Releasable trailer door lock

• US 7,735,884 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2009
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Southwest Mobile Storage, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Southwest Mobile Storage, Inc.
• Inventors: Bacco, Paul, Stout, Richard H, Bosch, David, Jacobson, Dean Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, GARY WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US12/356,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20090121499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 292/92, 292/340, 292/DIG.65, 292/DIG.32, 292/341.15, 292/341.18, 292/341.19, 292/341.14, 493/94, 493/95
• US Class Current: 292/340
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 53/003 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/246 Emergency release from inside by releasing the striker
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/10 Rotary bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/32 Freight car door fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/65 Emergency or safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1049 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/68 Keepers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/696 With movable dog, catch or striker

Abstract

A system of locking a door is disclosed. The system according to the present invention comprises a releasable keeper that secures a door locking mechanism to keep a door secured to an enclosure in a locked position. A release mechanism that is operated from the interior of the enclosure releases the releasable keeper from the enclosure and enable the door to be opened and prevents people from becoming trapped within the enclosure by a locked door. In an exemplary embodiment, the release mechanism is operated by a lever that operates a pulley system to disengage the release mechanism from the releasable keeper.

Claims

1. A trailer door lock attached to a trailer having a body comprising:

a door locking mechanism located on a first outer surface of the body, wherein the door locking mechanism engages a releasable keeper attached to the trailer, wherein the releasable keeper comprises a removable block comprising a second outer surface that slidingly engages into the body such that the first outer surface and the second outer surface are in a single continuous plane when the removable block is slidingly engaged into the body; and

a release mechanism connected to the releasable keeper and configured to release the releasable keeper from the trailer to enable the door locking mechanism to be disengaged from the releasable keeper.

2. The trailer door lock attached to a trailer of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism comprises a lock pin engaged to the releasable keeper.

3. A trailer door lock attached to a trailer having a body comprising:

a door locking mechanism located on an exterior side of the body wherein the exterior side comprises a first outer surface of the body;

a releasable keeper comprising a removable block comprising a second outer surface that slidingly engages into the body defined by a trailer such that the first outer surface and the second outer surface are in a single continuous plane when the removable block is slidingly engaged into the body; and

a release mechanism connected to the releasable keeper.

4. The door lock attached to a trailer of claim 3, wherein the release mechanism comprises a lock pin engaging the removable block.

5. The door lock attached to a trailer of claim 3, wherein the removable block comprises four flat sides.

6. The door lock attached to a trailer of claim 3, further comprising a release device connected to the releasable keeper by a pulley system.

7. A locking system attached to an enclosure with interior and exterior sides defining a body comprising:

a first door locking mechanism located on the exterior side;

a first releasable keeper comprising a removable, four-sided block slidingly engaging the body and connected to the first door locking mechanism, wherein the removable four-sided block is flush and in a single continuous plane with the body when slidingly engaged to the body;

a first release mechanism connected to the first releasable keeper; and

a release device located on the interior side connected to the first release mechanism.

8. The locking system of claim 7, further comprising a second door locking mechanism located on the exterior side, a second release mechanism connected to a second releasable keeper comprising a removable block slidingly engaging the body, wherein the release device is connected to the first release mechanism and the second release mechanism and the second releasable keeper comprising a removable block is flush with the body when slidingly engaged to the body.

9. A trailer comprising:

a body with interior and exterior sides wherein;

a door with interior and exterior sides attached to the body wherein the exterior sides comprise a first outer surface;

a releasable keeper comprising a rectangular removable block comprising a second outer surface that slidingly engages the body such that the first outer surface and the second outer surface are in a single continuous plane when the rectangular removable block is slidingly engaged to the body;

a door locking mechanism attached to the exterior side of the door engaged to the releasable keeper;

a release mechanism connected to the releasable keeper; and

a release device connected to the release mechanism.