GB2626568A

GB2626568A - Locking mechanism for securing a toolbox

Info

Publication number: GB2626568A
Application number: GB2301142.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rhys Evans Tyler
Original assignee: Tytech Ltd
Current assignee: Tytech Ltd
Priority date: 2023-01-26
Filing date: 2023-01-26
Publication date: 2024-07-31
Also published as: GB202301142D0

Abstract

A locking apparatus for securing a toolbox or other portable device such a loudspeaker or portable generator to a secure fixed location, the locking mechanism comprising: a bracket 100 configured to attach the locking mechanism to an internal face of a wall of a toolbox; a shaft 120 configured to extend through an aperture in the wall of the tool box; a shaft housing 110 having an aperture therethrough to receive the shaft, the shaft housing configured to be positioned between the bracket and the internal wall of the toolbox and secure the shaft; wherein a seal 130 is to be positioned on an external wall of the toolbox and to receive the shaft following the shaft extending through the aligned aperture in the wall of the toolbox; a latch 140 protrudes from a distal end of the shaft securing the distal end of the shaft in the aperture in the securing location. Preferably a button 160 located on inside operates the latch 140.

Description

S Locking mechanism for securing a Toolbox

Background

Toolboxes used by tradespeople often come in the form of large cabinets or wheels or castors. Whilst their large size allows them to accommodate a large quantity of equipment, it is this excessive size and, as a result, weight, that makes securing these large tool boxes for transport difficult.

The consequences of a toolbox being insufficiently secured are high. For example, if being transported in a van, if the toolbox begins to move there is a risk of damage to the tools if the toolbox tips, damage to any other equipment being transported in the van at the same time, and finally risk of damage to the van itself. Although many such toolboxes have locking wheels, this is not sufficient to prevent movement, for example through sliding with the wheels still locked, or tipping during transit.

One potential solution would be to secure the toolbox with straps when in transit, however this is time consuming, and does not yield a repeatable result every time.

In addition to the need to secure during transport, there is also the need to secure the toolbox when on site or in storage. Toolboxes may be knocked or nudged out of place when on site.

There is a need in the art for a system and method that can quickly and consistently secure a toolbox at a location in a manner that prevents the toolbox from moving if knocked or nudged, or if a vehicle in which the toolbox is secured moves.

Summary

The present invention in its various aspects is as set out in the appended claims.

The present invention provides a locking apparatus for securing a toolbox to a securing location, the locking mechanism comprising a bracket, a shaft, a shaft housing, a seal and a latch.

The bracket is configured to attach the locking mechanism to an internal face of a wall of a toolbox. The bracket serves to secure the locking mechanism to the toolbox.

The shaft is configured to extend through an aperture in the wall of the tool box. As such the shaft extends from a fixed position inside the toolbox to the exterior of the toolbox allowing the shaft to be received by a secure location The shaft housing has an aperture therethrough to receive the shaft, the shaft housing configured to be positioned between the bracket and the internal wall of the toolbox and secure the shaft, such that a proximal end of the shaft is secured by the shaft housing; wherein the aperture of the shaft housing is configured to align with the aperture in the wall of the toolbox. The shaft housing therefore secures the shaft in place on the internal side off the tool box.

The seal comprised an aperture therethrough; wherein the seal is configured to be positioned on an external wall of the toolbox and to receive the shaft following the shaft extending through the aperture in the wall of the toolbox. The seal is preferably configured to abut the securing location when the tool box is secured. The shaft is preferably configured to be received by an aperture of the securing location.

The latch protrudes from a distal end of the shaft. The distal end of the shaft is configured to enter an aperture in the securing location; and the latch is configured to secure the distal end of the shaft in the aperture in the securing location. As such, it is the latch that provides the locking action of the locking apparatus Preferably the shaft is hollow and houses a locking mechanism that controls the position of the latch. This ensures that the locking mechanism is protected from being damaged. It also protects the locking mechanism from dust ingress and allows the parts of the locking mechanism to move freely whilst being enclosed, ensuring nothing external to the lock could interrupt the movement of the locking mechanism.

Preferably depressing the actuating component causes the latch to retract to within the perimeter of the shaft. This has the effect of releasing the lock allowing the toolbox to be relocated from the securing location.

Having the actuating mechanism function in this manner and be positioned such that it extends through the bracket allows the actuating mechanism to effectively act as a button that allows the lock to be released. Further, by virtue of it extending from the bracket, the actuating component can be depressed from the inside of the toolbox, removing any need to reach between the securing location and the toolbox in order to release the lock. This improves ease of use dramatically as there is no requirement of working in small spaces between the box and the securing location (e.g., if the securing location were a wall). A similar improvement can be seen with the present invention when locking castor wheels are considered as an alternative. Locking said wheels generally requires depressing a clamp onto the wheel, if the wheels are abutting a wall, they are harder to reach than simply the inside of the toolbox.

Preferably the latch is configured such that when the shaft is slid into the securing location, the latch depresses to allow the shaft to enter the securing location then releases automatically. This is preferably a one-way sliding motion such that the latch will depress when being slid in, allowing for ease of positioning in the securing location, but will not depress in an attempt to pull the shaft out of the securing location thus providing locking action. In order to remove the shaft (and therefore the toolbox) from the securing location, the latch will have to be intentionally retracted, for example through the depression of the actuating mechanism.

The bracket may comprise a raised protrusion adjacent to the actuating component; protrusion comprises an aperture having a bearing ring. This could allow for a dowel with a cam to be attached to the bracket. As the dowel rotates, due to an irregular radius of the cam, the cam could depress the actuating component, releasing the latch. This provides a mechanism through which the actuating component, and therefore the latch, may be operated from the exterior front of the toolbox (the assumption here being that the locking mechanism is positioned on a back wall of the toolbox for ease of access to the contents of the toolbox when it is secured at the securing location). The dowel may include a lever arm attached to a wire. When the wire is pulled, the lever arm may rotate the dowel, rotating the cam as a result. The wire may be pulled from the front of the toolbox, and may be attached to a handle that can be pulled. Alternatively, the wire may be redirected before reaching the handle so that pushing down on the handle will pull the wire in the manner required to rotate the dowel.

Preferably the latch protrudes from a side face of the distal end of the shaft. This provides resistance at 90 degrees to the direction of motion required to disengage the shaft from the securing location.

The locking mechanism comprises the latch, the actuating component and a wedge assembly, wherein the wedge assembly is positioned between the actuating component and the latch.

The actuating component preferably abuts the wedge assembly at a proximal end of the wedge assembly such that pressure on the wedge assembly via the actuating component results in sliding motion of the wedge assembly in the direction of the length of the shaft.

The distal end of the wedge assembly is preferably wedge shaped, the wedge configured to transfer pressure from the actuating component to the latch; wherein as the wedge assembly moves in the direction of the shaft, the wedge causes the latch to slide perpendicularly to the shaft. The wedge provides the benefit of transferring the direction of mechanical motion from the actuating component.

The shaft housing preferably comprises a tapered recess leading to the aperture in the shaft housing, and wherein the distal end of the shaft is flared to match the shape and dimensions of the tapered recess. This serves to keep the shaft securely in place extending perpendicularly from the exterior surface of the toolbox. By minimising lateral movement in the shaft, it is easier for a user to accurately align the shaft with the securing location.

The distal end of the shaft is preferably flush with the surface of the shaft housing when the shaft is positioned in the tapered recess. This ensures that the shaft cannot be manipulated in and out of the toolbox as the shaft is held in position by the bracket and the shaft housing. This helps to ensure repeatable locking to the securing location as if the shaft could move within the locking apparatus, aligning the shaft with the securing location would be difficult.

The locking apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the bracket connects to the seal via a plurality of bolts, each bolt passing through the bracket, the shaft housing, the toolbox and the seal. This ensures that the bracket, shaft, shaft housing and seal all cannot move relative to the toolbox. In other words, as the tool box is moved, the locking apparatus moves accordingly. This ensures that it is easy to align the shaft with the securing location by manipulating the toolbox itself.

