Locks – Operating mechanism – Key
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-04
2004-08-31
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3676)
Locks
Operating mechanism
Key
C070S361000, C070S386000, C070S387000, C070SDIG002, C070SDIG003, C292S252000, C292SDIG003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06782725
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As concern about security rises, so too does the prevalence of lock use. While locks can help deter theft and vandalism, it is important to reduce the inconvenience of using locks to the greatest extent possible, so that the locks will be consistently used.
Many types of containers, including cabinets, boxes, and tool chests have movable closures (e.g. lids and doors). For added security, locking systems are used to prevent unauthorized opening of these containers. One important application of locks has been in their use in pickup truck bed boxes, which are placed between the sidewalls of the pickup's bed adjacent to the cab. Locking bed boxes have been around for many years, and comprise a container with at least one cover. Older designs used two covers accessible from right and left sides of the truck. In these older pickup truck bed boxes designs, separate key locks controlled access to the left and right sides of the box and there did not need to be any connection between the two. More recent designs for pickup truck bed boxes include a single cover which is hinged to the rear of the single box. Key locks are located either on the left and right side walls of the box (e.g. push button locks) or on the left and right front sides of the box (e.g. paddle locks), and these key locks operate at least one and more often two latches that are mounted inside the box. Push button locks are ideal because they can be easily accessed by a user standing at a left or right side of the truck, or standing in the back of the truck. These key locks are connected to the latches in such a manner that a user can open the cover from the left or right side of the box that has been unlocked. The latches are used to secure the lid to the box when the lid is closed. Rotary style latches, bayonet style latches and other types of latches can be used, with rotary style latches typically providing better tamper resistance than bayonet style latches. In order to be able to open pairs of existing rotary style and bayonet style latches by opening either a single push button lock or a single paddle lock, linking structures and mechanism must be provided. These linking structures and mechanism can comprise multiple activation rods and direction reversing mechanisms, all of which add to the parts and assembly costs.
There accordingly remains a need for push button locks that can be used in locking systems for containers that provide for maximized security yet has lower parts and assembly costs regardless of the precise storage container and closure the locking system is applied to.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a push button lock that has a plunger which will retract into a main housing of the push button lock when the lock is in the locked position and also unlocked so long as the push button is not depressed.
The push button lock has several parts. A main housing with an aperture formed therethrough is provided. A plunger is axially moveable in the aperture of the main housing. A ball retainer is positioned in the main housing aperture and has a central aperture formed therein through which the plunger extends, and has a protrusion formed on the ball retainer. A plunger spring for biasing the plunger away from the ball retainer is provided, and at least one ball is placed on the ball retainer. An actuator is located in the main housing aperture above the ball retainer and is rotatable to retain the ball against the plunger shaft and prevent the plunger shaft from moving relative to the ball retainer when in an opened position, and in a locked position, wherein the moveable stopper is not retained against the plunger shaft and the plunger shaft can move relative to the ball retainer. The push button lock button has a lock housing and a lock cylinder, with the lock cylinder being adapted to turn the actuator from the opened position to the locked position. A ball retainer spring for biasing the moveable stopper retainer towards the lock button is provided and an actuator spring for biasing the actuator away from the moveable stopper retainer is also provided so that unless lock button is depressed in the unlocked or locked position, the plunger will be capable of being pushed into the main housing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2705884 (1955-04-01), Craig
patent: 2728214 (1955-12-01), Craig
patent: 2772908 (1956-12-01), Craig
patent: 2987907 (1961-06-01), Cockburn et al.
patent: 3018652 (1962-01-01), Dubonnet
patent: 3602017 (1971-08-01), Bauer
patent: 4488669 (1984-12-01), Waters
patent: 4712395 (1987-12-01), Agbay
patent: 5133203 (1992-07-01), Huang
patent: 5308126 (1994-05-01), Weger, Jr. et al.
patent: 5428873 (1995-07-01), Hitchcock et al.
patent: 5447049 (1995-09-01), Shieh
patent: 5689980 (1997-11-01), Weinerman et al.
patent: 5916279 (1999-06-01), Shieh
patent: D445015 (2001-07-01), Weinerman et al.
patent: 6290268 (2001-09-01), Cohen et al.
patent: 6454320 (2002-09-01), Weinerman et al.
patent: 6463774 (2002-10-01), Sokurenko
patent: 6619078 (2003-09-01), Reese
patent: 6684670 (2004-02-01), Agbay et al.
patent: WO 9111579 (1991-08-01), None
Attached are sheets of photographs of products offered by others, which were offered at least as early as Jul. 16, 2002, in the case of sheets 1 and 2, and Oct. 4, 2002, in the case of Sheet 3. Sheet 1 includes photographs of selected features of a truck bed mountable tool box offered by Knaack Mfg. Co. of Crystal Lakes, Illinois, which shows a design for a push button lock that operates differently than the push button lock claimed in the pending patent application. Sheet 2 includes photographs of selected features of a “Husky” brand truck bed mountable tool box offered with hardware, including a push button lock, provided by Eberhard Manufacturing Co., of Cleveland, Ohio. This push button lock does not appear on Eberhard's web site at www.eberhard.com as of the date of this IDS submission. Sheet 3 includes a photograph of the Better Built brand truck bed mountable tool using a push button lock offered by Eberhard Munufacturing Co., of Cleveland, Ohio.
This push button lock does not appear on Eberhard's website at www.eberhard.com as of the date of this submission. This push button lock operates in a manner differently from the push button lock of the present invention.
Boswell Christopher
Browne Lynne H.
S.P.E.P. Acquisition Corporation
LandOfFree
Push button lock does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Push button lock, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Push button lock will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3280314