Abstract:
The present invention is a locking system comprising a cylindrical padlock, a lock securing member attached to said cylindrical padlock, a padlock guard, a hasp plate, and at least one of the following: an outer flange on said padlock guard mounted parallel to said hasp plate or an outer flange on said hasp plate mounted perpendicular to said hasp plate. The locking system allows the user to securely store the lock when it is not in use.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/814,130, filed Jun. 16, 2006 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
         [0002]     This invention relates to a locking system, which includes a padlock guard for a cylindrical shackle-less lock which allows the user to securely store the lock when it is not in use. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The theft of property from vehicles such as trucks, vans, recreational vehicles, trailers, and the like, or stationary structures such as stores, warehouses, garages, barns, and the like, is problem of constant concern, and has fueled the need for high-quality locks to keep doors securely closed and prevent unauthorized access.  
         [0004]     A thief attempting to gain access to the contents of a vehicle or structure often attacks the lock, and over the years, there have been many attempts to develop locks and other devices which deter criminals by making it more difficult to tamper with or disable the lock. For example, conventional padlocks with a u-shaped shackle are a prime target for thieves, since the shackle can be easily cut with a bolt cutter or sawed off with a hacksaw.  
         [0005]     Other high-security, non-conventional padlocks have been created in an attempt to protect vehicles, truck bodies, slot machines, automatic teller machines and other areas and equipment against unauthorized entry. A number of such high-security padlocks have a generally short, cylindrical body shape, resembling a hockey-puck. Locks of this sort are shown in Best U.S. Pat. No. 3,404,549; Randel U.S. Pat. No. 3,769,821; and Best U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,360. The principal difference between these cylindrical locks and the conventional padlocks is, of course, the fact that it did not have the usual U-shaped link or shackle, i.e., that it had no exposed element which could be rapidly and relatively easily cut through by a bolt cutter or sawed through by a hacksaw.  
         [0006]     To further enhance the security afforded by these cylindrical locks, guards have been designed to surround the lock bodies and prevent or inhibit the lock bodies from attack by pry bars or other instruments. Guards of this sort are shown in Perfetto U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,574 and Albano U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,255. For example, Perfetto discloses a locking system utilizing a padlock guard which is designed specifically for use with a cylindrical lock. The lock has a flat-faced cylindrical housing and an internal key cylinder-operable bolt which can be selectively protracted through and retracted from a hasp staple or the like inserted into a channel in the housing which intersects the path of movement of the bolt. A previously affixed guard encircles the lock which, by virtue of its interposed position between a tampering tool and the lock, minimizes the unauthorized non-key removal of the lock.  
         [0007]     While the cylindrical locks and lock-protecting guards of the aforesaid and all other known prior art efforts are generally effective for the purposes intended, none of the previous cylindrical locks and lock-protecting guards provide means for securing the cylindrical lock when the lock is not in use. For example, such a lock and protective guard are often used on the back doors of trucks or vans. The protective guard is affixed to one or both of the rear doors. When the doors are opened, i.e., for loading and unloading the contents of the truck, the lock is not in use. The individual that is loading/unloading the truck may place the lock on the rear bumper, or the ground until their task is complete. This often results in misplacing or losing the lock, which is not inexpensive to replace. Hence, there is the need for a protective guard for cylindrical locks which allows the user to securely store the lock when it is not in use.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a novel and improved locking system which includes a padlock guard that is specifically designed for use with cylindrical shackle-less locks, whereby the lock and guard have means to securely store the lock when it is not in use.  
         [0009]     It is another object of the present invention that such a locking system be easily constructed, but be difficult and time-consuming for a thief to destroy. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts a locking system for sealing the doors of a vehicle, when the lock is not engaged.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts a locking system for sealing the doors of a vehicle, when the lock is engaged.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts a locking system for securing the roll-down gate of a truck or storefront.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  depicts the hasp plate of the locking system shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  depicts the guard of the locking system shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is an alternate view of the hasp plate of the locking system shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0016]      FIGS. 7, 8  and  9  depict a locking system of the present invention in use on a vehicle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a locking system according to the invention includes a padlock guard  10  which has a substantially cylindrical shell. Guard  10  is made of a sheet or strip of a high strength metal, e.g., steel, having a sufficient hardness to be highly resistant to sawing, hammer blows, and the like, and has an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the cylindrical lock  20  so as to accommodate the housing lock  20  freely but with a nearly sliding fit, and a depth somewhat greater than the thickness of the cylindrical lock so that no part of the lock protrudes beyond the front edge  11  of the guard  10 , when the lock  20  is in use.  
