Closure lock with inflatable bladder

• US 4,073,521 A
• Filed: 08/30/1976
• Issued: 02/14/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph M. Mena
• Original Assignee: Joseph M. Mena
• Inventors: Mena, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US05/718,591
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 49/477, 292/256, 292/256.6, 292/256.61, 292/256.65, 292/1
• US Class Current: 292/256.65
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 19/24 Hatch fastenings, e.g. cleats
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 51/02 by pneumatic or hydraulic means E05B17/0029 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/2318 by applying over- or under-pressure, e.g. inflatable gasproof doors or windows E06B5/12; for vehicles B60J10/244
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 13/02 Detachable closure members; Means for tightening closures F16J13/16, F16J13/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/46 with packing ring expanded or pressed into place by fluid pressure, e.g. inflatable packings connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; for sealing arrangements in vehicles B60J10/244; for sealing arrangements of openings in buildings E06B7/2318; for tube connections F16L
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/03 Miscellaneous
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/212 With expanding or contracting means

Abstract

A closure which is releasably retained in closed position relative to a surrounding structure by inflation of a locking bladder, which preferably extends about the periphery of the closure and is partially received in opposed grooves in the closure and the surrounding structure respectively.

Claims

1. The combination comprising:

a frame structure containing an opening;

a closure structure movable relative to said frame structure between a closed position of extension across said opening and an open position;

an inflatable bladder operable by inflation to lock said closure structure against opening movement and by deflation to permit such opening movement;

said bladder being carried by one of said structures and being engageable when inflated with a shoulder on the other structure in a relation blocking opening movement of the closure structure; and

control means operable from a first side of said frame and closure structures to apply pressure fluid to the bladder and thereby lock the closure against opening movement, and to release pressure fluid from the bladder and permit opening of the closure;

said structures being constructed to block off all access to the bladder from a second side of said structures by puncturing instruments, and thereby positively prevent unauthorized opening of said closure structure from said second side.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1, including means forming a recess into which said bladder is forced by inflation to an interfitting position blocking said opening movement of the closure structure.

3. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which said control means include a fluid pressure inlet fitting carried by said frame structure and accessible from said first side of the structure to fill pressure fluid into the bladder, and valve means carried by the frame structure and accessible from said first side thereof to release pressure fluid from the bladder.

4. The combination as recited in claim 1, including means forming two recesses in said frame structure and said closure structure respectively and which receive different portions of said bladder when the latter is inflated, in a relation blocking opening movement of the closure structure.

5. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which said control means include a fill connection accessible from said first side of said structures and through which pressure fluid is injectable into said bladder to actuate it to locking condition.

6. The combination as recited in claim 1, including a gauge for indicating the pressure of inflating fluid within said bladder.

7. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which one of said structures has an edge portion at said second side of the structures extending into overlapping relation with respect to an adjacent portion of the other structure at a location opposite said bladder and preventing access of puncturing instruments thereto from said second side.

8. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which said structures are constructed to positively block access of puncturing instruments to said bladder from either side of said structures.

9. The combination comprising:

a frame structure containing an opening;

a closure structure movable between a closed position of extension across said opening and an opened position;

a locking rim carried by said closure structure and defining a groove extending along the periphery of the closure structure and facing outwardly toward said frame structure;

an element carried by said frame structure about said opening and forming a second groove extending about the closure structure and facing inwardly toward said first groove;

an endless flexible inflatable bladder extending about said closure structure and adapted when inflated to be received partially within each of said grooves to releasably lock the closure structure against opening movement, said closure structure being released for opening movement by deflation of the bladder; and

control means operable from a first side of said structures to apply locking pressure to and release it from said bladder;

said structures being constructed to block off all access to the bladder from a second side of the structures by puncturing instruments and thereby positively prevent unauthorized opening of said closure structure from said second side.

10. The combination as recited in claim 9, in which said rim has a first edge at one side of said first groove which overlaps a first edge of said element, and has a second edge at the other side of said first groove and which is overlapped by a corresponding second edge of said element, said first edge of said rim projecting outwardly farther than said second edge thereof, said second edge of said element projecting inwardly farther than said first edge thereof.

11. The combination as recited in claim 9, in which said control means include a connection for filling pressurized fluid into said bladder from said first side of the structures, means for releasing fluid from the bladder from said first side of said structures, and gauge means at said first side for indicating the pressure of fluid in the bladder.

12. The combination comprising:

a frame structure containing an opening;

a closure structure movable relative to said frame structure between a closed position of extension across said opening and an open position;

an inflatable bladder operable by inflation to lock said closure structure against opening movement and by deflation to permit such opening movement; and

control means operable from a first side of said frame and closure structures to apply pressure fluid to the bladder and thereby lock the closure against opening movement, and to release pressure fluid from the bladder and permit opening and the closure;

said structures being constructed to block off all access to the bladder from a second side of said structures by puncturing instruments, and thereby positively prevent unauthorized opening of said closure structure from said second side;

said bladder being an inflatable endless element extending about the periphery of said closure structure;

there being a shoulder formed on the periphery of said closure structure at a location opposite said endless bladder when inflated to block opening movement of the closure structure.

13. The combination comprising:

a frame structure containing an opening;

a closure structure movable relative to said frame structure between a closed position of extension across said opening and an open position;

an inflatable bladder operable by inflation to lock said closure structure against opening movement and by deflation to permit such opening movement; and

control means operable from a first side of said frame and closure structures to apply pressure fluid to the bladder and thereby lock the closure against opening movement, and to release pressure fluid from the bladder and permit opening of the closure;

said structures being constructed to block off all access to the bladder from a second side of said structures by puncturing instruments, and thereby positively prevent unauthorized opening of said closure structure from said second side;

said bladder being an inflatable endless tubular element extending about the periphery of said closure structures;

there being means carried by said closure structure and forming a groove extending along the periphery thereof and facing outwardly toward said frame structure and into which said endless bladder is forced by inflation to block opening movement of the closure structure.

14. The combination as recited in claim 13, including means carried by said frame structure and forming a groove facing inwardly toward and opposite said first mentioned groove and partially receiving said endless bladder when inflated.

15. The combination comprising:

a frame structure containing an opening;

a closure structure movable relative to said frame structure between a closed position of extension across said opening and an open position;

an inflatable bladder operable by inflation to lock said closure structure against opening movement and by deflation to permit such opening movement;

control means operable from a first side of said frame and closure structures to apply pressure fluid to the bladder and thereby lock the closure against opening movement, and to release pressure fluid from the bladder and permit opening of the closure;

said structures being constructed to block off all access to the bladder from a second side of said structures by puncturing instruments, and thereby positively prevent unauthorized opening of said closure structure from said second side; and

means carried by said two structures respectively and forming two opposed grooves each partially receiving said bladder when inflated to lock the closure structure against opening movement,

said closure structure having a first peripheral edge at one side of the bladder overlapping a first edge of said frame structure to prevent access of puncturing instruments thereto, and having a second peripheral edge at the other side of said bladder and which is overlapped by a second edge of said frame structure to prevent access of puncturing instruments from said other side of the bladder.

16. The combination comprising:

a frame structure containing an opening;

a closure structure movable relative to said frame structure between a closed position of extension across said opening and an open position;

an inflatable bladder operable by inflation to lock said closure structure against opening movement and by deflation to permit such opening movement;

control means operable from a first side of said frame and closure structures to apply pressure fluid to the bladder and thereby lock the closure against opening movement, and to release pressure fluid from the bladder and permit opening of the closure;

said structures being constructed to block off all access to the bladder from a second side of said structures by puncturing instruments, and thereby positively prevent unauthorized opening of said closure structure from said second side; and

means carried by said two structures respectively and forming two opposed grooves each partially receiving said bladder when inflated to lock the closure structure against opening movement, said closure structure having a first peripheral edge at one side of the bladder overlapping a first edge of said frame structure, and having a second peripheral edge at the other side of said bladder and which is overlapped radially by a second edge of said frame structure, said first edge of said closure structure projecting outwardly farther than said second edge thereof, and said second edge of said frame structure projecting inwardly farther than said first edge thereof, so that upon opening movement of said closure structure said second edge thereof is spaced from said first edge of said frame structure, in moving therepast, to prevent clamping of the bladder therebetween.