GB1582952A - Locking device - Google Patents

Description

(54) LOCKING DEVICE (71) We, AUTO SECURITY PRODUCTS LIMITED, a British Company of Dawley Brook Trading Estate, Stallings Lane, Kingswinford, 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 the invention there is provided a device comprising a body, a lock mechanism in the body, an elongate flexible element and a securable member on the flexible element, the securable member being securable to the body and releasable therefrom upon operation of the lock mechanism and the securable member having means for releasably gripping the flexible element, whereby the securable member can be set to a predetermined position along the length of the flexible element.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows an elevation of a part of a locking device in accordance with the invention, together with a securable member which is nonadjustable on a flexible element of the device, one side of the body of the device being omitted to reveal internal parts, and Figure 2 illustrates an adjustable securable member which can be substituted for the securable member shown in Figure 1 to provide a device in accordance with 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 the 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 tie body 12 througl 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 re]easing 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 Ile 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 securable member 23 will be released whilst the securable 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 are pushed 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 is used in a modification in accordance with the present invention 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 11 1 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 frusto-conical surface, the larger diameter of which is at one end of the member 138 and the smaller diameter of which is situated radially 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.l38 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 wedg 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 predetermined 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 adiustable member 123 can be adiusted freely relative to 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 necessary 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 ill would be permanently attached to a body of the device by a ferrule corresponding to the ferrule 1 8 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 alignment with the larger aperture. This arrangement enables the free end of the cable 111 to be passed completely through the body and the member 123 to be passed almost completely 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 adjustable 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.

Attention is directed to the Specification of our co-pending Application No. 22263/76 (Spec. No. 1,582,951) from which the present application has been divided.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device comprising a body, a lock mechanism in the body, an elongate flexible element and a securable member on the flexible element, the securable member being securable to the body and releasble therefrom upon operation of the lock mechanism and the securable member having means for releasably gripping the flexible element, whereby the securable member can be set to a predetermined position along the length of the flexible element.

2. A device in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the means for releasably gripping comprises wedges arranged to grip the flexible element firmly against relative movement of the flexible element and securable member in one direction longitudinally of the flexible element and to permit relative movement in the opposite direction, the wedges being biased into gripping engagement with the flexible element.

3. A device in accordance with Claim 2 wherein the wedges are movable independently of one another and are associated with respective biasing elements.

4. A device in accordance with Claim 2 wherein the wedges have teeth for engagement with the flexible element.

5. A device in accordance with Claim 4 wherein the teeth are inclined in a direction towards the wider end of the wedge.

6. A device in accordance with any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the securable member comprises first and second tubular members, one presenting each end of the securable mem ber, and the wedges being trapped in juxta position to the flexible element between respec tive surfaces of the tubular members.

7. A device in accordance with Claim 6 wherein the biasing elements are each engaged between the first tubular member and respective ones of the wedges, each biasing element urging the associated wedge along the flexible element towards second tubular member and into pressure contact with said flexible element.

8. A device in accordance with any one of Claims 2 to 7 wherein each wedge has a lug accessible at the outside of the securable member to enable a user to displace the wedge against the action of the biasing means.

9. A device in accordance with Claim 8 wherein each lug moves in a respective aperture in the securable member and co-operates with boundaries of the aperture to constrain the wedge to occupy a predetermined position spaced about the axis of the flexible element from the other wedges.

10. A device in accordance with any one of Claims 6, 7 and 9 or Claim 8 as appendant to Claim 6, wherein there is formed in one of said first and second members a peripheral groove to receive an element of the lock mechanism.

11. A device in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the securable member is as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. 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 ill would be permanently attached to a body of the device by a ferrule corresponding to the ferrule 1 8 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 alignment with the larger aperture. This arrangement enables the free end of the cable 111 to be passed completely through the body and the member 123 to be passed almost completely 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 adjustable 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. Attention is directed to the Specification of our co-pending Application No. 22263/76 (Spec. No. 1,582,951) from which the present application has been divided. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device comprising a body, a lock mechanism in the body, an elongate flexible element and a securable member on the flexible element, the securable member being securable to the body and releasble therefrom upon operation of the lock mechanism and the securable member having means for releasably gripping the flexible element, whereby the securable member can be set to a predetermined position along the length of the flexible element.

2. A device in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the means for releasably gripping comprises wedges arranged to grip the flexible element firmly against relative movement of the flexible element and securable member in one direction longitudinally of the flexible element and to permit relative movement in the opposite direction, the wedges being biased into gripping engagement with the flexible element.

3. A device in accordance with Claim 2 wherein the wedges are movable independently of one another and are associated with respective biasing elements.

4. A device in accordance with Claim 2 wherein the wedges have teeth for engagement with the flexible element.

5. A device in accordance with Claim 4 wherein the teeth are inclined in a direction towards the wider end of the wedge.

6. A device in accordance with any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the securable member comprises first and second tubular members, one presenting each end of the securable mem ber, and the wedges being trapped in juxta position to the flexible element between respec tive surfaces of the tubular members.

7. A device in accordance with Claim 6 wherein the biasing elements are each engaged between the first tubular member and respective ones of the wedges, each biasing element urging the associated wedge along the flexible element towards second tubular member and into pressure contact with said flexible element.

8. A device in accordance with any one of Claims 2 to 7 wherein each wedge has a lug accessible at the outside of the securable member to enable a user to displace the wedge against the action of the biasing means.

9. A device in accordance with Claim 8 wherein each lug moves in a respective aperture in the securable member and co-operates with boundaries of the aperture to constrain the wedge to occupy a predetermined position spaced about the axis of the flexible element from the other wedges.

10. A device in accordance with any one of Claims 6, 7 and 9 or Claim 8 as appendant to Claim 6, wherein there is formed in one of said first and second members a peripheral groove to receive an element of the lock mechanism.

11. A device in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the securable member is as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.