US3851503A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Security system for securing an article against unauthorized removal
Assignee: Harvard Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1973-06-20
•
Granted: 1974-12-03
•
Expires: 1993-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A security system for securing an article, shown in the form of a key, against unauthorized removal, the system including a threaded fastener having a driving surface enveloped by a freespinning collar and a tool for engaging the collar for rotation while frictionally coupling the collar with the threaded fastener to enable rotation of the fastener with the collar and removal of the article only by the authorized person in possession of the tool.
Inventors
- 👤 P Trimmer
- 👤 F Cirule
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:40
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B35/00; E05B35/008; E05B19/00; E05B19/0005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5009; Y10T70/5611; Y10T70/5854; Y10T70/5863; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7441; Y10T70/778; Y10T70/7791; Y10T70/7802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
345 words
A security system for use in connection with a coin-operated apparatus in which a coin compartment in the apparatus housing is locked with a key and the housing is provided with a screwthreaded stud, said system securing the key to the housing against unauthorized removal, said security comprising: a fastener member having a body with an axially extending screwthreaded aperture engageable with said stud and an axially extending portion with a radial surface and an outer peripheral surface portion including a radial shoulder; a collar having a bore generally complementary to the outer peripheral surface portion of the axially extending portion of the fastener member body for receiving said axially extending portion in free-spinning relationship therewith and enveloping said outer peripheral surface portion while leaving said radial surface exposed, said bore including a radial ledge complementary to the radial shoulder of the fastener member body, and said collar having an outer peripheral surface including a circumferential recess therein; means for capturing the key upon the housing when the fastener member is affixed to the housing by engagement of the screwthreaded aperture with the screw-threaded stud, with the collar enveloping the outer peripheral surface portion of the fastener member body; a driving mechanism for selectively affixing and releasing the fastener member from the housing, said driving mechanism including a gripping member having a jaw fOr engaging the recess of said collar; and an actuator mounted upon the gripping member for axial movement relative thereto, said actuator having abutment means for engaging the radial surface of the fastener member such that upon engagement of the abutment means with the radial surface and engagement of the jaw of the gripping member with the recess of the collar, subsequent relative axial movement of the actuator and the gripping member will urge the jaw against the recess to frictionally couple the collar with the driving mechanism and will urge the radial ledge against the radial shoulder to frictionally couple the collar with the fastener member thereby permitting rotation of the fastener member in response to rotation of the driving mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
345 words
A security system for use in connection with a coin-operated apparatus in which a coin compartment in the apparatus housing is locked with a key and the housing is provided with a screwthreaded stud, said system securing the key to the housing against unauthorized removal, said security comprising: a fastener member having a body with an axially extending screwthreaded aperture engageable with said stud and an axially extending portion with a radial surface and an outer peripheral surface portion including a radial shoulder; a collar having a bore generally complementary to the outer peripheral surface portion of the axially extending portion of the fastener member body for receiving said axially extending portion in free-spinning relationship therewith and enveloping said outer peripheral surface portion while leaving said radial surface exposed, said bore including a radial ledge complementary to the radial shoulder of the fastener member body, and said collar having an outer peripheral surface including a circumferential recess therein; means for capturing the key upon the housing when the fastener member is affixed to the housing by engagement of the screwthreaded aperture with the screw-threaded stud, with the collar enveloping the outer peripheral surface portion of the fastener member body; a driving mechanism for selectively affixing and releasing the fastener member from the housing, said driving mechanism including a gripping member having a jaw fOr engaging the recess of said collar; and an actuator mounted upon the gripping member for axial movement relative thereto, said actuator having abutment means for engaging the radial surface of the fastener member such that upon engagement of the abutment means with the radial surface and engagement of the jaw of the gripping member with the recess of the collar, subsequent relative axial movement of the actuator and the gripping member will urge the jaw against the recess to frictionally couple the collar with the driving mechanism and will urge the radial ledge against the radial shoulder to frictionally couple the collar with the fastener member thereby permitting rotation of the fastener member in response to rotation of the driving mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the fastener member body has an annular configuration with said outer peripheral surface portion being generally cylindrical and the radial surface and radial shoulder being generally annular.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the fastener member body has opposite ends, the radial surface is located at one of said ends and the radial shoulder is located intermediate said ends.