Patent Publication Number: US-2015083884-A1

Title: Hook and lock

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present application relates generally to a secure mounting hook. 
     Many people have professions or hobbies that require an investment in expensive equipment. For example, many hobbyists purchase expensive bicycles or golf clubs for casual enjoyment. Typically, people store such equipment in a structure, such as a garage, shed, or storage facility, which is protected by a security system. A person living in an apartment may even store equipment on a balcony. People store other equipment, such as lawn trimming and edging equipment in garages and sheds with very minimal security. 
     The lack of security in garages and sheds, for example, leaves equipment vulnerable to theft. People conventionally use security devices, such as chains and locks, to secure bicycles when away from home; however, people typically leave such equipment unsecured at home with an assumption that the structure of a garage or shed itself will prevent theft. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one illustrative embodiment, a method for securing a piece of equipment comprises screwing a screw portion of a secure mounting hook into a surface. The method further comprises placing a piece of equipment into a hook portion of the secure mounting hook. The method further comprises closing a latch of the secure mounting hook such that the hook portion and the latch close around the piece of equipment. The method further comprises placing a lock through at least one hole of the latch and at least one hole of the hook portion and locking the lock. 
     In another illustrative embodiment, a secure mounting hook comprises a screw portion configured to be screwed into a surface, a hook portion configured to hold a piece of equipment, and a latch configured to close around the piece of equipment. At least one hole of the latch and at least one hole of the hook portion are configured to receive a lock to secure the latch in a closed position. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in, or will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of, the following detailed description of the example embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention, as well as a preferred mode of use and further objectives and advantages thereof, will be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1A  depicts a side view of a secure mounting hook in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 1B  depicts an isometric view of a secure mounting hook with the latch in the closed position in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 2A  depicts alternate view of a mounting hook in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 2B  depicts an isometric view of a mounting hook in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 3A  is an alternate view of a latch in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  depicts an isometric view of a latch in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 4A  depicts an alternate view of a latch clip in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; and 
         FIG. 4B  depicts an isometric view of a latch clip in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The illustrative embodiments provide a mechanism for securely mounting equipment such as a bicycle to a wall, ceiling, or other surface. 
       FIG. 1A  depicts a side view of a secure mounting hook in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Secure mounting hook  100  comprises mounting hook  200 , latch  300 , and latch clip  400 . Latch  300  connects to mounting hook  200  at hinge portion  104  to form a hinge. Hinge portion  104  allows latch  300  to rotate in one plane using techniques known in the art. 
     Latch  300  moves between an open position and a closed position by rotating via hinge portion  104 . Latch clip  400  is placed around mounting hook  200  in a position to receive latch  300 . Latch clip  400  is configured to accept and hold latch  300  in the open position to allow a person to place a piece of equipment, such as a bicycle, for example, within secure mounting hook  100 . 
     In the closed position, latch  300  meets mounting hook  200  at lock installation portion  106 . In the closed position, a lock can be placed through the holes in lock installation portion  106  to secure the latch  300  in the closed position. With a piece of equipment in the mounting hook  200 , latch  300  in the closed position, and a lock in the lock installation portion  106 , the secure mounting hook  100  secures the piece of equipment. 
       FIG. 1B  depicts an isometric view of a secure mounting hook with the latch in the closed position in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. 
       FIG. 2A  depicts alternate view of a mounting hook in accordance with an illustrative embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 2A , mounting hook  200  comprises screw portion  201 , hinge portion  204 , latch clip holding portion  205 , and lock installation portion  206 . In one embodiment, mounting hook  200  is a single piece made of a solid, durable material, such as a metal, alloy, titanium, tungsten carbide, stainless steel, or the like. Mounting hook  200  may also be powder coated to form a durable and, if desired, colorful surface. 
     Screw portion  201  is threaded such that mounting hook portion  200  can be screwed into a wall, ceiling, or other surface. In one embodiment, screw portion  201  may be screwed into a stud, support beam, rafter, or the like. 
     In one embodiment, hinge portion  204  includes a groove into which latch  300  fits. Hinge portion  204  includes one or more holes for receiving a dowel pin for affixing latching portion  300  in such a manner that latch  300  is able to rotate within a plane. 
     Latch clip holding portion  205  forms a groove into which and around which latch clip  400  fits. Latch clip holding portion  205  is at a position within mounting hook  200  that allows the latch clip  400  to accept and hold latch  300 . 
     Lock installation portion  206  may include a groove that accepts a lock installation portion of latch  300 . Lock installation portion  206  includes one or more holes that align with holes in an installation portion of latch  300 . A lock may be inserted through both the holes of lock installation portion  206  and the holes of an installation portion of latch  300 . 
     Mounting hook  200  also includes stop portion  210 , which becomes flush with the surface when screw portion  201  is fully screwed into the surface. 
       FIG. 29  depicts an isometric view of a mounting hook in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. 
       FIG. 3A  is an alternate view of a latch in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Latch  300  comprises hinge portion  304  and lock installation portion  306 . In one embodiment, latch  300  is a single piece made of a solid, durable material, such as a metal, alloy, titanium, tungsten carbide, stainless steel, or he like. Latch  300  may also he powder coated to form a durable and, if desired, colorful surface. 
     Hinge portion  304  fits into a binge portion of mounting hook  200 . Hinge portion  304  also includes a hole that aligns with one or more roles of a hinge portion of mounting hook  200 . The hole of hinge portion  304 , along with holes of a hinge portion of mounting hook  200 , receives a dowel pin for affixing latch  300  to mounting hook  200 . 
     Lock installation portion  304  fits into a lock installation portion of mounting hook  200 . Look installation portion  304  includes a hole that aligns with one or more holes of a lock installation portion of mounting hook  200 . The hole of lock installation portion  304  and holes of a lock installation portion of mounting hook  200  are configured to receive a lock. A person can insert a lock through the holes to fix the latch in the closed position around a piece of equipment. 
       FIG. 3B  depicts an isometric view of a latch in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. 
       FIG. 4A  depicts an alternate view of a latch clip in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Latch clip includes a mounting portion  401  and a holding portion  402 . Mounting portion  401  is configured to fit around latch clip holding portion  205  of mounting hook  200 . Holding portion  402  is configured to accept and hold latch  300  in an open position. 
       FIG. 4B  depicts an isometric view of a latch clip in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. 
     Thus, the illustrative embodiments provide a mechanism for securing a piece of equipment to a wall, ceiling, or other surface. The illustrative embodiments allow a person to secure a piece of equipment within a garage, a shed, on a balcony, or in any structure, whether or not the structure is protected by a security system. With the secure mounting hook affixed to a surface and with the latched fixed in a closed position by a lock, the secure mounting hook prevents a thief from taking the piece of equipment. At the very least, the secure mounting hook makes theft of the piece of equipment very difficult, serving as a deterrent. 
     The description of the present invention as bee presented for purposes of illustration and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.