Abstract:
A vehicle mountable personal property securement device includes a plurality of walls that device a housing with an aperture. A real is operably disposed in the housing for spring-biased rotation. A cable is threaded through the aperture of the housing and includes a first end that is secured to the reel. The second end of the cable is disposed external the housing and is terminated by a head of dimension greater than a diameter of the aperture. A ratchet is disposed in operable configuration in cooperation with the reel to enable ratcheted rotation of the reel in a first direction during cable extraction and further operable at periodic intervals of rotation to enable reversal of wheel rotation.

Description:
This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/020,964, filed on Dec. 22, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,428,833, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to locks and, more particularly, to vehicle mountable personal property lock assemblies. 
     Cable locks may be used to secure various types of personal property. For example, some cable locks may be used to secure a bicycle to a bicycle rack. Other cable locks may be used to secure, e.g., a notebook computer to a person, to a table, or to another object. Yet other cable locks may be used to secure other types of personal property (e.g., ATV, motorcycle, bicycle, camping gear, etc.). 
     Both a cable lock and the personal property being locked may be lightweight. Therefore, it may be desirable in some circumstances to anchor a cable lock to a large, heavy, and/or immovable object. Such an object may comprise, e.g., a bicycle rack, a post, a person, etc. A desirable characteristic of such an object may be the difficulty a thief may encounter in trying to move the object, perhaps because of the object&#39;s size or weight. 
     At times it may be desirable to travel to various locations with personal property and a cable lock. However, some visited locations may not have a suitable object to which the cable lock and personal property may be secured. 
     Cable locks may often be used for a specific type of personal property (e.g., a bicycle cable lock, a notebook computer cable lock, etc.). A cable lock&#39;s weight, diameter, and/or length may be related to its intended use. For example, a rather short, thin, and/or lightweight cable lock may be used to secure a laptop computer to a person. A considerably longer and heavier cable lock may be used to secure a kayak to a tree or a bicycle to a bicycle rack. 
     In some circumstances, it may be desirable to use a cable lock to secure more than a single piece of personal property. In such cases, an important characteristic of a cable lock may be whether it has sufficient length to secure a plurality of items of personal property. However, a cable with excessive length may be cumbersome to use or carry. 
     In modern society, people and their possessions have become more mobile. Vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, trailers, and fifth-wheel trailers have become commonplace. As people travel, whether to parks, campsites, or on extended road trips, they may desire various means of securing their personal property. Cable locks may be one such means of securing such personal property. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a personal property lock assembly may comprise a cable lockbox and a coupler operable to secure the lockbox to a vehicle. The coupler may comprise a seating surface to seat on a plateaued surface of the lockbox and a locking mechanism operable to secure the coupler&#39;s mounting to the vehicle. 
     In a further embodiment, the lockbox may comprise a flexible cable retrievably stored within the lockbox, which may be retrievably withdrawn from the lockbox, passed through or wound about personal property and then fastened to a cable receiving mechanism of the lockbox. In use, the first end of the cable may be fixed to a cable reel operable to retractably wind and store a length of the cable. A second end of the cable may be terminated with a cable retention knob or a mating head, which may be kept outside the lockbox per a diameter greater than an exit port of the lockbox through which the cable is threaded. A butt-end of the retention knob or mating head may be defined with a narrowing taper of an angle operable to seat with non-binding engagement within a tapered opening defined by the exit port. When interacting with a locking mechanism associated with a receiving port of the housing, the retention knob on the second end of the cable may be captured by the locking mechanism. 
     In another embodiment, the second end of the cable may be terminated with a mating head that may define an elongated slot passing therethrough of width sufficient to allow insertion of an arm of a padlock. 
     As referenced in this disclosure, various embodiments of the coupler may be distinguished by different descriptors. In one embodiment, the coupler may be described as a C-clip coupler that may be fastened to a flange of an I-beam or a C-beam associated with a vehicle chassis. In another embodiment, it may be described as a receiver mount coupler that may be inserted and fastened to a receiver hitch of a vehicle. In yet another embodiment, it may be described as a fifth-wheel mount coupler that may be shaped to slot a flared end to a lock pole associated with a fifth wheel trailer. In still yet another embodiment, it may be described as a ball-hitch coupler that may be coupled to a ball-receiving unit to a trailer hitch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention may be understood by reference to the following detailed description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a simplified perspective drawing of a personal property lock assembly (e.g., a lockbox), consistent with some embodiments of the present invention, showing the lockbox with a plateaued surface for mounting to a coupler and a cable to secure personal property. 
         FIG. 1B  is a simplified exploded assembly view showing a portion of an interior assembly of the lockbox of  FIG. 1A , and showing a top plate, an intermediate plate with a protrusion, a cable reel within a bottom assembly, and a face plate with a cable extending therethrough. 
         FIG. 1C  is a simplified perspective view of a cable retention knob in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1D  is a simplified perspective view showing the cable retention knob of  FIG. 1C  operable to interact with a cable receiving mechanism of the lockbox of  FIG. 1A , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2A ,  2 B are perspective and assembly views of a face plate with a locking mechanism, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, disposed with a front wall of the lockbox of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified perspective drawing of another personal property lock assembly (e.g., a lockbox), consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention, showing a u-bar of the lockbox operable to receive and secure a mating head anchored to one end of a cable. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a cable reel that may be operatively coupled, consistent with some embodiments of the present invention, between interior walls of the lockbox of  FIG. 1A , and showing the exterior of the reel and a cable wound around its inner core. 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective assembly view of a portion of the cable reel, showing a cable attachment mechanism that may form a portion of the reel, an inner coiling spring and a ratchet mechanism. 
         FIG. 4C  is a more detailed perspective view of the cable ratchet mechanism that may form a portion of the reel assembly of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective drawings of a c-shaped coupler operable to mount a lockbox to a flange of a c-channel beam of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  are perspective, assembly and partial cut-away cross-sectional views of the c-shaped coupler, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention, showing provisions for a seating surface and a mounting mechanism. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are simplified perspective and assembly views of another coupler, consistent with some embodiments of the present invention, operable to couple a lockbox to a receiver associated with a towing vehicle. 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  are additional views of the coupler of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , showing a chassis with a seating surface, a locking mechanism, and a mating mechanism of the coupler, operable together to secure a lockbox to a portion of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are simplified perspective and assembly views of another coupler, consistent with further embodiments of the present invention, operable to couple a lockbox to a locking pole associated with a fifth wheel trailer. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are additional perspective and assembly views of the coupler of  FIGS. 9A and 9B , showing a locking mechanism and a mounting mechanism of the coupler. 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are simplified perspective and assembly drawings of yet another coupler, consistent with some embodiments of the present invention, operable to mount a lockbox to a trailer hitch. 
         FIGS. 12A and 12B  are additional perspective and assembly views of the coupler of  FIGS. 11A and 11B , showing provision for a seating surface and a mounting mechanism defined in part by a base and a ball-shaped mating unit operable to be coupled to a receiving unit of a trailer hitch. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics of particular embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not necessarily to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     In the description that follows, readily established structures for the exemplary embodiments may be disclosed in simplified form (e.g., simplified housing, lock pins and/or simplified description) to avoid obscuring an understanding of the embodiments with excess detail and where persons of ordinary skill in this art can readily understand their structure and formation by way of the drawings and disclosure. For the same reason, identical components may be given the same reference numerals, regardless of whether they are shown in different embodiments of the invention. 
     The term “vehicle” is used herein in its broad sense and, depending upon context, may refer to all types of vehicles including, without limitation, automobiles, trucks, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, utility trailers, tractors, etc. 
     In a given application and consistent with one embodiment of the present invention, a cable lock box may be anchored by way of a coupler to a vehicle for use in securing one or more items of personal property. A retractable cable of the cable lockbox may be pulled and extended from the lockbox, passed through passages of the personal items, and then locked appropriately upon itself or to a locking member or latch of the cable lockbox. Given that the vehicles may be defined by a variety of different features and/or hitching configurations, various embodiments may be described for the coupler that is to bind the lockbox to the vehicle. 
     As referenced in this disclosure, various embodiments of the coupler may be distinguished by different descriptors. In one embodiment, referencing  FIGS. 5A-B  and  6 A-C, the coupler may be described as a C-clip coupler. In another embodiment, referencing  FIGS. 7A-B  and  8 A-C, it may be described as a receiver mount coupler. For another embodiment, referencing  FIGS. 9A-B  and  10 A-C, it may be described as a fifth-wheel mount coupler; and, in yet another embodiment referenced by  FIGS. 11A-B  and  12 A-C, it may be described as a ball-hitch coupler. Each of these types of couplers may be effective for binding the cable lockbox to respective vehicles, which may also be disclosed with alternative embodiments. 
     Cable lock  100  may comprise a housing  101  defined by walls  114 A- 114 D, the inside surfaces of which may define an inner chamber  180 . Inner housing  180  may house a reel assembly  171  operably attached to at least one inner surface or between two opposing of walls  114 B,  114 D. Reel assembly  171  may be rotationally operable to store and/or allow retractable extension of a length of cable  120 . Referencing  FIGS. 1B and 1D , cable  120  may have a first end portion  126  anchored to reel assembly  171  and the second end portion that may be extended outside of housing  101  through exit orifice  104  defined in the faceplate or front wall  114 A. In operation, the second end portion of cable  120  may be passed through or wound about personal property and then inserted into a cable receiving mechanism that may be integrated together in/on a wall for housing  101 . 
     For example, referencing  FIGS. 1A-1C , the second end of cable  120  may terminate with coupling to a cable retention knob  122  (e.g., tip, knob, phallic head, securing pin, locking head, keyed plug, etc.). In accordance with one embodiment, the cable retention knob  122 , defined by a cylindrical shaft  113  between a butt-end  107  (e.g., tapered) and a distal end  105 , may be shaped for seated insertion into cable receiving mechanism  108 . The distal end may be shaped for plug insertion and capture within a receiving port of the cable receiving mechanism and a locking mechanism  201  ( FIGS. 2A ,  2 B) of the front wall of the housing. Further referencing  FIG. 1C , butt-end  107  of the cable retention knob may flare outwardly from the cable diameter toward that of its cylindrical shaft  103 , the flare-out being angled to fit a tapered opening of cable receiving mechanism  108  for a non-binding engagement. That is, when the cable has been fully retracted for storage within the housing, the shoulder defined by the butt-end of the cable retention knob may be seated in non-binding engagement within the tapered passage defined by exit orifice  104 . 
     Continuing with reference to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  3 , plateaued surface  116  may be defined by a surface of a protrusion  124  that may extend outwardly a wall  114 B of the housing. In some embodiments, protrusion  124  and wall  114 B may be a single unitary structure, e.g., a single casting or welded structure. In other embodiments, protrusion  124  and wall  114 B may be removably affixed ( FIG. 1B ), wherein protrusion  124  may be disposed on a surface of an intermediate plate  134  for elevated placement through an opening  115  in the tope plate or wall  114 B of the housing. Other relationships are possible,—protrusion  124  being part of a structure, e.g., rib, cross bar, etc., or may be associated with an internal frame or chassis of the lockbox assembly. 
     Further referencing  FIGS. 1A-B  and  3 , the plateaued surface  116  of protrusion  124  may further define openings or tapped holes  102 ,  103 A,  103 B that may be operable to receive fastening pins or screws for assisting alignment and/or securement of the coupler thereto. During assembly, fastening pins or screws may align, by way of these holes, placement of a seating surface of a coupler relative to and against the plateaued surface of the protrusion of the lockbox. 
     Referencing  FIGS. 1A-1D ,  2 A,  2 B, in particular embodiments, lockbox  100  may further comprise locking mechanism  201  within or disposed with the front wall  114 A of the housing. Aligned with the cable receiving port  108  as defined in the face plate or front wall  114 A, the locking mechanism  201  may interact with the head of the cable retention knob  122  to enable latched capture thereof. Further, once inserted therein, the cable retention knob  122  may be locked within the capture of the locking mechanism until the locking mechanism is unlocked. In some embodiments, locking mechanism  201  may comprise a keyhole  106  through the exterior of faceplate  114 A that may allow passage of a key of known operability for enabling rotational keyed operation of the lock assembly  201  (e.g., locking mechanism) between locked and unlocked states. Referencing  FIG. 2B , locking mechanism  201  may comprise spring-biased sliding plate  215  ( FIG. 2B ) operable to latch a knob of lock cable retention knob  122  with the assistance of spring  238 . That is, when a locked state is intended, the key may be positioned to a relaxed state and the sliding plate  215  may be biased with a force toward the receiving port  108 . The latching end of the sliding plate may define an outline to a partial circumference or arc that may wrap a partial circumference of a knob of the cable retention knob. Under bias, the sliding plate may slide inwardly as the knob of the cable retention knob is inserted into the receiving port. But, once the knob is fully inserted into the receiving port, the latching end  215 B of the biased sliding plate  215  may spring back into the coaxial recess log defined around the cable retention knob so as to capture the knob and lock the cable retention knob  122  in place. To unlock the cable retention knob  122 , the key in the keyed slot  106  may be turned. Rotation of the keyed slot  106 , in turn, may rotate cam  228  operable to slide the sliding plate  215  inwardly against the force of the biasing spring  238 . Eventually, as the spring compresses under the force provided by the rotation of the keyed slot  106 , the latching end  215 B of the slide plate  215  may clear an outer circumference of the cable retention knob  122 , wherein the knob may be released by the locking mechanism  201  and withdrawn from cable receiving port  108 . In other embodiments, other cable receiving and/or locking mechanisms may be used to secure a mating head or a knob associated with cable  120 . 
     For example, further referencing  FIG. 3 , lockbox  300  of another embodiment may comprise a cable receiving mechanism  308  (e.g., u-bar) mounted onto the exterior of wall  314 D of the housing. In some embodiments, u-bar  308  and wall  314 D may be made as a single unitary structure, e.g., during the casting or molding process for manufacture of walls for housing  301 . Alternatively, u-bar  308  may be mounted onto wall  314 D by at least one of the typical mounting methods such as welding and bolting. As a cable receiving mechanism, u-bar  308  may be shaped and positioned to operably receive mating head  322  of an alternative embodiment for cable termination. Thus, mating head  322  at the distal end of the cable may comprise an appropriate circumference that may pass through the passage defined by the u-bar  308  and the housing sidewall. 
     In a particular embodiment, mating head  322  may be locked to u-bar  308  by a locking mechanism, e.g., a lock (not shown) of any suitable type that may fit through some aligned passages defined by a mating head (e.g., slot, groove, etc.) of any suitable shape yet operable to prevent withdrawal of the mating head from the passages of the receiving mechanism. For example, a slot  325  may be defined into a tab section  323  of the mating head to align with corresponding passages in u-bar  308  to allow insertion of the lock therethrough for securement of mating head  322 . In one embodiment, the tab may define a slot of width sufficient for receipt of a lock-arm/shank/etc. 
     In a further embodiment, the slot may be defined in the tab with a slot-width of at least as great as a diameter of the cable and further defined with an elongated length of at least as great as two times the diameter of the cable. Accordingly, a fold of the cable may be passed through the slot for a short cable loop. A pad lock might then be passed around a strand of the cable associated with defining the loop so as to prevent withdrawal of the loop from the slot. 
     Continuing with reference to  FIGS. 4A-4C , in some embodiments, lockbox  100 / 300  (FIG.  1 A/ 3 ) may comprise a reel assembly  171  ( FIG. 4A ) operable to secure and/or store cable  120 . Although reel assembly  171  may take many forms, in some particular embodiments with reference to  FIGS. 4A-4C , reel assembly  171  may comprise upper member  412  and lower member  414  defining, e.g., circular plates, substantially parallel to each other. The upper and lower members may be operatively coupled by a rotary core  415  operable together with a power spring/clock-type spring  410  to allow retrievable winding, tensioned unwinding and/or storing of cable  120  about the circumference of the inner core. 
     Referencing  FIG. 4B , in particular embodiments, upper member  412  may comprise a ratchet mechanism  430  operable to release tensioning of user-controlled lengths of cable  120  as pulled through exit aperture  104 . And, upon advancing to a neutral release circumference of the spindle wheel, the ratchet lock may be released to allow spring-operated rotational coil or recovery of the cable length. For example, spindle  434  may rotate counterclockwise when cable  120  is pulled on, or it may rotate clockwise to retract cable  120  once its outer circumference reaches a neutral position enabling release of ratcheting lever  432 . Further referencing  FIG. 4C , ratchet mechanism may allow the extension of cable  120  in uniform increments. Ratcheting lever  432 , being biased by spring  438 , may engage each slot position about the circumference of ratchet spindle  434  and likewise may be operable to maintain a given user-defined length of cable  120 . That is, it may prevent retraction of the cable except in desired extracted cable increments. Upon disengagement about the ratchet spindle  434 , providing clearance to ratchet lever  432 , the ratchet-clip toggles counterclockwise under influence of spring  438  so as to release the reel. Accordingly, the recoiling power spring within the reel  171  may then act to retract the cable for recovering the external length. Further referencing  FIG. 4C , ratchet lever  432  and biasing spring  438  both may be realized in other forms as a component of cable ratchet  430 , collectively operable to assist retractable cable extension from storage housing of the lockbox. In alternative embodiments, the cable ratchet mechanism might also be located elsewhere on the reel assembly. 
     Referencing  FIGS. 5A-B  and  6 A-C, consistent with one embodiment for another lock assembly  500 , C-shaped coupler  501  may be described as an elongated U-bar comprising upper  612  and lower  614  lips that extend laterally outward from a sidewall  615  in spaced, substantially parallel relationship. The spacing  641  between the opposing upper and lower lips  612 ,  614  may be defined by the vertical height of the sidewall  615  and with a magnitude sufficient to allow receipt of, e.g., a flange member  542  therebetween. In a particular embodiment, the flange may be associated with, e.g., a frame member  540  of a vehicle. In this fashion, the C-shaped coupler  501  may be operable to slide onto flange  542  with its upper and lower lips  612 ,  614 , respectively, about a mounting portion of the flange. 
     For example, a tongue of a utility trailer,—e.g., boat, camping or hauling trailer—may be defined in part by I-beams or C-beams that may meet near an end associated with a hitching unit. The C-shaped coupler  501  of this embodiment may then be fastened to a flange of one of these beam members that is associated with the vehicle as though a clam clamped with its upper and lower shells against opposite sides of the flange. 
     Further referencing  FIGS. 5A-6C , to assist fastening and securing the C-shaped coupler  501  of this embodiment to lockbox  100  and the flange member  540 , respectively, various screws and bolts  618 A,  618 B,  644 ,  646 A,  646 B may be used in combination with various alignments and tapped holes  603 A,  603 B,  608 A,  608 B,  602 A,  602 B,  604 A,  604 B in the coupler, in the flange member, and in the lockbox. In this embodiment, screws  618 A,  618 B associated with securing the coupler to the lockbox may be described as fasteners, a bolt  644  to lock the coupler to the flange may be described as a locking mechanism, and bolts/screws  646 A,  646 B to frictionally bind and clamp the coupler to the flange may be described as friction fasteners. 
