Abstract:
An apparatus for supporting and locking storage containers and portable items to vehicles, buildings and larger items. A universal two-part mount and lock system whereas one part covers over and conceals second part making it not possible to access fasteners. The two part mount mates together and after actuating a lock makes it so two parts cannot be separated thus protecting an attached portable item from theft.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
   Related U.S. application Data Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 60/718,237 Filed on Sep. 19, 2005 

   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a universal mounting and locking device, particularly mounting and locking portable items to a structure that is less or not portable, and more particularly mounting and locking tool storage containers and portable items to buildings, vehicles and non-portable items. 
   The vehicles have for many years been a means for the storing and transportation of equipment and tools, while storage containers on vehicles almost always are either permanently mounted or loosely placed. A loosely placed container may use a chain or cable with padlock for theft deterrence. The problem is chains and padlocks are easily defeated by using cheap and easily obtainable bolt cutters or hacksaws. Also, when chained or cabled there may still be undesired movement. A permanently mounted container cannot easily be made portable when needed. My present invention fulfills the needs of mounting and locking storage containers to vehicles. Such containers lacking needed theft protection include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,524,531, 5,501,355 and 5,224,531. 
   A device in the past has been invented to fill this need, the patent was issued on Feb. 10, 1982 bearing U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,684. This device is part of an attached container, thus if you need to store items that will not fit into the container then that invention may not be useful. My present invention fulfills the need to be of use with multiple various size containers. 
   Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,684 claims at least two spaced parallel anchor rails to which said box may be locked. When two parallel rails are used, if when installed they are slightly not parallel, that invention may not perform. My present invention uses only one mount and thus no items to align properly. 
   Furthermore, the locking action of U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,684 relies on a rod with bottom angled portion interacting with said rails to prevent theft. The parallel rails leave a space under the box where a thief can insert a long pry bar and apply the force needed to straighten this angled portion and steal the container is easily accomplished. My present invention fulfills the need to secure items by using pins with larger heads that interact with a thickness of metal and leave no gaps to insert pry bar. 
   Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,684 is a box where slots are accommodated beneath the bottom portion of the box. This makes that invention not practical for use on walls. The universal nature of my present invention allows it to be mounted to multiple sides of storage container and locked to a floor, wall or even a ceiling. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   This need of enabling tool containers to be secure as if permanently attached yet lockable and easily made portable is filled by the present invention. Any storage container that can be bolted or welded to the present invention can be afforded security combined with portability not possible before my present invention. 
   The present invention consists primarily of two formed, machined and welded parts. One part is a receiving plate that in general will be attached to the vehicle, building, or substantial object by inserting metallic fasteners through provided holes for this purpose. The receiving plate has fastener holes on one surface plane and on a separate surface plane contains slide holes whereas a portion of the slide hole is larger at one end of the hole and smaller at the other end of the hole. These slide holes will accept fasteners or lock pins from lock plate that comprises a formed, box-like structure that fits over and covers the receiving plate. It contains holes which fasteners may pass through to attach to a tool container or portable item. The fasteners attached to the lock plate have larger head than body and protrude from the lock plate so that when the lock plate is placed over the receiving plate the lock pin head passes through the large side of the hole. The lock plate and attached item is then shifted laterally until it cannot be shifted further. A key-locking device is then actuated which makes a reverse lateral movement, and thus a separation of the lock plate and receiving plate is not possible. Thus the item is now as secure as if permanently fastened but- can be made quickly and easily portable by reversing the above stated actions. 
   There are other parts of the present invention that will be revealed hereinafter. 
   The parts and their relationship are exemplified in the following disclosure. The scope of the parts and relationship will be revealed in the appended claims. 

   
     A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top and bottom view of the receiving plate of a two receiving hole model. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the receiving plate of a two receiving hole model. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of lock plate. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of lock plate of a two pin model. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of lock pins of different styles. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of lock pins of different styles. 
