Abstract:
A lock for a female member of a fastening mechanism is disclosed, in which the female member is releasably engageable with a male member of the fastening mechanism, the male member having two arm members which are movable relative to each other, and the lock is movable relative to the female member between a first position in which, when the male and female members are engaged with each other, relative movement between the two arm members is allowed, thus allowing the male and female members to be disengaged from each other, and a second position in which, when the male and female members are engaged with each other, relative movement between the two arm members is denied, thus locking the male and female members against relative movement.

Description:
[0001]     This invention relates to a lock, and in particular a lock suitable for use in a fastener.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A fastening mechanism commonly used in such article carriers as backpacks is of a type generally known as bayonet side-squeeze tension fasteners. Such a fastener includes a male component and a female component releasably attachable with each other. The male component has a first longitudinal end to which a belt may be attached. Three arms extend from a second longitudinal end of the male component. The middle arm is rigid, while the two side arms are resiliently movable between a normal position in which they extend in the same general direction as the middle arm, and a second position in which they are squeezed towards each other, and thus towards the middle arm. The female component has a first longitudinal end to which a belt may be attached. A second longitudinal end of the female component is open, and with an internal width slightly smaller than the widest outer width of the two side arms of the male component. Part of each of the two lateral sides of the female component is also open, and communicates with the open second longitudinal end.  
         [0003]     When the two components are to be engaged with each other, the two side arms are squeezed towards each other, e.g. when forced by the inner walls of the two lateral sides of the female component. The male component may then be inserted into the female component, until the side arms are fully received into the female component. In this position, the side arms are next to the lateral openings of the female component, and the side arms are allowed to return to their normal position under their resilience, to thereby secure the two components against movement relative to each other.  
         [0004]     If the two components are to be disengaged from each other, the two side arms are squeezed towards each other, e.g. by a user, whereby the male component may be retrieved from the female component, until they are clear of each other.  
         [0005]     Such a fastening mechanism is easy to operate and manufacture, and has thus been widely used in many appliances. However, no locking mechanism has been provided for such a fastening mechanism, so that security problem exists with the use of such a fastening mechanism.  
         [0006]     It is thus an object to provide a locking mechanism suitable for use in such a fastening mechanism, or at least to provide a useful option to the trade and public.  
         [0007]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism which allows at least two components of the locking mechanism to be engaged with each other in different orientations for effecting locking of the fastening mechanism, so as to allow more versatility.  
         [0008]     It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism which allows a user to set the number or number combination to open the lock.  
         [0009]     Such and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the ensuing discussion.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lock adapted to be carried by a female member of a fastening mechanism, wherein said female member is adapted to be releasably engaged with at least one male member of said fastening mechanism, said male member having at least two arm members which are movable relative to each other, wherein said lock is movable relative to said female member between a first position in which, when said male and female members are engaged with each other, relative movement between said two arm members is allowed, and a second position in which, when said male and female members are engaged with each other, relative movement between said two arm members is denied.  
         [0011]     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a female member for a fastening mechanism, said female member including at least one lock, wherein said female member is adapted to be releasably engaged with at least one male member of said fastening mechanism, said male member having at least two arm members which are movable relative to each other, wherein said lock is movable relative to said female member between a first position in which, when said male and female members are engaged with each other, relative movement between said two arm members is allowed, and a second position in which, when said male and female members are engaged with each other, relative movement between said two arm members is denied.  