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein the fastener member body includes a clamping face at the other of said ends for engaging the housing and said means for capturing the key upon the housing includes a further portion of the fastener member body located between the outer peripheral surface portion and said clamping face.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the collar has a generally annular configuration with said outer peripheral surface being generally cylindrical and said circumferential recess being an annular groove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein the annular groove has angled confronting surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein the gripping member includes a sleeve portion having opposite ends and said jaw includes a radially inwardly projecting rib spaced from one end of the sleeve portion and having a circumferential extent of no more than approximately one-half the circumference of the annular groove in the collar such that engagement of the jaw with the recess is accomplished by lateral movement of the rib into the groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the sleeve portion includes a threaded internal surface and the actuator includes a threaded shaft having opposite ends and engaged with the threaded internal surface of the sleeve portion such that rotation of the shaft relative to the sleeve will advance and retract the shaft relative to the jaw.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein said abutment means include a face at one end of the shaft complementary to the radial surface of the fastener member body and engageable therewith in response to rotation of the shaft relative to the sleeve portion when the jaw is engaged in the recess of the collar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein: said sleeve portion includes a hand-grip portion adjacent the other of the opposite ends thereof; and said shaft includes a hand-grip portion adjacent the other of the opposite ends thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
277 words
In a security system for use in connection with a coin-operated apparatus in which a coin compartment in the apparatus housing is locked with a key and the housing is provided with a screw-threaded stud, a fastener system for securing the key to the housing against unauthorized removal, said fastener system comprising: a fastener member having a body with an axially extending screw-threaded aperture engageable with said stud and an axially extending portion with a radial surface and an outer peripheral surface portion including a radial shoulder; a collar having a bore generally complementary to the outer peripheral surface portion of the axially extending portion of the fastener member body for receiving said axially extending portion in free-spinning relationship therewith and enveloping said outer peripheral surface portion while leaving said radial surface expOsed, said bore including a radial ledge complementary to the radial shoulder of the fastener member body, and said collar having an outer peripheral surface including a circumferential recess therein; means for capturing the key upon the housing when the fastener member is affixed to the housing by engagement of the screw threaded aperture with the screw-threaded stud, with the collar enveloping the outer peripheral surface portion of the fastener member body; said collar being capable of being gripped at the circumferential recess thereof while the radial surface of the fastener member body is engaged so as to enable the collar to be urged axially relative to the fastener member in a direction to frictionally couple the radial ledge of the collar with the radial shoulder of the fastener member body thereby permitting rotation of the fastener member in response to rotation of the collar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
277 words
In a security system for use in connection with a coin-operated apparatus in which a coin compartment in the apparatus housing is locked with a key and the housing is provided with a screw-threaded stud, a fastener system for securing the key to the housing against unauthorized removal, said fastener system comprising: a fastener member having a body with an axially extending screw-threaded aperture engageable with said stud and an axially extending portion with a radial surface and an outer peripheral surface portion including a radial shoulder; a collar having a bore generally complementary to the outer peripheral surface portion of the axially extending portion of the fastener member body for receiving said axially extending portion in free-spinning relationship therewith and enveloping said outer peripheral surface portion while leaving said radial surface expOsed, said bore including a radial ledge complementary to the radial shoulder of the fastener member body, and said collar having an outer peripheral surface including a circumferential recess therein; means for capturing the key upon the housing when the fastener member is affixed to the housing by engagement of the screw threaded aperture with the screw-threaded stud, with the collar enveloping the outer peripheral surface portion of the fastener member body; said collar being capable of being gripped at the circumferential recess thereof while the radial surface of the fastener member body is engaged so as to enable the collar to be urged axially relative to the fastener member in a direction to frictionally couple the radial ledge of the collar with the radial shoulder of the fastener member body thereby permitting rotation of the fastener member in response to rotation of the collar.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein the fastener member body has an annular configuration with said outer peripheral surface portion being generally cylindrical and the radial surface and radial shoulder being generally annular
