Patent ID: 11961343
Assignee: D & D DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING, INC.
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC G  E | IPC E  G

Claim 0:
1. A lock, comprising:
a housing having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an internal cavity, a recess extending from the first side toward the second side, and a bore extending from the first end toward the second end so as to intersect the recess and the internal cavity;
a plunger having a first end portion, an intermediate portion, a second end portion, and at least one groove formed in the second end portion, the plunger disposed in the bore and slidable between a closed position wherein the second end of the plunger is positioned in the internal cavity and the intermediate portion of the plunger extends across the recess and an open position wherein the plunger is withdrawn from the internal cavity and the recess;
at least two locking members positioned in the internal cavity and movable between a locking position wherein the locking member is engaged with the at least one groove of the plunger and an unlocking position wherein the locking member is disengaged from the at least one groove, the at least two locking members supported on diametrically opposing sides of the plunger;
a locking plate positioned in the internal cavity and movable between a lock position wherein the locking plate engages the locking member to hold the locking member in the locking position to maintain the locking member engaged with the groove of the plunger and an unlock position wherein the locking plate is disengaged from locking member to permit the plunger to move from the closed position to the open position; and
a control assembly operable between a lock mode wherein the locking plate is supported in the locked position and an unlock mode wherein the locking plate is movable to the unlocked position,
wherein the locking plate has a first locking member support finger and a second locking member support finger spaced from the first locking member support finger, each of the first locking member support finger and the second locking member support finger having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inward facing surface, each of the inward facing surfaces generally angled outwardly from the proximal end toward the distal end so when the control assembly is in the lock mode, the first locking member support finger engages one of the locking members when one of the locking members is engaged with the at least one groove of the plunger and the second locking member support finger engages another one of the locking members with the other locking member is engaged with the at least one groove of the plunger, and so when the control assembly is in the unlock mode, axial movement of the plunger from the closed position toward the open position causes the locking members to move outwardly and apply a force on the inward facing surfaces of the first locking member support finger and the second locking member support finger to cause the locking plate to move from the locked position to the unlocked position and permit the locking members to disengage from the at least one groove of the plunger.