         [0012]     According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fastening mechanism including a male member and a female member which are releasably engageable with each other, wherein said female member includes at least one lock, said male member having at least two arm members which are movable relative to each other, wherein said lock is movable relative to said female member between a first position in which, when said male and female members are engaged with each other, relative movement between said two arm members is allowed, and a second position in which, when said male and female members are engaged with each other, relative movement between said two arm members is denied. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of a lock according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 1B  is a rear view of the lock shown in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 1C  is a front view of the lock shown in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 1D  is a left side view of the lock shown in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 1E  is a right side view of the lock shown in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 1F  is a bottom view of the lock shown in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the lock shown in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a further exploded view of the lock shown in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4A  shows the lock shown in  FIG. 1A  in a first orientation;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4B  shows the lock shown in  FIG. 1A  in a second orientation;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4C  shows the lock shown in  FIG. 1A  in a third orientation;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows a male component of a fastening mechanism;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  shows a female component of a fastening mechanism installed with two locks shown in  FIG. 1A  in a first relative orientation;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7A  shows the female component shown in  FIG. 6  engaged with the male component shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the male and female components are disengageable from each other;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7B  shows the female component shown in  FIG. 6  engaged with the male component shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the male and female components are locked against movement relative to each other;  
         [0029]      FIG. 8A  shows a female component of a fastening mechanism installed with the lock shown in  FIG. 1A  in a second relative orientation;  
         [0030]      FIG. 8B  is a side view of the female component shown in  FIG. 8A ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 9A  shows the female component shown in  FIG. 8A  engaged with the male component shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the male and female components are disengageable from each other;  
         [0032]      FIG. 9B  shows the female component shown in  FIG. 8A  engaged with the male component shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the male and female components are locked against movement relative to each other;  
         [0033]      FIG. 10  shows a female component of a fastening mechanism installed with a lock shown in  FIG. 1A  in a third relative orientation;  
         [0034]      FIG. 11A  shows the female component shown in  FIG. 10  engaged with the male component shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the male and female components are disengageable from each other;  
         [0035]      FIG. 11B  shows the female component shown in  FIG. 10  engaged with the male component shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the male and female components are locked against movement relative to each other;  
         [0036]      FIG. 12A  shows two locks shown in  FIG. 1A  installed with a female component of a fastening mechanism in a first manner;  
         [0037]      FIG. 12B  is a rear view of the female component shown in  FIG. 12A ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 12C  is a front view of the female component shown in  FIG. 12A ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 12D  is a right side view of the female component shown in  FIG. 12A ;  
         [0040]      FIG. 13A  shows two locks shown in  FIG. 1A  installed with a female component of a fastening mechanism in a second manner;  
         [0041]      FIG. 13B  is a rear view of the female component shown in  FIG. 13A ;  
         [0042]      FIG. 13C  is a front view of the female component shown in  FIG. 13A ;  
         [0043]      FIG. 13D  is a side view of the female component shown in  FIG. 13A ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 14A  shows four locks shown in  FIG. 1A  installed with a female component of a fastening mechanism;  
         [0045]      FIG. 14B  is a rear view of the female component shown in  FIG. 14A ; and  
         [0046]      FIG. 14C  is a front view of the female component shown in  FIG. 14A . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0047]      FIGS. 1A  to  1 F show various views of a lock according to the present invention, and generally designated as  100 . The lock  100  includes a disc  102  and a body  104 , which are releasably engaged with each other, in a manner to be discussed below.  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the disc  102  is marked with a number of numerals along its periphery. A screw  106  is receivable through a hole  108  of the disc  102  and an internally threaded hole  110  of a post  112  extending from a major surface of the body  104 , to secure the disc  102  to the body  104 . By way of this arrangement, the disc  102  is rotatable relative to the body  104  about a longitudinal axis X-X of the body  104 . A pin  114  is receivable through a hole  116  of the disc  102 . The pin  114  is also receivable in a number of holes  118  disposed on the major surface of the body  104 . It is thus possible to secure the disc  102  to the body  104  in a number of different configurations, according to the wish of the user. This allows a user to set the number or number combination for which the lock may be unlocked, in a manner to be discussed below.  
         [0049]     While the body  104  is formed of an integral whole, for the sake of easy understanding of the present invention, the body  104  is shown in  FIG. 3  as being broken up into its component layers. The body  104  includes a first lock layer  120 , a second lock layer  122  and a third lock layer  124 . The first layer  120  is in the form of a circular plate with a generally rectangular recess  126 . On a surface of the recess  126  is a marked position  128 , which serves to indicate the unlocked position when the first layer  120  serves as the locking portion, again in a manner to be discussed below. As to the second layer  122 , such is a generally circular plate with two lateral cut-out regions. There is provided a notched portion  130  in each cut-out region, which serves to indicate the unlocked position when this second layer  122  serves as the locking portion. The third layer  124  includes two disjointed arc portions  124   a ,  124   b  separated from each other by two gap regions  125 .  
         [0050]      FIGS. 4A  to  5  show different ways in which a male component  132  of a fastener (not shown) may be engaged with the lock  100 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the male component  132  includes, at one of its ends, a rod  134  onto which a belt (not shown) may be secured. Three arms  136   a ,  136   b ,  136   c  extend from another end of the male component  132 . The middle arm  136   b  is rigid, while the two side arms  136   a ,  136   c  are resiliently movable between a normal position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , in which they extend in the same direction as the middle arm  136   b , and a second position in which they are squeezed towards each other, and thus towards the middle arm  136   b.    
