Labyrinth locking apparatus

Claim 2

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second member; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a ratcheting pawl fixed to the other of said members, said ratcheting pawl including means for moving said pawl over said labyrinth during insertion of said first member within said second member, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path.

Claim 3

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 including: first indicia located on said first member, second indicia located on said second member, upon proper correlation of a segment of said first indicia with a segment of said second indicia, alignment of said pawl with said single path occurs to effect disassociation of said first member from said second member.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined within claim 1 wherein: said labyrinth comprises a pair of spaced apart separate labyrinths, said pawl is required to move through a particular single path within each of said separate labyrinths in order to effect disassociation of said first member from said second member.

Claim 5

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longiTudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; said pawl being connected to said other member through a biasing means, aid biasing means providing a continuous bias tending to move said pawl toward said one member.

Claim 6

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longiTudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; said pawl being connected to said other member through a biasing means, aid biasing means providing a continuous bias tending to move said pawl toward said one member.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein: upon inserting of said second member about said first member, said pawl being movable over said labyrinth against said biasing means, thereby said pawl achieving a ratcheting action.

Claim 8

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; said labyrinth is constructed of a plurality of separate discs, said discs are connected together and fixed to said one member, said discs may be rearranged with respect to each other so as to produce a different single path in order to effect disassociation of said first member from said second member.

Claim 9

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; said labyrinth is constructed of a plurality of separate discs, said discs are connected together and fixed to said one member, said discs may be rearranged with respect to each other so as to produce a different single path in order to effect disassociation of said first member from said second member.

Claim 10

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elonated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociatIon of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; said first member being hollow forming an interior elongated chamber within said first member, a pin secured to said first member and extending within said interior chamber, a transverse opening formed within the wall of said second member adjacent to the free end of said pin, whereby the ending links of a length of chain are to be located about said pin by extending such through said interior chamber and through said opening and about said pin, upon said first member being located about said second member said links of chain not being permitted to be removed from said pin.

Claim 11

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elonated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociatIon of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; said first member being hollow forming an interior elongated chamber within said first member, a pin secured to said first member and extending within said interior chamber, a transverse opening formed within the wall of said second member adjacent to the free end of said pin, whereby the ending links of a length of chain are to be located about said pin by extending such through said interior chamber and through said opening and about said pin, upon said first member being located about said second member said links of chain not being permitted to be removed from said pin.

Claim 12

The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein: first indicia located on said first member, second indicia located on said second member, by a proper correlation of a segment of said first indicia with a segment of said second indicia, said first member is capable of being disassociated from said second member; and a substantially transparent key member which includes third indicia which corresponds to the correlating segments of said first indicia and said second indicia, whereby upon alignment of the particular segments of said first and second indicias with the third indicia on said key member, said first member is capable of being moved relative to said second member and disassociated therefrom.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein: said first indicia comprises a series of alphabetical letters, said second indicia comprises a sequential series of numbers.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein: said first indicia comprises a series of alphabetical letters, said second indicia comprises a sequential series of numbers.

Claim 15

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; said labyrinth having a plurality of transverse walls connected between a plurality of longitudinal walls, the heights of the longitudinal walls being greater than the transverse walls.

Claim 16

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; said labyrinth having a plurality of transverse walls connected between a plurality of longitudinal walls, the heights of the longitudinal walls being greater than the transverse walls.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said labyrinth including a locking detent, said pawl to be normally retained within said locking detent when said members are locked together.

Claim 18

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; first indicia located on said first member, second indicia located on said second member, by a proper correlation of a segment of said first indicia with a segment of said second indicia, said first member is capable of being disassociated from said second member; and a substantially transparent key member which includes third indicia which corresponds to the correlating segments of said first indicia and said second indicia, whereby upon alignment of the particular segments of said first and second indicias with the third indicia on said key member, said first member is capable of being moved relative to said second member and disassociated therefrom.

Claim 19

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; first indicia located on said first member, second indicia located on said second member, by a proper correlation of a segment of said first indicia with a segment of said second indicia, said first member is capable of being disassociated from said second member; and a substantially transparent key member which includes third indicia which corresponds to the correlating segments of said first indicia and said second indicia, whereby upon alignment of the particular segments of said first and second indicias with the third indicia on said key member, said first member is capable of being moved relative to said second member and disassociated therefrom.

