US5076078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lock system
Assignee: Knaack LLC
•
Filing: 1991-01-28
•
Granted: 1991-12-31
•
Expires: 2011-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A padlock-protecting lock system for use with a container having a movable closure. A shelf supports the padlock within the container such that only the key insertion end of the padlock is exposed for external access and a bracket having one or more depending legs is carried, such as by an arrangement of corresponding prongs and slots, by the supporting shelf and captures the shackle of the padlock. A tang is associated with the movable closure and is positionable within the shackle for capture by the padlock upon locking thereof, whereby the closure is maintained in its closed position.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth F. Weger, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:50
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B67/00; E05B67/38; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0911; Y10T292/0945; Y10T292/0951; Y10T292/0954; Y10T292/1043; Y10T292/1075; Y10T292/1083; Y10T292/1086; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/40; Y10T70/413; Y10T70/487; Y10T70/493
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A lock system for a container with a closure which is movable between open and closed positions, said lock system utilizing a padlock having a body with a key insertion end and a shackle, said lock system comprising: means for supporting the padlock within the container such that the key insertion end of the padlock body is exposed for external access through an aperture in the container; a unitary bracket removably connected to the supporting means for capturing the shackle of the padlock, the bracket having non-threaded prong means, which prong means themselves engage the supporting means; and a tang coupled to the movable closure which is positionable within the shackle for capture by the padlock upon locking thereof, whereby the closure is maintained in its closed position, the tang being positionable within the shackle such that the shackle need not be removed from the bracket to enable release of the tang.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A lock system for a container with a closure which is movable between open and closed positions, said lock system utilizing a padlock having a body with a key insertion end and a shackle, said lock system comprising: means for supporting the padlock within the container such that the key insertion end of the padlock body is exposed for external access through an aperture in the container; a unitary bracket removably connected to the supporting means for capturing the shackle of the padlock, the bracket having non-threaded prong means, which prong means themselves engage the supporting means; and a tang coupled to the movable closure which is positionable within the shackle for capture by the padlock upon locking thereof, whereby the closure is maintained in its closed position, the tang being positionable within the shackle such that the shackle need not be removed from the bracket to enable release of the tang.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The lock system of claim 1 wherein the supporting means within the container comprises a substantially horizontal shelf member which is attached to the interior of the container and communicates with the aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The lock system of claim 1 wherein the supporting means has at least one slot formed therein to correspond with the prong means of the bracket, whereby the bracket is removably connected to the supporting means by insertion of each prong means into a corresponding slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The lock system of claim 1 wherein the tang is pivotally mounted on the movable closure and has a locking notch for engagement with the shackle when the tang is in a substantially vertical position, the tang being normally urged to an inclined position with the locking notch out of engagement with the shackle whereby closing of the padlock causes the padlock body to advance the tang to cause the engagement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The lock system of claim 1 wherein the bracket comprises a substantially U-shaped member having a pair of depending legs which have coaxial openings therethrough for capturing the shackle of the padlock.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The lock system of claim 5 wherein at least one of the legs has an integral inclined flange which extends away from the supporting means for guiding the tang within the shackle upon closing of the closure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The lock system of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a cabinet having at least one movable door with an inwardly extending catch member, said cabinet further comprising a movable member engageable with the catch member to hold the door closed, a slide member movably mounted on the interior of the cabinet and carrying the movable member and means operable from outside the cabinet for moving the slide member, the tang being connected to the slide member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The lock system of claim 7 wherein the tang is pivotally mounted on the slide member and has a locking notch for engagement with the shackle when the tang is in a substantially vertical position, the tang being normally urged to an inclined position with the locking notch out of engagement with the shackle whereby closing of the padlock causes the padlock body to advance the tang to cause the engagement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The lock system of claim 7 wherein the supporting means within the container comprises a substantially horizontal shelf member which is attached to the interior of the container and communicates with the aperture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The lock system of claim 7 wherein the supporting means has at least one slot formed therein to correspond with the prong means of the bracket, whereby the bracket is removably connected to the supporting means by insertion of each prong means into a corresponding slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The lock system of claim 7 wherein the bracket comprises a substantially U-shaped member having a pair of depending legs which have coaxial openings therethrough for capturing the shackle of the padlock.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The lock system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the legs has an integral inclined flange which extends away from the supporting means for guiding the tang within the shackle upon closing of the closure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
