GB1582951A

GB1582951A - Locking device

Info

Publication number: GB1582951A
Application number: GB2226376A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: AUTO SECURITY PROD
Current assignee: AUTO SECURITY PROD
Priority date: 1977-05-24
Filing date: 1977-05-24
Publication date: 1981-01-21

Description

(54) LOCKING DEVICE (71) We, AUTO SECURITY PRODUCTS LIMITED, a British Company of Dawley Brook Trading Estate, Stallings Lane, Kinswinford, Brierley Hill, West Midlands, formerly of Church Street, Willenhall, West Midlands, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement.

This invention relates to a device including a lock mechanism.

The invention has been developed for use especially, although not exclusively, for releasably securing a portable object to a non-portable member.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device comprising a body, a lock mechanism, a retaining member mounted in the body and movable relative thereto under the control of the lock mechanism from a locking position through an intermediate position to a releasing position and first and second securable members which can be releasably secured in respective predetermined positions relative to the body by the retaining member when in its locking position, the arrangement being such that in its intermediate position the retaining member secures that first securable member in said predetermined position but permits movement of the second securable member relative to the body, whereby the lock mechanism can be operated selectively either to release the first securable member without releasing the second securable member or to release both of the securable members by movement of the retaining member to its releasing position.

One or each of the securable members may be attached to one part of a respective elongate flexible element, for example a chain or a wire cable, a further part of the flexible element being permanently attached to the body of the device so that the flexible element forms a closed loop when its securable member is secured in said pre-determined position and the loop can be opened only by release of the securable member from this position.

In a case where only one of the securable members is attached to an elongate flexible element, the other securable member may be attached to the body of the device for movement relative thereto, such other securable member being securable in a fixed position with respect to the body and releasable from such position by operation of the lock mechanism.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows an elevation of a device in accordance with the invention, one side of a body of the device being omitted to reveal internal parts, Figure 2 illustrates a modification of the device of Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a further device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

The device shown in Figure 1 comprises two elongate flexible elements 10 and 11 which are connected together by a body 12. In the particular example shown, the elements 10 and 11 are formed of wire cables, each having a plastics covering. The body is formed in two halves, one of which is omitted from Figure 1, which are held together by a number of rivets 15. The cable 10 passes through an aperture 16 in the body which is defined between the body parts. An end portion of the cable 10 which is disposed within the body is provided with a metal ferrule 17 which is permanently secured to the wire of the cable 10 by soldering or brazing. The cable 11 is permanently secured to the body 12 in a similar manner and has a ferrule 18.

On the end of the cable 10 remote from the ferrule 17 there is attached in a permanent manner a securable member 19 which can be releasably secured to the body 12 so that the cable 10 and body 12 together form a closed loop. Between the body parts there is defined an aperture through which a part of the securable member 19 can project into the body as shown in Figure 1. In that part of the securable member 19 which then lies within the body there is formed an annular groove 20 for receiving a flange 21 of a retaining element 22. The flange is formed with an arcuate recess to receive a neck of the member 19 which forms the bottom of the groove 20.

The retaining element 22 is mounted in the body 12 for pivoting about one of the rivets 15, which rivet is shown at 15a. The retaining element can pivot between the retaining position shown in Figure 1, in which the flange 21 engages in the groove 20, and a releasing position in which the flange is withdrawn from the groove to release the securable member 19.

On the end of the cable 11 remote from the ferrule 18 there is permanently attached a securable member 23 which is identical with the member 19. The grooved part of the member 23 can be inserted into the body 12 through an aperture 24 formed in the body part which is omitted from Figure 1. The securable members 19 and 23 are both symmetrical about respective axes which, when the members are secured to the body 12, are perpendicular to each other.

Within the body 12 there is further provided a retaining member 25 which is also mounted for pivoting about the rivet 15a. A retaining element in the form of an integral finger 26 of the retaining member is arranged for engagement in the groove 27 of the securable member 23 when the latter is inserted through the aperture 24. The retaining member 25 is urged by a spring 28 to pivot about the rivet 15a to a locking position in which the finger 26 is engaged in the groove 27. The retaining member is shown in its locking position in Figure 1.

The retaining member 25 and retaining element 22 are provided with co-operating formations which so limit relative movement that, when the retaining member 25 is in its locking position, the retaining element 22 is constrained to occupy its retaining position. These co-operating formations comprise a projection 29 on the retaining element 22 and a slot 30 in the retaining member 25. The projection 29 engages in the slot 30 and both of these formations are off-set from the pivot axis 31 about which the retaining element and retaining member can pivot.

The width of the slot 30 is somewhat greater than the corresponding dimension of the projection 29, so that the retaining element 22 can remain in its retaining position whilst the retaining member 25 is moved from its locking position to an intermediate position in which the finger 26 is withdrawn from the groove 27.

Further pivoting movement of the retaining member away from its locking position to a releasing position causes movement of the retaining element 22 which withdraws the flange 21 from the groove 20.

