Combination lock with pass-key override

• US 7,380,427 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings SARL (Samsonite Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Samsonite Corporation
• Inventors: Chopper, Jonathan Ted, Elles, Daniel G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Engle; Patrcia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Merlino; Alyson M
• Application Number:
  US11/377,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20060248930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 702/84, 702/85, 703/12, 70/67, 70 69- 71, 292/163
• US Class Current: 70/285
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/1084 of the latch-and-catch type
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/105 Locks allowing opening by official authorities, e.g. master key opening of luggage locks by customs officials
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/02 with tumbler discs or rings arranged on a single axis, each disc being adjustable independently of the others
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/52 Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5066 Bolt type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7305 Manually operable

Abstract

The present invention provides a latch-type of lock 2 that includes an override mechanism to grant access to an article of luggage 1 by an override tool such as a master key. The present invention can be used on any type of storage facility and/or transport vessel including large storage containers, such as molded plastic storage and shipping boxes for linens and the like, briefcases, computer bags, messenger bags, backpacks, hard or soft-sided totes, hybrids, other molded or non-molded vessels, framed cases, unframed cases, and so on. The latch lock 2 of the present invention includes a mechanism for clearing a pathway 46, that, when the lock 2 is in a locked condition, is blocked. A pivot arm 12 is provided to block/unblock pathway 46. The pivot arm 12 is operated by a cam 10, which is in turn operated by the override tool. When the lock 2 has been overridden, the pivot arm 12 rotates out of pathway 46, thereby allowing lateral movement of a slider 6, which in turn allows displacement of a lever 8, thereby granting access to the contents of the luggage 1.

Claims

1. A method of overriding a combined latch-lock and conventional locking mechanism assembly for use on an article of luggage, said latch-lock including a latch slider capable of moving along a pathway between a latched position and an unlatched position, said slider being normally biased in a latched position along said pathway, comprising the step of:

providing a pivot arm having two positions, which upon rotation pivots between a blocked condition and an unblocked condition, wherein said blocked condition comprises the obstruction of said pathway by at least a portion of said pivot arm, and said unblocked condition comprises the clearance of said pathway, and

operating said pivot arm to unblock said pathway, thus permitting said latch slider to move along said pathway to said unlatched position, such that upon operating said pivot arm from a blocked condition to an unblocked condition said slider may be moved along said pathway towards said unlatched position,

wherein said step of pivoting said pivot arm into an unblocked condition further comprises providing a cam, at least a portion of said cam being in engagement with at least a portion of said pivot arm, and rotating said cam, said step of rotating said cam further comprises providing an override mechanism that is in intimate engagement with said cam, and operating said override mechanism,

wherein said step of operating said override mechanism comprises providing a lock cylinder concentric to said cam, and employing a master key to rotate said lock cylinder, and further providing a lever, said lever becoming separated from said slider upon said lateral movement of said slider.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of separating said lever comprises moving said lever, that is normally biased in an unlocked condition, from a plane shared with that of said slider, said lever disengaging from a catch located on the adjacent half of said article of luggage, allowing the article to be opened.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of moving said slider comprises manually moving said slider against said biasing force.

4. A method of overriding a combined latch-lock and conventional locking mechanism assembly for use on an article of luggage comprising the step of:

providing a pivot arm,

providing a manually displaceable slider that is biased in a locked condition,

providing a cam that is intimately engaged with at least a portion of said pivot arm,

providing an override mechanism,

manually displacing the slider,

providing a pathway,

clearing said pathway by pivoting said pivot arm thus creating an unblocked condition so that said slider can be moved in a lateral direction, said pivoting said pivot arm is accomplished by rotating said cam using said override mechanism,

wherein said step of overriding said lock further comprises providing a lever, normally in intimate engagement with said slider, that ejects upon said displacement of said slider.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of using said override mechanism includes employing a lock cylinder and master key.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprises providing a catch that becomes disengaged with said lever upon the ejection of said lever.

7. A system for overriding a combined latch-lock and conventional locking mechanism assembly for use on an article of luggage comprising:

a pivot arm having two positions, which upon rotation pivots between a blocked condition and an unblocked condition, wherein said blocked condition comprises the obstruction of a pathway by at least a portion of said pivot arm, and said unblocked condition comprises the clearance of said pathway,

a manually displaceable slider that is biased in a locked condition, wherein displacement of said slider causes erection of a lever, said lever normally restricted by said biasing force on said slider, and by a dagger, integrally formed into an under surface of said lever, that is in engagement with a notch congruent with an under surface of said slider, wherein said slider includes an override mechanism and a combination lock.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said combination lock includes a restrictor, said restrictor restricting the displacement of said slider when said combination lock is in a locked condition.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein lateral motion of said slider is achieved during said locked condition of said combination lock by pivoting said pivot arm, said pivot arm being pivoted by said a cam.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said cam, having engagement with at least a portion of said pivot arm, is rotated by said override mechanism.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said override mechanism comprises a lock cylinder and master key.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein said lever is normally biased in the erect position.

13. The system of claim 7 further comprising a cover that encases said system within one half of said article of luggage.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said lever, upon ejection from a plane that is of the same as said lever, releases a catch that is attached to the other half of said article of luggage, allowing said article to be opened.