High-strength lock, method of making high-strength lock, and method for mounting high-strength lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9273487-B2
Application number	US-485607-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2007
Priority date	Dec 21, 2006
Publication date	Mar 1, 2016
Grant date	Mar 1, 2016

Abstract

Described herein is locking apparatus, method for making a locking apparatus, and method for mounting a locking apparatus to the door of a personal storage container. The locking apparatus may include a threaded portion having deformed threads and a lock body shape to fit a restrictive mounting hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A locking apparatus for locking a box using a cam, comprising:
a cylinder;
a rotatable plug positioned inside the cylinder and having a threaded portion;
a pin assembly for receiving a key to selectably prevent and permit rotation of the plug; and
a nut cooperating with the threaded portion of the plug to capture the cam, wherein:
the cylinder and plug form a lock body having a non-cylindrical shape, the lock body including a top edge and an arcuate bottom edge, two substantially straight side edges extending from the arcuate bottom edge to an intermediate edge, and two notched portions, the notched portions extending into the lock body from the substantially straight side edges, and extending vertically from the top edge to the intermediate edge along the length of the cylinder;
the non-cylindrical shape is configured to fit a non-cylindrical restrictive mounting hole pattern and a cylindrical mounting hole pattern; and
at least one of the threads of the threaded portion is deformed, providing a retention force between the threaded portion of the plug and the nut to resist removal of the nut from the threaded portion.

2. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder is made of a stainless steel material.

3. The locking apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the stainless steel material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal-injection-molded stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel casting, or age-hardened stainless steel.

4. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plug is made of a stainless steel material.

5. The locking apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the stainless steel material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal-injection-molded stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel casting, or age-hardened stainless steel.

6. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder comprises a collar having a bevel.

7. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a spring-hinged dust cover, and wherein:
the plug comprises means defining a keyhole, the keyhole being disposed opposite from the threaded portion of the plug, and
the dust cover is resiliently movable from a first position covering the keyhole to a second position exposing the keyhole.

8. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lock body further comprises an arced bottom.

9. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the deformed thread comprises at least one of a crimped or warped thread, or asymmetrical thread spacing.

10. A locking apparatus for a wall-mounted box using a cam, comprising:
a cylinder comprising a stainless steel material;
a rotatable plug positioned inside the cylinder and having a threaded portion, the plug formed of a stainless steel material;
a pin assembly for receiving a key to selectably prevent and permit rotation of the plug; and
a nut cooperating with the threaded portion of the plug to capture the cam, wherein:
the cylinder and plug form a lock body having a non-cylindrical shape, the lock body including a top edge and an arcuate bottom edge, two substantially straight side edges extending from the arcuate bottom edge to an intermediate edge, and two notched portions, the notched portions extending into the lock body from the substantially straight side edges, and extending vertically from the top edge to the intermediate edge along the length of the cylinder;
the non-cylindrical shape is configured to fit a non-cylindrical restrictive mounting hole pattern and a cylindrical mounting hole pattern; and
at least one of the threads of the threaded portion is deformed, providing a retention force between the threaded portion of the plug and the nut to resist removal of the nut from the threaded portion.

11. The locking apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the stainless steel material of the cylinder comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal-injection-molded stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel casting, or age-hardened stainless steel.

12. The locking apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the stainless steel material of the plug comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal-injection-molded stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel casting, or age-hardened stainless steel.

13. The locking apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a spring-hinged dust cover, and wherein:
the plug comprises means defining a keyhole, the keyhole being disposed opposite from the threaded portion of the plug, and
the dust cover is resiliently movable from a first position covering the keyhole to a second position exposing the keyhole.

14. The locking apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the lock body further comprises an arced bottom.

15. The locking apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the deformed thread comprises at least one of a crimped or warped thread, or asymmetrical thread spacing.

16. The locking apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the cylinder comprises a collar, the collar having a bevel.

17. A locking apparatus for a wall-mounted mail box using a cam, comprising,
a cylinder having a beveled collar, the cylinder being comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of metal-injection-molded stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel, precipitation-hardened steel casting, or age-hardened stainless steel;
a rotatable plug positioned inside the cylinder and having a threaded portion, the plug being comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of metal-injection-molded stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel, precipitation-hardened steel casting, or age-hardened stainless steel;
a pin assembly for receiving a key to selectably prevent and permit rotation of the plug; and
a nut cooperating with the threaded portion of the plug to capture the cam,
wherein:
the cylinder and plug form a lock body having a non-cylindrical shape, the lock body including a top edge and an arcuate bottom edge, two substantially straight side edges extending from the arcuate bottom edge to an intermediate edge, and two notched portions, the notched portions extending into the lock body from the substantially straight side edges, and extending vertically from the top edge to the intermediate edge along the length of the cylinder;
the non-cylindrical shape is configured to fit a non-cylindrical restrictive mounting hole pattern and a cylindrical mounting hole pattern; and
at least one of the threads of the threaded portion is deformed, providing a retention force between threaded portion of the plug and the nut to resist removal of the nut from the threaded portion.

18. The locking apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the plug and the cylinder are made of the same material.

19. The locking apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a spring-hinged dust cover, and wherein:
the plug comprises means defining a keyhole, the keyhole being disposed opposite from the threaded portion of the plug, and
the dust cover is resiliently movable from a first position covering the keyhole to a second position exposing the keyhole.

20. The locking apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the lock body further comprises an arced bottom.

21. The locking apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the deformed thread comprises at least one of a crimped or warped thread, or asymmetrica

Assignees

• Irwin Donald E
• Spears Michael L
• Dalton Robert
• Us Postal Service

Inventors

• Irwin Donald E
• Spears Michael L
• Dalton Robert

Classifications

• E05C3/042

  the handle being at one side, the bolt at the other side or inside the wing · CPC title

• Y10T70/5093

  For closures · CPC title

• E05B9/04 Primary

  Casings} of cylinder locks {(details specific for pin or ball tumbler cylinder locks E05B27/0014; details specific for plate tumbler cylinder locks E05B29/00) · CPC title

• E05B17/04

  Devices for coupling the turning cylinder of a single or a double cylinder lock with the bolt operating member · CPC title

• E05B15/16

  Use of special materials for parts of locks · CPC title