Lock for a trailer

Details Lock for a trailer Lock for a trailer

2002-07-29

2003-06-10

Gall, Lloyd A. (Department: 3676)

Locks

Portable

Padlocks

C070S258000, C280S507000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06575000

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an improved lock for a trailer and particularly a trailer lock that is easy for a latch bolt to insert and to perform locking or unlocking operations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Travel and recreational activities have become increasingly popular these days. They not only benefit people's physical and mental health, also are good to business and economic developments. During travels, many people use trailers to haul various outfits, foods, drinking water, etc. The trailer is usually fastened to the rear end of a car, and is anchored by a latch bolt. In order to guard the trailer against theft, a latch bolt doubles as a lock has been developed.
FIGS. 9 through 11
show such a latch bolt. It mainly includes a lock member
60
with an insert hole
61
formed at one end for receiving a latch end
51
of a shank
50
. The lock member
60
has another end formed an opening
62
to engage sequentially a latch member
90
and a lock core
80
. The another end further has a groove
65
to engage with a cap
66
. The lock core
80
has a key way
81
formed at one end, a pin hole
82
formed on one side to match an aperture
66
formed on the lock member
60
to receive a pin
64
to anchor the lock core
80
in the lock member
60
, and a lock tongue
83
located at another end thereof to couple with a latch member
90
. The lock core
80
may be turned and controlled by a key
70
. The latch member
90
is integrally formed and includes a base plate
91
with a retain hole
911
formed thereon to match and couple with the lock tongue
83
, a connection section
92
extended on one side, and an upper plate
93
connected to the connection section
92
. The upper plate
93
has a latch frame
931
formed thereon.
When in use, the latch end
51
of the shank
50
is inserted into the latch member
90
through the insert hole
61
of the lock member
60
. Then the key
70
is turned to turn the lock core
80
which turns the lock tongue
83
and drives the latch member
90
to turn. As a result, the direction of the latch frame
931
on the upper plate
93
changes. Then the latch frame
931
may latch the latch end
51
of the shank
50
to prevent the shank
50
from being pulled out of the lock member
60
. This is a locked condition (as shown in FIGS.
12
and
13
). On the other hand, the key
70
may be turned to drive the latch member
90
and change the direction of the latch frame
931
so that the shank
50
is not latched by latch frame
931
. Then the shank
50
may be removed from the lock member
60
to form an unlocking condition. Insertion of the latch end is done at the opposite directions 180° apart. Such a design has the following disadvantages:
1. As the latch end
51
and the insert hole
61
are aligned at positions of 180° apart, there are only two inserting locations for the latch end of the shank
50
. Operation is not convenient and is time-consuming.
2. The lock core has to be turned at a large angle of 180° when in use. It is against the prevailing trend of locking devices that mostly adopt the turning angle of 90°. Such a design has no competitiveness and incurs higher cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of aforesaid disadvantages, the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved lock for a trailer that is easy for the latch bolt to be inserted to perform locking or unlocking operations, and is turned at a smaller angle (about 90°) when in use.
To attain the foregoing object, the invention mainly includes a latch bar and a lock member. The latch bar includes a latch bolt to match the key way, lock ring, connection shaft and lock core of the lock. Locking operations can be done easily. Unlocking can be accomplished by turning the lock core for a small angle and can be done quickly and conveniently.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4711106 (1987-12-01), Johnson
patent: 6055832 (2000-05-01), Wyers
patent: 6402181 (2002-06-01), Lee
patent: 6425272 (2002-07-01), Chen

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