is movable between a locking position, in which the locking member prevents the relative rotation of the cap and the neck, and a released position, in which the locking member permits the relative rotation of the cap and the neck. A pair of annular members extending around the closure and rotatable independently of one another interengage with the locking member for releasably retaining the locking member in the locking position and can be rotatably adjusted of the annular members to release the locking member for movement to its released position. On movement of the locking member into its locking position, a closure connected to the locking member closes an outlet in the cap for preventing outflow of liquid from the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,132, titled “Combination locking cap for containers and threaded openings,” issued May 9, 2000 for Benjamin describes a locking device including an internal closure cap having a threaded bore for engagement with the threads of a container or opening. The closure cap is structured with an upstanding stem which is open for discharging liquid. The outer surface of the stem has a rib gear section. A sleeve member superimpose the stem of the closure cap, whereby seals the tip. An annular shell surrounds the closure cap, and the sleeve member, controlling the engagement of the closure cap. However the sleeve member is structured with internal and external gearing formed to engage the outer ribbing of the closure cap and an internal ribbing within the annular shell, when raised vertically; whereby, a twisting action of the annular shell can be transferred to the closure cap for engaging and disengaging a threaded neck. A set of cylinders with marked flanges are positioned through the annular shell, superimposing the sleeve member, restricting its upward movement. The release position of the sleeve member can only be facilitated by rotating the flanges to a predetermined alignment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,346, titled “Security closure for a container,” issued Sep. 7, 2004 for Gurnard et al. describes a security closure for enclosing the top opening of a container includes a cap having a plurality of flexible, independently movable skirt portion segments which are positionable under a rib of the container. A wire engaging the skirt portion segments cooperates with a pivoted lever to move the skirt portion segments into latching position relative to the container and a lock is employed to maintain the wire tightened against the skirt portion segments. Use of this device on a drinking glass is specifically described.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,648 and U.S. Pub. No. 20060207958, titled “Bottle cap with combination lock,” issued Oct. 13, 2009 for Hamer describes a locking cap for a container having a combination lock built into the top. Two or more thumbwheels with numbers or letters are mounted beneath the top surface of the cap or gung plugs. The thumb wheels have through holes corresponding to the numbers or letters. One or more pins are slidably mounted in the cap. The pins are locked by the thumb wheels unless the through holes are in alignment. The pins either project through holes in the container or abut inwardly, projecting portions with the top of the container to prevent turning of the cap unless the pins are retracted. Combinations of numbers or letters can be preset at manufacture, or selected at or after sale, using plugs to fill selected through holes. The locking cap has a screw thread for engaging the container.
U.S. Pub. No. 20050211658, titled “Device for preventing unauthorized tampering of container caps,” published Sep. 29, 2005 for De Ulloa describes a device preventing unauthorized tampering with container caps, comprising a protective hood including coupling elements for coupling the device to the neck of the container, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the hood on the neck and a tamper-proof locking mechanism of the adjustment mechanism.
U.S. Pub. No. 20080302794, titled “Security closure for a container,” published Dec. 11, 2008 for Wagner et al. describes a security closure for enclosing an opening of a container includes a security lid having openings for lock tabs on the container. The lock tabs mate with openings on the combination lid by inserting and rotating the container. Lock dials are used to maintain the security lid and the container in a closed relationship. Use of this device on a drinking glass is specifically described.
U.S. Pub. No. 20110079058, titled “Locking top container,” published Apr. 7, 2011 for Nielsen et al. describes a locking apparatus for containers, vials and bottles comprising a combination lock to be applied to a generic bottle or vial or for a custom bottle. The locking apparatus further comprises a locking subassembly: a housing, a collapsible portion on the housing or on a separate washer piece, at least one indicia ring, at least one tumbler key ring, and a setting plug; the locking subassembly will engage a first bracket, which can be mounted on a generic bottle or vial or to a custom bottle with a top end, which has an integrated bracket end.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,204, titled “Combination lock container,” issued Aug. 7, 2007 for Small describes a combination lock container, suitable for accepting a wine bottle, consisting of an upper housing, a lower housing, a plurality of tumblers, and externally applied indicia. Cylindrical walls, or skirt portions, of each housing nest and engage into one another. Each housing has a key-like feature, consisting of a linear array of tabs with gap spacing between, that projects radially from the outer cylindrical wall surface. The upper housing has a longitudinal slot opening in the cylindrical wall, adjacent to its set of tabs, which can accept the tabs of the lower housing. When the housings are fully assembled, matching tab and gap features on each housing are adjacent and in lateral alignment with respect to each other. A plurality of tumblers, each with an internal annularly formed locking rib, are placed concentrically around the housings.
These previous attempts at designing locking systems for containers fall short of convenience or practicality, or else provide limited protection, as in the case of locks used to prevent adolescents from drinking alcoholic beverages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a bottle lock for securely sealing a container, the bottle lock including a housing, a combination ring assembly, a shaft, a bottom locking ring, a stopper, and a system for stopper compression and elongation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are exploded views of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views of a housing and bottom locking ring according to the present invention.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are views of a housing according to the present invention.

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are views of a combination ring according to the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are partially assembled and exploded views, respectively, of a combination ring assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view of a bottom locking ring according to the present invention.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views of a shaft according to the present invention.

FIGS. 9A, B, C and D are views of components of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10A and B are views of an alternative embodiment of a shaft according to the present invention.

FIGS. 11A, B and C are views of an alternative housing according to the present invention.

FIGS. 12-21 are views of components of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an exploded view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “front,” “back,” “right,” “left,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.
Referring now to the drawings in general, the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. As best seen in FIG. 1, the bottle lock, generally described as 10, includes a cover or housing 12, a combination ring assembly 15, a locking shaft (21, as seen in FIG. 2) and a stopper 28. The housing includes at least one alignment mark 13 to show the alignment of the combination ring assembly.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show exploded views of the embodiment. The combination ring assembly 15 consists of a multiplicity of locking rings 24 and individual combination rings 27. The combination ring assembly is held together by and rotates around a shaft 21. The combination ring assembly and shaft is held in the housing by a bottom locking ring 18. A stopper 28 is a compressible ring with a central channel, which can be circular, square or other shape which provides adequate friction to the bottle opening when compressed. The stopper is held juxtaposed to the end of the shaft 21 by a threaded stopper compression bolt 29 and has a first washer 31 and a second washer 32. In one embodiment, the second washer is adherent to the top of the stopper and functions to provide a handle with which to hold the stopper when rotating the shaft.
The washer secondarily provides the utility of preventing the stopper and shaft from falling into the bottle due to its outer diameter being greater than the outer diameter of the container opening.
In one embodiment, the bottom of the stopper is adherent to the bolt head 34, such that when the second washer is held and the shaft rotated, the bolt will not turn but thread into the shaft and thus compress the stopper. The first washer is a slightly smaller diameter than the second washer and functions to prevent friction between the shaft and the second washer of the stopper when rotating the shaft. The shaft contains a threaded cavity to accept the bolt.
In another embodiment both the bolt head and the washer are matingly attached by being at least partially encased by a portion of the stopper. For example, the portion of the stopper proximal to the bolt head may partially encase the bolt head, thereby becoming mated to the bolt head. Additionally, for example, the washer may include a portion extending down the bolt shaft then outwardly extending, the outward extension being encased by the stopper, thereby mating the washer and the stopper.
When the second washer 32 is held and the shaft is rotated in a direction to draw the stopper compression bolt into the threaded cavity of the shaft, the stopper is compressed, causing it to expand and pressure seal the bottle opening in which it is inserted.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the housing 12 includes a window opening 30 and an end opening 33. The end opening inserts over the combination ring assembly 15 and the window opening allows the numbers or markings of the combination rings to be visible and adjustable by the user. The housing also contains a flange locking ring 37, which matingly locks with the flange locking tabs 69 of the flanges on the bottom locking ring 18 shown in FIG. 3B. The bottom locking ring further includes flanges 61, which are separated from one another by an interflange space 66. The inner diameter of the bottom locking ring is less than the outer diameter of the combination ring thus securing the combination rings within the housing. The housing 12 further includes an end recess 35, shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, which accepts and retains a protrusion (shown as 84 in FIG. 8A) at the end of the shaft 21. The recess is designed as a ramp, with an initial shallow end 38 and a terminal end 40 with depth 41 (FIG. 4C), such that rotation of the housing will only catch the shaft in the direction that compresses the stopper, thus preventing an unauthorized user from rotating the housing in the opposite direction and decompressing the stopper without having removed the housing from the shaft.
As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, the combination rings include numbers 42 or other markings to indicate position. The rings have an upper ring surface 51 and a lower ring surface 54, and include a concentric series of internal gears 48 with intergear gaps 45. The internal gears are also spaced away from the wall of the ring to form a locking ring space 44 between the gears and the wall of the ring, which is designed to accommodate the locking ring. The intergear gaps are designed to accommodate the locking ring tab (57 in FIG. 6B). The combination rings 27 are assembled with locking rings 24 to form the combination rings assembly 15, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The locking rings include a locking tab 57 that fits in the recesses 87 of the shaft (shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B). The tab extends inward with respect to the inner diameter of the ring a sufficient distance to lock the ring into an inter-ring space 81 of the shaft (shown in FIG. 8B).
As shown in FIG. 7, the bottom locking ring includes flanges 61 separated by a interflange space 66. The interflange space permits the compression fitting of the bottom locking ring into the housing. The flanges include flange locking tabs 69 that matingly lock with the flange locking ring 37 of the housing. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the shaft 21 includes a distal end 75 and a proximal end 76. The proximal end includes a protrusion 84 which is eccentric in order to properly align the shaft with the housing window. The protrusion 84 matingly fits into the recess 35 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The shaft further includes shaft rings 78 and inter-ring spaces 81. The locking tabs 57 of the locking rings mating fit into the inter-ring space 81. The shaft ring further includes false recesses 87 designed to mislead unauthorized users trying to open the lock. The false recesses permit the housing to move partially, leading the unauthorized user to believe he has a partial combination. The shaft rings further include notches 89 that together form a longitudinal slot 88. The slot can extend for the length of the shaft to form a full longitudinal channel. The shaft further includes a threaded cavity 90 that receives the compression bolt.
In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D, the bottom locking ring includes an internal support ring 60, flanges 61, gaps 62, and gears 63. The gears are arranged such that they form the periphery of a recess that will matingly accept the distal end 75 of the shaft. The flanges are separated by an interflange space 66. The interflange space permits the compression fitting of the bottom locking ring into the housing by allowing the flanges to independently flex. The flanges include flange locking tabs 69 that matingly lock with the flange locking ring 37 of the housing. The bottom locking ring further includes a bottom surface 72.
In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the shaft 21 includes a distal end 75, which is a non-circular shape in order to prevent the shaft from rotating, and a proximal end 76. The proximal end includes a protrusion 84 which is eccentric in order to properly align the shaft with the housing window. The protrusion 84 matingly fits into the recess 35 shown in FIG. 3A. The shaft further includes shaft rings 78 and form inter-ring spaces 81. The shaft rings include recesses 87. The locking tabs 57 of the locking rings can only partially fit into the shaft ring recesses 87. The shaft rings include a longitudinal slot 88. The locking tabs 57 of the locking rings mating fit into both the shaft rings' inter-ring spaces 81 and longitudinal slots 88. The shaft further includes a threaded cavity 90 that receives the compression bolt.
In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 11A, B and C, the housing also contains cover stops 36, which prevent the bottom locking ring from rotating in relation to the housing when rotating the housing; the cover stops ensure that the bottom locking ring and housing rotate concurrently. The cover further includes an internal cylinder 39 which permits the insertion of the combination ring assembly and retention of the combination ring assembly when the bottom locking ring is engaged.
The combination for the bottle lock is set as follows: the locking rings 24 are rotated until the locking tab 57 of each locking ring is aligned with the desired number or mark on the respective combination ring 27. The combination ring assembly is inserted into the housing and the bottom locking ring 18 inserted into the housing to lock combination ring assembly in the housing.
The bottle stopper with shaft can then be inserted into a container opening, the second washer held and the shaft rotated until the stopper exerts the desired pressure against the container opening. The housing with combination lock assembly is then inserted over the shaft until the retaining ring 18 contacts the distal end of the shaft 75. The combination rings are then rotated to lock the device. To remove the bottle lock, the combination rings are realigned and the housing and combination ring assembly are rotated until the protrusion 84 has reached the terminal end 40 of the ramp 35. The locking tabs of the locking rings are thus aligned with the longitudinal slot 88 of the shaft and the housing and assembly can now be removed from the shaft, thus allowing access to the shaft, which is rotated to decompress the stopper and release the pressure on the container opening.
