Abstract:
A lock assembly includes a shackle having an engagement portion with a plurality of apertures therethrough. A lock housing has a first end having a first end opening, a second end having a second end opening and an open interior between the ends, at least one opening for receiving the engagement portion of the shackle and a blocking member can be attached to the lock housing. The lock body can include: an elongated lock member dimensioned to pass through at least one of the apertures in said engagement portion; a lock adapted for engagement to the lock member, the lock body being dimensioned to substantially fit within the lock housing, the lock having access structure accessible from either of the first and second ends of the lock housing, wherein the lock member may be passed through at least one alternative aperture of the plurality of apertures in the shackle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a C-I-P of from U.S. application Ser. No. 09/590,975 filed on Jun. 9, 2000 and now U.S. Pat. No 6,360,571. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to locks, and more particularly to locks useful for securing wheeled vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, trailers, motorcycles and bicycles. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It is known that an effective and efficient manner of locking vehicles is to secure the wheels of the vehicle against rotation. Various locks for engaging automobile and trailer wheels, as well as motorcycle and bicycle wheels are known. These devices include chains and clasps of many descriptions. In many of these locks a shackle is secured to a lock body, where the shackle can be removed or separated from the lock body only by operation of an appropriate lock. The lock may be a combination lock, a key lock, or any lock of suitable construction. Such locks are susceptible to manipulation or breakage of the shackle or lock in order to separate the shackle from the lock body. It would therefore be desirable to provide a lock construction which has improved resistance to tampering with the lock. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns a lock assembly. The lock assembly includes: a shackle having an engagement portion with a plurality of apertures therethrough; a lock housing comprising a first end having a first end opening, a second end having a second end opening and an open interior between the ends for receiving a lock body therein, and at least one opening for receiving the engagement portion of the shackle; a blocking member attached to the lock housing; the lock body having: an elongated lock member dimensioned to pass through at least one of the apertures in the engagement portion; a lock adapted for engagement to the lock member so as to prevent the removal of the lock member from the at least one aperture in the engagement portion of the shackle, the lock body being dimensioned to substantially fit within the lock housing, the lock having access structure accessible from either of the first and second ends of the lock housing; wherein the lock member may be passed through at least one alternative aperture of the plurality of apertures in the shackle for adjusting the position of the shackle relative to the lock housing. 
     In one arrangement, the shackle can be substantially U-shaped with two shackle legs and a connecting abutment portion in which each shackle leg can have an engagement portion with an aperture for receiving the lock member. In addition, the lock housing can have corresponding openings for receiving the engagement portions. Also, the shackle legs can be substantially parallel and coplanar, and the connecting portion can be offset from the plane of the legs. Moreover, the connecting portion can include an adjustment structure for adjusting the distance between the shackle legs. 
     In another arrangement, the housing can have aligned first and second openings for receiving the engagement portion of the shackle in which the engagement portion of the shackle can have a plurality of apertures. The shackle can pass through the aligned openings in the housing, and the lock member can be placed through one of the apertures in the engagement portion of the shackle to adjust the position of the shackle relative to the lock housing. In another aspect, the lock assembly can further include an abutment portion at an end of the shackle substantially opposite to the engagement portion. The abutment portion can include a plate. Further, the shackle can include a flexible material, and the lock housing can include at least one slotted opening. The lock housing can also include an opening for receiving the lock body and an opening for receiving the lock member. The blocking member can be a plate or a ring. Also, the blocking member can either be permanently attached or detachably attached to the lock housing. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     There are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective of a first embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view, partially in cross-section, of the invention as installed on a wheel assembly. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the lock as installed on a wheel assembly, partially in cross section. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the lock as installed on a wheel assembly. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective of an alternative embodiment. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective of yet another alternative embodiment. 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective of still another alternative embodiment. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A lock according to the invention as shown in FIG. 1 includes a lock housing  10  and a shackle shown generally at  14 . The shackle in this embodiment includes elongated legs  18 , which are preferably cylindrical. Engagement portions  22  of the legs  18  are provided with suitable engagement structure such as at least one opening  30 . In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of openings  30  are provided along the length of each shackle leg  18 . Second ends  32  of the legs  18  are connected by an abutment portion  38  which connects the second ends  32  to one another. The abutment portion  38  can be offset from the plane containing the legs  18  by extension portions  40  which are substantially at right angles to the legs  18 . 
     The lock housing  10  has an open interior  44 . The housing  10  has at least one opening  48  leading to the open interior  44 . The lock housing further can have openings  52  adapted to receive each of the engagement portions  22  of the legs  18 . Two aligned openings  52  are preferably provided on opposing sides of the housing  10 , such that the legs  18  can move through the openings  52  and the lock housing  10  to provide for adjustments in the spacing between the lock housing  10  and the abutment portion  38 . 
     A lock member  60  can be made of any suitable construction but preferably includes an elongated portion  62 . The elongated portion  62  is dimensioned so as to fit within the openings  30 , and has an enlarged portion  66  at one end which is adapted to prevent passage of that end through the openings  30 . At an opposite end, suitable structure  74  on the elongated portion  62  is provided to engage a lock  70  so as to secure the lock to the elongated portion  62 . The lock  70  and manner of engagement to the elongated portion  62  can be of any suitable construction. In the embodiment shown, a key slot  78  provides for the insertion of a key in order to remove the lock  70 , however, other lock constructions known in the art would also be suitable. 
     In operation, the shackle  14  is placed through and/or around an item to be locked. The engagement portions  22  of the legs  18  are placed into the openings  52  of the lock housing  10  and are moved through the lock housing  10  until the appropriate spacing between the abutment portion  38  and the lock housing  10  has been attained. 
     The lock member  60  is then placed into the lock housing  10  through the opening  44  and is moved through an opening  30  in each of the legs  18  until the lock member  60  is within the lock housing  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the lock housing  10  has an opening  44  for receiving the lock member  60  and another opening  44  for receiving the lock  70 . The lock  70  is then secured to the structure  74  on the elongated portion  62  so as to secure the lock member  60  in place within the housing  10  and thereby also secures the shackle  14  to the lock member  60  and the lock housing  10 . The lock member  60  and lock  70  remain protected within the lock housing  10  in order to prevent tampering and manipulation of the lock  70 . 
     The use of the lock is illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. A lock according to the invention is shown as installed in a wheel assembly. The tire  90  is mounted on a wheel  94  having a plurality of openings  98 . A hub  102  is connected to an axle  104  and an axle support  110 . A frame  114  mounts a spring  120  through suitable structure such as attachment plates  122 . In the installation that is shown, the shackle  14  is secured to the wheel  94  in such manner that rotation of the tire  90  is impossible. The legs  18  of the shackle  14  are positioned through the openings  98  of the wheel  94 . The abutment portion  38  is adjacent to the axle support  110 . The legs  18  are positioned into the openings  52  in the lock housing  10 . The lock member  60  is then placed through the opening  48  into the open interior  44  and through the openings  30  in the legs  18 , until the enlarged portion  66  is within the housing  10 . The lock  70  is then secured to the cooperating structure  74  on the lock member  60  and locked in place. The lock  70  is seen in FIG. 2 to be securely within the lock housing  10  so as to substantially preclude tampering with the lock  70 . The legs  18  are movable through the openings  52  of the lock housing  10  to adjust the relative distance between the abutment portion  38  and the lock housing  10 , such that the lock of the invention can accommodate different wheel assembly sizes and constructions. In smaller wheel assemblies the legs  18  will be moved through openings  52  in the lock housing  10 , such that the abutment portion  38  is closer to the lock housing  10 . The extension portions  40  allow the abutment portion  38  to substantially wrap around the axle support  110 . 
     In an embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the spacing between the legs  18  is adjustable. The abutment portion  38  has a first end  120  and second end  122 . A collar  124  has a series of openings  128  and an open interior  126 . The first end  120  has an opening  132 . The end  120  is adapted to be positionable in the open interior  126 . Suitable structure such as a pin  134  can be positioned through the openings  128  and the opening  132  in the end  120  in order to secure the assembly in place at the desired spacing between the legs  18 . Other adjustable connection structure is possible. One or both of the openings in the lock housing  10  can be slotted. The slotted opening  136  allows for lateral movement of the leg  18  relative to the lock housing  10 . This embodiment will, for example, allow for use of the lock with wheels having a different spacing between the openings  98 . 
     In some instances a rigid shackle is not desirable, if some flexibility is needed in order to properly attach the shackle to a wheel assembly or other structure. An alternative embodiment of the invention which provides such flexibility is shown in FIG.  6 . In this embodiment, the rigid shackle is replaced by a flexible cable  158 , which is preferably a metal braid. Other cables made from other materials, or chain cables, are also possible. Shackle ends  150  are secured to each end of the cable  158 . The shackle ends  150  fit within the openings  52  in the lock housing  10  in order to secure the lock  70  from tampering. The shackle ends  150  can have openings  30  for receiving the elongated portion  62  of the lock member  60 , as previously described. 
     The invention has utility with other lock constructions having a variety of shackle designs, shapes and sizes. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a lock construction is shown in which the shackle  170  has a single leg  174 . The leg  174  is, in this embodiment, elongated and substantially cylindrical, although other shapes and designs are possible. A plurality of openings  180  are provided along the length of the leg  174 . A distal end of the shackle leg  174  has an abutment portion  184 . The abutment portion  184  is provided to engage the wheel or other structure to which the lock is to be secured. The abutment portion can be a plate that is secured to the shackle leg  174  substantially at right angles. Any shape, size or design of the abutment portion  184  is possible, so long as the abutment portion prevents the removal of the shackle leg  174  from the wheel or other structure to which the lock is attached, unless the lock is first unlocked and removed. 
     The lock housing  190  can include a substantially elongated body  192  with an open interior  194 . An abutment portion such as an enlarged side plate  198  can be provided at one side of the lock body  192  in order to prevent the passage of the lock housing  190  through an aperture in the structure to which the lock is secured. Openings  202  in the lock housing  190  are adapted to receive the shackle leg  174 . A lock  210  of suitable construction is provided to engage an elongated lock member  214 . The lock  210  is positioned in the open interior  194  and the lock member  214  is placed through one of the openings  180  in the shackle body  174 . The lock member  214  has an enlarged end portion  218  such that, when the lock  210  is secured to the lock member  214 , the lock  210  and lock member  214  cannot be removed through the opening  180  in the shackle body  174 . The lock  210 , lock member  214  and end portion  218  are secured within the housing  190  so as to substantially prevent tampering and unauthorized removal. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative inventive arrangement in which a blocking member  15  can be attached to the lock housing  10 . The blocking member  15  can prevent access to the lug nuts or other similar coupling structure that is used to secure a wheel to a vehicle. The blocking member  15  can either be permanently attached or detachably attached to the lock housing  15 . Moreover, the blocking member  15  can be, for example, a plate similar to the one shown in FIG.  8 . Alternatively, the blocking member  15  can be a ring, as shown in FIG.  9 . It is understood, however, that the blocking member  15  can have any other shape or dimensions which are suitable for preventing access to the lug nuts or other coupling structure. 
     Locks according to the invention can be made from any suitable material. The locks should be very strong, durable, and corrosion resistant. Known materials for the construction of locks, such as metals, alloys and other materials, are suitable. 
     The invention is capable of taking other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and accordingly, reference should be had to the following claims, rather to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.