Multi-purpose detachable lock container and method of use

• US 7,891,220 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sinox Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Sinox Company Limited
• Inventors: Yen, An-Ting, Tsai, Chi-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd A
• Assistant Examiner(s): FULTON, KRISTINA ROSE
• Application Number:
  US12/414,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 70/63, 70 20- 22, 70 30- 31, 70/33, 70/49, 70 51- 53, 701/58, 701/59, 701/60, 701/63, 701/64, 220/676, 206/1.5, 206/308.2, 206/387.11, 206/317, 206/37.4, 206/37.7
• US Class Current: 70/63
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/18 Ticket-holders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/12 of press-button or turn-button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/18 Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/055 Thin, flat, rectangular articles, e.g. ID badges or cards
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• 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: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/413 Padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/489 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/554 Cover, lid, cap, encasing shield

Abstract

A lockable container comprising a lock portion and a container is provided. The lock portion has a first part and a second part, wherein the first part has an opening component and at least a lock mechanism, the second part has at least a latch driven by the opening component. The container fits the second part. The container has at least an inner space and a wedge corresponding to the latch. The lock mechanism restricts a displacement of the opening component when the lock mechanism is locked. The lock mechanism releases the opening component when the lock mechanism is unlocked.

Claims

1. A lockable container, adapted to secure at least one article, comprising:

a container for carrying at least one article, the container comprising a plurality of walls and an engaging member, wherein the plurality of walls inhibit movement of the article in every direction except one while the article is held by the container; and

a locking member adapted for engagement with the engaging member, wherein in an engaged position the locking member is secured to the engaging member and prevents removal of the article from the carrier, and in a disengaged position the locking member is disengageable from the engaging member, allowing the locking member to be completely disengaged from the container and the article to be positioned in or removed from the container;

the locking member comprising an attachment member to lockably engage the locking member to an object while the locking member is engaged with the container to secure the container and the locking member to the object;

the locking member further comprising a first release mechanism which must be actuated to disengage the engaging member and a second release mechanism which must be actuated to disengage the attachment member, the second release mechanism not being actuatable by a user when the container is secured to the locking member.

2. The lockable container of claim 1, wherein the attaching device includes a shackle.

3. The lockable container of claim 1, wherein the locking member includes a combination lock.

4. The lockable container of claim 1, wherein the locking member includes a key lock.

5. The lockable container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of walls substantially prohibits movement of the article relative to the container in all directions except one.

6. The lockable container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of walls inhibits movement of the article in five directions.

7. The lockable container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of walls comprises two walls disposed parallel to a first plane and three walls disposed orthogonally to the first plane.

8. The lockable container of claim 1, further comprising at least one opening in the container wherein when an article is held by the container the article is accessible while the locking member prevents removal of the article from the container.

9. The lockable container of claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises a latch and the engaging member comprises a latch engaging member.

10. The lockable container of claim 1, wherein the engaging member comprises an aperture.

21. The lockable container of claim 1, wherein the first release mechanism and the second release mechanism are independently actuated.

11. A device adapted to secure at least one article having operative controls, comprising:

a container for holding at least one article, the container comprising a plurality of walls, wherein the plurality of walls inhibit movement of the at least one article in every direction except one while the at least one article is held by the container and the plurality of walls includes at least one opening;

a lock adapted for engagement with the container, wherein in an engaged position the lock is secured to the container and prevents removal of the at least one article from the container, and in a disengaged position the lock is fully disengageable from the container, allowing the at least one article to be positioned in or removed from the container;

the lock comprising an attachment member adapted to lockably engage the lock to an object while the lock is engaged with the container to secure the container and the lock to the object;

the lock further comprising a first release mechanism which must be actuated to disengage the lock from the container and a second release mechanism which must be actuated to disengage the attachment member, the first and second release mechanisms being independently actuated.

12. A device for securing an article, the article having manually operated controls, comprising:

means for holding the article and for inhibiting movement of the article in every direction except one;

access means for accessing the controls of the article;

lock means for securing the article in the means for holding the article, the lock means adapted for locking engagement with the means for holding the article, wherein in a first position the lock means is secured to the means for holding the article and prevents removal of the article from the means for holding the article, and in a second position the lock means is completely separable from the means for holding the article, allowing the article to be positioned in or removed from the means for holding the article;

said lock means comprising an attachment means adapted to lockably engage the lock means to an object while the lock means is secured to the means for holding the article to secure the means for holding the article and the lock means to the object, a first release means to disengage the lock means from the means for holding and a second release means to disengage at least a portion of the attachment means from the lock means, the first and second release means being independently actuatable.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said means for holding an article comprises a plurality of walls.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said plurality of walls define an open space and said open space comprises said access means.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said access means comprises a hole in at least one wall.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein said lock means may secure one object to another object independent of said means for holding an article.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein said attachment means comprises a shackle.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein said lock means comprises a combination lock mechanism.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein said lock means comprises a key actuated lock mechanism.

20. The device for securing an article of claim 12, wherein the second release means is not accessible by a user when the lock means and the means for holding an article are lockingly engaged.

22. A multipurpose security device, comprising:

a. a lock portion comprising a first part, a second part and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, the first part comprising a first activation member accessible on the exterior of the first part and enabled when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked state and not enabled when the locking mechanism is in a locked state, the second part comprising a first engaging member movable by operation of the first activation member, and a second activation member actuateable when the locking member is in an unlocked state;

b. an attaching device comprising a first end and a second end each connected to said lock portion and at least one of which is detachably connected to the lock portion;

c. a container adapted to connect to and physically detach from the lock portion, the container comprising an opening to receive the second part of the lock portion and a second engaging member which interacts with the first engaging member to secure the container to the lock portion, said container having an inner space to receive and hold objects, the inner space being accessible through the opening in the container; and

d. the second activation member operatively associated with at least one of said first and second end of said attaching device to release the at least one of the first and second end of the attaching device when actuated and the second activation member accessible by the user only when the container is detached from the lock portion;

e. wherein actuation of the first activation member allows the container to be physically detached from said lock portion.

23. The multipurpose security device of claim 22, wherein said second activation member is interconnected with said locking mechanism, and wherein said second activation member is disabled and said at least one of said first end and second end is not detachable from said first part when said locking mechanism is in said locked state, and when said locking mechanism is in said unlocked state said second activation mechanism is enabled and said at least one of said first end and second end is detachable from said first part by activating said second activation mechanism.

24. The multipurpose security device of claim 22, wherein the container is shaped to hold an electronic device and the container includes at least one aperture to access one or more controls of the electronic device when the container is attached to the lock portion.