Closure device for locks

Claim 2

A cover device comprising: a. an annular base member adapted for mounting around an opening to be closed, said base member comprising an annular seal surface for enclosing the opening to be closed; b. a cap member for covering the opening, said cap member comprising a mating surface adapted to engage said seal surface; c. a connector means connecting said base member to said cover member and permitting relative movement therebetween; and wherein said base member, said cover means and said connector are integrally formed of a flexible plastic material; and d. latching means also integrally formed with said base member, said cap member and said connector means; said latching means being automatically activated in response to engagement between said seal and mating surfaces to restrict relative movement between said cap member and said base member, and wherein said connector means is a flexible band joining said cap and base members, and wherein said cap member comprises said latching means which is disposed for releasably engaging said band to restrict relative movement between said cap and base members in response to movement of said mating surface into contact with said seal surface.

Claim 3

A cover device according to claim 1 wherein said base member comprises an annular shell with a wall portion that forms said seal surface; and said mating surface is mated dimensionally to said seal surface so as to be slidably engagable therewith.

Claim 4

A cover device according to claim 2 wherein said annular seal surface comprises an outer surface of said annular shell, and said cap member comprises a hollow tubular portion the inner surface of which comprises said mating surface.

Claim 5

A cover device according to claim 3 wherein said annular shell is a hollow cylinder.

Claim 6

A cover device according to claim 4 wherein said annular seal surface is a right cylindrical wall surface of said hollow cylinder.

Claim 7

A cover device according to claim 2 wherein said annular seal surface comprises an inner surface of said annular shell, and said cap member comprises a projection with an outer surface that comprises said mating surface.

Claim 8

A cover device according to claim 6 wherein said annular shell is of rectangular cross-section.

Claim 9

A cover device according to claim 1 wherein said base member comprises an annular shell with a wall portion that forms said seal surface; and said mating surface is mated dimensionally to said seal surface so as to be slidably engagable therewith.

Claim 10

A cover device according to claim 8 wherein said annular seal surface comprises an outer surface of said annular shell, and said cap member comprises a hollow tubular portion the inner surface of which comprises said mating surface.

Claim 11

A cover device according to claim 9 wherein said latching means comprises resilient jaws that define recesses in said hollow tubular portion.

Claim 12

A cover device according to claim 1 wherein said annular base member defines an aperture bounded by a pair of straight edges separated by a pair of curved edges.

Claim 13

A lock apparatus with an interior protected from external elements comprising in combination: a. a lock comprising a keyhole defining head portion, a case portion extending longitudinally from said head portion, said case portion being of reduced transverse cross-section so as to permit its insertion through a panel opening that reStricts movement of said head portion; b. an annular base member adapted for mounting around the opening and between the panel and said head portion, said base member comprising an annular seal surface for enclosing said keyhole; c. a cap member for covering the head portion, said cap member comprising a mating surface adapted to engage said seal surface; d. a connector means connecting said base member to said cover member and permitting relative movement therebetween; and wherein said base member, said cover member and said connector means are integrally formed of a flexible plastic material; and e. latching means also integrally formed with said base member, said cap member and said connector means; said latching means being automatically activated in response to engagement between said seal and mating surfaces to restrict relative movement between said cap member and said base member, and wherein said connector means is a flexible band joining said cap and base members, and wherein said cap member comprises said latching means which is disposed for releasably engaging said band to restrict relative movement between said cap and base members in response to movement of said mating surface into contact with said seal surface.

Claim 14

A lock apparatus with an interior protected from external elements comprising in combination: a. a lock comprising a keyhole defining head portion, a case portion extending longitudinally from said head portion, said case portion being of reduced transverse cross-section so as to permit its insertion through a panel opening that reStricts movement of said head portion; b. an annular base member adapted for mounting around the opening and between the panel and said head portion, said base member comprising an annular seal surface for enclosing said keyhole; c. a cap member for covering the head portion, said cap member comprising a mating surface adapted to engage said seal surface; d. a connector means connecting said base member to said cover member and permitting relative movement therebetween; and wherein said base member, said cover member and said connector means are integrally formed of a flexible plastic material; and e. latching means also integrally formed with said base member, said cap member and said connector means; said latching means being automatically activated in response to engagement between said seal and mating surfaces to restrict relative movement between said cap member and said base member, and wherein said connector means is a flexible band joining said cap and base members, and wherein said cap member comprises said latching means which is disposed for releasably engaging said band to restrict relative movement between said cap and base members in response to movement of said mating surface into contact with said seal surface.

Claim 15

A lock apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said base member comprises an annular shell with a wall portion that forms said seal surface; and said mating surface is mated dimensionally to said seal surface so as to be slidably engagable therewith.

Claim 16

A lock apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said annular seal surface comprises an outer surface of said annular shell, and said cap member comprises a hollow tubular portion the inner surface of which comprises said mating surface.

Claim 17

A lock apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said annular shell is a hollow cylinder.