WO2008116251A1

WO2008116251A1 - Locking mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2008116251A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/000394
Authority: WO
Inventors: Theodore Valerio; Stephen Payne
Original assignee: Origineering Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-23
Filing date: 2008-03-19
Publication date: 2008-10-02

Abstract

A locking mechanism (10) for locking a first portion of a container (12) to a second portion of the container (12). A recess (28) is provided on the second portion of the container (12) and a latch member (24) is provided on the first portion of the container (12). The latch member (24) is moveable between a closed position in which the latch member (24) is engaged with the recess (28) and an open position in which the latch member (24) is disengaged from the recess (28). A locking means (64) is engageable with the latch member (24) to prevent movement of the latch member (24) from the closed position thereof. A tie member (46) is provided such that severing the tie member (46) allows the latch member (24) to move to an open position without disengagement of the locking means (64), from which the latch member (24) can be returned to a closed position for re-use.

Description

"LOCKING MECHANISM"

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a locking mechanism and relates particularly, though not exclusively to a locking mechanism for use on suitcases for improving airline luggage inspection.

Background to the Invention

Due to the need to improve airport security the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the USA has requested that airline passengers not use padlocks on the zippers of their luggage. The TSA conducts random internal inspections on airport luggage. Approximately one in every six items of luggage are inspected. If a conventional padlock has been used to secure lthe zipper or other closure, it would typically be "clipped" by the TSA should that item of luggage be subject to an internal inspection. The padlock of a selected item of luggage is usually removed by cutting through the shackle of the lock with a pair of bolt cutters or similar tool. Consequently, a variety of specialised locks have been designed that can be re-attached to the luggage closure after they have been removed by a Luggage Inspector.

The TSA recognised this system and the associated specialised padlocks. Most of the current padlocks involve the use of a range of pass-keys that are held by the relevant agencies for this purpose. The administration of such a large number of pass keys is a time consuming and costly task. Further, the existence of all of these pass keys increases the risk that some pass keys may make their way out of the system, thereby increasing the security risk.

The present invention relates to a locking mechanism that can be employed on hard-sided suitcases or other similar storage containers and designed to overcome, at least in part, the abovementioned problems. References to prior art documents in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a locking mechanism for locking a first portion of a container to a second portion of the container comprising:

a recess on the second portion of the container;

a latch member on the first portion of the container moveable between a closed position in which the latch member is engaged with the recess and an open position in which the latch member is disengaged from the recess;

a locking means engageable with the latch member to prevent movement of the latch member from the closed position thereof; and

a tie member;

wherein severing the tie member allows the latch member to move to an open position without disengagement of the locking means, from which the latch member can be returned to a closed position for re-use.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism includes:

a first recess such that the latch member is moveable between a first closed position in which the latch member is engaged with the first recess and a first open position in which the latch member is disengaged from the first recess; and

a second recess such that severing the tie member allows the latch member to move to a second open position, from which the latch member can be moved to a second closed position in which the latch member engages with the second recess. Preferably, first and second latch mechanisms are provided, each including a latch member, a first recess and a second recess and the tie bar secures between the first and second latch mechanisms.

Preferably, latch members of the first and second latch mechanisms are each provided on a latch body slidable towards or away from the other latch mechanism and severing the tie member allows the latch bodies of the first and second latch mechanisms to slide away from each other from the first closed position to the second open position.

In one embodiment, each latch mechanism includes:

a tongue on which is provided the first and second recesses, the first recess of each latch mechanism being on a side adjacent the other latch mechanism;

a latch frame within which the latch body is slidable; and

a hole in the latch frame into which is received the tongue;

wherein when moving to the first open position, the latch member slides out of the first recess towards the other latch mechanism onto the tongue.

The latch member may slide away from the other latch mechanism from the first recesses onto the tongue between the first and second recesses to the second open position.

The locking means is preferably moveable with an access mean between a locked position in which movement of the latch body towards the other latching mechanism is prevented but movement away from the other latch mechanism is only prevented by the tie bar, and a open position in which movement of the latch body towards the other latch mechanism is allowed.

