Abstract:
A portable safe ( 10 ) includes a safe body ( 15 ) and cover ( 20 ) that are selectively coupled with a locking mechanism ( 32 ). The safe cover ( 20 ) is permanently affixed to a tether ( 27 ) having a loop ( 29 ) at one end that is sized to allow the safe cover ( 20 ) to pass through but does not admit the safe body ( 15 ). Thus, the safe cover ( 20 ) can be installed on a fixed object by looping the tether ( 27 ) around the object, passing the safe cover ( 20 ) through the loop ( 29 ), and cinching the cover ( 20 ) to the fixed object. The safe body ( 15 ) can then be locked to the safe cover ( 20 ).

Description:
This application is the U.S. national phase entry of PCT/US2007/002144, with an international filing date of Jan. 26, 2007, entitled “Tethered Portable Storage Device”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is often desirable to secure one&#39;s belongings when traveling away from home to an outdoor or other publicly accessible area. For example, individuals who go to a remote location to participate in an activity such as jogging, hiking, or physical labor may want to secure a small number of personal items such as cash, car keys, and identification or credit cards so that it is not necessary to carry these items during the activity. These personal items may get lost during the activity or may be inconvenient to carry during strenuous activity. 
     SUMMARY 
     A portable safe includes first and second safe components. Each safe component partially defines a safe compartment and when the first and second safe components are placed in abutting relationship they form a completely enclosed safe compartment. The first and second safe components are selectively coupled together with a locking mechanism. The first safe component is permanently affixed to a tether having a loop at one end that admits the first safe component, but does not admit the second safe component. Thus, the first safe component can be installed on a fixed object such as, for example, a post, by looping the tether around the object and passing the first safe component through the loop. The second safe component can then be locked to the first safe component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, embodiments of the invention are illustrated, which, together with the description of the invention serve to illustrate the principles of this invention. The drawings and detailed description are not intended to and do not limit the scope of the invention or any subsequent claims in any way. Instead, the drawings and description only describe embodiments of the invention and other embodiments of the invention not described are encompassed by this disclosure of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable safe constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded front view of the portable safe of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4 , and  5 , are partial exploded views of the portable safe of  FIGS. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the portable safe of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The Detailed Description of the Invention merely describes preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention as described by the claims and specification is broader than and unlimited by the preferred embodiments, and the terms in the claims have their full ordinary meaning. 
     Travel safes are currently available that are designed to secure valuables such as cash, jewelry, and passports in a hotel room. While effective for their intended purpose, these safes are relatively bulky and most are free standing. These safes discourage theft because they are too large to conceal or too difficult to open. Due to their size, many of these safes are not easily transported from location to location. Because many of these safes are free standing, they are not well suited for use in a publicly accessible or outdoor space, such as a trailhead or worksite, in which the safe would be unattended. A few of these safes are provided with an anchoring device, but these safes are relatively bulky or otherwise unsuitable for installation in an outdoor or public space. 
       FIGS. 1-6  show a portable safe  10  that can be installed on a stationary object such as a post or door knob. Referring to  FIG. 1  in particular, the portable safe  10  includes a safe body  15  and a detachable safe cover  20 , both constructed of impact and cut resistant material such as, for example, zinc. The safe cover  20  includes a combination lock  32  with which it is detachably secured to the safe body  15 . A flexible tether  27  is permanently affixed to the combination lock  32  and cover  20  with a pivoting cable connector  33 . The tether includes, a loop  29  at one end. The loop is sized so that the safe cover  20  can be passed through the loop to cinch the tether to the stationary object. Once the safe cover  20  is installed on a stationary object in this manner, the safe housing  15  may be locked to the safe cover  20  as will be described in more detail below. The loop  29  is sized so that the safe body  15  is prevented from passing through the loop. Because of the relative size between the safe body  15  and the loop  29 , once the safe housing is connected to the safe cover the portable safe cannot be removed from the stationary object to which the tether  27  is cinched without severing the tether or separating the safe body from the safe cover. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate steps by which the safe cover  20  can be installed by cinching the tether  27  to the stationary object. In  FIG. 3A  the loop  29  is passed around the safe cover  20  in the direction indicated by the arrow. In  FIG. 3B , the tether is cinched about the stationary object (not shown). The safe body  15 , shown in  FIG. 4  holding a key  50 , can now be installed to the safe cover  20  with the combination lock  32  and thereby secured to the stationary object. 
