Patent Publication Number: US-6904775-B2

Title: Cuff lock and push-button locking mechanism

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a divisional of commonly owned application Ser. No. 10/038,095 filed Jan. 4, 2002, now abandoned which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/259,966, filed on Jan. 4, 2001. 

   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The invention provides an improved design for securing personal objects such as a bicycle or other personal objects such as a portable computer. Prior art bicycle locks typically are made of metal and generally have a large inflexible U shape which are bulky in size. Further, prior art bicycle locks generally require a key to both lock and unlock the lock. Another disadvantage to prior art bicycle locks is that they require two hands to operate the lock. Yet another disadvantage to prior art bicycle locks is that they are not adjustable in size to accommodate the object to be secured. Thus an improved bicycle lock is desired which overcomes the above described disadvantages. 
   The invention further provides an improved design for a push button cylinder lock. Prior art cylinder locks are typically susceptible to attack by saws, and by rapping or banging the lock with an object in order to unseat the pins. A further disadvantage to prior art cylinder locks is that the locking bar rotates. This rotation makes it more difficult to interface with a secondary component. Thus an improved push button cylinder lock is desired which overcomes the above described disadvantages. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The invention provides in one aspect a cuff lock for securing personal objects such as a bicycle to a fixture. The cuff lock comprises a first and second cuff, with each of the first and second cuffs including a stationary arm mounted upon a housing, and a swing arm pivotally connected to said stationary arm and having a ratcheted end. Each of the housings further include a bore for receiving the ratcheted end of the swing arm. Each of the housings also include a spring mounted locking lever having a first end for engaging the ratcheted end of the swing arm. The spring mounted locking lever further includes a shoulder for engaging a shaft of a lock cylinder. 
   The invention provides in a second aspect a cylinder lock comprising a housing having a rotatable plug rotatably disposed therein and a fixed plug secured to said housing. The non-rotatable shaft is slidably mounted within the housing and is slidable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The non-rotatable shaft includes an actuated end extending from an end of said housing and a latching end extending from an opposite end of said housing. One or more tumbler pins are received in one or more axially aligned bores of the fixed plug and the rotatable plug; and one or more retaining elements are positioned for engagement with the non-rotatable shaft. 
   The invention provides in yet another aspect a cylinder lock comprising: a housing having a rotatable plug rotatably disposed therein and a fixed plug secured to said housing. A non-rotatable shaft is slidably mounted within the housing and is slidable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The non-rotatable shaft includes an actuated end extending from an end of said housing and a latching end extending from an opposite end of said housing. One or more retaining elements are positioned for engagement with a groove of said non-rotatable shaft. 
   These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the detailed description and claims to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of the cuff lock of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial exploded front view of the cuff lock shown in  FIG. 1  with the protective covering and cylinder lock removed; 
       FIG. 3  is a front section view of a portion of the cuff lock as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of a push button cylinder lock of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view in the direction  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4  of the push button cylinder lock; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view in the direction  6 — 6  of  FIG. 4  of the push button cylinder lock; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view in the direction  7 — 7  of  FIG. 4  of the push button cylinder lock in the locked position and showing the opposed retaining pins in engagement with the locking indents of the push button actuator; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4  of the push button cylinder lock in the unlocked position and showing the push button shaft in cross-section; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 7  of the push button cylinder lock in the locked position and showing the opposed retaining pins in engagement with the locking indents of the push button actuator; 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8  of the push button cylinder lock in the unlocked position and showing the opposed retaining pins being rotated out of engagement with the locking indents of the push button actuator; 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view in the direction  11 — 11  of  FIG. 4  of the push button cylinder lock in the locked position and showing the anti-saw pins in the rotatable plug; 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view in the direction  12 — 12  of  FIG. 4  of the push button cylinder lock shown in the locked position and showing the tumbler pins and axial bores in the rotatable plug and the fixed plug; 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of the cuff locks shown in  FIG. 1  in the folded position; and 
       FIG. 14  is a top view of the folded cuff locks of FIG.  13 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The cuff lock as shown generally at  10 , is useful for securing articles such as the frame of a bicycle and front tire to a fixture such as a pole. However, the invention is not limited to such use, as there are many other uses readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The cuff lock  10  comprises a first and second cuff  20 ,  20 ″, and a first and second lock body housing  30 , 30 ″, wherein the lock bodies are connected together as described in more detail, below. 
   Each cuff  20 , 20 ″ comprises a swing arm  22 , 22 ″ and a stationary arm  24 , 24 ″ which are pivotally connected together. The swing arm  22  and the stationary arm  24  preferably are curved, and when joined together and in cooperation with the lock body housing form a circular hole  23 . The stationary arm is preferably comprised of two or more metal stampings  26  mechanically fastened together. The metal stampings  26  may optionally include the stationary arm  24  and the lock body housing  30  formed as a integral piece. The stationary arm  24  has a first end  28  having aligned holes  29  for receiving the first holed end  32  of the swing arm. A rivet or pin  25 , 25 ″ is received in the aligned holes  29 , 32  of the stationary arm  24  and the swing arm  22  for pivotally joining them together. 
   The swing arm  22  is preferably comprised of two or more layers of metal stampings which are mechanically joined together. The first end  32  of the swing arm is curved and pivotally joined to the stationary arm. A second end  34  of the swing arm  22  further comprises a distal end  36  having a plurality of notches  38  for engagement with a spring loaded lever  50  located within the lock body housing  30 . The plurality of notches  38  provide for adjustability of the cuff locks. The distal end  36  of the swing arm  22  is aligned for reception into a transverse bore  39  of the lock body housing  30  for engagement with the locking lever  50 . The distal end  36  of the swing arm further comprises an optional positive stop  40  which engages an outer edge  42  of the lock body housing  30  in order to prevent overtightening of the cuff when the distal end of the swing arm is inserted into the transverse bore  39 . 
   The lock body housing  30  further comprises an internal bore  52  which houses the locking lever  50  as best shown in FIG.  3 . The locking lever  50  is mounted within the bore  52  and its pointed end  54  is outwardly biased by spring  56  for positive mechanical engagement with the notched or ratcheted end  36  of the swing arm  22 . Thus the spring mounted locking lever  50  provides a detent-type action capable of multiple locking positions but which is not secured until the user operates the locking mechanism in order to secure the locking lever. Any type of locking cylinder may be used with the invention, but it is preferred that a push button cylinder be utilized. It is even more preferred that the push button cylinder  60  as described in more detail below be utilized. A push button type cylinder lock allows the user to open, close and adjust each cuff for installation purposes without the need for a key as required by conventional locks. Further, a key is not required to lock each cuff, as the user only need actuate the push button mechanism of the lock. Finally, once the push button lock is actuated into a locked position, the push button shaft is deadlocked and cannot be shimmed. 
   The lock body housing  30  thus further comprises a bore  62  for receiving a push button cylinder or other looking mechanism. The push button cylinder  60  is mourned perpendicular to the looking lever  50 . The locking lever preferably comprises a Z shaped profile, and further includes a mid-section  64  having a shoulder  66  which is positioned for engagement with a shaft  68  of the locking cylinder. When the push button cylinder is actuated into a locked position by pressing the push button outer end  70 , the distal end  65  of the push button shaft engages the shoulder  66  of the locking lever deadlocking the locking lever  50  into a locked or secured position. 
   The lock cylinder may also comprise a rotational type lock cylinder in which the shaft of the lock rotates from a first unlocked position to a second locked position (not shown). The shaft may include an extension which is positioned to engage the shoulder of the locking lever  50  in the locked position, and which may be rotated out of engagement with the shoulder into the unlocked position. 
   Each of the lock body housings  30  may further provide for a swivel  72  rotatably mounted on an end  74  of the lock body housing  30 . The swivel  72  allows each cuff to rotate 360 degrees. The swivel  72  further comprises a flanged end  76  which protrudes from the end  74  of the lock body housing and includes a hole  78  for being connected together by a linkage  80 . The linkage  80  allows the cuffs to be folded together into a compact position as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14  (i.e., up to 180 degree relative rotation). 
   The lock body housings  30 , 30 ″, the swing arms  22 , 22 ″ and the stationary arms  24 , 24 ″ of the cuff  20 , 20 ″ may further comprise a vinyl, plastic or other protective coating  82  in order to prevent scratching of the articles to be locked. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 4-12 , a push button cylinder lock  60  of the present invention is provided. The push button cylinder lock  60  may be used alone or in combination with the bike lock as described above, but is not limited to such use, as there are many other applications. The push button cylinder lock  60  comprises an outer shell housing  90  including an inner axial bore  92  having a first end  94  for receiving a rotatable plug  100  and a second end  96  for receiving a fixed plug  102 . The outer shell housing  90 , the rotatable plug  100  and the fixed plug  102  are all preferably cylindrical in shape. The rotatable plug  100  and the fixed plug  102  are mounted coaxial with respect to each other. The fixed plug  102  is secured to the outer shell housing via a pin  104 . The rotatable plug  100  is rotably mounted within the outer shell housing  90  and has an axial hole  106  for receiving a push button actuator  108  slidably mounted therein. The fixed plug  102  also has an inner hole  110  aligned with the axial hole  106  of the rotatable plug for receiving the push button actuator  108 . 