An alternative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 12-21. This embodiment is designed as a single-piece device that does not require disassembly for inserting and removing. FIGS. 12 and 13 show exploded views, with similar components as the previous embodiments: a cover or housing 12; a combination ring assembly 15 consists of a multiplicity of locking rings 24 and individual combination rings 27. The combination ring assembly is held together by and rotates around a shaft 21. The combination ring assembly and shaft is held in the housing by a bottom locking ring 18. A stopper 28 is a compressible ring with a central channel, which can be circular, square or other shape which provides adequate friction to the bottle opening when compressed. The stopper is held juxtaposed to the end of the shaft 21 by a threaded stopper compression bolt 29 with a bolt head 34. As shown in FIG. 13, the device can be grouped into two parts—Part A and Part B—based on the interaction of the components. All of the components of Part A do not move with respect to one another when installing or removing the device to/from a container, and all of the components of Part B do not move with respect to one another when installing or removing the device to/from a container.
This embodiment differs from the previous in that it contains at least one adherence mechanism for adhering the bolt head and/or the washer to the stopper. For example, a barb or similar protrusion 101 at the bolt head 34 (also shown in FIG. 21) and a barbed washer 102 (also shown in FIG. 19). In both components the barbs or similar gripping devices are configured to be adjacent to the stopper and thus grip the stopper to prevent them from turning with respect to the stopper. This “barbed” configuration prevents the stopper from rotating with respect to the bolt, and thus the components of Part B in FIG. 13 do not rotate with respect to one another when installing or removing the device from a container. When installing into a container, the user presses the barbed washer 102 against the container opening to prevent the washer from turning. The remainder of Part B, because it is engaged with the barbed washer, does not rotate when the user rotates Part A to tighten the stopper. The barbs also function to elongate the stopper when Part A is rotated to remove the stopper from the container. The barbs thus can not only exert a radial force on the stopper but also a longitudinal force along the long axis of the stopper. In this manner the stopper will always extend longitudinally and hence reduce its diameter whenever a user rotates Part A to remove the device from a container.
Alternatively or additionally, other adherence mechanisms can be used, including gluing, molded mating portions and combinations thereof.
Part A also contains several features that permit the device to function as a single unit. The bottom locking ring or collar 18—has a polygonal socket 103 (FIG. 18) which engages with the mating polygonal head 104 of the shaft 21 (FIG. 17). The bottom locking ring or collar 18 also has flange locking tabs 69 that engage with the housing 12 at the flange locking ring 37.
To install and lock this embodiment, the user inserts the stopper end into the opening to be sealed, pressing the barbed washer 102 against the container opening, and rotates the housing in the close direction (generally clockwise). Pressing the housing against the washer also engages the protrusion of the shaft 84 with the ramped end recess in the housing 35 and so the shaft rotates. Once the stopper is sufficiently tight against the walls of the container opening, the user rotates the locking rings to lock the device. In this configuration the user cannot move or lift Part A away from Part B and so cannot cause the polygon shaped recess in the bottom locking collar to engage with the mating polygon head of the shaft and thereby rotate.
To remove an installed container, the user aligns the locking rings in the unlock configuration. This permits the user to then slide the housing away from the stopper, which causes the polygon-shaped components to engage, causing the shaft to rotate when the housing is rotated by the user. Rotating the housing causes the bolt to move away from the shaft and washer, thereby elongating the stopper and releasing the device from the container.
To set the combination, the user completely removes the bolt and stopper from the shaft and releases the bottom locking collar from the housing by pressing the flange locking tabs with a screwdriver or similar flat tool. The combination ring assembly is disassembled and the locking rings positioned in the combination rings where desired. The device is then reassembled.
A close-up cut-away view of the polygonal mechanism is shown in FIG. 22. In this figure the locking collar 18 is retaining the shaft 21, while the washer 102 is external to the locking collar 18.
An alternative embodiment is shown in the FIG. 23. Here the washer 102 is located interior to the locking collar 18. In this configuration the locking collar 18 retains the washer 102, thus aiding in the elongation of the stopper 28 when the bolt is unscrewed. In this case the polygonal socket 103 has to be sufficiently deep to accommodate both the washer and the polygonal head 104 of the shaft.
Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. All modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A container-locking device, comprising:

