Abstract:
A garment lock has a casing, a spool, two springs, and a member, flexible long and thin. The casing has a first side with a post and a second side with tabs, both joined by a rim. The casing attaches to a garment with a pin. The spool rotates upon the post within the casing. The springs resist rotation and movement of the spool. The member as wire, chain, or tape, winds upon the spool. Upon reaching the desired length of the member, the casing removably locks the spool. After use, the flexible thin member retracts into the casing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a garment lock for use in connection with securing portable property against theft. The garment lock has particular utility in securing garments with a retractable wire. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Garment locks are desirable to secure garments to a solid object in the absence of the garment&#39;s wearer. Garments like coats and jackets increase in cost each year. At the same time, the risk of theft increases when the wearer has removed the garment and temporarily left it unattended in a public place. Lockers and coatrooms to secure valuable garments may inconvenience the wearer. Some restaurants and clubs have unattended coatrooms. Further, some restaurants, entertainment venues, and other places suitable for expensive garments lack a coatroom. This situation has made some people reluctant to wear their best garments in the event a wearer leaves a garment unattended. Even while wearing the garments, worries about security hamper the enjoyment of the wearer. 
     The use of other locks for garments is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,982 to Valley discloses an anti-theft device for garments. However, the Valley &#39;982 patent does not retract the chain into a compact case, and has further drawbacks of the device not attaching to a garment and no connection of the padlock to the chain. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,305 to Bakker discloses a security latch that has a flexible shackle that locks into the body of the padlock. However, the Bakker &#39;305 patent does not retract the shackle, and additionally does not attach to a garment. 
     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,441 to Ray discloses a bicycle lock that has a retractable cable. However, the Ray &#39;441 patent does not removably secure the housing with tabs, and the bar clamp cannot readily detach from a bicycle frame. 
     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,517 to Ling discloses a wire lock that self retracts wire. However, the Ling &#39;517 patent does not secure the reel with interlocking tabs and holes, does not release the wire with a button on the center of the reel, and cannot secure the wire to the outside of the casing. 
     Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 296,659 to Sakai discloses a combination lock that has a coiled cable. However, the Sakai Des. &#39;659 patent does not secure the cable to the outside of the case, and has the additional deficiency of requiring a wearer to remember a combination. 
     While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a garment lock that allows securing garments with a retractable wire. The Valley &#39;982 and the Bakker &#39;305 patents make no provision for retracting the chain. The Ray &#39;441 does not removably secure the housing. The Ling &#39;517 patent does not secure the wire to the outside of the casing. The Sakai Des. &#39;659 patent lacks an exterior connection of the cable to the case. Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved garment lock that can be used for securing garments with a retractable wire. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the garment lock according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of securing garments with a retractable wire. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of locks for garments now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved garment lock, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved garment lock and method which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a garment lock which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a garment lock with a casing, a post, a spool, a first spring, a second spring, a member flexible long and thin, a means to secure the member, and a means to lock the spool. The casing has a first side with a post, a second side with tabs, and a rim that joins both sides and has an exit for the member. On the outside of the first side, the casing has a means to attach the casing to a garment. Inside the casing, a post has a base centered on the insider of the first side of the casing and a free end extending into the casing. The free end does not reach the second side of the casing. The spool has a button in the center to move the spool along the post. The spool mounts upon the post and rotates within the casing. The first spring connects to the post and the spool, resisting the rotation of the spool. The second spring rests between the spool and the first side of the casing. The second spring resists the movement of the spool towards the base of the post when a person presses the button. The member has a first end with a linking means and a second end fixed to the spool. The member winds upon the spool in many turns, and then passes through the exit in the rim. The first end of the member removably links to a ring fixed to the rim of the casing opposite the exit. Upon reaching the desired length of the member, the casing removably locks the spool with tabs from the second side projecting into the casing and the spool. A wearer secures the member to furniture such as chairs or fixtures such as a closet bar. After use, the member retracts into the casing so that the garment lock fits into a pocket of a garment. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
     The invention may also include a casing that attaches to a garment with a pin, a hook and loop fastener, or a magnet; a member that is a wire, a chain, or metal tape, coated or uncoated; a first end of the member that is a shackle or a clip; and the rim may also have an attached tab, wire, or loop to secure the first end of the member. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
     Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved garment lock that has all of the advantages of the prior art locks for garments and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved garment lock that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved garment lock that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such garment lock economically available to the buying public. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new garment lock that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a garment lock for securing garments with a retractable wire. This allows compact storage and ready transport of the present invention. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a garment lock for securing garments with a retractable wire. This makes it possible to secure garments to a variety of furniture and fixtures. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a garment lock for securing garments with a retractable wire. This makes it possible to attach the casing removably to a garment. 
     Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method for deterring theft of garments by the following steps: extending a wire from within a casing; threading the wire through the first sleeve of a garment; securing the casing to the inside of the garment; passing the wire around a solid object; threading the wire through a second sleeve of the garment; then securing the wire to the casing. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the garment lock in use upon a chair and constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the garment lock of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a reverse plan view of the garment lock of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the garment lock of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a section view of the casing and spool of the garment lock of the present invention. 
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-5, a preferred embodiment of the garment lock of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 
     In FIG. 1, a new and improved garment lock  10  of the present invention for securing garments with a retractable wire is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the garment lock  10  has a casing  12  attached to the inside of a garment G. A member  38  extends from the casing  12  through a sleeve of the garment G, the rungs of the back of a chair C, and then the other sleeve of the garment G. The member  38  returns to the casing  12  and terminates in a linking means  42  that connects with the means  46  to secure the first end  40  of the member  38 . In the preferred embodiment, the member  38  is a metal wire. 
     Turning to FIG. 2, the casing  12  of round metal has a first side  14  and a second side  16  joined by a rim  18 . The second side  16  appears in FIG. 2 with a button  32  centered in the second side  16 . The member  38  extends from the rim  18  at the exit  20  and has a first end  40  shown. The first end  40  terminates in a linking means  42 . Opposite from where the member  38  extends from the rim  18 , a means  46  to secure the first end  40  of the member  38  attaches to the rim  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the means  46  to secure the first end  40  of the member  38  is a round ring  78  with a stem that attaches to the rim  18  and the linking means  42  is a shackle  76  with a pivoting section that closes upon a fixed section so that the linking means  42  grasps the ring  78 . 
     In FIG. 3, the first side  14  of the casing  12  appears with a centered means  22  to attach the casing  12  to a garment G. In the preferred embodiment, the means  22  to attach the casing  12  is a pin  64  with a loop  66 , a shaft  68 , and a plate  70 . The shaft  68  has a fixed end  72  and an opposite pointed end  74 . The fixed end  72  binds the pin  64  to the plate  70 . The pointed end  74  passes the shaft  68  through garments G and engages the loop  66 . The loop  66  attaches to the plate  70  opposite from the fixed end  72 . The plate  70  attaches to the first side  14  of the casing  12  substantially along a line between the ring  78  and the exit  20 . 
     Moving to FIG. 4, the side view of the casing  12  appears. The button  32  extends outward from the second side  16  of the casing  12  and the pin  64  attaches to the first side  14  of the casing  12 . The rim  18  between the first side  14  and the second side  16  has an exit  20  to pass the member  38 . Opposite the exit  20 , the ring  78  extends outward from the rim  18 . 
     Turning to FIG. 5, the casing  12  contains the spool  30  with the first side  14 , the second side  16 , and the means  48  to secure the spool  30 . In the lower half of FIG. 5, the first side  14  of the casing  12  has a post  24  of round cross section with a base  26  fixed to and centered within the first side  14  and a free end  28  opposite from the base  26 . The post  24  extends into the casing  12  for substantially the distance between the first side  14  and the second side  16  of the casing  12  but does not reach the second side  16  of the casing  12 . Near the free end  28 , the post  24  has a slot. In the upper half of FIG. 5, the second side  16  of the casing  12  has a centered hole that admits the button  32  and numerous tabs  80  extending into the casing  12 . The second side  16  has the tabs  80  arrayed in a regular pattern as the means  48  to secure the spool. 
     Moving to the spool  30 , the spool  30  has a first flange  50 , a second flange  52 , and a hub  54  centered between and joining the flanges. The first flange  50  is near the base  26  of the post  24  and the first side  14  of the casing  12  and has a centered hole to admit the post  24 . The second flange  52  is near to the second side  16  of the casing  12  and has a centered hole to admit the post  24  and a regular pattern of holes to match the tabs of the second side  16 . Further, the second flange  52  has a centered button  32  attached above the hub  54 . The hub  54  rotates about the post  24  within the casing  12 . The second end  44  of the member  38  is secured to the hub  54 . 
     Between the post  24  and the hub  54 , the first spring  34  resists rotation of the spool  30  as a wearer extends the member  38 . The first spring  34  is a concentrically coiled torsion spring with a first tab  56  and a second tab  58 . The first tab  56  engages the slot in the post  24  and the second tab  58  engages a slot in the hub  54 . As the member  38  extends from the spool  30 , the first spring  34  lengthens. The second spring  36  resists movement of the spool  30  towards the base  26  of the post  24  and the first side  14 . The second spring  36  is a compression spring mounted over the post  24  that floats between the hub  54  and the first side  14  of the casing  12 . Once the wearer extends the member  38  sufficiently, the hub  54  stops rotating and the second spring  36  pushes the hub  54  and spool  30  towards the tabs of the second side  16 . To retract the member  38 , the wearer presses the button  32  and releases the second flange  52  from the tabs  80 . The first spring  34  then engages the hub  54  to rotate the spool  30  and to wind the member  38  upon the spool  30 . FIG.  5 . further shows the spool  30  in overlapping views. The solid lines have the spool  30  disengaged from the tabs  80  and free to rotate. The dotted lines have the spool  30  engaged by the tabs  80  and prevented from rotating. 
     In use, it can now be understood that a wearer can readily use the garment lock  10  to secure a garment G in various locations. To employ the garment lock  10 , a wearer holds the garment lock  10  and presses the button  32 . The wearer extends the member  38  a sufficient length to pass through both sleeves of a garment G. The wearer then inserts the member  38  through one sleeve, around a solid object, and then through a second sleeve. Bringing the linking means  42  to the ring  78 , the wearer secures the linking means  42  to the ring  78  and the casing  12  to the garment G with the pin  64 . To remover the garment lock  10 , the wearer releases the linking means  42  then retrieves the member  38  from the sleeves and releases the member  38  from the solid object. To retract the member  38 , the wearer presses the button  32  to release the second flange  52  of the spool  30  from the tabs  80  and rewind the member  38  upon the spool  30 . 
     While a preferred embodiment of the garment lock has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example, any suitable sturdy material such as metal, plastic, metal alloy, or a variety of wood may be used instead of the metal casing described. Also, the member may also be tape, cable, chain, or similar material. And although securing garments with a retractable wire has been described, it should be appreciated that the garment lock herein described is also suitable for securing luggage and other movable property. Furthermore, a wide variety of coated wires may be used instead of the wire described. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.