Abstract:
A child-proof safety locking system may include an elastomeric loop. The loop may have at least one locking ball attached at a bottom end of the loop so that when the loop is wrapped around an object, a top end of the loop surrounds the locking ball and the top end of the loop is held in position overlying the bottom end of the loop.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.  6 , 847 , 744  filed on Nov. 18, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to locking devices for enhancing child safety. More particularly, the invention relates to “childproof” locking devices for cabinetry and household appliances. 
         [0003]    In a typical household there may be many cabinets and appliances such as refrigerators and ovens which have doors and drawers that should be made inaccessible to small children who may be present in the household. 
         [0004]    Numerous so-called “childproof” locks and latches are available on the market. Many of these products may require permanent tool-assisted installation on a cabinet. Alternatively, some products may be constructed with complex locking systems for engagement with cabinet latches or knobs. 
         [0005]    As can be seen, there is a need for a system of making cabinets and appliances inaccessible to small children without requiring use of complex locking systems or permanent tool-assisted installation of safety devices on cabinets or appliances. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention, a child-proof safety locking device may comprise: an elastomeric loop; and at least one locking ball attached to the loop at a bottom end of the loop so that when the loop is wrapped around an object, a top end of the loop surrounds the locking ball and the top end of the loop is held in position overlying the bottom end of the loop. 
         [0007]    In another aspect of the present invention, a child-proof safety locking device kit may comprise: an elastomeric loop with locking balls attached to the loop; and an adhesive-backed cabinet attachment hook configured for engagement with the loop. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a safety locking device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the device of  FIG. 1  showing an operational feature of the device; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  showing an operational feature of the device; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view of a cabinet showing an operational feature of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a cabinet showing an operational feature of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a partial sectional view of the cabinet of  FIG. 6  showing an operational feature of the device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective views of holding hooks in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0018]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0019]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a self-locking elastomeric loop that may be easily engaged and released from knobs or handles of cabinets and/or appliances by an adult, but which may be difficult to remove by a small child. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  it may be seen that an exemplary embodiment of a self-locking device  10  may include a closed loop  12  and one or more locking balls  14  formed outside of the loop  12 . The device  10  may be constructed from an elastomeric material such as silicone rubber. 
         [0021]    Advantageously the device  10  may be constructed from material that may have regulatory approval for contact by small children. The loop  12  and locking balls  14  may constructed as a single integrally molded device. 
         [0022]    The loop  12  may be constructed with a cross-sectional thickness between about 3 mm to about 7 mm. The device  10  may be constructed in various sizes with lengths of the loop  12  ranging from about 60 mm to about 150 mm. Advantageously, the loop  12  may have a teardrop shape. The balls  14  may be spherical and may have a diameter between about 10 mm to about 25 mm. The balls  14  may be positioned at ends of extensions  16  at a distance of about 10 mm to about 20 mm away from a joining point  18  of the loop  12 . In an exemplary configuration, a first one of the extensions  16  may project outwardly from the joining point  18  in alignment with a right hand portion  12 - 1  of the loop  12  and a second one of the extensions  16  may project outwardly from the joining point  18  in alignment with a left hand portion  12 - 2  of the loop  12 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , it may be seen that, in an exemplary application, that the device  10  may be placed around two handles  40  of a refrigerator  42 . The loop  12  may be stretched and wrapped around the handles so that a top end  20  overlies a bottom end  21  of the loop  12 . The top end  20  of the loop  12  may be passed over the locking balls  14  and then allowed to relax into engagement with the extensions  16 . In this configuration the device  10  may be considered to be in a locked mode. The locking balls  14  may prevent the device  10  from opening. Thus the refrigerator doors  40  may be held closed by the device  10  in the event that a child attempts to open the refrigerator  42 . An adult may easily open the refrigerator  42  by pulling the top end  20  of the loop  12  over the locking balls  14  to release the device  10 . The adult may just as easily replace the device  10  on the handles  40  after closing the refrigerator  42 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , it may be seen the device  10  may be employed in various other exemplary applications. As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , a holding hook  30  may be adhesively secured to an interior surface of a cabinet  32 . The device  10  may be placed over the hook  30  and then stretched around a drawer face  34  to engage with a cabinet knob  26 . Alternatively, a wrap-around hook  31 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , may be employed to secure the device  10  within the cabinet  32 . 
         [0025]    It may be seen that the devices  10  may be stretched from a first knob  26 - 1  to a second knob  26 - 1  while being passed behind a stile  38  of a cabinet. Alternatively, one the devices  10  may be placed onto one of the hooks  30  and stretched around one of the knobs  26  of a cabinet door  36 . 
         [0026]    One or more of the devices  10  and one or more of the hooks  30  may be combined and sold as a kit  50 . One of the kits  50  may contain a plurality of the devices  10  which may have various lengths ranging from about 6 inches to about 12 inches. With such a kit, a parent of a young child may be able to secure cabinet doors and drawers of various sizes and configurations. 
         [0027]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.