Patent Publication Number: US-2021180366-A1

Title: Lock assembly for securing a storage container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/751,284, filed on Jan. 24, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/597,997, filed on Oct. 10, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,604,968, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/891,568, filed on Feb. 8, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/456,927, filed on Feb. 9, 2017. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to a lock system for securing a storage container, such as cooler for beverages or a storage container unit for tools. 
     Portable storage containers are frequently used for recreation and for work. These containers such as toolboxes, coolers, footlockers and other transportable boxes may have a latch, which may be locked to secure their lid against unauthorized access. Because these storage containers themselves are portable, they may also need to be secured against theft by locking them to a stationary object. For example, a toolbox may be secured to the bed of a pickup truck by a cable lock. In addition, a cooler may likewise be secured by cable to a picnic table. 
     SUMMARY 
     A lock system for securing a storage container comprises a first lock having a first lock body and a shackle, the first lock having a first locked condition wherein the shackle is locked to the first lock body and a first unlocked condition wherein the shackle is unlocked from the first lock body. The first lock has a first key receptacle for actuating the first lock between the first locked condition and the first unlocked condition. The lock assembly includes a second lock having a second lock body and a cable. The second lock has a second locked condition wherein the cable is locked to the second lock body and a second unlocked condition wherein the cable is unlocked from the second lock body. The second lock has a second key receptacle for actuating the second lock between the second locked condition and the second unlocked condition. A key is receivable by both the first key receptacle and the second key receptacle and keyed to lock and unlock both the first lock and the second lock. The shackle is securable to a storage container while the cable is securable to a fixed object. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing lock assembly, the container has a compartment for storage and a lid for covering the compartment. The lid is securable to the compartment by the first lock or the second lock. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing lock assembly, the container has a handle and the cable is securable to the handle by the second lock in the second locked condition. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing lock assembly, the cable is securable to a fixed object when in the second locked condition, such as a truck bed. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing lock assembly, the first lock with shackle and the second lock with cable are packaged together with the key, keyed to open both locks. 
     The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. 
     The various features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a lock assembly in a locked condition. 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates the lock assembly of  FIG. 1  in an unlocked condition. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the inventive lock assembly for securing a storage container, showing the lock of  FIG. 1  with a second lock. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the inventive lock assembly used to secure a storage container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure relates to an inventive lock assembly.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a prior art lock comprising first lock  10  with first lock body  14  and shackle  18 . As known, first lock  10  has first locked condition wherein shackle  18  is locked to first lock body  14  as shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , first lock  10  also has first unlocked condition wherein shackle  18  is unlocked from first lock body  14 . Here, leg  20  of shackle  18  is freed from first lock body  14  when unlocked as shown and as known. First lock  10  further has key receptacle  22 , here a key cylinder, which, upon insertion of key  26  into key receptacle  22  controls the locked and unlocked condition of first lock  10 , altering, changing or moving first lock  10  between first locked condition ( FIG. 1 ) and first unlocked condition ( FIG. 2 ). Although key receptacle  22  is shown here as a key cylinder, key receptacle  22  can be any known shape. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , first lock  10  is shown together with second lock  30 . Second lock  30  has second lock body  34  and cable  38 . Here, second lock  30  is shown in second locked condition. Second lock  30  also has second unlocked condition wherein a leg of cable  38 , here leg  39 , is unlocked from second lock body  34  like the condition of first lock  10  shown in  FIG. 2 . Second lock  30  has second key receptacle  36  for actuating second lock  30  between second locked condition and second unlocked condition. 
     In contrast to existing locking systems, first lock  10 , a shackle lock, is paired with second lock  30 , a cable lock, so that first key receptacle  22  and second key receptacle  36  can accept and are keyed to the same key, key  26 , so as to permit both first lock  10  and second lock  30  to be locked and unlocked by key  26 . That is, key  26  controls the actuation of first lock  10  between first locked condition and first unlocked condition and likewise controls the actuation of second lock  30  between second locked condition and second unlocked condition. In this way, the inventive lock assembly provides both the flexibility of a shackle lock and a cable lock while offering the convenience of a single key to control locking and unlocking of both locks. Both first lock  10  and second lock  30  can be sold together, including in the same package, with key  26  thereby offering consumers the benefits of the invention in a single package. 
     This inventive lock assembly is particularly useful for securing storage containers.  FIG. 4  shows storage container  40  having lid  42 , compartment  44  and handle  46 . Storage container  40  further has securing holes that help secure lid  42  to compartment  44  to prevent access to the contents of compartment  44 . Here, securing holes are shown by first securing hole  50 , located in a flange of lid  42 , and second securing hole  52 , located in a flange of compartment  44 . First securing hole  50  and second securing hole  52  are sized to receive either shackle  18  of first lock  10  or cable  38 . By threading shackle  18  through first securing hole  50  and second securing hole  52  and locking first lock  10 , lid  42  is secured to compartment  44  to prevent access to compartment  44 . 
     Additionally, lid  42  can be provided with third securing hole  54 , part of a flange of lid  42 , while compartment  44  can have a flange with fourth securing hole  56 . Both holes are sized to receive shackle  18  or cable  38 . Lid  42  and compartment  44  can be locked closed to prevent unauthorized access to the contents of compartment  44  by threading shackle  18  through third securing hole  54  and fourth securing hole  56  and locking first lock  10 . In lieu of securing holes, latches may be used to secure lid  42  to compartment  44 . 
     While the foregoing may lock lid  42  to compartment  44 , there is a further need to secure storage container  40  because of its portable nature. Here, second lock  30 , a cable lock, serves this function. As shown in  FIG. 4 , cable  38  is threaded to handle  46 , which is part of compartment  44 . There is also securing structure  60 , a fixed object, which may be a bed of a truck, a building, a picnic table, or any other relatively fixed structure. Securing structure  60  has fifth securing hole  64 , which is large enough for cable  38  to be threaded through. In this way, when second lock  30  is in the second unlocked condition, cable  38  can be threaded through handle  46  and fifth securing hole  64 , and then second lock  30  placed in second locked condition to thereby secure storage container  40  against movement and theft. Hence, first lock  10  can secure lid  42  to compartment  44 , thereby preventing the opening of storage container  40 . Further, storage container  40  can be restricted to a proximate location near securing structure  60 . Further, both first lock  10  and second lock  30  can then be locked and unlocked using the same key, here key  26 . 
     The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.