     In a particular assembly, the “C” of the c-shaped coupler  501  may be clipped around flange  542  of frame member  540 . Referencing  FIGS. 6A-6C , a locking mechanism, e.g., locking bolts  644  with a keyed head that may fit through aligned holes  602 A,  602 B of the coupler and through a predefined hole in flange  542 . In one example, locking bolt  644  may thread into tapped hole  602 B in the lower lip  614  of the c-shaped coupler  510 . In a further embodiment, it may thread into a tapped hole ( 102 ,  FIG. 1 ) of the locking box. The receipt of a portion of flange  542  may render inaccessible fasteners  618 A,  618 B that fasten seating surface of coupler  501  to plateaued surface  116  of the protrusion  124  of lockbox  100 / 300  (FIG.  1 A/ 3 ). Additional friction fasteners/screws  646 A,  646 B may be threaded into holes  604 A,  604 B of the upper lip  612  of C-shaped coupler  501  for frictional or binding contact with the flange to prevent rotational or lateral movement of coupler  501  relative to flange  542 . 
     In a further embodiment, further referencing  FIGS. 5A-6C , the upper lip  612  of the coupler may define the upper hole  602 A associated with the locking bolt  644  with a bored entry to a depth to define a recessed shoulder therefore (referencing the partial cut-away cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6B ) that may seat the lower surface of the keyed head for the bolt. Accordingly, when seated into the upper hole  602 A, the head to the bolt may be recessed within the bored entry. 
     Further referencing  FIGS. 6B ,  6 C, it may be understood that the lower holes  603 A,  603 B in the lower lip  614  of the coupler may be formed with a tapered entry to allow recess of a tapered head of fastening screws  618 A,  618 B when seated therein. Thus, the heads of these fastening screws, when fully seated n the holes, will not interfere with receipt of a flange between the upper and lower lips of the coupler. Further, it may be understood that the clearance holes  608 A,  608 B in upper lip  612  disposed over the lower holes  603 A,  603 B respectively, may be defined with diameters sufficient for allowing passage of fastening screws  618 A,  618 B together with an appropriate drive shaft (screw driver, allen wrench, positive-drive, etc.), so as to assist ease of assembly when fastening the coupler to the lockbox. 
     In other embodiments, referencing  FIGS. 7A-8C , a lock assembly  700  may comprise a coupler  701  to mount a lockbox to a receiver  748  associated with a vehicle. Coupler  701  may comprise a square shaped tube  750  and a base plate  752  for engaging a lockbox (e.g., lockbox  100 ,  FIG. 1A , lockbox  300 ,  FIG. 3 ) to coupler  701 . For mounting coupler  701  to a vehicle, the elongate square-shaped tube  750  defined by walls  814 A- 814 D ( FIG. 8C ) may be inserted and fastened to a receiver hitch associated with a vehicle. That is, the periphery of the walls  814 A- 814 D may fit the inner opening of such receiver. Two opposite walls  814 C,  814 D ( FIG. 8C ) may comprise, respectively, lock holes  823 A,  823 B that may further align with a pair of corresponding holes  725  ( FIG. 7B ) in the walls of receiver  748 . Further, all the aligned holes may be shaped and positioned to allow insertion of a lock pole  754  ( FIG. 7B ) therethrough to fasten and/or lock the square shaped tuber  750  of coupler  701  within receiver  748 . 
     In a particular embodiment, lock pole  754  may comprise an aperture to allow insertion of a lock  756  of any suitable type. Holes  823 A,  823 B, lock  756 , and locking pole  754  may in combination be viewed as defining cooperatively at least a portion of a locking mechanism. Alternative locking mechanisms may be used (e.g., using differently positioned holes and different types or numbers of locking fasteners) as may be known in the art of hitching assemblies for securing tubular member  750  within receiver  748 . 