For moving the retaining member 25 from its locking position to its releasing position there is provided a cylinder lock 32, a housing 33 of which is rigidly secured in an aperture of the body 12 defined between the body parts 13 and 14. Within the housing 33 there is a cylinder 34 which, when the correct key is inserted into a keyway of the cylinder, can be turned relative to the housing. When the key is absent, tumblers (not shown) prevent movement of the cylinder relative to the housing in a known manner. A cam 35 is carried on an inner end portion of the cylinder 34, this cam being arranged for engagement with a cam follower portion 36 of the retaining member 25.Upon rotation of the cylinder 34 from the position in which the key can be inserted and withdrawn, the cam 35 engages the follower 36 and pivots the retaining member from its locking position through its intermediate position to its releasing position. If the cylinder is turned only to a position corresponding to the intermediate position of the retaining member 25, the securing member 23 will be released whilst the securing member 19 is still retained.

It will be noted that the free end portions of the securable members 19 and 23 are chamfered so that if these end portions into the body 12 whilst the key is absent from the cylinder 34, they will cause the retaining member 25 to pivot against the action of the spring 28 and enable the grooves 20 and 27 to be brought into alignment with their respective retaining elements, whereupon the retaining elements will be engaged in the grooves under the action of the spring.

The device illustrated in Figure 1 is suitable for securing garments to a rail on which the garments are hung for display, for example in a shop. In a device intended for this purpose, the cable 10 is just sufficiently long to enable it to be passed around the rail, thereby securing the device to the rail. The cable 11 is considerably longer so that it can be passed through a sleeve of the garment to secure the garment to the device. It will be understood that the garment can be released from the device without releasing the device itself from the rail.

In Figure 2, there is illustrated an alternative securable member 123 which may be used in a modification of the device shown in Figure 1.

The securable member 123 is adjustably mounted on a cable 111 and comprises two tubular members 137 and 138 through both of which the cable 111 passes. A peripheral groove 127 is formed in the member 138 to receive a retaining element corresponding to the element 26 of the device shown in Figure 1. An end portion of the member 138 which is adjacent to the member 137 is tapered internally so that it has a frustro-conical surface, the larger diameter of which is at one end of the member 138 and the smaller diameter of which is situated inwardly of the groove 127. The tapered end portion of the member 138 is received within the member 137 and these members are permanently secured together by a lip 141 at the end of the member 137, this lip engaging in a further peripheral groove of the member 138 and being displaced into such further groove after the members 137 and 138 have been fitted together.

Inside the members 137 and 138 are disposed a plurality, typically three, wedges 142.

Each wedge is arranged with its wider end adjacent to the member 137 and its narrower end within the member 138 near to the groove 140. That face of each wedge which is presented towards the cable 111 is formed with a number of teeth which may be inclined in a direction towards the wider end of the wedge.

Each wedge is urged away from the member 137 by a respective spring 143 seated in the member 137.

On each of the wedges 142 there is provided a lug 144 which projects in the radially outward direction through a respective slot formed in the members 137 and 138 so that the outer end of the lug is accessible to a user. The slots constrain the wedges 142 to occupy pre-determined positions about the axis of the cable 111 but are sufficiently long to permit limited movement of the wedges relative to the members 137 and 138 in a direction along the cable.

The adjustable member 123 can be adjusted freely relative the cable 111 in one direction.

The cable can be pulled through the members 137 and 138 in a direction towards the wider ends of the wedges 142, any friction between the cable and the wedges tending to relieve the pressure exerted on the cable by the wedges. In order to adjust the member relative to the cable in the opposite direction, it is nece ssary first to withdraw at least one of the wedges against the action of its spring 143 by means of the lug 144. The cable can then slide through the members 137 and 138 in the opposite directions. When the lugs 144 are released to move away from the member 137 the wedges grip the cable. Any movement of the cable in a direction towards the narrower ends of the wedges drives the wedges into the taper of the member 138 and thus causes the teeth to bite into the plastics covering of the cable and hold the cable firmly.

One end of the cable 111 would be perma nently attached to a body of the device by a ferrule corresponding to the ferrule 18 of the device shown in Figure 1. The body of the device would be provided with an aperture corresponding to the aperture 24 in one body part and with a further aperture of smaller diameter in the other body part and in align ment with the larger aperture. This arrange ment enables the free end of the cable 111 to be passed completely through the body and the member 123 to be passed almost complete ly into the body so that the groove 127 is brought into alignment with the retaining element corresponding to the element 26.

If required, both of the flexible elements of a single device could be provided with adjust able securable members. Alternatively, there could be provided a single flexible element, respective parts of which form two loops corresponding to the elements 10 and 11 shown in Figure 1 and an intermediate part of which passes through the body of the device.

In Figure 3, there is illustrated a further device in accordance with the invention which may also be used for securing a garment to a rail. Certain parts of the device shown in Figure 3 correspond to parts of the device hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1.