a shaft comprising a polygonal head, an end protrusion, a threaded channel, and concentric shaft rings, concentric shaft recesses, each of the shaft rings having a longitudinal slot connecting proximal shaft recesses;

combination rings comprising numbers or markings, each of the combination rings encircled about the shaft and proximal to the remaining combination rings;

a housing comprising a combination indicator, an end recess, a collar recess, and an opening for viewing the number or markings of the combination rings;

locking rings comprising a ring tab, each of the locking rings housed within each of the combination rings, and the ring tab configured to slide both in the longitudinal slot and the concentric shaft recesses;

a locking collar comprising at least one collar tab and a polygonal recess, the polygonal recess configured to receive the polygonal head, and the at least one collar tab configured to mate with the collar recess of the housing;

a bolt comprising a bolt-shaft connected to a bolt-head;

a stopper comprising a central channel for receiving the bolt-shaft; and

a washer;

wherein the bolt is configured to mate with the threaded channel of the shaft.

2. The device of claim 1 further including barbs on a portion of the bolt-shaft proximal to the bolt-head, thereby mating the bolt-head proximally to the stopper.

3. The device of claim 1 further including a washer extension along the bolt-shaft, the washer extension having barbs, thereby mating the washer proximally to the stopper.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the washer is located exterior to the locking collar.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the washer is located interior to the locking collar.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the concentric shaft rings further includes a false indicator recess.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the locking collar has an access groove adjacent to the locking tab, positioned on the exterior of the locking collar.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the space between the polygonal head of the shaft and the interior of the housing is smaller than a portion of the collar tab mated inside the collar recess.

9. A container-locking device, comprising:

a shaft comprising a polygonal head and a threaded channel;

combination locking mechanism encircling the shaft;

a housing comprising a collar recess and an opening for viewing the combination locking mechanism;

a bolt comprising a bolt-shaft connected to a bolt-head;

a stopper comprising a central channel for receiving the bolt-shaft; and

a washer;

wherein the bolt is configured to mate with the threaded channel of the shaft.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the locking collar has an access groove adjacent to the locking tab, positioned on the exterior of the locking collar.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein the space between the polygonal head of the shaft and the interior of the housing is smaller than a portion of the collar tab mated inside the collar recess.

12. A method of locking a container, comprising the steps of:

providing the device of claim 1;

providing the container having a substantially circular opening;

inserting the bolt-head and stopper into the container opening, thereby configuring the washer or locking collar adjacent to the container;

rotating the housing of the device, thereby compressing the stopper along the bolt-shaft and expanding the stopper within the container opening; and

rotating at least one of the combination rings, thereby locking the device.

13. A method of unlocking a container, comprising the steps of:

providing the device of claim 1;

providing the container have a substantially circular opening;

wherein the device is locked and the stopper is filling the opening;

aligning a particular set of the symbols or markings with the combination indicator;

sliding the housing away from the container, thereby engaging the polygonal head of the shaft with the polygonal recess of the locking collar;

rotating the housing, thereby decompressing the stopper along the bolt-shaft and contracting the stopper within the container opening; and

removing the stopper and bolt-head from the container.