High-strength lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9809995-B2
Application number	US-201615048326-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2006
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

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, comprising:
a cylinder having a non-cylindrical shape, the cylinder extending from a proximate end to a distal end, and including:
a top edge extending along a length of the cylinder;
a first pair of notched portions disposed on either side of the top edge and parallel to the top edge, the first pair of notched portions extending from the proximate end to a notched portion end disposed between the proximate end and the distal end; and
a second pair of notched portions vertically offset from the first pair of notched portions, the second pair of notched portions extending from the notched portion end to the distal end;

a rotatable plug positioned in the cylinder and having a threaded portion;
a pin assembly configured to receive a key that selectively prevents and permits rotation of the plug; and
a nut cooperating with the threaded portion of the plug.

2. The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the threads of the threaded portion is deformed.

3. The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cylinder includes an arcuate bottom edge disposed opposite the top edge.

4. The locking apparatus according to claim 3 , further including at least one groove extending vertically from at least one of the two notched portions to the bottom edge.

5. The locking apparatus according to claim 4 , further including two substantially straight side edges extending from the arcuate bottom edge to intermediate edges disposed between the arcuate bottom and the two notched portions.

6. The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the two notched portions have a first length smaller than a second length of the cylinder.

7. The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cylinder comprises a collar having a bevel.

8. The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plug further includes a keyhole disposed opposite to the threaded portion of the plug.

9. The locking apparatus according to claim 8 , further including a spring-hinged dust cover resiliently movable from a first position covering the keyhole to a second position exposing the keyhole.

10. The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plug is made of stainless steel material.

11. The locking apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the stainless steel material includes one of metal-injection-molded stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel, precipitation-hardened stainless steel casting, or age-hardened stainless steel.

12. A box, including:
a door having a non-cylindrical mounting hole;
a lock including:
a cylinder, having:
a top edge extending along a length of a cylinder body extending from a proximate end to a distal end;
a first pair of notched portions disposed parallel to the top edge and vertically offset from the top edge, the pair of notched portions extending from the proximate end to a notched portion end disposed between the proximate end and the distal end; and
a second pair of notched portions vertically offset from the first pair of notched portions, the second pair of notched portions extending from notched portion end to the distal end;

a rotatable plug positioned in the cylinder and having a threaded portion;
a pin assembly configured to receive a key that selectively prevents and permits rotation of the plug;
a nut cooperating with the threaded portion of the plug; and
a cam disposed between the nut and the plug; and
a retaining clip positioned between the non-cylindrical mounting hole and the lock.

13. The box according to claim 12 , wherein the non-cylindrical mounting hole includes:
a top edge;
an arced bottom edge disposed opposite the top edge; and
two notched portions disposed on either side of the top edge between the top edge and the bottom edge.

14. The box according to claim 13 , wherein the mounting hole further includes two side edges extending between the arced bottom edge and a respective one of the two notched portions.

15. The box according to claim 12 , wherein the cam includes a hole configured to receive the threaded portion of the plug.

16. The box according to claim 12 , wherein the retaining clip further includes:
a pair of legs forming a substantially U-shaped bracket configured to receive the lock between the pair of legs; and
a mounting piece disposed perpendicular to the bracket.

Assignees

• United States Postal Service

Inventors

• Irwin Donald E
• Spears Michael L
• Dalton Robert

Classifications

• E05B65/006

  for covers or panels (for manholes E02D29/1427; for holes enabling access to installations in buildings E04F19/08; for pressure vessels F16J13/00) · CPC title

• B65D55/14

  Applications of locks, e.g. of permutation or key-controlled locks · CPC title

• Y10T70/5093

  For closures · CPC title

• E05B27/0003

  Details · CPC title

• E05B65/52

  Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like · CPC title