Key for engaging a locking mechanism of a port cover for protecting from unauthorized access one or more ports of a system integrated into a structure for injection of a material into one or more cavities in the structure

• US 7,174,754 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hometeam Pest Defense Incorporated (Pultegroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Centex Corporation (Pultegroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Swartz, Robert M., Gahlhoff, Jeryl E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US11/344,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 701/58, 70D/IG.69, 70163-173, 704/03, 704/04, 704/91, 703/87, 703/45, 70D/IG.34, 70D/IG.68, 431/24, 431/31, 220/210, 220/315
• US Class Current: 70/168
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/007 the key being a card, e.g. perforated, or the like E05B47/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53687 by rotation of work part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5584 Dead bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5602 Dead bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7593 Sliding tumblers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7853 Tubular

Abstract

In certain embodiments, the present invention includes a key for engaging a locking mechanism for a port cover for use in a system integrated into a structure for injection of a material into one or more cavities in the structure. The locking mechanism is for removably securing a cover of the port cover to a base of the port cover that is coupled to the structure and includes one or more ports for injecting material into the one or more cavities in the structure. The key is adapted to engage with the locking mechanism, and orient the locking mechanism such that the locking mechanism engages with a projection of the base to removably secure one or more tabs of the cover in engagement with one or more corresponding slots of the base to removably secure the cover to the base to prevent unauthorized access to the one or more ports.

Claims

1. A key for engaging a locking mechanism for a port cover for use in a system integrated into a structure for injection of a material into one or more cavities in the structure, the locking mechanism for removably securing a cover of the port cover to a base of the port cover that is coupled to the structure and comprises one or more ports for injecting material into the one or more cavities in the structure, the cover comprising a plurality of castellations in a circular arrangement with a slot separating each pair of adjacent castellations, the locking mechanism comprising a rotatable member and a plurality of legs each comprising a joint and a projection adapted to extend into a corresponding slot of the cover separating adjacent castellations, at least one particular leg lacking a projection and having its joint recessed from the joints of the other legs and configured to prevent insertion into the locking mechanism of a key that includes a corresponding projection, the key:

configured to engage with the locking mechanism;

configured to orient the locking mechanism such that the locking mechanism engages with a projection of the base to removably secure one or more tabs of the cover in engagement with one or more corresponding slots of the base to removably secure the cover to the base to prevent unauthorized access to the one or more ports;

comprising;

a hollow shaft; and

a plurality of projections extending from the shaft in a circular arrangement for engaging the locking mechanism to rotate the rotatable member;

one or more of the projections of the key configured to, when the key is properly oriented, compress inwardly corresponding legs of the locking mechanism to retract the projections of the corresponding legs from their corresponding slots of the cover to allow the rotatable member of the locking mechanism to be rotated using the key; and

a gap, corresponding to the joint of the particular leg of the locking mechanism, that codes the key for use with the locking mechanism.

2. The key of claim 1, wherein when the locking mechanism is engaged with the projection of the base and the one or more tabs of the cover are engaged with the one or more corresponding slots of the base, the cover cannot be removed from the base without breaking the one or more tabs of the cover.

3. The key of claim 1, wherein when the one or more tabs of the cover are engaged with the one or more corresponding slots of the base:

the locking mechanism being engaged with the projection of the base substantially prevents the cover from sliding downward substantially parallel to a front surface of the base; and

the one or more tabs of the cover being engaged with the one or more corresponding slots of the base substantially prevents the cover from being pulled substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the base or from sliding upward substantially parallel to the front surface of the base.

4. The key of claim 1, wherein:

the rotatable member of the locking mechanism comprises a perimeter and a gap in the perimeter; and

the key is adapted to;

position the rotatable member in a first rotational orientation such that the rotatable member is allowed to receive, via the gap in the perimeter, the projection of the base to allow the one or more tabs of the cover to slide upward substantially parallel to a front surface of the base to engage the one or more corresponding slots of the base to secure the cover to the base;

position the rotatable member in a second rotational orientation such that the rotatable member is prevented from disengaging with the projection of the base to substantially prevent the one or more tabs of the cover from sliding downward substantially parallel to a front surface of the base to disengage from the one or more corresponding slots of the base to secure the cover to the base; and

return the rotatable member to the first rotational orientation to allow the rotatable member to release, via the gap in the perimeter, the projection of the base to allow the one or more tabs of the cover to slide downward substantially parallel to the front surface of the base to disengage from the one or more corresponding slots of the base to remove the cover from the base.

5. The key of claim 4, wherein:

the first rotational orientation comprises at least one of a first range of rotational orientations; and

the second rotational orientation comprises at least one of a second range of rotational orientations.

6. The key of claim 4, wherein:

the projection of the base comprises a channel; and

the key is adapted to orient the rotatable member such that a ridge of the rotatable member engages with the channel of the projection of the base, when the one or more tabs of the cover are engaged with the one or more corresponding slots of the base, to help prevent the cover from being forcibly removed from the base.

7. The key of claim 6, wherein:

the base comprises one or more channels each associated with a corresponding slot;

the one or more tabs of the cover are adapted to move inward substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the base through the one or more corresponding channels of the base before sliding upward to engage the one or more corresponding slots of the base to secure the cover to the base; and

the one or more tabs of the cover are adapted to, after sliding downward to disengage from the one or more corresponding slots of the base, move outward substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the base through the one or more corresponding channels of the base to remove the cover from the base.

8. The key of claim 4, wherein:

the locking mechanism is adapted to engage with the key when the key is inserted into the locking mechanism; and

the rotatable member is adapted to be rotated using the key.

9. The key of claim 8, comprising a handle.

10. The key of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a lock plug comprising a plurality of channels each adapted to receive a corresponding leg, the lock plug adapted to engage with the key to rotate the rotatable member.

11. The key of claim 1, wherein:

the shaft of the key comprises a channel; and

the cover comprises an aperture comprising a tab, the aperture adapted to receive the key when the key is oriented such that the tab of the aperture can pass through the channel of the shaft of the key.

12. The key of claim 1, wherein the material comprises pesticide.

13. The key of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more projections of the key comprises an angular end portion configured to facilitate inward compression of the corresponding legs of the locking mechanism from their corresponding slots of the cover.