Cuff lock and push-button locking mechanism

The invention provides a pair of cuff locks joined by a universal joint and linkage system which provides for 360 relative rotation between the cuffs as well as allow the cuffs to be folded together into a compact position. The invention further provides for a push button cylinder lock which includes a rotatable plug and a fixed plug each having a plurality of aligned bores for receiving one or more tumbler pins. The push button cylinder lock further includes a non-rotatable push button shaft which is sildably mounted within the housing. One or more retaining pins engage locking indents of the push button shaft.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The invention provides an improved design for securing personal objects such as a bicycle or other personal objects such as a portable computer. Prior art bicycle locks typically are made of metal and generally have a large inflexible U shape which are bulky in size. Further, prior art bicycle locks generally require a key to both lock and unlock the lock. Another disadvantage to prior art bicycle locks is that they require two hands to operate the lock. Yet another disadvantage to prior art bicycle locks is that they are not adjustable in size to accommodate the object to be secured. Thus an improved bicycle lock is desired which overcomes the above described disadvantages.

The invention further provides an improved design for a push button cylinder lock. Prior art cylinder locks are typically susceptible to attack by saws, and by rapping or banging the lock with an object in order to unseat the pins. A further disadvantage to prior art cylinder locks is that the locking bar rotates. This rotation makes it more difficult to interface with a secondary component. Thus an improved push button cylinder lock is desired which overcomes the above described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention provides in one aspect a cuff lock for securing personal objects such as a bicycle to a fixture. The cuff lock comprises a first and second cuff, with each of the first and second cuffs including a stationary arm mounted upon a housing, and a swing arm pivotally connected to said stationary arm and having a ratcheted end. Each of the housings further include a bore for receiving the ratcheted end of the swing arm. Each of the housings also include a spring mounted locking lever having a first end for engaging the ratcheted end of the swing arm. The spring mounted locking lever further includes a shoulder for engaging a shaft of a lock cylinder.

The invention provides in a second aspect a cylinder lock comprising a housing having a rotatable plug rotatably disposed therein and a fixed plug secured to said housing. The non-rotatable shaft is slidably mounted within the housing and is slidable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The non-rotatable shaft includes an actuated end extending from an end of said housing and a latching end extending from an opposite end of said housing. One or more tumbler pins are received in one or more axially aligned bores of the fixed plug and the rotatable plug; and one or more retaining elements are positioned for engagement with the non-rotatable shaft.

The invention provides in yet another aspect a cylinder lock comprising: a housing having a rotatable plug rotatably disposed therein and a fixed plug secured to said housing. A non-rotatable shaft is slidably mounted within the housing and is slidable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The non-rotatable shaft includes an actuated end extending from an end of said housing and a latching end extending from an opposite end of said housing. One or more retaining elements are positioned for engagement with a groove of said non-rotatable shaft.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the detailed description and claims to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The cuff lock as shown generally at10, is useful for securing articles such as the frame of a bicycle and front tire to a fixture such as a pole. However, the invention is not limited to such use, as there are many other uses readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The cuff lock10comprises a first and second cuff20,20″, and a first and second lock body housing30,30″, wherein the lock bodies are connected together as described in more detail, below.

Each cuff20,20″ comprises a swing arm22,22″ and a stationary arm24,24″ which are pivotally connected together. The swing arm22and the stationary arm24preferably are curved, and when joined together and in cooperation with the lock body housing form a circular hole23. The stationary arm is preferably comprised of two or more metal stampings26mechanically fastened together. The metal stampings26may optionally include the stationary arm24and the lock body housing30formed as a integral piece. The stationary arm24has a first end28having aligned holes29for receiving the first holed end32of the swing arm. A rivet or pin25,25″ is received in the aligned holes29,32of the stationary arm24and the swing arm22for pivotally joining them together.

The swing arm22is preferably comprised of two or more layers of metal stampings which are mechanically joined together. The first end32of the swing arm is curved and pivotally joined to the stationary arm. A second end34of the swing arm22further comprises a distal end36having a plurality of notches38for engagement with a spring loaded lever50located within the lock body housing30. The plurality of notches38provide for adjustability of the cuff locks. The distal end36of the swing arm22is aligned for reception into a transverse bore39of the lock body housing30for engagement with the locking lever50. The distal end36of the swing arm further comprises an optional positive stop40which engages an outer edge42of the lock body housing30in order to prevent overtightening of the cuff when the distal end of the swing arm is inserted into the transverse bore39.