         [0051]     In the case where the lock  100  and the male component  132  are oriented relative to each other as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 5 , the male component  132  can engage with the first layer  120  of the body  104  for locking and unlocking purpose. It can be seen that, in this relative orientation, the longitudinal axis X A -X A  of the lock  100  is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y-Y of the male component  132 . In this connection, the width B of the recess  126  of the first layer  120  is slightly larger than the thickness C of the side arm  136   c . In particular, the male component  132  and the lock  100  will be arranged such that, when the male component  132  is engaged with the lock  100 , an inner surface  138  of the side arm  136   c  will, in its normal position, abut an outer surface  140  of the first layer  120 . In this position, the side arm  136   c  cannot be squeezed towards the middle arm  136 , thus preventing unlocking of the male component  132  from the lock  100 .  
         [0052]     By rotating the lock  100  relative to the male component  132  and about the axis X A -X A , the recess  126  of the first layer  120  can be moved adjacent the inner surface  138  of the side arm  136   c . As the thickness C of the side arm  136   c  is slightly narrower than the width B of the recess  126 , the side arm  136   c  may then be bent inwardly, i.e. squeezed into the recess  126  and towards the middle arm  136   b , thus allowing the male component  132  to be unlocked from the female member (not shown) installed with the lock  100 . For better performance, and as will be further discussed below, a further lock  100  may be provided, in a tail to tail manner with the original lock  100 , so that an inner surface  142  of the side arm  136   a  normally abuts an outer surface of a first layer  120  of the second lock  100 .  
         [0053]     The lock  100  and the male component  132  may alternatively be oriented relative to each other as shown in  FIGS. 4B and 5  for releasable inter-engagement. It can be seen that, in this orientation, although the longitudinal axis X B -X B  of the lock  100  is also perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y-Y of the male component  132 , the longitudinal X B -X B  in  FIG. 4B  is perpendicular to the orientation of the longitudinal axis X A -X A  in  FIG. 4A . In the situation as shown in  FIGS. 4B and 5 , the male component  132  will engage with the second layer  122  of the body  104  for locking and unlocking purpose. Normally, when the lock  100  and the male component  132  are engaged in the relative orientation as shown in  FIGS. 4B and 5 , the inner surfaces  138 ,  142  of the side arms  136   c ,  136   a  will abut curved outer surfaces  144   a ,  144   b  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the second layer  122 . In this position, the side arms  136   a ,  136   c  will be prevented from being squeezed towards the middle arm  136 , thus preventing unlocking of the male component  132  from the lock  100 .  
         [0054]     By rotating the lock  100  relative to the male component  132  and about the axis X B -X B , the lateral cut-out regions of the second layer  122  can be moved adjacent the inner surfaces  138 ,  142  of the side arms  136   c ,  136   a . In this configuration, the side arms  136   c ,  136   a  may be bent inwardly, i.e. squeezed into the cut-out regions and towards the middle arm  136   b . The width F of the cut-out regions is wide enough to allow the side arms  136   c ,  136   a  to be squeezed towards each other to an extent sufficient to allow the male component  132  to be unlocked from the female member (not shown) installed with the lock  100 .  
         [0055]     The lock  100  and the male component  132  may also be oriented relative to each other as shown in  FIGS. 4C and 5  for releasable inter-engagement. It can be seen that, in this relative orientation, the longitudinal axis X C -X C  of the lock  100  is parallel to the longitudinal axis Y-Y of the male component  132 . In this configuration, the male component  132  will engage with the third layer  124  of the body  104  for locking and unlocking purpose. Normally, when the lock  100  and the male component  132  are engaged in the relative orientation as shown in  FIGS. 4C and 5 , the inner surfaces  138 ,  142  of the side arms  136   c ,  136   a  will abut curved outer surfaces  146   a ,  146   b  of the third layer  124 . In this position, the side arms  136   a ,  136   c  will be prevented from being squeezed towards the middle arm  136 , thus preventing unlocking of the male component  132  from the lock  100 .  
         [0056]     By rotating the lock  100  relative to the male component  132  and about the axis X C -X C , the gap regions  125  of the third layer  124  can be moved adjacent the inner surfaces  138 ,  142  of the side arms  136   c ,  136   a . In this configuration, as the width E of the gap regions  125  between the arc portions  124   a ,  124   b  is slightly larger than the thickness C of the side arms  136   c ,  136   a , the side arms  136   c ,  136   a  may be bent inwardly, i.e. squeezed into the gap regions  125  and towards the middle arm  136   b , thus allowing the male component  132  to be unlocked from the female member (not shown) installed with the lock  100 .  
         [0057]     A female component  150  of a fastening mechanism may be installed with two locks  100  according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS.  6  to  7 B. In this construction, the longitudinal axis X-X of the lock  100  is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z-Z of the female component  150 . The female component  150  has an open longitudinal end  152  for receiving the male component  132 . Another longitudinal end of the female component  150  is provided with a rod  154  for engagement with a belt (not shown). In this construction, when the male component  132  is inserted into the open end  152 , the side arms  136   c ,  136   a  will engage with the first layer  120  of the lock  100  for locking and unlocking function. When the lock  100  is moved to the unlockable position, as shown in  FIG. 7A , the marked position  128  will be in line with a marked region  156  on a side of the female component  150 , thus signifying that the male component  132  may now be inserted into the female component  150  for inter-engagement. Of course, when the male component  132  and the female component  150  are engaged with each other, the marked position  128  of the lock  100  may not be perceivable from the outside, thus hindering unauthorized unlocking. It should also be understood that the male component  132  may only be inserted into and thus engaged with the female component  150  when the locks  100  are in the unlockable position, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Thus, the unlockable position of the lock  100  is also the engageable position in which the male component  132  may be engaged with the female component  150 , and any locked position of the lock  100  is also an un-engageable position in which the male component  132  and the female component  150  cannot be properly engaged with each other.  
         [0058]     On a side surface  158  of the female component  150  is a marker  160  in the form of an arrow to assist in ascertaining the orientation of the lock  100  relative to the female component  150 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lock  100  is in an unlockable position when the numeral  4  is next to the marker  160 . This thus acts as a number for allowing unlocking of the male component  132  and the female component  150 . The user may disengage the disc  102  from the body  104  of the lock and re-engage the disc  102  with the body  104  such that a different number is next to the marker  160  in this unlockable position. The user may thus set his/her own unlocking number. As the female component  150  is installed with two locks  100 , the user may set an unlocking number combination.  
         [0059]     A female component  150  of a fastening mechanism may instead be installed with a lock  100  according to the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 8A  to  9 B. In this construction, the longitudinal axis X-X of the lock  100  is also perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z-Z of the female component  150 . In particular, in this construction, when the male component  132  is inserted into the female component  150 , the side arms  136   c ,  136   a  will engage with the second layer  122  of the lock  100  for locking and unlocking function. When the lock  100  is moved to the unlockable position, the notched position  130  will be in line with a marked region  162  on a respective side of the female component  150 , thus signifying that the male component  132  may now be inserted into the female component  150  for inter-engagement. Of course, when the male component  132  and the female component  150  are engaged with each other, the notched position  130  of the lock  100  may not be perceivable from the outside, thus hindering unauthorized unlocking.  
         [0060]     On a top surface  164  of the female component  150  is a marker  166  in the form of an arrow to assist in ascertaining the orientation of the lock  100  relative to the female component  150 . As shown in  FIG. 8A , the lock  100  is in an unlockable position when the numeral  6  is next to the marker  166 . This thus acts as a number for allowing unlocking of the male component  132  and the female component  150 . The user may disengage the disc  102  from the body  104  of the lock and re-engage the disc  102  with the body  104  such that a different number is next to the marker  166  in this unlockable position. The user may thus set his/her own unlocking number.  
         [0061]     A female component  150  of a fastening mechanism may be installed with two locks  100  according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS.  10  to  11 B. In this construction, the longitudinal axis X-X of the lock  100  is parallel to the longitudinal axis Z-Z of the female component  150 . The female component  150  has an open longitudinal end  152  for receiving the male component  132 . In this construction, when the male component  132  is inserted into the open end  152 , the side arms  136   c ,  136   a  will engage with the third layer  124  of the lock  100  for locking and unlocking function. When the lock  100  is moved to the unlockable position, as shown in  FIG. 11A , a marked position  168  of the third layer  124  will be in line with a line  170  marked on an inside lower surface of the female component  150 , thus signifying that the male component  132  may now be inserted into the female component  150  for inter-engagement. Of course, when the male component  132  and the female component  150  are engaged with each other, the marked position  168  of the lock  100  may not be perceivable from the outside, thus hindering unauthorized unlocking.  
         [0062]     Further modifications may be made to the foregoing arrangements. As shown in  FIGS. 12A  to  12 D, modifications may be made to the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 8A  to  8 B, by installing two locks  100  with a female component  150 , in a tail to tail manner. By way of such an arrangement, two male components  132  may be releasably engageable with a single female component  150 , and the male components  132  and the female component  150  can only be fully detached when both the locks  100  are in the unlockable positions.  
         [0063]     A further modified arrangement is shown in  FIGS. 13A  to  13 D, in which a female component  150 A is installed with two locks  100 , in a side by side manner. It can be seen that the female components  150 A has two open longitudinal ends, to each of which a male component  132  may be inserted.  
         [0064]     A yet further modified arrangement is shown in  FIGS. 14A  to  14 C, in which a female component  150 B is installed with a total of four locks  100 . The female components  150 B has two open longitudinal ends, to each of which a male component  132  may be inserted.  
         [0065]     It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0066]     It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.