Lock and tool therefor

• US 5,732,989 A
• Filed: 06/14/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trans Guard Industries, Inc. (Tyden Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Transgaurd Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Stone, Robert E., Hamilton, Craig, Stevenson, David L., Ridenour, Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US08/662,673
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 292/327, 292/329, 292/328, 292/318, 292/319, 292/323, 292/324, 70/34, 411/517, 411/519, 411/267, 411/433, 411/352
• US Class Current: 292/327
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/008 for simple tool-like keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/36 Padlocks with closing means other than shackles ; Removable locks, the lock body itself being the locking element; Padlocks consisting of two separable halves or cooperating with a stud
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/496 Resilient engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/51 Seal bolts

Abstract

A lock body through bore receives a steel bolt with an array of annular grooves. A locking mechanism secured in the bore has an annular array of locking jaws normally biased engaged with an inserted bolt groove. A jaw spreader has a conical surface for spreading the jaws radially outwardly to disengage the bolt. A locking member normally is radially outwardly of the jaws to preclude such spreading. A spring with a high spring constant, e.g., 300 pound load, axially biases the locking member in the jaw locking position. The spreader and locking member define a locking jaw conical path for radially outwardly releasing the jaws during bolt insertion and for locking the jaws in the opposite bolt withdrawal direction. A manually operated tool with a rotatable cylinder which engages the spreader and including a pair of lock gripping tines provides a high force to the spreader to axial displace it against the locking member spring to release the bolt locking jaws while simultaneously radially outwardly releasing the jaws from the bolt.

Claims

1. A tamper resistant lock for locking a bolt having a shank with at least one locking recess, said lock comprising:

a body having a cavity with an opening defining a bolt receiving axis for axially receiving the bolt and said at least one recess within said cavity;

at least one resiliently movable jaw in said cavity resiliently biased radially inwardly by a first bias means; and

displaceable jaw locking means including a jaw locking and release member secured in said body cavity for 1a) permitting said at least one movable jaw to transversely displace radially outwardly relative to said axis in response to and for permitting bolt insertion into said cavity in a bolt insertion direction, b) providing radially inward locking engagement of the at least one movable jaw with said bolt recess upon transverse alignment thereof during said insertion and c) precluding the at least one movable jaw from outwardly disengaging the recess in response to bolt withdrawal opposite the bolt insertion direction in a locking state and

     2) permitting disengagement of the at least one movable jaw from the recess in response to selective axial displacement of the locking means release member in a first direction to a release state;

said displaceable jaw locking means including second bias means for normally biasing the locking member in said locking state at a substantially greater bias load than that of said first bias means so as to require a separate tool to overcome the bias of said second bias means.

2. The lock of claim 1 wherein the first direction is opposite the insertion direction, the second bias means for biasing the locking means in the insertion direction to said locking state.

3. The lock of claim 1 wherein the second bias means second value is sufficiently high so as to require leveraged manual displacement of said locking means in said first direction to place the locking means in the release state to preclude manual unlocking said locking means to the release state without a tool.

4. The lock of claim 1 wherein the second bias means second value is approximately several hundred pounds.

5. The lock of claim 1 wherein said at least one jaw comprises an annular array of jaws having an annular groove, bias means in said groove for resiliently biasing the jaws radially inwardly in locking engagement with said recess, said locking means comprising:

a. jaw spreading means for radially outwardly displacing the jaws radially apart to disengage the jaws from said recess in response to axial displacement of the spreading means in said first direction; and

b. said jaw locking member normally positioned to preclude said radial outward displacing of said jaws, said locking member for engagement with and responsive to said spreader means axial displacement for selectively displacement to permit the radial outward disengagement of said jaws.

6. The lock of claim 5 wherein said jaws define approximately conical jaw segments with inner and outer radially facing approximate conical surfaces, the inner surfaces for engaging said jaw spreader means and said outer surfaces for engaging said jaw locking member.

7. The lock of claim 6 wherein the jaw locking member comprises a cylindrical member axially slidably secured within said cavity of said body and including an inwardly depending conical portion for engaging said outer facing jaw conical surface such that the jaws axially and outwardly displace in a conical path intermediate said spreader means and said jaw locking member during and in response to said bolt insertion.

8. The lock of claim 7 including a cylindrical support in said cavity axially distal said jaw spreading means, and said second bias means including a spring on said support axially abutting said jaw locking member and body, said spring normally resiliently biasing said jaw locking member in the insertion direction to a locking position in said locking state.

9. A tamper resistant lock device comprising:

a bolt with at least one annular groove; and

a lock for securing the bolt thereto, said lock comprising;

a body having a cavity with an opening defining a bolt receiving axis for receiving the bolt and said groove within said cavity;

an annular array of movable jaws secured to the body in said cavity including first resilient bias means for normally radially inwardly resiliently biasing the jaws in radial biased locking engagement with said bolt groove in a bolt withdrawal direction; and

displaceable jaw release means including a locking member in said body cavity for permitting the jaws to normally spread apart in response to insertion of the bolt into said cavity and for radially locking the jaws to the groove in a locking position to preclude withdrawal of the bolt from the cavity in the withdrawal direction, said release means including means arranged so that said locking member can be selectively axially displaced from the locking position to a jaw release position for permitting the radial spreading of the jaws apart in opposition to said first bias means to release the jaws from said locking engagement and for permitting the bolt to be withdrawn from the cavity in a first direction opposite the insertion direction.

10. The locking device of claim 9 wherein said release means includes second bias means for normally biasing the locking member in said locking position at a substantially greater bias load than that of said first bias means.

11. The locking device of claim 10 wherein the body has proximal and distal ends, the proximal end for receiving the bolt, said jaws defining tapered surfaces tapering to a wider transverse dimension toward said distal end, said jaw release means comprising a jaw spreading member having a tapered surface mating with said jaws for spreading the jaws apart in response to axial displacement of the spreading member in said first direction.

12. The locking device of claim 11 wherein the locking member is a cylindrical member having a tapered surface portion normally radially aligned with said jaws in the locking position, said spreading member and said locking member for engagement at said distal end such that displacement of the spreading member in the first direction displaces the locking member to the release position.

13. The locking device of claim 9 wherein said jaws are approximate segments of a cone and normally in the path of the bolt during insertion into said cavity, said release means defining an approximate conical path for radially outwardly receiving the jaws in response to the bolt insertion into said cavity to thereby permit the displacement of the jaws out of said bolt insertion path in response to said bolt insertion.

14. The locking device of claim 9 wherein the jaws define approximate conical segments having approximate conical inner and outer surfaces, said locking member comprising a member with an internal conical surface facing an outer surface of the jaws, said release means including a jaw spreading member having an external conical surface facing the inner surface of said jaws and an outwardly extending flange distal the jaws, said spreading member including an internal region for axially receiving a spreading member displacement tool in said cavity at the body distal end, and second-bias means for normally biasing the locking member in abutment with the flange, said spreading member and locking member defining an approximate conical path therebetween for receiving said jaws in response to said bolt insertion, whereby displacement of the spreading member in the first direction spreads the jaws apart while simultaneously displaces the locking member to release said jaws during said spreading.

15. A lock for locking a bolt having an annular groove comprising:

a body with an axially extending through bore having a locking cavity in communication therewith, said bore for receiving the bolt at a bore proximal end;

a substantially tubular support member in said cavity at said proximal end thereof having a bore for receiving the bolt therethrough;

resilient first bias means supported by the support member;

a locking member in the cavity having a tapered radially inwardly extending bore portion abutting said first bias means for selective displacement toward the proximal end;

a jaw spreading member having an opening for receiving the bolt therethrough, said spreading member having an outer tapered surface transversely widening toward the body distal end, and including a flange adjacent to said widened tapered surface at said distal end, said flange abutting the locking member; and

an annular array of radially inwardly biased jaws aligned intermediate said spreading member and said locking member, each jaw including a projection normally biased in engagement with said bolt groove in a locking position, insertion of the bolt displacing the jaws out of the path of said bolt while the locking member is positioned to lock the jaws in a withdrawal direction and selective displacement of the spreading member for simultaneously displacing the locking member and the jaws to disengage the projections from the bolt groove.

16. A tamper resistant lock for locking a bolt having a shank with at least one locking recess, said lock comprising:

a body having a cavity with an opening defining a bolt receiving axis for axially receiving the bolt and said at least one recess within said cavity;

at least one radially inwardly movable jaw in said cavity resiliently biased by a first bias means; and

displaceable jaw locking means including a movable locking member having selected jaw locking and release positions secured in said body cavity for 1 a) permitting said at least one movable jaw to transversely displace outwardly relative to said axis in response to and for permitting bolt insertion into said cavity in a bolt insertion direction, b) providing radially inward locking engagement of the at least one movable jaw with said bolt recess upon transverse alignment thereof and c) precluding the at least one movable jaw from outwardly disengaging the recess in response to bolt withdrawal opposite the bolt insertion direction in a locking state and

     2) for permitting disengagement of the at least one movable jaw from the recess in response to selective axial displacement of the locking means locking member in a first direction to a release state;

said locking means including second bias means for normally biasing the locking member in the locking state at a substantially greater bias load than that of said first bias means.

17. A lock for locking a bolt having a shank with at least one locking recess, said lock comprising:

a body having a cavity with an opening defining a bolt receiving axis for axially receiving the bolt and said at least one recess within said cavity;

at least one resiliently biased movable jaw in said cavity; and

displaceable jaw locking means including a movable locking member having selected jaw locking and release positions secured in said body cavity for 1 a) permitting said at least one movable jaw to transversely displace outwardly relative to said axis in response to and for permitting bolt insertion into said cavity in a bolt insertion direction, b) providing radially inward locking engagement of the at least one movable jaw with said bolt recess upon transverse alignment thereof and c) precluding the at least one movable jaw from outwardly disengaging the recess in response to bolt withdrawal opposite the bolt insertion direction in a locking state and

     2) for permitting disengagement of the at least one movable jaw from the recess in response to selective axial displacement of the locking means locking member in a first direction to a release state;

said at least one jaw comprising an annular array of jaws having an annular groove, bias means in said groove for resiliently biasing the jaws radially inwardly in locking engagement with said recess, said locking means comprising;

a. jaw spreading means for radially outwardly displacing the jaws radially apart to disengage the jaws from said recess in response to axial displacement of the spreading means in said first direction; and

b. said movable locking member normally positioned to preclude said radial outward displacing of said jaws, said locking member for engagement with and responsive to said spreader means axial displacement for selectively displacement to permit the radial outward disengagement of said jaws.

18. A locking device comprising:

a bolt with at least one annular groove; and

a lock for securing the bolt thereto, said lock comprising;

a body having a cavity with an opening defining a bolt receiving axis for receiving the bolt and said groove within said cavity;

an annular array of movable jaws secured to the body in said cavity including first bias means for normally biased locking engagement with said bolt groove in a bolt withdrawal direction; and

displaceable jaw release means including a locking member in said body cavity for permitting the jaws to normally spread apart only in response to insertion of the bolt into said cavity and for radially locking the jaws to the groove in a locking position to preclude withdrawal of the bolt from the cavity in the withdrawal direction, said release means including means arranged so that said locking member can be selectively axially displaced from the locking position to a jaw release position for permitting the bolt to be withdrawn from the cavity in a first direction opposite the insertion direction;

said release means including second bias means for normally biasing the locking member in said locking position at a substantially greater bias load than that of said first bias means.

19. A locking device comprising:

a bolt with at least one annular groove; and

a lock for securing the bolt thereto, said lock comprising;

a body having a cavity with an opening defining a bolt receiving axis for receiving the bolt and said groove within said cavity;

an annular array of movable jaws secured to the body in said cavity including first bias means for normally biased locking engagement with said bolt groove in a bolt withdrawal direction; and

displaceable jaw release means including a locking member in said body cavity for permitting the jaws to normally spread apart only in response to insertion of the bolt into said cavity and for radially locking the jaws to the groove in a locking position to preclude withdrawal of the bolt from the cavity in the withdrawal direction, said release means including means arranged so that said locking member can be selectively axially displaced from the locking position to a jaw release position for permitting the bolt to be withdrawn from the cavity in a first direction opposite the insertion direction;

said jaws being approximate segments of a cone and normally in the path of the bolt during insertion into said cavity, said release means defining an approximate conical path for radially outwardly receiving the jaws in response to the bolt insertion into said cavity to thereby permit displacement of the jaws out of said bolt insertion path.

20. A locking device comprising:

a bolt with at least one annular groove; and

a lock for securing the bolt thereto, said lock comprising;

a body having a cavity with an opening defining a bolt receiving axis for receiving the bolt and said groove within said cavity;

an annular array of movable jaws secured to the body in said cavity including first bias means for normally biased locking engagement with said bolt groove in a bolt withdrawal direction; and

displaceable jaw release means including a locking member in said body cavity for permitting the jaws to normally spread apart only in response to insertion of the bolt into said cavity and for radially locking the jaws to the groove in a locking position to preclude withdrawal of the bolt from the cavity in the withdrawal direction, said release means including means arranged so that said locking member can be selectively axially displaced from the locking position to a jaw release position for permitting the bolt to be withdrawn from the cavity in a first direction opposite the insertion direction;

the jaws defining approximate conical segments having approximate conical inner and outer surfaces, said locking member comprising a member with an internal conical surface facing an outer surface of the jaws, said release means including a jaw spreading member having an external conical surface facing the inner surface of said jaws and an outwardly extending flange distal the jaws, said spreading member including an internal region for axially receiving a spreading member displacement tool in said cavity at the body distal end, and second bias means for normally biasing the locking member in abutment with the flange, said spreading member and locking member defining an approximate conical path therebetween for receiving said jaws in response to said bolt insertion, whereby displacement of the spreading member in the first direction spreads the jaws apart while simultaneously displaces the locking member to release said jaws during said spreading.