The locking apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the seal comprises a cushioned exterior. The cushioning may preferably be provided by for example a rubber coating or ring.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a locking apparatus as described above and a receiving plate; the receiving plate is configured to receive the portion of the shaft that extends beyond the seal. The receiving plate preferably forms part of the securing location and the receiving plate comprising the aperture of the securing location.

The receiving plate preferably comprises an internal receiving recess configured to receive the latch. This provides further precision in the depth to which the shaft will be received by the securing location.

It is envisaged that for larger toolboxes, a plurality of locking mechanisms will be required to secure the toolbox in place.

As such, in another aspect the invention may provide a plurality of locking apparatuses of attached to a toolbox; the locking apparatuses being as described above in the case where an actuating component of the locking mechanism protrudes from the proximal end of the shaft, and through the bracket, the bracket comprises an aperture through which the actuating component may extend, and the bracket comprising a raised protrusion adjacent to the actuating component; protrusion comprising an aperture having a bearing ring.

This allows for a dowel with a cam to be attached to the bracket through the bearing ring. As the dowel rotates, due to an irregular radius of the cam, the cam could depress the actuating component, releasing the latch. This provides a mechanism through which the actuating component, and therefore the latch, may be operated from the exterior front of the toolbox (the assumption here being that the locking mechanism is positioned on a back wall of the toolbox for ease of access to the contents of the toolbox when it is secured at the securing location). The dowel may include a lever arm attached to a wire. When the wire is pulled, the lever arm may rotate the dowel, rotating the cam as a result. The wire may be pulled from the front of the toolbox, and may be attached to a handle that can be pulled.

Alternatively, the wire may be redirected before reaching the handle so that pushing down on the handle will pull the wire in the manner required to rotate the dowel.

In this aspect of the invention, the locking apparatuses are attached to the box at the same height in the vertical plane and the dowel extends through the bearing ring of each respective locking apparatus; and wherein the dowel comprises a plurality of cams, each cam positioned proximate to the actuating component of each locking mechanism such that rotation of the dowel caused the cam to depress the actuating component.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may describe a system comprising one or more locking apparatuses as described above and a toolbox, the one or more locking apparatus connected to the toolbox.

Although the present invention is described in the context of securing a toolbox, it is considered that the locking mechanism could be used to secure any suitably sized items to a securing location. For example, portable machinery, generators and speakers. The locking mechanism provides a solution for securing large and/or heavy items that must be moved and therefore cannot be permanently secured in one given place.

Any suitable units could be secured, example use cases are in Boats, Planes, submarines, Aerospace, Homes and storage facilities, catering, event construction

Detailed Description

The present invention will now be described in terms of the following figures: Figure 1 depicts a locking apparatus according to the invention in side on view. Figure 2 depicts a locking apparatus according to the invention in perspective view.

Figure 3 depicts a locking mechanism according to the invention.

Figure 4 depicts a shaft housing according to the present invention in plan view. Figure 5 depicts a bracket according to the present invention in side on view. Figure 6 depicts a locking mechanism according to the present invention. The present invention will be described in terms of the following features: 10 Locking apparatus Bracket Shaft housing Shaft 130 Seal 140 Latch Bracket protrusion Bearing ring Actuating Component Fixed Block 170 Wedge assembly Bolt holes Latch spring Actuating component spring In the following description, like features are given like numerals.

Figure 1 discloses a locking apparatus 10 for securing a toolbox to a securing location, the locking mechanism 10 comprising a bracket 100, a shaft 120, a shaft housing 110, a seal 130 and a latch (not pictured in this view).

The bracket 100 is configured to attach the locking mechanism 10 to an internal face of a wall of a toolbox. The bracket 100 serves to secure the locking mechanism to the toolbox.

The shaft 120 is configured to extend through an aperture in the wall of the tool box. As such the shaft 120 extends from a fixed position inside the toolbox to the exterior of the toolbox allowing the shaft 120 to be received by a securing location.

The shaft housing 110 has an aperture therethrough to receive the shaft 120, the shaft housing 110 configured to be positioned between the bracket 100 and the internal wall of the toolbox and secure the shaft 120, such that a proximal end of the shaft is secured by the shaft housing 110; wherein the aperture of the shaft housing 110 is configured to align with the aperture in the wall of the toolbox. The shaft housing 110 therefore secures the shaft 120 in place on the internal side of the tool box.