The latch member may be provided in a hole in the latch body and a first spring provided between the latch member and a first side of the latch frame such that the latch member is urged towards the second side of the latch frame to engage with either the first or second recess. In a preferred embodiment, each latch member includes a tie bar securing member to which is secured an end of the tie bar, each of the tie bar securing members being adjacent an end of the latch body between the latch bodies of the first and second latch mechanisms. Each latch body is preferably spring biased away from the tie bar securing member with an outer limit of travel being such that the latch member is in alignment with the first recess. The tie bar securing member may include a cylindrical protrusion received in a corresponding aperture in the latch body in which is provided a second spring to spring bias the latch body.

Preferably, the distance of travel of the latch body relative to the tie bar securing member is limited by a coupling pin received in an elongate slot in the latch body such that the pin engages with the cylindrical protrusion.

In one embodiment, the locking means comprises a lock barrel received in the latch body such that when rotated to the locked position, the lock barrel engages with the latch frame to prevent movement of the latch body towards the tie bar securing member.

The lock barrel may comprise:

an outer barrel having a slot for receiving a toothed rod that engages with the latch frame;

a lock cylinder within the outer barrel;

a cam member in the outer barrel in engagement with the lock cylinder; and

a spring biased ratchet member in the outer barrel having a groove for receiving the toothed rod, the groove having serrations engageable with the teeth on the toothed rod to prevent movement of the ratchet member only in a direction towards the tie bar securing member;

wherein rotation of the lock cylinder to the locked position rotates the cam member towards the ratchet member, thereby causing the serrations of the groove into engagement with the toothed rod. The lock cylinder may extend outwardly through an elongate opening in the latch frame.

Preferably, a stopping means is provided comprising a spring mounted push button on the latch body that engages with the outer end of the elongate opening when the latch member is in the second open position to prevent the latch member, on severing the tie bar, from moving beyond the second open position into the second closed position. The push button is preferably depressed to disengage the push button from the latch frame and allow the latch member to move into the second closed position.

In a preferred embodiment, the container includes a well exposed to the outside of the container through which access can be gained to the tie bar to allow the tie bar to be severed.

A means is preferably provided to gain access to the latch mechanism with the access means in order to remove a severed tie bar for replacement.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of the locking mechanism, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is perspective view of a closed suitcase having the locking mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the suitcase of Figure 1 in an open position;

Figure 3 is a close up view of the locking mechanism;

Figure 4 is a partially exploded view of the locking mechanism removed from the suitcase;

Figure 5 is a fully exploded view of a first side of the locking mechanism;

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the lock sub assembly of the locking mechanism;

Figure 7a is a top cross sectional view of a first side of the locking mechanism in a first locked position;

Figure 7b is a front view of the first side of the locking mechanism of Figure 7a;

Figure 8a is a top cross sectional view of a first side of the locking mechanism in a first unlocked position;

Figure 8b is a front view of the first side of the locking mechanism of Figure 8a;

Figure 9a is a top cross sectional view of a first side of the locking mechanism in a second unlocked position;

Figure 9b is a front view of the first side of the locking mechanism of Figure 9a;

Figure 10a is a top cross sectional view of a first side of the locking mechanism in a second locked position; and

Figure 10b is a front view of the first side of the locking mechanism of Figurei Oa. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment

A preferred embodiment of a locking mechanism 10 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying representations.

The locking mechanism 10 is provided for closing and locking a storage container, in this case a hard-sided suitcase 12. The locking mechanism 10 in the embodiment shown comprises a first latch mechanism 14 and a second latch mechanism 16 provided for securing a first portion of the storage container, being a base 20, to a second portion of the container, being a lid 22. The first latch mechanism 14 is provided adjacent a first end of the open side of the suitcase 12 and the second latch mechanism 16 is provided adjacent a second end of the open side of the suitcase 12.

Each of the latch mechanisms 14 and 16 includes a latch member 24 on the base 20 arranged to move in and out of engagement with a corresponding tongue 26 on the lid 22. The second latch mechanism 16 comprises a mirror image of the arrangement of the first latch mechanism 14 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The arrangement of the first latch mechanism 14 only will therefore be described.

Referring to Figure 5, the first latch mechanism 14 includes a latch member 24 and is arranged to engage in either a first recess 28 provided on the tongue 26 or a second recess 30 provided on the tongue 26. The first recess

28 is provided on the side of the tongue 26 adjacent the second latch mechanism 16.

The first latch mechanism 14 includes a latch frame 32 comprising a hollow elongate member of rectangular cross section mounted on the upper edge of the base 20 of the suitcase 12. The latch frame 32 includes a first side 34 facing outwardly of the suitcase 12 and a second opposed side 36 adjacent the interior of the suitcase 12. The latch frame 32 receives a latch body 38 in a sliding fashion. The latch frame 32 also includes a hole 40 in an upper surface thereof adjacent the second side 36 into which is received the tongue 26 when the suitcase is closed.

The latch body 38 includes the latch member 24 in a hole 42 extending from adjacent the first side 34 of the latch frame 32 to adjacent the second side 36. The latch member 24 includes a first spring 44 engaging between the latch member 24 and the first side 34 of the latch frame 32 such that the latch member 24 is urged out towards the second side 36 of the latch frame 32 in order to engage in either the first or second recess 28 or 30 of the tongue 26. The latch member 24 includes an outer end that is domed in horizontal cross section (as can be seen in Figure 7a) such that sliding movement of the latch body 38 along the latch frame 32 causes the latch member 24 to ride in and out of the first and second recesses 28 and 30. Movement of the tongue 26 (and thereby the lid 22 of the case 12) however is prevented when the latch member 24 is engaged in either the first or second recess 28 or 30.

The locking mechanism 10 includes a tie bar 46 that extends between the first latch mechanism 14 and the second latch mechanism. The first latch mechanism 14 includes a tie bar securing member 48 into which is secured a first end of the tie bar 46. The tie bar securing member 48 is located adjacent a first end of the latch body 38 and is spring biased with respect to the latch body 38 such that the latch body 38 is urged away from the tie bar securing member 48. The spring bias is effected by a cylindrical protrusion 50 having a second spring 52. The second spring 52 is located around the cylindrical protrusion 50 which is received in a corresponding aperture 54 in an end of the latch body 38.

The range of travel of the latch body 38 relative to the tie bar securing member 48 is limited by a coupling pin 60 received in an elongate slot 62 in the latch body 38 such that the coupling pin 60 engages with the cylindrical protrusion 50. The latch body 38 can therefore move relative to the tie bar securing member 48 by the length of the elongate slot 62.

The tie bar 46 extends from the tie bar securing member 48 in the first latch mechanism 14 to the tie bar securing member 48 in the second latch mechanism 16. The tie bar 46 extends through a tie bar access member 56 arranged between the tie bar securing member 48 in the first latch mechanism 14 to the tie bar securing member 48 in the second latch mechanism 16. The tie bar access member 56 includes a well 58 exposed to the outside of the suitcase 12 through which access can be obtained to the central portion of the tie bar 46.

The latch body 38 is arranged such that the latch member 24 is in a first closed position, being in alignment with the first recess 28, when the latch body 38 is at its furthermost position from the tie bar securing member 48. This is the position as shown in Figure 7. The first latch mechanism 14 can then be opened by sliding the latch body 38 against the second spring 52 towards the tie bar securing member 48. The latch member 24 thereby moves to a first open position (as shown in Figure 8) in which it rides up and out of the first recess 28 towards the tie bar securing member 48. The suitcase 12 can therefore be opened by sliding the first and second latch mechanisms 14 and 16 towards each other.

The first latch mechanism 14 includes a locking means 64 to prevent movement from the first or second closed position to the first or second open position. The locking means 64 in the engaged condition prevents movement of the latch body 38 towards the tie bar securing member 48. The locking means 64 includes an access means which is required to disengage the locking means 64. In the embodiment shown, the locking means 64 comprises a key operated lock barrel and the access means comprises a key. The key can be rotated between a position in which movement of the latch body 38 towards the tie bar securing member 48 is allowed and a position in which movement of the latch body 38 towards the tie bar securing member 48 is prevented, thereby locking the suitcase 12. Movement of the latch body 38 of the first latch mechanism 14 in a direction away from the tie bar securing member 48 is prevented by the tie bar 46.

The lock barrel 66 comprises a lock cylinder 70 received in an outer barrel 72. The outer barrel 72 is received in the latch body 38 such that the lock cylinder extends outwardly through an elongate opening 74 in the latch frame 32 so that the end of the lock cylinder 70 is accessible to the user. The outer barrel 72 receives also a cam member 76 and a spring biased ratchet member 78. The ratchet member 78 includes a groove 80 to receive a toothed rod 82, which passes through corresponding holes in the outer barrel 72. The toothed rod 82 is secured relative to the latch frame 32. The lower surface of the groove 80 includes serrations 81 corresponding to the teeth on the rod 82.

The teeth on the rod 82 include surfaces perpendicular to the direction of travel of the latch body 38 interspersed with surfaces angled to the perpendicular surfaces. The angled surfaces are arranged such that the ratchet member 78 can slide relative to the rod 82 away from the tie bar securing member 48 when the rod 82 is engaged with the ratchet member 78 but sliding in the opposite direction is prevented by inter-engagement of the perpendicular surfaces.

Angled surfaces on the cam member 76 engage with lugs 84 on the lock cylinder 70 such that rotation of the lock cylinder 70 from a locked position (as shown in Figure 6) moves the cam member 76 towards the ratchet member 78. The ratchet member 78 is thereby moved against its spring bias such that the teeth of the toothed rod 82 are disengaged from the serrations 81 in the groove 82. The latch body 38 can therefore slide relative to the latch frame 32 and be opened as described above.

If it were desired to open the suitcase 12 for inspection from the locked position, the authorised person can use a suitable device, such as bolt cutters, to sever the tie bar 46 by access through the well 58. Once the tie bar 46 has been cut, the latch bodies 38 of both the first and second latch mechanisms 14 and 16 are free to move away from each other. The latch members 24 then ride up and out of the first recesses 28 into a second open position onto the tongue 26 between the first and second recesses 28 and 30 (as shown in Figure 9). The first and second latch mechanisms 14 and 16 also include a stopping means to prevent movement of the latch body 38 beyond this point and into the second recess 30. The stopping means comprises a spring mounted push button 86 on the latch body 38 that engages with the outer end of the elongate opening 74 when the latch member 24 is in the second open position.

When inspection of the suitcase 12 is completed, the push button 86 is depressed allowing further travel of the latch body 38. The latch body 38 then moves until the latch member 24 engages into the second recess 30 as shown in Figure 10. The latch body 38 is arranged to have a stop such that it cannot travel beyond the point where the latch member 24 is in alignment with the second recess 30. As can be seen in Figure 10, the tongue 26 at this point engages with the latch body 38 to prevent further movement. Therefore the only way that the case can again be opened is by operating the lock cylinder 70 to allow the latch body 38 to be slid back towards the tie bar securing member 48 (i.e to the second open position). The locking mechanism 10 can then be used in the normal manner with the key for opening and closing between the second open and second closed position.

The latch mechanisms include a means to gain access to the tie bar 46 securing member 48 with the key. The severed portions of tie bar 46 can be removed from the tie bar securing member 48 and replaced with a new tie bar 46 to restore the locking mechanism 10 to its original condition for re-use.