       FIGS. 2 and 6  are exploded views illustrating various components that make up the portable safe  10 . The safe cover  20  includes the tether  27  and loop  29 , the cable connector  33 , and combination lock  32 . The tether is made up of a cut resistant flexible cable such as, for example, braided steel filament  28  covered by a protective sheath  30 . The protective sheath  30  is made of, for example, vinyl and covers the cable  28  to prevent damage to surfaces that may be caused by contact with the cable. The loop  29  is formed by looping a distal end of the tether and securing the end of the tether to an intermediate portion of the tether by, for example, crimping the end to the tether with a crimp connector  40 . The other distal end of the tether is inserted into a cable connector  33  and the clip is crimped or otherwise affixed to the cable  28  and tether cover  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a top perspective view of the safe body  15  is shown as defining sides and bottom of a safe compartment  17 . In this particular embodiment the safe compartment  17  is relatively small, for example, sized to accept a house or car key or a credit card sized document. A locking post  16  is integrally formed with the safe body  15 . The locking post includes locking pins  61  for locking engagement with the combination lock  32 , as described below. As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the safe body includes a safe bottom  39  that has threaded bosses  56 . The safe bottom is attached to the safe body with two screws  55  that are threaded through two integral washers  57  within the safe body and into the threaded bosses  56 . 
     The combination lock  32  is formed by stacking a plurality of lock dials  32   a - 32   c  on a lock cylinder  47  that locates and supports the lock dials in proper alignment for rotation on the lock cylinder. The lock cylinder protrudes from a lock pivot clevis  45  that accepts the cable connector  33  and a pivot pin  43  that pivotally mounts the cable connector to the clevis  45 . A slotted detent washer  51   a - 51   c  is associated with each lock dial  32   a - 32   c . The lock dials each include a plurality of numbers or other such symbols on an outer facing surface, and a retaining flange  34   a - 34   c  on an inner facing surface with a notch  35   a - 35   c  aligned with or keyed to one of the symbols selected to be included in an unlocking combination code. Once the lock dials are stacked on the lock cylinder, the lock cylinder is inserted through a cylinder mounting hole  62  in the safe cover  20 , such that a slot  63  in the lock cylinder  47  aligns with a corresponding slot  67  in the safe cover  20 . A retaining clip  53  is snap fit around the end of the lock cylinder  47  in grooves  48  to permanently secure the lock cylinder to the safe cover.  FIG. 5  shows an underside view of the safe cover  20  and combination lock  32  in which the retaining clip  53  is installed on the end of the lock cylinder to secure the lock cylinder to the safe cover. 
     To secure the safe cover  20  to the safe housing  15 , the lock dials  32   a - 32   c  are rotated to align the notches  35   a - 35   c  with the lock cylinder slot  63  (i.e., in the selected unlocking orientation of the lock dials). The lock cylinder  47  is then slid over the locking post  16 , with locking pins  61  aligned with, and extending into, the lock cylinder slot  63  and safe cover slot  67 . When one or more of the lock dials are rotated out of the unlocking orientation, the notches  35   a - 35   c  of the one or more lock dials are misaligned with the corresponding locking pins  61 , such that the retaining flanges  34   a - 34   c  block withdrawal of the locking pins  61  from the lock cylinder. To remove the safe cover  20  for access to the safe compartment  17 , the lock dials  32   a - 32   c  are rotated back to the unlocking orientation, such that the notches  35   a - 35   c  align with the lock pins  61 , allowing for withdrawal of the locking post  16  from the lock cylinder  47 . 
     While various aspects of the invention are described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects may be realized in many alternative embodiments not shown, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects and features of the invention, such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices, and so on may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the aspects, concepts or features of the invention into additional embodiments within the scope of the present invention even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the invention may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present invention however; such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated.