Loop connector and cable lock using the same

A loop connector and a cable lock having the loop connector are provided. The cable lock includes a cable, a lock body, and the loop connector. The lock body has a lock unit and a restricting unit. The lock unit can restrict or release the restricting unit to allow the restricting unit to movably restrict or release the cable. The cable thereby extends or retracts in this manner. The loop connector has a connector body that includes a first through hole and a second through hole. The first through hole and the second through hole are adjacent to each other, wherein the normal direction of the cross section of the first through hole is perpendicular to the normal direction of the cross section of the second through hole. When the cable passing through the lock body passes through the loop connector, the cable forms a plurality of loops at the lock body with the loop connector and the lock body to secure and protect one or more articles from being stolen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a lock structure. Particularly, the present invention relates to a loop connector that forms a loop with a cable and a cable lock using the same.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With the increasing application of locks and the subsequent advancement in lock techniques, locks and their manufacturing methods have adapted in form to satisfy peoples' different lifestyle. In order to prevent theft of mobile appliances such as vehicles that are extensively utilized, locks have been developed to be applicable for mobile outdoor appliances.

The general method of securing indoor valuables or vehicular devices such as bicycles and motorcycles is to secure them to some sort of stationary object, such as a pillar, a pole, or any other fixed equipments. Consequently, a kind of cable lock was developed. The cable lock's cable is flexible and bendable to satisfy securing needs such as winding the cable around a stationary pole. The cable lock may extend or retract the cable according to the user's desire and securely lock desirable items to stationary objects to prevent theft.

However, present cable locks still do not completely satisfy the consumers' demands and as a result, the present inventor proposes the following improvement to the conventional design to accomplish other purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a loop connector which contributes to forming a loop with a cable, and a cable lock that utilizes the same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a loop connector and a cable lock using the same to secure an article to prevent theft thereof on a stationary object that has some distance to said article.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cable lock which has a lock body for accommodating the loop connector.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cable lock which has a loop connector independent of the lock body.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lock structure which can be operated in conjunction with various loop connectors.

The present invention can independently provide a loop connector to be operated in conjunction with a cable. The loop connector includes a connector body having a first through hole and a second through hole. The first through hole and the second through hole are provided adjacent to each other, wherein a normal direction of the cross-section of the first through hole is perpendicular to a normal direction of the cross-section of the second through hole so that the cable can be inserted through the first and second through holes of the loop connector and form a closed loop with the connector body.

In some embodiments, the length of the first through hole of the loop connector is similar to the length of the second through hole, which consequently defines the loop connector as a definite geometrical shape such as an elliptic block, a triangular block, a columnar block, or other shapes and structures. However, in other embodiments, the length of the first through hole may be different from the length of the second through hole, causing the loop connector to form a structure with a particular geometrical shape such as a half cylinder or any other non-specified block shapes.

The present invention further provides a cable lock which includes a cable, a lock body, and a loop connector. The lock body has a lock unit and a restricting unit. The lock unit is able to selectively restrict or release the restricting unit so that the restricting unit may movably restrict the cable from freely extending. The loop connector includes a connector body having a first through hole and a second through hole. The first through hole and the second through hole are provided adjacent to each other, wherein a normal direction of the cross section of the first through hole is perpendicular to a normal direction of the cross section of the second through hole. When the cable passing through the lock body passes through the loop connector, the cable forms a plurality of loops with the lock body and the loop connector to secure and prevent theft to the article.

In one embodiment, the loop connector may be utilized independent of the cable lock. In other embodiments, the loop connector may be utilized in combination with the lock body. In other words, the independent loop connector may be operated in conjunction with other various locks, such as a pad lock or other locks with cables. However, the loop connector which can be combined with the lock body is preferably applied to a cable lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B, the present invention provides a loop connector100that is operated in conjunction with a cable200. The cable200preferably includes but is not limited to a flexible steel cable, which is clad in a plastic sheath. Referring to bothFIGS. 2A and 2B, the loop connector100includes a connector body110, a first through hole120, and a second through hole130. The first through hole120and the second through hole130are provided adjacent to each other on the connector body110, wherein a normal direction of the cross section of the first through hole120is perpendicular to a normal direction of the cross section of the second through hole130. The first through hole120preferably does not communicate with the second through hole130. In other words, an extending direction the cable200passing through the first through hole120is perpendicular to an extending direction the cable200passing through the second through hole130. The cable200consequently forms a loop with the connector body110when passing through both the first through hole120and the second through hole130. As shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, the cable forms a loop on one side of the loop connector100after one end of the cable200passes through the first through hole120and the other end of the cable200passes through the second through hole130. In the present embodiment, a blocking portion210is disposed on an end of the cable200. The blocking portion210has a diameter greater than a diameter of the cable200as well as the diameter of the through hole120,130and is made of a hard material to prevent the cable from separating from the loop connector100.

As shown inFIG. 2B, the connector body110can be an integral block or a structure consisting of a plurality of portions. For example, a length of the first through hole120of the loop connector100is similar to a length of the second through hole130so that the connector body110of the loop connector100forms a structure with a definite geometrical shape such as a half cylinder as shown inFIG. 2D, an elliptic block as shown inFIG. 2E, or a triangular block as shown inFIG. 2F. However, as the embodiments shown inFIG. 2CandFIG. 2Gillustrate, the length of the first through hole120may be different from the length of the second through hole130of the loop connector100so that the connector body110forms a structure with a special geometrical shape such as a cylinder or any other non-specified block shapes. As shown inFIG. 2C, the connector body110includes a plate portion140and a cylinder portion150, wherein the plate portion140has a side disposed along the axial direction of the cylinder portion150. That is, the plate portion140is disposed erected on a side of the cylinder portion150. The first through hole120and the second through hole130are provided on the plate portion140and the cylinder portion150, respectively.

As shown inFIGS. 3A-3D, the present invention further provides a cable lock300that has the cable200, a lock body310, and the loop connector100as described above. In the present embodiment, the loop connector100is preferably disposed separately of the lock body310of the cable lock300. The loop connector100is not integrated with the lock body310of the cable lock300, but rather is utilized independently in conjunction with the cable lock300. The individual loop connector100can be utilized with various other different cable locks300, wherein the loop connector100includes but is not limited to the type illustrated in the present embodiment. The cable lock300described in the present embodiment further includes but is not limited to pad locks or any other locks having cables.

FIG. 3Ais a schematic view of the embodiment of the cable lock operated in conjunction with the cable to form a loop to secure an article to a fixed object. In the preferred method of operation, the freely movable cable200passing through the lock body310of the cable lock300can be wound around both an article requiring theft protection (e.g. a bicycle as shown inFIG. 3A) and a fixed object A. The cable200then winds back to the lock body310to fulfill the operation of securing the article to the fixed object A. In other words, the theft protection operation is fulfilled by restricting the movement of the cable200through the lock unit320of the cable lock300. When the distance between the article requiring theft protection and the fixed object is relatively larger, the loop connector100may be utilized, as shown inFIG. 3B. In the present embodiment, step1involves passing the cable200through the first through hole120on the end without the blocking portion210, winding the cable200around the fixed object A, and then passing the cable200through the second through hole130to form a first loop500. Step2involves passing the cable200from the second through hole130through one side of the lock body310, winding the cable200around a fixed object B, and then finally passing the cable200through the other side of the lock body310to form a second loop700. Completing steps1and2finalizes the theft protection operation of securing the article to the fixed objects A and B.

The article requiring theft protection can be selectively secured on either the fixed object A or B. The article may also be viewed as one of the fixed object A or B and individually looped around by the cable200. Moreover, asFIG. 3Billustrates, the end of cable200passing out of lock body310preferably has nothing disposed on it in order for the convenient and quick removal of the entire lock device from both the article requiring theft protection and the fixed objects A and/or B. In the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 3C and 3D, a detachable blocking portion210, or even another loop connector100, may be disposed on the end of the cable200running out of the lock body310to further enhance the theft protection. As shown inFIGS. 3C and 3D, the lock body310has an angle adjustable structure340which can change the exit angle of the cable200passing out of lock body310. For example, the angle adjustable structure340can be a rod, a roller, or a shaft to allow the cable200to wind around and adjust the extending direction of the cable200. The range of angle adjusting preferably remains within 90-100 degrees to improve the operation and convenience of the cable lock300.

As shown inFIGS. 4A-4C, the present invention further provides a loop connector100which can be separately combined to the lock body310of the cable lock300. In the present embodiment, the loop connector100may be combined with the cable lock300by inserting the loop connector100in a slot350of the lock body310, wherein an outline of the loop connector100and the shape of the corresponding slot350are preferably both a half cylinder. A protruding T-shape lodging section170is disposed on a side of the connector body110, with the slot350correspondingly forming a T-shape lodging slot352where the lodging section170may slot in.

FIG. 4Bshows an embodiment of the lock unit320restricting the length extension of cable200. The restricting unit330is disposed in the lock body310on a side of a channel where the cable200may pass through. The restricting unit330movably restricts or releases the cable200to control the length extension of the cable200. The lock body330may include one or more than one restricting units330. The restricting unit330includes but is not limited to a ratchet, a cam, a clamp component, a pressing component, and any other suitable components. The restricting unit330preferably has a ratchet with teeth all directed in a single direction. The restricting unit330only restricts movement of the cable200when the cable200moves in a direction opposite to the direction of the teeth of the ratchet. This direction of movement generally extends the length of the cable200or expands the loop700. When the moving direction of the cable200coincides with the direction of the ratchet teeth, the restricting unit330does not restrict the movement of the cable200. As a result, this moving direction of the cable200generally is a direction that shrinks the loop700.

The lock unit320can selectively restrict or release the restricting unit330and typically includes but is not restricted to a baffle plate, a cam, a disc, or any other suitable component. As shown in the embodiment inFIG. 4B, the lock unit320is preferably but not limited to a key lock. However, in other embodiments, the lock unit320may be a combination lock or a combination of a combination lock and a key lock. Therefore, when the lock unit320is in the locked position, the lock unit320rotates and restricts the movement of restricting unit330in order to restrict the extension movement of the cable200. In this instance, the cable200may only move in a direction that shrinks the loop700. When the lock unit320is in the unlocked position, the lock unit320releases the restricting unit330, allowing the restricting unit330to return to its original position to release the cable200. The cable200can then freely move in both directions.

FIG. 4Cillustrates a cable lock300. When using the lock300, the loop connector100and the cable200are first detached from the lock body310. That is, the loop connector100is pulled out of the slot350together with the cable200out of the lock body310. A free end of the cable200without the blocking portion210then first passes through the first through hole120of the loop connector100leaving the other end of the cable with the blocking portion210blocked at the first through hole120. The free end of the cable200winds around the fixed object A, and then passes through the second through hole130to form the first loop500. The cable200exiting the second through hole130then passes through an end of the lock body310, winds around the fixed object B, and then passes through another end of the lock body310to complete the second loop700. This completes the securing procedure.

The following descriptions introduce various other different loop connectors100that may be combined with the lock body310. As shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, theFIG. 8shaped loop connector100is disposed in the slot350of the lock body310. As shown in the embodiment inFIG. 5A, the bottom of the triangular lock body310has enough room for the cable200to sway within a range of 180 or 190 degrees to increase the operability and convenience of the cable200. When the cable lock300is not in use, the loop connector100can be received in the slot350with the cable passing through one of the though holes and two ends of the lock body310so that the loop connector100can be kept safely with the lock body310and the cable200, eliminating the need of separate storage.FIG. 5Cis a view of the embodiment of the cable lock300ofFIGS. 5A and 5Bwith the cable winding around a fixed object. As shown inFIG. 5C, in addition to being able to operate the cable lock300in the same manner as the embodiment shown inFIG. 4C, the cable200exiting out of one side of the lock body310is wound around a fixed object C in conjunction with a similar or different type of loop connector100to form a third loop800. A single cable lock300can be matched with a plurality of loop connectors100according to the different implementation circumstances to secure multiple articles requiring theft protection. It should be noted that the blocking portion210disposed on the end of the last loop made by the loop connector100should be detachable in order for the cable200to pass through the loop connector100during disassembly of the cable200from the loop connector100and the fixed objects A, B, C.

FIGS. 6A and 6Bshow another cable lock300which can accommodate the loop connector100in the lock body310. The outline of the loop connector100corresponds to the shape of the slot350in the lock body310so that the loop connector100may be accommodated in the slot350. When the loop connector100is accommodated in the slot350, the cable200passes through one through hole of the loop connector100to position the loop connector100within the lock body310. When one desires to use the cable lock300, the cable200is first pulled out of the lock body310on one end and then the loop connector100is pulled out of the slot350. The cable200may then accordingly be separately wound around with the lock body310and the loop connector100to form the first loop500and the second loop700as shown inFIG. 6B. Please refer to the embodiment mentioned previously for the detailed operation steps.

FIGS. 7A and 7Billustrate another loop connector100of non-specific shape, which can be combined with the lock body310of the cable lock300. In the present embodiment, a plurality of protruding bumps on anti-slip portion190is disposed on a side of the connector body110of the loop connector100designed for gripping convenience. The loop connector100is preferably disposed in the slot350located at a side of the lock body310, wherein the cable200passes through one of the through holes to position the loop connector100within the lock body310. However, in other embodiments, the loop connector100and the slot350may form a male-female connection matchup to position the components, such as, a groove, a bulge, to prevent the loop connector100from falling out the slot350.

FIGS. 8A-8Band9A-9B illustrate yet another cable lock300that accommodates the loop connector100within the lock body310. Moreover, when the loop connector100is received in the slot350of the lock body310, the loop connector100and the lock body310are preferably in an integral shape. For example, the loop connector100and the lock body310together have a smooth outline or exterior appearance. The loop connector100can be categorized in form as having a non-specific shape or having a triangular outline. The different shapes of the loop connector100are accommodated separately in the slots350with corresponding shapes. Please refer to the embodiment mentioned above for the method of positioning the loop connector100within the lock body310. Moreover, as shown inFIG. 9A, on one end of the lock body310, the lock body310of the cable lock300has room for the cable200to sway 180-190 degrees in order to improve the operability and convenience of the cable200.

FIG. 9Cillustrates an embodiment applying the cable lock300shown inFIGS. 9A and 9Bof securing the article requiring theft protection. When the distance between the bicycle B requiring theft protection and the fixed object A is relatively large, the loop connector100may be utilized in conjunction with the cable200to wind the cable200around the fixed object A (to form the first loop500). The cable lock300and the cable200are then utilized to wind the cable200around the bicycle B to form the second loop700, securing the bicycle B to the fixed object A to prevent theft thereof. When one wishes to disarm the theft protection legally, the lock unit320is unlocked to release the cable200so that the cable200may freely move. At this time, the cable200may separate from the lock body310, the bicycle B, the loop connector100, and the fixed object A. The loop connector100is then tucked away into the slot350of the lock body310to complete the disarming process of the lock.

Although the preferred embodiments of present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. The preferred embodiments disclosed will not limited the scope of the present invention. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.