It will be appreciated that the above arrangement allows a single opening of the suitcase 12 for inspection, after which it can be re-locked by moving to the second locked position and then re-used as normal. This operation can be performed without the use of the key and the fact that the case 12 has been opened is readily apparent to the owner by the severed tie bar 46. The locking mechanism 10 can then be reinstated to its original condition by replacement of the tie bar 46. It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for locking a first portion of a container to a second portion of the container comprising:

a recess on the second portion of the container;

a tie member;

2. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes:

a second recess such that severing the tie member allows the latch member to move to a second open position, from which the latch member can be moved to a second closed position in which the latch member engages with the second recess.

3. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 2, wherein first and second latch mechanisms are provided, each including a latch member, a first recess and a second recess and the tie bar secures between the first and second latch mechanisms.

4. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 3, wherein the latch members of the first and second latch mechanisms are each provided on a latch body slidable towards or away from the other latch mechanism and severing the tie member allows the latch bodies of the first and second latch mechanisms to slide away from each other from the first closed position to the second open position.

5. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 4, wherein each latch mechanism includes:

a latch frame within which the latch body is slidable; and

a recess in the latch frame into which is received the tongue;

6. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 5, wherein the latch member slides away from the other latch mechanism from the first recesses onto the tongue between the first and second recesses to the second open position.

7. A locking mechanism in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the latch means is domed in a cross section parallel to the direction of movement such that sliding movement causes the latch member to ride out of the first and second recesses.

8. A locking mechanism in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the locking means is moveable by an access means between a locked position in which movement of the latch body towards the other latching mechanism is prevented but movement away from the other latch mechanism is only prevented by the tie member, and a open position in which movement of the latch body towards the other latch mechanism is allowed.

9. A locking mechanism in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the latch member is provided in a hole in the latch body and a first spring is provided between the latch member and a first side of the latch frame such that the latch member is urged towards the second side of the latch frame to engage with either the first or second recess.

10. A locking mechanism in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein each latch mechanism includes a tie bar securing member to which is secured an end of the tie bar, each of the tie bar securing members being adjacent an end of the latch body between the latch bodies of the first and second latch mechanisms.

11. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 10, wherein each latch body is spring biased away from the tie bar securing member with an outer limit of travel being such that the latch member is in alignment with the first recess.

12. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the tie bar securing member includes a cylindrical protrusion received in a corresponding aperture in the latch body in which is provided a second spring to spring bias the latch body.

13. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 12, wherein the distance of travel of the latch body relative to the tie bar securing member is limited by a coupling pin received in an elongate slot in the latch body such that the pin engages with the cylindrical protrusion.

14. A locking mechanism in accordance with any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the locking means comprises a lock barrel received in the latch body and the access means comprises a key such that when rotated to the locked position, the lock barrel engages with the latch frame to prevent movement of the latch body towards the tie bar securing member.

15. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 14, wherein the lock barrel comprises:

a lock cylinder within the outer barrel;

a cam member in the outer barrel in engagement with the lock cylinder; and

a spring biased ratchet member in the outer barrel having a groove for receiving the toothed rod, the groove having serrations engageable with the teeth on the toothed rod to prevent movement of the ratchet member only in a direction towards the tie bar securing member; wherein rotation of the lock cylinder to the locked position rotates the cam member towards the ratchet member, thereby causing the serrations of the groove into engagement with the toothed rod.

16. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 15, wherein the lock cylinder extends outwardly through an elongate opening in the latch frame.

17. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 16, wherein a stopping means is provided comprising a spring mounted push button on the latch body that engages with the outer end of the elongate opening when the latch member is in the second open position to prevent the latch member, on severing the tie bar, from moving beyond the second open position into the second closed position.

18. A locking mechanism in accordance with claim 17, wherein the push button is depressed to disengage the push button from the latch frame and allow the latch member to move into the second closed position.

19. A locking mechanism in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container includes a well exposed to the outside of the container through which access can be gained to the tie bar to allow the tie bar to be severed.

20. A locking mechanism in accordance with any one of claims 8 to 19, wherein a means is provided to gain access to the latch mechanism with the access means in order to remove a severed tie bar for replacement.

21. A locking mechanism in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container comprises a suitcase.