         [0018]     The padlock  20  includes a cylindrical body  21  preferably made of steel or a suitable metal or metal alloy. Cylindrical body  21  has substantially flat opposite front and back faces ( 22 ,  23 ), a channel that extends inwardly of the cylindrical body from the back face  23  toward but terminating short of the front face  22 , and an opposite passageway extending inwardly from one part of circumferential face of the cylindrical body and intersecting the channel substantially in the center of the cylindrical body. Within the passageway section is a key cylinder which at its outward end has an opening to receive a key and which at its inward end carries a bolt. When a key is inserted into the key cylinder and turned, the bolt can be extended by the key cylinder across the channel and into the passageway section, or can be drawn back by the key cylinder from the passageway section so as to render the channel empty.  
         [0019]     In an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , where the lock  20  is to be used with a hasp ( 30 ,  31 ) for sealing the doors of a protected vehicle such as a truck or van, the guard is axially split in two pieces ( 10 ,  11 ), as is the hasp plate ( 30 ,  31 ). Each portion of the guard ( 10 ,  11 ) is affixed at its rear edge to the front face of a hasp plate ( 30 ,  31 ), which are then affixed to the doors of the vehicle. Inner edge of each hasp plate ( 30 ,  31 ) has a flange ( 40 ,  41 ) with a hole at the center mounted perpendicular to the hasp plate, such that the center holes of the two flanges ( 40 ,  41 ) match up and are located in the center of the guard ( 10 ,  11 ). The channel of the lock  20  is placed over the center flanges ( 40 ,  41 ) and, when the bolt is extended across the channel, the bolt will slide through the two center holes of the flanges ( 40 ,  41 ), so as to engage the lock  20 . One portion of the guard ( 10 ,  11 ) has an outer flange  50  with a hole at the center, mounted parallel to the hasp plate ( 30 ,  31 ). Lock  20  has a lock securing member  60  with one end  61  attached to the outer face  22  of lock  20  and a second hook end  62  that extends past the edge of the lock  20 . Lock securing member  60  and outer flange  50  are considered independent elements of the invention. Hook  62  of lock securing member  60  can be inserted into the hole of the outer flange  50  to secure the lock when it is not in use. Each hasp plate ( 30 ,  31 ) is mounted to opposite doors of the vehicle, via bolts through bolt holes, such that the center holes of the two flanges ( 40 ,  41 ) align and are located at the point where the two vehicle doors meet.  
         [0020]     In a further embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is an outer flange  70  with a hole at the center, mounted perpendicular to the hasp plate ( 30 ,  31 ). The outer face of the lock  20  has a lock securing member  60  with one end  61  attached to the outer face  22  of lock  20  and a second hook end  62  that extends past the edge of the lock  21 . Lock securing member  60  and flange  70  are considered independent elements of the invention. Flange  70  is of the same size and shape as the channel of the lock  20 , so that the perpendicularly oriented flange  70  fits inside the channel of the lock  20 , thereby holding the lock  20  in place when it is not in use. Hook  62  of lock securing member  60  can also be inserted into the hole of the outer flange  70  to secure the lock when it is not in use.  
         [0021]     In a further embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 3 , hook end  62  extends the width of the guard ( 10 ,  11 ) such that it meets the hasp plate ( 30 ,  31 ). End portion  63  of hook end  62  has metal stopper  64  mounted to it. Stopper  64  has a diameter greater than the center hole of flange  50 , such that the hook/lock combination can be lifted out of the guard ( 10 ,  11 ) (clearing the top portion of the guard ( 10 ,  11 )) and rotated to the side when the lock is not engaged. Stopper  64  prevents hook end  62  from being removed from flange  50 .  
         [0022]     In a further embodiment of the present invention, where the lock  20  is to be used to secure a truck with a rolling rear gate or e.g., a storefront or garage with a rolling gate, the guard is one complete piece ( 12 ), as is the hasp plate ( 32 ), as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Guard  12  has an opening to allow for key access to the lock  20 . Hasp plate  32  has flange  80  with a hole at its center mounted perpendicular to the hasp plate  32 . Directly underneath flange  80  is an opening  81 . Guard  12  has a metal plate  90  mounted parallel to the rear of the guard  12 . Plate  90  has an opening  91  to accommodate flange  80 . Extending from the rear of plate  90 , directly underneath flange  80  is a cylindrical pole  91 . Pole  91  fits into opening  81 , when the guard/plate combination ( 12 ,  90 ) is joined with hasp plate  32 . Flange  80  fits in the channel of the lock  20  and, when the bolt is extended across the channel of lock  20 , the bolt will slide through the center hole of flange  80 , so as to engage the lock  20 .  
         [0023]     Guard  12  has an outer flange  33  with a hole at the center, mounted perpendicular to the hasp plate  32 . Lock  20  has a lock securing member  60  with one end  61  attached to the outer face  22  of lock  20  and a second hook end  62  that extends past the edge of lock  20 . Lock securing member  60  and flange  33  are considered independent elements of the invention. Hook  62  can be inserted into the hole of the outer flange  33  to secure the lock when it is not in use. Flange  33  is also of the same size and shape as the channel of the lock  20 , so that the perpendicularly oriented flange  33  fits inside the channel of the lock  20 , thereby holding lock  20  in place when it is not in use. Hasp plate  32  is mounted to the outside frame of the rolling gate, such that when the guard/plate combination ( 12 ,  90 ) is joined with hasp plate  32  and lock  20  is engaged, pole  91  extends inward through the outside frame and blocks the wheels of the rolling gate, thereby preventing the gate from being opened.  
         [0024]     In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , hasp plate  32  has an outer flange  34  with a hole at the center, mounted parallel to hasp plate  32 . Lock  20  has a lock securing member  60  with one end  61  attached to the outer face  22  of lock  20  and a second hook end  62  that extends past the edge of the lock  20 . Lock securing member  60  and flange  34  are considered independent elements of the invention. Hook end  62  extends the width of the guard  12  such that it meets the hasp plate  32 . End portion  63  of the hook end  62  has a metal stopper  64  mounted to it. Stopper  64  has a diameter greater than the center hole of flange  34 , such that the hook/lock combination can be lifted out of the guard  12  (clearing the top portion of the guard  12 ) and rotate to the side, when the lock is not engaged. Stopper  64  prevents the hook end  62  from being removed from flange  34 .  
         [0025]     In another embodiment of the present invention, lock securing member  60  is separate from lock  20  and can be attached to any pre-existing cylindrical lock. Flange  50  is separate from guard  10 , and can be attached to any pre-existing guard. Flange  70  is separate from hasp plate  31  and can be attached to any pre-existing hasp plate.  
         [0026]     An additional embodiment of the present invention comprises a lock securing member/flange combination. In this embodiment, end portion  63  of hook end  62  of lock securing member  60  has a metal stopper  64  mounted to it. Stopper  64  has a diameter greater than the center hole of flange  50 , such that stopper  64  prevents hook end  62  from being removed from flange  50 . Said lock securing member/flange combination can be mounted or attached to any pre-existing cylindrical lock and guard for said lock.  
         [0027]     A further embodiment of the present invention comprises hasp plate  31 , guard  10 , lock securing member  60 , flange  50  and/or flange  70 . Said embodiment can be used to replace a pre-existing hasp plate/guard combination that does not include means to store a lock when not in use.  
         [0028]     A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a kit used to retrofit a pre-existing lock. The kit comprises lock securing member  60 , and flanges  50  and/or  70  which can be attached to a pre-existing hasp plate. Said kit can also include a hasp plate/guard combination with flanges  50  and/or  70  pre-attached.  
         [0029]     The foregoing embodiments are illustrative of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope thereof. Other embodiments falling within the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.