Keeper lock for a slide fastener

Claim 1

In a flexible container having an elongated access opening extending along at least one edge thereof, a keeper lock comprising an open-ended, tubular lock barrel disposed within the opening adjacent to one end thereof and provided with an axial bore therethrough and also an iNwardly extending lower rim flange defining a central opening adjacent to the lower end of said bore, a slide fastener for closing said opening and including a lacing element movable along the opening between an open position wherein it is remote from the barrel and a closed position wherein it is in close proximity to the barrel, said barrel being formed with a radially projecting anvil portion which underlies the rim of the opening and receives the lacing element thereover when the latter is in its closed position, a tubular handle telescopically and rotatably received within said barrel for limited axial sliding movement therein and having a radially extending keeper flange thereon overlying the upper rim of the barrel, said handle being capable of both angular turning and axial shifting movement bodily with the barrel so that it may assume a fully telescoped lower locked position wherein the keeper flange closely overlies the anvil portion for confining the lacing element between it and the anvil portion, and a partially telescoped raised unlocked position wherein the handle is free to rotate in either direction throughout an angle of 360* to thus permit the keeper flange to be swung away from its overlying position with respect to the anvil portion and thus assume an out-of-the-way position so that the lacing element is accessible for manipulation, the lower end of said handle being provided with a reduced cylindrical extension which projects slidably through the central opening in said rim flange, a locking bolt carried by said handle and capable of locking engagement with the barrel when the handle is in its fully telescoped lower locked position to maintain the handle in such position, a lock cylinder rotatable in said handle and movable between locked and unlocked positions, said cylinder, when in its unlocked position, serving to withdraw said bolt from its locking engagement with said barrel, a radial projection on the lower end of said cylindrical extension and designed for engagement with said rim flange to determine the raised unlocked position of the handle, a helical compression spring encircling said reduced cylindrical extension, said spring having its lower end seated on said inwardly extending lower rim flange and having its upper end bearing against a downwardly facing shoulder which is established at the juncture region of said reduced cylindrical extension and the handle, and a key and tumbler mechanism for controlling the operation of said cylinder.