Locks – Portable – Clamps
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-11-06
Gall, Lloyd A. (Department: 3627)
Locks
Portable
Clamps
C070S159000, C070S164000, C070S258000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311530
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a truck tool box and more particularly pertains to preventing unauthorized access to tools.
The use of protection devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, protection devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of preventing the theft of valuables are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,476 to White discloses a locking door plate for use in protecting the contents of a truck bed mounted tool box. U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,835 to Krush discloses a security system comprised of an alarm and a key-operated lock for protecting a vehicles's storage container. U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,308 to Johnson discloses a steering lock comprised of an elongated member with a hook assembly.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a locking mechanism for a truck tool box for preventing unauthorized access to tools.
In this respect, the locking mechanism for a truck tool box according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing unauthorized access to tools.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved locking mechanism for a truck tool box which can be used for preventing unauthorized access to tools. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of protection devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved locking mechanism for a truck tool box. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved locking mechanism for a truck tool box and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a tool box secured within a bed of a pick-up truck. The tool box has an open upper end with a lid hingedly secured thereto. The tool box has a pair of aligned holes through front and rear walls thereof. A central housing is provided that is comprised of a first trapezoidal section and a second trapezoidal section joined together at long extents thereof. The central housing has a lateral opening extending therethrough. A first J-shaped member is provided having an elongated portion extending through the lateral opening in the central housing. The elongated portion has an open free end. The first J-shaped portion has a hooked portion for coupling with one of the holes of the tool box. A second J-shaped member is provided having an elongated portion extending through the opening in the central housing and inwardly of the open free end of the elongated portion of the first J-shaped member. The elongated portion of the second J-shaped member has annular rings disposed thereon. The second J-shaped member has a hooked portion for coupling with one of the holes of the tool box. A locking mechanism is disposed within the central housing. The locking mechanism is selectively engaged between two of the annular rings of the second J-shaped member for locking the tool box. The locking mechanism includes a spring biased ball disposed within one side of the central housing and a rotatable ball on a second side of the central housing. The rotating ball is engaged between two of the annular rings in a locked orientation and is released from between two of the annular rings in an unlocked orientation. The rotatable ball is manipulated by a key access through a top wall of the central housing.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved locking mechanism for a truck tool box which has all the advantages of the prior art protection devices and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved locking mechanism for a truck tool box which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved locking mechanism for a truck tool box which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved locking mechanism for a truck tool box which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a locking mechanism for a truck tool box economically available to the buying public.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved locking mechanism for a truck tool box for preventing unauthorized access to tools.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved locking mechanism for a truck tool box including a central housing having a lateral opening extending therethrough. A first J-shaped member is provided having an elongated portion extending through the lateral opening in the central housing. The elongated portion has an open free end. The first J-shaped portion has a hooked portion for coupling with a hole formed in a front wall of a truck mounted tool box. A second J-shaped member is provided having an elongated portion extending through the opening in the central housing and inwardly of the open free end of the elongated portion of the first J-shaped member. The second J-shaped member has a hooked portion for coupling with a hole formed in a back wall of a truck mounted tool box. A locking mechanism is disposed within the central housing. The locking mechanism selectively engages the second J-shaped member to the first J-shaped member for locking the tool box.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of th
Gall Lloyd A.
Goldstein Law Offices P.C.
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