Patent Publication Number: US-2011048083-A1

Title: Locking device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to locking devices and, more specifically, to a locking device for preventing access to an item such as a trailer hitch or an opening of a storage tank. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A locking device may be required on storage tanks in order to protect the contents in the storage tanks. The locking device may be used to prevent theft of the contents of the tank, to prevent the potential for vandalism via the introduction of foreign substances into the tank that may cause contamination of the contents of the tank or damage to the storage tank itself, or to prevent the potential for smuggling via placing contraband into the storage tank. Similarly, a locking device may be required on the tongue of a trailer coupling. The locking device would be used to prevent unauthorized use of the trailer hitch. 
     Presently, there are several different devices used for preventing access to a trailer coupling or an opening of a storage tank. One such device requires that it be permanently welded or otherwise coupled to the opening of a storage tank in place of a standard storage tank cap. However, installation of such a device may prove to be a costly or complicated process. Other devices may be more easily installed, but fail to provide adequate protection. These devices may be more easily pried from the tank when compared to devices that are welded to the tank. 
     Therefore, a need existed to provide a locking device to overcome the above problems. The locking device would provide a secure and convenient way of preventing access to items including a variety of different forms of storage tank caps or trailer couplings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A device for preventing access to an item, such as a cap of a storage tank or a trailer coupling, has a pair of semicylindrical objects. The semicylindrical objects have a hollow interior, and can be securely coupled about a storage tank cap or a trailer coupling, thereby preventing either the removal of the storage tank cap or the coupling of a trailer to the trailer hitch. 
     The present invention is best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the locking device, the locking device shown in an open position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the locking device with an additional anti-tampering device, the locking device shown in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the locking device shown in a closed position; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the locking device shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the locking device shown in a closed position; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the locking device taken along perspective lines  5 - 5  (shown in  FIG. 6 ), the locking device shown in an open position; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the locking device taken along perspective lines  7 - 7  (shown in  FIG. 8 ), the locking device shown in an open position; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the locking device, the device shown in an open position; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the locking device of  FIG. 2-4  in use, the locking device being placed around a filler neck of a storage tank. 
     
    
    
     Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One reliable way to prevent access to an item, such as a storage tank opening, or a the trailer coupling, is to place a locking device comprising two halves and made of a durable material at least partially about the item, a cap of the storage tank, or a trailer coupling. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a locking device  100   a  is shown. The locking device  100   a  may have a first half  2  and a second half  4 . The first half  2  and the second half  4  may take on different shapes. In accordance with the present embodiment, the first half  2  and the second half  4  are each generally of the shape of a semicylinder. Each half  2  and  4  may have a hollow interior  3  and  5 . Each half  2  and  4  may also have a bottom surface  12 . The bottom surface  12  may form a collar  10   a.  The collar  10   a  may be an annular member when the first half  2  is secured to the second half  4 . The collar  10   a  may also comprise two segments that remain separate when the first half  2  is secured to the second half  4 , as will be discussed below. It should be understood that the locking device  100   a  may have two halves  2  and  4  of unequal size, and/or may have two halves  2  and  4  that are of a non-semicylindrical shape, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. It should further be understood that the locking device  100   a  may have a differently formed bottom surface  12 , or may have a differently formed collar  10   a,  or may even lack any collar  10   a.    
     The first and second halves  2  and  4  maybe coupled together. In accordance with one embodiment, the first and second halves  2  and  4  may be hingably coupled together. The first and second halves  2  and  4  may be coupled together at one end by a first portion of a hinge  6  coupled to the first half  2  and a second portion of a hinge  8  coupled to the second half  4  with a pin  7  passing through the first and second portions of the hinge  6  and  8 . However, it should be clearly understood that the first and second halves  2  and  4  may be coupled to one another by means other than a hinge  6  and  8  and pin  7  without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     In the present embodiment, the first and second halves  2  and  4  may be secured together. The first and second halves  2  and  4  may be secured together by a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism may be a first locking channel  18  coupled to the first half  2  and a second locking channel  20  coupled to the second half  4 . The locking channels  18  and  20  may align when the first and second halves  2  and  4  are brought together. A locking mechanism  22  (shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  10 ) may be disposed within the locking channels  18  and  20  when they are aligned. One of the locking channels  18  and  20  may have a locking member aperture  29  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). The locking member aperture  29  may house a portion of the locking mechanism  22 . The locking member aperture  29  may house a portion of the locking mechanism  22  in order to prevent its removal when locked. It should be understood that the first and second halves  2  and  4  may be secured by means other than the locking channels  18  and  20 , such as by the use of a sufficiently powerful electromagnet, and that other types of locking mechanisms  22  may be passed through locking channels  18  and  20  in lieu of the specific type of locking mechanism  22  shown, and/or absent any locking member aperture  29 , without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4 , another embodiment of the locking device  100   b  is shown. In addition to the features of the embodiment of the locking device  100   a  shown in  FIG. 1 , the two halves  2  and  4  may have a tamper-resistant device  32 . The tamper-resistant device  32  may prevent insertion of an object that might be used to pry the two halves  2  and  4  apart. The tamper-resistant device  32  may be coupled to one of the halves  2  and  4 . In the present embodiment, the tamper-resistant device  32  may be coupled to the top surface  38  of the first half  2 . The tamper-resistant device may also run a majority of the length  54  of the top surface  38 , although it should be understood that the tamper-resistant device  32  may run a majority of the length  54  or  55  of either of the top surfaces  38  or  39  of one of the halves  2  or  4 . The tamper-resistant device  32  may also run less than a majority of the length  54  or  55  to which it is coupled, as will be discussed below. Furthermore, it should be noted that the tamper-resistant device  32  may be coupled to a different portion of the locking device  100   b  without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The tamper-resistant device  32  may comprise two members  32   b  and  32   c  with a space there between, and may partially house a majority of the length  55  of the opposing second half  4 . It should be understood that the locking device  100   b  may have a differently formed and/or differently oriented tamper-resistant device  32 , or may even lack a tamper-resistant device  32 , without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     For example, and now referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , another embodiment of the locking device  100   c  is shown. The tamper-resistant device  32   a  may be a single member coupled to a top surface  39  of the second half  4 . The tamper-resistant device  32   a  may be coupled to an underside  37  of the top surface  39  of the second half  4 . The tamper-resistant device  32   a  may rest proximate an underside  36  of the opposing first half  2  when bringing the two halves  2  and  4  together. Further, the tamper-resistant device  32   a  may pass under the first locking channel  18 . This tamper-resistant device  32   a  may serve the same function as the tamper-resistant device  32  of the locking device  100   b  shown in  FIGS. 2-4  to prevent the two halves  2  and  4  from being pried apart. 
     In addition to the tamper resistant device  32   a  and the features of the embodiment of the locking device  100   a  shown in  FIG. 1   a,  the present embodiment of the locking device  100   c  may have halves  2  and  4  that may have extended walls  14 . The extended walls  14  may extend past the collar  10  formed in the bottom surface  12 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . If this embodiment of the locking device  100   c  is used with a storage tank  44  having an extended filler neck  42 , the extended walls  14  may provide additional protection of the filler neck  42  (shown in  FIG. 10 ). The extended walls  14  may thereby provide additional protection of the contents of the storage tank  44  (shown in  FIG. 10 ). However, it should be understood that locking device  100   c  may lack extended walls  14  that extend past the bottom surface  12 , without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , another embodiment of the locking device  100   d  is shown. In addition to the features of the embodiment of the locking device  100   a  shown in  FIG. 1 , the present embodiment may have a tamper-resistant device  32   d  that may run a lesser portion of the length  55  of the top surface  39  of the second half  4 . This tamper-resistant device  32   a  may serve the same function as the tamper-resistant device  32  of the locking device  100   b  shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . 
     Additionally, the locking device  100   d  of the present embodiment may have a collar  10   b.  The collar  10   b  may comprise two segments. The two segments may remain separate when the first half  2  is secured to the second half  4 , as opposed to the collar  10   a  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The locking device  100   d  of the present embodiment may also have a channel cap  23 . The channel cap  23  may be placed over the locking channels  18  and  20 . By placing the channel cap  23  into the locking channels  18  and  20 , the channel cap  23  may protect the locking mechanism  22  from weather. The channel cap  23  may be tethered to a portion of the locking device  100   d.  The channel cap  23  may be tethered to the locking device  100   d  by a leash  25 . The leash  25  may be attached to a portion of the locking device  100   d.  The leash  25  may be attached to the locking device  100   d  by passing a portion of the leash  25  through an aperture  27  in a portion of the locking device  100   d.  The aperture  27  may be defined by one of the top surfaces  38  and  39  of the locking device  100   d,  although the aperture  27  may be defined by another surface. It should be understood that a channel cap  23  may be used with another embodiment of the locking device  100   a,    100   b,    100   c,  or  100   e.  It should also be understood that a channel cap  23  may be provided in the absence of being tethered to a portion of the device  100   d,  or may be attached to the device  100   d  through means other than a leash  25 , or may be not provided at all, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , an additional embodiment of the locking device  100   e  is shown. In addition to the features of the embodiment of the locking device  100   a  shown in  FIG. 1 , each half  2  and  4  may additionally have an interior collar  40 . Similar to the bottom collar  10   b  of the locking device  100   d  shown in  FIG. 7 , the interior collar  40  may comprise two segments. The interior collar  40  may be an annular member when the first and second halves  2  and  4  are brought together. The two segments may also remain separate when the first half  2  is secured to the second half  4 , similar to the collar  10   b  of  FIG. 7 . The interior collar  40  may serve to create a snug fit about the circumference of a storage tank cap  43 , although this is only given as an example, and should not be seen to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the locking device  100   b  may be positioned about an item. Positioning the locking device  100   b  about an item may prevent access to that item. The item may be a storage tank cap  43 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , or a trailer coupling. The locking device  100   b  may prevent access to item  43  or a trailer coupling by placing the storage tank cap  43  or a trailer coupling partially within the hollow interior  3  of the first half  2  and then coupling the second half  4  to the first half  4 . The storage tank cap  43  or a trailer coupling may be partially within the hollow interiors  3  and  5  of the two halves  2  and  4  by causing the storage tank cap  43  or a majority of a trailer coupling to be contained within the hollow interiors  3  and  5  of the first and second halves  2  and  4  between the collar  10   a  and the top surfaces  38  and  39 . In order to ensure that storage tank cap  43  or a trailer coupling is not removed from the hollow interiors  3  and  5  of the first and second halves  2  and  4  while still allowing the storage tank cap  43  to remain attached to a storage tank  44  or a trailer coupling to be rendered inoperable, either the storage tank cap  43  or a trailer coupling may be disposed between the bottom surface  12  and the top surfaces  38  and  39  of the first and second halves  2  and  4 . Furthermore, the filler neck  42  of the storage tank  44  or the tongue of a trailer coupling may pass through the collar  10   a  formed by the bottom surface  12 . However, it should be understood that different items may be secured within the locking device  100   b,  and that different embodiments of the locking device  100   a,    100   c,    100   d,  and  100   e  may be used, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.