The lock body housing30further comprises an internal bore52which houses the locking lever50as best shown in FIG.3. The locking lever50is mounted within the bore52and its pointed end54is outwardly biased by spring56for positive mechanical engagement with the notched or ratcheted end36of the swing arm22. Thus the spring mounted locking lever50provides a detent-type action capable of multiple locking positions but which is not secured until the user operates the locking mechanism in order to secure the locking lever. Any type of locking cylinder may be used with the invention, but it is preferred that a push button cylinder be utilized. It is even more preferred that the push button cylinder60as described in more detail below be utilized. A push button type cylinder lock allows the user to open, close and adjust each cuff for installation purposes without the need for a key as required by conventional locks. Further, a key is not required to lock each cuff, as the user only need actuate the push button mechanism of the lock. Finally, once the push button lock is actuated into a locked position, the push button shaft is deadlocked and cannot be shimmed.

The lock body housing30thus further comprises a bore62for receiving a push button cylinder or other looking mechanism. The push button cylinder60is mourned perpendicular to the looking lever50. The locking lever preferably comprises a Z shaped profile, and further includes a mid-section64having a shoulder66which is positioned for engagement with a shaft68of the locking cylinder. When the push button cylinder is actuated into a locked position by pressing the push button outer end70, the distal end65of the push button shaft engages the shoulder66of the locking lever deadlocking the locking lever50into a locked or secured position.

The lock cylinder may also comprise a rotational type lock cylinder in which the shaft of the lock rotates from a first unlocked position to a second locked position (not shown). The shaft may include an extension which is positioned to engage the shoulder of the locking lever50in the locked position, and which may be rotated out of engagement with the shoulder into the unlocked position.

Each of the lock body housings30may further provide for a swivel72rotatably mounted on an end74of the lock body housing30. The swivel72allows each cuff to rotate 360 degrees. The swivel72further comprises a flanged end76which protrudes from the end74of the lock body housing and includes a hole78for being connected together by a linkage80. The linkage80allows the cuffs to be folded together into a compact position as shown inFIGS. 13 and 14(i.e., up to 180 degree relative rotation).

The lock body housings30,30″, the swing arms22,22″ and the stationary arms24,24″ of the cuff20,20″ may further comprise a vinyl, plastic or other protective coating82in order to prevent scratching of the articles to be locked.

Referring now toFIGS. 4-12, a push button cylinder lock60of the present invention is provided. The push button cylinder lock60may be used alone or in combination with the bike lock as described above, but is not limited to such use, as there are many other applications. The push button cylinder lock60comprises an outer shell housing90including an inner axial bore92having a first end94for receiving a rotatable plug100and a second end96for receiving a fixed plug102. The outer shell housing90, the rotatable plug100and the fixed plug102are all preferably cylindrical in shape. The rotatable plug100and the fixed plug102are mounted coaxial with respect to each other. The fixed plug102is secured to the outer shell housing via a pin104. The rotatable plug100is rotably mounted within the outer shell housing90and has an axial hole106for receiving a push button actuator108slidably mounted therein. The fixed plug102also has an inner hole110aligned with the axial hole106of the rotatable plug for receiving the push button actuator108.

The push button actuator108further comprises an axial bore112for receiving a push button shaft68mounted therein. A first end114of the push button shaft has a push button flange, and a mid-section of the push button shaft has a transverse hole116for receiving a spring-loaded retainer pin118therein. The spring loaded retainer pin118secures the push button shaft68to the push button actuator108. The push button actuator108further includes a mid-section having one or more locking grooves120. A flat122of the locking groove120is engaged by a spring mounted retaining pin124when the push button is actuated into the locking position. Preferably, two or more retaining pins124engage corresponding locking grooves122. It is preferred that the retaining pins124and the corresponding locking grooves be spaced in the range of about 90 to about 180 degrees apart, and more preferably in the range of about 144 to about 180 degrees apart. The spring mounted retaining pins are mounted in radial holes126located in the rotatable plug100, and function to resist axial rotation of the push button actuator108. Since the spring mounted retaining pins124are mounted in a somewhat opposed fashion as described above, they also function to increase the lock's rap resistance or resistance to inertial attack. Thus if the lock is struck hard by an object, one of the retaining pins124may be driven out of its locking groove, while the opposed pin may be driven into its locking groove defeating the inertial attack. When the rotatable plug100is rotated in order to unlock the lock, the retaining pins124are rotated out of the flats120of the opposed locking grooves thereby releasing the push button actuator108and allowing it to move axially to the unlocked position due to spring action.