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein the fastener member body has opposite ends, the radial surface is located at one of said ends and the radial shoulder is located intermediate said ends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 13 wherein the fastener member body includes a clamping face at the other of said ends for engaging the housing and said means for capturing the key upon the housing includes a further portion of the fastener member body located between the outer peripheral surface portion and said clamping face.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein the collar has a generally annular configuration with said outer peripheral surface being generally cylindrical and said circumferential recess being an annular groove.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 15 wherein the annular groove has angled confronting surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
322 words
A driving tool for use in a security system wherein a key to a lockable coin compartment in the housing of a coin-operated apparatus is secured to the housing against unauthorized removal by means of a fastener system which includes a fastener member having a body with a screw-threaded aperture and an axially extending portion with a radial surface and an outer peripheral surface portion including a radial shoulder; a generally annular collar having a bore generally complementary to the outer peripheral surface portion of the axially extending portion of the fastener member body for receiving said axially extending portion in free-spinning relationship therewith and enveloping said outer peripheral surface portion while leaving said radial surface exposed, said bore including a radial ledge complementary to the radial shoulder of the fastener member body, and said collar having a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface including an annular groove therein; and means for capturing the key upon the housing when the fastener member is affixed to the housing by means of the screw-threaded aperture, with the collar enveloping the outer peripheral surface portion of the fastener member body, said driving tool comprising: a gripping member including a sleeve portion having a jaw for engaging the groove of said collar; and an actuator mounted upon the gripping member for axial movement relative thereto, said actuator having abutment means for engaging the radial surface of the fastener member such that upon engagement of the abutment means with the radial surface and engagement of the jaw of the gripping member with the groove of the collar, subsequent relative axial movement of the actuator and the gripping member will urge the jaw against the groove to frictionally couple the collar with the driving mechanism and will urge the radial ledge against the radial shoulder to frictionally couple the collar with the fastener member thereby permitting rotation of the fastener member in response to rotation of the drivinG mechanism.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
322 words
A driving tool for use in a security system wherein a key to a lockable coin compartment in the housing of a coin-operated apparatus is secured to the housing against unauthorized removal by means of a fastener system which includes a fastener member having a body with a screw-threaded aperture and an axially extending portion with a radial surface and an outer peripheral surface portion including a radial shoulder; a generally annular collar having a bore generally complementary to the outer peripheral surface portion of the axially extending portion of the fastener member body for receiving said axially extending portion in free-spinning relationship therewith and enveloping said outer peripheral surface portion while leaving said radial surface exposed, said bore including a radial ledge complementary to the radial shoulder of the fastener member body, and said collar having a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface including an annular groove therein; and means for capturing the key upon the housing when the fastener member is affixed to the housing by means of the screw-threaded aperture, with the collar enveloping the outer peripheral surface portion of the fastener member body, said driving tool comprising: a gripping member including a sleeve portion having a jaw for engaging the groove of said collar; and an actuator mounted upon the gripping member for axial movement relative thereto, said actuator having abutment means for engaging the radial surface of the fastener member such that upon engagement of the abutment means with the radial surface and engagement of the jaw of the gripping member with the groove of the collar, subsequent relative axial movement of the actuator and the gripping member will urge the jaw against the groove to frictionally couple the collar with the driving mechanism and will urge the radial ledge against the radial shoulder to frictionally couple the collar with the fastener member thereby permitting rotation of the fastener member in response to rotation of the drivinG mechanism.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
The invention of claim 17 wherein said sleeve portion has opposite ends and said jaw includes a radially inwardly projecting rib spaced from one end of the sleeve portion and having a circumferential extent of no more than approximately one-half the circumference of the annular groove in the collar such that engagement of the jaw with the recess is accomplished by lateral movement of the rib into the groove.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention of claim 18 wherein the sleeve portion includes a threaded internal surface and the actuator includes a threaded shaft having opposite ends and engaged with the threaded internal surface of the sleeve portion such that rotation of the shaft relative to the sleeve portion will advance and retract the shaft relative to the jaw.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein said abutment means include a face at one end of the shaft complementary to the radial surface of the fastener member body and engageable therewith in response to rotation of the shaft relative to the sleeve portion when the jaw is engaged in the recess of the collar.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 20 wherein: said sleeve portion includes a hand-grip portion adjacent the other of the opposite ends thereof; and said shaft includes a hand-grip portion adjacent the other of the opposite ends thereof.
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) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |