Key ring lock assembly

• US 5,916,283 A
• Filed: 02/17/1998
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CompX International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Chicago Lock Company (CompX International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Steinbach, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US09/024,387
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 70/18, 70/49, 70/58, 70/38 A, 70/39, 70/53, 70/50, 70/456 R, 70/457, 70/459, 70/460, 206/37.1, 206/37.8, 24/3.6, 40/634
• US Class Current: 70/456.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/00 Key-rings
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/003 Chain, wire or cable locks alarms therefor E05B45/005; E05B69/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/063 Padlocks with removable shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/454 Removable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/459 Both legs engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/483 Flexible shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/485 With seal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8676 Key holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8757 Releasable catches

Abstract

An improved key ring lock assembly including a lock mechanism having an open position and a locked position which is formed by at least a lock barrel, a lock cylinder fitted within the lock barrel, the lock cylinder having a front key way and a lock mechanism contained within the lock cylinder operable by an appropriate key. The lock cylinder terminates in a lock shaft at the back end which is rotatable in response to the manipulation of the lock mechanism via the key. A lock collar is contained within the lock barrel immediately rearward of the lock cylinder and includes a lock shaft receiving aperture to receive the lock shaft and be operable in response to the rotatable movement of the lock mechanism. The lock collar includes an elongate stud mounted on the back end which includes a pair of opposed pin receiving channels formed therein. The lock barrel includes a locking ledge circumferentially positioned along the inner wall and adjacent the back end thereof. The locking ledge is interrupted by a pair of opposed slots positioned approximately 180 degrees from one another and when in the open position, are positioned in registry with the pin receiving channels formed in the lock stud. A key cable with opposed ends is provided which includes a pair of lock pins secured to the ends thereof, each lock pin having a lock groove being sized to allow the locking ledge to ride within the confines thereof.

Claims

1. A key ring lock assembly having an open position and a locked position comprising in combination,

a lock barrel having an outer wall and an inner wall, and a front end and a back end,

said lock barrel having a locking ledge circumferentially positioned along the inner wall and adjacent the back end thereof,

said locking ledge being interrupted by a pair of opposed slots positioned approximately 180 degrees from each other,

a lock cylinder having a front end key way and a lock mechanism contained within said lock-cylinder operable by an appropriate key, and terminating in a lock shaft at the back end thereof,

a lock collar diametrically sized to fit within and be rotatable relative to said lock barrel,

said lock collar having a front end and a back end and including a lock shaft receiving aperture formed in the front end thereof,

the back end of said lock collar provided with an elongate stud extending rearwardly therefrom, said stud provided with a pair of opposed pin receiving channels formed therein and extending the length thereof and terminating at a base end,

said pin receiving channels being spaced 180 degrees apart and adapted to be in registry with said slots in said locking ledge when said lock collar is rotated to the open position, and out of registry when said lock collar is rotated to the locked position,

said lock shaft of said lock cylinder adapted to fit within said lock shaft receiving aperture of said lock collar to operate said lock collar,

a key cable having opposed ends, each of said ends provided with a lock pin secured thereto,

each of said lock pins having an outer end including a lock groove formed in said pin adjacent the outer end thereof, said lock grooves being sized to allow said locking ledge to ride within the confines thereof during lock operation,

whereby a plurality of keys may be carried on said key cable and said key cable may be locked into said lock barrel by inserting said lock pins into said pin receiving channels of said lock stud and through said opposed slots of said locking ledge when said lock collar is in the open position, and then said lock collar is rotated in response to the rotation of said lock shaft, said locking ledge riding within the confines of said lock grooves until said pin receiving channels and locking ledge slots are out of registry thereby to lock said key cable into said lock barrel.

2. The key ring lock assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lock collar includes a stop wall positioned adjacent the base end of said stud to form a stop position for said lock pins when said lock pins are inserted into said pin receiving channels and through said slots in said locking ledge, said stop position being arranged such that said lock pin grooves are in registry with said locking ledge when said lock pins are fully inserted therethrough and resting against said stop wall.

3. The key ring lock assembly as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said lock barrel further includes an extension shroud extending outwardly from the front end of said lock barrel such that said lock cylinder is spaced inwardly relative to said extension shroud, said extension shroud provided with a pair of opposed security slots spaced a distance apart, said opposed security slots accommodating a security strap positioned therethrough such that said security strap overlies said front end key way of said lock cylinder and prevents key access until said security strap is removed.

4. The key ring lock assembly as set forth in claim 3 above, wherein said security strap is formed of a frangible material.

5. The key ring lock assembly as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said lock cylinder is adapted to engage and rotate said lock collar through an arc of 90 degrees in one direction to lock the collar and a reverse arc of 90 degrees in the other direction to open the collar.

6. The key ring lock assembly as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said key cable is formed of a flexible cable wire material.

7. A key ring lock assembly including a lock mechanism adapted to have an open position and a locked position and including at least a lock barrel having an outer wall and an inner wall and a front end and a back end, a lock cylinder having a front end key way, a lock mechanism contained within said lock cylinder operable by an appropriate key and terminating in a lock shaft at the back end thereof, said lock shaft being rotatable in response to the manipulation of said lock mechanism, a lock collar contained within said lock barrel and being rotatable relative thereto, said lock collar including a front end and a back end, said front end having a lock shaft receiving aperture formed therein and adapted to receive said lock shaft therein whereby said lock collar is rotatable in response to the rotation of the lock shaft, the improvement comprising in combination,

said lock barrel having a locking ledge circumferentially positioned along the inner wall thereof and adjacent the back end thereof,

said locking ledge being interrupted by a pair of opposed slots positioned approximately 180 degrees from one another,

said lock collar having an elongate stud mounted on the back end thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom, said stud provided with a pair of opposed pin receiving channels formed therein and extending the length thereof and terminating at a base,

said pin receiving channels being spaced 180 degrees apart and adapted to be in registry with said slots in said locking ledge when said lock collar is rotated to the open position and out of registry when said lock collar is rotated to the locked position,

a key cable having opposed ends, each of said ends provided with a lock pin secured thereto,

each of said lock pins having an outer end including a lock groove formed in said lock pin adjacent to and spaced from the outer end thereof,

said lock groove being sized to allow said locking ledge to ride within the confines thereof,

whereby a plurality of keys may be carried on said key cable and said key cable may be locked into said lock barrel by inserting said lock pins into said pin receiving channels in said lock stud and through said opposed slots of said locking ledge when said lock stud is in the open position, and said lock collar may then be rotated in response to the rotation of said lock shaft, said locking ledge riding within the confines of said lock grooves until said pin receiving channels and locking ledge slots are out of registry thereby to lock said key cable into said lock barrel.

8. The key ring lock assembly as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein said lock collar includes stop means adjacent the base of said pin receiving channels thereby to form a stop position for said lock pins when inserted into said pin receiving channels and through said slots in said locking ledge, said stop position arranged such that said lock pin grooves are in registry with said locking ledge when said lock pins are fully inserted therein and resting against said stop means.

9. The key ring lock assembly as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein said lock barrel further includes an extension shroud extending outwardly from the front end thereof such that said lock cylinder is spaced inwardly relative to said extension shroud, said shroud being provided with a pair of opposed security slots formed therein, a security strap positioned through said security slots such that said security strap overlies said front end key way of said lock cylinder and prevents key access until said security strap is removed.

10. The key ring lock assembly as set forth in claim 9 above, wherein said security strap is formed of a frangible material.

11. The key ring lock assembly as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein said key cable is formed from a flexible wire cable material and said lock pins are fixedly secured to the opposed ends thereof.