148 words
A lock system for a container with a closure which is movable between open and closed positions, said lock system utilizing a padlock having a body with a key insertion end and a shackle, said lock system comprising: means for supporting the padlock within the container such that the key insertion end of the padlock body is exposed for external access through an aperture in the container; a bracket carried by the supporting means and having a pair of depending legs which have coaxial openings therethrough for capturing the shackle of the padlock; and a tang coupled to the movable closure which is positionable within the shackle for capture by the padlock upon locking thereof, whereby the closure is maintained in its closed position, the tang being positionable within the shackle such that the shackle need not be removed from the bracket to enable release of the tang.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
148 words
A lock system for a container with a closure which is movable between open and closed positions, said lock system utilizing a padlock having a body with a key insertion end and a shackle, said lock system comprising: means for supporting the padlock within the container such that the key insertion end of the padlock body is exposed for external access through an aperture in the container; a bracket carried by the supporting means and having a pair of depending legs which have coaxial openings therethrough for capturing the shackle of the padlock; and a tang coupled to the movable closure which is positionable within the shackle for capture by the padlock upon locking thereof, whereby the closure is maintained in its closed position, the tang being positionable within the shackle such that the shackle need not be removed from the bracket to enable release of the tang.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The lock system of claim 13 wherein the supporting means within the container comprises a substantially horizontal shelf member which is attached to the interior of the container and communicates with the aperture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
The lock system of claim 13 wherein the tang is pivotally mounted on the movable closure and has a locking notch for engagement with the shackle when the tang is in a substantially vertical position, the tang being normally urged to an inclined position with the locking notch out of engagement with the shackle whereby closing of the padlock causes the padlock body to advance the tang to cause the engagement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The lock system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the legs has an integral inclined flange which extends away from the supporting means for guiding the tang within the shackle upon closing of the closure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The lock system of claim 13 wherein the bracket has integral prong means for removably engaging the supporting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The lock system of claim 17 wherein the bracket is substantially U-shaped.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The lock system of claim 17 wherein the supporting means has at least one slot formed therein to correspond with the prong means of the bracket, whereby the bracket is removably connected to the supporting means by insertion of each prong means into a corresponding slot.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
71 words
The lock system of claim 17 wherein the tang is pivotally mounted on the movable closure and has a locking notch for engagement with the shackle when the tang is in a substantially vertical position, the tang being normally urged to an inclined position with the locking notch out of engagement with the shackle whereby closing of the padlock causes the padlock body to advance the tang to cause the engagement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The lock system of claim 17 wherein at least one of the legs has an integral inclined flange which extends away from the supporting means for guiding the tang within the shackle upon closing of the closure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
77 words
The lock system of claim 17 wherein the container comprises a cabinet having at least one movable door with an inwardly extending catch member, said cabinet further comprising a movable member engageable with the catch member to hold the door closed, a slide member movably mounted on the interior of the cabinet and carrying the movable member and means operable from outside the cabinet for moving the slide member, the tang being connected to the slide member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The lock system of claim 13 wherein the bracket comprises an integral member of the supporting means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
71 words
The lock system of claim 23 wherein the tang is pivotally mounted on the movable closure and has a locking notch for engagement with the shackle when the tang is in a substantially vertical position, the tang being normally urged to an inclined position with the locking notch out of engagement with the shackle whereby closing of the padlock causes the padlock body to advance the tang to cause the engagement.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The lock system of claim 23 wherein at least one of the legs has an integral inclined flange which extends away from the supporting means for guiding the tang within the shackle upon closing of the closure.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
77 words
The lock system of claim 23 wherein the container comprises a cabinet having at least one movable door with an inwardly extending catch member, said cabinet further comprising a movable member engageable with the catch member to hold the door closed, a slide member movably mounted on the interior of the cabinet and carrying the movable member and means operable from outside the cabinet for moving the slide member, the tang being connected to the slide member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1262809A
Cited
US1592405A
Cited
US1669312A
Cited
US2461708A
Cited
DE878907C
Cited
US2825218A
Cited
US3112839A
Cited
US3156282A
Cited
US3590607A
Cited
US3572062A
Cited
US3652114A
Cited
US3851942A
Cited
NL7712422A
Cited
US4106315A
Cited
US4165944A
Cited
GB2058196A
Cited
US4290281A
Cited
US4581907A
Cited
GB2185519A
Cited
US4781043A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-30 | 1995-07-01 | 1995-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-30 | 1999-07-01 | 1999-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-30 | 2003-07-01 | 2003-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |