LOCKOUT DEVICE

• US 20070240766A1
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brojanac, Michael, Czarnecki, Scott, Scott, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,870,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/385
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/003 Chain, wire or cable locks alarms therefor E05B45/005; E05B69/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/383 Staples or the like for padlocks; Lock slings; Arrangements on locks to cooperate with padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/10 with locking caps or locking bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7256 Locks against rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/409 Shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5628 Valve encasing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5637 With padlock

Abstract

A lockout device is provided for an instrument having a body and an actuating member extending from the body for operating the instrument. The lockout device includes a bottom member, a cover member, and a flexible member. The bottom member and cover member are adapted to receive a cinching portion of the flexible member between first and second cinching features One of the first and second cinching features includes at least one pin, and the other of the first and second cinching features includes at least one corresponding recess configured to receive the at least one pin. When the flexible member is wrapped around a portion of the body and received between the first and second cinching features and the cover member is in a closed position, the first and second cinching features prevent movement of a cinching portion of the flexible member.

Claims

1. A lockout device for an instrument having a body and an actuating member extending from the body for operating the instrument, the lockout device comprising:

a bottom member, adapted to be positioned over the body, the bottom member including a first cinching feature and an aperture for receiving the actuating member;

a cover member connectable to the bottom member for movement between a closed position and an open position, the cover member including a covering portion for covering the actuating member in the closed position, and a second cinching feature adapted to interlock with the first cinching feature in the closed position; and

a flexible member having a first end connected to one of the bottom member and the cover member, wherein the bottom member and cover member are adapted to receive a cinching portion of the flexible member between the first and second cinching features;

wherein one of the first and second cinching features comprises at least one pin, and the other of the first and second cinching features comprises at least one corresponding recess configured to receive the at least one pin; and

wherein when the flexible member is wrapped around a portion of the body and received between the first and second cinching features and the cover member is in the closed position, the first and second cinching features grip the cinching portion of the flexible member to prevent movement of the cinching portion relative to the cinching features.

2. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the at least one recess comprises at least one groove.

3. The lockout device of claim 2, wherein the at least one pin comprises at least one row of pins positioned to be received in the at least one groove.

4. The lockout device of claim 2, wherein the at least one groove comprises at least one hole for receiving an end portion of the at least one pin.

5. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the at least one recess comprises at least one hole.

6. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the at least one pin is non-orthogonal with respect to the cinching portion of the flexible member, such that an increased grip is applied by the at least one pin when the cover member is in a closed position and the cinching portion of the flexible member is pulled in a first direction.

7. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the at least one pin comprises a sharpened end portion.

8. The lockout device of claim 1, further comprising first and second slots adjacent to the first and second cinching features and adapted to receive the flexible member and position the cinching portion between the first and second cinching features.

9. The lockout device of claim 1, further comprising a lock bar connected with one of the bottom member and the cover member, the lock bar including at least one locking aperture, wherein when the cover member is in the closed position, the insertion of a locking member through the at least one locking aperture prevents movement of the cover member from the closed position to the open position.

10. The lockout device of claim 9, wherein the lock bar is integral with the one of the bottom member and the cover member.

11. The lockout device of claim 9, wherein the lock bar is assembled with the one of the bottom member and the cover member.

12. The lockout device of claim 11, wherein the lock bar is pivotable with respect to the one of the bottom member and the cover member.

13. The lockout device of claim 9, wherein the lock bar is connected with the bottom member.

14. The lockout device of claim 9, wherein the lock bar is connected with the cover member.

15. The lockout device of claim 9, wherein the other of the bottom member and the cover member further comprises an opening for receiving the lock bar therethrough in the closed position.

16. The lockout device of claim 10, further comprising a latch plate assembled with the bottom member, wherein when the cover member is in the closed position, the latch plate is movable to a latching position in which the latch plate secures the cover member in the closed position.

17. The lockout device of claim 16, wherein the latch plate comprises a second lock bar including at least one alignment aperture that aligns with the at least one locking aperture of the first stated lock bar when the latch plate is in the latching position, wherein when the cover member is in the closed position and the latch plate is in the latching position, the insertion of a locking member through the aligned at least one locking aperture and aligned aperture prevents movement of the latch plate out of the latching position.