       FIG. 7  is a front or back view of receiving hole of different styles. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective drawing showing receiving plate and lock plate. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention involves a universal locking and mounting device that allows secure mounting and locking of tool storage containers and portable items to vehicles, buildings and substantial objects. A key lock  36  is actuated once container or item is mounted and there is no access to any fasteners to tamper with for theft purpose. Once mounting is performed and said invention is locked, all exposed surfaces consist of coated metal and a small key lock head  36 . The invention allows portable items to be secure from movement and theft in a manner never before revealed in prior art. 
   The invention consists of two mating and interlocking plates.  FIG. 8  the two plates are the receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , and lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . The lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  is a box like shape and is a size slightly larger than receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  will completely fit inside the lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . The lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  is dimensionally longer than the receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  by roughly half the length of the receiving hole  32 . The difference of size allows manual movement of one plate in relation to the other. Following is a detailed description of lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and the interaction of the parts of the invention. 
   The lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  body is primarily formed sheet metal of a five-sided box shape. All corners that are not together are welded to result in a rigid, five-sided box with one side of the larger possible dimension being open. This results in one large solid side and four sides of a smaller dimension. The height of the four smaller sides is of a dimension slightly greater than that of plane  24  of receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . On the solid side and inside of the box are at least two protruding metallic pins  38 . Lock pins  38  may be welded or bolted using threaded insert to lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . The body of pins  36  are slightly smaller than the smallest dimension of receiving hole  32  of receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . Pins  38  are mounted on lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  so the smaller dimension of pins  38  are attached to lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  and larger head pins  38  are protruding. Heads of lock pins  38  are slightly smaller than largest dimension of receiving hole  32  in receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . On smaller end of lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  is a key actuated locking device  36 . Holes are provided on largest dimension of lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  to accept fasteners. 
   The receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  is primarily formed sheet metal and has seven sides. On receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  there are four vertical sides of the same plane  24 . The receiving plate body  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  consists of a formed contiguous sheet metal body of a shape, vertical plane  24 , then lower horizontal plane  26 , then vertical plane  24 , then upper horizontal plane  28 , then vertical plane  24 , then lower horizontal plane  26 , then vertical plane  24 , with all vertical planes  24  in like position and parallel, and both lower horizontal plantes  26  being parallel and in like position. Receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  is of a dimension that will completely fit into lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . On upper horizontal plane  28  are at least two receiving holes  32 . Receiving holes  32  have a small hole joined with a larger hole and are positioned so that the largest dimension of hole is parallel to longest side of receiving plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . The immediate area surrounding at least a portion of receiving holes  32  have an additional thickness of metal in relation to thickness of receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  body material. This reinforcing thickness of metal  34  may be welded to receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  or attached by other means. The two lower horizontal planes  26  have holes  30  or slots  30  meant to accept-mechanical fasteners. On one outer vertical plane  24  is a lock hasp or pass-through hole for lock. Receiving holes  32  are arranged so that the large portion of receiving holes  32  align with lock pins  38  when mating lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  and receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
   A description of mounting and locking action of the invention follows. Receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  is securely attached to building, vehicle or substantial object by means of mechanical fastening or welding of upper horizontal plane  28 . Lock plates  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are either mechanically fastened or welded to tool storage container or portable item. The lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  body is placed over the receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  body of the receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  body so that lock pin  38  heads on lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  body pass through larger portion of receiving holes  32  on receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  body. The lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  body is then manually shifted in relation to receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  body causing lock pin heads  38  to move into a position that the lock pins  38  heads are a larger dimension than portion of receiving hole  32  in immediate area of lock pins  38 . At this time a keyed lock device is enacted which makes it not possible to shift position of lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  in relation to position of receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . After said actions occur it is not possible to easily remove lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  from receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and thus tool storage container or item attached to lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  is not portable and is now resistant to theft and movement in relation to receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . Disengaging of key lock  36  and reversal of before-mentioned actions will allow separation of lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  from receiving plate  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and causes item and lock plate  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  to once again become portable.