Such corresponding parts are indicated in Figure 3 by like reference numerals with the prefix 2.

The body 212 of the device shown in Figure 3 includes a hook portion 246 which can be engaged over a garment rail. A pair of rollers 247 is mounted at the free end of the hook portion to facilitate such engagement. A substantially U-shaped securable member 248 is mounted for pivoting about one of the body rivets 215b between a locking position, shown in full lines in Figure 3, and a releasing position shown in Figure 3 by a broken line. In the locking position, the securable member 248 forms a closed loop with the hook portion 246 of the body so that the body is secured to a rail, if such rail passes through the loop. The body can be removed from such rail when the member 248 is in its releasing position. For securing the member 248 in its locking position, there is provided a retaining element 222 which is mounted for pivoting about a further rivet, 215a.The retaining element can pivot about this rivet between a retaining position shown in Figure 3, in which it obstructs movement of the member 248 to its releasing position, and a releasing position of the retaining element in which the member 248 also is permitted to move to its releasing position.

The securable member 248 is urged towards its releasing position by a spring 249. When the hook portion 246 is engaged over a rail, one limb 249 of the member 248 is pushed against the rail and the member is thus pivoted to its locking position.

The device shown in Figure 3 further includes a cable 211, a securable member thereon (not shown), a retaining member 225 and a spring 228, all of which are arranged in the same way as the corresponding parts of the device shown in Figure 1. The spring 228 causes the retaining element 222 to move to its retaining position when the securable member is moved into its locking position. A cylinder lock 232 is provided for moving the retaining member 225 from its locking position, through the intermediate position where the securable member on the cable 211 is released, to a releasing position where the securable member 248 is released.

The device shown in Figure 3 may alternatively be used for securing a basket to a wallmounted bracket. In this case, the body 212 of the device would be rigidly secured to the basket and the hook portion 246 of the body adapted to engage over a part of the bracket to secure the basket to the bracket. The cable 211 would be used to secure a lid of the basket in a closed position. Alternatively, the securable member 248 may be rigidly secured to the lid of the basket so that, when the lid is closed, the securable member engages in the body 212 and the lid can be opened only by releasing the member 248 from the body.

In view of the provisions of Section 9 of the Patents Act 1949, attention is directed to the claims of our copending Application No. 44317 /79 (Serial No. 1582952) divided out of the present application.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device comprising a body, a lock mechanism, a retaining member mounted in the body and movable relative thereto under the control of the lock mechanism from a locking position through an intermediate position to a releasing position and first and second securable members which can be releasably secured in respective predetermined position relative to the body by the retaining member when in its locking position, the arrangement being such that in its intermediate position the retaining member secures the first securable member in said predetermined position but permits movement of the second securable member relative to the body, whereby the lock mechanism can be operated selectively either to release the first securable member without releasing the second securable member or to release both of the securable members by movement of the retaining member to its releasing position.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein one of each of the securable members is attached to one part of a respective elongate flexible element and a further part of the flexible element is permanently attached to the body of the device so that the flexible element forms a closed loop when its securable member is secured in said predetermined position and the loop can be opened only by release of the securable member from this position.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first securable member is attached to the body for movement relative thereto, is securable in a fixed position with respect to the body by the retaining member when the retaining member is in either of its locking position and its intermediate position, and wherein the second securable member is attached to an elongate flexible element and a part of the flexible element is permanently attached to the body.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the retaining member is provided with a first retaining element which, in the locking position of the retaining member, engages the first securable element to secure same in said predetermined position relative to the body and, upon movement of the retaining member to its intermediate position, releases the first securable element, and a second retaining element which, in the locking and releasing positions of the retaining member, engages the second securable element to secure same in its predetermined position relative to the body and, upon movement of the retaining member to its releasing position, releases the second securable member.

3. A device according to claim 4 wherein the first retaining element is an integral part of the retaining member and the second retaining element is movable relative to the first retaining element.

6; A device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second securable members can each be releasably secured to the body and released therefrom by operation of the lock mechanism.

7. A device according to claim 3 wherein said one of the securable members has means for releasable gripping the flexible element, whereby said one securable member can be set to a predetermined position along the length of the flexible element.

8. A device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and the lid can be opened only by releasing the member 248 from the body. In view of the provisions of Section 9 of the Patents Act 1949, attention is directed to the claims of our copending Application No. 44317 /79 (Serial No. 1582952) divided out of the present application. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device comprising a body, a lock mechanism, a retaining member mounted in the body and movable relative thereto under the control of the lock mechanism from a locking position through an intermediate position to a releasing position and first and second securable members which can be releasably secured in respective predetermined position relative to the body by the retaining member when in its locking position, the arrangement being such that in its intermediate position the retaining member secures the first securable member in said predetermined position but permits movement of the second securable member relative to the body, whereby the lock mechanism can be operated selectively either to release the first securable member without releasing the second securable member or to release both of the securable members by movement of the retaining member to its releasing position.