The seal 130 comprises an aperture therethrough; wherein the seal 130 is configured to be positioned on an external wall of the toolbox and to receive the shaft 120 following the shaft extending through the aperture in the wall of the toolbox. The seal 130 is preferably configured to abut the securing location when the tool box is secured.

The wall of the toolbox would sit in the gap between the shaft housing 110 and the seal 130, with the shaft 120 passing through an aperture in the wall of the toolbox when the locking apparatus is installed onto the toolbox.

Figure 2 discloses the locking apparatus 10 of figure 1 in an alternative perspective view. Here, the locking mechanism 10 comprising a bracket 100, a shaft 120, a shaft housing 110, a seal 130 and a latch 140 is pictured.

The latch 140 protrudes from a distal end of the shaft120. The distal end of the shaft 120 is configured to enter an aperture in the securing location; and the latch 140 is configured to secure the distal end of the shaft 120 in the aperture in the securing location. As such, it is the latch that provides the locking action of the locking apparatus 10.

The distal end of the shaft 120 as shown in figure 2 has a tapered portion. This tapering is preferable as it reduces the accuracy needed when aligning the shaft with an aperture of the securing location. This margin for error helps to guide the shaft 120 into the securing location.

an actuating component 160 of the locking mechanism can be seen protruding through the bracket 100.

Figure 3 shows the locking mechanism that is housed within the shaft 120 of figures 1 and 2. The locking mechanism comprises the latch 140, the actuating component 160 and a wedge assembly 170, wherein the wedge assembly 170 is positioned between the actuating component 160 and the latch 140. The actuating component 160 abuts the wedge assembly 170 at a proximal end of the wedge assembly 170 such that pressure on the wedge assembly 170 via the actuating component 160 results in sliding motion of the wedge assembly 170 in the direction of the length of the shaft.

The distal end of the wedge assembly 170 is wedge shaped, the wedge configured to transfer pressure from the actuating component 160. It can be seen from figure 3 how as the wedge assembly moves in the direction of the shaft (downwards in the image) the wedge causes the latch to slide perpendicularly to the shaft (to the left in the image) causing the latch to retract to within the shaft.

The actuating component 170 and wedge assembly may be provided as two separate components or one single component.

Fixed Block 165, is a fixed feature and serves to hold the wedge assembly in place and stops the latch from falling out of alignment of the wedge assembly. It also serves thereby to hold the latch spring 190 in compression to bias latch 140 outward.

Figure 4 details the shaft housing 110. In the centre of the shaft housing is an aperture configured to receive the shaft.

Additionally, 8 bolt holes 180 are present around the perimeter of the shaft housing 110.

These are configured to align with bolt holes in the bracket, seal and also the toolbox itself and serve as attachment points for the locking mechanism 10 to the toolbox.

Although 8 bolt holes 180 are shown here, any number of bolt holes is considered within the scope of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows the bracket 100 having a protrusion 150. The protrusion comprises an aperture surrounded by a bearing ring 155. This allows for a dowel with a cam (not shown) to be attached to the bracket 100 through the bearing ring 155. The bearing ring 155 allows the dowel to rotate. As the dowel rotates, due to an irregular radius of the cam, the cam can depress the actuating component, releasing the latch 140.

The dowel and cam may be actuated manually or it may be actuated electrically or hydraulically. Similarly, an electric or hydraulic actuator may be used in place of a cam For example, by an electrical motor to rotate the dowel and thereby the cam.

Figure 6 shows the locking mechanism of figure 3 with the addition of springs 190, 195. The springs serve to bias portions of the locking mechanism so that they return to the locking mechanism to a locked state by default. The locked state being with the latch protruding from the shaft and the actuating component at its maximum vertical extension from the proximal end of the shaft.

The latch spring 190 is attached to the latch such that when the latch is forced into the shaft by the wedge assembly, the latch spring is compressed against the internal wall of the shaft.

This provides a biassing force so that when the wedge assembly is no longer providing pressure to retract the latch. The latch will return to its previous (locked) position in which it protrudes from the end of the shaft.

