US3659442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking device including camming key for releasing spring catch members
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-18
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Granted: 1972-05-02
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Expires: 1991-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A locking device includes a lock base, hinged cover and key. The lock base has a key hole extending inwardly of one end parallel to the top of the lock base, and one or more holes in the top opening into the keyhole. The cover has one or more pairs of slightly spaced spring prongs insertable into the holes in the lock base. Shoulders on tips of the prongs engage underneath rims of the holes to keep the cover closed. The key has camming portions defining circumferential grooves with flaring faces for engaging the prongs, squeezing them together and lifting them clear of the bottom rims of the holes in the lock base when the key is rotated. The lock base may have recesses at the underside of its top for receiving and concealing the tips of the prongs. The camming portions may be radially extending camming members engageable with the tips of the prongs in the recesses when the key is turned in the keyhole.
Inventors
- 👤 Vito Cellini
- 👤 Ronald J Casale
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:12
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05C; E05C19/00; E05C19/06; E05B; E05B35/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0801; Y10T292/082; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5009; Y10T70/5031; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7441; Y10T70/7486; Y10T70/778; Y10T70/7791; Y10T70/7842; Y10T70/7847
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A locking device comprising a box-like lock base having top, side and end walls, said base having a cylindrical keyhole extending inwardly from one end wall axially parallel to the top of the lock base, and at least one hole extending inwardly from said top adjacent one side wall and opening laterally into said keyhole; a cover hinged to the top of the lock base, said cover having at least one pair of slightly spaced, depending, flexible prongs insertable into said hole and engageable with the top of the lock base when the cover is closed on the lock base; and a key having a cylindrical shaft insertable into said key hole for rotation therein, said shaft being formed with camming portions arranged to engage and squeeze said prongs together and to lift the prongs sufficiently clear of said hole so that the closed cover can be opened.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A locking device comprising a box-like lock base having top, side and end walls, said base having a cylindrical keyhole extending inwardly from one end wall axially parallel to the top of the lock base, and at least one hole extending inwardly from said top adjacent one side wall and opening laterally into said keyhole; a cover hinged to the top of the lock base, said cover having at least one pair of slightly spaced, depending, flexible prongs insertable into said hole and engageable with the top of the lock base when the cover is closed on the lock base; and a key having a cylindrical shaft insertable into said key hole for rotation therein, said shaft being formed with camming portions arranged to engage and squeeze said prongs together and to lift the prongs sufficiently clear of said hole so that the closed cover can be opened.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
A locking device as defined in claim 1, wherein said lock base has at least one other hole in its top spaced from the first named hole and opening into the keyhole; said cover having at least one other pair of slightly spaced, depending flexible prongs insertable into said other hole and engageable with the top of the lock base when the cover is closed; said shaft of the key having other camming portions arranged to engage and squeeze said other prongs together and to lift the same sufficiently clear of said other hole when so that the closed cover can be opened, both pairs of prongs cooperating when the cover is closed on the lock base to hold the cover closed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A locking device as defined in claim 1, wherein said prongs are formed with tips having shoulders formed thereon for engaging underneath the rim of said hole when the cover is closed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A locking device as defined in claim 3, wherein said shaft has a longitudinal slot arranged to receive said tips of the prongs when the key is inserted in to the keyhole, said camming portions being defined by flaring spaced sides of a circumferential groove formed in said shaft of the key.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A locking device as defined in claim 4, wherein said hole is rectangular, the shoulders of the pring tips have straight edges for engaging straight edges of said hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A locking device as defined in claim 4, wherein said hole has a curved rim, and wherein said shoulders of the prong Tips have curved edges for engaging the curved rim of the hole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A locking device as defined in claim 4, wherein the inside of said circumferential groove extends radially progressively lesser distances into the shaft so that the prongs are lifted while being squeezed together by the sides of the groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A locking device as defined in claim 3, wherein said lock base is formed with a recess at the underside of the top of the lock base to receive the tips of the prongs which remain clear of the keyhole when the cover is closed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A locking device as defined in claim 8, wherein said camming portions are axially spaced camming members extending radially and circumferentially on the shaft of the key, said camming members having flaring spaced sides defining a circumferential groove on the shaft to receive the tips of the prongs in said recess when the key is turned in the keyhole.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |