Abstract:
What is disclosed is a lock assembly for use with locking stainless steel or steel cables, shackle bars and/or chains. The locking mechanism is a rotating cam that can secure the cable, shackle bar or chain into the lock assembly and release the same by again rotating the cam.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to the field of portable locking devices that can be used to provide security in a variety of applications. In particular, the present invention is directed to an internal mechanism for such locks. 
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to the type of locks used in connection with a shackle, cable or chains. The available locking mechanisms for these types of devices are complicated, generally use pins activated by a key and are expensive to manufacture and suffer from other defects as well. 
         [0003]    The primary object of the present invention is to overcome the problems with available locks. The present invention solves the problem with available locking mechanisms by providing a simple rotating lock assembly that is reliable yet simple to manufacture and operate. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    A rotating locking mechanism comprising a cylindrical outer tubular body comprising a longitudinal bore with a first opening and a first side hole, a reversibly rotating cam comprising a first through slot and received in the longitudinal bore such that the rotating cam can be freely rotated therein, a keyed lock connected to the rotating cam and a lock device adapted to be received in the first side hole and the first through slot by rotating the rotating cam by rotating the keyed lock so that the first side hole and the first through slot align wherein the lock device is secured in the rotating locking mechanism when the keyed lock is rotated and thereby the rotating cam is rotated. 
         [0005]    A lock chain rotating locking mechanism comprising a cylindrical tubular body comprising a first longitudinal bore on a first, end, a slot on a second end, and a through hole open into the longitudinal bore; a lock chain comprising a first end link, a second end link and a plurality of links between the first end link, and the second end link wherein the first end link is affixed in the slot on the second end of the cylindrical tubular body; a reversibly rotating cam adapted to be received in the first longitudinal bore comprising an open slot, and a finger; and a keyed lock connected to the rotating cam; wherein any link other than the first end link is received in the through hole and open slot and secured in the locking mechanism by the finger when the keyed lock is rotated and thereby the reversibly rotating cam is rotated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top assembled view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2   a  is a top view of a component of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 2   b  is a side view of the component illustrated in  FIG. 2   a.    
           [0009]      FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c , &amp;  3   d  illustrate a component of the embodiment&#39;illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cable used in conjunction with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top assembly view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6   a  is a top view of a component of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6   b  is a side view of the component illustrated in  FIG. 6   a.    
           [0014]      FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and  7   c  illustrate a component of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an assembly view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  illustrates a shackle used in connection with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  illustrates a chain used in connection with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  illustrates a double lock cable used in connection with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0019]      FIGS. 12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  &amp;  12   d  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 13   a ,  13   b ,  13   c  &amp;  13   d  illustrate a component of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0021]      FIGS. 14   a ,  14   b , &amp;  14   c  illustrates a component of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  illustrates a chain assembly used in connection with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described as illustrated in the drawings. This description should not be construed as limiting the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0024]    The present invention is directed to a rotating lock assembly  10  for a portable lock. The lock assembly  10  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . This embodiment is directed to use with a lock cable assembly  12 . The assembly  10  comprises a generally cylindrical outer tubular body  14 . The tubular body  14  comprises a longitudinal bore  13  with a first end  15 , a second end  17 , a first opening  16  and a second opening  18 , and a pin hole  7  as shown in  FIG. 2A . The tubular body  14  further comprises a hole  5  through one side only. 
         [0025]    A rotating cam  24  is received in the first end  15 . The cam  24  is illustrated in detail in  FIG. 3 . The cam  24  is generally cylindrical in shape and comprises a through slot  19 . The rotating cam  24  is received in the first opening  16  and can be freely rotated in the tubular body  14 . The cam  24  further comprises a pin hole  20 . As can be seen in the drawings, the cam  24  is threaded into the lock mechanism  21  and is held thereon by a locking pin  25 . 
         [0026]    The lock mechanism  21  is affixed within the tubular body  14  by a pin. The lock mechanism  21  is a presently available rotating lock mechanism. The lock mechanism  21  is engaged with a key  23  on the end opposite to the rotating cam  24 . 
         [0027]    The embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  is meant to be used in connection with the lock cable assembly  12  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The lock cable assembly  12  comprises a flexible stainless steel or steel cable  11  and a body head  9  on each end. The body head  9  is generally hollow and the cable  11  is received therein as shown in  FIG. 4 . Each end of the cable  11  is joined to a body head  9  by welding or swedging. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , one end of the cable  11  is received in the second opening  18 . One of the body heads  9  is inserted through the first opening  16  and welded or swedged to the cable  11  so that the cable  11  is permanently affixed to the lock assembly  10 . The flexible stainless steel or steel cable  11  may then be manipulated so that the other body head  9  is received through side hole  5  in the lock assembly  10 . The cam  24  is then rotated by means of the key  23  to the open position so that the body head  9  will be received through the slot  19 . After insertion, the cam  24  is rotated 180° by means of the key  23  and the lock cable assembly  12  is thereby locked therein. By rotating the cam 180° again, the lock cable assembly  12  will be released from the cam  24 . 
         [0029]    An alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 11 . In this embodiment, the lock assembly  30  is to be used in connection with a stainless steel or steel cable  48  or other u-shaped shackle type device  45  or a chain  46 . Rather, than the cable  48  being permanently affixed to one end of the lock assembly  30  as in the lock assembly  30 , both ends may be removeably locked in place in the lock assembly  30 . 
         [0030]    The lock assembly  30  comprises a generally cylindrical tubular outer body  34 . The tubular outer body  34  comprises a longitudinal bore  33 , two holes  35  and  36 , and a pin hole  37  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The lock assembly  30  further comprises a rotating cam  38  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The cam  38  comprises two-through slots  40  and a pin hole  42 . As with the previous embodiment, an available lock mechanism  21  is connected to the cam  38  by means of a pin  44 . 
         [0031]    The lock assembly  30  can be used with several locking means, i.e. a shackle bar  45  shown in  FIG. 9 , a lock chain assembly  46  shown in  FIG. 10  or a flexible stainless steel or steel cable assembly  48 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the lock chain assembly  46  comprises end pieces  47 . The steel cable assembly  48  comprises body heads  49 . In this embodiment, all of the locking means,  45 ,  46  and  48 , are adapted so that the ends  44 ,  47  and  49  are received in the two side holes  35  and  36  into the rotating cam  38 . The rotating cam  38  is rotated 180° by the key in the lock mechanism and the locking means is locked herein. By again rotating the cam  38  by 180°, the locking means is released from the assembly  30 . 
         [0032]    A second alternate embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 12 to 15 . In this embodiment, the lock assembly  50  is to be used in connection with a lock chain  52 . The lock assembly  50  comprises a generally cylindrical tubular outer body  52 . 
         [0033]    The tubular outer body  52  comprises a rectangular slot  56  with a through hole  58  on the upper and lower prongs  55  and  57  of the rectangular slot  56 . The rectangular slot  56  is adapted to receive an end of the lock chain  52  therein. The lock chain  52  is fixed in the slot  56  by means of a pin  60  placed in the through hole  58  as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0034]    The tubular outer body  52  further comprises a longitudinal bore  62  that is open at an end  61  of the tubular outer body  52 . A slot  63  is provided from the outer surface of the tubular outer body  52  into the longitudinal bore  62 . The tubular outer body  52  also comprises a pin hole  64 . 
         [0035]    The lock assembly  50  further comprises a rotating cam  66  as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . The rotating cam  66  comprises an open slot  68 , a finger  69 , a longitudinal bore  70 , and a pinhole  72 . The open slot  68  is adapted to receive the end  51  or any of the plurality of links  53  of the lock chain  52 . A lock mechanism  21  is connected to the cam  66  by means of a pin  74  as shown in  FIG. 12   d.    
         [0036]    The lock chain  52  is received through slot  63  in the tubular outer body  52  and into the open slot  68 . The cam  66  is then rotated 180° and the lock chain  52  is thus secured in the lock assembly  50  by finger  69 . By rotating the cam 180° again, the lock chain  52  is released from the lock assembly  50 . 
         [0037]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing merely represents embodiments of the present invention and that many obvious modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.