Claim 20

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; a third member, said third member to include a pawl; said labyrinth comprising a first labyrinth and a second labyrinth, one of said pawls being fixed to said second member with the other of said pawls fixed to said third member, a flange located on said third member to abut a flange upon said second member, said flanges not permitting disassociation of said second member from said first member without prior disassociation of said third member from said first member.

Claim 21

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; a third member, said third member to include a pawl; said labyrinth comprising a first labyrinth and a second labyrinth, one of said pawls being fixed to said second member with the other of said pawls fixed to said third member, a flange located on said third member to abut a flange upon said second member, said flanges not permitting disassociation of said second member from said first member without prior disassociation of said third member from said first member.

Claim 22

The locking apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein: an annular wall fixed to said first member and extending about said second member in a closely spaced relationship therefrom, a chamber adapted to retain foreign substances is located between said first member and said second member.

Claim 23

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and conNected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; a third elongated member being hollow and being adapted to surround said second member, said third member having a pawl which is adapted to cooperate with said labyrinth, said first member being connected to said third member so as to be restricted from relative longitudinal movement therebetween.

Claim 24

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and conNected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; a third elongated member being hollow and being adapted to surround said second member, said third member having a pawl which is adapted to cooperate with said labyrinth, said first member being connected to said third member so as to be restricted from relative longitudinal movement therebetween.

Claim 25

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; a third member being hollow and capable of surrounding said second member, said third member having an outer wall and an inner wall with an annular space located therebetween, both said first member and said second member to be capable of being located within said annular space, means located upon said inner wall to be capable of contacting said first member to prevent removal of said first member from said annular space, however, said means permits rotational movement of said first member relative to said third member.

Claim 26

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second elongated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; a third member being hollow and capable of surrounding said second member, said third member having an outer wall and an inner wall with an annular space located therebetween, both said first member and said second member to be capable of being located within said annular space, means located upon said inner wall to be capable of contacting said first member to prevent removal of said first member from said annular space, however, said means permits rotational movement of said first member relative to said third member.

Claim 27

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein: said labyrinth further includes a ring mounted within the ending disc of said plurality of discs, said ring including a gap formed therein, said ending disc including an outlet passage, said ring further including a second pawl protruding therefrom, said first member having mounted thereon a third pawl, upon said second pawl being located in contact with said third pawl and a further particular amount of rotational movement of said ending disc, said outlet passage being in alignment with said gap in said ring, thereby permitting removal of said pawl from said single open path and resulting in disassociation of said first member from said second member.

Claim 28

Apparatus as defined within claim 18 wherein: upon said outlet passage being aligned with said gap within said ring, said ending disc is moved longitudinally so as to space apart said second pawl from said third pawl, thereby further rotational movement of said second member does not alter the established rotational position between said ring and said ending disc.

Claim 29

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second eloNgated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; said labyrinth further includes a ring mounted on one of said members, said ring including a gap formed therein, said single open path including an outlet passage, said ring further including a second pawl protruding therefrom, the other of said members having mounted therein a third pawl, upon said second pawl being located in contact with said third pawl and a further particular amount of rotational movement between said members, said outlet passage being in alignment with said gap in said ring, thereby permitting removal of said pawl from said single open path and resulting in disassociation of said first member from said second member.

Claim 30

A locking apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a circular cross-sectional configuration when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first member; a second eloNgated member being hollow having an interior surface, said second member capable of surrounding said first member in a close-fitting relationship, the cross-sectional configuration of said interior surface being circular when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second members; a labyrinth located between said first member and said second member and connected to one of said members, a pawl fixed to the other of said members, said labyrinth having a plurality of different paths, said pawl to be capable of cooperating with any one of said paths, whereby it is normally desirable to have a single open path which permits said pawl to be conducted through said labyrinth and result in disassociation of said first member from said second member, the disassociation of said first member from said second member being accomplished by selecting the correct positioning of said first member with respect to said second member and moving the members relative to each other so the pawl moves through said single path; said labyrinth further includes a ring mounted on one of said members, said ring including a gap formed therein, said single open path including an outlet passage, said ring further including a second pawl protruding therefrom, the other of said members having mounted therein a third pawl, upon said second pawl being located in contact with said third pawl and a further particular amount of rotational movement between said members, said outlet passage being in alignment with said gap in said ring, thereby permitting removal of said pawl from said single open path and resulting in disassociation of said first member from said second member.

Claim 31

Apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein: upon said outlet passage being aligned with said gap within said ring, the other said member is moved longitudinally so as to space apart said second pawl from said third pawl, thereby further rotational movement between said members does not alter the established rotational position between said ring and said one member.