     In a possible further embodiment, base plate  752  of the coupler may define a seating surface to assist stable annexation with a plateaued surface (e.g., surface  116  of  FIG. 1A ) defined by a protrusion of a lockbox. Further, base plate  752  may comprise a passage (not shown) operable to be aligned with a passage (not shown) in tubular member  750 , which may further align with a corresponding hole (e.g., central hole  102 ,  FIG. 7B ) in the plateaued surface  116 . The three aligned holes may, operable together, allow insertion of bolt  861  to fasten and/or secure coupler  701  to a lockbox (e.g., lockbox  100 / 300 ,  FIG. 1A ,  3 ). 
     Referencing  FIGS. 8A-8C , in some embodiments, sidewalls  814 C,  814 D of tubular member  750  may further comprise access opening(s)  827 A ( 827 B) for enabling access to the hollowed inner diameter of the tubular member  750 . Access openings  827 A,  827 B may provide an access for enabling insertion of locking fastener  861  into the aligned passages through base plate  752  and into a tapped hole  102  of the lockbox  100 / 300 . When tubular member  750  is within receiver  748 , walls of the receiver may cover access holes to render fastener  861  inaccessible. As may be understood, the locking mechanism may further guard access to fastener  861 , within lock pole  754  may first require unlocking for enabling release of the tubular member  750  to allow exposure of access openings through which the fastener  861  may be reached to enable decoupling of coupler  701  from the lockbox. 
     Referencing  FIGS. 8A-8C , base plate  752  may comprise upper surface  812  and a seating surface that may define slot  857  to fit the periphery of a plateaued surface  116  of a protrusion  124  of the lockbox (e.g., lockbox  100 / 300 ,  FIGS. 1A ,  3 ). Again, a fastener  861  (e.g., bolt, locking bolt, lock pin etc.) and may extend through a passage defined through the base plate  752  and into the protrusion of the lockbox that defines the plateaued surface, which may be operable to bind these pieces together. 
     In a possible embodiment where base plate  752  and tubular member  750  may be cast or welded as a unitary structure, aligned holes therein may be a single passage in the structure and there may be no need to use a fastener to bind the base plate  752  to the tubular member  750 . In such embodiments, the fastener through the single passage may instead bind the unitary structure of coupler  701  to lockbox  100 / 300 . 
     Moving forward with reference to  FIGS. 9A-10B , in another embodiment, a lock assembly  900  may comprise a U-shaped coupler  901  to mount a lockbox  100 / 300  to a lock pole  949  as may be associated with a fifth wheel trailer  939 . In a particular embodiment, coupler  901  may comprise a lower portion  1014  and an upper portion  1012 , which may be partially connected at their periphery by a sidewall  1015 . Top member  1012  may define an inward shoulder  1016 B operable together with lower member  1014  and sidewall  1015  to slot a flared end  951  to lock pole  949 . 
     Lower member  1014  may comprise upper and lower surfaces, being substantially parallel to each other and substantially symmetrical about a central axis that may bisect both top and lower members. In some embodiments, the shoulder  1016 B may further be captured within a slot or groove that may be defined coaxially around the bar of lock pole  949 . This may further assist stable capture of the locking pole by coupler  901 . Further, the bottom surface  914  ( FIG. 9B ) of the fifth wheel coupler  901  may be contoured to define the seating surface to seat the plateaued surface and outline defined by the protrusion  124  of the lockbox  100 / 300 . This may serve to further stabilize the securement of the lockbox to the fifth wheel trailer. In other embodiments, bottom surface  914  may be flat but positioned to be attachable to the upper surface of the lockbox. 
     Partially connecting top member  1012  to lower member  1014 , the U-shaped sidewall  1015  may, if examined per a cross-sectional view, comprise two opposing sidewall portions substantially symmetrical about the central axis. Further, the sidewall portions may respectively comprise aligned cross holes  923 , opposite each other across the width defined by the upper/lower members and the sidewall. In yet a further embodiment, the sidewall holes may be substantially identical in size and shape, both parallel to upper surface  1016 B of lower member  1014 , and may be positioned to allow insertion of fastener  959  (e.g., lock pin, bolt, etc.) through the aligned holes. 
     Lock pole  949  may comprise a metal post (e.g., pole, cylinder, etc.) with a groove operable to interface fastener  959 . Top member  1012 , sidewall  1015 , and bottom member  1014  may collectively be shaped to fit a partial periphery of lock pole  949  so that coupler  901  may be readily coupled to lock pole  949 . 
     In some embodiments, referencing  FIG. 10B , lockbox  100 / 300  may be locked to lock pole  949  by a locking mechanism, e.g., countersunk bolts  1018 A,  1018 B that may fit through holes  1025 A,  1025 B defined in lower member  1014  of coupler  901 . Both countersunk holes may be substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of lower member  1014  and extending through its thickness. The pair of holes  1025 A,  1025 B may further align with holes  103 A,  103 B (FIG.  1 A/ 3 ) defined in plateaued surface  116  and operable together to allow insertion of the pair of countersunk bolts  1018 A,  1018 B. The presence of lock pole  949 , fastener  959 , and a lock (e.g., lock  756 ) of any suitable type may be operable to block access to the bolts and therefore block access to the fastening of the coupler to lockbox  100 / 300  without first unlocking and removing fastener  959  and then removing lock pole  949  from coupler  901 . 
     The combination of countersunk holes  1025 A/B in coupler  901 , the center hole  102  (FIG.  1 A/ 3 ), and a pair of countersunk bolts therethrough may be described collectively as a locking mechanism. The combination of lock pole  949 , sidewall holes  1025 A/B, and lock pin  959  inserted therethrough may be described collectively as another locking mechanism. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, referencing  FIGS. 11A-12B , a lock assembly  1100  may comprise a ball coupler  1101  to mount a lockbox to a trailer hitch associated with a vehicle. Coupler  1101  may comprise a mating unit comprising a ball  1150  joined by an intermediate a cylindrical neck  1154  to a base plate  1152 . In operation, referencing  FIG. 11B , ball  1150  may be partially hemispherically secured within a ball receiving unit  1148  to, e.g., a trailer hitch, which may be operable to bind and/or lock coupler  1101  thereto. Further, ball  1150  may comprise an inner cylindrical passage  1264  that may extend therethrough. Passage  1264  may extend through both the ball  1150  and the cylindrical neck  1154  and may further align with passage  1266  defined in base plate  1152 . The passages may be aligned to a tapped hole of the protrusion of the lockbox to allow insertion of a locking fastener  1261  (e.g., bolt, pin, etc.) to bind them together. 
     Further referencing  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B, base plate  1152  may be similar to base plate  752  as described previously relative to  FIGS. 8A-8C , and may comprise a seating surface to assist stable annexation with a plateaued surface  116  and otherwise may be defined by the protrusion  124  of lockbox  100 / 300 . In some embodiments, the contoured seating surface may further assist alignment of the passage to the tapped hole in the plateaued surface  116 . When so aligned, fastener  1261  may extend therethrough and tread within and/or secure coupler  1101  to the lockbox. In operation, ball  1150  may be inserted into ball receiving unit  1148  so that the presence of ball receiving unit  1148  may block access to fastener  1261 . Further, ball receiving unit  1148  may comprise a lock mechanism (e.g., a hinge, a shackle, etc) operable to receive a lock (e.g., lock  756 ) of any suitable type to make fastener  1261  further inaccessible and the lockbox irremovable without first unlocking the lock unit and detaching coupler  1101  from trailer hitch  1160 . 
     In a particular embodiment, ball  1150 , cylindrical neck  1154 , and base plate  1154  may define a unitary coupling structure, while in other embodiments they may be separate members removably affixed together to form a ball-hitch coupler. 
     The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Based on the above discussion and illustrations, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that various modifications and changes may be made to the present invention without strictly following the exemplary embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein. Such modifications and changes do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the present invention as may be set forth in the following claims.