Whilst this spring alone may be sufficient to enable the latch to exert pressure on the wedge assembly in order to return the wedge assembly and actuating component to their locked position, it may be further preferable to include as pictured an actuating component spring 195. The actuating component spring 195 attaches the actuating component to the bracket such that the spring extends as the actuating component is depressed. When the force depressing the actuating component, (e.g., coming from a cam) is removed, the spring will be in a stretched position and will contract to return the actuating component to its resting (locked) position.

It is envisaged that the locking mechanism of the present invention may comprise both the latch spring 190 and the actuating component spring 195. Alternatively, the locking mechanism may include only one of the springs or no springs at all.

Claims

Claims 1 A locking apparatus for securing a toolbox to a securing location, the locking mechanism comprising: a bracket configured to attach the locking mechanism to an internal face of a wall of a toolbox; a shaft configured to extend through an aperture in the wall of the tool box; a shaft housing having an aperture therethrough to receive the shaft, the shaft housing configured to be positioned between the bracket and the internal wall of the toolbox and secure the shaft, such that a proximal end of the shaft is secured by the shaft housing; wherein the aperture of the shaft housing is configured to align with the aperture in the wall of the toolbox; a seal comprising an aperture therethrough; wherein the seal is configured to be positioned on an external wall of the toolbox and to receive the shaft following the shaft extending through the aperture in the wall of the toolbox; a latch, wherein the latch protrudes from a distal end of the shaft; wherein the distal end of the shaft is configured to enter an aperture in the securing location; and the latch is configured to secure the distal end of the shaft in the aperture in the securing location.
2. The locking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shaft is hollow and houses a locking mechanism that controls the position of the latch.
3. The locking apparatus of claim 2 wherein an actuating component of the locking mechanism protrudes from the proximal end of the shaft, and through the bracket.
4. The locking apparatus of claim 3 wherein depressing the actuating component causes the latch to retract to within the perimeter of the shaft.
The locking apparatus of claim 3 or 4 wherein the bracket comprises raised protrusion adjacent to the actuating component; protrusion comprises an aperture having a bearing ring.
6 A plurality of locking apparatuses of claim 5 attached to a toolbox wherein the locking apparatuses are attached to the box at the same height in the vertical plane; wherein a dowel extends through the bearing ring of each respective locking apparatus; and wherein the dowel comprises a plurality of claim, each cam positioned proximate to the actuating component of each locking mechanism such that rotation of the dowel caused the cam to depress the actuating component.
7. The locking apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the latch protrudes from a side face of the distal end of the shaft.
8 The locking apparatus of any of claims 2 to 8 wherein the locking mechanism comprises the latch, the actuating component and a wedge assembly, wherein the wedge assembly is positioned between the actuating component and the latch.
9 The locking apparatus of claim 9 wherein the actuating component abuts the wedge assembly at a proximal end of the wedge assembly such that pressure on the wedge assembly via the actuating component results in sliding motion of the wedge assembly in the direction of the length of the shaft.
10. The locking apparatus of claim 10 wherein the distal end of the wedge assembly is wedge shaped, the wedge configured to transfer pressure from the actuating component; wherein as the wedge assembly moves in the direction of the shaft, the wedge causes the latch to slide perpendicularly to the shaft.
11. The locking apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the shaft housing comprises a tapered recess leading to the aperture in the shaft housing, and wherein the distal end of the shaft is flared to match the shape and dimensions of the tapered recess.
12. The locking apparatus of claim 12 wherein the distal end of the shaft is flush with the surface of the shaft housing when the shaft is positioned in the tapered recess.
13. The locking apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the bracket connects to the seal via a plurality of bolts, each bolt passing through the bracket, the shaft housing, the toolbox and the seal.
14. The locking apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the seal comprises a cushioned exterior.
15. The locking apparatus of any preceding claim and a receiving plate; the receiving plate configured to receive the portion of the shaft that extends beyond the seal.
16. The locking apparatus of claim 16 wherein the receiving plate comprises an internal receiving recess configured to receive the latch.
17. A system comprising one or more locking apparatus of any preceding claim and a toolbox, the one or more locking apparatus connected to the toolbox.