   The push button actuator  108  further comprises an axial bore  112  for receiving a push button shaft  68  mounted therein. A first end  114  of the push button shaft has a push button flange, and a mid-section of the push button shaft has a transverse hole  116  for receiving a spring-loaded retainer pin  118  therein. The spring loaded retainer pin  118  secures the push button shaft  68  to the push button actuator  108 . The push button actuator  108  further includes a mid-section having one or more locking grooves  120 . A flat  122  of the locking groove  120  is engaged by a spring mounted retaining pin  124  when the push button is actuated into the locking position. Preferably, two or more retaining pins  124  engage corresponding locking grooves  122 . It is preferred that the retaining pins  124  and the corresponding locking grooves be spaced in the range of about 90 to about 180 degrees apart, and more preferably in the range of about 144 to about 180 degrees apart. The spring mounted retaining pins are mounted in radial holes  126  located in the rotatable plug  100 , and function to resist axial rotation of the push button actuator  108 . Since the spring mounted retaining pins  124  are mounted in a somewhat opposed fashion as described above, they also function to increase the lock&#39;s rap resistance or resistance to inertial attack. Thus if the lock is struck hard by an object, one of the retaining pins  124  may be driven out of its locking groove, while the opposed pin may be driven into its locking groove defeating the inertial attack. When the rotatable plug  100  is rotated in order to unlock the lock, the retaining pins  124  are rotated out of the flats  120  of the opposed locking grooves thereby releasing the push button actuator  108  and allowing it to move axially to the unlocked position due to spring action. 
   The push button actuator  108  further comprises a spring  130  for biasing the push button shaft  68  into the unlocked position. A first end  132  of spring  130  is received in a bore  134  of the second end  136  of the push button actuator  108 , and a second end  138  of the spring  130  engages an inner wall  140  of the inner hole of the fixed plug  102 . The second end  136  of the push button actuator  108  further comprises an alignment foot  142  which is received in an axial groove  141  of the inner hole of the fixed plug, thereby preventing rotation of the push button actuator  108  and push button shaft  68 . Thus as the push button shaft  68  and the push button actuator  108  do not rotate, any cross-sectional shape would work for these components. Another advantage to the non-rotating feature of the push button shaft  68  is that it provides a stable orientation of the projecting shaft. 
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , the rotatable plug  100  further comprises a plurality of axially aligned bores  144  aligned with a respective plurality of bores  146  of the fixed plug  102 . Two or more spring mounted tumbler pins  148  are received in the bores  144 , 146  of the rotatable plug and the fixed plug. The bores  144 , 146  are preferably spaced about a circular pattern in equal increments. It is preferred that the bores  144 , 146  be spaced on a 10 pin or 36 degree spacing format. When the proper key  150  is inserted into the push button cylinder lock  60 , the notches  152  of the key bias the plug pins  148  to the proper height to produce a shear line at the interface of the rotatable plug  100  and the fixed plug  102  thereby permitting rotation of the rotatable plug and the unlocking of the lock. 
   In order to ward off attacks by saws such as trepan tools or hole-saws, it is additionally preferred that the rotatable plug  100  further comprise one or more anti-saw pins  155  mounted in axial bores as shown in  FIG. 11 , preferably in the “0” and the “5” hole locations. It is additionally preferred that the one or more anti-saw pins  155  comprise different heights and be made of hardened steel. It is further preferred that the head  70  of the push button shaft  68  further comprise a ball bearing  160  mounted in the exposed face of the push button shaft. The ball bearing makes it much more difficult to drill down the center of the push button shaft, as the spherical surface makes it difficult to start a drill. 
   In order to lock the push button lock assembly, the ball-bearing end of the push button shaft is pushed by a user, pressing it axially until the retaining elements in the rotatable plug engage the slots in the push button actuator, thereby axially securing the shaft. The pin tumbler assembly located in the rotatable and fixed plugs is also in the secured position, as the key has been removed causing the tumbler pins to misalign about the shear line and prevent rotation of the rotatable cylinder. The latching end of the push button cylinder protrudes from the cylinder and is deadlocked into position against the locking lever  64  or other mechanism. 
   In order to unlock the push button lock assembly, a proper key is inserted aligning the tumbler pin ends to the shear line existing between the fixed plug and rotatable plug. The rotatable cylinder can now be rotated by the key. As the rotatable cylinder rotates, it disengages the retaining elements from the flats of the locking detects causing them to cam out of the flats. As the retaining elements disengage, the spring acting on the push button shaft biases the push button shaft inward so that the latching end of the push button shaft retracts thereby unlocking an independent mechanism such as the locking lever. The key may then be rotated buck to its original position and removed. The lock assembly is now ready to be locked again. Due to the engagement of the alignment foot  142  of the push button actuator  108  with the axial groove  141  of the fixed plug  102 , the actuator  108  does not rotate during either the locking or unlocking of the push button cylinder lock  60 . As the push button shaft  68  is secured to the actuator by retainer pin  118 , the push button shaft  68  also dose not rotate during either the locking or unlocking of the push button cylinder lock  60 . Consequently, both the actuator  108  and the push button shaft  68  are only able to slide axially within the push button cylinder lock  60 , as they are permanently prohibited from rotating relative to any other portion of the push button cylinder lock  60 . 
   While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein, but rather the true scope and spirit of the invention are to be determined by reference to the appended claims.