Patent Abstract:
A locking device for an enclosure, such as a vending machine, wherein the locking device includes an extension capable of receiving and cooperating with a lock at either/or both ends of the extension. The locking device is designed to prevent vandalism to the enclosure.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to locking devices to secure enclosures such as vending machines. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A man was purportedly asked why he robbed banks. His reply was direct, “because that is where the money is”. For much the same reason, machines used in the vending machine industry have been under constant attack from theft and vandalism. First, the machines were padlocked to provide security. The locks were easy to break so the venders used stronger locks. When the locks became too hard to easily break, the thieves began attacking other parts of the lock assembly. What is needed is a lock design that successfully deters any vandalism while still allowing the goods contained in the vending machines to be easily accessible to consumers. 
         [0003]    Several approaches have been tried to protect vending machines used to sell newspapers. Early newspaper racks were not even closed and a metal tube was used to hold the coins. Payment was based on the honor system. The honor system failed and more secure locking devices were required. Newspapers were then placed in enclosed stands and padlocked. Vandals rose to the challenge and easily broke the locks off. The padlock was modified by being attached to a metal rod having the padlock at one end and a plug at the other. The plug was slightly larger in circumference than the rod. So the plug end held the bar secure at one end and the padlock held the rod secure at the other end. Again, vandals rose to the occasion. Shielding was placed around the lock with much the same result. 
         [0004]    The locking device was modified again to place a plug lock at one end of the rod and placing the other end within the coin housing. Soon, vandals were again able to break through the protection. 
         [0005]    One method of protecting such a vending machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,106 (the &#39;106 patent) issued to Chalabian. This provided a housing for protecting a coin sorting and control mechanism and a coin storage box for use with a vending machine, such as a newspaper stand. The housing included a body for a coin sorting and control mechanism and a vending machine door latch to lock the door. A cover that fit closely over its top enclosed the body. The cover and body were provided with heavy steel flanges through which a padlock can be passed to lock them together. This device became a standard in the industry and vandals yet again arose to the occasion. 
         [0006]    Therefore, what is needed is a method of protecting newspaper magazines and their contents in a inexpensive and effective manner. Therefore, the goal of the present invention is to economically and efficiently protect vending machines. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to protect a vending machine and vending machine lock from vandalism. Some embodiments of the invention provide a device for the protection of vending machines from vandalism by providing a stronger locking mechanism. In some instances, the lock will protect a vending machine that is designed to hold newspapers and the like. For some embodiments, it is the object of the present invention to protect vending machines from attack by providing a locking device having a tubular member with an enlarged proximate end, angled holes for setscrews and a shackle hole at the proximate end 
         [0008]    In accordance with these objects and with others that will be described and which will become apparent, an exemplary embodiment of a locking device in accordance with the present invention is described herein. While the most commonly used application is expected to be the protection of vending machines, the invention may be used on any enclosure that requires a padlock. Thus, both vending machines and other enclosures will simply be referred to as “enclosures”. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, for purpose of explanation, several embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following figures. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation showing in cross section 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows an enclosure with the locking device cooperating with the enclosure via-a-vis a coin box. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, specific component arrangements and constructions and other details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known manufacturing methods and structures have not been described in detail so as to refrain from obscuring the present invention unnecessarily. 
         [0013]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , some embodiments of the invention provide for a locking mechanism for vending machines. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism  1  comprises a cylinder  10  having a proximate end  20  and a distal end  22 . The circumference of the cylinder  10  at the proximate end  20  of the cylinder  10  is enlarged sufficiently to allow the emplacement of a locking device  40 . This portion of the cylinder  10  is called the cylinder lock housing  30 . It also has a proximate  32  and a distal end  34 , a threaded interior surface  36  and an exterior surface  38 . These aforementioned and other items cooperate together to form a locking device  1  designed to protect the coin box  60  of the vending machine from attack. 
         [0014]    The &#39;106 Patent to Chalabian provides a description of an enclosure typically used to protect newspapers (FIG. 1) as well as a description of a coin box (FIG. 5). One embodiment of the present invention 1 is designed to fit into and through a coin box of an enclosure such as described in FIG. 5 of the &#39;106 Patent. 
         [0015]    Referring next to  FIG. 2 , the coin box housing  60  of vending machine enclosure  50  is shown. The coin box housing includes a sheath  62  around an opening. The opening passes through and to the opposite of the housing  60 . The sheath  62  cooperates with the hole in the coin box housing  60  to form a tight fit with the exterior wall of the coin box housing  60 . When the locking mechanism  1  is inserted into and through the hole of the coin box housing  60 , the locking mechanism  1  cooperates with the coin box housing  60  and the sheath  62  to form a tight fit wherein the proximal end of the cylinder lock housing  32  fits flush against the exterior surface of the sheath  62 . 
         [0016]    Referring now to both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the locking mechanism  1  comprises the cylinder lock housing  30 , a cylinder  10  permanently affixed to the distal end of the cylinder lock housing  34  and a hole  24  at the proximate end of the cylinder  10 . The cylinder lock housing  30  includes a threaded interior surface  36  and an exterior surface  38 . The interior surface  36  of the cylinder lock housing  30  is threaded so as to accept a lock, such as a plug lock. A plug lock is designed to screw into the threaded interior opening of the cylinder lock housing  30  and to cooperate with the threaded interior surface  36  such as to prevent the lock from being pulled out of the cylinder lock housing  34  when set screws are engaged to cooperate with the cylinder lock housing  30  and the plug lock. 
         [0017]    Located on the exterior surface  38  of the cylinder lock housing  30  is a gasket  46 . When the locking mechanism  1  is installed and operational, the gasket  46  is flush with the exterior surface of the coin box housing sheath  62 . Also located on the exterior surface  38  of the cylinder lock housing  10  are openings  42  that pass from the exterior surface  38  to the interior surface  36 . The openings  42  are positioned such that they are located between the gasket  46 and the distal end of the cylinder lock housing  34 . When the locking mechanism  1  is installed and fully cooperating with the coin box housing  60 , the openings  42  are positioned within the interior of the coin box housing  60 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the openings  42  are slanted such that the opening on the exterior surface  38  is closer to the distal end  34  of the cylinder than the openings on the interior surface  36 . The positioning of the openings  42  in this manner prevents vandals from prying in between the sheath  62  and the plug lock to unscrew the setscrews placed in the openings  42  to secure the plug lock in place. 
         [0018]    The distal end of the cylinder  22  includes a shackle hole  24 . The shackle hole allows the passage of a padlock shackle through the hole  22 . When the locking mechanism  1  is installed and fully cooperating with the coin box housing  60 , the padlock is secure against the distal end of the coin box housing  50  and is further protected by a coin box housing sheath (not shown). At the other end, the cylinder lock housing  10  rests firmly within, and flush with, the coin box housing sheath  62 . Further, locking mechanism  1  is installed and fully cooperating with the coin box housing  60 , the plug lock is cooperating with the threaded interior surface  36 , the set screws, the coin box housing sheath  62 , and the set screw openings  42 , to prevent the unauthorized removal of the lock. 
         [0019]    While the invention has been described with reference to numerous specific details, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6