18. A lockout device for an instrument having a body and an actuating member extending from the body for operating the instrument, the lockout device comprising:

a bottom member, adapted to be positioned over the body, the bottom member including a first holding portion and an aperture for receiving the actuating member;

a cover member connectable to the bottom member for movement between a closed position and an open position, the cover member including a covering portion for covering the actuating member in the closed position, and a second holding portion adapted to engage the first holding portion in the closed position;

a lock bar connected with one of the bottom member and the cover member, the lock bar including at least one locking aperture, wherein when the cover member is in the closed position, the insertion of a locking member through the at least one locking aperture prevents movement of the cover member from the closed position to the open position;

a flexible member having a first end connected to one of the bottom member and the cover member, wherein the bottom member and cover member are adapted to receive a cinching portion of the flexible member between the first and second holding portions; and

a latch plate assembled with the bottom member, wherein when the cover member is in the closed position, the latch plate is movable to a latching position in which the latch plate secures the cover member in the closed position;

wherein when the flexible member is wrapped around a portion of the body and received between the first and second holding portions and the cover member is in the closed position, the first and second holding portions prevent movement of the cinching portion of the flexible member relative to the holding portions.

19. The lockout device of claim 18, wherein the latch plate comprises a second lock bar including at least one alignment aperture that aligns with the at least one locking aperture of the first stated lock bar when the latch plate is in the latching position, wherein when the cover member is in the closed position and the latch plate is in the latching position, the insertion of a locking member through the aligned at least one locking aperture and aligned aperture prevents movement of the latch plate out of the latching position.

20. The lockout device of claim 18, wherein the latch plate comprises a first compression feature and the cover member comprises a second compression feature, wherein movement of the latch plate to the latching position engages the first compression feature with the second compression feature, such that the latch plate applies a gripping force to the cinching portion of the flexible member through the cover member.

21. The lockout device of claim 20, wherein one of the first and second compression features comprises at least one rib, and the other of the first and second compression features comprises at least one complementary shaped pocket.

22. A lockout device for an instrument having a body and an actuating member extending from the body for operating the instrument, the lockout device comprising:

a bottom member, adapted to be positioned over the body, the bottom member including a first holding portion and an aperture for receiving the actuating member;

a cover member connectable to the bottom member for movement between a closed position and an open position, the cover member including a covering portion for covering the actuating member in the closed position, and a second holding portion adapted to engage the first holding portion in the closed position;

a lock bar connected with and pivotable with respect to one of the bottom member and the cover member, the lock bar including at least one locking aperture, wherein when the cover member is in the closed position, the insertion of a locking member through the at least one locking aperture prevents movement of the cover member from the closed position to the open position; and

a flexible member having a first end connected to one of the bottom member and the cover member, wherein the bottom member and cover member are adapted to receive a cinching portion of the flexible member between the first and second holding portions;

wherein when the flexible member is wrapped around a portion of the body and received between the first and second holding portions and the cover member is in the closed position, the first and second holding portions prevent movement of the cinching portion of the flexible member relative to the holding portions.

23. A lockout device for an instrument having a body and an actuating member extending from the body for operating the instrument, the lockout device comprising:

a bottom member, adapted to be positioned over the body, the bottom member including a first holding portion and an aperture for receiving the actuating member;

a cover member connectable to the bottom member for movement between a closed position and an open position, the cover member including a covering portion for covering the actuating member in the closed position, and a second holding portion adapted to engage the first holding portion in the closed position;

a lock bar connected with the cover member, the lock bar including at least one locking aperture, wherein when the cover member is in the closed position, the insertion of a locking member through the at least one locking aperture prevents movement of the cover member from the closed position to the open position; and

a flexible member having a first end connected to one of the bottom member and the cover member, wherein the bottom member and cover member are adapted to receive a cinching portion of the flexible member between the first and second holding portions;

wherein when the flexible member is wrapped around a portion of the body and received between the first and second holding portions and the cover member is in the closed position, the first and second holding portions prevent movement of the cinching portion of the flexible member relative to the holding portions.