The push button actuator108further comprises a spring130for biasing the push button shaft68into the unlocked position. A first end132of spring130is received in a bore134of the second end136of the push button actuator108, and a second end138of the spring130engages an inner wall140of the inner hole of the fixed plug102. The second end136of the push button actuator108further comprises an alignment foot142which is received in an axial groove141of the inner hole of the fixed plug, thereby preventing rotation of the push button actuator108and push button shaft68. Thus as the push button shaft68and the push button actuator108do not rotate, any cross-sectional shape would work for these components. Another advantage to the non-rotating feature of the push button shaft68is that it provides a stable orientation of the projecting shaft.

As shown inFIG. 12, the rotatable plug100further comprises a plurality of axially aligned bores144aligned with a respective plurality of bores146of the fixed plug102. Two or more spring mounted tumbler pins148are received in the bores144,146of the rotatable plug and the fixed plug. The bores144,146are preferably spaced about a circular pattern in equal increments. It is preferred that the bores144,146be spaced on a 10 pin or 36 degree spacing format. When the proper key150is inserted into the push button cylinder lock60, the notches152of the key bias the plug pins148to the proper height to produce a shear line at the interface of the rotatable plug100and the fixed plug102thereby permitting rotation of the rotatable plug and the unlocking of the lock.

In order to ward off attacks by saws such as trepan tools or hole-saws, it is additionally preferred that the rotatable plug100further comprise one or more anti-saw pins155mounted in axial bores as shown inFIG. 11, preferably in the “0” and the “5” hole locations. It is additionally preferred that the one or more anti-saw pins155comprise different heights and be made of hardened steel. It is further preferred that the head70of the push button shaft68further comprise a ball bearing160mounted in the exposed face of the push button shaft. The ball bearing makes it much more difficult to drill down the center of the push button shaft, as the spherical surface makes it difficult to start a drill.

In order to lock the push button lock assembly, the ball-bearing end of the push button shaft is pushed by a user, pressing it axially until the retaining elements in the rotatable plug engage the slots in the push button actuator, thereby axially securing the shaft. The pin tumbler assembly located in the rotatable and fixed plugs is also in the secured position, as the key has been removed causing the tumbler pins to misalign about the shear line and prevent rotation of the rotatable cylinder. The latching end of the push button cylinder protrudes from the cylinder and is deadlocked into position against the locking lever64or other mechanism.

In order to unlock the push button lock assembly, a proper key is inserted aligning the tumbler pin ends to the shear line existing between the fixed plug and rotatable plug. The rotatable cylinder can now be rotated by the key. As the rotatable cylinder rotates, it disengages the retaining elements from the flats of the locking detects causing them to cam out of the flats. As the retaining elements disengage, the spring acting on the push button shaft biases the push button shaft inward so that the latching end of the push button shaft retracts thereby unlocking an independent mechanism such as the locking lever. The key may then be rotated buck to its original position and removed. The lock assembly is now ready to be locked again. Due to the engagement of the alignment foot142of the push button actuator108with the axial groove141of the fixed plug102, the actuator108does not rotate during either the locking or unlocking of the push button cylinder lock60. As the push button shaft68is secured to the actuator by retainer pin118, the push button shaft68also dose not rotate during either the locking or unlocking of the push button cylinder lock60. Consequently, both the actuator108and the push button shaft68are only able to slide axially within the push button cylinder lock60, as they are permanently prohibited from rotating relative to any other portion of the push button cylinder lock60.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein, but rather the true scope and spirit of the invention are to be determined by reference to the appended claims.